Building Better Managers

Welcome to "Building Better Managers," the ultimate podcast for ambitious leaders and managers. Hosted by Wendy Hanson, co-founder of BetterManager, this podcast is thrilled to welcome a special guest, Brian Smith, founder of IA Business Advisors, a renowned management consulting firm.  In this episode, Wendy and Brian explore the power of positive influence and effective communication, highlighti...

Welcome to "Building Better Managers," the podcast where Wendy Hanson, co-founder of BetterManager, interviews top leadership professionals to uncover strategies for creating a happier, highly engaged, and more productive workplace. In this episode, Wendy sits down with Liz Kislik, a management consultant and executive coach with a wealth of experience in developing high-performing leaders and wor...

Welcome to "Building Better Managers" the podcast that brings you insightful conversations and actionable strategies for creating an inclusive and thriving workplace. With your host, Wendy Hanson, and in today's episode, we have a very special guest, Sally Helgesen, joining us. Diversity and inclusion are more than just buzzwords; they are essential for driving success in any organization. In this...

Welcome to "Building Better Managers", today we will explore customer success and BetterManager's mission to help people thrive at work. In this episode, we interview key managers on our internal BetterManager team, Kate Rath, VP of Customer Success, Luis Vides and Rafael Tinoco, both passionate customer success managers. Discover their insights, experiences, and the exciting possibilities of fost...

Join host Wendy Hanson and renowned speaker and coach Mike Robbins on the "Creating an Inclusive Workplace with Mike Robbins" podcast. Together, they explore the transformative power of diversity in the workplace. Discover practical strategies, inspiring stories, and expert insights on fostering psychological safety, creating an inclusive culture, and leveraging the strengths of diverse teams. Whe...

Join us for an engaging and insightful conversation on the critical role of people managers in times of change. Our guest, Tim Creasey, shares his wealth of knowledge and experience on how to lead with empathy and purpose during these challenging times. Through a memorable and easy-to-remember acronym, the CLARC method, Tim offers practical guidance on how to effectively manage change. Whether it'...

In today's persistently challenging business environment, having a thought partner to help reframe feelings and reflect on experiences from a new perspective can be invaluable. At BetterManager, our top-rated community of coaches serve in this all-important role for managers and leaders at every level within organizations all over the globe. On this episode, Wendy is joined by BetterManager coache...

Being an ally and creating a more inclusive workplace culture is a responsibility for everyone, not just those who work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion roles. For organizations to get diversity and inclusion right, you need to build a culture that truly embraces difference, where everyone feels valued and heard. Only then can you truly begin to thrive. On our latest podcast, we are joined by K...

While there is an abundance of research on the concept of psychological safety, there is limited practical information on how to create psychologically-safe, highly-engaged and healthier workplaces where one can speak up without the risk of punishment or humiliation. Join us as we welcome Karolin Helbig and Minette Norman, authors of The Psychological Safety Playbook: Lead More Powerfully by Being...

Your company's culture is either a headwind holding you back or a tailwind helping push you forward toward greater success and productivity. Which is yours? And if it's not headed in the right direction, what's the quickest way to turn it around? Our guest today, Simon D'Arcy, is an executive coach and partner at Evolution.team , a coaching, consulting and investment firm, where he focuses on help...

Every business is invested in growing and developing its leaders. If they can be taught, they can lead. And, good leadership has a ripple effect. While the need for greater leadership development has never been more critical, determining what kind of solution will best equip your team to lead successfully—today and into the future—remains a difficult task. The corporate learning industry is filled...

The very best leaders and managers, at every level, carry a a presence about them. Whether among a small team or an entire organization, that presence can draw people to you. And your role as a leader, of course, is not just to bring people together through your actions and ideas, but to move them toward a common goal or cause. Being a thought leader is a time-tested, effective way of harnessing y...

At BetterManager, we consistently see the importance of interpersonal communication skills as the top topic being discussed in 1:1 coaching – no matter what role individuals and managers play within an organization. Developing the skills to persuade and influence others will open doors in your professional, as well as your personal life, as you're able to better communicate with others and lead th...

The business world is in a state of great change and opportunity. With an ever-growing remote and hybrid workforce, an increasing emphasis on DEI, sustainability, and technology, the "command and control" style of leadership has become more or less obsolete. The future success of your company relies on managers that lead with values and vision, and work together as super-collaborators solving prob...

Your first 30-to-90 days as a new leader in an organization can make or break you. It's so easy to get caught up in "Here's how I'm going to fix things!" But do you really know the situation well enough? It's often much better to align with your team on a general vision and direction first, and use that first month to listen, observe, and assess why things are the way they are. This puts you in a...

Remote and hybrid working environments, in some form, are here to stay. Understanding how to maintain well-being, increase employee engagement, and strengthen connections in professional contexts as our interactions become more and more remote can be a game changer for managers and leaders at any organization. Today's guests, Dr. Amy Mednick and Dr. Diane Lennard are the authors of the deeply-rese...

People with invisible illnesses may look fine, but that doesn't mean they aren't struggling. When Harper Spero was diagnosed with an extremely rare immunodeficiency disorder, she was determined to create her own narrative. And not only has Harper learned to embrace her invisible illness, but now she's on a mission to provide resources and hope to others who are silently struggling. Harper Spero is...

Does your company work hard to identify and get the most from each individual's unique talents? Or does it just accept talent flight, "The Great Resignation" and "quiet quitting" as unavoidable? The truth is that all your leaders from the C-Suite to your frontline managers can benefit from recognizing the signs and helping people out when they get stuck. Mpume Ncube-Daka is an internationally-accr...

Hope is more than a "nice to have"; it can play a central role in business, as it drives resilient behavior, engagement, and innovation. In this episode, we explore the neuroscience behind hope and mindfulness, and the discuss benefits of applying the learnings in the workplace with forensic neuropsychiatrist Dr. George Woods. Dr. Woods is an accomplished physician, specializing in neuropsychiatry...

We've all heard the expression "culture eats strategy for breakfast." But what does a strong organizational culture actually look like? It's about a lot more than just occasional happy hours, pool tables, or free snacks. When your culture comes from living your core values, it will be the guiding star for your actions and how you attack each day with your team. Marc Reifenrath is the co-founder an...

If your organization has embraced a hybrid or fully-remote work model, your managers need to be equipped with an array of adaptable and effective tools for team development, including coaching. Today's guest, Charlie Nelson, is responsible for all aspects of worldwide operations for SmartRecruiters, including GTM & distribution strategy and performance optimization. Translation: he knows a thing o...

Workplace drama can affect every aspect of business: Employee engagement, productivity, teamwork, customer service, and, ultimately, your bottom line. And from frontline managers to top-level executives, leaders often do not realize how much they themselves actually contribute to the conflict and drama within their workplaces. Everyone has blind spots, so it's critical to evaluate how conflict and...

All leaders and managers need to know how to effectively facilitate a meeting that brings together their team, peers, and customers in a meaningful way. Our guest, Jaren Murphy, is the Vice President of Business Development at McCarthy Building Companies, a builder of water infrastructure and other commercial projects across the United States. Jaren believes that while every meeting is different,...

As the world of work evolves, leaders and managers are being asked to do more. In addition to day-to-day responsibilities, successful companies are engaging leaders in conversations about broader issues like return on investment. What's one of the best ways to ensure a company's financial success? By putting people first and embracing a culture of growth and innovation. Teams who can innovate, evo...

Leaders, and particularly middle managers, are constantly being challenged. While it's never been easy to navigate the needs of both the C-Suite and junior staff members, the past few years have created a slew of new priorities and pressures. From managing remote and hybrid teams and effectively implementing and supporting company DEI priorities to rallying staff during times of crisis and reducin...