The Good to Know Podcast - for Business and Leadership

What if you had an extra $5 to spend on your career? An extra $100? $1000?! Our Good to Know panel offers their take on how to invest 5, 100 and 1000 dollars in a career. 0:07 Introductions 1:26 Jason believes every good career starts with caffeine 2:00 Jessica visits with a mentor 3:36 Steve want to pay it forward 5:38 Jessica has great tips for free or low-cost investments 6:24 The panel goes off the rails talking about Little Caesar's  9:05 Jason recommends starting a project to enhance your skills 10:24 Jessica is a proponent of gaining knowledge, anyway you can 12:14 Our buddy Doug buys a bag 15:30 The value of certifications 18:35 Join a group or enroll in a class 21:43 The panelists discuss their best investments

Note: during the podcast, the panel [read: Steve] incorrectly refers to Martin Seligman, Ph.D. as Leo.  His name is Martin Seligman and the panel (primarily Steve) apologizes for any confusion. (it was totally Steve)  :07 Intro 1:30 defining optimism 13:35 a deeper dive into Martin Seligman's philosophy (not Leo, sorry!) 18:32 why you need a good mix different levels of optimism for different positions 20:30 Steve rates the panel's degree of optimism 27:47 How the panel re-energizes their optimism 32:42 Things to avoid to maintain your optimism 36:32 Can a pessimist become optimistic? 37:40 What is a manager's role in developing optimism?

How do you stage your day for success?  Our panel shares their personal tips for having a successful day by starting off on the right foot! 00:13 Intro 01:25 Morning people vs night owls 02:57 Jason starts his day with a coffee break 04:02 Having a routine can help structure your day 04:33 A positive orientation helps guide your mood 05:09 Steve doesn't “start” his day until he's in the office 07:15 Have what you need, handy and available 07:36 The early bird really does get the worm 08:09 Jessica needs her tea to geared up 08:43 Start working from bed?!  Works for some! 10:35 Your stage of life also determines your work-life balance 13:33 Tips specific for managers and supervisors 14:28 Steve agrees with Jessica, where you're at in life impacts your time management 15:11 Helps not to catastrophize things, keep a good perspective 17:14 How you define productivity can influence your time management too 18:40 Good tips to end the day?  Clean yo desk! 19:35 Power down your machines! 20:25 Steve cleans out his in-box 21:04 Change into your play clothes!

Welcome to Season 3!  Join us as we discuss the merits of delegating; why we do it, what to consider, when not to, and special tips for new managers.  00:13 Introductions 1:00 Some delegate to refocus, make better use of resources, make opportunities or because there's too much to do. 1:35 Steve can also see delegation as “dumping.” 4:21 Jason sees managers both never delegating and always delegating 5:45 Jessica recognizes the nature of the group impacting the nature of delegation 8:25 Delegation may be more than specific tasks 9:38 The importance of delegating with clarity 13:35 Delegation can also add collaboration, ownership 15:50 The difference between delegating a task vs. talent 17:47 The value of projecting forward when delegating 19:40  When do you never delegate? 21:48 When the panelists benefited from having projects delegated to them 27:35  What should a new manager know about delegating?

The Good to Know Panel sit down one last time for the 2016 season and reflect on the year while having a laugh among friends at the same time.  0:24 Introductions 2:36 What was your resolution? 4:58 What was your biggest professional challenge? 14:28 How do you slow down time (in a good way)? 27:34 Saying goodbye and giving thanks 29:14 How well do you know each other, The Game! 35:19 How to win your won awesome prize!

Pressed for time?  To-do list getting out of hand?  We'll help you rethink what it means to be "too busy" and offer smart alternatives for the active professional. 

Getting someone to stop an unwanted behavior can be challenging for even the most experienced leader.  Listen in as the GTK panel details those tenants of effective limit setting while not burning bridges. 

Having a sense of self awareness is not only healthy for you as an individual, it is essential to lead others and for your business.  The GTK panel examines what it takes to hone this vital skill. 0:13 Introductions 1:19 Steve relates an exercise to increase self-awareness 2:07 Defines self-awareness as knowing thoughts and feelings about thoughts 2:21 Jason relates self-awareness to continuous self-improvement 3:41 Jessica links self-awareness to emotional intelligence 5:36 How self-awareness can lead to thoughtful action 6:15 But action without self-awareness can be dangerous 6:58 The ultimate goal of being self-aware while deciding how to act 8:26 Self-awareness also helps you understand your team 9:24 Self-awareness can help in the hiring process 12:15 We're not born with this skill and it must be developed 13:49 Jessica likes a coach to provide feedback 15:36 It's not whether or not one is self-aware, but where they can see and where they are blind 16:16 Decisions journals as a means of developing self-awareness 16:48 It takes deliberate dedication to advance this skill 17:14 Ulliance uses the company Medication Works to help develop self-awareness 18:46 Using Strengths Finder 2.0 to assess where you are 20:25 Jessica uses safe spaces with direct reports looking to enhance self-awareness 21:07 Steve says it's not his job 24:07 Jason says work with nature, not against it

Too many businesses never recover following a disaster so your Good to Know Panel explores important steps to prepare for a disaster and how to recover. 0:13 Introductions 0:44 Lessons from debriefing, development of bug out bag 2:50 Don't put all your eggs in one basket 3:50 Plan and practice your plan 4:50 Re-evaluate your plan constantly 5:40 Make sure your priorities make sense are clearly communicated and are coordinated 7:40 Address the human component, don't ignore the basics 9:40 Tips from the Hartland Deerfield Fire Authority 11:56 Lynda recalls why children need special attention when the smoke alarms go off 12:33 Practice at home too! 14:02 The GTK panel recalls their own experiences with disasters

Too many businesses never recover following a disaster so your Good to Know Panel explores important steps to prepare for a disaster and how to recover. 0:13 Introductions 1:05 How Ulliance averted a bigger disaster following their real one 4:07 Plan on when disaster strikes, not if 4:37 Matt relates a story of how disaster can come from anywhere, anytime 5:11 The value of debriefing following the execution of your disaster plan 8:17 What HR really needs to focus on in when considering a plan 11:30 Don't neglect the emotional impact on your employees! 14:20 If you think you're immune, especially plan for it!

Aunt May said, "There's a hero in all of us" so don your cape and cast aside mediocrity as the GTK panel applies superhero strength and focus to leadership.  1:15 The panel discusses how their favorite superheroes have evolved from the camp of the 60's and 70's to the dark and serious tones of recent years and striking an entertaining balance. 2:43  Jessica discusses how Wonder Woman came to be an important figure in her life. 4:14  The origin story of Wonder Woman teaches us the importance of taking ownership over your goals and demonstrating your actual worth. 5:44  The panel discusses the public's reaction to the Batman vs. Superman movie and some differences between DC vs. Marvel comics. 8:40  Kamal reveals why Nick Fury is a personal hero and the importance of managers keeping the team goals in sight at all times. 11:25:  Jason likes turtles. 13:36  Jason reinforces the importance to keeping up your confidence and tackling issues one step at a time. 15:24  Matt is reminded that superheroes and team leaders alike need a support system.

Successful people have learned how to make themselves do the thing that needs to be done, when it needs to be done, whether they feel like it or not.  Our committed panel of professionals offers solid tips to help develop your sense of self-discipline. 0:32       Introductions 1:55       Delayed gratification; the marshmallow effect 2:37       How the team found inspiration and motivation throughout their self-discipline journeys 8:16       Where to begin practicing self-discipline 10:52     Two schools of thought in defining discipline 13:00     Do the worst first; managing demanding goals and tasks 16:22     The importance of self-awareness; identifying distractions and temptations 21:15     How management can enable employees to reach their full potential in practicing self-discipline 26:30     Develop new habits that will empower you to accomplish your self-discipline goals as a leader 29:03     Set realistic expectations for your employees 30:21     The advantage of using Situational Leadership to guide employee behavior

Tired of all the interruptions?  How do you refocus afterwards?  The GTK panel shares their best tips to help avoid those "repeat offenders" and get back on task! 0:19 Introductions 0:50 Preemptive strike; strategies to avoid interruptions 2:26 How the availability of a remote office can help leaders stay focused 3:58 Embracing and managing interruptions in an organized, solution-focused manner 6:40 The importance of having a time management "parking lot" 7:55 Creating boundaries for the appropriateness of interruptions 11:11 Dealing with "repeat offenders"; understanding and managing the behavior behind the interruption 17:53 Recovering from unexpected interruptions 19:26 What you can do to avoid interrupting others

We pick up with our discussion regarding the use of "fad questions" and the GTK panel shares their best practices to make the best hire. 0:13       Introductions 0:33       Trendy interview questions and what they can reveal about your candidates 1:37       The importance of cultural fit and organizational cohesion 2:35       Why fit needs to be mutual for both the hiring manager and the candidate 3:39       Interpreting a candidate's investment level in both the position and the organization 5:57       Determining a strategy for pre-employment assessments in the hiring process 8:27       The challenge with candidate's who mislead or misdirect an interviewer 11:07     Dealing with no-shows and late candidates 12:18     Managing an interview with a candidate who doesn't understand the position/role 13:30     When neither side feels the position is a good fit

Ever wonder what they say after the interview?  Listen in as the GTK panel discusses the highs and lows of interviewing candidates. 0:13       Introductions 0:48       The manager's challenge; what leaders experience as interviewers in the hiring process 1:39       The thrill of the hunt; finding the best candidate for the job 2:30       Tackling an interview as a new manager and first-time interviewer 3:08       The role of the interview in determining organization and job fit 4:28       What behaviorally-based questions can tell you about your candidates 5:57       Three factors to focus on when hiring new team members 6:45       Two questions that can reveal a candidate's hidden potential 9:01       The importance of a manger's ability to recognize and engage a candidate's unique talents 10:09     The advantages of utilizing pre-employment assessment 12:27     The importance of understanding the questions you're asking

Burnout can be avoided if you take precautionary steps and maintain a healthy work / life balance.  Our panelists discuss their favorite proven methods to beat burnout.   0:13 Introductions 0:46 Strategies a new supervisor can take to prevent employee burnout 1:56 Ulliance's eight dimensions of wellness 3:11 The importance of a manager's ability to recognize and appropriately respond to burnout among their employees 5:27 What you can do as a leader to create a supportive environment 7:09 What you can do as an employee to beat burnout 11:04 The team's personal strategies and advice for beating burnout 12:40 How self-awareness and self-regulation can help 13:48 Identifying available resources for employee burnout prevention

You can save time, money and energy; avoid hiring these 3 types of applicants!  The Good to Know panel shares their experiences in who to avoid when going through the process of filling your vacant positions.   0:13       Introductions 0:51       How leaders can determine the criteria for success in a given role 1:20       Teachable versus unteachable skills; identifying Poor Fit candidates (#1) 4:33       Identifying and measuring key competencies or KSAOs for success in the position 8:10       Managing a candidate who creates unnecessary work for the hiring team 8:48       Resumes, technology, and the Unprofessional Communicator (#2) 11:55     What managers can interpret as red flag signs of the Sloppy Employee (#3)

Ulliance supports "Take Your Kid to Work Day."  It can be a great opportunity for kids to broaden their horizons.  In this special podcast, we visit with the children of Ulliance employees who brought their kids to work and reveal some ageless wisdom.  0:18       Introductions 1:25       Meet 6-year-old Sydney 2:55       Sydney talks about her dream job, her mom's job, and her table-team job at school 3:59       Sydney's strategies for self-control and motivation 4:56       Sydney shares her talents and love of Taco Tuesday 5:57       Sydney teaches us about fashion and confidence 7:21       Meet 9-year-old Aden & 8-year-old Liam 8:13       Aden discusses the importance of practice and determination in skill improvement 9:21       Liam talks about where he sees his strengths 9:45       Aden & Liam discuss their dad's career path 10:32     Aden & Liam explain their ideal first job and future career goals 14:07     Aden talks about the importance of working well with others and reaching out to make new connections 15:53     Aden & Liam share their favorite movies 17:25     Meet 13-year-old Elizabeth 18:10     Elizabeth talks about her passions, career goals, and the importance of volunteering 19:44     Elizabeth tells us about her mom's job and how she helps her mom's business thrive 20:29     Elizabeth shares her ideal first job and how it will kick-start her career 21:14     Elizabeth reveals her results on a career test and her reactions to those results 23:17     Elizabeth explains how her career class guides and assists her and her peers 24:02     Elizabeth gives us some advice on taking care of our pets

No office can be 100% drama- free.  Learn how to dethrone the drama queen in your organization today! 0:13       Introductions 1:38       Drama queens defined 3:02       Why managers may not recognize drama queens during the hiring process 5:04       Understanding and disarming overly dramatic behavior 6:52       Creating a culture of awareness; identifying different types of drama queens 9:13       The most dangerous type of drama queen and their effect on productivity 10:48     Leadership initiatives for confronting gossip and dramatic behavior 12:25     How an environment of open communication can get to the root of the problem 15:07     Challenges managers need to overcome in order to effectively defuse drama queens 17:23     Strategies for intervening during episodes of dramatic behavior

You reboot your computer when it's malfunctioning, but what to do when it's your team?  The GTK panel has great tips to refocus and revitalize your team. 0:13       Introductions 1:07       The importance of randomized quality checks 1:35       Factors that influence the need for organizational or departmental change 2:56       How leadership can build trust and create awareness throughout the reboot process 3:34       The importance of focused and effective team building 5:46       Identifying the root of the problem; is a reboot what you really need? 6:41       How managements' use of the term “team building” can be misleading 8:25       The effect of change for the sake of change on employee engagement and morale 10:06     The importance of creating and communicating a rationale and well-defined goals for reboot 11:04     Initiating the reboot process; the leader's role versus the employee's role 13:38     What a manager can do to facilitate employee investment in change 17:21     Summary of leadership best practices for rebooting your team

Are your goals dying an early death?  The Good to Know panel takes a look at what you can do see your goals through to the end. 0:13       Introductions 1:23       S.M.A.R.T. goal-setting and why New Year's resolutions typically fail 2:56       The importance of measureable, well-defined goals 4:05       Balancing the ebb and flow of life's daily challenges while maintaining new goals 6:13       The significance of creating personalized, meaningful goals 7:45       What you can do to integrate new goals with established habits 10:04     Anticipating the fall out; strategies to keep yourself accountable 12:43     The importance of framing your goals with purpose and intent 15:06     Staying motivated; how to create an environment of commitment 16:43     What identifying your triggers can do to help you attain your goals

Our ever ready panel kicks off Season 2 of the Good to Know Podcast with an exploration into the effects romance can have on your office and team.  00:13 Introductions 00:56 Jessica provides a good example of how office relationships can wreak havoc on your team and organization.  02:24 A discussion on using Policy and Procedures to head off potential problems. 03:04  Keeping it real; what you can reasonable expect of your human employees. 03:20  Steve and Susan share the best decisions they ever made. 04:49  Drama – it's not just for romantic couples anymore. 05:35  Clear boundaries help avoid exploitation. 06:55  How Managers can help their employee develop better boundaries. 09:27  Special consideration for 1st time managers. 11:10  Steve revisits the concept that we don't have to act on all our impulses. 11:53  How much do we really need to know about the personal lives of our employees? 17:41  Be aware of the differences in company culture. 18:58  Provide training especially when dealing with international issues.

Enjoy this bonus material and the Good to Know Podcast will return 2-2-16 for an all new season! 0:50       Introductions 1:03       Skills that make a good customer service rep 1:46       How to effectively address mistakes mending relationships versus fixing problems 3:57       The customer is always right; true or false? 5:12       Managing the dual roles of sales and customer service 6:22       Challenges and advantages of a blended background

The Good to Know panel is on a short hiatus as we prepare for season 2!  Listen in on this bonus interview with the a few of the Ulliance Account Managers as we discuss what good customer service looks like.  The Good to Know Podcast returns February 2nd for season 2.  Join us! 1:23       Introductions 2:35       What it means to be an Account Manager at Ulliance 3:25       Defining “high-touch” customer service 6:53       Tips for making a positive “stand-out” impression on your customers 7:54       The importance of attention to detail 8:23       What you can do to be a great customer service provider

It's the end of the year and time to reflect on creating the Good to Know Podcast; the highs, the lows and the lessons we've learned.

We head back to the theater to glean the smart lessons for business and leaders.  The Good to Know Panel has some fun along the way too, discussing some of their favorites.  00:11 Intro 00:34 Addressing the Star Wars Hype 01:33 Why has Office Space endured all these years? 05:47  Apollo 13 – Lessons in Teamwork 07:48 Braveheart – Employee Engagement taken to the extreme! 14:23 The King's Speech – If you're looking to develop yourself, get vulnerable. 19:04 Elf – Work is just a job if it doesn't support your value system 25:47 Jessica takes note of the absence in strong female leads in the movies 27:46 Lincoln – the power of persuasion 

The headlines and breaking news updates can be overwhelming.  The Good to Know Panel discusses the dangers of becoming over-stimulated and what smart managers can do to help their team navigate the latest blast of bad news. 

Learn how to identify passive aggressive behaviors on your team and hear what the panelists do to address passive aggressive employees, head-on.   00:11     Intro 00:42     Matt wants goggles that spot passive-aggressive behavior 01:20     ‘Helpful' or passive-aggressive? 02:32     Passive-aggressive behavior creates contention 04:42     Common behaviors of passive-aggressive people 05:34     It's all about asserting control 06:20     Getting what you want with Passive-aggressive behaviors 07:44     Be afraid. Be very afraid 08:45     Pathologically speaking 10:21     The group shares their passive aggressive behaviors 12:21     Steve thinks it's all about anger 12:54     How smart managers confront this kind of behavior 15:57     The Ripple Effect 21:22     The impact of passive aggressive behaviors 23:50     Weeding out those pesky passive-aggressive behaviors

We all love having those slow weeks with few demands but making good use of that time can take some work!

The Good to Know panel explores how social responsibility matters to today's workforce, different ways you can “give back” and providew gift giving tips everyone in business should know!

Fashion Your Career; What Not to Wear in the Office # 136 Knowing clothing matters, we take a closer look at what not to wear in the corporate world and how to personalize your style to match your environment. 00:11     Intros 00:40     Matt relates how clothes really do matter 01:29     Check your heels 02:17     Time for a manicure? 03:00     Tailoring for you 04:00     Ties are disgusting 05:17     Be taken seriously 08:00     Neat and Clean and Polished goes a long way 08:40     Lose the workout clothes (unless you work in a gym) 09:40     Adapting to your environment 13:47     Dressing for your personality 15:33     Getting Unstuck

Fearless Feedback # 135 We expect honest feedback and yet are frequently reluctant to provide it ourselves!  The Good to Know panel explores the barriers to fearless feedback and how to create an environment of openness and honesty.  00:11     Intro 00:38     Why do we fear giving feedback? 02:00     Your relationship helps determine feedback comfort. 03:06     The role of honesty in team development. 04:43     Honesty is not the same is being rude! 05:18     Expecting feedback we wouldn't give. 05:51     The toilet paper test. 10:34     Role of trust of positive intentions in feedback. 12:06     “I'm just saying …” is a cop-out. 12:44     People in recovery re-learning honesty. 14:34     Steve recalls awkward but welcome feedback. 17:01     Advice for Managers and Supervisors giving feedback. 18:28     Separating performance from the person.

Be afraid.  Be very afraid.  There are scary things lurking in the corners of the business world; even the bravest of leaders can succumb to the terror but smart managers, armed with this podcast, can safely make out alive. 00:11  Intro 00:53  What scares Susan? 01:20  Leaving the safety of a comfort zone. 03.21  How honest feedback or conflict can frighten. 04:35  How fear leads to micromanagement. 06:03  The pits of boredom and under-stimulation. 07:26  Avoiding unnecessary anxiety by being transparent. 08:54  Preparedness as a defense against our fears. 11:52  Ignorance leading cause of health fear deficiency. 13:55  Reflections on a financial crisis. 17:00  The Panel shares their personal ghost stories

In a special episode, we pick the brain of the Ulliance I.T. Department who stop by to visit their Good to Know neighbors. 00:11  Intros 00:39  Fairest Rap / Bummest Rap of I.T. personnel 06:00  The basic computer skill I wish everyone knew 08:44  Maintaining a work / life balance 10:54  Being everyone's computer repair person 13:57  Using Google and YouTube to learn 15:43  Considerations in teaching newbies 17:35  Helping others adapt to change 22:00  What do you still find amazing? 24:40  I.T. Horror Stories 27:10  Things we can't wait for! 

Onboarding new employees to your company can set the stage for future engagement, job satisfaction and productivity.  The Good to Know panel discusses what you can do to enhance these first impressions. 00:11 Intro 00:42 A working definition of the onboarding process 03:25 What good onboarding looks like – matching the employee's learning style 04:58 Onboarding in multiple styles and in phases 05:49 Personalizing organized socialization 10:11  How to engage new hires during the first week on the job 12:26 Signs that new hire might not work out

Procrastination; a call to inaction.  The panel explores common thinking that leads to procrastination and some good to know tips to get your project off the ground.   0:11 Intros 1:00   You don't really need stress to perform 3:24  You can handle more discomfort than you think 5:39  Fear of failing keeping you from success? 6:11 Many times we're unaware of de-motivators 7:08 What business coaching can do for you 7:57 You need the right tools to see the big picture 9:01 Importance of momentum 11:42 Planning time just to "stew" 12:57 Role of a Manager with a procrastinating direct report 14:02 Is it OK to be OK with procrastination? 15:11  Addressing procrastination starts with assignment of duties

Need to brush up on your charm?  Maybe it's not important for your career but you'd like to enhance your social skills.  The Good to Know Panel explores the role of charm in the world of business and leadership and what it can do for you.  1:00  What is charm anyway? 1:53 Good tips to improve charm 3:27 Charm isn't teachable? 4:25 Charm ain't everything 5:45 The role of respect in terms of charm 5:59 Copy the charming people 7:23 What is charming, what is creepy? 10:36 "There are times in life you don't need charm." 11:27 Stump the panel

Don't touch that dial!  There are valuable and practical lessons you can learn from watching television.  The panelists share their lessons and how these apply to business and leadership.

Oh the things we wish they taught us in school!  The panel reviews those important life lessons that could only be learned after graduation.

Office morale; a subject so vast we covered it twice.  Join the Good to Know Panel as they revisit employee engagement and how everyone has a job to do when it comes to office morale.

Gut feelings are more than a hunch.  We discuss the science behind intuition and how to use it to make your best decisions.

Learn how mindfulness and a positive attitude can improve your leadership.  Once thought of as "feel-good" exercises, being mindful has been proven to make a real difference to your bottom line!

Ugly truths of business and leadership can be hard lessons to learn but our Good to Know panel tells it like it is to help you avoid the sting and see the inner beauty. 

Doing things bassackwards can sometimes result in innovation, growth and add to your bottom line.  The Good to Know panel considers why the path less taken can pay off for you and your company, why many avoid it and what you can do to get started on the right foot. 

The Good to Know panel shares some of the best advice we've ever received for business, leadership and beyond.

Do yourself a favor and learn what not to say to the boss.  Our Good to Know panel discusses those "nails on a chalkboard" phrases, what they mean to leaders, and what you can do instead. 

Do you know what your boss likes to hear?  We ask our panel to share those things they like to hear that indicates they made a good hire, the team is working well and goals are on target.

Doling out discipline can change your team dynamics.  Our panel discusses best practices to recover as a manager and how to assist your employee comeback to the team with a lesson well learned.

Can you find business lessons from the movies?  We do.  Our panel discusses what they've learned from going to the cinema how it applies to leadership.

Advancing your career or changing fields requires self-assessment and planning.  Our panel offers their insights to get you started on your climb to the top.

Need a break?  We discuss issues related to vacationing and paid time off; how to encourage employees to use it or lose it, how to get the most out of your time and how companies can best manage employee time off.