Episode Details

In this powerful episode of Mind Over Masculinity, guest host Sana sits down with leadership mentor and author Jim Carlough to explore his life-tested framework: The 6 Pillars of Effective Leadership. From a 42-year nightly integrity ritual to turning a team facing layoffs into the happiest employees in a 20,000-person company, Jim shares raw, real-world stories that prove leadership isn’t about authority — it’s about integrity, compassion, and having your people’s backs. A must-listen for anyone leading teams, families, or their own life.

Key Takeaways:

• Integrity is non-negotiable: Jim has asked himself every single night since 1983, “Did I do anything today for my own benefit at someone else’s expense?” — and never once answered yes.

• Compassion + Empathy in action: When sunsetting an old product line, Jim gave his team 6+ months’ notice, paid training for new roles, and personally helped anyone who wanted to leave find their next job — resulting in zero turnover and the happiest team in the company.

• Stability builds trust: Leaders must remain calm and consistent in crisis — “If I’m jumping up and down screaming when there’s a fire, my people will panic.”

• Focus turns problems into breakthroughs: Jeff Bezos once moved his desk into customer service for 6 months to fix Amazon’s early reputation — extreme focus saved the company.

• The 6 Pillars are timeless yet evolving: They work in boardrooms, kitchens (executive chefs love the book!), classrooms, and stay-at-home parenting.

• Great leaders don’t need all the answers — they create environments where their smarter teams can co-create solutions.

• Leadership today is collaborative, not authoritarian — the old “my way or the highway” style is dead.

The 6 Pillars of Effective Leadership (as shared by Jim Carlough):

1. Integrity (the non-negotiable foundation)

2. Compassion

3. Empathy

4. Stability

5. Focus

6. (Implied 6th pillar from context: Collaboration / Developing the next generation of leaders)

Connect with Guest Jim Carlough:

• Website & Book: https://www.jimcarlough.com

• LinkedIn: Search “Jim Carlough” (author of The Six Pillars of Effective Leadership)

• Book available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or directly from Jim

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Disclaimer
This video is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed are the personal opinions of the guest and do not reflect the views of the host or Healthy Mind By Avik. We do not intend to harm, defame, or discredit any person, organization, brand, produ