Leadership Sandbox: Strategies to Uplevel Workplace Communication, Team Collaboration, and Your Corporate Culture

Leadership isn't something you're born with. It's something you grow into. In today's episode of Playing in the Sandbox, I answer some excellent listener questions, but first, we dive into the topic of swift decision-making. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you would like to ask a question - it may end up on our next Q and A episode! Swift decision-making relies on agreement. This means...

Great leaders always look for ways to improve themselves and unlock their potential. In this episode of Playing In the Sandbox, I take you through the three key ingredients that might be missing from your leadership style.  Whether you're a new leader or you think you have it all figured out, listen in! I know you're going to learn something new.   The best leaders are vulnerable and authentic in...

Today's guest has worked at many levels of different organizations and brings a wealth of knowledge to the topic of leadership and management! In today's episode of Playing in the Sandbox, I'm so excited to bring you into my most recent conversation with Tia Boatman Patterson, the President and CEO of the California Community Reinvestment Corporation. We talk about the importance of communication,...

I'm not afraid to have bold conversations, and this may be my boldest episode yet! Today on Playing in the Sandbox, I take you with me as I draw a line in the sand - if we want to improve company culture, we can't just focus on leadership… It is so important that we also empower and educate our amazing managers! Positive change happens at all levels, so listen in to hear how leadership and managem...

Who are you as a manager? In today's episode of Playing in the Sandbox, I will take you through the 3 M's of management. And, spoiler alert, one of these things is not like the others! So grab your pen and paper, write down some takeaways, and figure out which one of the 3 M's just doesn't belong in your management style! Mentoring is an amazing tool that can elevate the success of your team. Spre...

This year, we're not just celebrating the New Year, we're celebrating NOT quitting on Quitter's Day! In this episode of Playing in the Sandbox, I'm digging into Quitter's Day and how we can shift our perspective toward behavior changes that stick. On that note, we're going to talk about framing our yearly reviews to help our team members get excited about changing their mindsets so they can accomp...

Welcome to the final episode of Playing in the Sandbox for this year! I'm thrilled to bring you a special Q&A episode crafted entirely from the questions you, our amazing listeners, have sent in. We will break down the problems so many of us face as leaders while we celebrate curiosity and our amazing community! When you want to see behavior changes in your team, set expectations, model the change...

Leaders, we have had so many learning moments on this podcast throughout 2023. For this episode, we're looking back over the year to celebrate our wins and leave behind the things that no longer serve us.  The best leaders use the "Power of Regret" to move forward and make big changes. Instead of wallowing in it or pushing it away, confronting regrets can help leaders take action. (Thanks, Dan Pin...

One issue many people have when it comes to storytelling is getting to the main points. The whole point of using storytelling as a leader is to make your team members take action. But how can they act when they do not understand what you're trying to convey? In this episode, we'll discuss five key ways leaders can become bottom-line communicators. Listen to this insightful episode to help you deve...

If you're ready to help your team think critically and creatively, it might be time to ask great questions. In this episode, we're going to dive into how you can build independence and critical thinking skills in your team by asking open-ended questions. Tap into your curiosity to step up your leadership! Engaging people by asking specific questions to help them understand their responsibilities c...

If your team is operating in chaos, you may have a pot-stirrer in your midst. In this episode, I'm sharing some insights into the inner workings of the pot-stirrer's mind. Strong leaders have a responsibility to help their teams see their way through tough situations - it's time to stop stirring the pot and start stepping up. Pot-stirrers thrive on chaos and tension in the workplace. They manipula...

The fear of failure can be a self-fulfilling prophecy if you let it. It's time to leave the fear behind and break through your barriers. In this episode, I'm here to tell my own personal story of MY fear of failure and share ideas for how you can overcome what holds you back. If you are becoming stagnant, look inward to discover the truth of why it's happening. Stagnation can cause us to be afraid...

It happens to everyone, so why are we so afraid of being wrong? In today's episode, I'm diving into the power you gain when you stop fearing failure. Owning your mistakes strengthens your integrity and creates opportunities to learn more about yourself, your work, and your team.  Leaders and team members need to get over the fear of disappointing others and ourselves. Keep your integrity and self-...

Navigate team meetings, bold conversations, and tense moments with ease through well-timed pauses! In today's episode of Playing in the Sandbox, I want to share the Power of Pause with you. When you have the emotional awareness to know how to apply it, you can avoid having your thinking hijacked by tension or frustration. Even though "hitting the pause button" might seem simple, simple actions can...

No matter what kind of organization you lead, the way you support others and support yourself determines your team's strength and success. In this episode of Playing in the Sandbox, I interview Larry Brey ("LB"), the Associate Pastor at Elevation Church. We discuss how LB builds leaders and helps them understand a vision greater than themselves.   What makes you unique is what makes you powerful....

If you're worried about the state of your team, it might be time to hold up the mirror and see if the inconsistency in your leadership is the culprit. In this episode of Playing in the Sandbox, I'm going to walk you through the costs of inconsistency so you can understand the significance of being consistent and increase the overall health of your team.   Here are a few of the topics we're going t...

After the upheaval over the past three years, the workplace has emerged as an enemy. It's time to unpack what happened and create a path forward. In this episode of Playing in the Sandbox, I sit down with Gary Campbell, the Founder and Owner of Impact to Lead LLC and CEO of Johnson Health Centers. Together, we talk about the importance of leadership when rebuilding trust and navigating an uncertai...

For better or worse, the patterns you embody have brought you to where you are today. I'm here today to invite you to examine your patterns and identify the ones that no longer serve you. In this episode of Playing in the Sandbox, I'm going to discuss the importance of interrupting harmful patterns and give you tools on how to step into new habits that align with the person you know you can become...

Lead in all areas of your life, not just in the office. To be a productive, effective leader, you need to be strong, healthy, decisive, and disciplined. Getting enough sleep is the foundation for all of these things. In today's episode of Playing in the Sandbox, I meet with Chris Warnes (C.W.) to talk about how revolutionizing his sleep habits has helped him build his success. Here are some topics...

Being a leader is one thing. Being a leader who understands their personal leadership style and can effectively use it is another thing. In today's episode of Playing in the Sandbox, in the first part of a two-part episode, I meet with Chris Warnes (C.W.) to discuss how leaders can dominate their personal leadership. Here are C.W.'s lessons to help you dominate your personal leadership: Don't be a...

If you've been avoiding a difficult conversation with someone in the workplace, this episode is for you. Today on Playing In The Sandbox, I'm sharing some specific, actionable tips that can give you the confidence to walk into a bold conversation from a place of strength and respect. Great communicators are responsible for what they say, how they are understood, and listening with a sincere intent...

An issue a lot of entrepreneurs and leaders face when they begin to make money is playing with that money, then subsequently losing it. In today's episode of Playing In The Sandbox, I meet with Melissa Houston to talk about her experience with money and how you can avoid those pitfalls. H ere are some key takeaways to prevent you from losing your money: Be willing to negotiate with your salary. Do...

Leaders often wonder why their communication is failing, even though they think they're doing everything right. The truth is, we teach people how to treat us. In today's episode of Playing In The Sandbox, I'll discuss how you can make sure your communication is effective. We train people on how to communicate with us. If there's an issue in communication, you have to find out what you're doing wro...

Often times, leaders put unrealistic expectations on their team members and expect perfection. Then they become frustrated when their team falls short of this. In today's episode of Playing In The Sandbox, I'll be discussing why team members should focus on being better, instead of perfect. Striving for perfection will only lead to disappointment. Here's how leaders can focus on improvement instea...

We learned how to engage with others in a healthy way as children, but when we entered the workforce as adults, we seem to have left those rules of engagement behind. In today's episode of Playing In The Sandbox, I'll be discussing how to build a healthy set of rules for you and your team. Without clear rules of engagement, you probably don't have a healthy team. Here's the rules of engagement in...