How Can Servant Leadership and Kindness Transform Your Ability to Influence Others? with Poya PJ Sobhanian

Anton sits down with Dr. Poya “PJ” Sobhanian, a dentist and multi-site executive, to unpack what influence and leadership really look like when you’re responsible for hundreds of people. PJ shares how his parents and Christian faith shaped his ideas of citizenship, service, and servant leadership, and why he believes leadership is fundamentally “influence to change.” The conversation dives into practical examples from his dental practice and public roles, including how he developed teenagers into standout professionals through training and trust. Anton and PJ explore the power of micro-decisions: how you dress, how you show up, what you walk past, and how they silently shape culture more than any speech. They wrap by emphasizing kindness and grace toward yourself and others as the foundation for sustainable change and a workplace people actually want to be part of.

Quotes:

• Influence isn’t about being in charge; it’s about being the reason people choose to change.
• The strongest leaders build teams that can thrive without them, not systems that collapse when they step away.
• Servant leadership isn’t soft; it’s the hardest path because it puts responsibility for everyone’s growth on your shoulders.

Key Takeaways

1. Leadership = influence to change Leadership is fundamentally about influencing people to change their behavior sustainably, which makes it very different from simply managing processes.
2. Servant leadership starts with intent and citizenship True servant leadership is grounded in service, values, and citizenship, showing up as a reliable, respectful member of your community and team, and setting the tone through your daily actions and standards.
3. Trust, kindness, and consistency create lasting impact Long-term influence comes from being consistent, doing what you say you’ll do, visiting and listening to people on the front lines, and practicing kindness toward yourself and others so that grace and high-performance culture can follow.

Episode Timeline:

0:00 – Introduction to Dr. Poya (PJ) Sobhanian and His Leadership Journey 3:40 – Defining Influence and the Difference Between Leadership and Management 4:44 – Early Influences: Parents, Faith, and the Roots of Service 8:13 – What Servant Leadership Really Looks Like in Practice 13:46 – Developing Young Talent and Shaping First Work Experiences 17:26 – Coaching Senior Leaders to Increase Their Influence 22:16 – Leadership, Decorum, Discipline, and Professional Presence 23:27 – Leadership as Influence to Change and the Role of Values 27:23 – What’s Next for PJ: Machu Picchu, Career Transition, and New Opportunities 31:24 – Reflections on Dentistry, Responsibility, and Service 35:49 – Kindness, Grace, and Creating Positive Work Environments

Conclusion:

This conversation with Dr. Poya “PJ” Sobhanian highlights that real leadership is less about titles and more about influencing meaningful, sustainable change in people. Grounded in his experiences as a dentist, executive, and public servant, PJ shows how servant leadership, citizenship, and strong values can shape entire teams and communities. He reminds us that the smallest choices how we dress, how we speak, what we walk past quietly define our culture far more than big speeches ever do. Trust, consistency, and kindness form the backbone of his approach, allowing difficult change to feel possible and shared rather than imposed. Listeners are left with a simple yet powerful charge: lead with service, grace, and kindness, and your influence will naturally extend far beyond your immediate role.

Ready to lead with more influence, kindness, and long-term impact?

Learn from Dr. Poya “PJ” Sobhanian’s approach to servant leadership, where trust, consistency, and citizenship shape teams that thrive and change that actually lasts. PJ’s journey as a clinician, executive, and public servant shows how values-based leadership can transform workplaces, communities, and the people who work in them every day.

To connect with or learn more about PJ:

You can contact him directly or send a message via his verified

Dr PJ Sobhanian Facebook Page 💼 Connect on LinkedIn:

https://au.linkedin.com/in/poya-john-pj-sobhanian-24936749

🌐 Visit: //www.dental.sa.gov.au/