Management Development Unlocked - Management & Leadership Training

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric welcomes Adam Hickman, Vice President of Organization Employee Development for Partners FCU, a sponsor of The Walt Disney Company. With more than 23 years of experience in HR operations, education, training, and organizational development and culture, Adam is a visionary leader and innovator who delivers growth and profit through innovations in technology, customer experience, leadership development, and networking. He is also the author of the book “Grit and Gratitude: The Science and Art of a Successful Career and Life.”Eric is currently on the job market. He is seeking a role as a senior manager of learning and development, focusing on leadership and management development in tech. If you know anyone hiring, let Eric know.In this episode, you'll hear:Adam Hickman's take on using AI to be more efficient and effective.Why he doesn't believe AI will replace humans and what it lacks.The current trends in hybrid and remote work and the push for return-to-office.Offering remote workers the tools they need to do their work without micromanagement.Adam's tips for leading hybrid and remote teams effectively.The one question you can end a meeting with to build team connections.His new book, “Grit and Gratitude: The Science and Art of a Successful Career and Life” and what you can expect to take away from it.Connect with Adam Hickman:LinkedIn“Grit and Gratitude: The Science and Art of a Successful Career and Life”---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On today's episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Cheryl Fields Tyler, owner, founder, and CEO of Blue Beyond Consulting. Cheryl's business has been in operation for 18 years, using her expertise on the people side of business to develop leaders and managers at every stage of their careers. Blue Beyond Consulting also works with organizations to build resilient, effective, and agile ways to create great leadership and management pipelines within their organizations.Eric is currently on the job market. He is seeking a role as a senior manager of learning and development, focusing on leadership and management development in tech. If you know anyone hiring, let Eric know.In this episode, you'll hear:Cheryl Fields Tyler's background as the owner, founder, and CEO of Blue Beyond Consulting and what her company does.Her recent report on the pivotal role of people managers and some of the takeaways from that report regarding leadership.How knowledge workers and people managers feel about management and company leadership.Elevating the practice of management in an organization and the importance of trust and expectations.Prioritizing building the capabilities of people managers.Learning, training, upskilling, and career development for people managers.Addressing the imbalance between excelling in a role and more tasks than a manager can effectively manage.The paradigm shift Cheryl believes needs to occur in how we perceive management.Cheryl's study, "Winning on the People Side of Business: Research, Insights, and Recommendations,” and what you can gain from it.Connect with Cheryl Fields Tyler:Blue Beyond Consultingcheryl@bluebeyondconsulting.com“Winning on the People Side of Business: Research, Insights, and Recommendations”LinkedIn---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Kameko Leung sits down with Eric to discuss how to create meaningful relationships virtually. Kameko is a learning and development expert with over a decade of experience. She is the owner of Bloom Mindset Consulting and is also the Leadership Development Lead at Pinterest.Eric is currently in the job seeker seat, and he and Kameko also discuss what's different about this job market and how he's rising to the challenge.Eric is seeking a role as a senior manager of learning and development, focusing on leadership and management development in tech. If you know anyone hiring, let Eric know.In this episode, you'll hear:Kameko Leung's background in learning and development, her consulting company Bloom Mindset, and her current role at Pinterest.The differences between managing remotely versus in person, and the importance of building a “board of directors” you can rely upon.Tips for building meaningful relationships virtually and with intentionality.The best work relationship Kameko ever had, which developed online, and how they developed that connection.Understanding your individual team members' work styles and preferences to help your team work better together.What it means to be a culture carrier for your team and the importance of emotional intelligence.Three ways you can build your EQ in a virtual environment.Eric's biggest challenge as a job seeker.Connect with Eric Girard here:Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!Connect with Kameko Leung:LinkedIn---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On today's episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Csenge Fazekas, an intercultural trainer and team development consultant who helps global teams and curious individuals make their next move. Csenge specializes in helping people better understand multicultural perspectives and cultural differences and decipher everything that comes with that. Csenge is the founder of Cultural Origami and is currently based in Madrid, Spain.In this episode, you'll hear:Csenge Fazekas's role as an intercultural trainer and team development consultant.The importance of culture in managing international teams and its influence on how a team functions.Some of the challenges that new managers face when leading multicultural teams.Using “fast teaming” to combine the cultures of a team into one cohesive culture.What it means to be culturally fluent and learn that cultural differences can be superpowers.Language as a tool in intercultural communications and why communication doesn't stop with words.How Csenge implements experiential learning and improv in her workshops.Using Global DISC to create understanding between team members.The most common mistakes new managers make when they take on diverse teams.What Csenge offers in her business, Cultural Origami.Connect with Csenge Fazekas:WebsiteLinkedInGlobal DISC---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

Today's episode of Management Development Unlocked features Steph Edusei, Chief Executive of Saint Oswald's Hospice in North East England. Steph is also a mom and a leader who has worked in healthcare for nearly 30 years. She is also Chair of Eliot Smith Dance, a coach, speaker, and podcast host of Black All Year. Eric and Steph delve into what she's learned from her many years spent in leadership.In this episode, you'll hear:Steph Edusei's role as Chief Executive of Saint Oswald's Hospice, a large adult and children's hospice in North East England.Why Steph would like people to come to hospice earlier than they think they need to make the most of their remaining time.The purpose of leadership and why it's about creating the right environment for your team to thrive.Tackling challenges at work while remaining supportive and providing accountability with direct conversations.Overcoming self-doubt, reframing imposter syndrome, and learning to believe in yourself.Implementing positive self-talk into your daily affirmations.Being authentic in how you look and act in a leadership position.The one piece of advice Steph has for managers and leaders.What Eric has learned not to do as a leader.Connect with Steph Edusei:LinkedInPodcastInstagramThreadsSt. Oswald's Hospice---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

This episode of Management Development Unlocked features Michelle Risinger, founder and CEO of the DC-based social innovation strategy firm Rising Solutions. Michelle spent most of her career in the social sector, and after 10 years of doing direct humanitarian assistance overseas, she transitioned into an R&D technical role. Four years ago, she opened Rising Solutions to support organizations, governments, and corporations in launching new ideas, products, and services. Rising Solutions only works on concepts with a double bottom line: a financial return and a quantifiable social return. In this episode, you'll hear:Michelle Risinger's role as the founder and CEO of a DC-based social innovation strategy firm and what she loves about it.What the future of work means and how Michelle began her research on the topic.Chronobiology and how it impacts your work.The history of the eight-hour workday and why there's been a burnout epidemic in the modern workplace.The secret to human productivity.The product Michelle is building to help people find their chronobiology indicators.The art of thought and its four phases.Michelle's tips for managers to incorporate chronobiology and neuroscience into their work.Eric's take on how using chronobiology in Silicon Valley would work.Connect with Michelle Risinger:LinkedInRising Solutions---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

In this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Lotus Buckner, the bestselling author of “The Joy of HR.” Lotus is the founder and CEO of LB Talent Solutions, where she executes fractional work in addition to consulting and executive coaching. Lotus is an HR expert, and you'll hear her thoughts on why it's so important to partner with HR rather than viewing them as an adversary you have to deal with.In this episode, you'll hear:Why companies need great HR and great leadership in collaboration to create success.The most common misconceptions about HR and why they're incorrect.Processes that are in place to protect leadership–not just the company.Reaching out to HR early to support team development and employee success.What you may not be aware HR can assist you with, including payroll, benefits, learning and development, and more.How a proactive partnership with HR can help you nip problems in the bud before you have to put out a fire.Lotus Buckner's new book, “The Joy of HR,” and what you can learn from it.Eric's perception of HR during his career and some of his experiences.Connect with Lotus Buckner:LinkedIn“The Joy of HR” bookTalent Remix---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Ryan Weber joins Eric to talk about his path into leadership and how his youth spent playing hockey helped develop his skills. Ryan is Vice President of Workforce Planning and Tax Pro Experience at H&R Block. He's been with the company for 14 years, working in various roles. Ryan shares how he honed his leadership skills with a course at Xerox, why moving to Hawaii taught him relationships matter, and when corrective action at work can be positive.In this episode, you'll hear:Ryan Weber's journey into leadership at H&R Block, how youth sports helped start him on that path, and the impact Xerox's sales course had.The three things that have impacted Ryan's sales leadership roles the most.How a move to Hawaii taught him to foster trust and build relationships, which carried over to his work.Dealing with career setbacks and how to overcome and learn from them.Asking leadership what you can do to improve as a part of propelling your career forward.The influential forces on Ryan's career outside of his family.When corrective actions can be a positive influence at work.Ryan Weber's advice for new leaders today.His experience as a hockey player throughout childhood and why he's more nervous about coaching his kids' teams than adults at work.Connect with Ryan Weber:LinkedIn---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Ashley Virtue from the National Conflict Resolution Center. Ashley travels around the country, teaching people how to resolve conflicts and disagreements in a healthy manner. While their conversation is focused on conflict at work, Ashley and Eric also explore what's driving the increased conflict in our culture, some tools you can use to handle it, and what Ashley points to as the catalyst.Ashley shares some strategies workplace leaders can use to help their teams communicate effectively. She also reveals NCRC's three steps for responding respectfully when you hear something you disagree with: 1) demonstrating understanding, 2) acknowledging the impact it has on the other person, and 3) identifying what the underlying needs are. Ashley emphasizes that simply feeling heard is critical to feeling fairly treated and moving forward. In this episode, you'll hear:Ashley Virtue's role with the National Conflict Resolution Center and what her organization does.The diversity of her work and why there are so many commonalities across industries.Increased conflict in the culture and workplace and the new tools you can utilize to deal with it.What Ashley points to as the catalyst behind the increased divisiveness.Some strategies workplace leaders can use to help their teams communicate effectively.The three components of responding respectfully when you hear something you disagree with.Why Ashley finds her work to be a form of self-care and how it encourages her.Training and workshops NCRC offers in addition to mediation and conflict resolution.Eric's perception of new managers' soft skills in leadership roles.Connect with Ashley Virtue:LinkedInNational Conflict Resolution Center---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On today's episode of Management Development Unlocked, you'll hear the final installment of Eric's audiobook, Lead Like a Pro: The Essential Guide to New Managers. This episode focuses on change and why managers must be willing to adapt to new ways of doing business and relating to people. You'll hear the elements required to handle change effectively, the benefits that come from it, and how the five stages of grief relate to change. Eric reveals three places you can focus your time and how to divide them up to decide where to invest your time and energy. He also outlines the Kubler-Ross model of change and the Bridges transition model. Finally, you'll hear the five common reasons behind resistance to change, some steps you can take to address it, the three things resistance to change represents, and learning to view change as an opportunity.In this episode, you'll hear:Change and the need for managers to adapt to new ways of doing business and relating to people.The elements of handling change effectively as a manager and the benefits you can get from managing change well.How understanding the five stages of grief can help you handle your team members' reactions to change.A real-life example of what happens when a manager doesn't prepare a team for a big change.Reflecting on how you view change and what it models for your team.Three places you can focus your time and how to divide them up to decide where to invest your time and energy.The Kubler-Ross model of change.Reducing resistance to change in your organization and how it manifests.The five common reasons behind resistance to change and some steps you can take to address it.The three things resistance to change represents and how to overcome it.Giving team members space to adjust to the change.The Bridges transition model.Beginnings and new understandings, values, and attitudes.Gaining control of your own responses and viewing change as an opportunity.The path to action: fact, story, feel, act.Remaining connected to your peers and boss through the change and maintaining a positive attitude.---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric welcomes Jen Recla to the show. Jen works in the coaching and team development space, helping leaders build engaged, collaborative, and resilient teams. She uses coaching, team development work, leading retreats, and leadership workshops. Jen is a believer in the use of fun and levity to improve team dynamics and project outcomes. She has 12 years of experience in this space, leading teams and learning functions at various organizations before opening her business. In this episode, you'll hear:Jen Recla's work with leaders and what she offers them.How fun can help develop a high-performing team by reducing stress and burnout, creating connections, building trust, and improving communication.Incorporating fun to improve team dynamics and project outcomes and one of Jen's favorite activities to do this.Implementing AI into your team-building activities.Balancing productivity with a fun and engaging environment and asking for feedback.The practicalities of introducing fun into your team environment.Using small gestures to ingrain levity into your day-to-day environment.Jen's advice for leaders uncomfortable introducing fun into a traditional or serious workplace culture.The risks of adding in fun and creating toxic positivity.The services Jen offers to her clients and organizations.Connect with Jen Recla:LinkedInWebsite---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On today's Management Development Unlocked, Eric shares his fifth power session from his Lead Like a Pro Course. This episode focuses on the art of delegation. You'll hear why entrepreneurs have to learn how to delegate, questions to ask yourself as you delegate to your team, and your five responsibilities when you delegate.In this episode, you'll hear:Why entrepreneurs must learn the art of delegation.A poll asking participants if they delegate too much or too little and why.What you should be able to accomplish by the end of this session and the agenda.Some questions to ask yourself as you delegate work to others.The five responsibilities you have as you delegate to your team.Playing “Delegate That” and discussing it with other participants.Delegation best practices and the questions you can ask to determine that.---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

Today's Management Development Unlocked is the fourth installment of Eric's power sessions series from his Lead Like a Pro course. This episode focuses on goal-setting. You'll hear the objectives and agenda behind a goal-setting session, some common flaws, and how to set quantitative and qualitative goals. Finally, you'll hear the four things you should be able to do by the end of the goal-setting session.In this episode, you'll hear:Eric's guidelines for this session.The objectives and agenda of the goal-setting session.The common flaws in goal-setting and previewing what a good goal looks like.The questions a good goal answers and SMART goal criteria.How to set a quantitative goal.What a qualitative goal is and how to set one.Setting team goals, receiving input from everyone on the team, and encouraging out-of-the-box thinking.The four things you should be able to do following this session.Creating a chat waterfall to share ideas.---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

Popular guest Al Dea returns to the show on this 100th episode of Management Development Unlocked. Al is the founder of The Edge of Work, a leadership development firm helping organizations develop the next generation of leaders inside their organizations while building high-performing and highly engaged cultures. Like Eric, Al has a passion for developing leaders and managers.In this episode, you'll hear:Al Dea's observations on managers' role in employee career development and why it's important.Finding ways to prioritize career development and what that could look like.Al's thoughts on offering career coaches or mobility teams inside organizations.Why all leaders should be talent developers and make it a priority.The interconnectivity between doing your job, investing in talent, and developing talent and Al Dea's suggestions for implementing it.He advises how organizations, talent development, and L&D can play a role in this process.Some of Al's exercises for implementing talent development at your workplace.Connect with Al Dea:WebsiteLinkedIn---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On today's Management Development Unlocked, Eric shares his third power session of the Lead Like a Pro Course. This session focuses on the transition into management and what differentiates managers from leaders. You'll hear the objectives of this session, the three groups of people whose expectations matter, and how your time distribution in a management role differs from that of a contributor. Lastly, Eric explains the importance of accountability.In this episode, you'll hear:Eric's guidelines for his Lead Like a Pro class.What makes managers different from leaders.The objectives and agenda for this session of the Lead Like a Pro course.The three groups of people whose expectations you should be concerned with and the questions you should be thinking about.Your time distribution in a management role and some prompts to help you determine the adjustments you can make to how you spend your time.Holding yourself accountable with a partner.---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

Today's episode of Management Development Unlocked is part two of the Lead Like a Pro power sessions. Eric outlines why empathy is imperative at work, four things empathy improves, and its three components. He shares three action items to increase your empathy, improve your listening skills, and the two questions you can ask someone at work to change the depth of your conversations. Empathy is no longer an unimportant skill in the workplace. Instead, it is a key to building better relationships throughout your career.In this episode, you'll hear:Why empathy is an imperative skill at work.Four things empathy improves: innovation, engagement, retention, and inclusivityWhat empathy is and the three components of empathy.Three things you can do to increase your empathy.The three levels of listening and how they can improve your empathy skills.The two questions you can ask someone at work to change the depth of conversations.The skills you should have at the end of the Lead Like a Pro course.---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

In the first of five Power Sessions, Eric outlines his Lead Like a Pro course and what each session offers. Eric offers these sessions to clients for free and wants to offer them to podcast listeners as well. You'll hear an outline of the Lead Like a Pro course, why empathy is invaluable in management, and the differing expectations employees, managers, and peers have of you at work. Eric explains the process for defining goals and setting targets, the impact of trust and integrity in the workplace, and the objectives that drive the full Lead Like a Pro course.In this episode, you'll hear:Why empathy matters in management.Eric's personal experience with an empathetic manager as he grieved his mom's death.The definition of empathy and how it differs from sympathy.The differing expectations of employees, managers, and peers.Defining goals and setting specific targets.Trust and integrity's impact on the workplace.The objectives behind the full Lead Like a Pro course.---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On today's episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Brian Walch, owner of Shiftfocus Coaching and Consulting. Brian is based in Anchorage, Alaska, and he helps organizations develop their managers. Brian also assists organizations in building best-in-class management cultures. He has a 25-year career in IT consulting and decided to move over to helping managers make a bigger impact while helping people develop in their careers.Eric and Brian cover the challenges managers face after they move past the honeymoon stage, Brian's advice for burned-out managers, and why burnout can happen even when you love what you're doing. He shares four domains you should consider as a manager, what to do when you believe you're ready for more responsibility, and the one thing that can benefit brand-new managers most.In this episode, you'll hear:The challenges managers face in their own careers once they move past the honeymoon stage.Brian Walch's advice for burned-out managers and why internal motivation matters more than external.Why burnout can happen even when you love what you're doing.Investing in yourself for the long haul and reaping the benefits.Continual progression even as you become more comfortable with your management position.Brian's four domains to consider as a manager: relationships and influence, skills and experience, results, and systems.What to do when you think you're ready for more in management.Brian's business, Shiftfocus, and what it can help you with.The one thing Eric believes can benefit brand-new managers.Connect with Brian Walch:WebsiteLinkedIn---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On today's Management Development Unlocked, you'll hear part five of Eric's six-episode series of his audiobook, Lead Like a Pro: The Essential Guide for New Managers. Building a healthy coaching habit can help break three vicious cycles at work, and Eric shares some tips for becoming a great coach for your team. You'll learn about the GROW model, becoming an active listener, and some questions you can use in your next coaching session. You'll also hear why feedback is crucial to a successful team. Eric outlines why feedback should be a habit—both constructive and positive—and how to handle adverse reactions to feedback and reward and recognize your team without money.In this episode, you'll hear:Building a coaching habit and the three vicious circles at work that it can break.Evolving beyond your own tasks and taking proactive steps to help your team perform better.Coaching and feedback and the three things it can help you do as a new manager.Why you should always coach in private, be curious, and avoid statements that may make the coachee defensive.Questions that can help you evaluate your team's performance.Challenging your assumptions and digging deeper.The purpose behind coaching at work.Four essential coaching skills and the GROW (goals, reality, options, and way forward) model for coaching.GROW in practice and avoiding offering advice.Six behaviors or active listening.Seven essential coach-like questions to get a coaching session rolling.Making feedback a habit and the simple things you can do to ensure it is received well.Keeping a record of the feedback you provide.Handling negative reactions to feedback.The coaching-feedback-coaching technique.Offering rewards and recognition to team members.The three ways to reward and recognize your team that doesn't involve money and how to do it.---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On today's episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric welcomes Roberta Ndlela to the show. Roberta is a member of the Zulu tribe in South Africa and grew up under the apartheid system. Apartheid ended when she was 18, and at 19, she began her corporate career in the transportation industry, where she honed her communication skills. Later, as she taught English in South Korea, Roberta recognized the value of adaptability. She credits her communication and adaptability skills for her success today.In this episode, you'll hear:How Roberta Ndlela defines “soft skills” as human skills.Why you need soft skills in addition to technical knowledge.The top eight behaviors that successful managers or leaders possess.The data behind soft skills, why CEOs spend 20% more time learning soft skills than the average person, and the increased productivity rates of their teams.Quiet quitting and workers' reluctance to do more than the minimum at work.Roberta Ndlela's free 30-minute call to assist listeners with speaking or leading people.Connect with Roberta Ndlela:LinkedInInstagram---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On this Management Development Unlocked replay, Eric interviews Roger Martin, co-founder and CEO of ThriveMore Brands. ThriveMore is a platform company with franchise brands under its umbrella, including RockBox Fitness and beem® Light Sauna. They also have a nutrition company and are discussing bringing an overseas franchise concept to America. The company employs 27 people in its home office.In this episode, you'll hear:Roger Martin's company, ThriveMore Brands, and an overview of what it does.His tips for overcoming imposter syndrome and why you're probably not growing if you haven't experienced it.What competency-selective interviewing tactics are, and how they contrast with just using your gut to hire.The impact of AI in the workplace and what makes it a powerful tool.How managers deal with failure, take responsibility for it, and work to fix the problem at the speed of trust.Psychological safety and the value of feeling safe to make mistakes and grow.The franchise brands that make up ThriveMore Brands and the goal of those brands.Connect with Roger Martin:LinkedInThriveMore BrandsInstagramTikTokTwitter/X---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On this episode of Management Development Unocked, Eric welcomes Brian Nelson-Palmer back to the show for a friendly debate. Brian is the founder of Productivity Gladiator and teaches personal, practical productivity skills. Brian's target audience is recently promoted office people managers. Brian and Eric have different productivity styles, and this episode is all about their dueling opinions on various ways of remaining productive, including calendars, task lists, what time work should start, and more. While they may disagree on their methodology, Eric and Brian share a passion for getting things done in a timely manner.In this episode, you'll hear:The five things Eric and Brian Nelson-Palmer are in disagreement about.Using a calendar for tasks and events (Eric) versus Brian's use of a calendar and a separate task list.The paradigm differences that may make Eric's method work for one person but Brian's method for someone else.Planning every facet of your day versus leaving room in your schedule to remain flexible.Why Eric works out in the afternoon but starts work very early.Brian's preference to sleep in later and work out earlier in the day.Brian's explanation that meditation does not work for him other than getting back to sleep.The benefits of meditation that Eric loves.Why Brian loves Amazon's Subscribe and Save and Eric's dislike of it.Connect with Brian Nelson-Palmer:LinkedInWebsite---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

Today's episode of Management Development Unlocked comes from chapters five and six of Eric's bestselling book, Lead Like a Pro: The Essential Guide for New Managers. These chapters outline how to perform a SWOT analysis of your team and the importance of building trust with your team members. Eric shares how to implement the Tuckman model of team development, the five dysfunctions of a team, how to overcome or avoid the five dysfunctions, and eight values to incorporate into your leadership style. Finally, Eric shares some important takeaways from The SPEED of Trust by Stephen R. Covey.In this episode, you'll hear:How to perform a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis to focus on your team's internal and external factors.Holding a team meeting to discuss a SWOT analysis together.An alternative method of a SWOT analysis suggested by the Harvard Business Review.Performing SWOT analysis regularly for your team and yourself in conjunction with the brainstorming methodology mentioned in chapter three.Why using a SWOT analysis can help you identify where to focus your coaching efforts and training programs and develop a plan to improve team performance and achieve goals.Implementing the Tuckman model of team development (forming, storming, norming, and performing) and what to expect.Setting expectations with your team as you use the Tuckman model.The importance of building trust within your team.The essential concepts all managers should know to build trust with a team and how it can benefit managers.The five dysfunctions of a team.Overcoming or avoiding the five dysfunctions of a team.The key to a successful team.Why managers must lead by example and demonstrate a commitment to the team.The eight values to incorporate into your leadership style.Takeaways from The SPEED of Trust you can use with your team.---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

This episode of Management Development Unlocked features Brandon Birkmeyer. Brandon is a former Madison Avenue agency executive who worked on accounts like Coca-Cola and Apple. He left the corporate world six years ago and now does corporate training and speaking. Brandon is the author of the book, “Front & Center Leadership: How Leaders Can Use Personal Branding to Stand Out and How You Can Too.” He is also the host of the podcast “Brands on Brands.”In this episode, you'll hear:Brandon Birkmeyer's book on personal branding in the corporate space, “Front & Center Leadership.”The three components of a successful personal brand.Brandon's catalyst for writing his book and leveraging your human potential to become a personal brand.How the principles laid out in his book apply to the future of management development.His steps for bringing leaders to the forefront with practice.Who Brandon's book is for and why new managers can benefit from it most.Overcoming the reluctance to build a personal brand.The three types of reluctance.Connect with Brandon Birkmeyer:Website---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

Today's episode of Management Development Unlocked features Dr. Phyllis Quinlan, president and CEO of MFW Consultants. Phyllis has 40+ years of experience in the nursing field and is a certified professional coach, which she weaves into her consulting firm. She specializes in helping leaders create healthy work environments, building a sense of resilience and well-being in staff using emotional intelligence and the principles of healthy work environments.In this episode, you'll hear:Phyllis Quinlan's role as president and CEO of MSW consultants, her background as a nurse, and her work as a coach.The components of a healthy workplace environment and the part an emotionally intelligent leader plays in that.Civility at work, why it matters, and what incivility looks like.Phyllis's tips for creating a culture of civility and citizenship alongside a healthy workplace.The differences between bullies and individuals who are chronically uncivil.Why leadership finds it challenging to address bullying behaviors on their teams.The importance of documentation.What you can expect from Phyllis's book, “Bringing Shadow Behavior into the Light of Day.”Connect with Phyllis Quinlan:LinkedInMFW ConsultantsBringing Shadow Behavior into the Light of Day bookmfwconsultants@gmail.com---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric welcomes Anca Enache, founder of 3P Impact Consulting. Anca helps purpose-driven small- and medium-sized companies create a competitive advantage by revealing the environmental, social, and governance risks and opportunities that may impact their business.In this episode, you'll hear:Anca Enache's work in sustainability alongside purpose-driven companies.The definition of a business continuity plan at the team level and how it can help a company.A real-life example of the benefits of a continuity plan.The six components of an effective team-level business continuity plan.The steps required to implement a continuity plan.Anca's work as a consultant.Connect with Anca Enache:LinkedInWebsiteEmail---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On today's episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric shares part three of this six-part series from his book, Lead Like a Pro: The Essential Guide for New Managers. Featuring chapters three and four, you'll hear why it's important to set SMART goals for your team, Eric's brainstorming guidelines for setting team goals, and why you should be performing weekly one-on-one meetings with team members. Eric also shares why you must learn how to delegate effectively and how it can improve your relationship with your team. You'll also hear about the six levels of initiative that can help bring out the best in everyone, along with Eric's tips for helping you decide what to delegate.In this episode, you'll hear:Creating clear goals for your team and how you benefit from them.Understanding the purpose behind a goal and the four components behind a good goal.SMART goals: specific, measurable, achievable (or aligned), relevant (or resourced), and time-bound (or trackable).The benefits of SMART goals for new managers and how to set them in three simple steps.Questions you can ask to identify a SMART goal.Eric's eight brainstorming guidelines for setting team goals.Setting one-on-one weekly meetings with team members to make progress toward goals.Altering SMART goals to fit your organization's needs.Learning to delegate tasks to your team effectively and how it can improve your relationship with your team.The benefits of effective delegation and some reasons managers fail to delegate.The ten commandments for effective delegation.Delegating the right tasks to the right people and how to determine if a team member is ready for the task at hand.The six levels of initiative, encouraging higher-level thinking from team members, and bringing out the best in everyone.Eric's tips for deciding what could be delegated to your team.---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

Today's episode of Management Development Unlocked features Stacey Caster, co-founder and CEO of North Executive Advisors. Stacey specializes in leadership development and executive coaching. She is also a speaker, podcast host, and author.In this episode, you'll hear:Stacey Caster's background in senior leadership and her role today as the CEO and co-founder of North Executive Advisors.What's different about leading leaders versus leading individual contributors.The leadership skills required to lead leaders and why it requires forecasting farther into the future.Building a network outside of your four walls to understand what your competitors are doing.The importance of emotional intelligence in leadership.Leveling up your career development from becoming a leader to becoming a leader of leaders.Marketing your personal brand inside your company to position yourself for leadership roles.What good leaders can do to strengthen a business.The mistakes a leader can make that will crash a business.Stacey's upcoming book, “The Leadership Navigator: Chart Your Course to Leadership Mastery.”Connect with Stacey Caster:WebsiteBookNorth Executive Advisors---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On today's Management Development Unlocked, Eric interviews Eloisa Marquez-Gonzalez, an operation strategist and advisor to green tech organizations. Eloisa helps them design their operations, and once they've grown, she helps those companies streamline to ensure their impact is growing along with their company. Another fun fact about Eloisa is that she is a former professional tennis player who eventually left that career to pursue an engineering degree.In this episode, you'll hear:Eloisa Marquez-Gonzalez's position as an operation strategist and advisor focused on green tech organizations.Her career in professional tennis, a pivot to engineering, and finally to the climate space.The differences between innovation and continuous improvement.What the green tech sector encompasses, and what green tech operations are.The metrics that differentiate green tech ops from traditional ops.Creating an environment of collaboration where people feel comfortable bringing new ideas to leadership.The steps managers in any industry can take to integrate sustainability practices into existing operations.Eloisa's green tech operations roundtable and what she hopes to accomplish with it.How to foster curiosity and creativity within your team.Connect with Eloisa Marquz-Gonzalez:LinkedInWalking Tree---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

Today's episode of Management Development Unlocked features Kerri Burchill, author of “Leading Out of the ASKhole™ Trap.” Kerri is a leadership consultant who started her career in education. She specializes in helping leaders and teams in messy, dynamic situations.In this episode, you'll hear:Kerri Burchill's role as a leadership consultant and how her first career in education led her to where she is today.The definition of an askhole and how an askhole can trap you.The importance of active listening and why senior leaders and experienced managers need to actively listen to their teams.Her advice for avoiding the constant spin and getting stuck which leads to more issues that need to be resolved.Kerri's favorite part of being a leadership consultant.What you can expect from Kerri's book, “Leading Out of the ASKhole™ Trap.”The one leadership skill everyone should have.Connect with Kerri Burchill:Kerri Burchill's websiteLeading Out of the ASKhole™ TrapLinkedInInstagramFacebookYouTube---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On today's episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric shares part two of his book, Lead Like a Pro. This section focuses on what it takes to successfully transition into management from a role as a contributing team member. You'll hear the benefits you can reap by preparing for this transition, the five common misconceptions about people who move into management, the six mindset shifts you need for a smooth transition, and how you can expand your influence to manage your boss, peers, and team. Eric shares some of his personal experiences, tips from Forbes, and the differences between power and influence.In this episode, you'll hear:Why being a successful manager is different than becoming a successful team member.Eric's move into a management position and his initial mistakes with a problem team member.The benefits you'll reap by preparing for a transition into management.Five common misconceptions about people who move into management roles.Six mindset shifts for making a smoother transition into management.Expanding your influence to manage your boss, your team, and your peers and its positive impact on your career.What it means to “manage up.”“Managing down,” getting the right people on the bus, and creating psychological safety at work.Building a collaborative culture with your peers to “manage sideways” and create a better understanding of your organization and corporate goals.Some ideas for putting managing up, down, and sideways into practice.The Forbes 14 tips for transitioning into a management role.Some tips from Eric for making a successful transition into a manager based on his experiences.Power versus influence in management.Eric's favorite pieces of advice for new managers.---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On today's episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Dr. Rosina Racioppi, President and CEO of WOMEN Unlimited, Inc. WOMEN Unlimited helps Fortune 1000 companies cultivate the talent they need for ongoing growth and profitability. Dr. Racioppi previously held executive management positions in human resources and has over 25 years of experience in this sector. She earned her doctorate in education from the University of Pennsylvania, and her dissertation, “Women's Mentoring Wisdom,” focuses on how women use and fail to use mentoring at the mid-career level. Dr. Racioppi is a contributing member of Reimagining Talent, Learning & Development Congress, a contributing leadership expert to publications such as Fortune, Fast Company, and Chief Learning Officer magazines, and serves on the Advisory Council of the Women Business Collaborative.Eric and Dr. Racioppi discuss the transition from functional expert to manager, the psychological shift required to become a successful manager, Dr. Racioppi's advice for women in management, finding a mentor, and the mission of WOMEN Unlimited.In this episode, you'll hear:Why the transition from a functional expert to management can be challenging and the obstacles a new manager may face.The psychological transition required to shift from an individual responsible for tasks to a leader accountable for getting results.Overcoming the discomfort of having difficult conversations with team members and helping them become successful in their roles.Dr. Rosina Racioppi's advice for a woman stepping into a managerial role for the first time.The value of mentorship—especially for female managers—especially in management roles and how a mentor can help guide you to success.The preparation required in a mentor-mentee relationship and the work needed to build a productive conversation with a mentor.The impact mentorship has had on Dr. Racioppi's career.WOMEN Unlimited's mission.Connect with Rosina Racioppi:LinkedInWOMEN Unlimited---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On today's episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Josh Irmler, an AI expert who's creating new tools and teaching others to embrace the positive changes AI can bring to the workforce. Josh's company, Landdai, offers customized GPT tools for the talent development space. Eric and Josh cover why Josh doesn't believe AI is going to eliminate jobs, advantages new managers may have with AI, the customization and personalization it offers, and how AI could be used in the management space.If you're a manager wondering how AI is going to impact your role in the future, you won't want to miss this episode.In this episode, you'll hear:Josh Irmler's background in consulting and what his company, Landdai, is teaching learning and development professionals about AI.How AI is going to change the way our work looks but probably won't take our jobs and instead make us irreplaceable.The difficulties with keeping track of all the constant changes in the AI space.The possibilities AI can offer us at work and the tools Josh uses for various purposes.What new managers can get from using AI in their roles and changing the way you think of it.The advantages new managers may have with AI versus established managers and the customization and personalization they may be able to offer.Why AI may not eliminate jobs but instead change what those positions look like.Josh's free AI starter kit for podcast listeners and what's included.Eric's take on how AI could be used in the management space.Connect with Josh Irmler:LinkedInEmailLanddai's website---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

Today's episode of Management Development Unlocked features Hazel Quiatchon, a leadership development practitioner and executive coach with 20 years of experience. She is the senior director and head of leadership development at a San Francisco Bay Area tech company. Hazel has trained hundreds of leaders to be the best coaches for their teams and shares tips and tricks for getting your team on the same page.In this episode, you'll hear:Traits of the most successful managers Hazel Quiatchon has observed.How she coaches managers who need to address common team dilemmas and why clarity matters.Hazel's favorite coaching model and what makes it effective.The five dysfunctions of a team listed in the classic Patrick Lencioni book.The foundation of an effective team and creating conditions to promote trust.Her advice for managers who lead diverse and global teams and the importance of being aware and intentional.The unique challenges of remote and hybrid work and Hazel's suggestions for maintaining team spirit and collaboration as well as equity and fairness.The three things new managers can do to make leading a team feel less daunting.Why you should practice what you preach to your team and set an example.Hazel's coaching services and her areas of focus.Connect with Hazel Quiatchon:LinkedIn---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

Today's episode of Management Development Unlocked features a chapter from Eric's book, Lead Like a Pro: The Essential Guide for New Managers. In part one of this six-part series, you'll hear why empathy in the workplace has ROI in multiple arenas. Eric shares some ideas for building and maintaining trust with your team, the five qualities of a good manager, and the qualities of an empathetic person, which is not the same as sympathy. You'll hear the three kinds of empathy, how they intertwine with psychological safety at work, and ten methods for building cross-cultural communication with your team. Finally, Eric reveals five steps to building empathy within yourself and at your workplace.In this episode, you'll hear:Eric's passion for management development and why it's essential in today's workplace.What VUCA is (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) and how it's impacting team members at work.Building and maintaining trust with your team.The five qualities of a good manager.The differences between managers and leaders.Why empathy is critical in a management role.The qualities of an empathetic person and how it differs from sympathy.Three kinds of empathy: cognitive, emotional, and empathic concern.Creating psychological safety at work with empathy and trust.Ten methods for building cross-cultural communication on your team.How small gestures can create immense loyalty with your team.The work required to create an empathetic mindset.Five steps to building empathy within yourself and your workplace.The ROI you can achieve in an empathetic work environment.---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

Knowing what motivates you and your team members can be a huge advantage as a manager.On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Will Goldstein-Mahon to discuss the differences between engagement and motivation and why leaders have to know what motivates and demotivates their teams. Will is the Director of Learning and Organization Development at Jordan's Furniture. He has been in the L&D space for 20 years, focusing on leadership development and new hires.In this episode, you'll hear:The differences between engagement and motivation and how they overlap.Why leaders need to understand what motivates and demotivates their teams.How the interview process can help new managers address motivation with their employees.The discomfort of discussing what demotivates each employee individually.Creating an environment where a leader can assign tasks motivating each team member.How effective leaders can find ways to bring more positives to a team member's role and offer creative solutions to avoid demotivating environments.The seven dimensions of motivation and how they relate to the roles we pursue at work.Applying your natural motivators in your personal and professional lives.Resisting the urge to attempt to motivate others with what motivates you.Developing individualized follow-ups to ensure everyone on the team is on the same page.Connect with Will Goldstein-Mahon:LinkedIn---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On today's episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric welcomes guest Tammy Alvarez to the show to talk about her new book, Escaping the Career Trap. Tammy is the founder and CEO of Career Winners Circle, where they empower business leaders to make a big impact and love every Monday again. They focus on helping people navigate a career step into leadership roles, run businesses in a way that energizes them, and get back to loving getting started on Monday.In this episode, you'll hear:Tammy's book, which was written for those who have lost their ambition, and what she wants you to take away from it.The change in perspectives over the past five years and why there is always opportunity in times of chaos.Small, incremental changes to move forward faster.The mid-career funk and how to transform it into something that's thriving and energizes you.Why Tammy Alvarez is emphatic in her book about never hating Mondays again.The struggles new leaders experience and the impact finding your joy and playing to your strengths can have on your performance at work.Her reasoning for being raw and honest in the book and keeping it approachable.Becoming the CEO of your career and why that changes everything.Tammy's speaking engagements and what her focus is.Connect with Tammy Alvarez:Get the Escaping the Career Trap bookCareer Winners Circle websiteLinkedIn---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On today's Management Development Unlocked, Eric interviews his former colleague Melissa Sheehan, a marketing expert based in San Francisco, California. Melissa currently works in the talent marketing and employer brand space for a global technology company, where she helps attract and engage employees. Melissa's background spans various areas of marketing, ranging from brand to communications, demand generation, and talent marketing. She is passionate about building brands from the inside out and making work meaningful and enjoyable for teams.In this episode, you'll hear:Why communication is a crucial skill for managers and the foundation of strong, productive relationships at work.Examples of missteps managers often make in communication—especially with their teams—and the impact of the power dynamic at play.Melissa Sheehan's tips for gauging how your team is feeling in a situation.The impact missteps can make on relationships with your team and the potential implications they can have.The characteristics of a leader who is also a successful communicator.Humanizing your communications by embracing your unique voice and tone.Communicating with an inclusive lens and listening to and getting to know communities you are not a part of.Connect with Melissa Sheehan:LinkedIn---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

Today's episode of Management Development Unlocked features Mamie Kanfer Stewart. Mamie is an expert on meetings, including when and how to make them effective, engaging, and enjoyable. Mamie hosts The Modern Manager podcast and is the author of Momentum: Creating Effective, Engaging, and Enjoyable Meetings. She is a coach and hosts trainings and workshops on meetings. She also has a membership and courses to help managers become their best selves and do their best work.In this episode, you'll hear:The number one thing to do before holding a meeting and why its outcome must be clear.Questions to ask before scheduling a meeting and deciding whether a different communication method might be more effective.The seven reasons to hold a meeting and one reason not to.Best practices for starting a meeting and completing it early or on time.The three things you can do to end a meeting on a high note.Why consistency matters for meeting notes and can be used as an active tool in your work.The challenges of using transcription services to take meeting notes.Debunking two common myths about meetings.Some questions to ask if you're struggling with meeting attendees multitasking during meetings.Mamie Kanfer Stewart's Modern Manager Skills Accelerator program to help develop your skills as a manager.Connect with Mamie Kanfer Stewart:The Modern ManagerMeeteor---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

Today's episode of Management Development Unlocked features Alexa Chilcutt, a professor of executive education at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and Texas Christian University. Alexa is also an executive coach who works one-on-one with professionals and is an expert on executive presence.Eric and Alexa focus on executive presence (EP) in this episode, defining it and naming some of its personality traits. They also cover what it means to believe someone has EP, the importance of a great first impression, and why a lack of executive presence can prevent your career from progressing. Alexa explains the importance of self-awareness surrounding your non-verbal communication, ten character qualities of someone with executive presence, and her tips for developing a positive EP.In this episode, you'll hear:The definition of executive presence and the personality traits it consists of.Identifying who you believe has executive presence and why a great first impression and authenticity matter.Aligning who you are with what's important to the organization or the position you seek.How a lack of executive presence can prevent you from advancing your career.The initial first impressions you might have of someone who has executive presence.Having self-awareness about your non-verbal communication and learning how to improve them.Ten characteristics of executive presence, why those qualities aren't necessarily positive, and shifting perceptions of your executive presence.Alexa Chilcutt's tips for developing an executive presence.Her questions for Eric about the biggest challenges new managers face as they shift into leadership roles.Connect with Alexa Chilcutt:LinkedInJoe Navarro on Confidence---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

Today, on Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Jimmy Burroughes, founder and CEO of Jimmy Burroughes Leadership. His company focuses on turning busy, overworked, and overwhelmed managers into high-impact leaders. Jimmy achieves this using his books, a podcast, and 400-500 workshops annually. Those workshops include facilitated conversations, seminars, and webinars that allow people to learn in the flow of work. Jimmy's team consists of around 460 associates and facilitators.Eric and Jimmy's conversation focuses on why we're working so much harder in today's corporate world, the three factors contributing to a leadership perfect storm in the post-COVID world, tips for overcoming burnout, and the enormous costs of multitasking. You won't want to miss this episode if you're a manager experiencing a lack of engagement on your team.In this episode, you'll hear:Jimmy Burroughes' leadership development company and its mission to help overwhelmed and overworked managers become high-impact leaders.Jimmy's theory on why we're working much harder today than our parents did and the impact of being bombarded with all this information.The three factors creating a perfect leadership storm in the post-COVID world.Two reasons leaders are struggling to lead in the hybrid work and remote work environment.Lack of engagement from employees and the critical mass point they're reaching.Increasing burnout, why just “working harder” doesn't resolve the issue, and how it impacts aspects of your entire life.The huge costs of multitasking.Jimmy's podcast, The High Performance Leader, his upcoming new book, “Escape the Multi-tasking Trap,” and his first book, “Beat Burnout, Ignite Performance.”Connect with Jimmy Burroughes:WebsiteLinkedInBeat Burnout, Ignite PerformanceEscape the Multi-tasking Trap---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Heli Nehama Ozery, founder and CEO of Artemis OD, a management consulting firm based in Silicon Valley. For the past 15 years, Heli has been working with global companies to help them elevate performance and productivity while fostering employee growth. Heli is passionate about making learning experiential and creating “aha” moments. She also trains trainers and learning experts on how to do the same thing.Eric and Heli's conversation encompasses several topics, including navigating friendships at work when you become a manager, setting boundaries between work and your personal life, and creating a harmonious environment amid competition.In this episode, you'll hear:Heli Nehama Ozery's work with global companies to elevate performance and productivity and her passion for making learning experiential.Her experience navigating friendships at work after moving into a leadership role.Some of the common challenges new managers face when they manage their peers or friends and why people pleasers struggle more.The two main things required for managers to be most effective in dealing with a friend at work without losing the friendship.Setting clear boundaries between work and friendship.Immediately addressing issues to achieve resolution instead of letting them fester.Fostering a positive and collaborative team culture when there is competition at work and empathy's role in smoothing things over.Avoiding resentment at work, building trust, and gaining support from others.Some successful strategies and best practices for overcoming conflict and creating a harmonious environment.Heli's leadership development program for organizations and how it can help.Connect with Heli Nehama Ozery:LinkedInArtemis Organizational Development---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric explores the five key habits of winning leaders with guest Rusty Fulling. Rusty is the founder and CEO of Fulling Management & Accounting, based in Olathe, Kansas. Fulling Management & Accounting serves business leaders around the country in the accounting space, helping them gain clarity, grow profits, and gain peace of mind.Eric and Rusty start their conversation by exploring how consistency in leadership and being “boring” can create a more positive impact. They cover the three values consistency can produce, why managers should practice curiosity with their teams, and the differences between mentors, influencers, and coaches. You'll also hear why setting boundaries is important as a mentor or mentee, the role effective listening plays in boosting a team's morale, and Rusty's advice for people who believe their companies aren't pouring into or helping them grow.In this episode, you'll hear:Consistency in leadership and why the “boring” can help create a more positive impact.Three values that consistency can produce: respect, integrity, and authenticity.Why managers should practice curiosity with their teams and the results it can produce.How you can apply curiosity to leadership, your business, and your community.The differences between a mentor, influencer, and coach.Where to look for a great mentor in personal, business, and spiritual.Becoming a mentor or a mentee as a manager, its benefits, and setting boundaries around those relationships.Effective listening and the role it plays in boosting a team's morale.Recognizing a team member's accomplishments based on their personality.Rusty Fulling's advice for people whose companies aren't pouring into or helping them grow.Resources Rusty recommends for working on personal and professional growth.Connect with Rusty Fulling:LinkedInFulling Management & Accounting website---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Ethan Nash. Ethan is the CEO and a leadership consultant at Nash Consulting in the Seattle, Washington, area. Eric and Ethan dig into his background in management, consulting, and leadership development and training, the one thing managers should know to be successful, and what it means to create a psychological contract between a manager and their team. They also discuss the importance of psychological safety in the workplace, some practical tips for implementing skills and behaviors to develop psychological safety, and how to repair the psychological contract when it breaks.In this episode, you'll hear:Ethan Nash's background in management, consulting, and leadership development and training and his dad's influence on his career choice.Why Ethan went into business with his dad early in his career.The one thing managers should know to be successful in their positions.The concept of a psychological contract between a manager and their team creates a sense of psychological safety.Employee engagement when they feel care and respect in their workplace.The skills and behaviors managers can implement to develop psychological safety at work.Making one-on-one meetings sacred and the questions you can use in them to build on the psychological contract.How to repair the psychological contract when it breaks.Ethan's Managing with Mind and Heart program.Connect with Eric Girard here:Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!Connect with Ethan Nash:LinkedInWebsite - Use code MUPOD24 for a 24% discount!Podcast---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Kristin Cummings, founder of Virtual COO. Virtual COO helps small and midsize businesses strategize to help their businesses grow. Eric and Kristin dig into how virtual or fractional C-suite team members can help businesses, what a COO's job entails, and Kristin offers some helpful tips on forming relationships with the C-suite as a new manager.Kristin, her husband, and their five-year-old son are traveling the world while they work as digital nomads. They're currently spending several months in Europe.In this episode, you'll hear:What a COO is and what they do for businesses of all sizes and types.Fractional and virtual COOs and the benefits having someone in this position can offer to a small or midsize business.Kristin's tips for interacting with the C-suite as a new manager and why being clear about what you're asking for is crucial.Getting buy-in from key stakeholders and how preparedness can help.Making an impact in your company as someone in operations.Creating a trusting relationship with visionaries as someone in operations and knowing when to shut ideas down.Kristin Cummings's answers to Eric's lightning round.Connect with Kristin Cummings:LinkedInVirtual COO on LinkedInWebsiteManagement Time: Who's Got the Monkey?---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

This episode of Management Development Unlocked features Jason Dreyer, a training and development professional with 18 years of experience in the field. Jason works for a midsize engineering firm, helping their leaders across the country to be better. Eric sits down with him to talk about the DISC personality assessment, how it can help you better understand your team and communicate more effectively, and some of the pitfalls that can come with this powerful tool.In this episode, you'll hear:Jason Dreyer's foray into learning and development 18 years ago and why it stuck.What DISC is (dominance, influence, steadiness, and conscientiousness).How DISC helps people understand their preferences surrounding work and relationships.The first activity Jason's leadership development program does when they come together as a group.His first exposure to DISC and the characteristics that made it so attractive.Using DISC as a manager to support team communication and better understand what they need.Why managers should understand their own DISC profile in order for their team to understand them.Some of the pitfalls of DISC profiles and how to overcome those.The importance behind a leader flexing their style to the team rather than expecting everyone else to flex theirs.Connect with Jason Dreyer:LinkedIn---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Stephen Davis, the Director of Learning and Development at ArchKey Solutions. ArchKey is one of the nation's leading electrical contractor and service suppliers. Stephen has been in the learning and development industry for more than 20 years and has experience in various industries, including healthcare and retail. He is also a proud husband and father.In this episode, you'll hear:Stephen Davis's 20+ years of experience in the learning and development space in various industries.Keeping it simple when it comes to developing new leaders and why you don't have to reinvent the wheel.What Stephen believes new leaders struggle with the most.The differences between management and leaders and how to become a leader by managing the process.Why the process is unique to each individual and a firsthand example from Stephen.Incorporating empathy into your leadership style and having your team's back when they need it.Learning to filter through the noise of leadership development and its dependence on your background, position, experience, etc.The assignment Stephen Davis creates for his leadership training sessions and why it applies more to your manager than you.An explanation of the Kirkpatrick Model levels of evaluation.His experience at Target and what made it a phenomenal leadership learning experience.Why the return on training has to be apparent to leadership.Connect with Stephen Davis:LinkedIn---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Matt Gjertsen, the founder and Chief Learning Officer of Better Every Day Studios. Better Every Day Studios aims to transform how companies view talent development by building custom training solutions that deliver business results for organizations. Matt uses what he learned as an instructor pilot in the U.S. Air Force and a SpaceX manager as a foundation for his training and development solutions. In this episode, you'll hear:Matt Gjertsen's background in the U.S. Air Force and SpaceX, which laid the foundation for how he thinks about training and development.How Matt defines behavior-based training and the four levels of training evaluation using the Kirkpatrick Model.Why culture is just an accumulation of behaviors within an organization.The differences between behavior-based training and “normal” training and coaching.The three realms of practice: naive, purposeful, and deliberate, and why they are critical elements for a manager.How managers can apply behavior-based training with their teams.Identifying the gap between desired performance and current performance to focus your training.What Matt Gjertsen's company does and the new products they offer help hiring managers and interviewers.Connect with Matt Gjertsen:LinkedInWebsitePodcastPeak by Anders Ericsson---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

Today's Management Development Unlocked features Wendy Pfeiffer, an executive in technology roles for the past 30 years. Wendy's career focus is on the intersection of technology and business operations. Her goal has always been to help companies and people use technology for all their purposes. She primarily focuses on assisting mid-level and senior executives in developing and learning how to master the tech they operate.Eric and Wendy explore the mistakes she made in her first management role, the three lessons she learned about being a good leader, how she implements Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People in guiding teams, and why leaders should strive to create long-term relationships with their teams.This episode is all about establishing good leadership habits--advice new managers won't want to miss.In this episode, you'll hear:Wendy Pfeiffer's background working at the intersection of technology and business and teaching mid-level and senior executives to master the tech they operate.The mistakes Wendy made in her first management role and how she handled devastating criticism from an employee.Three lessons she learned about being a good leader from that first management role.Why you should strive to advance to higher levels of management and the changing goals as you move up the ranks.Wendy Pfeiffer's use of Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People to guide teams.Empathy's role in management success and the loyalty it encourages from your team.Creating long-term relationships with your team and why they're the secret sauce to your success recipe.What Wendy loves about the Great British Baking Show and humility as a superpower.Connect with Wendy Pfeiffer:LinkedIn---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Asian American inclusivity expert Jolene Jang. Jolene is a fourth-generation American with Japanese, Chinese, and Swedish heritage. As an Asian American, she recognizes that Asian Americans are left out of many conversations and is working to change that. During her career in organizational development, she's spent a lot of time building teams and performing motivational speaking, and she will soon release a podcast. In this episode, you'll hear:Jolene Jang's background as a fourth-generation Asian-American, building teams, and motivational speaking.Eric's response to Jolene's question: Why does diversity matter to Girard Training Solutions?Why it's valuable to companies to recognize diversity and expand their markets beyond their traditional customer profiles.Current demographics in the United States and how those statistics will change by 2045. The companies finding success by marketing to Asian Americans and how they're doing it.Jolene's advice for new managers who want to be more respectful to their employees and customers.Connect with Jolene Jang:LinkedInWebsiteYouTubeBecome an Asian Ally---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!

On today's Management Development Unlocked, Eric speaks with Matt Abrahams. Matt is a lecturer at Stanford's Graduate School of Business, where he teaches strategic communication. He is also an author with a new book called Think Faster, Talk Smarter, and the host of a podcast by the same name. Matt is passionate about communication and helping others find their confidence and voice to speak up without freaking out.In this episode, you'll hear:Matt Abrahams' explanation of the impact of effective communication on personal and professional success and how it affects new managers.The goal for new managers should be to connect, no matter who their audience is.Matt's three-question structure to make communication more effective.The three steps to becoming a better listener.Two curses we all suffer from and the antidote to both.How having good boundaries can help you manage FOMO (fear of missing out).Steps new managers can take to write better for busy readers, according to Matt Abrahams.Matt's new book, Think Faster, Talk Smarter, and what you can expect to learn from it.Some fun facts about Matt.Connect with Matt Abrahams:WebsiteLinkedInYouTubeThink Faster, Talk Smarter book---Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to take a look at the 20+ courses I offer for new and experienced managers! Get your copy of the Amazon #1 Bestseller and #1 New Release Lead Like a Pro - The Essential Guide for New Managers while you're there!Connect with me on LinkedIn.Please subscribe and comment!