Engaging Leader: Leadership communication principles with Jesse Lahey

  This is a special episode of Engaging Leader, featuring part 2 of an excerpt of Jesse’s live interview on TechSmith’s Visual Lounge with Matt Pierce. While part 1 focused on the 5M framework as a comprehensive planning tool for communication, Simple Visual Story (SVS) is a great model for executing the components of the strategy more effectively, especially for remote communication.  SVS increases the effectiveness of videos, graphics, and other types of communication and education tactics to inspire trust and drive action. The SVS model has three components: Simple: Short. Make it as long as it needs to be, but no longer. Purposeful. Be clear about the target audiences and the outcomes you are seeking. What ACTIONS do you want people to take? What FEELINGS and BELIEFS do you want to stimulate? Well crafted. Words matter – the right words and messages trigger worldviews and provoke reactions. Design also matters – the right graphical construction invites the brain to pay attention and digest the information.   Visual: Metaphors. Metaphors stimulate paradigms and set expectations. Use an image, analogy, or a “word picture” to associate with something already familiar to the audience.  Images. The average person reads between 200 – 300 words per minute, but less than a second to process an image. Eye-tracking studies also show that people gravitate immediately to images. Keep in mind that you are constantly competing with social media and mobile notifications for attention.  Characters. According to MIT neuroscience research, images with people in them are the most memorable. Will your spokespeople or other characters resonate appropriately with the real-life people in your audience?   Story: Connection. A story makes it real … an issue affecting real-life people, not just a concept from management. A powerful story creates an emotional bond, so people are more likely to be open, willing, or even motivated to change. Entertainment. If they have enough to keep people mentally interested, stories guide the imagination and frame the future. 30% of people say a movie has changed their mind about an issue. Action. An effective story depicts specific people doing specific things and having specific feelings. This simulates the behaviors you’re asking people to practice. They equip people by showing, not merely telling.    Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Video version of this interview at TechSmith Visual Lounge Homepage: TechSmith Visual Lounge Website: TechSmith.com Example of Simple Visual Story video for Owens Corning  Twitter: @JesseLahey LinkedIn: /jesselahey Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcast | Google Play | Spotify |  Stitcher  | Other Ways to Listen

This is a special episode of Engaging Leader, featuring part 1 of an excerpt of Jesse’s live interview on TechSmith’s Visual Lounge with Matt Pierce to share tips for engaging a remote workforce. How effectively are you communicating with your remote workforce? Remote communication is more widespread than it’s ever been. Many people now have to communicate almost entirely online, using virtual tools such as email, and audio and visual communication like video calls. But remote communication can bring new challenges. Ideas can get lost in virtual translation, or people can be indifferent to taking action. So, how can you ensure that your communication is clear, motivates your audience to act, and helps you reach your desired outcome?   Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Video version of this interview at TechSmith Visual Lounge Homepage: TechSmith Visual Lounge Website: TechSmith.com Example of Simple Visual Story video for Owens Corning  Twitter: @JesseLahey LinkedIn: /jesselahey Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcast | Google Play | Spotify |  Stitcher  | Other Ways to Listen

  We’ve entered a new era with more people than ever working remotely, especially from home. This past year, according to author Charlene Walters, women have made up 80% of the people who left the on-site workforce during the pandemic.   In this second of a two-part interview, Jesse is joined again by Charlene to discuss tips from her new book LAUNCH YOUR INNER ENTREPRENEUR: 10 Mindset Shifts for Women to Take Action, Unleash Creativity, and Achieve Financial Success. This conversation includes: The challenges female leaders and “fempreneurs” face about working from home How to master a remote work environment and balance it with your leadership Tips for leading a remote team Fostering engagement and loyalty in a virtual environment Charlene Walters, MBA, Ph.D. is an entrepreneurship coach, business and branding mentor, author, and trainer. She developed a digital entrepreneurship MBA program, has taught hundreds of business and marketing courses at a number of universities, and has led workshops for Entrepreneur Magazine’s Insider Platform and other corporations.   Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Book: Launch Your Inner Entrepreneur Twitter: /CWaltersPhD  Instagram: /charlenewaltersphd  LinkedIn: /in/charlenewaltersphd Website:  OwnYourOther.com Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcast | Google Play | Spotify |  Stitcher  | Other Ways to Listen

  Many people say that entrepreneurship is often still a man’s world ― despite the fact that 42 percent of all small business or franchise owners are women, and there are 13 million female-owned businesses contributing to $1.9 trillion in revenue in the US. According to author Charlene Walters, a multitude of research has shown that many women entrepreneurs and leaders struggle more than men with certain issues that may thwart their success. In this interview with Charlene, we discuss tips from her new book LAUNCH YOUR INNER ENTREPRENEUR: 10 Mindset Shifts for Women to Take Action, Unleash Creativity, and Achieve Financial Success. Our conversation includes: The challenges female leaders and “fempreneurs” face in the world of work and business … and how to reframe them as opportunities How to overcome imposter syndrome How to deal with haters How to fight self-sabotage Charlene Walters, MBA, Ph.D. is an entrepreneurship coach, business and branding mentor, author, and trainer. She developed a digital entrepreneurship MBA program, has taught hundreds of business and marketing courses at a number of universities, and has led workshops for Entrepreneur Magazine’s Insider Platform and other corporations.   Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Book: Launch Your Inner Entrepreneur Twitter: /CWaltersPhD  Instagram: /charlenewaltersphd  LinkedIn: /in/charlenewaltersphd Website:  OwnYourOther.com Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcast | Google Play | Spotify |  Stitcher  | Other Ways to Listen

  Us versus Them gaps have always affected the American workplace – Sales versus Marketing, Manufacturing versus Engineering, Human Resources versus Legal. But today there is an urgent need to address a wide range of culture gaps, especially due to the impact of the pandemic, racism and protests in support of Black Lives Matter, and an intensely divisive U.S. presidential election. No matter what your politics, one thing is clear — the old tools just don’t work; a new approach to diversity, cultural difference, and inclusion is urgently needed. What can business leaders do to create true synergy among the diverse and often fiercely divided members of their workforce? In this interview with Laura Kriska, author of the new book The Business of WE, we discuss a practical roadmap for building cohesive, high-performing teams, regardless of personal differences. Drawing on her decades of international experience as a cross-cultural consultant, Kriska shares her proven three-step method for closing the gap between Us and Them in your workplace. Our conversation includes: Simple examples of “We-Building” behaviors or gestures Overview of the 3-step process for closing Us versus Them gaps in your workplace Actions that will contribute toward building a WE culture Tips for we-building while working from home, especially during this pandemic? How can people use the WE-building tools in their daily lives,  both the workplace and beyond Laura Kriska is an internationally recognized expert and leading consultant on cross-cultural relations with more than 30 years of experience bridging gaps in diverse workplaces. She has worked with Fortune 500 companies on four continents, helping thousands of business leaders and professionals build trust across Us versus Them differences based on nationality, ethnicity, race, religion, age, or any factor of identity. Her first book, The Accidental Office Lady, was based on her experience as the first American woman to work in Honda Motor Company’s Tokyo headquarters.                 Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Websites: laurakriska.com Book:  The Business of WE: The Proven Three-Step Process for Closing the Gap Between Us and Them in Your Workplace Instagram: /laurakriska_author/ Facebook: /LauraKriskaauthor Twitter: /LauraKriska LinkedIn: /in/laura-kriska * mentimeter.com * hcleadershipessentials.com Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcast | Google Play | Spotify |  Stitcher  | Other Ways to Listen

  Us versus Them gaps have always affected the American workplace – Sales versus Marketing, Manufacturing versus Engineering, Human Resources versus Legal. But today there is an urgent need to address a wide range of culture gaps, especially due to the impact of the pandemic, racism and protests in support of Black Lives Matter, and an intensely divisive U.S. presidential election. No matter what your politics, one thing is clear — the old tools just don’t work; a new approach to diversity, cultural difference, and inclusion is urgently needed. What can business leaders do to create true synergy among the diverse and often fiercely divided members of their workforce? In this interview with Laura Kriska, author of the new book The Business of WE, we discuss a practical roadmap for building cohesive, high-performing teams, regardless of personal differences. Drawing on her decades of international experience as a cross-cultural consultant, Kriska shares her proven three-step method for closing the gap between Us and Them in your workplace. Our conversation includes: Simple examples of “We-Building” behaviors or gestures Overview of the 3-step process for closing Us versus Them gaps in your workplace Actions that will contribute toward building a WE culture Tips for we-building while working from home, especially during this pandemic? How can people use the WE-building tools in their daily lives,  both the workplace and beyond Laura Kriska is an internationally recognized expert and leading consultant on cross-cultural relations with more than 30 years of experience bridging gaps in diverse workplaces. She has worked with Fortune 500 companies on four continents, helping thousands of business leaders and professionals build trust across Us versus Them differences based on nationality, ethnicity, race, religion, age, or any factor of identity. Her first book, The Accidental Office Lady, was based on her experience as the first American woman to work in Honda Motor Company’s Tokyo headquarters.                 Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Websites: laurakriska.com Book:  The Business of WE: The Proven Three-Step Process for Closing the Gap Between Us and Them in Your Workplace Instagram: /laurakriska_author/ Facebook: /LauraKriskaauthor Twitter: /LauraKriska LinkedIn: /in/laura-kriska * mentimeter.com * hcleadershipessentials.com Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcast | Google Play | Spotify |  Stitcher  | Other Ways to Listen

  Working remotely isn’t just a new normal that we must learn to live with. It’s an opportunity to work and lead in ways that provide great operational and productivity results for the organization, as well as to be a part of a great team while finding individual meaning and purpose too.  But there is a big difference between working from home … and feeling like and being an effective member of a remote team. How can you be a great teammate and leader while working at a distance from the people you collaborate with? In this interview with the authors of the new book The Long-Distance Teammate, we discuss tips for being an effective member of a remote team, leading well as a remote leader, and how to combat the very real potential of isolation and loneliness when working from home. Kevin Eikenberry and Wayne Turmel are cofounders of the Remote Leadership Institute. Kevin has twice been named one of Inc.’s Top 100 Leadership and Management Experts in the World. They have written dozens of books separately and together, including their previous book The Long-Distance Leader.   Resources Mentioned in This Episode: * Website: longdistanceteammate.com * Book: The Long-Distance Teammate – Stay Engaged and Connected While Working Anywhere * Book: The Long-Distance Leader: Rules for Remarkable Remote Leadership * Book: Remarkable Leadership, From Bud to Boss—Secrets to a Successful Transition to Remarkable Leadership * LinkedIn: /in/kevineikenberry and /in/wayneturmel  * Twitter: /KevinEikenberry and /greatwebmeeting  Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcast | Google Play | Spotify |  Stitcher  | Other Ways to Listen  

  Interviewing job candidates can feel like wading through a foggy swamp. You’re attempting to discern whether candidates would be successful on your team, while struggling to prevent the massive headache and wasted resources of a poor decision.    Asking the right questions during interviews can bring clarity to the process by giving you a more accurate, complete picture of the person sitting across from you. In this episode, employment expert Paul Falcone shares four interview questions that can help cut through the uncertainty by drawing out honest, helpful answers from job candidates.   A bestselling author and top-rated presenter, Paul is currently the Chief Human Resources Officer for The Motion Picture and Television Fund, primarily serving retirees from the entertainment industry. Previously, Paul served as head of HR for Nickelodeon, head of international HR for Paramount Pictures, and head of HR for the TV production unit of NBCUniversal, where he oversaw HR operations for NBC’s late night and prime time programming lineup, including The Tonight Show, Saturday Night Live, and The Office.   Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Podcast Episode 199: How to Tackle the 3 Toughest Conversations with Employees Podcast Episode 141: Hire, Develop, and Keep Great Employees Book: 96 Great Interview Questions to Ask Before You Hire Book: 101 Tough Conversations to Have with Employees: A Manager’s Guide to Addressing Performance, Conduct, and Discipline Challenges Book: 75 Ways for Managers to Hire, Develop, and Keep Great Employees Website: PaulFalconeHR.com Twitter: @PaulFalconeHR LinkedIN: /paulfalcone1 Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcast | Google Play | Spotify |  Stitcher  | Other Ways to Listen

Some leaders look at their people, shake their heads, and say, “They can’t get there from here.” Sometimes that’s true. But often the solution is creating a stronger culture, where employees are encouraged and coached to contribute their best thinking. People are different, and these differences can add value. As a leader, you need to figure out the best ways to leverage the strengths of the human beings on your team. In part 2 of this conversation with Karin Hurt about her newest book, Courageous Cultures, we talk about dealing with five additional types of people who present a specific challenge: Just-Tell-Me-What-to-Do-ers: They consistently just want to be told what to do.  Just-Do-What-I-Sayers: They are often successful and just want people to line up behind them and do what they’re told. Let-Me-Do-My-Thing-ers: They are certain of their direction and methods. Silent Wounded: They don’t trust you—and with good reason. They’ve been burned by previous leaders. * Silent Ponderous: They may be quiet introverts, but they have insights you desperately need. Karin Hurt is the award-winning author of several books and an Inc. Top 100 leadership speaker. She provides leadership development programs for organizations around the world. A former Verizon Wireless executive, she has over two decades of experience in customer service, sales, and human resources.   Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Book: Courageous Cultures  Idea Inspiration Summit July 23 Free executive strategy guide to creating a courageous culture Idea incubator guide (with pre-ordering) Book: Winning Well: A Manager’s Guide to Getting Results–Without Losing Your Soul Book: Overcoming An Imperfect Boss: A Practical Guide to Building a Better Relationship With Your Boss Online course: Results That Last: 7 Roles Every Manager Must Master Website: letsgrowleaders.com Twitter: @letsgrowleaders Facebook: /letsgrowleaders Engaging Leader 135: How to Lead Meetings That Get Results (and That People Want to Attend) Engaging Leader 054: Humility and Leadership: How to Teach Confident Humility Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcast | Google Play | Spotify |  Stitcher  | Other Ways to Listen

“Why am I the only one who finds these issues? What’s wrong with my people? Why can’t they see this stuff and fix it?” If these frustrations sound familiar, you’ll love this conversation with Karin Hurt about her newest book, Courageous Cultures. We talk about building teams of micro-innovators, problem-solvers, and customer-advocates working together. In addition, we talk about dealing with three types of people who present a challenge. (In part 2 of this conversation, we talk about five more types of challenging people.) Idea grenadiers: people who toss all their ideas in your lap, want you to do them, but won’t do the work.  Schmoozers: people who talked a great game, but never help implement that plan that sounded so amazing when they presented it. Oxygen suckers: people who talk so much or so loudly that others don’t have a chance to contribute.  Karin Hurt is the award-winning author of several books and an Inc. Top 100 leadership speaker. She provides leadership development programs for organizations around the world. A former Verizon Wireless executive, she has over two decades of experience in customer service, sales, and human resources.   Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Book: Courageous Cultures  Idea Inspiration Summit July 23 Free executive strategy guide to creating a courageous culture Idea incubator guide (with pre-ordering) Book: Winning Well: A Manager’s Guide to Getting Results–Without Losing Your Soul Book: Overcoming An Imperfect Boss: A Practical Guide to Building a Better Relationship With Your Boss Online course: Results That Last: 7 Roles Every Manager Must Master Website: letsgrowleaders.com Twitter: @letsgrowleaders Facebook: /letsgrowleaders Engaging Leader 135: How to Lead Meetings That Get Results (and That People Want to Attend) Engaging Leader 054: Humility and Leadership: How to Teach Confident Humility Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcast | Google Play | Spotify |  Stitcher  | Other Ways to Listen

What barriers do you face? Whether in our personal lives, at work, or in our communities, we all face challenges that can prevent us from reaching our full potential. And the same is true for those you lead. Dave Shurna joins me to discuss tips from his new book about breaking through barriers of all types, and how to be a servant leader helping break barriers for other people too.  Dave is Executive Director of the nonprofit organization No Barriers, which he co-founded in 2012 along with Julie Dubin and Erik Weihenmayer (who was the first blind person to summit Mt. Everest). Dave is co-author of the new book What’s Within You: Your Roadmap to Living Life with No Barriers. By the way, Dave is one of my favorite friends from my college days. I remember that in addition to being smart, fun, and trustworthy, Dave was authentic and purpose-driven … and so it was no surprise that his career has focused on nonprofit leadership and social entrepreneurship. No Barriers empowers people of all walks of life to overcome obstacles, live a life of purpose, and give back to the world.   Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Website: nobarriersusa.org No Barriers Summit: nobarriers.live  Book: What’s Within You: Your Roadmap to Living Life with No Barriers Podcast: No Barriers Podcast LinkedIn: /in/davidshurna/ Facebook: facebook.com/nobarriersusa Instagram: instagram.com/NoBarriersUSA YouTube: youtube.com/channel/   Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcast | Google Play | Spotify |  Stitcher  | Other Ways to Listen

Today I share some reflections about what I’ve been reading, learning, thinking, and practicing over the past few weeks. How can we as imperfect leaders and human beings contribute to helpful solutions, rather than to ongoing conditions of inequality, discrimination, and fear … including the fear of talking honestly about topics like racism? Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Book: How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi * Episode 202 with Michelle King * Episode 204 with Michelle King Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcast | Google Play | Spotify |  Stitcher  | Other Ways to Listen

Psychological safety is a team member’s sense of confidence that the leader and the rest of the team will not embarrass, reject, or punish them for speaking up. They feel safe to take risks, fully contribute, share ideas, and raise concerns – all of which are necessary for an organization to innovate, solve problems, survive, and thrive in today’s economy. In the absence of psychological safety, what you tend to get is people shutting down, playing it safe, and doing a lot of CYA. Obviously, psychological safety is critical for a team to be effective in the long run. But how can you build and nurture that kind of safety, while still holding people accountable … including giving negative feedback?  In this second conversation with Maya Hu-Chan, we talk about more of the principles from her new book about building trust. Maya Hu-Chan’s newest book is SAVING FACE: How to Preserve Dignity and Build Trust. Maya is the founder and president of Global Leadership Associates, is a globally recognized management consultant, executive coach, author, and speaker. She has trained and coached thousands of leaders from Fortune 500 corporations, nonprofits, and public sectors in North America, Asia, Europe, Australia, and Latin America. Previously, she was an anchor for the China Broadcasting Corporation in Taiwan and the CEO of a nonprofit organization in California. Her previous book was Global Leadership: The Next Generation. Watch a clip from the interview:   Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Website: mayahuchan.com Book: Saving Face: How to Preserve Dignity and Build Trust LinkedIn: /in/mayahuchan/ Twitter: @mayahuchan Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcast | Google Play | Spotify |  Stitcher  | Other Ways to Listen

To be a leader who truly engages the hearts, minds, and behaviors of people, you have to authentically connect with them on a human level. You’ve heard the phrase, “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”  In today’s age of connection, in order for people to trust you, be open to your influence, and be fully engaged in the team’s mission, you must earn their trust by consistently proving that you respect them and care about their whole being, including their dignity, pride, and reputation. I’ve been reading a fascinating book that applies universal concepts learned from centuries-old wisdom from Asian cultures to the new environment we face today in our global, ever-changing world. Today I’m excited to introduce you to the author of that book, Maya Hu-Chan, who grew up in Taiwan and has spent the past couple decades living in the US and providing executive coaching for leaders all over the world. Maya Hu-Chan’s newest book is SAVING FACE: How to Preserve Dignity and Build Trust. Maya is the founder and president of Global Leadership Associates, is a globally recognized management consultant, executive coach, author, and speaker. She has trained and coached thousands of leaders from Fortune 500 corporations, nonprofits, and public sectors in North America, Asia, Europe, Australia, and Latin America. Previously, she was an anchor for the China Broadcasting Corporation in Taiwan and the CEO of a nonprofit organization in California. Her previous book was Global Leadership: The Next Generation. Watch a clip from the interview:   Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Website: mayahuchan.com Book: Saving Face: How to Preserve Dignity and Build Trust LinkedIn: /in/mayahuchan/ Twitter: @mayahuchan Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcast | Google Play | Spotify |  Stitcher  | Other Ways to Listen

At most organizations today, the work people do tends to hurt their wellbeing, when it should be making them happier and healthier. A major key to turning this around is helping employees make their work more meaningful … which is all about discovering how they can best contribute. And of course, it’s simply smart business. Helping your team identify how they can best contribute will maximize how your organization influences the world and achieves long-term financial success. As a leader, how can you help employees connect their daily work to the way it contributes to specific people’s lives or making the world a better place? Tom Rath returns to the show to discuss his new book Life’s Great Question and how leaders can help their teams contribute more to the world. Tom Rath’s bestsellers include How Full Is Your Bucket?, StrengthsFinder 2.0, Strengths Based Leadership, Wellbeing, Eat Move Sleep, and Are You Fully Charged? During his 13 years at Gallup, Tom led the organization’s strengths, employee engagement, wellbeing, and leadership consulting worldwide. Tom has served for the past five years as an external advisor and Gallup Senior Scientist. His two newest books are Life’s Great Question: Discover How You Best Contribute to the World and It’s Not About You: A Brief Guide to a Meaningful Life   Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Website: tomrath.org Online assessment: contribify.com Book: Life’s Great Question: Discover How You Best Contribute to the World Book: It’s Not About You: A Brief Guide to a Meaningful Life LinkedIn: /in/trath/ Twitter: @TomCRath Previous interviews on Engaging Leader Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcast | Google Play | Spotify |  Stitcher  | Other Ways to Listen