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<v Speaker 1>Helping leaders motivate their people to a higher level of

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<v Speaker 1>performance through strong human relations, team building, and goalaiving. This

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<v Speaker 1>is the seven Minute Leadership Podcast with your host Paul Felloaledo.

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<v Speaker 2>Hello everyone, and welcome to this seven minute leadership podcast.

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<v Speaker 2>It's episode two ninety two. Today we're talking about one

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<v Speaker 2>of the most powerful assets that a leader can possess,

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<v Speaker 2>and that's knowledge. Not just technical knowledge, but an ongoing

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<v Speaker 2>commitment to learning, staying ahead, and using that knowledge to

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<v Speaker 2>lead effectively. If you want to be a successful leader,

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<v Speaker 2>you have to treat knowledge as your ultimate tool. So

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<v Speaker 2>let's break this down into three key areas. Knowing your industry,

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<v Speaker 2>knowing your people, and knowing yourself. So no matter what

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<v Speaker 2>field you work in, things are constantly evolving. In ems,

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<v Speaker 2>for example, new protocols, equipment, and legislation can change how

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<v Speaker 2>we operate. If you're leading an ambulance service and you're

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<v Speaker 2>unaware of upcoming regulatory changes, you could find yourself blindsided,

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<v Speaker 2>struggling to comply while other services, or worse, your regulators

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<v Speaker 2>call you out for not keeping up. So here's a

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<v Speaker 2>real example. In Pennsylvania, recent changes to medicaid reimbursement models

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<v Speaker 2>have altered how ambulance services are reimbursed. A leader who

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<v Speaker 2>stays informed, reads industry updates, and connects with policymakers can

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<v Speaker 2>anticipate these changes, adjust billing strategies, and ensure the organization

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<v Speaker 2>stays financially stable. Meanwhile, another leader who ignores these updates

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<v Speaker 2>is suddenly scrambling to figure out why revenue has dropped

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<v Speaker 2>and why they're losing money. The same principle applies to industry.

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<v Speaker 2>If you're running a business and don't stay informed about

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<v Speaker 2>emerging technologies, shifting customer expectations, or economic trends, you're leading blindly.

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<v Speaker 2>As leaders, we have to read, listen to our industry experts,

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<v Speaker 2>and continuously educate ourselves. Knowledge is the tool that prevents

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<v Speaker 2>us from becoming obsolete. Next is knowing your people. A

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<v Speaker 2>leader who lacks knowledge of their team is like a

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<v Speaker 2>coach who doesn't know their players' strengths and weaknesses. You

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<v Speaker 2>can't make informed decisions if you don't know what motivates

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<v Speaker 2>your employees, what challenges they're facing, or what skills that

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<v Speaker 2>they bring to the table. So consider this scenario. You

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<v Speaker 2>have an employee who is struggling with their performance. A

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<v Speaker 2>surface level leader might assume they're lazy or unmotivated and

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<v Speaker 2>consider replacing them. But a knowledgeable leader digs deeper. Maybe

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<v Speaker 2>that employee has been picking up extra shifts to help

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<v Speaker 2>at home with a sick family member, maybe they haven't

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<v Speaker 2>received proper training on a new system, or maybe their

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<v Speaker 2>strengths are simply better suited for a different role. At

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<v Speaker 2>my company, we've categorized employees into three groups, probationary, transitional,

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<v Speaker 2>and cornerstone employees. Understanding where each person stands in their

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<v Speaker 2>career path helps us make better leadership decisions. We recognize

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<v Speaker 2>our cornerstone employees for their commitment and reliability, while also

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<v Speaker 2>finding ways to develop and retain our transitional employees before

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<v Speaker 2>they may move on to a higher level of education

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<v Speaker 2>or move out of state. The best leaders don't just

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<v Speaker 2>issue orders. They observe, ask questions, and gain knowledge about

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<v Speaker 2>their teams so that they can make informed, effective decisions.

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<v Speaker 2>And last is knowing yourself. This is the final piece

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<v Speaker 2>of the discussion, and it's the most personal one. I

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<v Speaker 2>know your industry and your people, but if you don't

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<v Speaker 2>understand yourself, you're missing a critical element of leadership. Think

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<v Speaker 2>about some of the best leaders that you've worked with.

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<v Speaker 2>They have self awareness. They know their strengths, their weaknesses,

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<v Speaker 2>and how they come across to others. They seek feedback

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<v Speaker 2>and they adjust accordingly. Now, think about the worst leaders.

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<v Speaker 2>These are the ones who don't listen, who refuse to

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<v Speaker 2>acknowledge mistakes, and who let their ego dictate their decisions.

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<v Speaker 2>A lack of self awareness leads to poor leadership, broken relationships,

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<v Speaker 2>and ultimately failure. And I'll give you a personal example.

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<v Speaker 2>Early in my leadership career, I was so focused on

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<v Speaker 2>operational efficiency that I didn't always prioritize communication. I assumed

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<v Speaker 2>that as long as things were running smoothly, my team

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<v Speaker 2>would be on board. And I was wrong. People felt

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<v Speaker 2>left out of decisions, morale dipped, and trust a road in.

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<v Speaker 2>I had to step back and recognize my blind spot.

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<v Speaker 2>From that moment on, I committed to improving how I

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<v Speaker 2>communicate and ensuring that my team feels informed and valued.

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<v Speaker 2>Self knowledge is a leader's safeguard against arrogance and complacency.

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<v Speaker 2>It allows us to grow, improve, and truly lead with wisdom.

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<v Speaker 2>So let's put this all together. How do you make

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<v Speaker 2>knowledge your ultimate tool? Make learning a habit? Read industry news,

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<v Speaker 2>attend conferences, join leadership groups, and never stop seeking knowledge

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<v Speaker 2>and get to know your team. Have real conversations, observe

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<v Speaker 2>their work and understand what makes them tick, and be

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<v Speaker 2>honest with yourself. Ask for feedback, reflect on your strengths

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<v Speaker 2>and weaknesses, and commit to continuous self improvement. The leaders

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<v Speaker 2>who succeed long term are the ones who embrace knowledge

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<v Speaker 2>as their most powerful tool. They don't just react, they

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<v Speaker 2>don't assume, They ask, and they don't stagnate. They grow.

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<v Speaker 2>Before I walk into work in the morning, I already

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<v Speaker 2>know the top news stories of the day in anything

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<v Speaker 2>relevant to my industry. Google alerts is a great thing

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<v Speaker 2>to set up if you want to be in the

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<v Speaker 2>know when you walk into work. Don't be the last

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<v Speaker 2>to know, be the first to know. This has been

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<v Speaker 2>the seven minute Leadership podcast and I thank you for listening.

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<v Speaker 1>For more Paul Fell of Alito Podcasts, visit paulfellowalito dot com.