Transforming Leadership Through Hospitality and Connection with Steve Fortunato

Have you ever noticed how much leadership advice quietly positions you as the hero of every story, tasked with fixing, saving, or convincing? What if the real transformation to enhance performance is to cease being the hero and start being the host? Episode 295 explores this profound shift with guest speaker Steve Fortunato, a bestselling author and creator of the Host Mindset Framework.

Steve's innovative work resides at the crossroads of leadership and hospitality—not the restaurant kind, but the human kind. It revolves around the radical discipline of creating spaces where people feel seen, honored, and empowered to contribute their best. In this compelling conversation, Steve explains why exceptional leaders don't perform on people—they host them. They transition from being the hero to becoming the host. Steve introduces us to three foundational practices: speak the good, honor those you serve, and earn their respect.

Transforming Leadership Through Hospitality and Connection with Steve Fortunato

The Principles of the Host Mindset

Steve begins by revisiting the pervasive concept of leadership as a hero's journey. However, he proposes a paradigm shift towards adopting a host mindset. According to Steve, every individual is a host in some capacity, whether it's organizing a meeting, a dinner, or a company vision. A host is anyone who creates something of value and offers it to others.

Speak the Good

The first principle Steve emphasizes is "Speak the Good." He urges both leaders and individuals to cultivate a positive inner dialogue. He shares personal anecdotes to illustrate how the negative self-talk we're prone to can be more brutal than how we'd ever speak to others. By speaking the good to ourselves and vocalizing positive affirmations to others, we pave the way for personal growth and stronger interpersonal connections.

Honor the Other

Next, Steve discusses the principle of "Honor the Other." This involves being genuinely curious about those we interact with by mining for their 'gold'—the unique contributions and qualities they bring. By understanding and applying what we learn about others, we elevate their dignity and foster a collaborative environment. Steve illustrates this with the example of the single parent handling multiple kids at an airport, emphasizing the power of curiosity and personalized engagement.

Earn the Respect

The final principle, "Earn the Respect," contrasts with the common expectation of automatic respect due to hierarchy or titles. Earning respect involves empathetically standing in others' shoes and sincerely seeking reconciliation when things don't go as planned. Steve shares a powerful story about reconciling with a dissatisfied client, underscoring that genuine acknowledgment and efforts to repair relationships can transform interactions.

Rinse and Repeat

Steve wraps up with a discussion on the importance of continually reassessing and evolving one's approach. Celebrating successes and identifying areas for improvement form the rinse and repeat cycle that embodies the host mindset.

Conclusion

In this insightful episode, Steve Fortunato reshapes the leadership narrative by championing the host mindset. Through speaking the good, honoring others, and earning respect, leaders can craft environments where collaboration and human connection thrive. By becoming hosts rather than heroes, they can unlock unprecedented levels of engagement and fulfillment within their teams and themselves.

To learn more about Steve Fortunato and the Host Mindset Framework, listeners are encouraged to visit his website and explore his book and other resources. Take this opportunity to reflect on your leadership style and consider how adopting the host mindset could transform your interactions and leadership approach.