That ALL Might Be Edified: Discussions on Servant Leadership

Your Team's Success Will Lead to ALL Other Successes

In this episode, we had the privilege of hosting Darius Lahoutifard, the visionary behind MEDDIC Academy, a best-selling author, serial entrepreneur, and former executive at PTC and Oracle. Darius shared insights from his extensive career, including his leadership course focused on recruitment, empowerment, and optimization. He discussed common pitfalls leaders face, especially when dealing with underperformance or unexpected challenges, and provided a crucial self-reflection question for leaders to consider.

Darius also delved into how he applies Aristotle’s framework to develop quality metrics and the principles behind this approach. Throughout our conversation, Darius emphasized the importance of diagnosing problems accurately and shared lifelong leadership insights. We explored insights gained during his journey from robotics engineer to tech startup enthusiast, highlighting his remarkable achievements, including leading PTC’s French unit to outcompete Dassault Systèmes on their home turf and the creation of the MEDDIC and MEDDPICC sales methodologies. 

This episode is packed with valuable lessons for anyone looking to refine their leadership skills and optimize team performance.

Resources:

MEDDIC Academy - Infinite Sales Leadership

https://meddic.academy/infinite-sales-leadership/

Darius Lahoutifard - Aristotle Walks into a Sales Meeting

https://meddic.academy/aristotle-the-salesperson/

MEDDIC Acadamy

https://meddic.academy/

Darius Lahoutifard - MEDDIC Academy - Infinite Sales Leadership YouTube

https://youtu.be/_1yPNGfK46g?si=xeyaTIwnNXP5T4CH

Darius Lahoutifard - Always Be Qualifying: M.E.D.D.I.C.

ALWAYS BE QUALIFYING: M.E.D.D.I.C. 

Darius Lahoutifard - Leadership by Cyrus the Great

Leadership by Cyrus the Great: Unlocking Xenophon's Cyropaedia 

Reflect Often: What is Your Definition of Success?

In this episode, we sit down with Stephen Bor, a seasoned leader with deep insights into navigating the complexities of leadership in challenging times. Stephen emphasizes the importance of taking the time to truly get to know people, reminding us that not every problem needs an immediate fix. He highlights the significance of understanding where we may be making assumptions, and how this awareness can transform our approach to leadership.

We dive into the nuances of leading through disfunction, tragedy, ambiguity, and crisis. Stephen shares his experiences and strategies for guiding teams and organizations when the path forward isn’t always clear. Whether you’re facing a crisis or simply looking to refine your leadership skills, this episode offers valuable lessons on patience, empathy, and the power of thoughtful decision-making.

CDR Stephen Bor is an operational leader, legal advisor, father and husband that served in the Coast Guard for more than 20 years. He currently serves as the Deputy Chief of the Coast Guard Office of Information and Intelligence Law. He’s served in various operational leadership positions at Coast Guard units in Los Angeles – Long Beach, Corpus Christi, and San Francisco. In his capacity as a Coast Guard JAG, he served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, and as a senior staff attorney for the Coast Guard’s Thirteenth District in Seattle, WA. CDR Bor received the 2021 Coast Guard Captain David H. Jarvis Inspirational Leadership Award, and the 2016 DHS Office of General Counsel Rising Star Award. Stephen is a huge Seattle Sounders fan (professional soccer). He speaks fluent Mandarin and Spanish. 

Resources: 

Long Beach Current - College Student Pre-Commissioning Article: 

https://daily49er.com/artslife/2021/03/01/from-school-to-the-service-cspi-program-offers-students-a-path-to-the-coast-guard/

The Rafu Shimpo - Seventy Years Later, The Coast Guard Honors One of Its Own: 

https://rafu.com/2022/07/seventy-years-later-coast-guard-honors-one-of-its-own/

Coast Guard Academy - Fouled Anchor Timeline & Resources;

https://www.cgaalumni.org/s/1043/21/interior.aspx?sid=1043&gid=1&pgid=7020&appealcode=OFA

How the CNN Coast Guard Academy Investigation Came Together:

https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/11/politics/coast-guard-investigation-what-matters/index.html

Don't Get Lost in the Woods - Realize You're Thinking in Circles

After a long hiatus we are back with an amazing guest. David Peter Stroh joins as the guest on this episode to help illustrate the art of systems thinking. We start by discussing why it is so important to begin with the individual as the protagonist of the story so they can see how they are involved in, impacted by , and impacting the system. This leads to some great discourse on the power of reflection and recognizing that systems have time delays.  David uses this to highlight the importance of patience and persistence along with providing various examples to show us how we can take action now to begin to be systems thinkers. David shares a high level synopsis of his four stage approach to system thinking and reminds everyone that they can all do a lot! 

David Peter Stroh is a founding partner of Bridgeway Partners (https://bridgewaypartners.com), a consulting firm that partners with mission-centered organizational leaders committed to advancing social and environmental transformation. He is internationally recognized for his work in enabling leaders to apply systems thinking to achieve breakthroughs around chronic, complex problems and to develop strategies which improve system-wide performance over time.

David has been described as “a magician” and “the master at providing interesting and useful ways to look at the complexity of systems thinking”, who “helped us tremendously in getting to the core issues” with “the mind of a scientist and the heart of a healer.” 

He is the author of the highly regarded book Systems Thinking for Social Change: A Practical Guide for Solving Complex Problems, Avoiding Unintended Consequences, and Achieving Lasting Results, a #1 Best-Seller in Non-Governmental Organization Policy which readers praise as "an essential - and long overdue - guide to applied systems thinking" that "shows you how to enlist others in the effort" by "masterfully weaving metaphor, story, and practical tools" using "down-to-earth language."

Resources:

David is Founding Director of Applied Systems Thinking: 

AppliedSystemsThinking.com

 

David Peter Stroh - Systems Thinking for Social Change

Systems Thinking for Social Change: A Practical Guide to Solving Complex Problems, Avoiding Unintended Consequences, and Achieving Lasting Results 

 

Robert Lupton - Toxic Charity 

Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (And How to Reverse It) 

Expand Capacity & Unleash the Power of Dreams

I am excited to announce the guest on this episode is Jennifer Ete - Investment Advisor who has been in financial services for 18 years and in leadership roles for over 40 years. Jen shared some experiences regarding some great volunteer work she did to bring the affordable advanced educational opportunities of  BYU pathway to Louisiana and how she works with families to expand their financial resources. You will notice a theme in everything Jen does - she is always trying to help people become better. Jen also talks about how she has observed how people have stopped dreaming and she teaches us ways that we can take individual steps to help people reignite their dreams and lead them towards success. We talk about creating a culture that allows us to learn from our mistakes and create increased curiosity with ourselves and others so we can approach the world around us with more authenticity to get and give the help we all need. This episode is sure to spark some creativity in each of us that gets us thinking more deeply about how we approach the people around us and how we encourage or diminish their capacity to dream great dreams. 

 

Jen has always been different. As a teen, her classmates were focused on grades, sports, scholarships and the next party. Her heart gravitated towards learning how to help people feel important. She has always been passionate about protecting those that don't know how to protect themselves...yet.

 

Jen chose a profession in financial services because she felt that the best way she could help families stay together and be happy was to teach them how to be self-sufficient and take care of themselves. She learned that when people have money; their bills are being paid on time, and there's extra in the budget, there's not too much to stress about in life. The families who are most interested in getting to that point are Jen's favorite to work with. Jen is often recognized at every company convention and asked to speak in training meetings, because, so often, she is number one in multiple categories in multiple states. Jen attributes this success to her trust in the Lord and not because of anything special she does. 

 

Jen has a deep conviction that this level of success comes to her only because she seeks the Lord's help before, during, and after every single appointment. Jen figures that if the Lord wants families to be self-sufficient and happy, then He'll gladly guide her to know how to best help each individual in the way that's best for them if she simply asks. Jen's family from Louisiana, but she spent her teen and young adult years in Pennsylvania due to dad's work. Jen served a mission in Tokyo, Japan for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is the mother to four and wife to Rock Ete. 

 

Resources:

 

Jennifer Ete - Primerica 

jenniferete&origin=customStandard

 

BYU Pathway 

https://www.byupathway.org/ 

 

Steve Harvey - Write Your Vision 

https://youtu.be/DlMAIYd7-J4 

Be Part of the Active Leadership School that is Life

I had the such an incredible conversation with recently retired Admiral Mike Studeman from the U.S. Navy. His most recent position was as Commanding Officer of the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI). Mike started the conversation by encouraging me to ask him all my hard questions. I began by asking him how we could get better using the Coast Guard to compliment our other Maritime Forces around the world which led to some great dialogue about how to engage with the world around us in more meaningful ways. Mike had some inspiring tips for how to prepare for a life in foreign and/or international affairs which could help many of us just be more sensitive to the many cultures we interact with. Mike provided powerful inspiration on using your voice, empowerment, and the importance of character among several other insightful commentaries. Mike described the passion behind his recently compiled manuscript on leadership and shared some highlights from it. Mike points out that the U.S. is facing a leadership crisis and this episode is a must listen to contemplate what we can each do to tackle that in our own spheres of influence with our individual voices. All throughout the episode, Mike illustrates tangible examples while expressing the time to act is now for each of us to start to make a difference in the world around us with these great recommendations! 

Mike is an executive leader of major organizations with geostrategic impact and National security expert and intelligence professional with global expertise. He has deep knowledge of the Indo-Pacific and is an inspiring leader  who is able to maximize team performance and achieve results while sustaining high morale. Admiral Studeman had a very distinguished Naval career serving as Commanding Officer of multiple Commands and as the Director of Intelligence (J2) of two Combatant Commands & Commanding Officer of the Joint Intelligence Center at another Combatant Command.

Admiral Michael Studeman is the son of a career naval officer and a 1988 graduate of the College of William and Mary. He is a distinguished graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School, a distinguished graduate of the National War College, and an honors graduate in Mandarin Chinese from the Defense Language Institute.

Resources:

Nicholas Carr - The Shallows: How the Internet is Changing How We Think, Read, and Remember:

The Shallows: How the Internet Is Changing the Way We Think, Read and Remember 

Ancient Greek Quotes to Strengthen Character: 

https://youtu.be/SXeObg8UEcg?si=KCRbkmMeLUCrwY-D 

Media Bias Chart:

https://www.allsides.com/media-bias/media-bias-chart

U.S. Coast Guard Recruitment Website: 

https://www.gocoastguard.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAsIGrBhAAEiwAEzMlCwigXY7sQLLmYBV-XG_XGToFg9rh-gAOTwaPyRPgGUOpQYsF0lun7xoCFmEQAvD_BwE

Department of State - Careers in Foreign Service: 

Foreign Service - Careers - State DepartmentU.S. Department of State (.gov)https://careers.state.gov › career-paths › foreign-service

U.S. Navy Foreign Area Officer Career Information: 

https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Detailing/Officer/FAO/

 

 

 

Ask Inspired Questions to Get Enhanced Results

The guest on this episode is Frank Cespedes, who is a Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School. Frank starts off by describing his definition of leadership and how it is connected to servant leadership. We have a great conversation about acknowledging and closing the C-suite gap. How to ask better questions to use AI to drive the decisions in our organizations. Frank helps us understand that as we rise in an organization we lose touch with what is going on around us inside those organizaitons and does a great job really illustrating what that means. Frank gives a good example of the pitfalls of bringing in an outsider who is a star in a given industry. 

Frank highlights why timely training technology supported by good learning processes can and should be utilized in our organizations. There is no such thing as performance in the abstract, so asking really good questions that will help us get our data guiding our organizations in more informed ways to create better strategies. Good Leadership is crucial for the success of our organizations. 

Frank has run a business, served on boards for start-ups and corporations, and consulted to many companies around the world. He is the author of six books and many articles in Harvard Business Review, The Wall Street Journal, California Management Review, and other publications. His most recent book is "Sales Management That Works," & Frank has a master's degree from MIT and a Ph.D from Cornell University. 

At Harvard, he has developed and taught a variety of MBA and executive courses, led the Strategic Marketing Management program for senior executives, was co-lead of the Sustainable Market Leadership program for CEOs and their teams. He currently teaches Entrepreneurial Marketing in the MBA program, in the Owner President Management (OPM) executive program, and he heads the executive program on Aligning Strategy and Sales.

Resources:

Frank Cespedes Website:

https://frankcespedes.com/

Peter Drucker - The Manager and the Moron

https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-manager-and-the-moron

Frank Cespedes - Sales Management that Works

Sales Management That Works: How to Sell in a World that Never Stops Changing 

Alfred P. Sloan - My Years With General Motors

My Years With General Motors 

Harvard Business School

https://www.hbs.edu/Pages/default.aspx

 

 

Curiosity About Change Overcomes Negativity

The guest on this episode is Erika Andersen who is the founding partner of Proteus. Erika teaches us how our history creates resistance to change and provides some great tools for overcoming barriers to transformation. We have a great discussion about approaches to leading organizational change, developing "change-capable" cultures, and avoiding common change missteps. Authentic servant leadership includes aligning practical strategies with human values and Erika helps us understand how to become more curious to do this. As we increase in curiosity, we can face the people around us with insightful questions and increased active listening that will strengthen our teams. 

Erika Andersen empowers executives to drive change. She's also an accomplished author with several bestselling books, including "Change from the Inside Out" and "Leading So People Will Follow." Erika brings a unique blend of expertise to the discussion, focusing on practical insights for effective leadership, change management, and fostering a culture of growth.

Erika Andersen and her colleagues at Proteus International, a coaching, consulting and leadership development training firm, focus on leader readiness, supporting leaders at all levels to get ready and stay ready to meet whatever the future might bring. She advises senior executives in organizations such as Spotify, Amazon, Spectrum, Novartis, Revolt Media, CBS Sports, and the Yale School of Public Health.

Resources:

Erika Andersen - Change from the Inside Out

Change from the Inside Out: Making You, Your Team, and Your Organization Change-Capable 

Proteus website: 

https://proteus-international.com/

Erika Andersen website:

https://erikaandersen.com/

Prosci Change Management website:

https://www.prosci.com/

 

Educate, Inspire, Engage, & Elevate

Admiral Cedric Pringle is the guest on this episode. Admiral Pringle serves as the 25th President of the National Naval Officers Association (NNOA). NNOA is an organization dedicated to supporting the Sea Services in recruiting, professional development, and retention of a diverse officer corps that reflects the demographics of our nation. Cedric talks about the amazing work that NNOA is doing with bringing STEM to school children and we discuss how impactful it would be if more positive role models would get involved in bringing STEM to middle schools and high schools around the country to provide more opportunities for people to see diverse paths to use these fields in their lives.

Cedric shares some amazing insights from his prestigious Naval career and although he prided himself on being by the the book, he liked to remind people that when the book was wrong there is a recourse to change the book. Cedric gave us some good examples of creating a space where you could make mistakes and take risks to grow as individuals, but he also hinted at some steps that helped build the trust of the team if you listen closely. He reminds us that excellence is a journey. Admiral Pringle models a great example of an appropriate way to resist a challenge from someone senior to us in a personal story in his humanitarian work in Haiti. Each story Cedric shares is done so to help build us all up the same way he has built many of his sailors and marines over the years! 

Cedric Pringle is a retired rear admiral following a 34-and-a-half-year career in the U.S. Navy. His service culminated as the 31st commandant of National War College at National Defense University. During his distinguished career, he led joint, combined, multinational, and interagency organizations, both at sea and ashore, across all aspects of defense, including full spectrum operations, strategic planning, crisis management, and congressional affairs. 

Admiral Pringle earned a BS in Economics from the University of South Carolina, an MS in Financial Management from the Naval Postgraduate School, and an MA in National Security Strategy from the Naval War College. He also completed executive courses in Strategic Thinking at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, Leading Innovation at the Naval Postgraduate School, and the Leadership University for Humanity course with Korn Ferry. 

Resources:

National Naval Officers Associations - Navy, Marines, & Coast Guard 

https://nnoa.org/

Center for Oceanographic Research in the South Pacific - University of Concepcion, Chile 

http://www.copas.cl/eng/ 

 

 

 

Credibility & Trust Enhance the Team

This episode features Vikrant Shaurya who is the Founder & CEO of Authors On Mission (formerly BestsellingBook.com) and bestselling author of the book “How to Write a Bestseller” where we talk about how you too can tap into your potential to find your own ideas and write a bestseller of your own. Vikrant and his amazing team at Authors on Mission help match people to those that will help them find their authentic voice and we had some great dialogue about this in a way that will get you thinking about ways to do this in your own organizations because Vikrant truly models the way on how to do this throughout his organization.

Virkant talks a lot about the power of credibility and trust and how that starts with letting his team know they have his trust and ensuring that his credibility is intact. We discussed how to approach the AI tools in the light of trust and ensuring that you keep your brand reputation as a central focus to all that you do as an individual and an organization. Vikrant was generous to share some of his insights into how he obtains so much of his success but it is clear that much of that success comes from the way he empowers the individuals on his team and has helped them to to develop a mindset that they have ownership in the company. This concept has created an environment where everyone acts to take care of each other and the clients fostering powerful servant leadership concepts. 

Vikrant Shaurya is a publishing entrepreneur with a laser-like focus on his own life, who has transformed it and built a company that has become a global success story. He is a businessman and a bestselling author who has devoted his life to helping Entrepreneurs, coaches, experts, and thought leaders reach their fullest potential in business and their brand by writing a bestselling book. This young, inspiring and tenaciously focused book publisher is on a mission to help 10,000 people turn their ideas into bestselling books by 2025.

Resources:

Vikrant Shaurya - How to Write a Bestseller:

How to Write a Bestseller: Become a Bestselling Author, Attract High-Value Clients, and Skyrocket Your Authority 

 

Authors on Mission - Website:

http://authorsonmission.com/

 

Join the Authors on Mission Community - FREE Book Outline Quadrant:

https://www.skool.com/authorsonmission/about

 

Vikrant Shaurya - Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/@Vikrant_Shaurya

 

Simon Sinek - Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't: 

Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't 

 

Simon Sinek - Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action: 

Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action 

 

Listen Notes - Podcast Search Engine 

https://www.listennotes.com/

 

Connection, Communication, & Collaboration

It was a humbling opportunity to have Coast Guard, Captain Taylor Lam as the guest on this episode. Taylor models powerful servant leadership describing how the Sector San Francisco Command Philosophy was developed in collaboration with those he has been called to lead. He also illustrates some powerful examples on the importance of connection that highlight how vital that is today for keeping top talent and engaging the people we have. We dialogue about communication and provide some great food for thought for ALL to consider on how effective communications really are at every level in our organizations. Taylor inspires people to take on challenges from a safe place because he models that behavior and shares some insights on how we can do that too. 

Captain Lam assumed command of Sector San Francisco in June 2021. Prior to this assignment, he completed an assignment as a national security fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.  While in command, he recently completed a one-year Executive Leadership Program at the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) in Monterey, CA. 

Captain Lam is a native of Riverside, CA and enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in 1996 through the College Student Pre-commissioning Initiative (CSPI) and graduated from Basic Training in Cape May, NJ. Upon completion of his undergraduate studies, he graduated from Officer Candidate School.  

His previous operational units include service as Deputy Commander of Sector Boston, Commanding Officer of Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) Los Angeles – Long Beach, Command Center and Enforcement Chief at Sector Miami, Detachment Officer-in-Charge (OIC) and plank owner of MSST Seattle, Law Enforcement Detachment OIC at Tactical Law Enforcement Team North, and Deck Watch Officer on the Cutter MUNRO in Alameda, CA. 

Captain Lam’s previous staff and advanced education assignments include service as Special Assistant to the 30th Vice Commandant, Coast Guard Fellow in the late U.S. Senator Thad Cochran’s personal staff addressing homeland security appropriations, the Atlantic Area Commander’s staff managing six MSSTs, and attending a fully-funded advanced education program in Williamsburg, VA.  He is a graduate from the University of California, Riverside, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, a graduate from Boston University’s Master of Arts program in criminal justice, and a graduate from the College of William and Mary’s Master’s program in public policy. 

Resources:

Brené Brown - Video on Empathy 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw

Bryce Ward - Washington Post Opinion - Americans are spending more time alone. Here's why we should reverse that. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/11/23/americans-alone-thanksgiving-friends/

Naval Postgraduate School - Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) Leadership Programs 

https://www.chds.us/c/

Admiral William H. McRaven - he Wisdom of the Bullfrog:  Leadership Made Simple (But Not Easy) 

The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple (But Not Easy)  

Leonard J. Marcus, Eric J. McNulty, Joseph M. Henderson, & Barry C. Dorn - You’re It:  Crisis, Change, and How To Lead When it Matters Most

You're It: Crisis, Change, and How to Lead When It Matters Most