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How Leaders Lead with David Novak

#27: Lauren Hobart, Dick’s Sporting Goods President & CEO—Communicate by Making a Connection

How Leaders Lead with David Novak

David Novak Leadership

Entrepreneurship, Business, Management

4.8596 Ratings

🗓️ 4 February 2021

⏱️ 45 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Today’s guest is Lauren Hobart, President & CEO of Dick's Sporting Goods. If you look at any job description for a leadership role, the one thing that’s ALWAYS going to be listed there is … drumroll, please … excellent communication skills. In fact, we talk about communication skills in leadership so often that it’s easy to forget what it actually means to communicate well. Today’s conversation with Lauren is the perfect reminder of what great communicators do.  It’s not just about being well spoken – although Lauren certainly is. It’s more than that.  Lauren sees communication as a way to connect with people. It’s a huge reason she has been tapped to take the reins at Dick’s Sporting Goods, making her one of only 41 women CEOs leading a Fortune 500 Company. This conversation is a masterclass in great communication – how you can relate better to your direct reports, address conflict, get your vision across, and so much more. I can’t wait for you to learn how to communicate by making a connection. You’ll also learn: One super practical strategy to use with your direct reports if you don’t already  Tips for navigating disagreements with a colleague you really respect What to do (and not do) when you’ve got a toxic person on the team Why giving your team clear objectives isn’t enough (plus what you need to add) Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources: The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go  Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Welcome to How Leaders Lead, where every week you get to listen in while I interview some of the very best leaders in the world.

0:10.3

I break down the key learning so that by the end of the episode, you'll have something simple you can apply as you develop into a better leader.

0:17.7

That's what this podcast is all about.

0:20.6

Today's guest is Lauren Hobart, president and

0:23.5

CEO of Dick Sporting Goods. I'd bet you good money. If you look at any job description for a

0:29.6

leadership role, the one thing that's always going to be listed there is excellent communication

0:34.4

skills. And it's funny, we talk about communication skills and leadership

0:38.6

so often that it's easy to forget what it actually means to communicate well. Today's conversation

0:45.0

with Lauren is just the best reminder of what great communicators do. It's not just about being

0:51.4

well-spoken, although Lauren certainly is. It's more than that.

0:56.0

Lauren sees communication as a way to connect with people. It's a huge reason she has been

1:01.3

tapped to take the reins at Dick's sporting goods, making her one of only 41 women's

1:06.3

CEOs leading a Fortune 500 company. This conversation is a masterclass in great communication,

1:13.7

how you can relate better to your direct reports,

1:16.5

how you can address conflict,

1:18.3

how you can get your vision across,

1:20.3

and so much more.

1:21.9

I can't wait for you to learn how to communicate by making a connection.

1:25.8

So here's my conversation with my good friend and soon to be

1:29.5

yours, Lauren Hobart. Lauren, you've just been announced as the upcoming CEO of Dick Sporting's

1:40.4

goods. You're going to take over the role officially February 1. You've been present,

1:46.2

but now I know everybody's looking at you. They're saying you're the CEO. Does it feel any

...

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