In this episode of Run the Numbers, CJ sits down with leadership coach and former Akamai executive Andy Ellis. They break down why being indispensable can actually hurt your career, why managers shouldn’t automatically replace someone who leaves, how hero-villain thinking leads to bad decisions, and what great delegation and leadership actually look like.

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LINKS:

Mostly Talent: https://mostlymetrics.typeform.com/to/cLTxtAsN

Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/csoandy/

Company: https://www.csoandy.com/

CJ: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-gustafson-13140948/

Mostly metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.com

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TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 Jero and Villain Stories

1:43 Welcome to Run the Numbers

2:53 Andy's Book: 1% Leadership

7:44 Rule 1: Don't Replace People Immediately

14:04 Rule 2: Don't Become Indispensable

16:02 How Andy Learned to Speak Finance

22:35 Rule 3: Don't Tell Yourself Hero/Villain Stories

26:59 The 5K Race Mindset Shift

31:01 Rule 4: Don't Overspecify Delegation

35:59 Rule 5: Don't Obsess Over Your Strengths

38:23 The Six Leadership Disciplines

43:45 The Vendor Rebuff Email

47:45 Why Leaders Avoid Saying No

50:28 Story: The Guinness Bartender Promotion

53:52 When Metrics Get Gamed

54:11 Asking Better Questions Segment

59:07 Where to Get the Book

Andy Ellis: How to Lead Without Becoming the Hero, the Villain, or the Bottleneck

Run the Numbers

Andy Ellis: How to Lead Without Becoming the Hero, the Villain, or the Bottleneck