Send us a text

Ever wonder why some teams excel while others flounder? This episode dives deep into what separates high-functioning collaborative environments from toxic workplaces through the lens of veteran leaders with decades of military and civilian experience.

Our panel of leadership experts breaks down the essential components of building teams people actually want to join. They share candid experiences from naval leadership roles, classroom management, and business environments that reveal universal principles about human motivation and group dynamics. With refreshing honesty, they discuss how poor leadership directly impacts team performance and how effective leaders create shared vision that aligns diverse personalities toward common goals.

The conversation takes a vulnerable turn when discussing burnout among high-performers—revealing how even the most dedicated leaders struggle with sustainability while maintaining their drive for excellence. You'll hear practical strategies for managing workload, creating strategic "battle rhythms," and establishing communication protocols that prevent team exhaustion without sacrificing results.

The most compelling insights emerge around trust—described as "the foundation of everything." The panel explores how trust gets fractured in professional relationships and provides a roadmap for rebuilding it when broken. Their straightforward approach cuts through typical leadership platitudes to offer actionable wisdom about consistency, authenticity, and the courage to have difficult conversations.

Whether you're leading a small project team or managing an entire organization, you'll walk away with battle-tested techniques for inspiring collaboration, communicating effectively, and building the trust necessary for any team to thrive. Subscribe now and join the conversation about creating teams where people genuinely want to contribute their best.

https://www.wordsfromthewise.net/

Send us a text

Ever wonder what happens when military discipline meets civilian work culture? Jon Floyd's remarkable journey from undesignated fireman to business owner provides fascinating insights into leadership across vastly different worlds.

When Jon first approached a Navy recruiter after being rejected by the Marines, he had no idea his career would span two military branches, multiple combat deployments, and eventually lead to entrepreneurial success. Growing up working with horses in Southern California taught him early lessons about responsibility that would serve him well through a career that defied conventional paths. As we follow his evolution from a young sailor aboard the USS Belleau Wood to an Army Special Forces operator through the "Blue to Green" program during the height of the Iraq War, Jon reveals the cultural differences between service branches and the persistent leadership principles that transcend them.

What truly sets Jon's story apart is how his military experience came full circle in unexpected ways. After 20 years of service and multiple combat deployments, he discovered a business opportunity cleaning commercial kitchen exhaust systems—work he had coincidentally performed as a punishment detail during his early Navy days. Now as a business owner, he faces a new battlefield: managing civilian employees who lack military conditioning. His approach combines clear expectations with hands-on leadership, working alongside his team rather than directing from above.

The conversation delves into profound questions about generational differences, parenting challenges, and finding purpose after military service. Jon's straightforward philosophy—"The only time you fail is when you quit"—has carried him through transitions that derail many veterans. Whether you're a veteran navigating civilian life, a business leader seeking fresh perspectives, or simply fascinated by stories of remarkable resilience, Jon's journey offers valuable wisdom about leadership, adaptation, and the unwavering determination to succeed regardless of circumstances.

https://www.wordsfromthewise.net/

Send us a text

"Trust is the currency of leadership." This powerful statement forms the backbone of our fascinating discussion on navigating organizational and personal change. When facing transitions, what separates successful leaders from those who struggle isn't necessarily their strategy—it's how much trust they've banked with their teams.

Throughout this conversation, we unpack why people resist change (hint: it's rarely about the change itself) and how leaders can transform that resistance into enthusiasm. We explore the volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity that characterize today's leadership landscape, offering practical approaches to each challenge. You'll discover why creating artificial urgency without substance backfires, while authentic urgency paired with a compelling vision mobilizes teams toward remarkable achievements.

Our panel of leadership experts, all with military backgrounds, shares candid stories of leadership successes and failures. They reveal how emotional intelligence fundamentally changes your ability to guide others through difficult transitions, and why the best leaders focus on developing other leaders rather than controlling every aspect of change themselves. We discuss John Kotter's eight-step model for leading change, with particular emphasis on building a coalition of willing participants and removing barriers to progress.

Perhaps most compelling is our examination of servant leadership as the ultimate approach to change management. As one panelist notes, "Everybody wants to claim they're a servant leader until they're asked to scrub the toilets." This honest assessment challenges us to consider whether we're truly practicing leadership as service or merely using the language to elevate ourselves.

Whether you're leading a large organization, a small team, or a family, this conversation offers practical wisdom for navigating change with integrity, purpose, and effectiveness. Subscribe now to continue exploring leadership principles that transform not just organizations but lives.

https://www.wordsfromthewise.net/

Send us a text

What happens when a boy from the Amazon jungle finds himself thrust into the concrete jungle of New York City, and later becomes a commissioned officer in the United States Navy? Lesley Prasad's life story reads like an epic journey of resilience, faith, and transformation.

Growing up along the Demerara River in Guyana, Lesley spent his early childhood "literally like the kid in the jungle book," running through the rainforest in loincloths, learning to catch fish, set traps, and identify safe foods to eat. When his family immigrated to Queens, New York in the mid-1980s, nine-year-old Leslie faced the crushing weight of culture shock. Five family members sharing a single room, struggling with English in school, and navigating the dangerous streets of New York during the height of gang violence shaped his early American experience.

The turning point came when Lesley joined the Navy, seeking escape from the perilous streets of his neighborhood. His naval journey reads like a masterclass in overcoming obstacles – from a protracted battle for citizenship to failing the MCAT after years of preparation for medical school. Yet these apparent setbacks revealed themselves as divine redirections. Through deployments to Bahrain, Hawaii, and aboard the USNS Comfort during the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake (where his team performed 845 life-saving surgeries in just 45 days), Lesley discovered his true calling in leadership and service.

Perhaps most powerful is Lesley's spiritual evolution from his Hindu upbringing to finding Christianity, and how his mother's six-year illness – while devastating – allowed him the precious gift of preparation for her passing. Today, as a commissioned officer serving as Safety Officer for USS John F. Kennedy, Lesley embodies his philosophy of "compound blessings" – the belief that each generation should build upon the sacrifices of those who came before.

Want to understand what happens when unwavering faith meets determined resilience? Leslie's story will challenge your perspective on adversity and inspire you to see setbacks as setups for something greater. Share this episode with someone who needs a reminder that their current struggles might be preparing them for an unexpected but perfect destination.

https://www.wordsfromthewise.net/

Send us a text

Leadership experts Gary Wise and Chris highlight storytelling as a foundational skill for effective communication, inspiration, and meaningful connections with others. They explore how stories create lasting impact where facts alone cannot, drawing from their extensive experience in military leadership, business, education, and faith communities.

• Stories activate the same brain regions as actual experiences, making them more memorable than facts alone
• Biblical parables demonstrate the power of storytelling to communicate complex ideas in accessible ways
• Authenticity in sharing personal failures creates deeper connections than only sharing successes
• The "hero's journey" framework provides a timeless structure for effective storytelling
• Great leaders focus on relating to people through shared stories rather than simply managing tasks
• Creating a shared narrative builds team identity more effectively than policies and procedures alone
• Personal mentorship requires active listening to understand others' stories before guiding them
• Complacency is a key enemy of both leadership and personal growth

To become a better storyteller, consider how your experiences can help others navigate challenges, and remember that vulnerability often creates the strongest connections. What story will you share today that might change someone's perspective?

https://www.wordsfromthewise.net/

Send us a text

What happens when life's unexpected turns become your greatest opportunities? In this deeply personal conversation, Master Chief Jose Alonso reveals his extraordinary journey from Uruguayan immigrant to elite Navy medical provider, demonstrating how adaptability and resilience can transform apparent setbacks into stepping stones for growth.

Alonso shares the remarkable story of his family's pursuit of the American dream, arriving with nothing but determination and watching his parents build successful lives through perseverance. His decision to join the Navy stemmed from a combination of gratitude toward his adopted country, post-9/11 patriotism, and uncertainty about his career path – a feeling many young adults can relate to.

The conversation takes fascinating turns as Alonso recounts his unexpected conversion from Boatswain's Mate to Hospital Corpsman – a field he initially resisted due to his aversion to blood. Yet this apparent career detour became the pathway to becoming an Independent Duty Corpsman (IDC), an elite position where he served as the sole medical provider aboard small patrol crafts in challenging environments.

Perhaps most compelling are Alonso's firsthand accounts of managing through major crises – from the 2011 Tomodachi disaster following Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami to coordinating medical responses during the COVID-19 pandemic while stationed at Seventh Fleet. These experiences highlight the extraordinary demands placed on military personnel and the leadership required to navigate unprecedented challenges.

Throughout his story emerges a powerful leadership philosophy distilled to a single word: care. Alonso demonstrates that technical expertise must be paired with genuine concern for others to truly make a difference – a lesson applicable far beyond military service.

Whether you're facing uncertainty in your own career path, managing through difficult transitions, or simply looking for inspiration in overcoming life's unexpected challenges, this conversation offers valuable insights about turning adversity into advantage through resilience, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to serving others.

https://www.wordsfromthewise.net/

Send us a text

"The world's a stage, and I can be anybody I want to be." In this thought-provoking conversation, Navy veteran Gary Wise welcomes Marine Corps veteran Chris Cahill to discuss how feedback shapes our personal and professional growth across generations.

Drawing from their combined decades of military service and leadership experience, they dive deep into how our approaches to giving and receiving feedback are molded by our upbringing, generational context, and professional environments. Chris shares his remarkable journey from scrawny middle schooler to Marine grunt to successful entrepreneur, highlighting how different feedback styles – from his harsh grandfather to his nurturing father – shaped his leadership philosophy.

The discussion examines why many corporate environments rely unnecessarily on HR to mediate feedback conversations, robbing teams of authentic connection. Both men agree that the most powerful feedback occurs when people feel genuinely heard and work toward common goals. "Replace 'I' with 'we'," Chris suggests, "and suddenly criticism becomes collective problem-solving."

Their conversation touches on fascinating generational differences – from the direct, no-nonsense approach of their grandparents' generation to today's technology-savvy youth who can fact-check any statement in seconds. Yet despite these differences, they observe that Generation Z craves in-person connection and authentic relationships perhaps even more than their millennial predecessors.

Whether you're a veteran transitioning to civilian leadership, a manager struggling with employee feedback, or someone looking to improve communication in personal relationships, this episode offers practical wisdom on creating environments where honest dialogue can flourish. Listen now to discover how intentional, authentic feedback can bridge generational divides and build stronger teams.

https://www.wordsfromthewise.net/

Send us a text

What if the conflicts you dread most could become your greatest opportunities for team growth? In this candid conversation between two seasoned leaders with military backgrounds, we explore the counterintuitive truth that healthy conflict—when handled properly—builds stronger teams than artificial harmony ever could.

Drawing from decades of leadership experience in high-pressure environments, our speakers share riveting stories that demonstrate how moments of intense disagreement can reveal character, build trust, and spark innovation. You'll hear a particularly powerful account of how a devastating crisis situation transformed two feuding team members into collaborators when it mattered most—showcasing how shared purpose transcends personal differences.

The discussion breaks down four common types of conflict (individual, group, team, and organizational) and examines different conflict management styles with refreshing honesty. Rather than offering superficial solutions, our speakers tackle the messy reality of workplace tension, including what to do with team members who take everything personally or those who avoid conflict entirely at the expense of progress.

Most valuable is their framework for transforming how leaders approach disagreement: not as something to minimize, but as an energy to channel productively. They explain why the ability to have difficult conversations distinguishes true leaders from mere managers, and why creating psychologically safe spaces for authentic disagreement ultimately leads to better decision-making and stronger team bonds.

Whether you're leading a small project team or an entire organization, you'll walk away with practical insights for turning potential battlegrounds into opportunities for growth. How might your team's next disagreement become the catalyst for your greatest breakthrough?

https://www.wordsfromthewise.net/