Lead with Levity

Latest Episodes:

Nobody's Listening and It's Your Fault: Change Management Advice for Leaders Aug 03, 2020

Show notes

I've supported several change management initiatives over the years, and there are 3 things that stick out to me as consistent leadership failures:

Not communicating throughout
Waiting too long to celebrate
Launching too many initiatives around the same time (i.e., doing too much)

Your people are going through a lot right now. Now is the time for thoughtful change management. For those of you who don't know, change management is a process to help people understand, buy into, and adopt planned changes. It includes addressing readiness, managing resistance, and creating plans to support communication, reinforcement, and skill development. Companies often forego the people side of change and focus mainly on the technical sides of project management and quality management instead. The problem though is that people need to change and they are the hardest part of the equation to change so we really do need to put more intentionality and resources there.
So guess what, today I'm chatting with a change management consultant to the Fortune 50, Pam Marmon.
In this episode, we cover:

How change initiatives affect employees and what leaders can do to support their teams
Pam's L.E.S.S. model of change management
Top change management challenges that businesses face today
Are traditional change management models appropriate for today's challenges?
How does levity factor into change management?

About Today's GuestPam Marmon is a change management leader and CEO of Marmon Consulting. She is Prosci certified change management expert and Cornell University certified organizational designer with 15 years of experience and proven success record in implementing organizational initiatives and culture transformations.
Resources Mentioned

About the PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it's done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.
Support the show (https://paypal.me/leadwithlevity)

Let's Talk About the Future of Business Jul 20, 2020

Show notes

Would you rather know exactly what will happen 6 months from now or have the wisdom needed to navigate whatever happens 6 months from now? Join me in this fantastic interview with James Bidwell, the Chairman and Founder of Springwise. James is also the Co-Founder of Re_set. Springwise is an innovation platform that promotes creativity and innovation across the globe. Re_set is a disruption, innovation, and sustainability consulting firm in the UK.
In this episode, we cover:

James’ view on the future of work
How Springwise elevates creatives by sharing their innovations with the world
An even bigger crisis that is on the horizon (bigger than the pandemic)
Examples of innovations in different industries
A ton of FREE RESOURCES!

Quotes

"What is really encouraging is the capacity of the human brain to start to figure it out and not give up and to go forward and create new solutions." ~ James Bidwell
"One thing that I find really interesting about innovation is that it starts small, and it can feel like it's creeping up on you... like [with] Blockbuster...these other companies just sort of snuck up on them. But, they didn't. They were working diligently behind the scenes." ~ Heather Walker, Ph.D.

About Today’s GuestJames currently serves as Chair at Springwise, Co-Founder at Innovation and Transformation Consultancy Re_Set and NED at fast growing, Berlin based Invincible Brands. James is the Author of bestseller “Disrupt! 100 Lessons in Business Innovation” published by Hodder and Stoughton 2017 Sitting at the nexus of global change James brings deep experience and insight into digital, brand and innovation across all organizational disciplines at a time of unprecedented uncertainty and opportunity. At Springwise, James is immersed in the global innovation community with deep insight into the newest and most transformative new businesses and innovations from every corner of the world. Springwise is a “must read’ for global CEOs, innovators, investors, educators and corporates from all sectors. James advises many businesses and several government organisations. He is a visiting lecturer at the University of Bristol and Cambridge Judge Business School, participant in the London Business School Innovation and Entrepreneurship programme, committee member and judge at the World Retail Congress and mentor at Red Bull Amaphiko Academy. Career highlights include the launch of Disneyland Paris, the turnaround of Selfridges as Marketing Director, leading the renaissance of London tourism as CEO Visit London, launch CEO of Anthropologie Europe.
Resources Mentioned

Springwise Global Source for Innovation
Re_Set Boutique Consultancy for Disruption, Innovation, and Sustainability
Somerset House London’s working arts centre
[CELL PHONE APP] The Innovation App
[BOOK] Disrupt!: 100 Lessons in Business Innovation

About the PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynSupport the show (https://paypal.me/leadwithlevity)

Spreading Happiness from Grand Cayman to the Hill Country of Texas (and everywhere in between) Jul 06, 2020

Show notes

If you want to know how to build a fun family culture then you’re in the right place. Today, we discuss the benefits of adopting and leading by values. I’m happy to say that I recently discovered that there are people out there in the world (not the multiverse, but here in our dimension) with the job title of ‘Chief Happiness Officer’ and ‘Director of Happiness’. I found one!
Today, I get to share a conversation with Kylie Rae Fitzgibbons, Director of Happiness and General Manager at JL Bar Ranch in Sonora, Texas. Kyle has traveled all over the world and picked up experiences that have all led to her passion to have fun and get work done.
In this episode, we cover:

How a small town in Texas wooed her away from Grand Cayman.
What it’s like to work in a family-owned business.
How they build shared values
How they approach confrontations or “collisions” within the team
Kylie’s experiences on the Grand Cayman islands and how that fed her perspective on hospitality
The “Cayman kind” approach taught her that “people taking care of people” is more than just a concept, it’s about creating a family feel.
Try this icebreaker from Kylie that’s guaranteed to improve the mood within a group:
(32:18) The Smile Game: One quick and easy way to bring joy to a meeting or change the energy in a group. A simple 30 second activity that you can do at the beginning of a meeting, with friends. Instead of sitting, you stand in a circle, make eye contact. Say: “I’m going to start” and smile at someone and make eye contact, and then that person turns to the left and smiles at their neighbor. Then do a few rounds and try to get faster.
Kylie’s leadership philosophy and maintenance tips:
Energy is contagious. Own your own energy.
Recognize that “everyone is influenceable and everyone is an influencer even if you don’t have a billion followers on Instagram”
Make sure that people are better after they meet you than when they first saw you
Activities that help team spirit and one-ness
Team photo and celebration
Team prayer
End of the day reflection and review of a value-based story or moment
Celebrate national pizza party day - “food is fuel”
Keep the team loved and well fed and listened to

Quotes

“As the leader of a team, it is important that I come with an enthusiastic energy and a positive ‘can do’ spirit with that attitude and showing resilience. That concept of having fun, it’s how I show up to be able to impact others.” - Quote by Kylie Rae
“Everyone is influenceable and everyone is an influencer even if you don’t have a bazillion followers on Instagram” - Quote by Kylie Rae
“The learning of service is a different perspective to consider. Everyone is in a service industry, whether you're a mom with a young child. Whether you’re serving your neighbor when they need sugar...or if you’re in hospitality serving a customer.” - Quote by Kylie Rae
“You don’t have to be well connected. You don’t have to be the loudest person in the room to have an impact on that room.” - Quote by Dr. Walker
“Your energy is so very contagious.” Quote by Dr. Walker

About Today’s GuestKylie Rae Fitzgibbons is a luxury hospitality executive leader who brings Service with a Smile workshops to other professionals with a focus on positive mindset and culture of kindness in the workplace. On a mission to share smiles and simple standards of service, acquired from 15 years of experience in the service industry, including The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company, LLC., and the Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa in Grand Cayman. She currently holds the posiSupport the show (https://paypal.me/leadwithlevity)

From Startup to Customer Service Powerhouse: A Chick-fil-A Story Jun 22, 2020

Show notes

Maintaining quality face-to-face service is getting harder and harder these days. Fortunately, many of the traditional principles still apply. Join us today for an interview with Dee Ann Turner. With more than 30 years of experience, including serving as Vice President, Talent and Human Resources for Chick-fil-A, Inc., Dee Ann has discovered the secret sauce of selecting and retaining extraordinary talent, while cultivating a remarkable organizational culture.
In this episode, we cover how to:

create company loyalty that leads to customer loyalty
instill servant leadership within your organization
support fun at work even if it’s natural for you
respond to negative Glassdoor reviews
what differentiates Chick-fil-A from other fast food chains

About Today’s GuestDee Ann is a 33-year veteran of Chick-fil-A, Inc. Prior to retirement in 2018, she was Vice President, Talent and Vice President, Sustainability. The company’s first female officer, she was instrumental in building and growing Chick-fil-A’s well-known culture and talent systems. During her long career, she worked closely with Chick-fil-A’s founder, S. Truett Cathy, and other key leaders as an architect of their organizational culture. She was responsible for thousands of selections of Chick-fil-A Franchisees and corporate staff members. Additionally, she led Talent Management, Staff Learning and Development, Diversity and Inclusion, Culture and Engagement. Most recently, Dee Ann launched and led the Sustainability function focusing on Chick-fil-A’s strategy to implement sustainable practices at the $11 billion company.
Today, she leads her own organization, Dee Ann Turner, LLC, writing books, speaking to over 50 audiences per year and consulting and coaching leaders globally. She is the author of the best seller, It’s My Pleasure: The Impact of Extraordinary Talent and a Compelling Culture. Her latest book will be released in September 2019.
Resources Mentioned

Website: https://www.deeannturner.com/
Book: Bet on Talent: How to Create a Remarkable Culture That Wins the Hearts of Customers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeeAnnTurnerAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeeAnnTurner
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deeannturner/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deeannturner/

4 Stages to the Psychologically Safe Workplace Jun 08, 2020

Show notes

“Psychological safety means you (1) feel included, (2) feel safe to learn, (3) feel safe to contribute, and (4) feel safe to challenge the status quo – all without fear of being embarrassed, marginalized, or punished in some way.” ~Leader Factor
Are you ready to learn the 4 stages of a psychologically safe workplace? Safety is not a flat topic--there are layers to a person’s sense of safety. Psychological safety is also something we have to work to achieve and maintain. As leaders, we have the privilege and responsibility to create safe spaces. Today’s guest is Dr. Timothy Clark.
Timothy R. Clark is founder and CEO of LeaderFactor, a consulting, coaching, and training organization. Dr. Clark is an international authority in the fields of psychological safety & innovation, large-scale change & transformation, and senior leadership development. He has personally coached over 100 CEOs and executives and trained many senior teams around the world. Some of his clients include Accenture, American Express, CIGNA, Columbia University, Disney, Dow Chemical, Eli Lilly, Environmental Protection Agency, HCA, Idaho National Laboratory, Honeywell, Intel, Internal Revenue Service, John Hopkins University, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Motorola, NASA, Riverbed Technology, Sprint, Stanford University, and the U.S. Department of Treasury.
In this episode, we cover:

How Dr. Clark became interested in psychological safety
How psychological safety opens the door to other prosocial behaviors
What leaders can do to help people feel more secure
How to create safe spaces at work
How to engage in levity safely
How to grow your appreciation for differences

About today’s guest:
Timothy R. Clark is founder and CEO of LeaderFactor, a consulting, coaching, and training organization. Dr. Clark is an international authority in the fields of psychological safety & innovation, large-scale change & transformation, and senior leadership development. He has personally coached over 100 CEOs and executives and trained many senior teams around the world. Some of his clients include Accenture, American Express, CIGNA, Columbia University, Disney, Dow Chemical, Eli Lilly, Environmental Protection Agency, HCA, Idaho National Laboratory, Honeywell, Intel, Internal Revenue Service, John Hopkins University, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Motorola, NASA, Riverbed Technology, Sprint, Stanford University, and the U.S. Department of Treasury.
Resources mentioned:

Why Employees Need Storytelling and Marketing Too May 25, 2020

Show notes

What makes your company stand out in a new and interesting way? Today, we cover the art of storytelling. It’s not just for fairy tales or marketers. The stories we tell to our employees and customers can mean the difference between confusion and clarity.
Give your tribe something compelling to connect to by making your message crystal clear. And, be consistent. Today's guest is Maria Ross. Maria is the head of Red Slice marketing firm where they teach clients how to tell unforgettable stories that make customers nod, laugh, and feel genuinely inspired to take action. Maria has gone through some life altering events that have taught her to let humor and empathy reign. I look forward to sharing her experiences with you today.
In this episode, we cover:

The art of storytelling and how it applies to business
Why people aren’t getting on board with your messaging (a good one for content experts)
Maria Ross’ philosophy on life, business, and authenticity
How to apply storytelling within the organization
How to create a “cultural articulation” - the importance of authentically living your brand from the inside out
How to cultivate empathy and take another person’s point-of-view without getting defensive
Stay curious. Curiosity is the #1 trait of empathetic people.
What to do the next time someone asks you how you are feeling.

About today's guest:Maria Ross is the founder of Red Slice, a consultancy that advises solopreneurs, startups, and fast-growth businesses on how to build an irresistible brand story and authentically connect with customers. She is a keynote speaker who regularly speaks to audiences on marketing and building a standout brand that engages the right customers and drives growth. She is the author of Branding Basics for Small Business and The Juicy Guide eBook Series for Entrepreneurs.
Maria started her career as a management consultant with Accenture and went on to build marketing and brand strategies for multiple companies, including Discovery Communications, Monster.com, BusinessObjects (now SAP), and many other startups and technology leaders, before starting her own business. Maria understands the power of empathy at both a brand and personal level: in 2008, six months after launching her business, she suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm that almost killed her. Her humorous and heartfelt memoir about what is was like to survive this health crisis, Rebooting My Brain, has received worldwide praise.
Maria has made numerous media appearances, including on MSNBC, ABCNews.com, and Forbes.com; in Entrepreneur magazine; and on hundreds of radio shows and popular podcasts such as Entrepreneur on Fire, The Shameless Mom Academy, and Suitcase Entrepreneur. She writes a contributor column for Entrepreneur.com and has written for Huffington Post, MarketingProfs.com, Seattle Business, Life by Me, Inspire Me Today, Columbus CEO, among others.
Resources mentioned:

Website: www.red-slice.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redslicemaria/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redslice/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariajross/
Email: maria@red-slice.com
Book: The Empathy Edge: Harnessing the Value of Compassion as an Engine for Success (www.theempathyedge.com)
B

Support the show (https://paypal.me/leadwithlevity)

To Meme or Not to Meme: Generational Differences in Digital Communication May 11, 2020

Show notes

We're kind of in an interesting time right now where people are having to redefine workplace communication. If you find yourself wondering what's appropriate, misinterpreting messages, or wondering how you can connect better with people you don't see anymore then this episode is for you. Today's guest is Dr. Mary Donohue. She studies communication patters within and between generations, and her focus is generational differences in digital communication.
In this episode, we cover:

What is digital psychology?
How can we avoid communication breakdowns with others?
How can we recover from communication errors?
How can we optimize or rethink the way we communicate with others to support levity in the workplace?
What are the generational differences in digital communication?

About today's guest:Dr. Mary Donohue has an Ed.D in Leadership Education from Central Michigan University and is an avid cross-discipline researcher. In addition, she is world-renowned TEDX presenter, best-selling author, columnist and television personality. Her mentors include Paul Newman and Robert Kennedy, Jr., and many others. Dr. Mary has a passion for living and celebrating life and for a brief shining moment she will always fondly remember her time as a Supreme with Diana Ross.
Resources mentioned:

About the podcast:The Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it's done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.
If you want to improve levity at your workplace, consider completing a Levity Audit. It's a new employee feedback survey that will show you exactly what you need to do to create an environment that your employees won't want to leave.Support the show (https://paypal.me/leadwithlevity)

Turn Problems into Possibilities: Spark Creativity to Find Winning Solutions Apr 27, 2020

Show notes

We're in a space where we have to figure out what we can do to solve new problems. We can't solve them with old solutions. We have to find something new. We have to get creative.
The goal here today is for us to try and find new ways to spark creativity, and our guest is Kathryn Haydon. Kathryn is an innovation consultant, and she's also the founder of Sparkitivity. We chat about how you (and your team) can unleash your potential, how to think about problems in new ways and help others to do the same.
We covered a lot of ground including:

Kathryn’s story and how she got interested in creativity?
Kathryn’s definition of creativity
How Sparkitivity helps companies innovate
Common misconceptions about creativity
The biggest roadblocks to creativity
Are children more creative than adults?
What can stunt or shut down a person’s creativity
The key to unlock or grow creativity
How we can build a culture that supports this
An exercise that you can try to help get the creative juices flowing
Is creativity a skill? If so, how can we hone it?
What to do if you think you aren't creative
A creativity tool: The Innovator Strengths Workbook
The inertia of no and rejection therapy

About Today's GuestKathryn Haydon, M.Sc., is a keynote speaker, innovation consultant, and the co-author of Creativity for Everybody. She loves books and uses them as catalysts to inspire innovative thinking for educators and business leaders alike. As a child, Kathryn typed library information cards for all of her books on an old typewriter and alphabetized them on her bookshelves.
Learn more about Kathryn

Website: sparkitivity.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-haydon/
Book: The Non-Obvious Guide to Being More Creative No Matter Where You Work

Support the show (https://paypal.me/leadwithlevity)

How Bonjoro Leads with Levity Apr 13, 2020

Show notes

This is Lead with Levity Snuggie Edition, and I'm your host, Dr. Heather Walker. If you spent the last few weeks in your underpants, then you're in good company. This episode is for you.
Today we spotlight a CEO who leads with levity, Mr. Papa Bear himself, Matt Barnett. Matt runs an up-and- coming customer engagement platform called Bonjoro. They have an unconventional culture that includes full body bear suits and family friendly activities. In this interview, we discuss:

Matt's philosophy on work
How Bonjoro got started
How he gets professionals to wear bear suits
Bonjoro's onboarding process
Remote work in the land of Bonjoro

Key takeaways include:

Leaders should actively participate in the fun with their teams to show them that it's okay to have fun.
We need to treat people as whole people--they have lives and a whole world going on outside of the workplace.
I love that Matt has a Chief Delight Officer to monitor and facilitate customer delight and employee engagement.
Always be on the lookout for people who you'd like to employ even if you aren't hiring currently. Nurture your talent pipeline.

Support the show (https://paypal.me/leadwithlevity)

From Compliance to Connection: How Family Science Enhances Workplace Culture Mar 30, 2020

Show notes

Leaders have much to learn from functional family values. Today, we dive into how approaching the workplace as an extended family can enhance work relationships and the leader-follower connection.
Today’s guest is “Dr. Dave” Schramm, an Assistant Professor and Family Life Extension Specialist at Utah State University in the department of Human Development and Family Studies. He appears monthly on Fox 13’s “The Place” and delivered multiple TedTalks, including “Family Fundamentals: The Secret Sauce to Booming Business. His reach extends internationally through his speaking engagements and interventions designed to promote happy and healthy relationships. He has a dedicated Facebook page (DrDaveUSU) where he shares research and tips on helping individuals, parents, and couples flourish. Dr. Dave also serves on the state of Utah’s Commission on Marriage.
In this episode, we explore:

What is a family life extension specialist? What do they do?
What is family science? How does this relate to business?
Recent TedTalk: What does it mean for an organization to adopt family values and family fundamentals?
How Dr. Dave came to his conclusions after amazing analyzing Inc.com best workplace employee comments.
What is family focused leadership? What are the 3 roles that a family-focused leader adopts?
What is an employee flourish program and how does that compare to an employee assistance program?
Who would you miss when you die? How can we make our workplaces special enough to make that list?

Resources mentioned:

Support the show (https://paypal.me/leadwithlevity)

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected