Growth Alliance Newsletter

Today the book opens for pre-order. And one thing your best people are watching for.

Seeing your best people is a discipline, not a feeling. It’s one of seven in Before It Breaks, the book that names what separates leaders who retain strong people from those who lose them. Pre-order at https://go.lodenleadership.com/Before_It_Breaks_Pre-Order and  receive the Before It Breaks resource bundle and the companion workbook plus a seat at the live Seven Pillars in Practice masterclass on July 14.

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Growth Alliance Newsletter

The feedback you’re avoiding is the most important investment you haven’t made.

Every leader has a list.

Not a written one. The one that exists in the back of their awareness. The conversations that need to happen and haven’t. The feedback that is overdue. The standard that has been slipping and hasn’t been named directly.

Most leaders are aware of every item on that list. They can tell you exactly who needs to hear what, and roughly how long it has been waiting.

What they cannot always tell you is why they haven’t had the conversation yet.

The answers they give are usually practical. The timing isn’t right. Things are busy. The relationship is at a delicate point. There’s a lot going on for that person right now.

All of those things may be true. None of them is the real reason.

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Growth Alliance Newsletter

What your team does when you’re not in the room is the real measure of what you’ve built.

This is where the difference between a leader-dependent team and a trust-built team becomes visible. Because a leader-dependent team performs when the leader is present. They wait for direction. They check decisions before making them. They manage up more than they manage the work. Remove the leader from the equation, even temporarily, and performance either stalls or drifts.

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Growth Alliance Newsletter

The silence after a hard decision is never empty. Your team fills it with whatever they already fear.

This is where the difference between a leader-dependent team and a trust-built team becomes visible. Because a leader-dependent team performs when the leader is present. They wait for direction. They check decisions before making them. They manage up more than they manage the work. Remove the leader from the equation, even temporarily, and performance either stalls or drifts.

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Growth Alliance Newsletter

The leaders your team trusts most are rarely the ones with the perfect record.

Most leaders believe trust is earned through exceptional performance. The big win. The turnaround. The quarter where everything went right.

That belief is understandable. It is also wrong.

Trust is not built in the exceptional moments. It is built in the ordinary ones. The Tuesday morning you show up the same way you did on Monday. The commitment you keep when keeping it is inconvenient. The standard you hold when holding it costs you something, and nobody would have noticed if you let it go.

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"Working with Dr. Loden throughout the years I have been afforded the skillset to better mediate and resolve employee conflict"
Vincent McLemore
Human Resources Director - Elite Advanced Polymers

Your First Superintendent Contract Sets the Trajectory — Not Just the Terms

Growth Alliance Newsletter

The deeper truth is this: board–CEO relationships aren’t built on policy manuals alone. They’re built on trust, emotional intelligence, and alignment of purpose wit Gearl Loden and Loden LeadershipToday, Let’s Explore: Contract Season Isn’t About What You Want. It’s About What the Company/District Needs Next.

Today, Let’s Explore: The Power of Feedback

Gearl Loden and Loden Leadership Discusses Harvard Business Review reports that teams receiving weekly feedback show 5.2x higher engagement levels than those who receive it once a year or less. But the real secret isn’t just timing—it’s creating feedback that feels like a partnership in vision, not a correction of tasks

Gearl Loden and Loden Leadership Discusses Harvard Business Review reports that teams receiving weekly feedback show 5.2x higher engagement levels than those who receive it once a year or less. But the real secret isn’t just timing—it’s creating feedback that feels like a partnership in vision, not a correction of tasks

Focus on What Matters for Results

Gearl Loden and Loden Leadership Discusses Harvard Business Review reports that teams receiving weekly feedback show 5.2x higher engagement levels than those who receive it once a year or less. But the real secret isn’t just timing—it’s creating feedback that feels like a partnership in vision, not a correction of tasks

What Is the Platinum Rule?
We’ve all heard of the Golden Rule: Treat others the way you want to be treated. It’s a timeless principle found across cultures and religions.
But leadership calls us to go further with the Platinum Rule: Treat others the way they want to be treated.

Negotiation Lessons from Shearing Sheep

The Leadership Lesson in Sheep Shearing
Imagine standing before a sheep, ready to shear it. You aim to collect the wool, knowing it will grow back, but you’re careful not to harm the sheep. This balance mirrors effective negotiation—you want to secure your win, but you also want the other party to leave the table ready to work with you again in the future. It’s about sustainability, not exploitation. Leaders thrive when they master the art of creating mutual value.

Mastering Leadership Transitions: Defining Reality and Shaping Organizational Culture

In our last post, we explored how defining reality is a crucial first step in leadership transitions. Today, we’re building on that foundation by diving into how perception and culture shape your success as a leader.
Leadership transitions build on the foundation of understanding reality—an exciting yet challenging milestone that tests your ability to adapt and inspire. I remember navigating one early in my career—the lessons I learned were invaluable.

What are ways to develop business leadership skills?

Unlocking the secrets to successful business leadership, this article taps into the wisdom of industry veterans. Learn practical strategies and actionable advice to hone your leadership skills, directly from those who have paved the way. These insights are essential for anyone looking to strengthen their leadership abilities and advance their career.

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Ready to take the next step in leadership or organizational growth? Schedule your free consultation with Dr. Loden today and discover how his expertise can support your goals.