Hey Leaders, Who are you really listening to? Most organizations spend time studying complaints… But the smartest ones study loyalty. This HBR article flips the script by reminding us that your biggest fans are more than supporters, they’re a blueprint. They reveal what you’re doing right, what people value most, and where deeper connection is possible. If you want to grow, don’t just fix what’s broken. Learn from what’s working. Here’s what stands out: Your fans know your strengths better than your metrics - Data shows trends, but loyal customers and team members reveal why those strengths matter. Loyalty is built on emotional connection - People don’t just support what you do. They support how you make them feel. Your best advocates can shape your future - Their insights can guide innovation, messaging, and culture if you’re willing to listen. Engagement goes both ways - The more you recognize and involve your supporters, the stronger the relationship becomes. Culture mirrors your customer experience - The way your team operates internally often reflects what your customers experience externally. Here’s the leadership truth: Your greatest growth opportunity may already be in the people who believe in you most. At Axis Leadership, we believe strong leaders build organizations where people feel seen, valued, and connected, because that’s what creates lasting impact. Better People. Better World. Download and read the full article Let’s discuss: How are you learning from the people who already believe in your mission? - Dr. Joe

Hey Leaders, Now we move into Level 2 leadership. This is where leadership becomes personal. At Level 1, people follow you because they have to. At Level 2, people follow you because they want to. Why? Because relationships matter. People don’t give their best to leaders who only manage tasks. They give their best to leaders who genuinely care about them. This level is built on: • Trust • Connection • Communication • Respect Great leaders understand this: Leadership is not just about getting results. It’s about building people. When your team knows you value them beyond their performance, everything changes. Morale improves. Communication improves. Commitment improves. People may forget what you said. But they’ll never forget how you made them feel. Discussion 1️⃣ Why are relationships essential in leadership? 2️⃣ How does trust impact team performance? 3️⃣ What’s the difference between managing people and connecting with people? Leadership Challenge Take time this week to intentionally connect with someone on your team beyond the work itself. Listen. Encourage. Show appreciation. Because better relationships create better teams. And better people create a better world. – Dr. Joe

If you are still interested in attending our free, two-day Boots to Business (B2B) - Reboot Workshop. And by all means, please, feel free to share this information. In-person | Boots to Business (B2B) - Reboot 2-day Workshop Start your entrepreneurship journey with Boots to Business or Boots to Business-Reboot, a foundational entrepreneurial education and training program for transitioning service members, including National Guard and Reserve, Veterans of all eras, and spouses. 💰” Funded in part by a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.” 🏫The Georgia VBOC at the Georgia VECTR Center | In-person - Boots to Business (B2B) - Reboot | 1001 S. Armed Forces Blvd. Warner Robins, Georgia 31088 👨🏾‍🏫Hosted by: The Georgia VBOC at the Georgia VECTR Center | Reginald Thompson, Director, GA VBOC 🗣️Expert speakers: Tuesday, 26 May 11:00 AM - Jordan Reab, Attorney at Law | WHG&M 12:30 PM - Crystal Allen-Joyner, CEO | R.E.G.A.L. Center Wednesday, 27 May 10:00 AM - Rikki Waite, Founder | My Grandma's Empanadas 11:00 AM - Sillia Savage, Financial Center Manager | Fifth Third Bank & ATM 12:00 PM - A’Kira Foster, Commercial Real Estate Advisor, Retail & Development Specialist 12:30 PM - Rich Henderson, President & CEO | Jani-King of Augusta/Savannah/Macon/Ft Myers/Memphis/Little Rock/NW Arkansas/Tallahassee 📅 08:30 AM - 4:00 PM Tuesday, 26 May 2026 (UTC-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) Recurrence: Occurs every day, effective 5/26/2026 until 5/27/2026, from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM (UTC-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) ⏰ There will be pre-assigned breaks between each Module and Lunch Break from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM (both days) 📚Topics will include: Module 1 · Introduction to Business Ownership Module 2 · The Right Idea? Basics of Opportunity Recognition Module 3 · Understanding Markets & Your Competitive Space Module 3a · The Economics of Small Business Start-up Module 4 · Legal Considerations Module 5 · Introduction to Business Planning

Hey Leaders, Leadership isn't all about privileges; leaders carry some heavy responsibilities. The higher your level of influence, the more your actions, reactions, and presence shape the people around you. The most effective leaders understand that there are some things they just don't get to do anymore. Listen to this week's episode here! This week on the Maxwell Leadership Executive Podcast, Perry Holley and Chris Goede sit down with executive coach Corey Baker to unpack a simple phrase with powerful implications: “You don’t get to.” What began as a leadership correction inside a men’s development group has grown into a transformational framework for accountability, emotional intelligence, and culture-building. This conversation challenges leaders to rethink how they show up—at work, at home, and in every relationship where they carry influence. Here are some of the major takeaways… - Leaders Don’t Get to Check Out: When people depend on your influence, you don’t get to emotionally disconnect from the room. Your presence—or absence—impacts everyone around you. - Awareness Creates Better Responses: Events happen every day, but leaders are responsible for how they respond. Great outcomes are shaped by intentional responses, not emotional reactions. - Culture is Built in Small Moments: One leader walking through the building and intentionally greeting people can change the atmosphere of an entire team. Leadership is often revealed in the smallest behaviors. - Authenticity Still Matters: You don’t get to doesn’t mean pretending everything is perfect; it means staying engaged, honest, and relational—even when life is difficult. - Leadership Principles Follow You Home: The same emotional discipline required at work matters in your personal life too. Great leaders don’t give the people they love the worst version of themselves. - Accountability Needs Common Language: Adopting a shared leadership language creates stronger trust, healthier accountability, and greater consistency in culture.

Hey Leaders, What if the people around you are far more capable than your current system allows them to show? In this TED Talk Tuesday, Trish Millines Dziko challenges a limiting belief that has shaped education and, in many ways, the workplace: that only a few people are truly “gifted.” Instead, she makes a compelling case that genius is far more widespread but often goes unrecognized because of the environments we create. Her message is clear. Potential is everywhere, but opportunity is not. When people are placed in environments that expect little, they often deliver little. But when they are challenged, supported, and believed in, something powerful begins to happen. Confidence grows. Performance rises. Possibility expands. For leaders, this is a critical shift. Your role is not just to evaluate talent. It is to develop it. It is to create a culture where people are seen, challenged, and given the opportunity to rise beyond what they thought was possible. A few key insights from this talk: - Genius is not rare, but it is often overlooked. - Expectations shape performance more than we realizes. - Opportunity and environment unlock potential. - Belief in people can change their trajectory. Here is your challenge this week. Identify someone on your team who may be underestimated or underdeveloped. Instead of focusing on current performance, ask yourself: What potential do I see in them? Then take one intentional step to challenge, support, and invest in their growth. That is where transformation begins. Trish Millines Dziko’s TED Talk, “How we can unlock every student’s genius,” reminds us that leadership is about seeing what others cannot yet see in themselves. When we develop people with intention and belief, we move closer to our mission at Axis Leadership: Better People, Better World. You can watch it here: https://www.ted.com/talks/trish_millines_dziko_how_we_can_unlock_every_student_s_genius