Trying to Make Everyone Happy? Why Great Leaders Stop Trying

This week’s episode is a replay of a favorite from the archives, originally released on Halloween 2024.With Halloween just around the corner, Gayle Lantz revisits a message that’s as relevant today as it was then. The fears that really get to us aren’t the ones we see at Halloween. They’re the ones we face in everyday life. Gayle shares in a new introduction that she’s been dealing with a few scary things herself lately (more on that another time), and why she thinks this episode is worth hearing again.Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/Dont-Let-Fear-Get-a-Grip-on-You

Before your feet hit the floor, your mind may already be rehearsing everything that could go wrong. Nothing has happened yet, but you’ve started the day with a preview of what you least want to experience.Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/A-Better-Way-to-Start-Your-Day

Failure is inevitable. But what separates organizations that grow from those that repeat their mistakes isn't whether they fail; it's what they do next.Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/When-the-Stakes-Are-High-What-NASA-Knows-About-Preventing-Failure-with-Mike-Ciannilli

A surprisingly high water bill. A dishwasher left in the front yard. In the span of one week, Gayle Lantz caught herself doing the very thing she'd told listeners to stop doing just weeks earlier: jumping straight to blame.Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/Dont-Take-Yourself-Too-Seriously

Sometimes you can’t stop replaying a negative work experience, even hours, days or weeks later. Maybe someone criticized you, questioned your decision, or simply didn't respond the way you hoped. You already know you can't please everyone, but knowing that intellectually doesn't stop the loop.Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/Letting-Go---How-to-Stop-Replaying-What-Went-Wrong

Have you ever walked into a meeting and immediately locked onto the one disengaged person in the room, while everyone else was fully present and contributing? Gayle Lantz has, and it sparked a message she says she feels so strongly about that she couldn't wait to share it.Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/Trying-to-Make-Everyone-Happy-Why-Great-Leaders-Stop-Trying

What if the biggest threat to your leadership isn't a bad decision, but the one you can't even see coming? Gayle Lantz speaks with Bill Miller, a returning guest and author of What Every CEO Must Know: 37 Secrets to Lead with Confidence and Power. Bill has spent decades coaching and advising first-time CEOs and founders.Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/What-Youre-Not-Seeing---The-Leadership-Blind-Spots-That-Cost-You-with-Bill-Miller

As summer winds down and the final stretch of the year ramps up, many leaders find themselves oddly exhausted even after time off. Gayle Lantz says this isn't about needing more sleep or another vacation. It's about something deeper: leadership fatigue.Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/Tired-of-Leading-How-to-Re-Energize-for-Whats-Ahead

When something goes wrong at work, the first question people usually ask is "whose fault is this?" Gayle Lantz makes the case that this is the wrong place to start.Blame feels satisfying in the moment; it simplifies a messy situation and lets us point to a single culprit. But as Gayle explains, most problems today aren't caused by one person or one bad decision. They're the result of a tangle of factors: unclear expectations, broken processes, shifting priorities, and incomplete information.Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/Stop-the-Blame-Game---From-Finger-Pointing-to-Forward-Movement

What if creating what’s next isn’t about having a clear plan and taking massive action? Sometimes, it may require a little chaotic motion. In this episode, Gayle Lantz shares how a kinetic wooden sculpture called Wings—a piece that has been in her family for years—led her to discover the fascinating work of artist, David C. Roy. Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/Chaotic-Motion-The-Surprising-Art-of-Creating-Whats-Next