How the CEO of Amsted Industries Discovered Being Vulnerable by Playing Piano

How the CEO of Amsted Industries Discovered Being Vulnerable by Playing Piano

In today's episode, I speak with Stephen Smith, CEO of Amsted Industries. Stephen shares his belief that vulnerability is about acknowledging that you can be wrong and being willing to expose yourself as a human being. He emphasized that showing vulnerability helps to level the playing field and eliminates defensiveness, which can hinder effective decision-making.

Stephen recounted instances where he openly admitted his ignorance during meetings, which he believes fosters a culture of learning and growth. He also highlighted the importance of sharing personal experiences, such as his joy of becoming a grandparent, to help others see him as a human being with similar joys and emotions.

We discussed the importance of balancing vulnerability with strength, especially during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic. Stephen believes that being vulnerable can convey strength and security, and it's crucial to communicate both effectively. He also shared that he's been vulnerable in his personal life, such as taking piano lessons at 65 and performing in a recital alongside a five-year-old prodigy.

Stephen believes that living a life where you're not always the powerful person but sometimes the vulnerable one is important, especially as a leader.

Stephen Smith is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. Check it out here and pre-order your copy now.

__________________

Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Episoder(1180)

Why Empathy, Trust, and Communication Are Every Leader's Advantage in the Age of AI

Why Empathy, Trust, and Communication Are Every Leader's Advantage in the Age of AI

Why are so many employees entering the workforce unsure of themselves, lacking confidence, and not quite ready to thrive? And with AI automating more tasks by the day, what should leaders actually be ...

11 Aug 202543min

Sparks: Want to Get and Retain Top Talent? You NEED to Watch This!

Sparks: Want to Get and Retain Top Talent? You NEED to Watch This!

What if your employee perks are actually backfiring… making people disengage faster, not stay longer? The way we attract and retain talent is overdue for a serious reset. In today's Leadership Spark, ...

8 Aug 20259min

How to Stop Leading from Fear and Start Taking Radical Responsibility at Work

How to Stop Leading from Fear and Start Taking Radical Responsibility at Work

So much of what holds leaders back isn't strategy or skill. It's the invisible mindset traps we don't even realize we're stuck in. Most leadership challenges are created by unconscious patterns runnin...

4 Aug 202556min

Sparks: The Employee Experience Equation: How Physical Space, Technology, and Culture Can Make or Break Teams

Sparks: The Employee Experience Equation: How Physical Space, Technology, and Culture Can Make or Break Teams

What if your office is making people miserable… and you don't even see it? We now live in a world of hybrid work. The spaces we work in, the technology we use, and the culture we experience shape us m...

1 Aug 202514min

The Leadership Mindset You Need in an AI-Driven World

The Leadership Mindset You Need in an AI-Driven World

AI is moving faster than any of us can keep up. Every week brings a new tool, every month a new disruption, and leaders everywhere are left scrambling to understand what this means for their people, t...

28 Jul 202555min

Sparks: Be a Better Leader: Five Trends You Need to Embrace to Become Future Ready

Sparks: Be a Better Leader: Five Trends You Need to Embrace to Become Future Ready

The world of work is changing faster than ever! Globalization, mobility, millennials, technology, and new behaviors are transforming how we lead. In today's Leadership Spark episode, I break down thes...

25 Jul 20258min

The Right Way to Handle Tough Conversations Without Losing Your Team

The Right Way to Handle Tough Conversations Without Losing Your Team

Most leaders avoid tough conversations out of fear—of seeming harsh, being misunderstood, or facing backlash. But the conversations we dodge are often the key to growth, accountability, and psychologi...

21 Jul 202558min

Sparks: Five Trends Reshaping the Future of Work: Why Challenging Convention is the New Normal

Sparks: Five Trends Reshaping the Future of Work: Why Challenging Convention is the New Normal

What can a world chess champion teach us about the future of work? More than you think. Just like Magnus Carlsen challenged convention to become the greatest player in history, leaders today need to r...

18 Jul 202512min

Populært innen Business og økonomi

stopp-verden
dine-penger-pengeradet
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk
e24-podden
rss-borsmorgen-okonominyhetene
pengepodden-2
livet-pa-veien-med-jan-erik-larssen
pengesnakk
tid-er-penger-en-podcast-med-peter-warren
utbytte
finansredaksjonen
morgenkaffen-med-finansavisen
lederpodden
rss-markedspuls-2
rss-pa-konto
boligbobla
rss-fa-makro
rss-investering-gjort-enkelt
rss-andelige-tanker-med-camillo