The Experimental Leader

So, when we're innovating, we're in a period of intense change. And the more we constrain people about how they're going to solve the problem, the less chance we have to great mind-blowing innovation. So, ditch the rules, think to yourself, is this something that's a problem? Is it a repetitive problem? That's the question you should ask before you create a rule. Fixing things with a rule is never...

What makes a good military leader? To be a scientist and an artist. The show's guest in this episode is  Mary Bell Ph. D. , an associate professor at National Defense University. Mary talks with Melanie Parish about how a good military leader not only needs to know the procedures. They also need to know how to step back and look at the bigger picture. Mary shares her thoughts on leadership in...

As you start to realize that you want to hold that one singular focus on your bottleneck most of the time. I think it's empowering. And I think it supercharges your leadership, I think it'll be interesting to hear what you're struggling with. What's your biggest bottleneck? Love the show?  Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here’s How » Join The Experimental Leader community today: melaniepa...

Imagine a world where leaders feel and display deep regard for others' dignity. That world is one where leader humility is present, driving leaders and how they interact with others. We discuss the topic of leader humility as our host, Melanie Parish, interviews scholar, teacher, trainer, and senior leader  Marilyn Gist . Marilyn helps us examine how humility works and its impact on leaders a...

Burnout is a real risk for people and burnout can last a really long time. And I think many people I talked to, don't take their vacations because they're waiting. There's some real function to those vacations. And I also think that one of the things that you can do when you think about self-care, you want to kind of dig deep for yourself, you want to look for ways that you can step back and pause...

The only way through a person's inner thoughts and feelings is through their journal. This is what the President of Frame of Mind Coaching , Kim Ades believes in. Kim is a business coach that helps highly driven people reach their goals. One of the best ways to understand people's motivations is through their minds, and one way through that is by journaling. Join your host Melanie Parish as she si...

It's important when we think about making our teams more productive, that we also think about empathy, that we also think about what our teams need and what they've experienced. It isn't for its own sake, it's actually in service to the work that we have empathy for it creates productivity. Love the show?  Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here’s How » Join The Experimental Leader community...

Mental health issues are on the rise because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The show’s guest today is Heather Younger , the CEO, and Founder of Employee Fanatix and author of The Art of Caring Leadership . Employee Fanatix is a leadership development consulting and training firm that teaches you to achieve real business results through caring leadership. Heather chats with Melanie Parish on how we need...

It's super important to think about choosing icons, who are really good at leadership, I think we go down a rabbit hole sometimes, and we think people who are really dominant and tell everybody what to do, or someone who's really charismatic, that those people are exemplifying leadership, I think they're actually just exemplifying their personality. I think true leadership can be learned. And it's...

Emotional competency is so important to who we are and who we want to become as a leader. The show’s guest today is  Dr. Keith Westman , the Chief Operating Officer at  Otus.  Otus is the first EdTech platform to centralize learning management, assessment, and data on one platform, reducing chaos for educators, students, and their families. Dr. Keith discusses with Melanie Parish ho...

I want to give you some tips that'll help you when you're leading innovation. There's something hard about creating alchemy in a business or an organization. It can feel like a slog, it can feel like you're kind of trying to push through sand or move fast through water It isn't always apparent why it feels so hard because you think we're just doing our normal thing. But if you're innovating, then...

Finding the right job for you and getting the salary you want is not that easy. One must master the art of negotiation and learn how to show up properly if they're going to pull that off. Melanie Parish sits down with David Johnson, who aims to combine his professional experiences as a lawyer with design. He shares the most important strategies when chasing job opportunities on both entry-level an...

We often rush to take action and do something, but when was the last time you allowed things to slow down a bit? Shahmeen Sadiq , an executive coach, and founder of Anjali Leadership , joins Melanie Parish, to share what it is about staying present and being self-aware that help mold a true leader. Sharing her insights on some social issues, Shahmeen points out that people wanted to move things qu...

Business coaching is about being 100% present to your client. For our International Coaches Week special episode, our guest is Garry Schleifer , a business coach and the publisher of Choice, the magazine of professional coaching. In this episode, Garry talks about his experiences as a business coach. To Garry, values are very important in coaching; you need to hire and work with people who share y...

Although we have different cultures and upbringing, society has been limiting us in more ways than one, making our full potential for us to unleash. Through neuro-linguistic programming, Shawna Schuh  believes that this can help produce the most effective leaders today and become more open to fear and failure. Melanie Parish talks with this innovative thought leader to reveal how she studies...

Why do many workplaces exclude people with disabilities? To engage and get the maximum out of your community, you have to be inclusive. Melanie Parish’s guest is  Tova Sherman , the award-winning CEO of  reachAbility . ReachAbility is an organization that provides supportive and accessible programs dedicated to workplace inclusion for anyone facing barriers. In this episode, Me...

Pivots are breeding grounds for experimentation. As they shifted from the traditional restaurant paradigm to food takeout service, John Forcier and Jerrett Young of Equal Parts  found themselves becoming dishwashers, delivery drivers, and prep cooks at various times. This is on top of the Gemba walks that they are already making so that they can really see what needs to be done around the kit...

With the hospitality management one of the hardest hit by COVID-19 restrictions, restaurants are still barred from keeping their full capacity. For most dining establishments, pivoting to the food takeout service has allowed them to survive. In this first part of the discussion, Melanie Parish talks to John Forcier  and Jerrett Young  of Equal Parts  about the strategies and challen...

It is not that easy to do a career change, especially when pivoting to a completely different industry. What does it take in terms of skills and mindset for you to be successful in such a huge shift in life? Career coach EB Sanders  works with creative individuals who need guidance in this regard. She talks with Melanie Parish about her work on career development, which is now mainly done thr...

Healthcare is not only in need of skilled practitioners but responsible leaders as well. With the right healthcare leadership in place, treatments and procedures can be rolled out quickly and safely. Delving this topic with Melanie Parish is Dan Pelino of Everyone Matters, Inc. , discussing the right attitude and mindset every leader in this industry must possess to cause real change and impact. H...

Despite the advanced thinking and newfound ideals of society, women leaders still struggle to break out of stereotypical thinking and discrimination within the business sector. They are still seen as inferior to men, tend to decide based on emotions alone, and are always judged based on their looks.  Johanna Pagonis  of Sinogap Solutions  is on a mission to change all of these by em...

In today's world of competing ideas, one unique healing and relaxation process arises - the flower remedy. Using the natural bloom, essence, and aroma of these elegant plants, emotional and psychological treatments are provided in an interesting way. Delving into this industry with Melanie Parish is the Creator of LOTUSWEI,  Katie Hess . Katie shares the benefits of their available products,...

How can you find growth when the world has already dictated what you should become? For many women, this is a common dilemma. There is an on-going struggle to fit within the so-called standards of the world that we bury what it is that makes us happy.  Debrah Mowlem , the founder of Business Ladies Forum, inspires women to forget being normal and just embrace their weird. In this episode, she...

As the pandemic continues to loom over the entire world, everyone continues to depend on social media and online calls to talk with each other and even hold entire conferences. Despite this digital interaction, the connection between individuals seems to suffer and becomes less important as time goes by. Sitting down with Melanie Parish is management consultant and executive coach  Liz Kislik...

It is hard to accept our weaknesses and failures, and as a result, our personal growth is hindered and our relationships suffer. By embracing vulnerability within ourselves, we can walk away from our past mistakes and discover our inner strengths that are yet to be showcased. Joining Melanie Parish is a leadership coach and the CEO of Meritage Leadership,  Susan Drumm , to discuss how to get...