Jazzed About Work – Details, episodes & analysis

Today’s returning guest is Laura Hamill, an organizational psychologist who has helped many companies create environments where both employees and the business can thrive. Laura will tell us about her thought-provoking new book, The Power of Culture – Bringing values to life at work. It describes “culture” as the collective set of reasons why employees behave the way they do. Laura suggests that effective leaders support a culture that treats workers with compassion. She says improving a culture starts with spotting patterns in the way people actually behave. And she emphasizes that while culture needs to be aligned with the organization’s strategy, it is also important that cultural attributes reflect “human values,” like integrity and kindness.

For more see: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurahamill/recent-activity/all/

And: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Power-of-Culture/Laura-Hamill/The-Economist-Edge-Series/9781639367283

Have you ever wondered about the difference between dog training and dog handling? Our guest today is Kelly Lyn Marquis, a top, all-breed dog handler. She explains that “handling” involves connecting with a dog’s energy and emotions, perhaps helping the canine to feel calm or energetic. Kelly tells us about her recent book, Behind the Scenes of Best in Show: Intimate Moments with Masters, Handlers and Their Show Dogs. She describes what it takes to build a career as a handler in the competitive sport of dog shows. And she shares some of the ways dogs have taught her lessons, helping her to create her second career, as a “Canine Connection Life Coach.” Kelly says she uses canine wisdom to help dogs and people reach their highest potential. For more see: https://www.winall.us/

Today, Judge David S. Tatel describes his remarkable new book, Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice. The book, co-written with his wife, Edie Tatel, beautifully weaves together several themes: his career as a civil rights attorney, his happy family life, the challenges of becoming blind, and the freedom made possible by his guide dog, Vixen. At the same time, it describes his growing concern about courts that disregard the principles of judicial restraint. In this episode, Judge Tatel shares his inspiring story, and gives us a sense of the joy he has found throughout his busy life. He also describes some of his worries about the state of our judiciary, and urges listeners to become involved citizens, including by voting. For more see: https://www.amazon.com/Vision-Blindness-David-S-Tatel/dp/0316542024

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_S._Tatel

Navigating your career in a world that feels out of control can be daunting. In his thoughtful and clearly written book, What is Water? McKinsey consultant Kayvan Kian offers simple tips for changing your focus and remaining calm in challenging times. In this episode, Kayvan talks about how you can thrive by concentrating on those things that you actually CAN control, even when your environment feels crazy. Kayvan describes small steps you can take today to make your situation feel less overwhelming and move forward in a positive way.

We know that many workers are struggling, and a recent survey takes a deep look at the specifics of how employees how feel about their jobs. In this episode, Laura Hamill, an executive at software company Limeade, shares the results from their recent “2020 Employee Care Report.” We talk about how the pandemic is affecting stress and burnout in the workplace. And we discuss ways managers can support the well-being of their team members, and at the same time grapple with their own challenges.

Here’s a link to Limeade’s study: https://www.limeade.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2020-Employee-Care-Report.pdf?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=Release&utm_campaign=Care%20Report

The power of learning new things is the topic in this lively conversation with guest host Tom Hodson, coach Bev Jones and frequent WOUB guest Judge Gayle Williams-Byers. Your days at work are more rewarding when tasks challenge your thinking and stretch your mind. Learning activities – whether you take micro steps or deep dives -- can inspire new ideas, help you stay relevant and make your job more fun.

The topic was inspired by Kerry Hannon’s 9/2/20 New York Times article, To Build Emotional Strength, Expand Your Brand: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/02/health/resilience-learning-building-skills.html

“Organizational culture” is a hot phrase these days in leadership discussions. And Greg Besner knows all about it. He is a highly accomplished entrepreneur who has won praise for his performances as a CEO. He was an early investor in a business that talks a lot about culture – Zappos. And CultureIQ, a company that Greg created, blends research and technology to help customers to transform their businesses. In this episode, Greg will share tips from his new book: The Culture Quotient – Ten Dimensions of a High-Performance Culture.

Immediately after his college graduation in 2013, John-Mark Bolton launched a company, ClearDefense Pest Control. In just a few years, he and his co-founders have built a thriving business, with a team of over 200 people working in 8 states. Their goal is to operate nationwide. In this episode, John-Mark describes how he was “raised on commission” and learned business basics as a kid. And he describes his formula for entrepreneurial success, like building grit, routinely helping others and learning how to sell.

In two March episodes, guest host Tom Hodson talked with Bev Jones about how to build a portfolio career, as an alternative to traditional retirement. Since then, Tom has in fact retired from his leadership role at Ohio University and WOUB. While he has many interests, he’s finding the transition to be more challenging than he expected. Hear a bit of coaching in this episode, as long-time friends Bev and Tom discuss his feelings of emptiness. They talk about why a mourning period is normal, and explore smart ways for him to move forward and create a healthy, long life.

Umesh Ramakrishnan is a senior leader at Kingsley Gate Partners, a global executive search firm. And he’s a thought leader, often called upon to share insights about what it takes to rise to the top of an organization. In this episode, Umesh talks about how technology is changing the way professionals get hired. He explains why 2020 is the perfect time for organizations to invest in Diversity and Inclusion. And he offers advice on how leaders can work their way to the top of the career ladder. For more, see: https://galaxy.kingsleygate.com/web/guest/home