Lead with Levity

Send us a text

Today we will be graced by Austin’s beloved radio personality, author, motivational speaker, and business consultant extraordinaire -- Ms. Kimberly Holiday!

Lead with Levity Podcast Show NotesEpisode: 7Release date: September 30, 2019Title: A bridge to JOY through restorative circlesGuest: Kimberly “Lady Joy” HolidayRadio Personality, Author, and Business Consultant (Austin, Texas)

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 graced by Austin’s beloved radio personality, author, motivational speaker, and business consultant extraordinaire -- Ms. Kimberly Holiday!
Kimberly Holiday, otherwise known to most as LadyJoy, is the on air personality for KAZI 88.7 FM’s The Juice and Jam Morning Show, but she wears many hats.

• As the owner of The Mobile Nanny Staffing Agency, she’s able to fulfill her personal commitment to child and family advocacy.
• As a published author and motivational speaker, Ms. Holiday’s inspirational messages cross domestic and international boundaries.

She has a heart to serve others by modeling the potential to live with joy regardless of life’s circumstances. Her smile is her logo and #Gotjoy is her brand!
TIME STAMPS[04:13] The story behind the #GotJoy brand
[05:44] How do you bring the concept of #GotJoy into the work you do? | Bonus: Why Kimberly's called Lady Joy
[08:19] Lady Joy talks about healing circles
[10:00] Is there a place for healing circles in the corporate setting?
[12:48] When is the best time for an organization to do healing circles?
[14:55] Kimberly talks about her experience with sexual molestation and her healing
[16:24] Addressing emotional literacy through healing circles

[16:58] Healing circles are a conduit to get you through a place of healing to a place of joy
[17:43] Kimberly explains emotional literacy
[19:27] The impact of emotional literacy on the workplace
[21:32] Is there a link between joy and levity? | Kimberly talks about changeableness
[22:55] How would you incorporate levity into what you do?
[24:09] Have you done any of the [learning] circles with adults?
[25:45] Kimberly talks about mental wellness

QUOTES--- On Levity

• "Levity involves quality interactions, and there's a certain level of realness that has to occur between people for them to get to that point." Heather Walker

• "Levity to me almost feels fluid, like liquid gold that can seep into every single nook, cranny and crevice, and it can reach places that humor and strategy and business meetings cannot reach."

• "When we talk about levity, we're not saying

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 differentiates a successful leader from the rest?" Guest Dr. John Gillis, Jr.

Episode: 6Title: Lessons from World Cup ChampionsRelease date: September 16, 2019Guest: John Gillis, Jr. Ed.D. (President and CEO of Leadership X in Austin, Texas)
IntroductionWelcome to the Lead with Levity podcast. My goal is to help leaders build healthy work environments through advice, tools, and connection they get from this podcast. I’m excited about today’s guest--Dr. John Gillis Jr.

• He co-authored the best-seller Powerhouse: 13 Teamwork Tactics that Build Excellence and Unrivaled Success.
• He built a futuristic, yet surprisingly accurate personality-based business simulation for executive development program called the “Leadership Xperience.”
• He’s a Program Director for The Conference Board.
• He serves on the Board of Wonders and Worries, a mental health organization that provides support for children and teens when their parents get sick.
• And he’s built up credibility over the years through his consulting work at well known firms like Accenture, IBM, and First Order Consulting.

What can I say? This guy is amazing.
TIME STAMPS

• [00:56]Where John Gillis gets the time and energy to achieve it all
• [01:55]John Gillis describes his brand in a nutshell
• [03:36]When do companies need John the most?
• [05:54]John talks about how his typical process in helping organizations
• [08:27]What are the top issues that keep a team from sustaining success and growth?
• [11:52]What differentiates a successful leader from the rest?
• [13:35]What one needs to do to get to a point where they can successfully lead a team?
• [17:09]If you could give the Best in Class Lead with Levity Award today to a company, who would you name?
• [19:57]What’s on the horizon for John Gillis?
• [22:45]If levity could fix one problem out there in the world, what would it be? “If we could have levity with our governments in the United States and across the world, we could have collaborative, forward-thinking conversations to make the world a better place.”

Contact John GillisYou can learn more about Dr. Gillis and the resources he mentioned by following these links:

• Website | LinkedIn | Twitter
• Receive the weekly Leadership Xpressions
• Get a copy of Powerhouse today! http://amzn.com/1626346380
• Email: [email protected]

Quotes

• “To be effective at being a facilitator, a consultant, an MC, you need to have the diverse experiences.”
• “High-performing, successful companies continue to invest in their teamwork, their leadership, and their people.”
• “Every organization culture is different. You can’t pick an out-of-the-box solution.”
• “What differentiates a successful leader from the rest?

1. Setting expectations
2. Developing each individual on the team
3. Inspiring the team members.”

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

Jennifer McDonnell specializes in organizational development and she brings an interesting perspective to the conversation through her work in retail, higher education, pharmaceuticals, and housing.

Lead with Levity Podcast Show Notes
Episode: 5Title: Can I be HUMAN with YOU?Release date: September 16, 2019Guest: Jennifer McDonnell (Senior Organizational Development Specialist of Senior Living Services, Brentwood, Missouri)
Jennifer McDonnell specializes in organizational development and she brings an interesting perspective to the conversation through her work in retail, higher education, pharmaceuticals, and housing.
Jennifer currently supports Lutheran Senior Services, a large faith-based non-profit that is spread out across 21 locations in Missouri and Illinois. Lutheran Senior Services has provided housing and assisted living services in the community for 160 years!
Time Stamps
[01:44] Who is an organizational development specialist?
[03:14] About Lutheran Senior Services
[04:00] With Lutheran Senior Services being so spread out, how do you maintain an overarching culture?
[07:40] What Lutheran Senior Services does to manage employee experience
[11:04] Out of the different ways data is collected at Lutheran, what do you think pays off the most?
[13:11] Taking care of your staff so they can take care of your clients
[16:05] What is the biggest people factor that keeps you and your team up at night?
[19:25] What attracts workers to Lutheran Senior Services?
[23:07] Is levity good or bad for business?
[24:43] Is there a place for levity at Lutheran Senior Services? If so, what would that look like, and what barriers would you have to overcome to get started?
[26:53] What’s the best part of the culture at Lutheran Senior Services?
[31:10] If levity could fix one problem out there in the world, what would it be?
QUOTES· When I think about the development that we do with our leaders, I spend a lot of time talking about having those conversations that open up that leader-employee relationship, this piece of lightness like, “Oh, I can talk to you, and it’s not all about work production.”
· Levity is good for business. When we bring all these people into the workplace with different experiences, levity says, “Oh I can still be human with you. I can still laugh with you.” It builds trust, and when you trust someone, it’s like, “I want to work for you. And I know you want the best for me.”
· Sometimes as a leader, you have to give up a little bit of your vulnerability to allow people to feel safe to be human with you.
· [on overcoming barriers to levity in the workplace] We would have to knock down some cultural barriers within the workplace to say, “Hey, figure out three things you want to share with your employees and be transparent about as a person.”
· To take care of folks, to change diapers, to be at the beck and call of another human can be t

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

“Creating an environment where levity is a big component of it, where people can be their more authentic selves, is going to increase the likelihood that you keep the people that you want to keep within your organization.” Guest Dr. Robert Patterson
Lead with Levity Podcast Show Notes
Introduction
Dr. Robert Patterson is a licensed psychologist and senior consultant at Collarelli, Meyer, and Associates, a midwest management consulting firm with a global reach. They’ve been in business since 1975 serving the Fortune 500, nonprofits, and even some family owned businesses. Dr. Patterson is passionate about building leadership capacity and supercharging high performing teams. He’s currently an external consultant, but he also has several years of experience working in a governmental setting supporting training and professional development for employees at the Department of Veteran Affairs. He’s a well traveled, cultured professional with an eye on factors that support business success.

TIME STAMPS[11:35]Robert Patterson talks about his dissertation on personality-type factors and situational factors that might predict resistance to change[13:45]What kind of consulting Robert does at CMA[15:04]Do you ever work with smaller companies or startups?[16:39]Do small startups tend to mess up hiring because they are in rush mode?[21:47]Robert talks about the possible implications of the freelance workforce[25:05]What differentiates great leaders from the rest?[26:27] Agility in meeting your team’s and other stakeholder’s needs.[27:36] Vulnerability – understanding you don’t have the right answers all the time.[29:36] In terms of diversity, equity and inclusion, what are the trends and what do you wish people will do differently?[32:09]Inclusion is not just checking X number of boxes[38:20]From a diversity and inclusion standpoint, is there a place for levity in the workplace?[45:01]If levity could fix one problem in the world, what would it be?
Contact Dr. Robert PattersonLinkedIn | Twitter | Website Resources Mentioned in the EpisodeProsci Change Management Certification ProgramCMA Consult website Quotes

• “If you look at organizations that function well, a big component of that is that there are people who want to be there.”
• “The employee comment box – having it there but not doing anything with it is almost worse than not having anything at all.”
• “A big part of our business is helping organizations identify the people that are going to be the right fit for both the role they’re looking for and the culture of the organization.”
• “What makes a great leader in organization A may or may not make for a great leader in organization B.”
• “In addition to the culture, you have to be comfortable adapting to the needs of the organization

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

Psychological Associates specializes in selection, development and retention of top talent. They use assessments to raise self-awareness and to create a base for emotional intelligence as well as behavioral change at a level that permeates the organization. Guest: Dr. Patricia Bagsby

Lead with Levity Podcast Show Notes
Episode: 3Title: Excuse me, there’s something in your toothRelease date: September 16, 2019Guest: Patricia Bagsby, Ph.D. (Vice President of Organizational Consulting, Psychological Associates in St. Louis, Missouri)
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.
Dr. Bagsby is an organizational psychologist and top executive at Psychological Associates, a Saint Louis based consulting firm that’s been in business for 60 years. Psychological Associates specializes in selection, development and retention of top talent. They use assessments to raise self-awareness and to create a base for emotional intelligence as well as behavioral change at a level that permeates the organization. Dr. Bagsby doesn’t just lead this organization, she leads with excellence. She recently made Workforce Magazine’s 2019 list of Game Changers.
Levity is about connection.

Time Stamps

• [02:14]About Psychological Associates
• [02:39]Who is Psychological Associates’ target customer?
• [03:18]How do people reach out to Psychological Associates for assistance?
• [03:58]The leadership philosophy at Psychological Associates
• [04:51]Psychological Associates has seen it all – from the superstar leader to the complete trainwreck.
• [06:37]How do you walk someone through a hard trainwreck year?
• [08:15]Psych Associates’ assessments are about where you can get better
• [09:40]A leader who checks all the boxes and is really rocking it, what differentiates them from the rest?
• [10:29]The top interpersonal issues Psych Associates has noticed in leaders
• [14:07]Brief explanation of the Q4 Dimensional Model of Behavior
• [17:45]How closely related is the Q4 model to personality?
• [18:10]Shifting the focus from personality to behavior
• [20:50]Combining personality assessments with the Q4 model
• [22:21]Patricia Bagsby on working in a company where everything was serious all the time
• [24:21]Do you think levity is good for business?
• [25:15]Answer
• [26:07]If you could give the Best in Class Lead with Levity Award today to a company, who would you name?
• [29:10]If levity could fix 1 problem out there in the world, what would it be?
• “I see it as reducing the defensiveness so you can have that conversation – giving you a door into a dialogue that maybe never would have happened.”

Quotes

• “Absolutely get the job done.”
• “Results are important, but relationships are equally important.”
• “If I’m making a tough decision or even an exciting, new direction, I think about it from both sides – what’s the result side of it and what’s the people side of it?”
• “You can see someone who’s a superstar have a trainwreck day or a trainwreck year.”
• “Ther

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

Managers are often expected to drive the culture. Are they concerned that allowing a little levity might also mean that they have to "bring the fun"? If so, what impact might that have on their reputations? Is the responsibility on employees or management?
Join me as I reflect on these questions, sharing personal stories about the Office Olympics and Team Star Wars.

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

Some lead with hope. Others lead with fear. I lead with levity. If you want your employees to care as much about your business as you do, then you should care about levity too.
Allow me to introduce myself, my research on this topic, and why I care so much about cultivating levity at work.
TIME STAMPS[01:15] What is an organizational psychologist?
[02:04] Why I started Lead with Levity podcast
[03:30] How this all started
[05:46] Employee engagement – What gets someone to the point of disengagement?
[07:25] Digging into the concept of fun
[09:23] What is levity?Levity is considered an uplifting and/or pleasurable dynamic between two or more individuals that lacks tension and anxiety.
[13:47] Three components of levity- Buoyancy: an interaction that is organic in its origin and requires minimal effort.- Amusement: a pleasurable interaction that incorporates playful exchanges.- Edification: is an interaction that’s psychologically uplifting in that it celebrates achievements or corrects behavior in a manner that’s easily absorbed and appreciated by the recipient.
Connect with Heather WalkerWebsite | LinkedIn
Books Mentioned in the EpisodeThe Levity Effect: Why It Pays to Lighten Up by Adrian Gostick, Scott Christopher

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