In today’s episode of CBT Now, we’re joined by Dave Anderson, author, speaker, leadership expert, and president of LearnToLead, to introduce his new exclusive series for CBT News, Lessons In Leadership. In this conversation, Anderson shares his vision for the series, focusing on practical, immediately applicable strategies for effective leadership.
Each episode of Lessons In Leadership will offer quick, impactful lessons from his book Elevate Your Excellence: The Power of Doing Ordinary Things Extraordinarily Well. It is designed to help managers sharpen their leadership skills and cultivate high-performance cultures. With episodes running between three to four minutes, the series is an accessible resource for busy professionals. Anderson emphasizes that leadership training should focus on skill-building rather than just offering information, noting that true effectiveness comes from repetition and practice.
Elevate Your Excellence: The Power of Doing Ordinary Things Extraordinarily Well
One of the key challenges Anderson highlights is the prevalence of employees not having their priorities in order. A common issue in the workplace, he points out, is habitual tardiness. While many leaders may treat it as a minor problem, Anderson stresses that it disrupts team momentum and sets a poor example. His advice is to address the issue directly, using clear and structured communication—an approach that, when followed correctly, prevents repeat offenses.
Anderson also notes that many managers are promoted based on their individual performance rather than their leadership training. When stepping into a leadership role, there must be a shift in mindset. It’s no longer about being a “do-er” but about stepping into a role where guiding, impacting, and developing teams is the focus. Leadership requires intentional development, and to bridge the gap between ability and skill, Anderson urges managers to focus on a few essential competencies and refine them through continuous training.
Drawing a comparison to martial arts, Anderson stresses the importance of repetition in training. Key techniques must be practiced until they become instinctive. The goal is to help leaders move beyond merely knowing what to do and develop the confidence to execute effectively.
Anderson will cover real-world challenges throughout his new series, such as handling difficult employees, setting clear expectations, and maintaining accountability to help leaders develop high-performing teams.
"An ability is the capacity to perform a task. I can hold someone accountable, I can conduct a meeting, and I can do an interview. A skill is the ability to do something particularly well. Well, there's a huge gap. Okay, so you can do it, but are you doing it particularly well?" – Dave Anderson
