Skip to main content
Award-Winning Leadership Speaker, Executive Coach & New York Times Best-Selling Author

Nick Lane

Equitable President asks: How do you keep score?

Search Episodes

Search by name, company or episode number.
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
post

Playing lacrosse at Princeton taught Nick Lane that there are different ways of “keeping score,” whether the “game” you are playing is on a field, in a business, or, simply, in life. One way to keep score involves winning, which in collegiate lacrosse ultimately means winning the National Championship. By that definition, Lane certainly learned how to keep score at Princeton as the Tigers won two national championships during his undergraduate years.

Today, as the president of Equitable, in charge of the company’s Retirement, Wealth Management and Protection Solution businesses and its Marketing and Digital functions, Lane keeps score using a different criteria, one he also learned at Princeton playing under legendary coach Bill Tierney.

“The role of a leader is to make people better,” said Lane. “What truly made Coach Tierney special, and I think this is true of all great coaches, was that it wasn’t just about winning the games. He wanted to change people’s lives.” And it was his coach’s notion of keeping score by the impact you have on people that Lane also extended to his own career in business.

“What do you do for the American public? What do you do for your clients? How are you helping them be successful in their journeys?” asked Lane.

By now, it should be clear to readers that Lane is a strong proponent of servant leadership, the practice of taking responsibility for your team’s success, while, in turn, holding individual team members to a high level of accountability. Like a great coach, a great business leader makes people better by setting a certain tone, helping teammates develop their individual skills, setting goals for the team, and helping every team member believe in the team’s purpose—and in each other.

In the podcast, Lane shares lessons learned not only on the lacrosse field and C-Suite, but also as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps, where he was responsible for a wide range of logistics, training, and other areas.

To be a good servant leader, said Lane, you keep score differently. “Your communication skills or industry knowledge don’t matter as much,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what culture you’re in. If people see that you care, they will follow you.”


You will learn:

  •  6:00   How easy it is to cut corners in practice and why you’ll suffer as a result.
  •  8:00   How to emphasize the power or “we” on your team.
  • 11:00  How living and working in Japan in the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster taught Lane that caring was the universal language of respected leaders.
  • 15:00  The level of employee interaction required to achieve success.
  • 18:30  The difference between being accountable and responsible.
  • 27:00  How to identify a meaningful friend or mentor.

Resources:

Equitable is the brand name of the retirement and protection subsidiaries of Equitable Holdings, Inc.


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Never Miss An Episode

You will receive a FREE chapter from Don’s best-selling book on GREAT TEAMS when you subscribe.

Bonus Resource

Download our custom fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions.

Search episodes

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
post

Share Episode

Never Miss An Episode

Sign up to receive Don Yaeger’s weekly leadership contributions, and be the first to listen to new Corporate Competitor Podcast episodes.

Love This Podcast?

We would be so grateful if you left us a rating and review!

Greg Brenneman

Greg Brenneman

Home Depot Board Director

“Don, you have mastered the skill of interviewing and asking great questions. That is a great skill all leaders need in order to understand their team members’ thought processes.”

John Maxwell

John C. Maxwell

Best-Selling Author, Leadership Expert

“I am a subscriber because you are one of the greatest teachers, one of the best storytellers I have ever met, and I know you will maximize the people you have on the podcast. I’m telling everyone because when you find gold you point everyone to it.”

Simon Sinek

Best-Selling Author, Inspirational Speaker

“Don is one of the best storytellers I’ve ever met. I’ve known him for a long time and every time we talk I walk away wiser and more inspired. He is the best in the business at teaching you a skill – storytelling – that will last you a lifetime.”

Beth Brooke

Beth Brooke

Global Vice Chair of Public Policy for Ernst & Young

“The ability for athletes to get hired is carried on through you because you are putting out the message that lessons learned from sports are important in life. It is embedded in this podcast, what you’re doing is significant.”

RIck Hendrick

Rick Hendrick

NASCAR Hall of Famer, Owner of Hendrick Motorsports & Chairman of the Hendrick Automotive Group

“We speak the same language. I am inspired by the stories you tell, the people you have met, and the things you’ve done. Those of us that are competitors like to follow others that have been down that journey, so it is always fun talking to you!”

Bill George

Bill George

Longtime Medtronic CEO, Harvard Professor

“Many of the leaders I have worked with were excellent athletes, and I think there is a direct correlation. You’re one of the few people that really has pursued this study, Don. Keep up the great work. What you are doing really makes a difference.”

Savannah Gallagher

Producer

Jon Rousseau

Design/Development

Francisco Nunez

Editor

Brett Rutherford

Editor

Special thanks to Dave Moore, Lauren Hafner, Samantha Clark, and the Florida State University Internship Program for consistently supporting our research team.

Join the Greatness Community

Download Don’s fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions so you can create powerful, positive change in your organization.

You will receive a new leadership lesson each week.

Apple Podcasts

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

Step 1: Open the Apple Podcasts App.

Step 2: Search Corporate Competitor Podcast and click the episode art.

Step 3: Scroll to the bottom of the page and leave a rating and review.

BONUS   Screenshot your review, and send to corporate.competitor@greatnessinc.com for a free gift!

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyReturn to Shop