481: How to See What Others Don’t with Constance Dierickx, PhD

This week’s guest—someone who I once referred to as “a hoot”—makes her second appearance on the show, her first in nearly six years.

constance dierickx

Her name is Dr. Constance Dierickx. We last heard from her way back in Episode #190 to talk about her book High Stakes Leadership.

This time she’s here to discuss her brand new book, Meta-Leadership: How to See What Others Don’t and Make Great Decisions.

All top leaders make mistakes, she says, simply because they are human. In fact, the more senior and successful they are, the more susceptible they are to making errors due to over-confidence and perhaps, hubris. But, as Constance demonstrates, this doesn’t have to be your fate.

In her new book, she draws on a vast body of research from psychology and business to show how great leaders can improve their judgment for stronger, more profitable results. Incorporating leading-edge data and research on the science of thinking, emotional regulation, and behavior, Meta Leadership offers fascinating stories, incisive insights, and useful takeaways for better leadership and better outcomes.

Whether you are at the start of your leadership journey or have held a senior leadership role for years, Meta-Leadership will arm you with knowledge and insights to achieve the highest results from yourself and your team.

I hope you’ll click the play button below to learn more about Constance and her work. For a summary, just keep scrolling.

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480: The Case for Good Jobs with Zeynep Ton

Two years ago, my 81-year-old mother, fell in love with Turkish culture. Credit Turkish men. Suffice to say, there’s not a Turkish movie or soap opera she hasn’t seen at least twice. She’s even teaching herself the language.

zeynep ton

This means, of course, that possibly for the first time ever, she’ll be excited to give one of my episodes a listen because Turkey is from where my guest today originally hails.

Her name is Zeynep Ton (Zeynep, according to my mother, is a popular girl’s name in Turkey. It’s even the name of a leading character on one of her “shows.”).

And Zeynep’s new book, released just a few weeks ago, is called The Case for Good Jobs: How Great Companies Bring Dignity, Pay & Meaning to Everyone’s Work.

From healthcare facilities to call centers, fulfillment centers to factories, and restaurants to retail stores, companies are struggling to find or keep workers, Zeynep says, because the jobs they offer are low-paying, stressful, and provide little chance for growth and success.

Workers want good jobs, and many leaders want to provide them.

But they don’t think they can offer higher pay and more motivating work without hurting the bottom line. Most business leaders want to win with customers, but their companies are hobbled by a host of service and operational problems largely driven by high employee turnover—turnover that’s partly driven by low pay.

With expertise drawn from spending time on the front lines with workers and their managers, Zeynep knows what’s keeping most companies mired in mediocrity and how implementing a good jobs system makes them more competitive, more resilient, and more likely to attract and retain loyal customers and dedicated employees.

I hope you’ll click the play button below to learn more about Zeynep and her work. For a summary, just keep scrolling.

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469: Optimizing Learning and Development in the Workplace with James McKenna

If there’s one thing in life I’ve grown to love, it’s learning. That hasn’t always been the case. But ever since I fell back in love with books in 2003, I’ve been on a learning journey that has no end in sight (and that’s A-OK with me).

james mckenna

I see myself today as a lifelong learner. That you’re here probably means you see yourself in much the same way. One thing I’ve enjoyed learning more about lately is learning itself. In other words, learning how to learn.

That’s why I am especially excited today for you to hear from author James McKenna.

His new book offers an accessible guide to understanding and applying Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to the workplace. Using exemplars from across sectors and industries, James highlights how learning and development professionals can redefine the goals of learning in the corporate environment – not only for the benefit of the organization but also, and perhaps more importantly, for the individual.

His book, Upskill, Reskill, Thrive illustrates how to create and sustain learning and work environments that honor and empower individuals in ways that promote knowledge generation and sharing.

It’s a book that will help L&D educators and corporate leaders motivate their teams from the inside to improve performance and become part of an inclusive culture across an organization.

I hope you’ll click the play button below to learn more about James and his work. For a summary, just keep scrolling.

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442: Your Most Important Work is Always Ahead of You with Cynthia Covey Haller

Stephen M. R. Covey has been one of my most favorite authors to interview. I’ve had that opportunity now three times! So when he suggested I talk to his sister about the book she was finishing up, a book co-written with their late father, I didn’t hesitate to say “yes.”

cynthia covey haller

That new book, out today, is called Live Life in Crescendo: Your Most Important Work is Always Ahead of You.

This is the final book from the late, legendary leadership expert Stephen R. Covey of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People fame, offering inspiration and optimism about living your best life.

He and Cynthia began working on it over ten years ago and it’s finally here!

Near the end of his life, Stephen felt there was a final component to his work:

  • How to live your best life no matter your age?
  • How to best respond to life-challenging experiences and setbacks?
  • How do you approach the challenges and opportunities of middle to later life, like staying on top of your career, leading and inspiring others, expanding your role in your community , and what follows next?

Live Life in Crescendo is his and Cynthia’s answer to these questions, outlining his vision for every age and stage of life.

Click the play button below to learn more Cynthia, the late Stephen R. Covey, and their book.

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434: Leading with Heart with John Baird and Edward Sullivan

This week on the podcast, I’m delighted to bring you two authors for the price of one. They are John Baird and Edward Sullivan, both of Velocity Coaching Group.

John Baird and Edward Sullivan

Their book together is called Leading With Heart: Five Conversations That Unlock Creativity, Purpose, and Results, and it’s already spent a few weeks on the Wall Street Journal bestseller list.

In it, they share hundreds of hours of research and firsthand accounts of guiding leaders at some of the world’s most respected big brands and small startups (Apple, Nike, Google, Slack to name a few). 

At a time when workplaces are struggling to build high-morale and connected cultures, LEADING with HEART will help leaders to unlock the best version of themselves and those around them with transformative results.

No matter where you are in your career, their book is your launch point to leading with heart.

By encouraging you to ignore outdated “leadership hacks” and embrace introspection and growth, Leading with Heart guides you to ask the right questions and find your own answers. Now you too can create a leadership game-plan that is authentic to you and brings out the best in those around you.

I hope you’ll click the play button below to learn more about John, Edward and their work. For a summary, just keep scrolling.

Join in on our chat below

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