A CONVERSATION WITH BRAD LOMENICK

My friend Brad Lomenick recently released a new book titled, H3 Leadership: Be Humble. Stay Hungry. Always Hustle. I asked him a few questions about the book, and most importantly all he’s learned about leading over the years.

Michael: Give us a quick overview of the book.

Brad: H3 Leadership is an application driven, practical leadership book that provides much needed guidance on how to not only run, but finish well in the leadership race. Breaking down the “what” and “how daily leadership habits and routines that will awaken and transform the way you lead.

Based on over a decade of work with Catalyst and the gathered insights of some of America’s most respected leaders from wide ranging fields, H3 Leadership will teach and train you to be a better, stronger and ultimately a more effective leader.

M: You’re honest about how you’ve led, which is refreshing. Why did you include so much about, frankly, what you feel like you did wrong?

B: It was important to me to shoot really straight in this book. The very nature of this book required a bit more transparency. But I would also say that I believe the leaders who will have the most influence and impact are the ones who are willing to be vulnerable and talk openly about their struggles and failures.

And that’s a hard thing for a lot of leaders to do. Many times, when we get to a point where other people are listening to us, and we've got something to manage - something to lose - we sort of go into the default mode of “Okay, make sure everything looks perfect.”

Today, people crave authenticity. This need has even influenced the way we shop and purchase our products from organizations. Today, customers buy from those we feel are trustworthy. Equally, we want to invest in people and companies that we can trust, not necessarily because they’re well known or largest or leaders in their industry.

It's one thing to tell others to be willing to share struggles and to talk about failures. It's another thing to say, “Here's what I've failed at.” I think it's important for people to realize this is an ongoing journey.

M: One of your most powerful ideas in the book is about creativity? You argue that it’s not something some people are just born with- that it’s a habit that can be developed. When did you realize this?

B: It became really clear to me while leading creative - and by creatives, I mean people responsible for innovation and brainstorming and thinking outside the box - that many of us are asked to lead those kinds of teams, and we sense pretty quickly that that's not the way we're wired.

Most of the time, creativity and innovation come out of a process, and the process is what actually allows a truly creative idea to emerge. It’s important for leaders to realize that they don't have to be the smartest person, the most creative, or an exceptionally innovative thinker.

What they have to be willing to do is to allow the process to define how creativity happens. It takes patience. It takes a culture that says we're willing to wait on something. It takes leaders who are willing to say, “We're going to let that stew for a while.”

M: You say innovation should be a habit, and that leaders should be change agents. Why is innovation - specifically, continuous, persistent innovation - so important for leaders?

B: Innovation is pushing yourself. When I say change agent, I’m referring to someone who is not just willing to put up with change, but someone who’s willing to embrace it. They see change as a friend and recognize that without change, things die.

Innovation is all about being intentional. It takes courage, stamina, and spark to be intentional, but it also takes failure. You have to know that you’re going to fail, over and over again.

We tend to automatically associate innovation with creativity - and that’s not wrong. It does require creativity. But it’s more about intentionality - the mindset of constantly pursuing something better, of pushing the boundaries and never sitting still. Healthy things grow, and growth requires change.

M: What does the world need most from leaders today?

B: I think the most important thing for leaders today is to understand their individual identity and calling, and to be authentic. We don’t need perfect leaders. We need realness over relevancy. That’s the good news. The pressure is really off if leaders are willing to lead from their authentic selves. There's such a hunger for realness today. If you're willing to embrace that, people will follow you.

_________________________________

Brad Lomenick is a renowned speaker, sought-after leadership consultant, author and longtime president of Catalyst, largely credited with growing the organization into one of the largest and most recognized leadership brand and gathering that it is today. For over 10 years, Brad led the Catalyst Conference and garnered the reputation as a convener of America’s most respected leaders including John Maxwell, Jim Collins, Malcolm Gladwell, Seth Godin, Mark Burnett, Tony Dungy, Marcus Buckingham and Rick Warren, among many others. In 2013, he published his first book, The Catalyst Leader, and his second book, H3 Leadership: Be Humble. Stay Hungry. Always Hustle., released in September of 2015. A prolific content creator, for eight years Brad hosted the Catalyst Podcast, interviewing change makers from across the globe and attracting hundreds of thousands of listeners per month. Additionally, he frequently blogs about leadership, the next generation, creativity, innovation, social media, teamwork, personal growth, and more on his website. He has been featured in TIME, Washington Post, Fast Company, Business Insider, CNN.com, Religion News Service, and others. For more information, visit bradlomenick.com