The Human Side of Leadership

Management thinker Peter Drucker is often quoted as saying: “ you can't manage what you can't measure .” Another way of looking at that is that you can't improve what you don't measure. When seen against this backdrop, far too many organizations are leaving behind the opportunity to measure—and therefore manage—the wellbeing of their employees. The result? Far too many organiza...

Nothing is as important to an organization’s success as teamwork. Yet the coronavirus pandemic has left many businesses struggling to survive, with dispersed teams of people who can no longer physically meet together in one location. Despite these new realities, never before has the power of teamwork been more important. Whether you’re a team member or leader, learn why NOW is the best time to beg...

"The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the way we live, work and learn. Unprecedented rapid change has been thrust upon us. As we begin to think about a post-COVID world, chief learning officers have an important role to play. CLOs can help their organizations embrace and adapt to this new normal. Here are five actions CLOs can take to re-engage and prepare their L&D teams and broader organiz...

Nowhere in recent history has the world been brought together in such a profound way under one common challenge and one common cause, as is the case with 2020's COVID-19 pandemic. Everywhere one turns, the questions linger: how do we respond to this global challenge? How do we deal with our lives today? How do we create personal and professional cultures of happiness in today's 'New...

Every now and then I am blessed to meet with and learn from a truly enlightened thought leader. In a world that is increasingly polarized and struggling both inwardly and outwardly, never has there been a time where we need to hear the words of an enlightened soul. In time, we learn that we all are simply one word: LOVE. We learn that we must journey inward and reconnect with that which brings us...

Sometimes it is through difficult experiences that we discover and create the most beautiful things. What do you have in your life's experiences that could be the catalyst for a new level of beauty and achievement? In this episode, we meet Matt Zinman, Author of Z-isms, Nonprofit Founder, Wellness Advocate, and Difference-maker. My favorite quotes from Matt Zinman (paraphrased): "Stay pr...

Finding and landing one's dream job has never been easy. It has always required the hard work of introspection and the perseverance required to whether the storms of the job-seeking process. However, in today's strange and difficult pandemic times, the idea of landing one's dream job seems even more difficult and hard to achieve. How does one build the relationships that will last b...

It's almost a cliche nowadays to admit that one 'hates' performance reviews. Everyone would probably agree that the old approach to performance conversations—schedule a sit-down with an employee and grill them about what they did right or wrong last year—doesn't produce great results. If feedback is difficult for most people, what actually works? What's the solution to the...

If I asked you what single language every single human being on planet earth understands fluently, what would be your answer? Music, our universal language, is truly the language of our hearts. It has been successfully used throughout the ages for inspiration, entertainment, and healing. More recently it is finding application in education and even, business, because, at the end of the day, music...

In the race to make better, faster, and cheaper products and services, the 'people asset' is undoubtedly one of the most important profit levers available to organizations. When people learn and perform at high levels, organizations achieve their goals. Yet, there is a stubborn and troubling challenge that has long plagued organizations and seriously impedes their ability to transfer lea...

Workplace bullying is no longer a hidden corporate challenge. It is a clear and present danger in today's workplaces. It is one of the most destructive things that can happen to any organization. And what makes it worse is that it can be happening in plain sight and go unaddressed because sometimes the bullies are the ones in power. What organizational strategies do you have in place to addre...

It is a rare treat when we find a leader who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way. It is an amazing gift when we hear of one who came from adversity and disruption, yet was able to pivot to potential and performance. In today's difficult global disruption, what lessons can we learn for our lives and workplaces? How can we bounce back and thrive? In this episode, we meet Author and Pe...

Culture can be understood as the shared beliefs, practices, and behaviors of any group of people. In the Human Resources function of an organization, it is by far the most powerful lever for organizational success. When a company has a great culture, they can be unstoppable. And when business necessities such as compliance are positively and fully embedded in culture, an organization is free to pe...

"In our achievement-oriented world, it’s tempting to believe that money, power, success, and even happiness are the pinnacles of humanity. Yet, in this divided world so many of us feel deeply unfulfilled, yearning for deeper connections with others and ourselves. In TRANSCEND: The New Science of Self-Actualization (TarcherPerigee; on-sale: 4/7/20), psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman offers a re...

Sometimes, thought leaders will find their inspiration and guidance from industries and human pursuits far removed from the topic they are seeking to improve. For example, the Wright brothers learned and implemented flight by researching the flight of birds. Another example is Frederick Smith, CEO of Fedex, who revolutionalized the transportation industry by borrowing the concept of 'hub and...

One of the self-evident truths in the medical field is that you can't adequately address a symptom unless you first understand and address its cause. This universal principle is at play every single day in workplaces all over the world. You can't address the symptoms of workplace dysfunction unless you deal with its root cause: people. In this episode, we meet Dr. Rick Brinkman, a renown...

Transferrable skills are those strengths and competencies acquired through experience in one field of life and work, and then re-imagined and applied to a new life or work situation. They are amongst the most valuable skills one can possess because you are able to approach a new situation with a wide variety of perspectives, each with their own unique powers to transform and elevate creativity and...

Have you ever found yourself at your desk, wondering why you came to work that day? Or have you ever felt like things weren't going quite as well as you'd hoped at your workplace? If you've ever had these feelings at work—whether you're a CEO, a middle-manager, or an employee—you're not alone, and you might be glad to know that there are powerful, science-based, proven met...

In this episode, we interview Harrison Hunter Reid Fischer, CPFA, a Speaker in Health, Wellness, Psychology, and Business Success. He is also a Managing Director in a Financial Services Company. Harrison Hunter Reid Quote: “If you’re not making someone else’s life better, then you are wasting your time.” The best way to reach Harrison Hunter Reid is: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harrisonhu...

A "Gray Rhino" is an obvious danger that we tend to ignore, similar in concept to the analogy of a "white elephant" or a "black swan". It's charging at us, and we can see it, but for some reason we completely ignore it. Why is it that so many leaders and decision-makers fall into the trap of failing to address these obvious dangers before they cause unintended ha...

At some point in our lives and businesses, we realize that despite conventional wisdom, success does not lead to happiness. In fact, we learn that it’s the other way around. Although money can’t make you happy, it turns out that “happy” can make you money! In this episode, Jon Schober is interviewing Dr. Pelè! We thought we'd do something different and FUN! Long-time friend and colleague, Jon...

"Not finance. Not strategy. Not technology. It is teamwork that remains the ultimate competitive advantage, both because it is so powerful and so rare."—Patrick Lencioni, Bestselling Author of The Five Dysfunctions Of A Team. This self-evident truth is quickly recognizable by anyone who has ever been on a team or has been at the helm of leading one. The key question, however, is HOW do y...

The idea of living and working "Location-Free" is one of today's most cherished goals for many executives or entrepreneurs. Whether you're working from home for a corporation or you own your own business and can dial in from a beach in the Bahamas, being untethered from a location and still being able to comfortably earn a living is a special treat. In this episode, we meet CEO...

In the past few years, neuroscience has shone so much new, groundbreaking light on the inner workings of the brain. Graphical scans of human brains have revealed, like never before, the science behind why we feel, react, and behave the way we do. Happiness, among many other feelings that we encounter in life, is now something we can explain as a learnable skill and engineer with intention. This an...

We are all familiar with the important role a coach plays on any sports team. We know by observation alone that their influence on team members is so palpable that it affects the very actions that players take in every game. It's commonly accepted that whether you're a beginning player or a celebrated professional like Mike Jordan, you need a coach! But what about the rest of us? What is...