Are you struggling to keep your team motivated? Or maybe feeling stuck in your own leadership role? If this sounds familiar, you might need a fresh approach, and Andrea Johnson, "The Intentional Optimist," might just have the insights you need to turn things around. The host of The Deep Wealth Podcast and post-exit entrepreneur Jeffrey Feldberg speaks with author and leadership coach Andrea Johnson.
Andrea Johnson is on a mission. She wants to help executives and founders find their true leadership potential. She believes in leading with authenticity, conviction, and confidence. Sounds powerful, right? Andrea wasn't always someone who knew the path she wanted. Her journey began as a reflection of her own life experiences, including her role as an adoptive parent and her international upbringing. She learned that emotional resilience is earned, not given.
Andrea is a leadership coach dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and leaders discover their core values and thrive in business and life. In our discussion, Andrea shared valuable insights and advice that can transform how we lead and operate in our businesses.
Andrea’s journey began when she turned 50 and realized she wasn't happy following the path society laid out for her. "I realized I was not at all celebrating the strengths that I had created with the unique aspects of my personality," she shared. Andrea encourages all of us to break away from trying to fit into molds and instead celebrate who we truly are.
She discovered the significance of core values through personal growth, stating, "The process of uncovering and understanding the significance of her core values became the key to the process that allows her clients to do the same."
The Power of Intentional Optimism
Andrea is often known as the "Intentional Optimist." This concept isn't about ignoring reality but embracing a hopeful mindset while staying real. Andrea explained, "A real good optimist is somebody who's willing to see the bad side in order to be able to see the good side." Her six tenets of intentional optimism—being optimistic, present, energetic, courageous, wise, and intentional—are her guiding principles.
Andrea developed something called "Intentional Optimism," a philosophy built on six tenets. Optimism, Presence, Energy, Courage, Wisdom, and Intentionality create a road map for intentional living. This philosophy isn’t just for Andrea—it’s for anyone looking to lead and thrive. For her, it's about living life with an aligned purpose and being true to oneself in leadership roles.
When you know your core values, you have the power to stop following others and start defining your own principles. Andrea stresses the importance of maintaining authenticity in whatever you do in life and business.
The Importance of Core Values in Business
Often, entrepreneurs get lost in the daily grind, struggling with workplace frustrations. Andrea believes the root cause is often a misalignment with core values. "Nine times out of 10, maybe it's because I speak core values, it's always a core value problem with my clients," she stated. This emphasizes the need to reflect and ensure your business aligns with who you are fundamentally.
Andrea’s coaching program focuses heavily on helping leaders define and live by their core values. As she pointed out, “It's never finished, but you will get more and more clear as you go along.” The work on core values is ongoing but crucial for lasting success and fulfillment.
Andrea talks about a success story with one of her clients—a CEO who was juggling multiple businesses. By working through her core values, this client managed to close two companies and double her revenue with the third. She said, "She felt so confident in making her decisions, because she understood who she was."
The moral of the story? The clearer you are with who you are, the better your business decisions will be. Andrea’s methodology turns introspection into action, helping leaders become more effective and fulfilled.
Enhancing Leadership through DISC
In addition to core values, Andrea utilizes DISC, a popular behavioral assessment, to enhance team productivity and alignment. She noted, "Understanding how your team communicates... opens doors to, again, I'm going to use that word grace."
DISC can reveal how different personality traits contribute to team dynamics and highlight where improvements can be made for optimum performance. Andrea’s approach ensures that team members are in roles that match their strengths, reducing frustration and increasing productivity.
If that sounds like something you need in your company, then it’s time to tune into this podcast and apply these insights. Jeffrey Feldberg and Andrea Johnson cover everything from personality assessments like DISC to navigating social changes in leadership roles. It's about understanding people, their roles, and the untapped potentials that lie within your team.
Andrea shares, "When you put your people into the right positions and you have them communicating well... your company is really attractive." A successful leader knows that clicking all these pieces together is what fuels a well-oiled machine that can adapt and thrive.
Andrea is passionate about empowering female leaders and sees present times as an opportunity for growth. "We have the ability to relate to people... women have superpowers that just, we don't celebrate," she said. She encourages women to step up and embrace their unique skills.
Today is an opportunity to reflect on what changes you want to bring into your leadership style. Whether it’s trying out Andrea's cheat sheet for understanding DISC, or diving into core values, remember: “It’s not what you do that makes you an impactful leader. It’s who you are.”
Final Thoughts and Next Steps
Andrea's approach to leadership is not about following a one-size-fits-all model but about understanding and nurturing your unique qualities. As she stated, "It's not what you do that makes you an impactful leader. It's who you are."
For those ready to embark on this journey of self-discovery and leadership development, Andrea offers resources to get started, such as a DISC cheat sheet available on her website. These tools can be the first step in understanding yourself and your team better.
In conclusion, remember to embrace who you are, honor your core values, and continue to foster a positive, intentional outlook. A successful leader is someone who remains true to their unique self while empowering those around them. As Andrea wisely put it, "Be willing to think for yourself."
Thank you for joining us today, Deep Wealth Nation. We hope you find Andrea’s insights as motivating as we did. Stay true to yourself and your values, and the rest will follow. Until next time, keep thriving and prospering.
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