070: Get the Right People With the Right Strengths in the Right Place

Bob Boyes has dual executive leadership responsibilities with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. At the department, he works as a State Forester as well as Deputy Director. He is responsible for the Division of Forestry, the Division of Wildlife, the Mineral Resource Management, and the office of Real Estate Land Management. With his extensive leadership experience, Bob offers some key advice on how to be an excellent leader, the differences between being a frontline manager and an executive, and what he looks for in a new hire.   Key Takeaways: [:55] A message from Leadership Nature. [1:35] A quick intro about Bob's background. [3:00] How did Bob become interested in forestry? [6:30] What was Bob's transition like from forester to leader? [11:05] What's the difference between being a frontline manager and being an executive? [13:35] What is Bob the proudest of in his career? [16:40] How does Bob find his talent? What kind of forester does he look for? [18:10] Bob discusses the generational differences in the talent pool and what he's learned from the younger generation so far. [22:15] What did Bob wish he learned about leadership early on in his career? [28:15] Once you've accepted that everybody's different, then everything else ends up making sense. [31:35] What are some of the best ways a new forester can improve their skills? [33:25] What kind of future challenges do foresters need to be thinking about? [35:40] Bob recommends reading Shackleton's Way and The Sociopath Next Door to help better understand people. [38:55] Bob shares some final words of wisdom: Always retain an open mind!   Mentioned in This Episode: Ohiodnr.gov Shackleton's Way: Leadership Lessons from the Great Antarctic Explorer, by Margot Morrell and Stephanie Capparell The Sociopath Next Door, by Martha Stout