Leadership consultant and author Gail Golden brings her clinical psychologist background to bear on the question of work-life balance: what does it look like and how do you get it? We talk about greatness and mediocrity, and impactful leadership, especially in these turbulent times.
Gail Golden (MBA, Ph.D) is the Founder and Principal of Gail Golden Consulting, an international management psychology consulting firm. She utilizes her experience as an entrepreneur, business owner, and consultant to senior leaders of both Fortune 1000 and non-profit organizations to help businesses navigate rapid change by accelerating the development of senior leaders and their organizations. Gail has extensive experience as a public speaker for audiences of corporate leaders and has taught at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. She has been quoted in numerous publications including Fast Company, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Today’s Chicago Woman, Crain’s Chicago Business, The Chicago Tribune, and many others. She lives in Chicago.
3 Key Points
- Nobody lives a “balanced” life. Find the things that matter to you and work to be good at them.
- Leaders sometimes need to protect people from their excessive drive to perform. Help your people set limits and curate their lives.
- An impactful leader enables their workers to bring their best work and live their best lives.
Quote
“If you say no to the things that don’t belong [in your life], and you let yourself be good enough at other stuff, you’ll have the energy to do the things that are your greatness.”
What We Talked About
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- 02:00 – Why did you pursue an MBA after being a clinical psychologist?
- 06:00 – You initially didn’t think great leaders needed to be self-aware. What changed your mind?
- 08:18 – Do you think everyone can be a leader?
- 10:30 – How do we curate our lives?
- 14:18 – On how leaders help others curate their own lives
- 16:35 – On encouraging employees to rest
- 19:42 – What does “impactful leadership” mean to you?
- 21:20 – What is the link between productivity and living one’s values?
- 26:38 – Do members of underrepresented groups have different relationships with mediocrity?
- 32:55 – On greatness
- 36:20 – How have you seen leaders adapt to the challenge of the pandemic?
- 40:23 – How do you make your decentralized business model work?
Actionable Tips
- Know that others will remember how you made them feel.
- Leave space for the other person to make discoveries in a conversation.
- Find places in your personal and professional live where you can draw energy.
Resources Mentioned
- Gail’s book: Curating Your Life: Ending the Struggle for Work-Life Balance
- Find Gail online at her website.
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Ursula Jorch, Host of The Impact Interviews
Ursula Jorch is a business coach, speaker, and podcaster who shows women leaders how to turn their businesses into profitable agents for lasting change, global impact, and a force for good in the world.