I Wish They Knew

IN EPISODE 143: We know that coaches help us do better. But did you know that anyone can become better at coaching? In Episode 143, Sara Canaday helps us hone our coach approach. We discuss why people have more coaching chops than they think, the difference between performance and developmental coaching, and five steps we can take to improve our coaching skillset. There's a coach inside each of us...

IN EPISODE 142: We know high-trust teams enjoy better relationships and results, but they also need a big helping of risk and respect. In Episode 142, David Burkus explores the beliefs and behaviors of high-trust teams. He explains why it pays to share small bits of self-disclosure, how to treat conflict as collaboration, why team failures should be recast as learning moments, and the benefits of...

IN EPISODE 141: Life would be so much easier if it weren't for other people, right? Learning how to deal with difficult people - especially when they're your boss - can be a gut-wrenching, angst-ridden experience, but it doesn't have to be a career killer. In Episode 141, Mary Abbajay shows us how to manage up without falling down. You'll learn how to identify and work alongside two distinct workp...

IN EPISODE 140: Ever get one of those customer satisfaction surveys asking you to rate your experience? Or whether you're likely to recommend a product to others? Even if you bother to respond, those type of measures don't provide meaningful answers -- or insights. In Episode 140, Dave Norton makes the case for measuring customer experience with modes, not "moments." By focusing on "time well spen...

IN EPISODE 139: Confident presenters don't just prepare -- they follow a process. In Episode 139, Andrea Pacini shares the steps that lead to powerful presentations. You'll learn how to S.C.OR.E. a memorable message, how to put the audience at the center of your story, and why three is the luckiest number for every presenter. No matter your role, presentations are a part of life -- and after liste...

Part 4 in a special series: "Things I Know" // When it comes to feedback, what we show matters more than what we say. From facial cues to Post It notes and even subway maps, feedback signals who others are and where they're headed -- and reminds us that feedback is about a destination, not just a process.

Part 3 in a special series: "Things I Know" // Feedback has a negativity problem - it's so closely associated with criticism and correction that we forget it can be positive, too. Positive feedback improves individual performance and team effectiveness. And the best part? It's the surest, simplest way to make people feel better and do better work. From getting hospital staff to wash their hands mo...

Part 2 in a special series: "Things I Know" // Feedback tells a story. And while we don't get to write the script, we always get to choose the ending. With the right mix of intention and attention, we can flip the feedback script and take charge of how others see us...and how we see ourselves. In this solo episode, I explore five ways to write a better ending to the feedback we didn’t want from th...

Part 1 in a special series: "Things I Know" // There's no feedback without failure. The first step in righting a wrong is to recognize that something is wrong: Unless we bring ourselves to acknowledge a mistake or misstep, feedback hits a wall. Failing to admit failure cost doctors their careers...and maybe even cost patients their lives. In this solo episode, I explore why failure is the best tea...

IN EPISODE 134: Inclusion isn't a belief - it's a behavior. To create a truly inclusive workplace, we need to act our way into new thinking. In Episode 134, Sally Helgesen shows us how our actions shape our attitudes and why trainings alone rarely bring desired results. Sally explores two triggers that get in the way of meaningful relationships, provides tactics that help us overcome divisiveness,...

IN EPISODE 133: It pays to work smarter, not harder -- but the biggest time savers may come through small shifts. In Episode 133, Amantha Imber shares smart tips for saving time. Drawing from the practices of top producers, Amantha explores how to conduct a "frustration audit"; why batching conserves time and focus; the time-saving benefits of seeking early-stage feedback; and why you should occas...

IN EPISODE 132: You can't reach the consumer unless you understand the culture. In Episode 132, Marcus Collins shows us how effective marketing stays close to the culture by embracing the stories, values and beliefs of the people inside it. Marcus explains why it's better for products and ideas to be "culturally contagious," not viral; why marketing to specific demographics misses the point; and h...

IN EPISODE 131: When it comes to conflict, avoidance is worse than aggression. We tip toe around the elephant in the room -- even as we continue to feed it with beliefs and behaviors that make conflict worse. In Episode 131, Sarah Noll Wilson explores the cost of conflict and why it pays to be curious  - first with ourselves (our feelings and expectations), then with others (their motives and beha...

IN EPISODE 130: We imagine that success will feel exhilarating, liberating and fulfilling. So why do so many people experience the exact opposite when they finally achieve it? In Episode 130, Laura Gassner Otting explores the rollercoaster ride of success - an increased desire to do more, achieve more, and the swirling mix of uncertainty, self-doubt, anxiety and stress that follows. Laura shares p...

IN EPISODE 129: To build a business or an organization, you need an ensemble. And the best way to do that is to find your watering holes. In Episode 129, Pamela Slim helps us identify our ideal customers and partners through a systematic approach. By creating the "widest net," we can operate within the right ecosystems, forge strategic partnerships with the right people, and nurture relationships...

IN EPISODE 128: Innovation isn't about producing more ideas. It's about focusing more on the right ideas. In Episode 95, innovation expert Stephen Shapiro provides a roadmap for achieving breakthrough innovation by revealing the invisible solutions that are hiding in plain sight. He outlines a four-part process to create new ideas ("FAST") and how organizations can become future-ready innovators b...

IN EPISODE 127:  Why do we do what we do? It turns out the traditional view of motivation - a system of rewards and repercussions - doesn't account for the highly nuanced, deeply ingrained factors that drive our behaviors and beliefs. To understand motivation, we need to crack the code - and that's exactly what Todd Henry does for us in Episode 127. Drawing on decades of research and interviews wi...

IN EPISODE 126: We spend most of our day communicating, but spend far less time thinking about the significance of our words. In Episode 126, Jonah Berger returns to the show to share the power of "magic words" - how small shifts in everyday language can help us get the outcomes we want, from boosting voter turnout to increased helpfulness and around the house and stronger customer service. By app...

IN EPISODE 125: We aren't the product of our thoughts and always get to choose who we become. In Episode 125, Tara Renze shares practical tips on how to develop and practice emotional intelligence in our professional and personal lives. From developing our self-awareness to filling our lives with the people who help us evolve, Tara provides a road map for becoming more complete versions of the peo...

IN EPISODE 124:  Some of our best relationships begin with a good disagreement. In Episode 124, Kim Scott offers fresh takes on radical candor and shares why we don't need to choose between love and truth. We explore how radical candor should look and feel (and debunk myths about how to use it); discuss how candor can be used, no matter your personality type; highlight techniques to seek authentic...

IN EPISODE 123: Shazam is the one of the most downloaded apps of all time, but the secret to its success wasn't being first in its category -- it was first principles. In Episode 123, Chris Barton, Shazam's founder and first CEO, explains why he chose to "start from zero" and built an app based on fundamental truths, not convenient tactics. We discuss creative persistence (and why most good ideas...

IN EPISODE 122: We can have careers by design, not default -- so long as we position ourselves for change. In Episode 16, Ann Hiatt shares the lessons she learned from more than 15 years reporting directly to CEOs like Jeff Bezos, Eric Schmidt and Marissa Mayer. We explore Ann's "ROI" model for upleveling your career, discuss ways to generate feedback from up, down and across your organization, an...

IN EPISODE 121: Jeff Bezos built Amazon into an everything store that touches nearly every aspect of our lives. But it's his use of the written and spoken word that truly set him apart as a CEO. In Episode 121, Carmine Gallo explores Bezos's blueprint for clear and concise communication: From shareholder letters to public addresses, Bezos turned simple into a superpower and became Amazon's "repeat...

IN EPISODE 120: Chances are you work with someone a generation above or below you. And chances are you find that person irritating, bewildering, or just utterly different. Generational friction causes all sorts of workplace headaches: team dysfunction, productivity drags and the occasional culture war. In Episode 120, Chris DeSantis offers sound and straightforward advice on managing across the ge...

IN EPISODE 119: Collaboration is an essential part of work, but whether it leads to breakthroughs or breakdowns depends on our approach. In Episode 119, Deb Mashek explores ways to drive stronger relationships that push people together, not apart. We discuss the importance of shared purpose, how to build viewpoint diversity, ways organizations can foster collaboration and the behaviors that forge...