• Being Present During Difficult Times (With Preet Makkar)
    2025/03/18

    Host Christi Scarrow talks to Preet Makkar, the Head of Human Resources at Haleon, who emphasizes authenticity in leadership. She discusses managing personal and professional stressors, advocating for emotional regulation and self-awareness. Preet highlights how leaders' emotional states impact employee retention, noting how negativity can increase turnover. She stresses candid conversations, prepared feedback, and continuous growth through self-reflection and mentorship. She underscores vulnerability in building trust and effective leadership.


    Action Items

    -Engage in personal reflection and understand your triggers to get “out of the box”

    -Prepare for difficult conversations with specific examples and clear impact.

    -Schedule feedback when the recipient is in the right frame of mind.

    -Follow up after feedback to address questions or concerns.

    -Embrace positive feedback to identify strengths.

    -Reflect on triggering feedback for growth.


    Outline


    Lessons in Authentic Leadership

    -Preet stresses being an authentic leader and staying true to oneself.

    -Christi notes leadership's complexity due to maintaining an image.

    -Preet discusses challenges of staying present amid pressures.


    Emotional Regulation and Triggers

    -Preet highlights how personal struggles impact leadership and the importance of being present as a leader.

    -Preet explains the concept of "going into the box" and its negative emotional effects and the financial and engagement risks of prolonged negativity.


    Building Trust and Self-Awareness

    -Preet emphasizes self-awareness and self-reflection in leadership.

    -Preet stresses work-life integration and self-investment post-pandemic.


    Vulnerability and Emotional Trust

    -Preet shares a personal story, drawing leadership parallels to parenting. She highlights the need for openness and vulnerability's role in building trust.

    -Preet reflects on generational attitudes toward vulnerability and stresses that vulnerability fosters emotional trust.

    -Christi shares lessons from good and bad managers.


    Handling Difficult Conversations

    -Preet stresses the importance of candid conversations at work and at home.

    -She shares the quote that “avoiding difficult conversations is trading in short term discomfort, for long term dysfunction.”

    -Preet advises preparing for conversations with clarity and timing.


    Balancing Support and Psychological Safety

    -Christi and Preet discuss balancing support and psychological safety.

    -Preet critiques the "s*** sandwich" feedback approach and dvocates for clear, specific, and prepared feedback conversations.

    -She emphasizes follow-up and continuous discussions for growth.


    Receiving and Embracing Feedback

    -Christi asks about making feedback easier to receive.

    -Preet stresses embracing positive feedback and strength and shares a story about a triggering word and dealing with unresolved issues.

    -She advises thanking people for honest feedback and using it for growth.


    Self-Awareness and Continuous Development

    -Christi asks her to discuss the role of self-awareness in development.

    -Preet highlights learning through experiences and mentorship and encourages embracing feedback for self-improvement.

    -She warns against treating feedback as mere theory without action.


    Final Thoughts on Leadership

    -Emphasizes leadership as a responsibility and a chance for growth.

    -Encourages leaders to take their role seriously and be memorable.


    Useful Links

    Host: Christi's Web Page

    Guest: Haleon

    Lighthouse NINE Group: Web page


    Contributors

    Music: All The Fixings by Zachariah Hickman

    Editing: tribe74

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    22 分
  • Building Trust by Walking Around (With David Singer)
    2025/03/04

    David Singer, President of Thomas Large and Singer, emphasizes the importance of listening in leadership, drawing from his sales background. He stresses the value of patience and active listening to understand employee concerns, leading to better outcomes. Singer suggests focusing on building empathy in his employees, advocating for regular constructive feedback and trust-building through personal connections. He highlights the need for leaders to be approachable and present, balancing formal feedback tools with personal interactions. Singer underscores the significance of trust and humanity in fostering effective leadership and team alignment.


    Action Items

    -Provide constructive feedback to managers regularly.

    -Carve out time to walk around and build trust with employees through personal conversations.

    -Use 360-degree reviews and external leadership training to improve leadership skills.

    -Develop emotional intelligence and self-awareness in high-performing team members lacking these skills.


    Outline

    The Importance of Active Listening

    -David Singer shares advice from a manager to use the "two ears, one mouth" rule, emphasizing listening.

    -He stresses the need to be patient and listen fully to employees to avoid misguided solutions., noting that leaders often know less about specific issues and should let employees communicate.

    -He highlights waiting through pauses to gather more information and admits to working on patience daily.


    Influencing Change and Building Trust

    -David suggests writing thoughts down to improve focus and creating a safe space for employees to share openly.

    -He notes that driving change requires understanding root issues and listening to all perspectives.

    -Specifically he shares that credibility is key and rushing into solutions can harm trust.


    Managing Talented and Building Empathy

    -David shares the need to build empathy in employees; with less focus on driving performance.

    -He discusses providing regular constructive feedback and managing by walking around.

    -He recommends HR tools like 360-degree feedback reports help evaluate leadership and having a balance between personal connections with formalized feedback tools.


    Hybrid Work and Leadership

    -Singer acknowledges hybrid work challenges and emphasizes relationship-building.

    -He discusses using tools like 360-degree feedback and external training to maintain rapport and understand employee needs.


    Advice for Struggling Managers

    -David advises struggling managers to build trust and foster humanity in leadership.

    -He emphasizes the importance of personal connections and creating a safe space for employees are key.

    -Christi thanks David for sharing insights on building trust and humanity in leadership.


    Useful Links

    Host: Christi's Web Page

    Guest: Thomas, Large and Singer

    Lighthouse NINE Group: Website


    Contributors

    Music: All The Fixings by Zachariah Hickman

    Editing: tribe74

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    20 分
  • The Art of Storytelling to Engage Your Team (With Teri Kingston)
    2025/02/18

    Teri Kingston, founder and CEO of Real Impact Speaking and TEDx coach, shares her entrepreneurial journey and the importance of storytelling in leadership. She emphasizes continuous learning in marketing and public speaking. Teri recounts her transition from volunteer coaching to a paid business model, guided by a business coach's advice, and underscores storytelling's role in team building and corporate culture, drawing on her work with the Ottawa Police Services and refugee organizations. She urges leaders to develop storytelling skills to enhance team communication and influence.

    Action Items

    -Incorporate storytelling in to corporate messing regularly

    -Consider training for leaders to use storytelling more effectively to engage their teams

    -Become a "story nerd," using books, courses, and coaches for skill development.


    Outline


    Journey and Early Lessons

    -Teri discusses the challenges of self-leadership as an entrepreneur, sharing insights on promoting and firing herself.

    -She highlights the need for continuous learning, particularly in marketing.


    Transitioning to a Business Model

    -Teri explains her shift from unpaid coaching to a thriving business, spurred by advice to value her skills.

    -She values follow-ups with past TEDx speakers to gauge their growth and impact.

    -Christi relates, appreciating the value of paid expertise.


    Storytelling in Leadership

    -Teri emphasizes storytelling as vital for team building and cultural shifts, citing work with OPS and refugee organizations.

    -She advises leaders to use storytelling to articulate vision and manage change effectively.


    Overcoming Nerves in Public Speaking

    -Teri identifies common speaker challenges like nerves and preparation, offering strategies to overcome them.

    -She mentions her joy in seeing speakers grow and an upcoming workshop focused on managing anxiety.

    -Through coaching, speakers discover personal growth and untapped capabilities.


    Practical Storytelling Tips

    -Teri advises leaders to recognize communication skills as valuable workplace tools.

    -She recommends resources like Matthew Dicks’ teachings and encourages capturing everyday stories for presentations.

    -Authenticity and vulnerability are key to building audience connections.


    Storytelling for Employee Engagement

    -Storytelling boosts engagement and helps leaders communicate succinctly in meetings.

    -Teri recounts a team’s success in using storytelling to convey their message effectively.

    -Christi acknowledges the need for practice in integrating storytelling.


    Resources for Aspiring Storytellers

    -Teri urges leaders to become "story nerds," suggesting books, courses, and hiring coaches for skill development.

    -She and Christi highlight Teri’s book as a valuable resource for listeners.

    -Teri expresses gratitude for the conversation and opportunity to share her expertise.


    Useful Links

    Host: Christi's Web Page

    Guest: Real Impact Speaking

    Teri’s Book: Get Ready for TED When TED is Ready for YOU!

    Lighthouse NINE Group: Web page

    Matthew Dicks: Making Stories Come Alive


    Contributors

    Music: All The Fixings by Zachariah Hickman

    Editing: tribe74

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    20 分
  • Servitude to Connect People to Your Vision (with Bryan Clayton)
    2025/02/04
    Bryan Clayton, CEO of GreenPal, joins Host Christi Scarrow and discusses his journey from realizing his initial leadership failures to understanding the importance of self-improvement and genuine care for employees, emphasizing that leadership is about servitude. He highlights the necessity of investing in company culture and the importance of being authentic and present and shares that it took him seven years to recognize and address this, stressing that leadership is a continuous learning process and advises new leaders to embrace the challenge, seek improvement, and that leadership is a lifelong journey.Action Items-Read books, attend leadership conferences and listen to podcasts on leadership to continuously learn and improve.-Be the role model as a leader. Your actions and enthusiasm will help people to connect to your vision.-Embrace leadership as an act of servitude. Truly care about your people and help to get to where they want to go in life.OutlineEarly Leadership Realizations-Bryan shares an early career pivotal moment when he realized his leadership was lacking, feeling like a victim and blaming others.-He had a wake-up call that his company's issues were a reflection of his own leadership and personality.-He emphasizes the importance of self-improvement to improve the business, a process that took him seven years to understand.Developing Leadership Skills-Bryan explains that leadership is about servitude and caring for the people working with him.-He emphasizes the need to genuinely care about employees' personal lives and how the company fits into their goals.-He describes the long-term effort required to build a positive company culture, which took about three years to notice significant improvements.Signs of a Toxic Culture-Bryan suggests that if the founder doesn't want to go to work, it indicates a problem.-He advises making hard changes, including letting go of certain customers or employees and rebuilding the business from the inside out.-He stresses the importance of enthusiasm and being willing to make tough decisions to turn things around.Pulse-Checking Employee Morale-Bryan recommends internal surveys and customer reviews as valuable feedback sources.-He notes that body language and overall attitude in the workplace are also important indicators.-He advises talking to employees and customers to understand what needs to change and improve.Challenges of Modern Leadership-Bryan shares his experience starting his second business, GreenPal, and the realization that leadership can't be half-assed.-He emphasizes the need to lead by example, be the first in and last out, and take the mission seriously.-He highlights that building a high-performance team requires full commitment and effort.Importance of Connection and People-Bryan agrees, stating that success is about everyone getting to the finish line together and feeling good about it.-He emphasizes that life becomes unrewarding without the satisfaction of working with and connecting with others.-He reiterates the need for leaders to be all-in and committed to their mission.Advice for Struggling Leaders-Bryan acknowledges that leadership is hard and not taught in schools or business programs.-He advises recognizing that everyone starts as a bad leader and that it's a continuous journey of improvement.-He encourages reading books, listening to podcasts, attending conferences, and embracing the never-ending process of leadership growth.Final Thoughts and Encouragement-Christi summarizes Bryan's advice and emphasizes the importance of humility and continuous learning. He agrees and encourages leaders to start their journey and be open to growth and challenges.-He highlights that leadership is a rewarding and satisfying experience when done well.Useful LinksHost: Christi's Web PageGuest: GreenPalLighthouse NINE Group: Web pageContributorsMusic: All The Fixings by Zachariah HickmanEditing: tribe74
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    17 分
  • Creating Space for Difficult Conversations (with Lorrey Arial Bonilla)
    2025/01/21

    Host Christi Scarrow and Lorrey Arial Bonilla, Executive Director at ECCDC, discuss key lessons in leadership, emphasizing the importance of relationships, networking, and work-life balance. She highlights the need for strong communications with boards, staff, funders, and stakeholders, and the value of seeking external support to avoid isolation. Lorrey stresses the importance of resiliency, time management, and prioritizing tasks to prevent burnout. She also underscores the significance of regular goal-setting meetings and open dialogues to understand staff needs and improve engagement. Finally, she advises on recognizing staff efforts through various forms of appreciation to foster a supportive and motivated team.


    Action Items

    -Send thank you cards as a form of recognition. -Identify and model a work-life balance -Look for new ways to connect and acknowledge your team members


    Outline Early Lessons in Leadership

    -Lorrey shares her extensive experience at ECCDC, having been with the organization for 28 years and in her current position for nine years. -Lorrey identifies three key lessons: the importance of relationships, networking, and work-life balance.



    The Importance of Relationships

    -Lorrey emphasizes the significance of strong relationships with the board, staff, funders, and stakeholders. -She highlights the need for respectful, transparent, and responsive relationships with stakeholders. -Lorrey discusses the importance of networking and seeking support from peers and colleagues in similar roles. -Christi reinforces the value of networking, sharing her own experience of not prioritizing it enough in her corporate role.


    Balancing Work and Life

    -Lorrey identifies work-life balance as a crucial lesson, emphasizing the need to prioritize and manage time effectively. -She discusses the challenges of avoiding the habit of working late and the importance of modeling a healthy work-life balance for staff. -Christi agrees, noting the tendency for purpose-driven organizations to require long hours, which can lead to burnout. -Lorrey mentions the need to trust staff to manage their own workload and not to fall into the routine of working late regularly.


    Staffing Challenges and Solutions

    -Lorrey identifies staffing as a significant challenge, focusing on recognizing and leveraging staff strengths and interests. -She discusses the balance between creating independent work environments and providing necessary support and coaching. -Christi acknowledges the common struggle with staffing and asks for Lorrey's insights on when to step in and when to step back. -Lorrey emphasizes the importance of regular goal-setting meetings and open dialog to understand staff needs and provide appropriate support.


    Recognition and Support Strategies

    -Lorrey highlights the importance of recognizing staff efforts through various means, from quick emails to formal celebrations. -She provides examples of different recognition strategies, including thank-you cards, team gatherings, and raffles for time off. -Christi shares a personal example of receiving a thank-you card from Lorrey, emphasizing the impact of small gestures. -Lorrey advises being kind and patient to oneself, taking baby steps, and viewing challenges as learning opportunities rather than personal setbacks.


    Final Thoughts and Advice

    -Lorrey encourages managers to look for new ways to connect with staff and recognize their efforts in meaningful ways. -She emphasizes the importance of being open to challenges and learning from them. -Christi thanks Lorrey for her insights and advice, and encourages listeners to find resources on navigating leadership challenges. -The conversation concludes with mutual appreciation and well-wishes.



    Useful Links

    Host: Christi's Web Page

    Guest: ECCDC

    Lighthouse NINE Group: Web page




    Contributors

    Music: All The Fixings by Zachariah Hickman
    Editing: tribe74

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    22 分
  • Heartbeats over Headcount (With Yves Dalcourt)
    2025/01/07

    Yves Dalcourt, Managing Director at Miele in Australia and New Zealand, discusses his leadership experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasizes the importance of personal connection, daily communication, and creating a positive culture. Dalcourt highlights initiatives like the "song of the day" and consistent email updates to maintain morale. He also shares his philosophy of valuing employees as "heartbeats" rather than just head counts. Reflecting on his career, he stresses authenticity, adapting to different generations, and learning from both good and bad leaders.

    Action Items

    -Continue to build personal connections with employees and foster a strong, collaborative culture. Implement creative, engaging activities to keep the team motivated and connected during challenging times. -Maintain consistent, transparent communication with the entire organization to provide direction and reassurance. -Adapt leadership style to effectively connect with and support the needs of younger, more tech-savvy employees.

    Outline

    Strategies for Leading During a Pandemic

    -Yves explains the two main strategies he and his management team developed: prioritizing the health and safety of employees and ensuring the business could continue. -He emphasizes the importance of personal connection and daily communication with employees for reassurance and to build trust. -He initiated a "song of the day" activity to keep employees engaged and connected.

    Building a Culture of Connection

    -Yves discusses the importance of personal connection in leadership, using the term "heartbeats" instead of "head counts" to emphasize the human element. -He shares how this focus on personal connection helped create a strong company culture and engagement, even during challenging times. -He highlights the long-term positive impact on the company's culture and engagement, emphasizing the importance of not wasting a crisis.

    Lessons Learned from Early Leadership Experiences

    -Yves recounts his first job experience, where the CEO failed to acknowledge him, which shaped his commitment to connecting with employees. -He emphasizes the importance of being an authentic leader who values human connection and adapts to different situations and environments. -Yves shares how he learned from both good and bad leaders, taking the best practices and avoiding the negative traits.

    Navigating Challenges with Bad Leaders

    -Yves recommends understanding the needs and communication preferences to build trust and establish a connection. -He emphasizes the importance of not getting emotionally involved and focusing on the end goal when dealing with difficult bosses. -Yves suggests having a good network outside the workplace to vent and share similar experiences, which can provide support and perspective.

    Adapting to Different Generations and New Leaders

    -Yves discusses the importance of understanding different perspectives and needs. -He shares how his daughter, who is a millennial, helps him connect with this generation and adapt his leadership style. -Yves emphasizes the need to be relevant and connect with new leaders to shape them for the future of the business.

    Final Thoughts on Leadership and Personal Connection

    -Yves advises leaders to have fun and not take their roles too seriously, emphasizing the importance of enjoying the journey. -He encourages others to surround themself with great people. -Yves shares his belief that leaders should not feel the need to have all the answers and should be comfortable with not knowing everything. -He concludes by encouraging leaders to focus on the positive and not let stress and challenges overwhelm them, emphasizing the importance of resilience and adaptability.

    Useful Links

    Host: Christi's Web Page

    Guest: Miele

    Lighthouse NINE Group: Web page



    Contributors

    Music: All The Fixings by Zachariah Hickman

    Editing: tribe74

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    22 分
  • Silence as a Path to Innovation (with Jennifer Braganza)
    2024/12/17
    Jennifer Braganza (VP of Operational Excellence at Pontoon Solutions), sits down with host Christi Scarrow and discusses the importance of passion and the necessity of learning from failures. She highlights the significance of connecting organizational goals to employees' interests and the value of timely, specific recognition. Braganza also stresses the importance of building teams, not just finding outstanding talent, and the need for leaders to be adaptable and transparent. She shares strategies for encouraging diversity of thought, such as using anonymous brainstorming tools and advises leaders to understand and adapt to their team members' preferences for feedback. Action Items -Implement a regular team meeting tradition of starting with recognition and appreciation. -Explore the use of tools like Mentimeter to encourage divergent thinking and avoid groupthink within existing teams. -Share your “How to Handle Me” cheat sheet with others and help your team to share it with you Outline Engaging Teams and the Importance of Recognition -Jennifer explains the importance of connecting organizational goals to what is important to individuals and accepting that not everyone will be passionate about the same things. -She highlights the role of the first follower in making a leader -Jennifer shares her practice of starting team meetings with recognition, emphasizing the need for timely, concrete, and specific appreciation. Balancing Recognition and Constructive Criticism -Christi and Jennifer discuss the importance of recognition and the analogy of giving "sunshine" to people. -Jennifer talks about the need for constructive criticism and the balance between recognizing good work and providing feedback. -She mentions the importance of building recognition into organizational systems and structures, emphasizing the need to focus on positive actions. Challenges of Leadership and Building Teams -Jennifer discusses the importance of being aware that leaders are always being watched and the impact of their reactions on their teams. -She shares her strategy of training her brain to react positively to new ideas and the importance of giving team members the opportunity to flesh out their ideas. -Jennifer emphasizes the need to build a team, not just find outstanding talent, and the importance of considering the fit for purpose when hiring. Encouraging Diversity of Thought and Managing Teams -Jennifer explains the use of tools like Mentimeter for anonymous brainstorming to encourage divergent thinking. -She emphasizes the importance of leaders being quiet and allowing team members to speak first to avoid groupthink. -Jennifer highlights the importance of safe spaces for sharing ideas. Adapting Leadership Styles and Empowering Teams -Jennifer advises focusing on either results or personal development and being adaptable to the needs of the team. -She emphasizes the importance of being honest and asking questions to understand how team members prefer to receive feedback and recognition. -Jennifer shares her practice of having a "how to handle me" conversation with new managers to set expectations and improve communication. Building Trust and Transparency in Leadership -Jennifer discusses the importance of building trust with teams and being transparent. -She shares her experience of realizing that her facial expressions could be misinterpreted and the need to provide context for her reactions. -Jennifer emphasizes the importance of apologizing for any abruptness and being clear about the reasons behind her actions. Useful Links Host: Christi's Web Page Guest: Pontoon Solutions Tool: Mentimeter Lighthouse NINE Group: Web page Ted Talk: How to start a movement Contributors Music: All The Fixings by Zachariah Hickman Editing: tribe74
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    23 分
  • Lead with Empathy, Not Numbers (With Ryan Labong)
    2024/12/03

    Host Christi Scarrow and Guest Ryan Labong (Chief Commercial Officer at Nature’s Path) have a conversation centered around the importance of executing strategy and fostering an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and concerns. Ryan shares how performance culture can negatively impact long term growth and the importance of empathy to counterbalance this. Christi and Ryan discuss the importance of developing high performing teams supported by non-judgemental leaders.


    Action Items

    -Focus the team on no more than three clear strategic priorities. -Continue holding regular one-on-ones, bi-weekly check-ins, and quarterly milestone reviews -Invest in team-building activities like volunteering together to foster collaboration and camaraderie. -Lead with empathy and compassion for sustainability Outline

    Leadership lessons, challenges, and strategies for keeping teams motivated and driven.

    -Ryan Labong emphasizes the importance of execution in business, citing a high-performing team as crucial to achieving common goals. -He believes leaders should be situational and adaptable to bring out the best in their team members, fostering collaboration and connectedness. -Ryan discusses challenges in leadership, including maintaining drive and engagement over time. -He shares strategies for keeping things fresh, such as setting ambitious goals and breaking them down into smaller milestones. Leadership, empathy, and finding balance in managing a high-performing team.

    -Ryan Labong emphasizes the importance of clear operating models and priorities to drive habits and focus for the team. -He advises newer managers to prioritize and make hard choices to achieve success, even in an ambitious organization. -Ryan emphasizes the importance of empathy and flexibility in leadership, citing the need to understand and support team members' personal challenges. -He advocates for a balance between driving results and building a high-performance team through collective support and rallying around individual needs. Leadership, team building, and overcoming challenges.

    -Ryan emphasizes the importance of team building and investing in activities that foster collaboration and camaraderie. -Christi agrees and suggests that team building can be a cost-efficient way to reset the mindset and have fun with the team. -Leaders should foster an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas. -Effective leadership is not a guarantee, but it's fulfilling when teams perform well due to the leader's influence. Useful Links

    Host: Christi's Web Page

    Guest: Nature's Path Organic

    Lighthouse NINE Group: Web page


    Contributors

    Music: All The Fixings by Zachariah Hickman

    Editing: tribe74

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    18 分