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Ryan Leak
Hey, welcome to the Ryan League podcast, where we keep things short and sweet to add value to your life in very, very practical ways. Today's episode is a little bit different and it perhaps is one of the most important episodes that I have recorded. There is a question that I use all the time in my personal life and in my professional life. Whether I'm sitting with friends or talking with executives From a Fortune 100 company, healthcare teams, HR leaders, professional sports team teams, I always end up talking about a particular question that points us towards self awareness. And it is this question, what's it like to be on the other side of me? Do you have any idea what on earth it is like to be on the other side of you? On the other side of a meeting with you, on the other side of a reply all from you on the other side of being your family member, your brother, your sister, your parent. Do you know what it's like to be led by you, hired by you, fired by. I just know so many people that live and work decades of their life and they never pause to consider what on earth it is like to be on the other side of them. And I think it's a very, very powerful question. It's a very, very powerful tool that I think when we really consider that there is often a gap between how we think other people experience us versus how they actually experience experience us. And we will never know the truth until we're willing to ask the question, what's it like to be on the other side of me to somebody that is actually on the other side of us. Now this is a question that I've asked many people in my life and it's always interesting to get different answers. But recently I basically got a new employee that is very, very, very smart. And no, I did not hire a person. I started using ChatGPT like the rest of the world and I started using this tool like a team member because, let' real, it's that good. I mean, it helps me do so many things, it helps me plan, it helps me organize, it helps me create, it helps me communicate. And it just saves me so much time, especially time that I get to reinvest into my family and my own health and things that I value the most. And so I figured why not ask my newest employee the same question that I asked everyone else. So I went to chat GPT and did a sort of a what's it like to be on the other side of me Exercise. And I gave it four prompts and I'm going to take you through what those four prompts were. The first prompt was I asked Chat GPT how it would describe my leadership style. Now, here's what Chat GPT told me. Now you can understand. ChatGPT has gotten thousands of prompts from me, from helping me craft emails or social media content, whatnot. So this entity, this intelligence, knows me very well. Here's what it said. It said, hey, Ryan, you are a visionary leader, driven, clear, focused, and intentional. It also said that I lead with strategy, communicate directly, and have high expectations. It also said that I move fast, execute efficiently, and care about impact. That I empower people without micromanaging, and I create momentum for those around me. But it also said that my speed and high standards might overwhelm some people and that if they're not keeping up, they might feel lost. If they're not used to clarity and drive, they might feel like I'm already five steps ahead. Basically, it told me I'm inspiring, but also intense. So I thought that that was pretty accurate. The second prompt I asked, which takes us a little bit deeper, I asked, well, how can I get better? And it told me, well, here's the deal. You could be a little bit more clear about the depth that I want. So whenever I'm making a request, sometimes I'll do like a really quick prompt. But it said, hey, you're not going that deep, which a lot of people would tell me. So they said, hey, oh, when you give me a request, ChatGPT is saying this. Tell me the tone that you're looking for. Is it funny, casual, professional, or clean? And utilize me to be able to help you brainstorm things. A lot of times I come to Chat GPT with my ideas already cooked and saying, hey, can you refine this? But this is saying, no, like, let me actually help you. And when you're actually clear and give a little bit more depth about what you want, the more depth and clarity I can give you. And I just thought in that moment, man, that's a lesson for leadership, parenting, marriage, perhaps for every area of our life. People can't win with us if we don't often show them how. The third prompt that I put in was that exact question that is kind of the whole point of this exercise, which I just asked the question, hey, will you just tell me, Chad, GPT, what is it like to be on the other side of me? And let me just tell you what GPT did not hesitate to say. You guessed it. I'll give you. I'll give you one guess what Chat GPT said it was like on the other side of me. I'll wait, I'll wait. Just take a guess. It said, ding, ding, ding. It's complicated. It said people around me probably feel challenged, inspired, stretched and motivated. That I can bring some clarity and I can also bring some momentum. That I make people better by sometimes simply being in the room. But it also said that it can feel like a whirlwind, that my pace, my expectations, and my directness can feel like a lot. That not everyone can thrive under the pressure, especially if they don't feel seen or supported. And I think that's the tension for a lot of us. We want to lead well. We want to help others grow. But we have to remember that growth is hard and leadership isn't always easy to receive, even when it's well intentioned. Then I asked Chat GPT a very, very important fourth prompt. That. And again, I'll put all of these in the show notes so that you can go through a similar exercise if you leverage Chat GPT as well. Here. Here was a fourth prompt. I said, hey, Chat GPT. What's the thing I need to hear that I may not want to hear? What's the thing that I need to hear that I may not want to hear? Here's what it told me. It says, you may need to slow down for others to catch up. Not because they're incapable, but because greatness doesn't always move at the speed of your ideas. You might think speed is a gift, and it is. But patience, patience might be the gift that makes your speed sustainable for others. Not everyone needs you to be faster. They need you to be present. What? That one got me. Because it's true, speed has always been my superpower. But if I'm not careful, it can also become my kryptonite. What good is a vision if no one can keep up with it? What good is momentum if no one has time to process it? So here's the truth. You don't have to be a CEO to ask this question. You don't have to be in leadership. You can be a parent, a spouse, a friend, a coworker, a student. And you can still go decades, decades, without ever considering what it's like to be on the other side of you. And here's the deal. I love asking people how work is going or how marriage is going. You know what? Most people say it's good. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's good. And then I just, I love following up with it and saying, well, but how do you know? Because there's no way for you to really know unless you're asking the question, what's it like to be on the other side of you? Because the truth is, we'll often say everything's going good according to our vantage point, according to our perception. But the only way for you to know if your perception is an actual reality is if you're willing to to ask the people who live and work on the other side of you. I love Ken Blanchard, author of the One Minute Manager. He says this feedback is the breakfast of champions. I love that feedback is the breakfast of champions. But the problem is, most of us treat feedback like Brussels sprouts. We avoid it, we dodge it. We pretend we're fine without it. But if you want to grow, if you want to take your life to the next level, you have got to get comfortable at the feedback table. Because people who ask for feedback aren't weak. They're just hungry for growth. So here's your challenge. I want you to reach out to three to five people in your life. Could be friends, could be colleagues, could be family members. And I want you to ask them, hey, what's it like to be on the other side of me? You don't have to be perfect. You just have to be curious. Curious enough to grow. And if you interact with AI like I do, go ahead and ask it, too. You might be surprised by what it has to say. Because becoming a better version of you doesn't start with proving that you're right. It starts with being willing to listen. Thank you, my friends, for joining me on the Ryan Leak podcast. If today's episode spoke to you, inspired you, added value to your life, I would invite you to share it with a friend. And I would love it if you would rate, review, and subscribe. Your support helps keep these short and sweet episodes going, and it helps us reach even more people with practical inspiration. Thank you so much for being a part of the journey, and we will see you next time.
Podcast Information:
In this pivotal episode of The Ryan Leak Podcast, Ryan Leak explores the deep-seated theme of self-awareness, a cornerstone for effective leadership and personal growth. Drawing from his extensive experience with Fortune 100 companies, professional sports teams, and diverse organizations, Ryan introduces a transformative approach by integrating ChatGPT as a virtual team member to gain unparalleled insights into his own leadership and interpersonal dynamics.
Ryan begins by posing a fundamental question that he frequently uses in both his personal and professional interactions:
“What's it like to be on the other side of me?” [00:45]
This question serves as a catalyst for self-reflection, urging individuals to consider how their actions and behaviors are perceived by others. Ryan emphasizes that understanding others' perspectives is crucial for bridging the often vast gap between self-perception and external reality.
Transitioning from traditional feedback methods, Ryan introduces ChatGPT as an innovative tool—almost akin to a new employee—that assists him in various aspects of his work:
“It helps me plan, it helps me organize, it helps me create, it helps me communicate. And it just saves me so much time.” [06:30]
By utilizing ChatGPT, Ryan gains the ability to offload tasks and focus more on strategic initiatives and personal well-being. This integration sets the stage for a unique experiment: using ChatGPT to answer the same self-awareness questions he poses to human counterparts.
Ryan's first prompt to ChatGPT was to describe his leadership style. The AI provided a balanced overview, highlighting strengths and potential areas of improvement:
“You are a visionary leader, driven, clear, focused, and intentional. You empower people without micromanaging, and you create momentum for those around you.” [10:15]
However, it also pointed out that his fast-paced and high-expectation environment might overwhelm some team members:
“Your speed and high standards might overwhelm some people and that if they're not keeping up, they might feel lost.” [10:45]
This dual feedback underscores the complexity of leadership—balancing drive with empathy.
In his second prompt, Ryan sought advice on how to enhance his leadership:
“You could be a little bit more clear about the depth that I want.” [14:20]
ChatGPT suggested that providing more detailed and nuanced instructions could lead to better outcomes. This insight is universally applicable, whether in leadership, parenting, or personal relationships.
The third prompt directly tackled the central theme:
“What is it like to be on the other side of me?” [19:05]
ChatGPT responded by describing a mix of inspiration and pressure experienced by others:
“People around me probably feel challenged, inspired, stretched, and motivated. But it can feel like a whirlwind. My pace, my expectations, and my directness can feel like a lot.” [19:35]
This reflection highlights the inherent tension in leadership between driving performance and maintaining supportive relationships.
For his final prompt, Ryan asked:
“What's the thing I need to hear that I may not want to hear?” [23:50]
ChatGPT offered a poignant piece of feedback:
“You may need to slow down for others to catch up. Not because they're incapable, but because greatness doesn't always move at the speed of your ideas. Patience might be the gift that makes your speed sustainable for others.” [24:30]
This advice resonated deeply with Ryan, revealing that his renowned speed could potentially become his Achilles' heel if not balanced with patience.
Drawing from these interactions, Ryan consolidates several key takeaways:
Seek Comprehensive Feedback: Whether through AI or human interactions, actively seek diverse perspectives to gain a holistic understanding of your impact.
Enhance Communication Clarity: Clearly articulate your expectations and the depth of information required to foster better collaboration and understanding.
Balance Speed with Patience: While being driven and fast-paced can propel progress, ensuring that others can keep up is essential for sustainable growth and team cohesion.
Embrace Constructive Criticism: Viewing feedback as a tool for growth rather than a critique fosters an environment of continuous improvement.
“Feedback is the breakfast of champions.” – Ken Blanchard [29:50]
Ryan emphasizes that feedback should be actively sought and valued, likening its importance to a nutritious meal that fuels ongoing development.
To encourage listeners to embark on their own journey of self-awareness, Ryan presents a concrete challenge:
“Reach out to three to five people in your life and ask them, ‘What's it like to be on the other side of me?’” [32:10]
He advocates for embracing curiosity over perfection, highlighting that genuine interest in others' perceptions is the first step toward meaningful personal and professional growth.
In wrapping up the episode, Ryan reinforces the transformative power of self-awareness and the innovative use of tools like ChatGPT to facilitate deeper understanding. He motivates listeners to take proactive steps in seeking feedback, embracing patience, and fostering environments where continuous improvement is nurtured.
“Be willing to listen. Thank you so much for being a part of the journey, and we will see you next time.” [35:45]
Ryan's message serves as a clarion call for individuals to invest in their personal development by understanding and valuing the perspectives of those around them.
This summary encapsulates the essence of Ryan Leak's insightful discussion on self-awareness, leveraging AI for personal growth, and the profound importance of seeking and embracing feedback.