Bill Prinzivalli - Improvisational Leadership

Authentic Leadership for Everyday People is the podcast where we investigate the connection between effective leadership and authenticity. If you are looking for inspiration and tips on how to become a better leader by being your true self, you are in the right place.

Today's guest is Bill Prinzivalli, a serial entrepreneur, author, coach and consultant. Bill started 4 successful businesses, beginning in the mid 80s, and is now focusing primarily on helping CEOs and small business owners succeed

Bill has used mindfulness practices to improve and support his own business performance for over 30 years. His book Improvisational Leaders, integrates mindfulness and improv comedy techniques to improve business performance.

In our conversation, Bill and I also had a great discussion on a different definition of success, and how being the sole owner of his business allowed him to make choices that were not solely dictated by profit.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[02:55] – Let’s start by giving our listeners a background of who you are, what you’re doing now, and what have been the key moments in your journey.

[03:37] – I ask Bill about incorporating mindfulness into business.

[05:40] – How has being in leadership positions, over the last 50 years, impacted your approach to leadership, and how do you define yourself as a leader?

[08:40] – What was the name of the company and when did you start it?

[09:41] – We talk about Bill’s book called, Improvisational Leaders, and the three disciplines.

[12:54] – What are two or three key principles that a manager or CEO can start applying to their daily decision management, and decision process with your techniques?

[14:35] – When did you start articulating for yourself, who you wanted to be as a leader and CEO, and what were some of your traits and aspirations?

[17:25] – Do you have examples, of your new and true self, or a success story that you would be willing to share?

[18:51] – How did you come to form that view in your role as CEO, running the company as a family?

[20:15] – What lessons did you carry through from business to business?

[24:22] – Did you ever have a definition of what success was for you? And how has it changed?

[26:17] – What were the positives that came out of managing the company like a family approach?

[27:27] – By choosing that approach, what do you think were the positives you got in the era the company was growing?

[29:55] – What do you think are some of the key skills and principles from improvisation, and improvisational comedy that translates to business and business leadership?

[33:26] – I share the 3 most powerful things that I found in improvisation.

[36:18] – What do you think were the biggest benefits you got out of your career history?

[38:32] – Do you have any other hobby or interest that you would like to share? And maybe also had a bearing on how you think about business?

[40:24] – Is there a business expression, jargon, or business cliché that drives you crazy, and what is it?

[41:38] – Food for the body or food for the soul?

[42:51] – Thank you and closing remarks.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

billprinzivalli.com

al4ep.com

Additional Guest Links:

Book: Improvisational Leaders: Integrating Business, Mindfulness, and Improvisation by Bill Prinzivalli and Gerard Farias

Website: improvisationalleaders.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/billprinzivalli/

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

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Music

Susan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com