WEBVTT

1
00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:06.960
<v Speaker 1>Helping leaders motivate their people to a higher level of

2
00:00:06.960 --> 00:00:11.080
<v Speaker 1>performance through strong human relations, team building, and goal achieving.

3
00:00:11.519 --> 00:00:14.919
<v Speaker 1>This is the seven Minute Leadership Podcast with your host

4
00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:16.359
<v Speaker 1>Paul Felloledo.

5
00:00:21.079 --> 00:00:24.879
<v Speaker 2>Hello everyone, and welcome to this seven minute leadership podcast.

6
00:00:24.920 --> 00:00:28.920
<v Speaker 2>It's episode four point thirty one, and let's flip the

7
00:00:29.079 --> 00:00:35.399
<v Speaker 2>script for this episode. Today we're talking about the reverse interview,

8
00:00:35.679 --> 00:00:40.600
<v Speaker 2>a leadership move that takes guts, humility, and a whole

9
00:00:40.640 --> 00:00:44.399
<v Speaker 2>lot of trust. Here's the concept. Instead of you doing

10
00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:49.600
<v Speaker 2>all the asking, directing, and leading, what if just once

11
00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:53.119
<v Speaker 2>you handed the mic to your employees and said you

12
00:00:53.159 --> 00:00:59.640
<v Speaker 2>interview me. Sounds crazy, maybe sounds risky, absolutely, but done right,

13
00:00:59.719 --> 00:01:04.239
<v Speaker 2>it's one of the most powerful ways to build real trust. Speak,

14
00:01:04.799 --> 00:01:08.680
<v Speaker 2>open dialogue, and show your team that leadership isn't about

15
00:01:08.799 --> 00:01:13.719
<v Speaker 2>hiding behind a title. It's about showing up with honesty, transparency,

16
00:01:14.359 --> 00:01:17.760
<v Speaker 2>and accountability. So let me break this down. Why do

17
00:01:17.840 --> 00:01:21.519
<v Speaker 2>we want to flip the script? As leaders? We often

18
00:01:21.560 --> 00:01:26.079
<v Speaker 2>hold the spotlight. We run the meetings, we ask the questions,

19
00:01:26.599 --> 00:01:30.159
<v Speaker 2>we set the tone. But what happens when the spotlight

20
00:01:30.280 --> 00:01:35.040
<v Speaker 2>turns around? You open the door for truth, connection, and

21
00:01:35.079 --> 00:01:40.120
<v Speaker 2>clarity Because your team already has questions. They wonder what

22
00:01:40.200 --> 00:01:44.480
<v Speaker 2>you really stand for, why you made that decision, what

23
00:01:44.519 --> 00:01:49.480
<v Speaker 2>your expectations are, what your non negotiables look like. They

24
00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:52.640
<v Speaker 2>wonder if you're even aware of the problems they're quietly

25
00:01:52.760 --> 00:01:56.879
<v Speaker 2>dealing with every day. The reverse interview doesn't just give

26
00:01:56.920 --> 00:02:01.040
<v Speaker 2>them permission to ask, It invites them to do it boldly,

27
00:02:01.519 --> 00:02:05.120
<v Speaker 2>and that changes everything. And here's what this looks like

28
00:02:05.280 --> 00:02:08.439
<v Speaker 2>in practice. You gather your team in a room or

29
00:02:08.520 --> 00:02:11.639
<v Speaker 2>maybe it's a one on one, and you say, today

30
00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:14.280
<v Speaker 2>I'm flipping the script. I want you to interview me,

31
00:02:14.680 --> 00:02:18.120
<v Speaker 2>no limits, no filters, ask me anything you've always wanted

32
00:02:18.159 --> 00:02:23.080
<v Speaker 2>to know about my leadership, my decisions, my expectations, or

33
00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:26.199
<v Speaker 2>what I'm currently working on. And then this is the

34
00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:29.560
<v Speaker 2>hard part. You have to shut up and listen, let

35
00:02:29.639 --> 00:02:34.759
<v Speaker 2>the silence hang, let the awkwardness bubble up, and then

36
00:02:35.240 --> 00:02:39.280
<v Speaker 2>watch the magic happen. Someone will ask something simple like

37
00:02:39.960 --> 00:02:43.120
<v Speaker 2>what keeps you up at night about this company? Or

38
00:02:43.159 --> 00:02:47.159
<v Speaker 2>what's the biggest mistake you've made as a leader. Then

39
00:02:47.199 --> 00:02:49.599
<v Speaker 2>someone else will follow with a deeper one. Do you

40
00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:53.280
<v Speaker 2>think you've built trust with this team? Now we're in it.

41
00:02:53.879 --> 00:02:57.240
<v Speaker 2>That's the real work. You don't have to script the

42
00:02:57.319 --> 00:03:01.080
<v Speaker 2>reverse interview. But here's a few questions that you hope

43
00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:04.120
<v Speaker 2>they ask, so be ready to answer them, because these

44
00:03:04.159 --> 00:03:07.759
<v Speaker 2>are the ones that build trust and challenge you to grow.

45
00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:11.879
<v Speaker 2>Why did you become a leader, what's the biggest leadership

46
00:03:11.960 --> 00:03:16.000
<v Speaker 2>mistake you've made? What's something about this job that scares you?

47
00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:20.560
<v Speaker 2>What do you expect from us really? What's one thing

48
00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:24.680
<v Speaker 2>you're actively trying to improve about yourself right now? And

49
00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:27.759
<v Speaker 2>have you ever been disappointed in our team? And if

50
00:03:27.800 --> 00:03:33.840
<v Speaker 2>so why? These are not lightweight questions. These are mirror moments,

51
00:03:34.520 --> 00:03:37.599
<v Speaker 2>and your answers tell your team exactly who you are.

52
00:03:38.280 --> 00:03:42.960
<v Speaker 2>Here's the return on this type of a bold move trust.

53
00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:46.520
<v Speaker 2>When your team hears you own your flaws and speak honestly,

54
00:03:46.879 --> 00:03:52.400
<v Speaker 2>they trust you more, not less. Clarity this process removes

55
00:03:52.439 --> 00:03:56.280
<v Speaker 2>the fog. It reveals what you're thinking and what you

56
00:03:56.319 --> 00:04:01.840
<v Speaker 2>actually expect. No guessing games and accountability. When you say

57
00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:04.919
<v Speaker 2>things out loud, like what you're working on or what

58
00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:10.360
<v Speaker 2>mistakes you've made, you create public accountability for your own growth.

59
00:04:11.039 --> 00:04:15.280
<v Speaker 2>It also sends this loud, clear message, I'm not hiding

60
00:04:15.360 --> 00:04:19.399
<v Speaker 2>behind my title. I'm right here in this with you.

61
00:04:20.439 --> 00:04:23.920
<v Speaker 2>So just to be clear, The reverse interview is not

62
00:04:24.040 --> 00:04:29.319
<v Speaker 2>a free for all. Here's some simple guardrails. Create a

63
00:04:29.360 --> 00:04:32.160
<v Speaker 2>safe space. Tell them no question is off limits, but

64
00:04:32.199 --> 00:04:36.000
<v Speaker 2>it must come from a place of growth, not gossip.

65
00:04:36.759 --> 00:04:41.800
<v Speaker 2>If it's a group, have someone moderate, don't interrupt or defend,

66
00:04:42.279 --> 00:04:47.120
<v Speaker 2>just listen and take notes, and after the interview thank them.

67
00:04:47.480 --> 00:04:49.720
<v Speaker 2>Follow up on key points. If you don't have an

68
00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:53.439
<v Speaker 2>answer in the moment, promise to get one and then

69
00:04:53.519 --> 00:04:58.360
<v Speaker 2>actually do it. And most importantly, don't retaliate. If someone

70
00:04:58.480 --> 00:05:02.399
<v Speaker 2>hits you with a hard truth, accept it as a gift,

71
00:05:03.199 --> 00:05:07.879
<v Speaker 2>not a threat. So the strongest leaders aren't the ones

72
00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:11.439
<v Speaker 2>with all the answers. They're the ones who are brave

73
00:05:11.639 --> 00:05:16.160
<v Speaker 2>enough to be asked the hard questions. So I challenge

74
00:05:16.199 --> 00:05:21.319
<v Speaker 2>you schedule your first reverse interview. You might be surprised

75
00:05:21.319 --> 00:05:25.000
<v Speaker 2>what you learn, not just about your team, but also

76
00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:30.800
<v Speaker 2>about yourself, because leadership isn't just about leading forward. Sometimes

77
00:05:31.160 --> 00:05:35.720
<v Speaker 2>it's about leaning back and letting others speak in to you.

78
00:05:36.800 --> 00:05:40.000
<v Speaker 2>This has been the seven minute Leadership podcast, and I

79
00:05:40.079 --> 00:05:41.079
<v Speaker 2>thank you for listening.

80
00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:46.120
<v Speaker 1>For more, Paul Fell of Alito Podcasts, visit paulfellowalito dot com.