Business Lunch: Decoding Influencer Marketing Host: Roland Frasier
Guests: Ryan Deiss
Release Date: June 20, 2025

In this episode of Business Lunch, host Roland Frasier engages in a deep and insightful conversation with Ryan Deiss, delving into the challenging dynamics that arise within leadership roles when confronted with internal team conflicts. Contrary to the episode's title, "Decoding Influencer Marketing," the discussion centers on leadership, team management, and handling negative feedback within organizations. Below is a comprehensive summary capturing the key points, discussions, insights, and conclusions from their conversation.

1. Introducing the Conflict Scenario

The episode begins with Ryan Deiss presenting a real-world leadership dilemma:

"[02:35] Ryan Deiss: I mean, it's really uncharted ground for me because, I mean, I'm generally loved by everyone."

Ryan describes a situation where a CEO discovers that several team members were badmouthing her behind her back during a social gathering. This revelation leaves the CEO feeling betrayed and hurt, raising critical questions about handling such internal strife.

2. Understanding Employee Behavior

Ryan emphasizes the importance of recognizing that people act in their own self-interest:

"[04:04] Ryan Deiss: ...people are going to do what's in their own interest. And so I get the feeling betrayed, but you just have to understand the people that work for you..."

He underscores that employees' primary loyalty is to themselves and their families, which can sometimes lead to behaviors that seem disloyal to their leaders.

3. Emphasizing Ownership and Leadership Responsibility

A pivotal theme of the discussion is extreme ownership in leadership:

"[06:46] Ryan Deiss: ...I don't believe that those mistakes would perhaps invalidate the overarching kind of issue challenge, which may just be kind of a cultural one..."

Ryan advocates for leaders to take full responsibility for team dynamics, suggesting that any shortcomings in leadership could be the root cause of employee dissatisfaction.

4. Responding to Negative Feedback

The conversation shifts to strategies for addressing negative feedback within teams:

"[07:27] Ryan Deiss: ...give everybody the Benefit of the doubt."

Ryan advises leaders to pause and process emotions before reacting. He recommends acknowledging any valid points in the criticism, irrespective of how minor, to demonstrate accountability.

5. Communication Strategies for Conflict Resolution

Effective communication is highlighted as essential in resolving internal conflicts:

"[13:07] Ryan Deiss: ...you have to reach out to them with humility. You gotta reach out to em with curiosity..."

Ryan and Roland discuss the importance of individual outreach, recommending that leaders communicate directly with disgruntled employees to understand their grievances and seek constructive solutions.

6. Handling Troublemakers within the Team

The duo explores methods for dealing with persistently negative employees:

"[14:45] Ryan Deiss: ...if you have somebody that's just a troublemaker, then let them go."

After exhausting collaborative efforts to improve the situation, Ryan suggests that it may be necessary to terminate relationships with individuals who continue to undermine the team’s harmony.

7. Establishing a Positive Organizational Culture

A significant takeaway is the proactive establishment of a transparent and communicative organizational culture:

"[17:50] Ryan Deiss: ...seek the why is a big important aspect..."

By encouraging employees to understand the rationale behind decisions, leaders can reduce misunderstandings and foster a more supportive work environment.

8. Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Concluding the discussion, Ryan reiterates the importance of leading with empathy and accountability:

"[21:43] Ryan Deiss: ...you're a leader. You have to make decisions."

He advises that even when decisions are unpopular, leaders must own their choices and ensure that the team remains united moving forward.

Notable Quotes

• "That's what leadership looks like. That's what extreme ownership looks like. If any of it is yours, it is all yours." — Ryan Deiss [00:00]

• "It's never fun to find out that people were saying, you know, nasty things behind your back." — Ryan Deiss [02:35]

• "If you don't know why something is being done, you can't say because that's what somebody told me, or because that's the way we've always done it." — Ryan Deiss [15:31]

• "You are a leader. You have to make decisions." — Ryan Deiss [21:43]

Conclusion

In this episode, Roland Frasier and Ryan Deiss provide a thought-provoking exploration of leadership challenges, particularly when facing internal team conflicts and negative feedback. They offer practical strategies for leaders to take ownership, communicate effectively, and foster a positive organizational culture. This conversation serves as a valuable resource for current and aspiring leaders seeking to navigate and resolve complex team dynamics.

Note: The episode includes promotional segments by Roland Frasier advocating for his EPIC Investing Strategy training. As per instructions, these sections have been omitted from the summary to focus solely on the content-rich discussions.