Eddie Turner:

Hello, everyone! Welcome to the Keep Leading!® Podcast, the podcast dedicated to leadership development and insights. I’m your host Eddie Turner, The Leadership Excelerator®. I work with leaders to accelerate performance and drive impact through the power of executive coaching, masterful facilitation, and motivational speaking.

Some leaders think leadership is about communicating top down. Is top-down communication the most effective form of communication as a leader? My guest today says no. My guest today says leaders are more effective when they use a coaching style for communicating. Using a coaching style is more effective and provides a whole new structure for communication that enriches a company’s culture and employee-leader relationships. My guest today who explained to us how to communicate like a leader is Lisa Spinelli. Lisa is a senior content manager at the Association for Talent Development. Many know that as ATD. And she’s also the host of the Accidental Trainer Podcast for ATD. Here with me today, I’m super excited to welcome Lisa Spinelli to the Keep Leading!® Podcast.

Hi, Lisa!

Lisa Spinelli:

Hi, Eddie! How are you doing?

Eddie Turner:

I’m well. Thank you for being here.

Lisa Spinelli:

Thank you so much for having me. It’s a real pleasure to be on here.

Eddie Turner:

It’s such a pleasure to have you. Can you tell my listeners a little bit more about you, Lisa?

Lisa Spinelli:

Oh, my goodness, where to start. Okay, I have worked at ATD for about three years. I am a reformed journalist and content manager for business to business type of organizations. I created and managed the transitioning service member workshops Troops to Trainers and because apparently, I’m kind of redundant in my titles for things, I’m also the editor and main contributor for the book Teachers to Trainers and that published in October 2020. So, I’m working towards my ACC Coaching Certification and I’m just trying to be a part of this great career development talent development community.

Eddie Turner:

Wonderful. Well, I absolutely am passionate about the field of talent development and you working for our premier organization in the field is what makes me want to talk to you. That and you’re just pretty cool. I’ve enjoyed some of the work that you’ve been doing – your show, your podcast, and then also you manage the content. So, a lot of what we’re seeing comes from you.

Lisa Spinelli:

Yes, me and a whole team of content managers are putting together that wonderful ATD content that you’re seeing that could be videos or conference speakers or webcasts, blogs, books. So, there’s a team definitely and I’m not the only one but, yes, I do love being a part of ATD and all things to do with their content.

Eddie Turner:

Yes. And I know that oftentimes we see those who are managing social media channels or … it’s just nice to peek behind the lens a little bit and to meet the person who’s making it happen because you also are the face of the ATD career portal.

Lisa Spinelli:

Yes, thank you. Yeah, I am there front and center.

Eddie Turner:

Yes. And so, folks who are looking for their next opportunity, folks who are looking to develop, it’s not just about necessarily content but Lisa publishes daily new opportunities that organizations have posted and made available.

Now, your background as a journalist, you just aren’t any journalists. Tell us where you received your journalism degree from.

Lisa Spinelli:

Yes, I went to Columbia University, the Graduate School of Journalism, graduated in 2004, which really dates me and now I’m going to have to go do something cool and fun to make myself feel younger.

Eddie Turner:

Well, the young people on campus that I coach are telling me that I’ve got to put on a Tik-Tok video if I want any kind of …

Lisa Spinelli:

Oh yeah. I don’t know how to do that. Definitely don’t even know where to start with that one.

Eddie Turner:

I haven’t figured it out either and I’m reticent to even think about it. So, I’m still officially not cool according to them.

Lisa Spinelli:

That’s too bad. I think you’re pretty cool.

Eddie Turner:

Oh, well, thank you, Lisa. Yeah. So, I love the fact that you are a journalist by training and I will tell you that I have a lot more respect for the field, the profession of journalism because of my mentor. He was an accountant by trade but he spent a lot of time in journalism classes. When he was younger, he was the editor of his college newspaper and such. He talked about the value of the training you receive as a journalist to his work even today as the partner of a prestigious firm. He writes and communicates far better than any of his peers so much so he actually teaches a writing course as a result. And so, when I went back to school as an adult, I took maybe two or three journalism classes because of what he told me. He’s absolutely right. Any time spent in a journalism course is truly life-changing and beneficial for leaders everywhere.

Lisa Spinelli:

Yeah, it’s really amazing to me. The skills that I’ve learned from interviewing and listening and researching in journalism, it can be applied to so many other professions like trainers, instructional designers, leaders, managers. I mean, yeah, there’s coaches. There’s definitely a lot of overlap in those areas.

Eddie Turner:

Indeed. And now, you’ve used your expertise to work for magazines and you’ve done a lot of very high-profile work in addition to what you’re doing for ATD but you now help other leaders to understand that communication is crucial to how they show up. So, tell us about that.

Lisa Spinelli:

Right. I kind of try to marry, like we said, the journalism skills and the communication knowledge and just put it out there not necessarily just for what people classically think as leaders because I think there’s maybe a misconception a lot of the times that leaders are only people in positions of power in an organization but you could be a leader as a team member. You can be a leader in your community. You can be a leader in so many different aspects of your life that you don’t necessarily have to be an executive, let’s say, or in the C-suite to be considered a leader. And communication, I mean, you can’t find an instance where communication is not key towards the development and the furthering of relationships, right? So, it’s definitely a big passion of mine to relay the more constructive ways to communicate.

Eddie Turner:

Would you say that communication is one of the most overlooked skills for leaders today?

Lisa Spinelli:

I think that it’s definitely not emphasized enough. I think people are starting to talk about it a lot more nowadays especially after COVID hit but are they doing it right? I don’t know that they’re doing it right. I don’t know that I’ve heard “Wow! Leaders are just really nailing this communication down with their team members.” I don’t hear that. I don’t know, Eddie. Are you hearing that?

Eddie Turner:

No, I hear that more is needed.

Lisa Spinelli:

Definitely, definitely. We talk a lot about how soft skills are really being emphasized nowadays, the empathy piece, adaptability, resilience. And I feel like communication has to be at the core of all of those. So, yes, I think maybe we’re not talking about communication enough when we’re talking about the skills development for leaders.

Eddie Turner:

What are two types of communication we need to be concerned about?

Lisa Spinelli:

Oh, there’s so many. Yeah, I think none of them are necessarily evil in and of themselves. I think not having the self-awareness around your communication style is what trips people up, right? So, if you have a very bold communication style or you have an aggressive communication style, it’s not that you can’t be blunt, you can’t be a little bit more up in people’s face than perhaps a more passive communicator but knowing your audience, knowing your limits knowing, the situation is going to definitely spin that style in a way that’s going to be more appealing and effective and productive rather than shoot yourself in the foot.

Eddie Turner:

So, you’re talking about the interpersonal communication. You’re talking about the self-awareness component. So, sometimes that involves what we say as communicators. Is there any area about what we write to be concerned about in our communication?

Lisa Spinelli:

Oh, sure. Right now, I think whether you’re writing or you’re talking to people, during COVID everybody’s become very transactional, right? We’ve seen this a lot more since people have started working fully remote. So, people are not going down and just walking down the hallway and reaching out to their staff members, hanging out with their team. They’re just becoming super transactional and short. And so, we’re losing that personal touch, that emotional connection to people. And there’s not a lot of open, honest co-active listening and learning from each other. So, that’s definitely an area of growth that we need to get back to and we need to grow in that area as well.

Eddie Turner:

What would that look like?

Lisa Spinelli:

Well, you pulled a coaching move on me right there, didn’t you? See? You know what I’m talking about. Yeah, what would that look like? That would look like more thoughtful check-ins. That would look like engaging your employees and your staff and your colleagues honestly more often. I know people, they’ve got virtual fatigue, right? We all are getting that but even if you’re not picking up the phone, even if you’re just checking in over whatever chat function your organization has, just to say hi, I know it’s crazy because right now nobody is basically reaching out to non-family and close friends anymore to just say “Hi. Hey, checking in. Haven’t talked to you in a long time,” see what’s going on with that whole person, be your transparent and authentic self and just reach out and foster those lines of communication so when there is a problem that it’s not “Oh, I haven’t heard from you in two months” and all of a sudden you’re knocking down my door with something that you need or an issue that you need addressed.

Eddie Turner:

Yes, very good, very good. Yeah, I asked that because for those who may be listening, they genuinely may wonder “Well, yes, what would that look like and what steps can I take?” So, thank you for identifying that. Those who have a lack of self-awareness as a communicator, they may not know what that first step should be. So, you’re right. Checking in on people, dialing up our empathy a little bit more, post COVID we need a lot more communication and a lot more self-awareness perhaps than we’ve ever needed.

Lisa Spinelli:

Definitely, yeah. And I think because we are working in this remote environment, it is so much easier to fall into the trap of blunt transactional type of communication and emails and meetings and then you have to run to the next thing, you got to go pick up your kid from camp, you got to go you know run and take care of another meeting that’s going to happen over Zoom or whatever it is. You just don’t have the time, it feels like. I know people think we got back like all this time but I don’t really feel like I have all this time anymore.

Eddie Turner:

Yes, it seems as though we have more time because we’re not commuting to work but we’re using that time we would have commuted to still do more work. So, it isn’t as if necessarily in some cases we gained more time.

Lisa Spinelli:

No. Yeah, I feel like now the lines have been so blurred which I know this is a big pain point for a lot of people but, yeah, we don’t have any more time. No more me time, that’s for sure.

Eddie Turner:

So, leaders need to be more aware of how they’re communicating verbally and in writing and to use the power of communication as a leader to inspire their people and support their people now and post pandemic.

Lisa Spinelli:

Yes.

Eddie Turner:

I’m having a fantastic conversation with Lisa Spinelli. Lisa Spinelli is a senior content manager at the Association for Talent Development and she’s the host of the Accidental Trainer Podcast.

We’ll have more with Lisa right after this.

Eddie Turner:

All right, we’re back, everyone. I am talking to the amazing Lisa Spinelli. Lisa is a senior content manager for the Association for Talent Development and she’s the host of the Accidental Trainer Podcast.

Lisa, before the break we talked about communicating like a leader and now I want to switch gears a little bit. You aren’t just a journalist. You have taken things to a new level. I understand that you just completed your coach certification training.

Lisa Spinelli:

Yes, Eddie, you’re right. I just finished my George Mason University Coaching Program, so on my way to getting my ACC Certification.

Eddie Turner:

That is absolutely fantastic. The world needs more coaches and I know you’re going to be a phenomenal coach.

Lisa Spinelli:

Oh, thanks.

Eddie Turner:

Everyone who goes through coach training tells me that they’re never the same afterward. How did coach training change you as a communicator?

Lisa Spinelli:

Well, it definitely made me stop and think before I jump right in. I’m a very energetic type of personality. So, I definitely just jump right in a lot of the times when I feel like I have something to say or add to the situation. It really helped me to learn to take a pause, let people really say what they need to say and use those coactive listening skills. So, I think that that was definitely one aspect. And then trying not to because we all do have a lot of assessments in our heads, we have a lot of attachments and triggers and trying hard not to get triggered and have those emotional reactions and things like that pop out immediately after a trigger has happened when you’re talking to somebody. So, really taking different perspectives and taking a step back, I think, has definitely helped in my communication.

Eddie Turner:

It makes a big difference. I’ve been an ATD member for years but full disclosure, I guess I should say I’m not an ATD employee like you are but I am a contractor. So, ATD is one of my big clients and I facilitate the Global Coaching Certificate Program and I did that this week and I love that program. And when working with leaders who take it, they’re not necessarily people who want a coaching certification, they want the certificate but they want those coaching skills to use as leaders. And I always say in the program that the number one skill that a coach brings is their ability to listen. And, of course, we talk about the different layers of listening. So, it’s good to hear you say how that has impacted you and your ability to communicate as a leader.

Lisa Spinelli:

Yes, definitely. And I think that the core competencies that ICF really lists out, there are eight of them, and I really thought about this and how they kind of translate to communication and I think they really do. If you really stop and think about it, we’re talking about transparency, authenticity which a lot of people think “Oh, you’re being authentic and transparent” when you’re just basically telling all but no, it’s really about just being honest about who you are and staying true to your values, leading with heart. I think there’s a lot to all of the competencies. So, I don’t want to like go through maybe every single one, there are so many, but providing that safe and trusted environment, I think, right now is one of the biggest things that leaders could do. There’s so much uncertainty right now and providing that psychological safety to your employees and letting them know that they can come to you with any concern, I think, is going to be one of the best parts of these kinds of core competencies that ICF lays out that could be translated over to leadership right now.

Eddie Turner:

I love the fact you’re making this connection because I don’t know if I necessarily looked at it that way but you’re absolutely right. The ICF competencies really are underpinned by communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal, because a lot of times, of course, when we’re talking about listening, we’re talking about listening to what the client has not said.

Lisa Spinelli:

That’s right. Those somatic cues and their expressions and reading between the lines and paying attention really to that whole person, I think, is so key, especially now because we’re virtual, we don’t know what’s going on with people in their lives and what they’re dealing with. There are so many different boats that people are in. We all went through this together but we all went in very different boats. So, I think everybody’s coming across to the shore on the other side and some people are a little bit more wrangled than others. So, yeah, I think providing the safety that that we just talked about and really putting some of these competencies into play is going to help a lot of organizations out there.

Eddie Turner:

Absolutely It’s so true and, again, now more than ever as we’re at the end of this pandemic, hopefully, and coming out trying to get to the other side. I saw a meme that said it beautifully. It says “People begin to heal once they feel heard.”

Lisa Spinelli:

That’s beautiful. Yeah, I like that.

Eddie Turner:

And so, it just really underscores using the communication skill of listening and not necessarily the communication skill of speaking.

Lisa Spinelli:

Definitely. Yeah, it reminds me of this study that I had looked at back but when I had started the coaching program. I think, it was in like 2015 or 2016. It was a pretty small study, to be honest, but they had these evaluators that were looking at MRIs of people’s brains and seeing when someone was coactively listening to them, what was happening. And the reward sections of their brains were firing off. And I thought that was just so interesting that when someone is listening to you, you actually feel rewarded almost like it’s a treat.

Eddie Turner:

Isn’t that special?

Lisa Spinelli:

Yeah. It’s really beautiful that all you have to do is just really be there, you just be there, listen to somebody, actually listen, and they feel respected, they feel valued, it’s crazy that they feel rewarded by your gift of time.

Eddie Turner:

And it is a reward. It is the biggest gift I say in the program. It’s the biggest gift that we can give to another human being because in our 24×7, hyper-stimulated, digital technological society, people very often do not give themselves the gift of silence and they certainly don’t necessarily get the gift of having someone listen to them and give them their full presence. And so, it truly is a gift.

Lisa Spinelli:

Very, true.

Eddie Turner:

Now, Lisa, you are also the host of the Accidental Trainer Podcast for ATD. Tell us about the podcast.

Lisa Spinelli:

Oh, yeah. I enjoy doing the podcast. As you know, it’s so much fun. One of the reasons why I got into journalism is just that I love to meet people, I love to hear their stories, I love everything about stories and people. So, getting to interview people that I would never maybe have come across otherwise and learning their stories and, of course, we list out expertise that they have, tips and tricks for people who have fallen into this wonderful world of training and talent development. So, we have people that come on from all walks of that field. We have e-learning professionals and brain scientists all the way to instructional designers and coaches. So, yeah, Eddie, we’re going to have to get you on there so that we can fulfill the big circle of life here.

Eddie Turner:

Well, see, I was trying to just keep you on the other side of the mic this time since you’re always conducting the interviews. We’re kind of flipping the script on you today.

Lisa Spinelli:

Yeah, it’s fun. I love it.

Eddie Turner:

Well, you’ve moved from the Accidental Trainer Podcast to also adding author to your list of titles and accomplishments. So, tell us about your new book.

Lisa Spinelli:

Oh, thank you so much. Yes, the Teachers to Trainers book, we started to look at people who were entering into the field of talent development. And naturally there are a lot of teachers because, as you can imagine, K through 12 teachers have a lot of transferable skills to teaching adults. So, we put together a list of people that are contributors for different chapters of the book and reached out to them and got their stories, their transitions, what they wish they had known. And so, it was put together and published in October of 2020 and just really, I’m hoping for it to be a good resource for teachers out there. We know a lot of teachers are leaving the field right now. They’re looking for new and different opportunities but looking to keep their skills. And there just honestly aren’t a ton of resources for teachers who are looking to make their exit.

Eddie Turner:

Well, you’ve provided a fine resource for them. Again, the title of the book is Teachers to Trainers: Apply Your Passion and Skills to A New Career, available on paperback form as well as Kindle and amazon.com and the Association for Talent Development’s bookstore.

Lisa, I’ve enjoyed our conversation. What’s the main message you’d like our listeners to take away from our time together?

Lisa Spinelli:

I would say that the main message is that if you’re not sure if you’re communicating effectively with your team and you’re not really sure if there’s room for improvement there, there probably is. And if you’re looking to learn more about a coaching communication style, I would direct everybody to look at the ICF Core Competencies and, of course, check out ATD and find out more about how they can communicate effectively.

Eddie Turner:

Indeed. And ATD and ICF are different organizations but sister organizations and collaborate in a lot of ways and on different programs.

Wonderful. Thank you for sharing that. And as a leader, is there a piece of advice or quote you use that helps you to keep leading?

Lisa Spinelli:

Oh sure, yeah. I really love, I mean, she has a million followers, so it’s not like this is going to be original here but Brené Brown. I love her quote on “Integrity is choosing courage over comfort.” She also has a great one about “Being passionate about listening as much as you are about being heard.” So, I think that really fits right here in our communication really. Be passionate about listening and it’s amazing the rewards that you are giving people just by being there.

Eddie Turner:

“Be as passionate about listening as you are about wanting to be heard.” I love that. Good. Lisa, where can my listeners learn more about you?

Lisa Spinelli:

Well, you can definitely find me at ATD.org and I have my podcast also on the website at ATD.org but it’s a little bit tougher to find on the website now that we went through redesign. So, it’s ATDPodcast.Libsyn.com. And, of course, you can find me on LinkedIn.

Eddie Turner:

Excellent. I’m going to encourage everyone to follow you on LinkedIn, also go to Apple Podcast and just type ATD and you’ll find her podcast there. Listen to her podcast, follow Lisa and stay connected.

Lisa, thank you so much for being an incredible guest and helping us understand how to communicate as a leader so we can keep leading.

Lisa Spinelli:

Thank you so much, Eddie. It was such a pleasure to be here and you’re such a fun host.

Eddie Turner:

Thank you. I appreciate you, Lisa.

That concludes this episode, everyone. This is Eddie Turner, The Leadership Excelerator®, reminding you that leadership is not about our position or our title. Leadership is an activity. Leadership is action. It’s not the case of once a leader, always a leader. It’s not a garment we put on and take off. We must be a leader at our core and allow it to emanate in all we do. So, whatever you’re doing, always keep leading.

Eddie Turner:

Okay, we are live. So, I want to say hello, everyone! Welcome to the Keep LIVE. Keep Leading LIVE plus the Leading Keep Leading!® Podcast is dedicated to leadership development and insights. I’m your host Eddie Turner, The Leadership Excelerator®. I work with leaders to accelerate performance and drive impact through the power of facilitation, executive and leadership coaching, and professional speaking.

Today we are streaming live on YouTube and Facebook as we do every Monday at 1:10 p.m. Central Standard Time. Please let us know you’re here. Drop a note in the comment section so that we know you’re here.

In fact, already, before I can even get started, it looks like David Banks has joined us. David Banks has joined from YouTube. Thank you, David, for joining and letting us know you’re here.

So, please, if you’re here with us, do like David. Let us know you’re here, tell us where you’re from and if you have a question for my esteemed guest today, please, don’t hesitate to let us know what your questions are.

If you’re not already following Vincent Phipps and myself, please do so on social media and hit the like button. Hit the like button, share with your friends, open up another browser window, share with your friends so they can join and be a part of this as well.

All right. And it looks like I can’t even get to the introductions. And here we go. We got Uncle Wayne here. I guess that’s your Uncle Wayne.

Vincent Phipps:

He’s everybody’s Uncle Wayne, Eddie.

Eddie Turner:

All right, he’s everybody’s uncle Wayne. Wayne Brown in Chattanooga has joined us. Thank you much, very much. And we also have Liam Gowen from Atlanta, Georgia. Thank you for joining and being a part of this broadcast.

All right, we’re off to a great start already.

Vincent Phipps:

No, we’ll continue.

Eddie Turner:

I see. Okay, fantastic.

So, yes, share this with your friends. Let them know that they can come and be a part of this show live. This is a live stream but it will also be a podcast that we release in another two months or so where you can play this on a regular podcast wherever you download your podcast.

Now, let me tell you about today’s special guests who I’m super excited about. I met my guest today at one of the National Speakers Association’s conferences. He has a personality that is larger than life. I mean, he truly lights up every room he walks in and he keeps you nappy. And so, I can’t even talk about him without laughing myself. I did not know he had a book. And I saw recently that he has a book and the title of the book is Lead Out Loud. I had two reactions. The first reaction was “I wish I had thought of this title.” The second reaction was “I must get him on Keep Leading LIVE. And so, my special guest today is the amazing Vincent Phipps.

Now, let me tell you a little bit about Mr. Vincent Phipps. Vincent has a passion for amplifying the lives of others by improving their interpersonal communication skills. Vincent seeks to engage his audiences as the Attitude Amplifier, using his high energy, expertise and interactive style. Vincent is distinguished with having earned the highest speaking credential in the speaking industry. He is a certified speaking professional better known as a CSP with the National Speakers Association and he’s rated one of the top 1% of the best motivational speakers and trainers in the world.

So, I am just thrilled to have with me today Vincent Ivan Phipps. Welcome to Keep Leading LIVE.

Vincent Phipps:

Eddie, brother, I just have you travel with me? Brother, that was fantastic. Thank you, Eddie. And for those that do not know, let me share with you, Eddie, a congratulation because you too are now a recipient of the CSP certification. So, congratulations to you too, sir.

Eddie Turner:

Thank you. I appreciate you. Thank you but I’m not listed as the world’s number one, 1%, motivational speaker.

Vincent Phipps:

I don’t know how to do that. I’m not going to argue. I love you.

Eddie Turner:

I love you back. Congratulations.

Now, I’m going to let people know I’m excited to have you. We’re going to have a good time today. I had no idea you were wearing red. I’m wearing red. This was not coordinated.

Vincent Phipps:

Red and blue!

Eddie Turner:

Yeah, red and blue. This is a blue shirt. The camera is going to show it as well. So, I don’t want folks thinking some kind of secret code. It just happened.

Vincent Phipps:

The secret code is excellence in [inaudible][06:19]. That’s the code.

Eddie Turner:

So, tell us about the book well. I am all about leadership. This is the Keep Leading!® Podcast and I love the concept of leading out loud. Where did that come from?

Vincent Phipps:

Well, I appreciate you asking, sir. This is the copy of the book Lead Out Loud and it constitutes an ideology of how I view leadership when I do my workshops, coaching or my keynotes, Eddie.

When most people think of a leader, they think of the biggest voice in the room or the largest personality or the one who is the most charismatic or the person who is the most polished and those are leadership misconceptions. Behavioral science will tell us that 54% of the population are not even extroverts. They’re introverted people. And being a person who is outgoing, upbeat and energetic, they may associate that with leadership but the truth is, Eddie, leadership has nothing to do with how loud you are or how big your ego is. If you have the title of a manager, somebody else gave you that title and they have to follow you because of a positional status but when you are a leader, people have to choose to follow you and there’s nothing you can do to make them choose. They have to make that decision on their own. And when you lead out loud, your actions are what shows other people. It is what you do, how you treat people, how you answer questions, how you deal with tough times. And even though you may be a quiet in your demeanor person or you may be outgoing, when you lead out loud, your actions, your leadership attributes, that’s what people recognize. You could be a quiet person or an outgoing person but when you lead with authenticity, you’ll always lead out loud.

Eddie Turner:

Outstanding. So, you don’t have to be an extrovert to be able to lead out loud. Anyone can lead out loud.

Vincent Phipps:

Absolutely, sir, anybody. And what people are afraid to do is to accept those positions of leadership. They think they need a title or a certain number of years of experience. And when your actions are enough that you don’t have to say as much, that makes you an even more effective leader and people will distrust what you say but they have to respect what you do.

Eddie Turner:

I like that. Very good.

Lauren Sanders has just joined us. She agrees with you. She says “So true.”

And John Bentley has joined us. John says hello. So, hello to you, John. Thank you for joining us. We appreciate that.

Vincent Phipps:

John is a dear friend out of Alabama, Eddie. And he is one of the people I’ve had the honor of working with in the Pro Speakers Kit program. And John also has his own keynote in the professional speaker, transform …

Help me out, John. Transform to Live? Is that right, John?

He is authentic in terms of his leadership, a phenomenal speaker. I’ve had the honor of doing events with John and he is fantastic.

Eddie Turner:

Wonderful.

Vincent Phipps:

Transform to Inspire. Boom! Got you, John.

Eddie Turner:

You got it. Excellent.

So, why is it important right now more than ever, Vincent, for leaders to lead out loud from wherever they are no matter who they are?

Vincent Phipps:

What we’re dealing with right now, including COVID-19, including the inundation of social media and also being in a transition of uncertainty with our economy and with our professionalism, Eddie, what people need to do is they need to value that it’s better to be accountable than it is to be likeable.

Eddie Turner:

Better to be accountable than likeable.

Vincent Phipps:

Yes, sir. People are too afraid of telling the truth, hurting people’s feelings or giving someone constructive criticism. So, they try to keep everything vanilla. They don’t want anything rocky. They don’t want to rub anybody the wrong way. So, we’ve developed a very copacetic, “don’t make anybody mad” mentality.

Power to Transform. Thank you, John.

And as a result, people aren’t leading. Leaders aren’t always saying what you want to hear. Leaders don’t always say things that are popular. Leaders don’t even say the things that you feel good. Look at our most revolutionary leaders such our John F. Kennedys, our Malcolm X’es, our Dr. Kings, our Barack Obamas. They said some pretty controversial stuff but they meant it and they followed with authenticity. And what people are missing right now, Eddie, is that people are too afraid to be offend and stand up for something. So, everything is neutral. Leaders don’t always just go neutral. They pick a side. They’re clear that they want people to be respected no matter what your race or color. They want certain people to make more money no matter how much experience you have. What we need to do as leaders right now is to forget about how many likes or clicks we get, forget about how many “Thank you” cards we get …

Eddie Turner:

Except for today. Right now, I’m very [inaudible][11:30] about the number of likes and clicks.

Vincent Phipps:

You have to okay with taking a stand. Be accountable. Stand for what you believe. And if it offends people, let them be offended but don’t bend your will or change your ideology because someone disagrees. Have the integrity to stand for of what you believe. That’s what a leader. Don’t always try to be likable. Be accountable.

Eddie Turner:

Hey, listen, we’re going to take a question really quick from David Banks. We have a couple of questions. Thank you all, by the way. We have a couple of questions in the queue here. I may not get to the rest of my questions. We got to take everybody else’s question, seriously.

So, the question we have here is from David Banks. He says how does a leader find their voice. Thank you for that. That’s a great question, David.

Vincent Phipps:

Thank you, Dr. banks. And it’s Dr. David Banks. He’s also with the City of Chattanooga and he has his own company of Noble Kings. So, please follow Dr. Banks on your social media.

The way that you find your leadership voice, Dr. Banks, is you have to have a philosophy. And here’s the philosophy I recommend all the leaders incorporate – Passion over profit. I’m going to say that again. You have to put your passion over profit. In other words, you can’t make your motivation just money. You can’t just try to get that check or try to get up and get paid. That’s not the way leaders should operate. You need to operate from a place of authenticity and passion and being true to who you are. If you believe that people should work their butts off, then work your butt off. If you believe that cold calling works, then you should be cold calling. If you believe that kicking in doors is the way to do it, then kick in doors but you can’t say that you don’t want to do anything that could hurt somebody’s mental health and then you want to go and speak at a group that says “Say what you want and cuss people out.” You’ve got to be consistent in your leadership.

When you put your passion first, whatever it is you want to get paid to do, you should be doing that anyway. Leaders need to be demonstrating the excellence, not just demanding it of others. Leaders need to first demand it of themselves. Don’t look at the money you can earn. Look at the motivation that you can earn. Don’t look at the profit that you could generate. Look at the passion that you emulate. These are the things that we need to do as leaders. It’s not about how much you can make. It’s about how much greatness you can create. That’s what leaders need to do.

Eddie Turner:

Outstanding. Well, thank you very much.

I’m talking to the amazing Vincent Ivan Phipps. He is the Attitude Amplifier. And, Vincent, I saw a post that you had earlier where you said that there would be no PowerPoint, no script and no commercials. I was agreeing with everything you had there, check, check, check but there will be some commercials. I have to pay some bills.

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Eddie Turner:

All right. So, with that, we are back. I am talking to Vince Ivan Phipps, CSP. He is the Attitude Amplifier and he has brought the heat.

Oh, my goodness, there are so many questions in here. I literally am not going to get to all mind.

With that, just take our audience questions for the rest of the way. And very kind, Mrs. Landrum. She says my dad will be proud. Thank you, Mrs. Landrum.

And then we have a question that’s come in to you from Deborah Levine. Deborah says “What do you say the introverts who are also leaders and wonder how to manage their public visibility that goes with it?”

Vincent Phipps:

Wonderful question. See, that’s a horrible question, Eddie.

Eddie Turner:

So, she’s got the right man. Go for it.

Vincent Phipps:

Here’s the thing, Deborah. As introverts, we need to understand the difference between situational extroversion. With situational extroversion, you have to pick the time and place to be extroverted. Unfortunately, the ideology of the “squeaky wheel gets the oil,” there is some truth to that. You need to speak when there’s need and not when there’s opportunity. As an introvert, for you and for 54% of the population who are introverted, you want to look for opportunities where you can incite new information. Don’t just disagree or don’t just agree. For an introvert, bring up intriguing questions that will lead you to the point that you want to aspire to as an introvert. Introverts often have the advantage of listening because of their nature. They’re not just blurting stuff out like a lot of the extroverts. So, when you hear a continual point being addressed that’s been argued or disputed, look for a foundational point that people can agree upon. Then ask a question about that element. Have some ideas, have some suggestions about how to transfer or how to inspire and transform and progress a current thought to a new development.

Extroverts will listen to you more when you give them a chance to think bigger. So, don’t just agree or disagree. As an introvert, listen to the key thought that’s been said. Then find a way to add formation or to ask a question to advance an ideology. That’s the key of an introvert being more extroverted in an environment full of big mouse.

Eddie Turner:

All right.

Well, I don’t know if this is a question or a comment but Uncle Wayne asks “What gave you the confidence to believe that you could beat the top 1% in your profession? What audacity.” This is more of a comment.

Vincent Phipps:

Two things, Uncle Wayne. And I love Uncle Wayne. For those that are unaware, Uncle Wayne also is Wayne Brown. His company is Bridging the Gap. He works with a lot of veterans who are transitioning from military life that may suffer from PTSD to get back to civilian life. So, thank you for all that you’re doing, Uncle Wayne.

First, Uncle Wayne, I never said I’m the top 1%. There is an algorithm that is used by a professional service for speakers that’s called eSpeakers and they ask you to list your topics, people who get recommendations, they ask you to put videos and they have a systematic ranking on your top five categories. And mine had been Communication, Presentation, Emotional Intelligence, Conflict Resolution, and Motivation. Of those five topics, they listed me in the top 1% in four of those five. They changed the algorithm based on how many times you’re booked or who says comments about you. So, I don’t say that. I’m honored that eSpeakers does.

Eddie Turner:

All right, excellent.

By the way, on your answer to Deborah Levine, she says “Thank you. I needed” and that it was beautiful.

Vincent Phipps:

Thank You, Deborah, for asking. You’re too kind.

Eddie Turner:

There’s a question that we have that has come in also from John Bentley. John’s question is “What one skill or attribute should an emerging leader focus on developing?

Vincent Phipps:

Wow!

Eddie Turner:

That actually was one of the questions I had prepared for you as well.

Vincent Phipps:

See, this whole leadership odyssey, it’s all culminating, Eddie. The best attribute that I would recommend, John, for an emerging leader to develop is to be a continual learner. If you find anybody that’s good at anything, chances are they’re practicing it all the time, they’re reading books all the time, they’re going to webinars or seminars or they’re practicing. The best way to be a leader is to do two things, John. the first is be humble enough to know that there’s always more to know. Number two, be tenacious enough to learn more information to not just support what you know but find out where other people’s problem points are and find the ways to provide additional value. When you can be a continual learner and you can be open enough to receive new information, these are the attributes that will not only make you an effective leader, it’ll make an effective person.

Eddie Turner:

All right, very good. We’re coming up close to our wrap-up. So, we got to take a couple of quick questions.

Here’s one that came in from Alethea. Alethea says “How can you learn to have the courage to speak out loud when it is unprofitable while leading?

Vincent Phipps:

Thank You, Alethea. Thank you. I know we’re very short on time, Eddie. So, I’ll make this one quick. If you want more detail, just let me know.

To be more comfortable speaking out loud, I’m assuming you mean just in the presence of others, not necessarily on stage, when you talk about having the courage to speak out loud when you’re uncomfortable while leading, focus on doing two things, Alethea. Number one, replace any adjectives with quantifiable data. So, stop saying words like ‘sorta’, ‘maybe’, ‘usually’ all the time. Do some research and say “54% of the population” or “according to our studies, they’ve shown.” That way, you don’t have to feel like the eyes are on you. You’re just disseminating new information.

Second thing you want to do to be more comfortable is you have to value what you share. Don’t worry about the criticism others may give you. That’s their issue. Don’t make it your own. If you’ve done the research, you’ve done the homework, you’ve put in your due diligence, take pride in knowing that what you have to share will bring value to others and just say it with authenticity and integrity. Speak up, raise your volume, eye contact and let them have it. if they dislike it, that’s their issue, not yours. Be proud of what you say.

Eddie Turner:

Excellent. We’re going to two more and then we’ll have to follow up with everyone else.

Jose says “Happy Monday, Eddie and Vincent.” Happy Monday to you as well, Jose. “Agreed on standing for something firmly. People want to hear they’re represented in their views. What are other ways to position yourself as an authority and leader?”

Vincent Phipps:

Thank You, Jose. Jose was a former member of my team. Jose now is a coach for financial experts that want to find that dream girl. So, go to the De Vida Coaching when you are able.

What you want to do to position yourself as a leader is you want to do two things, Jose. The first is identify who is your primary demographic. If everybody’s your client, no one is. Be specific. Go specifically after who you feel need your product or service. The second thing is you got to listen to them. Don’t just go in thinking you have all the answers because of your experience or your outcome or your degrees or any training you have. Ask them questions such as “What’s your biggest challenge right now? What is the area that you need the most information? How can I bring you additional value?” Listen for what their problems are. Then create solutions, create programs, create presentations, create coaching models just on their problems. That way you not only come across as informative, you come across as valuable because you’ve identified the problem and, most importantly, you have a solution for it. That’s how we identify ourselves as experts and leaders by not being general but by being specific.

Eddie Turner:

Wonderful. And L. J. Crawford says she values what you share. That’s powerful, Vincent.

Vincent Phipps:

Thank you, Lisa. Lisa is also a dear friend. She is also one of the graduates of Pro Speakers Kit. Checkout LJC Motivations on your social media. She is a customer service expert. When it comes to these elements, this is always an honor. And also do what Eddie is doing. Talk to other professionals. Talk to other leaders. Be the go-to person when they need one.

So, thank you.

Eddie Turner:

And Leah likes what you said about continual learning.

And our final question is going to come from Cordell Carter. Cordell Carter says Hello, Eddie and Vincent.” Hello, Cordell. “During this unique time in human history, what strategies do you suggest for leaders seeking to amplify their voice, platforms, and products?”

Vincent Phipps:

Thank you, Cordell. Cordell is the director of Aspen Institute which is a thing tank that has webinars and then seminars all over the world for professional speakers. So, thank you, Cordell, for allowing me to be your speaker.

Here’s what we need to do, Cordell. When you want to amplify your voice and your platforms and products, you want to be able to do the following. Number one, know that what you have to share is valuable. Most people have doubts. They don’t believe that they’re making a difference and they question the authenticity of what they’re offering. So, whether you are selling a glass of lemonade, whether you’re selling a new car or a new service, you’ve got to identify that it has value to the world.

And number two, the best way to improve your presentation skills, you got to practice. You have to be okay with not being okay, be okay with being criticized and critiqued. Video record yourself. Play it back. Don’t worry about messing up. Know that the first step of greatness is to fall but the improvement comes when you have the courage to get back up. So, don’t be afraid to turn on a microphone or to walk in front of a crowd or leave a voicemail. You have to do it before you can do it better.

Eddie Turner:

Indeed. I believe it was Mandela or someone, I’m not sure exactly who said it, he said “Don’t judge me by how much I’ve succeeded. Judge me by how many times I’ve fallen and gotten back up.”

Vincent Phipps:

You better say it, Eddie. Man, everybody says great idea. They didn’t hear about the last lousy seven ideas.

Eddie Turner:

That’s it.

Vincent Phipps:

Be okay with messing up. Leaders aren’t afraid to fail. Leaders have the courage to fail but keep going.

Eddie Turner:

I always like to ask my leaders on the Keep Leading!® Podcast and our Keep Leading LIVE for the leadership quote or the best piece of advice they’ve ever received. What’s the best quote or advice you’ve ever received?

Vincent Phipps:

That would have to come from my father Vaughn Pago Phipps and he gave me a life lesson when I had a box of 20 chicken McNuggets. They gave me 21 nuggets and he made me take back that extra nugget. And I told him that it wasn’t our fault. They messed up, not us. And my father told me the life lesson I’d like to share with you and all of your listeners.

Doing the right thing and doing the wrong thing can be different. The key is the hard thing and the right thing are usually the same thing.

Eddie Turner:

All right, I appreciate that. And where could my listeners learn more about you, Vincent.

Vincent Phipps:

Please feel free to follow me on my YouTube channel, Vincent Phipps. You can also connect with me on Facebook or LinkedIn also under Vincent Phipps. And please visit my website at VincentPhipps.com. We have monthly newsletters that we send out on continual education, on communication, motivation, leadership or conflict resolution. So, in any of your social media streams, please feel free to reach out to me. You can email me at Vincent@VincentPhipps.com. If you want to improve your public speaking skills, you can go to my website at Noums.com. If you want to stop sounding dumb, stop saying “um.” You can also call me at (423)400-1040.

If I have not had a chance, Eddie, you have had some all-stars on here, Eddie. For those that do not know, Eddie has had on speakers who are millionaire round-table speakers, they are bestselling authors. Eddie has had on speakers who have had their Certified Speaker Professional designations. He’s even had speakers who are in the Hall of Fame. So, for a man of your integrity, and I know, Eddie, you speak all over the world, you’re one of the world’s most sought-after professional speakers, so just to know that I was in your wheelhouse of someone who you feel could bring value to your multitude of followers and listeners, thank You, Eddie, for the opportunity.

Eddie Turner:

Well, thank you, Vincent. And thank you to everyone who joined us. This has really been special. Thank you very much. It’s been an honor.

And thank you for listening. That concludes this episode, everyone. I’m Eddie Turner, The Leadership Excelerator®, reminding you, as we discussed today, leadership is not about our position or our title. Leadership is action. Leadership is activity. It’s not the case of once a leader, always a leader. It’s not a garment we put on and take off. We must be a leader at our core and allow it to emanate in all we do. So, whatever you’re doing, always keep leading.

Thanks so much, everyone.