Lead with Levity – Details, episodes & analysis
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Lead with Levity
Heather Walker, Ph.D.
Frequency: 1 episode/14d. Total Eps: 142

Feeling the pressure? This podcast will equip you with the tools you and your team need to rise above it. If you want to create the kind of work environment that your team can get excited about, where people feel valued and connected, then this is the show for you. Tune into interviews with bestselling authors, executive coaches, consultants, and managers in a league of their own. Extending research to the workplace, Dr. Heather Walker sheds light on the power of levity at work. "Join me in my journey to find workplace solutions that improve work climate, the culture, and that support a positive employee experience. I talk to leaders across industries to find out what they do to improve their work environment through levity, better management, and survey insights."https://www.leadwithlevity.com
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Apple Podcasts
🇨🇦 Canada - management
28/11/2024#91
Spotify
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See allScore global : 73%
Publication history
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Insights and Inspiration from Hannah Dannecker on Embracing Gen Z in the Workforce
Season 1 · Episode 142
lundi 25 novembre 2024 • Duration 37:41
In today's rapidly evolving workforce landscape, understanding the unique needs and perspectives of Generation Z is crucial for fostering a harmonious and productive work environment. In a recent episode of the Lead with Levity podcast, hosted by Dr. Heather Walker, Hannah Dannecker, a Gen Z advocate and founder of the Better Together Group, shared her insights on connecting with Gen Z employees, dispelling misconceptions, and the importance of communication between generations.
Understanding Gen Z in the Workplace
One of the key topics addressed in the podcast was the common misconception that Gen Z is lazy. Hannah challenges this stereotype, explaining how Gen Z has adapted to a digital world, significantly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. She stresses the importance of understanding the context behind Gen Z's behaviors and the need for employers to communicate and empathize with their experiences.
Building Connections: Overcoming Barriers
Hannah underscores that connection is where "magic happens." She offers strategies for employers to bridge the gap by understanding generational differences and fostering an environment of mutual respect. By appreciating the technological comforts that Gen Z is accustomed to, such as remote communication tools, employers can better engage this generation's talents.
Strategies for Effective Communication
Hannah provides practical advice on how to address the challenges of incorporating Gen Z employees into traditional work settings. She encourages managers to have open dialogues, sharing the value of in-person collaboration while being receptive to Gen Z's preferences. The key is a combined approach that appeals to both parties' realities, fostering a more cohesive workplace.
Dealing with Authority and Constructive Feedback
A crucial aspect Hannah discusses is the relationship between authority and Gen Z. With a wall built from experiences with influencers and authority figures, Gen Z may approach authority differently. Hannah highlights the importance of constructive feedback delivered through a lens of empathy, understanding, and patience, encouraging managers to engage in active listening.
Empowering Young Job Seekers
For young job seekers, especially those from Gen Z, Hannah offers guidance on navigating the job market. She recommends leveraging platforms like LinkedIn to build professional networks and skills. Her advice focuses on being comfortable in uncomfortable situations and recognizing one's value as a candidate. With resources available through her organization, she provides young individuals with the tools to succeed.
Bringing Levity to Job Hunting
Hannah advocates for a balanced approach to job hunting, reminding candidates that finding the right job is as challenging as employers finding the right employee. By maintaining confidence and treating job hunting like a mutual selection process, young job seekers can approach the task with less stress and anxiety.
Conclusion and Future Endeavors
As the podcast concluded, Hannah excitedly shared news of her upcoming book series, Wonder Workshop, aimed at inspiring young minds about future careers. Her continued work aims to motivate both employers and employees to embrace open communication, understanding, and growth.
Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!
Path to Personal and Organizational Transformation With Malti Bhojwani
Season 1 · Episode 141
lundi 11 novembre 2024 • Duration 40:32
In a world where the only constant is change, navigating personal and organizational transformation is a skill that requires resilience and adaptability. This theme resonated throughout an insightful conversation between Dr. Heather Walker and Malti Bhojwani on the "Lead with Levity" podcast. Their dialogue highlighted the challenges and triumphs of embracing change, and how personal growth and organizational success are intricately linked.
The Power of Personal Transformation
One of the key takeaways from this conversation is the profound impact personal transformation can have on our lives and those around us. Malti Bhojwani, a senior advisor for McKinsey's Abercan Change Leadership Partners and an accomplished author, shared her journey of self-discovery that began 20 years ago. Her early life was characterized by linear expectations—education, marriage, and a family—until life threw unexpected challenges her way. Malti had a pivotal "moment of truth" at age 26 when she found herself divorced, penniless, and overwhelmed by life's uncertainties. It was then that she realized the importance of taking responsibility for her life and choices, leading her to a transformative acceptance that she could indeed create a different future.
Organizations Transform Because People Do
Malti emphasized that organizations do not transform on their own—it is the people within them who drive change. This philosophy underscores the importance of leadership involvement in ensuring a successful transformation journey. The conversation shed light on a common pitfall in organizations: a lack of persistent leadership engagement throughout change initiatives. Leaders are encouraged to tell compelling stories that resonate with their teams' values, ensuring that every member understands their role in the larger narrative.
Communication: The Heart of Change
A crucial element in facilitating change is effective communication. Malti highlighted the need for leaders to remain actively involved, share a compelling narrative, and consistently communicate their vision in varied formats. It's about creating an environment where everyone feels connected to the organizational story, much like the inspiring story of a NASA janitor who saw his work as integral to sending people to the moon.
Finding Joy in Everyday Life
Malti also shared personal stories, including dealing with the passing of her father and the challenges of midlife, which inspired her book "Mastering Your Life." This book celebrates the realization that life is meant to be enjoyed, not just endured. She encouraged embracing joy, music, scents, food, and the people around us. Her message was clear: life is about the journey and the joy found in everyday moments.
Conclusion
The insightful conversation between Dr. Heather Walker and Malti Bhojwani served as a powerful reminder of our capacity for personal and organizational transformation. By embracing change, communicating effectively, and finding joy in the journey, we can navigate life's challenges and create meaningful change for ourselves and the organizations we lead.
For those seeking to delve deeper into Malti's teachings, her book "Mastering Your Life" is available on Audible and Amazon, offering further guidance on embracing joy and mastering one's path. This conversation encourages us all to find our own positive potatoes and rocks—symbols and reminders of the joy and levity that can guide us through life's inevitable changes.
Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!
The Magic of Facilitation: Unveiling the Art and Science with Dr. Myriam Hadnes
Season 1 · Episode 132
lundi 8 juillet 2024 • Duration 43:01
In this episode, Dr. Heather Walker delves into the fascinating world of facilitation with Dr. Myriam Hadnes—a behavioral economist and self-proclaimed facilitation evangelist. This conversation uncovers the essence of facilitation, its impact in various environments, and practical strategies to enhance group interactions. If you're a leader, project manager, or simply someone interested in understanding the dynamics of group facilitation, read on as we pull back the curtain on this 'Wizard of Oz’ of workplace skills.
The Core Skills of Facilitation
Facilitation requires a strategic blend of skills:
- Sensitivity to group dynamics
- Communication proficiency
- Idea synthesis
- Behavioral observation and response
Dr. Walker shares her own experiences with facilitation, debunking the myth that effective facilitation is a natural-born talent. Instead, she emphasizes that it is a skill honed through practice and critical reflection.
Facilitation in the Workplace
Facilitation is not limited to designated roles; it’s a daily practice for many, even without their realizing it. From team leaders fostering collaborative atmospheres to project managers synchronizing team efforts, facilitation is integral. Dr. Hadnes explains that facilitation skills overlap significantly with leadership skills, like asking insightful questions, active listening, and encouraging participation from quieter team members.
Creating Psychological Safety
A key takeaway from the discussion is the importance of psychological safety in facilitation. Originating from Amy Edmondson's research, psychological safety is shown to distinguish high-performing teams from mediocre ones. Facilitators must cultivate environments where team members feel safe to share, question, and challenge without fear of retribution. This safety promotes authenticity, vulnerability, and ultimately, better communication and collaboration.
The Journey to Becoming a Facilitator
Dr. Hadnes’s personal journey into facilitation was indirect—the realization of her facilitative role came much later. Her background in academia and her experiences with organizational change positioned her uniquely to embrace and advocate for facilitation. Her story resonates with many who find themselves facilitating without initially identifying as a facilitator.
Case Study: Transforming Sarah's Leadership
A case study in facilitation involves Sarah, a manager in a manufacturing plant who struggles with workplace dynamics. Dr. Hadnes advises beginning with empathy, emphasizing the importance of sharing burdens and encouraging team ownership. Effective meeting management and fostering open communication are key strategies to transforming Sarah’s leadership style.
Conclusion
Facilitation is a powerful tool in fostering effective communication, collaboration, and psychological safety within teams. Dr. Myriam Hadnes’s insights provide a valuable blueprint for anyone looking to enhance their facilitation skills, whether in the workplace, academic settings, or personal gatherings. As we embrace the nuanced art and science of facilitation, we open doors to more meaningful, productive, and enjoyable interactions.
For those interested in diving deeper into facilitation, Dr. Hadnes’s community “Never Done Before” offers a platform to explore and experiment with facilitation techniques. Her collective book project, "A Simple Guide on How to Save the World through Facilitation," promises further insights into
Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!
Kindness is a Choice
Season 1 · Episode 42
lundi 1 février 2021 • Duration 34:03
Doing no harm.
I had a fascinating conversation with Cool Audrey founder, Cole Baker Bagwell. She helps organizations build connections by focusing on kindness and the principle of "do no harm."
About Our Guest: Cole Baker Bagwell"I'm a full on kindness nerd. I research it, write about it, talk about it, and seek it out in unexpected places. I live it, share it and look for ways we can put kindness into motion to make the big world we share- even better.
As the Founder of Cool Audrey®, I consult with companies on kindness. I teach them how put kindness to work as a core business competency that runs through every fiber of the organization.
Kindness is essential because it makes us happier and healthier. Kindness helps us foster trust and that helps us collaborate and work together to innovate and create business outcomes like productivity, stability and growth."
About the PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.
Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!
When Passion Meets Purpose: Is There Still Room for Levity?
Season 1 · Episode 41
lundi 18 janvier 2021 • Duration 29:50
In this episode, we cover:
- How Ryan went from "I don't read for fun" to writing multiple books and starting his own publishing company
- Debunking common myths about authorship
- How to use passion to get buy-in from others and bring out the best in your team when you know what they're passionate about
- Why it's so important to take the time to transfer what you know into book form
- What it means to be a passionpreneur
- How to shed the stigma of answering the question "What do you do?" when following your passion
- How to avoid being seen as rough around the edges when you're really just passionate
About Our Guest: Ryan GreeneRyan C. Greene is an entrepreneur, author coach, bestselling author, and professional speaker. He is the Founder of GreeneHouse Media LLC, a media company whose goal is to provide “Media With A Purpose” via radio, television, film, and books. Ryan is the author of ten books, hosts and executive produces several podcasts and web shows, and founded Indie Author PRO, an author development company specializing in teaching authors how to monetize their content, automate their business and become top-revenue authors.
About the PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.
Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!
How to Reinvent Yourself in 2021 (Growth Mindset)
Season 1 · Episode 40
lundi 4 janvier 2021 • Duration 34:47
Find out what happened when this successful six-figure dentist walked away from his practice to live the entrepreneur life. As a self-proclaimed millennial in a baby boomer’s body, Ira shares lessons and business experiences.
In this episode, we cover:
- How Ira finds top performers
- Ira’s creative marketing tips to get people’s attention
- Ira’s take on the use of AI chats to replace pre-employment testing as we know it
- How to find the courage to walk away from a career that doesn’t make you happy
- How to use growth mindset principles to free yourself to try new things
- The reality of prepping for a TedTalk
About Ira WolfeDescribed as a “Millennial trapped in a Baby Boomer body, the World’s 1st Chief Googlization Officer, a “hire authority,” and “certified prophet” of workforce trends, Ira S. Wolfe has emerged as one of HR’s most visionary thinkers. Ira personifies the passion and mindset required to manage the convergence of the tired, the wired, and technology. His enthusiasm and engaging approach inspires his audience to challenge preconceptions about what it takes to attract, select, manage, and retain top talent and take the initiative to make change for them.
About the PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.
Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!
An Interview with the Original Levity Enthusiast
Season 1 · Episode 39
lundi 21 décembre 2020 • Duration 31:23
In this episode, we cover:
- What’s the climate in Australia right now?
- What you can do to get prickly people to lighten up?
- How Argy practices levity in the courtroom
- Silly Zoom moments
- How Argy uses levity to maintain his own vitality and positive spirit
- An insider's perspective--Are lawyers allowed to have fun at work? What does that look like?
About Argy StarOur focus is always on salvaging and delivering as much as possible of the original business case when the day to day participants in your implementation team have long since forgotten what they were. More usually, we intercept at their incipient stage any developments that could move your project off course in time or budget terms and nip them in the bud, thus saving you time money and minimising the risk that your business case will be delivered late or not at all. These are the basics of the ADRoIT Principles.Website: https://argystar.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/philipargyEmail: pargy@argystar.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/philipargy
About the PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.
Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!
Is it Burnout or a Breakthrough? Keys to Increasing Your Resilience
Season 1 · Episode 38
lundi 7 décembre 2020 • Duration 30:35
About Eileen McDarghEileen McDargh is the Chief Energy Officer (CEO) of The Resiliency Group. Eileen McDargh started her career as an award-winning teacher and to this day loves telling stories while educating audiences as a professional speaker, coach and consultant. Eileen is the founder and CEO of the consulting firm, The Resiliency Group. She teaches organizations like Cisco, Novartis, Oracle, and Procter & Gamble ways of building resilient leadership teams and workplaces. Along with her work as an organizational resiliency consultant, Eileen speaks and writes about resiliency.
- https://www.EileenMcDargh.com
- Burnout to Breakthrough: Building Resilience to Refuel, Recharge, and Reclaim What Matters
About the PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.
Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!
Finding Meaning at Work: How to Manifest Your Way to Deeper Connections
Season 1 · Episode 37
lundi 23 novembre 2020 • Duration 28:46
Today's guest is Briana Hawkins. She's young, ambitious, and full of great ideas for bringing the fun back to your function. She is to lead the Happy Crew at Zoom and now graces the finance tech startup Built Technologies with her expertise.
In this episode, we cover:
- How Briana shaped manifested her way through her career
- Teambuilding activities for you to try from her experiences with Built Technologies and the Zoom Happy Crew
- Briana's perspective on how to get more out of each situation
Meet Guest: Briana Hawkins"I am a strategic leader with a proven track record in resolving organizational and human capital challenges within startups. An employee engagement subject-matter-expert with proven success in building culture, securing leadership buy-in, strategic planning, and talent operations. I am able to manage multiple projects while collaborating with diverse groups to achieve goals.. I believe that where there is happiness, there is productivity and efficiency."
About the PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.
Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!
Onboarding That Doesn't Suck
Season 1 · Episode 36
lundi 9 novembre 2020 • Duration 31:42
In this episode, we cover:
- How to make onboarding more exciting and engaging
- How to help new employees build personal connections
- How to handle that pesky I9 requirement (a pandemic pro-tip)
Guest: David SecundaDavid Secunda is the Founder and CEO of WorkBright, an HR tech startup that moves traditional employee onboarding to a 100% remote process that workers complete before they arrive. He has led numerous organizations including Avid4 Adventure (Founder & Chairman, outdoor adventure camps), PlanetOutdoors (Founder & CEO, online outdoor retailer), and the Outdoor Industry Association (President). He also worked as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Mobius Venture Capital and Sequel Venture Partners. He is an active mentor in the business community at Techstars, MergeLane and the CU Leeds School of Business, and has served on the boards of Entrepreneur’s Organization Colorado, RMC Health, The SCA, and was a founding board member of Leave No Trace. Additionally, he was the Governor appointed Chairman of the Colorado Department of Human Services Licensing Advisory Committee.
About the PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.
Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!









