Leadership Lessons from a Nuclear Submarine Lt. Commander | Matt DiGeronimo

In this episode, we dive deep into the powerful lessons of leadership, communication, and self-awareness with guest Matt DiGeronimo, a retired Navy submarine lieutenant commander and accomplished business leader. We explore how developing a questioning mindset, embracing small talk to build trust, and focusing on what truly matters can redefine the way we lead teams and navigate high-risk situations. Timestamps: (00:05) - Michael introduces guest and previews key topics. (04:09) - Matt shares key leadership lessons from serving on a submarine. (05:42) - Importance of building trust through personal connections and small talk. (08:45) - Developing a questioning attitude to promote psychological safety. (11:58) - Matt explains how he overcame his dislike for small talk. (14:44) - Focusing on what matters vs. what's impressive. (17:26) - The importance of speaking up. (19:22) - Creating environments that encourage speaking up and running impactful drills.(25:55) - Leveraging mistakes and learning organization practices. (28:02) - Taking off your rank in group conversations to foster openness. (33:06) - Matt discusses self-development and aligning personal and professional goals.(37:19) - Challenging conventional wisdom as the "average of the past." (39:53) - Embracing challenges and “the suck” as part of growth. (43:47) - Valuing dissenters and creating space for honest feedback. (46:29) - Focusing on what matters rather than what’s impressive. (51:44) - Teaching leaders that leading others is a privilege. (55:44) - Where to connect with Matt and find his work.Links and Resources:Beyond Platitudes | Matt DiGeronimo | SubstackMatt DiGeronimo | LinkedInSponsor Links:InQuasive: http://www.inquasive.com/Humintell: Body Language - Reading People - HumintellEnter Code INQUASIVE25 for 25%...