Lead with Levity

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If you want to know how to build a fun family culture then you’re in the right place. Today, we discuss the benefits of adopting and leading by values. I’m happy to say that I recently discovered that there are people out there in the world (not the multiverse, but here in our dimension) with the job title of ‘Chief Happiness Officer’ and ‘Director of Happiness’. I found one!
Today, I get to share a conversation with Kylie Rae Fitzgibbons, Director of Happiness and General Manager at JL Bar Ranch in Sonora, Texas. Kyle has traveled all over the world and picked up experiences that have all led to her passion to have fun and get work done.
In this episode, we cover:

• How a small town in Texas wooed her away from Grand Cayman.
• What it’s like to work in a family-owned business.
• How they build shared values
• How they approach confrontations or “collisions” within the team
• Kylie’s experiences on the Grand Cayman islands and how that fed her perspective on hospitality
• The “Cayman kind” approach taught her that “people taking care of people” is more than just a concept, it’s about creating a family feel.
• Try this icebreaker from Kylie that’s guaranteed to improve the mood within a group:
• (32:18) The Smile Game: One quick and easy way to bring joy to a meeting or change the energy in a group. A simple 30 second activity that you can do at the beginning of a meeting, with friends. Instead of sitting, you stand in a circle, make eye contact. Say: “I’m going to start” and smile at someone and make eye contact, and then that person turns to the left and smiles at their neighbor. Then do a few rounds and try to get faster.
• Kylie’s leadership philosophy and maintenance tips:
• Energy is contagious. Own your own energy.
• Recognize that “everyone is influenceable and everyone is an influencer even if you don’t have a billion followers on Instagram”
• Make sure that people are better after they meet you than when they first saw you
• Activities that help team spirit and one-ness
• Team photo and celebration
• Team prayer
• End of the day reflection and review of a value-based story or moment
• Celebrate national pizza party day - “food is fuel”
• Keep the team loved and well fed and listened to

Quotes

• “As the leader of a team, it is important that I come with an enthusiastic energy and a positive ‘can do’ spirit with that attitude and showing resilience. That concept of having fun, it’s how I show up to be able to impact others.” - Quote by Kylie Rae
• “Everyone is influenceable and everyone is an influencer even if you don’t have a bazillion followers on Instagram” - Quote by Kylie Rae
• “The learning of service is a different perspective to consider. Everyone is in a service industry, whether you're a mom with a young child. Whether you’re serving your neighbor when they need sugar...or if you’re in hospitality serving a customer.” - Quote by Kylie Rae
• “You don’t have to be well connected. You don’t have to be the loudest person in the room to have an impact on that room.” - Quote by Dr. Walker
• “Your energy is so very contagious.” Quote by Dr. Walker

About Today’s GuestKylie Rae Fitzgibbons is a luxury hospitality executive leader who brings Service with a Smile workshops to other professionals with a focus on positive mindset and culture of kindness in the workpla

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Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadwithlevity.substack.com

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Maintaining quality face-to-face service is getting harder and harder these days. Fortunately, many of the traditional principles still apply. Join us today for an interview with Dee Ann Turner. With more than 30 years of experience, including serving as Vice President, Talent and Human Resources for Chick-fil-A, Inc., Dee Ann has discovered the secret sauce of selecting and retaining extraordinary talent, while cultivating a remarkable organizational culture.
In this episode, we cover how to:

• create company loyalty that leads to customer loyalty
• instill servant leadership within your organization
• support fun at work even if it’s natural for you
• respond to negative Glassdoor reviews
• what differentiates Chick-fil-A from other fast food chains

About Today’s GuestDee Ann is a 33-year veteran of Chick-fil-A, Inc. Prior to retirement in 2018, she was Vice President, Talent and Vice President, Sustainability. The company’s first female officer, she was instrumental in building and growing Chick-fil-A’s well-known culture and talent systems. During her long career, she worked closely with Chick-fil-A’s founder, S. Truett Cathy, and other key leaders as an architect of their organizational culture. She was responsible for thousands of selections of Chick-fil-A Franchisees and corporate staff members. Additionally, she led Talent Management, Staff Learning and Development, Diversity and Inclusion, Culture and Engagement. Most recently, Dee Ann launched and led the Sustainability function focusing on Chick-fil-A’s strategy to implement sustainable practices at the $11 billion company.
Today, she leads her own organization, Dee Ann Turner, LLC, writing books, speaking to over 50 audiences per year and consulting and coaching leaders globally. She is the author of the best seller, It’s My Pleasure: The Impact of Extraordinary Talent and a Compelling Culture. Her latest book will be released in September 2019.

Resources Mentioned

• Website: https://www.deeannturner.com/
• Book: Bet on Talent: How to Create a Remarkable Culture That Wins the Hearts of Customers
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeeAnnTurnerAuthor
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeeAnnTurner
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deeannturner/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deeannturner/

About the podcast:
The Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it's done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadwithlevity.substack.com

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“Psychological safety means you (1) feel included, (2) feel safe to learn, (3) feel safe to contribute, and (4) feel safe to challenge the status quo – all without fear of being embarrassed, marginalized, or punished in some way.” ~Leader Factor
Are you ready to learn the 4 stages of a psychologically safe workplace? Safety is not a flat topic--there are layers to a person’s sense of safety. Psychological safety is also something we have to work to achieve and maintain. As leaders, we have the privilege and responsibility to create safe spaces. Today’s guest is Dr. Timothy Clark.
Timothy R. Clark is founder and CEO of LeaderFactor, a consulting, coaching, and training organization. Dr. Clark is an international authority in the fields of psychological safety & innovation, large-scale change & transformation, and senior leadership development. He has personally coached over 100 CEOs and executives and trained many senior teams around the world. Some of his clients include Accenture, American Express, CIGNA, Columbia University, Disney, Dow Chemical, Eli Lilly, Environmental Protection Agency, HCA, Idaho National Laboratory, Honeywell, Intel, Internal Revenue Service, John Hopkins University, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Motorola, NASA, Riverbed Technology, Sprint, Stanford University, and the U.S. Department of Treasury.
In this episode, we cover:

• How Dr. Clark became interested in psychological safety
• How psychological safety opens the door to other prosocial behaviors
• What leaders can do to help people feel more secure
• How to create safe spaces at work
• How to engage in levity safely
• How to grow your appreciation for differences

About today’s guest:
Timothy R. Clark is founder and CEO of LeaderFactor, a consulting, coaching, and training organization. Dr. Clark is an international authority in the fields of psychological safety & innovation, large-scale change & transformation, and senior leadership development. He has personally coached over 100 CEOs and executives and trained many senior teams around the world. Some of his clients include Accenture, American Express, CIGNA, Columbia University, Disney, Dow Chemical, Eli Lilly, Environmental Protection Agency, HCA, Idaho National Laboratory, Honeywell, Intel, Internal Revenue Service, John Hopkins University, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Motorola, NASA, Riverbed Technology, Sprint, Stanford University, and the U.S. Department of Treasury.
Resources mentioned:

• Leader Factor Website
• The Four Stages of Psychological Safety

About the podcast:
The Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it's done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadwithlevity.substack.com

Send us a text

What makes your company stand out in a new and interesting way? Today, we cover the art of storytelling. It’s not just for fairy tales or marketers. The stories we tell to our employees and customers can mean the difference between confusion and clarity.
Give your tribe something compelling to connect to by making your message crystal clear. And, be consistent. Today's guest is Maria Ross. Maria is the head of Red Slice marketing firm where they teach clients how to tell unforgettable stories that make customers nod, laugh, and feel genuinely inspired to take action. Maria has gone through some life altering events that have taught her to let humor and empathy reign. I look forward to sharing her experiences with you today.
In this episode, we cover:

• The art of storytelling and how it applies to business
• Why people aren’t getting on board with your messaging (a good one for content experts)
• Maria Ross’ philosophy on life, business, and authenticity
• How to apply storytelling within the organization
• How to create a “cultural articulation” - the importance of authentically living your brand from the inside out
• How to cultivate empathy and take another person’s point-of-view without getting defensive
• Stay curious. Curiosity is the #1 trait of empathetic people.
• What to do the next time someone asks you how you are feeling.

About today's guest:Maria Ross is the founder of Red Slice, a consultancy that advises solopreneurs, startups, and fast-growth businesses on how to build an irresistible brand story and authentically connect with customers. She is a keynote speaker who regularly speaks to audiences on marketing and building a standout brand that engages the right customers and drives growth. She is the author of Branding Basics for Small Business and The Juicy Guide eBook Series for Entrepreneurs.
Maria started her career as a management consultant with Accenture and went on to build marketing and brand strategies for multiple companies, including Discovery Communications, Monster.com, BusinessObjects (now SAP), and many other startups and technology leaders, before starting her own business. Maria understands the power of empathy at both a brand and personal level: in 2008, six months after launching her business, she suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm that almost killed her. Her humorous and heartfelt memoir about what is was like to survive this health crisis, Rebooting My Brain, has received worldwide praise.
Maria has made numerous media appearances, including on MSNBC, ABCNews.com, and Forbes.com; in Entrepreneur magazine; and on hundreds of radio shows and popular podcasts such as Entrepreneur on Fire, The Shameless Mom Academy, and Suitcase Entrepreneur. She writes a contributor column for Entrepreneur.com and has written for Huffington Post, MarketingProfs.com, Seattle Business, Life by Me, Inspire Me Today, Columbus CEO, among others.
Resources mentioned:

• Website: www.red-slice.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redslicemaria/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redslice/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariajross/
• Email: maria@red-slice.

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadwithlevity.substack.com

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We're kind of in an interesting time right now where people are having to redefine workplace communication. If you find yourself wondering what's appropriate, misinterpreting messages, or wondering how you can connect better with people you don't see anymore then this episode is for you. Today's guest is Dr. Mary Donohue. She studies communication patters within and between generations, and her focus is generational differences in digital communication.
In this episode, we cover:

• What is digital psychology?
• How can we avoid communication breakdowns with others?
• How can we recover from communication errors?
• How can we optimize or rethink the way we communicate with others to support levity in the workplace?
• What are the generational differences in digital communication?

About today's guest:Dr. Mary Donohue has an Ed.D in Leadership Education from Central Michigan University and is an avid cross-discipline researcher. In addition, she is world-renowned TEDX presenter, best-selling author, columnist and television personality. Her mentors include Paul Newman and Robert Kennedy, Jr., and many others. Dr. Mary has a passion for living and celebrating life and for a brief shining moment she will always fondly remember her time as a Supreme with Diana Ross.
Resources mentioned:

• Mary's TedX Talk: How to get along with Boomers, GenXers and Millennials | Mary Donohue | TEDxToronto
• Message Received: 7 Steps to Break Down Communication Barriers at Work
• Donohue Learning

About the podcast:The Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it's done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.
If you want to improve levity at your workplace, consider completing a Levity Audit. It's a new employee feedback survey that will show you exactly what you need to do to create an environment that your employees won't want to leave.

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadwithlevity.substack.com

Send us a text

We're in a space where we have to figure out what we can do to solve new problems. We can't solve them with old solutions. We have to find something new. We have to get creative.
The goal here today is for us to try and find new ways to spark creativity, and our guest is Kathryn Haydon. Kathryn is an innovation consultant, and she's also the founder of Sparkitivity. We chat about how you (and your team) can unleash your potential, how to think about problems in new ways and help others to do the same.
We covered a lot of ground including:

• Kathryn’s story and how she got interested in creativity?
• Kathryn’s definition of creativity
• How Sparkitivity helps companies innovate
• Common misconceptions about creativity
• The biggest roadblocks to creativity
• Are children more creative than adults?
• What can stunt or shut down a person’s creativity
• The key to unlock or grow creativity
• How we can build a culture that supports this
• An exercise that you can try to help get the creative juices flowing
• Is creativity a skill? If so, how can we hone it?
• What to do if you think you aren't creative
• A creativity tool: The Innovator Strengths Workbook
• The inertia of no and rejection therapy

About Today's GuestKathryn Haydon, M.Sc., is a keynote speaker, innovation consultant, and the co-author of Creativity for Everybody. She loves books and uses them as catalysts to inspire innovative thinking for educators and business leaders alike. As a child, Kathryn typed library information cards for all of her books on an old typewriter and alphabetized them on her bookshelves.
Learn more about Kathryn

• Website: sparkitivity.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-haydon/
• Book: The Non-Obvious Guide to Being More Creative No Matter Where You Work

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadwithlevity.substack.com

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This is Lead with Levity Snuggie Edition, and I'm your host, Dr. Heather Walker. If you spent the last few weeks in your underpants, then you're in good company. This episode is for you.
Today we spotlight a CEO who leads with levity, Mr. Papa Bear himself, Matt Barnett. Matt runs an up-and- coming customer engagement platform called Bonjoro. They have an unconventional culture that includes full body bear suits and family friendly activities. In this interview, we discuss:

• Matt's philosophy on work
• How Bonjoro got started
• How he gets professionals to wear bear suits
• Bonjoro's onboarding process
• Remote work in the land of Bonjoro

Key takeaways include:

• Leaders should actively participate in the fun with their teams to show them that it's okay to have fun.
• We need to treat people as whole people--they have lives and a whole world going on outside of the workplace.
• I love that Matt has a Chief Delight Officer to monitor and facilitate customer delight and employee engagement.
• Always be on the lookout for people who you'd like to employ even if you aren't hiring currently. Nurture your talent pipeline.

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadwithlevity.substack.com

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Leaders have much to learn from functional family values. Today, we dive into how approaching the workplace as an extended family can enhance work relationships and the leader-follower connection.
Today’s guest is “Dr. Dave” Schramm, an Assistant Professor and Family Life Extension Specialist at Utah State University in the department of Human Development and Family Studies. He appears monthly on Fox 13’s “The Place” and delivered multiple TedTalks, including “Family Fundamentals: The Secret Sauce to Booming Business. His reach extends internationally through his speaking engagements and interventions designed to promote happy and healthy relationships. He has a dedicated Facebook page (DrDaveUSU) where he shares research and tips on helping individuals, parents, and couples flourish. Dr. Dave also serves on the state of Utah’s Commission on Marriage.
In this episode, we explore:

• What is a family life extension specialist? What do they do?
• What is family science? How does this relate to business?
• Recent TedTalk: What does it mean for an organization to adopt family values and family fundamentals?
• How Dr. Dave came to his conclusions after amazing analyzing Inc.com best workplace employee comments.
• What is family focused leadership? What are the 3 roles that a family-focused leader adopts?
• What is an employee flourish program and how does that compare to an employee assistance program?
• Who would you miss when you die? How can we make our workplaces special enough to make that list?

Resources mentioned:

• www.drdavespeaks.com
• https://www.drdaveschramm.com/
• Family Fundamentals: The Secret Sauce to Booming Business | TEDxEustis
• Dr. Dave Schramm's Happiness Hacks
• Facebook
• Twitter

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadwithlevity.substack.com

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We're constantly being bombarded with breaking news, fear, and sudden restrictions. Join me in this very interesting interview with Kimberly Friedmutter as we unpack the power of hypnosis as a tool for high performers to excel personally and professionally. Kimberly Friedmutter is a certified master hypnotherapist and life management expert.
In this episode, we discuss:

• How your subconscious drives
• The difference between trance, mindfulness, and hypnosis
• The movie "Get Out" and how hypnosis really works
• How we unwittingly create negative anchors and triggers with our text messages
• What to expect during a hypnotherapy session
• How to protect your inner 8-year old
• Why Kimberly only works with high performers
• How to get back on track if you feel like you've lost control of your life
• Techniques to improve work relationships and show up as your best self when you face frustrations at work

About Kimberly FriedmutterAs a popular hypnotherapist and life management expert, Kimberly Friedmutter is known for her knowledge on finding achievement and self-awareness from within while envisioning your ideal future. She has been motivating successful people to reach their true potentials for about a decade now, beginning her career prior to hypnotherapy as an actress and radio host. Drawing on her rigorous training in hypnosis and neurolinguistic programming (NLP), Kimberly shares the secret to navigating life’s hurdles and achieving your highest goals and deepest desires.
Kimberly’s new book, Subconscious Power: Use Your Inner Mind to Create the Life You've Always Wanted has been acknowledged by many celebrities and has been covered by a number of notable publications as a hot new read. Kimberly has helped many successful individuals work towards practicing better habits that lead to a healthier, happier lifestyles and is open to speaking opportunities and interviews.

• Website
• Subconscious Power: Use Your Inner Mind to Create the Life You've Always Wanted
• Facebook

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Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadwithlevity.substack.com

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Join me in this interview with Brynne Kennedy, author, business leader, and Congressional Candidate in the state of California. Brynne shares her experiences as the former head of Topia, a global talent mobility platform. We discuss the challenges of staying connected when the workforce is becoming more and more distributed. Brynne also shared her political platform and areas that she is passionate about. Unlike most episodes, I polled the audience beforehand. The majority of the questions come from you, the people!

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadwithlevity.substack.com