C-Suite Radio

Today, the number one motivating factor in the workplace is praise and recognition. To keep employees engaged, leaders must create environments that allow their teams to fulfill their true potential.

When asked where we see ourselves in five, 10 or 20 years, most of us visualize a future where we advance in our careers, earn more money and buy more things. Rather than imagining what we will have someday or what titles we will be given, we should shift our focus to who we will be as individuals at different stages in our lives. Money, fame and glory aren’t the goals we should be working toward. Our careers are stepping stones that make up the path we travel along to achieve success. 

Our guest this week is Bob Urichuck, an internationally recognized expert in Velocity Selling. Bob is sought out around the world for his inspiring speeches and insight on the changing world of sales. A true innovator and selling master, Bob has been ranked in the World’s Top 30 Sales Gurus since 2008 and is a go-to expert for many national radio and television programs. We’re excited to have Bob featured as one of the subject matter experts in C-Suite Academy, an interactive online learning environment for C-Suite leaders and their teams.

Leaders who are able to inspire and motivate their teams create a process that makes it easy for people to motivate themselves. The foundation of team motivation is attitude. When people come to work every day with a positive attitude, they will become highly motivated. Recognition is a key component to motivating employees, but leaders who are too self critical will have trouble letting go of their criticism of others. Understanding that people are the most important part of an organization will have amazing results on performance and the success of your company.

Building a positive, thriving culture is a top priority for C-Suite leaders, but many may not immediately consider the cultural challenges that occur outside the office walls. Each organization has a culture unique to its geographical location. No matter where or when business is conducted, building a culture that strongly supports our team to innovate and inspire is essential.

Our first guest, Jorge Mata, Chairman and CEO of Clippingbook, has served in leadership roles all across the globe. His advice to C-Suite executives and entrepreneurs is to look to competitors as examples of how you’d like your organization to function. Observing and understanding the unique cultures and business models of similar organizations can help gain loyal customers and set the foundation for a strong internal structure.

Those who embark upon the journey of entrepreneurship enter a world full of unknowns. It’s impossible to foresee exactly what the future holds and how successful this new venture will be. The C-Suite can, however, use the wisdom gleaned from our past experiences and the world around us to paint a better picture of the future and the opportunities it holds.

Our second guest, Neil Gaydon, President and CEO of SMART Technologies, stresses the importance of building a culture that supports new ideas. When employees feel engaged, respected and part of the team, they are empowered to ask questions that lead to innovation. A question as simple as “Why can’t we have something better than a dry-erase board?” can spark an idea like SMART Technologies’ Smart kapp, a technological alternative to the traditional board in a meeting room or classroom. 

A business thrives when each and every employee has a passionate interest in the product and service the company delivers to customers. When a culture is thriving, teams have the power to create a lasting impact on the world around us.

As we navigate the journey through the business world, we may find ourselves on unforeseen paths — often more than once. Our plans may change as time and technology evolve, but as leaders we must develop strong agility skills. We learn to be flexible and adaptable by taking action and becoming agents for change. Leading teams through changing times starts with establishing a culture that supports collaboration, empowerment and transparency. 

Our first guest is Elisa Steele, President of Jive Software. Elisa has served in leadership roles with top technology companies, including Yahoo!, Skype and Microsoft, and has learned firsthand how a company’s culture can, and should, evolve during times of rapid innovation and disruption. As C-Suite leaders, it’s not just about quick decision making — it’s about agility, flexibility and a focus on the future. This is what ensures the endurance and longevity of a brand.

In developing a culture of values as leaders and ensuring their brands are reflective of those values, there is an essential component that must be placed above all else: Trust. There are many misconceptions surrounding the concept of “trust,” and this can lead to a misalignment of values in an organization. A lack of trust is truly a business leader’s greatest expense, but developing a culture of compassion can positively affect the bottom line. 

Our second guest, David Horsager, is an award-winning keynote speaker, noted expert on trust and author of the bestseller, “The Trust Edge: How Top Leaders Gain Faster Results, Deeper Relationships, and a Stronger Bottom Line.” David explains that the greatest leaders are those who work on their compassion skills and stay educated to remain fresh, relevant and capable in their industries.

To succeed in today’s ever-changing business climate, it’s imperative that C-Suite leaders become keenly aware of their customers and the changing face of the consumer. As the United States grows more diverse, we must be equipped with the tools and skills to be constantly changing and evolving to keep up with the modern consumer.

Our first guest, Glenn Llopis, is a noted entrepreneur, author and speaker, as well as the founder and CEO of the Center for Hispanic Leadership. Glenn stresses the importance of having an “immigrant perspective” on leadership and becoming keenly aware of the disconnect between the changing cultural demographics in the U.S. to better understand how they are reached and represented by brands. Leaders, he says, must be willing to adapt and develop new strategies for the evolving marketplace and rise of multicultural groups not only in the consumer role, but in the workforce as well.

Our second guest, Tony Alessandra, is a prolific author, entrepreneur and speaker who specializes in sales, communication skills and behavioral styles. Tony is a strong advocate for constant education and self-improvement beyond the classroom walls. Education is essential for C-Suite leaders to maintain relevancy, understand their customers and truly be at the top of their game. Tony emphasizes the Platinum Rule: Treat others the way they want to be treated. This is key to truly connecting with both employees and customers and creating lasting relationships at all levels.

With so many fantastic opportunities for continued education, C-Suite leaders can now reach customers and grow their businesses in powerful new ways. A willingness to adapt and evolve is essential. New tools for learning, coupled with a deep understanding of the changing consumer, will guide the C-Suite, and their companies, along the path to success.

As executives move their way up the ranks and into the C-Suite, they must not forget the journey that brought them there. Many C-level leaders start out with humble beginnings, and their drive and determination to achieve greatness have gotten them to where they are today. From manning the cash register, to taking the leap and starting your own business, anyone can develop the leadership skills required to move into an executive role.

Our first guest, Paul Carbone, is a living example of an entrepreneur who worked his way up to the C-Suite. Paul serves as Chief Financial Officer at Dunkin’ Brands, and his journey to this role was certainly not that of a traditional CFO. Paul says his experiences working in the produce industry, and later founding his own businesses, have given him a unique perspective on running a business. Entrepreneurs, he said, have a certain “get it done” mindset that C-Suite leaders can adopt in their own positions of leadership.

No matter the titles of those you work with, a culture of mutual respect is absolutely essential. A leadership team may not always agree on the many facets of running a business, but a sense of alignment, even after a heated discussion, will sustain a company through thick and thin.

Our second guest, Tom Asacker, author of “The Business of Belief,” says people are pushed and pulled by their environments, and it’s often difficult to get to the root of their beliefs. It is beliefs, after all, that can hold us back or propel us forward toward our goals. To get a better sense of a person’s belief system, we must look at their actions. For leaders to motivate their teams and create a unified culture, they must walk the walk. Motivation starts with movement, and progress can only occur when we take that first step toward our goals.

When we think of this definition of success, we tend to leave out an essential component: Happiness. If we do not truly enjoy the process toward our goals, we fall into habits that only breed negativity and deplete our energy. As C-Suite leaders, it’s common to become reserved and put your happiness on hold while waiting for results. Taking control of your own happiness, and viewing the future as a place full of possibility and innovation, give executives the power to lead better and become prolific in their impact on others. On this encore episode of Business Matters, we welcome Jaycen Thorgeirson and Steve Rizzo to the program.

Jaycen Thorgeirson is the Founder and Chief Stand Out Expert at UviaUs, where he helps the biggest and brightest brands cut through the “clutter” to ensure their brand message is delivered and remembered with their proprietary offering, Uvideo. Jaycen started UviaUs in 2006 with the vision to deliver online and offline solutions that would stand out and get noticed. He’s led efforts for many Fortune 500 companies interested in making an impact with their marketing collateral, such as, Nationwide Insurance, Century 21, Yale University, Mercedes, HP and more. Find him on Twitter @JaycenThor.

Steve Rizzo is more than a Funny Motivational Speaker. Don’t let the laughter fool you! What Steve brings to the table is his captivating ability to engage the attendees with laughter as he challenges them to SHIFT their focus and way of thinking to discover greater enthusiasm, increased productivity and new levels of success. Steve has been Adjusting Attitudes in organizations throughout the world such as AT&T, Prudential, State Farm, LaQuinta and even the CIA (yes, he even had them laughing!) since 1994. Find him on Twitter @SteveRizzoPHB.

C-Suite leaders hear a lot about work-life balance, and there’s no shortage of advice available on the topic. Rather than balancing the many roles that define who we are, it’s important to embrace each of them and decide what we want to focus on at any given moment in our lives. As we travel along the journey of success, making deliberate decisions about who we are, and what we want to do, will give us the courage to move forward. Determining where priorities are during each new beginning will allow us to seize new opportunities. Breakthroughs happen when we let go of our old ways of thinking, embrace changes happening in the world around us and adjust our focus accordingly.

Our guest this week is Lisa Stone, co-founder and CEO of BlogHer. Lisa has had an impressive career as a journalist before establishing BlogHer, Inc. with Elisa Camahort Page and Jory Des Jardins in 2005. The company was recently purchased by SheKnows, a digital media company, to become the No. 1 women’s lifestyle community. Lisa has risen to success in the business space because of her skills developing online communities and passion for giving a voice to individual readers and writers.

When entrepreneurs begin to experience success, the adventure of business becomes both exciting and overwhelming. As the company grows, it’s important to always view your product or service in the eyes of the customer. When you think from their perspective, it becomes easier to deliver a high-quality experience that exceeds expectations. A company like BlogHer thrives because it gives a voice to its readers and uses the strengths of its leadership team to build a platform that people can relate to. Staying ahead of trends and focusing on the solutions you can offer to consumers’ challenges can turn your startup into a success.

Many C-Suite leaders grew up playing sports and have applied the principles learned in athletics to their careers. Athletes know that while each game will result in a win or loss, it doesn’t determine the outcome of their entire career. They strategize, practice and train for each game, working as a team toward a common goal every time. When we apply these principles to our businesses, we ensure each employee is working just as hard as their colleagues to reach the desired outcome. Winning is a big reward and a payoff for hard work and sacrifice, but it’s ultimately the lessons learned along the way that lead us to each new victory.

Our guest this week is Michael Williams, Chief Marketing Officer at Grand Prix of America, Formula 1. Michael is known throughout the industry as a passionate marketer and enthusiastic brand storyteller. Throughout his career, he has succeeded in helping sports brands, like the New Jersey Devils and the San Francisco 49ers, pinpoint their focus, expand their footprint and emotionally connect with fans. A former high school and college athlete, Michael says sports allows employees and executives to work better as a team and recognize how each person’s strengths can come together to support a shared passion within the organization. Each company’s story is full of wins and losses, but it’s the understanding that failures are inevitable with each success that encourages risk-taking, creativity and world-changing ideas.

A strong team full of players with different skills who enthusiastically work together toward each victory will grow their organizations. A game plan will set the tone for the future of your business, and a compelling story will keep customers engaged through change and creative risk taking.

Catch Michael on stage at the C-Suite Network Conference Nov. 16-18 in Marina del Rey, CA.

When we think of the world’s most innovative companies, tech giants and social media trailblazers are at the forefront of our minds. These businesses are revered not only for their world-changing products and services, but also for their unique and flourishing company cultures. A company like Facebook nourishes its top talent by building its extraordinarily special culture around a core mission. When all employees deeply support their company’s goals and feel that what they do makes a true impact on society, groundbreaking ideas will surface. And as consumer expectations grow and habits rapidly change, the importance of a strong, accountable team is essential for delivering outstanding customer experiences.

This week’s guest has had a remarkable career serving in leadership positions at some of the world’s most successful companies, including Disney, MTV and Microsoft. Carolyn Everson now works as the Vice President of Global Marketing Solutions at Facebook where she is known as the ad chief who has played a crucial role in changing the way advertisers and marketers view the social network. 

Every employee at Facebook believes connectivity is a human right, Carolyn says, and the company strives to connect people all across the globe. The company works hard to leave an impact on society that goes beyond day-to-day operations. Internally, there is no hierarchy, and the company works hard to eliminate politics and encourage employees to have accountability at every level of the organization. Not a day goes by where employees aren’t challenging themselves to do things differently.

Social networks play a significant role in consumers’ lives, and it is up to C-Suite leaders to support cultures that inspire innovation and put customer needs and concerns at the forefront. Becoming as successful as Facebook requires a core mission each and every team member can stand behind.

Competition is a natural part of life and business, and it can have positive or negative outcomes depending on the situation and the actions we take as it occurs. Younger generations, especially, enter the workforce with a fiercely competitive attitude that stems from the guidance of parents who encourage them to be the very best at what they do. A rugged, individualistic spirit can certainly drive employees to get ahead and soar up the ladder of success, but there is an essential component missing. As leaders, we must establish a culture of collaboration and teach our teams the lessons of teamwork.

This week’s guest is Margaret Heffernan, entrepreneur, five-time CEO, keynote speaker and author of noted works such as “Willful Blindness” and “Women On Top.” Her most recent book, “A Bigger Prize Why Competition Isn’t Everything and How We Do Better,” explores the all-consuming desire to win and why competition so often breeds corruption, lies and cheating. Margaret explains the alternatives to competition in business – the most prominent being collaboration and helpfulness. As the days of the heroic soloist slip further into the past, the C-Suite must embrace a new model of leadership — one that nurtures and guides a team of shining stars. She advises leaders to practice silence and sharpen their listening skills to allow their team’s creative and innovative ideas to surface.

The best leaders surround themselves with talent and creativity. Successful executives are willing to hire those who will be unabashedly honest about what they could do better. When we allow ourselves to absorb feedback from a team of vigorous collaborators, we take the first steps to redefining success. It is our job to create a system where each leader and employee is encouraged to help each other, and we must reward helpfulness instead of competitiveness.