#0079 – When Stressing Out Employees is a Good Thing

#0079 – When Stressing Out Employees is a Good Thing

Author: Jon S. Rennie August 9, 2021 Duration: 13:56
The title of this podcast might be confusing. If you’ve followed this podcast for a while, you know I talk a lot about treating employees with respect. You might be thinking, how is stressing out your people respectful? Well – it’s all about growth. You’ve probably heard the phrase “If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.” This episode talks about the importance of challenging employees. It’s about putting them in circumstances beyond their current capabilities to give them a chance to learn and grow. Too many companies give their hard jobs to senior employees and they never let the new employees get the opportunities to learn. Great leaders provide those opportunities. Leadership expert, Robin Sharma describes what it is like when new employees are challenged “As you move outside of your comfort zone, what was once the unknown and frightening becomes your new normal.” The only way to get to higher levels of performance is to be stressed and stretched. In today’s episode, I’m going to tell you a story from my days as a junior officer on board the nuclear submarine USS Tennessee and how my captain was an expert at “pressure testing” his new employees. If you want to learn more about how submarine captains “pressure-test” their crews, pick up a copy of my latest leadership book. I cover this in depth in chapter 7 of All in the Same Boat. _____ Purchase my latest bestselling leadership book now All in the Same Boat - Lead Your Organization Like a Nuclear Submariner Visit our sponsor Bottom Gun Coffee Company use the discount code "DEEP" Become a leader worth following today with these powerful resources: Purchase my bestselling leadership book "I Have the Watch: Becoming a Leader Worth Following" use the discount code "DEEP" Subscribe to my leadership newsletter Follow Jon S Rennie on Twitter Follow Jon S Rennie on Instagram Follow Jon S Rennie on YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For anyone who’s ever felt that leadership advice can be too theoretical or disconnected from reality, Deep Leadership offers a grounded alternative. Host Jon S. Rennie operates from a simple, powerful belief: “Leadership is a People Business.” This isn’t about abstract concepts; it’s about the tangible, often messy work of guiding teams and organizations. Jon brings a unique perspective shaped by his time as a Cold War Submarine Officer and over two decades leading within Corporate America before founding his own manufacturing company. In each episode, he translates that extensive experience into practical, actionable insights you can apply immediately. The conversations here delve into the core of what makes leadership work-or fail-across business, culture, and society. You’ll hear from Jon and a variety of expert guests as they explore the philosophical and practical dimensions of guiding people, discussing everything from daily management challenges to broader cultural forces that shape how we work. This podcast is built on the conviction that leadership matters profoundly, and that getting it right requires depth, reflection, and a relentless focus on the human element. Tune in for thoughtful discussions that cut through the noise and get to the heart of leading well.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 424

Deep Leadership
Podcast Episodes
#0104 - Leading Hybrid Meetings with Karin Reed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:56
Today I’m joined by Karin Reed. If you’ve heard the name before, it’s because she is a returning guest to the show. She was on Episode 64 last April and we had an amazing discussion. Karin is an Emmy-award-winning broadc…
#0103 – Called to Serve with Marjorie K. Eastman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:26
Today I’m joined by Marjorie K. Eastman. Marjorie is a United States Army veteran who served combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. She is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur. She is the author of the award-winning…
#0101 – Lead like a Submarine Captain with Ryan Ramsey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:01
Today I’m joined by Ryan Ramsey. Ryan is the former Captain of the Royal Navy submarine HMS TURBULENT. He was also the Commanding Officer of the Royal Navy’s Submarine Command Course which is the school for naval officer…
#0100 – Leadership for Everyday Life with John VanDusen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:47
Today I’m joined by John VanDusen. John is a Teacher, a Football Coach, and a Soldier. He served for 20 years in the Michigan Army National Guard with combat deployments to Iraq as a Platoon Leader, and Afghanistan as a…
#0099 – The Soul of a Company with Ralf Specht [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:58
Today I’m joined by Ralf Specht. Ralf is co-the founder Spark44, a global marketing communications company that he grew under his leadership to $100 + million in revenue and 1,200 employees. He and his fellow co-founders…
#0098 – A Lifetime of Leadership with Michael C. MacDonald [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:16
Today I’m joined by Michael C. MacDonald. Michael is former CEO and Chairman of the Board of Medifast, Inc., a nutrition and weight loss company based in Baltimore, Maryland. Prior to that, he served in senior leadership…
#0097 – High Adventure Leadership with James Elliott [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:40
Today I’m joined by James Elliott. James is a certified leadership coach and trainer, aerospace safety and quality professional, aviator, and founder of High Adventure Leadership. He is a student of leadership and has be…
#0096 – Lead Well with Ken Falke [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:53
Today I’m joined by Ken Falke. Ken spent 21 years in the US Navy as a bomb disposal specialist. After retiring from the Navy, Ken became an entrepreneur. He founded and exited two businesses then later created two non-pr…
#0095 – Applying Military Leadership Lessons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:46
As an author and speaker, I get opportunities to be a guest on many podcasts and I really enjoy talking about leadership and leadership issues. Recently on the Armed Forces Brewing Company’s podcast and I thought it was…