Humans at Work with Michael Glazer: Recent Episodes
Michael Glazer
In today’s world of work, it’s too easy to forget that Human Resource are actually Human People. This podcast gives you fresh perspectives on leadership, teams, change, diversity and values, as well as actionable ideas to make working with other humans better for everyone, because I believe that well-being at work is a basic human right.
In this episode, we're rethinking leadership with Nicholas Janni, author of “Leader As Healer” and teacher at IMD Business School and the University of Oxford Said Business School. Nicholas introduces the revolutionary concept of leaders as healers, advocating for a shift from the hyper-rational, imbalanced corporate norms that prioritize doing over being. He shares how integrating emotional intelligence and deep personal connections can transform leadership effectiveness.
Join us as Nicholas shares how embracing our whole selves helps businesses and the people who work in them can thrive together.
If you enjoy the show, please rate it on Apple or Spotify. Your ratings help more people like you discover the podcast!
Episode Highlights
- The critical role of leaders in addressing global crises through deep personal and emotional connection.
- How fostering emotional openness and vulnerability can transform leadership effectiveness and workplace dynamics.
- Integrating meditative and somatic practices to elevate leaders' perceptual fields and empathy levels.
- The substantial business benefits of emotionally intelligent leadership, from engagement to profitability.
- The necessity of taking a leadership approach that prioritizes emotional authenticity for transformative change.
- How physical awareness and presence enhance leaders' decision-making capabilities and overall effectiveness.
- Creating organizational cultures that foster resilience and satisfaction.
Nicholas’ view on the greatest unmet wellbeing need at work today
“Emotional the cultivation and welcoming of emotional authenticity. People being allowed to say how they're really feeling and being unconditionally met. There's nothing wrong with feeling frightened, sad. I think without that you'll never have well pay.”
What "working with humans" means to Nicholas
“It means working with the full spectrum of who we are. And most workplaces in my great, extensive experience, function on a very small spectrum of who we really are.”
Resources
Follow: Nicholas on LinkedIn
Visit: Matrix Development website
Read: Leader as Healer: A new paradigm for 21st-century leadership
For more episodes that give you fresh perspectives and actionable ideas for making working with other humans better for everyone, visit our website at https://en.peoplefocusconsulting.com/resources/podcast/
©Michael Glazer
We've all been there: put on the spot during a meeting and found ourselves tongue-tied. In this episode, we tackle the challenge of spontaneous communication head-on. I'm joined by Matt Abrahams, who is a Lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business and the host of the “Think Fast, Talk Smart,” which draws in millions of listeners per episode. His TEDx Talk has captivated a global audience, and his latest book is titled, “Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot.”
Today, Matt shares his insights into preparing for those unscripted moments, managing speaking anxiety, and mastering the mindset shifts critical for effective communication. We'll cover practical strategies for nailing Q&A sessions and confidently handling challenging conversations.
If you enjoy the show, please rate it on iTunes or Spotify. Your ratings help more people like you discover the podcast!
Episode Highlights
· How preparation paradoxically improves your ability to speak spontaneously
· Making your message resonate and be memorable
· Creating a personalized anxiety management plan to reduce speaking anxiety
· A critical mindset shift that improves communication quality and effectiveness
· Reframing errors as learning opportunities to improve communication skills
· How improving our listening skills can make spontaneous speaking more effective
· Mastering Q&A sessions by engaging with people who are opposed to your ideas
· Methods for handling difficult questions in tricky scenarios
Matt’s view on the greatest unmet wellbeing need at work today
“I think we saw with the pandemic, just how raw some people can be. It exposed that and put a light on it. And it's important that we respect it and that we connect with it. As a teacher, I see it in my students, I see it my colleagues. So, I believe all of us have to take a step back and remind ourselves that first and foremost, we're humans, we have challenges and issues, both in inside ourselves and in the relationships we have. And I think we need to spend more time respecting that in offering to help those who are struggling.”
What “working with humans” means to Matt
“To me, it is a reminder that communication is relational and about connection, not about transactions. We work with others, others who have their own existence, their own ideas, their own belief, and we need to remember that it's all about the relationship and the connection that we have and I think that is very powerful and very important.”
Resources
Follow: Matt on LinkedIn
Visit: Matt’s website
Read: Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot
For more episodes that give you fresh perspectives and actionable ideas for making working with other humans better for everyone, visit our website at https://en.peoplefocusconsulting.com/resources/podcast/
This episode examines the components of building and leading high-performing teams with guests Alison Grieve and Jenni Miller, experts in transforming team dynamics at some of the world's leading companies, including PepsiCo and ING.
Alison and Jenni share practical advice on the critical roles of trust, motivation, and emotional intelligence in team success, as well as advice on fostering resilience, enhancing virtual and hybrid collaborations, and creating a culture of accountability and empowerment.
If you enjoy the show, please rate it on iTunes or Spotify. Your ratings help more people like you discover the podcast!
Episode Highlights
- The importance of understanding and managing emotions within teams.
- How daily and significant changes within teams can affect team performance.
- The responsibility of leaders and team members in recognizing and managing emotions.
- The need for us to recognize our own blind spots and develop better self-awareness.
- How unchecked assumptions can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts.
- Recognizing that what motivates one team member may not motivate another.
- Feedback as a Tool for Growth: The significance of creating a culture of constructive feedback to foster personal and team growth.
- How shared experiences strengthen team bonds and trust.
- Concrete strategies to build trust and improve team performance.
Alison’s and Jenni’s views on the greatest unmet wellbeing need at work today
Alison
“I think isolation—so, talking about meetings, going into meetings, and nobody's got their video on their screen, so you can't see them. People are not communicating very well. They're just sending WhatsApp or Slack messages and emails. They don't meet physically. I think isolation then tends to make people feel that it's just about the task, and work becomes a tool because fun at work often comes from having solved a problem or overcome a challenge with someone else. And so, if we start to lose those, then I think it's really sad.”
Jenni
“I was going to fully agree with what Alison said. I think it is the number one challenge that organizations are wrestling with at the moment in the debate about whether hybrids work or whether it's back to the office. I don't think it's actually a location issue. I think it's an isolation issue. So what people are picking up on is that people aren't as motivated or as productive as they could be if they're just working from home. That, the working from home bit, is not the issue. It's the fact that managers and teams aren't putting in mechanisms to make people feel still connected to the organization. You address that, and I imagine it's going to open up something really powerful and positive.”
What "working with humans" means to Alison and Jenni
Alison
“There is a warmth and creativity that is so empowering [to that phrase], and inspiring and energizing. That's what it's about.”
Jenni
“What's the alternative? It's working with robots and artificial intelligence. I'm hearing a lot of concern from people, asking, ‘Are they going to replace me? What does that mean for my job going forward?’
Actually, the beauty of working with humans, as opposed to AI, is in solving really complex problems together, doing something for the first time that nobody's ever done before, being creative, and coming up with new ideas. Like, ‘I may well be proven wrong, but I don't think that robots and AI can do that.’ So, I believe that's what keeps us special and powerful as a species—all of that.”
Resources
Follow: Alison and Jenni on LinkedIn
Visit: Management Dynamics
Read: Leading Edge: Strategies for developing and sustaining high-performing teams
Visit our website for a full transcript of this episode and for more episodes that give you fresh perspectives and actionable ideas for making working with other humans better for everyone.
Can improv help us unlock workplace success? In this episode, we explore the positive impact of improvisation on well-being, communication, and the nuances of our daily interactions. Patricia Ryan Madson, Stanford University Emerita and author of “Improv Wisdom,” provides insights on how improv maxims can enhance the way we connect, create, and engage at work – and in life.
If you enjoy the show, please rate it on iTunes or Spotify. Your ratings help more people like you discover the podcast!
Episode Highlights
- Learn how simple acts of noticing and acknowledging others can have outsized effects on their well-being and yours.
- Find out how the maxim of "Yes, And" can enhance teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving.
- Uncover strategies for tackling common fears and anxieties in the workplace through the lens of improv.
- Explore how the practices of improv can sharpen your mindfulness and presence.
- Hear advice for applying improv principles in many aspects of daily life.
- Learn how to cultivate gratitude for the often-overlooked contributions of others.
- Discover how improvisation can be a powerful tool for navigating change and uncertainty.
- Use improv to improve your communication skills, making you a better listener and collaborator.
- Hear how the ethos of improv can help build a work environment where every voice is heard and valued.
Patricia’s view on the greatest unmet wellbeing need at work today “I think that the greatest need is to discover the concept of ‘enough’. I think the workplace and the mania for pushing forward for more and greater, this need in our consumer world, that in order to keep going, everything has to grow and grow. I think we need to say enough. And to find space, and to slow down, and to do less.
I think our world would be a lot better, certainly businesses would be, if instead of just looking at the bottom line as the measure of success, more companies would see that the health of the world depends upon all of us being able to slow down a little more, respect each other, maybe not consume as much.
I just turned 81. And so, I am looking at trying to notice how my world has so many things that I’ve been collecting over the years, and realizing that it’s hard to get off that ‘let’s get some more stuff’ wagon. But I’m a proponent now of every day trying to find something that I can rehome or give away, or find a different home for, rather than just adding more. So, the concept of enough and slowing down would be what I would wish for our workplaces.”
What "working with humans" means to Patricia “‘Working with humans’ is a reminder somehow that we’re all in this together. And that there’s no way that I can really thrive and succeed if I’m trying to do it on my own. So working with humans means shifting that in fact, as I was thinking about that, my eyes kind of rolled back in my head and I felt myself sort of go into me, but it’s I need to shift the attention so that I’m working with humans meaning never forget all of the others and my place in that to be helpful to them, to try to cause them less trouble and to make it work by doing my part.”
Resources Read: Improv Wisdom: Don't Prepare, Just Show Up
Visit our website for a full transcript of this episode and for more episodes that give you fresh perspectives and actionable ideas for making working with other humans better for everyone.
Ever wondered what happens when we flip traditional corporate hierarchies, allowing the young to mentor the old? This episode zeroes in on reverse mentoring, showcasing its power to drive innovation and foster understanding across generations. Patrice Gordon, a pioneer at Virgin Atlantic and author of the book “Reverse Mentoring: Removing Barriers and Building Belonging in the Workplace.”
Patrice explains how embracing uncomfortable moments and challenging our assumptions can lead to growth for both people and organizations. She also shares advice for setting up and running reserve mentoring programs and strategies for bringing more humanity into our organizations. Tune in to discover how you can harness the potential of reverse mentoring to not only enhance leadership but also create a more inclusive, dynamic workplace.
If you enjoy the show, please rate it on iTunes or Spotify. Your ratings help more people like you discover the podcast!
Episode Highlights
- Explore reverse mentoring's role in driving innovation and understanding between generations.
- Gain insights from Patrice Gordon on fostering inclusive leadership and authentic self-expression at work.
- Learn strategies from Virgin Atlantic's reverse mentoring for cultivating an inclusive culture.
- Steps to implement effective reverse mentoring programs for organizational change.
- Tackle misconceptions and challenges in reverse mentoring and DEI for better outcomes.
- The role of trust in reverse mentoring success and how to assess and build it.
- Criteria for selecting the right participants for pilot mentoring programs.
- Establishing psychological safety for impactful mentorship relationships.
- Enhancing workplace communication and connection through reverse mentoring.
- Keeping reverse mentoring programs alive and impactful with leadership commitment.
Patrice’s view on the greatest unmet wellbeing need at work today
“I think it's about connection. So post-pandemic, like, you know, you've got better up service talks about like people who don't feel connected at work, people who would rather not be connected with the people at work, and people who really want to be connected with people at work.
And so for me, well-being is about connection. Especially when we're talking about in a hybrid world, when we're talking about, you know, a lot of the work that I do is with the Gent with Gen Z and it's about them entering the workforce properly for the first time, and how things that we maybe took for granted being like seasoned, seasoned corporate employees.
But what does that look like now especially being like digital natives, and now heading into a space where it may not actually be the Digital First, it's more people first. But really that connection and building authentic connection within an organization where people are more like people's opinions or views are more polarized than ever.
And now we're living our lives at work as well. So, historically, we maybe didn't have the opportunity to bring all of our viewpoints and opinions to the office. But now we have no option but to write because it's just weaved into every part of our being now.
And so connecting at a deeper level, from a pace of like honesty and transparency, but also with respect, that all feeds into that connection piece for me.”
What "working with humans" means to Patrice
“Be more human. Like, bring as much of yourself to work as you feel comfortable in doing I always say, and, but it's recognizing people's individuality and respecting that and acknowledging that you have these wide policies.
But actually, the one-on-one interaction those conversations…just will mean so much more to people to feel like seen and heard and valued. And I think everyone just needs to create bit more time to do that.”
Resources
Follow: Patrice on LinkedIn
Visit: Eminere
Read: Reverse Mentoring: Removing Barriers and Building Belonging in the Workplace
Watch: How reverse mentorship can help create better leaders
Visit our website for a full transcript of this episode and for more episodes that give you fresh perspectives and actionable ideas for making working with other humans better for everyone.
© Michael Glazer
Facing gender bias is tough. Add ageism to the mix, and the workplace becomes a whole different challenge. This episode examines the landscape for women over 50 in the workplace, spotlighted through Dr. Lucy Ryan's insights from her book, "Revolting Women." Addressing the dual hurdles of ageism and gender bias, Dr. Ryan explains how societal expectations shape professional experiences. She shares compelling stories about navigating menopause and caregiving, alongside strategies for midlife women. The discussion includes advice for employers, such as having midlife check-ins, to create a more inclusive and equitable environment.
If you enjoy the show, please rate it on iTunes or Spotify. Your ratings help more people like you discover the podcast!
Episode Highlights
- Understand the fusion of ageism and sexism affecting workplace dynamics for women.
- Strategies for managing age and gender perceptions in professional settings.
- Practical tips for addressing menopause impacts in the workplace.
- Advice for navigating the compound challenges of caregiving, menopause, and mental health.
- Innovative approaches to combat workplace discrimination and bias.
- Steps to create menopause-friendly and supportive environments for midlife women.
- Key strategies for organizational adaptation to support midlife women’s needs.
Lucy's view on the greatest unmet wellbeing need at work today
"I'm a leadership coach, and one of the things that happens with almost every single client I coach is they don't have enough space to reflect. And it's not built into the workplace. It's as if people are going from call to call to call to call...So where do we reflect? Where do we get space to breathe? So, I would really like that to happen?"
What "working with humans" means to Lucy
We forget often that we are working with humans…But I think the organization is so busy with processes. We have jargon for everything. We have all the process going on change processes, target operating models, we have more jargon than you can throw at a person every single day. And we forget that we've just got human beings with their own lives, difficulties, joys going on every day. And that means that we need to build compassionate conversations into our workplace.”
Resources:
Follow: Lucy on LinkedIn
Visit: Lucy’s website
Read: Revolting Women: Why midlife women are walking out, and what to do about it
For a full transcript of this episode and for more episodes that give you fresh perspectives and actionable ideas for making working with other humans better for everyone, visit our website at https://en.peoplefocusconsulting.com/resources/podcast/
©Michael Glazer
Do you excel in analytical, strategic and goal-oriented tasks yet often get bogged down in thinking through how to unstick yourself from complicated situations or challenges? This episode focuses on how tapping into the power of your right brain can help you move forward through seemingly intractable challenges.
The right brain is our gateway to seeing the big picture, infusing fresh ideas and deeper understanding into your life. It’s the part of our brain that helps us interpret the world through our senses and is vital for empathy, enabling us to forge genuine connections with others.
Our guest is Yda Bouvier, and she has a unique mix of business expertise and physics knowledge, which includes over a decade working in senior roles at Boston Consulting Group. She’s also an accomplished executive coach and the author of the recent book, “Leading with the Right Brain”.
If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to rate it on Spotify. Your ratings hep more people like you discover the podcast!
Episode Highlights
· An exploration of the unique functions of the left and right brain in life and decision-making.
· A revealing look at the brain's ability to simplify complex information.
· An examination of the evolutionary reasons for the predominance of left-brain thinking.
· A discussion on effective strategies to engage the right brain for holistic problem-solving.
· Insights into using metaphors in coaching to unlock deeper understanding and solutions.
· Practical advice for using right-brain thinking techniques to tackle complex challenges.
· A unique perspective on integrating business, physics, and executive coaching expertise.
Yda’s view on the greatest unmet wellbeing need at work today
"I think the [greatest] unmet need in the workplace is still for people to feel really seen, seen and heard, and acknowledged for just simply who they are and what they bring. I feel that we’re just as a we’re not good at…making others the other feel seen and heard.”
What "working with humans" means to Yda
“When I think about working with humans, I immediately think about the transition we’re all in at the moment. Part of it is trying to figure out how to work with increasingly intelligent machines. And, you know, I’m facing that as an individual, but if you’re running an organization, this is something that is absolutely top of mind.
Now, when I think about working with humans, it seems to me that because machines are developing so fast, we need to develop quickly and cultivate the unique human advantages that we bring. It’s not hard to argue that computers and AI compete more easily with the qualities of the left side of your brain, and that the right side of your brain allows for a uniquely human advantage. So, we can really leverage that.
But also, when we work with the right side [of the brain], AI is just another team member we can collaborate with. Working with humans then also means working with machines because you can see AI as a team member. This may be a funny twist you haven’t thought about yet.
But when I think about working with humans, I think about us really using our human advantage to also be able to work with intelligent machines.”
Resources:
Follow: Yda on LinkedIn
Visit: Yda’s website
Read: Leading with the Right Brain
For more episodes that give you fresh perspectives and actionable ideas for making working with other humans better for everyone, visit our website at https://en.peoplefocusconsulting.com/resources/podcast/
©Michael Glazer
Dr. Robert Lefkowitz shares anecdotes and wisdom from his extraordinary career. This episode delves into the power of storytelling and narratives, building a legacy based on mentorship, overcoming harsh criticism, and using personal values at work.
Lefkowitz won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2012 for “for studies of G-protein-coupled receptors.” His memoir is titled “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Stockholm”. Today, more than half of all prescription drug sales are of drugs that target either directly or indirectly the receptors discovered by Dr. Lefkowitz and his trainees.
If you enjoy the show, please rate it on Spotify. Your rating helps more people like you discover the podcast!
Episode Highlights * The importance of crafting and telling stories * How revising an old story we tell ourselves can pay off professionally * Coping with challenges and setbacks * Constructively decoding rejection * Why learning to say no to career opportunities matters * Bob's criteria for making career decisions * Advice for making life's most important decisions * Bob's first rule of mentoring: tailor it for each and every person * How Bob wants to be remembered
Bob’s view on the greatest unmet wellbeing need at work today "You're coming to turf that's very near and dear to my heart...Both my parents had premature heart attacks. My father died of his fourth heart attack at 63. He had his first one when he was 50. So there were clearly strong genetic factors favoring heart disease in my family...I developed angina and had quadruple bypass surgery. That was 30 years ago, and I'm still here and still kicking.
So how did that come to be? Because I, as a cardiologist, paid meticulous attention to risk factors that I can alter. The one I can't alter, of course, is my genetics. But there are lots of others that you can. So in the workplace, if I could focus on two things, one would be the food that people are eating. [Addressing] the vending machines, and the crap that they serve in the cafeteria. So healthier eating.
The other is exercise. Okay, I'm a nut about both subjects. So, for most of my career, I would go out, and about noon time with a very close friend of mine who's a faculty member. And we would go for a run at lunchtime. And I wish there were more emphasis on that facilities that were conveniently available, and ways to structure the work day so that people are given breaks to go out and exercise.
I think wellness is very, very important. And then of course, you know that there's the whole stress business, which there are various ways to handle. But I think an emphasis on wellness is extremely important. It has been for me, the fact that I'm still here 30 years later, I work full time at 80 [years old]. I'm still full time, and I just renewed my grants for another five years. I'm still at it!"
What “working with humans” means to Bob “One of my most closely held core values is human dignity. And to me, one of the most important things about working with people is to show everybody the same level of respect.
I don't care if a Nobel laureates coming into my office, or -- I have a great relationship with the guy who picks up the trash every day, he comes in. And I'll say, "Hey, I got some great stuff for you here!" You know, I'll hand in my trash can. I say, "be careful with it!" as I banter with him. I don't care if you're picking up the trash or you're a Nobel Laureate. I want to show you the respect that, to me, every human being deserves.
Now there's a balance. One of the things I learned when I was in Hebrew school as a kid that I remember to this day is there was a there's an ancient Jewish texts, called Pirkei Avot, which means Stories of the Fathers. These are sage pieces of advice passed down for centuries and centuries. One of them is attributed to him ancient rabbi whose name was Hillel.
Hillel had this saying, it goes something like this. "If I am not for me, who will be for me? If I am only for me, who am I? If not now, when?" And there's huge wisdom in that. But to me the balancing between self-interest because, in the end, you're responsible for yourself. Because, if I'm not for me, who will be for me? But on the other hand, if I'm only for me, then who am I?
You got to take care of others. And to me, that's what it's all about.”
Resources Read: Bob's profile on Wikipedia and at Duke University's website Read: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Stockholm: The Adrenaline-Fueled Adventures of an Accidental Scientist Watch: Bob's Nobel Lecture (slides and transcript also available) Read: about Pirkei Avot
For more episodes that give you fresh perspectives and actionable ideas for making working with other humans better for everyone, visit our website at https://en.peoplefocusconsulting.com/resources/podcast/
©Michael Glazer
With employee disengagement at alarming levels despite significant investments in training leaders in coaching skills, there's a pressing need to reevaluate and get practical about making coaching truly effective for people in managerial roles. This episode zeroes in on how to address this gap, introducing insights and tools for leaders to genuinely engage and empower their teams.
Dominic Ashley-Timms, CEO of Notion, has firsthand experience across 37 countries, providing a fresh and nuanced perspective on leadership, culture, and organizational transformation. Having co-authored "The Answer Is a Question", Dominic brings an innovative approach to everyday coaching, rooted in the STAR® model he co-created.
If you enjoy the show, please rate it on Spotify or iTunes. Your ratings help more people like you discover the podcast!
Episode Highlights * The vital role of questions and their effectiveness. * Crafting questions that stimulate constructive thought processes. * Advanced questioning techniques for seasoned managers. * External cues (also called triggers) and their role in influencing behavioral shifts. * Molding triggers to fit seamlessly into a manager’s coaching approach. * Pinpointing moments ripe for coaching interventions. * Addressing the knowledge gap in framing effective questions. * The strategy behind intentional questioning. * Exploring question facets: their classification, delivery, and timing. * Varied question styles for clarity, comparison, and an outward focus. * Emphasizing the need for pause, reflection, and then ask the right question.
Dominic's view on the greatest unmet wellbeing need at work today "The issue is not so much about how we're being taught well-being; it's more about adapting our behavior and changing our mental models. We need to redefine what our roles are as managers. This is not just an individual conversation but also an organizational one. Within my company, we're facilitating discussions with leadership teams of major organizations to explore what they expect from their managerial layers. Unfortunately, many organizations aren't having this crucial dialogue.
The goal should be to create an engaged, contributing workforce where people can operate at their highest level and feel valued for it. To achieve this, managers need to be skilled in fostering such an environment. When it comes to well-being, we all need to feel seen, acknowledged, and respected. Most management training programs focus on transactional skills; they're episodic and don't foster a continuous mindset shift.
We need to move away from the traditional role of the manager as the "problem solver" or the one who "keeps the lights on." Instead, managers should enable their team members to give their best, inviting and valuing their contributions. This shift in behavior can lead to more trusting and engaging relationships with team members. When we started this work 15 years ago, we were often measured by improvements in engagement scores. It's not complicated—if you want to improve engagement, then engage more.
However, many managers are so preoccupied with their task lists that they neglect the people-engagement aspect of their roles.
We argue that reversing this trend has significant benefits, not just for teams, but also for managers. Adopting an operational coaching approach to management has been reported to reduce stress and create a more balanced work week.
Recent research has even shown that the relationship with one's line manager has a greater impact on mental well-being than relationships with a spouse, pastor, or doctor. Considering the number of hours spent at work, it's easy to understand why a relationship with a manager can have such a significant impact on mental well-being.
So, we are at an inflection point. If you are a line manager responsible for people, it's time to consider how you will engage differently in the next phase of your career."
What “working with humans” means to Dominic “The tenets of management haven't really changed over the last century. When we examine organizations, we often refer to the workforce as a "resource." In consulting, it's termed "human capital management," and we have Human Resources departments. We haven't really moved beyond viewing humans merely as resources.
We recently gave a significant talk in London about re-humanizing management. The focus is on helping managers understand that their role extends beyond merely ensuring that work proceeds. They are also there to engage the workforce and take them along on the journey. Working with humans is exactly that — if people aren't actively contributing to the work, there's no progress.
If we were to ask ourselves what percentage of the available talent in our workforce we are truly tapping into, the answer might be unsettling.”
Resources Follow: Dominic on LinkedIn Visit: Notion website Read: The Answer Is a Question
For more episodes that give you fresh perspectives and actionable ideas for making working with other humans better for everyone, visit our website at https://en.peoplefocusconsulting.com/resources/podcast/
©Michael Glazer
How is the intersection of technology and human experience reshaping our workplaces? In this episode, we explore the dynamic evolution of work environments, where technology and human-centric practices are becoming increasingly intertwined. You’ll hear about leveraging technology to create more inclusive and equitable workplaces, simplifying work processes through AI, and shifting the focus from productivity to impact.
Stela Lupushor is the founder of Reframe.Work Inc. She is also Program Director for the Strategic Workforce Planning and Talent Management Councils, as well as the Human Capital Analytics Institute Senior Fellow shaping the research agenda of the Conference Board. She offers a unique blend of expertise in her latest co-authored book, "Humans at Work: The Art and Practice of Creating the Hybrid Workplace."
If you enjoy the show, please rate it on Spotify or iTunes. Your ratings help more people like you discover the podcast!
Episode Highlights
- Insights on technology's immediate impact in today's work environment.
- Strategies for effective, real-time workplace measurements.
- Tips on reducing workplace friction to boost productivity and well-being.
- Understanding the importance of everyday moments in employee retention.
- Recognizing the power of addressing small, individual workplace challenges.
- Balancing employee privacy with organizational needs.
- Redesigning workspaces for mental health and improved focus.
Stela's view on the greatest unmet wellbeing need at work today
“From a well-being perspective, [it’s] the need to interact with an organization that is not designed to work around us. We look at the technology stack as something that IT managers manage, and it's all about cost containment and making it secure. And that comes at a cost of a lot of compliance training, not to say that none of that is necessary; it's very important. But it's more compliance-driven than experience-driven.
When we think about the physical workspace, it's again designed to minimize the costs and maximize the number of people that can fit within a square foot. And not necessarily designed to have the environment work around us for what we need, whether we have a permanent or temporary disability, whether we need quiet space at that specific time of the day. And with the combination of both digital world and physical world, we increasingly live in that in-between, regardless of what work you do, there's bound to be technology involved.
So, redesigning that experience, to allow us to seamlessly move through it without having context switching and friction points and forgotten passwords, inaccessible devices, will reduce the mental health impact, mental taxing in dramatic ways and really leave space for us to do the focused work or whatever it is that makes sense for us as humans at that time.”
What "working with humans" means to Stela
“It is about creating the environment where people can truly maximize their human potential at work. I don't believe that there are bad people for jobs. I don't believe there are bad jobs for people; I believe there's a mismatch. So, the more we can think through the lens of what are the superpowers of this individual, or what are the superpowers they would like to have, and how we can create that environment for them to thrive? I think that's when organizations succeed. That's when individuals are loyal and bring their full potential. That's when the economy benefits, and that's when families at home benefit as well. So, it's a net positive.”
Resources
Follow: Stela on LinkedIn
Read: Humans at Work: The Art and Practice of Creating the Hybrid Workplace
For more episodes that give you fresh perspectives and actionable ideas for making working with other humans better for everyone, visit our website at https://en.peoplefocusconsulting.com/resources/podcast/
©Michael Glazer
We've all been there: put on the spot during a meeting and found ourselves tongue-tied. In this episode, we tackle the challenge of spontaneous communication head-on. I'm joined by Matt Abrahams, who is a Lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business and the host of the “Think Fast, Talk Smart,” which draws in millions of listeners per episode. His TEDx Talk has captivated a global audience, and his latest book is titled, “Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot.”
Today, Matt shares his insights into preparing for those unscripted moments, managing speaking anxiety, and mastering the mindset shifts critical for effective communication. We'll cover practical strategies for nailing Q&A sessions and confidently handling challenging conversations.
If you enjoy the show, please rate it on Spotify or iTunes. Your ratings help more people like you discover the podcast!
Episode Highlights
· How preparation paradoxically improves your ability to speak spontaneously
· Making your message resonate and be memorable
· Creating a personalized anxiety management plan to reduce speaking anxiety
· A critical mindset shift that improves communication quality and effectiveness
· Reframing errors as learning opportunities to improve communication skills
· How improving our listening skills can make spontaneous speaking more effective
· Mastering Q&A sessions by engaging with people who are opposed to your ideas
· Methods for handling difficult questions in tricky scenarios
Matt’s view on the greatest unmet wellbeing need at work today
“I think we saw with the pandemic, just how raw some people can be. It exposed that and put a light on it. And it's important that we respect it and that we connect with it. As a teacher, I see it in my students, I see it my colleagues. So, I believe all of us have to take a step back and remind ourselves that first and foremost, we're humans, we have challenges and issues, both in inside ourselves and in the relationships we have. And I think we need to spend more time respecting that in offering to help those who are struggling.”
What “working with humans” means to Matt
“To me, it is a reminder that communication is relational and about connection, not about transactions. We work with others, others who have their own existence, their own ideas, their own belief, and we need to remember that it's all about the relationship and the connection that we have and I think that is very powerful and very important.”
Resources
Follow: Matt on LinkedIn
Visit: Matt’s website
Read: Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot
For more episodes that give you fresh perspectives and actionable ideas for making working with other humans better for everyone, visit our website at https://en.peoplefocusconsulting.com/resources/podcast/
©Michael Glazer
Have you hit a creative roadblock at work? You’re not alone. In this episode, we explore how creativity becomes the cornerstone for innovation, helping businesses to thrive amidst rapidly changing trends and disruptions. It’s not about wild ideas. It’s about building an environment where creativity thrives at every desk.
This episode features Adam Kingl, an expert in reshaping how we think about leadership and strategy in the business world. Adam has influenced the minds of business leaders at prestigious institutions such as London Business School, Hult International Business School, and Imperial College Business School. He also regularly contributes as a writer and expert interviewee to The Financial Times, Sunday Times, Forbes, Fortune, The Guardian and Fast Company.
Drawing on and his latest book "Sparking Success", we explore strategies that can help leaders remove the creativity blockers and spark a cultural shift towards continuous innovation. From rethinking entrenched company practices to empowering teams to think differently, Adam offers a roadmap for people who want to lead with creativity at the forefront.
If you enjoy the show, please rate it on Spotify or iTunes. Your ratings help more people like you discover the podcast!
Episode Highlights
· Leadership’s pivotal role in igniting organizational creativity.
· Challenging dated assumptions that hinder management innovation.
· The linguistic insight into “to manage” and its cultural impact on creativity.
· Identifying organizational habits that dampen innovation.
· Striking a balance between productivity and creative growth.
· Tactics for leaders to build creativity-focused workspaces.
· Debunking the myth that creativity is limited to certain sectors.
· Concrete steps for managers to inspire team creativity.
· Lessons from creative companies and industries applicable across all sectors.
· Examining barriers to creativity in conventional settings.
· Adopting ‘micro habits’ for team-wide innovative thinking.
Adam’s view on the greatest unmet wellbeing need at work today
"Every organization is struggling with hybrid work right now, right? When do you bring people into the office, or when do you work from home? And I think part of what I've discovered is the answer is: if you're going to ask people to come into the office, give them a reason, provide a creative focus. "I want everyone in the office on Wednesday because we're going to meet with our senior-most clients talking about their biggest pain points." If you just say, "Come in because it's everyone in the office Wednesday," like Taco Tuesday, it's arbitrary, and everyone's just going to probably sit at their desk with headphones in, tapping away at their keyboard; they may as well be at home."
What “working with humans” means to Adam
"Working with humans is about encouraging them to find and express those qualities that make them human: curiosity, adaptability, inspiration, innovation. Surely, any organization that encourages an abundance of those qualities in their people is one that I want to work for or invest in."
Resources
Follow: Adam on LinkedIn and X
Visit: Adam’s website
Read: Sparking Success: Why Every Leader Needs to Develop a Creative Mindset
For more episodes that give you fresh perspectives and actionable ideas for making working with other humans better for everyone, visit our website at https://en.peoplefocusconsulting.com/resources/podcast/
©Michael Glazer
Looking to improve the quality of your career conversations at work? This episode dives into practical topics like the role of managers in employee development, common challenges like fear of feedback, and actionable insights to overcome challenges that often come up.
My guest, Antoinette Oglethorpe, brings a wealth of experience to the conversation, having worked with organizations such as Accenture, the World Health Organization, and the NHS. She's also the author of the book "Confident Career Conversations," which serves as a comprehensive guide for enhancing employee development through meaningful dialogue.
You'll walk away with practical advice and strategies for making career conversations a valuable part of your organization’s culture.
If you enjoy the show, please rate it on Spotify or iTunes. Your ratings help more people like you discover the podcast!
Episode Highlights
- How focusing on "employability" and "enjoyability" improves the quality of the career conversation.
- How managers can initiate and guide career conversations.
- Addressing the common challenges managers face, such as lack of time or fear of giving feedback.
- Ways HR can support managers and employees in having meaningful conversations.
- Strategies for incorporating career conversations into performance reviews and employee onboarding.
- Strategies to tackle the fear of feedback from both managers and employees.
- How to navigate sensitive topics like job security and career transitions.
- Simple techniques to implement immediately for improving communication.
- How career conversations contribute to employee wellbeing and organizational health.
Antoinette's view on the greatest unmet wellbeing need at work today
"This new world of hybrid working is now becoming the way forward. As you say, I think that during COVID we took great steps to connect with people even though we were working remotely. I think that focus has gone away now. And yet hybrid working seems as though it's here to stay. So, I think that's potentially a risky area where there's a lack of connection, a lack of visibility of employees, and a lack of conversation about what's going on for them as individuals. And I think that's something we all need to think about."
What “working with humans” means to Antoinette
“It's about navigating the human side of business. Business and organizations rely on people, and that involves communication, relationships, and collaboration. It's often complicated, but it's important to recognize that these aren't just human resources or human capital, as they have been called, or a parcel of human assets. They are humans. So, actually connecting to that human element of those individuals is crucial.”
Resources
Follow: Antoinette on LinkedIn
Visit: Antoinette’s company website
Read: Confident Career Conversations: Empower your employees for career growth and retention
©Michael Glazer
Why do toxic behaviors persist in workplaces despite efforts for a healthier work culture? Find out how to discern healthy behaviors from toxic ones and learn what you can do to cope successfully with toxic relationships and environments.
Anna Eliatamby is a clinical psychologist and workplace well-being expert who has played a pivotal role in developing mental health, responsible leadership and well-being strategies for global organizations, including the UN, International Red Cross and Red Crescent, and PwC. She is the Director of HealthyLeadership CIC, a collective that encourages individuals and organizations to foster decency and make positive changes. Anna is also the author of the Decency Journey Series, a collection of compact and practical pocketbooks designed to help individuals flourish in their careers and workplaces.
Originally aired as episode 96.
If you enjoy the show, please rate it on Spotify or iTunes. Your ratings help more people like you discover the podcast!
Episode Highlights
2:56 Why do people engage in toxic behavior?
6:22 The combination of toxic behavior and positive intent
9:37 Impacts of toxic behavior
12:32 Toxic behaviors can cause inadvertent self-sabotage
14:44 The difference between holding someone accountable and blaming
17:31 The mindset behind toxic behaviors
19:55 Assessing our own toxic tendencies
26:08 Critical skills and expectations for confronting toxic behaviors
30:14 More techniques for coping with toxic behaviors
33:10 The importance of self-care when coping with toxic behavior
34:28 Practical considerations, and pitfalls, for deciding on a coping strategy
39:14 Key ingredient for outgrowing our own toxic attendances
Anna's view on the greatest unmet wellbeing need at work today
"I think the greatest unmet need is that we must address the negative the toxicity at the same time as we're adding to the positive and teaching people about things like compassion, both are necessary."
What “working with humans” means to Anna
“It's a lovely phrase, and I think it is just that to remember that we are human beings, we all are. And that should be the center from which we work. So if we're human we work with compassion, with respect, with decency -- with ourselves and with other people.”
Resources
Follow: Anna on LinkedIn
Visit: Healthy Leadership CIC
Read: the Decency Journey series of books
©Michael Glazer
©Michael Glazer
Ever questioned if your office vibes feel a bit too 'cultish'? Or maybe you think burnout is just an individual failing? Petra Velzeboer, a psychotherapist, CEO, and author of "Begin With You," who was born into a notorious cult, brings clarity to the gray areas of workplace dynamics, exploring the fine line between a demanding job and a toxic work culture.
This episode examines both organizational and individual sources of workplace toxicity. It includes discussions on hard-hitting topics such as the role of leadership in employee burnout, the importance of setting explicit boundaries in hybrid work environments, and the need for open dialogues about mental health to prevent larger issues down the line. This episode is not just a discussion but a call to action, offering practical steps for individual and organizational change.
Episode Highlights
- The uncanny similarities between cult dynamics and toxic workplace cultures.
- The role of leadership in either preventing or fueling employee burnout.
- Exploring the complexities of "burnout" beyond just workload, including its ties to personal history and societal norms.
- Unpacking the psychological toll of conforming to toxic workplace cultures, and how to break free.
- Why focusing solely on mental health symptoms is a missed opportunity, and what conversations we should be having instead.
- The nuanced approach to setting boundaries in a world increasingly blending work and home.
- What it really means to be "fully present" for your colleagues, and why it's more critical than ever.
- Tips for fostering mental well-being in hybrid and remote work environments, and why it's not just an HR issue.
- How a leader's openness about personal struggles can pave the way for a more supportive work environment.
- The hidden pitfalls of following society's blueprint for success, and what you could consider doing differently.
For more episodes that give you fresh perspectives and actionable ideas for making working with other humans better for everyone, visit our website at https://en.peoplefocusconsulting.com/resources/podcast/
©Michael Glazer
With employee disengagement at alarming levels despite significant investments in training leaders in coaching skills, there's a pressing need to reevaluate and get practical about making coaching truly effective for people in managerial roles. This episode zeroes in on how to address this gap, introducing insights and tools for leaders to genuinely engage and empower their teams.
Dominic Ashley-Timms, CEO of Notion, has firsthand experience across 37 countries, providing a fresh and nuanced perspective on leadership, culture, and organizational transformation. Having co-authored "The Answer Is a Question", Dominic brings an innovative approach to everyday coaching, rooted in the STAR® model he co-created.
Episode Highlights
- The vital role of questions and their effectiveness.
- Crafting questions that stimulate constructive thought processes.
- Advanced questioning techniques for seasoned managers.
- External cues (also called triggers) and their role in influencing behavioral shifts.
- Molding triggers to fit seamlessly into a manager’s coaching approach.
- Pinpointing moments ripe for coaching interventions.
- Addressing the knowledge gap in framing effective questions.
- The strategy behind intentional questioning.
- Exploring question facets: their classification, delivery, and timing.
- Varied question styles for clarity, comparison, and an outward focus.
- Emphasizing the need for pause, reflection, and then ask the right question.
For more episodes that give you fresh perspectives and actionable ideas for making working with other humans better for everyone, visit our website at https://en.peoplefocusconsulting.com/resources/podcast/
©Michael Glazer
This special episode offers a reflective journey through eight of the most popular conversations from the first 100 episodes of Humans At Work. Starting with Zana Goic Petricevic's profound insights on workplace well-being, and ending with Judd Hoekstra's riveting story about handling pressure, this collection covers themes essential to professional and personal growth. You'll hear a fascinating take from Jessica Grossmeier about the state work workplace wellbeing, Geoff McDonald's influential perspective on mental health, Berta Aldridge's practical strategies against bullying, Bob Lefkowitz's unconventional views on success, Ruth Gotian's insights on mentorship, and Dorie Clark's advice on aligning daily life with long-term purpose. These conversations have resonated with listeners and shaped my thinking. I believe they'll engage, challenge, and inspire you as well.
Timestamps
[1:48] Zana Goic Petricevic on Workplace Well-being and Unmet Needs
[4:40] Jessica Grossmeier on The Disconnect in Employee Well-being
[7:55] Geoff McDonald on Overcoming the Stigma of Mental Ill Health
[10:08] Berta Aldridge on Strategies for Handling Bullies at Work
[14:40] Bob Lefkowitz on a Key to Professional Success
[18:38] Ruth Gotian on Mentorship and Achieving Success
[24:25] Dorie Clark on Creating Whitespace and Playing the Long Game
[30:32] Judd Hoekstra on Handling High-Pressure Situations
In a world where readiness for unexpected challenges is crucial, how can leaders foster resilience, inclusivity, and creativity within their teams? This episode explores the importance of putting people first, embracing diversity in the creative sector, and leveraging collaboration during difficult times. You'll also discover insights on finding growth opportunities amid disaster, managing mental health as a leader, and practical lessons on being resilient and flexible in tumultuous times.
James Burstall is CEO of Argonon, one of the UK’s top international independent production groups. The group is headquartered in London with hubs in New York, Los Angeles, Oklahoma, Liverpool and Glasgow. The group produces shows ranging from The Masked Singer through to iconic current affairs program Dispatches, critically-acclaimed BBC One series Attenborough and the Mammoth Graveyard to much-loved BBC drama Worzel Gummidge.
His book The Flexible Method – Prepare to Prosper In The Next Global Crisis offers a practical guide to preparing for a crisis, with unique insights from leaders across the board – including media, health, hospitality, travel and non-profit.
James has worked as an executive producer and producer-director for broadcasters all over the world. Prior to his television career, he was a journalist, working as a writer and editor in Paris, London and New York for Vanity Fair, Condé Nast Traveler, HG, Vogue, The Daily Mail and The Evening Standard.
If you enjoy the show, please rate it on Spotify or iTunes. Your ratings help more people like you discover the podcast!
Episode Highlights
- How James’ background as a journalist shaped his values and decision-making as a leader.
- Making tough decisions that aligned with personal principles even when they conflicted with his organization’s.
- Promoting diversity not just internally but also in how Argonon’s business is run.
- Why promoting diversity matters to James
- Making the decision to prioritize the health and morale of employees over commercial interests.
- How managers can insulate employees from common stressors in the creative sector
- How Argonon orchestrated the transition of a global workforce from in-office to remote in 48 hours.
- How creating “cobra teams” helped Argonon navigate the early days of the pandemic
- Embodying kindness as a CEO
- Striking a balance between being vulnerable and oversharing with employees
- Tapping into personal support networks during times of crisis
- How the pandemic has shaped and transformed James’ leadership style
James’ view on the greatest unmet wellbeing need at work today
"Mental health is probably the biggest concern. I think that stress and mental well being is now more acute than ever. And I'm pleased that for example, Prince Harry has talked about mental health among young men. I think that's a really healthy move in the right direction. Because the truth is that it's completely normal and human sometimes not to feel great, or even to get depressed. It happens to us. It's not nice, but it does happen. There are many tools available, and we made those tools available to all our people.
We need to make sure that we are listening to our people, that people have a proper recourse, whether it's through HR or through their managers to speak about what they're really feeling. And if they're struggling, we want people to tell us about it, because then we can do something about it together."
What “working with humans” means to James
“I loved it when you approached me to have this conversation. Because working with humans is exactly what we do. And that's who we are as an organization.
We are all about people. We're all about talent. Argonon wouldn't exist without our people. We don't have loads of machinery…What we have is amazingly creative individuals. And it's when those individuals come together, they create magic. And we create amazing programs, whether it's drama with documentary or reality or entertainment. We've won more than 125 international awards. We entertain millions of people all over the world.
And how has that happened? It was because of people coming together in a very supportive, inclusive environment. And when you do that, they create incredible work.”
©Michael Glazer
What’s the importance of purpose for our work performance and its impact on well-being? This episode addresses this question and highlights the role purpose plays in cultivating intrinsic motivation, and the need for purpose to be aligned with everyday life. We also explore the role of purpose in organizational success, the gap between leaders and employees in feeling a sense of purpose, and the challenges of implementing a comprehensive approach to workplace well-being. Along the way, we address burnout as a phenomenon related to working conditions and cover the need for organizations to prioritize tasks and support their employees.
Jessica Grossmeier, PhD, MPH is an award-winning researcher and the author of Reimagining Workplace Well-being: Fostering a Culture of Purpose, Connection, and Transcendence. She is a leading voice in workplace well-being and was recently recognized as one of the most influential women leaders in health promotion. Dr. Grossmeier has published more than 80 articles in peer-reviewed and industry professional journals and presented at more than 100 industry events and webinars.
Episode highlights include:
· The personal payoff for having a strong sense of purpose
· The neuroscience of purpose and the benefits of reflecting on values and purpose
· How reconnecting with values and purpose can transform work experiences.
· The significance of integrating purpose into various aspects of the workplace, such as onboarding and performance reviews, for organizational success.
· Understanding burnout as a phenomenon related to working conditions and the need for recovery and support from organizations.
· The changing expectations of employees and the importance of social connection in the workplace.
· The need to approach work with dignity, respect, and compassion, embracing complexity and imperfection.
Are you curious about how power dynamics can shape a more inclusive and welcoming environment at work? This episode navigates the complex relationship between power, inclusiveness, and creating a sense of belonging.
Jason Patent is a consultant and educator as well as the author of Humanly Possible: A New Model of Leadership for a More Inclusive World. Jason has lived and worked extensively in China, and his past roles include Director of the Robertson Center for Intercultural Leadership at UC Berkeley’s International House, American Co-Director of the Hopkins–Nanjing Center for Chinese and American Studies, and Director of the Stanford Program in Beijing.
If you enjoy the show, please rate it on Spotify. Your ratings help more people like you discover the podcast!
Episode Highlights
1:44 The relationship between power and inclusiveness
6:15 Examples of how we can be blind to our own power
7:24 Navigating interpersonal power dynamics in China
10:33 The intersection of cultural dimensions and power
18:42 The "but test" to gain insights about our own biases
21:19 How good intentions can backfire when we're unaware of our biases
24:01 Explanation of the concept of bridging
29:37 Strategies for bridging across high and low context cultures
39:29 The practice of bridging by "taking one extra beat"
42:56 How to receive feedback from somebody who has less power
48:34 Tim Clark's four stages of psychological safety
Jason's view on the greatest unmet wellbeing need at work today
"It is, to the extent that somebody has power, including societal privilege, right, identity based societal privilege, acknowledging that and using it to create more inclusive spaces and more psychologically safe space...because by not doing that we are damaging others."
What “working with humans” means to Jason
“If I had to put it in one word...I would say 'care'.
Working with humans is treating other human beings with care...I feel that every human life is precious. Human dignity is precious. And we need to take care of one another. And if I have the opportunity, and the privilege and the honor of working with another human, I have the duty to care.”
Resources
Follow: Jason on LinkedIn
Visit: Jason's website
Read: Humanly Possible: A New Model of Leadership for a More Inclusive World
©Michael Glazer
DEI conversations are on the rise, but the discomfort discussing race persists. Meanwhile people striving for workplace equity face persistent challenges.
This episode explores explore the path to a more equitable workplace with Jenny Garrett OBE. As a diversity expert and author of Equality vs Equity: Tackling Issues of Race in the Workplace, Jenny shares her expertise on understanding the global majority, breaking down common barriers to equity, fostering empathy, and taking actionable steps towards creating inclusive environments.
Why do toxic behaviors persist in workplaces despite efforts for a healthier work culture? Find out how to discern healthy behaviors from toxic ones and learn what you can do to cope successfully with toxic relationships and environments.
Anna Eliatamby is a clinical psychologist and workplace well-being expert who has played a pivotal role in developing mental health, responsible leadership and well-being strategies for global organizations, including the UN, International Red Cross and Red Crescent, and PwC. She is the Director of HealthyLeadership CIC, a collective that encourages individuals and organizations to foster decency and make positive changes. Anna is also the author of the Decency Journey Series, a collection of compact and practical pocketbooks designed to help individuals flourish in their careers and workplaces.
©Michael Glazer
Discover the power of employee-ownership as we explore how worker cooperatives are shaping the future of work and providing innovative solutions for customers and meaningful work, autonomy, and a voice in the workplace for workers.
Emi Do is an Assistant Professor of Economics at Tokyo University of Agriculture and a co-author of the book "Cooperatives at Work."
In a world of hybrid work, it's essential for businesses to humanize their approach and to trust employees to manage their own work well. With disparate team members working across various locations, it's challenging for people to stay motivated and connected. How can we address this?
Oliver Henry is a Co-founder of WorkLifeWell and the Global Head of Health and Wellbeing at easyJet. He has spent the last decade helping multi-national organizations and globally recognized brands design and implement wellbeing and people strategies to create and nurture healthy, happy and productive workplace cultures.
How can you achieve more with the capabilities you already have? Learn how to balance high performance and well-being with practical advice for tapping into three sources of inner power: potential, mindset, and physiology.
Jim Steel is an award-winning author, strategist, and consultant who has spent the past two decades helping clients in the UK, Europe and Middle East reach their potential and improve their mental, physical, and emotional well-being. He is also author of new book Unashamedly Superhuman, which is an incisive and eye-opening guide that combines two critical areas: high performance and well-being, and offers practical advice for unlocking our hidden potential.
Dr. John Mullins, London Business School Professor and best-selling author, discusses how anyone – in organizations of all sizes – can put the counter conventional mindsets of entrepreneurs into practice to get ahead in their career development.
For more than 20 years, John Mullins has delivered inspirational workshops and executive education programs to members of the world’s leading communities of entrepreneurs – the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), and Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) – as well as to the angel investor and venture capital communities globally. His latest release is titled Break the Rules!: The Six Counter-Conventional Mindsets of Entrepreneurs That Can Help Anyone Change the World.
Learn how to differentiate between pressure and stress, discover the benefits of resilience-building in teams and organizations, and explore practical methods to increase adaptability and maintain focus in high-pressure situations.
Lesley Copper is the founder and CEO of WorkingWell Limited and the co-author of “Dangerous Waters – Strategies for Improving Wellbeing at Work”. She contributes to TV and radio programs in the UK on the subject of employee wellbeing, including Channel 4’s highly acclaimed documentary “Stressed Out”. Lesley is also a full member of the International Stress Management Association.
Problem-solving is a crucial skill for so many jobs, so why aren’t we taught how to do it properly? This conversation dives deep into research-backed process and techniques that help businesspeople and their teams navigate and solve problem better and faster.
Arnaud Chevallier is a co-author of Solvable: A Simple Solution to Complex Problems. He is also a Professor of Strategy and decision making at IMD where he prepares executives for the strategic challenges that organizations face in today’s dynamic global marketplace by helping them make better decisions in volatile and uncertain conditions. Arnaud has consulted with multiple organizations across industries, including the United Nations, SAP, STADA, and Shell.
Originally aired as episode 73.
Women, as well as high performers in general, are often targeted by workplace bullies as threats, and then driven off their career paths, out of their jobs or out of their companies. This episode explores how to combat bullies and what can be done to drive bullying behavior out of the workplace.
Berta Aldrich, is an award-winning C-suite executive turned author, whose first book, Winning the Talent Shift: Three Steps to Unleashing the New High Performance Workplace, earned multiple top ratings by BookAuthority.
Originally aired as episode 62.
How can you take your virtual presentation game to the next level? In this episode, Jack Milner, a communication coach who has trained best-selling professional speakers and Fortune 500 leaders, shares practical advice for giving great virtual presentations and workshops based on his book Virtual Presentation Mastery: Tips from the coach to some of the world's best speakers.
Connect with me: If you have feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with me on LinkedIn or email the show at humansatworkpodcast@gmail.com.
Dr. Robert Lefkowitz shares anecdotes and wisdom from his extraordinary career. This episode delves into the power of storytelling and narratives, building a legacy based on mentorship, overcoming harsh criticism, and using personal values at work.
Lefkowitz won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2012 for “for studies of G-protein-coupled receptors.” His memoir is titled “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Stockholm”. Today, more than half of all prescription drug sales are of drugs that target either directly or indirectly the receptors discovered by Dr. Lefkowitz and his trainees.
Connect with me
If you have feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with me on LinkedIn or email the show at humansatworkpodcast@gmail.com.
What’s the future of work looks like post-pandemic? And how can we create a compelling reason for employees to return to the physical office? This episode explores those questions while challenging traditional ideas and assumptions we have about the concept of workspace.
Jeremy Myerson is a futurist and thought leader on work and the workplace. He is a founder of WORKTECH Academy the co-author of the book Unworking: The Reinvention of the Modern Office which offers a panoramic view of the office and explores what happens next in the world of work.
Connect with me
If you have feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with me on LinkedIn or email the show at humansatworkpodcast@gmail.com.
If you have feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with me on LinkedIn or email the show at humansatworkpodcast@gmail.com.
How can businesses create extraordinary experiences for customers, employees and learners? Through 20 years of neuroscience research, Dr. Paul Zak has discovered what it takes to create it. Find out what characteristics define extraordinary experiences, how immersion is being used by movie studios and business, and its application in creating effective learning and training.
Dr. Paul Zak is the founding Director of the Center for Neuroeconomics Studies and Professor of Economics, Psychology and Management at Claremont Graduate University. He is a regular TED speaker and his most recent book is titled Immersion: The Science of the Extraordinary and the Source of Happiness. Dr. Zak is ranked in the top 0.3% of most cited scientists with over 180 published papers and more than 19,000 citations to his research. Dr. Zak is a recognized expert in oxytocin. His lab discovered in 2004 that oxytocin allows us to determine who to trust. This knowledge is being used to understand the basis for civilization and modern economies, improve negotiations, and treat patients with neurologic and psychiatric disorders.
As they say, laughter is the best medicine, and it's also a powerful tool in the workplace. In this episode, Paul Boross, author of “Humourology: The Serious Business of Humour At Work” and a leading business consultant, comedian, and keynote speaker, discusses the role of humor in improving relationships, trust, team performance, and leadership effectiveness. Paul shares how humor can create a positive work environment and help teams navigate challenges and changes. Plus, he offers tips on how to develop and use humor effectively in common business situations.
Experts agree that creativity as an essential future skill, but too few of us know how to sidestep common thinking traps to enhance creativity and unlock innovative potential. This conversation explores proven strategies and techniques that helped drive innovation at organizations such as Microsoft, Disney and NASA.
Chris Griffiths is the founder and CEO of OpenGenius. He has helped thousands of people worldwide drive business growth using highly practical innovation processes, including teams and individuals from Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 companies, the United Nations, the European Commission and Nobel laureates. His latest book is titled The Creative Thinking Handbook: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Problem Solving in Business.
How do you keep teams happy, motivated and performing well – especially in tough times? Compassionate leadership is a key for unlocking high-performing teams even when facing most difficult environments. It requires that we first understand ourselves, then others’ needs, and finally act with positive intent to secure the best for all. This episode explores how we can practice compassionate leadership.
Manley Hopkinson is an expert on this topic. Schooled in leadership from experiences as diverse as being an officer in the Royal Navy and Royal Hong Kong Police, to being a skipper in the BT Global Challenge round the world yacht race and winning the first skiing race to the Magnetic North Pole, Manley brings the lessons he’s learned on ice and at sea to the leaders at clients including Google, Amazon, Citibank, KPMG and McKinsey. His latest book is titled Compassionate Leadership: How to create and maintain engaged, committed and high-performing teams.
The world is more polarized than ever which makes being able to persuade people to change their minds a skill we all need to develop. Listen to a world-renowned negotiator share techniques and tactics to help you successfully negotiate.
Simon Horton has taught negotiation tactics to everyone from hostage negotiators to CEOs at the world’s most successful companies and solicitors at some of the most prestigious law firms. Simon is a lecturer at Imperial College London and regularly shares his expertise on TV, radio and major newspapers. His latest book is titled Change Their Mind: 6 Steps to Persuade Anyone, Anytime.
When corporate objectives feel disconnected from daily working realities, we can lose focus and motivation which contributes why so few organizations report achieving all their strategic goals. But it doesn’t need to be this way. This episode explores how combining tech-driven nudges and focused coaching form the basis of good individual habits that can lead to organizational-level success.
Jeremy Campbell is the CEO of Black Isle Group and an executive coach and a leadership mentor at Henley Business School at the University of Reading.
Ever think that the extreme success astronauts, Nobel laureates and Olympic champions is out of reach for so-called regular people? Think again. Research on the world’s most successful people reveals that extreme high achievement is accessible to anyone who wants it and is willing to put in the work. This episode explores the methodological approach that people aspiring to improve their performance can adopt to achieve success.
Dr. Ruth Gotian is the Chief Learning Officer and Assistant Professor of Education in Anesthesiology and former Assistant Dean of Mentoring and Executive Director of the Mentoring Academy at Weill Cornell Medicine. In 2021, she was selected as one of 30 people worldwide to be named to the Thinkers50 Radar List, and she is also a semi-finalist for the Forbes 50 Over 50 list. Her research is about the mindset and skill set of peak performers, including Nobel laureates, astronauts, and Olympic champions, which she writes about in her book, Success Factor: Developing the Mindset and Skillset for Peak Business Performance.
Is your current skillset compatible with the evolving, technology-led needs of the business world? We need to understand what skills are key to career success, how to teach them, and why technology like AI and the metaverse require us to be more adaptable than ever to change.
Bernard Marr is a world-renowned futurist and thought leader in the fields of business and technology, with a passion for using technology for the good of humanity. With over 2 million social media followers, he was ranked by LinkedIn as one of the top 5 business influencers in the world. He is a best-selling author of 20 books, and his latest is Future Skills: The 20 Skills and Competencies Everyone Needs to Succeed in a Digital World.
To make real progress in equitable employee development, coaching needs to become a more inclusive space. This episode is an in-depth conversation about real-life examples and techniques for supporting minority-background clients with issues ranging from prejudice, identity crises and belonging in a majority-dominated workplace.
Salma Shah is the CEO of coaching and leadership development platform Mastering Your Power and the author of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging in Coaching: A Practical Guide. Salma has worked with the UK's largest FTSE100 companies, and as a regular contributor to Psychologies Magazine she has been published in The Guardian, Independent and The Telegraph.
Recognizing the importance of DEI is not a goal. It’s one point on the critical path to true workplace inclusion. Advocates are now focused on how to solve the tough, complicated challenges that get in the way of making that a reality. This episode is packed with practical advice from a globally recognized diversity, inclusion and leadership expert.
Stephen Frost is the Founder and CEO of Included, and his background includes serving as the Head of Diversity and Inclusion for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games as well as the head of D&I at KPMG. He’s taught Inclusive Leadership at Harvard Business School and advised the British Government, Royal Air Force and the White House. His latest book is called The Key to Inclusion: A Practical Guide to Diversity, Equity and Belonging for You, Your Team and Your Organization.
Everyone who holds a position of leadership has five key Vantage Points from which they can build positive momentum and high performance. Building awareness through exploring each one helps leaders create clarity for people and room for teams to thrive.
Paula Leach has spent over 25 years in executive HR roles, most notably as the Chief People Officer at the UK Home Office and in senior roles at Ford Motor Company. She is also the author of Vantage Point: How to Create Culture Where Employees Thrive.
Too often we are told what to do to develop good leadership. What if we used of our own thinking, feeling and being to help us know exactly what to do to contribute to the greatness of ourselves, our organizations and our planet?
Zana Goic Petricevic is the author of Bold Reinvented: Next Level Leading with Courage, Consciousness And Conviction. She is also a Certified Professional Co-Active™ coach, Organization and Relationship Systems Certified coach, and Leadership Circle® certified practitioner.
Problem-solving is a crucial skill for so many jobs, so why aren’t we taught how to do it properly? This conversation dives deep into research-backed process and techniques that help businesspeople and their teams navigate and solve problems better and faster.
Arnaud Chevallier is a co-author of Solvable: A Simple Solution to Complex Problems. He is also a Professor of Strategy and decision making at IMD where he prepares executives for the strategic challenges that organizations face in today’s dynamic global marketplace by helping them make better decisions in volatile and uncertain conditions. Arnaud has consulted with multiple organizations across industries, including the United Nations, SAP, STADA, and Shell.
Change is driving digital transformation in organizations large and small, but how do change agents do it successfully? This episode explores the what, who and how of DX with two experts who have first-hand experience navigating this type of change successfully.
Lyndsey Jones is a strategic consultant who was the former Executive Editor of the Financial Times and driving force behind the Financial Times’ digital transformation. Balvinder Singh Powar is an innovation professor at IE Business School. Together, they are the co-authors of Going Digital: What it takes for smoother transformations.
Decades of declining empathy levels and skyrocketing levels of burnout and loneliness have left organizations disconnected, anxiety ridden and suffering in ways that contribute to low morale and high absenteeism. Too many of us have forgotten that human understanding is the core of all success. Whether we’re leading ourselves, others or organizations, cultivating the mindset and skill of empathy helps us all thrive.
Mimi Nicklin is the internationally bestselling author of Softening the Edge, the host of the Empathy for Breakfast Show podcast, the founder of Empathy Everywhere, the world’s first empathy platform, the CEO of the world’s most free advertising agency, Freedm.
How can you push your limits, take risks and explore your true potential? How can you develop the mindset, discipline and commitment needed for adventurous activities in life – both at work and beyond? This episode focuses on three key ingredients for making this a reality.
Sue Stockdale knows about adventure. She is the UK’s first female to ski to the Magnetic North Pole, a TEDx speaker, executive coach and the author of several books, including Explore: A Life of Adventure. In it, and in our Humans At Work conversation, Sue shares stories about her adventures to some of the remote corners of the world including the North Pole, Antarctica and Greenland. And, she explains why stepping out your comfort zone is key to living a fulfilling life and achieving your potential.
There’s a yawning rift between the United States’ purpose and the reality that 97% of us are unhealthy, 84% of us are stressed out, 78% of us are living paycheck to paycheck. And, life is a lot worse for women and BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. Brandon Peele, author of Purpose Work Nation: Leading Organizations in Service of Our Nation's Powerful Purpose, talks about the talent development, DE&I, learning, corporate culture and wellness practices businesses can use to bridge the rift and provide what people need to flourish.
This is bonus material from Episode 67: Retirement 2.0. In this clip, John Windsor, author of F*ck Retirement: Don’t Settle for a Lesser Life in Your Later Years, explains the potential dark side of setting ambitious goal and offers tips for taking a different approach that can set us up to thrive for the long haul.
Is retirement about taking a permanent vacation or about rejecting traditional labels, ideas and thoughts so you can create the next big chapter of your life, regardless of your age? This episode explores how you can plan for and create the next chapter of your life at any age.
John Windsor is a certified coach as well as a Broadway star who has an MBA, a Silicon Valley VP, and best-selling author who’s reinvented himself so many times that he knows where all the pitfalls are. His latest and best-selling book is called F*ck Retirement: Don’t Settle for a Lesser Life in Your Later Years.
What does it take for a company to shift from a profit motive to a social contribution motive? Explore compelling evidence, key executive messages and the pivotal role middle managers play in making it happen.
This episode features John Davis, who has led businesses from start-up to $1 billion, served as a business school dean and taught top leaders in executive education programs at London Business School and Wharton, and is regularly interviewed by global media including the BBC, Bloomberg and the New York Times. His latest book, titled Radical Business ranks as one of the top 10 must-have books by CEO Today Magazine.
Why do so many men hide parts of themselves, especially from the most important people in their lives? What’s to gain when men get real with their emotions? This episode explores these questions and takes a look at five habits that help men show up as their whole selves.
Christopher Veal is a former US Marine Corp officer, combat veteran, and a Black man with 25 years of experience in talent and leadership development. He hosts The Vulnerable Man podcast, is a TEDx speaker, and he is the author of The Whole Man: Evolving Masculinity.
Asking for help at work when we’re struggling with mental ill health can feel risky. So, how do we gauge if it’s safe to speak up, and how do we actually do it? Geoff McDonald, mental health advocate and former Global VP of Human Resources for Unilever, shares his advice on this topic as well as his provocative thoughts on leaders’ responsibilities for building work cultures that foster employee wellbeing.
Find out how one entrepreneur achieved success in an ultra-competitive industry by taking care of people as a pathway to taking care of business. Andrew Thornton is one of the founders of the Heart In Business consultancy and co-author of new book Putting the Heart Back into Business. In this conversation, Andrew talks about his award-winning supermarket, Thornton’s Budgens, as a backdrop to lay out a blueprint for companies to empower people to truly be themselves, harness their strengths and individuality, and puts people and planet first, while trusting that profit will still follow.
Women, as well as high performers in general, are often targeted by workplace bullies as threats, and then driven off their career paths, out of their jobs or out of their companies. This episode explores how to combat bullies and what can be done to drive bullying behavior out of the workplace.
Berta Aldrich, is an award-winning C-suite executive turned author, whose first book, Winning the Talent Shift: Three Steps to Unleashing the New High Performance Workplace, earned multiple top ratings by BookAuthority.
When bravery and leadership are coupled together in everyday work situations, they create a competitive advantage for leaders. Nicole Bianchi, author of Small Brave Moves: Learn Why Little Acts of Bravery Are the Key to Life-Changing Leadership and Partner at Bravium Human Development, discusses what small brave moves are and how you can put them into action at work and in life.
Episode Highlights
(2:38) Why Nicole wrote Small Brave Moves
(5:38) Two types of fear
(7:03) The difference between Bravery and bravery
(10:02) The link between bravery and individual values
(12:46) Small brave move: authenticity
(15:37) Small brave move: straight talk
(17:54) Everyday ways to practice straight talk
(22:25) Using straight to get through to hard-to-reach colleagues
(26:04) The spicy scale
(29:31) Small brave move: being there for others
(37:10) On “it's not personal, it's just business”
(41:01) Advocating for your own needs at work
Feeling tired of your job but unsure whether to leave it for a new one? Decided you need a career change but unclear of what you truly want? Confused about why your hard work doesn’t translate into more job satisfaction? Terry McDougall, executive-turned-executive-coach and author of Winning the Game of Work: Career Happiness and Success on Your Own Terms, offers answers to these questions to help you understand the invisible rules of work that might be affecting your career.
Episode Highlights
(4:18) How to make good decisions about whether to leave a job
(6:44) Figuring out what you want from your next career move
(9:48) Question for building insights about what matters most to us
(16:17) Ideas for spotting “hidden” career moves at your current company
(21:04) Uncovering “invisible rules of the game” of work
(34:08) Promoting your accomplishments without bragging
In this episode, we look at challenges and strategies for navigating some very familiar career topics, including dealing with role ambiguity and scope creep, and we’ll also talk about how the skill of reframing can help you make career moves faster. This episode explores these topics from the standpoint an important job role that often misunderstood – the business analyst. That’s where my guest comes in. Laura Brandenburg is the founder of Bridging the Gap, which helps mid-career professionals start and succeed in business analysis careers. She’s also the best-selling author of How to Start a Business Analyst Career.
Episode Highlights
(3:03) What business analysts do
(5:11) Problems with an order-taking approach to working with internal clients
(9:15) Thorny challenges working with cross-functional teams
(10:30) How to align project expectations with stakeholders
(12:11) Dealing with scope creep
(16:00) Pros and cons of having to multiple roles informally
(18:39) Working with a supervisor on growing your role and career
(21:32) Using the skill of reframing to find career opportunities
(24:46) Managing up when the supervisors lacks expertise in your job
(27:53) What’s possible when we open our minds to new perspectives
(32:01) Traditional and emerging career paths for business analysts
There’s a yawning rift between the United States’ purpose and the reality that 97% of us are unhealthy, 84% of us are stressed out, 78% of us are living paycheck to paycheck. And, life is a lot worse for women and BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. Brandon Peele, author of Purpose Work Nation: Leading Organizations in Service of Our Nation's Powerful Purpose, talks about the talent development, DE&I, learning, corporate culture and wellness practices businesses can use to bridge the rift and provide what people need to flourish.
There’s more to people analytics than nudging people into offer desired behaviors. It can be used to empower employees and teams to find their own solutions to better performance and personal experience in the workplace. Kevin Campbell, Employee Experience Scientist at Qualtrics and Founder of Lifted Leadership, shares his experiences on people analytics done right and why coaching is indispensable for getting the most out of performance management conversations.
Chasing success that’s been defined by societal attitudes and expectations can lead to empty victories, regrets or worse. Michael Biarnes, scientist and author of Redefining Success: Stories, Science, and Strategies to Prioritize Happiness and Overcome Life's "Oh Sh!t" Moments, talks about how to redefine success on your own terms so you can achieve more happiness, fulfillment, and alignment in life around the things that matter to you.
HR leaders have a pivotal role to play in helping their organizations meet their people needs while scaling their business. Andrew Bartlow, Founder of Series B Consulting and co-author of Scaling for Success: People Priorities for High Growth Organizations, offers a wide range of practical advice on how to run a strategic HR function successfully. In this conversation, we talk about HR planning in an ever-changing work environment, managing and balancing stakeholder needs, the risks of copying celebrated HR best practices, how to avoid wasting time and energy on HR initiatives that add little value and navigating culture change at high-growth companies.
Andrew is a former HR executive who founded the People Leader Accelerator, a development program for startup HR leaders. And he’s worked with clients like Masterclass and many others to help them overcome obstacles in a hyper growth phase.
Taking an inclusive, people-oriented approach combined with a dedication to continuous improvement helped John Saunders grow a modest size business unit into one that made $4 billion a year. John is a former financial services executive and the author of The Optimizer: Building and Leading a Team of Serial Innovators. In this conversation he talks about the roles that customer focus and learning plays in innovation, why trust is an indispensable ingredient for successful change and how empowerment accelerates buy-in for challenging the status quo.
This is bonus material from Episode 52: The Science of Communication. In this clip, Dr. Laura McHale, business psychologist and author of Neuroscience for Organizational Communication, shares neuroscience-based tips to help us avoid Zoom fatigue.
Did you know that what we say and how we say it affects our health and wellbeing? And leaders’ words can also reveal a lot about the health of our organizations. Dr. Laura McHale, business psychologist and author of Neuroscience for Organizational Communication, explains how we can use neuroscience to communicate in ways that can help transform organizations for the better.
In this conversation, we explore how to use neuroscience in formal and everyday communications to help people deal better with stress, the case for corporate communications teams to normalize talking about grief and loss, how attachment theory applies to workplace relationships, and neuroscience-based techniques for communicating with employees about change.
For more than a generation, people were taught to set money goals as cornerstone of managing financial wellbeing. What if there were a better way? Chris Budd, Founder and Chairman of the Initiative for Financial Wellbeing and author of The Financial Wellbeing Book, offers an alternate approach for financial planning and how we think about the role of money in our lives. In this conversation, we discuss the how purpose and values inform financial planning, how setting financial goals can create a vicious cycle, financial education in the workplace, retirement planning and the changing role of financial advisors.
Award-winning documentary filmmaker and international best-selling author Charles Vogl shines a light on what distinguishes genuine communities from so-called mirage communities and other marketing efforts that try to disguise themselves as brand communities. In this conversation, we explore the roles that vulnerability, contribution, shared values and purpose play in building community.
As a business adviser, Charles serves as a thought leader for the Google School for Leaders, and his work is used to advise and develop leadership and programs at organizations including Airbnb, LinkedIn, Twitch, Amazon, ServiceNow, Meetup.com, Wayfair and the US Army.
3dSignals CEO and Israeli ultra-marathon national champion and record-holder Ariel Rosenfeld talk about his business and running experience informs his approach to setting and chasing aspirational goals, dealing with adversity, shaping company culture, and reframing failures constructively for himself and his organization.
Episode Highlights
(4:32) Top three challenges for Ariel as a tech startup CEO
(9:30) Using your professional life as a platform for self-expression
(21:08) Coping with negative self-talk
(27:54) What Ariel has learned about himself through ultra-marathon running
(31:17) Staying motivated when faced with adversity
(42:42) Differentiating between useful and wasteful failure
(46:04) Using feelings of disappointment constructively
How can taking less action produce better results? Millions of workers are asking this question, in part, out of concern that professionals’ embrace of hustle culture is primarily responsible for high levels of burnout. Corporate strategist turned author, Jinny Uppal, discovered a better path to decision making through intentional inaction. Jinny stops by to talk about her #1 rated debut book, IN/ACTION: Rethinking the Path to Results, the downside of action bias, and how people can leverage strategic pauses to make great leaps forward.
Resources:
Read: IN/ACTION: Rethinking the Path to Results by Jinny Uppal
Follow Jinny on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and on her website
Read: Long working hours increasing deaths from heart disease and stroke, World Health Organization
Starting a corporate wellness program can seem like a daunting task. Where should you start? And what’s needed to make it successful? Corporate wellness expert Terri Levins Dietz talks about what companies can do to design and establish strong corporate wellness programs that make a difference. From strategic considerations down to tactics, Terri shares how she helps companies navigate decisions and sidestep pitfalls for starting quickly and effectively.
Referenced during the conversation
Visit: WYAO Hawaii website
Read: Collaboration Begins With You by Ken Blanchard, et al.
Mark Herschberg, CTO, MIT instructor and author of The Career Toolkit, Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You, joins me to talk about career planning, interviewing, networking, leadership and trust-building and other skills we need to build successful careers. This episode is packed with real-world examples and practical tips for workers, companies and educators alike.
We’re all susceptible to a certain amount of influence that can negatively shift our self-perspective and our perspectives of others. How can we peel away the resulting false assumptions and beliefs to build or rebuild meaningful human connections? Shari Foos, celebrated therapist and Founder of The Narrative Method, talks about the practice of using relational awareness in business, education, and everyday life to develop radical empathy, compassion, and understanding for those around us.
Michael talks with Paul Herrick, a Madrid-based former HR executive who is now a Managing Partner at Arco IrisH Human Solutions, for a wide-ranging conversation about how job seekers can differentiate themselves from the competition. Paul also shares his insights about taking advantage of job interviews as a chance to assess cultural fit, and leaders’ roles in building culture in start-up and scale-up companies.
Why should you care more about personal branding now than before the pandemic began? Are you missing everyday opportunities to build your personal band? What strategies can you use to create a more meaningful and interesting life? Dorie Clark shares her answers to these questions, and we also talk about her perspective on a range of topics including how we can improve wellbeing in the workplace. Dorie has been named one of the Top 50 business thinkers in the world by Thinkers50, and was recognized as the #1 Communication Coach in the world by the Marshall Goldsmith Leading Global Coaches Awards. She teaches executive education at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and Columbia Business School, and she is the author of Entrepreneurial You, Reinventing You and Stand Out, which was named the #1 Leadership Book of 2015 by Inc. magazine. Her latest book, The Long Game: How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World, was published in September 2021.
This is bonus material from Episode 41: Helping Startups and their Leaders Grow. In this clip, Barry Collodi, a veteran consultant who's coached billion-dollar startup CEOs, shares his thoughts on the link between leadership and storytelling.
Personal growth and business growth are intertwined for many professionals, especially for startup founders. How do leaders balance taking care of themselves, their teams, and their business all at once? Pick up concrete ideas for improving listening skills, managing your ego, creating organizational culture, and sidestepping assumptions that can inhibit your sense of achievement from Barry Collodi, a veteran consultant who's coached billion-dollar startup CEOs.
When it comes to money, how much is enough? Barry Horner, CEO of the leading UK financial planning firm Paradigm Norton, helps clients and their families discover their own answers to this question. We also talk about how Paradigm Norton’s business philosophy led it to become a certified B Corp and the importance of including financial education in school curriculum to help raise the financial wellbeing for future generations.
Asking for help at work when we’re struggling with mental ill health can feel risky. So, how do we gauge if it’s safe to speak up, and how do we actually do it? Geoff McDonald, mental health advocate and former Global VP of Human Resources for Unilever, shares his advice on this topic as well as his provocative thoughts on leaders’ responsibilities for building work cultures that foster employee wellbeing.
Referenced during the conversation:
Watch: Let’s talk about mental health, TEDx Sittard Geleen
Read: Dying for a Paycheck by Jeffery Pfeffer
Read: Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers
Trey Northrup, CEO of LIXIL Americas, talks with Michael about how a large-scale, human-centered culture change is contributing to the company’s historic business successes. Trey also shares LIXIL’s return-to-work approach as well as his own story about how clarifying his own life purposes helps him grow his own leadership capabilities.
Have you ever wanted to learn the performance-under-pressure secrets elite athletes use? In this episode, Michael talks with Judd Hoekstra, co-author of Crunch Time: How to Be Your Best When It Matters Most, about the techniques baseball Hall of Famers, All-Star athletes, Olympians and CEOs use to perform at their best when the pressure is on and the stakes are high.
How is it possible for us to spend so much energy pursuing success, status, fame and wealth only to find out later that we’re not fulfilled despite all we’ve achieved? Usually, it’s because those things represent “acquired” values that come from our outer world and focusing on them too much decreases our wellbeing. But when we can learn to let our true “core” values shape our actions and decision we thrive. Dr. Senka Holzer, certified coach, author of Be You: The Science of Becoming the Self You Were Born to Be, founder of Science2Wellbeing and faculty in the Department of Cardiology at the Medical University of Graz, shares her research on this fascinating topic.
Our level of satisfaction at work often depends how well managers, coworkers and employers meet our unwritten, and often unspoken, agreements and expectations. And people tend to quit their jobs when these expectations aren’t met. Dr. Melanie Hicks, Founder and Chief Impact Officer of InPursuit Research, is an expert on psychological contracting, and she explains how this works and what employees and managers can do when we realize our expectations aren’t being met.
Michael Netzley, CEO and Founder of Extend My Runway, explains how neuroscience, behavioral economics and AI can help people extend their careers in fulfilling ways that also contribute to raising their organizations’ work performance and competitiveness.
David Bishop, former President to Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and MGM Home Entertainment, shares highlights from his research with Harvard’s Institute of Coaching on leading with humanity. We also talk about coaching early-stage startup founders, organizational challenges related to the hybrid workplace and fostering connection and wellbeing.
Vickie Skorji is the Director of the Tokyo English Lifeline (TELL), and explains mental health trends and challenges in Japan, how to take care of our mental health in a crisis, and what’s unique about doing so during the covid pandemic. We also talk about what you can do be an effective listener over chat, overcoming common apprehensions related to seeking or giving support to the people we care about.
Derek Lundsten is on a mission to eliminate unnecessary suffering of 1 billion people in the next 15 years. Derek is the CEO of LifeGuides, and he shares his perspective on how technology can be used to battle presenteeism and foster wellbeing at scale. Along the way we talk about the importance of reframing as a life skill and the different ways having a life purpose helps us lead better, more resilient lives.
Adam Kahane, Director of Reos Partners and author of books including Collaborating with the Enemy, Transformative Scenario Planning and Facilitating Breakthrough, joins me to talk about how he uses transformative facilitation practices to help people move forward together on their most important and intractable issues. We talk about the necessity of removing obstacles to power, love and justice to facilitate change as well as Adam’s experiences helping South Africa envision its transition away from apartheid and his work with former Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos to bring about an end the decades-long Colombian civil war. Adam also connects the dots between facilitative leadership and workplace well-being.
Brian and Michael talk in-depth about how corporate learning departments can adapt to a virtual VUCA world and make leadership development training that’s worth leaders’ time and the organization’s investment. Brian is the Director of Leadership Development & Training and Aramark. The topics they cover in this episode include the changing role of leaders, how to design meaningful learning experiences in a virtual learning space, how to decide whether to use classroom or online learning formats, must-have skills for virtual facilitators and concrete, and practical ways learning professional can credibly measure the impact of corporate learning.
Hilary McLellan, organizational behaviorist, executive coach and Founder of Indigo Talent Development, talks about how compassionate leadership makes it possible to enjoy work more fully. We dive into a step-by-step conversation about how cultivating compassion into our leadership style can help us cope with stress and strong emotions so we can make high-quality decisions for ourselves, our relationships and our businesses.
How do you lead an organization that truly puts people and planet ahead of profits? As Founder and Chief Executive of B Corp certified company Cotswold Fayre Ltd and author of Forces for Good and The Fourth Bottom Line, Paul Hargreaves talks about his philosophy for running a purpose-driven organization and his approach for using a business as a vehicle for making the world a better place. Paul also shares how he built a work culture where 99% of employees say they enjoy coming to work.
Christie Caldwell, Founder of Integrate Consulting and Chief Strategy Officer of iSabel joins Michael to talk about what’s changing in the workplace wellbeing space, its implications for how we lead and work, who’s responsibility it is to create a culture of wellbeing in the workplace, and the role organizational and individual purpose will play in the designing organizations for the future.
Why should you care more about personal branding now than before the pandemic began? Are you missing everyday opportunities to build your personal band? What strategies can you use to create a more meaningful and interesting life? Dorie Clark shares her answers to these questions, and we also talk about her perspective on a range of topics including how we can improve wellbeing in the workplace. Dorie has been named one of the Top 50 business thinkers in the world by Thinkers50, and was recognized as the #1 Communication Coach in the world by the Marshall Goldsmith Leading Global Coaches Awards. She teaches executive education at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and Columbia Business School, and she is the author of Entrepreneurial You, Reinventing You and Stand Out, which was named the #1 Leadership Book of 2015 by Inc. magazine. Her upcoming book, The Long Game: How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World, is due out in September 2021.
What’s the most efficient way to discover your life purpose? My guest Patrice Tanaka, a best-selling author, serial entrepreneur and Chief Joy Officer of Joyful Planet, has answers for you. And, she has a special offer for listeners who want to discover their life purpose. Patrice also shares talks about why every 18 year-old should know their life purpose, what to do once you discover your purpose and why companies should start caring about the individual purposes of their employees.
How do you make decisions that lead to a successful, fulfilling career? Celia Berk, HR consultant at Inspire Human Resources, shares her personal stories, wisdom and insights on from her own career -- including stints in senior executive HR roles at WPP, J. Walter Thompson Worldwide, Young & Rubicam Group, Burson-Marsteller and Reuters -- about spotting good career opportunities, being ready to make career pivots, knowing when to say no to tempting job offers, and the value of asking great questions during job interviews.
In this episode, Dan Nestle, host of The Dan Nestle Show, stops by to talk about his belief that we are all creators and how embracing curiosity and a growth mindset can power a fulfilling journey of creativity. Dan’s story about how he overcame his fears of launching his own podcast shines a light on what becomes possible when we’re intentional and open to learning.
How can you end the cycle of feeling weighted down with responsibilities to others, stressed, exhausted and on the path to burnout? My guest, Anjli Garg, is an Associate General Counsel at Citi as well as an executive leadership coach who helps overwhelmed high-achievers reclaim their energy, their time and their freedom – without sacrificing their success or their income. Anjli shares her coaching philosophy and process as well as advice for breaking free from emotional exhaustion and burnout.
Have you ever found yourself second-guessing a decision because you did what you were expected to do instead of what you instinctively felt was best and natural for yourself? If you answered yes, then you’ll want to listen to Marco Greenberg, co-founder and president of C-level communications firm Thunder11 and author of Primitive, talk with Michael about how you can achieve your goals by embracing your ingrained strengths and primal drivers.
In this episode, Michael talks with Seed&Spark’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) experts Martina Potratz, Stefanie Monge, and Spencer Scott Barros about the power of using award-winning films to sparking meaningful, candid and often uncomfortable conversations that help organizations build inclusive work cultures and drive organizational transformation. We dive into a range of specific issues on the DE&I agenda in 2021. In the process, we explore how highly effective DE&I training helps people think critically about their own assumptions and cultivate empathy in ways that can effect change in the real world.
This week, Michael talks with organizational psychologist, human capital strategist and Aikido practitioner, Simon Rakoff, about how we can apply Aikido principles and practices to our development as leaders. Along the way, we cover a lot of ground, ranging from Star Wars to the Boston Red Sox, and then connect it all to how cultivating more focus, relaxation and relatedness in our lives can help us grow as leaders.
Michael sits down to talk with award-winning business leader, futurist and PerformanceWorks International CEO, Jeremy Blain about his latest book The Inner CEO: Unleashing Leaders at All Levels. This fast-paced conversation focuses on the theme of employee empowerment and includes many rich examples of how it touches nearly every aspect of people and organizations.
Michael connects with Anindo Dey, President & CEO of Alibris, Inc., an online book marketplace company to talk about workplace culture. Anindo shares his insights on how he, as an externally hired leader, partnered with a team of organization veterans to inject trust, openness, respect, objective decision-making and accountability to create a culture of empowerment. Anindo also shares his challenges and lessons from working as a remote CEO during the covid pandemic.
In this episode, Michael talks with Deirdre Breakenridge, influential communications professional, CEO of Pure Performance Communication, podcaster, blogger, and author of numerous books, including Answers for Ethical Marketers and Social Media and Public Relations, about ethics as a personal journey and as a business practice, using emotions at work, speaking truth to power and how ethics and communication will change in the coming years.
In this episode, Michael talks about the science behind organizational network analysis, or ONA, with organizational psychologist and architect of Mentis Talent Technologies' Network Centrality, Marcus Gee. We dive into the behaviors that differentiate effective collaborators from over-collaborators, the impact of remote work on organizational networks, how ONA can support D&I initiatives and other ways the quality of social networks at work can help and hinder both employees and organizations.
In this episode, Michael talks with Yukiko Kuroda, Managing Director and Founder of People Focus Consulting and external board member of listed Japanese companies including Mitsui Chemicals and Seven Bank, about the state of corporate purpose in Japan and the importance of courageous leadership, inclusiveness, psychological safety and individual employee purpose in striking a healthy balance between meeting investors’ expectations and contributing to society.
Have you ever wanted to learn the performance-under-pressure secrets elite athletes use? In this episode, Michael talks with Judd Hoekstra, co-author of Crunch Time: How to Be Your Best When It Matters Most, about the techniques baseball Hall of Famers, All-Star athletes, Olympians and CEOs use to perform at their best when the pressure is on and the stakes are high.
What kind of leadership is needed to cope successfully with change in a VUCA world? The answer, says David Mantica, VP and General Manager for SoftEd US, is adaptive leadership. Michael and David talk about what adaptive leadership is, when to use it, how it differs from other types of leadership and how having the right mindset is indispensable for using it effectively.
Michael talks with Paul Herrick, a Madrid-based former HR executive who is now a Partner at IRC Global Executive Search and at Ellipsis Partners, for a wide-ranging conversation about how job seekers can differentiate themselves from the competition. Paul also shares his insights about taking advantage of job interviews as a chance to assess cultural fit as well as leaders’ roles in building culture in start-up and scale-up companies.
Michael talks with Pascal Kruijsifix, organizational development consultant, executive coach and co-founder of Human Fluency, about how he helps people and teams become more fluent in interactions and behaviors at work. The conversation focuses on how we can use the concepts of depth, discernment, discipline and conversational landscaping to stay connected and maintain meaningful relationships while working remotely and trying to keep up with high demands for delivering results.
In this episode, Michael sits down with Vernon Brown, happiness coach, CEO and President of What’s Your Happi? and author of The Ultimate Guide to Lasting Happiness, Energy and Connection, to talk about what we can to do put more happiness into our lives. Vernon shares his dynamic personality and his techniques for using presence, playfulness, creative thinking and positive energy to help people discover their sources of happiness.
Are you curious how great coaches think, what they listen for and how they decide what questions to ask? In this episode, Michael dialogues with veteran professional coach Floris Rommerts about how he uses dialogic coaching, storytelling and Robert Fritz’s theory of Structural Dynamics in his coaching practice. In the process, Floris shares a fascinating glimpse of what goes on in the mind of a coach during a coaching conversation.
Michael talks with executive coach and corporate trainer Mete Yazici about the science and real-world application of Psychological Capital's four components: hope, efficacy, resilience and optimism. The conversation covers ideas for cultivating our own PsyCap, using PsyCap in coaching, how one person’s behavior can positively affect the PsyCap of others, and how we can apply PsyCap concepts to make feedback more effective.
In this episode, Michael interviews executive coach and consultant Ken Jacobs, principal of Jacobs Consulting & Executive Coaching, about how he helps CEOs and other leaders in PR, marketing, advertising and communications agencies to achieve their personal and professional goals by taking a lead-first approach to working with others.
In this episode, Michael interviews Discernible Inc Founder and CEO Melanie Ensign about how curiosity, self-awareness and the desire to fully embody her values and professional purpose helped pave her path to entrepreneurship. Melanie also shares insights about communications strategy and teamwork from her experiences advising security and privacy teams at leading tech companies Facebook and Uber.
Michael talks with entrepreneur, performance coach and ChangeWorks, Ltd. CEO Paul Marks about the findings from his research on the leadership skills that will be in high demand for the decade ahead. This wide-ranging interview touches on empowering employees in hierarchical work cultures, mental models and even links between ultra-marathon running and well-being in the workplace. Paul’s optimism and enthusiasm keeps the conversation light as he shares his ideas about practical approaches for overcoming today’s leadership challenges.
My guest’s research shows that only 24% of millennials consider themselves committed to their work. What can we do to inspire more commitment and higher performance from millennials? Michael takes a virtual trip to South America to talk with executive coach, facilitator and doctoral candidate Dante Mantovani about a Brazilian perspective on what it takes to lead millennials.
In this inaugural episode, Michael talks with executive coach and talent development consultant Gary Villani, principal of Chrysalis Consulting Group. Gary shares his thoughts on why authentic leadership matters in today’s workplace, and how we can use our individual values to develop our own leadership style.