NeuroConversant Leadership

Why should you apologize? Is it even worth it? What does it take to make a good apology? In this conversation, Jeremy explores the intricacies of apologies, discussing his personal journey from avoiding them to recognizing their importance in maintaining healthy relationships. He outlines the steps to delivering a meaningful apology and shares a personal example of his own apology, emphasizing the...

Do you have difficulty making eye contact? Are there other challenges you have that make communication difficult? In this conversation, Dr. Iyer explains how he overcomes his ADHD and being on the Autism Spectrum by being vulnerable and opening up to form deeper connections. You can learn more about Dr. Iyer at http://www.driyer.com/ Takeaways Communication is a two-way street involving interpreta...

Are you excited about Thanksgiving and other holidays where everyone gets together? Are you also a little stressed about how it is going to be with that group of people? You are not alone! It is a wonderful time of year, but a little bit of preparation will go a long way towards making it even better. In this episode, we explore the dynamics of family gatherings, the potential for triggers, and of...

Are you a non-technical person who now manages a team of engineers? Or an engineer who has become a manager where the truth is a bit softer than you are used to? Nick Jain is our guest and he has a diverse background and has been in both positions. He has a lot of insight in how to reach across a boundary that many find scary. Reach out to him at linkedin.com/in/nickjain In this conversation, Nick...

Are you funny? Do you use humor at the right times and places? Do you know the 8 triggers of laughter? In this conversation, Jeremy explores the complex nature of comedy, focusing on what makes jokes funny, the elements that trigger laughter, and the appropriate contexts for humor. He discusses a controversial joke made by Tony Hinchcliffe, examining the implications of humor that 'punches down' a...

Are leaders made or born? Laura Watson shares some of the lessons she shares which can help anyone become a successful leader. In this conversation, Laura Watson discusses her extensive experience in leadership and business coaching, focusing on the transition from being a doer to a leader. She emphasizes the importance of effective delegation, communication skills, and emotional intelligence in l...

Do you like to decide on a plan early on or do you prefer to wait until there is more information and be flexible in your planning? In this episode, Jeremy Doran delves into the Myers-Briggs MBTI assessment, focusing on the Judging vs. Perceiving preference pairing. He explains how these preferences influence decision-making, planning, and spontaneity in both personal and professional contexts. Th...

Does a tendency towards introversion hold you back in your career? Could it actually be one of your greatest strengths? In this conversation, Jeremy Doran and Stacey Chazin explore the unique strengths and challenges faced by introverts in leadership roles. Stacey, a leadership coach, emphasizes the importance of embracing introversion as an asset rather than a liability. They discuss strategies f...

Do you avoid political conversation all together because it ends in arguments? Would you like to talk about ideas, but get frustrated with how those conversations go? In this conversation, Jeremy Doran discusses the increasing polarization in politics, especially as the presidential election approaches. He reflects on personal experiences with heated political discussions and emphasizes the import...

Do your clients trust you? Do your co-workers? Have you built a culture of trust? Summary In this conversation, Natalie Doyle Oldfield discusses the significance of trust in business relationships, emphasizing the importance of building trust both externally with clients and internally within teams. She introduces her concept of 'trust equity' and the Trust Triangle, which includes communication,...

Have you ever wondered why some stories capture the audience and some fall flat? Jeremy went to his first Moth Storytelling event and would like to share what he learned! You can listen to the Moth stories on NPR, or on their website https://themoth.org/podcast where you can also purchase their books and even their story telling game! Chapters 00:00 The Power of Storytelling 00:58 New Chapter 2 03...

Have you been hearing the term NeuroDivergent all over the place, but not know exactly what it means? How about NeuroDiversity or NeuroTypical? In this conversation, Dr. Matthew Zakreski and Jeremy Doran delve into the complexities of neurodiversity, exploring its definitions, implications, and the importance of understanding different brain types. They discuss the roles of neurotypical and neurod...

Have you ever had a conversation go sideways? Afterwards think "If I had only"...or just not gotten the results you were hoping for? In this conversation, Jeremy Doran discusses the importance of gaining control of conversations and offers a method called PTSD (Preparation, Time, Subject, Deliverable) to help with this. He emphasizes the need for preparation, including researching and ta...

Do you struggle to convey complex information in a Power Point presentation? Meet Emily Schneider. In this episode, Jeremy Doran interviews Emily Schneider, a visual storyteller who helps business leaders simplify complex information using PowerPoint. Emily works with clients in various industries, including pharma, business intelligence, data, finance, and technology. She focuses on creating visu...

Do you struggle to ask for help? Do you ask too often? When someone asks you are you unable to say no? In this episode, Jeremy Doran discusses the importance of asking for help and provides tips on how to ask for help effectively. He shares two stories from his own experience to illustrate the lessons he learned. The first story highlights the importance of asking directly for help and not beating...

Have you ever had to lead a group without having any authority to enforce your directions? That takes a special kind of leadership. In this conversation, Jeremy Doran interviews Hannah West, a former captain of high school basketball and lacrosse teams. She discusses her experience as an informal leader and how that experience helped her to get a college scholarship. Hannah shares her journey of b...

Wouldn't it be easier if we never had to talk to "Those People"? But life is so much richer when we do! In this episode, Jeremy Doran discusses the importance of embracing diversity in the workplace and effectively communicating with people who think and communicate differently. He emphasizes the value of different perspectives in generating new ideas and solving problems. Jeremy enc...

Have you been left to just figure out how to become a manager? You are not alone! In this episode, Jeremy Doran interviews Edward Morgan, the founder of Gordian Knot, about the transition from being an engineer to a leadership role. He emphasizes the need for training and support for new managers and the value of taking an engineering approach to problem-solving in management. Plus, he loves and s...

I often ask myself when navigating conflict...what would an engineer do! In this episode, Jeremy Doran discusses why engineers are great at conflict resolution without compromising. He emphasizes the importance of stating assumptions and seeking the best solution instead of settling for a compromise. Using the example of planning a vacation, he shows how engineers can find a third option that sati...

Do you struggle to make real connections with people over zoom? Evgeniy Kharam, a cybersecurity expert and author, discusses the importance of soft skills and effective communication. He emphasizes the need to connect with others, especially in a virtual environment, and highlights the power of voice and breathing techniques in overcoming fear and improving communication. Evgeniy also shares the v...

Equity and inclusion (DEI) is an important topic in the workplace, but it is often controversial. There is a lot of pushback on making it a requirement, but there should be no question that embracing diverse points of view is critical in business success.. Diversity in companies, particularly having women on the board of directors, has been shown to lead to higher returns on equity, net income gro...

Sharon Costanzo is super smart, and also really good at relationships. It was such a joy to have her on the show! Sharon, who is both an engineer and relationship coach, discusses effective communication in the STEM workplace. She emphasizes the importance of openness, curiosity, and collaboration in problem-solving. Sharon shares her experiences as a female engineer and the challenges she faced i...

The name of this podcast is partly based upon the term "NeuroDiversity". But, what exactly does that mean? Neurodiversity is an umbrella term that describes people with variations in their mental functions. It includes conditions like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. While neurodivergent individuals may struggle with soft skills and social interactions, they also have unique strengths. Labels...

Do you lead a team of people who are different from each other and different from yourself? Do you know how to knit them together for maximum productivity? Tom Dardick, the principal of Dardick Interpersonal Communication, discusses the importance of healthy communication in diverse teams and building a healthy workplace culture. He emphasizes the need for leaders to see and value each individual,...

Do you like sales people? Are there times when you have to be one? This is a conflict which needs to be resolved! In this episode, Jeremy discusses the importance of self-promotion and sales skills. He shares his personal experience of realizing the need to promote himself and the challenges he faced. Jeremy emphasizes the need to believe in your product or service and focus on the customer's...