The Craig And Greg Show: Good, Better, Best

October 10, 2024 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the audio-only version of this podcast by clicking on the player below, or scroll down to watch the video.

It’s good to be good, but good is never great. As leaders we have to consciously work to avoid the trap of good. Join Greg and me as we discuss how to make your good better, and your better best.

  • [0:15] I share a poem my grandma taught me. 
  • [1:09] What happens to our leadership if we become satisfied?
  • [2:10] Striving for perfection is also a terrible trap for leaders.
  • [4:12] What happens if leaders settle for merely “satisfied”?
  • [5:40] How to send the message to your team that we’re going to keep raising the standard.
  • [8:17] Some people are looking for excuses to remain complacent.
  • [9:59] At some point, leaders will have to take a risk to raise the standard.
  • [10:49] Why do people want to cut corners? How do we avoid this trap?
  • [13:19] How do we get motivated to go farther?
  • [15:45] A couple of great examples of leaders who pulled people to excel.
  • [17:36] We have to keep working or it’s going to be more work!
  • [19:10] A quote from Charles Sorenson that is insightful.

Check out this episode and subscribe on YouTube so you can watch all of the upcoming episodes. You can also listen to our podcast on Spotify and Apple.

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The Craig And Greg Show: Be Clutch For Your Team

September 26, 2024 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the audio-only version of this podcast by clicking on the player below, or scroll down to watch the video.

The game-winning field goal, the bottom of the ninth home run, the last-second fadeaway jumper! In sports we are quick to recognize a clutch player. You might not perform in front of millions of fans, but you can be a clutch player for your organization as well! Join Greg and me as we discuss what it means to be clutch for your team, and lay out how your leadership can help empower others to do the same.

  • [0:23] Some people’s clutch-ability makes them stand out from the crowd.
  • [2:20] A clutch person won’t always succeed, but when it matters most they’re the one you trust to deliver. 
  • [3:20] How do people gain the confidence to be clutch? 
  • [5:05] Greg talks about his first college football play, and how the experience helped him learn how to succeed in the long run. 
  • [6:50] As leaders we can’t be afraid of mistakes, we need to view them as learning opportunities. 
  • [10:55] How much can we do as leaders to help our team be clutch, and how much do they need to figure out themselves? 
  • [13:10] Setting the right tone helps your team feel empowered to learn from their mistakes. 
  • [15:23] We can name a lot of greats by looking back at their career, but in the moment they didn’t always feel like greats. 
  • [16:29] As the leader, you have an extra responsibility to acknowledge your mistakes to your team. 
  • [18:11] Why do people quit, and how can we help them stay in the game? 
  • [22:37] Greg shares some wisdom about preparation. 
  • [23:50] Greg tells a story about a compliment he received while coaching high school football. 
  • [26:07] A coach can help you excel and become a clutch member of your team. Check out how our coaching services may benefit your game. 

Check out this episode and subscribe on YouTube so you can watch all of the upcoming episodes. You can also listen to our podcast on Spotify and Apple.

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The Craig And Greg Show: Leaders At Every Level

September 12, 2024 — Craig T. Owens

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You might be checking out this episode with the hope of one day being a leader. Well, Greg and I have good news for you—you already are! Leaders are not just the person at the top, but if you have a leadership mindset you can be a leader in whatever position you currently occupy. Join us as we chat about how important it is to start being a leader before you have the “leader” title.

  • [0:24] What if you’re not the point leader in your organization? 
  • [1:22] Regardless of your title or position, you are still a leader.
  • [3:13] Leaders—whether at the top or in the middle—need to try to raise up other leaders.
  • [5:29] One trait that will increase your value to the organization is cross-training.
  • [8:20] Another trait is curiosity that keeps you a lifelong learner.
  • [11:07] An example from Tom Brady about how important passion is for those who aren’t starters yet.
  • [13:47] Two other important traits for emerging leaders is patience and self-discipline.
  • [14:37] How do point leader keep their bench players engaged until there is a new leadership position available for them?
  • [17:07] Mentoring and coaching aren’t the same things. How do we know which one to use in our organizations?
  • [21:22] Maximize Leadership can help coach you on how to mentor your emerging leaders. Check it out at https://www.maximizeleadership.com/coaching
  • [23:21] What you can do if you don’t have any mentors within your organization?

Check out this episode and subscribe on YouTube so you can watch all of the upcoming episodes. You can also listen to our podcast on Spotify and Apple.

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The Craig And Greg Show: Patience And Impatience

August 29, 2024 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the audio-only version of this podcast by clicking on the player below, or scroll down to watch the video.

In today’s episode we’re going to—IMPATIENCE! Yes, we’re talking about impatience. As a leader it can be hard to resist the temptation of impatience, but Greg and I believe that developing patience is a vital skill for leaders. In this episode we’ll explore some of the pitfalls of impatience, and share strategies for you to develop into a more thoughtful and patient leader.

  • [0:14] We’re looking at the leadership builder vs. killer of patience vs. impatience. 
  • [1:41] Patience is sometimes misperceived as not being in control—like we’re simply waiting around for something to happen.
  • [2:27] Can patience be developed?
  • [3:50] Patience allows a process to mature, and helps people grow.
  • [7:35] Warning: patience can cross a line into procrastination.
  • [8:30] Leaders need to avoid the temptation of impatiently answering too quickly.
  • [10:50] What leadership pressures make us give in to impatience?
  • [12:59] Leaders can help their teammates with their own impatience by asking some thoughtful questions.
  • [15:28] Ego + Bad advice = Dangerous impatience
  • [16:40] Patience helps leaders trust both the process and the people around them.
  • [18:33] Leaders need to be aware of what’s happening in themselves when their patience is stretched. Patient leaders grow their leadership influence.
  • [22:24] Greg quizzes me about the origins of patience.
  • [24:45] I make a confession about my impatience in my early years.
  • [25:55] Greg shares an insightful quote about the value of patience.

Check out this episode and subscribe on YouTube so you can watch all of the upcoming episodes. You can also listen to our podcast on Spotify and Apple.

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Bites Hurt!

July 25, 2024 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible. 

When people attack their leader—or when sheep bite—it hurts! 

Our first best response is to acknowledge, “That hurt!” but then we need to pause. Our natural response to an attack is fight-or-flight, but healthy leaders take time to learn why that bite occurred. 

This is an excerpt from an episode of The Craig and Greg Show where Greg interviewed me about my new book When Sheep Bite.

If you would like to watch the full episode of our leadership podcast, you can find that here. 

I am getting ready to facilitate a cohort for pastors who have gone through painful sheep bites—or perhaps they are feeling them right now! If you are a pastor, or if you know of a pastor who has been bitten, please check out this cohort here. 

And if you would like to pick up a copy of When Sheep Bite for yourself, you can get that here. 

►► Would you please prayerfully consider supporting this ministry? My Patreon supporters get behind-the-scenes access to exclusive materials. ◀︎◀︎

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The Craig And Greg Show: Stress Can Be Good For You

July 18, 2024 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the audio-only version of this podcast by clicking on the player below, or scroll down to watch the video.

Stress might have six letters, but it seems like some leaders have a knee-jerk reaction to treat it like a four-letter word. While it might be nice to fantasize about an stress-free life, this is both entirely unrealistic and detrimental to your leadership. The truth is, a mild amount of stress can be helpful to you personally, as well as your organization as a whole. Join us as Greg and I unpack why you should embrace a bit of stress in your life.

  • [0:14] I have a brain block to start the show! 
  • [0:59] Let’s define stress in a work environment, as opposed to simply work tension.
  • [1:51] An interesting study about allowing moderate stress to remain in the workplace.
  • [5:30] Mild stress is helpful for our brains.
  • [7:37] Stress expands and strengthens our team connections too.
  • [10:26] Can stress help increase someone’s work performance?
  • [13:01] Our physical bodies use a stress hormone called cortisol. How can leaders maximize its effects?
  • [14:38] Stress can help us rise to the challenge in a way that easy times can’t.
  • [16:02] I share an example of a teammate who grew through stress, as well as a supporting quote.
  • [18:40] Greg shares a negative example of an organization that became stress-free and drifted toward failure.
  • [19:30] When times are easy, we can begin to slide into apathy.
  • [22:40] Should we teach crisis leadership to our teams? If so, how should we do this?
  • [23:47] We love to coach leaders who are dealing with crisis in their organizations. 

Check out this episode and subscribe on YouTube so you can watch all of the upcoming episodes. You can also listen to our podcast on Spotify and Apple.

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The Craig And Greg Show: Lead With Empathy

June 27, 2024 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the audio-only version of this podcast by clicking on the player below, or scroll down to watch the video.

Empathy is an essential trait for leaders, but it’s not innate in any of us. As I joked, “behind ‘mama’ and ‘dada,’ the first word most babies learn is ‘mine.’” The skill of empathy is like a muscle, the more we practice, the stronger it gets. In this episode, Greg and I discuss why empathy is so important for leaders, and give helpful advice on how to remain proficient in your use of empathy.

  • [0:24] Empathy is a powerful leadership skill that underlines so many other leadership skills. 
  • [1:08] Empathy has to be earned.
  • [3:07] What blocks empathy in leaders?
  • [4:02] When you start learning empathy it will feel awkward, but you have to stick with it.
  • [5:06] Empathy ≠ sympathy, but it is caring.
  • [7:07] How do leaders show their empathy to their teammates?
  • [10:10] Here is an example of how to express empathy.
  • [12:22] What lessons can we learn when we misfire on empathy?
  • [14:03] Three things Greg has worked on to enhance empathy.
  • [16:32] Sometimes leaders do for one team member what they cannot do for all.
  • [19:51] Leaders need empathetic eyes, ears, and heart. There is a huge leadership power in this.
  • [21:59] Greg shares an interesting study reported in Forbes.
  • [25:15] One of the most powerful leadership attributes is simply the leader’s availability.

Check out this episode and subscribe on YouTube so you can watch all of the upcoming episodes. You can also listen to our podcast on Spotify and Apple.

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The Craig And Greg Show: When Sheep Bite

June 13, 2024 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the audio-only version of this podcast by clicking on the player below, or scroll down to watch the video.

As you may have heard, I have written a new book! In this episode Greg and I sit down and chat about When Sheep Bite, and discuss how the valuable lessons it provides are critical for leaders of any organization.

  • [0:21] I have a confession to make…
  • [1:43] This book is for both business leaders and church leaders.
  • [3:07] Attacks usually lead to to fight-or-flight, but When Sheep Bite offers a new response.
  • [5:21] It’s healthy to validate our feelings when we’ve been hurt, but then good leaders go deeper.
  • [8:39] Empathy is health, but making excuses is not healthy.
  • [10:37] Watch out for the sneaky bite of flattery.
  • [11:26] Leaders who have been hurt have to guard against harboring that hurt.
  • [13:23] Leaders need to learn how to confront misbehavior correctly.
  • [14:46] In order for sheep to bite, and in order for the shepherd to lead, they have to be close to each other. How do both sheep and shepherds set boundaries?
  • [17:46] We can disagree but we cannot disrespect!
  • [19:49] Bitterness can rob a leader of vitality, so we have to find effective ways to heal.
  • [22:46] Fight-or-flight is natural, but we need to strive for the supernatural response of faithfulness to our calling.
  • [23:40] In many ways WSB points to what a good coach does. Contact Maximize Leadership about how our coaching huddles can help your leadership soar—get in touch with us!

Order a copy of When Sheep Bite here.

Check out this episode and subscribe on YouTube so you can watch all of the upcoming episodes. You can also listen to our podcast on Spotify and Apple.

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The Craig And Greg Show: Remembering The Details

May 30, 2024 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the audio-only version of this podcast by clicking on the player below, or scroll down to watch the video.

Greg and I think that a great way to take your leadership to the next level is by paying attention to people. Keeping an eye out for the small details and remembering them shows people you care, which in turn makes them much more receptive to the leadership you want to pour into their lives. 

  • [0:15] Memorial Day is coming up 
  • [0:54] Great leaders remember the little details about others
  • [3:05] We share how leaders can leverage their retention of the details of others’ lives
  • [6:37] Exceptional leaders give way more than they take
  • [8:21] How do we get out of our own way so we can get to know others better?
  • [10:47] Greg and I both have some personal examples of how we learned to remember the details
  • [14:26] Leaders can lift up those around them by just doing the little things well
  • [16:24] John Maxwell wrote a “people principle” that I unpack 
  • [17:47] Greg learned a lesson from his grandparents about “taking a drive” to observe important people and places
  • [18:58] A powerful quote from John Ash
  • [22:55] Make every day special for others
  • [24:00] Greg and I can help you grow as a leader—get in touch with us!

Check out this episode and subscribe on YouTube so you can watch all of the upcoming episodes. You can also listen to our podcast on Spotify and Apple.

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Continuing To Walk With God

May 23, 2024 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.

My leadership podcast partner Greg Heeres and I were discussing a leader’s epitaph. Greg asked me an unusual question: What did I want to be said on my own epitaph?

Take a listen to this snippet from The Craig and Greg Show—

The story I told about Enoch can be found in Genesis 5:3-24 and Hebrews 11:5-6. 

I’ve also blogged a couple of times about Enoch: “And then he died…” and “Walking intimately.” 

You can watch the full Craig and Greg Show episode that this clip from by clicking here.

►► Would you please prayerfully consider supporting this ministry? My Patreon supporters get behind-the-scenes access to exclusive materials. ◀︎◀︎

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