John Grubbs, Keynote Speaker and Best-Selling Author

26/02/2025

The need to be liked is one of business leaders' biggest psychological hurdles. While it's natural to want to be respected and appreciated, an excessive desire for approval can lead to weak decision-making, poor boundaries, and an inability to hold others accountable. From an Adlerian psychology perspective, this struggle stems from mistaken beliefs about self-worth and interpersonal relationships. Leaders who seek validation from others often fear rejection, prioritize harmony over progress, and struggle with making difficult but necessary decisions.

The need to be liked is one of business leaders' biggest psychological hurdles. While it's natural to want to be respected and appreciated, an excessive desire for approval can lead to weak decision-making, poor boundaries, and an inability to hol...

16/12/2024

Success begins in the mind. Before any outstanding achievement can materialize, it must take root as an idea, a vision of what is possible. Imagining yourself successful is not merely daydreaming; it is a deliberate and powerful tool used by athletes, entrepreneurs, artists, and leaders throughout history. When harnessed effectively, visualization can help align your thoughts, actions, and emotions with your goals, paving the way for tangible results. Here’s how to leverage the power of imagining yourself as successful to achieve your aspirations.

Success begins in the mind. Before any outstanding achievement can materialize, it must take root as an idea, a vision of what is possible. Imagining yourself successful is not merely daydreaming; it is a deliberate and powerful tool used by athle...

06/12/2024

Outstanding leadership emerges from technical expertise and the ability to connect with others authentically and inspire them to achieve shared goals. To achieve this, leaders must first unlock their true personality—an authentic self-reflecting inner confidence and a commitment to others' growth.

22/10/2024

Harold Thorpe had always been a figure of admiration in the business world. With his crisp suits, sharp intellect, and a history of turning struggling companies into industry leaders, he was the epitome of corporate success. Harold's decisions had been almost prophetic for decades, guiding his companies through economic storms with unwavering confidence. But now, as he sat in his corner office on the 42nd floor of the sleek glass tower that bore his company's name, he felt an unfamiliar gnawing in his chest—a feeling he couldn't quite shake off.

Harold Thorpe had always been a figure of admiration in the business world. With his crisp suits, sharp intellect, and a history of turning struggling companies into industry leaders, he was the epitome of corporate success. Harold's decisions had...

22/10/2024

Discover a cognitive bias where people adopt behaviors or beliefs simply because others do, can significantly influence workplace dynamics. Leaders often struggle to manage team morale, perceptions, and reactions in environments where opinions can shift rapidly. A cautionary tale of this effect was the viral response to Karen Templar's blog post about India. This case illustrates how initial praise can transform into a powerful negative backlash with a single trigger.

Discover a cognitive bias where people adopt behaviors or beliefs simply because others do, can significantly influence workplace dynamics. Leaders often struggle to manage team morale, perceptions, and reactions in environments where opinions can...

05/10/2024

Protect yourself!

Learn how to protect your reputation in business

04/09/2024

In the complex world of business leadership, the art of communication is one of the most powerful tools a leader can wield. But being a great communicator doesn’t mean simply delivering compelling speeches or motivating your team with inspirational words. At the heart of many organizational issues lies a simple truth: it’s not what was said that causes problems, but what was not said. Missing conversations, particularly the difficult ones, are often the root cause of most challenges that businesses face.

In the complex world of business leadership, the art of communication is one of the most powerful tools a leader can wield. But being a great communicator doesn’t mean simply delivering compelling speeches or motivating your team with inspirationa...

17/07/2024

The notion that life is a construct suggests that the reality we experience is not fixed but malleable. Our perceptions, shaped by cultural, familial, and personal narratives, often define the limits of what we believe is possible. However, these narratives are not immutable truths; they are stories we can rewrite. Listen now!

In their seminal work, The Art of Possibility, Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander offer a transformative perspective on how individuals can redefine their lives to achieve their true potential. At the core of their philosophy is the idea th...

20/06/2024

As we look toward the future, one of the most profound changes on the horizon is the transformation of personal transportation. For Generation Z, born between the late 1990s and early 2010s, driving symbolizes independence and freedom. However, their grandchildren are poised to experience a very different reality. The rapid advancement and proliferation of autonomous vehicles, controlled by sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI), are set to revolutionize transportation, making driving an optional skill rather than a necessity. Discover why you should care!

As we look toward the future, one of the most profound changes on the horizon is the transformation of personal transportation. For Generation Z, born between the late 1990s and early 2010s, driving symbolizes independence and freedom. However, th...

09/05/2024

Let's face reality: yearly reviews should be extinct. Top performers hate them, and most managers are terrible at delivering them. In business management, annual performance appraisals are standard practice for evaluating employee performance, set...

20/03/2024

Do you know why employees waste time at work? One concept called the learning curve profoundly influences how individuals distribute their work throughout the day, often leading to phenomena such as spreading work out to fill the day. As a leader, you can reduce wasted time by knowing the reasons you are paying for empty labor. Leadership plays a pivotal role in minimizing empty labor within an organization. Effective leadership is the cornerstone of minimizing empty labor and maximizing productivity in the modern workplace.

Do you know why employees waste time at work?  One concept called the learning curve profoundly influences how individuals distribute their work throughout the day, often leading to phenomena such as spreading work out to fill the day.  ...

14/03/2024

In the complex tapestry of today's multigenerational workplace, understanding leadership goes beyond conventional management principles. It requires a nuanced comprehension of individual differences, motivations, and behaviors. The Enneagram, an ancient personality typing system, offers a profound lens through which we can explore the diverse leadership styles that emerge in modern organizational settings.

Comprising nine distinct personality types, the Enneagram provides a framework for understanding the core fears, desires, and motivations that drive individuals. Each type possesses unique strengths and potential pitfalls in leadership roles, making it a valuable personal and professional development tool. Let's delve into how each Enneagram type manifests as a leader in today's workforce:

In the complex tapestry of today's multigenerational workplace, understanding leadership goes beyond conventional management principles. It requires a nuanced comprehension of individual differences, motivations, and behaviors. The Enneagram, an a...

19/02/2024

In the swirling currents of today's business landscape, change isn't just a ripple; it's a tidal wave. From technological breakthroughs to market shifts, organizations constantly navigate uncharted waters to stay afloat. But amidst the turbulence of change, one thing remains constant: the human element.

As leaders, we're not just captains of ships but navigators of human emotions and aspirations. And when it comes to steering our teams through choppy waters of change, understanding the heart of our crew is paramount.

In the swirling currents of today's business landscape, change isn't just a ripple; it's a tidal wave. From technological breakthroughs to market shifts, organizations constantly navigate uncharted waters to stay afloat. But amidst the turbulence ...

29/12/2023

Are you the most intelligent person on the team you lead? If so, the team may get held back by your knowledge. By not finding people with more intellectual horsepower, you may be the reason the team will not achieve anything more significant in 2024. When discussing the concept of a leader being the most intelligent person in the room, it's essential to consider both the potential advantages and the significant dangers and limitations that this situation can present. While intelligence is undoubtedly an asset in leadership, it can also lead to various issues affecting team dynamics, innovation, and decision-making processes. This episode an exploration of these dangers and limitations...Hang on and enjoy the ride!

Are you the most intelligent person on the team you lead? If so, the team may get held back by your knowledge. By not finding people with more intellectual horsepower, you may be the reason the team will not achieve anything more significant in 20...

16/12/2023

28/11/2023

At first glance, laziness and excessive busyness appear opposites. But upon closer examination, they often arise from the same root - a lack of discipline and intentionality. Neither busyness nor laziness inherently leads to productivity and meaning. It is the discipline that directs our energies with purpose and structure. Without it, laziness manifests as distraction and avoidance of effort.

At first glance, laziness and excessive busyness appear opposites. But upon closer examination, they often arise from the same root - a lack of discipline and intentionality. Neither busyness nor laziness inherently leads to productivity and meani...

23/10/2023

If you feel stuck, overwhelmed or unprepared on your path to leadership, The Leadership Ladder will re-energize your personal and professional growth. Let’s climb to the peak of transformational leadership together!

As leaders, we often feel pressure to appear competent, authoritative, and perfectly polished. But new research reveals the power of strategic self-disclosure of imperfections, mistakes, and quirks.

John shares eye-opening psychological studies on the pratfall effect and actionable advice for harnessing it. You’ll walk away knowing when and how to reveal your wonderful imperfections in order to build rapid rapport and respect with your team. They’ll see you’re human, flaws and all, but still extremely capable as a leader.

Get ready to liberate yourself and watch your authentic leadership soar!

If you feel stuck, overwhelmed or unprepared on your path to leadership, The Leadership Ladder will re-energize your personal and professional growth. Let’s climb to the peak of transformational leadership together!As leaders, we often feel pressu...