Podcast Summary: Beyond Blind Blaming
Episode: How to Turn Leadership Mistakes into Your Greatest Advantage | Dr. Todd Dewett
Host: Kevin D. St.Clergy
Release Date: July 15, 2025
Introduction and Guest Background
In this insightful episode of Beyond Blind Blaming, host Kevin D. St.Clergy welcomes Dr. Todd Dewett, a renowned leadership expert with over 1,000 speeches delivered to Fortune 500 companies and an educational library on LinkedIn Learning enjoyed by over 30 million professionals worldwide.
Dr. Todd Dewett shares his journey from academia to becoming a leading figure in online education:
[02:29] Dr. Todd Dewett: "I basically didn't know what I wanted to do as an undergraduate... I didn't fit in corporate America very well... I figured out the best way to be myself was to go back to the ivory tower... And then I decided to go solo and be a solopreneur."
Transition from Academia to Online Education
Dr. Dewett discusses his pivotal move from a tenured professor at Wright State University to embracing the digital education revolution with LinkedIn Learning:
[05:12] Kevin St. Clergy: "Sounds like me waiting to adopt AI until the end of last year... it has changed my life."
[05:18] Dr. Todd Dewett: "I said, no, I don't think so... Thankfully they pulled me into relevance and I've been online helping people ever since."
Exploring "Dancing with Monsters"
Dr. Dewett introduces his latest book, "Dancing with Monsters," presented as a fable to convey complex leadership concepts through engaging storytelling.
Symbolism of Monsters:
[07:08] Dr. Todd Dewett: "The book's about little misfit monsters... they're not performing well... the vampire Joe is the protagonist... it's about facing fears and overcoming what scares you."
Themes Discussed:
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Mistakes and Accountability:
[08:50] Dr. Todd Dewett: "Mistakes rock. I don't want you to make them, but we're going to. And you should use them."
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Psychological Safety:
[12:59] Dr. Todd Dewett: "Psychological safety... the willingness to be vulnerable... nurse managers in hospitals who fear repercussions and thus don’t report mistakes."
Leadership Challenges and the Blame Loop
The conversation delves into common leadership struggles, particularly accountability and blame:
[14:07] Dr. Todd Dewett: "If you're doing all the things ideally... you're not going to look at you like an ogre when you address mistakes."
Celebrating Mistakes: Kevin shares his experience of implementing a "celebrate mistakes" culture in his company, fostering vulnerability and growth:
[12:59] Kevin St. Clergy: "We had a celebrate mistakes area... someone would outline their biggest mistake and what they learned."
Building Authenticity and Humility as a Leader
Dr. Dewett emphasizes the importance of authenticity and humility in leadership, especially in high-pressure environments:
[28:33] Dr. Todd Dewett: "We have to work on fear... leaders need to be more human and validate others' mistakes... Authenticity is scary, but you don't have to go extreme."
Practical Tips:
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Admitting Imperfections:
[16:03] Dr. Todd Dewett: "Talk about three or four times a year... share genuine mistakes to build trust."
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Active Listening:
[46:52] Kevin St. Clergy: "Listening means you are not talking... Active listening is one of my top goals."
The Power of Storytelling in Leadership Development
Dr. Dewett highlights how storytelling can be more impactful than traditional training methods in leadership development:
[32:14] Dr. Todd Dewett: "Storytelling is one of the best ways to cultivate authenticity... Stories are simple, emotional, and relatable."
Impact on Audiences:
[34:16] Dr. Todd Dewett: "People have come up to me crying and thanking me because my stories helped them unlock new perspectives."
Self-Development Strategies
Dr. Dewett shares his personal strategies for continuous self-improvement and fostering creativity:
[42:05] Dr. Todd Dewett: "Invest time in self-awareness through journaling, seeking feedback, and mixing up routines to stimulate creativity."
Encouraging Variety:
[47:06] Dr. Todd Dewett: "Intentional deviations in routines can provoke novel ideas by waking the brain from subconscious processing."
Developing Stronger Relationships in Teams
The importance of relationship building in creating successful teams is a recurring theme:
[27:14] Kevin St. Clergy: "Relationships are the quality and quantity of relationships you have with your team."
Practical Exercises:
- Personal Histories Exercise:
[24:38] Kevin St. Clergy: "Everyone shares a bit about their personal lives to build rapport and vulnerability."
Overcoming Self-Deception in Leadership
Dr. Dewett discusses how self-deception can hinder effective leadership and the importance of seeking honest feedback:
[40:24] Kevin St. Clergy: "It's called self-deception, where you're the problem, but you can't see it."
[40:25] Dr. Todd Dewett: "Most people will acknowledge they have an imperfect view of themselves, but embracing feedback is crucial."
Conclusion and Key Takeaways
- Embrace Mistakes: Use them as opportunities for growth rather than sources of blame.
- Foster Psychological Safety: Create an environment where team members feel safe to be vulnerable and share openly.
- Cultivate Authenticity: Leaders should demonstrate humility and authenticity to build trust and rapport.
- Leverage Storytelling: Use stories to convey complex ideas and connect emotionally with your audience.
- Invest in Relationships: Strong relationships are foundational to team success and organizational growth.
- Continuous Self-Development: Engage in activities that challenge your routines and stimulate creativity.
Final Quote:
[36:16] Dr. Todd Dewett: "Perspective is a choice. If we focus on what's possible instead of our imperfections, we can achieve amazing things together."
Resources:
- Connect with Dr. Todd Dewett:
For more insights and actionable strategies to overcome hidden mindset blocks and enhance your leadership skills, listen to the full episode of “Beyond Blind Blaming” with Dr. Todd Dewett.