Tim Stating the Obvious

Your Leadership Potential: The Truth About Charisma and Influence

In this episode, we tackle a critical leadership gap — the missing interpersonal skills no one teaches but everyone needs. We explore why great leadership isn’t reserved for titles or positions — it’s something every person deserves at home, work, and in the community.
Our conversation dives into Richard Reid’s book, Charisma Unlocked, which breaks the myth that charisma is something you’re born with. Instead, charisma is a learnable skill built on four key pillars:
Presence — the ability to be fully engaged in the moment
Power — projecting confidence without dominance
Warmth — connecting with genuine care
Competence — earning trust through your skills
We unpack how these pillars amplify your impact in leadership, business, negotiations, and personal relationships. As Reid shares, charisma isn’t just an advantage — it’s a leadership “force multiplier” that helps you connect, influence, and inspire authentically.
You’ll hear practical steps on mastering first impressions, nonverbal communication, and building emotional connections that people won’t forget — echoing Maya Angelou’s wisdom that people remember how you made them feel.
Whether you’re leading a team, making your next pitch, or stepping into a tough conversation, this episode gives you actionable insights from Charisma Unlocked to help you unlock your influence and grow your authentic leadership style.
Link to book: https://a.co/d/41OO4Zk
Connect with Richard: richard@pinnaclewellbeingservices.com
Connect with Tim:
Website: timstatingtheobvious.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw 
Instagram: @TimStating
Tiktok: @timstatingtheobvious
#leadership #charisma #personalgrowth #communication #influence#emotionalintelligence #authenticity #leadershipdevelopment#books #skills

Credible Leadership: Gain Trust and Inspire Others

In this episode, we’re digging into the second pillar of the Army’s leadership model: KNOW. Now, this isn’t just military theory—it’s a practical reminder that leadership isn’t about winging it. It’s about showing up prepared, grounded, and equipped. Whether you’re in uniform, running a business, or leading in your home, the principles are the same.
Leadership starts with who you are—your character, your values. That’s the BE. But once you’ve got that foundation, you need to sharpen what you KNOW—the skills and knowledge that make you credible and effective. This is where competence is built, and trust is earned.
To master the “KNOW” side of leadership, you’ve got to build in four key areas:Interpersonal, Conceptual, Technical, and Tactical skills. These aren’t just categories—they’re tools you carry every day. They help you lead with clarity, confidence, and relevance in a fast-changing world. Let’s break them down.
At the heart of leadership is the ability to connect with people. I’m talking about real connection—not just giving orders or checking boxes. This means listening, asking the right questions, and learning what drives the people around you.
If you want to build trust, get out of your office. Walk the floor. Ask your team what matters to them, how their job fits into the bigger picture, and what gets them fired up—or frustrated. People aren’t problems to be solved—they’re relationships to be built. And those relationships? They’re your force multipliers.
Leadership is a thinking game. It requires mental agility—being able to step back, look at the big picture, and make sense of complex, high-stress situations.
This includes critical thinking—spotting your own blind spots and questioning your assumptions. It’s creative thinking—asking, “What if we did this differently?” And it’s sound judgment—the ability to make the hard calls when the pressure’s on. No amount of skill can replace the power of good judgment forged through reflection and experience.
You don’t need to do everyone’s job—but you do need to understand it. You should know the systems, tools, and processes your team relies on. If you're leading a creative team, learn the basics of the software they use. If you oversee logistics, understand how the supply chain actually moves.
When you understand the tools, you earn credibility. And more importantly, you can make better decisions. This technical foundation strengthens your tactical edge.
This is where the rubber meets the road—decision-making in real time, under pressure. Tactical leadership isn’t theory—it’s action. It’s knowing how to move when the path isn’t clear and making calls when there’s no time to phone a friend.
The best way to build tactical skill is through experience—real or simulated. Get into environments where the stakes are high. Test yourself. Learn what it feels like to make decisions when everything’s on the line. Over time, you’ll start recognizing patterns, trusting your instincts, and leading with confidence—even in chaos.
Here’s the deal: competence grows with responsibility. The more people you lead, the more sharpened your skills need to be. You don’t “arrive” as a leader—you keep growing.
So how do you build that growth into your life? Try this:
Seek Feedback – Don’t lead in isolation. Invite input. Ask people you trust, “Where can I grow?”
Study and Reflect – Make reflection a daily practice. Think through decisions. Learn from outcomes.
Master the Tools – Learn your trade. Stay sharp. Stay relevant.
Train Under Pressure – Volunteer for the hard things. Get comfortable being uncomfortable.
Leadership is preparation. It's not just about knowing what to do—it's about being the kind of leader who’s ready when it counts. When you combine who you are with what you know, you build trust. And when people trust you, they’ll follow you—even when the way forward isn’t clear.
So focus on your KNOW. Stay a student. Keep sharpening your edge. Because leadership isn’t about being perfect—it’s about showing up ready, reliable, and real.
 
Connect with Tim:
Website: timstatingtheobvious.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw 
Instagram: @TimStating
Tiktok: @timstatingtheobvious
 
00:00 Introduction to Leadership Framework01:06 Understanding the ‘Know’ Phase02:58 Interpersonal Skills: Building Connections04:41 Conceptual Skills: Critical Thinking and Creativity06:47 Technical Skills: Mastering Your Tools08:03 Tactical Skills: Decision-Making Under Pressure09:49 Practical Steps to Enhance Leadership Skills12:25 The Importance of Preparation in Leadership
#LeadershipDevelopment #ArmyLeadership #LeadershipSkills #ProfessionalGrowth #CareerDevelopment#CriticalThinking #CommunicationSkills #DecisionMaking #PersonalDevelopment #TimStatonTheObvious

Command Charisma: Authentic Connection Secrets

In this episode, we explore the idea that leadership isn’t about a title—it’s about how you show up, the influence you have, and the impact you leave behind. Richard and I break down the difference between charisma and charm. Charm might win a room for a moment, but charisma leaves a lasting impression—it’s about creating real, authentic connections that make people feel seen, heard, and better about themselves.
Charisma isn’t about spotlighting yourself. It’s about understanding others—their emotions, their motivations—and helping them see their own potential. That’s the kind of leadership people remember.
We also talk about how the speed of life and our dependence on technology can dull our human edge. Remote work, packed calendars, and back-to-back Zooms leave little room for reflection or meaningful connection. Richard points out that when every interaction feels transactional, we lose the emotional depth that real leadership requires.
The antidote? Be intentional. Create small pauses. Give yourself even a minute between meetings to reset, refocus, and reconnect—not just with others, but with yourself.
Charisma isn’t just something you’re born with—it’s something you can build. Richard shares practical steps:
Start by setting an intention before every interaction. Ask yourself, What kind of energy do I want to bring into this room?
Tune into your emotional state. If you're stressed or scattered, slow your breathing. Ground yourself.
Pay attention to how you show up—not just what you say, but how you make people feel.
Leadership lives in those quiet transitions—between meetings, before calls, in the spaces where you choose how to respond.
We also dig into authenticity and that quiet voice of doubt so many of us wrestle with—imposter syndrome. Richard shares a simple but powerful idea: run small experiments. Share a little more of who you are in low-risk spaces. Let people see the human behind the role. You’ll be surprised by how it builds connection—and confidence.
We talk about how authenticity isn’t weakness. It’s your strength. Especially for women in leadership who often navigate the tension between being assertive and being seen as “too much” or “not enough,” authenticity can be a powerful anchor. Practice vulnerability in safe circles. Then bring it into the bigger arenas where it matters most.
Leadership also means taking the time to reflect. Richard encourages building a daily rhythm of looking back—not just on what you did, but how it made you feel. What energized you? What drained you? These patterns reveal your values. And once you know what drives you, you can lead with more clarity and purpose.
We close the conversation by talking about psychological safety. It’s more than a buzzword—it’s the foundation for real leadership. If people don’t feel safe to speak up, you’ll never get their best thinking. As a leader, your job is to create space where people feel they can take risks, share honestly, and show up as themselves.
If leadership is about impact, then charisma, authenticity, and reflection are the tools that help you leave a mark that lasts. This episode is about learning how to lead not just with your head, but with your heart.
 
Connect With Richard: 
website: www.richard-reid.com
email: richard@pinnaclewellbeingservice.com
 
Connect with Tim:
Website: timstatingtheobvious.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw 
Instagram: @TimStating
Tiktok: @timstatingtheobvious
 
#LeadershipDevelopment#Charisma#EmotionalIntelligence#AuthenticLeadership#PsychologicalSafety#CommunicationSkills#RichardBranson#OprahWinfrey#BusinessCoaching#LeadershipPodcast
 

Book Review: The 7 Commitments of a Great Team

Leadership has evolved. It’s no longer about titles or hierarchy—it’s about trust, influence, and connection. That’s why The Seven Commitments of a Great Team by Jon Gordon stands out. This book doesn’t just inspire—it equips. It gives you a practical framework for leading people in a way that builds trust, clarity, and shared purpose, especially when teams feel stretched, disconnected, or uncertain about their direction.
Leadership isn’t confined to boardrooms or org charts. It’s about how you treat people, how you handle pressure, and how you create an environment where others can thrive. Whether you’re leading in business, your home, or your community—people deserve leadership rooted in character. That’s what this book offers: usable, real-world insights for becoming the kind of leader others want to follow.
Gordon starts with what matters most: trust. Without it, a group of people is just that—a group. Not a team. He lays out practical trust-building habits like weekly check-ins where team members share wins and challenges. These small moments become the foundation for deeper connection and accountability.
Another critical takeaway is clarity. Misunderstandings, especially in hybrid or decentralized teams, can derail momentum fast. Gordon emphasizes that it’s not just about having a vision—it’s about repeating it, refining it, and helping people see how they fit into it. Clarity creates ownership.
Then there’s accountability, reframed in a way that’s not about micromanagement—it’s about commitment. He offers a tool I particularly like: personal commitment contracts. Simple, powerful, and effective. People don’t just say what they’re going to do—they put it in writing and own it.
This book is short, sharp, and full of takeaways you can use immediately. Each chapter ends with actionable steps, making it easy to translate principles into behavior. That said, if your team is dealing with deep dysfunction or serious cultural issues, this book may feel like a starting point rather than a full solution.
Still, it’s a book I’d recommend to any leader—new or experienced—who wants to build a team that performs with purpose. The Seven Commitments of a Great Team gives you a language, a structure, and a mindset that’s built for real life—not just the classroom. If leadership matters to you, this is one to keep close.
 
Connect with Tim
Website: timstatingtheobvious.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw 
Instagram: @TimStating
Tiktok: @timstatingtheobvious
 
#Leadership #Teamwork #Trust #Communication #Accountability #EmployeeEngagement #LeadershipDevelopment #TeamBuilding #JohnGordon #SevenCommitments

BE Before You Lead: Why Character Comes First

What separates great leaders from average ones? It’s not strategy—it’s character. In this episode of Tim Stating the Obvious, we explore why self-leadership is the foundation of effective leadership and how building integrity, consistency, and personal values creates lasting influence.
You’ll learn how to define your core leadership values, build habits that strengthen ethical decision-making, and reflect daily to ensure your actions align with your mission. If you're looking to grow as a purpose-driven leader, this episode delivers practical tools and mindset shifts that will help you lead yourself—and others—with clarity and conviction.
Whether you're an executive, new manager, or emerging team leader, this conversation will help you move beyond leadership performance and into character-based leadership transformation.
Connect with Tim:
Website: timstatingtheobvious.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw 
Instagram: @TimStating
Tiktok: @timstatingtheobvious
#leadershipskills #LeadershipDevelopment #howtolead #ethicalleadership #corevalues #selfawareness #personalgrowth #beknowdo

Why you STINK and leading Young Folk!

We are all entitled to great leadership—at home, at work, and in our communities. That’s not just a lofty idea—it’s a standard. But here’s the reality: the leadership models we’ve inherited were built for a different time. In today’s rapidly evolving world, especially with millennials and Gen Z making up most of the future workforce, it’s time we adapt. That’s where intergenerational leadership steps in.
Leadership expert Mai Moore breaks it down simply: intergenerational leadership is about connecting different age groups to foster understanding and increase impact. It’s about bridging gaps, not widening them. If we’re going to attract, retain, and grow top talent, our leadership must evolve. And that means listening to what each generation brings to the table.
Understanding Generational Differences at Work
Here’s the deal: up to six generations are in today’s workforce, and each comes with different values, expectations, and communication styles. There’s a major gap between how seasoned executives operate and how Gen Z thinks. But no generation has all the answers. That’s why collaboration is key.
This doesn’t mean leaders have to abandon their experience. It means using that experience to guide, while staying open to the ideas and innovations younger workers bring. Great leaders know how to coach—not control—and how to mentor without micromanaging.
Shared Values Across the Generational Divide
Despite our differences, we all want the same core things: a better world, meaningful work, good health, happiness, and purpose. It’s not always about money. It’s about value—value in our roles, our relationships, and our contributions.
Leaders must focus on what matters to the whole team. That includes creating clarity in expectations, showing employees how their work connects to a bigger mission, and encouraging them to take initiative without dampening their enthusiasm.
Communication: The Real Leadership Superpower
If we’re going to close the generational gap, we need to improve how we talk—and listen—to one another. Each generation has its own way of communicating. Some prefer face-to-face, others thrive on digital. Effective leadership means being flexible and understanding both.
Mai Moore offers a powerful tool used in military leadership: repeat back what you heard. It may seem simple, but it builds trust, ensures clarity, and reduces conflict. Communication should always be a two-way street. Mentorship should be too.
Mutual respect opens the door for shared learning—seasoned professionals can pass on wisdom, and younger team members can introduce fresh, modern perspectives.
Self-Awareness: Leadership Starts Within
Before you can lead others, you have to face yourself. That means knowing your strengths, acknowledging your blind spots, and recognizing how your actions affect those around you.
Self-awareness isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being present. It’s understanding how your past experiences shape your leadership and being willing to evolve. Leaders who do the inner work build stronger, more resilient teams.
Mai Moore shares this truth: the answers aren’t out there—they’re already within you. It’s time to start asking better questions and leading with purpose.
Connect with Mai Moore:
Mai Moore: Awakening Awareness #AlmostSocialImpact Public Speaking – can find out more information on MaiMoore.com
Boss Me In Thrive Together Summit re: intergenerational leadership, can email hello@bossmein.com for more information
Best way to connect with Mai is either connect@maimoore.com, through the MaiMoore.com web site or on LinkedIn.
Connect with Tim:
Website: timstatingtheobvious.com
Facebook: facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw
Instagram: @TimStating
TikTok: @timstatingtheobvious
#LeadershipDevelopment #leadership  #mentoring #communication #generations #intergenerationalleadership  #generationaldifferences #workforceleadership

The Anxious Generation: What Every Leader Needs to Know

In this episode of Tim Stating the Obvious, we tackle one of the most urgent leadership issues of our time: the growing mental health crisis among today’s youth and young professionals. Based on Jonathan Haidt’s provocative book, The Anxious Generation, we break down how smartphones and social media rewired childhood, stunted emotional resilience, and left a generation more anxious, less connected, and struggling in the workplace.
But here’s the catch—this isn’t just a parenting problem. It’s a leadership challenge. As Gen Z enters the workforce, their struggles with screen addiction, face-to-face discomfort, and emotional fragility show up in team dynamics, productivity, and culture. If you want to lead effectively in the modern age, you’ve got to understand what’s happening beneath the surface.
We’ll unpack Haidt’s core recommendations—like limiting screen time, encouraging unstructured outdoor play, and promoting real-world challenges—and translate them into actionable leadership strategies. From building grit in your team to designing environments that foster emotional maturity and deep work, this episode shows you how to lead with empathy, awareness, and intention.
Whether you're a CEO, educator, coach, or parent-turned-manager, this episode will challenge you to rethink how you support growth and resilience in the people you lead.
Key Topics:1. Why Gen Z is struggling—and how that affects your workplace2. Haidt’s “rewiring” theory of adolescence and tech3. How to develop grit without micromanaging4. The case for real-world collaboration and deep work5. Leadership strategies that build resilience, not fragility
Connect with Tim:
Website: timstatingtheobvious.com
Facebook: facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw
Instagram: @TimStating
TikTok: @timstatingtheobvious
#JonathanHaidt  #TheAnxiousGeneration #bookreview #leadership #GenZ #mentalhealth #digitalculture #parentingadvice

The 6th Sense and How to Use it!

You’re Not Lost—You’re Just Ignoring the Whisper: How to Activate Your Sixth Sense and Discover Your True Vision
Feeling stuck in life? Wondering why your goals aren’t clicking or why you’re still searching for direction? In this episode of Tim Stating the Obvious, host Tim Staton breaks down the real meaning behind Napoleon Hill’s Sixth Sense—not as a mystical idea, but as a powerful, practical tool that connects intuition, faith, clarity, and leadership vision.
The Sixth Sense isn’t just about “gut feelings”—it’s what kicks in when desire, faith, and consistent action align. It bridges the gap between the spiritual and physical worlds, guiding you toward the purpose-driven life you’ve been craving. Whether you want to become a better leader, make more money, or stop drifting—this is how to tap into your calling and craft a vision that actually sticks.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
What the Sixth Sense really is and how high achievers use it to gain clarity
How to combine intuition, faith, and prayer to access breakthrough insights
Why your vision isn’t working—and how to align it with your true purpose
Three steps to activate the Sixth Sense in your daily life
The mindset shifts needed to quiet the noise, overcome doubt, and hear your calling
If you’re in your 20s, frustrated with your progress, and ready to unlock your full potential—this episode will show you how to stop guessing and start leading.
Connect with Tim:
Website: timstatingtheobvious.com
Facebook: facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw
Instagram: @TimStating
TikTok: @timstatingtheobvious