Summary
In this solo episode, I explore how the natural strengths of intentional grandfathers — presence, curiosity, encouragement, patience, and wisdom — translate into powerful leadership skills in today’s workplace. Using stories about Legos, pancakes, and real-life team challenges, Greg reframes proven leadership ideas from Dale Carnegie, John Maxwell, and Dan Miller into an accessible, heart-first approach he calls Grandpa Leadership.
Listeners will learn how to build stronger connections with their teams, empower younger employees, guide people through mistakes, and cultivate loyalty by showing genuine care. I also introduce my three-part Grandpa Formula for Connection and share a weekly challenge to help leaders put these ideas into action.
Key Takeaways
- Lead with presence, not pressure. Your team needs to feel seen, valued, and supported.
- Let people build “their ship.” Encourage creativity and ownership instead of rigid compliance.
- Practice real curiosity. Ask questions that show you care about your people’s work and dreams.
- Encouragement = fuel. A slight nod, a quick thank-you note, or celebrating tiny wins builds massive confidence.
- Loyalty follows care. People may not feel loyal to an organization these days, but they will be loyal to a leader who shows up for them.
- Be the calm center. Like a seasoned grandparent, bring steadiness, patience, and wisdom when stress hits.
- Guide people without taking over. Present options, help them think, and let them choose — that’s how they grow.
The Grandpa Formula for Connection
- Be Present
Put the phone down. Give undivided attention. It builds trust instantly. - Be Curious
Ask about projects, challenges, and motivations. Curiosity creates belonging. - Be Encouraging
Praise progress, not perfection. Your encouragement becomes someone’s confidence.
Links and Resources
Click HERE to download your free copy of my Grandpa Leadership Connection Worksheet.
To listen to Dan Miller’s interview about supporting grandchildren’s creativity, click on this link: https://cool-grandpa.com/2021/09/10/ep-48-growing-creativity-with-grandchildren/
As always, you can watch this video on YouTube using this link: https://youtu.be/I3_S8E1UhjY.
More Than Grand 
Grandfathers have a unique and meaningful role to play in grandchildren’s development, yet they often find themselves behind the scenes, on the sidelines, or less engaged than they’d like to be. This masterclass delivers a playbook for helping grandfathers level up their influence and impact. Listeners to The Cool Grandpa Podcast can receive 40% off this course by using Cool40 at checkout.
Founded in 2011 by Aaron Larsen as a way to honor his grandparents, GrandparentsAcademy.com is the world’s first and only online academy dedicated to helping grandparents grow meaningful relationships and rich legacies with their loved ones.
