The Lost and Found Leadership Podcast

Leadership vs. Politics: Shining Truth on Turf Wars

This episode of Leadership Lost and Found explores what workplace politics really are—competition for scarce resources, status, and influence—and how they show up as turf battles, obfuscation, and hidden agendas. The hosts discuss the real costs: lost trust, stalled innovation, lower productivity, and damaged morale.

They share practical advice for leaders: use truth and transparency, assess whether you’re contributing to the problem, pick your fights wisely, document facts and business impact, manage emotion, and communicate value clearly to get organizational action.

Everyday Leadership

Hosts Randy and Jim explore what everyday leadership really looks like — consistent, intentional behaviors that make teams better. Through stories and practical tips they emphasize valuing others’ time, showing up visibly, giving in-the-moment feedback and gratitude, protecting focus time, and practicing servant leadership.

The episode breaks everyday leadership into simple habits you can adopt daily to build trust, boost confidence, and create space for people to do their best work.

Calm Command: How Mindfulness Strengthens Leadership

* Apologies for the sound issues!  It was trivia night at the bar! 
This episode explores how mindfulness and self-awareness improve leadership, sharing personal stories and practical techniques like body scans, grounding, morning meditation, and closing distractions.

Listeners will learn how being present, admitting when you9re emotionally compromised, and modeling focus and care builds psychological safety, better decisions, and stronger team performance.

Servant Leadership Unveiled: The True Guide to Impactful Leadership

In this engaging episode of Leadership Lost and Found, hosts Jim Desmond and Randy Field dive deep into the concept of servant leadership. They explore its significance, historical context, and practical application in today's corporate world. The discussion moves from a light-hearted start, acknowledging May historical moments, to a profound analysis of leadership styles, using the analogy of a hero's journey.

The hosts draw inspiration from thinkers like Simon Sinek, Donald Miller, and John Maxwell, contrasting traditional authoritarian leadership with a more empathetic, people-focused approach. Through personal anecdotes and insightful discussions, they reveal how being a guide rather than a hero can multiply leadership influence and enhance team productivity.

This episode is a must-listen for current and aspiring leaders who wish to foster a supportive and collaborative work environment, ensuring their teams thrive by aligning individual motivations with organizational goals. Their conversation offers not only a deep understanding of servant leadership but also practical advice on embracing humility, resilience, and empathy as key leadership traits.

The Art of Knowing When to Lead

In this episode of Leadership Lost and Found, we dive into the intricacies of effective leadership, exploring the importance of understanding when to step up and how core values influence leadership decisions. Recorded at Jonathan’s Grill, this episode delves into historical leadership examples and personal anecdotes, including the founding of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and valuable lessons from Rosa Parks. Join Randy and Jim as we unravel the complexities of leadership, discussing the distinction between management and leadership, and the defining moments that shape leaders. Whether it's knowing when to speak up or the importance of standing firm on your values, this episode provides insights for leaders at all levels.

I am not Judging...but I am assessing talent

Spotting talent takes....talent. You cannot rely solely on HR for assistance...you as a leader must know what good looks like...and be able to see it (or the potential for it) in others.  Join Jim Desmond and Randy Fields as they talk about talent assessment (from hiring it, grooming it, and promoting it).  

Grab a drink of some kind and listen in on how you can assess others and yourself. And how bad Monkey Shines scared Jim and Randy back in the 80's.

The Delegator

Join Randy and Jim as they work through the issue of delegation.  Understanding what it is, why it is important, and how you do it. 

Flipping the Coin : Credit & Blame

Join Jim and Randy (and maybe a leader named Ike) as they dive deep into why leaders should take all the blame and give away all the credit. 

Ike's letter to the troops:

https://taskandpurpose.com/history/d-day-letter-from-eisenhower/

Ike's letter in case of failure:

https://www.businessinsider.com/d-day-in-case-of-failure-letter-by-general-eisenhower-2012-6

Here is a link to the book on Amazon "How IKE led" :

https://www.amazon.com/How-Ike-Led-Principles-Eisenhowers/dp/B082VJYL1R/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3LS2WMTDUYJZJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.pvl-uBLY_QH6lB4pLBcLoQ.rFJYaK-TdPh6109uN6nSu3Bf9QfEMnsaxbhhW2FT4iI&dib_tag=se&keywords=how+ike+led&qid=1717862474&sprefix=how+ike+le%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1

 

Missed Leadership Opportunities

Join Randy and Jim in this next installment of Leadership Lost and Found, where we talk about what you can learn from missed leadership opportunities.  Also, around the 20 minute mark, we learn not to set the microphone on an unstable surface.  I blame Randy. 

Delegation & Leadership

How and when do you do it?  Join Jim and Randy as they talk about the importance of delegation in your leadership.

You do it...NO....you do it!