I’m delighted to present a new feature here on my site: a new podcast series called “Leadership Biz Cafe”.  Through this new podcast, I hope to invite business leaders and leadership experts to join me in conversations about their ideas and insights on the challenges and opportunities to be found in today’s increasingly competitive and global market.

For my first episode, I welcome Guy Kawasaki, the best-selling author and former Chief Evangelist at Apple, to the guest chair.  Guy is the co-founder of the popular online content aggregator Alltop.com (you may have noticed the site badge in the sidebar of my site) as well as one of the founding partners of Garage Technology Ventures.  Earlier this year, he released his latest book called “Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds and Actions” which recently made the New York Times bestseller list.

I had the opportunity to get an advance copy of Guy’s book and after reading it, I invited him to be the first guest on my new podcast series which he graciously accepted.

During the podcast, we discuss a number of topics including:

• What does enchantment mean and what’s the first step to take to become more enchanting
• How we can develop more trusting and beneficial relationships
• Why trying to be influential is not the best long-term strategy
• The 3 steps every leader can take to enchant their employees
• Why employees need to enchant their boss (one of the unspoken truths many of us don’t like to admit)

It’s a great interview and Guy and I even shared a few laughs along the way.  So I’d like to invite you to check out this first episode of the “Leadership Biz Cafe” podcast and please let me know what you think of the show by leaving a comment below.  I’d love to hear your thoughts on this new addition to my site and what topics you might be interested in hearing more about in some of upcoming shows for this new series.

Click on the player below to listen to the podcast:

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Links mentioned during the podcast:

Visit Guy Kawasaki’s website to learn more about his book.

Buy Guy Kawasaki’s book “Enchantment” on Amazon.com (or Amazon.ca for Canadian readers)

One of the things I enjoy when travelling around the nearby countryside is taking in the architectural diversity displayed among the churches that dot the landscape. Driving through town after town, the appearance and designs of these buildings are as distinct and unique as the inhabitants who live in these communities. And yet, there’s one feature that most of them share in common and that is the visual prominence of these buildings within these rural settings.

Regardless of the terrain, the location of these churches from afar is easily discernible, even without the presence of those tall spires. In many ways, these sights evoke visually what these institutions are supposed to represent – a beacon offering to those nearby a place of refuge, comfort, and sense of community or belonging. However, in the context of this region’s past, it can also be a reminder of the church’s former, more predominant role within this society – one of authority, control, and domination over the people.

While it’s interesting to see how the visual presentation of these religious structures can create two completely different – if not opposite – perceptions of what its role is in the community, there is also a valuable lesson that leaders can benefit from in examining this situation. Click here to continue reading »”Do You Know How Your Leadership Is Perceived?”