Have you ever wondered what sets truly great leaders apart from the rest?

Is it their charisma, their decision-making skills, or perhaps their vision? 

According to Chris Smith, an expert in leadership and aviation counselling, it’s something much simpler yet profoundly impactful: humility. 

Recently I was lucky enough to sit down with Chris, and he shared some wonderful insights from his book Leadership at 43,000 Feet on how humility shapes effective leadership. 

Chris has had a broad and winding career, trying multiple paths before finding his true calling in aviation. From this experience, Chris saw that the best leaders he encountered weren’t driven by personal gain, instead they were motivated by something bigger than themselves. He references respected leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Barack Obama as individuals who demonstrate remarkable humility.

Respect plays a crucial role in leadership. Chris shared that whether in the cockpit or managing a company, treating people with respect ensures they feel safe enough to communicate openly. Now this isn’t something you can buy. It’s built through consistent, respectful actions and a genuine concern for team members. If you can earn that respect then people will continue to follow you, even through challenging times.

Towards the end of our conversation, we spoke about legacy which is not only is it a major theme of Chris’ book but his main reason for writing it. He wanted Leadership at 43,000 Feet to give his children and grandchildren a deeper understanding of who he is beyond just ‘Dad’ or ‘Grandad’. 

He also opens up about living away from family due to work commitments and urges us to find a balance between career ambitions and our personal lives.  In the long run, what truly matters is maintaining close personal relationships, as the time lost cannot be reclaimed.

Leadership is complex, and often, we overlook the simplest but most profound qualities that make the best leaders stand out. So, take a moment today to think about your own leadership journey. Are you leading with humility? Are you respecting the people you work with? These small shifts can create lasting changes, not just in your professional life but in your personal life as well.

Order My New Book “You Always Have A Choice”here



Connect with Chris: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-smith-0080374b/

His Book: www.booktopia.com.au/leadership-at-43000-feet-chris-smith/book/9781923007659.html



Connect with Julie:

LinkedIn:    https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/

Instagram: @juliehydeleads

Website:     https://juliehyde.com.au

Have you ever wondered what sets truly great leaders apart from the rest?
Is it their charisma, their decision-making skills, or perhaps their vision? 
According to Chris Smith, an expert in leadership and aviation counselling, it’s something much simpler yet profoundly impactful: humility. 
Recently I was lucky enough to sit down with Chris, and he shared some wonderful insights from his book Leadership at 43,000 Feet on how humility shapes effective leadership. 
Chris has had a broad and winding career, trying multiple paths before finding his true calling in aviation. From this experience, Chris saw that the best leaders he encountered weren’t driven by personal gain, instead they were motivated by something bigger than themselves. He references respected leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Barack Obama as individuals who demonstrate remarkable humility.
Respect plays a crucial role in leadership. Chris shared that whether in the cockpit or managing a company, treating people with respect ensures they feel safe enough to communicate openly. Now this isn’t something you can buy. It’s built through consistent, respectful actions and a genuine concern for team members. If you can earn that respect then people will continue to follow you, even through challenging times.
Towards the end of our conversation, we spoke about legacy which is not only is it a major theme of Chris’ book but his main reason for writing it. He wanted Leadership at 43,000 Feet to give his children and grandchildren a deeper understanding of who he is beyond just ‘Dad’ or ‘Grandad’. 
He also opens up about living away from family due to work commitments and urges us to find a balance between career ambitions and our personal lives.  In the long run, what truly matters is maintaining close personal relationships, as the time lost cannot be reclaimed.
Leadership is complex, and often, we overlook the simplest but most profound qualities that make the best leaders stand out. So, take a moment today to think about your own leadership journey. Are you leading with humility? Are you respecting the people you work with? These small shifts can create lasting changes, not just in your professional life but in your personal life as well.
Order My New Book “You Always Have A Choice”<a href="https://youalwayshaveachoice.com.au/"> here</a> 
 
Connect with Chris: 
LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-smith-0080374b/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-smith-0080374b/</a>
His Book: <a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/leadership-at-43000-feet-chris-smith/book/9781923007659.html">www.booktopia.com.au/leadership-at-43000-feet-chris-smith/book/9781923007659.html</a>
 
Connect with Julie:
LinkedIn:    <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/</a>
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/juliehydeleads/">@juliehydeleads</a>
Website:     <a href="https://juliehyde.com.au/">https://juliehyde.com.au</a>

Want to know the secret to confident and successful leadership?

Every week, Leading You showcases leadership of all kinds and you get the scoop on how to be an effective, modern leader who makes an impact.

There’s one thing we all have in common. We’re all leaders. First and foremost, you’re a leader of you. You don’t need a title to be a leader. Leadership is a mindset which anyone can adopt to create influence. The more leaders the world has, the better it will be.

I'll let you into something I know to be true - You can’t be a leader of others unless you’re a leader of self first. So if you want to have impact that leads to prosperity and happiness, it all starts with you. With your mindset and personal leadership toolbox, which Leading You will help you build up.

Leading you is hosted by Julie Hyde, an entrepreneur, corporate drop out and passionate leader. Julie knows one thing: you can’t control what happens to you but you can control how you respond. It’s why Leading You is important.

Each week, guests share their secret sauce. They reveal their roadmaps to success. How they’ve stayed anchored to who they are, insights into their courage and resilience and how to be emotionally and behaviourally agile. It’s a conversation, not an interrogation, and you’ll hear the human side of household names.

Want to know the secret to confident and successful leadership?
Every week, Leading You showcases leadership of all kinds and you get the scoop on how to be an effective, modern leader who makes an impact.
There’s one thing we all have in common. We’re all leaders. First and foremost, you’re a leader of you. You don’t need a title to be a leader. Leadership is a mindset which anyone can adopt to create influence. The more leaders the world has, the better it will be.
I'll let you into something I know to be true - You can’t be a leader of others unless you’re a leader of self first. So if you want to have impact that leads to prosperity and happiness, it all starts with you. With your mindset and personal leadership toolbox, which Leading You will help you build up.
Leading you is hosted by Julie Hyde, an entrepreneur, corporate drop out and passionate leader. Julie knows one thing: you can’t control what happens to you but you can control how you respond. It’s why Leading You is important.
Each week, guests share their secret sauce. They reveal their roadmaps to success. How they’ve stayed anchored to who they are, insights into their courage and resilience and how to be emotionally and behaviourally agile. It’s a conversation, not an interrogation, and you’ll hear the human side of household names.

A Podcast dedicated to business owners and leaders to inspire you to make it count

Leading You

Want to know the secret to confident and successful leadership?
Every week, Leading You showcases leadership of all kinds and you get the scoop on how to be an effective, modern leader who makes an impact.
There’s one thing we all have in common. We’re all leaders. First and foremost, you’re a leader of you. You don’t need a title to be a leader. Leadership is a mindset which anyone can adopt to create influence. The more leaders the world has, the better it will be.
I'll let you into something I know to be true - You can’t be a leader of others unless you’re a leader of self first. So if you want to have impact that leads to prosperity and happiness, it all starts with you. With your mindset and personal leadership toolbox, which Leading You will help you build up.
Leading you is hosted by Julie Hyde, an entrepreneur, corporate drop out and passionate leader. Julie knows one thing: you can’t control what happens to you but you can control how you respond. It’s why Leading You is important.
Each week, guests share their secret sauce. They reveal their roadmaps to success. How they’ve stayed anchored to who they are, insights into their courage and resilience and how to be emotionally and behaviourally agile. It’s a conversation, not an interrogation, and you’ll hear the human side of household names.

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