Unlocking Leadership Secrets: Principles Straight from Barack Obama’s Advisor Anton Gunn
Episode Summary
In the annals of history, there have been many leaders who have made a profound impact on the world, leaving an indelible mark on society. Among these luminaries, former U.S. President Barack Obama stands tall as a remarkable exemplar of a great leader and an exceptional family man. Throughout his tenure as the 44th President of the United States, Obama demonstrated the extraordinary ability to balance the demands of his high-stakes role with the devotion and care he had for his family. This unique blend of socially conscious leadership and family values is a powerful reminder that empowering leaders to make a difference is essential in any organization, big and small.
In today’s episode of Win Monday, we are delighted to be joined by Anton Gunn. Anton is a distinguished figure with a rich background in socially conscious leadership, having served as a senior advisor to former President Obama.
In our conversation with Anton, we discuss leadership lessons from President Obama and the concept of socially conscious leadership. Anton shares three key lessons he learned from his time with President Obama: surrounding yourself with smart people, seizing opportunities to make a significant impact, and prioritizing and loving your family. We also discuss the importance of addressing problems, building relationships at work, and the power of questions in leadership. Anton introduces his "Just Lead Toolkit" and shares tips for winning the day on Monday.
Key Takeaways
Balancing work and family
Leadership starts with self and can be practiced by anyone, regardless of their position in the organization.
The significance of having a best friend at work and how it can impact retention.
The power of three questions that every employee and customer asks every day
Planning ahead and the need to spend at least two hours on Sunday to plan the entire week
In This Episode
[00:29] Introduction to Anton
[01:57] Leadership lessons Anton learned from former President Obama
[02:06] The importance of surrounding yourself with smart people
[02:35] The significance of going big and making a difference
[05:09] Strategies for prioritizing family amidst life's demands and distractions
[08:19] The meaning of socially conscious leadership
[11:10] Different types of people in organizations and their attitudes toward problems
[12:53] Paralysis by analysis and living in oblivion
[15:00] Social blindness in America
[18:38] Strategies for thriving in the workplace and becoming an effective leader, regardless of positional authority
[19:02] Building relationships at work and its impact on retention
[21:01] Anton’s "Just Lead Toolkit" for becoming an admired leader
[23:09] The significance of three questions: "Do you care about me?", "Will you help me?", and "Can I trust you?"
[32:24] Anton’s tip for winning the day on Monday through planning and preparation.
Notable Quotes
[02:02] “The thing that I learned most from Barack Obama is to always surround yourself with people who are smarter than you. The job itself is so complex and so hard. Even if you are the president, it is not possible to be great at it if you're the smartest one in the room.” - Anton
[03:45] “You gotta have that personal life side of you no matter what the job is, no matter how much you dive in the business, you've got to find those things that fill your cup and be unafraid about sharing that with other people, that you have this personal side.” - Anton
[04:00] "Many of us want to be the perfect leader, we want to keep this Stoic framework about us, and it's all business all the time but you and I both know that that's a mistake, that's a huge mistake and so find your local spaces and that's what I got from him is find your family space."- Anton
[32:29] "I take two hours on Sunday and I plan my entire week. I literally have a spreadsheet of what I'm going to do Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. And I get it all figured out on Sunday for a couple of hours. You know what's coming, so the day doesn't surprise you." - Anton
Our Guest
Anton Gunn, former senior advisor to President Barack Obama and world-renowned expert in Socially Conscious Leadership. Bestselling author of "The Presidential Principles," international speaker, and consultant. CEO of 937 Strategy Group, empowering diverse high-performing teams.
Winning Monday is for the separators. Those of us who are determined to become the best and fastest version of ourselves. Each episode is a masterclass in becoming 1% better each day, no matter your path to work-life mastery. Your guide for this journey is Paul Epstein, 15-year NFL and NBA executive, bestselling author, global keynote speaker, and Success Magazine’s top thought leader that gets results, and Founder of our Win Monday Community. Drawing from Paul’s high-profile separators of Fortune 500 CEOs, Olympians, and Shark Tank entrepreneurs to Guinness World Record holders, NYT bestselling authors, Navy SEALs, and more, this show will inspire you with the confidence required to win one day, one decision, and one action at a time.
