What does leadership look like in an age of rapid technological change?
In this episode, Denis interviews David G. Ewing about his journey of founding his company, Motiv, to becoming the president of EO, Austin. David shares the invaluable lessons he learned early on about the gap between leadership theory and practice. This teaching shaped his approach in learning from failures and continuously evolving.
Denis and David discuss the importance of an inner locus of control, integrity, and the idea of nurturing future leaders. Despite the rise of technologies like AI and tools, David firmly believes in the irreplaceable human touch in leadership—vision, imagination, and the power to inspire. He ends by urging individuals to be proactive in their careers, emphasizing that true leadership lies in empowering others.
In this episode:
- David shares his background, his journey to being the CEO of Motiv and Austin EO president.
- How EO plays a vital role in connecting entrepreneurs, fostering growth, and providing mutual learning opportunities.
- David discusses the transition from high school to college and the chance to make different leadership choices early on.
- Leaders are shaped, not born; It’s a journey of growth and learning from mistakes.
- David shares the leaders he looks up to most and what he would ask a them if he had the chance to sit with them.
- David shares insights on the increasing external locus of control in society and the challenges it poses for leaders.
- Addressing the topic of power dynamics, David highlights the importance of proving oneself as trustworthy and the need for patience in building relationships.
- The conversation shifts to the future of leadership, with David suggesting that leaders should focus on creating more leaders and emphasizing integrity and locus of control.
Main takeaways:
- At its core, the primary role of leadership is to develop more leaders, furthering the reach and impact of positive influence.
- Changing a customer's attitude is key to influencing their behavior and achieving desired results.
- Early failures can be foundational in shaping a leader's journey and evolution.
- True leaders have the ability to let go of past mistakes, enabling them to take fresh approaches.
- Leadership demands continuous learning, self-forgiveness, and the courage to move past failures.
- Recognize the importance of an internal locus of control, where individuals believe they have the power to shape their destiny.
- The true mark of leadership is not retaining every individual but in developing them, even if they might eventually leave.
- In an automated world, a leader's true strength lies in their capacity to envision and inspire.
- Being genuine and having a clear, compelling purpose for a team is more motivating than mere profit goals.
- Leaders should always aim to develop more leaders rather than mere followers.
- The future will emphasize on nurturing leadership qualities in others and ensuring a strong sense of direction and integrity.
Quotes:
“We believe that customers have a choice about the attitude they take to anything that happens. If you can first change their attitude, then you'll change their behavior." – David G. Ewing
“The idea of letting your past go is a prerequisite for good leadership.” – David G. Ewing
"There are some parts of leadership that will always be the same. Human nature will always be the same, but the conditions under which everybody is involved are changing enough." – David G. Ewing
"Our role as leaders is to develop other people for the future. Just like...
