Maxwell Leadership Executive Podcast

Episode #336: The Power of Consistency

Host: Chris Goede
Co-host: Perry Holly
Date: March 20, 2025

Overview

This episode examines the pivotal role of consistency in effective leadership. Hosts Chris Goede and Perry Holly explore how predictable behavior, emotional regulation, and self-awareness build trust, empower teams, establish a healthy organizational culture, and drive sustained results. Drawing from personal experience, John Wooden’s philosophy, and practical stories, the conversation focuses on why and how leaders should cultivate consistency as a foundation of their leadership brand.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Consistency as a Hallmark of Effective Leadership

• Chris opens with a quote by iconic coach John Wooden:

  “Consistency in high performance and production is a trademark of effective and successful organizations and those who lead them. Emotionalism destroys consistency. A leader who is ruled by emotions...produces a team whose trademark is the roller coaster. Ups and downs in performance, unpredictability and undependability...”
  (Chris Goede, sharing Wooden quote, 01:00)

• Leaders ruled by emotion create uncertainty, unpredictability, and a lack of trust.

2. Why Consistency Matters

Trust & Credibility

• Consistent leaders establish trust and credibility. Teams know what to expect and feel secure.

  “Consistent leaders establish trust and credibility with others...your actions align with your words. It demonstrates not only integrity, but it reinforces your credibility.”
  (Perry Holly, 04:03)

Clear Expectations

• Consistency sets and communicates clear expectations. Teams learn a leader’s rhythm, enabling empowered decision-making.
• Chris shares a vivid story about a CEO whose temperament is signaled by the color of their assistant’s mug, dramatically impacting how team members approach him:

  “She lets us know by which color coffee mug is sitting out...what type of mood the CEO is in that day...So they make decisions on what they’re going to talk about...based on the color of the mug.”
  (Chris Goede, 05:13)

Culture Building

• Consistency shapes organizational culture. “Leadership is a visual sport”—people mirror their leaders' behavior.

  “If you’re acting inconsistent...people are going to model that and that’s going to become your culture. So consistency is a culture builder, I believe.”
  (Perry Holly, 06:41)

Goal Achievement & Focus

• Sticking with priorities and actions pays compounding dividends—consistency leads to greater achievement.

  “Consistent leaders are more likely to achieve the goals...They stay focused...even after the excitement wanes off.”
  (Chris Goede, 08:44)

Reducing Fear & Empowering Teams

• When leaders are predictable, fear and uncertainty decrease, which encourages initiative and risk-taking.

  “When the leader is consistent in their approach, the team members...feel more secure in their role, but also more empowered. I’m likely to take more of a risk... because I know I can trust you.”
  (Perry Holly, 09:23)

3. How to Build Consistency

Self-Awareness

• Leading oneself is foundational; understanding emotional triggers is essential.

  “Where’s your self awareness around this? ...How self-aware are you with emotions and then what triggers those emotions?”
  (Chris Goede, 10:03)

• Chris candidly shares a personal insight about managing conversations with his wife—recognizing patterns and triggers is crucial for responding consistently.

Seek Meaningful Feedback (Inner Circle)

• Feedback, especially from trusted confidants (your “inner circle”), provides an honest lens into how you’re perceived.

  “Most people aren’t willing to really share meaningful things with you...I have some people in my life—one or two, maybe three...that can tell me anything...Having an inner circle would be one of the key things you could do to help develop your personal consistency.”
  (Perry Holly, 11:42)

Practice Vulnerability

• Admitting mistakes and being willing to say “I don’t know” builds trust and improves self-awareness.

  “Learn to say, ‘hey man, I don’t know, I messed up, I could use your help.’ Vulnerability 100% will help drive trust, that’s for sure.”
  (Chris Goede, 13:12)

Emotional Regulation (Delay, Don’t Display)

• Mastering emotions—especially under stress—allows leaders to respond rather than react.

  “John Maxwell says you either delay or display your emotions...you can really build your consistency by learning how to delay your emotions.”
  (Perry Holly, 13:54)

• Perry describes a moment being verbally attacked by a client, managing anger instead of exploding, resulting in long-term respect.

• Chris employs a “24-hour rule” to pause before responding when emotional:

  “If I get frustrated or I hear something or I want to react, I have a little self talk...let me think about that and I'm going to come back to it.”
  (Chris Goede, 15:18)

Authenticity with Boundaries

• Authenticity is important—but true leadership means being consistently respectful, not using “that’s just who I am” as an excuse for outbursts.

  “Some of you go, ‘well great, that means I can yell and scream and that’s the real me...’ That’s not what we’re saying.”
  (Chris Goede, 16:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the challenge of consistency:

  “No one has ever on a coaching call told me, 'I struggle with a consistency problem.' They never say that. What they say is 'I lost my temper,' 'I screamed at someone'...so it does come down to emotion.”
  (Perry Holly, 02:26)

• On setting the leadership standard:

  “Leadership is contagious and it’s a visual sport...they’re watching you the time...What a great way to model that for your peers and for your teams.”
  (Chris Goede, 03:33)

• On developing self-awareness:

  “We’re not going to be perfect but just making sure we’re becoming self aware and learn from what we’ve done in the past in order to become more consistent.”
  (Chris Goede, 11:18)

• On your leadership brand:

  “Your title walks in the room before you do...how people expect you to react, whether you like it or not, becomes your leadership style or your leadership brand.”
  (Chris Goede, 17:24)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening & Podcast Purpose – 00:09
• John Wooden Quote on Consistency – 01:00
• Why Consistency Matters (Trust, Expectations, Culture) – 03:19 to 07:10
• The Coffee Mug Story: Emotional Cues from Leadership – 05:13
• Consistency and Goal Achievement – 08:44
• Consistency Reduces Fear & Builds Empowerment – 09:23
• How to Build Consistency: Self-Awareness – 10:03
• Inner Circle Feedback – 11:42
• Vulnerability in Leadership – 13:04
• Emotional Regulation (‘Delay or Display’ Emotions) – 13:54
• Authenticity (with Boundaries) – 16:45
• Leadership Brand & Final Thoughts – 17:24

Takeaway Points

• Consistency isn’t exciting, but it’s essential. It is foundational for trust, performance, and a healthy culture.
• Developing consistency starts with yourself: self-awareness, feedback from trusted peers, vulnerability, emotional regulation, and being genuinely respectful.
• Leadership is always observed. Your actions affect others, consciously or not—make consistency your leadership brand.

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