Men + Women = Better Business™

Kevin and Leslie leverage the 2019 Ellevate Network's Mobilize Women discussion panel to explore: How we can change business culture by putting inclusivity first instead of talking about diversity? How can we be inclusive of differences we cannot see? Are we ready to ask each other "What words best describe what's important for us to know about you (and how you identify yourself)?" Other sources referenced include: LeanIn.org 50 Ways to Fight Bias; Forbes article by Chris Westfall "Equal Pay Battle: Women Score Again, Beating Men in 17 of 19 Key Leadership Skills"

After a lively discussion about a Barron's article that explored why a famous financial Shark prefers backing woman-founded businesses, Leslie & Kevin continue to explore and discuss a few of the cards from LeanIn.org's "50 Ways to Fight Bias" card deck. They discuss scenarios related to men taking family leave and men referring to women in the workplace as "girls". 

In this episode, Leslie & Kevin explore and discuss a few of the cards from LeanIn.org's "50 Ways to Fight Bias" card deck. Do individuals really say these things? Do we recognize the inherent bias in the situations or statements? Are the recommended responses something that we would feel comfortable saying? Join this very open discussion to learn more, and consider accessing this free online tool to have your own discussions in your organization.

Cohosts Leslie Grygiel and Kevin Bronson explore the "double binds" that women encounter in the workplace. Whereas male leaders are considered forthright, assertive or plain-spoken, female leaders demonstrating the same behaviors are often labeled as overly aggressive. A man may know his worth, yet a woman is a shameless self-promoter. Kevin asks: Do we men expect women to have strong leadership qualities until such time as we want them to be nurturing, like the women in our personal life? Join Leslie and Kevin as they explore what men and women can do to meet in the middle on this topic. References include: Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg and  "For Women Leaders, Likability and Success Hardly Go Hand-in-Hand" by Marianne Cooper.

Join Leslie & Kevin as they continue their discussion about the brain-based differences between female and male brains. Kevin highlights mansplaining and Leslie talks about the ironic impact of the differences in our stress response, all with the goal of raising our awareness and improving our ability to co-create in the workplace. This discussion is heavily based on the book, Gender Intelligence: Breakthrough Strategies for Increasing Diversity and Improving Your Bottom Line by Barbara Annis & Keith Merron.

Cohosts Leslie Grygiel and Kevin Bronson are back with Season 2! Join them in this episode as they discuss the powerful differences in male and female brains, as explained in Gender Intelligence: Breakthrough Strategies for Increasing Diversity and Improving Your Bottom Line by Barbara Annis & Keith Merron. Once we are aware of brain-based differences, we can develop more patience and appreciation for the diversity of our thought processes. This helps us to build trust and then co-create more powerfully together in the workplace and at home.

Leslie and Kevin explore the concept of power dynamics in the workplace. Men, do you realize that women perceive you to have invisible power in the workplace? Kevin asks: How can we use this power for good, not evil? Leslie says it all starts with awareness. Join us for a lively discussion of how men and women can work together to even out the power dynamics in the workplace and co-create better organizational outcomes for all.  This is our final episode for Season 1. Listen, comment, rate and share with others who may benefit. We're eager for your feedback as we begin planning Season 2! 

Cohosts Leslie Grygiel and Kevin Bronson discuss why women's leadership programs are created and why they don't work. How do these programs fall short, and how can we successfully integrate men as participants, sponsors and mentors? Kevin answers many of Leslie's questions about the male perspective as she presents a potential leadership development program design that may work better than many that exist today. Leslie mentions two valuable resources during this episode: Gender Intelligence: Breakthrough Strategies for Increasing Diversity and Improving Your Bottom Line, by Barbara Annis & Keith Merron "How Men Can Become Better Allies to Women", Harvard Business Review, by W. Brad Johnson and David G. Smith, October 12, 2018

Join Kevin and Leslie as they explore how Human Resources departments, managers, leaders, and individuals should handle the inevitable physical attraction and dating in the workplace. Have you heard of "love contracts?" In light of #metoo, organizations have been taking a closer look at their policies regarding dating in the workplace. What are the risks? What's a reasonable policy? What should you be aware of? 

Cohosts Leslie Grygiel and Kevin Bronson explore the concept of "like me" bias and the impact it has on women, and all individuals, in the workplace. Why should we be aware of it? How do we overcome it? This broad-ranging conversation includes many leadership and human resources best practices to increase engagement, trust, innovation, better decisions, and overall business success. References are made to the following websites and articles: The Implicit Association Test Judith Glaser's Conversational Intelligence® Article: Reducing Implicit Racial Preferences Journal of Experimental Psychology, 2014. Paper: Attitudes and Company Practices as Predictors of Managers' Intentions to Hire, Develop and Promote Women in Science, Engineering and Technology Professions. Consulting Psychology Journal, 2014  

Join Kevin and Leslie as they explore the various generations currently co-working in our organizations. How have each generation's unique experiences influenced their perspectives on women in the workplace? What are their ideas about how men and women work together? The conversation ranges from how to clearly and specifically ask for mentor of different age and gender to what % of millennial women feel that they've been held back in the workplace because of their gender.

In light of the #metoo movement, we've heard that some men have a rule that they refuse to meet one-on-one with a woman (other than their wife) anywhere, anytime. Cohosts Kevin Brunson and Leslie Grygiel explore the history of that strategy, the challenges that causes for women and why women's progression in the workplace depends on mentoring and sponsorship relationships with men. Leslie and Kevin brainstorm other potential options that enable men and women to meet one-on-one with reduced concern for the potential risks or misperceptions. 

Does history bore or excite you? We hope the later! Leslie and Kevin discuss the history of women in the workplace in an effort to put into perspective our seeming lack of progress in shattering the glass ceiling. Women have been trying to make inroads for hundreds of years in an environment which was created by men for men. Learn about the progress and set-backs through the ages and realize that most movement has been made in the last 40 years. This basis in history sets that stage for future podcast topics. To learn more about our work as Leadership Development Coaches, visit us: Leslie Grygiel and Kevin Bronson.

Cohosts Leslie Grygiel and Kevin Bronson discuss the #metoo movement and the impact it is having in the workplace. The conversation begins as Kevin recaps a brief history of the movement based on an article published by the by the New York Times and many other news sources.  We then present and discuss results published from an online poll regarding sexual harassment at work that was conducted by the Pew Research Center in February and March 2018. We wrap-up as Kevin presents recommendations from the Society of Human Resource Management regarding solutions in the workplace.

Learn about the Men + Women = Better Business podcast and meet your cohosts, Leslie Grygiel and Kevin Bronson. Leslie explains what we mean by Men + Women = Better Business and Kevin and Leslie talk about their vision and goals for the impact of the show. They share their backgrounds and personal experiences that led to their passion for supporting men and women leaders in the workplace.