Stephen Lickert

Sean McVay says real leadership is caring enough to tell people what they need to hear instead of what they want to hear, and explains AI and technology are great tools but the value of human connection is non-negotiable in order to accomplish anything fulfilling “Are you comfortable with yourself to be able to surround yourself with truth tellers? Everybody throws the term psychological safety out there now. That doesn’t mean you’re always saying nice things to people. What that means is, if you love them and care enough about them to tell them what they need to hear, not what they want to hear.” “And that goes for, I don’t care if I’m the head coach, whatever. Nobody’s above being coached. Are you really building safety where people feel a freedom to fail, but also freedom to tell you, ‘Hey, I know you might be the head coach, but I don’t see it that way.’” “And then what kind of response am I giving to create that curiosity? And also being secure enough to take some of that stuff. That has been an ever evolving deal. Are you really communicating to connect and listening to understand people.” “I’ve really tried to work hard about listening more intentionally. But everything goes back to, it’s always about people. It always has been, it always will be. There’s so many cool upticks in AI and all these technological advancements, but I hope what doesn't get lost in the midst of it is anything that’s has to do with something that's fulfilling, that’s worthwhile and means something, it’s going to be about people, and it’s going to be hard, and it’s going to be worth it too.”