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In this episode of the Action Lab Leadership Podcast, Danny sits down with Sven Rösch, the Head of Sales at Valo Motion. Sven shares a vulnerable look at a pivotal moment early in his career when he was nearly fired for a lack of results. His turnaround didn’t come from following a stricter process, but from a radical shift in mindset: he decided to stop following bullet points and start being genuinely curious about the people in front of him.
Learning How to Be a Better Leader Under Pressure
Sven recounts a time early in his career when he transitioned from project management to sales and struggled significantly. He was on the brink of being let go until he realized that a rigid, process-driven approach wasn’t a fit for his personality.
- The Curiosity Shift: Instead of sticking to a script, Sven decided to be genuinely curious about his clients and their businesses.
- Building Trust: By asking questions and being fascinated by the answers, he built deeper trust with customers.
- Leading with Results: Sven’s leader recognized that while he didn’t follow the exact process, his style delivered results.
The Mindset: Leadership Never Clocks Out
To Sven, knowing how to be a better leader means recognizing that leadership is a service function in every part of life, not just a 9-to-5 job title.
- An All-Day Identity: Leadership touches every part of life, from the office to interactions with family and friends.
- Summoning Your Best: Effective leaders show up with a calm demeanor and a positive influence regardless of how they feel personally.
- Support System: Sven defines leadership as a role meant to support everyone in the organization.
Lessons from the Track and the Rock Wall
Sven draws powerful parallels between his high-performance hobbies and his professional life to explain how to be a better leader.
- Ride Better, Not Faster: A quote from his motorcycle racing coach highlights that excellence is a byproduct of better technique, not just chasing a “lap time” or a sales goal.
- The Joy of Coaching: As a climbing coach, Sven found that seeing a newcomer reach the top was more rewarding than his own personal achievements.
- Surpassing the Mentor: For Sven, the ultimate sign of a successful leader is when a team member surpasses the leader’s own skill set.
Extracting Wisdom Through Reflection
Becoming a better leader requires more than just experience; it requires intentionality.
- Sparring Partners: Sven relies on a network of trusted “sparring partners” to bounce ideas off of and gain new perspectives he hadn’t considered before.
- Hearing the Truth: While honest feedback can be painful, the more it hurts, the more truth it likely contains.
- Intentional Presence: Being a better leader involves being deliberate with your time and ensuring you are fully present for the people you lead.
