14216 Jill Nicolini Interviews Randy Swaim Marshall Goldsmith Certified Executive Coach & Founder of Coaching for Relevance, LLC

0:00The Broadcasting from the business capital of the world. This is the podcast business news network You know back in the day I used to get yelled at from my job for talking over like the intro or the outro But those days are over because one of our producers who used to produce part of this He left and he was the one who always complains and I'm like, it's okay It's okay to talk like this, isn't it? I think it's great. How are you? Good. Good. Good and so yeah Glad to be here and it's all I know it's been a long time, but It's just a pleasure to be on with you on these podcasts and stuff with you personally so Appreciate you my friend. Thank you. God ask you a question. Do you hear any ambient noise of any sort whatsoever? I don't but my levels are going really wacky for now. Do you hear anything weird right now? I Don't hear anything right now, but what but I

1:01When I'm talking it sounds like it's sort of duplicating a little bit I don't know. Hey, I don't hear that but for some reason looks like the board here's messing up It looks like just it looks like it's blaring. I don't know why but we're not even talking and it's making sounds But I hear everything and sound everything good check one too. So I'm good over here Sounds good. Well, it's always a pleasure to be here with you my friend. All right, sweetheart. Oh, sorry for those that don't know Coaching for relevance tell us who you are. Please Well, as you know, my name is Randy Swain and I'm with Coaching you know my back my background my my historical journey has been heavily involved in aviation and And military and things like that but also leadership and and as a Marshall Wilson certified executive coach You know, I've gained a lot of insights in really You know Bringing other people to their you know potentials and all that kind of stuff and everything and so that's really what I'm all about. I just

2:08um You know seek to do that for the rest of my life Well, we appreciate you always being here so dedicated to helping your team and leaders alike Um, always insightful always have stories to help those succeed uh, you know those working you know individuals or in teams and groups leaders corporate um executive's you name it And what did you what did you want to kind of hone in on for today's show and tell us a little bit more insight too Well, what I do is is what I thought I do is uh kind of bring in Uh, one insight that that is uh with a uh A manager that I'm aware of that uh, you know is um uh You know doesn't fully understand some aspects about all of this and everything and um and it's just some you know most people probably have seen one or two people out there that sort of did this and everything but what I'll do is I'll mention um

3:09Uh, a couple of aspects and bring out just sort of an insight That when you're a leader and when you're trying to work with your team There's some you know it brings out some insights on kind of what you need to do and and uh How you really need to do it to really bring it out with your team and um and bring out the the positives success and everything so um um And I'll bring out a quote from a friend and a colleague that he and I are very uh very good friends and all that kind of stuff and um But uh but I'll also bring out that one manager that I'm mentioning and stuff about you know one of the things that they do It's uh that's not really great but uh and and bring out one aspect that uh That managers need to kind of think differently sometimes and and when you're bringing this out of all you're doing Is calling attention to yourself. You're not getting the job done and so it it's uh

4:11um It's just it's just a few insights that are related to that let's begin. Thanks for sounding good looking good over here Sounds good. Well, I'll tell you what what I what I will say on this is that that the manager and I I won't give you name or anything like that But this one particular manager what I will say is that uh this person has a tendency That they completely think about their own stuff and I know I'll give you one example of Something that I observed one time and it was like um you know kind of thing because uh this uh this uh this manager had one person that worked for They came in and asked a real question and instead of really Bringing out a valuable answer or whatever this person brought up their little Uh iPad Computers here and just went well what you need to do is this this this and this and stuff That was it and left it at that and you know what that is not being a true leader when that's kind of your mindset and how you

5:20Engage in your team and in your people because what you're doing when you do that And this is what a lot of people don't realize when you when you um uh do that What you're actually doing is have having them shut off their brain And just go superficially with what you said and and in the future if that's the way you interact with them repeatedly Guess what in the future they know they're not supposed to bring to you In a sense The things they need to get some clarity on or whatever and uh so it's just it's just um Uh something to think about that it's not just about you but it's you need to understand how you truly lead your team But in in a key way You need to lead your team in such a way that they become better More capable more clear more you know aware of the visibility of the actual situation

6:20That's coming on scene and and and and what they need to do about it and stuff And that is what a lot of people don't really think about too much and what I will say is and I'll just throw this out here This my friend and colleague his name is Ruby Ho and probably people kind of know his name and everything But I'll just give you a quote that he has that's very aligned I mean he and I are very aligned in many ways and he um but it's a it's a it's a it's a good quote That's a little bit aligned with kind of where I'm going with this Because the quote is simply this he said make time to think Yeah, and ask the right questions before committing to any strategic initiative And you know what you got to have clarity you've got to be able to understand the real situational awareness and things of that nature and what a lot of people do when you talk about questions When you're talking about the right questions. It's not just a

7:24What you know some people do in today's world where they come up and they ask you a question and all they're trying to do is to get you to just Such a brain off and capitulate It I'm gonna I'm gonna give you a question, but you know what I'm gonna give it my answer You know the answer that I want it to be and and and and if that's what you're doing and you're in higher focus in your leadership role is Just kind of fall you know, you know focusing on you trying to you know, you know You know get get all of the Pats on your back and nobody else's you know when you're talking about being a true leader It's about developing your team So that the team gets amazing results and amazing Insights and pets on the back and things of that nature and that's what a lot of people don't really understand or don't have a sense of But the bottom line is what you got to do is when you talk about asking the right questions

8:30It's not just a question. It's giving it the answer that you want it to be Yeah, it's not that at all what it is it's asking the right question and sometimes the definition of the right question is a question that gets The person that you're dealing with or your team To the point where they have to sort of think through and come up with the answer and you know what Let them do that if they need to You know, it's not just shutting their brain off and then just dictating to them and things of that nature And so it's just it's just an insight and like I said what what ruby kind of said on here is very aligned with what he and I think He and I are very aligned in many ways and we've known each other for quite a number of years and everything but he uh, but this is really interesting. It's not just dictating and going into some strategic initiative without being aware of what really is the factors

9:32What are the factors that are involved and and and all of that and here's the thing what what What some managers kind of do Is they have an academic picture of what they want the picture to look like and they they tell their team To do this because they want it to look just like that. Well, guess what the factors that are coming on scene for this situation May not be exactly what you're thinking and you have to be And involved in your team in such a way that they are very much aware of the actual situations and and uh and all that and sometimes they may need to ask the right questions to really get clarity on those factors and making a little bit of time to think about it and picture it and then know what you need to do and do it And that's that's what i love about what ruby said and and because he like said he and i think a lot of like in many ways

10:34and and this is Totally huge But if all you're doing as a manager is just you know kind of telling people this shutting their brains off You just do what i tell you to do it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Guess what you're not being a leader You're not developing your team and here's a thing If your organization is looking for your team to grow and become But you're not Causing that to really happen. It's your problem And the bottom line on that is when you talk about them truly growing and becoming it's not just about you dictating to them It's about you asking Some great questions and getting them to pursue Those questions in their mind and in their thinking and in their vision how that is being created And what you need to do to truly get some radical success out of it But that's that's just you know something to think about when and it's very organizational

11:34Neurobibility aligned because guess what in organization Neurobibility not everything is just real academic when it comes on scene And there are sometimes where you'll have a A factor that comes on scene that you think is very wrote and academic But guess what there's one or two other factors that are coming on with it That are related to it are changing the vision of it a little bit And you have to be aware of that and you have to know what you truly Need to do what you truly need to be aware of And and and all of that And guess what in today's world with a lot of the things that you see out there Guess what those are the things that can happen sometimes and so the the the key Just with with this part of it today the key on this is Don't just go with road academic things and don't just shut your people's brain off and just tell them to you know

12:35You know capitulate to what you're telling them You know kind of thing very often having the the short conversation with them gets their brain to where it needs to be And they can make the right decision To be successful and you know what that's one of the things and if you think about the aspect of leaders You know true leaders. It's not just about you getting paths on the back It's about people being aware of the team that works for you Of how they are being amazing in this and there's going to be a sense in that where you kind of help develop it But but you know they're they're aware of that and in In all of those are sort of aspects of it that That people don't think about if you're going into something and your whole mindset is trying to get Pat on the back and applaud, you know You know for yourself and everything Guess what you're nine times out of ten you're missing the boat and that is not the right way that you want to do it

13:36And so I just thought I'd share that today just in a sense on this But like I say what Ruby Ho said there. I'll just Requode it just one one more time here make time to think and ask the right questions before Committing to any strategic initiative If all you're doing is going with some wrote academic thing and you have not thought about the true factors involved And you haven't asked the right questions. Yeah, guess what When you initiate your strategic initiative may not be right and it may not be nearly as successful as you want And there's a lot of people in today's world that they will just do something like that And they just get it going But you know what when it doesn't work out right And you may have heard people say this I know I have That People look at it go well that should have been this way that should have done this

14:36And you know what that's the way you see some people doing it when they didn't do it well And they didn't do it right and they didn't really prepare and so those are just some things to think about You know, and it's all aligned with organizational maneuverability The concept of situations that are not just wrote you know superficial and not just academic, you know kind of thing and And being able to know that you're doing the right successful thing and And that's just something you need to think about and when you're working for a company or an operation somewhere or whatever Guess what today's world you got to be able to employ that a little bit and you got you got to be able to not just go with Role things but Get real vision get real understanding asking the right questions and then You know initiating The right and valuable strategic initiative And it's and it's just something to think about when you're talking about this whole

15:39aspect of this But it's um like say it's a little bit more than most people think Because it's not just going with wrote, you know academic answers or questions or something But it's having a real understanding of the actual factors involved and that's why I like his Thing because he's his con quote was right Make time to think And that doesn't mean just choose it right the second it says make time to think Okay, and ask the right questions and you know what sometimes you got to do that now. I will tell you this that when you're talking about Um situations that are coming on scene that are faster and more Uh sort of challenging and kind of coming on quicker than then you thought Guess what the the fact that you thought about that as a possibility Prior to it even coming on scene you can be ready to make the right choice

16:40And so it's just something to think about that when you know the situation that you are in On on your company on your mission on what you're doing Kind of thing You know being aware, you know getting your thinking going So that you know When things can change in a way you didn't expect And what you need to do about it and I'll tell you in my flying career. Guess what A lot of this is part of that, you know because guess what when you're up there flying There's a lot of factors that can be something you didn't expect And you know are you aware in your mind do you have some awareness on what the the real Uh a successful solution would be given certain situations that come on scene and you know what you need to do and what you can do And um and it's just uh it's just something to think about in that um

17:42And um you know it's something that like I say a lot of people don't realize this But this is also very true in your in your operation in your company Whatever it is, you know You got to you know as your team And again, it's not about you telling your team to do that But it does your team have the ability that they are kind of Thinking taking time to think and ask some great questions that help them really gain clarity On potential risks and what they may be like and when that happens what do we need to do And how do we need to do it? And that is is something that people don't often think about because they're just You know if you have a manager that is just dictating to you and not really You know initiate any real conversations or real Sort of aspect of that If all you have is a manager who is doing nothing but simply dictating to you

18:46Guess what your team is not being able to get there and your team is not Gonna get there because what they're wanting to do is to shut your brain off and you just do what I told you You know kind of thing and if that's what you're looking to do You're not finding real success and But if you if you lead correctly and not just dictate and not just be a dictatorial manager and a narcissistic person If you are a true leader and you Get them to do this and sometimes you ask the questions not superficial questions that just give the answer you want it to be but help them really understand and come up with the answer for the situation that is there and things of that nature That is all kind of a part of it that a lot of people don't Often think about and so it's just something to think about on this I just figured I'd throw sort of organizational maneuverability, but also the

19:46Situation that's out there because guess what when you're flying A lot of those situations can happen and they're not just road academic And of course as you know my my career was in the Air Force in the military And guess what when you're flying fighters or stuff like that Guess what part of that Part of that can all happen too and even if you're flying You know cargo or appliance or or bombers or whatever you know Yes, what are you aware of what's out there and and I think I shared this with you one time But there was one time when a seagull pulled it his wings and he came down and hit My windshield right in front of my nose oh and and and I share that with him. No, no Oh, okay. It's just one thing there were we were with our lyrgets flying out. I'll just share this with you with our lyrgets out there We were working with the USS Navy frigate and they wanted us doing cruise missile profiles So they wanted us down about 35 feet above the water and coming in as

20:50as if we're you know missiles and stuff and And if they kind of shot you know kind of shot us or told us a shot us or stuff we climb up Go over in a different direction drop back down and come back from a different direction And that's kind of what we're doing But this one time when I was a captain I was not a captain yet I was going for the captain upgrade in about a week But the captain had me sitting in the left seat acting as a captain kind of being ready for it and all this But I noticed some movement right up here being that load of the water And I kind of glanced up there and there's a seagull out looking for fish And you know what I knew what what happens with the fish because when when they felt the bow wave of the airplane All that air coming up they typically would fold their wings and dive and that's exactly what he did and he hit my Uh my windshield right in front of my nose and what I did immediately I just started Climbing away from the water and I told the captain I said check the engines

21:51And I could see his fingers on the engine gauges up here and stuff and he said looks like the engine They're good so I don't think he went in the engine. They said good. I said I'll tell you what let's uh Let's let's do it. Let's You know set it up and and go home so maintenance can check it and we did and but that but but but again Being able to understand when the things are not just academic What do you have to do and when you're leading your team If all you're trying to do is point fingers at him and tell him do this do that do this do that You're not getting the job done as a leader and having the conversations that can help them truly get the real solution And success and everything is something that can really get there so that like say that it's that when you're doing this It's not just road academic if all you're doing is dictating and telling them what to do you're not being a true leader

22:51You're being a narcissistic You know dictator But you're not being a true leader having their understanding So that they can make great you know solutions and everything is is is just so much and when when you hear a solution They came up with you can make a comment. Oh, you know what? Yeah, that's cool. Good. Yeah Good answer Good way and so it's just something and that's what that captain told me when I did what I did climb and wave and water and everything But the bottom line on that is it's just something to think about when you're talking about organization Reurability when the organization that you're working in and your team is there Not everything is just road academic And so again, just as Ruby said make time to think and ask the right questions Before committing to any strategic initiative and you know what There's a lot of goodness to that and I appreciate it and it's Very you know he and I are very aligned in a lot of ways

23:52But it's just something to think about that sometimes people don't Don't realize and when you're working with your team And perhaps there's gonna be times where it's rapidly changing situations or whatever If all you're doing is dictating to them and that's all you're doing You're shutting their brains down and that is not what you want to do So just something to think about All right, thank you so much and how do we contact you? Would you mind sharing? Yeah, as you know people can go to my website, which is coaching for relevance.com and And if you go to the homepage there's a picture there on on the front and stuff But if you scroll all the way down to the to the bottom of the page there's a there's a You know copy of my Email but also my phone number for So that so if anybody wants to just have a conversation um

24:53They can call me or something and we can set something up and that'll be good or they can send me an email either way and uh, so I just appreciate that and I appreciate uh uh You know just helping anybody that can and by the way, I'm not gonna just give you any sales things when they call If they want to purchase something and they want to you know purchase me to do something as a coach and all that I'll do that but uh, I'm not deliberately just Gonna give you sales pictures and stuff. So um, so just something to think about All right, thank you so much. I'm looking forward to next time we connect Always a pleasure having you and we'll connect again next week. Thanks so much Randy or the best enjoy you say Sounds good. Well, I'll say what it's always an honor and pleasure being on Here with you my friend and I just appreciate it. I hope you have a wonderful week Same years who don't thanks again. You too. Bye. Bye. Bye. Hello. I'm Randy Swain I'm a martial gold Smith certified executive coach in the founder for coaching for relevance

25:55Our vision is to bring freedom to potential and all that is across our path And one of the things we really want to do which is aligned with our aviation background is to help teams and leaders Break free of the gravitational forces that are holding them back and their success back and help them sort to their Altitudes so that's our passion and that's what we're all about Broadcasting from the business capital of the world. This is the podcast business news network Of course my kids in the right car seat. Well, I think he is Yeah, my kids in a booster seat. He was ready to move up He is ready, right Her car seat looks like the right size There are probably rules on one to move up to a booster seat aren't there? Rear facing forward facing. I think I have it right

26:59Car crashes are a leading killer of children one to 13 are your children in the right car seat for their age and size Don't think you know no you know go to safercar.gov slash the right seat I know my child's in the right car seat or else I wouldn't get in the driver's seat Brought to you by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the ad council