Linda is a Queen Leader: leading Boldly: Unveiling the 'I' in Team Leadership

Tune in to hear Queen Linda tell us the BIGGEST things standing in our way as leaders. There really IS an "I" in TEAM, and that's something most leaders miss. Boldly leading means doing things that are hard, like having the hard conversations and truly listening to your intuition. Linda and Amy engaged in a wide-ranging discussion during their podcast meeting. Their conversation covered various topics, including podcast preparation, leadership, courage in decision-making, diversity in the corporate world, personal branding, professional relationships, the impact of Covid, and even Linda's journey with belly dancing. Here's a concise summary of their discussion: 💬 Review and Rating Request for Podcast Amy Singleton initiated the conversation by requesting listeners to take a moment to review and rate the podcast episode. She emphasized the importance of these reviews and ratings for the podcast's reach and influence. 🎙 Podcast Guest Preparation and Episode Format The conversation began with Linda expressing her excitement about being a guest on Amy's podcast. They discussed Linda's past speaking experiences and shared mutual admiration for each other. Amy outlined the format for Linda's upcoming episode, emphasizing a conversational style and a duration of around 20-30 minutes. They also touched on Linda's recent haircut mishap and her interest in discussing topics such as feral leadership and being autistic in the business world. Amy mentioned that Linda would receive a Google Drive folder containing graphics and reels for their episode, scheduled for release on April 3rd. 🍃 Feral Leadership: A Return to Nature Linda and Amy delved into the concept of "feral" leadership, a term Linda has been passionate about. They defined "feral" as a return to wildness, breaking free from constraints, and rediscovering natural instincts. They explored how this concept could apply to leadership, fostering innovation, critical thinking, and effective decision-making. They also discussed the growing need for human connection and a return to basic nature in a world heavily reliant on online interaction. 🌈 Autism and Corporate Diversity: Linda's Story Linda shared their personal experience with autism and discussed their observations of the corporate environment. They opened up about their career struggles, including a late autism diagnosis, sensory issues, and the importance of embracing individuality and creativity. Both Linda and Amy criticized the trend towards uniformity and perfectionism in the workplace and advocated for greater appreciation of diversity and unique contributions. ⭐ Importance of Exceptions and HR Support Linda shared an anecdote about seeking an exception to a policy for a former colleague with a DUI. They highlighted the significance of considering the human aspect of exceptions and the role of HR in supporting employees through challenges. Amy agreed with Linda's points regarding the importance of facing difficult conversations and HR's role in employee support. 🌟 Courage, Growth, and Fairness in Decision Making The conversation shifted towards the importance of courage in decision-making. Linda shared their personal journey of choosing comfort over courage and how this transition led to personal growth. Amy echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the significance of moving forward despite fear and doubts. They also discussed Linda's recent move to North Carolina, emphasizing the importance of fairness in work arrangements and questioning the fairness of employers paying for employees to live in expensive cities like San Francisco. 💇 Pompadour Fade Personal Brand Experience Linda shared their personal experiences related to their unique hair style, a pompadour fade, which has become their personal brand. They humorously recounted a mishap at an old-school barber shop and an incident where a barber refused to cut their hair due to gender issues. The conversation ended on a light-hearted note. 👥 Leadership, Culture, and Professional Growth Linda shared their experiences in non-traditional workplaces, such as the oil field and the car business. They emphasized the importance of supportive leaders who invest in their team's development, citing an instance where a general manager invested in their training despite a costly mistake. Both Linda and Amy discussed the benefits of helping others in their professional circles, likening it to sending an elevator back down to help others ascend. They highlighted the increased opportunities for success in the business world, especially for entrepreneurs. Effective communication and respect within team dynamics were also emphasized. 🤝 Professional Relationships With Former Employees Amy and Linda discussed the need to maintain professional relationships with former employees and not treat them poorly. They emphasized the importance of creating a community of alumni, even when employees move on to other companies. Leadership was identified as playing a key role in setting the tone for such relationships. 🌐 Professionalism, Authenticity, and Covid Impacts Linda and Amy stressed the importance of professionalism and authenticity. They discussed the impact of Covid on work and personal life and highlighted the necessity of speaking up for those whose voices aren't heard. Both shared their personal experiences with Covid and how it affected their lives. The conversation eventually transitioned to the topic of belly dancing, with Linda sharing their experiences and emphasizing cultural sensitivity in dance. 💃 Dance Instructor Trainee's Journey and Resource Sharing Linda, a dance instructor trainee, shared their journey with the group. They mentioned a program spanning over five years, including a year of study in between stages. Linda also shared a fun free resource for listeners: by texting 'CURIOUS' to a specified number, participants could enter a drawing for a 2-hour teaching session with Linda. Linda also brought a bubble wand as a prop, which they use during workshops to signal the end of sessions. 📆 Next Steps To wrap up, Amy mentioned that Linda's episode is scheduled for release on April 3rd. Review and Rate for Podcast: Both Linda and Amy kindly requested listeners to review and rate the podcast episode to support its reach and influence. Connect with Linda Clark: http://www.linda-clark.com/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindaclarkokc/ facebook.com/executivechameleon  Text CURIOUS to 66866 to enter to win a 2 hour coaching session for you or your team! Please consider taking a moment to review and rate this podcast episode to support its mission and reach. For more information about Amy Singleton, speaking engagements, or collaboration opportunities in marketing, visit AmySingleton.net.