Welcome to The COO's Corner Podcast, a podcast for COOs, consultants, business owners, and other C-Suite executives who want to improve operational resiliency and transform their organizations. Listen to the experiences of international experts who have walked the path less traveled, who are heart-centered, tenacious superhumans who share their insights, superpowers, best practices, and inspirational stories in leading organizational excellence. Subscribe to The COO's Corner and get twice-monthly access to authentic, unscripted expert content from the best of the best across the world.
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Can you imagine a workplace where joy is a driving factor for success? Join me as I chat with Marguerite Orane, the owner of Free and Laughing Incorporated, who shares her mission to help others live, work, and lead with joy. With a diverse background as a Harvard MBA, entrepreneur, and mindfulness meditation practitioner, Marguerite provides valuable insights on cultivating happiness and productivity within the workplace, especially in the wake of pandemic-induced burnout.
We explore the power of music and creating a joyful morning playlist and the importance of examining the physical environment, systems, and processes to foster an environment of joy. Marguerite also emphasizes the value of involving the team in designing a culture of joy and how to measure its success. Dive deep into the world of joyful workplaces as we discuss the significance of relationships with supervisors, the role of meaning, recognition, and money in driving happiness, and Marguerite's inspiring story of implementing the Balanced Scorecard at the Wolmer's Schools in Jamaica.
Finally, discover the impact of mindfulness and meditation on leadership and personal growth, and learn how to have heart-to-heart conversations in the workplace. Tune in to this episode to uncover the secrets of mindful leadership, and take actionable steps toward bringing more joy into your workplace.
Chapters:
(0:00:12) - The Value of Joy in Business
(0:18:21) - Embedding Joy in Workplace Culture
(0:30:20) - Joyful Meaning in Workplace
(0:45:13) - Leadership and Mindfulness for Growth
(0:57:00) - Mindful Leadership Promotion and Action
Episode 22: Juggling it all in a crisis - the whole matter of priorities with Jill Maidment
Monday, May 1, 2023 • Duration 50:47
How well do you juggle priorities during a crisis? Learn from executive business coach and mentor Jill Maidment as we explore effective time management, assessing and prioritizing tasks, and aligning daily activities with key objectives. Drawing on the wisdom of Steven Covey, we emphasize the need to schedule priorities rather than simply prioritizing what's already on our schedules.
Navigating the challenges of hybrid work, managing hybrid meetings, and building resilience in the workplace is crucial. Embracing flexibility, having regular check-ins with colleagues, and delegation to remain productive and efficient in day-to-day life. Tune in for valuable insights for leaders and employees alike as we tackle these topics and more with Jill Maidment.
Chapters:
(0:00:02) - Juggling Priorities in a Crisis
(0:15:53) - Time Management and Prioritization for Executives
(0:20:40) - Hybrid Meetings and Building Resilience
(0:33:17) - Prioritizing and Achieving Goals
(0:43:40) - Resilience and Prioritizing for Success
(0:49:34) - Promoting Natural Talent Website
Episode #13: How to Glide over Challenges and Rapidly Innovate
Friday, May 13, 2022 • Duration 49:44
When was the last time you challenged your perspectives and it made you feel like you were looking at the world in a new light? Paul Daniels, our guest today, has coined this practice ‘peripheral thinking’, and uses it daily in business and in life to tap into a never-ending well of inspiration, innovation, and creativity.
In today’s show, one of the first things Paul will do is guide us through an exercise so we can start shedding our preconceived outlooks and learn to shift our points of view on the spot. Furthermore, Paul will explain how we can access peripheral thinking not only in ourselves but in people and places we never would have expected could inspire us to innovate and grow.
Paul Daniels firmly believes that the solution to the challenges you’re facing at this moment already exists. Finding them depends on how and where you’re looking. He will demonstrate with real-life examples how companies have transformed their operations and increased their revenue thanks to ideas that appeared in unexpected places and times – ideas that are readily accessible to whoever encounters them with an open mind and a curious nature.
- [00:05:23] Paul explains peripheral thinking (guided exercise)
- [00:12:51] First steps to practicing peripheral thinking
- [00:19:50] The six C’s of the interpreting skill
- [00:27:19] Sources to populate your peripheral library
- [00:29:05] Paul debunks the biggest myth in peripheral thinking
- [00:31:47] The number one mistake organizations are making today
- [00:35:41] Real-life examples of businesses grown through peripheral thinking
- [00:40:01] Where does real growth happen?
- [00:45:31] Tamar asks her quintessential final question
“There are more answers than questions. There are more paths than problems. There are more choices and challenges and more opportunities than obstacles when you know where and how to look.” Paul Daniels The COO’s Corner, Episode 13.
Episode #12: Measure to lead or suffer lag - What COOs need to know about data
Wednesday, April 27, 2022 • Duration 56:29
In this episode, we bring on Jacqueline Davis, a CFO/COO executive that’s passionate about continuous improvement and optimization of processes to ensure companies achieve the outcomes they desire. Holding both titles simultaneously, she will share her unique perspective on common misconceptions organizations have around managing data, setting proper indicators, and building and empowering diverse teams. Jacqueline believes in continuous improvement, and she’ll be sharing best practices on how companies can approach decision-making through harnessing the power of data.
We’ll be answering fundamental questions about how businesses can enhance their processes and track the right measurements for success. We’ll delve deep into:
• Capturing and analyzing the right data for your business
• How often should indicators be measured? When should they be reassessed?
• How to continuously improve business through data-based decision making
- [00:05:30] Measurement in Business
- [00:07:30] Lagging vs. Leading Indicators
- [00:13:02] Establishing the Right Data Points
- [00:15:47] Dealing with Analysis Paralysis (The Safe-to-Try strategy)
- [00:19:20] Jacqueline’s #1 Tip for C-Suite Executives
- [00:25:49] The Two Top Mistakes Businesses Make
- [00:29:05] Jacqueline Debunks a Popular Myth About Data
- [00:36:10] Jacqueline’s Advice to Women Professionals
- [00:41:47] How Jacqueline Became Both COO/CFO – The Power of Saying Yes
- [00:47:30] Tamar Asks her Quintessential Final Question
“The data needs to tell a story. You can organize the data, you can gather all the data, you can have it on a real-time basis. But if that data doesn't lead to action to tell a story of what we need to do with that data, it's just a bunch of LEGOs in a box. That's all it is.”
Episode #11: Why conscious leadership is the new WAY!
Thursday, April 14, 2022 • Duration 29:42
In this episode of the COO’s Corner, Tamar brings on Josh Greco, an expert and business coach with a passion for developing people professionally, personally, and spiritually. Josh will challenge our listeners to hold up the mirror and see potential – the reminder of what’s possible – and reflect upon improving their thinking patterns to gain clarity, wisdom, and wellbeing from within. This type of self-mastery can be expanded on and applied in organizations, empowering teams to examine, manage and improve their processes through conscious leadership. Josh will challenge companies to think about where there’s room for growth because he firmly stands by the idea that improvement is possible for everyone, everywhere. Join us today to learn about strategies for individuals to push the boundaries of what they think they’re capable of, and for companies to instill a culture of conscious leadership. Be sure to stay tuned toward the end so you don’t miss out on Josh’s gift for the listeners and followers of the COO’s Corner Podcast.
- [00:01:43] What is conscious leadership?
- [00:05:27] Acknowledging potential
- [00:07:02] Creating a compelling vision
- [00:10:03] Being aware of our thought patterns
- [00:11:56] A gratitude exercise to become more conscious
- [00:14:54] Being comfortable with the uncomfortable
- [00:18:40] How to achieve expanded awareness
- [00:22:08] Strategies for organizations to build a conscious leadership culture
- [00:25:01] About Mindscan
- [00:27:06] Tamar asks her quintessential last question
“[When fear] shows up, it's like, ‘No, this time is different, it feels different,’ but it's not. It's in the same category as all the other fear, we just don't have that perspective yet to overcome it. That's how you overcome it, is you lean into it, and you study it, and you think about it, and you inevitably come up with another way, and that's gratifying to me.”
Episode #10: How to Future Proof your Career in a Digital Economy
Thursday, March 31, 2022 • Duration 49:59
Over the years, we’ve been able to witness how the ever-changing nature of the digital economy has transformed the workplace and the way people participate in it. The pandemic only accelerated this transformation.
Because a considerable fraction of the workforce had to exchange the office for a work-from-home environment, a large portion of daily activities were now pushed to take place in a virtual landscape. With these physical boundaries being challenged, separate and distinguishable parts of a person’s life were brought to reconcile in a new dynamic, as the work-life balance discourse shifted as well.
Mary Henderson, an internationally recognized Personal Branding & Digital Business Specialist, is an advocate of this transformation. She explains it should now be expected and even encouraged for companies to embrace the fact that individuals are much more than just their job titles. She also warns that hesitancy to accept and adopt these new ways of the digital economy is what could possibly compromise the future success of a career. Join us as in this episode of the COO’s Corner, Mary will walk us through how today’s professionals are ensuring they remain relevant and sought after in the digital economy, in her own words, future-proofing their careers. Learn how to create your own demand as Mary describes how to harness your authenticity through crafting your personal brand.
- [00:03:07] Impacts of the digital economy
- [00:09:08] Future-proofing your career in the digital economy
- [00:12:50] The importance of reputation
- [00:17:17] Building your reputation branding
- [00:20:43] Corporate brands vs. personal brands
- [00:25:07] How to foster authenticity in the workplace
- [00:28:54] What do you want to be known for?
- [00:33:14] Ways to create your own demand in the digital economy
- [00:40:38] Handling the chaos in uncertain times
- [00:43:30] Putting yourself out there – The right mindset
Episode #9: Fostering a culture of Quality – Making the complex simple
Thursday, March 17, 2022 • Duration 33:14
Kathy Walsh Director and Principal Consultant Quality Systems Now Kathy Walsh is the Director and Principal Consultant of Quality Systems Now (QSN), and she helps companies and individuals in regulated industries solve quality culture problems that increase productivity and master compliance challenges in their marketplace. Kathy has over 20 years' experience working in regulated industries - pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biotech, and clinical sections. She has a PhD in Biology, and she’s the author of Eliminate the Gobbledygook Secrets to Writing Plain Language Procedures.
With the right Quality Management System (QMS) in place, everything in an organization integrates and aligns.
Processes are coordinated and implemented effortlessly, and the company as a whole runs smoothly like a well-oiled machine. Whether product or service, from design to launch you can sense a commitment to quality in every person involved.
However, oftentimes companies write off QMS implementation trying to cut down on expenditures, but this can actually prove to be more costly in the long run. On the other hand, some companies find that implementing a QMS ends up being more of an efficiency hindrance with complex processes and procedures. Implementing the right QMS in the right way is unique to every organization, but what they all have in common is it requires keeping things simple, which is ironically no easy task.
Luckily, on today’s episode of The COO’s Corner we bring on Kathy Walsh, a subject matter expert to guide us through this issue. Kathy is a specialist and thought leader on quality culture and argues this can only be achieved by making the complex simple. Kathy will explain why quality represents the brains of any organization. She will offer guidance on how to correctly implement a QMS, and how to overcome the common challenges that companies face during the process.
- [00:03:00] What is quality, and what is a quality culture?
- [00:05:50] The key to instill a quality culture
- [00:09:12] Risks businesses face without a QMS system
- [00:11:55] Overcoming common QMS implementation challenges
- [00:16:40] Ensuring quality in every step of the process
Episode #8: Navigating Hyper-Growth - Moving your organization up and to the right.
Thursday, March 3, 2022 • Duration 39:28
Hyper-growth – a stage as exciting as it is demanding which all companies and businesses strive to get to.
My guest today is an expert and advisor on just that. With a background in engineering, Karen Walker shares her wisdom on some of the most indispensable processes, systems, and capabilities that organizations need to have to not only survive but thrive in hyper-growth.
Karen explains that the trials companies face entering hyper-growth are not just limited to the obvious, such as overcoming technical obstacles in a fast-paced environment or constantly having to refine standard operating procedures.
Join us as our guest sheds some light on the importance of the intangible yet very impactful issues that also define if a company is to be successful in hyper-growth.
We’ll discuss sense of purpose, employee engagement, cultivating the right culture, and other human aspects in the enterprise world that organizations can’t afford to ignore if their goal is to thrive in hyper-growth – especially during The Great Resignation.
- [00:03:33] What is hyper-growth?
- [00:06:06] Why companies struggle with hyper-growth
- [00:07:51] What skills does hyper-growth require?
- [00:10:17] Managing hypergrowth (how to be “directionally correct”)
- [00:13:27] Alignment – staying on course in hyper-growth
- [00:18:29] How to improve retention during The Great Resignation
- [00:22:10] What are the leading organizations doing to ensure retention?
- [00:31:15] The importance of culture in organizations
- [00:36:23] Tamar asks her quintessential final question
“People, in general, will be more productive when they're not just working on time when they're working on outcomes. Nobody gets up in the morning and says, “I'm excited to work eight hours today.” People get up and say, “I'm excited to create X or to provide service Y,” or whatever it is that they're doing.”
Episode #7: Calling Out Toxic Leadership
Thursday, February 17, 2022 • Duration 51:59
Almost everyone has a story to share about a toxic leader – someone who was arrogant, aggressive, or for some reason, just unpleasant to work with.
Although some toxic behaviors may be too subtle to identify at first, one thing is certain: stress caused by this leadership approach can take a toll not only on the productivity of organizations, but on the physical and mental wellbeing of the individuals belonging to them as well.
In this episode, our guest, Jeffrey Custer, delve deep into this issue: toxic leadership. He will provide insights on how to recognize these behaviors, where they come from, and what to do about them – because, as Jeffrey urges, we can all make a difference in the way we show up. Join us as we cover the following points:
- [00:03:50] What is toxicity?
- [00:07:21] Underlying reasons for toxic behaviors
- [00:11:10] What triggers toxic behaviors?
- [00:14:28] How to give feedback effectively (Jeffrey’s thumb rule)
- [00:22:18] How to set leaders up for success
- [00:34:23] What can you do about toxicity in your workplace?
- [00:37:45] Lessons and challenges from working remotely
- [00:43:06] Behaviors of a high functioning team (the “dream team”)
- [00:48:53] Tamar asks her quintessential question
“I encourage leaders to not lose hope. Within their division, they can do almost everything that we've been talking about.While they may not be able to change their whole organization, they can make a difference in that group.”
Jeffrey Custer
The COO’s Corner, Episode 7
JEFFREY CUSTER
CEO, Director of Content at Level Up Courses
Jeffrey Custer is the founder and director at Level Up Courses. His work revolves around helping new and aspiring leaders and setting them up for success. With over 30 years of leadership experience, Jeffrey has a passion for developing high-performing teams, building employee relationships, and eliminating toxicity in the workplace.
Episode #6: The Brain, Productivity, and Peak Performance
Thursday, February 3, 2022 • Duration 01:11:26
Whether individually or collectively we can’t function efficiently or effectively without it… The BRAIN!
In this episode of The #COO’s Corner Podcast we will be discussing our greatest asset the 🧠brain, and utilizing it to improve our agility, performance, and communication and boost success and even leadership.
In this discussion with guest Omozua Isiramen, we will cover:
· What is Neuro Agility and what is the impact that it can have on our lives and business?
· The link or connection with productivity, mental health, and brain function?
· How does the understanding of our brain function help us deal with burnout and stress?
· How can leaders help create the environment for creating emotional and mental stability and clarity?
· How can Neuro Agility help you to conquer toxicity in the workplace?
· TOP mistakes organizations make as it relates to tapping into leading with the brain in mind?
Omozua Isiramen is a High-Performance Brain and Neuro Agility Trainer and Executive Neuroscience Leadership Coach, who operates internationally and uses emotional agility and a neuroscience-based approach to empower and prepare clients’ hearts and heads to take the journey from where they are to where they want to be by bravely accessing and optimizing their limitless brain potential for success.
She has over 20 years of experience and training and working with driven professionals, entrepreneurs, teams, and organizations to help them build resilience, super fuel their greatest asset - the brain to drive greatness from within, and face change confidently.
Quoting the words of Omozua,
“We all have potential, but this does not mean we have competence in skills that enable us to thrive well in life and in our relationships. To have a mindset advantage and a growth mindset can only start when one knows how to accurately leverage the power and gift of our greatest asset - the BRAIN!”
As a child, Paul Daniels was labeled as stupid, slow, lazy, and a daydreamer. Paul’s “daydreaming” fueled his quest to connect and apply lessons from one experience to another. From personal to professional. Industry to society. Battlefield to the cornfield. His unique perspectives on challenging conventions and creating unlimited paths for innovation and growth have influenced companies of all sizes, including GE®, UnitedHealthcare®, DuPont®, and AT&T®.
Learn more about Paul’s work at www.pauldanielsjr.com
Connect with Paul on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauldanielsjr
Reach out to Paul at paul@pauldanielsjr.com
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- Contact Paul Daniels for a free copy of the Peripheral Resource Library mentioned during the podcast
- Sinek, Simon (2014) Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't. New York. Portfolio Penguins. https://www.amazon.com/Leaders-Eat-Last-Together-Others/dp/0670923168
Reach out to Tamar at tamar@tamarnelson.com
Connect with Tamar on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamar-nelson/
Learn more about Tamar’s work on https://tamarnelson.com/
Jacqueline (Jacque) Davis, CFO/COO of 24 Hour Home Care joined the company back in 2016 as VP of finance & accounting, corporate controller, and immediately established herself as a vital member of the executive team. Thanks to her impressive background and 25 years of experience leading finance departments for some of the largest organizations in the world, Davis entered the home care industry with an eagerness to succeed and a passion for impacting lives. Her tenacity for making intelligent business decisions, building world-class teams, and contagious desire to learn are why she is now CFO. Because of her work growing net margins through effective analytics, visualizations, and dashboards across the business, 24 Hour Home Care has enjoyed its most profitable year yet despite the challenges of the pandemic. Davis’ strong background in leading financial management systems and delivery of critical financial management and business solutions is what helped align the company’s corporate fiscal & business goals for our growing results.
Learn more about Jacqueline’s work at https://www.24hrcares.com/
Connect with Jacqueline on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqueedavis
Reach out to Jacqueline at: jacquedavis3100@yahoo.com
RESOURCES MENTIONED: - The Kaizen Methodology https://www.kaizen.com/what-is-kaizen
Reach out to Tamar at tamar@tamarnelson.com
Connect with Tamar on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamar-nelson/
Learn more about Tamar’s work at https://tamarnelson.com/
Josh Greco The COO’s Corner, Episode 11
Josh Greco Business Coach, ProAdvisorCoach
With over a decade of business development experience as a top performer in both the Logistics and Construction industries, Joshua brings a passion to develop people professionally, personally, and spiritually. He moved to Charlotte, NC in 2011 in pursuit of new perspectives after completing his formal education at SUNY Fredonia, and now splits his time between Charlotte and Western NY. His career path has naturally led him to ProAdvisorCoach where he combines his business development background with his natural affinity to tap into the best of people even before they see it themselves. His primary focus is on coaching business leaders to harness their REBEL ENERGY in order to live the most fulfilling life possible. He hosts a weekly podcast with a fellow coach, called #truthseekers, where guests share their experiences overcoming obstacles to get to where they are today.
Learn more about Josh’s work at https://proadvisorcoach.com/Connect with Josh on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-greco-03312245/ RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- Tamar’s listeners can reach out to Josh for a free Mindscan assessment (valued originally at $500) at joshua@proadvisorcoach.com
- Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, Harper Perennial, (1990) https://www.amazon.com/Flow-Psychology-Experience-Perennial-Classics/dp/0061339202
Reach out to Tamar at tamar@tamarnelson.com
Connect with Tamar on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamar-nelson/
Learn more about Tamar’s work at https://tamarnelson.com/
- [00:46:09] Tamar asks her quintessential final question
Mary Henderson Personal Branding & Digital Business Specialist
Mary Henderson helps Service Based Business Owners, Coaches and Consultants systemize, digitalize and commercialize their knowledge, wisdom and skills into a scalable & profitable online business and brand so they become an authority in their niche or industry.
Mary has 20+ years’ experience building 7 & 8 figure businesses & building high-performance sales teams in the IT sector and 15 years delivering online solutions for large and small businesses. She has been featured in many publications and is regarded as a thought leader in the Digital sector. She is also the founder of Lights. Cameras. Action, an end-to-end coaching program that delivers tangible outcomes. Mary embraces technology and social media in a big way and her followers are growing daily.
- [00:21:32] Avoid this mistake during QMS implementation
- [00:24:59] Pinpointing the right size QMS for your organization
- [0028:51] Tamar asks her quintessential final question
Kathy is passionate about using Plain Language writing to increase productivity and reduce errors arising from documentation. She regularly trains companies, startups, and individuals in the benefits of 'write' first time. Kathy helps design and implement user-friendly compliance solutions that increase productivity and overcome the quality challenges in her client's marketplaces.
Learn more about Kathy’s work at https://www.qualitysystemsnow.com.au/about-us/
Connect with Kathy on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathy-walsh-6b74b186/
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- Walsh, K. (2019) Eliminating the Gobbledygook - Secrets to Writing Plain Language Procedures. https://www.amazon.com/Eliminating-Gobbledygook-Secrets-Language-Procedures-ebook/dp/B083DGF35H
- KAIZEN™ Principles https://www.kaizen.com/
- Gemba Walk https://www.sixsigmadaily.com/what-is-a-gemba-walk/
- Six Sigma Methodology https://www.sixsigmadaily.com/topics/methodology/
Reach out to Tamar at tamar@tamarnelson.com
Connect with Tamar on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamar-nelson/
Learn more about Tamar’s work on https://tamarnelson.com/
Please leave a review and thanks for listening.
All good things!
Tamar
Karen Walker
The COO’s Corner, Episode 8
Karen Walker Strategic Advisor and Board Director
Karen Walker is an executive coach, consultant, speaker, and author who advises CEOs and senior leaders on thriving in hyper-growth. She has worked with clients including Aetna, AWS, Pfizer, JPMorgan Chase, and BMC Software, as well as Inc. 5000 startups.
Karen has a B.S. degree in engineering from Texas A&M University and graduated from the ODHRM program at Columbia University. She is a contributor to Forbes, Fast Company, and Harvard Business Review’s Ascend.
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