Dr. Rob Lion (Principal, Black River Performance Management & Professor, Idaho State University) on Leadership & Engagement
- Dr. Lion emphasizes that work should fuel the human spirit, not deplete it.
- Leaders should invest time in getting to know their people—creating spaces for interaction and check-ins.
Podcast
Overview
Welcome to another insightful episode of The Brand Called You podcast! In this engaging conversation, host Ashutosh Garg sits down with Dr. Rob Lion—a professor of Human Resource Development at Idaho State University and principal at Black River Performance Management. Together, they shed light on the art of leadership, building human-centric workplaces, and why culture truly matters in today’s business landscape.
Here’s a breakdown of the key moments, with questions and timestamped highlights:
[00:01:04] How Can Leaders Energize (Not Drain) Their Employees?
- Dr. Lion emphasizes that work should fuel the human spirit, not deplete it.
- Leaders should invest time in getting to know their people—creating spaces for interaction and check-ins.
- The importance of purposeful onboarding and integrating new employees into a positive culture.
[00:03:09] What Is the “Dynamic Art” of Leadership?
- Leadership starts off as linear and formulaic, but must mature into something intuitive and nuanced.
- True leadership is about differentiating support—treating each team member according to their individual needs.
- The evolution from following rigid frameworks to embracing creativity in leadership.
[00:05:05] How Should Leaders Balance Empathy and Accountability?
- Feedback equals love; accountability equals respect.
- Empathy and accountability aren’t mutually exclusive—empathy ensures feedback is received constructively.
- Leaders must pause, reflect, and address discomfort to enable growth.
[00:06:10] What Are Today’s Biggest Barriers to Employee Engagement?
- Delegation can sometimes stifle engagement if not handled thoughtfully.
- Leaders often become managers of experience instead of facilitators of growth.
- Dr. Lion’s “Five I Engagement Model” helps leaders shift from managing to actively facilitating a thriving environment.
[00:08:10] How Does Culture Impact Talent Retention?
- Strong cultures grease the organizational gears, fostering conversations around fairness and psychological safety.
- A healthy culture supports A-players and naturally filters out low performers who don’t align.
RESOURCES:
Learn more about Dr Rob Lion: Linkedin
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- Dr. Lion emphasizes that work should fuel the human spirit, not deplete it.
- Leaders should invest time in getting to know their people—creating spaces for interaction and check-ins.
- The importance of purposeful onboarding and integrating new employees into a positive culture.
