How Leaders Lead with David Novak

Latest Episodes:

#153: Diana Murphy, former president of the USGA – The power of collaboration Sep 21, 2023

Show notes

Today’s guest is Diana Murphy, the former President of the USGA.

She also serves on the boards of AIG, Landstar, Synovus, and the Atlanta Braves – and it’s no surprise, because she’s a phenomenal leader who really knows how to get people working together.

Everybody talks about collaboration these days, but Diana has always had it in her DNA.

Teams who can collaborate well tend to do better work in less time … and they have more fun doing it, too!

If you want to tap into the power of collaboration for your own team and career, you are going to get a ton of insight from Diana in this episode.

And if you’re a golfer, don’t miss the story about Arnold Palmer playing golf with her husband on their wedding day!

You’ll also learn:

The mindset you need when you’re facing a new challenge
The “secret sauce” to motivate a sales force
How to handle internal dissent in a healthy way
The most important traits to have if your goal is the C-suite

Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources:

The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go

Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day

Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

3 More Questions (Scott Redler) with David Novak and Koula Callahan Sep 18, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:

Why is a mindset of "helping others be successful" as a leader so critical to the longevity and growth of an organization?
What happens when your team members function like entrepreneurs?
How do you keep your own opinion out of the way (and just stick to the facts) as a leader?

ALSO...

Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! https://howleaderslead.com/plan/
Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. https://howleaderslead.com/5-day-leadership-tuneup/
Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-leaders-lead-with-david-novak/id1223803642

#152: Scott Redler, Cofounder of Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers – Codify your standards Sep 14, 2023

Show notes

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that quality matters in your organization.

But a lot of leaders struggle to take that ideal of quality and actually turn it into a day-to-day reality for their team.

In other words, how do you operationalize quality?

This conversation with Scott Redler will help you answer that question. Scott is the Cofounder of Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers and the Chairman of the National Restaurant Association.

He’s passionate about doing things the right way, with quality and attention to detail.

But he doesn’t just leave it to chance. In this conversation, you’ll see how he’s codified those standards. And you’ll discover how, as a leader, he’s creating a clear picture of what quality means by building it into the culture.

You’ll also learn:

Why you need a long-term approach to delivering value
Advice for anyone who works in a franchise model
A helpful process for balancing short-term and long-term decisions
A fun (and productive!) way to boost innovation
Why you should incentive long-term thinking in your team

Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources:

The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go

Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day

Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

3 More Questions (Brandon Beane) with David Novak and Koula Callahan Sep 11, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:

How do you handle letting people go even when they are talented or really good team players?
How have you bounced back from a loss you've experienced in your life?
When leaders face traumatic situations with their teams, how do they take care of them in the midst of it?

ALSO...

Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! https://howleaderslead.com/plan/
Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. https://howleaderslead.com/5-day-leadership-tuneup/
Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-leaders-lead-with-david-novak/id1223803642

#151: Brandon Beane, GM of the Buffalo Bills — Fill the gaps in your knowledge Sep 07, 2023

Show notes

The 2023-2024 NFL season kicks off tonight! And behind all the big plays and personalities, there are a LOT of leadership lessons to learn.

Starting with today’s guest, Brandon Beane, who’s the General Manager of the Buffalo Bills.

His job is to head up all the operations, including trades, drafts, contract negotiation, salary cap management, and – of course – collaborating with the coaches on the roster.

THAT is a LOT of things to be good at!

And when you hear this conversation with Brandon, you’ll see it doesn’t just happen. He’s very intentional about the way he builds his know-how in all these areas. He’s got the humility to spot what he doesn’t know. And he’s got the confidence to go out and learn it.

To grow as a leader and build the career you want, you’ve got to understand where the gaps are in your knowledge and be willing to fill them.

Listen to this conversation to see how it’s done! You’ll also learn:

Tips for a successful collaborative relationship
One key piece of wisdom to help you communicate big “shock-the-system” changes
What it’s like behind the scenes of the NFL draft (including the year they got Josh Allen)
Practical advice for personnel decisions—even when it means making tough cuts
How to recover from a big loss
The powerful leadership lessons from Damar Hamlin’s life-and-death situation last season

Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources:

The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go

Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day

Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

3 More Questions (Mike McCoy) with David Novak and Koula Callahan Sep 04, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:

What have you learned on the golf course that translates into the business and leadership space?
What are some tactics you use to quickly get back on track and regain confidence and self-belief after a setback?
When you’re preparing for an important performance on a big stage, what are some of the things you do to get your mind and emotions right?

ALSO...

Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! https://howleaderslead.com/plan/
Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. https://howleaderslead.com/5-day-leadership-tuneup/
Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-leaders-lead-with-david-novak/id1223803642

#150: Mike McCoy, Captain of the U.S. Walker Cup Team – Grit gets results Aug 31, 2023

Show notes

“Grit” is one of those buzzwords people throw around a lot.

And it can be hard to define!

But you know it when you see it – and you can certainly see it in Mike McCoy.

This upcoming weekend, Mike has the honor of captaining the U.S. team at the Walker Cup as our top amateurs compete against Great Britain and Ireland at St. Andrews’ legendary Old Course.

Mike is one of the world’s top amateur golfers, and he has been for decades. He even earned a coveted amateur spot at the 2014 Masters. And he’s done it all while also building a successful career as an insurance executive!

That level of achievement in BOTH areas doesn’t just happen. It takes an elite mentality, a big commitment, and a willingness to do the hard stuff.

In other words, it takes grit.

In this conversation, you’ll see what grit really looks like and why there is just no substitute for it when it comes to your success.

You’ll also learn:

Why to prioritize training and preparation for your team
The competitive advantage a lot of people shy away from
One practical way to help your team deal with setbacks
What it’s like playing the Masters as an amateur

Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources:

The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go

Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day

Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

3 More Questions (Geoff Colvin) with David Novak and Koula Callahan Aug 28, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:

Are leaders born with natural, God-given talent or can anyone get good at anything with deliberate practice?
Will humans be replaced by tech and AI?
How would you advise a leader to enhance human capital within their organization?

ALSO...

Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! https://howleaderslead.com/plan/
Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. https://howleaderslead.com/5-day-leadership-tuneup/
Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-leaders-lead-with-david-novak/id1223803642

#149: Geoff Colvin, Fortune Magazine’s Senior Editor-at-Large – Use deliberate practice to improve Aug 24, 2023

Show notes

Have you ever wondered what it really takes to be excellent at something?

If so, you’re going to love this episode with Geoff Colvin. He’s the Senior Editor-at-Large for Fortune magazine and one of the most curious and articulate people I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know over the years.

Geoff is also fascinated by excellence in human performance, especially as it pertains to business leaders.

He’s spent decades talking to experts, analyzing research, and asking big questions. Today, you get to benefit from his know-how.

If there’s ANYTHING you want to get better at – whether it’s at work or at home – this conversation basically gives you a playbook for it.

Plus, we get into some bigger questions around AI and the skills leaders really need to be focusing on right now.

Your mind is going to be spinning with big insights – listen now!

You’ll also learn:

Why talent is overrated (and why that’s good news for you!)
The key to improving performance at practically anything
The 4 characteristics of practice that actually help you improve
Three qualities of a top-notch coach
The most important trait for us to develop as AI takes off

Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources:

The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go

Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day

Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

3 More Questions (Jim Fish) with David Novak and Koula Callahan Aug 21, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:

What’s a story from your upbringing that shaped the way you lead today?
What would you say to people that argue compensation is the most important retention factor?
When a company is doing well and growing, how can a leader create that sense of urgency that continues to drive performance?

ALSO...

Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! https://howleaderslead.com/plan/
Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. https://howleaderslead.com/5-day-leadership-tuneup/
Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-leaders-lead-with-david-novak/id1223803642