The Authenticity Equation: How to Lead, Connect, and Inspire with Mike Robbins

Live Like a Leader

Key Takeaways:

• The Authenticity Equation: Mike’s formula for creating genuine connections through honesty, humility, and vulnerability.
• Why vulnerability matters: Discover how emotional exposure fosters trust and empathy, even in high-stakes leadership.
• Sweaty palm conversations: How leaning into difficult discussions can unlock stronger relationships and higher performance.
• The power of listening: Learn why a “safe space” starts with listening and how leaders can use this to inspire better communication.
• Lessons in resilience: From losing a baseball career to becoming a best-selling author and speaker, Mike shares how life’s toughest moments often lead to our biggest transformations.

Addressing Polarization in Leadership and Society:

Mike and John discuss the challenges of navigating today’s polarized world and how leaders can foster authentic dialogue. From national conversations to corporate boardrooms, they emphasize the importance of listening and creating space for diverse perspectives. Mike shares his belief that while disagreements are natural, mutual understanding and connection are possible when we approach each other with curiosity, humility, and vulnerability.

Key Insight: "Most of the things we take personally aren’t personal. If we can approach conversations with the intention to understand rather than to convince, we open the door to authentic and meaningful connections."

Quotable Moments:

• “Authenticity isn’t just brutal honesty—it’s honesty minus self-righteousness, plus vulnerability.” – Mike Robbins
• “Be easy to impress and hard to offend. It will change your life.” – Mike’s mentor

Resources Mentioned:

• Mike Robbins' Website: Mike-Robbins.com
• Books by Mike Robbins: We’re All in This Together, Bring Your Whole Self to Work
• Connect with Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrobbins/

Next Steps:

• Visit LiveLikeALeader.show for more inspiring episodes.
• Dive into Mike’s world of leadership at Mike-Robbins.com.
• Connect with Mike at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrobbins/ and connect with me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbates/

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Mike Robbins is the author of five books, Focus on the Good Stuff, Be Yourself Everyone Else is Already Taken, Nothing Changes Until You Do, Bring Your Whole Self to Work, and We're All in This Together, which have been translated into fifteen different languages.

As an expert in teamwork, leadership, and emotional intelligence, Mike delivers keynotes and seminars (both in-person and virtually) that empower people, leaders, and teams to engage in their work, collaborate, and perform at their best. Through his speeches, seminars, consulting, and writing, Mike teaches important techniques that allow individuals and organizations to be more appreciative, authentic, and effective.

His clients include: Google, Wells Fargo, Microsoft, Walmart, Schwab, LinkedIn, Deloitte, the U.S. Department of Labor, Gap, Harvard University, Coca-Cola, Disney, Chevron, eBay, Kaiser, Airbnb, UC Berkeley, the NBA, Pixar, Genentech, Adobe, the Oakland A's, and many others. Mike is a member of the National Speakers Association and is one of less than 10% of the professional speakers in the world to have earned the prestigious Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation from the National Speakers Association.

He has been featured on NPR, ABC News, the Oprah radio network, and in the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, the New York Times, the Economist, the Wall Street Journal, and many others. He was a regular contributor to Forbes and is the creator and host of the popular podcast, We're All In This Together.

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John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training.

Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.