Deliberate Leadership: The Power of Intentionality with Justin Powell

The Intentional Agribusiness Leader Podcast

Justin Powell is a seasoned professional in the agribusiness sector, serving as a member of the team at NovaSource. With a career spanning over a decade and a half, Justin has cultivated an expertise in sales and leadership that allows him to successfully manage a vast territory and a diverse team. At NovaSource, he plays a central role in executing sales strategies and fostering team culture. Justin's commitment to intentional leadership and his innovative approach to team dynamics have contributed to his professional success and the growth of NovaSource in the agricultural industry.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of the Intentional Agribusiness Leader podcast, host Mark Jewell welcomes Justin Powell from NovaSource to uncover what it means to be an intentional leader in today's bustling agribusiness landscape. Justin shares his insights into deliberate leadership, the struggles of balancing work with personal life, and the strategies to maintain effective team communication despite geographical challenges.

Justin Powell discusses the intricacies of leading a team spanning two countries and the complexities involved in aligning differing levels of experience and expectations. The conversation sheds light on the various aspects of leadership, including trust-building, talent acquisition and retention, and creating a cohesive team culture. Justin's approach to management highlights the importance of adapting to individual team member needs, illustrating how flexibility and understanding pave the way for collective success.

• Intentionality in leadership is equated with being deliberate and focused on necessary actions.
• Finding the right cadence for team meetings and maintaining work-life balance are evolving challenges in today's corporate culture.
• Building a strong team culture can be as vital as financial incentives in attracting and retaining talent.
• Transferring knowledge between generations within a team ensures continued growth and success.
• Authenticity and vulnerability in leadership can foster a supportive and productive team environment.

Key Takeaways:

• Deliberate Communication: The importance of intentional, regular contact with team members to tailor support and ensure efficiency.
• Balancing Act: Strategies to maintain a healthy work-life balance while effectively managing time and resources.
• Cultural Cohesion: Creating a team culture that values trust and a collective identity, encouraging loyalty and unity.
• Generational Wisdom: Leveraging the experience of tenured team members to enhance overall team performance and mentoring relationships.
• Vulnerability as Strength: Embracing vulnerability in leadership roles to connect genuinely with team members and humanize the leadership experience.

Notable Quotes:

• "To be intentional... I mean, if you look up in the dictionary, it's deliberate."
• "Trust them to be able to do the things that they need to be able to do."
• "You can't always throw more money at it. We all have HR teams that handle the purse strings there."
• "We had a plan going in, and we put the plan together, executed the plan, and we had a phenomenal year."
• "You got to show trust. So that's hard to do at times..."

Resources:

• Mention of Make the Call book by Mark Richt, which Justin recalls as a valuable read.
• Discussions about generational differences, particularly between baby boomers and millennials, reinforcing the need for adaptable leadership.

We invite you to listen to the full episode featuring Justin Powell for an in-depth perspective on intentional leadership within the agribusiness industry. Stay tuned for more informative sessions that promise to enlighten and inspire.