Almost exactly 13 years ago, in my earliest days as managing editor of Leader to Leader, I reached out to John Baldoni, a certified master corporate executive coach, leadership consultant, author, and thought leader. I didn’t know him personally at that point, but he had written several articles for our journal. He had a new book at the time, and I approached him about contributing a new article.
That email led to a longstanding collaboration and friendship, beginning with John’s article “Steel Your Purpose,” in our Spring 2012 issue, my second as managing editor. We’ve since published two additional articles by him, the most recent being “Leading With Grace When the Pressure is On,” in Spring 2023.
I also interviewed him for my book Create Your Future the Peter Drucker Way, and was honored to be a guest on his LinkedInLive Grace Under Pressure, in 2022.
I admire John’s ability to be involved in multiple activities seemingly simultaneously, and his way of connecting and communicating on many different levels. I’m grateful to him for answering my questions about his career, writing, creativity, current use of AI, and his music.
For the non-specialist reader, including people who may or may not be familiar with leadership and management, how would you characterize your work/career and the creative output that is so much a part of it?
I am a restless creative. I love storytelling, and while initially considering a film career, I graduated from the London Film School and migrated to corporate communications and speechwriting. In time, I migrated to training and development, earning a Master’s and a coaching and speaking career. My first works focused on the nuts and bolts of leadership and management. I wrote some 200 blogs for HBR.org on such topics and wrote books on communication, motivation and, eventually, purpose.
My work today centers on helping women and men learn to live and lead with greater purpose and grace. I define grace as the “catalyst for the greater good.” Grace facilitates our ability to connect with others. Grace underscores what it means to be human: frail, strong, brave, courageous, and focused on the needs of those around us.
So now the stories I tell are those I integrate into my writing, speaking and coaching. Stories illuminate our inner lives and provide a path, even an inspiration, for a way forward.
Beyond your consulting work, you seem to have an almost unlimited supply of energy with your books, articles, newsletter, podcasts, videos, photography, the new Baldoni ChatBot, coaching, speaking, and social media posts. How do you make all this work time-wise and fit it in holistically with your life? Do you at all think in terms of aging/longevity and maintaining certain levels of energy?
Let’s level-set here. I am semi-retired. I am not chasing work anymore, but I do maintain a limited coaching practice. Of course, I enjoy speaking in public. It’s great fun connecting with a live audience.
I host a LinkedIn Live show, GRACE under pressure. We will celebrate our fourth anniversary in July – with over 250 guests I consider thought leaders and doers from various walks of life – business, academics, and the arts. Spending 30 minutes finding the secrets that these women and men share keeps me energized.
There is also the ChatBot. I am inspired by the example of Marshall Goldsmith, who pioneered the concept with his Marshall Bot. The Baldoni ChatBot, a third-generation AI instrument that sources my material—books, articles and videos. Like Marshall’s Bot, it is a self-coaching tool. My tagline is “Leadership answers to management questions.”
At my life stage, I am what Chip Conley calls “a modern elder.” My role is to open doors for others, and toward that end, I mentor and coach. I am proud of being able to work with the Honor Foundation, which helps Special Operations Force veterans transition to civilian roles.
And let’s get real for a moment. I also have a lot of fun. I play golf, run ragged by my grandson, and get “put back together” by my wife, Gail, who keeps me focused.
Music is an integral part of your life. Can you describe what that entails daily, both in making your music and as a listener?
I grew up in a household where music was a constant. My Grandmother taught music in school and played in her church. As my mother told me years later, Grandma would play the piano, and my Grandfather would sing. It was their way of getting ready for the day. How energizing.
My Nonno loved opera and Italian, of course, a passion he passed onto my father, who adored Verdi and Mozart.
For me, music was a chore. Better put, it was music lessons and practicing that I abhorred. Yet, six years of lessons taught me to read music, as well as time management and negotiation skills—how soon could I go outside and play? My mother used to say that I would thank her one day. And many decades later—after returning to the piano after a 30-year hiatus—I did.
Music is an expression of feeling that words cannot express. It is a separate language, and we find meaning in life through it. Or maybe just joy. I went back to the piano at age 60 and, ever since, have tried to play every day. My tastes are eclectic. I love playing hymns and have a particular affinity for Black Spirituals – the very root of blues and country music. The American Standards offer intriguing harmonies. Country music – especially Hank Williams, Elvis, and Willie Nelson – gets to the heart of what it means to feel. And I also dabble – yes, in classical – though my playing is not up to par. The owner of the piano store where I purchased a couple of pianos told me that I play very expressively, to which I say, but not always accurately.
I love playing in public. I have two standing gigs – one in the lobby of a local hospital. (I am told that is where talent agents hang out though I have yet to meet any.) The other is in a senior center, where I have drop-in playing time but also at cocktail parties – which are from three to four. When you play for others, especially in hospitals, you see the effect that music has. It takes the edge off the sterility and coldness of the moment. People nod, smile and sometimes stop and listen. And that’s good enough for me.
[And those who follow me on LinkedIn know that I post a one-to-two minute piano piece as part of my series called #MotivationMonday.]