Rewarding and recognizing the right behaviors and excellent performance isn’t just a nice thing to do. Lack of employee recognition is a top reason for employees leaving an organization. With recognition we are able to engage, retain, and motivate most employees to sustain high performance. Recognition is so important to an organization’s success, it’s our ninth principle and the glue that holds all of our principles together. Recognizing others takes little time and pays great dividends.  

This episode addresses questions, such as:

• How do we get recognition to stick in our organizations?
• What is the value of recognition to our employees and organizations? 
• How does recognition encourage high performance? 

Recommended Learning:  Reward & Recognize & Ideas for Recognizing Your Employees & What Gets Recognized Gets Repeated & What’s 1 Tip Reason for Employees Quitting Their Jobs?

Several years ago, the decision was made to transform TeacherReady, a Studer Education online self-paced teacher certification program, to meet students where they are today. Transforming TeacherReady wasn’t something the organization took lightly, Dr. Julie Kunselman was instrumental in helping to review significant data and research to revolutionize this program for the future. As with any organization, they had to work through barriers to change to realize this incredible opportunity to serve more of their customers. Dr. Kunselman joins the show today to uncover how TeacherReady meets people where they are, rather than where it’s most convenient for them. 

This episode addresses questions, such as:

• Why is it important to meet your customers where they are today? 
• What effects does transformational change have on an organization? 
• Why revolutionize a standard practice within your organization? 

 
Recommended Learning: How Leaders Can Solve the Dual Transformation Equation And Turn Disruption Into Growth & Innovator’s Challenge: Get Comfortable with Change

Organizations are facing more pressure than ever to transform their practices in order to improve their outcomes. Competition is fierce. The speed of information and higher demands from consumers forces leaders to shift the way change is approached. Commonly, there is much anxiety attached to change, people like to do things, “the way they’ve always done it,” but that’s not the attitude that will achieve success in today OR tomorrow’s world. Individuals, leaders, and organizations need to view change as a positive opportunity to take their mission to a higher level. Focus on the goal, not the barrier. 

This episode addresses questions, such as:

• What does change look and feel like?
• How do we shift the way we think about change?
• Why must organizations adapt to continuous change rather than episodic change?
• What are the 3 most common barriers to organizational change?  

Recommended Learning: Anticipating Change & Building the Case for Change & How Do We Get Better at Change?

At some time in your professional or personal life, you have probably experienced the let down of an empty promise. It’s also likely you’ve promised a friend or a colleague something you’ve let slip through the cracks at least once or twice. These empty promises, no matter how small, erode trust and jeopardize relationships with others. In this episode, Dr. Pilcher digs deep into what causes us to make these empty promises and how we can choose our words and commitments carefully in the future. 

This episode addresses questions, such as:

• Why don’t people live up to their promises and commitments? 
• Why do people make empty promises?
• How to empty promises from leaders affect team outcomes and trust? 

Recommended Learning:7 Reasons Why People Tend to Make Empty Promises by Jessica Grover & Trust: Consistency of Leadership

How do you turn passionate employees and leaders into people who have the ability to make a difference not only in their work, but in their communities? Janet is joined by Dr. Pat Greco today to talk about continuous improvement. Pat is an award-winning retired superintendent who served 38 years in public education and has been a champion of Evidence-Based Leadership℠. She shares her advice and experience on executing the process of improvement within organizations.

This episode addresses questions, such as:

• If leaders want to start building an improvement mindset in their organization, where should they start? 
• How do you actually make the difference, and how do you help people make the difference in the organization? 
• How do you make continuous improvement stick over time? 

Recommended Learning:Systems, Sea Otters, and Soil & Leading Change & PDSA Model & Phases of Organizational Change

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• How can you raise a valid concern without complaining?
• What do we do with people who think their job is to complain? 
• How can teams bring solutions forward proactively without depending on their leader? 

Changes in an organization can occur that team leaders may have little control over. What we can control is how we adapt and react to the change in our daily business. When we utilize team meetings with structured, thoughtful discussions, and analysis, someone will propose a winning solution or solutions for the team to agree on. Using a problem-solving agenda, conversations stay focused and teams can avoid falling into a pit of negativity and conflict. 

This episode addresses questions, such as:

• How do we shift from unproductive meetings to meetings where we can solve problems with our teams? 
• What can you do when a team meeting has turned to arguments and negativity rather than problem solving? 
• How do you keep teams focused on finding a solution?

Recommended Learning:Improve Your Meetings & Guidelines for Effective Meetings & Tips for Effective Listening with Teams & Leading Effective Meetings

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For the first time in history we are operating with five generations co-existing in the workforce, and there are more young professionals joining every day. Dr. Pilcher talks with Ruthie Speight, the Executive Director of Pensacola Young Professionals (PYP) about their mission and impact in our community. PYP provides young professionals with a community where they can make a difference, connect with like-minded individuals, and learn new skills. Ruthie also reveals the top three skills young professionals want to develop and the top three things they’re looking for in their work environments. 

This episode addresses questions, such as:

• What is the purpose of Pensacola Young Professionals (PYP)?
• What leadership skills do young professionals want to develop?
• What do young professionals want from their work environments?

Contact Ruthie Speight, the Executive Director of Pensacola Young Professionals at [email protected]   

Recommended Learning:Enhancing Engagement in the 5-Generation Workforce & Boost the Employee Experience

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Service excellence is more than just being polite or being ready to offer the unsatisfied customer a discount. Join Donna Kirby and Janet Pilcher this week as they conclude their conversation about the value of service excellence. Donna Kirby reveals her top 3 tactics for applying customer service excellence within your organization and how to treat your organization like a living room. 

This episode addresses questions, such as:

• How can leaders build a culture around service?
• What 3 tactics does Donna Kirby recommend for applying service excellence in your organization?
• How are the employee experience and customer experience intertwined? 

Recommended Learning:Hiring for the Right Fit, Ideas for Recognizing Your Employees, What Gets Recognized Gets Repeated

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Service Excellence differentiates your organization from others in your industry. Great leaders place importance on how to become the best service provider for what they do. Donna Kirby returns this week to discuss why prioritizing service excellence is necessary for success and what core drivers keep her focused on service excellence. 

This episode addresses questions, such as:

• Why is it important to focus on service excellence? 
• How does customer experience drive finance?
• What keeps 96% of Blue Wahoo’s employees returning there for work year after year?

We will continue the conversation with Donna Kirby in episode #42 by revealing 3 tactics you can use to build a culture around service.

Recommended Learning: Service Excellence Standards, Reward & Recognize, Actions of Excellence