Lead with Levity

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3 Ways to Accelerate Culture Change Oct 28, 2019

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Culture is such a hot topic right now. If someone told you that your culture needs a reboot where would you begin? How long does it take to change a culture?
Tune in as we discuss practical ways to shift corporate culture. Today we will be joined by Founder and CEO of QuayFive, Kirsty Bashforth!
Kirsty Bashforth is founder and CEO of QuayFive Ltd, and 20+ year veteran of British Petroleum (BP). Kirsty shares her experiences helping BP shift its culture after the Macondo well oil leak in 2010.
A change management professional, Kirsty Bashforth reveals:

key questions for any CEO who wants a shift in company culture;
factors that determine how long a culture change takes; and,
three practical tips on changing company culture.

TIME STAMPS[02:54] Introduction to Kirsty Bashforth
[04:23] The sort of companies Kirsty typically works with
[05:15] How Kirsty rose through the ranks at BP and helped change the company culture
[06:16] Kirsty’s first question to any CEO who says, “I need to change our culture. We have these values on the wall, and we’re not living up to them.”
[09:31] How long does it typically take to shift company culture?

Rule of thumb Kirsty uses -- For a proper shift, it takes three cycles of any process [11:16]
Factors that affect how long it takes to shift company culture [12:17]

[12:37] Three practical tips for changing a culture

Align your culture with your strategy. [12:55]
Treat culture as an equal partner with strategy. [13:13]
Think behavioural economics, not traditional project management. [13:49]

[16:10] You’ll never get everybody as engaged as you’d like.
[17:17] Shifting big organisations depends on the operating model and ownership structure of the company.
[18:14] Kirsty’s biggest challenge when trying to work with different organisations
[20:26] Kirsty’s positive experiences with some leadership teams
[22:51] Cultural diversity in the workplace -- Some of the richer conversations Kirsty’s had about culture were when there were more geographic cultures in the room
QUOTES--- On workplace culture

The workplace culture is people’s habits, behaviours, perceptions, assumptions that all add up to “the way things are done around here”.
A lot of it [workplace culture] comes from the individuals. It’s not as simple as telling one of us to behave differently or to have a different habit.

--- On shifting company culture

The starting point for many who haven’t thought about this topic much is, it’s either the wrong words are on the wall [they think] or it’s because they are struggling with “something about our culture doesn’t seem to help where we need to go as a company.
We can start off by assuming the problem [with the company culture] is those people over there. But when I try to help leadership teams really work out, it actually often starts with us.
I never start with “this is what we need to do; this is how long it will take” because each situation, each context, each CEO, each team, each crisis or planned disruption is very different.
I think it’s often all about the people. I think the only way a company can shift its c

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THINK. DO. SAY. Selling your message in a busy busy world Oct 14, 2019

Show notes

"Bringing truth and trust back to marketing"
Today we will be joined by award-winning advertising professional and author, Ron Tite!
CEO of Church+State, Ron Tite notes that content creators are competing for the consumer’s time, and so he focuses on bringing only good advertising/authentic content to consumers.
Introduction
Welcome to the Lead with Levity podcast. My goal is to interview a diverse set of leaders who are interested in making a big impact on the employee experience and willing to share their perspectives on levity at work.
Today we will be joined by award-winning advertising professional and author, Ron Tite!
CEO of Church+State, Ron Tite notes that content creators are competing for the consumer’s time, and so he focuses on bringing only good advertising/authentic content to consumers.
TIME STAMPS[03:31] About Church+State
[05:15] Best techniques for internal marketing -- How to inspire employees to get on board
[09:05] Building trust by being authentic i.e. being honest and imperfect
[13:25] How corporate buzzwords can erode trust
[16:09] Ron talks about the dark side of marketing
[22:16] How can organizations compete for attention with a workforce that is used to having messaging that is targeted specifically for them?
[27:08] Viewing employees from a marketing perspective | What makes a great brand?

What do you firmly believe in? [27:43]
What actions do you take to reinforce that belief? [29:45]
The marketing message i.e. How do you then talk about it? [29:56]

QUOTES--- On Church+State:

“The phrase “the separation of church and state” is typically applied to the relationship between advertising and content. We believe that, now, any ad can be a piece of content if it’s good enough, and any piece of content can be an ad if it’s authentic enough.”

“If you’re pumping out content for people to consume, you’re actually competing against Time Magazine. And so, as an individual, you should think the same way and apply the same process and standards to the work that you generate as Time Magazine does.”

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re a brand, a media company, or a person, we’re all just competing for time.”

---- On convincing employees to join you

“New behaviours are what lead to growth.”

“How do I motivate and inspire people to join me? That is based on what you think, what you do, and what you say. People need to know exactly what you believe in, they need to see that you follow that up with actions that reinforce that belief, and you need to talk about it in an honest and imperfect way.”

---- On being honest and imperfect

“There are two types of honesty. The first is the external honesty with your stakeholders --- You don’t lie to your customers and you don’t lie to your employees. The second one is more powerful, and that is being honest with yourself.”

“Authenticity is being comfortable with your imperfections. To get people to follow you, you need to build trust. And to get trust, you need to be authentic.”

“Our imperfections are not bugs, they’re features. And

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A bridge to JOY through restorative circles Sep 30, 2019

Show notes

Today we will be graced by Austin’s beloved radio personality, author, motivational speaker, and business consultant extraordinaire -- Ms. Kimberly Holiday!
Lead with Levity Podcast Show NotesEpisode: 7Release date: September 30, 2019Title: A bridge to JOY through restorative circlesGuest: Kimberly “Lady Joy” HolidayRadio Personality, Author, and Business Consultant (Austin, Texas)
Introduction
Welcome to the Lead with Levity podcast. My goal is to interview a diverse set of leaders who are interested in making a big impact on the employee experience and willing to share their perspectives on levity at work.
Today we will be graced by Austin’s beloved radio personality, author, motivational speaker, and business consultant extraordinaire -- Ms. Kimberly Holiday!
Kimberly Holiday, otherwise known to most as LadyJoy, is the on air personality for KAZI 88.7 FM’s The Juice and Jam Morning Show, but she wears many hats.

As the owner of The Mobile Nanny Staffing Agency, she’s able to fulfill her personal commitment to child and family advocacy.
As a published author and motivational speaker, Ms. Holiday’s inspirational messages cross domestic and international boundaries.

She has a heart to serve others by modeling the potential to live with joy regardless of life’s circumstances. Her smile is her logo and #Gotjoy is her brand!
TIME STAMPS[04:13] The story behind the #GotJoy brand
[05:44] How do you bring the concept of #GotJoy into the work you do? | Bonus: Why Kimberly's called Lady Joy
[08:19] Lady Joy talks about healing circles
[10:00] Is there a place for healing circles in the corporate setting?
[12:48] When is the best time for an organization to do healing circles?
[14:55] Kimberly talks about her experience with sexual molestation and her healing
[16:24] Addressing emotional literacy through healing circles
[16:58] Healing circles are a conduit to get you through a place of healing to a place of joy
[17:43] Kimberly explains emotional literacy
[19:27] The impact of emotional literacy on the workplace
[21:32] Is there a link between joy and levity? | Kimberly talks about changeableness
[22:55] How would you incorporate levity into what you do?
[24:09] Have you done any of the [learning] circles with adults?
[25:45] Kimberly talks about mental wellness
QUOTES--- On Levity

"Levity involves quality interactions, and there's a certain level of realness that has to occur between people for them to get to that point." Heather Walker

"Levity to me almost feels fluid, like liquid gold that can seep into every single nook, cranny and crevice, and it can reach places that humor and strategy and business meetings cannot reach."

"When we talk about levity, we're not saying you have to have fun all the time, be all smiles all the time. Sometimes, things are not okay. It's not about pretending, it's about being real and authentic and being able to share that with other people so that you can get the support you need and work in

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Lessons from World Cup Champions Sep 16, 2019

Show notes

“What differentiates a successful leader from the rest?" Guest Dr. John Gillis, Jr.
Episode: 6Title: Lessons from World Cup ChampionsRelease date: September 16, 2019Guest: John Gillis, Jr. Ed.D. (President and CEO of Leadership X in Austin, Texas)
IntroductionWelcome to the Lead with Levity podcast. My goal is to help leaders build healthy work environments through advice, tools, and connection they get from this podcast. I’m excited about today’s guest--Dr. John Gillis Jr.

He co-authored the best-seller Powerhouse: 13 Teamwork Tactics that Build Excellence and Unrivaled Success.
He built a futuristic, yet surprisingly accurate personality-based business simulation for executive development program called the “Leadership Xperience.”
He’s a Program Director for The Conference Board.
He serves on the Board of Wonders and Worries, a mental health organization that provides support for children and teens when their parents get sick.
And he’s built up credibility over the years through his consulting work at well known firms like Accenture, IBM, and First Order Consulting.

What can I say? This guy is amazing.
TIME STAMPS

[00:56]Where John Gillis gets the time and energy to achieve it all
[01:55]John Gillis describes his brand in a nutshell
[03:36]When do companies need John the most?
[05:54]John talks about how his typical process in helping organizations
[08:27]What are the top issues that keep a team from sustaining success and growth?
[11:52]What differentiates a successful leader from the rest?
[13:35]What one needs to do to get to a point where they can successfully lead a team?
[17:09]If you could give the Best in Class Lead with Levity Award today to a company, who would you name?
[19:57]What’s on the horizon for John Gillis?
[22:45]If levity could fix one problem out there in the world, what would it be? “If we could have levity with our governments in the United States and across the world, we could have collaborative, forward-thinking conversations to make the world a better place.”

Contact John GillisYou can learn more about Dr. Gillis and the resources he mentioned by following these links:

Website | LinkedIn | Twitter
Receive the weekly Leadership Xpressions
Get a copy of Powerhouse today! http://amzn.com/1626346380
Email: Gillis@LeadershipX.com

Quotes

“To be effective at being a facilitator, a consultant, an MC, you need to have the diverse experiences.”
“High-performing, successful companies continue to invest in their teamwork, their leadership, and their people.”
“Every organization culture is different. You can’t pick an out-of-the-box solution.”
“What differentiates a successful leader from the rest?

Setting expectations
Developing each individual on the team
Inspiring the team members.”

“Each leader is going to lead differently.”
“Each leader is going to lead differently based on their personality trait.”
“Different situations are going to require different types of leadership.”
“Regardless of what lead

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Can I be HUMAN with YOU? Sep 16, 2019

Show notes

Jennifer McDonnell specializes in organizational development and she brings an interesting perspective to the conversation through her work in retail, higher education, pharmaceuticals, and housing.
Lead with Levity Podcast Show Notes
Episode: 5Title: Can I be HUMAN with YOU?Release date: September 16, 2019Guest: Jennifer McDonnell (Senior Organizational Development Specialist of Senior Living Services, Brentwood, Missouri)
Jennifer McDonnell specializes in organizational development and she brings an interesting perspective to the conversation through her work in retail, higher education, pharmaceuticals, and housing.
Jennifer currently supports Lutheran Senior Services, a large faith-based non-profit that is spread out across 21 locations in Missouri and Illinois. Lutheran Senior Services has provided housing and assisted living services in the community for 160 years!
Time Stamps
[01:44] Who is an organizational development specialist?
[03:14] About Lutheran Senior Services
[04:00] With Lutheran Senior Services being so spread out, how do you maintain an overarching culture?
[07:40] What Lutheran Senior Services does to manage employee experience
[11:04] Out of the different ways data is collected at Lutheran, what do you think pays off the most?
[13:11] Taking care of your staff so they can take care of your clients
[16:05] What is the biggest people factor that keeps you and your team up at night?
[19:25] What attracts workers to Lutheran Senior Services?
[23:07] Is levity good or bad for business?
[24:43] Is there a place for levity at Lutheran Senior Services? If so, what would that look like, and what barriers would you have to overcome to get started?
[26:53] What’s the best part of the culture at Lutheran Senior Services?
[31:10] If levity could fix one problem out there in the world, what would it be?
QUOTES· When I think about the development that we do with our leaders, I spend a lot of time talking about having those conversations that open up that leader-employee relationship, this piece of lightness like, “Oh, I can talk to you, and it’s not all about work production.”
· Levity is good for business. When we bring all these people into the workplace with different experiences, levity says, “Oh I can still be human with you. I can still laugh with you.” It builds trust, and when you trust someone, it’s like, “I want to work for you. And I know you want the best for me.”
· Sometimes as a leader, you have to give up a little bit of your vulnerability to allow people to feel safe to be human with you.
· [on overcoming barriers to levity in the workplace] We would have to knock down some cultural barriers within the workplace to say, “Hey, figure out three things you want to share with your employees and be transparent about as a person.”
· To take care of folks, to change diapers, to be at the beck and call of another human can be tough. Our nurses show up to work every day, and I can’t help but think It’s because they have that joy.
GET CONNECTEDLutheran Senior Services: Website Support the show (https://paypal.me/leadwithlevity)

"Checking the box" and other leadership errors Sep 16, 2019

Show notes

“Creating an environment where levity is a big component of it, where people can be their more authentic selves, is going to increase the likelihood that you keep the people that you want to keep within your organization.” Guest Dr. Robert Patterson
Lead with Levity Podcast Show Notes
Introduction
Dr. Robert Patterson is a licensed psychologist and senior consultant at Collarelli, Meyer, and Associates, a midwest management consulting firm with a global reach. They’ve been in business since 1975 serving the Fortune 500, nonprofits, and even some family owned businesses. Dr. Patterson is passionate about building leadership capacity and supercharging high performing teams. He’s currently an external consultant, but he also has several years of experience working in a governmental setting supporting training and professional development for employees at the Department of Veteran Affairs. He’s a well traveled, cultured professional with an eye on factors that support business success.
TIME STAMPS[11:35]Robert Patterson talks about his dissertation on personality-type factors and situational factors that might predict resistance to change[13:45]What kind of consulting Robert does at CMA[15:04]Do you ever work with smaller companies or startups?[16:39]Do small startups tend to mess up hiring because they are in rush mode?[21:47]Robert talks about the possible implications of the freelance workforce[25:05]What differentiates great leaders from the rest?[26:27] Agility in meeting your team’s and other stakeholder’s needs.[27:36] Vulnerability – understanding you don’t have the right answers all the time.[29:36] In terms of diversity, equity and inclusion, what are the trends and what do you wish people will do differently?[32:09]Inclusion is not just checking X number of boxes[38:20]From a diversity and inclusion standpoint, is there a place for levity in the workplace?[45:01]If levity could fix one problem in the world, what would it be?
Contact Dr. Robert PattersonLinkedIn | Twitter | Website Resources Mentioned in the EpisodeProsci Change Management Certification Program CMA Consult website Quotes

“If you look at organizations that function well, a big component of that is that there are people who want to be there.”
“The employee comment box – having it there but not doing anything with it is almost worse than not having anything at all.”
“A big part of our business is helping organizations identify the people that are going to be the right fit for both the role they’re looking for and the culture of the organization.”
“What makes a great leader in organization A may or may not make for a great leader in organization B.”
“In addition to the culture, you have to be comfortable adapting to the needs of the organization and the team that you serve.”
“Before you can become agile, the other component is vulnerability – understanding you don’t have the right answers all the time and that’s okay.”
“Agility, vulnerability, openness, authenticity… Those components

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Excuse me, there's something in your teeth Sep 16, 2019

Show notes

Psychological Associates specializes in selection, development and retention of top talent. They use assessments to raise self-awareness and to create a base for emotional intelligence as well as behavioral change at a level that permeates the organization. Guest: Dr. Patricia Bagsby
Lead with Levity Podcast Show Notes
Episode: 3Title: Excuse me, there’s something in your toothRelease date: September 16, 2019Guest: Patricia Bagsby, Ph.D. (Vice President of Organizational Consulting, Psychological Associates in St. Louis, Missouri)
Introduction
Welcome to the Lead with Levity podcast. My goal is to interview a diverse set of leaders who are interested in making a big impact on the employee experience and willing to share their perspectives on levity at work.
Dr. Bagsby is an organizational psychologist and top executive at Psychological Associates, a Saint Louis based consulting firm that’s been in business for 60 years. Psychological Associates specializes in selection, development and retention of top talent. They use assessments to raise self-awareness and to create a base for emotional intelligence as well as behavioral change at a level that permeates the organization. Dr. Bagsby doesn’t just lead this organization, she leads with excellence. She recently made Workforce Magazine’s 2019 list of Game Changers.
Levity is about connection.
Time Stamps

[02:14]About Psychological Associates
[02:39]Who is Psychological Associates’ target customer?
[03:18]How do people reach out to Psychological Associates for assistance?
[03:58]The leadership philosophy at Psychological Associates
[04:51]Psychological Associates has seen it all – from the superstar leader to the complete trainwreck.
[06:37]How do you walk someone through a hard trainwreck year?
[08:15]Psych Associates’ assessments are about where you can get better
[09:40]A leader who checks all the boxes and is really rocking it, what differentiates them from the rest?
[10:29]The top interpersonal issues Psych Associates has noticed in leaders
[14:07]Brief explanation of the Q4 Dimensional Model of Behavior
[17:45]How closely related is the Q4 model to personality?
[18:10]Shifting the focus from personality to behavior
[20:50]Combining personality assessments with the Q4 model
[22:21]Patricia Bagsby on working in a company where everything was serious all the time
[24:21]Do you think levity is good for business?
[25:15]Answer
[26:07]If you could give the Best in Class Lead with Levity Award today to a company, who would you name?
[29:10]If levity could fix 1 problem out there in the world, what would it be?
“I see it as reducing the defensiveness so you can have that conversation – giving you a door into a dialogue that maybe never would have happened.”

Quotes

“Absolutely get the job done.”
“Results are important, but relationships are equally important.”
“If I’m making a tough decision or even an exciting, new direction, I think about it from both sides – what’s the result side of it and what’s the people side of it?”
“You can see someone who’s a superstar have a trainwreck day or a trainwreck year.”
“There’s no magic pill that makes you this phenomenal leader overnight. It’s committing to understanding the reality and, then, really working towards a better version of you.”
“Finding the right relief to the culture of the organization or industry that

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Do I have to be a clown? Sep 16, 2019

Show notes

Managers are often expected to drive the culture. Are they concerned that allowing a little levity might also mean that they have to "bring the fun"? If so, what impact might that have on their reputations? Is the responsibility on employees or management?
Join me as I reflect on these questions, sharing personal stories about the Office Olympics and Team Star Wars.Support the show (https://paypal.me/leadwithlevity)

Why Levity? Jul 18, 2019

Show notes

Some lead with hope. Others lead with fear. I lead with levity. If you want your employees to care as much about your business as you do, then you should care about levity too.
Allow me to introduce myself, my research on this topic, and why I care so much about cultivating levity at work.
TIME STAMPS[01:15] What is an organizational psychologist?
[02:04] Why I started Lead with Levity podcast
[03:30] How this all started
[05:46] Employee engagement – What gets someone to the point of disengagement?
[07:25] Digging into the concept of fun
[09:23] What is levity?Levity is considered an uplifting and/or pleasurable dynamic between two or more individuals that lacks tension and anxiety.
[13:47] Three components of levity- Buoyancy: an interaction that is organic in its origin and requires minimal effort.- Amusement: a pleasurable interaction that incorporates playful exchanges.- Edification: is an interaction that’s psychologically uplifting in that it celebrates achievements or corrects behavior in a manner that’s easily absorbed and appreciated by the recipient.
Connect with Heather WalkerWebsite | LinkedIn
Books Mentioned in the EpisodeThe Levity Effect: Why It Pays to Lighten Up by Adrian Gostick, Scott ChristopherSupport the show (https://paypal.me/leadwithlevity)

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