"What Is Fearless Leadership & What Should It Never Be?" (Leadership in Real Life, Ep. 1)

Welcome to the first episode of our new monthly podcast, Leadership in Real Life, featuring IMPACT COO Chris Duprey and IMPACT VP of Services Brie Rangel:

What Is Leadership in Real Life?

Each month, Brie and Chris sit down with me for a facilitated, thought-provoking conversation about a specific challenge facing today's modern inbound business leaders, as well as professionals who aspire to be a leader on day in their career. 

What's the "Why" Behind Leadership in Real Life?

The modern workforce is more diverse than ever before, and technology -- along with the flexible and global nature of our economy -- has shattered decades-held norms and stereotypes about how workplaces function.

Yet so many leaders (seated or aspiring) still cling to now-dated ways of motivating their people, and helming their organizations or teams. Moreover, much of the "guidance" available to today's generation of leaders is either conflicting, unrealistic, or worse, both.

For much of 2017 and 2018, both Brie and Chris have walked their own paths as leaders in the modern era, studying and challenging themselves (both intentionally and through circumstance) to understand what it takes to be a real, human leader in real life.

And after having many internal conversations and dedicating thousands of words individually to the topic of leadership, they wanted to share these conversations in a more focused, human, and accessible way. Their goal is to empower listeners to carve their own paths as leaders, no matter where they are on that journey.

How Leadership in Real Life Works

In addition to only being a monthly podcast, Leadership in Real Life has its own unique methodology:

• Before the episode airs, both Chris and Brie will publish an article on the selected topic. They do not consult with each other about their thoughts prior to publication.
• When we record, there's about a 50% chance they haven't read what the other person has written about the topic. Although in some cases they may. 
• In addition to publishing the articles individually, each of their articles on the given topic will be featured in the show notes for that episode. 

This Month's Topic is Fearless Leadership 

Today’s topic is fearless leadership. Specifically, what we’ve been led to believe it is, what it actually is, and what it never should be.

Read Brie's Article on Fearless Leadership

In times of change, knowing that those you start with aren't necessarily the ones you grow with can be comforting if you’re an inbound leader who has to make hard decisions.

That is, of course, until you consider that there may be a day when that is being said about you.

Read Chris' Article on Fearless Leadership

As leaders, we need to set the tone for what fearless leadership means. 

We can continue to drive a narrative that we shouldn’t show worry or weakness, or we can accept that this is wrong.

Listen to the Episode

Resources Discussed in the Episode

• Leaders: Myth and Reality by Stanley McChrystal
• Emotional Agility by Susan David

If you have a question or an idea for a future topic, email Brie or Chris any time.