Episode 295

In this episode of the Unscripted podcast, host Sarah Nicastro welcomes Ryan Snellings, Founder and Coach at The Jobless Leader, who formerly held a variety of service and operations leadership roles at companies like Fresenius Kabi, Luminex Corporation, and Agena, to discuss three areas of focus for leaders who want to excel in service today.

Ryan brings over 25 years of experience in service and operations leadership within the medical device industry. Having held significant roles at companies such as Fresenius Kabi, Luminex Corporation, and Agena, he has cultivated a deep understanding of the intricacies of service leadership. Ryan's recent transition to coaching reflects his commitment to empowering others to lead without formal titles, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, personal development, and empathy in leadership.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Also, subscribe to our newsletter right here.

Episode Highlights:

• [03:51] - Growth, Ownership, and Empathy: Self-awareness, career ownership, and empathy form the trifecta of effective leadership. Start with daily self-reflection, just 10 minutes at the end of each day, to evaluate your conversations, decisions, and productivity. Manage your career proactively, as no one else will advocate for your growth like you can. Lastly, lead with empathy. Consistent one-on-ones and open feedback build trust and understanding, reminding us that despite all the goals and technology, success is ultimately about people.
• [16:00] - Turning Wins Into Opportunities: Feeling uncomfortable about showcasing your achievements is natural, but managing up is crucial for career growth. Regularly share wins during one-on-ones, connecting them to team and organizational success. This not only builds trust but also ensures your efforts don't get overlooked. Remember, celebrating wins as they happen creates a culture of recognition and momentum.
• [24:41] - Lead Smarter: To lead effectively, focus on three key practices: First, ensure alignment by clearly communicating your priorities and the team's goals across all levels, so everyone knows their role in achieving them. Second, prioritize genuine and timely recognition. Acknowledge individual contributions when they happen, and go beyond generic gestures by creating meaningful moments, like celebrating top performers in ways that involve their families. Finally, time-block everything, from strategic tasks to personal self-reflection, to make sure what matters most gets done and becomes a habit.
• [39:59] - Building Trust Through Authentic Leadership: Corporate leaders face an uphill battle in building trust when actions contradict words, like proclaiming "we're a family" while executing mass layoffs or demanding more from employees without fair compensation. Authenticity and transparency are the real game-changers. Employees can handle tough decisions if they're communicated honestly and without corporate jargon. Cut the fluff and be real. That's how you keep people on your side.

Quotes:

• “Self-reflection was a big part of me and I wish I would have learned it at the very beginning of my career.”
• “You really have to lean on the side of empathy because when you have that many people, someone's gonna have something going on in their personal life or professional life, and you need to be able to identify those things.”
• “To me, there's just nothing better than to lead people and help them get where they want to go.”