What happens when kindness becomes a consistent leadership practice rather than an occasional gesture? Susan Jarema and Michael Neece explore how kindness strengthens trust, builds psychological safety, and supports meaningful collaboration. Through shared insights, they highlight how small, intentional actions shape stronger relationships and more resilient teams.
The conversation connects naturally to the Connect, Create, Collaborate framework and the GRAND Growth Model, emphasizing that sustainable growth begins with self-awareness, empathy, and reliability. By focusing on what is within reach and approaching others with generosity, leaders create environments where ideas are shared openly and collaboration becomes both effective and deeply human.
What You’ll Hear:
- Kindness begins to reveal its role as the underlying force that shapes trust, collaboration, and leadership effectiveness.
- Psychological safety emerges as the quiet factor that determines whether teams thrive or struggle.
- The idea of the three-foot radius shifts how focus, responsibility, and personal leadership are understood.
- Gratitude and reframing experiences begin to soften ego-driven reactions and open space for better teamwork.
- Small, intentional meeting practices start to change how people feel seen, valued, and willing to contribute.
- Kind leadership is redefined through the willingness to address tension with honesty while still honoring the human behind it.
Featured Guest: Michael Neece
As President of Our Future is Kind, Michael teaches people how to use the power of kindness to create innovative, productive, and efficient teams.
His wide-ranging experience includes leadership and educational roles in traditional corporate settings as well as planetariums. He has delivered more than 750 sessions about team building, kindness, the wonders of the universe, and the curiosity invoked by space exploration. Michael has developed a unique approach to helping teams thrive by talking about kindness through a cosmic lens.
Michael is the author of "In Kind: Consciously Craft a Meaningful Life and Career" and “Joy Unleashed: The Ultimate Guide to Living Your Best Life.” He hosts the podcast, “Our Future is Kind,” where he interviews executives, futurists, politicians, artists, writers, and community leaders to help his audience ponder, “What should the future be like? Who will be there? How can we craft it carefully into what we want and deserve?”
Connect with Michael:
Website: https://OurFutureIsKind.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelgneece
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yournextkeynotespeaker
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@YourNextKeynoteSpeaker
Meet the Host: Susan Jarema
Susan Jarema is a marketing strategist, internetologist, and co-founder of The Grand Connection. She helps entrepreneurs grow through collaboration, smart strategy, and high-impact digital presence. Susan is also president of New Earth Marketing, where she builds brands, websites, and ecosystems designed for real growth.
Connect with Susan and the Grand Connection Community:
Website: https://grandconnection.ca/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/grand.connection
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrandConnectionCommunity
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandconnection.ca/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/66749100
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxq03yde7nb57HKV1hhztYA
Access your Grand Growth Bundle and Free Guest Pass: https://grandconnection.ca/gifts
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