S1E2: Kris Lindahl | Lead With Generosity

Don’t let success cloud your vision. Kris Lindahl, CEO and founder of Kris Lindahl Real Estate, shares how accountability, intensity and generosity blaze the path to success. Kris’s story demonstrates that when leaders put the customer first, implement a business system, and actively look for weak spots, their team and business thrive.

Kris is a maverick and a game-changer in the real estate industry. He entered the space in 2009 and by 2018 he took off as an entrepreneur. He recalls his middle school football coach as his first leader role model, who instilled in him values he still lives by in his leadership today: accountability and intensity.

Kris remembers, however, that his coach didn’t always treat everyone the same. He had favorites.

[10:08] “The reality is that there’s no way in leadership that you can treat everyone the same, but what you have to do is you have to treat them all fairly.”

Success Does Not Mean Static

Kris finds leaders who act like dictators or invulnerable macho-men to be ineffective. Being able to admit mistakes, share insecurities and learn from them opens the door to personal improvement. It also makes for a stronger business. When you pretend or can’t see that your business needs improvement, that’s where it starts to fall apart.

[16:31] “This is what I see that puts most industries, most companies, out of business is the lack of vision when things are great.”

Instead, Kris strives to be proactive during success. When leaders consciously look for ways to improve their business, areas that need development are easier to spot.

Accountability and Intensity Create Constructive Workplaces

If you want your team to hold each other accountable and approach their work with intensity, leaders must set the example. When reviewing daily tasks, Kris urges leaders to ask themselves regularly: How can I do this better? 

Leaders that demonstrate intensity of interest and focus in their work empower their employees and customers to approach them. And if you eliminate the need for people to muster the courage to knock on your door, you eliminate a barrier to open, honest communication and problem-solving.

Learn to Win in Business… And Not Let it Get to You

Kris’s leadership manifests itself most strongly in his generosity and visibility. And yet, he’s received negative criticism for both.

When he first started advertising and fighting to make his business visible, Kris was ridiculed continually on social media. It used to really bother him, but he realized that if his success was so noticeable, then he must be doing something right. He also took the critiques as an opportunity to listen and gain feedback. Today, angry tweets don’t bother him as much — he knows how to roll with the punches.

Lead With Openness

Kris advocates for openness when facing challenges in business. If employees decide they want to move on, Kris says genuinely wishing them well in their next step is key to maturing as a leader.

He says implementing a business system like EOS can make or break a young or new entrepreneur. It’s not enough to run on ideas. Kris urges new entrepreneurs to realize that a successful business doesn’t mean one without challenges. 

The key to facing those challenges is having a system like EOS and having people around you who will hold you accountable.

Learn More:

• Connect with Kris
• Kris’s website