What does a rowboat have to do with leadership? It turns out to be a powerful metaphor to understand both positive leadership and our own contributions—and potential areas for self-development—for the organization. In this episode, author, film producer, humanitarian, serial entrepreneur, former and current CEO, lifelong learner, and constant questioner Paul Fayad teaches us how to recognize the role of positive leadership and how to use it in organizations, to focus on the rowers and the work that they accomplish in order to increase productivity and lower turnover in organizations, and to understand that personalities are stable and that changing personalities that are not a good fit with our organizations is not where our focus should be. Instead, it should be on recognizing and rewarding positive behaviors in our rowers and on moving ourselves in most cases from sitters to rowers. Based on his real-world application over many decades of the science of leadership and behaviors to his own work in industry, Paul Fayad provides tested personal and professional insights and helpful practical tips for how we can recognize and use these principles in our daily lives.

Fayad, P., & Lam, C., F. (2023). Shaping a Winning Team: A Leader's Guide to Hiring, Assessing, and Developing the People You Need to Succeed. New York: Amplify Publishing Group.

Paul Fayad Bio

Paul has owned, operated, and run multiple companies throughout his 40 years in business. Paul has consulted with multiple organizations nationwide to establish leadership programs based on positive leadership skills. He has lectured at universities and college business schools in the United States, Canada, and Hong Kong. Paul has been invited as a national speaker and has written numerous articles in trade journals and e-books. Paul recently co-authored the book Shaping a Winning Team: A leader’s guide to Hiring, Assessing and Developing the People You Need to Succeed. Recently Paul produced the Documentary Helambu, How One School Changed Everything, which was a winner of the London Film Festival and finalist at the Banff and Vancouver Film Festivals.

He co-founded and is active with the East Side Youth Sports Foundation, dedicated to helping disadvantaged children in Detroit participate in sports and literacy programs. He is active with the Tsering’s Fund in Nepal, providing young girls and orphans who would otherwise face human trafficking the opportunity for education through scholarships. Paul is involved with Friends to Mankind and the Dhyan Vimal Institute based in Canada and Malaysia, providing coursework in leadership and self-development. Paul has worked with Habitat for Humanity locally and internationally.

Links to entities referenced in the episode:

https://positiveleader.com/

https://elmlearning.com/

https://esysf.com/

https://www.tseringsfund.org/

https://www.dhyanvimalinstitute.com/