Unlocking Human Potential | Phil Geldart | 573

Leveraging Thought Leadership

In this episode of the Thought Leadership Leverage podcast, host Bill Sherman sits down with Phil Geldart, CEO of Eagle's Flight, to discuss his innovative approach to leadership and learning. With his upcoming book, "Leading What Matters Most: A Business Parable on Unlocking Human Potential," set to release later in 2024, Geldart shares insights from his transformative career.

Early in his career, Geldart faced a daunting challenge: engaging a skeptical audience who believed they had nothing to learn. Hired by a company indifferent to training, he devised a unique strategy. Phil created a desert survival board game and persuaded reluctant factory workers to play. The game’s unexpected effectiveness, leading them to realize the principles could enhance their work, marked the birth of experiential learning. Building on the success of his innovative training methods, Geldart authored his first book, "In Your Hands: The Behaviors of a World-Class Leader." By breaking down complex leadership concepts into digestible sections with practical illustrations, he provided an accessible tool for personal and professional growth. His subsequent books, like "EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING: Changing Behavior to Improve Performance," further solidified his reputation as a pioneer in experiential learning. Despite his success, Geldart humbly resisted the label of a thought leader until his Senior Head of Marketing pointed out his influence. Focused on creating real change, Geldart emphasizes the importance of adding value to others' lives over seeking recognition. This perspective shapes his and Sherman’s discussion on the true essence of thought leadership, defined more by impact than titles. Geldart sees the modern workforce as young, informed, and value-driven, requiring a shift in leadership approaches. His new book aims to address this by equipping leaders with tools to unlock human potential. Partnering with Forbes, Geldart plans to leverage their platform to reach busy CEOs, planting seeds of thought leadership that can flourish when the time is right. To amplify his message, Geldart combines client referrals with strategic exposure through Forbes. Understanding the challenge of capturing a CEO’s attention, he underscores the importance of consistent, value-driven engagement. By doing so, he aims to position the unlocking of human potential as a priority with significant returns for organizations. • Innovative Training Through Experiential Learning: Phil Geldart's use of a desert survival board game effectively engaged skeptical factory workers, demonstrating the power of experiential learning in transforming attitudes and behaviors. This approach laid the foundation for his successful career in developing innovative training methods. • Accessible Leadership Insights: Geldart's books, including "In Your Hands: The Behaviors of a World-Class Leader" and "EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING: Changing Behavior to Improve Performance," break down complex concepts into practical, easy-to-understand sections. These resources provide actionable insights for leaders seeking to enhance their skills and drive organizational performance. • Leveraging Thought Leadership for Impact: Despite initially resisting the label of a thought leader, Geldart recognized the importance of sharing his knowledge to add value to others. His strategic partnership with Forbes aims to amplify his message, reaching influential CEOs and helping them unlock human potential within their organizations.