Kevin Wayne Johnson: Servant at Heart

“You have to be aware of the fact that we are in front of a lot of different people who have a lot of different viewpoints and perspectives, quite frankly, that all needs to be and should be respected,” explains Kevin Wayne Johnson, founder and CEO of the Johnson Leadership Group. Today, he talks about what it takes to be a great leader.

Many leaders make the mistake of thinking that they have to have all the answers and be the smartest person in the room. It’s more authentic to have the humility to admit that you do not know everything and seek input from your team. Being a leader is all about understanding relationships, building trust, and leaving your personal agenda at the door. Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, and as the leader you must be able to create balanced teams. When you take the time to really connect with your team members on a personal level, you will begin to see real transformation within your organization.

Authentic leaders who are looking to advance their organizations with high performing teams need to have a strong grasp of how human relationships work. Spend time really listening to your team members, not only about business, but in casual conversations as well. The stronger your relationships, the stronger your team and organization going forward.

• “When it's all said and done, many of us bring our personal agendas and that really gets in the way, quite frankly, of really having high performing teams, and helping advance the organization forwards.” (10:33-10:46 | Kevin)
• “We need to have more leaders to focus on the next generation, because they're the ones that are going to take the baton and run their portion of the race. And we want them to be excellent at what they do. And in order for that to happen, that means you and I have to be available. And we have to sacrifice our time, our effort and our energy to make that happen.” (11:58-12:18 | Kevin)
• “It's being relational, being able to connect with people. That's what makes the best leaders.” (18:06-18:12 | Kevin)
• “We collectively and individually need to learn to become better listeners. Because we listen at a rate that's much, much faster than what we talk.” (18:37-18:49 | Kevin)
• “Have a conversation with someone based upon what they are interested in, not what you're interested in.” (19:23-19:35 | Kevin)
• “Every team is made up of individuals who bring their gifts to the game. And so they have to complement each other in order to be the most effective.” (22:03-22:13 | Kevin)
• “You have to be aware of the fact that we are in front of a lot of different people who have a lot of different viewpoints and perspectives, quite frankly, that all need to be and should be respected.” (32:25-32:41 | Kevin)