I have a short but sweet episode to offer this week - as I recount an incredibly formative experience at 16 when I made a mistake during a traffic report and was rather harshly reprimanded by the station's general manager. The manager yelled at me on-air, berating me for mentioning an accident near a major sponsor's location, despite the fact that I was merely trying to provide helpful info to listeners!
This has really left a lasting impact on me, teaching me the damaging effects of yelling and public humiliation. Listen in as I reflect on how the manager's aggressive response shut down any opportunity for me to learn and improve, instead instilling in me fear and a desire to simply avoid drawing attention. I contrast this with the approach of my much more effective program director, who provided coaching via thoughtful questions rather than angry outbursts, which truly highlights how leaders can create an environment of trust and growth vs. one of compliance out of fear.
As an accidental leader myself now, I highlight the importance of self-reflection, considering times when we've been on the receiving end of such harsh treatment and ensuring that we don't repeat those mistakes with our own teams. I challenge you to have the courage to acknowledge and apologize for past failures because the ultimate lesson is that true leadership is about empowering and developing people, not dominating through fear!
Time Stamps:
[01:46] - I was thrilled to be on air at 16 until being yelled at by my general manager crushed me.
[04:49] - Instead of guidance, I received rage, causing me to learn to fear mistakes and play it safe.
[07:37] - Yelling ultimately silences teams, killing creativity and teaching them to shrink rather than to grow.
[09:42] - Frustration should prompt curiosity, not criticism; it's important to ask questions before assuming that someone knew better.
[11:58] - Thanks to my mentor John Davison, I learned that trust and growth thrive under guidance.
[13:39] - Reflecting on how we felt being yelled at can help reveal how easily we may hurt others the same way.
[15:18] - I know that this is a short episode, but this particular topic was on my mind!
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