September 12, 2024 • 29 mins
Welcome back, Bridge Builders, to another hard-hitting episode of "Bread to Lead" with your host, Dr. Jake Tayler Jacobs. Today, we're diving into a crucial topic: why faking it never makes it in leadership.
Drawing from his extensive experience as a corporate fixer, Dr. Jacobs exposes the damaging effects of leaders who pad resumes, write empty press releases, and hop from one opportunity to another in a bid to maintain an illusion of success. Through a compelling story of a tech startup's downfall under a pretender CEO, he illustrates how the facade eventually crumbles, leading to organizational collapse.
Dr. Jacobs lays out five key reasons why faking it doesn't work in leadership, emphasizing the importance of trust, competence, authenticity, growth, and the inevitable exposure of the truth. He provides actionable steps for leaders to become genuine, including honest self-assessment, continuous learning, embracing failure, seeking feedback, practicing authenticity, setting realistic goals, and focusing on value creation.
As the episode unfolds, Dr. Jacobs challenges listeners to shed their masks and do the hard work of becoming real leaders. He underscores the rewards of authentic leadership, such as building real confidence, earning respect and trust, and creating a culture of growth and authenticity.
Don't miss this episode filled with practical advice and inspiring insights. Subscribe to "Bread to Lead" and check out our Next Step Leadership Program at Sips Healthcare. Transform your leadership journey with integrity and impact.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
What's going on, Bridge Builders, and welcome to another hard-hitting episode of Bread to Lead.
I'm your host, Dr. Jake Taylor Jacobs, and today we're diving into a topic that
is as uncomfortable as it is crucial.
Why faking it never makes it in leadership.
Before we dive in, let me remind our new listeners, by trade,
(00:22):
I'm a corporate fixer. When organizations are on the brink of collapse,
I'm the one they call to turn things around.
I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of leadership.
And today, we're going to confront some hard truths about the perils of pretending and leadership.
(00:43):
Music.
We'll be right back.
(01:10):
In my years as a corporate fixer,
I've encountered a phenomenon that's as common as it is destructive.
Leaders who are living a lie they're padding resumes writing empty press releases,
(01:31):
and jumping from opportunity to opportunity hospital to hospital company to
company all in an attempt to maintain an illusion of success but here's the
cold hard truth Eventually,
the facade crumbles and reality comes crashing down.
(01:53):
Let's start with the stark reality check. There comes a point where pretending has to stop.
You can fake success for a while. You can pad your resume, write flowery press releases.
About your innovative solutions or your groundbreaking strategies.
You can hop from one business to another, one organization to the next,
(02:17):
always chasing the next shiny opportunity.
But here's the thing, your reputation, it will catch up with you.
I've seen it happen time and time again. A leader comes into an organization
full of grand promises and impressive credentials.
They talk a big game about transforming the company,
revolutionizing the industry, but when it comes time to deliver,
(02:39):
crickets, or worse, disaster.
Now, let me share a story from my own experience.
(03:01):
A few years back, I was called in to turn around a tech startup.
The CEO had an impressive resume, Ivy League education,
stints at big name tech companies, glowing recommendations.
But within weeks, it became clear that something was off.
(03:23):
This CEO talked a good game in the board meetings, throwing around buzzwords
and making bold predictions.
But when it came to the day-to-day operations of the company,
he was lost. He couldn't explain the basics of the company's technology.
He had no real understanding of the health care market.
(03:44):
His strategic vision was nothing more than a collection of cliches lifted from business books.
And it turns out, much of his resume was exaggerated or outright fabricated.
Those glowing recommendations from friends he asked to pose as former colleagues,
the prestigious positions at big tech companies, greatly inflated titles for
(04:09):
what were essentially internships.
The company was burning through cash, morale was at rock bottom,
and we were months away from total collapse.
All because someone decided that pretending to be a leader was easier than doing
the hard work of actually becoming one.
(04:30):
This isn't just a problem for the pretenders themselves. It's a cancer that
eats away at the entire organization.
When leaders fake it, they create a culture of dishonesty. They set impossible
standards based on their inflated claims leading to burnout or disillusionment across their teams.
(04:52):
They make decisions based on maintaining their facade rather than on what's best for the company.
But here's the thing. You can lie to the world.
But you can't lie to yourself forever. When you go home broken and exhausted
from living a lie, the truth is undeniable.
(05:14):
I've seen leaders break down in their offices, the weight of their deception
finally becoming too much to bear.
Eventually, you'll face a choice. Become who you've been pretending to be or
get exposed for who you never were.
And let me tell you, that exposure is brutal.
(05:38):
I've seen careers ended, reputations destroyed and lives appended when the truth comes out.
So why does faking it never make it in leadership?
Let's break it down. If you're new to the podcast.
This is more of a pod class. The intention of the pie, this podcast,
(06:02):
where to lead is to not only teach you from experience,
but to give you actionable items that you can take to kind of work on getting
yourself in the position to become the transformative bridge building leader.
Leader that God had called you to become.
So when I give points, I'm going to tell you to write things down.
(06:24):
I used to be a teacher. It's because I want you to actually take note and write
it down because what good is listening to something that can change your life
and become a great leader,
if you're not taking it with you to go and implement in your organization,
or in your life.
So write these five things down. The first one.
(06:49):
Is trust is the foundation of leadership.
Leadership is fundamentally about influence and influence is built on trust.
When you're faking it, you're constantly on edge, worried about being exposed.
This anxiety comes through in your interactions.
(07:12):
Eroding trust with your team, peers and superiors.
Is number two why faking it in leadership doesn't work.
Competence matters in the long run. Results matter more than rhetoric.
You might be able to bluff your way through a board meeting or two or a couple
(07:33):
of calls, a couple of one-on-one off situations,
but eventually the lack of real skills and knowledge for the position that you're
holding will become apparent.
And in health care, where lives are actually literally at stake,
this incompetence can have dire consequences.
(07:56):
The third reason why faking it doesn't work in leadership is because authentic
leaders inspire people.
People are inspired by authenticity, not perfection.
When you pretend to have all the answers, you create a distance between yourself and your team.
(08:20):
But when you're honest about your challenges, your vulnerabilities,
what you know and what you do not know, you create connection and inspire others
to bring their whole selves to work.
The fourth reason why faking it doesn't work in leadership.
(08:40):
Faking it actually stunts your growth.
When you're busy maintaining a facade, you're not focusing on actual growth and development.
You miss out on the learning opportunities because you're too afraid to admit what you do not know.
(09:00):
We'll talk about these things a little later. And the fifth reason why faking
it doesn't work in leadership, and then we'll go to a commercial break.
The truth always comes out.
Always. In today's interconnected world, it's harder than ever to maintain a lie.
(09:23):
Social media, professional networks and the rapid flow of information means
that inconsistencies in your story are more likely to be spotted and exposed.
People will say, oh, they said this, but there's a video when they said that.
When it comes to your authentic story, who you are, how you came up,
(09:46):
where you come from, the things you've learned.
The truth doesn't need variations to saying the same thing.
So through time, people will begin to see your true capabilities.
The unfortunate thing is when that happens, sometimes there's no return.
(10:11):
We'll go to commercial break.
Pod break, pod break. As we discuss the importance of authentic leadership,
it's crucial to have the right resources at your fingertips.
That's where my book, Bred to Lead, comes in. This essential guide for healthcare
leaders dives deep into the principles of authentic leadership,
(10:32):
providing you with practical strategies to navigate your leadership journey with integrity.
Available now on Amazon and in major bookstores.
Don't just read, don't just lead be bred to lead authentically welcome back
from the podcast break listen again,
go and get that book bred to lead it's my newest book and it's it's building,
(10:58):
on the concept that people are the epicenter of leadership it actually takes
me to my favorite scripture and in my favorite scripture it states that the
greatest among you You shall be your servant.
What does this mean? That servanthood and leadership is leadership.
(11:22):
And then those that exalt themselves would typically be humbled with truth.
And those who are humble in themselves in their truth will be exalted.
On every platform, it works the same way. If I'm always trying to tell people.
(11:45):
All the stuff I can do and not spending the time doing the work.
Eventually, people will be like, hey, you got a lot of great ideas of what can
happen. But I haven't really seen any execution.
And the first thing a lot of leaders typically like to do, because it's the
easiest win to success. is cut expenses.
(12:07):
Oh yeah, we're spending too much. Because if we can get the profits to show
better just by cutting expenses, but we're not realizing that we're cutting major departments.
We're cutting the lifeline of our brand. Cutting expenses just doesn't cut it.
And eventually people will see the result of that.
(12:29):
So faking it doesn't work. What's the alternative?
It's very simple but it's not easy do the work,
become the leader you've been pretending to be and here's how.
Write these seven points down one start with an honest self-assessment,
(12:56):
by taking a hard look at yourself what are your real skills What are your actual accomplishments?
What are your gaps?
This isn't about beating yourself up. It's about getting a clear picture of
where you are so you can chart a path to where you want to be.
(13:21):
Number two, continuous learning. Once you are honest with yourself,
you can identify your gaps.
Commit to feeling them. Take courses, read books, find mentors.
If you've been pretending to understand finance, actually learn finance.
(13:42):
If you've been bluffing your way through technology discussions,
take the time to understand the tech.
Number three. Embrace failure.
One of the reasons people pretend is because they're afraid to fail. But failure is a part.
(14:05):
It's an essential part of growth.
Start small. Take on projects where you can afford to fail.
Learn from those failures. Build your resilience. I'll tell people any day.
What made me become who I am today was when I made a terrible business decision
(14:30):
that cost us $4 million cash.
Having to take my company from such a hard hit and turn it around on bare bones
and get us back to an area where we're healthy.
(14:50):
Let me know that I had what it took.
And it also showed me failure isn't bad when your eyes are open to learn from the mistakes.
Failure is not bad when your eyes are open to learn from the mistakes.
(15:14):
How do you know if you're good at what you do?
What can you compare it to? If you never put yourself in positions to fail.
Now, Dr. Jake, what do you mean put yourself in positions to fail? It's very simple.
(15:34):
The people that change organizations and industries.
We push against the line. Because change doesn't happen until someone has the
gall to actually step over the line.
And I'm not scared to step over the line because I'm not embarrassed about falling down. Why?
(15:55):
Because with every time I fail or I fall, I learn better ways to stand.
I remember as a kid, I used to play with play on a video game.
Tomb Raider was one of those games. It was just so hard on certain levels. I didn't know what to do.
(16:18):
I kept failing. I kept failing. I kept failing at the level,
but I wasn't failing in the same positions.
I was getting better. It just was a lot of failures on different levels.
So I looked up the Tomb Raider manual.
At the time, you can actually call in to Tomb Raider and ask them,
hey, I'm stuck on this level. What am I supposed to do to fix it?
(16:40):
They tell me, give me guidance, advise me on what exactly I'm supposed to do
and where I'm supposed to stand. And then guess what?
Never again at that level did I fail. And that taught me very quickly at a young age.
If I'm scared to fail, I'm scared to get better.
But if I'm OK with embracing failure for the betterment of who I am in my career,
(17:01):
I'm never going to fail at that mistake again.
It's very important. Some of our best lessons comes from our best failures.
Number four, seek feedback regularly. Ask for honest feedback from your team or your peers.
And your superiors. And here's the crucial part.
(17:23):
Actually listen. Use it to guide your development. Because truth hurts.
It only hurts long. If you don't, if you're not willing to embrace the fine
truth and what people are saying.
I talk to organizations, I say. We need to believe the complaints.
(17:51):
If my grandmother used to say if one person said it, they could be lying.
If two people said it, they could be conspiring.
If three people said it, it's the absolute fact.
Especially when they don't know each other.
So when more than one person is saying the same thing about you,
(18:12):
it's time to look in the mirror and say, like Michael Jackson,
I'm starting with the man in the mirror.
You got to start with you and be open to that information because that feedback
will definitely help you get to where you need to be.
Number five, practice authenticity. Authenticity.
(18:36):
Start being honest about what you know and what you don't know.
And it's OK to say, I don't know.
But I will find out. People respect honesty far more than bluster.
Number six, set realistic goals instead of making grandiose promises.
(19:00):
Set achievable goals, then work your tail off to exceed them.
Build a track record of winning.
Build a track record of under-promising over-delivering. Build a track record
of being a man or woman of your word.
That's what brings truth. That's what brings trust.
(19:22):
That's what makes the top leaders want to come work with you and stay with you,
regardless of if the pay is enough or not.
I remember in basketball in college.
(19:46):
I was trying all the ways to score the ball and I was having a hard time scoring
I was in a little bit of a slump and our shooting coach came to me and said,
TJ I said yes sir He said, Jacobs. I said, yes, sir.
He said, do you know why you're in a shooting slump? I said, no, sir.
(20:11):
He said, it's because you're trying to do too much.
You're trying to make all the fantastic plays and the hard shots.
You're making the game too hard.
Start by the easy shots. shots, the layups, getting to the free throw line.
(20:32):
Get yourself in the groove. See the ball go in the hole.
It builds your confidence to make the hard shots.
So when I made that quick fix, I went on an eight, nine game spree, 30 points a game.
Then I started feeling myself. And guess what I did again? Start doing all these
(20:53):
grandiose plays and shooting it went down in the flow ups and down all over.
And I say that to say when I come into an organization, I'm looking at the small goals first.
People will say I brought you into the organization to change the entire organizational department.
Then I say if I change this at five percent and I fix this to increase at five
percent and if I fix this to increase at five percent, If I increase this to
(21:18):
increase at five percent,
four times five is 20 percent increase in efficiency.
Increasing efficiency means increasing profitability. Increase of profitability
means lack less mistakes that are happening.
Less mistakes that are happening means that there are less patients being affected.
Less patients being affected means that now the surgeons look good.
(21:39):
The hospital looks good in no and less in lawsuits. suits.
When you start to realize that small goals make the big goals,
you will start making more small ones.
So versus looking at changing something completely, look at it from a ant's
level, not a bird's level.
I create the vision from the bird's level. I create the game plan from an ant's
(22:01):
level, from bottom up, not top down.
And lastly, number seven, focus on value creation.
When you shift your focus from self-promotion to value creation.
It changes how you can genuinely help your team, your organization, or even your customers.
(22:28):
When you create real value, you don't need to fake success. It comes natural.
But let me be clear This journey isn't easy,
It's much harder Than pretending It requires humility Hard work,
(22:53):
And courage to be vulnerable But the rewards are immense And humility does not
mean You're lowering yourself Because of your lack of being great.
Humility says, I don't have to show for you who I am because my work speaks for me.
When you do the work to become a genuine leader, you build real confidence.
(23:19):
Not the fragile ego of a pretender, but the solid assurance of someone who knows their worth.
You earn the respect and the trust of your team. You create a culture of authenticity and growth.
And here's the beautiful irony. When you stop trying to impress everyone,
(23:42):
when you focus on genuine growth and value creation, that's when you become truly impressive.
Take you to our next break. Guess who's back? Guess who's back? Guess who's back?
Bridge builders. We know that staffing challenges can often tempt leaders to
cut corners or make promises they can't keep. At Sips Healthcare,
(24:06):
we offer high quality, reliable staffing solutions for perioperative service lines.
Let us handle your temporary staffing needs so you can focus on what matters most.
Developing yourself and your team with integrity.
Contact us today to learn how we can support your staffing needs while you build
your authentic leadership capacity.
(24:29):
Welcome back. Zach, I've seen the good type of transformation happen.
Remember the tech startup I mentioned earlier?
After we oust the pretender CEO, I actually wrote a book entitled You're Not a CEO Yet. Right.
(24:58):
And it was off the building of this person and even my life walk of transitioning into an executive.
So once we put out the pretending CEO.
And promoted the mid-level manager to the role.
This person was the opposite of the former CEO, humble, grateful,
(25:22):
hardworking and brutally honest about the company's challenges.
She didn't make grand promises. Instead, she rolled up her sleeves and got to work.
She spent time understanding every aspect of the business.
She was up front with board about companies problems, but also clear about her plan to address them.
(25:45):
She invested in her team's development and created a culture of continuous learning.
It wasn't easy. There were setbacks and failures along the way.
But she faced them head on, learned from them and kept pushing forward.
Two years later, the company had not only survived.
(26:05):
But it's thriving.
They had a product that actually worked. Happy customers and a team that was
engaged and passionate about their mission.
That's the power of authentic leadership. that's
what happens when you stop pretending and you start becoming so
(26:27):
here's my challenge to you bridge builders no more lying to yourself no more
faking it till you make it do the work and build the real you it's time to take
off the mask it's time to stop running from opportunity Opportunity to opportunity,
hoping your past won't catch up with you.
(26:50):
It's time to stand still, face the truth and do the work.
And become the leader you've been pretending to be. Remember, true success.
Authentic success. Isn't about appearances. It's about impact.
(27:12):
It's about the value you create. the people you develop the positive change
you bring to your organization in the world you have it in you to be a great leader.
Not a pretend great leader but a real one,
it's time to let that leader the real leader the one that's bred to lead your
(27:38):
authentic self you're bred to lead let that person emerge merge and told me and tell me.
What the difference is in your organization.
Thank you for tuning in to another episode of Bread to Lead.
(27:59):
Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast to ensure you never miss an episode.
And for those bridge builders ready to embrace authentic leadership,
check out our Next Step Leadership Program at Sips Healthcare.
It's time to invest in your future and become the genuine leader your organization
needs. Wait, before you go, let's shine a spotlight on our partners at Asynco.
(28:23):
Asynco is revolutionizing surgical asset management with their innovative sonar system.
As the first surgical asset management platform built for operational efficiency
and quality across every department,
Asynco is helping health care organizations optimize their surgical operations
with transparency and integrity.
(28:44):
Visit Ascendco, A-S-C-E-N-D-C-O dot com to learn how Sonar can transform your
surgical asset management.
Until later. Peace.
And as my son will say.
Follow our podcast, share it to other leaders or aspiring leaders,
(29:08):
and always remember that I love you.
There's absolutely nothing you can do about it.
Peace, Bridge Builders. See you next week.
What's going on, Bridge Builders, and welcome to another hard-hitting episode of Bread to Lead.
I'm your host, Dr. Jake Taylor Jacobs, and today we're diving into a topic that
is as uncomfortable as it is crucial.
Why faking it never makes it in leadership.
Before we dive in, let me remind our new listeners, by trade,
(00:22):
I'm a corporate fixer. When organizations are on the brink of collapse,
I'm the one they call to turn things around.
I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of leadership.
And today, we're going to confront some hard truths about the perils of pretending and leadership.
(00:43):
Music.
We'll be right back.
(01:10):
In my years as a corporate fixer,
I've encountered a phenomenon that's as common as it is destructive.
Leaders who are living a lie they're padding resumes writing empty press releases,
(01:31):
and jumping from opportunity to opportunity hospital to hospital company to
company all in an attempt to maintain an illusion of success but here's the
cold hard truth Eventually,
the facade crumbles and reality comes crashing down.
(01:53):
Let's start with the stark reality check. There comes a point where pretending has to stop.
You can fake success for a while. You can pad your resume, write flowery press releases.
About your innovative solutions or your groundbreaking strategies.
You can hop from one business to another, one organization to the next,
(02:17):
always chasing the next shiny opportunity.
But here's the thing, your reputation, it will catch up with you.
I've seen it happen time and time again. A leader comes into an organization
full of grand promises and impressive credentials.
They talk a big game about transforming the company,
revolutionizing the industry, but when it comes time to deliver,
(02:39):
crickets, or worse, disaster.
Now, let me share a story from my own experience.
(03:01):
A few years back, I was called in to turn around a tech startup.
The CEO had an impressive resume, Ivy League education,
stints at big name tech companies, glowing recommendations.
But within weeks, it became clear that something was off.
(03:23):
This CEO talked a good game in the board meetings, throwing around buzzwords
and making bold predictions.
But when it came to the day-to-day operations of the company,
he was lost. He couldn't explain the basics of the company's technology.
He had no real understanding of the health care market.
(03:44):
His strategic vision was nothing more than a collection of cliches lifted from business books.
And it turns out, much of his resume was exaggerated or outright fabricated.
Those glowing recommendations from friends he asked to pose as former colleagues,
the prestigious positions at big tech companies, greatly inflated titles for
(04:09):
what were essentially internships.
The company was burning through cash, morale was at rock bottom,
and we were months away from total collapse.
All because someone decided that pretending to be a leader was easier than doing
the hard work of actually becoming one.
(04:30):
This isn't just a problem for the pretenders themselves. It's a cancer that
eats away at the entire organization.
When leaders fake it, they create a culture of dishonesty. They set impossible
standards based on their inflated claims leading to burnout or disillusionment across their teams.
(04:52):
They make decisions based on maintaining their facade rather than on what's best for the company.
But here's the thing. You can lie to the world.
But you can't lie to yourself forever. When you go home broken and exhausted
from living a lie, the truth is undeniable.
(05:14):
I've seen leaders break down in their offices, the weight of their deception
finally becoming too much to bear.
Eventually, you'll face a choice. Become who you've been pretending to be or
get exposed for who you never were.
And let me tell you, that exposure is brutal.
(05:38):
I've seen careers ended, reputations destroyed and lives appended when the truth comes out.
So why does faking it never make it in leadership?
Let's break it down. If you're new to the podcast.
This is more of a pod class. The intention of the pie, this podcast,
(06:02):
where to lead is to not only teach you from experience,
but to give you actionable items that you can take to kind of work on getting
yourself in the position to become the transformative bridge building leader.
Leader that God had called you to become.
So when I give points, I'm going to tell you to write things down.
(06:24):
I used to be a teacher. It's because I want you to actually take note and write
it down because what good is listening to something that can change your life
and become a great leader,
if you're not taking it with you to go and implement in your organization,
or in your life.
So write these five things down. The first one.
(06:49):
Is trust is the foundation of leadership.
Leadership is fundamentally about influence and influence is built on trust.
When you're faking it, you're constantly on edge, worried about being exposed.
This anxiety comes through in your interactions.
(07:12):
Eroding trust with your team, peers and superiors.
Is number two why faking it in leadership doesn't work.
Competence matters in the long run. Results matter more than rhetoric.
You might be able to bluff your way through a board meeting or two or a couple
(07:33):
of calls, a couple of one-on-one off situations,
but eventually the lack of real skills and knowledge for the position that you're
holding will become apparent.
And in health care, where lives are actually literally at stake,
this incompetence can have dire consequences.
(07:56):
The third reason why faking it doesn't work in leadership is because authentic
leaders inspire people.
People are inspired by authenticity, not perfection.
When you pretend to have all the answers, you create a distance between yourself and your team.
(08:20):
But when you're honest about your challenges, your vulnerabilities,
what you know and what you do not know, you create connection and inspire others
to bring their whole selves to work.
The fourth reason why faking it doesn't work in leadership.
(08:40):
Faking it actually stunts your growth.
When you're busy maintaining a facade, you're not focusing on actual growth and development.
You miss out on the learning opportunities because you're too afraid to admit what you do not know.
(09:00):
We'll talk about these things a little later. And the fifth reason why faking
it doesn't work in leadership, and then we'll go to a commercial break.
The truth always comes out.
Always. In today's interconnected world, it's harder than ever to maintain a lie.
(09:23):
Social media, professional networks and the rapid flow of information means
that inconsistencies in your story are more likely to be spotted and exposed.
People will say, oh, they said this, but there's a video when they said that.
When it comes to your authentic story, who you are, how you came up,
(09:46):
where you come from, the things you've learned.
The truth doesn't need variations to saying the same thing.
So through time, people will begin to see your true capabilities.
The unfortunate thing is when that happens, sometimes there's no return.
(10:11):
We'll go to commercial break.
Pod break, pod break. As we discuss the importance of authentic leadership,
it's crucial to have the right resources at your fingertips.
That's where my book, Bred to Lead, comes in. This essential guide for healthcare
leaders dives deep into the principles of authentic leadership,
(10:32):
providing you with practical strategies to navigate your leadership journey with integrity.
Available now on Amazon and in major bookstores.
Don't just read, don't just lead be bred to lead authentically welcome back
from the podcast break listen again,
go and get that book bred to lead it's my newest book and it's it's building,
(10:58):
on the concept that people are the epicenter of leadership it actually takes
me to my favorite scripture and in my favorite scripture it states that the
greatest among you You shall be your servant.
What does this mean? That servanthood and leadership is leadership.
(11:22):
And then those that exalt themselves would typically be humbled with truth.
And those who are humble in themselves in their truth will be exalted.
On every platform, it works the same way. If I'm always trying to tell people.
(11:45):
All the stuff I can do and not spending the time doing the work.
Eventually, people will be like, hey, you got a lot of great ideas of what can
happen. But I haven't really seen any execution.
And the first thing a lot of leaders typically like to do, because it's the
easiest win to success. is cut expenses.
(12:07):
Oh yeah, we're spending too much. Because if we can get the profits to show
better just by cutting expenses, but we're not realizing that we're cutting major departments.
We're cutting the lifeline of our brand. Cutting expenses just doesn't cut it.
And eventually people will see the result of that.
(12:29):
So faking it doesn't work. What's the alternative?
It's very simple but it's not easy do the work,
become the leader you've been pretending to be and here's how.
Write these seven points down one start with an honest self-assessment,
(12:56):
by taking a hard look at yourself what are your real skills What are your actual accomplishments?
What are your gaps?
This isn't about beating yourself up. It's about getting a clear picture of
where you are so you can chart a path to where you want to be.
(13:21):
Number two, continuous learning. Once you are honest with yourself,
you can identify your gaps.
Commit to feeling them. Take courses, read books, find mentors.
If you've been pretending to understand finance, actually learn finance.
(13:42):
If you've been bluffing your way through technology discussions,
take the time to understand the tech.
Number three. Embrace failure.
One of the reasons people pretend is because they're afraid to fail. But failure is a part.
(14:05):
It's an essential part of growth.
Start small. Take on projects where you can afford to fail.
Learn from those failures. Build your resilience. I'll tell people any day.
What made me become who I am today was when I made a terrible business decision
(14:30):
that cost us $4 million cash.
Having to take my company from such a hard hit and turn it around on bare bones
and get us back to an area where we're healthy.
(14:50):
Let me know that I had what it took.
And it also showed me failure isn't bad when your eyes are open to learn from the mistakes.
Failure is not bad when your eyes are open to learn from the mistakes.
(15:14):
How do you know if you're good at what you do?
What can you compare it to? If you never put yourself in positions to fail.
Now, Dr. Jake, what do you mean put yourself in positions to fail? It's very simple.
(15:34):
The people that change organizations and industries.
We push against the line. Because change doesn't happen until someone has the
gall to actually step over the line.
And I'm not scared to step over the line because I'm not embarrassed about falling down. Why?
(15:55):
Because with every time I fail or I fall, I learn better ways to stand.
I remember as a kid, I used to play with play on a video game.
Tomb Raider was one of those games. It was just so hard on certain levels. I didn't know what to do.
(16:18):
I kept failing. I kept failing. I kept failing at the level,
but I wasn't failing in the same positions.
I was getting better. It just was a lot of failures on different levels.
So I looked up the Tomb Raider manual.
At the time, you can actually call in to Tomb Raider and ask them,
hey, I'm stuck on this level. What am I supposed to do to fix it?
(16:40):
They tell me, give me guidance, advise me on what exactly I'm supposed to do
and where I'm supposed to stand. And then guess what?
Never again at that level did I fail. And that taught me very quickly at a young age.
If I'm scared to fail, I'm scared to get better.
But if I'm OK with embracing failure for the betterment of who I am in my career,
(17:01):
I'm never going to fail at that mistake again.
It's very important. Some of our best lessons comes from our best failures.
Number four, seek feedback regularly. Ask for honest feedback from your team or your peers.
And your superiors. And here's the crucial part.
(17:23):
Actually listen. Use it to guide your development. Because truth hurts.
It only hurts long. If you don't, if you're not willing to embrace the fine
truth and what people are saying.
I talk to organizations, I say. We need to believe the complaints.
(17:51):
If my grandmother used to say if one person said it, they could be lying.
If two people said it, they could be conspiring.
If three people said it, it's the absolute fact.
Especially when they don't know each other.
So when more than one person is saying the same thing about you,
(18:12):
it's time to look in the mirror and say, like Michael Jackson,
I'm starting with the man in the mirror.
You got to start with you and be open to that information because that feedback
will definitely help you get to where you need to be.
Number five, practice authenticity. Authenticity.
(18:36):
Start being honest about what you know and what you don't know.
And it's OK to say, I don't know.
But I will find out. People respect honesty far more than bluster.
Number six, set realistic goals instead of making grandiose promises.
(19:00):
Set achievable goals, then work your tail off to exceed them.
Build a track record of winning.
Build a track record of under-promising over-delivering. Build a track record
of being a man or woman of your word.
That's what brings truth. That's what brings trust.
(19:22):
That's what makes the top leaders want to come work with you and stay with you,
regardless of if the pay is enough or not.
I remember in basketball in college.
(19:46):
I was trying all the ways to score the ball and I was having a hard time scoring
I was in a little bit of a slump and our shooting coach came to me and said,
TJ I said yes sir He said, Jacobs. I said, yes, sir.
He said, do you know why you're in a shooting slump? I said, no, sir.
(20:11):
He said, it's because you're trying to do too much.
You're trying to make all the fantastic plays and the hard shots.
You're making the game too hard.
Start by the easy shots. shots, the layups, getting to the free throw line.
(20:32):
Get yourself in the groove. See the ball go in the hole.
It builds your confidence to make the hard shots.
So when I made that quick fix, I went on an eight, nine game spree, 30 points a game.
Then I started feeling myself. And guess what I did again? Start doing all these
(20:53):
grandiose plays and shooting it went down in the flow ups and down all over.
And I say that to say when I come into an organization, I'm looking at the small goals first.
People will say I brought you into the organization to change the entire organizational department.
Then I say if I change this at five percent and I fix this to increase at five
percent and if I fix this to increase at five percent, If I increase this to
(21:18):
increase at five percent,
four times five is 20 percent increase in efficiency.
Increasing efficiency means increasing profitability. Increase of profitability
means lack less mistakes that are happening.
Less mistakes that are happening means that there are less patients being affected.
Less patients being affected means that now the surgeons look good.
(21:39):
The hospital looks good in no and less in lawsuits. suits.
When you start to realize that small goals make the big goals,
you will start making more small ones.
So versus looking at changing something completely, look at it from a ant's
level, not a bird's level.
I create the vision from the bird's level. I create the game plan from an ant's
(22:01):
level, from bottom up, not top down.
And lastly, number seven, focus on value creation.
When you shift your focus from self-promotion to value creation.
It changes how you can genuinely help your team, your organization, or even your customers.
(22:28):
When you create real value, you don't need to fake success. It comes natural.
But let me be clear This journey isn't easy,
It's much harder Than pretending It requires humility Hard work,
(22:53):
And courage to be vulnerable But the rewards are immense And humility does not
mean You're lowering yourself Because of your lack of being great.
Humility says, I don't have to show for you who I am because my work speaks for me.
When you do the work to become a genuine leader, you build real confidence.
(23:19):
Not the fragile ego of a pretender, but the solid assurance of someone who knows their worth.
You earn the respect and the trust of your team. You create a culture of authenticity and growth.
And here's the beautiful irony. When you stop trying to impress everyone,
(23:42):
when you focus on genuine growth and value creation, that's when you become truly impressive.
Take you to our next break. Guess who's back? Guess who's back? Guess who's back?
Bridge builders. We know that staffing challenges can often tempt leaders to
cut corners or make promises they can't keep. At Sips Healthcare,
(24:06):
we offer high quality, reliable staffing solutions for perioperative service lines.
Let us handle your temporary staffing needs so you can focus on what matters most.
Developing yourself and your team with integrity.
Contact us today to learn how we can support your staffing needs while you build
your authentic leadership capacity.
(24:29):
Welcome back. Zach, I've seen the good type of transformation happen.
Remember the tech startup I mentioned earlier?
After we oust the pretender CEO, I actually wrote a book entitled You're Not a CEO Yet. Right.
(24:58):
And it was off the building of this person and even my life walk of transitioning into an executive.
So once we put out the pretending CEO.
And promoted the mid-level manager to the role.
This person was the opposite of the former CEO, humble, grateful,
(25:22):
hardworking and brutally honest about the company's challenges.
She didn't make grand promises. Instead, she rolled up her sleeves and got to work.
She spent time understanding every aspect of the business.
She was up front with board about companies problems, but also clear about her plan to address them.
(25:45):
She invested in her team's development and created a culture of continuous learning.
It wasn't easy. There were setbacks and failures along the way.
But she faced them head on, learned from them and kept pushing forward.
Two years later, the company had not only survived.
(26:05):
But it's thriving.
They had a product that actually worked. Happy customers and a team that was
engaged and passionate about their mission.
That's the power of authentic leadership. that's
what happens when you stop pretending and you start becoming so
(26:27):
here's my challenge to you bridge builders no more lying to yourself no more
faking it till you make it do the work and build the real you it's time to take
off the mask it's time to stop running from opportunity Opportunity to opportunity,
hoping your past won't catch up with you.
(26:50):
It's time to stand still, face the truth and do the work.
And become the leader you've been pretending to be. Remember, true success.
Authentic success. Isn't about appearances. It's about impact.
(27:12):
It's about the value you create. the people you develop the positive change
you bring to your organization in the world you have it in you to be a great leader.
Not a pretend great leader but a real one,
it's time to let that leader the real leader the one that's bred to lead your
(27:38):
authentic self you're bred to lead let that person emerge merge and told me and tell me.
What the difference is in your organization.
Thank you for tuning in to another episode of Bread to Lead.
(27:59):
Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast to ensure you never miss an episode.
And for those bridge builders ready to embrace authentic leadership,
check out our Next Step Leadership Program at Sips Healthcare.
It's time to invest in your future and become the genuine leader your organization
needs. Wait, before you go, let's shine a spotlight on our partners at Asynco.
(28:23):
Asynco is revolutionizing surgical asset management with their innovative sonar system.
As the first surgical asset management platform built for operational efficiency
and quality across every department,
Asynco is helping health care organizations optimize their surgical operations
with transparency and integrity.
(28:44):
Visit Ascendco, A-S-C-E-N-D-C-O dot com to learn how Sonar can transform your
surgical asset management.
Until later. Peace.
And as my son will say.
Follow our podcast, share it to other leaders or aspiring leaders,
(29:08):
and always remember that I love you.
There's absolutely nothing you can do about it.
Peace, Bridge Builders. See you next week.
Popular Podcasts
United States of Kennedy
United States of Kennedy is a podcast about our cultural fascination with the Kennedy dynasty. Every week, hosts Lyra Smith and George Civeris go into one aspect of the Kennedy story.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com