In this episode of the Connected Leadership podcast Andy Lopata features Derrick Noble. Dr. Derrick has spent the past two decades helping business leaders elevate their leadership and communication skills. Overcoming a severe stutter and speech impediment in his youth, Derrick defied the odds to become an award-winning keynote speaker, two-time TEDx speaker, speech coach, and trainer. Known for his humor, he often says, “At first, I couldn’t talk, and now they can’t shut me up!” He works with leaders from various sectors, including business, non-profits, and government agencies, with clients including the U.S.A.F, Navy, Forestry Service, FBI, and the City of Los Angeles.

Derrick shares how his fifth-grade principal, Lionel Ward, helped him conquer his stammering fear by encouraging him to read school announcements over the intercom. This experience instilled in him the belief that “leaders are made, not born.” Andy and Derrick discuss his passion for helping individuals who are often overlooked or underestimated.

Derrick recounts a personal experience where he publicly confronted a workplace bully to protect a coworker, demonstrating that sometimes a bold, public stand is necessary to address ingrained toxic behavior. He stresses the importance of creating a culture where individuals feel safe to voice their concerns.

The significant positive impact a single individual can have on an organisation’s culture is identified, sharing an anecdote about a quiet receptionist whose kindness significantly boosted team morale. He emphasises the importance of recognising and acknowledging those who quietly contribute to a positive environment.

Andy and Derrick also explore the delicate balance of having management present during team discussions, recognising that their presence can influence open communication. Derrick advises leaders to assess their team’s comfort level and decide whether separate meetings without management are necessary to foster open dialogue.

The importance of making team members feel heard by actively listening, understanding concerns, and offering honest responses, even if those responses involve acknowledging limitations or explaining why a requested change isn’t feasible is real leadership.

This episode is a goldmine of leadership insights, covering topics like workplace bullying, public and private conversations, the impact of individual personalities, fostering positive team dynamics, and ensuring that people feel heard. It’s a powerful testament to the transformative power of leadership and its ability to create positive change within an organisation.

Connect with Andy Lopata: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter | YouTube

Connect with Derrick Noble: Website |LinkedIn |X/Twitter| YouTube

The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring

Most Recent Episodes

December 15, 2024

Designing Authentic Connection with Melva Lajoy Legrand

This episode of Connected Leadership Bytes features a revisit of Andy's conversation with Melva Lajoy Legrand, a leading event planner. Andy and Melva discuss the art of creating authentic...

Listen · 20:59

December 8, 2024

Building Effective Professional Relationships: Interview with Andy Lopata

In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Lisa Fane, CEO of the Center for Mentoring Excellence, and her colleague Michelle Hancock interview Andy Lopata. They discuss the importance of...

Listen · 25:22

December 1, 2024

Ridiculously Easy to Do Business With… David Avrin

In this month’s premiere episode of the Connected Leadership Podcast, Andy Lopata interviews David Avrin. David is one of the most in-demand Customer Experience speakers and consultants in the...

Listen · 43:13

Load More Episodes

Andy Lopata Author, Podcast Host and Speaker on Professional Relationships Strategy

Andy Lopata is a specialist speaker on professional relationships, mentoring, networking, and social media strategy. He is a firm believer that professional relationships underpin our success in business, our roles, and our careers. The right relationships with the right people can lead to new business opportunities, investment, collaborative working, innovation, and career progress. We just need to be comfortable approaching those relationships strategically, without making people feel ‘networked’ by us.

Andy has worked in the field of networking and professional relationships for 25 years, working with global giants such as Paypal, GSK, AstraZeneca, Wella, HSBC, Wembley Stadium, the BBC, and the Prime Minister’s Office of the UAE, among many others during that time. He has also worked with leading universities including NYU, Duke University, and Oxford University’s Said Business School.

A regular blogger for Psychology Today, Andy has been quoted in The Sunday Times, The Financial Times, and The Guardian, as well as many other national and regional newspapers and magazines worldwide. He has written or co-authored six books on networking and professional relationships, with his sixth book, "The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring," being published in Spring 2024. He is also the host of The Connected Leadership Podcast and has interviewed globally recognized names in business, academia, sports, and entertainment for the show.

Andy has been inducted into the PSAE Hall of Fame – the Professional Speaking Association Award of Excellence, which was held by only 21 other speakers at the time it was presented. He is a Fellow and a former President of the Fellows’ Community of the Professional Speaking Association (PSA), a Fellow of the Learning and Performance Institute (LPI), and a Member of the Association of Business Mentors and the Meetings Industry Association.