Carrots vs Sticks (John's Story)

Kathy Sullivan Explores

You’ve probably encountered a variety of leadership styles in your life. Which ones brought out the best in you? Which ones produced excellent results for your team? Many people believe that the way to get outstanding results from people and projects is to use the competitive and antagonistic style of leadership—the style that involves hand-to-hand combat if not verbal sparring. John, a fellow oceanographer and longtime friend of mine, used to think so. For a period of time in his life as a scientist on research ships, he figured that a competitive atmosphere was crucial for exceptional results—until a radical change in leadership shifted his perspective on what brings out excellence.

In today’s episode, you’ll hear John’s story about leadership styles and gain insight into his life on research ships as an oceanographer. I describe how multiple studies typically share a research ship and how each group of researchers aboard plan and negotiate the ship’s cruise. I discuss the difference between the combative/antagonistic and collaborative/appreciative styles of leadership. You’ll also learn why competition is not the only way to achieve greatness in a team and how to create the sweet spot for optimal learning and performance.

“A radically different style of leadership could produce results as good as, if not better than, the combative style of leadership.” - Kathy Sullivan

This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:

● The life of an oceanographer and why research ships are essentially timeshare facilities

● My friend John and his experience with cruise planning on research ships

● How John’s perspective on leadership changed

● Why the competitive style of leadership doesn’t bring the best out of everyone

● The sweet spot between challenge and pressure

Our Favorite Quotes:

● “‘Just scared enough’ is a sweet spot for learning and performance, with enough stimulus and stress to get all our mental circuits firing, on high alert, ready to engage and respond.” - Kathy Sullivan

● “Competition is one way to get the best out of people, but it is far from the only way. It is often—and sometimes—exactly the wrong way if you want the best your people can offer.” - Kathy Sullivan

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Spaceship Not Required

I’m Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean.

I’m an explorer, and that doesn’t always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action.

In this podcast, you can explore, reflecting on lessons learned from life so far and from my brilliant and ever-inquisitive guests. We explore together in this very moment from right where you are--spaceship not required.

Welcome to Kathy Sullivan Explores.

Visit my website at kathysullivanexplores.com to sign up for seven astronaut tips to improving your life on earth and be the first to discover future episodes and learn about more exciting adventures ahead!

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