Success Secrets and Stories
To share management leadership concepts that actually work.
You are responsible for your development as a leader. Don't expect the boss to invest the training budget in your career. Consider this podcast as an investment of time in your career, with a bit of management humor added at the same time.
Success Secrets and Stories
The Well-Being Revolution: Leadership That Changes Lives
Leadership transforms lives through wellbeing—this powerful concept forms the backbone of our exploration into how great leaders create environments where people thrive professionally and personally.
When leaders prioritize employee wellbeing, the benefits ripple through organizations in measurable ways: higher engagement, increased creativity, improved productivity, and greater job satisfaction. But what exactly makes leadership so pivotal in creating these positive outcomes?
We break down effective leadership into three essential components. First, fostering a supportive environment through open communication, reducing burnout, and creating genuine belonging. Second, boosting employee development through mentorship and work-life balance. Third, improving efficiency by empowering teams rather than micromanaging them—allowing innovation and resilience to flourish organically.
Research from the Center for Creative Leadership reveals a striking statistic: 72% of leaders report feeling depleted at workday's end. This unsustainable reality emerged more clearly during the pandemic, highlighting how critical community connection and meaningful work relationships are to true wellbeing. Purpose-driven leadership goes beyond meeting targets; it helps people understand why their work matters, infusing daily tasks with meaning and motivation.
Through personal stories—including a successful corporate professional who found greater fulfillment as an entrepreneur and a struggling leader whose health transformed after a guided career transition—we illustrate how prioritizing wellbeing creates lasting positive change. The impact extends far beyond office walls, influencing how people approach challenges, relationships, and aspirations throughout their lives.
Ready to transform your leadership approach? Discover practical strategies in John's book "Building Your Leadership Toolbox" available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, or connect with us directly at www.authorjaw.com to continue this important conversation.
Presented by John Wandolowski and Greg Powell
But hello and welcome to our podcast Success Secrets and Stories. Well, hello and welcome to our podcast, success Secrets and Stories. I'm your host, john Wondoloski, and I'm here with my co-host and friend, mr Greg Powell.
Speaker 1:Greg hey everybody.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and today we wanted to talk about a subject that I think is interesting. It's helping people to understand the importance of well-being. And, to be a little bit more specific, effective leadership specifically involves the quality of life and fostering a positive work environment, boosting employees' well-being and promoting individual growth and success, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and more productive experience as a person, as an employee. So just to step back and talk about some of the mechanics of it, it kind of breaks down to three different elements. Fostering a positive and supportive work environment kind of works out to four basic components Improving morale and engagement Leaders who inspire and motivate their teams, create a sense of purpose and belonging, leading to higher morale and increasing employee engagement. Open communication and collaboration very key component Effective leaders encourage open communication and collaboration, fostering a sense of trust and teamwork, which in turn improves the overall work environment. Next is reducing stress and burnout. By providing clear direction, delegating tasks effectively, with a very strong point on being effective in delegating and promoting a good work-life balance, leaders can reduce stress and burnout amongst their teams and, remember, you lead by example, especially in this category. Next is a sense of belonging and purpose Leaders who prioritize their team's well-being and create a culture of support, help employees feel value and they feel that they contribute in a sense of belonging and purpose to the organization, that they contribute in a sense of belonging and purpose to the organization. The next category is trying to boost employees' well-being and growth would be mentorship and development. Leaders who invest in their employees' growth and development provide opportunities for learning, skill enhancement and career advancement, leading to personal and professional fulfillment. Skill enhancement and career advancement leading to personal and professional fulfillment. Again, work-life balance is one of those keys that effective leaders understand the importance of work-life balance and effectively promote policies and practices that support the employee's ability to manage their time and their responsibilities effectively, like engaging them in what's in that process of learning about life balance.
Speaker 2:Increasing job satisfaction when an employee feels valued, respected, empowered, they are more likely to experience a higher level of job satisfaction and create a sense of accomplishment. I'd like to say that it's giving them a sense of ownership that they have bought in and they have that sense of responsibility and pride of what they get for results. To that end, empowerment or autonomy Leaders who empower their teams and provide autonomy, allowing the employees to take ownership of their work and make decisions lead to increased job satisfaction. The third component that makes a lot of sense is improving efficiency and productivity. Effective leadership ensures the team are working effectively and productively and lead to better outcomes and better organizational success. I'd like to also say that micromanagement is out of the process. Macro management is probably a nice term that a lot of people use, but if you're going to entrust and empower your teams, the last thing you want to do is micromanage them. Give them the freedom, which is the point.
Speaker 2:Innovative and creativity comes from leaders who encourage innovation and creative fostering of the culture. That's part of helping them understand the problem-solving process that leads to new ideas and new solutions. With that ever-famous, there's no such thing as a bad idea, adaptability and Resilience. Effective leaders can guide their teams through challenges and changes, and fostering resilience and the ability to adapt to change. It is crucial for any long-term success of any organization, because change is good. Change is going to happen and you have to find a way to make that part of your process and not as an exception. Stronger relationships and trust is kind of like the combination of everything I've just discussed, because if you're doing that, that trust and that leadership kind of fits in as far as a relationship on how you're building that collaboration and success with your team. It's the foundation. So as we were going through this, we found other examples. Greg, why don't you talk about our next example?
Speaker 1:Thanks, John Centerforcreativeleadershiporg. We've used this as a source for other information for good leadership. They published an article May 17, 2024, based on research by several PhDs Marina Ruderman, Honorary Senior Fellow, Paige Graham, Global Manager of Portfolio, and Sarah Stowinski, VP of leadership research and analytics the keys to well-being and leadership. Better leaders create an environment where everyone can feel good about themselves and the work they do. There are six components that help you prioritize well-being leadership, and you're doing this for yourself as well as others. So leadership and employee well-being are connected. And here's how.
Speaker 1:In the early days of the pandemic, remember that Many organizations scrambled to help individual leaders optimize their personal effectiveness. With the increased focus on self-care, because there was a lot going on People having meetings on the screen, some people in the office, some people out of the office, Very disruptive time the pandemic left a wake of stress and burnout, so it wasn't just going through it, but it was the PTSD, so to speak, of the pandemic afterwards. So true, yeah. So while self-care is important and resilience is foundational to leading others, they're not enough by themselves. There's a broader focus on community connection and a sense of belonging is required for leaders to help achieve true employee well-being. The research that the Center for Creative Leadership found was that this is particularly true regarding leaders making meaningful connections when leading virtual teams. Again, remember the pandemic people working on a screen. They're not in the office in a cube next to you.
Speaker 1:Employee well-being requires leadership. So there's a stat here 72% of leaders report they often feel used up at the end of the day. Well, that's kind of defeating, isn't it? That's oh, that's a terrible position to be in. So, first, why does well-being matter, even particularly in the workplace? Who cares right? Well, when employees have a sense of well-being, they're more engaged and creative. Right, they're more productive. They also have a higher of well-being. They're more engaged and creative. Right they're more productive. They also have a higher rating of job satisfaction and their productivity is high as well. We've got studies that can demonstrate that. And as the importance of well-being and leadership is clear, as a leader, it is your duty, John, and I talk about this a lot. Whose duty is it? It is your duty to take care of others.
Speaker 1:John is right. You own it To take care of others and create an environment where others can be well. Let's continue with this thought. I like to think about well-being as feeling good and functioning well, both individually and within a community. That's what Dr Graham said. Both individually and within a community. That's what Dr Graham said. What the quiet quitting trend has taught organizations is that employees' well-being really does matter. Workers today aren't as willing to sacrifice everything for the jobs John and I can take you back down memory lane when that's what it felt like you were doing sacrificing everything for the job, right but instead they desire fulfilling careers where they can do meaningful work on a team where everyone is engaged to thrive, john.
Speaker 2:So I was looking at the different resources. So I found this interesting article the Importance of a Leader and Its Impact on People's Life, by Ernesto Drago Jr. And he's a hospitality leader and works in Miami, florida. This is an article from September 30th of 2024. And I found his words pretty much capstoned what I was thinking about when I was trying to find something to share with this community.
Speaker 2:Leadership is much more than guiding words towards a specific goal. It is the foundation upon which communities, organizations and even societies are built. Effective leadership not only drives success and innovation, but it profoundly influences personal and professional lives. When we talk about leadership, we are talking about the ability to inspire, motivate and create environments where people can thrive, grow and unlock their potential. At the core of great leadership is the understanding that people are the most important asset. I like to put an exclamation point on that just that concept itself. A true leader recognizes that unique value in each individual and what that individual brings and harnesses, and far as potential to foster creative process. This acknowledgement creates the environment where people feel seen, valued and respected Key elements to translate, that is, into higher morale, loyalty and productivity. When individuals feel empowered, they tend to do more to push towards their limits. When individuals feel empowered, they tend to do more to push towards their limits, contributing as much personal development as well as overall success for the organization.
Speaker 2:One of the most profound impact leadership has on the lives of fostering others is a sense of purpose. Purpose-driven leadership is beyond simply meeting the targets and driving profits. It focuses on helping individuals understand why they are doing what they are doing and how their efforts contribute to a larger mission. This sense of purpose can also be transformative effect on the lives of the individuals themselves. It motivates them to give their best, even during challenging times. It motivates them to give their best even during challenging times and infuses their work with meaning. When people feel that their work matters, it enhances their overall satisfaction and improves their personal and professional well-being.
Speaker 2:Leadership is so essential in shaping a positive culture. Leaders set the tone for what is acceptable and encouraged within the community and the organization. Through their actions, leaders demonstrate values like integrity, empathy, accountability and resilience. These behaviors, when molded consistently, become part of the collective ethos, influencing how individuals within the group interact amongst each other. A positive driven culture is strong leadership, by encouraging collaboration, innovation and respect, all of which create the environments that people can flourish. Greg, maybe you can help us out with the next element of this article. Thank you.
Speaker 1:John, yes. Furthermore, leadership has the power to inspire personal growth. Good leaders see potential in their folks, and they may not see it in themselves. So, by providing mentorship, feedback and opportunities for growth, leaders help individuals realize their full potential. So, whether through offering new challenges, maybe supporting continuous learning, simply being just a source of encouragement for your employees, leadership plays a vital role in helping people stretch beyond their current abilities and gain confidence and skills that can shape their future.
Speaker 1:And finally, the impact of leadership extends far beyond the workplace. Leaders influence people's lives in ways that echo their personal lives, shaping how they approach challenges, how they approach relationships and how they approach their own aspirations actually relationships and how they approach their own aspirations actually. Good leadership leaves a lasting legacy, encouraging individuals to adopt a mindset of growth, resilience and empathy, which they carry with them into their homes, communities and other areas of their lives. In conclusion, the importance of leadership cannot be overstated. Leaders have the power to change lives by inspiring people to grow, to believe in themselves and work towards something very meaningful. When leadership is done right, it transforms not only organizations but also individuals, empowering them to live full, more productive lives, empowering them to live full, more productive lives.
Speaker 2:I love this article. Hit the mark on why leaders can really have an effect on people. And as much as I try to talk about the detail of the position, this leader understood it very well and he understood how he can help not only get the results that he wanted from his people, but encourage the individuals themselves. Very good presentation of the concept. I think you have an example of something that happened in your background.
Speaker 1:I do, john. So this is a different kind of example. This is an example of well-being, for how good can you feel about work? How good can it get? So oftentimes HR what the well-rounded well-being looks like. So here's my example.
Speaker 1:There was a young, rising star in human resources, young leader, well-versed in the business, provided high-quality, one-stop HR support, a consummate professional who earned the respect of his business customers and his peers. Just incredible, distinguished himself with a broader business group and management teams. If I was profiling him I would have told you he was a devoted husband and father, good son, a sibling as well, intelligent, street smart, and he had that thing, that presence, that executive presence. So you're saying, well, greg, what's wrong with this guy? If you look the path that he was headed down, overall life was good, spouse and kids were thriving and he was doing that traditional corporate America ladder thing that looked like it was going in the right pace. But again, how good can you get what is real well-being?
Speaker 1:This young man had aspirations and wanted to act on. He was bursting at the seams. He had a strong desire to run his own company, to be an entrepreneur. He took the action to put a plan together, took a risk and he opened up his own search firm and he's done very, very well with that firm. He has created a great role model for his kids to chase their dreams while supporting his wife's career. So he was happy before, trust me, but now he's happier full engagement, he's got ultimate business responsibility and he's chased his dreams to create a new legacy. So work life was good and now it's better. How good can your well-being be? Live your best life, john.
Speaker 2:And I was thinking about an example myself, about trying to help the individuals and looking at the options and the things that you can do for the team that report to you. And I had this one leader, a group leader, and he struggled with his health. He had problems with his back, he had problems with his weight and what was interesting is he was a full career. He had already qualified for retirement, but it's what he understood was the job and he was committed to the job and although other people had talked about he should take up retirement, he was just persistent that he wanted to keep going and he had stopped by with his special need child one day and you could see how that child just clung to every word he had to say and how much the two of them were just like a perfect union and they made themselves complete. Where I'm going with this story is I wanted this individual to take care of his health because he needed to take care of his special needs child and he was struggling at work. His leadership position had changed and he was struggling. What was interesting is, whenever I tried to talk to him, there was resistance, because I was at an executive level and it was confrontational rather than communicative and I had real challenges trying to get past that barrier. So, you know, learn from the things that you're dealing with. I tried to bring in the most senior leader and talk about how we could help this struggling leader move ahead, and he repeated the same conversations. What was interesting is because that was the person that he would listen to, that he respected, because he was a peer. The same words that I was using were effective when it was a peer. It doesn't really matter if I, you know as the one to get the honor of helping him, to help him make that process. It was helping the individual. However, that can get done and it was really, really fun to see, a year later, him come back. He had lost a lot of weight, his back problems were minimized, he was biking to his place of former employment where he was working part-time teaching, and he was there with his son and they were just wonderful together and you could see that whole element of what changed over a 12-month period of time was miraculous. I know that he was better off. He would tell others he was happier and better off, but he still blamed me for leaving the job that he loved. It isn't so much trying to take credit, it's trying to look out for the individuals that are reporting to you, and he's probably one of the examples I feel best about, because I was able to help him take that next step, and that's the wellbeing element of it, and helping them not only see the work piece of it but the life and their own personal wellbeing, and that's what you're supposed to do when you're in leadership. So try to capstone this If you like what you've heard. I wrote a book called building your leadership toolbox that has some of these hints. So try to capstone this if you like what you've heard. I wrote a book called Building your Leadership Toolbox that has some of these hints in it. The book is available on Amazon and Barnes Noble.
Speaker 2:Our podcast is on what you're listening to. Thank you very much. It's also on Apple and Google and Spotify and other popular formats on Apple and Google and Spotify and other popular formats. A lot of what Greg and I talk about comes from what we've learned from Dr Durst and his MBR program, managed by Responsibility, and those lessons can still be captured on a website called successgrowthacademycom. If you'd like to get a hold of us, you can contact us at wwwauthorjawcom, and the music has been brought to you by my grandson, so we want to hear from you. When you get an opportunity, drop us a line. You have helped us with this program and it has been fun to present it to you.
Speaker 1:Well, greg thanks, thanks, john, as always.
Speaker 2:Next time yeah.