Organizational Success Strategies with Business Consultant and Corporate Trainer Dawn Shuler

I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with Heenle Turner, HR expert, probably because we are so aligned in our beliefs around valuing employees, right people in the right seats, just to […] The post Episode 222 – 5-Star Employees – Interview with Heenle Turner, HR Expert first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

I recently chatted with Ryan Gottfredson, Ph.D, and it was one of the most engaging and fascinating interviews I've done. Ryan is a cutting-edge leadership development author, researcher, and consultant, […] The post Episode 221 – The importance of elevating your leaders – interview with Ryan Gottfredson first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

Today's episode was with Mark James, founder and President of Performance Advisors Group, Inc. His focus is on processes, and while that may seem dry, it's certainly not, with research […] The post Episode 220 – The importance of values, vision, and mission – Interview with Mark James first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

In this series Dawn interviews leaders in organizations who have taken a stand in promoting positive culture, employee engagement, and/or DEI. This episode with Ladan Morgan of Firstmark Credit Union highlights Firstmark's strong focus on hiring right and onboarding extremely well to create a strong culture. Covered in this episode: How Firstmark handled the pandemic […] The post Episode 219 – Happy employees are productive employees – Interview with Ladan Morgan first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

Dawn talks with Elliot Epstein from Lightyear Health.  They discuss his dedication to attracting and hiring good people, and their business practices that include managerial training, check-in surveys, unconscious bias training, etc.  Elliot has found that more diverse and inclusive teams have better outcomes, and it trickles down to the health of their patients. About […] The post Episode 218 – People Teams – Interview with Elliot Epstein first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

Everyone wants to be seen, heard, and acknowledged.  This applies to you, your family, and your colleagues. And, everyone wants to feel relevant and competent, especially in the workplace. Competent: You feel (and others see you as) good at what you do. Relevant: You're important and you matter. You can identify when someone isn't feeling […] The post Episode 217 – Your need to feel competent and relevant first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

When you have the right people in the right seats doing the right things, your business thrives. But how do you make sure that your people are working together at their top performance? Forward motion is the goal of everything an organization does.  Here are 6 regular practices for leaders to implement with their employees […] The post Episode 216 – 6 regular habits to promote forward motion first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

Change is uncomfortable by nature.  We are programmed to stay safe, so change looks like risk.  However, there are times when not changing is more dangerous than staying the same. Sometimes we have to go against our fight, flight, or freeze instincts, and make a choice. We exist in two zones: The Comfort Zone The […] The post Episode 215 – Change is hard first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

I had an amazing interview with Katherine McCord, founder of Titan Management, and a champion of neuro-diversity in the workplace. Do you know 30% of the population has some form of neuro-diversity? Listen in as Katherine and Dawn discuss: What neuro-diversity is The advantages to having neuro-diverse people on your team and why you REALLY […] The post Episode 214 – Add neuro-diversity into your DEI efforts – Interview with Katherine McCord first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

A lot of employers think that they're stuck with the employees they have, and they must make do.  But it is crucial to have rockstars as a part of your team, and it makes a huge difference.  It is a must-have. The CEO of Netflix had to lay off a third of his employees.  He […] The post Episode 213 – Rockstars: the antidote to mediocrity first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

Diversity encompasses many aspects of identity, including the ways we process the world. There are 7 different ways of processing information: Verbal/linguistic, Mathematical/logical Musical/audio Kinesthetic Interpersonal Intrapersonal Visual A commitment to diversity and inclusion in your business has to include your hiring process, and your hiring team needs to be trained to work with people […] The post Episode 212 – Our assumptions get in the way first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

What do you need to put in place so that you don't have constant employee turnover? Quitting bonuses and stay interviews are a good idea.  But what about the big picture?  Company culture, collaboration, and creativity are all big picture items that are hard to measure, but are important to make your business thrive. People […] The post Episode 211 – Quitting bonuses, stay interviews, and the big picture first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

How do you measure results and success in regard to your team and projects?  If you don't know the answer, then your team members aren't able to perform to your standards. What quality do you look for in your team members? For example, does “on time” for you mean on the due date, or the […] The post Episode 210 – How do you measure successful projects and people? first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

Why is it necessary to engage your employees?  I spoke with Donna Cutting, the founder of Red-Carpet Learning Worldwide. We discussed: Confusing tools of recognition with valuing employees What does NOT make people feel valued Importance of involving all employees in creating a positive culture The #1 thing employers can do right now Listen in […] The post Episode 209 – The importance of employee engagement – Interview with Donna Cutting first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

At The Shuler Group, we believe that most people issues are communication problems.  Here are a few people issues that are actually communication problems at their root: Unconscious expectations Unclear expectations  Stuff that gets in the way Not truly listening  Having different definitions Being caught in your own movie in your head Dysfunctional communication styles […] The post Episode 208 – All people issues are communication problems first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

Going too fast and rushing to get things done is detrimental to functional communication. If you have particular needs, slow down the process, and make sure both parties are clear. We all come from a different frame of references, and taking the time to communicate will help your business thrive. Listen in as Dawn presents […] The post Episode 207 – Not slowing down is destroying your communication first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

What does it mean to take initiative? Is it just looking at what's needed and taking the action? Well, it's more than that. There's 2 pieces to taking initiative: Thinking strategically: asking the right questions, determining solutions. Feeling empowered to take action: external permissions, company culture that supports these decisions. Having an employee who takes […] The post Episode 206 – If x, then y first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

Rockstars are the people that you want on your team: the people who will help your business thrive.  But how do you attract these people, and be sure that you aren't pushing them away? Dawn explains the 10 things companies do that drive rockstars away: Micromanaging Not appreciating your rockstars Not including rockstars in the […] The post Episode 205 – Top 10 ways to drive your rockstars away first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

When you have the right people in the right seats, doing the right things at their top performance, the organization thrives.  People, processes, and performance are three legs of a stool that work together for a company's success. It's hard to tell from the inside when you aren't meeting these needs, so Dawn breaks down […] The post Episode 204 – People Processes Performance Pt 2 first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

Whoever said HR was boring?! I had an engaging conversation with Edgar Ndjatou, Principal of Officium, which was chock-full of great information.  In listening to this episode, you actually get a roadmap to successfully navigate HR and employment issues. We discussed: The biggest HR challenge facing small businesses The Great Resignation (yes, it's real) What the healthiest organizations do Trends in hiring and retention The biggest mistake companies make in terms of HR The #1 thing companies can do to attract and retain great talent Make sure you listen in to help you create your hiring and retention roadmap. About Edgar Ndjatou Originally from Cameroon and raised in New York City, Edgar Ndjatou (ja-too) is passionate about creating workplaces that value fair treatment, trust, and open communications. Before founding Officium, Edgar practiced employment law for nine years, including co-managing his own law firm. As an employment lawyer, Edgar represented employees, in the federal, nonprofit, and private sectors, in all phases of administrative proceedings and lawsuits involving claims under federal, state, and local employment laws. For employers, Edgar provided advice and counsel to minimize litigation risk by ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws. Edgar has developed a wide knowledge base to assist clients in making competent human resources decisions, relying on holistic, creative, and reasoned approaches. Website:  https://officiumdc.com/ LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/edgarndjatou/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/officium_llc The post Episode 203 – What you don't know about HR could hurt you – Interview with Edgar Ndjatou of Officium first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

We've recently been doing some training on active listening. What makes it “active”  instead of “passive” is the listener's presence and intent. Active listening is listening to comprehend, understand, learn, and only respond when it's appropriate. When we wrapped up the training, I found a quote that I really liked: “When we don't push our agenda to feel competent, we can better listen to other person's desires.”  I think this encapsulates active listening perfectly.  Listen in as Dawn discusses active listening and how listening to respond can be obstructive to effective communication. Other podcast episode referenced: Are you purpose driven? and Is your response about you or them? The post Episode 202 – Are you listening to respond or to understand? first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

My husband Mark and I are huge fans of the Star Trek franchise, from classic Star Trek all the way to modern films. We've recently watched the first of the Star Trek remakes, and it occurred to me that part of the reason Star Trek resonates with me is that the crew members of the starship Enterprise reflect ideal workplace dynamics. Each crew member is outstandingly good at what they do and is willing to go the extra mile to get things done. They're all Rockstars, and Rockstars make the seemingly impossible challenges possible. Listen in as Dawn talks about Star Trek, the characters' Rockstar qualities, dynamics, and how they can reflect and apply in real-life workplace situations. Other podcast episodes referenced: Do you have rockstars or rocks on your team?, Right person, wrong seat. The post Episode 201 – Star Trek Rockstars first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

I had a stimulating conversation with sales expert and author, Doug Brown of Business Success Factors. As someone who has been working in business since he was three years old (really!), Doug had some great insights.   Here are a few things we covered:  The need for alignment between A Players and A Player environments How you know if you have an A Player organization Biggest mistakes companies make when hiring How magical things happen when you have the ideal team The importance of systematic and strategic processes on an organization in general, even in sales The #1 thing salespeople and businesses should be doing Listen in so you can bring the “A Game” out of your A Player organization. About Doug Brown Doug C. Brown is the CEO of Business Success Factors, international best-selling author of the book Win-Win Selling: Unlocking Your Power for Profitability by Resolving Objections, and a nationally recognized sales revenue growth expert and consultant. Doug is passionate about helping others build their businesses and create better lives through them. He focuses on uplifting people in businesses by equipping them with the right tools and creating success strategies. Doug has 35+ years of experience as a business mentor, consultant, and President of Sales and Training.  Connect with Doug: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dougcbrownbsf Twitter:  https://twitter.com/dougcbrown123 The post Episode 200 – Do you have an A Player organization for your A Player people? Interview with Doug Brown of Business Success Factors first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

I had an engaging and lively conversation with Holly Copeland, senior director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Horizon Therapeutics. Many organizations believe in giving back to the community, but Horizon started their Corporate Social Responsibility program when the company was not yet profitable.  That's how important they felt it was to thrive within their community ecosystem.  We discussed: Using Corporate Social Responsibility outcomes in conjunction with the goals of the company The creative lens to create a “buffet” of opportunities to get employees involved The correlation between CSR and employee engagement and positive company culture The importance of employees feeling part of something bigger, beyond their job description CSR as a way to promote pride in the organization What an organization, no matter how small, can do right now to make a small step toward their own corporate social responsibility  Listen in to hear what YOU can do right now to create the ripple effect in your own community.   About Holly Copeland Holly Copeland has been with Horizon since 2015 and currently serves as senior director of their Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability & Impact work. In this role she oversees all CSR partnerships and initiatives of the company.  Holly is a founding mentor of Chicago Innovation's Women Mentoring Co-op, as well as a board member of Chicago Innovation, Perspectives Charter Schools, the Chicago Council on Science and Technology, and the President's Council of the Museum of Science and Industry. She is in the Chicago Ideas Co-Op and an advisory board member of MATTER, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs' Women & Global Development Forum. Connect with Holly: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-copeland-35b33664/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/hjcopeland Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HorizonTherapeutics/ Website: horizontherapeutics.com The post Episode 199 – Corporate Social Responsibility – Interview with Holly Copeland, senior director of CSR at Horizon Therapeutics first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

What makes someone Rockstar? What are the qualities of a Rockstar employee?  Rockstars are A players: the people who have the intangibles, those things that you can't train. They have the passion, energy, drive, initiative, intent, desire to be better and make the company better. It's what they walk in the door with. To put it simply, they have the “It” factor.   Listen in as Dawn talk about rockstars in the workplace and the first steps you can take to create your rockstar qualities list. Other podcast episodes mentioned:  Are you an A, B, or C player?, Co-Create, How do you ensure the right people in the right seats?, Right people in the right seats – for real, and Right person, wrong seat. The post Episode 198 – Do you have rockstars or rocks on your team? first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

As a leader, if you want to cultivate a positive culture or behavior, you have to embody and show it… because any kind of culture or behavior naturally comes from the top down.  You have to be a model to your employees and colleagues. You have to be able to walk the walk. There are two ways to embody your workplace culture or behavior: Passive Modeling and Active Modeling. Passive Modeling is when you're setting yourself as an example; this can be conscious and unconscious. On the other hand, Active Modeling is when you engage people and actively guide them to let them see what you're seeing, asking them questions like “Did you notice what I did there?” Listen in as Dawn and Mark Shuler weigh in on Active and Passive Modeling and its applications. Other episodes referenced: Forward Motion & Passionate about forward motion The post Episode 196 – Passive Modeling vs Active Modeling first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

Our focus at The Shuler Group is helping organizations achieve and sustain forward motion through people, processes, and performance. As for the people part, it's all about ensuring that an organization has the right people for the right seat. You've probably heard me define it before; the right people are those whose goals, purpose, and values align with the organizations. The right seat is when someone is operating in his/her zone of genius.  Ideally, we work towards having the right people in the right seats. We generally recommend organizations focus on getting the right person first. Because if a person is not aligned with your company's core values, it can cause disruptions to operations and workplace relationships. However, there are cases where prioritizing the right seat can be more beneficial than the other way around. Listen in as Dawn shares two real-time experiences with getting it wrong, and the benefits of prioritizing one over the other. Other podcast episodes referenced:  How do you ensure you have the right people in the right seats?, Right people in the right seats – for real, What is your queen bee role?, and Passionate about forward motion The post Episode 195 – Right person, wrong seat first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

During this riveting interview with Jamie McKinney, author, speaker, and coach, we talked about the critical importance of confidence as a catalyst to career success.  Listen in as we cover: Her secret weapon Estrogen Empires vs. Testosterone Towers Your personal ETA (Emotions, Thoughts, Actions) The BAAM method Confidence and the connection to story The differences in language and behavior between men and women The confidence formula Jamie's “nails on the chalkboard” saying and her replacement phrase Her #1 tip in developing confidence About Jamie McKinney Jamie Dandar McKinney is the author of the book, Speak Up, Sister! The Professional Woman's Guide to Confidence and Success. She is a professional coach, virtual workshop leader, and keynote speaker who empowers women to ditch doubts, speak up and achieve the careers they deserve and desire. After surviving and thriving through heavily male-dominated industries, she jokes that her stilettos have steel toes! Contact Jamie for speaking engagements as well as leadership coaching. Connect with Jamie: Website: https://www.jamieempowers.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jdandar LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-dandar-mckinney-4b07681/ Twitter: @jamie_empowers The post Episode 194 – Confidence is critical – Interview with Jamie McKinney of Jamie Empowers first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

I consider an organization a living structure, composed of an intricate and dynamic relationship between humans and systems. To ensure an efficient and consistent forward motion, every person in their respective position has to be in the right seat. Having the right people in the right seats is critical to any organization's success.  So, how do you ensure the right person in the right seat? First of all, he/she has to be in alignment with the organization's values and culture. Placing the right person in the right seat is a combination of the person's qualification and his/her keenness for the role. The position has to be within the person's Zone of Genius. Here are things to look out for in your existing employees: Are they happy with where they are? Are flourishing in their position? Are they doing the work that fuels them? Listen in as Dawn talks about the importance of culture and core values alignment and ensuring the right people are in the right seats. Other podcast episodes referenced: People Processes Performance, Right people in their right seat – for real, The Importance of Core Values, What do your values say about you?, Zone of Genius, and What is your queen bee role? The post Episode 193 – How do you ensure you have the right people in the right seats? first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

I had a fantastic interview with Janette Gallardo of Vitta Solutions, a company that offers fractional CFO services to other organizations.  While you might not think that numbers, data, and forecasts have anything to do with employee engagement and productivity, you would be mistaken!  Listen in as Dawn and Janette discuss: The red flags that indicate that employees are not aligned with the direction of the organization What turnover tells you about your company How you can measure productivity and engagement Numbers tell a story! The story that your organizations five-year vision tells and working backward to the numbers About Janette Gallardo Janette Gallardo is the founder of Vitta Solutions. She helps businesses and startups to map their financial future through financial analytics, so they can make data-driven decisions. Janette has worked in corporate finance for 20 years with some of the largest companies and helped identify over $100 Million+ in savings in the process. Today, she helps businesses with strategy, financial analytics, forecasting, and financial models to help them grow their business. Connect with Janette: Website: https://www.vittasolutions.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janettegallardo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vittasolutions/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/vittasolutions/ The post Episode 192 – People and numbers are the magic – Interview with Janette Gallardo, CFO first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

In any business or professional setting, having difficult conversations is something that a company has to go through. Every business has its problems, and for it to move forward, these problems need to be addressed and discussed.  It’s difficult for people involved in such a discussion not to get defensive, because they’re going to feel confronted. So how do you have these difficult conversations without putting them on the defensive and not making them feel attacked? When you’re about to engage in a difficult conversation, put yourself in a neutral position, be patient, and be intentional about how you convey things. It is best to take your time and make sure you’re calm before proceeding. It’s never a good idea to make any decisions when emotions are high. It’s not about you being right or proving the other person wrong. It’s about collaboratively moving forward, resolving an existing problem, and making everyone involved feel they’re part of the solution. Forward motion is much smoother when everyone is on the same page.  Listen in as Dawn talks about having those difficult business conversations and how to do so in a constructive way. Other podcast episodes referenced: Having the hard conversations, Just when you think you’re communicating clearly, Forward motion, Passionate about forward motion, and Co-create   The post Episode 191 – How do you have those difficult conversations? first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

After over a year into this pandemic, one of the things that struck me is our view of what’s normal. In just one year, we’ve grown so accustomed to the safety protocols, social distancing, working from home, and other “new normal” things that it becomes a natural part of us and our daily lives. And the things that we usually did in the “old normal” now feel a bit strange: going on a ski trip, traveling with friends, sitting leisurely in a restaurant over a meal, seeing a person without a mask on at the grocery store, or neglecting COVID safety recommendations feels strange or uncomfortable.  Our sense of what’s normal, our belief in what IS normal, is intriguingly ever-changing, and that’s okay. If you’re in an unconventional or intolerable situation, you either succumb to the despair or make do with what you’re dealt.  As I’ve asked before: what is the cost of that? After all of this, it’s not likely that we can go back to the old normal completely. In truth, things are always evolving, adapting, and changing; there is always a “new normal.”  What’s important is to look forward and ask yourself: What pieces of the old normal do you want to bring back? What pieces are you okay with letting go completely? What are your hopes in “future normal”? Listen in as Dawn discusses the ever-changing faces and phases of normal. Other podcast episodes referenced:  The dark underbelly of normalizing and Are you complacent? The post Episode 190 –  When normal is strange first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

I firmly believe that everyone in a company innately wants to be of value and wants to see their efforts impact its forward movement. This is especially true in smaller and mid-sized businesses. No matter what level they’re in the organization, each person must be able to wear multiple hats and know their primary role inside and out. For an organization to succeed, each person should be able to do the work, show the work and teach the work. When these things are in place, it will be easier for someone to work within his or her respective Zone of Genius and bring out their best results. Listen in as Dawn Shuler talks about the importance of knowing your work inside and out, executing it, and teaching it to someone else. Other podcast episode referenced: What is your queen bee role? The post Episode 189 – Do the work, show the work, teach the work first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

Communication is a fundamental life skill. Effective communication is essential to move any business forward. Without it, there will be confusion and inefficiencies in the company.  Effective communication isn’t just conveying your messages clearly. You also have to take the recipient into account; it is a two-way street.  Great communication is something that is shared, felt, and reciprocated by both sides. In this episode, Dawn shares her insights about communication and three steps toward effective communication. Other podcast episodes referenced: Two tools to move your organization forward, Co-create, You need to speak up, and Does this conversation forward the action?   The post Episode 188 – Just when you think you’re communicating clearly… first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

While one might wonder why the owner of an SEO company would show up on a podcast devoted to people, processes, and performance, the answer is clear within seconds of listening to this episode. John’s company has been fully remote for eight years, and so we talked about the following: Implementing social interaction as part of the work environment (“For some, work IS the social circle.”) The importance of finding your “why purpose” and being happy along the way Tips on being self-disciplined as a remote worker John’s top 3 best practices for managing remote employees Intentionally creating an organization’s culture Other podcast episodes mentioned: Not offering remote options is for the dinosaurs, Remote workers… Opportunity or challenge?, The Deeper Why, The Deeper Why in Everything, and The Importance of Core Values About John Vuong John Vuong is the owner of Local SEO Search Inc. His passion for providing local business owners with the right tools, services, and knowledge has led him to start the company in 2013. His company offers one of the best SEO services in Canada and the USA, building meaningful relationships by operating with honesty, transparency, and a strong will to succeed in business. They equip and educate clients in advertising and online marketing and help them succeed on their entrepreneurial journey.   They are one of the leading SEO providers in Canada. Offering business owners with tailor-fitted services in: Custom Local SEO Campaigns Social Media Marketing Website Analytics Keyword Research Website Audits Website Design and Website Development Online Reputation Management Video Marketing Campaigns Mobile Marketing Content Outreach / Blog Marketing SEO Copyrighting Connect with John: Website: https://www.localseosearch.ca/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/localseosearch LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-vuong-205b2917/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/LocalSEO_Search The post Episode 187 – Making working remotely work well – Interview with John Vuong, owner, and founder of Local SEO Search first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

As coaches, our goal is to equip teams, leaders, and employees with tools, techniques, and strategies to move the organization forward. We want our tools to be effective and powerful so staff can perform at their best. After all, it is what our company is about, instituting forward motion and helping organizations move in a positive direction.  There are two tools that we use over and over with our clients (and internally here at The Shuler Group).  One of our clients commented that one tool looks back, and one looks forward.  Perfect!   The tool that looks back is what we call The Groundhog Day Exercise; it draws solutions by looking at the past and answering these questions: What worked? What didn’t work? What could we do differently? Sometimes we have to look back to better understand where we are. The other tool, POM, looks ahead. POM stands for Purpose – Outcome – Method. Taking these three things into account in planning your future course will guide you to the best possible route to your goals. Listen in as Dawn discusses these two tools and how they can propel your company forward. Other podcast episodes referenced: Forward Motion, Passionate About Forward Motion, and Are you purpose driven?   The post Episode 186 – Two tools to move your organization forward first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

One thing that has been greatly affected by the pandemic is the workplace setup. Most companies have had to tweak operations, and sometimes even to make drastic changes, like going from 100% in-person to 100% remote.  Even as organizations think about phasing back into some version of in-person work, it still makes sense to offer remote and teleworking options for your employees’ and business’s health and security. You can always shuffle a number of your staff to work on-site and remotely, even rotate them if needed. Naturally, these are added efforts for the company, but these are much-needed tradeoffs. It’s a complex balancing act, and compromises are surely necessary, but when executed correctly, you’ll be surprised that employees can be as efficient, if not more so, when they work remotely. In this episode, Dawn talks about the absolute need to be flexible in your workplace operations and the importance of adjusting to the ever-changing situation. One take-away: what is most important is that your employees perform and thrive as well as they can and set them up for success, regardless of their situation. Other podcast episodes referenced: People Processes Performance, Remote workers… Opportunity or challenge?, The Deeper Why?, and The Deeper Why in Everything The post Episode 185 – Not offering remote work options is for the dinosaurs first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

The workforce is one of the greatest resources that an organization can have. So much depends on a company’s employees and staff for it to move forward and uphold its core values. Then there are two other equally important areas: Process and Performance. Strong Processes ensure that roles and responsibilities are clear, and efficient systems are in place. For Performance: are your people working in their Zone of Genius? If their strengths complement their position perfectly, Performance will undoubtedly be high, and output is significantly greater.  These three areas – People, Process, and Performance – are essential to the success of a company. When they’re all working synergistically with each other, that’s when companies thrive. Listen in as Dawn breaks down these three areas in the workplace and gives valuable insight into how it impacts the organization. Other podcast episodes referenced: Forward Motion, Passionate about forward motion, The Importance of Core Values, What is your queen bee role? The post Episode 184 – People Processes Performance first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

Good systems and processes are crucial to the success of any organization. They play a significant role in any organization’s success or struggle. One of the common denominators that hurt operations is when there are inconsistencies and inefficiencies in the system or process. After all, keeping all stakeholders happy and satisfied is a delicate balancing act.  To make the most out of it, here are some great questions that we need to ask ourselves: Why do these systems and processes in your organization exist? What is the end goal? What is the desired outcome? At the end of the day, it’s all about the overall experience that your company has to offer.  Listen in as Dawn talks about the push and pulls in systems and processes of organizations and what we can do to attain the most desirable outcome. Other podcast episodes referenced: Delivering Excellent Customer Service Part 1, Delivering Excellent Customer Service Part 2, and Failed Customer Service. The post Episode 183 – Who do your systems serve? first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

A couple of years ago, a magazine I enjoyed reading announced they shifted focus, thus, overhauling their content and a lot of their staff. With that, its quality, in my opinion, has gone downhill. This magazine used to have brilliant content with entertaining articles containing helpful and valuable information. Now, the articles aren’t as dynamic and detailed. I find them quite generic, and there’s not much value in them as before. I then realized why I am no longer drawn to it; they are writing to the lowest common denominator.  When information is conveyed with the lowest common denominator, there’s a danger of losing substance… and ultimately losing its target audience. When you’re addressing the lowest common denominator, then you’re leaving out a good portion of the world. Listen in as Dawn discusses the lowest common denominator, stagnation, and how to overcome it by working in your Zone of Genius. Other podcast episodes referenced: Top 5 Books You Must Read, Are you experiencing an upper limit problem?, Zone of Genius, The Deeper Why, and The Deeper Why in Everything The post Episode 182 – You are not the lowest common denominator first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

It was a delight interviewing Cedric Nwafor, founder of ROOTS Africa. It’s my pleasure to share his story growing up in Cameroon and touch on things that our organizations have in common like:  Finding the Deeper Why of an organization Identifying individuals’ Deeper Why Re-engaging participants, especially in remote groups Leaders’ roles in discovering the Deeper Why Listen in as we go through some of the challenges he faces with aligning groups across the globe and some solutions we brainstormed together…. all leading to a more effective and productive organization. About Cedric Nwafor A passion for agriculture and its people drives Cedric Nwafor, a social entrepreneur and public speaker who has organized, facilitated, and spoken at various African and US events. He is the founder of ROOTS Africa, a youth-led organization that combats hunger, poverty, and exclusion by connecting students and agricultural experts in the US to farming communities in Africa. While earning his bachelor’s degree, he visited farms in Idaho and Maryland and Rwanda, Liberia, Cameroon, Ghana, and Uganda to learn different farm life and management approaches. Along the way, Cedric became an agricultural evangelist, engaging African youth in civic affairs in both cities and rural communities. He believes that engaging the young generations in agriculture is vital to the African continent’s future and the socio-economic well-being of its peoples.  Cedric previously served as a Managing Partner of the Afrika Youth Movement, leading its five strategic committees, and as a Mentor and Advocate for Streetwise Partners, an organization supporting low-income populations. He was a 2016 nominee for the African Youth in Agriculture Award and commencement speaker at his graduation from the University of Maryland College of Agriculture Natural Resources with a BA in Agriculture and Resource Economics focusing on Entrepreneurship.  He has co-created and instructed a Global Agriculture course at UMD and is now managing the university’s Agriculture Innovation Program. Cedric is currently enrolled in a Non-Profit Leadership graduate program in the School of Public Policy. He is also a Do Good Accelerator Fellow and an Academy for Innovation Fellow.  Cedric, born and raised in Cameroon, immigrated to the United States in 2010 and now resides in Maryland. Website: https://roots-africa.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nwafor.cedric LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cedricnwafor Twitter: https://twitter.com/nwafor55 The post Episode 181 – Engaging International and Remote Groups – Interview with Cedric Nwafor, Founder of ROOTS Africa first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

When we’re passionate about something, we approach the subject matter with a level of dedication, enthusiasm, and intensity. That amount of attention often translates to good things, especially when your passion aligns with your work or projects. However, there can be a tendency to get lost in our passion. The further we go down the rabbit hole, the more it can cause a disconnect or confusion in communication. Your colleagues, especially those from another department, may not have the same understanding or may not have your perspective toward the matter. This isn’t to discourage you from being passionate about your work or things you love, but to encourage understanding and awareness that we all learn and experience things differently. And the key to seeing the other vantage point is by asking questions and by being empathetic. Listen in as Dawn Shuler talks to us about passion in the workplace and we can make it accessible to others. Other podcast episode referenced: Help me see what you see and Vantage Point – Your Ideal Client’s Point of View The post Episode 180 – Do you get lost in your passion? first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

I’ve been reading a book by Michael Michalowicz called Clockwork. (He is also the author of Profit First, a book that I thoroughly loved.) In Clockwork, Mike Michalowicz compared a company to a beehive. In a beehive, each bee’s job is its primary role plus protecting the queen bee role. Like in a company, aside from what you do in your position, each individual has a major part in protecting and upholding the company’s queen bee role, as well as its core values.  Listen in as Dawn Shuler gives an in-depth discussion of the “queen bee role” and how to align it with your company’s core values.  Other podcast episode referenced: Zone of Genius and The importance of core values The post Episode 179 – What is your queen bee role? first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

When we experience a recurring stressful situation that we cannot change or do something about, we tend to normalize that situation and attempt to live with it as we go on. This is a natural coping mechanism to reduce or subdue its stressful effect on us. While normalizing an abnormal or chronically stressful situation can be helpful, it can also be detrimental when mismanaged. It can desensitize us to things that are uncustomary, potentially unhealthy, or socially unacceptable. Having patience and acceptance toward something we cannot change is important to alleviate this unwanted side effect. Listen in as Dawn and Mark Shuler discuss the benefits and dangers of normalizing and share valuable insights towards this coping mechanism. Other episodes referenced: Are you complacent? and Energy units, self-care, and compassion. The post Episode 178 – The dark underbelly of normalizing first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

Much of the work we do in our businesses revolves around communication, particularly when we talk about employee engagement.  Feedback is one of the most effective means to ensure that you have actively engaged employees.  So how do we make sure we’re giving effective and meaningful feedback? Before answering that, what exactly is feedback? Feedback is communicating clearly about a person’s progress, strength, and areas of improvement. With that definition, your feedback should acknowledge their strengths and areas of improvement. Great feedback should be a balanced combination of positive reinforcements and areas that needs work. If the balance is off, it can lead to workplace and employee engagement issues. Listen in as Dawn Shuler discusses how to provide helpful feedback in detail and to make sure it’s conveyed clearly and effectively.  Other podcast episodes referenced: How you do feedback right, Have you been invited to give feedback?, Feedback – What it really is?,  Are you an A, B, or C player?, Are you purpose driven?, Passionate about forward motion, and Forward motion. The post Episode 177 – Methods of giving feedback first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

In a successful professional or business setting, each individual is designated to their role based on their strengths, qualifications, and creativity. Good team dynamics is essential in maximizing your team’s productivity, and their Creator Personality types are a good indicator of their place on the team. In my years working as a coach and consultant for individuals, teams, and organizations, I have identified the 7 Creator Personalities: The Planner The Storyteller The Divinely Inspired The Muller-Dreamer The Doodler-Storyboarder The Mirror The Maximizer. Listen in as Dawn gives us a more detailed breakdown of each Creator Personality type, their strengths, their challenges, and how the team leader can best manage them. The post Episode 176 – 7 Creator Personality Types first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

Have you ever been in a situation where a statement or a comment from someone got to you personally or somewhat irritated you? How do you respond to these circumstances? Most of us automatically retaliate with a level of snark or hostility.  It’s normal and part of our defense mechanism. But for sure, we can teach ourselves to do better in dealing with these situations.  When responding to something that irked you, the worst thing you can do is react when your emotions are heightened. It’s always good to pause for a couple of seconds, compose yourself, and think about who’s the response about? What is its purpose? If you react to make others feel worse, to get satisfaction, and feed your ego, the response is about you. And certainly, these types of responses don’t advance things in a positive direction.  On the other hand, if your response aims to get more information, move things forward, and gain clarity, it’s a noble and honorable purpose. And that’s what an ideal response should be.  Other podcast episodes referenced: Are you purpose driven?, Forward motion, Passionate about forward motion, and Help me see what you see. The post Episode 175 - Is your response about you or them? first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

One of the most rigorous processes a company goes through is recruitment. Regardless of whose perspective, several boxes need to be checked to ensure we get the right person for the position or land the perfect job as applicants. Recruiting and qualifications go beyond what’s in the resume. Yes, credentials and skills are essential, but often overlooked are the intangibles. Character, inquisitiveness, and enthusiasm are equally important qualities that need to be carefully considered. A lot of these qualities are not measured or conveyed in a resume. A person showing genuine eagerness, curiosity, and confidence toward the ins and outs of operations has as good of a chance to flourish, if not better than a person who has good credentials but is a little indifferent towards the position. Credentials make you better qualified for a position, but good character makes you a better fit. Tune in as Dawn talks to us about getting the importance of getting the right person in the right position. Other podcast episodes referenced: What it Means to Your Other Employees and Creating a Strength-Based Culture The post Episode 174 - Right people in the right seats - for real first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

There are four areas of competence: the Zone of Incompetence, Competence, Excellence, and Genius. A brief description of each: the Zone of Incompetence includes areas you’re not good at doing. Zone of Competence are the things that you can do, but you’re inefficient at it. Zone of Excellence are areas you’re very good at, but there’s little desire in doing it. Lastly, the Zone of Genius comprises areas where you excel, but the difference is you have the passion and enthusiasm to do the things you excel in. Identifying and having a better understanding of these areas of competence has valuable applications in and outside work. As much as possible, you want to delegate or outsource the things outside your skillset, and ideally, you want to work within your Zone of Genius. When we operate in our Zone of Genius, our attitude, passion, enthusiasm will come through, and that energy resonates with the people around us. Listen in as Dawn Shuler shares insights about these 4 areas of competence and what to do when we find ourselves in an undesirable area. Other podcast episodes referenced: Top 5 Books You Must Read and Zone of Genius. The post Episode 173 - 4 areas of competence first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

One of the cornerstones of the success of any organization or business is the people behind it. And one of the most reliable ways to guarantee productivity and growth is keeping employee engagement up. A handful of research and statistics show that actively engaged employees perform much better, more likely to go the extra mile, and less likely to take paid time off, or even leave the company when they’re engaged in their work. Disengaged employees often only do what’s in the job description and usually do not show initiative to better their performance. So, employee engagement is crucial to the morale and productivity of any business. Keeping employees engaged may sound simple, but it is a nuanced subject that needs careful consideration and conscious attention.  Join Dawn Shuler for an insightful discussion on employee engagement, its impact on your company and employees, and how it can benefit your organization. Other podcast episodes referenced: Positivity in teams, Positivity vs. negativity, Why employee engagement is something that you must focus on, and Collaborative employee engagement model The post Episode 172 - Employee engagement, employee happiness, and the choice to make first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.

In organizations/companies, training is something that we go through regularly. Be it for operations or human resources, held by the company you’re working on or an external firm, we all experience training in one form or another. Management training, diversity and inclusion training, compliance training may seem superfluous, but we shouldn’t take these for granted. Often these are treated just like checking a box; we only go through it because it’s required, and then set it aside after and get on with our day. However, there is a reason why such training exists, and there are valuable things to pick up from it. If you’re attending training, either virtually or in person, an important thing you can do is to figure out the “Deeper Why” and ask yourself these questions, “How can I integrate what I’ve learned into practice?” and “How can I implement these to my daily work-life?”  Listen in as Dawn Shuler shares the importance of training and why we need to pay a bit more attention to it. Other podcast episodes referenced: The Deeper Why in everything. The post Episode 171 - Is your training just checking a box? first appeared on The Shuler Group LLC.