Start With A Win - Randall Thames: The Biggest Mistakes Leaders Made (And How to Fix Them)

Starting point is 00:00:00 And one of the biggest dragons is comfort and convenience. And so you always want people to be operating with a little bit of an edge. What advice do you have for leaders in the C-suite in a senior role with regards to AI? Welcome to Start with a Win, where we unpack leadership, personal growth and development, and how to build a better business. Let's go. Coming to you from Area 15 Ventures and Start With a Win headquarters, it's Adam Contos with Start with a Win. What if the biggest thing standing between you and the C-suite isn't your right?

Starting point is 00:00:30 resume, it's how you see yourself. My guest today has spent over three decades helping leaders answer exactly that question. Randall Thames is the CEO of Inspirit Institute, a former senior partner at Corn Ferry, and he's the author of Rise to the Roll. He's coached more than 100 executives and has developed a really cool framework called Discover Develop Display. It's designed to help high achievers stop running on autopilot and start designing what he calls inevitable outcomes. comes. Randall, welcome to start with a win. Well, Adam, thank you so much. Really appreciate it. I appreciate your having me on. This is a great honor. I'm happy to have a really good conversation that I think maybe starts and ends with a win. Awesome. Yeah, I love that. You've got one

Starting point is 00:01:18 incredible background. I mean, you've worked with a lot of great leaders with Corn Ferry, you know, the top CEO recruiting firm in the world. I mean, it's a great organization. I've met and done business with quite a few people at Corn Ferry. So first of all, give us a little bit of a background for yourself. How did you get into making leaders better? Wow. How do you make leaders better by an awareness? And so how I inevitably came to where I am is it's an awareness. It was a cumulative effect. So I've been in business 35 plus years, worked at organizations like Corn Ferry, Johnson & Johnson, 3M Corporation. So I spent a good amount of time in corporate America, and all of that, really, I say that

Starting point is 00:02:07 cumulative effect allowed for me to kind of collect experiences here and there. And then I take those experiences and I say, what was the red thread, the consistent theme that was running through it? And how can I take all of that and then turn that around and really brings self-awareness to others so that they can bring out what I call their super purpose power. Wow. I love that. And you talk about inevitable outcomes.

Starting point is 00:02:37 What does that mean? And where did that phrase come from? Well, so, you know, most leaders choose to chase success in so many ways. But what is the outcome of all of it? And so I have a framework that I've developed. And so what we like to do as far as bringing inevitable outcomes, it's a process, Adam. And so the process is if you're able to provide perspectives, insights, and experiences that inspire, hence in Spirit Institute, the name of the organization. So if you provide perspectives, insights, and experiences that inspire what we'll call a cognitive reshaping,

Starting point is 00:03:22 and if that ignites a decision to discover, develop, and display, then ultimately defend your best, that will create an inevitable outcome. And that inevitable outcome will impact everything. Wow. Okay. I mean, I love this framework. Discover, develop, display. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:03:47 Let's unpack it a little bit. I mean, what does Discover mean in this? So I always say as far as Discover, when the student is ready, the teacher will show. And discovery is, you know, from the framework of how we think of it or how a business person can think of it, is it's you're analyzing and assessing. Discovery is a matter of it's there. You just need to, through a discovery process of assessing it, through analyzing it, whether that be data, whether that be processes, whether that be people. It's discovering what it is, where it is, and how you can then develop it. So once you've discovered it, developing it is the planning process. It's putting, it's putting a roadmap or a

Starting point is 00:04:35 glide path or whatever it is that you want to call it, that period of the planning and developing. And that, that requires discipline. And, you know, I coach and I talk about discipline. I talk about that in the book, Rise to the World. So once you've discovered and developed it, then then what do you do with it? The execution is you display it. We put it on display not only for others but for self, so that your value, the work you're putting in, the grind, the grit can be put on full display

Starting point is 00:05:05 so that ultimately you come back to that outcome. I love that. I mean, it's just, you know, having steps makes things so much easier for us. And I'm a step-driven person. So, you know, the systems built success. right right there you go so what uh what do most executives skip in this process i mean you know a lot of executives get stuck what what causes that which which of these are i mean maybe multiples are they not doing correctly so i say you know as far as they're skipping let me take all

Starting point is 00:05:45 three let me skip the discovery if you skip the discover process then you'll always be doing the same thing you always have been doing. So ask Blockbuster how that worked for them, right? If you don't discover something that is an opportunity, you'll always do what you always have been doing, and then you'll get left behind. So, and then if you don't develop it, so here's the, here's my mantra, whatever you don't feed dies. So if you are not developing self, others, your process, your business, if you're not, planning for the future, ultimately your today will be your tomorrow. And then if you don't display it, I'll give you an analogy of fish. The fish, the purpose of the fish is to use their ability to

Starting point is 00:06:35 swim. What happens when the fish swim is they actually, as part of the ecosystem, they clean the ocean and the waters around them. If you don't, so let's put that on a business. If you don't display what you or your business was made to do, you're not being impactful or, you know, having an impact on your ecosystem. So all three, if you miss them, it's very dangerous. I mean, you mentioned self. Yeah. I think so many people, it seems like once people get into the C-suite or they get into an executive role, their self-preservation and growth starts to take a hit. Yeah. I mean, do you see that a lot? I mean, what? Do you ever bring that up with anybody?

Starting point is 00:07:21 It's kind of hard to say, you don't look good. But, you know, how do you think about that topic? Yeah, I say self-aware. So let's think of climbing a set of stairs, for example. So once you hit a certain plateau, you know, a lot of executives say, hey, I'm here. Now, you know, I do coach members in public and nonprofit and boards. So, you know, maybe their next level might be that. Or their next level may be a legacy.

Starting point is 00:07:49 position. But what I say to those who have ascended to the executive roles is there's another step. You have to define that other step because you think that you're at that plateau or level. But if you think of the set of stairs, there's a plank that will meet you at the end of that step. And so there has to be a level effort, which again, discovery, a rediscovery, there has to be a level effort to ascend that plank that meets you at the back of the step so that you can get up there because guess what? When you look up, there's another step waiting for you. So I will say to many executives, you're there, but guess what? That's not a wall in front of you. That's not the peak. It's just a plank leading to your next level. I hope you're enjoying these conversations and

Starting point is 00:08:41 finding value in them. If this episode challenged your thinking, encouraged you, or gave you you a tool you can use to become a better leader, share it with one person who needs to hear it. Leadership isn't learned alone. It's passed from person to person, conversation to conversation, and action to action. If you're listening on a podcast platform, I'd be grateful if you'd leave a review also. If you're watching on YouTube, make sure to subscribe so you don't miss future conversations. And if you have a question, a thought, or a topic you'd like to see us cover, leave a comment, please. I read them and I'll do my best to respond. Thanks for being part of the Start with a win community. Keep learning, keep growing, and keep leading. It seems like sometimes people start

Starting point is 00:09:25 resting on their laurels. We have to give them a little shove sometimes and kind of moving ahead. How do we do that? I mean, you coach a lot of people. Is there some sort of a catalyst that that helps people start, you know, revitalizing that self portion? Yeah. So in spirit institute And the root word of in spirit is inspire. So that's my super purpose power, right? So I look to inspire people to activate their best. So one of the things that I do when, you know, when there's a sense of maybe a little bit of apathy or a little bit of comfort,

Starting point is 00:10:03 which by the way, by the way, I say in the book, Rise to the Roll, the book that I authored, they're dragons in life. And one of the biggest dragons is comfort and convenience. And so you always want people to be operating with a little bit of an edge. And so I always, just to kind of inspire or to poke that, I ask them to look back over what you've done. And I ask them to create a legacy portfolio for themselves. And where are some of the gaps that they feel? Because ultimately, you always want to look around and say, you know, I don't know who too many that say, I've done it all.

Starting point is 00:10:42 I've been there. I've done everything that I possibly could because then I just may as well get your casket ready for you. But if you're still ready to be a contributor to the community around you, then there's still work to be done. And so we do what we call a gap analysis, gifts, your abilities, and your purpose. And in asking those three questions, what are your gifts, what are your abilities, what is your purpose? and usually for C-suite leaders, that purpose is where we start doing some more work. Interesting. I love that using that acronym for GAPS.

Starting point is 00:11:23 Yeah. You know, it's, I think when we look at GAPS, we look at what are my weaknesses or what am I missing here, my blind spots, but I think you're fixing that, if you will, with this GIFs, abilities, and purpose. That's a great way to take a look at it. You talk a lot about cognitive reframing also. What is that? And how can we use that tool as a leader? Yeah. So this is a little bit of the neuroscience that I'm certified in.

Starting point is 00:11:56 And a cognitive reframing essentially is it's a mindset shift. So that, again, the transformation of leaders is a must. And so you must have the ability to have agility. And so let me give me an example. A cognitive reframing is before a surgeon performs surgery, they always wash their hands. And so there has to be a moment where you have to just pause to think even if that procedure is something. And again, let's put in the context of a business owner, even if you know that this is what you must do to process, you know, to meet your, gross margins, to whatever that might be, you have to pause and you have to think,

Starting point is 00:12:44 what is the best way that I can do this process? Not a process, but each of it has to be customized day after day to meet the needs of the day. You have to reframe or reshape your way of thinking about it. Now, maybe ultimately you end up with that same like process, but everything should be thought of uniquely. And the cognitive reshaping is, is think of how you're doing it a little bit differently. Think of how you're doing it a little bit different. I love that. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:13:17 I mean, it's a good way to, you know, hold up to mirror and reflect on yourself and your process. Yeah. Is, you know, we talk a lot about AI, AI integration, you know, living that in that environment, not just using it as a tool, things like that. what advice do you have for leaders in this in the C-suite in a senior role with regards to AI because a lot of times we're just like that's an IT function which really it's not it's a it's a strategic and an executive function what what advice do you have around AI for leaders to get them you know particularly those are a little bit

Starting point is 00:13:58 older get them more integrated into that digital space yeah so I've reframed AI and this is what we call it and we have it actually in our assessment catalog at Inspirate Institute. And I talk about it and rise through the role, the book, AI is actionable insights. So own AI, because the insights that you gain, and this is what I talk about as far as providing insights, experiences that, you know, create a cognitive reshaping. That's, so it's that, it's that process. AI is actually providing the insights and then you as the human who is being, who it should be the landlord of your AI, is what I call it, you create action off of that insight. So if people are looking at AI in a lazy way in terms of

Starting point is 00:14:51 doing the work, that's not going at work. Now also, if people are intimidated and staying away from AI, that's not going to work. You need to be the landlord of your AI and see it as an insight so that you can create your strategic plan, your action that helps you to elevate. I mean, this whole concept of being a landlord of your AI is brilliant. I love that. You know, it seems like so many people are intimidated by it or they think it's not their function or role. But it's not like, you know, okay, now you're in charge of changing the tire on the company

Starting point is 00:15:27 car. I mean, it's, it is literally how you are doing your work. Right. Are you seeing any resistance to that or any slow rolling of that through leadership? Yeah, I mean, so it's to your point about the concept of it being IT and then, you know, the chief of the digital officer or the chief innovation or the strategic officer, it's kind of being put out and outsourced in the eyes of some executives that I work with. And I say, no, again, that's why I came the concept of you need to be the landlord of that

Starting point is 00:16:00 AI so that you can see how you can leverage it both for self, for community, and for the organization that you are leading. And so by leading the way, it's something that you have to embrace. Make it personal. My AI assistant is Bridget. And so I've personalized Bridget. Bridget and I tell my wife, we've been married 31 years. They tell my wife, I say, well, I'm going to see Bridgett today. and so initially she raised her eyebrow, but now she gets it. And I say, make it personal. Have your, you know, create your mouth. Bridget is mine.

Starting point is 00:16:38 So create your own. That's funny. I wonder what she named hers. Yeah. So it's so interesting. I have two daughters in their mid-20s and they said, why does it have to be a woman? You know, why can't you have it? I said, well, I'm having a very personal relationship.

Starting point is 00:16:52 And so my preference is that it's with Bridget. So. You know, it's funny. A lot of the executives I know that have named their AI, they've named it, you know, the opposite sex of what they are. Yeah. It's just interesting, you know, women have named them men's names and men named them women's names. It's just, I don't know, that's a comforting thing. All right, rise to the role.

Starting point is 00:17:15 You've told us a lot about kind of the concepts behind that. Why did you write that? I mean, it's, give us the impetus for that. Well, I felt a calling on really, again, I talked about, you know, the 35 plus years, the corporate experience that I've had, you know, I had my own search practice, executive search practice, and placing individuals. So I have a lot of stories, case studies, and frameworks and methodologies that, you know, in my one-on-one coaching, certainly folks get the benefit of it. But in the spirit, in the spirit of coming across all of this information, I wanted to get it out in mass.

Starting point is 00:17:55 And so I put case studies, I put frameworks, I put all of what I share in my one-on-one coaching in the book. And I use some of the case studies for my experiences, both working with organizations as well as individuals. It is ultimately, the bottom line, Adam, is it's to have people right. rise, recognize, whatever role in life they have, they can continue to rise to a next level, kind of like that stare concept that I talk about. Awesome. And rise to the role. It's, Randall wrote an amazing book here. I'm a big nerd

Starting point is 00:18:37 about personal development, leadership development, executive development, things of that nature. Randall, where can we find Rise to the Roll and where can we find you online? Yeah, so Randall Ian Thames or Randall Thames on LinkedIn, inevitable outcomes, keyword search, rise to the role on Amazon, on all of the book outlets, Randall Thames on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, all of those. So either Randall Thames, In Spirit Institute, rise to the role. You look at either one of those three. And you'll find me or find out. Randall is all over YouTube and podcasts. Does a lot of speaking. So make sure you check out Randall online on YouTube, on LinkedIn, on the podcast out there, Apple podcasts, and also the Inspirit Institute.com location.

Starting point is 00:19:38 Randall, this has been some really insightful information here. I think it's given us just enough where we go. oh, I need to do something with myself. So it's time for me to do some more research and dig deeper and improve myself as an executive. I get asked that a lot. How do I get into the C-suite? How do I level up in the C-suite? Randall's got the answer for that, folks.

Starting point is 00:20:00 So take a look. Randall, I do have a question. I ask all the great leaders on Start with a Win. How do you start your day with a win? As you say, I'm a platform and a facilitator and a speaker. And so I incorporate this into everything. so thank you for asking. I call it your daily rhythm.

Starting point is 00:20:18 You start your day with a win with your daily rhythm. And let me just make a caveat. It does not have to be mourning. A lot of people aren't mourning people. I'm going to give you a process. First, you wake up. And this is my daily rhythm that I actually follow. You wake up, you worship.

Starting point is 00:20:36 And worship means I'm going to define that, not necessarily a religious context, but creating a foundation for your morals, your values. So waking up and really being grounded in what your morals, your foundation, your values are. So wake up, worship, why up. You have to have a good grounding in why. What is your why? Wake up, worship, why up? Then you wise up. This is where the learning starts. You can't pick up the phone and go to social media and have the world dictate who you are. So you wake up, you worship, you wry up, then you rise up. Then you have to want to get up.

Starting point is 00:21:14 Wanting to get up is really putting that mind, that cognitive reshaping, in a framework. Then after you want up, then you work up. Work up, you know, I work out. Looks like you work out. So working the day, however you define working your day, going to the job and working your career, working whatever it is that you have on your business. That's how you win up. So that's the sequence. That's the daily rhythm.

Starting point is 00:21:41 I'll tell you again, wake up, worship. up, why up, wise up, want up, work up, then win up. I love that. That's awesome. I've not heard that one yet on. Start with a win. Randall, this has been an incredible, incredible conversation. You are winning up, my friend. I love it. That's why I'm glad to be in your company. Hey, likewise, and thank you. It's great to see you here. Everybody makes sure you check out Randall online. I can't stress that enough. First of all, you're not going to get any fluff out of Randall. You're going to get wisdom and you're going to get

Starting point is 00:22:15 steps to improve yourself and your business. Check him out online and the Inspirit Institute. Randall, thanks for all you do and thanks for starting with a win. Adam, thank you. Appreciate you.

Start With A Win - Randall Thames: The Biggest Mistakes Leaders Made (And How to Fix Them)

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