Excellence Doesn’t Happen by Accident: Leading with Truth, Grace, and Purpose with John Gallagher

The Kind Leader

🎙️ What if excellence in leadership isn’t accidental, but the result of daily, intentional growth?

In this inspiring episode of The Kind Leader Podcast, host Gino Degregori sits down with John Gallagher, founder and CEO of Growing Champions Coaching and Consulting. With over 25 years of leadership experience at IBM, Mitsubishi, and beyond, John shares his powerful journey from corporate executive to wellness advocate and executive coach. At the heart of this conversation is his philosophy of leading with truth and grace, a balance of honesty and compassion shaped by one of the most humbling moments in his career.

John unpacks his SBIA feedback model (Situation, Behavior, Impact, Action), and offers practical strategies for delivering tough messages with kindness, building generational leadership impact, and integrating values and faith into professional life with authenticity. Whether you’re stuck between intention and action or ready to take your leadership to the next level, this episode is packed with perspective-shifting insight and encouragement.

🔑 Key takeaways include:

• The SBIA Framework: Deliver feedback clearly and constructively with a proven structure

• Truth and grace in action: Say what needs to be said, with compassion and courage

• The Leadership Lid: Your organization can’t grow beyond your personal development

• Daily growth habits: Read 10 pages a day to finish 12–14 books a year

• Lead with values: Model your beliefs with consistency, not force,to inspire others

🎧 Listen now and learn how to lead with purpose, presence, and lasting impact.

Important Links and Resources

🌐 John Gallagher’s Website: coachjohngallagher.com

🎧 Podcast: Uncommon Leader Podcast — Available on all major platforms

📚 Recommended Book: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell

🎁 Free Coaching Call: Available through John's website for podcast listeners

💬 Kind Leadership Challenge

Try using the SBIA framework to deliver feedback this week, whether it's a tough conversation or a recognition moment.

Then share your experience on LinkedIn using #KindLeaderChallenge and tag @Gino Degregori and @John Gallagher. 🎁 John will personally send you a free SBIA template as a thank-you for participating!

Chapters

00:00 The Shopping Cart Analogy: Leading Through Small Moments 02:56 John Gallagher’s Journey: From Corporate to Coaching 05:49 Kind Leadership Defined: Truth and Grace 09:04 The SBIA Framework for Clear, Compassionate Feedback 11:56 The Power of Timely Conversations 14:55 Building a Culture of Feedback 18:00 Making SBIA a Daily Habit 23:21 Why Personal Growth Fuels Great Leadership 26:31 Coaching at Every Level of Leadership 31:29 Integrating Faith with Leadership 35:31 What It Means to Be an Uncommon Leader 39:13 Must-Reads for Growth-Driven Leaders