Nevermind The Gap

Executive strategic influence refers to the ability of an organization's senior leaders, such as the CEO and top executives, to guide and impact the strategic direction and success of the organization. This influence is exerted through a variety of methods and leadership actions that align the organization’s operations with its long-term vision and objectives. Vision and Direction Setting Decision...

It's Season 3 , and we have a surprise in store for you! To kick off the third season of Never Mind the Gap, we decided to add video to our podcast. Surprise! It didn't record. Do not worry; our audio came out fine. In this episode, we discuss: Seasonal transitions. Why we decided to add video this season (but next episode). What makes a successful engagement to maximize the return on your...

SUMMARY Neurodiversity is the concept that there’s a lot of variety in how brains work. Example, the company values neurodiversity. Neurodiversity refers to the idea that neurological differences, such as those seen in autism or ADHD , reflect normal variations in brain development. Neurodiversity is often contrasted with the “medical model,” which views conditions like autism or ADHD as disorders...

How can leaders do a better job at ensuring that their employees are engaged and aligned with the mission and vision of the organization and their particular role?  For the employee, what are some things you can do to remain aligned with your work and the value add you were hired to do? Possible areas to consider as a leader: Work must have purpose for engagement to take place Implementing engagem...

Summary : Advice for both our male and female listeners on how women can inadvertently hold themselves back: Doing my job well will get me noticed (without the necessary relationship-building) - very common in some cultures - don’t rock the boat. Don’t want to appear pushy or aggressive OR conflict avoidant -  can be too ‘nice’ Less professional development opportunities or mentors - especially in...

SUMMARY There are distinct trends colliding: retirement of the Boomers and some Gen X, new workplace realities from the Covid pandemic, and generational differences in attitudes towards work and boundaries. Where we see this in our work is leaders who feel that the younger generation is not prepared, or capable of taking the reins. “But you don’t represent the company or you don’t look/act like me...

SUMMARY Executive Presence is a skill as much as it is a natural ability For some it does come naturally, for others, it must be learned or honed. Using data to tell stories - know your audience - emotional intelligence - active listening Journey on how you connect with those around you. Goal - inspire confidence. 5 traits are the building blocks:  Resilience - bounce back, don’t take it personall...

SUMMARY Goals provide focus and direction both personally and professionally. In this episode, we look at how to set realistic versus aspirational goals. Realistic goals have both impact and chances for success. We discuss how to take yourself through realistic goal setting, as well as provide examples from our own goals and those of our clients. TOOLS/RESOURCES Worksheet exercise - Create space i...

SUMMARY With the end of the fiscal and calendar year, holidays, family, and travel, how do we find the time to rest and reflect? In this special episode, see coaching in action as Lindsey coaches Carmen to invite more ease and grace into a time of year that can often lead to burnout. Topics covered: Setting boundaries and priorities around one’s time Creating coping strategies to avoid burnout ROI...

Giving and receiving feedback are some of the hardest and most dreaded work activities. This episode discusses the barriers to giving and receiving effective feedback and the tools and techniques to lead to meaningful improvement. Leaders and managers lack the bandwidth or tools and usually provide feedback only when there is an issue or during ‘formal’ reviews. Even then, the feedback is not alwa...

SUMMARY Decision-making can be challenging when organizations do not have the appropriate personnel or experts to facilitate implementing strategies and changes. In this episode, we discuss the value of including those resources and key stakeholders involved, having the right mindset/confidence and utilizing evidence-based materials with powerful questioning and insight into making the most effect...

As a leader, what are you truly listening to? What cues are you picking up, both verbal and nonverbal? Do you primarily listen: to answer? to solve? to understand? to let others vent? You can learn more about the different levels of listening and what impact this has on conversation, understanding, and results. Dive into deep listening and how it differs from active listening.  Listeners (pun inte...

SUMMARY It’s our origin story! Business and organizational leaders, managers, professionals, and individuals engage coaches to advance their careers and enhance their personal lives. But what actually is coaching?  Listen in on how Carmen and I came to be coaches. We discuss what IS coaching anyway? How is it different from therapy or consulting? How is it used? How can I use it in my organization...

SUMMARY Forces not centered on patient care are present and rising in all healthcare institutions. These systems result in a significant loss of autonomy for healthcare workers, which causes stress and burnout. We cover this in two season-ending episodes. This installment examines the drivers and incentives behind academic medical centers, government funding, and for-profit healthcare institutions...

SUMMARY Today, women are entering the workforce at the same rate as men and are getting similar pay. The pay and advancement disparity now occurs when women have children. What can men and women do to support each other, both at a personal level and system level? What does it mean to be a Growth Partner? How can work structures adapt to support parents, regardless of gender? What can YOU do as a p...

Summary What is the difference between Achievement and Accomplishment?  Why don't Achievements sustain us over the longer term? How can we gain more lasting satisfaction from our time, talents, and energy? In this episode, we explore the difference between the two and how we can tap into the motivation of Accomplishment. Resources ⁠What We Lose When We Push Our Children To Achieve⁠ ⁠Why Succes...

SUMMARY Brenee Brown nailed it when she identified the following: Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind. As managers and leaders, providing clarity on the business, mission, and goals empowers teams and strengthens alignment. As individuals, clarity helps us ask for the results or behaviors we expect while reducing the chance that the target is missed. Clarity makes it possible to make a solid plan to...

SUMMARY There are many dimensions to Rest.  Most associate rest with an absence of work or a passive undertaking. In fact, it is multi-dimensional and an active undertaking. But don’t stress - it is easy to include different elements of rest, providing you understand which type you need at a particular moment. Links How to Rest Well  (Psyche) The Benefits of Resting and How To Unplug In A Busy Wor...

There is a Succession Gap that goes hand-in-hand with the Generation Gap in the workforce.  This is acutely felt in family-owned businesses, where older generations are forced to stay on longer because the succeeding generation is either unprepared or unwilling to step into senior leadership roles. Phillip Brooks, Founder and Chief Coaching Officer of Fresh Perspectives, LLC, speaks with us about...

SUMMARY The Generation Gap spans 4 cohorts currently in the workforce: Gen Z in their early 20’s, all the way through Boomers in their 70’s. Each has a distinctive work style, work ethic, and communication preference. Taking the time to be aware of these differences, as well as expressing how YOU prefer to give and receive information, can help bridge these gaps. Additionally, consider ways to cre...

SUMMARY How to have less but more productive meetings Rules and Preparation Structure and awareness of conversation drift Tool to fill out in advance: Purpose: should be a verb and very short (exampe: to align on the next phase of the rollout, to debate the merits of changing suppliers, to review last quarter’s performance) Goal: what do you want to walk away with at the end of the meeting (action...

SUMMARY The data is sobering. According to Gallup,  49% of people promoted within their companies are underperforming up to 18 months after those moves. McKinsey reports that 27% to 46% of executives promoted/brought in are regarded as underperforming two years later. Most onboarding leaves executives and new leaders woefully underprepared for their new roles. How to practice the skills neede...

Identity at the individual or the organizational level can impact how we show up, perform, and are perceived by others Especially as one is promoted or asked to take on leadership roles, identity plays a bigger role than we might be aware of. Example: Patient bedside to research lab to administration. Building new skills is a way to embrace the changes required by new situations and roles Article:...

SUMMARY Tech-enabled Always On Economy Leaders spend their days in meetings, putting out fires. They usually get to the real work after the formal workday ends and the informal workday begins. Especially true in Healthcare, where lives and safety are on the line. Constantly reacting, multiple demands on our time, and have multiple roles to play in the workplace and within our families, Take a step...

Too often, we set aspirational goals that are, in reality, not attainable due to the time, effort, or personal tendencies required to accomplish them. How can we set goals that are realistic and attainable? How do we manage our own expectations?  DISCUSSION  New Year is a time for resolutions and goal setting. We miss the mark because the goals we set are aspirational, rather than realis...