December 6, 2025 • 5 mins
This episode unpacks the simplest truth about leadership: people only follow if you give them a reason to. Learn how clarity, authenticity, action, and consistency can transform your leadership impact.
Host: Paul Falavolito
Connect with me on your favorite platform: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Substack, BlueSky, Threads, LinkTree, YouTube
View my website for free leadership resources and exclusive merchandise: www.paulfalavolito.com
Books by Paul Falavolito
Host: Paul Falavolito
Connect with me on your favorite platform: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Substack, BlueSky, Threads, LinkTree, YouTube
View my website for free leadership resources and exclusive merchandise: www.paulfalavolito.com
Books by Paul Falavolito
- The 7 Minute Leadership Handbook: bit.ly/48J8zFG
- The Leadership Academy: https://bit.ly/4lnT1Pf
- The 7 Minute Leadership Survival Guide: https://bit.ly/4ij0g8y
- The Leader's Book of Secrets: http://bit.ly/4oeGzCI
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Helping leaders motivate their people to a higher level of
performance through strong human relations, team building and gola GV.
This is the Seven Minute Leadership Podcast with your host
Paul Fellavaledo.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Hello everyone, and welcome to the Seven Minute Leadership Podcast.
It's episode five forty five today. I want to hit
you with a truth about leadership that cuts through all
the noise, all the books, all the theories, and all
the complicated diagrams that people try to make leadership into.
(00:42):
It's simple. People will follow you if you give them
a reason to. That's all leadership is. Think about that
for a second. Leadership isn't about titles, it isn't about seniority,
and it isn't even about authority. You can have all
of those things and still have no one genuine following you.
What makes people want to line up behind you is
(01:05):
the reason you give them. So what's a reason. It
could be your vision. It could be the way you
lead with integrity when everyone else is cutting corners. It
could be the way you treat people with fairness and respect.
It could be your ability to show that you're not
just in charge, you're in it with them. A reason
(01:26):
is something they can believe in something that makes them
say I want to be part of that. I want
to be part of this team. So for this episode,
let's break this down. Step one clarity of purpose. If
you don't know where you're going, no one else will follow.
People need to see that you have a destination in mind,
(01:50):
not just a title on your desk. Imagine a pilot
walking onto an airplane and saying, well, we'll just figure
it out once we're in the air. Would you stay
on that flight? No way. Leaders are no different. People
follow a leader who has direction. Step two authenticity. People
can smell fake leadership from a mile away. If you're
(02:12):
putting on a mask or trying to play a part,
your team will know. But if you're real, if you
admit mistakes, if you show up the same way every day,
they'll trust you. And trust is one of the biggest
reasons people will follow you. And Step three is action
not words. You can't just say the right things, You've
got to live them. Anyone can give a pep talk,
(02:35):
anyone can post a motivational quote, but real leaders act
on what they say. If you tell your team they matter,
but you never spend time with them, they won't believe you.
If you tell them safety is a priority, but you
cut corners to save time, they'll see through it. Your
actions are either giving people a reason to follow or
(02:59):
giving them a reason to walk away. And step four
is consistency. This is where many leaders stumble. Being great
once isn't enough. Yesterday's leadership won't win today's loyalty. You
have to show up consistently. You can't be a leader
of inspiration on Monday and then disappear on Tuesday. People
(03:22):
follow leaders who can be counted on, especially when things
get tough. And here's the real kicker with this. Everyone
on your team is looking at you and asking why
should I follow this person. That's the silent question running
in the background of every workplace. And your answer to
that question isn't in what you say, It's in how
(03:44):
you lead. So let me ask you what reason are
you giving people right now? Are you giving them a
reason to show up excited? Are you giving them a
reason to work harder, to care more, to believe that
what they do matters? Or are you giving them a
reason to check out, disengage and look for the exit.
(04:05):
I'll leave you with this. Leadership doesn't have to be complicated.
At the heart of it, it's one simple equation. Give
people a reason to follow and they will fail. To
give them a reason and they won't. Titles won't save you.
Paychecks won't save you. Rules won't save you. Your ability
to inspire, to act, and to lead with integrity that's
(04:28):
what gives people a reason to stand behind you. So today,
when you step into your role, when you send that email,
when you walk into that meeting, or when you have
that conversation with your team, ask yourself, what reason am
I giving them to follow me. If you can answer
that question, you've already unlocked the secret to leadership. And
(04:54):
before we wrap up, I want to let you know
that my YouTube channel is now home to leader Ship
content from the show. I'm constantly adding leadership short videos
built from the strongest moments in each episode, and I
will be uploading select full video interviews too. So if
YouTube is your platform, head over to my channel and subscribe.
(05:16):
The link is in the description of this show and
also on my website. Your support there helps push this
message to more leaders who need it around the world.
This has been the seven minute Leadership Podcast, and I
thank you for listening.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
For more Paul fell of Alito Podcasts. Visit paulfellowalito dot com.
Helping leaders motivate their people to a higher level of
performance through strong human relations, team building and gola GV.
This is the Seven Minute Leadership Podcast with your host
Paul Fellavaledo.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Hello everyone, and welcome to the Seven Minute Leadership Podcast.
It's episode five forty five today. I want to hit
you with a truth about leadership that cuts through all
the noise, all the books, all the theories, and all
the complicated diagrams that people try to make leadership into.
(00:42):
It's simple. People will follow you if you give them
a reason to. That's all leadership is. Think about that
for a second. Leadership isn't about titles, it isn't about seniority,
and it isn't even about authority. You can have all
of those things and still have no one genuine following you.
What makes people want to line up behind you is
(01:05):
the reason you give them. So what's a reason. It
could be your vision. It could be the way you
lead with integrity when everyone else is cutting corners. It
could be the way you treat people with fairness and respect.
It could be your ability to show that you're not
just in charge, you're in it with them. A reason
(01:26):
is something they can believe in something that makes them
say I want to be part of that. I want
to be part of this team. So for this episode,
let's break this down. Step one clarity of purpose. If
you don't know where you're going, no one else will follow.
People need to see that you have a destination in mind,
(01:50):
not just a title on your desk. Imagine a pilot
walking onto an airplane and saying, well, we'll just figure
it out once we're in the air. Would you stay
on that flight? No way. Leaders are no different. People
follow a leader who has direction. Step two authenticity. People
can smell fake leadership from a mile away. If you're
(02:12):
putting on a mask or trying to play a part,
your team will know. But if you're real, if you
admit mistakes, if you show up the same way every day,
they'll trust you. And trust is one of the biggest
reasons people will follow you. And Step three is action
not words. You can't just say the right things, You've
got to live them. Anyone can give a pep talk,
(02:35):
anyone can post a motivational quote, but real leaders act
on what they say. If you tell your team they matter,
but you never spend time with them, they won't believe you.
If you tell them safety is a priority, but you
cut corners to save time, they'll see through it. Your
actions are either giving people a reason to follow or
(02:59):
giving them a reason to walk away. And step four
is consistency. This is where many leaders stumble. Being great
once isn't enough. Yesterday's leadership won't win today's loyalty. You
have to show up consistently. You can't be a leader
of inspiration on Monday and then disappear on Tuesday. People
(03:22):
follow leaders who can be counted on, especially when things
get tough. And here's the real kicker with this. Everyone
on your team is looking at you and asking why
should I follow this person. That's the silent question running
in the background of every workplace. And your answer to
that question isn't in what you say, It's in how
(03:44):
you lead. So let me ask you what reason are
you giving people right now? Are you giving them a
reason to show up excited? Are you giving them a
reason to work harder, to care more, to believe that
what they do matters? Or are you giving them a
reason to check out, disengage and look for the exit.
(04:05):
I'll leave you with this. Leadership doesn't have to be complicated.
At the heart of it, it's one simple equation. Give
people a reason to follow and they will fail. To
give them a reason and they won't. Titles won't save you.
Paychecks won't save you. Rules won't save you. Your ability
to inspire, to act, and to lead with integrity that's
(04:28):
what gives people a reason to stand behind you. So today,
when you step into your role, when you send that email,
when you walk into that meeting, or when you have
that conversation with your team, ask yourself, what reason am
I giving them to follow me. If you can answer
that question, you've already unlocked the secret to leadership. And
(04:54):
before we wrap up, I want to let you know
that my YouTube channel is now home to leader Ship
content from the show. I'm constantly adding leadership short videos
built from the strongest moments in each episode, and I
will be uploading select full video interviews too. So if
YouTube is your platform, head over to my channel and subscribe.
(05:16):
The link is in the description of this show and
also on my website. Your support there helps push this
message to more leaders who need it around the world.
This has been the seven minute Leadership Podcast, and I
thank you for listening.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
For more Paul fell of Alito Podcasts. Visit paulfellowalito dot com.
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