Lead with Levity

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Join me in this fantastic interview with Dr. Melanie Katzman. Dr. Katzman is a business psychologist, advisor, and consultant to the world·s top public and private companies, government agencies and nonprofits. She is the founder of Katzman Consulting, working with private companies, government agencies and nonprofits.
In this episode, we discuss:⦁Common disconnects between people⦁How we can challenge our assumptions to connect on a deeper level with others⦁How to clear any negative energy before approaching someone else⦁How to transition from polite small talk to the real agenda⦁What can we do to maintain connection with remote workers or when working across timezones⦁What happens when you take a hard stance "I'm not here to make friends"⦁Dr. Katzman's take on shared office space and how it creates barriers for meaningful connections⦁Questions to ask to check-in during one-on-ones⦁What to do if you've been disconnected from others at work

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Will having fun at work diminish my image as a leader? Great question! Let's discuss.
Join me as I interview Harrison Monarth. Harrison is an executive coach to the executives, managers, and high performers among Fortune 500 companies. Harrison Monarth shares 20+ years of experiences as well as advice for anyone who wants to put their best foot forward at work, advance their careers, and get noticed for their executive presence.
He also shares a free executive presence self-assessment that you can complete at www.executivepresenceindicator.com
In this episode, we discuss:

• How Harrison became an executive coach
• What is executive presence
• How leaders can unwittingly harm their own credibility
• How aspiring leaders can hone their executive presence
• How to avoid becoming someone that people despise at work
• What executive presence looks like for women in leadership
• Recommendations for young leaders - how to get respect at work despite your age
• Harrison's thoughts on whether or not executives can keep their status if they endorse levity
• One problem out there in the world that levity solves

Connect with Harrison Monarth

• LinkedIn | Website
• Executive Presence, Second Edition: The Art of Commanding Respect like a CEO
• Free Executive Presence Indicator Self-Assessment

About this Episode

• Episode: 16
• Title: Executive Presence: Lessons from an Executive Coach to the Fortune 500
• Release Date: February 2, 2020
• Guest: Harrison Monarth

Connect with Dr. Walker: Website | LinkedIn | 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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How are your 2020 goals and New Year’s resolutions coming along? If you’re struggling with resolutions, perhaps it’s because you’re trying to resolve things that are meant to remain open-ended.
If you resolved to relate differently to your team this year then this is the episode for you. I want to set you up for success this year with additional encouragement as well as tools to help you maintain your energy, reduce distractions, and get going on those goals!
Join me as I interview Mayo Oshin-- a writer, researcher and entrepreneur, on a mission to uncover the art and science of building better habits.
His work is regularly featured on several major media outlets, including Business Insider, Entrepreneur, Inc. Magazine, Quartz, Thrive Global and more.
The home of his work is MayoOshin.Com, where he shares weekly well-researched ideas to his free newsletter, on how to build better habits, make better decisions and live a better life.
In this episode we discuss:

• How your identity links to your habits
• Why your identity may be sabotaging your New Year’s resolutions
• How procrastination is like an addiction
• Ways to overcome procrastination
• An exercise to use to uncover the reasons behind your behaviors
• How to eliminate distractions that keep you from being productive
• How to use mindfulness to overcome fear and stop running on autopilot
• Several major studies that will support your goals to change your behavior
• How to strategically plan your energy to be most productive

Mayo Oshin Quotes

• "Too many of us are quick to put the laser focus on our disabilities instead of asking the question ‘given what I have, what can I do?’ That conflict right there is what prevents people from changing habits long term."
• “You’re not lazy….you’re afraid.”
• “Procrastination is like a drug in a way. It’s a way to cope with these negative emotions.”
• “The mistake me make often is that we just go into the office, go to work, and we just tackle whatever is in front of us...It’s like a war zone. ‘Whatever is thrown at me I’m gonna just deal with.’ Firefighting with no sort of strategy in terms of understanding of how your energy comes into play.”

Connect with Mayo Oshin

• LinkedIn | Website
• The Weekly Motivational Newsletter (a free newsletter)

About this Episode

• Episode: 15
• Title:Your Team Needs You! How to Overcome Procrastination and Get Things Done
• Release Date: January 20, 2020
• Guest: Mayo Oshin

Connect with Lead with Levity: Website | LinkedIn | 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 as I interview Dr. Donna Hicks, a TEDxStormant speaker, author, researcher, and international expert on dignity and conflict resolution. We cover the 10 elements of dignity, how Dr. Hicks got interested in dignity research and how she applied it to international negotiations and conflict resolution. We also discuss the difference between dignity and respect, the most common violations of dignity in the workplace, and how to address dignity violations and confront a violator.
About Donna Hicks, Ph.D.Dr. Donna Hicks has a long resume and history of working to help people understand the concept of dignity. Here’s a list of highlights:

• Dr. Hicks is the Deputy Director of the Program on International Conflict Analysis and Resolution (PICAR) at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University.
• Israeli/Palestinian conflict - unofficial diplomatic efforts
• Founded and co-directed a ten-year project in Sri Lanka
• Conflicts in Northern Ireland and Colombia and conducted several US/Cuba dialogues
• She is the Vice President of Ara Pacis, an Italian non-governmental organization based in Rome. They are currently involved in a dignity restoration project in Syria and Libya.
• Dr. Hicks was a consultant to the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) where she co-facilitated encounters between victims and perpetrators of the Northern Irish conflict with Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The encounters were made into 3 television programs, Facing the Truth, which were aired throughout the United Kingdom and on BBC World.
• Taught courses in conflict resolution at Harvard, Clark, and Columbia Universities
• Conducts trainings and educational seminars in the US and abroad on the role dignity plays in healing and reconciling relationships in conflict as well as dignity leadership training.
• Clients include the World Bank, the United Nations, the US Navy, and governments worldwide
• Donna Hicks spoke at TEDxStormont

In this episode we discuss:

• The 10 elements of dignity
• How Dr. Hicks got interested in dignity research and how she applied it to international negotiations and conflict resolution
• The difference between dignity and respect
• The most common violations of dignity in the workplace
• Tips on how to address dignity violations and confront a violator
• How do we build a culture that supports this?

Quotes

• “I made a promise to Archbishop Tutu that I would never ever again say that people can have their dignity stripped.”
• "If we don’t lovingly embrace our own dignity it’s harder to do it with others….we’re not only valuable and worthy, but we are invaluable. We’re priceless, and we’re irreplaceable."

Timestamps [18:40] 10 Elements of Dignity:

1. Being able to maintain one’s identity and have others accept it
2. Recognition and praise for doing something praiseworthy
3. Acknowledgement that something terrible happened
4. Inclusion and sense of belonging
5. Safety--physical and psychological
6. Fairness
7. Autonomy and independence
8. Understanding
9. Benefit of the doubt
10. An apology if something bad happens

"The brain doesn’t know the difference between a violation to your dignity and a physical wound.”
[20:23] A conversation Dr. Hi

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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!

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Join me as I interview Rob Moore, a UK real estate mogul. We discuss what it means to be a disruptive entrepreneur, his thoughts on company culture, and levity at work.
Rob has held 3 world records for public speaking and authored 9 books including global best-seller Life Leverage. Rob founded and co-owns Progressive Property, the UK's largest property education business and own/manages over 750 properties with his partner. Through the Rob Moore Foundation, he provides an opportunity for underprivileged individuals, start-ups and small established businesses to gain valuable support, investment and mentorship from some of the best in the business. All his profits from his book Money go to the foundation.
In this episode we discuss:

• Rob Moore's story
• Thomas Cook's recent mass layoffs
• How he achieves success through community building and collaborations
• How to build a community that lasts as your business grows
• Top challenges that leaders face
• Why entrepreneurs struggle with management
• The mental shift that solopreneurs and entrepreneurs need to make to manage teams
• The magic size for a great company culture
• The values that Progressive Property holds to help them maintain levity
• How to build a loyal team

Quotes

• [9:20] Top challenges for entrepreneurs who are scaling and his experiences as he scaled - "The difference between a leader and a manager is huge...once we put one layer of management in that really changed the culture."
• [8:35] "I believe in growth through communities and collaborations"
• [18:00] "When you're an entrepreneur and you hire people, in your mind, you think that people work for you. No one works for you ever. People work for themselves and you're paying them."
• [24:41] On a potential problem at home: "You want to know what's wrong with your staff so you can help them become more productive. If you assume that it's performance when actually it's illness at home or something in their personal life, then in a way they're getting penalized for that and you're not understanding why they're not productive. When you care to find out what's really going on in their life, 1) you get them more productive quick which is good for your business, and 2) you build loyalty.
• [29:29] "...love your art, love your mission, but be a liked individual."

Get Connected to Rob Moore:

• Website: www.robmoore.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robmooreprogressive/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/robprogressive
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robmooreprogressive
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/robmoore1979/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwUx_z05pHI

Get Connected with Dr. Walker

• Website: https://www.leadwithlevity.com
• Email: [email protected]

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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Join me as I interview Dr. Joseph Michelli, Chief Experience Officer and Customer Service Expert
**Stick around to learn how you can enter to win a trip to California to tour Airbnb headquarters and learn more about how they approach the customer experience (deadline to enter: December 16, 2019). ***
Are you ready to transfer the excitement you have for your products and services to your customers? Tune in as we discuss the following:

• Inputs to a healthy customer experience
• How Zappos uses play to get employees to go the extra mile (and love it while they do)
• About Dr. Michelli and the Michelli Experience
• How Airbnb disrupted the hotel industry
• A new breakfast strategy that Godiva is taking to delight its customers
• How the convenience store industry is currently being disrupted

About Dr. Joseph Michelli

• Learn more about the Michelli Experience (https://www.josephmichelli.com/)
• Connect with Dr. Michelli on Twitter | LinkedIn

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

• Learn more about the Airbnb travel contest
• Book: The Airbnb Way: 5 Leadership Lessons for Igniting Growth through Loyalty, Community, and Belonging
• Book:The New Gold Standard: 5 Leadership Principles for Creating a Legendary Customer Experience Courtesy of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company
• Book: Driven to Delight: Delivering World-Class Customer Experience the Mercedes-Benz Way
• Book: The Starbucks Experience: 5 Principles for Turning Ordinary Into Extraordinary
• Book: The Zappos Experience: 5 Principles to Inspire, Engage, and WOW

About this Episode

• Episode: 12
• Title: Delight Customers the Airbnb Way + TRAVEL GIVEAWAY
• Release Date: December 9, 2019
• Guest: Joseph Michelli, Ph.D.

Connect with Lead with Levity: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

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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Is it possible to excel at work without being mentally and physically drained at the end of the day when we return to our family and friends? Listen in as we discuss short mindfulness practices that can both improve our productivity at work and energize us throughout the day.
Today we will be joined by Women’s Mindful Empowerment Coach and Psychotherapist, Shonda Moralis. She reveals:

• The mental and physical benefits of mindfulness breaks
• How to fit mindfulness breaks into your busy schedule
• How to bring mindfulness into the workplace

What's covered in this episode:

• Introduction to Shonda Moralis
• What is Mindfulness Empowerment?
• 5-minute mindfulness breaks can help us become more productive and efficient
• Mindfulness is an intentional, daily practice
• Shonda’s advice on building up the skill of mindfulness
• How to handle mind wandering off during meditation
• How to bring mindfulness into the workplace
• What to do when you feel like you can’t set aside 5 minutes to practice mindfulness
• Tools that can remind you to meditate
• Shonda’s advice to moms who come home mentally and physically exhausted after work
• How to sprinkle your day with mindfulness breaks
• Shonda talks about her book launch for “Breathe, Empower, Achieve: 5-Minute Mindfulness for Busy Women”
• Bonus: Heather on practicing mindfulness and helping others when they are stressed out

Quotes--- On mindfulness empowerment

• “It’s this marriage between mindfulness – being able to calm ourselves and have insight and awareness – and empowerment i.e. allowing us to level up in our lives.”
• When we slow down just a notch, the pace of our day goes from feeling frantic and urgent to more calm and sustainable. We become more productive and more efficient. We’re not as stressed out so we can sustain our energy longer.
• We can’t control outside factors. But we can control our reaction to them.
• We can take a mindful break anytime, anywhere.
• The definition of mindfulness -- or the one I like to use -- is being aware of what’s happening in the moment with an attitude of kindness and curiosity and acceptance.

-- On dealing with the mind wandering off during meditation

• Our mind will never stop wandering off. That’s what it’s designed to do. It’s about noticing when we wander off, where we wander off to, and then bringing our attention back.

Get Connected with Shonda Moralis: http://shondamoralis.net/
Resources Mentioned in the Episode

• Breathe, Mama, Breathe: 5-Minute Mindfulness for Busy Moms by Shonda Moralis

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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Have you ever really wanted to connect to someone but couldn’t get around the awkwardness? Join us as we discuss actionable tips on how you can approach that next conversation with a stranger at a networking event, your team, your supervisor, or family and friends.
Today we will be joined by Founder of People Formula and social psychologist, Robin Dreeke!
Former Head of the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, Robin Dreeke shares his experiences recruiting foreign spies for the FBI and reveals:

• How to build rapport without coming off as creepy or suspicious
• What to do when people have their guards up
• His four pillars for making the entire conversation about the other person

TIME STAMPS[04:20] Introduction to Robin Dreeke
[05:19] How long was Robin Dreeke with the FBI?
[05:35] What Robin Dreeke does as a behavioral analyst?
[06:47] Robin Dreeke on recruiting foreign spies for the FBI

• What is the process of recruiting a foreign spy? [07:24]
• How do you get close to a foreign spy to recruit them? [09:30]
• Don’t the spies see you coming and have their guards up? [10:34]
• Two methodologies that intelligence services use - covert approach or the beacon approach [10:51]

[11:37] How do you build rapport in a way that doesn’t come off as creepy or suspicious?

• Robin’s three anchors
• Have a healthy and professional relationship [12:22]
• Have open and honest communication and transparency [10:35]
• Be an available resource for the success of others without expectation of reciprocity [12:49]
• Four pillars to making the entire conversation about the other person
• Seek their thoughts and opinions [13:17]
• Talk in terms of their priorities [13:21]
• Validate who they are without judging them [13:28]
• Empower them with choices [13:40]

[18:16] Lessons Robin learnt when he was ranked last out of all the second lieutenants in the Marine Corps

• How to be a better leader — Make it about everyone else but yourself [18:23]
• The new car effect [19:14]

[19:56] Robin’s advice on how to build rapport at a networking event

• Look for someone who’s smiling [20:31]
• Seek their thought or opinion about a third-party reference [20:44]

QUOTES--- On behavioral analysis

• Behavioral analysis throughout my entire career both inside and outside the FBI really came down to communication with people and leading.

— On leadership

• Leadership (at least one aspect of it) is moving towards a goal with either one or a group of people.

— On recruiting foreign spies for the FBI

• My job inside the FBI was to strategize how to recruit a foreign spy. And that requires a massive amount of behavioral analysis to come up with ways that strategize trust and strategize a strong, healthy relationship.

• It [recruiting foreign spies] is basically trying to recruit individual

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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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Culture is such a hot topic right now. If someone told you that your culture needs a reboot where would you begin? How long does it take to change a culture?
Tune in as we discuss practical ways to shift corporate culture. Today we will be joined by Founder and CEO of QuayFive, Kirsty Bashforth!
Kirsty Bashforth is founder and CEO of QuayFive Ltd, and 20+ year veteran of British Petroleum (BP). Kirsty shares her experiences helping BP shift its culture after the Macondo well oil leak in 2010.
A change management professional, Kirsty Bashforth reveals:

• key questions for any CEO who wants a shift in company culture;
• factors that determine how long a culture change takes; and,
• three practical tips on changing company culture.

TIME STAMPS[02:54] Introduction to Kirsty Bashforth
[04:23] The sort of companies Kirsty typically works with
[05:15] How Kirsty rose through the ranks at BP and helped change the company culture
[06:16] Kirsty’s first question to any CEO who says, “I need to change our culture. We have these values on the wall, and we’re not living up to them.”
[09:31] How long does it typically take to shift company culture?

• Rule of thumb Kirsty uses -- For a proper shift, it takes three cycles of any process [11:16]
• Factors that affect how long it takes to shift company culture [12:17]

[12:37] Three practical tips for changing a culture

• Align your culture with your strategy. [12:55]
• Treat culture as an equal partner with strategy. [13:13]
• Think behavioural economics, not traditional project management. [13:49]

[16:10] You’ll never get everybody as engaged as you’d like.
[17:17] Shifting big organisations depends on the operating model and ownership structure of the company.
[18:14] Kirsty’s biggest challenge when trying to work with different organisations
[20:26] Kirsty’s positive experiences with some leadership teams
[22:51] Cultural diversity in the workplace -- Some of the richer conversations Kirsty’s had about culture were when there were more geographic cultures in the room
QUOTES--- On workplace culture

• The workplace culture is people’s habits, behaviours, perceptions, assumptions that all add up to “the way things are done around here”.
• A lot of it [workplace culture] comes from the individuals. It’s not as simple as telling one of us to behave differently or to have a different habit.

--- On shifting company culture

• The starting point for many who haven’t thought about this topic much is, it’s either the wrong words are on the wall [they think] or it’s because they are struggling with “something about our culture doesn’t seem to help where we need to go as a company.
• We can start off by assuming the problem [with the company culture] is those people over there. But when I try to help leadership teams really work out, it actually often starts with us.
• I never start with “this is

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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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"Bringing truth and trust back to marketing"
Today we will be joined by award-winning advertising professional and author, Ron Tite!
CEO of Church+State, Ron Tite notes that content creators are competing for the consumer’s time, and so he focuses on bringing only good advertising/authentic content to consumers.

Introduction
Welcome to the Lead with Levity podcast. My goal is to interview a diverse set of leaders who are interested in making a big impact on the employee experience and willing to share their perspectives on levity at work.
Today we will be joined by award-winning advertising professional and author, Ron Tite!
CEO of Church+State, Ron Tite notes that content creators are competing for the consumer’s time, and so he focuses on bringing only good advertising/authentic content to consumers.
TIME STAMPS[03:31] About Church+State
[05:15] Best techniques for internal marketing -- How to inspire employees to get on board
[09:05] Building trust by being authentic i.e. being honest and imperfect
[13:25] How corporate buzzwords can erode trust
[16:09] Ron talks about the dark side of marketing
[22:16] How can organizations compete for attention with a workforce that is used to having messaging that is targeted specifically for them?
[27:08] Viewing employees from a marketing perspective | What makes a great brand?

• What do you firmly believe in? [27:43]
• What actions do you take to reinforce that belief? [29:45]
• The marketing message i.e. How do you then talk about it? [29:56]

QUOTES--- On Church+State:

• “The phrase “the separation of church and state” is typically applied to the relationship between advertising and content. We believe that, now, any ad can be a piece of content if it’s good enough, and any piece of content can be an ad if it’s authentic enough.”

• “If you’re pumping out content for people to consume, you’re actually competing against Time Magazine. And so, as an individual, you should think the same way and apply the same process and standards to the work that you generate as Time Magazine does.”

• “It doesn’t matter whether you’re a brand, a media company, or a person, we’re all just competing for time.”

---- On convincing employees to join you

• “New behaviours are what lead to growth.”

• “How do I motivate and inspire people to join me? That is based on what you think, what you do, and what you say. People need to know exactly what you believe in, they need to see that you follow that up with actions that reinforce that belief, and you need to talk about it in an honest and imperfect way.”

---- On being honest and imperfect

• “There are two types of honesty. The first is the external honesty with your stakeholders --- You don’t lie to your customers and you don’t lie to your employees. The second one is more powerful, and that is being honest with yourself.”

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