Learning from Leaders: Reflections on a Year of Guest Interviews

Today, we are excited to share our reflections on hosting guests, specifically the lessons and themes we have gathered over our series of interviews. Join us as we dissect our experiences and learnings from inviting guests on the show.

The Joy of Back-to-School Season

As we step into September, a month synonymous with the back-to-school season, we draw parallels between this time of preparation and our journey of interviewing guests. The inherent excitement of learning something new resonates with our podcast endeavors.

“There’s a time of excitement in buying school supplies and anticipating what the new schedule will be like. But most importantly, there is lots and lots of learning.” ~ Nathan Freeburg

As you listen to this episode and read the summary below, think about a current situation in your life that may be new. What are some of the things you are learning about that new thing? What’s going well, and what could be improved? Consider what this new thing is teaching you and how you can use that to improve that situation.

Setting the Stage: Our Process and Dynamics

With over 25 years of consulting experience, our team—Nathan, Brian, and Linda—has navigated countless conversations. Here’s a sneak peek into our approach:

1. Preparation: Before each interview, we create thorough notes and background checks to understand our guests better.
2. Authenticity: The real magic happens when we allow ourselves to be genuine and encourage our guests to do the same.
3. Listening and Human Connection: By actively listening, we create an environment where genuine dialogues flourish.

Lessons Learned

Throughout the interview process, certain recurring themes and insights have come to light. In addition to the obvious topic that we discussed with each of our guests, we reflected on some of the meta themes that emerged and boiled them down to these three:

1. Generosity and the Authenticity of Guests

Our guests have shown immense generosity, sharing their experiences and knowledge freely. In many ways, these weren’t interviews but conversations with people who all wanted to learn from one another. It wasn’t about promotion, but rather, about exchanging ideas that would help everyone grow.

“People showed up and… were willing to interact conversationally.” ~ Brian

2. The Importance of Being Real

There’s immense value in recognizing and appreciating the authentic selves of our guests. They showed up and shared things with us that went beyond simply talking about their given topic or area of expertise. In the same way, Brian, Linda and I did the same, just as we do in every Strengths conversations of client engagement. It’s hard to accomplish change without some level of authenticity and vulnerability.

“It’s really a good reminder to let people show me who they are…” – Nathan

3. Passion and Expertise

Our guests bring a wealth of expertise and passion to the table, enhancing the depth of our conversations. It was clear that these people each possessed a certain level of contageious excitement for the topic they were talking about, so much so that we couldn’t help but be inspired.

“Listening to their dreams unfold… and helping them continue to push their dreams forward.” – Linda

Key Takeaways: The Art of Hosting Engaging Conversations

Reflecting on our journey, here are some actionable takeaways for anyone looking to host engaging and meaningful conversations:

1. Prepare Thoroughly: Create detailed notes and understand your guest’s background.
2. Be Authentic: Genuine interactions set the stage for a comfortable and open dialogue.
3. Listen Actively: Slow down and truly listen to understand, not just to respond.
4. Respect and Learn from Others: Appreciate the expertise and passion of your guests.
5. Encourage Realness: Allow your guests to show their true selves, creating richer conversations.

Conclusion

Our journey of interviewing guests on the Leadership Vision Podcast has been enlightening and deeply rewarding. As we continue to evolve and grow, we remain committed to fostering environments where genuine conversations can thrive. We encourage you, our readers and listeners, to reflect on these insights and consider how you might apply them in your own interactions—be it in professional settings or personal relationships. If you have any thoughts or suggestions for future guests, we’d love to hear from you!

Questions?

We would love to hear about how we might help you develop your Strengths, the Strengths of your team, or the Strengths of your entire organization. Reach out here!