Engaging Leader: Leadership communication principles to engage your team - hosted by Jesse Lahey, Workforce Communication

  This is a special episode of Engaging Leader, featuring part 2 of an excerpt of Jesse's live interview on TechSmith’s Visual Lounge with Matt Pierce. While part 1 focused on the 5M framework as a comprehensive planning tool for communication, Simple Visual Story (SVS) is a great model for executing the components of the […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

This is a special episode of Engaging Leader, featuring part 1 of an excerpt of Jesse's live interview on TechSmith’s Visual Lounge with Matt Pierce to share tips for engaging a remote workforce. How effectively are you communicating with your remote workforce? Remote communication is more widespread than it's ever been. Many people now have […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

  We’ve entered a new era with more people than ever working remotely, especially from home. This past year, according to author Charlene Walters, women have made up 80% of the people who left the on-site workforce during the pandemic.   In this second of a two-part interview, Jesse is joined again by Charlene to discuss […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

  Many people say that entrepreneurship is often still a man’s world ― despite the fact that 42 percent of all small business or franchise owners are women, and there are 13 million female-owned businesses contributing to $1.9 trillion in revenue in the US. According to author Charlene Walters, a multitude of research has shown […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

  Us versus Them gaps have always affected the American workplace – Sales versus Marketing, Manufacturing versus Engineering, Human Resources versus Legal. But today there is an urgent need to address a wide range of culture gaps, especially due to the impact of the pandemic, racism and protests in support of Black Lives Matter, and […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

  Us versus Them gaps have always affected the American workplace – Sales versus Marketing, Manufacturing versus Engineering, Human Resources versus Legal. But today there is an urgent need to address a wide range of culture gaps, especially due to the impact of the pandemic, racism and protests in support of Black Lives Matter, and […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

  Working remotely isn’t just a new normal that we must learn to live with. It’s an opportunity to work and lead in ways that provide great operational and productivity results for the organization, as well as to be a part of a great team while finding individual meaning and purpose too.  But there is […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

  Interviewing job candidates can feel like wading through a foggy swamp. You’re attempting to discern whether candidates would be successful on your team, while struggling to prevent the massive headache and wasted resources of a poor decision.    Asking the right questions during interviews can bring clarity to the process by giving you a […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

Some leaders look at their people, shake their heads, and say, “They can’t get there from here.” Sometimes that’s true. But often the solution is creating a stronger culture, where employees are encouraged and coached to contribute their best thinking. People are different, and these differences can add value. As a leader, you need to […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

“Why am I the only one who finds these issues? What’s wrong with my people? Why can’t they see this stuff and fix it?” If these frustrations sound familiar, you’ll love this conversation with Karin Hurt about her newest book, Courageous Cultures. We talk about building teams of micro-innovators, problem-solvers, and customer-advocates working together. In […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

What barriers do you face? Whether in our personal lives, at work, or in our communities, we all face challenges that can prevent us from reaching our full potential. And the same is true for those you lead. Dave Shurna joins me to discuss tips from his new book about breaking through barriers of all […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

Today I share some reflections about what I’ve been reading, learning, thinking, and practicing over the past few weeks. How can we as imperfect leaders and human beings contribute to helpful solutions, rather than to ongoing conditions of inequality, discrimination, and fear … including the fear of talking honestly about topics like racism? Resources Mentioned […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

Psychological safety is a team member’s sense of confidence that the leader and the rest of the team will not embarrass, reject, or punish them for speaking up. They feel safe to take risks, fully contribute, share ideas, and raise concerns – all of which are necessary for an organization to innovate, solve problems, survive, […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

To be a leader who truly engages the hearts, minds, and behaviors of people, you have to authentically connect with them on a human level. You’ve heard the phrase, “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”  In today’s age of connection, in order for people to trust you, […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

At most organizations today, the work people do tends to hurt their wellbeing, when it should be making them happier and healthier. A major key to turning this around is helping employees make their work more meaningful … which is all about discovering how they can best contribute. And of course, it’s simply smart business. […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

Join my conversation with the Deputy Chief Health Officer at IBM, with a 350,000-person global workforce, about measures that major companies are taking during the COVID-19 pandemic, including recommendations for employee mental health. The world’s population is facing considerable social and economic disruption. Millions of employees and employers are adjusting to circumstances not seen for […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

Are you able to stay happy, energized, and productive during all the distractions, changes, and uncertainties of COVID-19? It’s not easy! And it’s hard to be an effective leader for your team if you aren’t maintaining your own mental and physical wellbeing.  Our team at Workforce recently shared with each other what’s been helping us […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

When men are actively involved in gender diversity efforts, 96% of organizations report progress, compared to only 30% when men are not involved. However, many men don’t feel equipped to play any role in inclusion and equity. For some men, the traditional model of masculinity steers men away from talking about emotional topics (except to […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

Due to the coronavirus, the number of people working from home is skyrocketing. Even without a pandemic, working remotely has become a very common arrangement, allowing companies to access top talent without worrying about geography, while offering greater flexibility for workers to do great work on their own terms. And yet over time, dissatisfaction, disconnection, […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

In recent years, most companies have been trying to advance the representation of women and minorities in leadership positions.  For example, most organizations have diversity recruitment targets as well as Diversity & Inclusion programs, including initiatives like mentoring, networking groups, and unconscious bias training. But despite these efforts, women account for only 4.6% of Fortune […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

Burnout and unhappiness at work are a reality for the vast majority of workers. Fortunately, leaders — and employees themselves — can make work better. In his new book, Bruce Daisley shares hacks from science and his previous experience as Twitter’s VP of Europe to transform work from stressful and soul-sucking to fulfilling and fun. […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

Great jobs are MADE, not FOUND. If you aren’t loving your current job, how can you turn it into a job you want? Finding fulfillment in our life’s work requires contributing meaningfully to the world around us. We’re pleased to welcome Tom Rath back to the show. Tom is a bestselling author and research scientist […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

Have you ever put off a conversation with an employee for too long because just thinking about it made you cringe? Most leaders know how agonizing it can feel to address inappropriate behavior or communicate other uncomfortable messages. The good news is that you can acquire the tools and skills that help you not only […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

Organizations need more collaboration and teamwork, but how? Particularly when facing large initiatives or other challenges, stress can lead to problems such as burnout, finger-pointing, and project failures. As a leader, how can you troubleshoot the situation and improve the team’s collaboration, accountability, and overall effectiveness? In this episode, Kim Nugent joins us to discuss: […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

On the Engaging Leader podcast, we’ve often discussed why an organization needs to have a compelling purpose and vision, beyond just making money. There are so many reasons why it’s not only the right thing to do but also smart business – for example, having a purpose that excites people leads to strong employee engagement […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

How do you win the support needed from bosses, colleagues, and investors to bring to life you and your team’s ideas? Great leaders of innovation know that creativity is not enough. They succeed not only on the basis of their ideas, but because they have the vision, reputation, and networks to win the backing needed […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

In case you didn’t already realize it, the people who are graduating college now and entering your workforce are not considered Millennials … they are the next generation, Gen Z (sometimes called Post-Millennials).  And even though Millennials have already driven a significant shift in how people communicate in the workplace, it looks like Generation Z […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

With four very different generations making up today’s workforce, how do you effectively engage them all? In particular, a frequent question we receive is how to communicate with younger employees. Today’s workforce is made up primarily of four generations: Baby Boomers, Generation X, Gen Y (also known as Millennials), and Gen Z (sometimes called Post-Millenials). […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

When you identify the reasons why high-performing employees choose your organization, it serves as a compass in guiding your ongoing development of the employee experience. Furthermore, if you use those insights to craft an Employee Value Proposition (EVP) that resonates with both current and prospective talent, it becomes a strong foundation of your employer brand […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

What makes your company different from your competitors in the talent marketplace? Can you articulate the reasons in a message that is unique, authentic, and compelling? A strong Employee Value Proposition (EVP) is key to recruiting, retaining, and fully engaging top talent. Your EVP is a clear message about why people choose to join your […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

If it seems like you can’t trust your team to own projects and results, how can you improve accountability? This is the final episode in a four-part series of interviews with Jonathan Raymond about how to practice emotional transparency to cultivate accountability within your team. This time, we discuss three hacks — the most important […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

Many leaders feel frustrated by what seems like a low level of personal ownership among people in their organization. Things don’t get done on time, problems don’t get solved, and issues get ignored rather than proactively addressed before they become problems. Sound familiar? This episode is part 3 of a four-part series of interviews with […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

A couple days ago, the CEO of a small business complained to me that one of his managers has been displaying some of the classic signs of a lack of accountability — brushing off the severity of a mistake, letting tensions build with his own direct reports instead of asking for advice on how to […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

Accountability. Many organizations name it one of their top corporate values. And yet no matter how much they talk about accountability, leaders often feel frustrated by what seems like a low level of personal ownership among their employees. Things don’t get done on time, problems don’t get solved, and issues get ignored rather than proactively […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

Did you set any New Year resolutions for yourself this year … or goals for your team? If so, are you still on track, or have you given up? According to U.S. News, about 80% of New Year resolutions fail by the second week of February. Does that mean you shouldn’t set goals to improve […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

With so many things competing for attention, leaders at many organizations struggle to get their people to pay enough attention to important communications — such as for change initiatives. And it’s an even bigger struggle to get them to take the messages/information to heart, remember them, and put them into action. Fortunately, neuroscience has provided […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

The relationships between your team members make a big difference — both in terms of business results and each person’s wellbeing. As tempting as it is to rely on virtual communication and collaboration, technology too often contributes to workplace isolation and even loneliness. In today’s technology-driven workplace, particularly if some team members are working remotely, how can you cultivate a sense of community? For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

The home improvement store chain Lowe’s was named #1 among Fast Company’s 2018 Most Innovative Companies, for augmented and virtual reality, as well as #1 for innovation among specialty retailers on Fortune’s 2018 World’s Most Admired Companies. How did a company in a dusty, old-hat industry (hardware stores) suddenly become known as an innovator? As […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

When developing a communication strategy to drive change within an organization, we use various models and frameworks to help ensure we create a strategy that actually works. The Fogg Behavioral Model is a powerful framework for driving change. BJ Fogg is a behavior scientist and the founder of Stanford University’s Behavior Design Lab. Fogg is […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

A strong, authentic employer brand is key to recruiting, retaining, and fully engaging top talent. The most effective companies build a differentiated employee value proposition (EVP). Many people think of an employer brand only in terms of recruiting new employees, but to be effective, it should be comprehensive and authentic as relates to the overall […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

You can’t achieve your potential as a leader or an organization without practicing effective communication. Organizations that communicate effectively with their workforce deliver better results. According to a study by Willis Towers Watson, companies with high effectiveness in communication and change management are 3.5 times more likely to significantly outperform their less effective peers. They: […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

Boom! That’s the sound of performance appraisal processes being blown up across the country. There’s been a collective lightning flash of realization that the old way of doing it just isn’t doing it. But what’s really happening? In a new piece of research, The Truth & Lies of Performance Management, Michael Bungay Stanier and his […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

You have the opportunity to lead: to show up with confidence, connected to others, and committed to a purpose in a way that inspires others to follow. But great leadership — leadership that aligns teams, inspires action, and achieves results — is hard. And what makes it hard isn’t theoretical, it’s practical. It’s not about […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

Imagine life is a game where you are juggling five balls. Work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls — family, health, friends, integrity — are made of glass. ~ James Patterson The first secret to work/life balance is recognizing that it’s not about balance. It […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

This episode is about a true story that is interesting and well told — a story that is important for all leaders and entrepreneurs … especially those of us who aspire to use business not only to make a living for ourselves but to help make the world a better place. Everyone wants to be […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

This is a conversation about a book that’s not like any networking book you have read (or ignored) before. In fact, it’s not about networking; it’s about how networks actually work. Networking seems to many of us to be an insincere way to manipulate relationships for personal gain. And yet there is a significant body […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

In the next two decades, nearly 50% of white-collar jobs are at risk, either to automation or artificial intelligence (AI), according to analysis by Oxford University. Every leader and every worker need to ask: What will be left for people to do that machines can’t do better or cheaper? If you don’t figure this out, […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

Grokker is an on-demand wellness solution that engages employees with better health through video, experts, and community. Loved by users in 172 countries around the world and used by top employers like eBay, Aetna, and Pinterest, Grokker was named to the 2017 CNBC Upstart 25 list for successful startups. With over 4,000 exercise, mindfulness, nutrition […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

Willpower is the ability to control yourself to determine your actions. It allows you (and your team) to accomplish what matters most to you — solving a business problem, losing weight, cornering the market, getting out of debt, etc. To control many of your actions, you can use selected disciplines to build a powerful habit. […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

Ambiguity — in the form of uncertainty or conflicting priorities — has become the default state for organizations of all types. It lurks in the background when leaders can’t explain what success looks like, or what aspects of performance matter most for achieving it. It saps energy from talented team members operating in the dark […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com

Success is about doing the right thing, not about doing everything right. Achieving extraordinary results doesn’t require you to be a full-time disciplined person or team, where your every action is trained and where control is the solution to every situation. Instead, the trick is to choose the right habit and bring just enough discipline […] For additional content and links, visit http://www.EngagingLeader.com