My guest this week is author and expert in business and finance, Chris Lautenslager. We talk about Chris’ book The Prosperity Loop and explore his views on purpose-driven business and capitalism. We get into the importance of building relationships, adapting to change, and creating shared prosperity in business. Chris believes that businesses should focus on enhancing the value of the people they work with, including customers, vendors, and the community. This people-oriented approach, he suggests, is key to thriving in today's changing world. We also step through Chris’ wealth creation model for socially conscious leaders that aims to find a balance between people and profits.
Bold statement: The key to business success lies in people-centric leadership
Why you should listen: dare to dream - and ask your team
Listening is a leadership imperative
We explore value-added leadership
Does your leadership contribution extend to the community?
Building a corporate culture that goes beyond the bottom line
Leadership priorities for creating a business people want to be part of
Take action
Ask people what they want and what their dreams are.
Think about you and your business, your organisation or you individually. What problem could you help solve locally? What’s the first baby step you can take towards that?
About Chris Lautenslager
Chris is a seasoned sales and business veteran with a Masters in Finance and Economics from Northwestern University. His 40-year career began on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, before transitioning to Wall Street in the era of electronic trading. As a Senior Sales Executive with some of the world’s most prominent financial institutions, he learned the business practices that can propel or crush a company’s potential for success. He was able to apply those lessons as a Founder and Board Member of a small business which developed into a publicly listed company on NASDAQ. Driven by an unshakable desire to partner with the leaders of small and medium businesses, Chris founded GET LOOPED, LLC as a platform to showcase the value and benefits of a collective prosperity for people, businesses and communities. Today, he helps businesses and CEOs incorporate prosperity in collaboration with profitability into their business practices. Chris is author of THE PROSPERITY LOOP: A Wealth Creation Model for Socially Conscious Leaders, Their Teams & Their Communities. Find out more at: Get Looped
Chris recommends Ed Mylett's podcast and his book The Power of One More which emphasises taking responsibility for one's actions and going the extra mile for success.
Key moments
Planet Human: The World Economic Forum's latest report on the future of jobs. [00:00:04]
Planet Zoë: Olympus Bound off to the editor [00:01:24]
Introducing Chris Lautenslager [00:03:40]
Zoe introduces Chris, an author and expert in business and finance, and discusses his book "The Prosperity Loop" and his views on purpose-driven business and capitalism.
The importance of gratitude [00:11:57]
The significance of expressing gratitude to clients and the positive impact it has on the business relationship.
The shift towards people-oriented business [00:12:56]
The need for businesses to prioritise building strong relationships with customers, vendors, and the community, rather than solely focusing on operational efficiency and profit margins.
The changing workforce and the need for adaptation [00:14:27]
Business owners must adapt to the changing world and create an environment that attracts and retains employees.
The importance of mentorship and assessment [00:25:25]
Discussion on the joy of being a mentor, the need for assessment and adjustment in personal and professional growth.
Choosing rewards and shared rewards in business [00:26:49]
Exploration of the dilemma faced by business owners in providing perks versus fair compensation, and the importance of listening to employees' needs.
The impact of values and changing the culture of small businesses [00:33:25]
Emphasis on the need for cultural change within small businesses to prioritise inclusivity, care for others, and the rejection of greed for a better society.
The problem of overwork and fatigue [00:38:30]
Discussion on the stress and overwork faced by people in the workplace, and the need to recognise the inhumane nature of squeezing every bit of productivity out of individuals.
The value of skills over automation [00:39:20]
Highlighting the importance of acquiring skills instead of relying solely on automation, as there are certain jobs that robots cannot perform effectively, such as fixing cars or plumbing.
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About your host, Canberra leadership expert Zoë Routh:
Zoë Routh is a leadership futurist, podcaster, and multiple award-winning author. She works with leaders and teams to navigate future horizons.
She has worked with individuals and teams internationally and in Australia since 1987. From wild Canadian rivers to the Australian Outback, and the Boardroom jungles, Zoë is an adventurist! She facilitates strategy and culture sessions with audacious teams.
Zoë's fourth leadership book, People Stuff - Beyond Personality Problems: An advanced handbook for leadership, won the Book of the Year at the Australian Business Book Awards in 2020. Her fifth book is a near future science fiction dystopian novel, The Olympus Project.
Zoë is the producer of the Zoë Routh Leadership Podcast, dedicated to asking “What if…?” and sharing Big Ideas on the Future of Leadership.
Zoë is an outdoor adventurist and enjoys telemark skiing, has run six marathons, is a one-time belly-dancer, has survived cancer, and loves hiking in the high country. She is married to a gorgeous Aussie and is a self-confessed dark chocolate addict.