On a human level, we know that we all have struggles. But the definition of a good leader is not someone who leaves everything at home because they need to be seen as strong and impactful. In fact, vulnerability is a much more important trait of leadership. It’s just one component of helping teams flourish at work.

Organizations and leaders need to be more aware than ever about the changing workforce. New technology and new workers are allowing teams to work more efficiently and more autonomously. But when old school politics and practices get in the way, workers don’t feel supported or appreciated. Add to that the growing awareness of mental health and psychological safety and team members at all levels are reevaluating life and work and making big changes.

On this episode of the Mental Health for Leaders podcast, coach Daryll Bryant is sharing what organizations and leaders can do to support the mental health and safety of teams so both the organization and employees can flourish. He shares a personal example that helped reframe his own view of mental health awareness and conversations.

Everyone deserves to flourish. Are you giving your employees the ability to do just that?

About Daryll Bryant:

Daryll Bryant is a transformational leader with a distinguished career in manufacturing, providing outstanding results for several Fortune 100 companies.  He has a vast repository of high-level skill sets as a Lean manufacturing operations expert and change leader.

Daryll’s passion is in supporting operations efforts to increase productivity, reduce costs and grow profits using his ™ “The Winning With Excellence System’.  As a Coach, his approach is to guide leaders to leverage team engagement to unlock the collective genius of their people. Connect with Daryll on LinkedIn.

Mentioned in this Episode of Mental Health for Leaders:

• OptimizeU
• Daryll's talk at the SHRM22 Conference - Reimaging the Future of Work: How Leaders Can Promote Flourishing
• SHRM Annual Conference & Expo
• Mental Health Skills Training

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is a hot topic right now and one that a lot of organizations have begun to address. But are they really doing the work? Not always, says podcast guest Nicole Yeldell Butts.

We know that diversity work is necessary but the challenge is getting leaders to do the work alongside the organization. It’s not a box to be checked or a meeting that needs to be held. DEI work needs to be part of an organization’s values and day-to-day operations.

In this episode, we talk about the fear of pushback when you start talking about diversity, why it’s okay to get it wrong (because you will), the role of organizational justice in your DEI work, and the future of diversity work. Nicole shares her framework around creating systemic, effective, and sustainable cultural change in your organization.

About Nicole L. Yeldell Butts:

Nicole Butts is an accomplished Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) executive, strategist, coach, facilitator, and public speaker who specializes in transforming executives into inclusive and equitable organizational leaders. As a facilitator of learning and challenging cultural dialogues, Nicole creates welcoming and safe spaces for people to engage, explore, and grow.

During her 20-year career, she has built multiple inaugural DEI offices while serving as a chief diversity officer, a director of employee diversity, inclusion, and climate and a director of equal employment.

Nicole is the founder of NLYB Solutions, a DEI consulting firm helping executives, executive teams, and organizations courageously and effectively navigate personal, professional, and organizational DEI journeys. She is the creator of SHIFT, a transformational five-step framework for creating systemic, effective, measurable and sustainable DEI cultures.

NLYB Solutions was recognized as a Top Ten Emerging Diversity & Inclusion Company of 2021 by HR Tech Outlook magazine. Connect with her on LinkedIn and find out more on her website.

Mentioned in this Episode of Mental Health for Leaders:

• Mental Health for Leaders podcast episode with Lindsay Harle-Kadatz – Values as Action
• Nicole’s talk at the SHRM22 Conference – SHIFT: A Framework for Transformational Cultural Change 
• SHRM Annual Conference & Expo
• Mental Health Skills Training

The world is different than it was 3 years ago, and it is different than it will be 3 years from now. Change is a constant in life and business alike, and as people leaders it's an opportunity that we get to intentionally adapt to these changes along the way.

Today on the podcast, Jennifer McClure joins me to answer questions about what changes HR leadership has faced over the years and how it will continue to change into the future. With an emphasis on skills like problem solving, integrity, and relationship building, it’s clear that the way forward is by prioritizing our people and their mental health. 

Tune in as Jennifer shares what mental health skills forward-thinking HR professionals need, how they can learn these skills even when it’s not in the budget, and how we can help them navigate their way forward without them burning out.

About Jennifer McClure:

Jennifer McClure is an entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and high-performance coach who works with leaders to leverage their influence, increase their impact, and accelerate results. 

Frequently recognized as a global influencer and expert on the future of work, strategic leadership and innovative people strategies, Jennifer has decades of in-the-trenches leadership and executive experience working in and with startups, privately held companies, and Fortune 500 organizations in a variety of industries. 

Jennifer is also the Chief Excitement Officer of DisruptHR, a global community designed to move the collective thinking forward when it comes to talent in the workplace, and the host of the Impact Makers Podcast with Jennifer McClure.

You can connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn, and follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Mentioned in this Episode of Mental Health for Leaders:

• Jennifer’s website
• DisruptHR events
• SHRM Conference 
• Join the monthly digital subscription

What if we all approached conversations with others with respect, empathy, and maturity? Just think of all we could accomplish together! We would all win!

Every one of us has a different lived experience and we all see things differently from one another. At the same time, we all have biases. We tend to gravitate toward people who look like us and who we were surrounded by as we were growing up.

In short, we’re all human. And we need to move outside our comfort zones if we want to see change in the world. When we get comfortable with change, we allow ourselves to grow and develop. As leaders, this is essential.

On this episode of the Mental Health for Leaders podcast, guest Kenston Hendersion is sharing about bias, approaching conversations with an open mind, why leaning into discomfort is a good thing, and how to do right by your employees. He also shares an amazing resource that can help you identify your own biases so you can start to do something about them.

About Kenston Henderson:

This week’s guest is Kenston Henderson Sr. aka "The Bias Disrupter" and " The Winning Conversations Enthusiast". He is the founder and CEO of Live With Lyfe, LLC, is a TEDx Signature Speaker, a certified John Maxwell Leadership Speaker and Trainer, Culture Transformation Champion, and certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid USA. He is also a speaker at the upcoming SHRM conference being held in New Orleans in June of 2022.

Kenston has over 18 years of experience in Human Resources coaching and training leaders and teams to communicate and play well together. Kenston delivers impactful, on-time, and action-packed speaking and training messages.

Kenston is one of the most sought after Corporate and Youth motivational speakers and trainers around the world. He is enthusiastic, dynamic, and engaging. Since the pandemic, his impact has extended virtually to international areas in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. His most recent talk was given live in Nairobi Kenya. Kenston also received the ICN Dr. Astell Generation Leadership Award. I think you’ll really enjoy Kenston’s insights so on with the show.

Mentioned in this Episode of Mental Health for Leaders:

• Harvard Implicit Association Test
• Creating Culture of Racial Equity in Workplace - course
• Join the monthly digital subscription

Nobody is immune to mental health issues, and they affect all aspects of your life. Even your physical and economical vitality (or lack thereof) can be linked to your mental health. That’s why it is so important for organizations to make mental health in the workplace a priority, especially as we work together to try and establish a “new normal” in the wake of the pandemic.

Earlier this year, the Society for Human Resource Management Foundation published a report detailing the current state of mental health in the workplace. Today, Wendi Safstrom, President of the SHRM Foundation, joins me to discuss the findings of this study and why mental health and wellness needs to be prioritized within organizations. Wendi also shares ways to get senior leadership engaged in the process, and how you can implement these conversations and programs into your business—even if you feel you lack the tools and resources to do so.

As you prioritize employee mental health, your people and organizations will thrive. Tune in to learn more and see what’s next for SHRM.

About Wendi Safstrom:

Wendi Safstrom is a senior non-profit leader committed to serving the public through philanthropic program management, cultivating strategic partnerships and managing and developing high performing teams. She has both association and nonprofit management experience including; national program development and administration, membership strategy, marketing and product development, grant management, development and donor stewardship, and leading cross functional teams. Safstrom currently serves as President for the Society for Human Resource Management Foundation (SHRM Foundation), where she leads the development and implementation of SHRM Foundation's programmatic, development, and marketing and communication strategies in support of SHRM Foundation's new mission and vision, creating growth plans and ensuring alignment with SHRM goals.

Prior to assuming the role at SHRM Foundation, Safstrom served as Vice President at the National Restaurant Association and National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, where she led the development and implementation of their Foundation's most recent five-year strategic plan, and was responsible for all Foundation programming, including workforce development initiatives, scholarship and event management, community relations and engagement initiatives. In 2016, she served as lead project director for the development of a $10 million contract awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor to develop the hospitality industry's first apprenticeship program, and was instrumental in the Foundation's reorganization and relocation of operations from Chicago, Illinois to Washington, D.C., transforming the staff and culture.

Safstrom has also held human resource management roles with the Leo Burnett Company and Hyatt Hotels Corporation in Chicago, Illinois. She has a BS in Business Administration from the Eli Broad School of Business at Michigan State University and was recognized as a member of the 2014 "Power 20" by Restaurant Business Magazine as a leader in philanthropy within the restaurant industry. 

Mentioned in This Episode of Mental Health in Minutes:

• Society for Human Resource Management Foundation
• Mental Health in America: A 2022 Workplace Report
• HR Resource Hub
• Society for Human Resources Management
• SHRM Annual Conference & Expo
• Mental Health Skills Training

Organizations can’t survive without people. And HR professionals have the privilege to and responsibility for starting conversations, creating influence, and leading the cause and effect that happens in our organizations.

When we empower employees and support them through challenges and adversity, encouraging them to grow and develop themselves personally and professionally, they get to make an impact on those around them--in the office and at home.

On this episode, chief marketing and experience officer of the Society for Human Resource Management Jeaneen Andrews-Feldman talks about the role of human resources in business today and why it’s so important that we create a ripple effect with our work.

Jeaneen also shares some more background about the SHRM conference in June: who’s on the schedule, what attendees will get out of it, and how SHRM is helping to spearhead hope and mental health conversations at work.

About Jeaneen Andrews-Feldman:

As Chief Marketing and Experience Officer, Andrews-Feldman is responsible for all activities related to conceptualizing and implementing market strategy and achieving marketing targets. She is responsible for providing executive leadership and management of SHRM’s marketing activities worldwide. 

Andrews-Feldman is a marketing executive and business strategist with 30 years of experience in both B2B and B2C organizations. 

Prior to joining SHRM, she was Senior Vice President, Marketing at Merkle Inc., leading the marketing strategy and execution for the performance marketing agency, where over the course of 5 years, she transformed the marketing organization into a strategic asset to the business while gaining recognition with multiple Stevie Awards for marketing and customer experience programs. 

Previously, Andrews-Feldman was the Head of Global Product and Channel Marketing at the Corporate Executive Board (CEB). While there, she architected the marketing organization to support 7 practice areas and 54 programs for both acquisition and retention marketing. She also cofounded two marketing-related entrepreneurial ventures in suburban Washington, D.C., one of which was acquired by AES, Inc. 

Earlier in her career, Andrews-Feldman spent more than 10 years in the telecommunications industry at both Sprint and AT&T.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in marketing from the University of Scranton and attended Cornell University’s Executive Management Program while at AT&T.

Mentioned in This Episode of Mental Health in Minutes:

• Season 5, Episode 1: Mental Health Skills You Need To Know
• Mental Health for Leaders
• FREEBIE: Guide to Influence & Impact at Work
• Society for Human Resources Management
• SHRM Annual Conference & Expo
• Mental Health Skills Training

Focusing on mental health in the workplace is becoming more and more of a priority for organizations and our people and our company bottom lines are benefiting greatly from this focus. As People Leaders and HR professionals, I think there’s been a gap in our skills training to really know how to best navigate this new world of work and that’s where this episode of the podcast comes in to help fill that gap.

In this first episode of the season, I’m going to share with you the top mental health skills we could all use to be our best selves at work and encourage brilliance in those around us as well. 

This is also a special episode for another reason – it will kick off this extra-special season of the podcast with a focus on SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management, and SHRM’s upcoming conference in June of 2022 in New Orleans, LA. The rest of the season will introduce you to conference organizers, leading researchers and ten of the conference speakers, all sharing their brilliant and action-inducing thoughts around the mental health skills we all need to be successful. 

This is season five of the podcast and with this season, I’ve changed the focus – from only focusing on helping you find the words, space and opportunity to have mental health conversations at work, to also focusing on you as the fabulous leader you are. This episode, and all the ones following, will give you the mental health skills you need to be successful in your role in your workplace but more importantly, to be successful in your other roles too – as family members, friends, community members and all the other roles you play in your life. We’re going to focus on your mental health so you can learn and live these new skills out loud, encouraging others to also take care of their mental health.

Society has set us up for failure. With the glorification of busyness and the pressure to check things off the list, we don’t have time to do the most important work: the strategy and innovation organizations need to be successful.

But there’s a small shift starting to happen, one that allows for slowing down to speed up. Because individuals and organizations are starting to see that busy mode isn’t sustainable. It’s a recipe for burnout and resignations.

We feel the need to constantly be busy because we feel like we don’t deserve the success that we have or strive for. But we do, and this week’s guest is here to tell us why.

Listen in to Jess share how to start getting past imposter syndrome and what organizations can do to support team members at all levels. (Spoiler alert: having conversations is top on that list.)

It’s time we stop glorifying working through lunch, taking work home, and skipping vacations and start balancing life with some work…not the other way around. 

About Jess Stuart:

Jess Stuart, International speaker, coach and author of five personal development books specialising in mindset, performance and women in leadership.  A well known Imposter Syndrome expert with a background in Senior Human Resources roles and a decade working in leadership development. 

A brush with burnout in her corporate career lead Jess across the world to train with Buddhist monks and Nuns.  A decade later, after coming out, writing five books and running her own successful business she shares what she knows about mind-set, resilience and self-belief to empower people to unlock their potential.

Highly acclaimed event speaker featured on TV3, BBC, RNZ, Dominion Post, Stuff and NZ Business Magazine.  Described as inspiring, articulate and relatable by audiences.  Jess has a passion for sharing her knowledge and motivating others with her words. Follow her on Instagram, connect with her on LinkedIn, and subscribe to her YouTube channel.

Mentioned in This Episode of Mental Health in Minutes:

• Jess’s Website
• Burnout to Brilliance by Jess Stuart
• What is imposter syndrome and how can you compat it? - TED-Ed
• Join the monthly digital subscription

You remember being taught that each person is unique and different and special in their own way. That’s still true. And organizations are finally catching up.

We know that we all react differently to different situations and we need different tools to succeed. Opening the door to those conversations not only supports neurodiverse employees, but entire teams benefit. And are more successful as a result.

This week on the pdocast, Chris Turner of Neuro Advantage is sharing what those conversations might look like and how to get them started. And he normalizes the differences we can’t see among team members.

There are so many misconceptions around why one person might react differently to adversity than another. Let’s start the conversation or, better yet, let’s just assume that we all need support in some way.

About Chris Turner:

Chris is the Founder of Neuro Advantage - an inclusion training practice supporting organisations to learn how to be inclusive of Neurodivergent job seekers and employees.

As a parent of an autistic child and with a career of more than 18 years across commercial disciplines Chris understands the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals along with the organisational need for innovation and productivity.

Neuro Advantage’s mission is to break down the barriers of uncertainty and confusion for employers when it comes to neurodiversity inclusion. By making the complexity of neurodiversity more relatable and presenting ideas through personal stories and experiences, Chris’ goal is to help more people feel confident to support neurodivergent colleagues and to help neurodivergent employees with a range of strategies to find workplace success. Through increased inclusion, organisations and team stand to gain from the advantages that neurodiversity inclusion brings.

Mentioned in This Episode of Mental Health in Minutes:

• Connect with Chris on LinkedIn
• Join the monthly digital subscription

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 19.7 million American adults (anyone over the age of 12) was battling a substance use disorder in 2017. Imagine how that statistic has changed in the years since, especially as we've navigated our lives through massive transformation and change.

If your organization has any number of people working within it, there's a high likelihood someone is struggling with addiction. Some may be highly functioning, some may be getting the help they need and others may be staying silent in shame, unsure of the steps to take next. Addiction doesn't discriminate and as humans, we need all the compassion and support we can offer each other, especially in our greatest times of need. 

This week on the podcast, Joe Gardzina of Brazos Place and Adapt Programs in Texas is sharing how to avoid stigmatizing language when talking about addiction, how to be a supportive organization, and why we should lean on treatment and support rather than rigid consequences for those struggling with substance use.

Conversations are important, as is appropriate treatment and trauma-informed care. 

This episode is as real as it gets and is an important one for anyone who leads people, whether you suspect substance use or not. The conversation is compassionate, intelligent and practical - love to hear what you think.

About Joe Gardzina:

Joe began his career in 1993 as a psychiatric technician at a Houston aftercare facility. Mr. Gardzina became an LCDC in 1996. Joe is Board Certified by the Texas Certification Board of Addiction Professionals. In addition, he is certified as both an Anger Resolution Counselor and US DOT Substance Abuse Professional. He has served as the program director for substance abuse treatment facilities in Houston, TX, and San Diego, CA.

Before founding ADAPT Programs in 2007, Joe worked for the Right Step in Houston as the Program Coordinator of their inpatient adolescent treatment program. He also was the Director of Programs for Phoenix House in San Diego, CA. In addition, he worked for the United Way for five years, serving as the Associate Executive Director. Joe and his beautiful wife Victoria are the proud parents of one child, William.

Mentioned in This Episode of Mental Health in Minutes:

• Follow Brazos Place on Facebook
• Follow ADAPT Programs on Facebook
• Join the monthly digital subscription