We are back with a new episode of the podcast!

The irony of this episode is, it’s about feelings and helping our teams identify, work through and use their feelings, but mine got in the way of putting this episode out for a couple months. It was recorded shortly after the 2024 election and is getting posted in January of 2025. Not to overshare, but unemployment/ job search, the holidays and my feelings on the outcome of the elections, made the editing and recording an intro of this episode impossible. I would sit down in front of my computer and I just couldn’t make myself do it. Listening to my own voice is always difficult, but this time it was like climbing out of a valley with a backpack full of rocks.

I needed a manager like Sarah to see me struggling and her help to work through it. It gave me an insight into what members of my teams over the years have had to deal with, and my lack of being there to help them. I want to use this experience to remind and inform my leadership in the future.

This is just one of the conversations that I have had with Sarah about feelings and emotions and I know it won’t be the last. She excels in a lot of areas that I need to put some work into.

Summary

In this conversation, Chad and Sarah Young-Sheppard discuss the evolution of Sarah's career and her current role as the founder and executive director of the Social Emotional Wellness Initiative (SEWI). They explore the importance of mental health services for youth, the differences in teaching social-emotional skills to children versus adults, and the challenges of management. Sarah shares insights on effective management strategies, the significance of emotional check-ins, and the hiring process for her nonprofit organization, emphasizing the need for genuine care in team dynamics. Sarah also highlights the value of employee engagement through unique initiatives and the necessity of self-care and kindness in both personal and professional settings.

Over the past few years, getting to know Kimika has been an incredible experience. She came to Seattle to interview for a leadership role at the center where my wife works, and even during the interview process, people were already singing her praises. Her thoughtfulness and genuine care for others were immediately obvious, as she naturally fills any room with that energy. Kimika doesn’t just walk in—she leads by putting others first, which is a rare and inspiring quality.

When I finally had the chance to sit down and talk with her, I quickly realized she is wise beyond her years. She has an incredible gift for listening—truly one of the most powerful listeners I’ve ever met. Her talent lies in asking the right questions and giving people the space to speak, guiding them to either solve their own problems or reveal the information she needs to take action. She’s so good at this, it took me months to even realize she’d been using that skill with me.

One of the most valuable lessons I took from our conversations was the concept of "Rounds." Managers often borrow practices from other industries, like stand-up meetings from software teams. In healthcare, "Rounds" are standard, a way for doctors and nurses to regularly check in with all their patients. Kimika shared how this practice has been adapted for management, especially in today's world of remote or globally distributed teams. These regular, casual check-ins ensure managers keep communication flowing and stay connected with their teams, no matter how far apart they might be. It’s a simple but powerful approach to fostering better relationships and staying on top of what’s happening with employees.

Kimika has so much share and I already can’t wait to have her back!

Visit Managing Humans on:

Substack: https://managinghumanspodcast.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/managinghumanspod/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/managing-humans-podcast/

I met Madeline through a business networking group that is part of the Bramily. The Bramily is a fan group for the singer Brandi Carlile. For people who are big fans of some bands, this seems illogical. Luckily for me, the Bramily is a group of people that are so kind and giving, when a member lost their job, the other members of the group setup a Facebook group to help them find a job.

Madeline and I are both out there looking for new jobs and thinking about our management journey. She was happy to share her experience and thoughts with me. She fits right into the Managing Humans ethos and has spent her management career getting better at taking care of her team and focusing on their success.

To honest our connection, the music this week is Brandi Carlile “themed”. The songs this week are Madeline and mine favorite songs. She even has a tattoo that she showed me during the recording of the podcast. I will try to post that on our Instagram page. Enjoy the episode and then go listen to Brandi Carlile!

Visit Managing Humans on Substack: https://managinghumanspodcast.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/managinghumanspod/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/managing-humans-podcast/

This week, I welcome Chris Flett to the show. We discuss the Walmart management training program, Gateway 2000 retail stores, Blockbuster and Italian coffee in America. Chris brought some great stories and changed my mind on servant leadership (still don’t like the name).

We had a great talk and I can’t wait for everyone to hear this episode!

Music provided by Anastasia Kir from Pixabay

Visit Managing Humans on Substack: https://managinghumanspodcast.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/managinghumanspod/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/managing-humans-podcast/

Visit Managing Humans on Substack: https://managinghumanspodcast.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/managinghumanspod/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/managing-humans-podcast/ Intro and outro music provided by:

Acoustic Guitar 1 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Short Guitar Clip by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

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

Visit Managing Humans on Substack: https://managinghumanspodcast.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/managinghumanspod/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/managing-humans-podcast/ Intro and outro music provided by: Creative Commons Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit managinghumanspodcast.substack.com

In an industry famous for high turnover and massive burnout, Cher Dueck has not only survived, but thrived! She has taken what she has learned in an almost 30 year career and now works with business owners to deliver better service for customers and a better work experience for their employees.

Cher is a kind and thoughtful person, who has spent a great deal of time working to improve the Toronto hospitality scene for everyone involved. Her experience in the industry and in hiring, is going to be valuable to everyone who Manages Humans.

Visit Managing Humans on Substack: https://managinghumanspodcast.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/managinghumanspod/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/managing-humans-podcast/

Intro and outro music provided by:

Creative Commons Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com

Visit Managing Humans on Substack: https://managinghumanspodcast.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/managinghumanspod/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/managing-humans-podcast/

Intro and outro music provided by:

Creative Commons Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com

This is an introduction to the podcast. Leave your comments or email [email protected]

Come back next week to hear from our first guest Ben Wilson!