Show Notes: Episode 26
THE LAST 8% with Bill Benjamin, Keynote Speaker & Partner, Institute for Health and Human Performance
Bill Benjamin grew up in Canada and initially found his success in the software industry after earning degrees in mathematics and computer science. On the surface, such would seem an odd combo of experience and training for someone who now serves as a highly sought-after speaker and coach who is a recognized expert in leadership training and developing emotional intelligence. However, when you consider the fact that his work today is all based on evidence about how humans communicate and lead most effectively, it all makes sense. Pull out your notebooks for this one, friends, because Bill has quote after quote that can inspire and direct as he talks about his story, the Last 8% academy, and how learning to control your emotions and thoughts can be the critical key to all your successes in Episode 26: THE LAST 8%.
Connect
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-benjamin-12b671/
Episode Summary
Unlock Your Leadership Potential with Last 8% Academy: Emotional Intelligence Training
SUMMARY
Toby Brooks interviews Bill Benjamin, a highly sought after speaker and coach specializing in leadership training and emotional intelligence. Bill explains how his training in mathematics and computer science has enabled him to transition into his current profession. He then talks about the Last 8% Academy, an organization which he is partnered with, and how it helps people learn to control their emotions and thoughts, which is essential for success. Bill emphasizes the importance of learning to manage one’s emotions and thoughts in order to achieve success.
The conversation between Toby and Bill is about IHHP, an organization that provides evidence-based training solutions to help people become better leaders and develop their emotional intelligence. Bill is a partner and owner of IHHP, having experienced the benefits of their early emotional intelligence training program 25 years ago. The program, The Last 8% Academy, can be tailored for intact teams, high potentials, managers and supervisors, or people from all walks of life in the public program. The Last 8% refers to the last 8% of emotional intelligence, which is what sets high performers apart from the rest. Bill and Toby discuss the benefits of IHHP’s training solutions and how they help people become better leaders.
JP Pawliw-Fry came up with the concept of the Last 8% when he was coaching two executives and an organization and they weren’t getting along. He coached them to have a conversation with each other and when they came back, the coach pushed them to be more honest. A research study of 34,000 people found that people feel that the last 8% of a conversation is often left unsaid. This concept is transformational for those who have failed as both teammates and leaders, as it encourages them to be open, vulnerable, and willing to listen. The emotional center of the brain, the amygdala, can hijack the thinking mind in these moments and cause a fight or flight response. This can limit complex thinking and reduce working memory. However, with the right strategies, one can take control of their thoughts and emotions and craft an appropriate response. Ultimately, having a thought or emotion is okay, but it is important to make the choice to respond in the right way. J.P. experienced this transition when he left his career in mathematics and computer science to become an entrepreneur and have a family. He learned that it wouldn’t be an immediate success, and that resilience, hard work, and focus would be key.
Martin Seligman and his work on learned helplessness inspired Bill to develop the concept of learned optimism. Through JP’s work with Olympic athletes, Bill learned strategies to stay resilient and overcome negative thinking. Bill explains the valuable internal application of the program and his own personal experience of applying the teaching to his teenage daughters. In the post-pandemic world, Bill teaches people to be more proactive about making connections and being present and aware when interacting with others. In particular, Bill stresses the importance of being emotionally intelligent in the last 8% moments, as it can have a significant impact on retention in business and athletics.
TIMESTAMPS
0:00:00 Interview with Bill Benjamin: Exploring Leadership Training and Developing Emotional Intelligence
Exploring the Benefits of Emotional Intelligence Training with Bill from IHHP and Last 8% Academy
“Exploring the Last 8%: A Conversation with J.P. Pawliw-Fry on Emotional Intelligence and High Performance”
Conversation with Bill Benjamin on the Impact of Emotional Intelligence in the Post-Pandemic World
Conversation with Bill Benjamin, Co-Founder of Institute for Health and Human Potential (IHHP) on Emotional Intelligence and Last 8% Leadership Development
HIGHLIGHTS
Bill and his business partner JP Pawliw-Fry are doing is not just evidence base for the science-y types among us it’s highly effective for the practical folks too if you’re interested in growing not just as a leader but also as a person be sure to check out the Last 8% Academy and if you’re really ready to get serious about maximizing your growth potential find a partner or a team and do it together for me it truly did expand not just what I thought I knew about leadership in my behavior but it also helped me plot a course to grow into a more thoughtful and compassionate human being.