Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership

How to Transform Polarizing Conflict to Productive Outcomes

How teams engage in conflict matters. Some let it fester, avoiding what matters most to the business. Others fight aggressively. The way in which executive teams engage in conflict will directly impact how effectively they innovate and make decisions. In this episode, Sal Silvester connects with Dr. Aftab Erfan, the Executive Director of the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. Dr. Erfan shares practical strategies leaders can use to navigate and transform heated and polarized conflicts into productive outcomes.

Measurably Enhance Human Performance in Your Organization

In this solo episode of "Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership," Sal Silvester, seasoned executive coach and leadership expert, delves into the pressing challenges and evolving trends impacting leadership teams across various sectors. From the shifting dynamics in large tech companies to the resilience strategies of growth-stage tech firms, Sal shares insights gathered from his extensive work with globally recognized brands and emerging companies.

In this episode, Sal focuses on the essential capabilities leaders need to thrive in today's unpredictable and intricate business environment. He emphasizes the shift from traditional playbook strategies to a more experimental and adaptable approach, underscoring the importance of interpersonal agility and the ability to manage multiple team engagements effectively.

Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on assessing their teams and organizational culture, leveraging real-world examples to illustrate how businesses are adapting post-COVID and integrating artificial intelligence. Sal's roadmap for the episode includes practical strategies for fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, and navigating the complexities of matrix organizational structures.

Join Sal as he provides a toolkit for leaders aiming to elevate human performance and accelerate business results in the face of relentless change and uncertainty. This episode is a must-listen for executives, senior leaders, and anyone interested in the future of leadership and team alignment at the top echelons of business.

The Perfect Story: Unlocking the Power of Storytelling in Leadership

In this captivating episode of the Future of Leadership Podcast, host Sal Silvester welcomes Karen Eber, a leading voice in the world of storytelling and leadership.

Karen, an esteemed author and CEO of Eber Leadership Group, shares invaluable insights from her recently published book, "The Perfect Story," released by HarperCollins in October 2023.

Throughout the discussion, Karen delves into the profound impact of storytelling on leadership and emphasizing how narratives can:

• forge connections
• build empathy
• and enhance leadership credibility.

With her expertise, Karen elucidates the neuroscience behind storytelling, explaining how stories activate the brain differently than mere information, thereby fostering deeper engagement and comprehension. This episode is a treasure trove of knowledge for leaders seeking to harness the power of storytelling to create more human, aligned, and effective teams. Karen's background, including her work with Fortune 500 companies and her acclaimed TED talk on storytelling, offers listeners practical strategies for incorporating narrative into their leadership toolkit.

Whether you're aiming to inspire your team, communicate more effectively, or lead with greater empathy, this episode provides the tools you need to transform your leadership approach through the art of storytelling.

Developing Intercultural Competence - A Must-Have Skill for Global Leaders

In this compelling episode, join host Sal Silvester and his special guest Adriana Medina-López-Portillo, Ph.D., as they go deep on the importance of building intercultural competence on leadership teams in order to tap into the strengths that diverse teams can bring to a business. You'll hear about strategies for overcoming intercultural communication obstacles, the distinction between a mono-cultural and an intercultural mindset, and 5 key orientations to mature as an interculturally competent leader.

Team Lessons Learned - Special Operations

In this compelling episode, join host Sal Silvester and esteemed guest Jody Fletcher as they unravel the essential components of building high-performing teams and navigating leadership challenges in times of crisis. 

With an impressive 29-year tenure in the Navy, including over two decades in elite Reconnaissance and Special Operations teams, Jody Fletcher brings a wealth of experience to the conversation. Having served in multiple combat deployments, Jody's insights are rooted in real-world, high-stakes situations.

Delve into Jody's last decade in the military, where he provided invaluable counsel to two-star and three-star General Officers overseeing organizations with more than 45,000 service members and civilians. His advisory roles extended from working with Heads of State and Distinguished Members of Foreign Governments to collaborating with C-suite Executives of major organizations. Jody's unique journey even led him to share tea with village elders deep in the heart of enemy-held territory.

Join us for a riveting exploration of leadership, team dynamics, and crisis management, guided by the profound experiences of a military leader with a remarkable and diverse background.

Unveiling Hidden Barriers: Navigating Workplace Success for Women

Join host Sal Silvester on this enlightening episode of "Unveiling Hidden Barriers: Navigating Workplace Success for Women," where he sits down with Ellen Connelly Taaffe, the acclaimed author of "The Mirrored Door: Break Through the Hidden Barrier that Locks Successful Women in Place." In this insightful conversation, Sal and Ellen delve into the critical issues women face in today's corporate world and the invisible barriers that often hinder their progress.

Ellen, with her rich experience as a faculty member at the Kellogg School of Management and her extensive research, brings a unique perspective on the challenges and stereotypes that shape women's professional journeys. The discussion navigates through the three pivotal parts of her book – from societal influences on women's self-perception in corporate settings, the perilous success strategies often adopted by women, to forging a new and empowering path forward.

 

Listeners will gain valuable insights as Ellen elaborates on the concept of the "Inner Antagonist" and its role in fostering imposter syndrome. Sal's engaging style encourages Ellen to share practical advice and personal anecdotes, making the conversation both relatable and inspiring.

 

Whether you're a professional woman seeking guidance, a leader aiming to foster a more inclusive environment, or simply interested in understanding the dynamics of gender in the workplace, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to discover how women can break through the mirrored door and redefine success on their own terms.

The Impact of AI on Leadership Teams

Today's episode is focused on the impact of AI on leadership teams and organizations. And here's the twist: it's a surprisingly human story. Sal speaks with Alex Goryachev, a globally recognized technology operations executive, an expert in advancing innovation culture and monetizing new technology, and a Wall Street Journal best-selling author of "Fearless Innovation". Listen in to learn more about innovation as the work of teams and the skills required in this technological transition …

Cross-cultural Competence on Global Leadership Teams

Today’s episode is focused on how to navigate the complexity of being on a global leadership team. As our world gets more complex, more global in nature, and organizational structures more matrixed, it is increasingly important for leaders to develop cross-cultural competence.

Just because you’ve traveled internationally or are from another country doesn’t make you culturally competent.

In this episode, Sal connects with expert Mary Beth Lamb to discuss the importance of cross-cultural competence when navigating the chaos and constant change associated with global business.

Overcoming Executive Loneliness

In this very important episode about executive loneliness, Sal Silvester interviews Nick Jonsson. Nick is a CEO, entrepreneur, and author of the book "Executive Loneliness." With over 25 years of experience leading successful businesses, Nick is no stranger to the unique pressures and expectations placed on executives. Through personal anecdotes, research, and interviews with other executives, Nick delves into the often-overlooked issue of executive loneliness and disconnection. In today's episode, we'll explore the topic of executive loneliness and talk about actionable steps for executives looking to overcome feelings of isolation and how to build more meaningful connections in their personal and professional lives.

Season 6 Podcast Opener: Cultivating High-Performing Executive Teams in a Complex World

Sal Silvester, host and executive producer, kicks off Season 6 of the Future of Leadership As our world continues to face geopolitical challenges, stubborn inflationary conditions, and more complexity, organizational culture will matter more than ever.

 

The theme for this season is how to create healthy, aligned, and more human teams at the top, including executive teams, senior leadership teams, and extended leadership teams. Why? Because a high-performing executive team is a CEO's greatest asset in addressing the challenges and opportunities that are in front of us.

 

This season is going to provide you with practical and actionable tools and best practices, covering topics such as:

• executive loneliness
• cross-cultural competence on global leadership teams
• psychological safety, and more.

With almost every episode, we’ll have a framework or a toolkit that you’ll have access to so that you can immediately apply the concepts that we discussed in the episode to your work. Additionally, our blog posts at 512solutions.com will provide further content and resources to help solidify your learning.