episode 3 - the word is squeak

In episode 3 of ‘The Word is Leadership’ Emmanuel Gobillot continues to build leadership lessons inspired by random words. The chosen word this week is squeak (and there's even a jingle to introduce it).

This episode takes a personal turn as Emmanuel recalls a joke from his uncle Roger which becomes a metaphor to discuss the dangers of becoming over sensitized or desensitized to organisational squeaks.

Having identified the three leadership challenges of squeaks (Inability to Distinguish between significant and inconsequential squeaks, neglect of the silences that accompany the positive aspects of the organization, and deafness to squeaks that leads them to become shrieks) Emmanuel provides three levers to leadership effectiveness.

Using the word squeak as a launch pad to offer valuable insights, this week’s episode of ‘The Word is Leadership’ explores the delicate balance of addressing concerns while maintaining a focus on organizational successes.

episode 2 - the word is gentry

Welcome back to another episode of "The Word is Leadership." In this second instalment, global leadership speaker, author and consultant, Emmanuel Gobillot continues the unique approach of selecting a random word and deriving leadership lessons from it.

 This time, the chosen word is gentry.

 Drawing parallels between the social structure of royalty, court, and gentry and the organizational structure of executives, senior management, and middle managers, the episode highlights the critical role of the ‘gentry’ or middle managers in ensuring the success and well-functioning of an organization.

 Emmanuel encourages senior leaders to create an environment that makes it easy for the gentry to speak the truth, positioning middle managers as indispensable connectors between different levels within the organization.

 With episode 2, ‘The Word is Leadership’ continues to deliver insightful leadership lessons, using the random word gentry as a lens to explore the intricacies of organizational dynamics and the vital role of middle management.

episode 1 - the word is sock

Welcome to the first episode of ‘The Word is Leadership’ podcast, where each week, our host, global leadership speaker, author and consultant, Emmanuel Gobillot, embarks on a unique journey by selecting a random word to extract valuable leadership lessons from it. In this inaugural episode, our word is surprisingly simple yet profound – sock.

We reflect on the unnoticed habits in our organizations, akin to the automatic act of putting on socks each day. Drawing parallels between organizational routines and the habitual nature of wearing socks, Emmanuel highlights the potential for embarrassment when we overlook ingrained practices.

This episode delves into the importance of periodically questioning the necessity and efficiency of entrenched systems to identify and rectify suboptimal processes.

In this entertaining and insightful journey through the seemingly mundane, ‘The Word is Leadership’ sets the stage for future episodes that promise to uncover leadership lessons from unexpected corners of the dictionary.