HOW TO IMPROVISE

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Following a team development system that jazz musicians use naturally provides clarity, purpose, and structure is the key to creating high-performing agile teams, and it’s attainable through this book, Workplace Jazz – HOW TO IMPROVISE: 9 Steps to Creating High-Performing Agile Project Teams In Workplace Jazz, I hope to raise a battle cry for individual and corporate responsibility in building cultures that are both healthier and more productive for those working in them. Workplace Jazz offers insights into how to help your teams become successful agile transformational project teams using the IMPROVISE framework to grow in the areas of emotional and conversational intelligence while experiencing the connections that professional musicians achieve when they’re performing.

Gerald J. Leonard


    • Jan 11, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 13m AVG DURATION
    • 43 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from HOW TO IMPROVISE

    Workplace Jazz Interviews Matt Coatney

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2022 23:46


    Matt Coatney is a seasoned C-level product and technology executive, entrepreneur, advisor, author, and speaker with 25 years of experience helping businesses and technology work better together. He has led divisions and portfolios for large global corporations, co-founded three companies and advised several others, been an early-stage employee of two successful tech startups, advised dozens of business and technology professionals across all stages of company formation and growth, and launched over a dozen successful products.Matt has expertise in artificial intelligence, automation, future of work, robotics, data analytics, cloud computing, and digital content across a wide range of industry experience spanning manufacturing, media, law, life sciences, government, and finance. He writes and speaks frequently on business and advanced technology topics.In addition to a TED talk and keynotes, his work has been published by MIT, HarperCollins, and O'Reilly and has appeared in books, journals, and international conferences.Author of:The Human Cloud: How Today's Changemakers Use Artificial Intelligence and the Freelance Economy to Transform Work

    How To Increase Productivity In The Workplace

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2021 6:40


    “You can't get much done in life if you only work on days when you feel good.”– Jerry WestDo you want to increase your productivity in the workplace? In this podcast, I will talk about how to do just that. Let's start by defining increased productivity.Looking for more productivity tips, check out https://productivityintelligenceinstitute.com/

    KC Rossi Interview Productivity Mindset

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2021 27:58


    KC Rossi has been an entrepreneur since she was 10 years old and has been on a continuous improvement quest ever since. KC jokes that business is in my DNA because it is as natural as breathing for me. KC was the trusted town nanny from age 10 - 18 and immediately fell in love with developing long-term connections and improving people's lives. From there, she met a dynamic business partner and they developed 10 different business ventures. Their most successful creation was a confection manufacturing business. They owned and operated that for 17 years. It was thrilling to be able to build a dynamic team that was like family, develop an internationally known brand that consistently grossed 7+ figures, and travel the world to boot. After that, KC freelanced, cutting her teeth on digital marketing, learning the tech by doing for my business as well as for other clients. Now, KC likes to empower female entrepreneurs and thought-leaders to step up, embrace their signature strengths, and be the lightworker they are destined to be (while being wildly profitable). KC helps bust through self-imposed glass ceilings and make scaling a business a joy-filled journey. To learn more about KC Rossi check out her website at: https://www.kcrossi.com/

    Leveraging Neuroscience - Best Practices

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2021 6:40


    Have you ever hosted a meeting or training session and wanted to get better at engaging your coworkers or team? It all begins with leveraging neuroscience.

    How Do You Increase Productivity Working From Home

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2021 3:31


    Interview with Marketing and Business Strategist Chad Barr

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2021 32:22


    In this fascinating interview, Chad Barr shares with Gerald Leonard several web presence success strategies and tactics. Starting with: what are the key mistakes people make with their sites and what do million-dollar entrepreneurs do that others don’t?

    Why Do People Avoid Feedback?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2021 5:09


    Have you hit a plateau in your business? Did you realize that may be because of lack of feedback? The highest paid people in the world love feedback. It helps us improve our game since even 1% improvement can make all the difference. Listen to this podcast and to Gerald further explaining this topic.

    Effective results-driven visualization?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2021 9:50


    Did you know that our brain does not know the difference between something we physically are doing vs. something we visualize ourselves doing? Which thoughts are you letting into your brain to affect your future? In this episode Gerald explains how visualization of our goals allows us to program our brain and our future success.

    The Future of Virtual Teams Part - 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2021 11:50


    Conversations are multi-dimensional and not linear, which is a key part to achieving conversational intelligence. Listen to this podcast to better understand the concept of conversational intelligence and to Gerald Leonard explaining how to strengthen the future of your virtual teams and make sure you are not running into a team's fatigue?

    The Future of Virtual Teams Part - 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2021 9:25


    The most important future skill for managers and leaders in virtual teams is the development of social and conversational skills. Listen to Gerald on this episode further explaining this topic and why most successful teams have fewer than 12 people per team.

    The Future of Virtual Teams Part -1

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2021 6:59


    The recent pandemic has had a major impact on the ways virtual teams work and communicate with proposed significant new ways of working in the future. Is your organization aligning your skills for the future? Listen to this podcast and to Gerald Leonard sharing his insights to bridge the gap into the future.

    Keys for Creating a High Performing Team

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2021 11:03


    In this episode Gerald shares six steps to creating a high performing team. Clear shared vision, open communication and even constructive conflict are a few of these steps. Discover the steps necessary for taking your teams to significant higher levels.

    How to Effectively Deliver Feedback

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2021 6:50


    There are definitely various ways of delivering effective feedback to members of your team and even your own boss. In this episode, Gerald shares his tips and techniques to doing so productively.

    What's wrong with unrealistic expectations?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2021 9:17


    In this podcast Gerald clarifies what are expectations in general and especially unrealistic ones. Managing your own stress level and stress response are the first things you should do in order to control these. Listen to this podcast and uncover the steps to handle unrealistic expectations.

    Why do we need an entirely new type of leadership?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2021 8:39


    Workers today are much more like artists than laborers. People are pushing themselves to higher professional levels. In this episode, Gerald Leonard explains how the role of the orchestra conductor is related to the business executive or CEO and what he makes the analogy that workers are like artists.

    Using improvisation and deep listening in business

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2021 9:25


    Listening, mimicking and imitating other experts is the key to improving one’s improvisation skills in music. In this episode Gerald explains how this relates to the business world.

    Getting true engagement from your workforce?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2021 7:14


    Buy-in is one of the most critical factors to getting true engagement from your team. Listen to this podcast and to Gerald sharing several other factors to increase your team’s effectiveness.

    Chad Barr Interviews Gerald Leonard - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2021 14:25


    As part of Gerald’s latest book launch Workplace Jazz, in this interview Gerald answers the questions: What’s the analogy that the organization’s culture you create is just like the bass instrument and should one choose to become a virtuoso? Also, do we really need a workplace jazz culture?

    How can work place jazz help managers and their teams

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2021 14:47


    Business is becoming like jazz. Creative flow and improvisation are some of these examples. When a team works together as a cohesive team or in a jazz or agile mindset, this is what Gerald calls a work place jazz mindset. Listen to this podcast and find out how to bring this success mindset to your organization.

    Music Can Teach Us How to Think Agile

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2021 8:43


    There are six reasons that Gerald shares with us for agile thinking in your organization. Increase your organization’s return on investment and deliver reliable results that can help us handle uncertainties are two of these six reason. In this podcast he shares and articulates all six while using analogies from the business world.

    Don't Sabotage Your Success

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2021 10:24


    Self-awareness is all about not wasting your energy looking for someone to blame and also transforming negative thoughts into positive reactions. In this podcast, Gerald shares his insights on how to build a world place jazz culture in your organization, develop a high-performing team and stop sabotaging your success.

    Gerald Leonard Interview with Jim Cathcart with co-Host Donald Robinson and Chad Barr

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2021 63:07


    In this fascinating interview Jim Cathcart shares his story, how to overcome key challenges especially in times of crisis and why you should think like an oak if you want to be a great acorn.

    What Genre is Your Business?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2021 6:50


    All great musicians usually start off by mastering one genre before exploring and specializing in other genres and developing their unique genre. In this podcast Gerald explores this topic and its analogies to the business world. Do you know the Genre of your business?

    What makes a good leader? Learn to Leverage Neuroscience

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2020 8:10


    The more we understand our brain and its evolution, the more possibilities are created to apply neuroscience principles in our business. In this podcast, Gerald discusses how neuroscience impacts leadership as well as multitasking and reducing stressful distractions ideas.

    Does practice make perfect?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 7:26


    Why do the best performers in the world have coaches and how to they practice improving their game and performance? In this podcast, Gerald shares his insights on what kind of practice makes perfect.

    Business Lessons Studying the Attributes of Successful Musicians

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2020 12:13


    Expose yourself to great talent and experts and find your own voice are some of the attributes Gerald discusses in this podcast. Listen and discover these attributes and their strong connection to a successful expanding business.

    3 Ways to Streamline Your Processes

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2020 9:16


    Small incremental changes over time produce monumental results and streamlining your processes require three steps to do so. In this podcast Gerald reviews and articulates these steps.

    The Success Culture Mindset

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2020 5:43


    In this podcast, Gerald shares his key insights to help executives who deal with complexity and diverse teams realize the elements behind a successful culture mindset.

    The Benefits of Coaching

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2020 9:07


    The best of athletes use coaches to improve their game and their mindset. Expert guidance and powerful insights are a few of the benefits Gerald shares in this podcast. Listen and discover the transformational value and why you should consider hiring your own coach.

    The Neuroscience of Excellence

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2020 6:34


    Do you have an average strategy with a superb execution or a superb strategy with a poor execution and what does that have to do with whole brain integration and music? Listen to this podcast and to Gerald revealing the answers.

    The Neuroscience of Support

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2020 4:22


    Did you know that helping others helps you? Support has a tremendous impact on your team and yourself. In this podcast, Gerald explains these concpets and the neuroscience of working together.

    Igniting Aspirational leadership at Harley-Davidson

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2020 5:48


    Listen to this podcast where Gerald shares a story of inspiration and aspiration for igniting leadership.

    Visualize Your Results

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2020 8:03


    There are several reasons you should consider visualizing your results. One is the fact that it increases motivation and possibility thinking. Listen to this podcast and to Gerald identifying and explaining the 10 reasons why visualization helps your results.

    Feedback is the Breakfast of Champions

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2020 6:13


    Did you know that the highest paid people in the world love feedback? If you also like feedback than you are in great company. Then why is it that so many actually avoid feedback? Listen to this podcast and to Gerald explaining this phenomena.

    Conversation with David Dyson and Donald Robinson

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2020 44:28


    In this Episode and conversation with Gerald Leonard, David Dyson and Donald Robinson these amazing musicians engage in several fascinating topics: The importance of being inspired by other musicians, your mindset, reaching your next level of success, creating your own music, and giving others credit. Also find out what surrender to support means.

    Conversation with Donald Robinson and Mike Rayburn

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2020 52:34


    In this episode, Gerald engages in a fascinating discussion with Donald Robinson and Mike Rayburn. They discuss music, life, business, success and the critical importance of practice among other topics. To learn more about Donald Robinson Studios go to https://donaldrobinsonstudios.com/and to learn more about Mike Rayburn go to https://mikerayburn.com

    Managing Unrealistic Expectations

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2020 12:29


    Employees are suffering from job related stress at alarming rates. Manage your stress response and identify quick wins are some of the insights Gerald shares in this podcast among several others to help you and your team manage these stresses and challenges so you don't get caught in setting unrealistic expectation in instead you are able to properly manage them.

    Positive Attitude

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2020 12:35


    Did you know that positive attitude actually changes your brain and you have the ability to control your attitude? The question is, are you building a better brain with your team by cultivating a positive attitude? In this podcast, Gerald shares key insights to significantly improve your positive attitude and overall success.

    Measure What Matters

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2020 11:41


    Listening is not about yourself, it is about the other person. It’s at that deep level of listening where true engagement comes from. How do you get started and measure what matters and develop this mastery of mindset and listening. Listen to this podcast and to Gerald and find out.

    Challenges My Clients Are Facing

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2020 12:04


    A lack of buy-in from your delivery team is the first of three challenges Gerald’s clients are facing. Listen to this podcast and discover these challenges, what to do about them and how to hold your team accountable to agreed upon decisions and plans.

    What Music Has Taught Me and All That Jazz

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2020 8:46


    Discipline of practice is one of the lessons Gerald has learned from playing music from a young age. In fact, turning practice from casual to structured and deliberate practice was the key to his success. Listen to this podcast where Gerald discusses this topic and how to create the blueprint to connect your teams emotionally.

    Gerald Leonard Conversation with Donald Robinson

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2020 22:01


    In this episode, Gerald interviews Donald Robinson, a Grammy Nominated Producer, Songwriter, Arranger, and Studio Owner. During this interview, Donald shares lessons he learned from Groover Washington Jr. and how Groover set the example for his band in life, music, and connecting with the next generation of musicians.To learn more about Donald Robinson Studios go to https://donaldrobinsonstudios.com/

    Introducing Workplace Jazz

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2020 11:30


    During this first podcast, Gerald shares what music taught him that he uses to help his clients in their business. He also shares about his new book “Workplace Jazz,” where he raises a battle cry for individual and corporate responsibility in building cultures that are both healthier and more productive for those working in them, like a smooth jazz ensemble of Allstar headliners. https://youtu.be/xrl2kR2UdHM

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