What happens when you combine vulnerability, authenticity, and leadership? Magic. In our heartfelt and powerful conversation, I welcome Mike Robbins, a sought-after author, global speaker, and expert on leadership, teamwork, and communication. Mike shares his journey from a professional baseball career cut short by injury to becoming a leading voice on authenticity and connection in the workplace. We acknowledge Landmark Education, where we met and talked about some of the most important things in leadership. Get ready to dive into Mike’s “Authenticity Equation” (honesty minus self-righteousness plus vulnerability) and learn how to build trust, navigate challenging conversations, and foster collaboration on your team. Whether you’re a CEO, entrepreneur, or someone striving for deeper human connections, this episode is packed with actionable insights and heartfelt advice. Love the episode? Don’t forget to: ✔️ Subscribe to Live Like a Leader ⭐ Leave a 5-star review – it helps us reach more leaders like you! 🔗 Share this episode with a colleague or friend who needs to hear it.
Key Takeaways:
Addressing Polarization in Leadership and Society:
Mike and John discuss the challenges of navigating today’s polarized world and how leaders can foster authentic dialogue. From national conversations to corporate boardrooms, they emphasize the importance of listening and creating space for diverse perspectives. Mike shares his belief that while disagreements are natural, mutual understanding and connection are possible when we approach each other with curiosity, humility, and vulnerability.
Key Insight: "Most of the things we take personally aren’t personal. If we can approach conversations with the intention to understand rather than to convince, we open the door to authentic and meaningful connections."
Quotable Moments:
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Mike Robbins is the author of five books, Focus on the Good Stuff, Be Yourself Everyone Else is Already Taken, Nothing Changes Until You Do, Bring Your Whole Self to Work, and We're All in This Together, which have been translated into fifteen different languages.
As an expert in teamwork, leadership, and emotional intelligence, Mike delivers keynotes and seminars (both in-person and virtually) that empower people, leaders, and teams to engage in their work, collaborate, and perform at their best. Through his speeches, seminars, consulting, and writing, Mike teaches important techniques that allow individuals and organizations to be more appreciative, authentic, and effective.
His clients include: Google, Wells Fargo, Microsoft, Walmart, Schwab, LinkedIn, Deloitte, the U.S. Department of Labor, Gap, Harvard University, Coca-Cola, Disney, Chevron, eBay, Kaiser, Airbnb, UC Berkeley, the NBA, Pixar, Genentech, Adobe, the Oakland A's, and many others. Mike is a member of the National Speakers Association and is one of less than 10% of the professional speakers in the world to have earned the prestigious Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation from the National Speakers Association.
He has been featured on NPR, ABC News, the Oprah radio network, and in the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, the New York Times, the Economist, the Wall Street Journal, and many others. He was a regular contributor to Forbes and is the creator and host of the popular podcast, We're All In This Together.