Talk Like a Leader
Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
Episodes
Love in Leadership
15 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode continues a series of four episodes inspired by the weeks of Advent. As I record this episode, we have just passed the Sunday of Advent t...
Creating Hope
08 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week is the first week of Advent 2020 and the theme for the week is hope, and that is the source of my inspiration for this episode. Hope creates...
Defer with an Explanation
01 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
At some time in your leadership journey, you will need to manage a timing or priority conflict with another person. They will stop you in the hall whi...
In Search of Positive
24 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Most people thrive in environments where there are more positive experiences than negative experiences, and it can be difficult to create that type of...
Head Mistakes vs. Heart Mistakes
17 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Mistakes. We all make them, and there are two different kinds with two completely different implications. In this episode, I'm looking at the differen...
Start with "Yes"
10 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
While learning to say "No" is a useful and powerful leadership skill, it can be the end of a conversation. And, while it is sometimes necessary to end...
Make Leadership Communication a Habit
03 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Habits are a funny thing. They can help you. They can hurt you. And, they happen automatically without conscious thought. This week, I'm sharing some ...
Not All Feedback is Negative
27 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Recently, I had an experience that revealed to me my true, subconscious view of the word feedback. In this episode, I'll share that experience, and wh...
Communication Blindspots Intensified by Remote Work
20 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The remote work environment and it's stressors can drive you and others deeper into your own communication blindspots. This week, I'm taking a look at...
Can Your Personality Change Over Time?
13 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When people take a DISC assessment, they often wonder if their style can change over time. The question shows up in two common ways: Either they think...
Lessons from Politicians: What NOT to Do in Leadership Communication
06 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this election season, we get to observe politicians from both major parties and from all political perspectives make their case for why they should...
Make Yourself Non-Threatening
29 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In a prior series of episodes, I explored the idea of unintentional threat triggers (and how to avoid them) using the DISC model as a framework. Last ...
If You Can Name It, You Can Tame It
22 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A great deal of Talking Like a Leader depends on remaining calm and rational in difficult – sometimes irritating – situations. Remaining calm and ...
Coaching Isn't Telling: A Lesson Learned the Hard Way
15 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When you are coaching a team member for improved performance, it is very tempting to just tell them what needs to be done so you can get on to the nex...
Leading Remotely: The Importance of Intentionality
08 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As working from home stretches to months rather than weeks, leaders find themselves planning for and communicating about longer time horizons while wo...
Chronic Conflict: It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better
01 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Like a home project that gets delayed for too long, chronic conflicts will continue to get worse the longer we ignore them. Also like a home project, ...
More Than Techniques - The Importance of Character
25 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As you work to develop your communication techniques to better Talk Like a Leader, I encourage you to consider the importance of character development...
Be Patient and Persistent
18 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
One of the biggest challenges I face in communication is remaining patient when an idea is very clear to me and it's not clear to the person with whom...
Speak to Actions and Results Rather Than to Character and Intelligence
11 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When we get frustrated with a person and allow our frustration to vent in the form of an attack on their character and intelligence, we resort to what...
How the DISC Model Can Cause Problems for You
04 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Properly applied, the DISC model is a powerful tool to help you become a better communicator. Improperly applied, it can cause significant problems fo...
Avoiding Confirmation Bias - Stay Curious
28 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A challenge that we all face in leadership communication is the struggle to fairly evaluate all sides of an issue before making a decision, and we all...
The Coaching Mindset with Carl Smith - Cautious Style
21 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This is our final episode in a 5-part series of conversations about the coaching mindset. Carl Smith is my guest, and we discuss the contribution Caut...
The Coaching Mindset with Carl Smith - Supportive Style
14 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing our discussion about the coaching mindset, Carl Smith and I consider the Supportive style contribution to coaching. Carl shares what he has...
The Coaching Mindset - Inspiring Style
07 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Carl Smith and I turn our attention to coaching discussions when one party has a primarily Inspiring trait using the DISC model terminology...
The Coaching Mindset - Dominant Style
30 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Carl Smith and I get more specific about coaching mindsets. Using the DISC model as a framework for understanding, we discuss what it...
The Coaching Mindset with Carl Smith
23 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing in the theme of considering our mindsets, this episode kicks off a 5-episode series on the coaching mindset. I'm joined by my friend and co...
What Mindsets Do You Use to Form Your Frames?
16 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
My conversation with Kevin Eikenberry about the importance of how you frame a problem continues in this episode. We discuss the meta-frame - or larger...
The Importance of How You Frame a Problem with Kevin Eikenberry
09 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Kevin Eikenberry joins me for a conversation about the importance of how you frame a problem when you communicate and work with other...
Provide Data Both Accurately and Honestly
02 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In prior episodes I have talked about Providing Context When You Share Data and Learning to Speak Accurately. In this episode, I'm looking at the ide...
Learn to Listen Accurately
26 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Last week, I discussed speaking accurately. This week, I'll explore accuracy on the other side of communication - listening. Just as speaking accurate...
Learn to Speak Accurately
19 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Striking the balance between overstating and understating a problem or situation depends on accurate speech. In this episode, I'll share thoughts on h...
Make Yourself Accessible
12 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This podcast is about more than just talking or sending messages. It's about the broader context of leadership communication. In this episode, I'll sh...
Beware of Transferred Aggression
05 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As a society, we are now well in to the first shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. While I can't foretell the future exactly, it appears that it ...
Fix the Problem Not the Blame
28 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When you are confronted with a problem it's easy to drift toward finding the person to blame. A better leadership response is to find the source of th...
Be Sensitive to Your Team's Environment
21 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Seeing things from another person's point of view is a key element in Talking Like a Leader. When you can't see your team's environment, it's easy to ...
Provide Context When You Share Data
14 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Leaders frequently need to communicate data in the form of numbers. When you're working with a team of people who know the context you operate in, tho...
Business Critical or Personal Desire
07 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As we confront the stresses and pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic and what we must do to adjust, it's easy to commingle our personal wishes and desi...
Understanding Time Perspectives - People Orientation
31 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This conversation with Carl Smith about time perspectives continues this week. This is the third of three episodes related to how people view and comm...
Understanding Time Perspectives - Task Orientation
24 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we continue the conversation with Carl Smith about time perspectives that we started two weeks ago. In this episode, Carl and I will explor...
When You Suddenly Find Yourself Leading Remotely
17 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As businesses around the country make quick adjustments to deal with the coronavirus outbreak, many people suddenly find themselves leading - at least...
Different Ways That People View Time
10 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Not everyone views time the same way, and those differences can become major drivers of stress, frustration, and conflict. This is the first of three ...
The Do's and Don'ts of Coaching Conversations
03 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When we try to coach people towards higher performance, it's easy to get frustrated and to make some common coaching mistakes. In this episode, I'll d...
The Pancake Theory of Communication
25 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In honor of National Pancake Day, I'm discussing the Pancake Theory of Communication. How is communication like a pancake? What can we learn about com...
Championing Change
18 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Change is emotional, and change is a choice. As leaders, we hope to help others make the choice to change rather than feel like they got forced to cha...
Speaking of Change
11 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Change communication is a topic that nearly warrants its own podcast. It's complicated, it's messy, and it has lots of conditional issues to consider....
Impact of Trust
04 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Carl Smith and I continue our conversation on building trust. This week, we'll discuss less the process of building trust and more the impact of it wi...
Thoughts on Building Trust
28 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Different people think about and approach building trust in different ways. In this episode, Carl Smith and I discuss the two sides of trust and how u...
What it Means to Talk Like a Leader with JJ Brun
21 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I'm excited to welcome my long time friend and colleague JJ Brun to the podcast. JJ is a communication and relationship expert from Ca...
With or For Rather than To
14 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I recently re-read what has become a leadership classic - Leadership and Self-Deception. It reminded me of the ways we interact with others as objects...
Three Communication Resolutions
07 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As we enter a new year, the idea of reflecting on the past year and thinking about changes for the new one are on many people's minds. Two weeks with ...
Think Beyond THIS Conversation
31 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
As we look forward to next year, many people reflect on the past and set goals for the future. This time of year can lead to focusing on specific time...
These Ideas Work with Family Too
24 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today, Christmas Eve, marks a day when many people will either be with family or about to be with family that they do not see on a regular basis. In f...
What It Means to Talk Like a Leader with Don Mann
16 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week, I have the honor of speaking with retired SEAL Team 6 member, adventure athlete, and NY Times best selling author Don Mann. Don has long ex...
The Power of Questions
10 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Leaders often know exactly what they want done and how they want it done, and telling people what to do is not likely to invite cooperation and enthus...
Overcoming Other People's Perceptions of You
03 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Leaders often find themselves in the position of having their motives and intentions misunderstood and misinterpreted. In today's episode, I'll share ...
Focusing on Gratitude to Talk Like a Leader
26 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Finding ways to stay positive, encouraging, and supportive rather than negative, critical, and judgmental of others is a powerful strategy in your lea...
Leadership Communication Mindset with Carl Smith
19 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How you think about your communications with others - your intentions and mindset - will make a big impact on your long-term communication effectivene...
Managing Expectations and Building Trust with Carl Smith
12 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Unmet expectations - spoken or otherwise - can lead to dissatisfaction and damaged trust. Damaged trust can, in turn, can slow communication and resul...
Accept, Approve, and Appreciate Others
04 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How we think about others affects how we interact with them, and how we interact with them often reveals how we think about them. This week, I'm cover...
Unintentional Threat Triggers - Cautious Style
29 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is the final episode of a 4 episode series looking at the ways each of us communicate and interact with others that can unintentionally c...
Unintentional Threat Triggers - Supportive Style
22 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is the third of four episodes looking at the ways each of us communicate and interact with others that can unintentionally create the pe...
Unintentional Threat Triggers - Inspiring Style
15 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is the second of four episodes looking at the ways each of us communicate and interact with others that can unintentionally create the p...
Unintentional Threat Triggers - Dominant Style
08 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We all communicate in ways that "trigger" other people. If you have Dominant style communication traits , you can unintentionally cause a perception o...
How Do You Talk to Yourself?
01 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We all have an inner voice, and we talk to ourselves. If this voice is negative, it can create problems for you as a leader. This week, we'll consider...
Five Ways to Deescalate Conflict
24 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I'll package together five conflict resolution strategies in one place. This episode compiles single points I've made in other places...
Communicate in a Way that Does NOT Convey Threat
17 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
There are things that all of us do that subtly and unintentionally create a feeling of threat in other people. When we do that, our communication effe...
Three Things to Consider in Written Communication
10 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode focuses on written communication and three things to consider (plus a bonus idea or two) before you write your message. As leading in...
Listening - The Other Side of Communication
03 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
While this podcast is titled "Talk Like a Leader," my real intent is to explore all the different ways we can become better communicators. In this ep...
What It Means to Talk Like a Leader with Eric Levos
27 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Inviting other people to share their perspective is something that I love to do on this podcast. This week, my long-time customer, colleague, and fri...
Three Things to Consider Before You Choose a Communication Technique
20 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
As a leader, you will communicate with people in many different ways and in many different situations. You'll be in meetings, in coaching conversatio...
What it Means to Talk Like a Leader with Kevin Eikenberry
13 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Leadership expert, Kevin Eikenberry, joins me on this episode to discuss what it means to talk like a leader. Kevin has both deep and broad experience...
Stay Positive, Avoid Negative
06 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When we interact with other people, observe other people, and think about other people, we can go either positive or negative. If we focus on the neg...
Talk About What You DO Want
30 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Many types of communication that come naturally and easily to us are not necessarily the best or most effective ways to communicate our vision, desir...
Why Use Communication Models and Why I Use DISC
23 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Recently, a listener asked why I use the DISC model and what I think of other models. Great question! In this episode, I'll share my thoughts on the g...
What Talking Like a Leader Means to Me
16 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Guy shares what talking like a leader means to him. After several episodes focused primarily on the skills of leadership communicatio...
Using the Power of Apology
09 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Many people struggle with apologizing when it could move a difficult situation forward. It's often said that leaders should never apologize and that a...
What It Means to Talk Like a Leader with Tom Butera
02 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode you'll learn from an experienced manufacturing leader, Tom Butera. Tom has been my friend, colleague, and customer for 16 years now, a...
Three Ways to Deal with an Angry Person
25 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
At some point in your leadership journey, probably at several points, you'll need to deal with a person who is angry. Common natural responses like wi...
Watch What You Say (About People)
18 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You're probably pretty good about what you say when you're with people. You're on your game. You're positive, encouraging, and considerate. The questi...
What NOT to Do with the DISC Model
11 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Communication and behavior models like the DISC model are great tools for building, communicating with, and inspiring your team. Used appropriately, t...
Learn to Manage Expectations
04 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When experience does not match expectations, people get frustrated, stressed, and angry. Frustrated, stressed, and angry people rarely work with energ...
Focus on the Future
28 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A common challenge leaders face is the tendency to drift into past focused conversations when trying to solve problems or coach team members. A key sk...
Try to Relate to Your Opponent
21 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When you find yourself in a conflict situation, it is tempting to "go on the attack" to make your point. Winning the argument can take center stage in...
How to Empower by DISC Style with Carl Smith
14 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This is the last of five episodes where I discuss the Four E's of Leadership (Engage, Encourage, Equip, and Empower) with my friend and colleague Ca...
How to Equip by DISC Style with Carl Smith
07 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Carl Smith, Master Trainer of the DISC model, returns to continue our conversation about the Four E's of Leadership (Engage, Encourage, Equip, and Emp...
Keep Learning and Searching with Carl Smith
30 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
My conversation with Carl continues in this episode. This is the third of five conversations we are having based on one part of our first conversatio...
How to Engage by DISC Style with Carl Smith
23 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Carl Smith, Master Trainer of the DISC model, returns for the second conversation triggered by the conversation Carl and I had the first time he visi...
How to Encourage by DISC Style with Carl Smith
16 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Carl Smith, Master Trainer of the DISC model, returns for a conversation about how to Encourage people based on their DISC communication style. This c...
What It Means to Talk Like a Leader with Carl Smith
09 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Carl Smith is a Master Trainer of the DISC Model of Human Behavior. He has helped leaders at all levels learn better, more effective communication ski...
The DISC Model of Human Behavior
02 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A critical skill for learning to Talk Like a Leader is seeing a situation and framing your communication from the perspective of the other person. Too...
Question What You Know is True
26 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It's incredibly tempting to run with what you know before you investigate and inquire. It's easy to fill in gaps in understanding with assumptions bas...
Six Questions for Collaborative Communication
19 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Collaboration is a big part of team work and joint problem solving. Leading a team meeting, coaching a team member on their performance, setting goals...
Three Ways to Irritate Others and How to Correct It
12 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In your Leadership journey, you will inevitably have to speak with someone who is irritated or angry. While you can't avoid the situation entirely, yo...
Emotions are the Barrier to Change
12 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When you take a Leadership role, you enter the change game. Change is a constant for people who aspire to lead. If you want to get better and creating...
Data Tells and Stories Sell
12 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Leaders rarely need to sell physical products or services to their teams, and that doesn't mean they don't sell. Instead of physical goods and service...