In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Anthony Sapountzis engages with Steve Sandor, CEO & Principal Consultant of Inspiring Business. Steve shares his rich career journey, offering valuable lessons on leadership, emotional intelligence, and personal growth. From navigating generational differences to balancing control and delegation, Steve provides practical advice for business owners and leaders seeking to enhance their management strategies and prepare for the future.
Steve shares his extensive career journey and the valuable lessons he’s learned. Steve’s path began as an electrician and evolved through financial services and business consulting, offering insights into the importance of resilience, emotional intelligence, and self-reflection. His story highlights how confronting significant professional challenges can lead to a deeper understanding of oneself and improve leadership capabilities.
Steve delves into the significance of humility and empathy in leadership. He reflects on early career mistakes where his immaturity led him to blame others instead of learning from experiences. Emphasizing the value of transparency and open communication, Steve underscores that effective management involves understanding and addressing underlying issues rather than reacting defensively. He advocates for approaching difficult conversations with empathy and context to foster stronger relationships and better outcomes.
Expanding on the theme of personal growth, Steve discusses the impact of exposure to different cultures and perspectives. Drawing from his experiences in Papua New Guinea, he illustrates how confronting new environments can enhance empathy and communication skills. Steve also explores generational differences, noting that learning from younger generations can provide valuable insights and challenge existing viewpoints, ultimately broadening one’s belief systems.
Steve further explores the balance between control and delegation in business management. He advocates for using tools like dashboards to retain overall control while allowing flexibility and autonomy within set boundaries. Steve encourages managers to coach their teams rather than micromanage, emphasizing the importance of guiding staff through critical thinking. He also advises small business owners to focus on organisational design, acknowledge progress, and find a balance between preparation and flexibility. Lastly, Steve discusses retirement strategy, urging business owners to detach emotionally from their businesses and seek help for weaknesses to ensure a smooth transition and future success.
Topics Covered
- Steve Sandor’s Career Journey and Lessons Learned
- Humility and Empathy in Leadership
- Expanding Belief Systems
- Control vs. Delegation
- Organisational Design and Incremental Improvement
- Balancing Preparation and Flexibility
- Decision-Making Across Cultures
- Retirement Strategy for Business Owners
Important Time Stamps
- Navigating Career Pitfalls: Steve Sandor on Learning from Mistakes (0:08 – 4:32)
- Empathy vs. Hubris: Mastering the Art of Transparent Management with Steve Sandor (4:33 – 10:29)
- Expand Your Bubble: Steve Sandor on Embracing New Perspectives (10:30 – 14:40)
- Mastering Control vs. Delegation: Steve Sandor’s Guide to Effective Leadership (14:41 – 21:43)
- Organizational Design 101: Steve Sandor’s Blueprint for Small Business Success (21:44 – 26:42)
- Overpreparation vs. Spontaneity: Finding the Balance with Steve Sandor (26:43 – 32:15)
- Future-Proof Your Business: How Boomers Can Prepare for the Next Generation of Buyers (32:16 – 37:48)
- From Business to Legacy: Steve Sandor’s Tips for Preparing Your Business for Sale (37:49 – 44:57)
