STOP ASKING “WHY DIDN’T YOU?”: DALE TURNBULL ON ADAPTIVE LEADERSHIP

STOP ASKING “WHY DIDN’T YOU?”: DALE TURNBULL ON ADAPTIVE LEADERSHIP What if your employees are not ignoring your instructions—what if your leadership approach simply is not reaching them? On this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Dale Turnbull, founder of Lead Adapt Impact and creator of the Seven Positions of Leadership framework. After studying German and Spanish, Dale entered recruitment and spent more than 12 years in learning and development. His frustration with repeatedly telling people what to do led him to ask a harder question: If an employee has been told the same thing 100 times, how responsible is the leader for finding a better way to communicate? That realization led Dale to study neuro-linguistic programming, hypnosis, personality differences, motivation, and behavioral flexibility. His work helps leaders understand how people process information so they can tailor communication without manipulating, labeling, or limiting anyone. Dale believes most employees want to do a good job. The challenge is that leaders often teach, motivate, and manage people according to what worked for them. That approach may succeed with employees who think similarly—but fail with everyone else. The Seven Positions of Leadership framework encourages leaders to recognize their natural strengths while developing the flexibility to lead from different positions. Sometimes a team needs a trailblazer out front. Sometimes it needs a guide beside them, a coach behind them, or a values-driven leader pointing toward the right path. Effective leadership is not about permanently adopting one style. It is about choosing the position that creates the greatest impact in that particular moment. In this episode, you will discover: • Why repeating the same instruction rarely solves a communication problem • How leaders can adapt messages for emotional and logical thinkers • Why personality assessments should inform people—not imprison them • How introverts and extroverts process information differently • Why understanding motivation is essential for engagement • The difference between moving toward a goal and away from pain • Why “Why didn’t you do that?” immediately creates defensiveness • How “What made you choose differently?” opens a productive conversation • Why leadership titles do not automatically create influence • How the Seven Positions of Leadership framework increases flexibility • Why being right can prevent leaders from hearing better ideas • How to review difficult experiences without judging yourself • Why confidence grows through practicing uncomfortable actions • How admitting mistakes creates trust with employees • Why personal goals must align with team and company objectives • How honest leaders can help employees recognize when another path fits better A BETTER QUESTION When an employee makes a decision you do not understand, avoid beginning with an accusation. Instead of asking, “Why didn’t you do what I told you?” try asking: “What made you choose to handle it differently?” That question replaces blame with curiosity. The employee may have received competing priorities, misunderstood the desired outcome, or made a decision that was reasonable based on the information available. Once leaders understand the thinking behind the behavior, they can coach the decision instead of attacking the person. SEED FOR THE MAGIC GARDEN High performers often become their own harshest critics. Self-criticism may encourage improvement, but it can also erase any appreciation for what went well. At the end of each day, ask yourself three questions: • What are two things I did well today? • What progress should I acknowledge? • What is one thing I could choose to do differently next time? This is not about identifying everything you did wrong. It is a nonjudgmental practice for recognizing success while continuing to grow. Plant that seed every day, and you may become not only a more capable leader—but a happier and prouder one. CONNECT WITH DALE TURNBULL Lead Adapt Impact: https://www.leadadaptimpact.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daleturnbull Explore Dale’s leadership coaching, communication training, team-development programs, and Seven Positions of Leadership framework. #PeaceLoveAndBringABat #DaleTurnbull #AdaptiveLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #CommunicationSkills #ExecutiveCoaching #TeamPerformance #NLP #SelfAwareness #LeadAdaptImpact To support us: https://davidchametzky.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@davidchametzkyNOW https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/peace-love-and-bring-a-bat/id1552738547