Leading Through Change - Mark Walztoni

Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders

Today's guest on the Branch Out Podcast is Mark Walztoni, Managing Director with Crowe, based in their Grand Rapids, Michigan office. He provides human capital and culture due diligence and integration support services that include change management, employee communication, culture alignment, and HR infrastructure transition. He also serves turnaround, restructuring, performance improvement, and high-growth clients across a broad array of industry verticals. With over 25 years of industry and consulting experience as an integration project manager, planner, advisor, and interim "roll-up-the-sleeves" team member, Mark has plenty of wisdom and insight to share in today's episode! Tuning in, you'll hear our discussion on the differences between management and leadership and what it takes to successfully lead through change, including the importance of authenticity, emotional intelligence, having a big-picture perspective, and serving your team rather than pleasing them. In the end, it comes down to the logistics and the people, both of which are equally important, so make sure to tune in today to learn more about when to lead and when to manage.
Key Points From This Episode:

• Mark shares his initial thoughts on the differences between managing and leading in 2020.
• Why management and leadership are equally important; being so well-prepared logistically that you don't have to think about it.
• Part of being a leader is understanding how you and your team complement one another.
• Learn about this team leadership model: Forming, storming, norming, and performing.
• How, as a leader, you can identify what causes a storm and work past it, starting with acknowledging and talking about it.
• Mark emphasizes the importance of authenticity in a period of transition or change.
• Essential skills of a leader include equipping your team with change leadership skills.
• How wisdom and intelligence are two different (but equally important) things.
• Mark shares a team management tool; assess what each team member can do, will do, and commitment level before assigning roles.
• The importance of having an enterprise or company perspective rather than a siloed one.
• Why an emotionally intelligent leadership approach never begins and ends at your desk.
• Mark highlights influencing skills and serving a stakeholder rather than pleasing them.
• Communication is key: tell people what they need to know six times, in six ways.
• Hear Alex's summary of the discussion, from what it means to be a leader or a manager to fostering a growth mindset and culture.
• Mark's parting words of advice: it's not weaknesses that get you; it's overused strengths.

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