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In this episode of The Leadership Vision Podcast, host Nathan Freeburg and Dr. Linda Schubring welcome Constantinos Apostolopoulos, also known as Coach Kon. As the founder and CEO of Fresh Biz Solutions and author of The Engagement Blueprint: Building a Culture of Commitment and Performance, Coach Kon brings decades of experience to the conversation. Together, they discuss his immigrant background, unique approach to leadership, and his commitment to fostering human-centric workplaces.

Key Topics:

1. Coach Kon’s Immigrant Background
   • Coach Kon shares how his immigrant roots and Greek heritage shaped his leadership journey and resilience.
   • He discusses how hardship taught him to view adversity as an opportunity for growth, fueling his passion for creating exceptional workplace cultures.
2. Human-Centric Leadership as a Competitive Advantage
   • Emphasizing the importance of human connection, Coach Kon challenges the notion that fostering employee engagement is “soft” work, advocating instead that it’s critical for outperforming competitors.
3. The Importance of Valuing and Engaging Team Members
   • Coach Kon breaks down the four drivers of engagement: feeling valued, connected, productive, and supported. He explains why these are universal human needs, applicable across generations and industries.
4. Insights on Generational and Cultural Intelligence
   • Reflecting on his work with diverse industries, Coach Kon highlights the need for generational and cultural intelligence to bridge gaps in the workplace, particularly between younger employees and those preparing for retirement.
5. From Military Service to Corporate Leadership
   • A former military instructor, Coach Kon shares how his diverse background—from construction to higher education—has informed his approach to leadership development and culture building.
6. Practical Tips for Leaders to Foster Engagement
   • Coach Kon provides actionable advice, including creating a psychologically safe environment, offering specific praise and feedback, and recognizing the strengths of each team member.
7. Applying Human Skills Beyond the Workplace
   • Coach Kon discusses how leadership principles he’s used with youth soccer teams are equally effective in professional settings, illustrating the value of positive reinforcement and setting clear expectations.

Key Quotes:

• “The grass isn’t greener on the other side. It’s greener where you water it.”
• “When leaders think that engagement is soft, I can tell you it is the difference between being average and being exceptional.”

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In this episode of The Leadership Vision Podcast, Nathan Freeburg, Dr. Linda Schubring, and Brian Schubring explore what alignment truly means in team settings—dispelling the myth that alignment requires conformity. Using metaphors from nature, like the organized flight patterns of geese and the dynamic, colorful movement of flamingos, they delve into the complexities of alignment, why it’s essential for effective teamwork, and how it often looks messier than we might expect. The conversation highlights that alignment isn’t about uniformity; rather, it’s a shared commitment to move in the same direction while leveraging each person’s unique strengths.

01:25 Discussing Alignment in Leadership
02:50 Flamingos as a New Metaphor for Team Alignment
04:47 Defining and Achieving Alignment
07:59 Personal Stories of Alignment
10:43 Framework for Alignment
22:30 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Key Takeaways:

1. Rethinking Alignment:
   • Traditional metaphors, such as geese flying in a perfect V-formation, suggest that alignment means precise order and conformity. However, Brian and Linda introduce the image of flamingos flying together—distinct in color, spacing, and position—yet moving in the same direction. This imagery highlights that alignment can be diverse, flexible, and individualized, challenging the need for perfect uniformity.
2. Commitment Over Conformity:
   • Effective team alignment doesn’t mean everyone thinks or acts the same way. Instead, it’s about committing to a shared vision and staying adaptable in how each person contributes. Teams can have different strengths, perspectives, and ways of working yet still move cohesively toward a common goal.
3. Creating Personal Connections to Alignment:
   • Linda and Brian share insights on encouraging leaders to define alignment personally. By reflecting on times when they felt aligned within a team, leaders can better understand the nuances of alignment and recognize how it may look different from one team to another.
4. The Four Frameworks of Alignment:
   • The team outlines four critical aspects of alignment:
     • Clarity: Defining what alignment means for the team.
     • Cascade: Alignment often starts with a few and then cascades to the rest of the team.
     • Cultivation: Continuously reinforcing alignment as the team moves forward.
     • Culture: Embedding alignment into the team culture to ensure resilience over time.
5. Alignment as an Emotional and Relational Process:
   • True alignment isn’t just strategic; it’s emotional and relational. Team members need supportive relationships to maintain alignment, especially in challenging times. This relational focus helps individuals feel connected and engaged, fo

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The Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in discovering, practicing, and implementing a Strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. Contact us to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.

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In this episode of The Leadership Vision Podcast, Nathan Freeburg, Dr. Linda Schubring, and Brian Schubring sit down with Russell Harvey, known as “The Resilience Coach.” With over 20 years in leadership and resilience coaching, Russell shares his mission to impact 100,000 people by 2025. In this engaging and insightful conversation, Russell redefines resilience—not as merely bouncing back but as “springing forward with learning.”

Key topics covered include:

• The Power of Adaptability: Russell discusses research that suggests spending time developing adaptability, openness to change, and curiosity can elevate individuals and teams from just coping to truly thriving.
• Values and Resilience: How a clear sense of purpose and values is foundational for resilience within teams and organizations.
• Realistic Optimism vs. Toxic Positivity: Russell explains the importance of grounded optimism and honest conversations about challenges, strengths, and the journey ahead.
• Daily Practices for Building Resilience: Practical steps for leaders and teams to engage with resilience daily, focusing on adaptability, reflection, and fostering a culture of grounded optimism.

Takeaways:

• Shift your perspective on resilience from simply enduring to thriving by learning and adapting.
• Use challenges as opportunities for growth, practicing resilience in small ways to build strength for larger obstacles.
• Cultivate an optimistic yet realistic team culture, encouraging open, supportive dialogue about both struggles and successes.

Listen in as Russell’s insights and practical tips will inspire any leader to strengthen their resilience and build a thriving, resilient team culture.

For more on this episode and other resources, visit Leadership Vision Consulting. Follow us on social media and join our newsletter for the latest on building a positive team culture!

Support the show

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Read the full blog post here!

CONTACT US

• email: connect@leadershipvisionconsulting.com
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• Leadership Vision Online

ABOUT
The Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in discovering, practicing, and implementing a Strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. Contact us to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.