“People are attracted to those that know their values and what they stand for” Jason Hunt

Acknowledging that people are the central element in leadership is the first step towards being an effective leader. To grow and use your influence as a leader, you have to start by making authentic connections. Our Guest today, Jason Hunt, knows this too well thanks to his leadership journey and the experience of working with upcoming leaders. He is dedicated to ensuring that the people he works with find it easier to like and follow their leaders.

Jason Hunt is the founder and CEO of Eye Squared Leadership, and he has had the pleasure of working with companies large and small. Jason’s first significant leadership role was to run a branch of 100 church members in outer Siberia when he was 19. Since then, he has served in several leadership positions, including the principal of a school. He has a master’s degree in leadership, is certified by the John Maxwell Leadership Institute, and is the author of The Other Side: 5 Rules for Leading with Influence- https://amzn.to/35snw0J . Jason lives in Owatonna, Minnesota, with his wife and four kids.

In today’s episode, Jason will discuss what leadership is and what it’s not and take us through the discoveries he has made in the course of his leadership journey. He will also share simple, practical tips that can guide leaders to connect and positively influence the people they interact with.

Listen in!

Social Links:

Website: https://www.influencingforimpact.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/influencingforimpact

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonahunt/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/influencingforimpact

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-g1esmhBI4w4hZ-6yIwbXQ?view_as=subscriber

As you intentionally grow your influence, there is a direct correlation to the amount of positive impact you can have on people. [2:50]
I was leading at junior high as a principal, and it was a clear aspiration for me, and I wanted to be able to do that. [4:22]
I was leading from my title and thought that leadership was about management more than anything else. [4:59]
Everything was okay in year one, but the gloves came off in year two, and everything was falling apart. [5:19]
I wanted to point a finger and blame other people, but I knew internally everything rises and falls on leadership. [5:39]
I realized that my leadership style wasn’t working at all because I was too focused on the tasks. [5:58]
I realized I had to focus on the people, and I hadn’t been doing that at all. [8:23]
I created a strategy for me to start to change, and one of the primary things I wanted to do was to be open and vulnerable with my staff. [9:57]
Authenticity in leadership is a key to leading well. [10:12]
I primarily work with middle-level leadership in manufacturing organizations. [14:25]
I know the pain they experience in their positions because I have been there. [14:45]
Commercial break [17:40]
I was able to be a church missionary, and that is what got me over in Siberia. [18:05]
I ended up on a two-year mission, and I learned a lot about leadership. [19:05]
I had to step up as a leader even if I was only 19 years old, and I knew almost nothing about leadership. [20:00]
It is okay to have the courage to make decisions. [20:20]
If you want to understand more about a culture, don’t just read. Go where the culture is at and see. [23:15]
My four tips on leadership include having a heart that cares, using your ethic and act, including asking questions, using hands to collaborate where I believe in a horizontal leadership style, and lastly, having the courage to make difficult decisions. [25:50]
People want to know you give a CRAP (Celebration, Recognition, Appreciation, and Praise) which can sometimes be challenging. [27:05]
At the end of the day, it is not the bottom line that creates influence with people, but rather your ability to focus on the needs and desires of your team. [31:47]

………………………………………………….

Thank you to our July Sponsor: Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being

Imagine starting a long journey without a map…or even a clear idea of the obstacles ahead. That’s exactly what it’s like for entrepreneurs who start companies with a lot of passion, but without the financial expertise to grow and scale their businesses and create long-term wealth for their families.

Wayne Titus shows you how to find a financial adviser who can help you map a better journey. In his book, The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being. With the right adviser at your side, you’ll have the freedom to focus on what really matters to you.

Get The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being at Amazon.com and in the virtual bookstore on the Shock Your Potential app.