What does it really take to lead with Wisdom?

On this episode of Leadership Live, we’re joined by John Murphy, founder & CEO of Venture Management Consultants, with 36+ years of experience driving operational excellence with Fortune 500 leaders, military brass, and organizations like GE, BMW, and the CIA. John shares practical strategies to inspire, influence, and elevate your leadership impact.

What You’ll Learn:

• ‍‍The art of questioning – the Socratic approach to developing people
• Pull vs. Push – How to use intrigue to motivate and inspire peak performance
• How to boost your credibility to gain influence
• How to “Wow” people and leave a lasting impression

This conversation is for leaders, executives, and managers who want to lead with greater insight, influence, and impact.

Key Takeaways & Actions

1. Simplicity wins – delete before you add.
   Run a 30-minute “Stop-Doing” huddle. Ask: What can we eliminate that customers wouldn’t miss? Kill one report or meeting this week.
   
2. Assess risks of action vs. inaction.
   Add a “Cost of Doing Nothing” (CODN) box to proposals. Compare with a quick FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) for balance.
   
3. The real waste is in the white space (waiting, handoffs).
   Track waiting time between steps. Create an “express lane” to cut lead time for urgent requests.
   
4. Model the change you want to see.
   Run a role-play simulation showing current-state pain points. Let leaders feel the waste firsthand.
   
5. Speed matters — kaizen accelerates culture change.
   Pick one process and commit to removing 25–50% of non-value steps within a week. Celebrate visible wins.

John Murphy, founder & CEO of Venture Management Consultants, has 36+ years driving operational excellence with Fortune 500 leaders, military brass & orgs like GE, BMW & CIA. Author of 20 books, he’s trained thousands in 50+ countries & shared stages with Zig Ziglar & Tony Robbins.