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321: 7 Leadership Traits That Set Great Leaders Apart with Gaia van der Esch27 Aug 202400:34:24

When there’s great leadership, everyone flourishes.


We’ve seen the outcomes of having great leaders at work countless times–high-performing teams, healthy workplaces, increased profitability, and happy employees, among other things.


But what actually makes a great leader? What leadership traits create a lasting impact not just on organizations but also on the lives of the people you lead? 


Thankfully, our guest expert is here to help us broaden our view of what effective leadership truly looks like.


Today’s guest is Gaia van der Esch. Gaia is an author, CEO, and policy expert. Above all, though, she sees herself as a change-maker. Gaia is currently the managing director of a large international foundation working to halt climate change, poverty, and exclusion, and previously served as the G20 Sherpa on gender equality. Her new book “Leading Our Way: How Women Are Redefining Leadership” was released recently by Wiley. Amongst others, she was nominated by Forbes in their 30under30 list.


In this episode, Gaia and I discuss what great leadership actually entails. Drawing on examples from influential women like Christina Figueres and Gloria Steinem, Gaia dives into how leaders can cultivate empathy, embrace vulnerability, and shift from hierarchical to circular leadership models. 


Plus, in the extended episode available to Podcast+ members, Gaia reveals the transformative effect of embracing your authentic leadership style and offers insights on how to help your team members do the same.


Tune in to discover how you can lead your way.


Join the conversation now!


Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Conversation Topics

  • (00:00) Intro
  • (02:13) The problem with women embracing traditional leadership style
  • (07:05) Why leaders must have a hard back with a soft front approach to leadership
  • (12:29) Crying in the workplace isn’t a sign of weakness
  • (17:26) Leadership is power with people and NOT power over people
  • (20:22) The pros and cons of co-leadership
  • (25:46) Iconic women leaders and their leadership styles 
  • (31:36) Keep up with Gaia
  • (32:35) [Extended Episode Only] Tips in navigating people’s responses when you embrace your own authentic leadership style
  • (36:58) [Extended Episode Only] How to empower your team members to embrace authentic leadership


Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here 

- Visit my website for more here

- Build your team’s skills here

- Subscribe to my YouTube Channel here


Keep up with Gaia van der Esch


- Connect with Gaia on LinkedIn and Instagram

- Grab a copy of her book  here

- Visit Gaia’s website for more information here


20% Off Leading Our Way: How Women Are Redefining Leadership


In this book, Gaia shares an inspiring collection of leadership stories from seven iconic women around the world. These stories explore new leadership models, concepts, and tools to inspire action and solve global challenges.


To get this guest bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.


---------------------


The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.


Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!


320: How to Convince Yourself to Do the Hard Things with Lei Wang20 Aug 202400:29:50

Imagine standing at the base of Mt. Everest, feeling the crushing weight of doubt and fear. Now, picture your toughest work challenge–where quitting feels like the best option. Would you push through or hit the quit button?


Many of us struggle with the internal battle of wanting to avoid discomfort, even though deep down, we know that overcoming these challenges is essential for growth and success. 


For managers, this struggle is even more amplified. Our roles demand that we make difficult decisions, provide tough feedback, and guide our teams through challenging situations. 


But how do we convince ourselves and our teams to do the hard things? Today’s guest will teach us how to build the mental toughness we all need.


Meet Lei Wang. Lei is a renowned international motivational speaker and executive coach, celebrated for her historic achievement as the first Asian woman to complete the Explorer's Grand Slam, which involves conquering the highest peak on each continent and skiing to both the North and South Poles. 


Through her incredible journey, Lei has developed a unique perspective on resilience, leadership, and personal growth, empowering individuals and organizations to reach new heights and achieve extraordinary success. 


In this episode, Lei shares her journey from being a “typical city girl” in Beijing to becoming an extreme adventurer. 


We explore the mental strength it takes to overcome adversity, the power of finding and holding on to your deeper why, the role of tough love in helping your team grow stronger, and more.


Join the conversation now!


Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Conversation Topics

  • (00:00) Intro
  • (01:54) Meet Lei Wang and her bigger-than-life goal
  • (07:15) The mindset shift that gets you to show up even when you don’t want to
  • (13:03) Trusting your own strength when the going gets tough
  • (18:00) How managers can help their team push through
  • (21:03) Introducing the Mighty Mouse framework
  • (22:29) One key action to take if you want to play big
  • (25:24) A great manager Lei has worked for
  • (27:29) Keep up with Lei
  • (28:09) [Extended Episode Only] How to support a team member through tough times
  • (30:48) [Extended Episode Only] What to do when you make excuses to avoid hard tasks


Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here 

- Visit my website for more here

- Build your team’s skills here

- Subscribe to my YouTube Channel here


Keep up with Lei Wang


- Follow Lei on LinkedIn here

- Invite Lei to speak to your next event here

-  Join Lei’s coaching program here


FREE Leadership Assessment Workbook: Uncover Your Mighty Leadership Potential


Lei is providing members of Podcast+ her Leadership Assessment Workbook: Uncover Your Mighty Leadership Potential for FREE. This downloadable workbook offers practical exercises and insights designed to help aspiring executives identify strengths, bridge gaps, and create a strategic plan for career advancement.


To get this guest bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.


---------------------


The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.


Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!


311: 5-Step Powerful Framework for Mastering Project Management with Kory Kogon18 Jun 202400:36:28

When you think of project management, what first comes to mind?


For many folks, it’s associated with getting certified to lead the execution of major projects. You can even hold the title of Project Manager in some businesses!


Yet, much of what all managers do–setting goals, creating plans, managing teams–is essentially project management. 


We’ve quietly slipped into the project manager role, just without the official title. However, working intuitively in this capacity can lead to challenges. Today’s guest is here to set us on the right path toward project success.


Meet Kory Kogon. Kory Kogan is FranklinCovey’s vice president of Content and Senior Consultant. She is the co-author of Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager and has appeared as an expert on TODAY, MSNBC’s Your Business, Forbes.com, Inc.com, and FastCompany.com. 


She is also one of the authors of the following FranklinCovey work sessions: The 5 Choices to Extraordinary Productivity®, Project Management Essentials for the Unofficial Project Manager™, and Presentation Advantage®. Kory brings more than 25 years of business expertise, from frontline positions to an executive team member.


In this episode, Kory explains how intuitive project management skills from our personal lives can be applied in professional settings. She emphasizes the importance of combining value, people, and process for project success, shares a practical 5-step framework for effective project management, offers tips to keep projects moving forward and on track, and much more.


Join the conversation now and discover how to elevate your project management skills!


Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Conversation Topics

  • (00:00) Intro
  • (01:50) Why we’re all unofficial project managers
  • (04:14) Project management in an organizational setting explained
  • (08:13) The project management success formula
  • (10:52) 5-step framework for effective project management
  • (13:29) What does the scoping process look like?
  • (20:56) Real-world example of poor scoping
  • (24:26) Tips to keep projects moving forward and on track
  • (31:01) A great manager Kory has worked for
  • (33:29) Keep up with Kory
  • (34:45) [Extended Episode Only] The power and components of Gantt charts
  • (42:34) [Extended Episode Only] How to keep your project plan relevant and effective


Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here 

- Visit my website for more here

- Build your team’s skills here


Keep up with Kory Kogon


- Follow Kory on LinkedIn here

- Grab a copy of her book here


FREE Copies of Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager 


Kory is providing 2 copies of Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager to members of Podcast+. To win one of these copies, you must enter the drawing by July 10th.


To get this guest bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.


---------------------


The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.


Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!


222: Design a Path to Your Future with Lance Tanaka20 Sep 202200:29:38

Authentic leadership is unique to each of us. It's about understanding and being comfortable with who you are so that you can leverage your strengths. We can then use that information to guide our choices and lift up those around us. When you understand your strengths and values, they can create a personal roadmap to success.

Today’s guest is Lance Tanaka. Lance is an Executive Leadership Expert. He and his team elevate leaders and their teams to increase business production, performance and profits.

Lance and I talk about lessons from his latest book Dream and Achieve: 90 Days to a life of purpose. We walk through the process that Lance and hundreds of others have used to help clarify their goals and take steps towards their desired future.

Members of the Modern Manager community get 25% off Lance’s course, Dream & Achieve. This course has helped thousands of successful executives identify their purpose and move down the path to realizing it. Get this generous discount if you register before September 30, 2022. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Check out the new Modern Manager Skills Accelerator!

 

Read the related blog article: Carve a Path at Work That is Authentically You

 

KEEP UP WITH LANCE

Website: lancetanaka360.com

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Focus more time on honing your strengths rather than fixing your weaknesses.
  • The DNA “Dream N’ Achieve” process is a 90 day journey of self discovery and charting a path forward.
  • First, reflect on your strengths and passions. Then look for common themes, ideally no more than 9.
  • Drill into those elements with who/what/where/when/why questions to further clarify what matters most to you.
  • Do this DNA process as a team activity. Others often see our strengths better than we do.
  • Trying to Find your “True North” may slow you down. Instead, create a balance between all your needs by going in the right direction and adjusting over time accordingly.
  • There are three outcomes that result from following your DNA: (1) a big shift to a new company/career/city, (2) a sideways shift to a different team or role in the same company, or (3) minor shifts that lead to a major tipping point down the road.
  • Employees need purpose. When you help them find their DNA, they may leave, but they may also have greater loyalty to a workplace that enables them to shine.

mamie@mamieks.com

instagram.com/mamieks

221: Reducing and Responding to Microaggressions with Martine Kalaw13 Sep 202200:33:48

Microaggressions are harmful words and actions that stem from biases and stereotypes. They’re subconscious, meaning we may not even realize we’re being offensive or biased. The damage they inflict can be long-lasting and impact how individuals relate to us and the entire company. As managers, it's our responsibility to create a professional work environment that fosters understanding and listening, so all people can feel safe and supported at work.

Today’s guest is Martine Kalaw. Martine is an Elevation Strategist - she shifts mindsets, builds bridges & delivers results. She is the author of Illegal Among Us, experienced being an undocumented immigrant, and is a DEI Consultant.

Martine and I talk about how to confront, respond to and learn from uncomfortable DEI situations in the workplace. Maybe it’s something you said that landed the wrong way with a team member or maybe it’s something a colleague did that was insensitive or exclusionary. We talk about microaggressions and how to get smarter about your own behavior since so often we don’t even realize we’re creating harm.

Members of the Modern Manager community can get a free 60-Minute Masterclass: Advancing DEI. Scheduled for September 22, this 60-minute class will give you the top five keys to advancing DEI in your workplace over the course of 90 days. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: What To Do About Microaggressions In The Workplace

 

KEEP UP WITH MARTINE

Website: https://martinekalaw.com/

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/MartineKalawEnterprisesLLC

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martinekalaw/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/martinekalawconsulting/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/martinekalaw 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQTb6zI5m4jehE-czyT8SvQ/featured

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Microaggressions are actions or words that are unintentionally offensive, stemming from biases and stereotypes.
  • 40% of people leave their jobs due to microaggressions.
  • Microaggressions come from biases rather than personal encounters. The more diversity on the team, the fewer microaggressions. 
  • Microaggressions are diminished when there’s more than one person from that background on a team.
  • Set aside 10 minutes during 1-on-1 meetings to ask for feedback to learn if you said anything harmful or if the preson has experienced any harm. 
  • When informed of a microaggression, don’t react defensively. You don’t need to agree to be an ally. Listen to understand rather than defending your honor.
  • Engage in solutions together. Consider what could be said/done differently.
  • Ask your employee’s permission to ask follow up questions so it doesn’t feel like an interrogation. If it’s not the right time, address it at a future date.
  • Show vulnerability that you are on this DEI journey and admit your mistakes. Employees will respect you for your growth mindset. 

mamie@mamieks.com

instagram.com/mamieks

220: Methods for Robust Brainstorm Sessions06 Sep 202200:09:57

Brainstorming is a method of developing ideas in a group setting. It's used to solve problems, come up with new ideas, and generally explore possibilities. While it may seem like a simple task, there’s often much more than meets the eye when it comes to effective brainstorming. Working through various exercises helps you not only generate ideas but also deeply understand the situation you are looking at. 

Today's episode is about brainstorming. Almost every team, at some point, has a brainstorming session. While brainstorming can be as straightforward as “okay, what ideas do you have?” There are also different methods to help you make the most of your brainstorming time together, and that’s what I cover here.

The full episode guide includes lists of prompts and suggested approaches for boosting your brainstorming sessions. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community or purchase the full guide at www.themodernmanager.com/shop.  

 

Get the free mini-guide at themodernmanager.com/miniguides.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles, and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: 3 Brainstorming Strategies for Every Situation

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Separate the idea generation from idea evaluation in order to facilitate creative thinking.
  • Use the phrase “If I had a magic wand…” to help people avoid censoring their ideas based on what they think is feasible or will be viewed as “good” by their colleagues.
  • Prepare specific prompts ahead of time to help get people thinking more broadly. For example, “How might we use our space differently?” or “What 1-time changes could we make?” or “What global trends might impact us?”
  • Ask people to “wear specific hats” to get them to think from other people’s perspectives. For example, “how would Steve Jobs solve this problem?"
  • Try iterating on a single idea to see if there is a version of that idea that is more feasible or more impactful.
  • Give people time to brainstorm quietly on their own before sharing all ideas out loud. 

mamie@mamieks.com

instagram.com/mamieks

219: Motivation Through Core Values with Rob Toomey30 Aug 202200:31:29

Identifying the core values and potential motivators of your team members isn't always the easiest task. There are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to each individual personality, which makes for a delicate interpretation process. But optimizing your relationships with others comes down to understanding one thing: what on earth makes them tick?

Today’s guest is Rob Toomey. As President of TypeCoach, Rob lives at the intersection of his two passions: personality type and entrepreneurship. Working with 800 global client organizations, he has delivered live sessions to more than 50,000 participants and the TypeCoach online tools have reached more than 185,000 people. Rob is also Managing Director of The Idea Factory which is focused on early stage app and website projects.

Rob and I talk about the four temperaments - he’ll explain these better than I can in one sentence, but in essence we’re talking about the four different personality type core values and motivators. By identifying which of the four temperaments each of your team members identifies with, you’ll be able to use more effective strategies to motivate, appreciate and engage each person. 

Members of the Modern Manager community get a free Motivation and Feedback document. This will help you gain new insight into what makes people tick and how to tailor your feedback differently to each of the four temperaments for maximum impact. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: How To Motivate Your Employees Based on the 4 Temperaments

 

KEEP UP WITH ROB

Website: Typecoach.com

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Our temperament is our source of motivational energy. 
  • There are 4 Temperaments based on categories of introversion/extroversion, judgers/perceivers, thinkers/feelers, sensory/intuitive. 
  • Introversion/extroversion is whether we get energy from being alone or with others.
  • Judging/Perceiving is how we prefer structure, whether playful or decisive planning.
  • Sensory/Intuitive is how we take in and process information.
  • Thinking/Feeling is whether we approach a situation through objective analysis or considering our feelings/values.
  • The 4 Temperaments break down into Sensory Judgers, Sensory Perceivers, Intuitive Thinkers, and Intuitive Feelers.
  • SJ (Sensory Judgers) are also known as Traditionalists. Their core values are reliability and responsibility. Don’t tell them to relax. If stressed, offer to take things off their plate. 
  • SP (Sensory Perceivers) are more relaxed and playful about getting work done. Their core value is to take action and get results. Don’t micromanage SPs; they respond best to a free-spirited environment. 
  • NTs (Intuitive Thinkers) are conceptual problem solvers who love long term strategic thinking. Their core value is leaving a positive impact. Give them context for why their work matters and benefits them. Don’t question their competency. 
  • NFs ( Intuitive Feeler) are also known as The Idealists. They are future focused on new ideas, but are people and value-centered rather than analytical. NFs’ core values are helping others reach their full potential, and self actualizing in the process. Concentrate on building a strong environment of connection and belonging in the office for them to thrive.
  • To figure out your team’s temperament, ask them what their motivational force is at work. 
  • Experiment with giving teammates various feedback to see what most motivates them. 
  • Be careful to remember individual temperament needs when stressed because that’s when we revert to personal preferences. 

mamie@mamieks.com

instagram.com/mamieks

218: Facilitate Effective and Inclusive Meetings with Rae Ringel23 Aug 202200:33:09

Managers all over the world facilitate meetings every day, but how many managers facilitate meetings well? The goal of facilitating a meeting is to create a space so that everyone can participate effectively. This may not come naturally to some managers, but it’s a skill that anyone can master with the right tools.

Today’s guest is Rae Ringel. Rae is an executive coach, facilitator, author and founding President of The Ringel Group. She is a faculty member at the Georgetown University Institute for Transformational Leadership and founding director of their certificate program in the Art of Facilitation and Design. She is also a frequent columnist for Harvard Business Review.

Rae and I talk about meeting facilitation. What facilitation really is, how to do it well when meeting in person or virtually, and Rae shares a bunch of facilitation tricks and activities you can immediately use with your team to improve your meetings.

Members of the Modern Manager community get two articles Rae has authored and published in Harvard Business Review. “Please Stop Using These Phrases in Meetings” helps readers take control of their speech patterns by learning phrases that aren’t as helpful as you think. “When Do We Actually Need to Meet in Person?” helps leaders determine which factors of work can be kept virtual and which require being in-person. Get them when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: How to Facilitate an Effective Meeting

 

KEEP UP WITH RAE

Twitter: @ringelgroup

LinkedIn: @rae-ringel

Instagram: @julieraeringel

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Facilitation is creating the space in a meeting where everyone can participate.
  • It’s important to start with a planned agenda and then be flexible enough to pivot when needed. Plan the activities ahead so you can prepare any materials, e.g. polls, Miro boards, etc.
  • Virtual meetings have the potential to be more inclusive and comfortable for people. Leverage the strengths of technology to create a more inclusive meeting by using different modalities of participation.
  • Consider how you can arrange the room, or ask people to arrange their physical space, to support effective engagement.
  • Overemphasize the importance of the remote participants in a hybrid meeting. By focusing on them, you’ll boost engagement for everyone.
  • Use collaborative online tools to support more equitable engagement, even if you’re fully meeting in person.
  • Use the HIIT approach of alternating between passive and activity activities in a meeting.
  • As a facilitator, your energy is contagious. People will remember how they feel when they leave more than your specific facilitation abilities.

mamie@mamieks.com

instagram.com/mamieks

217: Plan Your Day with Ashutosh Priyadarshy16 Aug 202200:27:23

Ever feel like you don't have enough time because you're too busy working on tasks, attending meetings, and checking email? If so, you're not alone. Who has time for planning when there is so much to do?! In reality, a daily planning habit puts you in control of your schedule, workload, and productivity. 

Today’s guest is Ashutosh Priyadarshy. Ashutosh is the Co-founder and CEO of Sunsama, a daily planning assistant that helps knowledge workers stay focused and productive throughout their workdays. Ashutosh has spent most of the last decade building and launching productivity software. His goal is to build products that help us navigate our work and life mindfully and intentionally.

Ashutosh and I  talk about why daily planning is an important process, how we can use daily planning to boost productivity and feel a sense of accomplishment, and more.

Members of the Modern Manager community get an exclusive 30-day free trial of Sunsama. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: Boost Productivity with Daily Planning

 

KEEP UP WITH ASHUTOSH

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunsamahq/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sunsamaHQ

Website: https://get.sunsama.com/

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Create a daily planning habit at a time that works best for you. It doesn’t need to be at the start of your day.
  • Starting your day with a plan helps you focus on your most important tasks.
  • Bring your calendar and tasks together to get an accurate picture of how you’ll spend your time.
  • In addition to meetings and tasks, we have plenty of ‘work chores’ that need to be done every day.
  • Share your daily plan with your team to keep people informed, create accountability, and encourage yourself to plan accurately.
  • End your day with a reflection on what you accomplished to help feel fulfilled and build momentum.

mamie@mamieks.com

instagram.com/mamieks

216: Design the Optimal Team Meeting09 Aug 202200:12:51

No matter how big or small your team is, there are always things to discuss. Most managers respond by holding weekly meetings. At their best, team meetings are a forum for open and productive communication between team members. At their worst, they waste everyone’s time and energy. If your weekly meetings aren't moving your work forward and leaving people in a positive mood, it’s probably time you redesign them.

In this episode, I share practical advice that you can implement to make your weekly meetings more productive and enjoyable for everyone.

The full episode guide includes an overview of the factors to consider when designing a team meeting, along with examples of team meeting structures, formats, and prework to consider using as a model for your team. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community or purchase the full guide at www.themodernmanager.com/shop. 

 

Get the free mini-guide at themodernmanager.com/miniguides.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles, and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: Make Weekly Team Meetings Work for Your Team

 

Key Takeaways:

  • There is no right way to have a team meeting. The key is to identify your meeting objectives so that you can design the meeting to meet those needs.
  • Consider the flow of the agenda. How will you structure your time together to achieve the meeting objectives? 
  • Team meetings can be as short as 15 minutes or as long as multiple hours, as long as the time is well spent.
  • Determine what people can do to best prepare for the meeting. This could include completing a dashboard, contributing topics to discuss, or nothing at all.
  • Don’t assume a weekly meeting is necessary. Sometimes daily or monthly cadences are more appropriate.
  • Explore the format that will best meet the team’s needs. It could be in person, virtually, via Slack, or something else.
  • Regularly revisit the design of your team meetings to assess if they are still meeting the team’s needs. It’s okay to experiment with different choices in order to optimize how your team meets.

mamie@mamieks.com

215: Embrace Your Identity with Victoria Shiroma Wilson02 Aug 202200:30:03

Understanding identity is vital for managers. We all want to respect and better understand our colleagues, but in order to do that we must first understand ourselves. Identity informs how we relate to people, how we make decisions, and how we lead. 

Today’s guest is Victoria Shiroma Wilson. Victoria is a leadership development coach and consultant who partners with world-class organizations and professionals to discover their purpose, develop a powerful vision, and design a strategy toward transformation. Victoria is valued as a big-picture visionary who empowers her clients to think boldly and holistically about their future by examining cultural and systemic influences within a greater ecosystem.

Victoria and I talk about identity - what it is, which is so much more than DNA, how it informs how we show up as a leader and interpret the world, how understanding identity can help us better engage our colleagues and make decisions, and a whole lot more.

 

Members of the Modern Manager community get a free handout that offers a set of eight reflective questions around the 4 Cs of exceptional management: Confidence, Collaboration, Communication, and Culture. In addition, the first member to email mamie@mamieks.com will receive a free copy of Victoria’s upcoming book, which will be published in September. Get these bonuses when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: Understand Identity to Lead More Powerfully

 

KEEP UP WITH VICTORIA

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriashiromawilson/

Website: https://www.exceptionalfutures.com/

Email: hello@exceptionalfutures.com 

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Identity is formed through the outside in and inside out. It’s how we experience the world that informs how we perceive it and ourselves.
  • We all make assumptions about identity and what the experience of a given identity entails, but often those aren’t true because identity is intersectional and complex.
  • We can use our differences in identity if we switch from “I am” to “I see”. Instead of “I am a woman, therefore…” to “From my perspective, I see…”
  • We all develop professional identities that are developed through internalizing the company culture and how people respond to us.
  • Reflect on your own experiences to better understand their influence on your identity.
  • Identity impacts how you lead, including how you make decisions because the information and perspective we bring to a decision is based on our experiences and identity.
  • Misunderstandings can come from approaching a situation differently or with different past experiences or identities that we take for granted.

mamie@mamieks.com

instagram.com/mamieks

214: Skills for Effective Communication with Richard Newman26 Jul 202200:30:51

Both verbal and nonverbal communication are critical interpersonal skills. Listening to others, observing their reactions, speaking in a way that promotes understanding and connection, using body language—these are all essential to our leadership development. Effective leaders must know that communicating is a combination of what you say, how you say it, and how you respond to what has been said back to you.

Today’s guest is Richard Newman. Richard is the Founder of Body Talk. Over the past 22 years his team have trained over 120,000 business leaders around the world, to improve their communication and impact, including one client who gained over $1 Billion in new business in just one year, using the strategies that Richard teaches.

Richard and I talk about the unspoken parts of communication, communicating effectively remotely, keeping people engaged in a meeting or presentation, and so much more. 

Members of the Modern Manager community get a free audiobook version of Richard’s book, You Were Born to Speak. This work discusses everything he has learned in his 23-year journey, filled with practical strategies that you can apply immediately to transform your success. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: Revolutionize Your Team’s Communication With These Simple Skills

 

KEEP UP WITH RICHARD

Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richardnewmanspeaks/
Business Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ukbodytalk/
Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardnewmanspeaks/
Business LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/communicationskillstraining/

Book: You Were Born To Speak

Website: https://ukbodytalk.com/

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Communication is how we connect and build relationships. It’s a two way street of sending messages out and responding to others. 
  • Use audio/video tools for any information with an emotional or nuanced context. Too much gets lost when using text only.
  • Consider the direction and intention of your message and how you want others to feel and act afterwards. 
  • Set up your Zoom screen so that your hands are visible. Hands are underrated as communication tools.
  • The real problem isn’t Zoom Fatigue but Death By Powerpoint. Our survival brain doesn’t think the information is relevant to our lives and turns off. To combat this, use storytelling tools. 
  • Get your team involved in the drama by providing context for why you are meeting. Ask what their personal challenges are and try to resolve them through the meeting. This activates their brain to feel invested.
  • The people in the meeting - not the manager- are the heroes in the story. 
  • Build up your team’s confidence in their communication skills by giving them opportunities to practice and providing positive feedback.

mamie@mamieks.com

instagram.com/mamieks

213: Planning Your Week with Demir Bently19 Jul 202200:33:29

Be honest with yourself for a moment: Are you managing your time and tasks well? Do you have a weekly planning routine that helps ensure you’re focused on your most important work? Sometimes, just a few simple changes to your planning can help you find more freedom and fulfillment in your work.

Today’s guest is Demir Bentley. Demir teaches hard-hitting efficiency techniques and proven accountability strategies that have helped clients generate millions in revenue while saving thousands of hours. In the past eight years, he’s helped more than 50,000 professionals, including executives from Facebook, Google, Uber and PepsiCo – helping them prevent burnout and create more freedom in their lives. And, Demir’s advice has been highlighted in Forbes, Bloomberg, Entrepreneur and more.

Demir and I talk about the #1 routine you should do every week to exponentially improve your productivity…the weekly planning session. We get into how to do it, when to do it, and what makes it so powerful.

Members of the Modern Manager community have a chance to get 1 of 20 free Kindle versions of Demir’s book, “Winning the Week”. In this book, Demir and Carey Bentley reveal their five-step method that radically reimagines how you plan and execute your week. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: 5 Steps to a Productive Week

 

KEEP UP WITH DEMIR

Website: lifehackmethod.com

Book: winningtheweek.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/lifehackbootcamp

Instagram: http://instagram.com/demirandcarey

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/demirandcarey

 

Key Takeaways:

  • There are hundreds of productivity tips, tools, practices, habits, routines. Instead of trying to do them all or sift through to find the best one for yourself, start with the fundamentals of planning your week.
  • Everyone knows about weekly planning but few people do it correctly, and most people don’t do it at all.
  • To plan your week, start by removing the frictions or increasing your motivation to spend 30 minutes on the planning process.
  • Follow these five steps: learn from how you worked last week, find one leveraged priority to include this next week, interrogate your calendar to surface issues, prioritize your to do list, add tasks to your calendar to ensure you’ve scheduled time to complete the important work.
  • It is essential to know what you want to accomplish in order to be productive. 
  • You can improve your personal productivity habits and routines, as well as increase productivity through automation, technology, and delegation.
  • All of your productivity approaches should support your desired lifestyle, helping you live the life you desire.

 

mamie@mamieks.com

instagram.com/mamieks

310: How to Get Through A Stressful Conversation with Candice Elliott11 Jun 202400:27:51

Dealing with stressful conversations is never easy; whether you’re telling a client the project is delayed or relaying a bad performance review to a team member. But as managers, we can’t just avoid these conversations.


Putting them off may protect us from our vulnerabilities, but they actually get in the way of having authentic and productive conversations with our teams.


So, how do we navigate the emotional rollercoaster of a stressful conversation? How do we make sure they actually lead to something positive? Today’s guest will walk us through how we can engage in difficult conversations most productively.


Joining me today is Candice Elliott. Candice is a Fractional CHRO and HR Mentor for business and non-profit leaders. She focuses on the intersection of public health, organizational and community development, helping leaders foster cultures of healing where they and their teams can thrive. 


In this episode, Candice walks us through the four Fs of stress responses. She also discusses the importance of creating a safe work environment through trust and relationship-building, plus helpful physical techniques to release stress and much more.


Join the conversation now!


Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Conversation Topics

  • (00:00) Intro
  • (01:58) The four Fs of stress responses
  • (05:43) Helpful tips to keep your stress response from sabotaging your conversations
  • (08:48) Is taking a break advisable when in a stressful conversation?
  • (13:06) What does a freeze response look like, and how to manage it?
  • (18:16) The importance of building trust and meaningful relationships
  • (24:17) Physical techniques to release stress
  • (25:06) A great manager Candice has worked for
  • (26:21) Keep up with Candice
  • (27:32) [Extended Episode Only] What to do when someone you’re speaking with becomes defensive?
  • (34:57) [Extended Episode Only] How to handle difficult conversations in a team setting


Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here 

- Visit my website for more here

- Build your team’s skills here


Keep up with Candice Elliott


- Follow Candice on Instagram and LinkedIn

- Visit her website for more information here


Free 45-Minute Burnout Buster Consult


Candice is offering members of Podcast+ a free Burnout Buster Consult. During this 45-minute session, you’ll identify the most impactful next step you can take toward preventing burnout for you and your team.


To get these guest bonuses and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.


---------------------


The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.


Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!


212: Prepare for Vacation Time Out of the Office12 Jul 202200:10:32

Vacation time is so important. We know there are a myriad of health benefits that come from taking time away from work. I also know how anxiety producing it can be to worry about your team or projects while you're away or stress over returning to an overflowing inbox and build-up of tasks, which can negate some of the health benefits and enjoyment of your time off. So what can you do to make your vacation time as rejuvenating as possible?

Today's episode is about preparing to be out for vacation. I walk through 5 approaches to consider to help you prepare to be out of the office and make your time away and re-entry as smooth as possible.

The full episode guide includes an overview of these principles plus tips for communicating tasks and responsibilities effectively to your team members so that there's no confusion. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community or purchase the full guide at www.themodernmanager.com/shop.  

 

Get the free mini-guide at themodernmanager.com/miniguides.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles, and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: How to Effectively Prepare Yourself and Your Team for Vacation Time

  

Key Takeaways:

  • Taking vacations provides essential health benefits. Prepare well to minimize worrying about your team/work while away. 
  • Create a shared vacation calendar to coordinate time off, except for holiday times, to ensure multiple people aren’t out at the same time. 
  • Prep at least two weeks ahead of time so you can get organized and ensure everyone knows their responsibilities. Consult prior to-do lists to keep track of expected tasks. 
  • Document processes for tasks while doing them rather than by memory. Record the screen while narrating to ensure you’ve included all essential and accurate information.  
  • Consider what you’ll do ahead of time, what you’ll delay, what you’ll hand off, and what you’ll do while out.
  • Determine how much you want staff to be able to contact you while out of the office and via what tools. 
  • Consider which tasks might be a growth opportunity for certain colleagues. Make sure people are on board and confident with their new temporary roles. 
  • When returning to work, don’t try to do everything on Day 1. Schedule follow-up meetings and block time on your to ease back in.
  • Ask staff to prepare a document recapping key activities, decisions, and takeaways from while you were gone. 

mamie@mamieks.com

211: Crush Your To-Do List with Mark J. Silverman05 Jul 202200:30:37

Does it ever seem like your tasks just keep piling no matter how busy you are? As managers, it’s crucial that we’re able to follow through on our tasks and responsibilities so we can take care of our businesses and people. But in order to do that, we must have the right tools and mindset to organize and prioritize our daily work.   

Today’s guest is Mark J. Silverman. Mark is an executive coach, author, and podcast host. He works with leaders and their teams around the world, to address the underlying behaviors and mindsets that sabotage all “time management” and “productivity tools”.

Mark and I talk about prioritization through the lens of getting the right things done at the right time. We explore the concepts from his book Only 10s: Confront Your To-Do List, Transform Your Life and how to stay focused on what matters most even when you’ve got external pressures that make it feel impossible.

Members of the Modern Manager community get access to a specialized web page for the Modern Manager Community. This page includes nine video modules on topics including difficult conversations, dealing with distractions, and energy mastery. Many of the modules include a “Taking Action Worksheet.” This page also includes a link you can use to schedule a follow-up meeting with Mark. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles, transcripts and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: Be The Master Of Your To Do List Every Day

 

KEEP UP WITH MARK

Website: https://www.markjsilverman.com

Instagram: @markjsilverman

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.silverman.54

Twitter: @mjaysilverman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark22102/

 

Key Takeaways:

  • 10s are the things that have to be done, today, only by you.
  • The only thing we own in life is our time and attention. Our 10s reflect our deepest values and priorities. 
  • When we are afraid to upset others by saying no, we end up overloaded and unable to prioritize our most important tasks. 
  • When delegating work, we need to teach others to meet our standards. Set up agreements for how the work will get done and what success looks like. 
  • Give feedback for subpar work instead of doing it yourself. 
  • A boss may assign too much work to the point where you’re unable to meet their goals. Say no through affirmative statements like “I want to help get things done but I need more resources.”
  • The 3 stages of setting a boundary are through (1) anger, when you’ve reached a breaking point, (2) explaining, or making excuses for why you can’t do it, and (3) strength and love, when you own your choices.
  • While some who relied on you as a crutch may leave your life, others will shift and appreciate your change. 
  • The first things to delegate are tasks that are administrative or require your greatest weaknesses to get done. Have a plan for who you will hire when you reach a certain level. 
  • Make an Only 10s to-do list each day. If you discover you’ve got a task that rolls over to the next day, consider why it didn’t get done and what systems you need in place to keep this from happening in the future.

mamie@mamieks.com

instagram.com/mamieks

210: Leading with Authenticity with Sabrina Horn28 Jun 202200:29:10

Authenticity at work requires being true to yourself. However, this can be a difficult feat for managers. We often step into the management position believing there is a certain way we must speak and act, or certain knowledge we should now possess simply because we’re leading others, but research shows people respond more favorably to managers who are their true selves. How can managers fulfill their role while being true to their personalities, capabilities, and limitations?

Today’s guest is Sabrina Horn. Sabrina is an award-winning CEO, author, communications expert, and advisor. Her career is highlighted by 25 years as Founder, CEO, and President of Horn Group, the iconic U.S. tech communications agency she founded in Silicon Valley at age 29. She is currently CEO of HORN Strategy, focused on helping entrepreneurs navigate the early stages of their companies. She is here today to talk with us about her new book, Make It, Don’t Fake It: Leading with Authenticity for Real Business Success.

Sabrina and I talk about imposter syndrome, how to be appropriately authentic, how to overcome your inner critic's fears by acting ‘as if’ and more strategies for being real and amazing at work.

Members of the Modern Manager community can get one of five signed copies of Sabrina’s book, Make It, Don’t Fake It. This book offers executives concrete advice on what to do when faced with everyday challenges and big dilemmas, so leaders can make the right decisions and build durable businesses. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: Overcome Imposter Syndrome and Lead with Authenticity

 

KEEP UP WITH SABRINA

Website: https://www.sabrinahorn.com

Book: Make It, Don’t Fake It

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinahorn/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sabrinahorn

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sabrinahorn/

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Being inauthentic is unsustainable. Even though it’s hard to face the truth, it's harder in the long-run to hide from it.
  • There are multiple levels of “faking it” that range from innocent white lies, to exaggerating the truth, to lies of omission, to full on fakery.
  • Even small lies often lead to more, bigger lies because we become afraid to let the truth come out. 
  • Imposter syndrome is when you underestimate yourself given your prior accomplishments. While you may feel like you’re faking it, you’re not.
  • The majority of overachievers feel imposter syndrome, but women and minorities experience it more frequently.
  • Acting “as if” you had the confidence (not experience or knowledge) needed for the situation can be a great way to overcome imposter syndrome.
  • Write down a list of all your accomplishments to help you objectively see your own greatness.
  • Imagine what behaviors someone who was successful would do. Then do these behaviors or invest in developing the skills to do them.
  • Managers may have to behave in ways that feel unnatural in order to be a good manager. The key is to be fully invested in these behaviors even if they don’t feel authentic.

mamie@mamieks.com

instagram.com/mamieks

209: Master the Hiring Process with Tatiyana Cure21 Jun 202200:33:44

It's cliche, but true: Your people are your biggest asset. There's nothing more important than hiring people who are a strong fit for the job responsibilities and also align with your organization's values and mission. But recruiting the right people for your team can pose a challenge, and the hiring process can leave managers feeling exhausted.

Today’s guest is Tatiyana Cure. Tatiyana brings her extensive background as an executive recruiter and talent acquisition leader to her work of coaching managers. She has partnered with thousands of hiring managers in a wide variety of industries. She is passionate about helping managers achieve their business goals through effective talent strategies. Tatiyana wrote her first book: "Hire to Win: Manager's Practical Guide for Attracting and Interviewing Top Talent" to share a blueprint for those looking for a step-by-step guide in hiring.

We talk about the ins and outs of hiring: how to write a good job description, how to distinguish who to invite to an interview and who to pass on, how to handle reference checks, and so much more, so that you can hire the right people for your team.

10 members of the Modern Manager community get a free copy of Tatiyana’s book, Hire to Win. This step-by-step playbook accompanies managers looking to achieve better results, higher profits, and more success through the employees they hire. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: The Step by Step Guide to Hiring the Perfect Person

 

KEEP UP WITH TATIYANA

Website: https://howtowintalent.com/

Book: Hire to Win

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiyanacure/

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Build a recruiting intake process as a blueprint. Consider what goal you are trying to accomplish, why your organization is unique, and what success in the job looks like. 
  • Get to the point quickly when writing a job description. Spell out specifically what you’re looking for and what the role entails. Include the compensation range. 
  • There are four types of applicants; Blanket Folks who apply to every position, Role Players who have the skill set in place already, Stretchers who are looking to advance their career, and Head Scratchers who have taken a leave and are returning or trying a new career path. 
  • Ignore Blanket Folk resumes. Know how to pitch the job to Role Players on why you’re unique and benefit them. Interview some Stretchers and Head Scratchers as they often have hidden talents. 
  • Align with your staff on what you’re assessing in the interview process, what questions you’ll each be asking, and how you’ll be evaluating candidates' responses.
  • Involve other stakeholders in the interview process to assess technical, communication, and other skills. 
  • Set up a peer interview for the applicant to learn what a day in the life of the role is like. Show the culture in action. This minimizes the chance of any surprises once the applicant starts the job. 
  • Give time for a reverse interview, for the candidate to get all their questions answered. 
  • Discuss work styles to avoid future friction. 
  • Ask for references from people who directly reported to the person and/or managed them. Give them space to share their initial thoughts before prompting with your specific questions. 

mamie@mamieks.com

instagram.com/mamieks

208: The Personal Instruction Manual14 Jun 202200:13:41

Most people have a general idea about how their colleagues or team members work best. You may occasionally pick up a random fact about a person's personality or work style, but it's rare to have the full picture. The result: we are frustrated by our coworkers because we don’t understand them and they don’t understand us. 

Today I talk about creating a Personal Instruction Manual, or PIM for short. A PIM is a resource that describes a person’s personality and working preferences, and its purpose is to help that person’s coworkers and manager better understand and work with them. Similar to an instruction manual that comes with a new piece of hardware or software, a PIM helps people understand how to engage with someone most effectively.

The full episode guide includes a template for creating a Personal Instruction Manual. You’ll find questions for each section to help the creator capture relevant insights about themselves. In addition, I’m offering an extra bonus this week. If you are interested in having me support your team to develop Personal Instruction Manuals, I will facilitate a team coaching program centered on PIMs at a 20% discount. Get these offers when you join the Modern Manager community or purchase the full guide at www.themodernmanager.com/shop.  

 

Get the free mini-guide at themodernnmanager.com/miniguides.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: Optimize Your Working Relationships with the Personal Instruction Manual

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Don’t waste time guessing what your teammates need. Craft and share Personal Instruction Manuals to explain how each person works most effectively. 
  • Each person learns and shares their Myer Briggs profile so everyone can better understand different thinking styles and behaviors. 
  • Explain what work environment you work best in: remote/office, quiet/noisy, deep work/meeting times, and most productive times of days. 
  • Share what types of things stress you at work and what behaviors indicate that you're feeling stressed. Explain how people can best support you at these times. 
  • Describe your communication preferences: How do you like feedback? How do you deal with conflict and what makes you feel appreciated? 
  • Include a “Surprise Section” for people to share any miscellaneous things others might need to know in order to work together effectively. 
  • Before holding a PIM sharing meeting, collect and share everyone’s PIMs so people can review them beforehand.
  • When sharing, ask people to give real life examples where their personality/preference showed up in ways that worked or didn’t. 
  • Update and share new PIMs annually to adjust to people/work situations changing and professional/personal growth. 
  • Sharing PIMs is an excellent tool for onboarding new employees. 

Additional Resources:

mamie@mamieks.com

207: The Seven Paradoxes of Leadership with Sumit Gupta07 Jun 202200:30:58

We’ve all been there. We thought we knew what was best, only to find out later that what we thought we knew was wrong. Even the best manager can get lost in all the leadership advice, trying to do what’s right and still somehow failing. This is because sometimes that leadership advice is wrong.

Today’s guest is Sumit Gupta. Sumit spent 20 years in software, started 2 for-profit and 1 non-profit organizations, and is a photographer. He combines his experiences as a techie, engineer, 3x entrepreneur, and leader in companies like Yahoo and Booking.com, and as a poet and photographer – to help leaders merge the science of doing business with the art of leadership.

Sumit and I talk about the seven paradoxes of leadership. These paradoxes are concepts that shift the way we think about leadership and what it takes to be a great manager. They take the typical leadership advice and flip it on its head.

Members of the Modern Manager community get a 20% discount on Deploy Yourself, a 6-month group coaching program for leaders starting July 15 and September 15, 2022. This program will help you create better results in less time, build strong relationships, and find meaning and joy. You can get an additional 20% off the program if you register by June 20. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: What You Thought About Leading a Team is Wrong

 

KEEP UP WITH SUMIT

Podcast: https://www.deployyourself.com/podcast/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sumit4all/

Newsletter: https://www.deployyourself.com/newsletter/

Seven Paradoxes Report: https://www.deployyourself.com/7-leadership-paradoxes/

 

Key Takeaways:

  • What we believe about effective management is often the opposite. We call these paradoxes of effective leadership.
  • To build psychological safety, trust your team’s intentions and abilities from the start, rather than waiting for them to prove themselves. 
  • Don’t blindly trust. Set up the right structure of clear expectations, values and direction. Be transparent about any concerns you have so they can be addressed right away. 
  • Fear is your friend. It tells you what is at the edge of your abilities and what’s important to you. Don’t cover it with guilt for feeling that way. 
  • Leadership is power through the ability to get results, not superiority. People want to follow leaders who know how to win together.
  • We can’t force people to change. The best we can do is create the right conditions and inspire others by our own actions. 

mamie@mamieks.com

instagram.com/mamieks

206: Delegate to Elevate with Yuri Elkaim31 May 202200:32:33

When working with a team, delegation is one of the most important skills to develop. One of our main goals as managers is to unlock the potential of our people, and effective delegation enables that to happen. However, ineffective delegation can lead to frustration and inefficiencies for everyone. 

Today’s guest is Yuri Elkaim. Yuri is a former pro athlete, leading health expert, New York Times bestselling author, and the founder of Healthpreneur® where he helps health entrepreneurs, coaches, and practitioners start and scale online practices that create more income and freedom...and better results for their clients.

Yuri and I talk about creating the parameters for people to take on additional responsibility and autonomy while meeting the standards and expectations that you’ve set. We talk about creating principles, the importance of effective onboarding, and finding the balance between micromanaging and being totally hands off.

Members of the Modern Manager community get the worksheet Communication is Key, which is one lesson from Mamie’s course, The Modern Manager’s Guide to Effective Delegation. In addition, members get 90% off the full course which includes 5 modules of brief mini-lessons that help you take manageable actions to apply the learnings to your situation. It’s designed for busy managers who are ready to free their time and eliminate friction through effective delegation. Get these bonuses when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: Guide Your Team Using Organization Principles

 

KEEP UP WITH YURI

Website: https://healthpreneurgroup.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthpreneur/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yurielkaim

 

Key Takeaways:

  • To document your management approach, imagine a scene of yourself working. Consider what you say and how you interact. If you can articulate your process, you can delegate it to others. 
  • Elevate your time by delegating low level tasks below your paygrade. Maintain oversight as you delegate new tasks to ensure they are completed to your standards. 
  • Use an ‘early alignment phase’ for the first two weeks during which you closely monitor the work to make sure your team member learns the new expectations properly. Small, early misses could lead to big mistakes farther down. Be available for support if needed later on when you take a step back. 
  • Use your organization’s principles as guardrails so your team knows where they have autonomy and how to make decisions in alignment with your values. 
  • To decide on principles, consider what situations/practices bother you and create principles that are the opposite of that. 
  • Involve your team in co-creating principles. Small teams may want to consider everyone’s perspective while larger teams may focus on getting the right people involved. 

Additional Resources:

mamie@mamieks.com

instagram.com/mamieks

205: Becoming a Modern Manager with Joie Jager-Hyman24 May 202200:44:01

A modern manager is an employee’s partner. You support them, teach them, and guide them through the ups and downs of doing their work. While many new managers, and entrepreneurs are thrown into the position without training, they don’t need to flounder. With a bit of intention and determination, anyone can become a rockstar manager. 

Today’s guest is Joie Jager-Hyman. Joie is the Founder of College Prep 360, a boutique educational advisory group. She is also the author of two books on college admissions: "B+ Grades A+ College Applications" and "Fat Envelope Frenzy".

Joie and I talk about her experience of transforming into a “modern manager” and how that has impacted her personally, her team, and her business.

Members of the Modern Manager community get 10% off educational advising or college essay editing from College Prep 360. Get this bonus when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: People Management Should Be Your Top Priority

 

KEEP UP WITH JOIE:

Website: https://www.collegeprep360.com/

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Most managers and entrepreneurs never got trained to be people managers, so we have to proactively educate ourselves.
  • Strong people management is your foundation. The better you take care of your team, the better work they can do.
  • Develop team and/or company values. Together, decide what you care about and how you want to treat each other. Reference these values as often as possible in meetings, when giving feedback, etc.
  • Don’t let stress overtake your values. Being stressed is not an excuse for treating team members poorly.
  • It’s just as important to support your team as it is to please clients.
  • Invest in a coach for yourself and give your team members opportunities for professional coaching. 
  • Good people management is a learning journey. Your team members will need different things from you as they develop.

Additional Resources:

mamie@mamieks.com

204: How to Get and Stay Focused17 May 202200:15:15

We live in an age of distraction. No matter what we have to do – whether it's writing an essay, working in an office, or just going about our daily lives – we are constantly at the mercy of internal and external distractions. These attention-breakers have serious consequences on our quality of work. The good news is that with our growing knowledge of the brain and improved technology, there are specific steps we can take to increase attention and improve focus.

This week’s episode covers the difference between internal and external distractions and practical steps you can take to increase your focus. While our internal distractions are actually much more numerous than external, both can prevent people from focused work. I talk about the things you may be doing that prevent deep focus, then I give you steps you can take to mitigate distractions using short-term and long-term approaches.

The full episode guide includes the matrix of focus along with tips and suggestions for how to focus from each of the various perspectives of the matrix. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community or purchase the full guide at www.themodernmanager.com/shop.

 

Get the free mini-guide at themodernnmanager.com/miniguides.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox.

 

Read the related blog article: How to Stop Getting so Distracted and Focus

 

Key Takeaways:

  • External distractions are physical interruptions in our environment that break our focus.
  • Internal distractions come from within us, whether it’s a desire to check social media or feeling hungry.
  • 80% of all distractions we encounter are internal. Focusing better is about controlling your mind.
  • If you have too much on your mind (cognitive overload), you depress your ability to concentrate on the task at hand.
  • Humans can’t multitask (do two things at once). Instead, we task switch, which takes time to refocus.
  • Clear your physical and digital spaces from visual distractions.
  • Block out time on your calendar to get deep work done.
  • Develop ways for your team to signal when they don’t want to be interrupted (like a closed door or headphones on).
  • Build your ability to focus with meditation or breath work.
  • Use both short-term and long-term techniques to set yourself up for better focus and getting yourself back on track after an interruption.

Additional Resources:

mamie@mamieks.com

203: Cultivating Psychological Safety with Teresa Mitrovic10 May 202200:39:36

People that don't feel safe in their work can't reach their full potential. Psychological safety can make the difference between a productive and innovative workplace, and one where employees feel the need to keep their heads down. As managers, it's our responsibility to create a culture of psychological safety so our team members can communicate well, produce better results, and be their authentic selves.

Today’s guest is Teresa Mitrovic. Teresa is the founder of ORO Collective, as well as a consultant, coach, course creator, and author specializing in performance, psychological safety, and trust. In her past life as a corporate leader, when the increasing demands of senior leadership clashed with single parenthood, Teresa pivoted her career to coaching leaders. 

Teresa and I talk about psychological safety and how to foster an environment in which people speak up, give feedback, show up authentically, and act without fear. 

Members of the Modern Manager community get Teresa’s Coaching as a Manager guide. This video walk-through will help you refine the relationship you have with your team and begin the process of converting emotional tension into creative tension, while helping your team to learn, fail and continually develop with greater psychological safety. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles, and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: Foster Psychological Safety Within Your Team

 

KEEP UP WITH TERESA

Website: https://www.orocollective.space/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teresamitrovic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orocollectiveteam

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-psych-safety-project-6892397826123423744/

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Psychological safety is the feeling that you can speak up and be vulnerable in front of your boss and colleagues without fear of judgment or repercussions.
  • When we feel safe, we go into “Connect Mode” which activates the prefrontal cortex. We think creatively, expansively, and feel confident sharing our thoughts. 
  • When stressed, we go into “Protect Mode” which activates the limbic brain. We go into flight/fright/freeze and feel afraid to speak up. 
  • Have individual conversations with employees about why they are hesitating to speak. Tell them you value their opinions and ask what they would contribute to the conversation. 
  • People from different cultures build trust differently. Also, trauma experiences impact one’s ability to build trust. 
  • Pay attention to signs that employees feel unsafe. What perceived risks might they see? 
  • Deep internal conditioning of how managers and employees would act (all-knowing or obedient) may affect one’s mindset about what’s appropriate to share. 
  • Celebrate when your team speaks up, even if it’s hard to hear. Acknowledge the truth of their lived experiences. Give yourself time to digest and get back to them if you disagree. 
  • A psychologically safe environment means that all team members show respect for one another’s contributions.
  • If someone speaks in a disrespectful manner, thank them for sharing while asking them to express themselves differently. When damaging behavior is caught and corrected, people will feel safer being vulnerable. 

Additional Resources:

mamie@mamieks.com

instagram.com/mamieks

309: Proven Meeting Strategies That Boost Productivity with Yari Ising04 Jun 202400:28:58

Meetings are an important part of how we collaborate, but too often, they feel more like a waste of time rather than a productive engagement.


How often have you left a meeting feeling like you’ve lost time and momentum? Our guest has found a way to reclaim your time and make every meeting count.


Today’s guest is Yari Ising. Yari is the founder of The Ising Agency, a firm offering operations, recruiting, and admin support for stretched-thin in-house teams. With over 10 years of experience leading teams, she has seen firsthand the common blindspots that managers have, along with what employees need most from managers.


Yari reveals her “unusual” yet proven strategies and practices that have helped her team and clients improve their meetings and get more done. We explore the benefits of no-meeting days, the exit strategy, and more meetings dos and don’ts.


Join the conversation now!


Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Conversation Topics

  • (00:00) Intro
  • (01:17) The problem with having full days of meetings
  • (03:12) How to stop the cycle of endless unnecessary meetings
  • (08:33) A healthy way to implement no-meeting days
  • (10:08) Benefits of no-meeting days
  • (12:59) How to design meetings that work best for your team
  • (15:00) The graceful exit strategy
  • (19:14) How to keep your team members up-to-date when they aren’t in a meeting
  • (22:00) Meeting dos and don’ts
  • (25:20) A great manager Yari has worked for
  • (26:17) Keep up with Yari
  • (27:20) [Extended Episode Only] The essentialist approach to meetings
  • (30:19) [Extended Episode Only] Helpful tools for effective meetings


Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here 

- Visit my website for more here

- Build your team’s skills here


Keep up with Yari


- Follow Yari on LinkedIn here

- Check more of Yari’s works here


Free Workshop Handout for Optimizing Meeting Participation


Download my workshop handout for optimizing meeting participation. You’ll learn how to decide who should be engaged before, during and after a meeting, how to engage them, and how to make the shift from everyone being invited to engaging people appropriately at each stage.


To get these guest bonuses and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.


---------------------


The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.


Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!


202: Managing the Boundaries of Personal and Professional with Deborah Grayson Riegel03 May 202200:33:30

For many people, the pandemic blurred the lines between personal and professional spaces. While this had many benefits such as bringing people closer together, it also created ambiguity that is challenging for managers to navigate. How can managers best create and maintain boundaries while supporting their team members’ whole selves?

Today’s guest is Deborah Grayson Riegel. Deborah is a keynote speaker, executive coach, and consultant who has taught leadership communication for Wharton Business School, Duke Corporate Education, Columbia Business School’s Women in Leadership Program, and the Beijing International MBA Program at Peking University. She is the co-author of “Go to Help: 31 Ways to Offer, Ask for, and Accept Help” and "Overcoming Overthinking: 36 Ways to Tame Anxiety for Work, School, and Life” — both written with her daughter Sophie, who is Junior at Duke.

Deborah and I talk about how to navigate the tricky situation of personal life bleeding into work life. We discuss setting boundaries and building relationships as well as how to support someone who is struggling in their personal life and what to do when it starts impacting their performance at work.

 

Get Deborah’s guide How To Have A C.A.L.M.E.R. Conversation About Mental Health At Work. This guide includes an overview of the C.A.L.M.E.R. approach that makes these difficult conversations easier for both parties. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community.

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: How to Take Care of Stressed Out Employees

 

KEEP UP WITH DEBORAH:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahgraysonriegel/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deborahgraysonriegel

Book: Go To Help 

Book: Overcoming Anything 

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Be intentional and explicit about setting personal boundaries at work. Connect with each person about what feels right for them.
  • If you’re shifting from a peer to a manager role, talk abou what will change and what will stay the same about your relationship.
  • Follow the APGAR acronym to notice early warning signs of stress in colleagues. 
  • A= Appearance. Notice signs of stress and ask how they’re sleeping. 
  • P= Performance. Ask how they feel about their workload. 
  • G= Growth. Is there anything exciting for them at work to do? 
  • A= Affect Control. What is stressing them at work? 
  • R= Relationships. Who do they have at work/home to support them? 
  • When someone comes to you for support or to unload personal issues, switch your mindset from “What Can I Do” to “Who Do I Want To Be” in this moment. 
  • You don’t need to solve your employee’s personal problems. You are a bridge to other resources. 
  • Give your stressed employee flexibility and then ask your manager for advice on picking up the slack. Speak with your team to decide together how to handle the shift in workload. Offer the extra work as a growth opportunity to someone who might benefit from the added or expanded responsibility. 
  • Establish a timeframe about when work pace will go back to normal. Check in frequently about progress and how they’re doing. 

mamie@mamieks.com

www.instagram.com/mamieks

201: Developing a Work Ecosystem That Works for Everyone with Emily Esterly26 Apr 202200:31:28

Organizations across the globe are reconsidering how, when, and where work gets done. As offices reopen and employees desire more flexibility, now is the time for teams and organizations to design a work ecosystem that meets today's needs while setting people up for the future. 

Today’s guest is Emily Esterly. Emily has nearly 15 years of experience in roles spanning HROD, corporate strategy, economic development, workforce development, and corporate sustainability. At GOJO, her HROD and Enterprise Strategy roles have focused on advancing innovative ways of working across its highly collaborative networked organization to ensure the company stays adaptive as it grows in a highly complex and ever-changing world. Her aim is to ensure both teams and individuals at GOJO reach their full potential, thriving personally and professionally, and delivering on the company’s Purpose of Saving Lives and Making Life Better out in the world.

Emily and I talk about the new Work Ecosystem that GOJO is rolling out to address new ways of collaborating, flexible work, and bringing the organization into the future. 

Members of the Modern Manager community get a detailed diagram that explains GOJO’s work ecosystem. Get it, along with dozens of other guest bonuses and episode guides, when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: A New Work Ecosystem for the Future

 

KEEP UP WITH EMILY

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gojo-industries/

Website: www.gojo.com

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Organizations need to design a work ecosystem that combines remote and onsite workers so that people thrive and work is done effectively.
  • The four role types to consider are: mostly onsite, mostly virtual, blended weekly, and blended monthly. These roles are based on what an employee needs in order to complete their work.
  • Mostly onsite workers need access to special equipment or facilities, and spend 80% of their time in the office.
  • Mostly virtual workers spend 80% of their time working remotely.
  • Blended weekly workers need to be in the office 40-60% of their time to partake in important relationships building activities and work that needs in person collaboration or oversight. 
  • Blended monthly workers go to the office a few times a month for ‘moments that matter’ such as project kick offs and relationship building activities. 
  • Assume that meetings will always include at least one remote participant. Design meetings as hybrid from the start even if you are hoping it will be entirely in person, just to be prepared.
  • Think about what types of equipment and interactions will make the hybrid meeting a success. Consider using screens, videos, audio, and activities that will create an inclusive experience for both in person and remote participants. 
  • An effective work ecosystem begins with improving daily digital collaboration tools. Use live shared documents, chat, and survey tools rather than defaulting to meetings all the time. 
  • As you collaborate more asynchronously, you build a case for hybrid work schedules and effective remote teaming. 

 

Additional Resources:

mamie@mamieks.com

instagram.com/mamieks

200: Mamie’s Favorite Takeaways from 200 Episodes19 Apr 202200:23:54

Today I’m celebrating 200 episodes. This feels like a major accomplishment. When I launched the show in May 2018, just getting to 10 episodes felt a little overwhelming. Now, looking back, I’m so proud of what I was able to do and how many managers like yourself I’ve been able to help. It’s because of you that I create this show week after week.

For this special 200th episode, I looked back over the guest episodes and thought about what ideas really stood out for me. While every episode has golden nuggets, I chose 5 key takeaways that have impacted or stayed with me in some way. I hope you find these ideas useful, but more importantly, I hope you’ll scroll back into the feed and check out older episodes even if you have already listened to them. There are some truly great conversations and solo episodes in the archive. And listening to a show for a second time helps us hear new things because we’ve grown and evolved since we first listened.

 

Get 20% off all levels of The Modern Manager annual membership. Use code CELEBRATE200 at www.themodernmanager.com/join. Offer expires on May 1, 2022.

 

The full episode guide includes details on how to take action on each learning’s next step. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community or purchase the full guide at www.themodernmanager.com/shop. 

 

Get the free mini-guide at themodernnmanager.com/miniguides.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox.

 

Read the related blog article: 5 Management Takeaways From 200 Episodes

 

Key Takeaways:

  • A heartfelt thank you to my listeners, members of The Modern Manager community and all my guests!
  • Reflection is thinking about what you could have done better. Introspection is asking yourself why you had that reaction. Use introspection to get to the root of your challenges.
  • When driving a car, an intersection dictates rules the driver obeys. A stoplight has strong control rules that reduce driver autonomy. A roundabout puts more trust and responsibility on the driver to make his own decisions. Roundabouts are more effective, safer, and cheaper.
  • Apply the stoplight / roundabout metaphor at work. Create more roundabout processes at work for an increase in motivation, critical thinking, and ownership.
  • If your reaction to an opportunity isn’t a Hell Yeah (super excited response), you’re likely best off turning it down. We can easily rationalize all the things we should do, but it’s these activities that  eat up our valuable time, often with little return.
  • Exercising new DEIB muscles is uncomfortable because of fear of doing the wrong thing. It’s okay to feel awkward or make mistakes. Model taking risks and learning from missteps. Put together a board of advisors or a single trusted individual who can give you honest feedback when you misstep.
  • Balancing on a bike is only good if you want to keep going in the same direction. To change course, you need to lean to one side and then counterbalance. Do the same with all of your responsibilities. Don’t try to do everything all at once. Choose what to focus on and go for it. Then, lean into the next when appropriate.

Additional Resources:

 

mamie@mamieks.com

Instagram: mamieks

199: How to Get Thoughtfully Fit with Darcy Luoma12 Apr 202200:34:18

Athletes train their bodies with intention. They practice their chosen activity but also take time to develop the skills needed for high performance. If our bodies benefit from both “playing the game” and “training in the gym”, why wouldn’t that same approach be true for our brains?

 

Today’s guest is Darcy Luoma. Darcy is the author of Thoughtfully Fit® and a highly sought-after coach and consultant who has worked with more than five hundred organizations in forty-eight industries to create high-performing people and teams. She balances her thriving business with raising her two energetic teenage daughters and competing in triathlons.

 

Darcy and I talk about lessons from her book Thoughtfully Fit: Your Training Plan for Life and Business Success. As you’ll hear, she uses the metaphor of being physically fit and applies it to how we think about our mental and emotional fitness so that we can be effective managers and effective humans in general.

 

Members of the Modern Manager community can win one of two available signed copies of Darcy’s book, Thoughtfully Fit: Your Training Plan for Life and Business Success. To be eligible, you must be a member. Join by visiting the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: Train Your Brain to Succeed at Work

 

KEEP UP WITH DARCY

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darcyluoma/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfullyfit
Twitter: @DarcyLuoma
Instagram: @darcyluomacoaching
LinkedIn Personal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darcyluoma/
LinkedIn Company - https://www.linkedin.com/company/darcy-luoma-coaching-&-consulting-llc
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaMLTzKl2YO5olR6V23aaXA
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/darcyluoma/
Book: Thoughtfully Fit on Amazon

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Just as athletes train to succeed, managers and employees can train to succeed at work.
  • There are six main skills to develop in order to achieve high performance in the workplace; stillness, strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, and agility. 
  • For rest, create scheduled breaks in your day to recharge and think more clearly. 
  • For strength, develop self-management techniques to shake off stress and interact positively with colleagues. 
  • For endurance, learn how to get unstuck by sticking with problems and looking for creative solutions. 
  • For flexibility, stretch yourself  to accept others how they are and work with what you have. 
  • For balance, try to align what you need with what your teammates need to reach a common goal. 
  • For agility, respond thoughtfully instead of defensively or chaotically when faced with upset colleagues or a surprising situation. 
  • Build your “core” by learning to (1) pause, (2) reflect, and (3) respond thoughtfully as issues come up. Set scheduled times during the day to do this which will help tap into this practice when you need it during a tough moment.
  • Teach your team to create boundaries and respect them. Creating times of stillness is essential so they don’t get overwhelmed and quit. 

mamie@mamieks.com

instagram.com/mamieks

198: Elevate Yourself and Your Team Through Coaching with Dr. Richard Levin05 Apr 202200:32:45

Whether you're a leader or a manager, the chances are that you occasionally (or regularly) find yourself dealing with difficult situations. Coaching is an increasingly popular way of helping people develop the skills, habits, and mindsets needed to reach their full potential by better understanding themselves, their goals, and the situations they encounter.

 

Today’s guest is Dr. Richard Levin. Richard is widely recognized as one of the first executive coaches. He is one of a half-dozen global leaders who have created and shaped the coaching profession since its inception in the 1980’s.

 

As the founder and principal of Richard Levin & Associates (the first executive coaching firm, and the first network of independent executive coaches); as co-author of the popular and powerful book Shared Purpose: Working Together to Build Strong Families and High Performance Companies; and as a founder of Boston University’s Center on Work and Family, Richard has stretched the boundaries of creativity, inclusiveness, and collaboration to build extraordinary organizations.

 

Richard and I talk about coaching - what coaching is, how it's different from therapy or advising, who should get coaching, the future of coaching, and what to do if you or a team member want coaching but your organizanization doesn't have the budget for it.

 

Members of the Modern Manager community get a resource packet that consists of CFAR’s boldest thinking on executive coaching, strategy, culture, and organizational behavior. This valuable resource includes learnings and writings of CFAR’s top leaders and has never before been available to the public. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: Executive Coaching Isn’t Just for Executives

 

KEEP UP WITH RICHARD

Website: www.cfar.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardjlevin/ 

Website Bio: https://www.cfar.com/Levin/

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Dr. Richard Levin, a psychologist by training, founded the world’s first “executive coaching firm” in the 1980’s. Since then, the field has grown exponentially.
  • Coaching helps leaders become their best selves. It can include everything from avoiding burnout to communication skills. 
  • Coaches act as thought partners to figure out solutions togethers. Experienced coaches can offer advice but the best solutions tend to come from within the client.
  • Coaches can observe managers and their teams in real time in order to get first-hand information. Nowadays they can do it virtually via Zoom.
  • Professional coaches are not just for C-Suite executives but for any employee who wants to develop. 
  • Large organizations are starting to hire coaches for each manager. This allows managers to keep confidences with their client while also working with other coaches to identify systemic issues and trends within the organization.
  • Consultants and coaches are starting to work together to make large-scale changes that uplift the entire organization.
  • Ask your manager about the possibility of working with a coach to support your growth. Be specific about what you want to develop and how coaching could enable you to better deliver results.
  • Suggest a team member work with a coach only if they can identify their areas for growth, have a desire to change, and believe in coaching as an approach.

Additional Resources:

mamie@mamieks.com

instagram.com/mamieks

197: Coordinating Synchronous and Asynchronous Communications29 Mar 202200:16:11

It seems like every day there is a new communications app or an advance in communications technology capabilities. These tools are intended to help us collaborate more effectively with our team, but they can also lead to a tangled web of information and a messy communication system. Plus, teams are exploring new ways of working as hybrid work slowly replaces fully remote teaming. Given the foundational nature of communications, intentionally designing your communication practices can elevate and streamline your effectiveness.

 

Today's episode is about synchronous and asynchronous communication. In short, synchronous means we’re all physically present at the same time. Asynchronous means each person is communicating independently of others’ timing. Communication is at the heart of how people work together, so getting the right tools, processes, and norms in place for your team to facilitate effective synchronous and asynchronous communication is essential. I’ll share 3 key principles to consider when designing how your team will use its various communication modes, and then I’ll walk through the approach to create a communication guide so your team can get aligned on how you’ll communicate and document it for future reference. 

 

The full episode guide includes more details on the process and principles along with my thoughts on which synchronous and asynchronous practices are most effective for what types of activities and why. I also include some of my favorite tools in case you’re looking to add some to your toolbox and want a short list to start with. Get the episode guide when you join the Modern Manager community or purchase the full guide at www.themodernmanager.com/shop.  

 

Get the free mini-guide at themodernnmanager.com/miniguides.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: Harmonize Synchronous and Asynchronous Communications 

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Synchronous communication is being present at the same time together (i.e. a meeting). Asynchronous communication is independent of others' timing.
  • The fewer the tools your team uses to communicate, the better. The goal is to identify the right communication method and use the simplest tools with minimal overlap. 
  • Create templates to streamline everything from meetings and agendas to email subject lines. 
  • Experiment with trying asynchronous communications first until it’s no longer working. Think of meetings as a last resort rather than a starting point, except for relationship building and discussing sensitive topics. 
  • When making a Communications Guide, start by discussing with your team why it’s important and what you hope to achieve by clarifying the communication norms.
  • Explore what’s working and what’s breaking down in terms of communication in order to identify what practices and tools to keep and what new to try. 
  • Make preliminary decisions for new communication approaches and follow through on them. Check in weekly as a team to see how it’s working and adjust as needed. 

Additional Resources:

mamie@mamieks.com

instagram.com/mamieks

196: Improve Performance by Improving Executive Functioning with Michael Delman22 Mar 202200:39:06

How we go about our work can make or break our productivity and effectiveness. The ability to meet deadlines, stay calm under pressure, develop a project plan and focus on a task without checking email every five minutes are all part of the skillset known as executive functioning. While this part of our brain develops throughout childhood, many of us still struggle with executive functioning as adults. Luckily, like any skill, we can develop them.

 

Today’s guest is Michael Delman. Michael is the CEO of Beyond BookSmart and WorkSmart Coaching. Author, Executive Function Coach, and School Founder, his career has been centered for three decades on helping people become more effective.

 

Michael and I talk about the four groups of executive functioning skills, how these show up in the workplace, what you can do to better perform in your role and how to better engage with your team using executive functioning strategies.

 

Members of the Modern Manager community get $100 off their executive functioning coaching membership or a staff training engagement. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community at the Sprout level or above.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: Learn The Art Of Self-Management

 

KEEP UP WITH MICHAEL

Website for kids: https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/

Website for adults: https://www.worksmartcoaching.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beyondbooksmart

Book: You're Kid's Gonna Be Okay: Building the Executive Function Skills Your Child Needs in the Age of Attention

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Executive functioning skills are habits for self-management. They can be broken down into four categories, known as COPS. Calm, Organize, Plan and Prioritize, Start and Stay focused.
  • The prefrontal cortex doesn’t function well under stress. Prepare adequately to reduce stress buildup. Use breathing techniques to calm down your emotions. Use cognitive thinking tricks like having perspective to see the big picture, to take the pressure off. 
  • Organization includes the elements of STOP; Space, Time, Objects, and People. 
  • Consider how to set up your environment to help you be most effective. Allot yourself enough time to accomplish projects. Have all objects you need at your disposal and put away distracting objects. Know who you can go to when stuck; whether a colleague or a website. 
  • Prioritize by deciding on the most important thing you need to get done that day. Consider what is blocking your organization or team’s success.
  • Communicate all decisions, expectations, and roles clearly to all team members. Put it in writing in a central location so everyone can refer to it.
  • When overwhelmed or procrastinating, break down large tasks into smaller ones. Set a timer for 5 minutes and start a task. 
  • When talking with a colleague about improving their executive functioning skills, normalize their difficulties by expressing that it’s common. 

Additional Resources:

mamie@mamieks.com

 

Follow me on instagram.com/mamieks

 

195: Lessons Learned From Managing People and Arranging Flowers with Elise Bernhardt15 Mar 202200:30:57

Managers know the value of team building, but not all activities are effective or right for your people. Traditional team-building activities like ropes courses, paintball games, or scavenger hunts often don’t speak to millennials or employees in other generations. They can also be competitive instead of collaborative, or require physical abilities that not everyone is capable of. Instead, managers can look for activities that are fun, accessible, and translate into productive relationships in the workplace, like floral design.

Today’s guest is Elise Bernhardt. Elise served as CEO or Executive Director of multiple non-profit cultural organizations during her 30 year career. She then reinvented herself as a floral designer and facilitator which combined her passion for flowers and bringing people together through her flower design workshops.

Elise and I talk about the lessons she’s learned from years of leading people and organizations of different sizes, as well as her unusual approach to team building that includes flowers, and what we can learn from that process.

Three members of the Modern Manager community get a discount on Elise’s floral design workshops. Get one of these when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles, and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: How Floral Design Can Strengthen Your Team’s Relationships.

 

KEEP UP WITH ELISE

Website: www.fleurelisebkln.com

Instagram: @fleur_elise_bkln

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Many common team-building exercises can be stressful and competitive, making the experience feel less inclusive.
  • Ikebana is the Japanese art of floral design. It is considered a spiritual practice and a life skill. Flowers have also been shown to reduce blood pressure. 
  • Floral design team building workshops are non judgemental and relaxing. They create opportunities for bonding, creativity, and self-expression because there is no right answer.
  • After completion, everyone shares observations about each others’ work such as color and placement. This is different from sharing feedback on what you like or dislike, or what you think would make the arrangement better.
  • Observational dialogue shifts how people reflect and share. It is a useful tool to carry over into workplace feedback. It focuses on what you notice and conveying that in a neutral tone.
  • The best team building exercises help us see our colleagues in a new light and realize unknown qualities about them. 
  • Floral design can be done remotely. It can also be done separately and then collectively shared afterwards. 
  • You can DIY a floral design team-building workshop by getting supplies from a local grocer and looking up online videos for inspiration, if needed. The only rule is that no stems can be the same length! Consider who can facilitate during the presentation portion so that it engages everyone and follows the observation (not criticism) approach.

mamie@mamieks.com

instagram.com/mamieks

194: Build a Culture of Accountability08 Mar 202200:13:23

Accountability, when done right, isn't about exerting power or authority. It’s not about enforcing punishments or negative consequences. Instead, it’s about making sure that everyone does what they commit to doing through shared responsibility for success. Managers who do this develop strong teams with strong performance. Those who don’t do this end up with extra pressure on themselves and disengaged employees who are underperforming or unhappy in their jobs - both of which are downright unhealthy for everyone. 

 

Today's episode is about how to create a culture of accountability. Accountability often feels hard, in part because it's the thing we do when something goes wrong. Instead, you can make accountability ever-present on your team so that everyone holds themselves and each other accountable.

 

The full episode guide contains more detailed actions, questions for reflection, and worksheets to help you foster a culture of accountability with your team. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community or purchase the full guide at www.themodernmanager.com/shop.  

 

Get the free mini-guide at themodernmanager.com/miniguides.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles, and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: 5 Steps to Creating a Culture of Accountability

  

Key Takeaways:

  • Accountability at work is not an individual burden on the manager but about creating a culture of accountability that is shared by the team. 
  • Without a culture of accountability, the best workers leave and performance suffers. 
  • Articulate and model your team’s values and expected behaviors. Own your mistakes when you misstep to foster trust. 
  • People take seriously what they feel responsible for. It’s essential to connect accountability to celebrating successes and to give credit when it’s due.
  • Teammates who care about each other and feel valued by their manager don’t want to let each other down. Shared accountability means they will push each other even when the boss isn’t around. 
  • Explain why the expectations matter and how it impacts them, you, the team, and/or the organization’s success.
  • Create a safe space for your team to admit their mistakes. Encourage questions, provide support, and don’t blame when things go off track. 
  • Have organic, real-time conversations and scheduled 1-on-1s to provide positive feedback and address concerns.

 

Additional Resources:

mamie@mamieks.com

193: Navigating Change, Ambiguity and Uncertainty with Russ Linden01 Mar 202200:33:16

As managers, we have a responsibility to help our employees find stability in a time of chaos. To do this most effectively, we need to understand how the brain functions best—and most importantly, how it can go wrong. Understanding the neuroscience of change will give us unparalleled insight into managing moments of uncertainty and times of change so that our team members remain productive, engaged, and loving their work.

 

Today’s guest is Russ Linden. Russ is a management consultant, leadership instructor, and author who's worked with public and nonprofit organizations for 36 years. He specializes in change management, collaboration, and the use of influence (when formal authority won't cut it).

 

Russ and I talk about the experience of navigating change, how to better deal with ambiguity, the phenomenon called loss aversion, the relationship between change and learning, and so much more.

 

Members of the Modern Manager community at the Sprout level and above get 30% off all of Russ’s books, including his latest, Loss and Discovery: What the Torah Can Teach Us about Leading Change. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox.

 

Read the related blog article: How Managers Can Create Stability In Unpredictable Times

 

KEEP UP WITH RUSS:

Website: www.loss-discovery.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/russ.linden.9/ 

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Our brains are wired to perceive a lack of control, predictability, and certainty as threats.
  • Create stability for your team by building steady, predictable relationships.  Be an honest, trustworthy leader they can depend on. 
  • Define and implement your company’s core values so your team knows what to expect and how the organization operates. 
  • Loss aversion is the brain’s way of avoiding the pain of loss which is stronger than the desire for winning.
  • Honestly address the potential losses that arise with any change. Give your employees space to mourn these losses.
  • Our brains continue growing new cells and neural pathways throughout our life, called neuroplasticity.
  • Shrink the overwhelm of change by reminding your team what’s not changing. Assure them that the changes are not their fault and compliment them on their past work.
  • People value what they make themselves, the IKEA Effect. Give them choices so they feel more a sense of control over the changes.
  • Build on your team’s strength while minimizing weaknesses, so they don’t lose their sense of competency.

Additional Resources:

mamie@mamieks.com

308: 3 Cs to Building a Winning Team with James Scouller28 May 202400:38:14

Teamwork makes the dream work. But does it?


Most of us believe that being a team means nurturing teamwork, embracing camaraderie, and supporting each other emotionally. However, these factors, although very important, aren't essential for every type of team. Today’s guest will unpack what makes a team and how to build a strong one.


Meet James Scouller. James is an executive coach, thought leader, former CEO, and expert in building teams. He is also the author of the trilogy How to Build Winning Teams Again and Again and Again, the first series of handbooks to explain the psychology, principles, and road maps behind team success.


Known for his expertise in leadership and team dynamics, James discusses what truly defines a team, highlighting his 3 Cs model–Commit, Combust, Combine–and how it builds winning teams. 


He also provides real-world examples of different types of teams at work, explains how managers can support their teams through the stages of effective team formation, emphasizes the importance of trust and clear unifying goals, and much more.


Join the conversation now!


Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Conversation Topics

  • (00:00) Intro
  • (01:26) What makes a team?
  • (02:18) Pseudo teams vs. performance teams
  • (07:47) What does a “real” team look like in the workplace?
  • (11:24) Determining the right type of team for your work
  • (16:44) Building a winning team using the 3 Cs
  • (30:16) How to encourage people to prioritize the team first over personal needs
  • (32:12) A great manager James has worked for
  • (35:09) Keep up with James
  • (36:43) [Extended Episode Only] The dual forces concept and how it disrupts team formation
  • (42:43) [Extended Episode Only] Tips for helping team members with their mindset and behavioral shift
  • (44:39) [Extended Episode Only] How to craft a positive narrative for your team


Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here 

- Visit my website for more here

- Build your team’s skills here


Keep up with James


- Follow James on LinkedIn and Twitter

- Grab a copy of his book here

- Visit Leadership Mastery Suite here


3 Exclusive Bonuses For Podcast+ Members


James is providing 3 amazing bonuses to members of Podcast+:

  • A PDF download of his “Rapid Team Rater” tool, which lets you assess your team within 10-15 minutes using a framework based on the Seven Principles team building model. 
  • An entire folder consisting of James’ sophisticated suite of tools called “Team Fixer”. The tools help you figure out your team’s top psychological issue and then zero in on the actions you’ll need to apply.
  • A free hour of consultation with James, where you can use the Rapid Team Rater tool to discuss the specifics of your team.

To get these guest bonuses and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.


---------------------


The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.


Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!


192: Unleash Your Brain’s Potential with Collin Jewett22 Feb 202200:34:57

The brain is an amazing thing. Its capacity to learn is almost endless. But too often the process of learning can feel boring, difficult, stressful, and even painful. In order for the brain to retain what we’ve learned, we need to deploy the right strategies. These simple approaches make learning efficient and enjoyable. 

Today’s guest is Collin Jewett. Collin is an industrial engineer, author, coach, and adventurer. He loves helping others rediscover the joy of learning and partnering with their brains to unlock limitless memory, boundless creativity, and unshakeable focus.

Collin and I  talk about the process of learning, how to remember better, the relationship between learning and creativity, and so much more.

Members of the Modern Manager community get access to Collin’s 7-part video series titled “Unlock your 3 Brain States” to help you discover the 3 critical brain states and unlock hyperfocus and endless creative potential. Get this guest bonus and dozens more when you join the Modern Manager community.

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: Unlock Your Brain’s Ability To Learn

 

KEEP UP WITH COLLIN

Website: https://curiosityjump.com/

Course: maven.com/curiosityjump/superlearner

 

 

Key Takeaways:

  • We are born with the desire to learn about the world and ourselves. 
  • Curiosity is the innate desire to ask questions.
  • Creativity is the innate desire to answer questions and solve problems.
  • Creativity isn’t a “have it or you don’t” thing. Creativity is the process of combining existing ideas in new ways.
  • Memory works by associating and comparing old knowledge with new information. 
  • Analogies and metaphors are powerful because they take new ideas and put them in a familiar context. 
  • Learning that is relevant to our lives is more enjoyable and stickier. Clarify how and why this information or skill is relevant.
  • Use the observation and visualization to get brain neurons to fire as if you were going through the motions. 
  • Use as many kinds of VARK learning methods (visual, auditory, reading/writing, kinesthetic) as possible for ultimate knowledge retention.
  • Reward and punishment don’t motivate real learning or creativity. In fact, they often result in the opposite. 

 

Additional Resources:

 

mamie@mamieks.com

191: Principles of The Leadership Blueprint with Lisa Marie Platske15 Feb 202200:35:13

It’s easy to get caught in the whirlwind of work. We can get carried along by the hundreds of things that need to get done, never stepping back to consider if it’s actually working or whether the path is even the right one. Taking time to prioritize, reflect, or set boundaries that actually get followed can feel like a luxury we just can’t afford given the fires that keep popping up, the ever-growing to-do list, and wanting to be there for our team members when they need us. But imagine what work and life could be, if we did.

 

Today’s guest is Lisa Marie Platske. Lisa Marie is an award-winning leadership expert in human behavior and recognized as one of the top 100 women making a difference in the world. She left her Federal law enforcement career after 9/11 to build Upside Thinking, Inc. She is also a member of the Forbes Coaches Council, and Lisa has trained or coached over 100,000 leaders around the globe.

 

Lisa and I talk about the Leadership Blueprint. She shared the three principles of the Leadership Blueprint which can help you up your management game and unleash your full potential as a people leader. 

 

Members of the Modern Manager community get the Influential Leadership Blueprint, a simple, step-by-step workbook that allows you to create clear next steps for your journey.

 

Get it when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: How To Become A Leader Worth Following

 

KEEP UP WITH LISA MARIE

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisamarieplatske/

Facebook business: https://www.facebook.com/UpsideThinking

Facebook personal: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.marie.platske

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Courage is more important than expertise. Courageous leadership comes from making and acting on difficult decisions.
  • Consider the knowledge and experience you have from all aspects of your life, not only professional ones. 
  • Prioritize the goals that will make the greatest impact. Decide these based on personal and/or organizational values. 
  • It’s more important to move one important thing a mile than 10 things only three steps. Set your priority goals and then reassess during the day by using SNAP at random intervals; Stop, Notice, Ask, Pause, Pray, and Pivot. 
  • Focusing on priorities leaves wiggle room for when unexpected issues arise and prevents overload. Be present by focusing on less. 
  • Discuss with your team how they can focus and prioritize. Learn what times of day are best for each person to both collaborate and work alone. 
  • We are filled with unconscious beliefs of what we “should” be doing. Examine what you really want and why it matters. Do what is right for you, not what you “should” according to other people’s ideas.
  • Be honest about what roles, responsibilities, and requirements you don’t want. Create nonnegotiables and set boundaries for what you can’t and won’t do. 
  • Discuss with your team what they do and don’t want. Be aware these may change. 

mamie@mamieks.com

190: Influencing without Authority08 Feb 202200:12:24

Influencing others is a key part of most managerial positions. Too often we conflate authority with influence. Authority is an exercise in power while influence is about encouraging people to join you in a shared mission. 

Whether it's getting a team member to change their behavior, generating buy-in from your supervisor, or getting a colleague in a different department to help out, we are often in positions where we don’t have (or don’t want to use) positional power to get what we need. This is where we rely on our ability to influence.

In this episode, I walk through 5 approaches to influencing without authority so that you can gain support in ways that both deliver results and feel good along the way.

The full episode guide includes tips and suggestions for each of the five approaches. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community or purchase the full guide at www.themodernmanager.com/shop.  

 

Get the free mini-guide at themodernnmanager.com/miniguides.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: 5 Approaches to Influencing Without Authority

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Influencing without authority happens by building relationships not through exercising power.
  • Start with curiosity. Learn who they are and what they care about. When you ask for their involvement, align your project or request with their values.
  • Figure out what barriers are stopping people from saying yes. Address concerns and find ways to help remove obstacles. Being willing to help will make a strong positive impression. 
  • Cultivate an authentic relationship before making any asks. Use the “3 Touches Before An Ask” strategy to reduce the likelihood that the person will feel they’re being used.. 
  • If you struggle with building authentic relationships, think about what someone skilled in this would do in such a situation. Then take those steps. 
  • Include others in the decision making process. People support what they help create. Listen to ideas and be open to reshaping your vision. 
  • Craft compelling personal narratives to increase interest in your cause. People give when their emotions are aroused. 

mamie@mamieks.com

189: Bridging All Sorts of Cultural Differences with Laura Kriska01 Feb 202200:34:17

It’s easy to get caught up in the “us versus them” mentality. Our brains naturally like to categorize people and then bond with those who are “on our team” while alienating those who are not. This can happen within an organization “marketing vs sales” or by identity “men vs other gender identities” or geography “London HQ vs remote team members” and many other factors. When cultural divides separate colleagues, it inhibits effective communication and collaboration. Instead, we need to find ways to bring people together that honors our cultural differences while building bridges.

 

Laura Kriska is the author of The Business of WE and a leading cross-cultural consultant with more than thirty years of experience bridging gaps in diverse workplaces. She has worked with Fortune 500 companies on four continents helping thousands of professionals build trust across Us versus Them differences based on nationality, ethnicity, race, religion, age or any factor of identity. Her WE-building framework provides practical and actionable insights for creating a more inclusive and productive world.

 

Laura and I talk about how to understand cultural differences from norms and behaviors, to mindsets, and how to bring people together across the ‘us vs them’ divide.

 

Be one of the first two members to request a free audiobook copy of The Business of We: The Proven Three-Step Process for Closing the Gap Between Us and Them in Your Workplace. This offer is available only to members of The Modern Manager. Join at themodernmanager.com/join

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: Go From “Us Vs Them” To “WE” At Work

 

KEEP UP WITH LAURA

Book: The Business of We

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurakriska_author/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraKriskaauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LauraKriska

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-kriska-0a93902a/

 

Key Takeaways:

  • When teams separate because of diverse identities, it can create divisive “insider/outsider” dynamics that break down trust and communication.
  • “Us vs Them” dynamics can show up between departments, hierarchies, and geographic locations, in addition to various individual identities.
  • Visible culture norms are things like dress or language. Invisible cultural norms are unspoken rules about how people are expected to act. These are learned through involvement in the culture. 
  • Invisible cultural norms that aren’t working for your team need to be addressed. 
  • Look at missed outcomes or HR complaints. They may point to breakdowns in cohesion amongst your team. 
  • Have open conversations with your team about what’s not working. Model self-reflection and commitment to change to encourage others to open up. 
  • Measure your level of integration with diverse groups and commit to increasing your knowledge of various cultures/backgrounds. 
  • Have everyone share a personal experience of feeling like an outsider to highlight the importance of a feeling of belonging. 
  • Those with a scarcity mindset might worry they will lose power if they bring others up. Explain how everyone benefits from greater inclusion and a “WE” culture. 

Additional Resources:

mamie@mamieks.com

188: How to Work Effectively With Freelancers with Matthew Mottola25 Jan 202200:28:05

Some managers worry that hiring a freelancer means you will have to take a leap of faith. You won’t know that person’s work ethic or professional personality. But in reality, hiring and managing a freelancer doesn’t need to be scary. Instead, it can transform your team’s work.

 

Today’s guest is Matthew Mottola. Matthew is a leader in ethically creating the remote freelance economy. He is CEO of Venture L, Author of The Human Cloud and a Forbes Contributor.

 

Matthew and I talk about working with freelancers - how the Pandemic has changed things, how to overcome common challenges of working with freelancers, and how to optimize the entire lifecycle of hiring, onboarding, collaborating and more.

 

Members of the Modern Manager community get Matthew’s Leadership Deck To Hire Freelancers and his Worksheets To Identify The Work And Hire Your First Freelancer. Get these bonuses when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: 6 Essential Things To Know About Managing Freelancers

 

KEEP UP WITH MATTHEW

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Freelancers are a good alternative to an expensive agency or hiring a full-time employee. They specialize in a specific skill set for a set amount of time. 
  • Freelancers don’t have to be temporary. If you like them, you can take them on to future projects for years to come.
  • Because they don’t feel as fearful of losing their job, freelancers may be more forthright with critical, helpful feedback about your work culture. 
  • Give freelancers feedback; everyone enjoys growth opportunities.
  • Involve them in your team; everyone benefits from a sense of belonging.
  • The number one mistake managers make with freelancers is micromanaging. They are the experts. Be honest about what you don’t know and give them space to do what they do best.
  • Begin with small projects first instead of everything at once, so you can check in early and ensure you’re on the same page. 
  • Don’t spend as much time onboarding. Build trust and teach them the culture by working together. 
  • Don’t worry if they don’t fit into the team culture. Innovation comes from the outside. Cherish their outside perspective. 
  • Let them pitch ideas. Freelancers can bypass HR red tape that often slows down salaried employees and try out new roles and ideas. 

mamie@mamieks.com

187: Continuing to Develop Inclusive Leadership Skills with Perrine Farque18 Jan 202200:31:10

Like any field, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion continues to evolve. As managers, we need to continue to grow and develop our skills. While it may seem hard to keep up with the newest concepts, it may very well be one of the most important components to being a rockstar manager now and in the future. 

 

Today’s guest is Perrine Farque. Perrine is an author, entrepreneur, keynote speaker and diversity and inclusion expert who empowers leaders to leverage diversity and inclusion as their competitive advantage. Nominated in the Top 50 Most Influential UK Tech Women, Perrine continues to be recognized for her contributions. Perrine drove the strategy at companies such as Facebook and is on a mission to make the workplace more inclusive and diverse.

 

Perrine and I talk about the experiences of feeling depreciated and rejected and what we can do to continue to develop our people management skills as the world of DEI continues to evolve. We get into the use of language, anti-bias training, and how to engage your team in the process of creating an inclusive culture so that all team members feel included and appreciated.

 

Members of the Modern Manager community get my 5 easy actions to become a more inclusive leader. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: Top Diversity Skills For A Rockstar Manager in 2022

 

KEEP UP WITH PERRINE

Personal

 

 

Business 

 

 

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Employees who feel devalued/depreciated are less productive/engaged.
  • Unconscious bias training can work when it’s part of a larger diversity, equity and inclusion program.
  • Begin explaining why D&I is important. Set goals for diversity and inclusions, and track progress.
  • Be cognizant of how you and your team use language. Use more inclusive gender terms and avoid ableist language that is insensitive to those with mental/physical disabilities. 
  • Create a greater understanding of the cultures your colleagues come from. What communication and gender dynamics are they used to? How do they like to be addressed?
  • Small efforts make a big impact. Talk with your team about why D&I matters to you personally. Create a slack channel or email chain for your team to share relevant articles/podcasts/books. 
  • Address those skeptical of the benefits of increasing diversity and inclusion. Share research on how diversity leads to more innovation and success. Explore their personal story of being excluded to understand their resistance. 

Additional Resources:

mamie@mamieks.com

186: Create an Actionable Individual Development Plan11 Jan 202200:13:16

Great managers invest in growing their team members. But who is actually responsible for professional development? Surprise: it’s the individual, not the manager. Organizations take a wide variety of approaches to professional development ranging from none at all to reserving Individual Development Plans (IDPs) for only high potentials or those struggling the most. So where does that leave everyone else?

 

This episode is all about taking control over your individual development plan. I walk through the process of crafting an IDP for yourself and how to work with your team members so they can own their professional growth.

 

The full episode guide includes a detailed process for developing an IDP as well as how to work with your team members to create and manage their IDP. It also includes the template I use with my clients for documenting and tracking goals, measures of success and actions. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community or purchase the full guide at www.themodernmanager.com/shop.  

 

Get the free mini-guide at themodernnmanager.com/miniguides.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: Own Your Professional Development

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Individual Development Plans work for short and long term goals. 
  • Make goals based on where you want to be in the future or what you need to feel more satisfied at work. 
  • Figure out what knowledge, behavioral skills, or real life experience will help you achieve your goals.
  • Get feedback from colleagues about what could help you succeed. 
  • Consider what measures of success would mean you’ve achieved your dreams. These are either externally-based from a colleague or through passing a test or internally-based on your sense of achievement. 
  • Keep between 1-3 goals at a time. One goal often feels too slow and more than 3 goals can be distracting.
  • IDPs are living documents that should be revised and updated. Check in monthly to update actions taken, measure goals, and add new ones.
  • Your teammates need to take ownership of their success and make their own IDPs.
  • Brainstorm with your team about their goals and offer them feedback, accountability, and securing funds for these goals. 

mamie@mamieks.com

185: How to Avoid the Great Resignation with Christine Comaford04 Jan 202200:30:30

The summer of 2021 saw a staggering increase in resignations and the trend has remained. Management professor Anthony Klotz called this phenomenon the "Great Resignation." In response to the pandemic, people are rethinking their job, career, and lifestyle. What can we do, as managers, to keep our best people from leaving us?

 

Today’s guest is Christine Comaford. Christine is a Leadership and Culture Coach, Serial Entrepreneur, and New York Times bestselling author. For over 30 years Christine has helped leaders navigate growth and change. She specializes in applied neuroscience, which helps her clients achieve tremendous results in record time. As an entrepreneur she built and sold five companies with an average ROI of 700%, and she was a software engineer in the early days of Microsoft and Apple. Christine is a human behavior expert, a leadership columnist for Forbes.com, and the New York Times bestselling author of Power Your Tribe, SmartTribes, and Rules for Renegades.

 

Christine and I talk about this great migration that is happening and how to get your people to stay, how to help them know how to succeed and developing them in meaningful ways, how to conduct a “stay interview”, and more.

 

Christine is offering Members of the Modern Manager community her Leadership Tools Infographic and a discount for Coaching. Get both of these guest bonuses when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: How to Conduct “Stay Interviews”

 

KEEP UP WITH CHRISTINE:

 

 

 

Key Takeaways:

  • In response to the pandemic, many people are questioning what they want out of their job, career and life in general.We’re at a moment where you should assume everyone is looking for better job offers.
  • Don’t wait until the exit interview to find out what you could have done differently. Instead, conduct Stay Interviews to keep your staff and learn what they want. 
  • Do Stay Interviews on a quarterly basis to find out what employees love/dread about their work and what they want changed. 
  • Employees want opportunities to grow at work. Work with each person on their Individual Development Plan to guide their professional growth and track progress. 
  • Chart how an employee shows up at work by using a system like Leadership Levels. Use this system to develop a common language of expectations and goals. 
  • Have employees self-assess themselves, and discuss any inconsistencies with how you view them.
  • If an employee has another offer with better pay, discuss with them the pros and cons of the offer. Provide all the ways you offer benefits beyond compensation so the employee has a clear idea of everything you offer. This way, they can make a fully informed decision.  
  • The decision to leave is not solely for better pay. Help guide them through a decision that will best benefit their life. Sometimes this means helping them move on from this role. 

Additional Resources:

mamie@mamieks.com

184: Embrace a Velocity Mindset with Ron Karr21 Dec 202100:29:07

What do you think of when you hear the word velocity? Speed? Direction? While we’re busy running quickly from one thing to another, it's important that we always have a clear vision for where we’re headed. Working effectively isn’t just about getting to the future quickly. It’s knowing where you’re going so that your speed is meaningful. 

 

Today’s guest is Ron Karr. Ron has worked with leaders on six continents to eliminate risk, gain buy-in and achieve better results faster with the Velocity Mindset®. His presentations and advisory services have generated over a billion dollars in incremental revenues for his clients. Ron is the author of five books including his latest, The Velocity Mindset® and the bestselling Lead, Sell or Get Out of the Way. Ron facilitates the Chief Revenue Officer Mastermind Group made up of CEO's and VP's building high-performance sales cultures.

 

Ron and I talk about lessons from his book Velocity Mindset. We talk about getting clarity, asking questions, engaging your team in the process, the importance of pausing and a whole lot more.

 

Members of the Modern Manager community can get one of three available audiobooks of The Velocity Mindset - How Leaders Eliminate Risk, Gain Buy-In, and Achieve Better Results-Faster!. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: Embrace a Velocity Mindset with Your Team

 

KEEP UP WITH RON

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rokarr/

Youtube: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ronkarr1

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronkarr/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ronkarr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ronkarr1

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Velocity, in physics, is multiplying speed with direction. In business, that means we need to have a purpose and a destination or else moving at high speeds will lead to burn out. 
  • Instead of being tethered to old ideas, think about where you really want to go and envision a bold future. 
  • You don’t need to be able to map out how you’re going to get there. Ruminate on ideas, ask questions, collect information, and experiment as you go. 
  • Involve your team in co-creating the plan. Ask them to brainstorm ideas, strategies, and for getting to the goal as well as question-storm to identify questions that need to be answered in order to move forward.
  • Get buy-in by learning what each person on your team values. State the goal in context with what’s important to them. 
  • Learn the ‘art of the pause’ by making time to stop and consider what’s not working. Set personal meetings with yourself and team meetings to reflect and recommit to future actions. 
  • Starting with what’s not working in team meetings will lead to blaming and negativity. Instead, begin with what you want, where you are, what’s working and what you could do differently to reach your goal.

 

Additional Resources:

mamie@mamieks.com

183: Use Your Most Powerful Voice with Judy Weinman14 Dec 202100:30:11

Your voice is the most powerful tool you own! When you are confident in who you are and grounded in what you’re saying, the words flow with ease. But sometimes, without noticing, our voice betrays us. If we ignore how we speak, we may be undermining the message we’re trying so to hard to convey.

 

Now, today’s guest is Judith Weinman. Judy is a speech, voice, and communications trainer who helps individuals and corporations cultivate personal and professional communication skills so that they function most optimally.

 

She has provided individual and group programs to companies including Bloomberg, IBM, Ernst & Young, NYU Business School, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Bank of China, the U.N., and others. She has a background in speech/language pathology and also offers workshops that focus on empowering women's voices, non-native English speakers, and neurolinguistically diverse communicators.

 

Judy and I talk about how to use your voice to more effectively communicate, including how to be more conscious of your voice, bring greater authenticity into your voice, and demonstrate greater executive presence through voice. 

 

Members of the Modern Manager community can get one of three available voice coaching sessions with Judy.  Become a member by joining the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: Why Your Speaking Style Might Be Limiting You At Work

 

KEEP UP WITH JUDY

Website: https://www.accentjweinman.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judith-weinman-2625ab5b/

 

Key Takeaways:

  • The voice should be grounded in the body for it to sound authentic and trustworthy. 
  • Breathing opens up constrictions in the body, making the person sound more relaxed. 
  • Keep your throat open when you speak. People often speak from the throat instead of the chest, making their voice sound strained or weak.
  • Tone is primal and powerful; we hear tone before understanding words and therefore instinctually pick up meaning from it. 
  • To become aware of your tone, listen to feedback and notice how people respond to you. 
  • Develop a flexibility of voice to use in different circumstances. Explore how your voice can sound supportive vs directive.
  • Humans think in phrases and clauses not perfect sentences. Pace yourself and breathe as you speak giving you time to craft your thoughts into words. 
  • When we’re nervous, we make ourselves smaller. Open up your chest rather than caving in. 
  • Be supportive by telling your team you believe in their potential while trying to build their communication skills. 

mamie@mamieks.com

307: How to Make the Transition Into a Manager Role with Eric Girard21 May 202400:36:00

Do you feel overwhelmed as you step into your first management role?


Climbing up the corporate ladder can be exciting, but research shows that transitioning from an individual contributor into a manager role is one of the most challenging and stressful periods in a person’s career.


Many new managers don’t easily make the psychological transition from an individual contributor paid to perform tasks to a manager entrusted with achieving results through others’ efforts. But that’s exactly what we need to do.


Meet Eric Girard. Eric is the CEO of Girard Training Solutions and the author of Lead Like a Pro: The Essential Guide for New Managers. He has over 30 years of experience helping improve the performance of managers and employees. He specializes in the development of new managers, focusing on their successful transition to their new role and on their team management skills.


Eric and I talk about the key skills and mindset shift that new and not-so-new managers need to succeed in building a strong, thriving team. 


Join the conversation now!

Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Conversation Topics

  • (00:00) Intro
  • (01:53) Biggest challenges new managers run into
  • (03:31) What’s the job of a manager?
  • (06:28) How to coach someone to navigate their own challenges
  • (08:46) Why managers need to learn to delegate
  • (11:10) How new managers can build trust with their team
  • (17:35) The four different stages of team formation
  • (20:35) Tips and tricks for navigating through all the four stages of team formation
  • (25:00) How managers can help their team members work through times of change
  • (30:05) A great manager Eric has worked for
  • (33:50) Keep up with Eric
  • (34:43) [EXTENDED EPISODE ONLY] A new way of using the SWOT analysis to help yourself and your team become better
  • (40:32) [EXTENDED EPISODE ONLY] How to effectively set goals as a team 


Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here 

- Visit my website for more here


Keep up with Eric:


- Follow Eric on LinkedIn here

- Join Eric’s Lead Like a Pro Workshop here

- Grab a copy of his book, Lead Like a Pro here
- Build your team’s skills here


Giveaway: 4 Copies of “Lead Like a Pro”


Eric is giving away 4 signed copies of his book, Lead Like a Pro: An Essential Guide For New Managers. This book is your roadmap to becoming a successful manager people will want to work with. As Eric explains, anyone who wants to thrive in a new management position, get the most from their teams, and contribute to their organization’s success must transform themselves from an individual contributor who can manage tasks into someone who’s great at managing people.


To get this guest bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.


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The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.


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182: Improve Your Executive Functioning Skills07 Dec 202100:14:51

Executive functioning is a set of cognitive skills that help us manage time, plan, prioritize, initiate and complete tasks, regulate emotions, and resist distractions. These skills impact how we perform at work and in life – it’s the foundation of self-management. 

 

This is the second of two episodes on executive functioning skills. This episode reviews strategies to improve  executive functioning skills so you can help yourself or support that colleague. The first episode (#178) explains what executive functioning skills are and how they show up in the workplace, as well as how you can assess yourself and your colleagues in each area. 

 

The full episode guide includes an overview of the process and tips from today as well as specific suggested approaches for some of the most common executive functioning challenges people struggle with at work. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community or purchase the full guide at www.themodernmanager.com/shop.  

 

Get the free mini-guide at themodernnmanager.com/miniguides.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: Improve Performance by Improving Executive Functioning Skills

  

Key Takeaways:

  • There are eleven executive functioning skills our brains use to process and decide on an action. 
  • Notice when the struggle is a combination of executive functioning skills that work together to compound a weakness.
  • Changing behavior is hard. Before trying to develop a skill, look for ways to reduce your reliance on that skill.
  • Try altering the environment in ways that minimize usage of a weaker skill.
  • Try adding motivation, both incentives or penalties, that could give you the extra push.
  • If neither of those are enough, look for ways to improve the weaker skill like finding a coach or practicing the skill.
  • Create a development plan to help you or a team member work more effectively.
  • Clarify the real problem, envision what success looks like, brainstorm solutions, decide on a plan, and track progress. 

Additional Resources:

mamie@mamieks.com

181: How to Foster Self-Directed Learning with Tom Tonkin30 Nov 202100:24:21

From a young age, much of our lives have been directed by others. Our parents, teachers, and other adults tell us what to do and how to do it. In many cultures, it’s not until adulthood that we are truly able to be self-directed, and by that point, it can be difficult for some of us to know how to show up most effectively without the constant direction from others. Yet self-direction is an important, and often underutilized, skill in today’s workplace.  

 

Today’s guest is Dr. Tom Tonkin. Tom is an award-winning researcher, author, and CEO and Founder of The Conservatory Group with 25 years of experience in corporate America under his belt. Tom’s organization provides high-touch services to business executives that want to improve themselves, their team, and their environment. Tom is also involved at an executive level in two organizations with DE&I at the forefront, SAMI and Diversity Equity Inclusion.

 

Tom and I talk about variations in how our brains work and different styles, how that impacts how we collaborate with our team members, how our brains like to learn, and a lot more.

 

Members of the Modern Manager community get the Self-Directed Learner Assessment. Updated with the latest research, this resource will help you improve your self-direction. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: How Managers Can Support More Effective Learning

 

KEEP UP WITH TOM:

 

 

 

Key Takeaways:

  • There is a spectrum of preference from completely self-directed (independent) to completely directed (dependent) when it comes to learning and managing ourselves.
  • Managers who like to command, tend to work well with people who prefer to be directed. Managers who like to be hands-off, tend to work well with people who are highly independent. 
  • Managers need to learn to work with all types of people regardless of style or preference.
  • We learn soft skills and hard skills differently because they live in different parts of the brain. 
  • When we teach soft skills of dealing with people, we need to teach through roleplaying.
  • When roleplaying, it’s important the conditions be as real as possible e.g. no psychological safety, similar context, so people can learn through real practice. 
  • Hard skills can be taught through more traditional learning methods and practice modes. 
  • If we increase our desire, initiative, persistence, and resourcefulness, we can strengthen our conative brain and  learn new skills. 

mamie@mamieks.com

180: Improving the Foundations of Management with Rachel Pacheco23 Nov 202100:29:38

For a first time manager, it can feel like a bait-and-switch: You were told you’re now a manager but what they should have said is you now have to lead meetings, give feedback, make hard decisions, manage conflict, set deadlines and hold people accountable, and about a million other things. Even for experienced managers, it can feel like we’ve never really developed all the skills needed to succeed at this part of our job. 

Today’s guest is Rachel Pacheco. Rahel is the author of Bringing Up the Boss, a faculty member at the Wharton School in the Management Department and a Start-up advisor.

Rachel and I talk about what management actually is and then we get into some of the most common areas that managers - both new and seasoned - struggle with like setting clear expectations, giving constructive feedback, and motivating team members, and what you can do to develop these skills.

Members of the Modern Manager community get 35% off Rachel’s book Bringing Up The Boss. Get the discount code when you join the Modern Manager community.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: Management Fundamentals Every Manager Should Excel In

 

KEEP UP WITH RACHEL:

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Management is the broad term for dozens of activities managers are responsible for. These activities can be categorized as (1) managing individuals, (2) managing a team collectively, and (3) managing yourself.
  • Managers who fear micromanaging end up not giving their team enough structure. 
  • Keep goals simple and few so your team can prioritize. Don’t be too goal-focused that your team forgets other important tasks. 
  • Give clear expectations for what “good” looks like. 
  • Explain the impact of what you’re doing to increase motivation and big picture thinking. 
  • Frequent feedback is one of a manager's most important jobs but we avoid it because it doesn't feel “nice”. Yet, withholding feedback harms our employees’ ability to get better, hurting their future success. 
  • Employees feel anxious without feedback because they want to know how they’re doing. 
  • We need to understand what motivates each employee, what gives them a sense of satisfaction at work. 
  • We can learn individual motivations by asking what they enjoyed in their present/past job or doing a motivation survey. 

mamie@mamieks.com

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