Most Leaders Focus on Results—Why That’s a Recipe for Disaster with Kyle McDowell

Join us for a discussion about authenticity and relatability as the foundation of effective leadership. Kyle McDowell is the bestselling author of "Begin With WE." One of my favorite parts of this episode is when he explains his system for setting clear expectations and inspiring people to do great work. You can get the Magnetic Systems Method (and other systems guides) to find issues before they become expensive problems. Highlights from the show: 1. Importance of authenticity and relatability in leadership Kyle discusses how he has always believed that authenticity and relatability are the foundation of effective leadership. He shares how he has focused on connecting with the people he leads, rather than just the processes and procedures, in order to build trust and enable their success. 2. Establishing clear expectations and enabling employee success He  explains his approach to setting clear expectations with his team members during onboarding, and then working to remove any obstacles or roadblocks that prevent them from being successful. He emphasizes the importance of having open conversations to understand what each person needs from him as a leader. 3. Inspiring and motivating the team through challenges  He discusses how he inspires and motivates his team, not just by focusing on metrics and results, but by understanding the personal and professional challenges they face. He shares a story about owning up to a $10 million mistake and how that built trust and loyalty with his team. 4. The 10 "We" principles for building a culture of excellence  He outlines the 10 "We" principles he has developed to build a culture of excellence, including doing the right thing, leading by example, owning mistakes, and challenging each other. He explains how these principles have become embedded in the culture of the organizations he has led. 5. Influential leaders who shaped Kyle's approach  He shares two leaders who have significantly influenced his leadership approach - Harry Kramer, the former CEO of Baxter International, and William Krenz, a COO he reported to earlier in his career. He discusses the valuable lessons he learned from each of them about the importance of values-based leadership and caring for employees as people. Learn more about Kyle McDowell over at his website. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn. As always, if you have any questions or want to submit an amazing guest for the podcast, just reach out to me on the Systematic Leader website, and I’ll do my best to get them on. If you enjoy the interview, please take 30 seconds to rate the Systematic Leader podcast on your favorite platform. Thanks!