1st Lead U - Leadership Development
This podcast, now in Season 3, is dedicated to self-development, self-awareness, and learning to lead oneself so listeners can lead others well. If someone cannot lead themselves well, it will be difficult for them to be an effective leader of others. This podcast will help listeners understand what it means to 1st Lead U and build confidence in themselves and their leadership ability. Personal Growth Coach John Ballinger has spent 35 years developing the knowledge and material he shares with individuals, business owners, and leaders from a variety of areas.
Episodes
84 episodes
Training - Everyone Needs It to Succeed - CHART Ep 329
Part of the leadership gap facing society today is as much a teaching gap as it is a lack of communication gap. In this episode we discuss how training, grounded in assessments and tailored to learning styles, turns strategy into outcomes. We s...
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Episode 329
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32:19
Results Require Intentional Communication - CHART - Ep 328
We push past platitudes to the final R—RESULTS—tying identity, emotional intelligence, and clear “turn signals” to real execution. From apprenticeships to role‑flexing, we lay out practical ways to set goals, shift direction without whiplash, a...
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Season 3
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Episode 328
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38:18
Relationships Revisited - Selfless Leaders Wanted: No Reset Button for Real Relationships - CHART Ep 327
A leadership crisis is unfolding across America, and at its heart lies our collective inability to form and maintain meaningful relationships. In this raw, unscripted conversation, John Ballinger and Douglas Ford revisit the foundational elemen...
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38:21
Bouncing Back: The Art of Resilient Leadership - CHART - EP 326
Resilience is a critical component of leadership, defined as the ability to adapt to stressors while maintaining psychological well-being in the face of adversity. John and Douglas discuss practical approaches to developing this essential leade...
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Season 3
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Episode 326
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35:18
Respect: The Missing Element in Modern Leadership - CHART - Ep 325
The respect deficit in American leadership has reached crisis proportions, with a staggering 83% of workers feeling disengaged and disrespected. This episode dives deep into why respect has eroded so dramatically in our society and what we can ...
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Season 3
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Episode 325
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35:41
Breaking the Cheerleadership Trap: How True Leaders Build Authentic Connections through RELATIONSHIP - CHART - Ep 324
Leadership revelations can strike like lightning after years in darkness. This episode shares the powerful moment when a mid-level manager finally realized his fundamental leadership mistake: "I pulled my people along instead of leading them. I...
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Season 3
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Episode 324
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40:10
The Untapped Power of Appreciation in Leadership - C.H.A.R.T - Ep 322
Genuine appreciation from leaders creates confidence, boosts morale, and improves team performance in organizations. Leaders who demonstrate care through their actions and decisions build stronger, more loyal teams who feel valued and perform a...
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Season 3
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Episode 322
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34:02
The Approachable Leader - C.H.A.R.T. - Ep 321
Is your leadership style creating barriers rather than bridges? In this compelling episode of 1st Lead U, we unpack the critical yet often overlooked leadership trait of approachability. Through a revealing exploration of workforce...
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36:48
Becoming Adept at Adapting: The Secret Sauce of Leadership - C.H.A.R.T. Ep 320
Understanding adaptability and the brain's role in leadership provides critical insights for developing more flexible and responsive leadership approaches. Leadership effectiveness requires cognitive and emotional flexibility that stems f...
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Season 3
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Episode 320
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46:59
Awareness: Why 85% of Leaders Fail the Awareness Test - -C.H.A.R.T. - Ep 319
Awareness forms the foundation for effective leadership, with self-awareness being the most difficult yet crucial leadership skill to master. • Emotional intelligence assessments reveal most leaders score in the 60s (D range) for s...
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Season 3
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Episode 319
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34:23
Defragging Your Brain - Revisited from Season 1 - EP 318
Building mental capacity as a leader requires understanding how our brains process information and identifying the challenges that fragment our thinking and slow down our decision-making processes. • Our brains are like computers t...
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36:05
A conversation with Dr. Tyler Roger - EP 317
Leadership is about recognizing when decisions need to be made and taking action, not necessarily being the smartest person in the room or having all the answers. Dr. Tyler Rogers, a therapist at Scout Counseling, shares insights on leadership ...
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Season 3
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Episode 317
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39:09
The Origin Story Revisited - Ep 313
Welcome to the origin story of 1st Lead U, where hosts John Ballinger and Douglas Ford explore why America faces a leadership crisis and how personal development creates the foundation for professional success. This encore presentation revisits...
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Season 3
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Episode 313
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31:51
We are Human - CHART - Ep 312
Leadership starts with acknowledging the humanity in ourselves and others. True leaders understand that respecting people as individuals with unique needs, challenges, and strengths creates stronger organizations.• The four H's of leade...
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Season 3
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Episode 312
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35:23
The Counselor - Demonstrating Care and Concern as you CHART a new path to Leadership - Ep 310
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Season 3
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Episode 310
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35:54
Clint Powell: Comfort is the Enemy of Growth - Ep 308
Discipline doesn't come naturally. In our fast-paced lives, we rarely pause to create intentional disciplines for ourselves—especially when comfort feels so appealing. But as entrepreneur and professional podcaster Clint Powell reveals in this ...
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Season 3
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Episode 308
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41:39
The Cop: Balancing Authority and Leadership - CHART - Ep 307
The second episode in our CHARTing a New Path to Leadership series explores the "Cop" role – one of our four essential C's of leadership alongside Coach, Commander, and Counselor.The misuse of authority is one of leadership's most destru...
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Season 3
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Episode 307
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25:41