A Leadership Beyond

Thriving Through Transition In this engaging conversation, Ben Baker shares his journey of professional transition, moving from owning a communication consulting company for 17 years to rebranding himself and exploring new opportunities. The discussion delves into the nuances of personal and professional evolution, resilience, and the importance of adaptability. Key Highlights: - Ben closed his company, Your Brand Marketing, at the end of 2024 to focus on coaching, mentoring, and solving problems. - Emphasized the importance of creating a transition that allows continued connection with existing network. There are great examples of the power of reciprocity. - Stressed the value of vulnerability, seeking feedback, and being open to continuous improvement. - Discussed the difference between "change" (with a defined endpoint) and "evolution" (a continuous process). - Highlighted the significance of understanding core personal values during transitions. - Advised taking transitions step-by-step, communicating openly, and the importance of building a supportive tribe. The conversation provides insights into navigating professional transitions with grace, intentionality, and a growth mindset. We are honored and grateful to learn and grow with Ben Baker and our community of conversation. We invite you to stay connected and spread the word. We are in this crazy leadership whirlwind together. Connect with Ben: YouTube: YouTube.com/gettingyounoticed LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/IamBenBaker A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. We are grateful to you and always eager to hear from you! To learn more visit https://aleadershipbeyond.com Adrienne & Tom    

We're all experiencing the same thing, only differently -Adrienne Guerrero Since 2021, our A Leadership Beyond community has examined leadership through diverse lenses, bringing together insights from business leaders and human development experts. Today's conversation with Dot Proux (a community member, podcast guest and dear friend) represents a natural evolution in our journey—moving from facilitating discussions about leadership challenges to offering collaborative, tailored solutions. While our community of conversation remains a vibrant space for exchanging ideas and perspectives, we recognize that some members seek more personalized support for their specific leadership challenges. Tom and Adrienne bring complementary perspectives to this dialogue. While our individual practices serve different aspects of leadership development—Tom focusing on the persuasive arts and executive coaching through Diamond Mind, and Adrienne specializing in enterprise-level change leadership through Positive Delta—our shared commitment to people-first leadership unites our approach. This conversation illuminates how leadership effectiveness stems not merely from strategic capabilities, but from self-awareness, understanding others, and aligning human potential with organizational priorities and business objectives. We invite you to join this ongoing dialogue as we continue exploring leadership that transcends conventional boundaries. As always, participation in our community remains free of charge—the podcast, discussions, and shared insights are our gift to fellow leadership enthusiasts. That said, for those who'd like to explore deeper, more tailored leadership development, we're now offering several structured options that build on the foundations we've established together — helping you move from insightful ideas to meaningful execution. And the first step is discovery, requiring no fee or obligation. Episode Highlights Leadership Philosophy: Tom Rosenak and Adrienne Guerrero, the co-founders of A Leadership Beyond, share their "people first" approach to leadership, emphasizing that authentic people-first leadership leads to better business results. Complementary Expertise: The co-founders bring complementary backgrounds—Tom with expertise in influence and coaching, and Adrienne with 20 years in corporate HR and change management. Leadership Framework: Their approach begins with self-awareness, then expands to understanding others, and finally integrates with work priorities. In short, align business strategy with people strategy to drive results. Generational Insights: Discussion of how younger generations seek meaning in work and set better boundaries, while older generations often struggle with work-life balance. Team Dynamics Tool: The co-founders use the Predictive Index assessment to help leaders understand their natural strengths and potential blind spots. Valid data provides shortcuts to working together more effectively and efficiently. Community Support Offering People Strategy Power Hour - A complimentary, no-obligation opportunity to: Complete a 6-minute Predictive Index behavioral assessment Receive a 30-minute personalized debrief with either Tom or Adrianne Option to include up to 9 team members for collective team insights Gain actionable insights to improve leadership effectiveness {Step back from the "runway" of daily tasks to consider strategic direction Sign up here: https://generous-toast-73943.myflodesk.com/powerhour Join our Community of Conversation through listening to the podcast, following us on LinkedIn, or by experiencing our assessment process. Whether we work together formally or simply deepen our relationship through the community, we're here to support your leadership journey. A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization.  We are grateful to you and always eager to hear from you! To learn more visit https://aleadershipbeyond.com        

“Keep it simple and focus on what matters. Don't let yourself be overwhelmed.” -Confucius The Power of the Pause Congratulations to our co-host Adrienne Guerrero on rocking her TEDx talk on the Power of the Pause. She did it! We'll keep you posted when it's published. You won't want to miss it! The P.A.U.S.E framework emerged from Adrienne's personal struggles with the symptoms of living and doing from a reactive state. She learns what she teaches, teaches as she learns! A Leadership Beyond emerged as we saw our synergy and had big ideas, inspiring possibilities of working together. COVID struck and voila, "we can't do this!" We pulled over, asking, "what can we do?" We've gone from lunch and learn, to blog, to podcast, to community of conversation. We think you'll enjoy this insightful conversation between co-founders Adrienne Guerrero and Tom Rosenak, as we discuss Adrienne's recent TEDx experience, the framework, and how this concept can help leaders navigate today's fast-paced, distraction-filled environment. Key Highlights: The PAUSE Framework: A practical approach for leaders to escape reactivity and make strategic decisions: Pull over: Find your technique to calm your mind (meditation, breathing, movement) Assess: Ask "what is true" and "what needs to be true" challenging your assumptions U turn: Uncover possible options after grounding in values Start: Take action, no matter how small Evaluate: Reflect and determine next steps The Strategic Value: In today's VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) environment: Leaders often sacrifice strategy for tactical "box-checking" The pause framework helps identify what truly matters versus mere motion Small, intentional steps can create meaningful progress toward important goals Our Community Support: Practical tools to make strategic pausing easier, including assessments, frameworks, and execution support Accountability and guidance through workshops, executive coaching, and change leadership support. Help with staying focused on what you're "counting on to win" rather than being pulled into constant reactivity Join us for our next episode of A Leadership Beyond, where we'll continue to explore ways our guests have gone from survive to thrive in today's complex leadership landscape. A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization.  We are grateful to you and always eager to hear from you! To learn more visit https://aleadershipbeyond.com Adrienne & Tom

How important it is to walk along, not in haste but slowly, looking at everything and calling out Yes! No! The swan, for all his pomp, his robes of grass and petals, wants only to be allowed to live on the nameless pond. The catbrier is without fault. The water thrushes, down among the sloppy rocks, are going crazy with happiness. Imagination is better than a sharp instrument. To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work. — Mary Oliver, "Yes! No!" Owls and Other Fantasies: Poems and Essays, Beacon Press, Boston, 2003, p. 27   In this week's release of A Leadership Beyond, hosts Adrienne Guerrero and Tom Rosenak welcomed Michele Stowe, founder of Skyrocket Coaching, to discuss her continuous journey of aligning work with her core life values. Michele's story offers valuable insights for leaders seeking to create healthier work environments, achieve success with personal balance. During the interview, Michele shared valuable insights about leadership and energy management along with other insightst: The impact of energy: Nonprofit C-suite leaders are experiencing unprecedented challenges in today's environment. One client told her, "I just don't want to keep leading in unprecedented times," having navigated through the pandemic and continued uncertainty. There are always trade offs and we must learn to make choices with greater intentionality. Intentional role modeling: Leaders must be thoughtful about how they spend their time and demonstrate this to their teams. By showing employees that there are various ways to restore energy—whether through hiking, playing music, or spending time with family—leaders create space for everyone to find what works for them. Understanding cultural dynamics: Michele emphasized the importance of recognizing the cultural dynamics at play in an organization—including geographic, sector-specific, company, and generational differences in work expectations—and determining whether one's values align with that culture. After interviewing 100 nonprofit C-suite leaders with more than five years in their roles, Michele developed a framework for effective leadership: The Listen, Lead, and Love Your Work framework which she shares during our conversation. Michelle's story reminds us that leaders have the power to shape both their own work experiences and their organizational cultures. By listening deeply, modeling self-care, finding joy in work, and establishing meaningful measures of success, leaders can create environments where both they and their teams thrive. To follow and connect with Michele: Website: Skyrocket Coaching Linkedin: Michele Stowe A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization.  We are grateful to you and always eager to hear from you! To learn more visit https://aleadershipbeyond.com

How to Lead in the New World of Work In this episode of A Leadership Beyond, we welcome Dina Denham Smith, co-author of the book "Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work" (releasing February 18). As an expert at the intersection of psychology and business, Dina shares valuable insights on leadership in today's emotionally demanding workplace. Key highlights from our conversation include: The critical importance of recovery for high performance, comparing leaders to race cars that need strategic pit stops The mounting business costs and human drain on productivity as modern leaders face unprecedented emotional demands without adequate training or resources The distinction between different types of empathy and the concept of "compassionate detachment" ·     Practical strategies for setting boundaries in an always-connected world Our conversation with Dina aligns perfectly with our ongoing conversations about the human side of leadership and the evolving demands on today's leaders. Join us as we continue to explore how to create more sustainable and effective leadership practices in the modern workplace. At A Leadership Beyond, we're brewing the secret sauce for organizational success: combining rich conversations with experts in the trenches, viewing business challenges through a people-first lens, and aligning business goals with human needs - all backed by proven data and gold standard leadership communication practices. Stay tuned for an insightful discussion that challenges conventional wisdom about "soft skills" and offers practical solutions for today's leadership challenges. Head to these links to follow and connect with Dina: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dina-denham-smith Website: https://www.dinadsmith.com/ To purchase her book on Amazon: Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization.  We are grateful to you and always eager to hear from you! To learn more visit https://aleadershipbeyond.com  

Welcome to A Leadership Beyond, where we explore business challenges through a people-centered lens. In today's episode, we sit down with Ryan Englin, author of "Hire Better People Faster" and founder of Core Matters, who brings a fresh perspective to recruiting and retention in the trades and service industries. Drawing from his personal experience growing up in a blue-collar household, Ryan watched his father - a successful business owner - spend countless hours on hiring and managing his team. This inspired Ryan's passion to find a better way. After founding his own marketing company, he discovered that effective recruiting was fundamentally a marketing challenge, leading him to develop streamlined processes and automation tools that help businesses hire and retain the right people. Today, he shares transformative insights about building successful teams. Key takeaways from our conversation: • Recruiting is fundamentally a marketing activity, not an HR function - organizations need to become attractive to potential employees just as they work to attract customers • The trades don't have a labor shortage, they have a retention crisis - the challenge isn't finding people, it's creating an environment where they want to stay • Successful hiring requires a holistic approach - from clear definition of what "good" looks like, to proper assessment tools, and comprehensive onboarding that shows you have your act together Thank you for joining us for this enlightening conversation with Ryan Englin. His practical insights about treating employees as whole human beings and building systems that support both hiring and retention remind us that great leadership starts with how we view and value our people. Join us next time as we continue exploring leadership perspectives that challenge conventional wisdom and offer fresh solutions to today's business challenges. We'd love to hear from you and encourage you to take advantage of our People Strategy Hour. This is a no obligation way to look at your business challenges through the lens of People strategy using data on YOUR people. Raise your hand to learn more about this complementary conversation and reach out to us at https://aleadershipbeyond.com. See you next time! A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. We are grateful to you and always eager to hear from you! To learn more visit https://aleadershipbeyond.com To connect with Ryan Englin: Facebook: https://facebook.com/thecorematters LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/corematters LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanenglin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@corefithiring https://x.com/corematters

As the year winds down, the holiday season's chaos often drowns out critical reflection.  To grow as leaders, we must intentionally create space for thoughtful review—pausing the reactive frenzy to revisit values, acknowledge missteps, reconnect with relationships, and reignite aspirations before diving into next year's goals and plans.  This deliberate pause provides an opportunity to transform end-of-year busyness from a distraction to a time of meaningful personal and professional renewal. As co-founders of A Leadership Beyond, Adrienne and Tom are practicing what we teach: taking a purposeful pause to reflect before rushing into action. While we're excited about an upcoming year filled with panel discussions, new services, and leadership strategies, we're first taking time to thoughtfully review, learn, and realign.  This approach embodies the essence of our podcast—demonstrating that true leadership begins with intentional reflection. This episode is an invitation to all leaders to step back, breathe, and create space for meaningful reflection before diving into the river of reactivity. We explore the power of pausing, examining our accomplishments, learning from challenges, and realigning with our core values as we prepare for the coming year. Highlights of the conversation: Importance of carving space for personal reflection, even amidst the busy holiday season. Practical strategies for taking 10-15 minutes to reconnect to core values and assess what you accomplished  and what may need refinement. How personal touches can increase engagement through deeper connection.  Understanding the power of M2  in your S.M.A.R.T goal setting. Effective goals must be meaningful, motivating and measurable.  Importance of finding trusted partners to provide objective feedback. Sometimes a partner with no skin in that game can shed valuable light on your dilemma. The overall message is that taking a purposeful pause for reflection and renewal can transform the end-of-year chaos into a meaningful time of personal and professional growth for leaders. We'd love to hear about your success (and challenges) with leadership beyond the lines. A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. We are grateful to you and always eager to hear from you! To learn more visit https://aleadershipbeyond.com.      

For this week's episode, we're revisiting a clip from a fascinating panel discussion from our vault that explores how HR professionals can become true strategic partners in their organizations. But before we jump in, let's frame the conversation through the lens of Talent Optimization, a critical framework that many organizations are missing.  Adrienne and I work together to help organizations leverage people data to drive success in their business strategy. Think of Talent Optimization as the strategic alignment of your people strategy with your business objectives. It's like a well choreographed dance where your workforce capability, team dynamics and organizational culture move in perfect sync with your business goals. When this alignment is off, the consequences can be severe. And that's exactly what we'll hear about in this clip from our conversation with Matt Poepsel, often referred to as the “Godfather of Talent Optimization”. Matt talks about the real business costs of misalignment. And it turns out that most business problems are people problems in disguise. Tune in to learn about the damage that's done when we don't align our people strategy and our business strategy -and what you can do to bring your people and business goals back into sync. Listen now and start transforming your people strategy into a powerful lever for success. A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions. To learn more visit https://aleadershipbeyond.com.

  In this week's episode of A Leadership Beyond, we're taking a journey back to a powerful conversation from our vault, originally recorded in 2022. Our featured guest, Olivier Aries—a certified Predictive Index practitioner with a deep focus on workplace engagement—shares invaluable insights into what it truly means to cultivate engagement within organizations. Olivier breaks down: What engagement is Why it's important to pay attention to it What we should be doing about it How we should be focused on it We're excited to reintroduce this episode as part of our commitment to an upcoming panel series dedicated solely to the topic of engagement. This episode serves as the perfect foundation for exploring what engagement is, why it matters, and how leaders can harness it for the benefit of their teams. Join us as Olivier Aries delves into the essentials of workplace engagement, setting the stage for deeper conversations in our forthcoming engagement series. A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions. To learn more visit https://aleadershipbeyond.com.

Energy Creating Engagement for Sustainable Performance For this week's episode we are revisiting the podcast vault as we prepare for a new leadership series focused on Employee Engagement.  Our hosts Adrienne and Tom continue to glean gems from a previously released engaging conversation with Bryan Sykes.   Bryan Sykes is a healthcare professional, neurobiologist, and martial artist working at the 4-way intersection of people, science, technology, and business to support human thriving. Bryan shares his journey of exploring performance enhancement and how the realm of athletics emerges as an illuminating beacon. Bryan touches on themes of well-being, energy management, and creating an environment that fosters engagement - all of which are relevant to our upcoming engagement series. Our hosts are excited to "round the house again" and bring Sykes' insights back into the conversation.  Key Highlights from this dynamic conversation:  - Bryan has a background in medicine and sports psychology, and he draws insights from how athletes prepare, perform, and recover that are applicable to professionals in any field.  - Bryan is passionate about helping people and organizations understand the neurobiology and science behind managing mental, physical, emotional, and social energy. He believes this is key to avoiding burnout and elevating engagement.  - Bryan emphasizes the importance of creating space, pausing, and reflecting in order to learn and grow, rather than just constantly pushing for productivity and checking tasks off a list.  - He challenges the notion that people are inherently resistant to change, arguing that people are primed for change but often struggle with the process of changing. Providing the right support and environment is crucial.  - He advocates for a "humanity-centered" rather than just "human-centered" approach, considering the broader, long-term impacts on society and the planet, not just short-term business goals.  A Leadership Beyond aligns powerfully with Bryan's focus on holistic, scientific, and human-centric approach to elevating engagement and well-being, providing a sound foundation for the themes we plan to explore in our upcoming engagement series.  A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.    

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." – Winston Churchill The path to extraordinary leadership is rarely a straight line. It's a winding journey, paved with adversity, setbacks, and the courage to chart a course beyond the status quo. It takes a unique blend of determination, resilience, and humility to stay the course and bring others along to the land of A Leadership Beyond. In this episode, we sit down with Anatoliy Labinskiy, whose story embodies the spirit of leadership that goes beyond the confines of a traditional career. From humble beginnings as an immigrant in Dubai to building multiple seven-figure businesses, Anatoliy has navigated the ups and downs of entrepreneurship with a relentless drive to create a better future - for himself, his family, and the teams he's assembled along the Way. Anatoliy has a unique blend of grit, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to his team. In this insightful discussion, Anatoliy shares the key qualities that have propelled his success, the strategies he's employed to cultivate a high-performing, remote workforce, and his perspective on leveraging emerging technologies like AI to stay ahead of the curve. His experiences and lessons offer a roadmap for leaders who are ready to lead. Key highlights include: • The three critical qualities for entrepreneurial success:  All-in determination Willingness to take big risks  Defining a strong "why" beyond just money • Cultivating an "extreme ownership" mindset in his remote team, where each person is an entrepreneur of their own role. This drives accountability and Results. • Leveraging AI strategically to boost productivity and efficiency, without letting it dehumanize the workforce. Anatoliy emphasizes adapting skills to complement AI rather than being replaced by it. • Three leadership encouragements for the new world:  Never stop learning Genuinely care for your team Diligently track performance metrics to identify and address issues Anatoliy's journey is a powerful example of how grit, resilience, and a steadfast commitment to one's vision can pave the way to success, even when the odds may seem stacked against us. This is a valuable lesson for anyone looking to lead beyond the constraints of the ordinary and make a lasting impact. We welcome and encourage the continued participation of all our listeners, whether you're an established leader, an aspiring entrepreneur, or simply someone seeking to cultivate a mindset and approach that can create positive change. Your voices, your stories, and your unique insights are invaluable in shaping the ongoing dialogue around what it means to lead beyond the ordinary. A Leadership Beyond is led by Change Management Consultant Adrienne Guerrero and Leadership Communication Strategist Tom Rosenak, and exists to support the alignment between  business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization).  Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of  Talent Optimization.  As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions. To learn more visit https://aleadershipbeyond.com.

"You will have bad times, but they will always wake you up to the stuff you weren'tpaying attention to." - Robin Williams Welcome back, community! After a brief summer hiatus,  our hosts Adrienne and Tom are excited to return with a special episode focusing on mindfulness and leadership. This episode builds on our recent sprint of panel discussions covering a wide array of leadership topics, including two panels on wellbeing at the individual, team, enterprise, and global levels.   In the introduction to this episode Adrienne Guerrero and Tom Rosenak set the stage for our guest interview: They discuss the constant pressure on leaders to "keep going" without adequate time for strategic thinking and reflection. They emphasize the interconnectedness of individual well-being, team performance, and business outcomes like retention and engagement. The co-founders liken self-care to maintenance in a mechanical system - neglectingthe "human machines" inevitably leads to decreased productivity. They stress the importance of open conversations about stress and well-being, even when additional resources aren't available. Adrienne and Tom highlight the need for personalized approaches to stress management, acknowledging that everyone experiences stress and VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) differently. We're thrilled to welcome back Dot Proux our featured guest, who previously joined us on a panel about self-leadership. Dot is an executive coach and leadership development advisor who teaches an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course. Highlights from our conversation with Dot: Dot's background: Before becoming a coach, she was a partner at a Big 4 accounting firm, experiencing high stress and burnout firsthand. Personal experience: Dot shares her journey with "cliffing" - pushing herself too hard until her body forced her to stop and recover. Empathy in coaching: She now uses her personal experiences to connect with and support her high-performing, high-stress leadership clients. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) benefits: Research shows that MBSR can improve focus, present moment awareness, and overall well-being. Course structure: Dot's 8-week MBSR program includes: Formal and informal mindfulness exercises Accountability and support from a cohortGradual building of the "mindfulness muscle"   Opportunity to join Dot's Fall MBSR Cohort To enroll in the upcoming fall program or learn more about mindfulness, visit:  https://aleadershipbeyond.com/mindfulness-based-stress-reduction/ Join us as we continue to explore leadership practices that keep the human front and center in the face of the sometimes dehumanizing modern leadership challenges. A Leadership Beyond is led by Change Management Consultant Adrienne Guerrero and Leadership Communication Strategist Tom Rosenak, and exists to support the alignment between business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization).  Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization.  As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions. To learn more visit https://aleadershipbeyond.com. Tom & Adrienne

Leadership in today's dynamic world demands more than just managing others -- it requires mastering oneself. Our engaging panel discussions on diverse leadership topics consistently lead us back to a fundamental concept: our internal locus of control and how we respond to the challenges of change.  Dr. Ana Kazan eloquently defines self-leadership as "the practice of intentionally influencing your thinking, feeling and actions towards your objectives." This powerful idea forms the foundation of our exploration into personal and professional growth.  In a lively and interactive conversation, Dotty Posto and Dot Proux, draw from their rich career experiences and their passion for guiding others. Pause, breathe, smile.

We had to make a slight adjustment in our planned panel discussion on empowering women for executive roles. Originally, we intended to feature a joint conversation with Beth Hilbing, co-founder of C-Sweet, and Heather H. Bennett, partner at Newport LLC. However, due to unexpected travel delays in Chicago, we've had to adjust our format.  Instead of a single panel discussion, we'll be presenting two separate conversations.   Today, we're excited to share our insightful discussion with Heather H. Bennett.   Stay tuned for Beth's valuable contributions which will be featured in the upcoming weeks.  Heather brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the discussion of women in leadership roles. And with four children, she certainly knows the landscape of navigating career and personal aspirations and challenges.  Among other things, we talked about the current trends and challenges for today's aspiring female business leaders. A few of the highlights and suggestions from this engaging conversation.  Trends in the overall job market and specifically for women  The importance of supporting employees throughout their career lifecycle  Imposter syndrome as women often feel they must be 110%   The importance of giving yourself grace when things don't go perfectly  Setting boundaries when communicating needs with your team  Prioritizing networking for your current role and future roles   Finding multiple mentors within and outside your organization  A dominant thread that runs throughout this conversation and all of Heather's work:  Self-awareness and human connection are crucial, regardless of your specific career aspirations.  Enjoy the conversation with Heather, and please stay connected! Community matters!  A Leadership Beyond is led by Change Management Consultant Adrienne Guerrero and Leadership Communication Strategist Tom Rosenak, and exists to support the alignment between business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization).  Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization.  As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions. To learn more visit https://aleadershipbeyond.com.    

You've heard it said, “Your people are your greatest asset”. (ad infinitum). Well, quiet quitting, the great resignation and other trends make clear, they aren't an asset, you don't own them.   They are your greatest investment and the leaders that learn to better align talent strategies with business objectives will be better poised for long-term sustainability and growth.  We recently had an insightful conversation with three HR experts on our podcast, Dr. Eric D. Hieger, Jackie Kaweck, and Ian Ziskin. We discussed strategies for HR professionals to establish their value and secure a seat at the executive table.   Regardless of your function within an organization it is essential to understand both business strategy and people strategy.  Here are a few key highlights from our conversation:  Develop a deep understanding of business acumen and the organization's value chain to effectively contribute to strategic decisions. Seek opportunities to collaborate with other functions, learn from their challenges, and gain multidisciplinary perspectives.   Advocate for HR initiatives by building a compelling business case and effectively communicating the value proposition to stakeholders.   Elevate expectations for HR capabilities and delivery, positioning HR as strategic partners rather than reactive problem-solvers. Embrace a mindset of continuous learning, joining competitive industries to accelerate growth and push boundaries.  The experts emphasized the importance of HR professionals shedding self-limiting beliefs and embracing a strategic mindset. By demonstrating their ability to drive business success, HR can solidify its role as a critical partner in shaping organizational strategy.  Stay tuned for ongoing conversations with business leaders, during which we'll continue to gain multiple perspectives on relevant issues - personal, interpersonal, and strategic - bringing ideas on how you can cultivate a Leadership Beyond.  We thank our panel for this dynamic conversation sharing their passion, insight, and practical strategies. We are hopeful you will enjoy and benefit from this conversation as much as we have. Together, let's forge a path toward better people, better work, and a brighter tomorrow. A Leadership Beyond is led by Change Management Consultant Adrienne Guerrero and Leadership Communication Strategist Tom Rosenak, and exists to support the alignment between business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization).  Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization.  As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions. To learn more visit https://aleadershipbeyond.com.

"Technology is nothing. What's important is that you have faith in people, that they're basically good and smart, and if you give them tools, they'll do wonderful things with them." -Steve Jobs  In today's dynamic business world, technology stands out as a transformative force, dramatically reshaping our workplaces. From AI-driven recruitment to remote work enablers, these innovations do more than change work methods—they fundamentally alter how companies view their most significant investment: their people.  We've moved past the outdated notion of referring to employees as "assets." The Great Resignation and quiet quitting phenomena starkly remind us that people aren't possessions; they're individuals with agency who choose where to invest their talents. Instead, we recognize our workforce as our largest and most precious investment.  To maximize the return on this people investment, companies must carefully align three critical elements:  1. Human-centered values and timeless principles (our true north)  2. Business strategy   3. People strategy  This alignment not only enhances productivity, but also fosters a culture where employees feel valued, engaged, and committed—a win-win that benefits both the individual and the organization. In this enlightening podcast episode, our expert panel delves into the multifaceted impact of technology on people strategies, offering insights that are both profound and timely.  In this era of rapid technological change, every organization must react. However, as leaders, we have a choice—to merely respond or to lead. We choose the latter. True leadership in this digital age means more than just adopting the latest tools; it requires us to harness these innovations thoughtfully, always ensuring that our highest, human-centric values remain our guiding light.  As we navigate this tech-driven transformation, our panel explores how to strike the right balance. How can we leverage AI, automation, and digital platforms to enhance efficiency and productivity without losing sight of empathy, creativity, and personal growth? In this discussion, we'll uncover strategies for not just adapting to change, but spearheading it—all while keeping our people, their well-being, and their aspirations at the heart of every decision.  Our panelists share real-world examples, best practices, and even cautionary tales. They discuss success stories where technology has enhanced employee satisfaction and productivity. But they also don't shy away from challenges, like the risk of over-relying on algorithms or the potential for technology to depersonalize human interactions.  We thank our panel, Manal Keen, George Logothetis, and Jason Barth for THIS dynamic conversation sharing their passion, insight, and practical strategies. We are hopeful you will enjoy and benefit from this conversation as much as we have. Stay tuned for future conversations as we continue our exploration of topics essential to leadership excellence and organizational success.  Together, let's forge a path toward better people, better work, and a brighter tomorrow. A Leadership Beyond is led by Change Management Consultant Adrienne Guerrero and Leadership Communication Strategist Tom Rosenak, and exists to support the alignment between business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization).  Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization.  As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions. To learn more visit https://aleadershipbeyond.com.

"We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now" – Martin Luther King, Jr. We kicked off our new panel discussion format with the most requested of the seven leadership topics: employee well-being. As we transition from Wellbeing to Self-Leadership, it's clear that our leadership topics are not isolated silos but rather a tapestry of interconnected themes. Employee wellbeing, which has been our primary focus, naturally leads us to the topic of self-leadership. When we talk about self-leadership, we are keeping the essence of wellbeing at the forefront of our minds. Self-leadership involves taking responsibility for our own development, health, and mindset, which directly impacts our influence and the overall wellbeing of the company. It's a personal commitment to cultivating resilience, mindfulness, and a sense of purpose. This episode explores how self-leadership can further our journey towards holistic, sustainable leadership at the individual, team, enterprise, and societal levels. To set the tone and context for our panel discussion, let's begin with a couple of definitions we've consistently used. We define "lead" as going before - envisioning the future, embodying values, modeling behaviors, and engaging others to join us in the adventure. In contrast, "management" comes from the same root as "manus," meaning to handle. Leaders often handle many tasks but, without purpose and direction, can end frenetically busy, yet going nowhere. In our experience, a recurring theme, especially since the pandemic, has been the lack of time to think strategically. Leaders are often caught up in day-to-day reactions, leaving no space for proactive thinking. This highlights the tension between surviving immediate demands and thriving by creating a compelling future. This tension ties directly into our previous focus on wellness. Survival and thriving are in a constant tug of war. Without deliberate space for strategic thinking, we react rather than respond. In this dynamic conversation, our panelists explore various perspectives on this tension and seek strategies for higher self-leadership. The goal is to navigate the demands of the present while steering towards a brighter future. We thank our panel, Marlowe J. Weingart; Kristin Lamar; and Amanda Norris for THIS dynamic conversation sharing their passion, insight, and practical strategies on self-leadership. Visit www.aleadershipbeyond.com for contact information. The overarching question framing this conversation: How can we as leaders prioritize self-care while meeting personal and organizational demands? We are hopeful you will enjoy and benefit from this conversation as much as we have. Stay tuned for future conversations as we continue our exploration of topics essential to leadership excellence and organizational success.  Together, let's forge a path toward better people, better work, and a brighter tomorrow. A Leadership Beyond is led by Change Management Consultant Adrienne Guerrero and Leadership Communication Strategist Tom Rosenak, and exists to support the alignment between business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization).  Subscribe to our channel to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization.  As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions. To learn more visit https://aleadershipbeyond.com.

Welcome to another enriching discussion on employee wellbeing, a topic that resonates deeply with leaders striving to cultivate resilience and foster environments where employees not only survive but truly thrive. Our community, A Leadership Beyond, recognizes the pressing need to address this crucial aspect of leadership in today's fast-paced and ever-evolving workplace.   Our guests this week were: Amanda Ryznar, Paul LaLonde and Dr. Natacha Nelson (see links in the show notes)  Our aim, shared wholeheartedly by our guests, is to transcend mere acknowledgment of the current challenges and embark on a collaborative journey toward meaningful change. Together, we aspire to not only identify obstacles but also to implement strategies that promote better outcomes for both individuals and organizations, ultimately contributing to a brighter, more resilient world.  Throughout our conversation, we delved into various key themes, including the importance of recognizing both individual and collective responsibility for wellbeing, the necessity of integrating wellness initiatives into organizational culture, and the crucial role of mental fitness in fostering employee resilience.  Moreover, we explored practical strategies, such as implementing employee-centered wellness programs and establishing accessible mental health support systems to address the diverse needs of modern workplaces.  We are hopeful you will enjoy and benefit from this conversation as much as we have.   Stay tuned for future conversations as we continue our exploration of topics essential to leadership excellence and organizational success. Together, let's forge a path toward better people, better work, and a brighter tomorrow.  A Leadership Beyond is led by Change Management Consultant Adrienne Guerrero and Leadership Communication Strategist Tom Rosenak, and exists to support the alignment between business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions. To learn more visit https://aleadershipbeyond.com.

“When the well's dry, we know the worth of the water.” – Benjamin Franklin We are excited to publish the opening salvo in our series of panel discussions aimed toward addressing the most pressing challenges faced by business leaders today. It makes sense to begin with wellbeing, as this topic received by far the greatest share of votes in our topics of interest survey. More than that, employee wellbeing is essential for all our business strategies to have hope of success. Humanity first is a core principle of this community. Lastly, we don't have to look far to see the financial, morale and engagement drain from failure to address wellbeing. Our guests for the first panel are: Dr. Lesley Page, professor of organizational leadership at Lewis University. Dr. Michele Kramer, holistic nurse and currently the track coordinator for the healthcare leadership track at Lewis University. Jeremy Vesta, Chief Operating Officer of Curally. Curally allows for organizations to provide personalized nurse-led healthcare to their employees. This panel of experts is well suited to address wellbeing from the individual, team, enterprise, and societal level. There is often a great disconnect between the business case for wellness and the business case. Leaders must build bridges between the business and people strategies. In this dynamic conversation, we discussed: The importance of raising our consciousness of self-care and how we can create a lifelong sense of nurturing ourselves by finding an intrinsic motivation. Research in resilience that looks beyond survival and asks how we can thrive through crisis. Mindful leadership opens the opportunity to develop broader perspectives on the holistic organization. Again, we see how our internal lens allows for a global lens; care for yourself, care for the world. Understanding the qualities which lead to fulfilment and thriving at work can help leaders to create environments conducive to meaning at work.       Health care costs are out of control, pressuring HR to “do something about it”. Expecting HR to have the expertise to solve this crisis directly or alone is unrealistic. Innovative partnerships such as Curally offer the path forward that makes business sense and human sense. Curally created a relationship-based system that will bring personalized care to employees with a focus on prevention.       Alignment of compassionate leadership to wellness and growth can be fostered to scale wellbeing. An employer is not capable, nor would it be appropriate to have the type of discussions a nurse care practitioner can. Through Curally's model, the employer can effectively do this with confidentiality. We are hopeful! Our guests demonstrate the great possibilities that leaders have for leveraging the current wellbeing crisis to transform themselves and their organizations toward better health, better work, and a better world. To quote Dr. Page from a previous interview, “Leaders, this is your moment”. We CAN do it, but not alone! A Leadership Beyond is committed to being a conduit for the resources and connections needed for this vision to be realized. Many experts expressed interest in being part of this discussion – so we'll continue this topic with additional guests. Please reach out to us if you'd like your voice in the conversation. We will be publishing topical reels as well as being open to articles, posts and 1:1 interview. “See you next time!” A Leadership Beyond is led by Change Management Consultant Adrienne Guerrero and Leadership Communication Strategist Tom Rosenak, and exists to support the alignment between business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization).  Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.  To learn more visit https://aleadershipbeyond.com.  

To me, good health is more than just exercise and diet. It's really a point of view and a mental attitude you have about yourself” {and your organization} ~Albert Schweitzer  “Good health IS good business” – Paul Drechsler (CEO, Wates Group Limited)  When planning our next conversational series, we asked the community to weigh in on the topic they were most interested in. Wellbeing weighed in (pun intended) as top priority for our community.   As we prepare for an upcoming expert panel discussion, we decided to kick it off with a few thoughts from the co-founders, Adrienne & Tom.  Time and compressed calendars did not permit us to come together live, so we answered separately and combined the responses on this week's podcast.  Here is the set of questions Tom chose, and a few highlights of his response:  1. How can we foster a sense of belonging and connection among our employees, especially in remote and hybrid work environments?  Tom emphasized the importance of recognizing individual differences in fostering connection among employees.  He highlighted the need for meaningful conversations, both in-person and digitally, to promote a sense of belonging.  Tom advocated for creating choices for mindfulness and self-care, acknowledging that well-being initiatives should cater to diverse preferences.   2. How can we foster a culture of open communication and support where employees feel comfortable discussing their well-being concerns?  Tom stressed the significance of addressing concerns such as workload and job security through open communication and supportive systems.  He emphasized the role of managers in providing training and resources to support their teams, advocating for informal channels and personalized approaches.  3. How can we create choices that promote mindfulness, resilience, and self-caring among our employees?  Tom discussed the importance of integrating digital and in-person experiences to promote mindfulness and resilience.  He highlighted the value of workplace flexibility in accommodating personal and family needs, emphasizing the need for tailored strategies and supportive workplace cultures.  Here is the set of questions Adrienne chose, and a few highlights of her response:  1. Are there specific challenges or stressors impacting employee well-being that we, as employers and business leaders, need to address?  Adrienne delved into challenges such as workload and job security, emphasizing the importance of open communication and support systems.  She highlighted the significance of recognizing individual differences and providing resources to address diverse needs.  2. What kind of training and resources can we provide managers to better support their team members with well-being and recognizing signs of burnout and distress?  Adrienne discussed the role of managers in providing training and resources to support their teams, advocating for informal channels and personalized approaches.  She emphasized the importance of understanding employees' needs and aligning expectations with outcomes to enhance workplace flexibility effectively.  3. Are there opportunities to enhance workplace flexibility, such as scheduling, to better support employees' personal and family needs?  Adrienne encouraged organizations to align expectations with outcomes and foster a sense of purpose to enhance flexibility effectively.  She emphasized the value of accommodating personal and family needs, advocating for tailored strategies and supportive workplace cultures.  The conversation led by Adrienne and Tom underscored the dynamic and multifaceted nature of promoting employee well-being. They emphasized the importance of tailored strategies, open communication, and supportive workplace cultures in fostering a healthy and productive work environment.   We hope you enjoy the podcast and are inspired to join the conversation.  Your voice makes a difference.   Stay tuned for more insights on how to build resilience and cultivate A Leadership Beyond by promoting health and wellness throughout your organization.  A Leadership Beyond is led by Change Management Consultant Adrienne Guerrero and Leadership Communication Strategist Tom Rosenak, and exists to support the alignment between business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization).  Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.  To learn more visit https://aleadershipbeyond.com.  

Define the win, align to people strategy, and execute! Simple and easy are not synonymous. It is easy to understand that aligning individual goals to the business goals of the organization is a win-win for both. And it might seem a simple activity to clearly define the win at every level and for every worker in the organization. Simple, yes, and equally hard to implement and sustain. There is no magic wand. Why is this so challenging? Well, because we are human, of course. We may have one vision through our organizational lenses, yet every individual, small group, and business unit is unique. This is why A Leadership Beyond is a big fan of leveraging people data to align differing behaviors, drives, and needs at the individual, team, and enterprise level.   Common language and common vision lead to aligned strategy of business and people—and that equals better results. We were thrilled to have Traci Ausin as our guest. Traci is an experienced HR leader with a blueprint for executing Talent Optimization and cascading the benefits throughout the organization.  raci helps the various functions see the big picture and align; and the big picture thinkers see the impact of aligning better with the functions. Organizational health and effectiveness depend on intentional leadership alignment. Everyone must speak the same language and see the same picture. This does not make it easy, but it does make true alignment possible as well as scalable. In this episode you can expect to glean insights on: Misalignment on goals: Traci highlights the challenge of not knowing what "winning" looks like at different levels of the organization, from the executive leadership team to individual teams. This lack of clarity can lead to inefficiencies and frustration among employees.  Importance of communication: Traci emphasizes the need for effective cross-functional communication to ensure everyone understands organizational goals and how their work contributes to achieving them. This includes aligning HR strategies with overall business objectives. Leadership and culture: Traci discusses the significance of leadership in fostering a culture that supports organizational goals. She provides examples of how leaders can inspire and engage employees by tying their work to the company's mission and values. Performance management: Traci outlines a comprehensive performance management approach that aligns individual goals with team and organizational objectives. This includes using a common language, such as core values, to drive behavior and reinforce desired outcomes. Balancing policies and people-first approach: Traci addresses the challenge of balancing HR policies and benefits plans with a people-first approach. She suggests addressing employees' needs and concerns while still holding them accountable for meeting performance expectations. Enabling employees: Traci advocates for understanding employees' needs and providing them with the support and resources to succeed. This includes coaching employees to articulate their requests effectively and aligning their priorities with organizational goals. Overall, Traci emphasizes the importance of aligning people strategies with business objectives, fostering a culture of accountability and communication, and empowering employees to contribute to organizational success. Thank you once again for your engagement and continued support. We look forward to hearing from you and continuing this journey of learning, growth and building leadership resilience together. A Leadership Beyond is led by Change Management Consultant Adrienne Guerrero and Leadership Communication Strategist Tom Rosenak, and exists to support the alignment between business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you. Connect with us at https://aleadershipbeyond.com.  

In our latest episode we discuss our recent solicitation to this community for the top-of-mind topics related to their human resources for business leaders today. We appreciate everyone who took the time to participate in the poll. Your input is invaluable as we strive to tailor our content to address the most pressing challenges and interests of our community. The Results:  Based on the poll results, it seems like “Employee Wellbeing/Engagement” is a significant concern for our community members, with 53% of respondents indicating this topic. However, we also received interest in other areas such as self-leadership strategy and effective work/hybrid reality.  Here is the current breakdown: Self/leadership Strategy: 16% HR as Strategic Allies: 11%  Employee Wellbeing/Engagement: 53%  Effective Work/Hybrid Reality: 21% Don't stop now! Even though the poll has concluded, we invite you to share your perspectives on these topics or any other leadership-related subjects that are important to you. Your insights, perspective and experiences are what make our community vibrant and enriching. What's next? We are taking this insight to create a schedule of events and publications. As we've mentioned earlier, we're looking to create more small group conversations to accompany our usual interview-style episodes with experts.  Join us! Please feel free to connect with us at https://aleadershipbeyond.com if you'd like to be part of our individual or small group conversations. Thank you once again for your engagement and continued support. We look forward to hearing from you and continuing this journey of learning, growth and building leadership resilience together.  A Leadership Beyond is led by Change Management Consultant Adrienne Guerrero and Leadership Communication Strategist Tom Rosenak, and exists to support the alignment between business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization).  Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you

This week we interviewed Dianne Gubin and Beth Hilbing of C-Sweet, the premier global community of female executives. The genesis of C-Sweet serves as an inspiring tale for entrepreneurs. Dianne Gubin, actively engaged in running and participating in various networking groups, sought a new community that crossed industries and business boundaries. Faced with the challenge of not finding precisely what she was looking for, she embraced the entrepreneurial spirit: if it doesn't exist, create it. Collaborating with her trusted friend, Beth Hilbing, marked the beginning of C-Sweet, and the rest is history.  From its humble origins in a small conference room in Century City, C-Sweet has blossomed, now spanning seven cities with a membership of several hundred and a distribution list exceeding 25,000. Beth Hilbing shares a story that resonates with many women executives—a tale of being deeply immersed in her work during her corporate ascent, inadvertently letting her network fade. However, faced with a career transition, she recognized the importance of a vibrant network. In reconnecting and rebuilding her network, Beth did land her new position at Boeing. Joining forces with Dianne in C-Sweet ensures that other women never have to start over from scratch.  Beth's experience serves as a reminder for executive women at any stage of their career journey. C-Sweet offers a lifeline, allowing women to stay connected to a dynamic network where they can have fun, learn, grow, provide support and be supported. The message is clear: with C-Sweet, executive women can foster meaningful connections and navigate their professional journeys with resilience and support.  This conversation covers a lot of ground for business leaders including:  Discussion about what makes C-Sweet's programming unique and powerful, including:  The challenge for leaders today, holding a special space for the challenges facing female leaders.  Acknowledgement that too often there are still very few females in the executive room and how we can support those doing it and make progress to change the statistics.  Tips for engaging (or not engaging) with toxic personalities. Creating a culture where ego driven toxicity is the exception rather than the rule.   The importance of shared values and vision is their key to success as Co-CEOs (not something that can be sustained very often). Their tips:  Stay focused on the shared value. For them, the member experience is what matters most. How can they serve their members drives everything they do? Keep sight of the vision. When individual differences pop up, they resolve them quickly through honest conversation.   Hold a sacred space for gratitude and appreciation for your partners, including their differences.  Maintain a lighthearted attitude about differences. They share about golf - something that Dianne enjoys and Beth prefers to participate if she can “drive the cart and drink the beer.”    We're thrilled to share this inspiring conversation with you, and we can't wait for you to join us on this journey with C-Sweet. Your questions and comments are always welcome. A Leadership Beyond is led by Change Management Consultant Adrienne Guerrero and Leadership Communication Strategist Tom Rosenak, and exists to support the alignment between business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization).  Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.  To learn more visit https://aleadershipbeyond.com.  

For this week's conversation, you are invited to embark on a captivating journey with Jill Valdez as she shares her remarkable transition from full-time ministry to the world of senior care, complemented by a pursuit of an MBA to bridge the gap between non-profit and for-profit management. Today, her unwavering focus lies in serving executives within senior care facilities, recognizing the pivotal role of a people-centric strategy in sustaining such vital institutions. In our conversation, Jill's profound insights highlight the essential connection between a winning business strategy and a robust people strategy, emphasizing that removing the latter negates the very essence of "care" in senior care facilities. Her story unfolds with openness and vulnerability, showcasing resilience drawn from a deep well of purpose. The following quote is her response to the emotional experience of loss of a job: "I can step away from this and move on to this. And it doesn't change my identity. It simply changes how I'm living it out, and, and what that looks like on a day-to-day basis. And I think that the core of resilience is being able to say, no matter what, it doesn't change who I am. Because my purpose hasn't changed, and who I am hasn't changed." Jill's wisdom shines through as she shares practical tips: Navigate setbacks by taking a step back, reflecting on your identity, and asking, "What's next?" Embrace continuous anticipation of what lies ahead in our rapidly changing landscape.  Grant executives the space to lead with compassion, acknowledging the inseparable link between personal and professional lives.  Prioritize organizational health beyond mere efficiency, emphasizing pillars like Communication, Cohesion, Clarity, and Consistency.  Cultivate a mindset of curiosity, fostering healthy conflict resolution and embracing individual, team, and organizational needs.  Don't miss the full interview with Jill, a testament to the power of purpose, resilience, and the intrinsic connection between business success and human-centric strategies. Stay tuned for more enriching episodes from the Leadership Beyond community, where we champion the integration of humanity into every aspect of our business endeavors.  A Leadership Beyond is led by Change Management Consultant Adrienne Guerrero and Leadership Communication Strategist Tom Rosenak, and exists to support the alignment between business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization).  Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.  To learn more visit https://aleadershipbeyond.com.

“For me, the wheels came off during the pandemic…” Who else can relate to that? I know those of us at A Leadership Beyond sure can. It's what led us to create this community… but you already know that story.  That is the initial prompt that led our friend and colleague Matt Poepsel on a journey that culminated into his recently released book Expand the Circle: Enlightened Leadership for Our New World of Work.  In this week's episode we interview Matt and discuss his new book. Matt's Buddhism practice inspired a look-back to ancient philosophical leadership alongside a deep study of business methodologies to build his enlightened approach to leadership, where we abandon the ego to consider the broader world and humanity in the way we lead ourselves, our people, our organizations, and ultimately the world.   An enlightened leader, as Matt describes it, is one who has gone beyond outdated leadership attitudes and beliefs – in other words, focusing only on the financial bottom line. This won't cut it anymore – people are demanding their work serve a higher, more important, purpose. Enlightened leaders want and see the need for something bigger than ourselves. We're starting to see evidence in business that this evolution has begun and enlightened leaders are on the path to shift this thinking in a big way.  In his book, Matt provides a framework that can be visualized with circles. The premise: while it's essential that we begin focusing beyond ourselves and our organizations, we must begin within ourselves. The difference from traditional leadership is that with enlightened leadership, we are leading ourselves for the purpose of serving others and beyond others, serving the world (and even universe?) at large.  Listen to this episode for a more detailed review with Matt and practical advice to begin your own journey to enlightened leadership.  We're so grateful to Matt for spending time talking with us and sharing himself with our community. We're sure you'll be inspired and want more – lucky us, Matt has given so much more for us to delve into!  A Leadership Beyond is led by Change Management Consultant Adrienne Guerrero and Leadership Communication Strategist Tom Rosenak, and exists to support the alignment between business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization.  As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions. To learn more visit https://aleadershipbeyond.com.

We are hearing the clarion call for a new model of leadership in this age of unprecedented change.    In our latest conversation Marika Messager shares her early experience as a young woman, working in the toxic, fast-paced, male dominated financial services industry. Her first experiences of questioning the root causes of toxicity were about her personal survival in a difficult world.  Through her experiences, she came to understand that we needed a new paradigm of leadership based on different values of co-creation of understanding of inclusion, acceptance, compassion and collaboration.   Marika is one of the pioneers of Conscious Leadership, which is now becoming more and more a topic of discussion. Ten years ago, before it was generally understood, Marika began really unpacking what it means to be a conscious leader and how do we create conscious leaders one at a time?   In this riveting conversation, Marika brought forth a thought-provoking dialogue that underscored the importance of considering the topics discussed and the value of active listening. Her insights and perspectives hold significant value for both the individual leader's development, the organization, and society, making this interview a valuable source of individual inspiration, reflection, and conversation with those you touch.   A few highlights:  - Marika's compelling perspective on environmental conservation stressed the urgency of adopting sustainable practices and individual responsibility, emphasizing the broader impact on the planet and future generations.  - Her personal journey, marked by milestones and challenges, offered a powerful testament to the transformative power of resilience and determination.  - Marika's current projects and initiatives, aimed at making a positive societal impact, served as a call to action for those looking to effect positive change in their communities.  - Her discussion on the evolving landscape of technology and its societal implications sparked a deeper consideration of the choices and consequences that accompany technological advancements.  - The interview's optimistic conclusion, where Marika expressed hope for a brighter and more sustainable future, underscored the collective power of informed decisions and active engagement, highlighting the interview's overall value in inspiring meaningful change.  To learn more about Marika Messager and her work visit https://consciousleadership.org  To connect with Marika on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/conscious-leadership-coaching-consulting.  A Leadership Beyond is led by Change Management Consultant Adrienne Guerrero and Leadership Communication Strategist Tom Rosenak, and exists to support the alignment between business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions. To learn more visit https://aleadershipbeyond.com.

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." -Albert Einstein Albert Einstein's quote above might lead one to believe that he possessed only a modicum of talent. However, history tells us a different story, as he was undoubtedly a genius in his own right. Nevertheless, the extent of our inherent talent is something we cannot control. What we can control, though, is how we harness and manifest our talents in our professional endeavors. As certified Predictive Index partners, our hosts Adrienne and Tom underscore the paramount significance of valuing every individual's unique talent while recognizing our shared humanity. They are experts in the realm of talent optimization, and their expertise empowers us all to unlock our full potential and collaborate more effectively by leveraging our distinct strengths. Adrienne and Tom's insights illuminate the path toward personal and collective growth, reminding us that even without possessing Einstein's level of talent, we can still excel and thrive in our respective domains. In this episode, we dive into the remarkable journey of Diane Kubal, the founder of Fulcrum Network and a longtime friend of our community. Early in her career, Diane's frustration with sales led her to an extraordinary revelation about her innate talents. She possessed a natural gift for networking and an insatiable curiosity about people's endeavors. Diane harnessed these talents to secure a job and eventually built a thriving business rooted in her passion for learning, development, and connecting people. Fulcrum Network, the brainchild of Diane's vision, assembles diverse talents to solve complex business challenges. But Diane's journey does not stop there. She continues to reinvent her business, guided by the same unwavering passion and strength. Her profound curiosity about people and their struggles, coupled with her keen listening skills, unveiled a new opportunity. Today, Fulcrum Network is at the forefront of supporting consultants, trainers, and coaches in adapting their wealth of knowledge and experience to the digital landscape of modern learners. Through gamification, social communities, written feedback, and more, Diane's team empowers professionals to create engaging blended learning experiences that connect with their audiences to learning in new ways. They are helping business leaders rethink their employee learning strategies as well as enabling consultants to revolutionize their delivery models. Diane's journey exemplifies how a profound love for people and the ability to connect can lead to unexpected and extraordinary pathways. Join us as we explore her inspiring story and the fascinating world of talent, curiosity, and passion. To learn more about Fulcrum Network's services, check out the links below to Diane's current programs: www.fulcrumnetwork.com/transformed-learning https://fulcrumnetwork.com/modernmanagersseries-2023 To connect with Diane, reach out to her at dk@fulcrumnetwork.com or connect with her on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/dianekubal. A Leadership Beyond is led by Change Management Consultant Adrienne Guerrero and Leadership Communication Strategist Tom Rosenak, and exists to support the alignment between business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions. To learn more visit https://aleadershipbeyond.com.        

This week's episode aims to connect with the A Leadership Beyond community shortly after launching our Leadership Resilience Research Project. We're excited about the insightful responses we've received on our Leadership Resilience Research from early participants. It's a lot to ask, we get it! And we are confident it's worth it! We acknowledge that some of our trusted community members have committed to the self-evaluation but haven't had the 20 minutes needed for thorough self-reflection. We get it! Asking for 20 minutes is a lot. This situation underscores one of the fundamental principles guiding our initiative: Advancing leadership to the next level requires creating room for reflection in a landscape filled with competing priorities and constant demands. Simply put, we aren't committed to filling our own cups first and making time for our development. We hope the insights shared in this episode will encourage you to participate, both to gain self-awareness and add your insights to our research so we can fine-tune the events, interviews, and support that we plan in the future. To learn more about how you can benefit and participate in the research, visit the research page on our website at https://aleadershipbeyond.com/a-leadership-beyond-research-initiative/. We will keep you updated as the results flow in and as always welcome any questions or comments from you. A Leadership Beyond is led by Change Management Consultant Adrienne Guerrero and Leadership Communication Strategist Tom Rosenak, and exists to support the alignment between business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions. To learn more visit https://aleadershipbeyond.com.

In this inspiring conversation with Sherry Winn, a remarkable two-time Olympian, National Basketball Coach of the Year, and three-time bestselling author on Amazon, we delve into the profound lessons she has learned on her leadership journey.  Sherry's life began in a challenging environment, filled with dysfunction and bullying, but she refused to let adversity define her. She persevered, not only becoming an Olympian but also a world-renowned coach, author, and motivational speaker.  Sherry's story is a testament to the power of inner resilience. She urges us to consider how we respond to adversity, what we can learn from it, and who we can become through persistence. Leadership resilience, she emphasizes, is primarily an inner game. During our conversation, Sherry shares valuable insights on resilience. Join us in the Winner's Circle with Coach Sherry Winn as she dedicates her life and work to teaching, guiding, and empowering others.   For more inspiration and information, visit Sherry's website https://www.thewinningleadershipcompany.com/. Discover how to overcome setbacks, thrive in the face of adversity, and become a resilient leader by tuning in to this compelling conversation with Sherry Winn.  A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our channel to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. You can find us at https://aleadershipbeyond.com/. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.  

Building a leadership beyond is a holistic process. It requires nurturing our own growth while also fostering the growth of those we work with. We recognize and honor both our uniqueness and our shared humanity. Joining us in this episode is Bryan Sykes, a healthcare professional, neurobiologist, and martial artist working at the 4-way intersection of people, science, technology, and business to support human thriving.  Bryan shares his journey of exploring performance enhancement and how the realm of athletics emerges as an illuminating beacon. It is within this arena that the principles of performance management truly come to life, offering invaluable insights that can be applied to our VUCA corporate reality. Bryan's upcoming book, "Retooling and Refueling," is a work poised to offer a wealth of wisdom. As we eagerly await its release, Bryan shares some practical gems designed for high-performing individuals in the business arena.  A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.  

Assessing the true quality of a leader can often be challenging. However, during a crisis, their true capabilities surface.   The co-founders of this community emphasize the value of “bringing your whole self to work, engaging your head, heart, and briefcase.”   Without a doubt this week's guest, Dr. Tim Arnold earned his position as Superintendent of Will County District 92 through his intelligence and impeccable credentials. Adrienne Guerrero, a parent with two grade school daughters in the district, often praised Tim's exceptional communication skills and reassuring demeanor, especially during times of unprecedented challenges faced by the school system.   We were thrilled when Dr. Arnold agreed to engage in a conversation, granting us a glimpse behind the curtain to discover some of the key leadership principles that shape his philosophy.  We are confident you will find the same benefits from listening to this interview as we did while conducting it.  To see Dr. Tim Arnold's leadership in action, visit the Will County District 92 website at www.d92.org. Connect with Tim directly on LinkedIn.  A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.

“Everybody is experiencing the same thing only differently.”  -Adrienne Guerrero, Co-Founder A Leadership Beyond  Our community of conversation has had the privilege to engage in dynamic conversation with remarkable thought leaders, even during one of the most challenging business environments in history. We hope you find these conversations as enjoyable to listen to as we find them rewarding to facilitate.   Through our interactions, we have noticed patterns and gained valuable insights into the barriers that often hinder the execution of our best personal and professional transformational ideas. It would be redundant to list all the challenges faced by leaders from various directions. We recognize that the runway is turbulent, messy, and filled with competing intentions, leaving leaders with limited bandwidth for thoughtful action.  We have stories to share, and we believe you do too. Our goal is to keep the conversation flowing! However, we acknowledge that our observations have been largely anecdotal, and we feel that YOUR experiences may be missing from the mix.  Leadership Resilience Research – Building leadership resilience in a VUCA reality (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous)  You're Invited! Before we can build sustainable strategies, it is essential to understand the current situation, the desired situation, and the perceived gap between them. We are seeking data from your experience. (Held confidential unless you give explicit permission otherwise.)  Our target audience: This research is targeted at individuals who are responsible for others, ranging from team leads with one direct report to C-level executives accountable for the people within their entire enterprise.  What does it take to participate?  We are requesting 20-30 minutes of your focused time and thought to complete a survey. The questions we present require reflection on your personal experiences, professional wishes, and feelings. Yes, the activity is more than a few mindless questions that you can fill out quickly between meetings.   But, wait…we think it's worth it to you as much as it is to us!  What's in it for you?  We are aware of that sinking feeling, OH, NO, not another survey! We believe that the time you spend participating in this survey will return immediate valuable insight into areas that require greater attention or a shift in focus (at least, that's what we heard from our pilot participants).  And, more than that, here are the details:  You will receive a detailed personal report, along with a short video that will help you interpret your results effectively.  You will be invited to optional live community conversations where we will delve into our findings and extract common themes about leaders' challenges.  Once we conclude the data-gathering phase of this project, we will publish the findings in comprehensive reports, articles, and interviews.   We will provide follow-up summaries, webinars, and other activities and events that we believe will be beneficial based on the results. This will provide multiple opportunities to bring your specific expertise into the conversation.  The primary conversation we have is with ourselves. We don't speak for you, but confess that our own inner conversations are often noisy and conflicted. We imagine that you might be feeling the same. Taking time to zoom out and think strategically adds value and clarity. It's a solo activity that often requires a group effort to feel motivated to make the commitment. We hope to bring that to you with this research participation.  We are confident that your participation will benefit you in your quest to become the best leader you can be. We are hopeful you will make space to participate and have YOUR voice in the leadership mix.   Ready to join us?  Click this link to sign up to participate. We will be sending instructions in early July when we officially launch.  If you have any questions before signing up, please contact us at connect@aleadershipbeyond.com.  A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” -George Bernard Shaw  Our community of conversation seeks guests with unique style and perspective, who also share our core values – people first, effective communication as the key to leading transformational change, and that change is not an event or project but rather an ongoing leadership responsibility. To quote Aristotle, “all communication must lead to change.”  This week we enjoyed the energy and insight of Ben Baker, who after years of applying his communication skills in high-tech sales and direct mail, ultimately turned his attention to supporting companies with their internal communications. Of course, we learn of this transition through story, as Ben discovered his Ikigai was not only storytelling but enabling and empowering others to tell their story.  Tune in to this engaging conversation with Ben. We are hopeful you will find this conversation as meaningful as we did.   A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.  

“Whether in business or our personal lives, clarity comes from having a clear sense of the self. When we are aligned with our inner wisdom all things are possible.”  -Kristin Lamar We hear the clarion call to “bring our whole selves to work.” Despite this, the fear of competing agendas and possible friction from diverse religious affiliations, can create an environment where people are hesitant to bring their spirituality to work.  We are body, mind, and spirit; the whole person is not present if we deny the soul in our work.  What's a leader to do about this challenge? In this riveting 30-minute conversation, Kristin Lamar offers us tips on how to become more conscious as leaders and to muster the courage to better align mindsets – professional, mental, and soulful. The attempt to separate body, heart, mind and soul leads to dissolution and loss of power, insight, authenticity, creativity, resourcefulness, and creativity.  Kristin shows up in a way that builds instant trust as she encourages us to trust our inner wisdom and highest self – everywhere, including at work. Conscious alignment is our superpower! Listen to this episode to hear the gems gleaned from our conversation with Kristin.  A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.

Awareness is the starting point of most of our leadership discussions within this community of conversation. Once aware, we need a framework to guide our thinking and do authentic discovery.   This week's guest Michele Wucker, deepens our awareness of the peril we face if we ignore risk, as well as the opportunity for success, happiness and fulfilment presented by learning to navigate risks more effectively. Her newest book examines evaluating risk from the highly personal reflection, to cultural and global implications.  You Are What You Risk builds on, and in many ways mirrors, Michele's masterpiece The Gray Rhino, How to Recognize and Act on the Obvious Dangers We Ignore.   We are confident you will benefit from this thought-provoking and inspirational conversation. Michele has a gift in her ability to bring academic depth to life through the power of story.   A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the A Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.    

With a background in staffing, our guest this week, Milan Batinich developed a passion for helping companies and individuals find the right talent and the right work. He started with a company that utilized Predictive Index (PI) for their hiring. At first, he was not a believer, but came to see how powerful a behavioral assessment is in leveraging behaviors and drives to support creating alignment between the individual, the culture of the organization, and the work to be done.  From the foundation of staffing contact centers, Milan has become a certified PI trainer and is certified through Stanford University on human behaviors and how to coach people for high performance. Recently, Milan has launched a motivational speaking business helping leadership teams learn about finding their Ikigai (Japanese concept that combines the terms iki, meaning “alive” or “life,” and gai, meaning “benefit” or “worth”).  Among the key points emerging from our conversation:  You can't manage what you can't measure. For example, Milan sites a company he worked for with 60 employees experiencing a 90% turnover. Using people data, this company lowered their annual attrition rate from 90% down to 14.9%.        Knowing what the job entails and the requirements of the work both cognitively and behaviorally makes it possible to do a better job of matching people to work.        Finding the right fit works as well for existing employees as it does for recruiting. Milan shares an example of two internal employees mismatched and the solution turned out to be switching roles. We tend to throw work at people and people at work. Predictive Index used with the Talent Optimization framework helps us be more intentional.        Coaching becomes more effective when we understand ourselves, the person we are communicating with, and the shared goals we are striving toward. Without this awareness we tend to coach based on our own style.        The default of most companies for motivation is extrinsic. We establish rewards and benefits but ignore the intrinsic motivation. Predictive Index helps uncover internal motivations.    Listen as Milan shares his insights and experience of using Predictive Index to optimize talent.  A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization).  Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.

We are called to thrive.   Yes, we must first of all survive as signified in Maslow's Hierarchy.   Our community of conversation is dedicated to nourishing the siren call to go beyond, and to be sure to join others as we learn to thrive, despite our challenges. Thriving together. We can get beyond the shock to our world brought to us by accelerated change and exacerbated by the pandemic. But never alone!  For this episode we had the opportunity to chat with two experts who have collaborated with a team to research, write about, teach, and share ways we can seize the pain of change to create better leaders and transform this pain into an opportunity for better work, better lives, better world.  Welcome our guests from Lewis University, Adrienne's alma mater, Dr. Michele R. Kramer, PhD, MSN, RN, AHN-BC and Dr. Lesley Page, PhD. We mention this because it relates to our recently published networking strategy guide. Adrienne got the diploma and easily could have just moved on with life. But as a lifelong learner, she made the effort to stay connected to Lewis and her friends and educational mentors. Lucky us that she did!  Michele and Lesley had been focusing on new approaches of leadership, with a more wholistic and spiritual foundation. They recognized that the comprehensive tome published every decade was not sufficient to address the ever-changing field of leadership and leadership study. They began writing articles on the subject.   And then COVID hit! Each of us can identify and follow that statement with how radically their work was upended. Yes, and the field of health care, even more! Their recent research is driven by the collision of understanding leadership and navigating the pandemic.   Listen as our guests share insights into leadership in a VUCA environment (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous). A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.  

Rather than having a guest this week, we decided to record the co-founders of this community having a conversation using Your Strategic Networking Guide. The strategy guide is the first module in our Strategic Leadership Series. Download your copy  at https://aleadershipbeyond.com/your-strategic-networking-guide. If we are not already connected, you'll be automatically subscribed to become part of our community to whom we bring the expertise of leaders as well as insights on optimizing your leadership excellence.  Your Strategic Networking Guide is comprised of a series of generative questions that help you focus your networking activities according to your values, style, and goals.   We are preparing to initiate a research project to discern the greatest challenges that leaders are facing in strategy, execution, and all points between. We will focus our outreach for participants within our own networks, rather than a broad solicitation to the masses.  We desire to get beneath the buzzwords (Great Resignation, Quiet Quitting, you know them) to the day-to-day, real-world challenges on the messy runway of leadership execution. Our intention is to harness this research to tailor services that support addressing the most pressing leadership needs.   We hope by hearing our example of this guide in action inspires you to try it for yourself. We invite you to play around with the Strategic Networking Guide and we welcome thoughts on your experience.  Stay tuned for more on our Leadership research initiative.   A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.  

For this episode we had the opportunity to chat again with the Queen of Clarity, Ann Latham.  The discussion was about her newest book, The Disconnect Principle.  A continuous struggle in business communication is giving and receiving feedback well. While formulas focusing on behavior and impact may help to a certain degree, we are still left uncomfortable giving feedback, tend to procrastinate or sugarcoat our feedback until the message and meaning are lost.  The disconnect principle is as simple as it is powerful:  “If someone doesn't do as you expected, all you know for sure is that he or she didn't do as you expected. Period. There is a disconnect between what you expected and what happened.”  We are too quick to assume we know the cause of the disconnect: He's not committed, she's not reliable, he's inconsiderate, she needs more training…. and endless speculation that ends the real communication, and thwarts the process of realignment.   Ann shares, the best response to a disconnect is “I think we have a disconnect.” Our assumptions, judgments and speculation allow our disclarity to appear as clarity. We claim to know, therefore disrupting discovery into what truly is going on and how we can work together to prevent disconnect in the future.  The Disconnect Principle is something we can begin to practice today, as well as something we can build on individually, in our teams and throughout the culture to grow in building better relationships and producing better results.  Listen to this episode as Ann shares some people-centered, collaborative problem-solving insights from her new book. A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.

The word “philosophy” means love of wisdom. Wisdom is not contained in abstract concepts, nor in academic mental gymnastics.  Such exercises can be effective as they sharpen our ability to think critically. But philosophy at its core has always been about living a great life, aligned as best we can to the highest imaginable good.   Life optimized! For this week's episode we had the opportunity to chat with Paul LaLonde, Vice President of People and Culture at the Community Economic Development Association of Cook County (CEDA).  Paul happened across a modern perspective on the ancient work of Epictetus. He grabbed this book in the bargain bin at the bookstore and this philosophy continues to impact his personal and professional life.   Paul is a contributor to the soon to be released book, People Fusion: Best Practices to Build and Retain a Strong Team. Paul contributes the chapter entitled “The HR Philosopher: How Philosophy Can Be a Difference Making Pursuit for Business Leaders.” Listen as Paul shares some gems of wisdom with our community.  A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.  

Adrienne and Tom, co-founders of this growing community of conversation, decided to practice what they continually teach and need to remind themselves and others to do.  For the last recording of 2022 (first post of 2023), rather than have a guest, they took time to breathe, pause, celebrate, and reflect. Before digging in for the work of the exciting new year, let's reflect on where A Leadership Beyond has been and set intentions for the new year. Watch as Tom and Adrienne reflect on 2022 and share their plans for 2023.  A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization).   Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.  

This week we had the opportunity to interview Robert Snyder, author of the soon to be released book, Innovation Elegance: Transcending Agile with Ruthlessness and Grace.  In our community's name is the word “beyond.” What we intend to imply is that leaders must manage the messy runway while at the same time collaborating, innovating, and creating a compelling future of work – at the individual, team, organization, and societal levels.  The good news is we don't create from scratch, we can draw from what is currently working and find new applications.  Robert draws leadership and management ideas from the Performing Arts with a unique style, using analogy and metaphor in a way that makes the business application accessible and immediately actionable.  A glance at his bio and his business experience clearly shows how he's made this strong connection. Listen as Robert tells of his journey from an awkward male beginner in Latin dance, to being part of a dance team, and now teaching dance. Every phase of his dance learning journey contains lessons for us all.  A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.  

Our guest this week is Liz Brigham. Liz is the W. Spencer Mitchem Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Jay Hurt Hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Davidson College.   Liz has had vast and varied experiences in her career, which includes Disney, industrial supply distribution, and leadership in a global financial company. That journey finally led to her current role of being a catalyst for innovation and entrepreneurship within higher education. Liz's role is not confined to higher education but is focused on serving Davidson College, the community, students, alumni, and faculty, as well as the local community and the world at large.  That winding road moved fast for Liz, but she stayed grounded and brought her love for people and desire to be a builder to every turn of her career. Listen as Liz shares what keeps her grounded in a fast-paced, result-oriented world.  A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions. To learn more visit us at https://aleadershipbeyond.com.  

The principals at A Leadership Beyond are Predictive Index practitioners precisely because we are passionate about putting people at the center of leading change at the global and local level. Putting people first is the right thing to do, but we need to establish the business case as well as the moral case. Without a framework (Talent Optimization and tools (Predictive Index Assessment), even the most well-intentioned people initiatives fall short.   In our latest conversation we spoke with Olivier Aries Co-Founder/Talent Optimization Implementer at Thrive Collective. Our conversation focused on the Diagnose component of Talent Optimization, which is a tool to measure engagement of the people that leads to strategic action to fill any identified gaps.  Here are a few of the highlights of this dynamic conversation:  The importance of pulling people data in at the start of the change initiative. Engagement defined as the amount of discretionary effort employees put into their work above and beyond what is necessary to stay employed. You can't directly impact engagement. Instead, we must focus on what drives engagement, and what causes poor engagement. To impact engagement, leaders need to understand and act on the primary levers to better engagement. Right people in the right environment. Even the best people will fail in a toxic environment. We need to address the company culture, the team design, and the individual drives. The importance of evaluating your readiness to act before you stir the pot with an engagement survey. You lose credibility if you aren't committed to act. Be mindful of your capacity to change. The power to leverage data in an aggregate, team, and individual level. Just as self-awareness is a critical leadership skill for individuals, so can it be for teams and the entire system. Predictive Index empowers organization to scale awareness to create action to drive results (execution) by aligning business strategy to people strategy.     At the end of the day, creating an environment for high engagement results in execution. This is where business strategy and people strategy meet. People who are proud to be a part of the strategy, producing better work, and creating a better world.  That's Talent Optimized! To discover how to realize these benefits for your organization and your people, contact us at connect@aleadershipbeyond.com.  A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.  

The Power of Founder & Force Multiplier  Manal Keen, CEO of Founder & Force Multiplier brings passion and commitment to every conversation.   In this conversation, Manal gives us her story, the drive behind her biggest why, as well as a good overview of the book The Founder & The Force Multiplier.  We won't give too much away, but her career journey toward her “why” is amazing – relatable and inspiring. She excelled in the male-dominated field of financial services, holding various roles in large financial institutions heading finance and strategy positions. (Eye-opening fact that she shares: females currently manage fewer than 2% of assets under management.)  Wanting to make a bigger difference and impact women and minorities in a more direct way, Manal is going to help lead the way to change that fact through her new roles as the first female adjunct professor at the University of North Texas in Denton to teach investments. Additionally, Manal is part of the Investment Management Board focused on driving internship opportunities for females, minorities, and students in underserved communities.  But she's not stopping there! Manal reconnected with Adam Hergenrother and became fascinated by the story of how the strategic partnership between Adam and Hallie Warner allowed Adam to become a serial entrepreneur.   Going from blog, to book, to movement requires new strategic partners and Manal is all in as this opportunity meets her passion for teaching, mentoring and inspiring business leaders. This already includes a recently launched podcast, a curriculum, white papers and much more to come.  A few insights from our conversation with Manal:  A clear definition on the role of Force Multiplier and key distinction among operation manager, executive assistant, and chief of staff.  The foundation of successful partnerships is a shared vision and values.   Success in these partnerships is predicated in strong communication: open mind, constructive feedback, and trust. Soft skills aren't so soft, are they?  Leveraging the 80/20 rule-with intention, by design, and with collaboration.  We thank Manal for sharing her passion and commitment with us.  A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions. Tom & Adrienne   

Hire the Right People - A Conversation with Dan Adams   We are excited to share our conversation with Dan Adams, an experienced Learning & Development Leader who is passionate about Tech, Cars, and Saving the Planet.    In this conversation we are taking a case study approach to demonstrate the practical application of using Predictive Index to quickly hire the right people to execute a new strategy.    This is a case study on how Predictive Index, “quite frankly saved our butts. Predictive Index was the difference between success and failure.”    Thank you to Dan for sharing his experience using @Predictive Index to drive results (high sales, lower returns) by aligning his business strategy and his people strategy.    A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization).   Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions. We welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions. To discover how to realize these benefits for your organization and your people, contact us at connect@aleadershipbeyond.com.  

Our guest this week is Amy Riley, author of The Courage of a Leader.    Amy has spent decades teaching leaders how to step up, inspire, engage, and get extraordinary results. She helps them lead with courage.   "I want to help leaders, there is so much coming at them from all directions. I want to support them. If leaders are doing it correctly, there is a lot of processing and a lot of care, and a lot of head and heart that goes into their work.”  Why Courage?   After collaborating with leaders in multiple industries, with diverse strengths, personalities, styles, and backgrounds, Amy observed that the common virtue present in all inspiring leaders was a bold demonstration of courage. These leaders said and did the necessary -- easy or not -- while maintaining authenticity. That's courage.  We are grateful to have Amy Riley in our community and confident you will benefit as we have from our conversation. A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.  

Our guest this week is T. Falcon Napier, an internationally-recognized human development expert, specializing in sales, leadership and change management. He is the Founder of the Institute for Productive Tension® — an organization that researches the role of Productive Tension® in human performance. Mr. Napier is best known for bringing the principles, tools and techniques of professional Tension Management® to corporate audiences worldwide through his three flagship programs: ChangeWorks!®, MasterStream® and Pride-Based Leadership®. He is also creator of the ChangeGrid® — the world's only client-driven, activity-specific coaching and management tool. When we hear the word tension, our thoughts immediately go to high levels of tension, stress. The terms “tension” and “stress” have almost become synonymous.   Oh, I'm so stressed, so tense.   While it's true that leaders need a strategy for dealing with stakeholders experiencing high levels of tension, it is equally true and often overlooked that leaders need a strategy for dealing with little to no tension and all points between.   If we want to positively influence change, we must pay attention to where people experience tension.   In this episode, T. Falcon Napier helps us to see how to help people in a personal or professional situation to lead desired change more successfully by monitoring and managing the level of productive tension in themselves and others.  A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.  

On this episode of A Leadership Beyond podcast, we had a conversation with Dr. Julie Pham, author of the book, 7 forms of respect. Julie Pham was born in Vietnam, came to the United States with her parents as a boat person. That is a strong part of her identity, and she learned early both the challenges and rewards of being bicultural. She had to adapt to being Vietnamese at home, American at school and work. Added to this is her experience studying and working in the UK, Germany, and Vietnam. These experiences have influenced and shaped the way Julie thinks about respect.  Julie launched research around how we like to be treated at work. The word “respect” kept showing up and she realized that people clearly sought respect, but there was fuzziness around what it is. This led her to create a new framework, 7 forms of respect™ to help us navigate gaining a deeper understanding of one another. This framework is highly actionable at the individual, team, organizational, and even societal level.   7 forms of respect™ is built on a foundation of sound research including focus groups, interviews, surveys, and personal experience. The real plus is that Julie presents in the form of conversation, just the way our community prefers.  Adrienne and Tom left the conversation wanting to learn more.  A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.  

“Those at the top of the mountain didn't fall there.” -Vince Lombardi  In this episode of A Leadership Beyond we had the pleasure of interviewing Tiffany Prince, author of Top of the Mountain Leadership. Tiffany refers to herself as an “accidental trainer.” She excelled as an individual contributor in biotech pharma and was promoted. She found herself thrust into a position with responsibility for others. She quickly realized this challenge required new and different skills than her technical position.  This seems like a no-brainer to this audience, but Tiffany points out from her research that 70% of leaders are not given leadership development support when they step into a new leadership role. Or the new leaders are thrown into a comprehensive, one size fits all program with no follow up - the “leadership training” box is checked. There is a great cost to failing to provide strategic leadership training and career development support. Among them: losing good talent, drain on employee engagement, lower innovation, unproductive teams. This conversation is full of tips from Tiffany's research and personal experience. Tiffany Prince has done extensive research on the impact that artificial intelligence and globalization have on the future of work; she is passionate to see that we maintain a positive and humanistic approach. We'll join that cause! We enjoyed this conversation with Tiffany and find ourselves wanting more.  A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.  

Our guest this episode is Naval Flight officer and COO of Wolf Management Solutions, Ron Higgs. We had the opportunity to discuss how to cultivate the mindset of a Naval flight officer, and how to translate these attributes into success for our unique leadership journey. Here are a few insights you'll get from listening to this dynamic conversation with Ron: -The three components to ensure we learn from every mission: Aviate, Navigate, Communicate -The importance of planning – as well as remembering that, “Aviation is like life, things rarely go as planned. Plan for the scenarios: “What happens if the engine fails?” -Understand YOUR own mission and how it relates to the Bigger Mission -Feedback is the key to learning from what went right - and wrong -Revisit the mission frequently through the lens of shared values -A framework for understanding leadership styles for predictable success: Visionary, Operator, Processor, and Synergist Ron shares that flying is the easiest part; landing is the harder part. Harder yet: landing when things go wrong while in flight. The pandemic made this truth close to home for us. We may have been cruising along on auto pilot… and then … Soar on, dear leadership flight officers! A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization). Subscribe to our podcast to join the Leadership Beyond Community of Conversation and hear insights from thought leaders and human development experts leading the way in the field of Talent Optimization. As always, we'd love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.