Jordan Thiel: Leadership Lessons and Building Trust in Agribusiness

The Intentional Agribusiness Leader Podcast

In this insightful episode of the Intentional Agribusiness Leader Podcast, host Mark Jewell sits down with Jordan Thiel, U.S. Sales Manager at ATP, to discuss the power of intentional leadership, building trust, and managing teams effectively in the agribusiness industry.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Importance of Caring and Intentionality in Leadership:

• Jordan shares his belief that the core of successful leadership and sales is showing genuine care. Without demonstrating care, it’s difficult to gain trust or inspire others to follow your lead.
• Sales, particularly in agribusiness, is not about being pushy but about building relationships and trust with customers.

1. Navigating Leadership Challenges:

• Jordan recounts his personal journey in stepping into leadership roles at a young age, managing teams with more experience than him. His approach of being humble, admitting his lack of experience, and asking for help created strong bonds of trust.
• Vulnerability and humility, rather than ego, are essential qualities in leadership.

1. Overcoming Tough Days in Leadership:

• Both Jordan and Mark discuss the reality of burnout and the struggle of staying motivated, especially in high-pressure environments. Jordan shares his personal strategies for rejuvenating his energy and focus, including family time and self-reflection.
• They emphasize the importance of reinvesting in oneself through learning, mentorship, and coaching during moments of low motivation.

1. Retaining Talent in a Competitive Environment:

• Finding and keeping good talent is one of the biggest challenges in agribusiness. Jordan shares his perspective on helping employees succeed by removing obstacles, encouraging open communication, and fostering a culture of growth and trust.
• An effective leader helps employees grow within the company, giving them more responsibility and development opportunities to keep them engaged and committed.

1. Culture Creation and Building a Trusting Environment:

• In a growing organization, establishing a positive and trusting culture is vital. Jordan explains how ATP emphasizes the "why" behind their work, helping employees understand the deeper purpose of their roles and creating alignment with company goals.

1. Lessons in Leadership from Humility and Ownership:

• Jordan reflects on his early management roles, where he learned to admit mistakes openly and take responsibility for errors. This built credibility and trust with his team, further enhancing his leadership effectiveness.
• Mark highlights the importance of extreme ownership, a concept that resonates with many leaders as they navigate the challenges of leading others.

1. Public Speaking and Communication:

• Jordan discusses his personal goal of improving his public speaking skills, aiming to deliver presentations that engage and connect with audiences rather than relying heavily on slides. He sees effective communication as a critical part of leadership.

1. Books and Resources:

• Jordan recommends two influential books:
• Good to Great by Jim Collins, highlighting the importance of getting the right people in the right seats on the bus.
• Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson, a simple yet powerful read about adapting to change and seizing new opportunities.

1. Personal Life and Work-Life Balance:

• Jordan shares how spending time with his family, particularly his young son, helps him stay grounded and energized in his work. He emphasizes the importance of balancing work with personal life and creating memorable experiences with loved ones.

Quotes from the Episode:

• “If you don’t care, your customer will see through you. You can’t expect them to trust you if they don’t feel your genuine interest.”
• “Leadership is about being vulnerable and admitting when you don’t have all the answers. It builds trust and opens doors to growth.”
• “To me, leadership is helping your people remove roadblocks. When you make their lives easier, they perform better.”

For more episodes of the Intentional Agribusiness Leader Podcast, make sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform!