Podcast Summary: James Reed: All About Business
Episode 15: Becoming a Strong Leader Whilst Sticking to Your Values with Steph Rix
Release Date: February 17, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 15 of "James Reed: All About Business," host James Reed engages in a deep and insightful conversation with Steph Ricks, the founder and managing director of Life's Work, a company specializing in team, career, and leadership coaching. With a master's degree in career development and nearly a decade of experience as an executive coach, Steph brings a wealth of knowledge on transforming employees into strong, value-driven leaders within organizations.

Notable Quote:
James Reed [00:00]: "Delivering the best results means attracting and developing the best talent."

Leading Oneself

Steph Ricks emphasizes the foundational aspect of leadership: leading oneself before leading others. She believes self-awareness, resilience, and understanding one's strengths and values are crucial for effective leadership. This self-leadership forms the bedrock upon which individuals can inspire and guide their teams.

Notable Quote:
Steph Ricks [01:37]: "It's not just about leading people, it's also about leading yourself."

The Nature of Leadership and Values

The conversation delves into the essence of leadership, distinguishing it from mere management. Steph explains that while managers focus on tasks, leaders prioritize people. She stresses the importance of aligning leadership styles with personal strengths and values, advocating for an open-minded and nurturing approach.

Notable Quote:
Steph Ricks [06:40]: "Values are statements, principles, guiding compasses or methods. They help you make decisions based on what's authentic to you."

Steph outlines her core values—Connection, Creativity, Courage, and Contribution—and discusses how these values influence her business decisions and organizational culture.

Notable Quote:
Steph Ricks [08:41]: "Most people tend to have around four or five core values."

Debunking the "Born Leader" Myth

James and Steph address the common belief that leaders are inherently born with certain traits. Steph firmly disagrees, asserting that leadership is a skill that can be developed through continuous learning and intentional practice.

Notable Quote:
Steph Ricks [02:58]: "No, I think there's certain traits that some people have... but you can learn it, you can work at it."

Handling Self-Doubt and Imposter Syndrome

Self-doubt is a universal experience, even among high-achieving leaders. Steph introduces the concept of embracing the "imposter voice" by personifying it (e.g., naming it Steve) and balancing negative self-talk with supportive internal dialogue from a "mentor voice" (e.g., Mo). This playful yet strategic approach helps individuals manage their inner critics without letting doubt hinder their progress.

Notable Quote:
Steph Ricks [10:36]: "Embrace self-doubt rather than trying to shut down the voice because you can't turn that voice off."

Overcoming Overthinking and Paralysis by Analysis

Overthinking can paralyze decision-making and progress. Steph defines overthinking as the inability to take action due to incessant weighing of possibilities and risks. She recommends small, actionable steps and structured exercises to help individuals break free from analysis paralysis.

Notable Quote:
Steph Ricks [16:05]: "Overthinking is where you have an inability to take action because you're constantly weighing up all the different possibilities."

Navigating Organizational Change

Change is inevitable and often unwelcome in businesses. Steph explains that human brains are wired to resist change due to evolutionary instincts for safety and belonging. She advocates for leaders to focus on the human side of change by listening, being transparent, and fostering a collaborative environment to help teams navigate transitions effectively.

Notable Quote:
Steph Ricks [18:00]: "Our brains are wired to not like change because we want to feel like we belong and feel secure."

Conducting Difficult Conversations

Addressing sensitive issues, such as performance feedback or interpersonal conflicts, requires honesty and sensitivity. Steph critiques the "shit sandwich" method, advocating instead for straightforward, respectful dialogues that focus on specific behaviors and their impacts. She highlights the importance of understanding the other person's perspective to facilitate meaningful resolution.

Notable Quote:
Steph Ricks [27:44]: "Personally, I don't like the 'shit sandwich' approach because you're just trying to hide the important part."

Maintaining People Development Amid Budget Cuts

In challenging economic times, organizations might be tempted to reduce investments in people development. Steph argues against this, citing research from Deloitte, McKinsey, and Gallup that links investment in people with higher profitability and success. She encourages creative, low-cost methods to continue fostering development, such as leveraging free resources and focusing on meaningful interactions like career development conversations separate from performance reviews.

Notable Quote:
Steph Ricks [33:12]: "It's about being very intentional in keeping the focus on people development regardless of how much money you have."

Identifying and Nurturing Potential in Employees

Steph advises managers to engage in open conversations to understand employees' career aspirations rather than making assumptions. She distinguishes between "rock stars" who excel in their roles without seeking leadership positions and "superstars" who aspire to grow into leaders. Recognizing these differences ensures that development efforts align with individual motivations and strengths.

Notable Quote:
Steph Ricks [38:46]: "Individuals who have a real desire to learn and improve... can then do anything."

Conclusion: Personal Insights from Steph Ricks

To wrap up the episode, James asks Steph two personal questions:

1. What gets you up on a Monday morning?
   Steph shares that gratitude and anticipation for the day's positive experiences drive her enthusiasm each week.

   Notable Quote:
   Steph Ricks [43:11]: "The first thing I do is think about what am I grateful for. And then I think what am I looking forward to today."

2. Where do you see yourself in five years?
   Steph envisions expanding her business, increasing her team size, and enhancing her global presence while continuing her current trajectory.

   Notable Quote:
   Steph Ricks [44:02]: "I'd like to be continuing doing what I'm doing now... running the business, probably a bigger team, hitting our growth targets."

Final Thoughts

James Reed concludes the episode by thanking Steph Ricks for her valuable insights on leadership development and the importance of staying true to one's values. He encourages listeners to explore Steph's work for further guidance on people development.

Notable Quote:
James Reed [44:31]: "Thank you to Steph for joining me on All About Business."

Final Note:
For more information about Steph Ricks and her approach to driving results through people development, visit her Life's Work website. To hire top talent for your business, explore Reed Global's specialist recruitment services.