In this episode of Evolve: A New Era of Leadership, I'm joined by DeDe Halfhill, a distinguished retired Air Force colonel, leadership consultant, and coach. DeDe shares her remarkable journey through 25 years of military service, including her pivotal moments in leadership that shaped her career and personal growth. As a former senior advisor to the Department of Defense and a commander of Air Force bases, DeDe offers profound insights on authentic leadership, vulnerability, and personal transformation. DeDe's extensive military experience has been widely recognized, with Brené Brown describing her as one of her leadership heroes. Throughout the episode, DeDe talks candidly about her struggles and triumphs as a leader, including a transformational moment in Iraq when she realized the power of embracing her authentic self in leadership. This episode is filled with invaluable lessons on leadership, personal growth, and how to navigate the emotional complexities of leading in high-pressure environments. 🔑 Key Themes & Takeaways: Embracing Authenticity in Leadership: DeDe emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself as a leader and the impact it has on effectiveness and team morale. She shares her personal journey from trying to meet external expectations to fully embracing who she is as a leader. 🔥 The Emotional Component of Leadership: Drawing from her military experience, DeDe highlights how essential it is to address the emotional side of leadership. She reflects on the challenges of managing large teams in high-stress environments and how vulnerability and self-compassion play a critical role. 🌟 The Power of Curiosity: A major turning point in DeDe's leadership approach was learning the value of curiosity—asking questions and empowering others to find their own solutions. This shift, she explains, is key to unlocking the full potential of a team and fostering creativity and collaboration. 💡 Leading Through Complexity: DeDe discusses her time commanding Air Force bases and how leading in complex, high-stakes situations required her to develop new strategies and trust her team. She shares how she navigated these situations by creating a safe space for creativity and innovation. 🏆 We talk about: 00:00 Intro 01:21 DeDe's Military Background and Leadership Experience 06:21 The Turning Point in Iraq 20:40 Leadership at Barksdale Air Force Base 27:23 Leaving the Military: A Tough Decision 30:06 Leadership and Emotional Intelligence 31:39 The Hard Skills of Leadership 38:10 Combining Head, Heart, and Body in Leadership 45:44 Practical Tips for Emotional Management #AuthenticLeadership #MilitaryLeadership #CuriosityInLeadership #SelfCompassion #LeadershipDevelopment Connect with DeDe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dedehalfhill/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dedehalfhill/ https://www.dedehalfhill.com/ Connect with me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolynswora/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynswora/ Website: https://www.carolynswora.com/ Contact: [email protected]   

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