As we continue to experiment in the Do Good to Lead Well universe, for this month’s solo episode, I am happy to share a very engaging conversation I had as a featured guest on the Leader Chat podcast. We dig into both of my books (Do Good to Lead Well and A Time to Lead) to examine the science and practice of positive leadership.  Leadership isn't just about guiding others—in fact, it starts with leading yourself. Drawing on wisdom from past guests of this podcast like Doug Conant, former CEO of Campbell Soup, we highlight that how we manage our mindset and emotions profoundly affects our ability to foster high performance and innovation. We also touch on the idea that our emotions are vital data points to be learned from rather than feelings to be feared. We also unpack evidence-informed strategies for giving and receiving feedback while maintaining a nurturing environment. Finally, we close the conversation talking about strategies to overcome the fear of conflict. In fact, difficult conversations represent a powerful opportunity to learn and grow. We also identify several strategies to navigate conflict more effectively.  I hope you enjoy this special episode where I am now in the guest chair. What You’ll Learn: • What is positive leadership? • The crucial role of mindset and emotions in leadership • The benefit of viewing our emotions as valuable data points about our inner world • Practical strategies for giving and receiving (critical) feedback • How self-awareness and emotional intelligence drives performance, innovation, and engagement • The importance of prioritizing personal growth and reflection Podcast Timestamps: (00:55) - Introduction (16:24) Navigating Our Mindset and Emotions (25:54) The Power of Feedback in Leadership Excellence (38:10) Maximizing Self-Awareness as a Leader (50:18) Concluding Thoughts and the Future of Leadership More of Jeff: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjeffrose/ Mentions: https://www.cognia.org/news-events/podcasts/leader-chat/ Key Topics Discussed: Positive Leadership, Leadership Development, The Science and Practice of Leadership, The Psychology of Leadership, Self-awareness, Mastering our Mindset, Managing Emotions, Giving and Receiving Feedback, Emotional Intelligence, Peak Performance, Innovation, Employee Engagement, Personal Growth, Self-Reflection, Learning from Mistakes, Expressing Gratitude, Empathy, VUCA World More of Do Good to Lead Well: Website: https://craigdowden.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigdowden/