mentorship – Surprised By Joy

“The best leader is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and the self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” – Theodore Roosevelt

I played on a tennis team when I was in my 20’s. It was a loosely organized group of women who played at the public tennis courts. We were part of a league that created matches with other teams, some of whom were the “fancy” ones who belonged to a club with a pro.

But my team had a secret weapon: our coach, Evan. A quiet-spoken man who seemed to take everything in. He’d meet with us at practice and not only run drills to improve our skills but also strategically position who should play singles versus doubles, and forehand versus backhand.

I don’t remember our records of wins and losses so it probably wasn’t that great. But I know we got better as a team and also as individuals. It was largely because of Evan. He could see our strengths and vulnerabilities and help us position them to the best advantage.

I was reminded of Coach Evan when I recently talked with John Hernandez, the Director of IT at Leisure Care on the How to Share podcast. John has an incredibly collaborative leadership style and knows how to balance giving people on his team leadership, agency, and backup when needed.

In short, he’s a very good coach for a strong team.

John told me how he landed on this leadership style and how it’s worked as his team and responsibilities have grown. We talked about how people in technology can sometimes be protective of their knowledge and not want to share. And we discussed how AI changes the game for so many people in technology and how to wrangle it as an asset, not a competitor.

I asked John about how he adapts his message for people who are less technical. He brought it back to the power of telling a story and finding key beats, regardless of the topic.

This is a great episode about how leadership, openness, curiosity translates to infectious passion for sharing – and for team building. I know you’ll love it!

Takeaways

John emphasizes the importance of sharing knowledge to build effective teams.
A collaborative leadership style fosters a culture of openness and mentorship.
Technology professionals often hoard knowledge due to fear of job security.
AI is changing the landscape of IT, enabling more collaboration.
Storytelling can help convey complex technical concepts.
Creating a supportive environment encourages team members to grow.
Passion for technology can be infectious and motivate others.
Adapting messages for different audiences is crucial in IT.
Building a knowledge-sharing culture can lead to better team dynamics.

Here’s a clip of John describing how he landed on his leadership style:

Here are some ways you can listen and watch this infectiously energizing episode:

The podcast player embedded below
Click this link to watch in a browser: Secrets of Collaborative Leadership with John Hernandez
Subscribe to How To Share on Spotify, Amazon Music, or Apple Podcasts
Subscribing to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@howtosharepodcast

Please listen, watch, provide feedback and subscribe.

Secrets of Collaborative Leadership transcript

49: Personal Growth Pivot Points: Pause, Quit or Keep Going? – The Life of Try: Personal growth, one try at a time.

How do you know when to stop trying—especially when you’re someone who prides yourself on perseverance? In this episode of The Life of Try, Wynne Leon explores the moments when quitting isn’t failure, but wisdom: when our efforts are overly controlled, when something deep inside says “it’s time,” or when passion turns obsessive and starts costing more than it gives. Along the way, she draws lessons from Marion Jones, Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu, Oprah Winfrey, and Andre Agassi, plus insights on harmoniousvs. obsessive passion.If you’re wrestling with whether to push through or letgo, this conversation offers language, perspective, and permission to choose what’s healthy—and what’s next.The Life of Try podcast: Personal growth, one try at a time.What happens when trying becomes more important thangetting it right?The Life of Try is a personal growth and self‑help podcast about getting unstuck, navigating uncertainty, and choosing to try—even when it’s uncomfortable, inconvenient, or not your idea.Hosted by Wynne Leon, the show explores how real growth, reinvention, and discovery often begin not with confidence or clarity—but with a single attempt. Through thoughtful interviews, reflective conversations, and real‑world case studies, each episode examines what it looks like to keep going when doubt shows up, plans fall apart, or life forces a change you didn’t ask for.This podcast is for anyone who:Feels stuck or uncertain about what’s nextIs navigating change, burnout, or reinventionWants to live intentionally without pretending growth is easyBelieves progress starts by trying – again and againThe Life of Try isn’t about hustle or perfection. It’s about learning as you go, surfacing what matters, and sharing what you discover along the way.If you’re ready to surf the uncertainty, outlast the doubts, and step into your own try‑cycle, you’re in the right place.Links for this episode:The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life: Mike Rucker, PhDOpen: An Autobiography by Andre AgassiMarion Jones Reflects on Her Kids Living with 'Reality' of Her Doping ScandalFrom Oakland to Olympic gold: Alysa Liu takes figure skating crownAlysa Liu's Olympic figure skating comeback is golden, true to herselfHow Alysa Liu Found Her Love for Figure Skating AgainWinfrey Announces Show's End in 2011 – CBS News

Links for this episode:

John Hernandez on LinkedIn

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” – Mother Teresa

I try pay extra close attention when I hear the same message from many sources. It’s like a wake-up call that is too powerful to ignore.

Here’s a message that I keep hearing: Getting involved with an issue or cause you are passionate about will change your life as well as do good for the world. To make a difference, start small, stay local, and be consistent. I’ve heard that in conversations with filmmaker Peter Samuelson, activist Sam Daley-Harris and now in this latest episode of the How to Share podcast with Sharon Eubank.

Sharon is the Global Director of Humanitarian Services for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are talking about her book Doing Small Things With Great Love. It is such a helpful and hopeful book that provides a blueprint for effective service.

Sharon shares a few of the 92 stories in her amazing book that she provides as illustrations of the 12 principles for effective and lasting service. Based in her years of experience working in communities near and far, Sharon has distilled some thoughtful truths that inspire us to action.

We talk about how we sometimes don’t feel we can make a difference as individuals and why sometimes it seems easier to contribute to project far away than the ones in our own cities and towns. Sharon gives some great examples of why local solutions for local problems are more effective.

We talk about how service and volunteering can make such a difference in our own lives. Sharon not only provides a blueprint for effective and lasting service, she also provides some suggestions to get us started doing small things with great love. I highly recommend this book!

This is an incredible episode that gets to the very heart and soul of collaboration – how we can be useful to one another. I know you’ll love it.

Takeaways

Sharon emphasizes the importance of local solutions for local problems.
Volunteering can be a transformative experience for both the giver and receiver.
Mentorship plays a crucial role in personal and professional development.
Small acts of service can lead to significant community impact.
Overcoming barriers to service often starts with individual passion and energy.
Building bridges of understanding is essential in a polarized world.
Effective service requires understanding the needs of those being helped.
Storytelling enriches the experience of service and community engagement.
Creating opportunities for connection can foster a sense of belonging.
The cycle of replenishment is vital for sustaining service efforts.

Here’s a delightful taste of Sharon describing the magic of volunteering:

Here are some ways you can listen and watch this inspiring episode:

The podcast player embedded below
Click this link to watch in a browser: How to Make a Difference with Sharon Eubank
Subscribe to How To Share on Spotify, Amazon Music, or Apple Podcasts
Subscribing to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@howtosharepodcast

Please listen, watch, provide feedback and subscribe.

49: Personal Growth Pivot Points: Pause, Quit or Keep Going? – The Life of Try: Personal growth, one try at a time.

Links for this episode:

Doing Small Things With Great Love by Sharon Eubank at Barnes & Noble, Amazon and Audible

Sharon Eubank on LinkedIn

How to Make a Difference with Sharon Eubank transcript

(featured photo from Pexels)