Speaker 1: Helping leaders motivate their people to a higher level of
Speaker 1: performance through strong human relations, team building, and goalaiving. This
Speaker 1: is the seven Minute Leadership Podcast with your host Paul Felloaledo.
Speaker 2: Hello everyone, and welcome to this seven minute leadership podcast.
Speaker 2: It's episode two ninety two. Today we're talking about one
Speaker 2: of the most powerful assets that a leader can possess,
Speaker 2: and that's knowledge. Not just technical knowledge, but an ongoing
Speaker 2: commitment to learning, staying ahead, and using that knowledge to
Speaker 2: lead effectively. If you want to be a successful leader,
Speaker 2: you have to treat knowledge as your ultimate tool. So
Speaker 2: let's break this down into three key areas. Knowing your industry,
Speaker 2: knowing your people, and knowing yourself. So no matter what
Speaker 2: field you work in, things are constantly evolving. In ems,
Speaker 2: for example, new protocols, equipment, and legislation can change how
Speaker 2: we operate. If you're leading an ambulance service and you're
Speaker 2: unaware of upcoming regulatory changes, you could find yourself blindsided,
Speaker 2: struggling to comply while other services, or worse, your regulators
Speaker 2: call you out for not keeping up. So here's a
Speaker 2: real example. In Pennsylvania, recent changes to medicaid reimbursement models
Speaker 2: have altered how ambulance services are reimbursed. A leader who
Speaker 2: stays informed, reads industry updates, and connects with policymakers can
Speaker 2: anticipate these changes, adjust billing strategies, and ensure the organization
Speaker 2: stays financially stable. Meanwhile, another leader who ignores these updates
Speaker 2: is suddenly scrambling to figure out why revenue has dropped
Speaker 2: and why they're losing money. The same principle applies to industry.
Speaker 2: If you're running a business and don't stay informed about
Speaker 2: emerging technologies, shifting customer expectations, or economic trends, you're leading blindly.
Speaker 2: As leaders, we have to read, listen to our industry experts,
Speaker 2: and continuously educate ourselves. Knowledge is the tool that prevents
Speaker 2: us from becoming obsolete. Next is knowing your people. A
Speaker 2: leader who lacks knowledge of their team is like a
Speaker 2: coach who doesn't know their players' strengths and weaknesses. You
Speaker 2: can't make informed decisions if you don't know what motivates
Speaker 2: your employees, what challenges they're facing, or what skills that
Speaker 2: they bring to the table. So consider this scenario. You
Speaker 2: have an employee who is struggling with their performance. A
Speaker 2: surface level leader might assume they're lazy or unmotivated and
Speaker 2: consider replacing them. But a knowledgeable leader digs deeper. Maybe
Speaker 2: that employee has been picking up extra shifts to help
Speaker 2: at home with a sick family member, maybe they haven't
Speaker 2: received proper training on a new system, or maybe their
Speaker 2: strengths are simply better suited for a different role. At
Speaker 2: my company, we've categorized employees into three groups, probationary, transitional,
Speaker 2: and cornerstone employees. Understanding where each person stands in their
Speaker 2: career path helps us make better leadership decisions. We recognize
Speaker 2: our cornerstone employees for their commitment and reliability, while also
Speaker 2: finding ways to develop and retain our transitional employees before
Speaker 2: they may move on to a higher level of education
Speaker 2: or move out of state. The best leaders don't just
Speaker 2: issue orders. They observe, ask questions, and gain knowledge about
Speaker 2: their teams so that they can make informed, effective decisions.
Speaker 2: And last is knowing yourself. This is the final piece
Speaker 2: of the discussion, and it's the most personal one. I
Speaker 2: know your industry and your people, but if you don't
Speaker 2: understand yourself, you're missing a critical element of leadership. Think
Speaker 2: about some of the best leaders that you've worked with.
Speaker 2: They have self awareness. They know their strengths, their weaknesses,
Speaker 2: and how they come across to others. They seek feedback
Speaker 2: and they adjust accordingly. Now, think about the worst leaders.
Speaker 2: These are the ones who don't listen, who refuse to
Speaker 2: acknowledge mistakes, and who let their ego dictate their decisions.
Speaker 2: A lack of self awareness leads to poor leadership, broken relationships,
Speaker 2: and ultimately failure. And I'll give you a personal example.
Speaker 2: Early in my leadership career, I was so focused on
Speaker 2: operational efficiency that I didn't always prioritize communication. I assumed
Speaker 2: that as long as things were running smoothly, my team
Speaker 2: would be on board. And I was wrong. People felt
Speaker 2: left out of decisions, morale dipped, and trust a road in.
Speaker 2: I had to step back and recognize my blind spot.
Speaker 2: From that moment on, I committed to improving how I
Speaker 2: communicate and ensuring that my team feels informed and valued.
Speaker 2: Self knowledge is a leader's safeguard against arrogance and complacency.
Speaker 2: It allows us to grow, improve, and truly lead with wisdom.
Speaker 2: So let's put this all together. How do you make
Speaker 2: knowledge your ultimate tool? Make learning a habit? Read industry news,
Speaker 2: attend conferences, join leadership groups, and never stop seeking knowledge
Speaker 2: and get to know your team. Have real conversations, observe
Speaker 2: their work and understand what makes them tick, and be
Speaker 2: honest with yourself. Ask for feedback, reflect on your strengths
Speaker 2: and weaknesses, and commit to continuous self improvement. The leaders
Speaker 2: who succeed long term are the ones who embrace knowledge
Speaker 2: as their most powerful tool. They don't just react, they
Speaker 2: don't assume, They ask, and they don't stagnate. They grow.
Speaker 2: Before I walk into work in the morning, I already
Speaker 2: know the top news stories of the day in anything
Speaker 2: relevant to my industry. Google alerts is a great thing
Speaker 2: to set up if you want to be in the
Speaker 2: know when you walk into work. Don't be the last
Speaker 2: to know, be the first to know. This has been
Speaker 2: the seven minute Leadership podcast and I thank you for listening.
Speaker 1: For more Paul Fell of Alito Podcasts, visit paulfellowalito dot com.