July 2024 Newsletter 

Welcome to this month's edition of the KTLM newsletter! Here, we explore the most pressing issues facing today's workplace and provide insights to help you navigate these challenges with resilience and effectiveness.

This Month's Focus

This month, we had the privilege of conducting a keynote speech for the Aspire Health Group. It was a fantastic opportunity to share leadership principles and emphasize the importance of being present. The engaged crowd was interactive and committed to great leadership. We highlighted the importance of a leader's willingness to be a continuous learner.

This is a key concept at The Gargano Leadership Group that we emphasize in every workshop and keynote talk. Being a leader is more about your willingness to learn and less about your age or position. Think about that for a minute. If you are curious, open to new ideas, and invest in your people, the possibilities for innovation and connection are endless. If you don’t consider yourself curious, you can learn to be more inquisitive; it just takes effort.

Speaking of effort, our most recent podcast episode, released yesterday focuses on self-awareness. Our guest, Olympian Bo Hanson and I talk about how the numbers prove that increased self-awareness leads to success. 

Leadership Observation

One of the activities we have worked on during our workshops and talks is the concept of reflecting on good and poor leadership that we have witnessed directly. We do a listening activity where two volunteers come up to the front of the room. One person reflects on a good leader they have worked with and the other talks about the qualities of a poor leader. 

We don’t mention names - that is not what this is about. Every time we do this activity, in addition to the words used to describe these two types of leaders, everyone in the crowd witnesses differences in the body language of the two volunteers. The person talking about the good boss stands up straight, projects their words, and makes eye contact with the audience. Conversely, the person talking about the bad boss has slumped shoulders, speaks in a low tone, and looks visibly uncomfortable. 

There are two takeaways from this experience for leaders. Work to connect with your people so you are not thought about in a way that makes it difficult for them to talk about you EVEN AFTER they have worked with you. The second takeaway goes with the first, imagine working in real time for the person they could barely talk about and in some cases years after working with them.

Do the work to be better.

What We Are Working On…

As mentioned, this week we're returning to our original podcast format with Episode 86, featuring Olympian Bo Hanson. This is a can’t-miss discussion on teamwork and culture.

In the past month, we featured fireside chat episodes. We had SVG’s Brandon Costa discussing their annual College Summit, KNBR radio’s Marty Lurie talking about the legacy of Willie Mays, Amie Canfield and Tim Volkmann reviewing the annual CSCUNITE24#, and ESPN Radio’s Dan Graca in a deep dive into hard work and commitment as demonstrated by Tom Brady.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on Keep the Line Moving. What did you think of the Fireside Chats and anything else regarding the podcast? Share your feedback with us and let's keep the conversation going!

Stay curious and keep leading with passion!

Warm regards,

The KTLM Team

Unlock Your Leadership Potential

If you're facing challenges in your leadership journey or seeking guidance on fostering a more resilient and effective work culture, we invite you to schedule a free consultation with our team. Together, let's unlock your leadership potential and navigate the complexities of today's workplace with confidence.

Join us in creating a workplace where everyone can thrive. Contact us today to learn more.

Feel free to share this newsletter with your colleagues and friends. We look forward to working with you.

Call to Action:

Lastly, please send us your podcast guest recommendations. If you know a leader, an emerging leader or someone who can inspire us, please email [email protected].

I want to thank all of you for following The Gargano Leadership Group!

Chris Gargano

Founder of The Gargano Leadership Group