The MentorEd Show

Minisode 32: How to Manage Difficult Conversations

"Look, I do have some constructive feedback for you... I don't want the answer right then and there because it will be likely emotional and defensive. I want them to go away and stew on that topic for a couple of days, and then let's sit down and have a conversation." - Ed Roberto In this episode, Ed and Adel talk about: How to properly vet a startup's culture in an interview by asking questions that go beyond salary and benefits. The key behavioral questions every leader should ask to understand a candidate's true personality under stress. A 3-step playbook for giving difficult, constructive feedback in a way that avoids defensiveness and builds trust. Why a serious conversation deserves 100% of your undivided attention to be valuable. Chapters / Show Notes: 00:00 - Introduction 00:50 - How to Spot Alarming Signs in a CEO During an Interview 02:30 - Going Beyond the Paycheck: What to Ask For in an Opportunity 03:20 - Probing Questions to Uncover a Startup's True Culture 05:20 - A Manager's Role: Ask Candidates Where They Want to Be in 3 Years 06:20 - Behavioral Questions to Ask to Understand a Candidate's Character 07:20 - How to Handle Receiving Constructive Criticism 08:30 - The Playbook: How to Give Difficult Feedback Effectively 10:30 - Why a Serious Conversation Demands 100% Attention Listen, Watch & Follow: 🎧 Listen to The MentorEd Show on Spotify & other platforms: https://open.spotify.com/show/0NMOJapcl4JQUTsvTwfaUH?si=8108c9fb34b44cda 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more unscripted lessons on building and scaling your business: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2gKrx_-cmCctiPxTrOUkKA Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mentor.ed.podcast/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mentored-show/ Learn More: SAUS here: https://sausleadership.com/ Ed Roberto's Profile: https://www.a8innovation.com/our-team/ed-roberto Adel Hameed's Profile: https://www.a8innovation.com/our-team/adel-hameed The MentorEd Show is an A8 strategy Original Podcast.

Minisode 31: The Art of Prioritization & Leading Up

"If the CEO says, 'Hey, we've gotta make this product enhancement today'...the first question anyone should ask...is 'Great. I understand what we need to do. I have two other projects on my plate that are due by this date. Are you okay if they're late?'" - Ed Roberto In this episode, Ed and Adel talk about: * The delicate balance between a slow, hierarchical culture and a chaotic, debate-driven one. * Why does a CEO who makes every decision become a bottleneck that kills growth? * The critical skill of "leading up" and how to teach your team to manage conflicting priorities. * Why the most important asset in any business is not the idea or the money, but the people. * How to handle a "cocky" but talented employee and turn their confidence into a positive outcome. Chapters / Show Notes: 00:00 - Introduction 00:50 - Does the Boss's New Task Always Come First? 02:20 - The Balance: Hierarchy vs. Chaos in Company Culture 04:00 - The CEO Bottleneck: Why You Must Empower Your Team 05:15 - The Framework for Prioritization and "Leading Up" 06:20 - Why You Must Get Comfortable with "Conscious Communication" 07:20 - The Problem with Founders Hogging the Limelight 09:20 - The Most Important Thing in a Business (It's Not the Idea) 13:00 - How to Handle a "Cocky" but Talented Employee Listen, Watch & Follow: 🎧 Listen to The MentorEd Show on Spotify & other platforms: https://open.spotify.com/show/0NMOJapcl4JQUTsvTwfaUH?si=8108c9fb34b44cda 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more unscripted lessons on building and scaling your business: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2gKrx_-cmCctiPxTrOUkKA Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mentor.ed.podcast/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mentored-show/ Learn More: SAUS here: https://sausleadership.com/ Ed Roberto's Profile: https://www.a8innovation.com/our-team/ed-roberto Adel Hameed's Profile: https://www.a8innovation.com/our-team/adel-hameed The MentorEd Show is an A8 strategy Original Podcast.

Minisode 30: The CEO's Mirror: A Guide to Building Team Trust

"As the CEO you, you need to start looking in the mirror and asking yourself, what are the behaviors that I bring to my business, my management team that holds us back? Because you could be the problem, certainly." - Ed Roberto In this episode, Ed and Adel talk about: Why a lack of team trust almost always starts with the CEO's own behaviors and mindset. How to deal with the "smartest guy in the room"—the brilliant but toxic team member who destroys collaboration. The dangers of relying too much on one "superstar" and how to use their success as a catalyst for the whole team. A simple framework to empower your team: be clear on the "what" and "why," then get out of their way and let them own the "how." Chapters / Show Notes: 00:00 - Introduction 00:45 - What is the root cause of a lack of team trust? 01:20 - It Starts With You: A CEO Must Look in the Mirror 02:10 - The "Smartest Guy in the Room" Problem 03:10 - The Michael Jordan Effect: Dangers of Relying on One Superstar 05:20 - A Leader's Guilt: When You're Too Bossy 06:30 - The CEO's Realization: "You Could Be The Problem" 07:50 - The Framework for Empowering Your Team 09:10 - How to Coach Your Team After a Big Win Listen, Watch & Follow: 🎧 Listen to The MentorEd Show on Spotify & other platforms: https://open.spotify.com/show/0NMOJapcl4JQUTsvTwfaUH?si=8108c9fb34b44cda 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more unscripted lessons on building and scaling your business: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2gKrx_-cmCctiPxTrOUkKA Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mentor.ed.podcast/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mentored-show/ Learn More: SAUS here: https://sausleadership.com/ Ed Roberto's Profile: https://www.a8innovation.com/our-team/ed-roberto Adel Hameed's Profile: https://www.a8innovation.com/our-team/adel-hameed The MentorEd Show is an A8 strategy Original Podcast.

Minisode 29: Ego, Collaboration, and the Art of Listening

"Any leader...has to develop a very, very acute skillset, which is called listening with intent... I don't think people actively listen. I think they have something to say and they're so intent on saying what it is that's on their mind that if you're very lucky, half their brain is processing what's being said." - Ed RobertoIn this episode, Ed and Adel talk about:How to effectively manage a founder's ego to foster a collaborative team environment.Why a "dictator" CEO can move fast but will sacrifice long-term, scalable growth.The critical and often overlooked leadership skill of "listening with intent."How to manage bad meeting behavior and ensure every voice on your team is heard.Chapters / Show Notes:00:00 - Introduction00:50 - How Can Founders Effectively Manage Their Ego?02:20 - The Difference Between Healthy Confidence and Unhealthy Ego03:10 - Use Team-Oriented Language (Stop Saying "I" and "Me")04:20 - The Dictator CEO: Going Fast vs. Going Far06:20 - Identifying Your Blind Spots and Confirmation Bias08:00 - The Most Important Skill: Listening With Intent09:10 - How to Manage Team Members Who Monopolize Conversations11:20 - The "Talking Ball": A Tool to Improve Meeting DynamicsListen, Watch & Follow:🎧 Listen to The MentorEd Show on Spotify & other platforms: https://open.spotify.com/show/0NMOJapcl4JQUTsvTwfaUH?si=8108c9fb34b44cda 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more unscripted lessons on building and scaling your business: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2gKrx_-cmCctiPxTrOUkKA Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mentor.ed.podcast/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mentored-show/Learn More:SAUS here: https://sausleadership.com/Ed Roberto's Profile: https://www.a8innovation.com/our-team/ed-robertoAdel Hameed's Profile: https://www.a8innovation.com/our-team/adel-hameedThe MentorEd Show is an A8 strategy Original Podcast.

Minisode 28: The Founder's Journey: Mindset & Modern Challenges

"In hard times, there's a lot of opportunity. In fact, the worst the times are probably the better it is to go start a company. When everyone's afraid, get excited. When everyone's excited, start to worry." - Ed RobertoIn this episode, Ed and Adel talk about:The critical mindset shift is required to go from a safe corporate job to a high-risk startup founder.The right (and wrong) reasons to start a company, and why it shouldn't be about getting rich.Why turbulent economic times are often the best times to build a business.The two hats every CEO must wear: the Tactical hat (running the business) and the Strategic hat (seeing the future).How to navigate modern challenges like remote work and intense competition for talent.Chapters / Show Notes:00:00 - Introduction: The Corporate to Founder Mindset00:45 - Are You Willing to Leave the Safety of a Corporate Job?01:30 - The Reality of a Founder: Wearing Many Hats and Risking Your Own Money02:20 - The Grind: Why You'll Work Seven Days a Week03:45 - The Wrong Reason to Start a Business05:10 - Why Hard Times Create the Best Opportunities06:15 - The Two Hats of a CEO: Tactical vs. Strategic08:20 - Strategic Thinking: Anticipating External Crises09:50 - Modern Challenge: The Rise of Remote Work ManagementListen, Watch & Follow:🎧 Listen to The MentorEd Show on Spotify & other platforms: https://open.spotify.com/show/0NMOJapcl4JQUTsvTwfaUH?si=8108c9fb34b44cda 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more unscripted lessons on building and scaling your business: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2gKrx_-cmCctiPxTrOUkKA Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mentor.ed.podcast/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mentored-show/Learn More:SAUS here: https://sausleadership.com/Ed Roberto's Profile: https://www.a8innovation.com/our-team/ed-robertoAdel Hameed's Profile: https://www.a8innovation.com/our-team/adel-hameedThe MentorEd Show is an A8 strategy Original Podcast.