Accelerate Your Performance

Politics, violence, hate... These topics aren't often discussed in our workplaces. Yet people on our teams are feeling pain, disbelief, fear, anger, confusion, and frustration. As leaders, our teams are looking to us to lean in and provide support to manage these feelings. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher shares an approach she created and followed to encourage inclusive conversations on her team.

This episode answers questions such as:

• How can we address the types of events like our nation experienced on 1/6/21 with our teams?
• What can we do to create safe spaces for people to express how they feel?
• Why is it important to support our teams through these difficult events in our nation?

Recommended Resources: How to Talk with Your Team About the Violence at the US Capitol,  Valuing All Voices, Leading with Vulnerability, & Pause Perspective Process
Recommended Podcasts: Are We Energizing Others?, How Can We Help Our Colleagues?, Connecting to Purpose Gives Us Courage & Manage Disruption: Adjust Quickly & Communicate Transparently

Continuous improvement is a process,  a mindset, and a set of tools. It's organization-wide and specific to each individual. At its core are the people who do the work. Through sustained, system-wide improvement, teams can deeply understand and solve problems, while thriving through crises. Two experts in continuous improvement,  Dr. John Toussaint and Dr. Christina Dixon join us again to discuss the biggest obstacles to sustaining improved results over time, and how to prioritize improvement as the real work to be done.

This episode answers questions such as:

• How are organizations using continuous improvement to eliminate gaps and disparities in student achievement?
• Why is an improvement culture so beneficial during a crisis?
• Should organizations start an improvement journey now?

To hear the first part of Janet's interview with John and Christina, listen to episode #142: The 5 Behavioral Traits for Sustaining Improvement.

Recommended Resources: Busting Through Barriers, Where is the Noise?, Short Cycle Scorecard Tool & How do We Know if a Change is an Improvement?
Recommended Podcasts: Becoming an Improvement Organization, Questions for Continuous Improvement, Continuous Improvement: Where do you Start? & Building an Army of Improvers

There is a lot of information out there about continuous improvement and lean thinking. But, do we know what is really at the core of those methodologies? Dr. John Toussaint and Dr. Christina Dixon join Janet today to dig deep into the core of improvement work. It is no secret that many systems struggle to sustain improvement work beyond isolated occurrences and leaders. In this episode, experts Christina and John reveal the necessary ingredients to help organizations over these obstacles and build the right conditions to sustain performance over time.

This episode answers questions such as:

• What does it mean to be a lean thinker?
• How can we welcome uncertainty when the risks are high?
• What conditions are necessary to generate real improvement?

John and Christina will be back in episode 143 to share more about their experience using continuous improvement to eliminate gaps in student achievement and their recommendations for leaders who are struggling to prioritize improvement. 

Recommended Resources: Becoming the Change, Develop Aspiring Leaders, Boost the Employee Experience, Vulnerability and Teamwork & Be the Model
Recommended Podcasts: Becoming an Improvement Organization, Are You A Curious Leader?, Questions for Continuous Improvement & Positioning Problems as Opportunities

In this ever-changing climate, continuous improvement is more vital than ever, and it's something today's guest, Dr. Ed Manansala, County Superintendent of Schools at El Dorado COE, and the President of the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association are deeply committed to. Listen as Janet and Ed discuss how to engage people in continuous improvement, 5 bold steps for implementation, and why it makes a difference in critical times.

This episode answers questions such as:

• How can we embrace the practice of continuous improvement?
• When is the best time to start continuous improvement work in an organization?
• How can we remain hopeful and optimistic despite obstacles and uncertainty?

Recommended Resources: If-Then,  What High Performers Look Like, How Do We Know if a Change is an Improvement? & Short Improvement Cycles
Recommended Podcasts: Building an Army of Improvers, Continuous Improvement: Where Do You Start?, Jump All-In To Improve & Bringing an Executive Team Together

Have you ever felt a particular duty or aspect of your work was insignificant, small, or maybe even meaningless? No matter how small, every action has a ripple effect and contributes to the greater good for our organizations and teams. In this episode, our host Dr. Janet Pilcher shares a story that exemplifies this-- the humble beginnings that led to Kyle Johnston becoming the head athletic trainer for the Miami Dolphins. Listen as Janet shares key takeaways from Kyle's journey to success.

This episode answers questions such as:

• What four attributes can help us be excellent no matter how small or big the task?
• Why is it so important to pay attention to detail?
• What small actions can we take to impact our organizations?

Recommended Resources: The Power Of Perspective, Create Resilient Leaders, Motivate with Recognition & Connect to Purpose
Recommended Podcasts: Execute Well for Better Results, How Can We Help Our Colleagues?, How Do We Achieve Team Success? & Make Recognition a Habit

2020 has been the kind of year where we've all felt more stress and anxiety due to continuous change and uncertainty. As we turn our heads to 2021 now is a good time to reflect and self-assess. Has the stress we've understandably felt led us to be impatient with others? What kind of energy are we bringing home and to our workplaces? Do we drain energy from others, or do we energize others? In this episode, listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher dives into this topic.

This will be our last episode of 2020. We will take a break and resume releasing episodes beginning on Thursday, January 7th. We wish you all a wonderful holiday season!

This episode answers questions such as:

• How can we help creativity flourish in the workplace?
• Why can negative energy be so detrimental in our organizations?
• How can we inspire members of our teams to find solutions?

Recommended Resources: Reward & Recognize, Improvement & Innovation, Motivate With Recognition & How Do We Know If It's An Improvement?
Recommended Podcasts: Eight Things Dogs Teach Us, Increase Employee Engagement With Recognition, Make Recognition A Habit, Creating Cultures of Improvement, What Questions Should I Be Asking My Employees?


We would love to have your feedback. If there is a specific question or topic you would like Janet to answer on an episode, please send an email to [email protected]

"When you shut down vulnerability you shut down opportunity"-- the words of Brene Brown challenge us to get honest with ourselves and self-reflect. What does vulnerable leadership look like? We know it involves opening up and being real, but how do we approach vulnerability in our organizations? In this episode, Janet shares characteristics of vulnerable leadership and practical tips for leading with vulnerability.

This episode answers questions such as:

• What are four things leaders can do to lead with vulnerability?
• What does vulnerable leadership not look like?
• How do we establish trust within our organizations?

Recommended Resources: Leading with Vulnerability, Vulnerability and Teamwork, Why Do We Avoid Vulnerability? &  Be An Owner

Recommended Podcasts: Vulnerability is at the Heart of Service Excellence,  Lead With Courage,  Becoming An Authentic Leader,  & Be Bold About Action

Great leaders are curious leaders.  Curiosity makes us more aware, opens our minds to new possibilities and solutions,  and leads to better communication between people and teams. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses why curiosity is critical in our workplaces and what we can do to increase our curiosity.

This episode answers questions such as:

• How can curiosity transform our leadership?
• What do curious people do that sets them apart?
• What are key characteristics of curious leaders?

Recommended Resources:
Emotional Intelligence,  Vulnerability and Teamwork,  Why Do We Avoid Vulnerability? &  The Power of Perspective

Recommended Podcasts:
Developing People to Become the Best Leaders,  Vulnerability is at the Heart of Service Excellence, Ask the Right Questions & Becoming an Authentic Leader

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best, let's rate ourselves for each statement: I make a difference on my team, I'm refreshing to work with, and I'm always willing to lend a hand. Now, how would your coworkers rate you? When it comes to relationships with colleagues, every interaction counts. In this episode, our host Dr. Janet Pilcher shares tips for managing good working relationships with our colleagues.

This episode answers questions such as:

• What can we do when someone asks us for help?
• What might we want to avoid saying or doing when a coworker asks for our help?
• How do we key message a response to manage a good working relationship with our coworkers? 

Recommended Resources:  Building Trust with New Teams, Tips for Effective Listening in Teams, Emotional Bank Account & Welcome New Team Members

Recommended Podcasts: Small Things, Big Difference, Building a Bank Account of Trust, Building Trust in the Workplace & People Deserve Support

The end of a year is a great time to reflect. How far have we gone over the year? Did we hit our goals? If not, what kept us from achieving them? In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher describes a process that engages employees in reflective conversations to keep our organizations moving in the right direction.

This episode answers questions such as:

• How can we give our team members a chance to meaningfully contribute in reflective discussions?
• Why is this process a non-threatening way to gain insight from employees?
• How can we use reflections in our one on one monthly meetings?

Recommended Resources:  Plus/Delta, Plus/Delta Process, Plus/Delta Leadership Challenge & Monthly Meetings

Recommended Podcasts: Continuous Improvement: Where Do You Start?, Improve by Measuring What Matters, Identify Barriers to Change & Creating Cultures of Improvement