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In this episode of the Action Lab Leadership Podcast, Danny sits down with Chris Epstein, Business Development Officer at Laserforce. Drawing from his background as a football coach and teacher, Chris shares why the most effective leaders focus on driving progress through camaraderie rather than rank. He makes a compelling case for why taking creative swings is essential for innovation, even when those swings end in a miss.
Developing Creative Leadership Skills Under Pressure
Chris shares how his experience on the sidelines informed his approach to business. He views the role of a leader much like a position coach; someone who must sift through a mountain of “film” and data to provide clear, actionable direction.
- Funneling Information: A leader’s job is to take complex information and effectively communicate it so others can internalize and use it.
- Weeding Out the Noise: Creative leadership involves deciding what is mission-critical and what is simply a distraction.
- The Micro and the Macro: Success requires balancing daily drills with the 10,000-foot view of the organization and goals.
The Two-Point Conversion Mentality
One of the most powerful lessons Chris shares is the necessity of taking “creative swings” in problem-solving.
- The Creative Swing: Chris advocates for solving problems in unique and fun ways, even if they aren’t the most efficient.
- Learning to Fail: You have to be okay with a creative risk not being successful. Chris notes that as a coach, teaching players how to fail is a critical key to long-term success.
- The Driver’s Seat: It is easy to be critical of a two-point conversion attempt from the sidelines, but true leaders have the courage to make the call when the risk is on them.
Leadership as an Authentic Identity
To Chris, leadership is an intuitive instinct to make sure everyone on the journey is progressing together.
- Unapologetically You: Chris believes in showing up authentically to attract real relationships rather than changing your personality for different environments.
- Reciprocated Relationships: Being yourself allows you to find people who are a good fit and build genuine connections.
- Camaraderie Over Rank: Leadership is a positive influence that has nothing to do with a title or clout.
Pacing and the Infinite To-Do List
Becoming a better leader involves setting an intentional pace for your life and work.
- Rewiring the Brain: Many professionals carry a childhood “chores” mentality: believing they can’t relax until the to-do list is done.
- Turning it Off: In the face of never-ending to-do lists, leaders must learn to turn off the work to focus on other parts of life.
- The Power of Community: Because leadership can become lonelier the higher you go, Chris emphasizes the importance of joining a community or mastermind for accountability and growth.
