People at Work

There is nothing worse than poor customer service. You know the feeling, being put on hold for hours, having your questions ignored, or simply failing to get the attention of the snobbish sales representative. It never feels good.

That’s why when Obi Omile Jr. set out to build theCut he knew that he wanted his customers to feel a sense of community. He wanted them to connect with him, his brand, and his mission. And the key to making that happen? Just be human, accessible, and authentic. Sounds easy enough but as you grow it’s one of the hardest things to scale.

In this episode, I chat with Obi about how he built his community, how he was fortunate enough to help them out during the pandemic, and what’s up next for him.

About our guest: 

Obi is co-founder & CEO of theCut, the largest technology platform modernizing the barbershop experience for barbers and the people who need them. theCut boasts more than 70K barbers, 2M users, and over 15M appointments booked nationwide, disrupting the $20B barbershop market.

Connect with Obi on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/obiomile/. You can also check out theCut on Instagram @thecutapp, Facebook facebook.com/thehaircutapp, and Twitter @thehaircutapp

It’s a fresh new year! Most of us would prefer to hit the gas and leave 2020 in the dust. But, let’s not leave the lessons it gave us behind too.

The rapid shift to remote work that many employees experienced last year created stress, uncertainty, and discomfort for some. This was largely due to the overnight intrusion of organizations into their employees’ homes.

Suddenly kitchens, dining room tables, sofas, and other domestic installations became the proxy for offices everywhere. These settings came complete with all manner of normal human life details, like pets, children, unmade beds, and maybe the odd NFW (not for work) picture on the wall.

One of the biggest lessons for organizations, is that employees are imperfect human beings with lives on the other side of their employee files. That demands employers be more considerate, kind, and caring, especially if people are working remote from their own homes.

Megan Purdy is a strong advocate for giving employees the space they need to breathe and manage their work lives as they choose. In this episode of People at Work we talk about things employers should think about to create harmony and build safe remote workplace environments.

Much of this conversation is about what happened during the pandemic-enforced work from home experience. However, since many organizations will continue to offer location flexibility and possibly even remain fully remote, Megan’s tips and ideas are invaluable even when we get off the corona-coaster.

About our guest: 

Megan is a former recruiter and HR blogger who now works to close the gap between global business and Canadian top talent through remote workforce solutions in her role as Marketing Manager at Canadian Payroll Services. She is a longtime movie and comic book critic and a perennially hopeful Toronto Maple Leafs fan.

You can connect with her on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/megan-purdy-0b92aa53/.

Resources: 

How to Transition to a Remote First Company: canadianpayrollservices.com/how-to-transition-to-a-remote-first-company/

Survey on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: canadianpayrollservices.com/survey-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-remote-work/

We’re not out of the woods with the pandemic yet, but there’s been a collective sigh of relief around the world as vaccines begin to arrive. Yet, from a workplace perspective, many of us remain together, apart, and the duration of this new mode is unknown.

What we do know is that this year has stretched and tested us in ways not previously imagined. It’s also accelerated shifts in flexibility, leadership mindsets, work/life design, reimagining teamwork, and using technology. In our People at Work podcast we heard from coaches, founders, scientists, longtime WFHers, and many others, to help us fill in the blanks of what’s happening in workplaces today.

As we mapped our own team’s path forward in full remote mode over the past ten months, a lot has changed. We’ve had to adapt and learn to communicate differently, keep our culture alive virtually, hire and onboard remotely, and support individual employee needs. All while keeping the business open and servicing our customers in their time of need. Sound familiar?

We heard about all of these things during our year of podcasting for People at Work. It was interesting to see the shift in focus from reaction to action as the year unfolded. Our near 60 guests came with stories and wisdom, helping us provide relevant and immediately applicable information to our listeners.

We’ve enjoyed every minute of conversation, and appreciate everyone who appeared on the show during this strange yet interesting year. Today’s episode is a little different - for the first time Dustin and Bev interview each other about themes and inspiration coming out of their podcast episodes this year.

We wish you a very merry holiday season! We’ll be back on January 4 with more ideas and voices to help people at work.

Interested in chatting with Bev and Dustin? You can find them on LinkedIn! Connect with Bev at linkedin.com/in/bevattfield/ and Dustin at linkedin.com/in/dustintysick/

What’s your relationship with change? Do you welcome it with open arms or avoid it like your worst fear?

If you’re Liz Lewinson, you seek it out as a way to grow and expand your life experience. Liz went from writer to television to computer science to finance IT, and is still looking for ways to change.

The one constant that prepares her for change is a still mind. By practicing some form of meditation, Liz believes we can surf through even the roughest life swells.

In a world that’s ever-changing, the more prepared we can be, the better. Liz shares her experiences of moving through big and small changes with curiosity.

She also talks about how a life of meditation has given her the tools to enjoy change as an energy boost, not a drain.

I’m certain Liz will help you approach change more wholeheartedly, starting with your mind.

About our guest

Liz Lewinson is the award-winning author of “American Buddhist Rebel,” “Women, Meditation, and Power,” and “The Power of the Loving Man.” A constant learner, she loves being taken on long walks in nature by her two terriers.

You can connect with Liz on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/lizllew/, Instagram @lizlewinson, Twitter @LizLewinson, and Youtube at youtube.com/c/LizLewinson/featured. 

Everyone is talking about remote work lately, including us. Lots of tips and tricks on how to remain productive, or how to juggle family and work time now that the lines are blurred.

But a lot of us are lonely. Over 50% of people feel more lonely now after transitioning to remote work. For Millennials and Gen Zers it’s over 70%.

This is why I was really excited to have JJ Caffey as a guest this week. JJ is the Founder and CEO of Order In, a digital platform for leaders of remote work. Her mission is to help build a better workday through a focus on community, and connectedness.

We discussed how this new remote work world is in conflict with many natural human behaviours and how leaders have to be extra intentional now to help people connect and feel part of a community.

I definitely learned a few things I’ll start using right away as I try to figure out leading in a remote-first world.

About our guest:

JJ is the Founder and CEO of Order In, a digital platform for the leaders of remote work. JJ is helping build a better workday through a focus on community, connectedness, and efficiency. JJ’s mission is to revolutionize American work culture.

You can connect with JJ on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/sarahjjcaffey/.

You can connect with Order In on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/order-in-club/, Twitter @OrderInClub, Instagram @orderinclub, Facebook @orderinclub.

Many of us live from the neck up; governed by our brains. We forget about the rest of our bodies, ignoring what else is happening inside us. All we focus on is what’s going on inside our heads.

Jonathan Miller thinks we’re more than a vehicle to move our brains around. He’s a proponent of somatic intelligence, harnessing the connection between mind and body.

In this episode of People at Work, Jonathan takes somatics one step further with embodied leadership. This involves taking cues from our entire body, including our brains, to show up as fully present leaders.

Jonathan shares three practical ways to engage full-body awareness that don’t involve silent retreats or junk science. Because you can’t simply use your brain, you need your body too. Why not make the most of everything you’ve got?

About our Guest:

Jonathan is the Co-Founder of Level 7 Leadership, where he works with social-impact founders to develop their leadership skills with coaching and training so they can stay energized and aligned with their mission to create a world that works for all. In his spare time, Jonathan loves going rock climbing, eating Thai food, and nerding out about his favorite fantasy novels.

You can connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/millerdjonathan, Instagram @mindfulcommunication, and through his podcast anchor.fm/mindfulcommunication.

Resources:

Your Body is Your Brain by Amanda Blake

How Emotions Are Made by Lisa Feldman Barrett

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

If I were to ask you “Who’s responsible for diversity and inclusion in your workplace?”, what would your answer be? Unfortunately, many of us would answer “Human Resources” or some other executive function.

That’s because DE&I has historically been viewed as a policy issue; something for management to write down in a handbook or a check box to check.

Having been at the receiving end of exclusion, discrimination, and tokenism based on ethnicity and gender, Vivian Acquah says we need to change this carriage of responsibility.

DE&I isn’t something to do, it’s something to feel. And that responsibility and opportunity rests with every employee.

In this heartfelt episode of People at Work, Vivian shares her motivation for making a tremendous career shift and devotion to more inclusive workplaces. We don’t need policies to improve DE&I at work, we can start by changing our own minds and behaviors.

About our guest: 

Vivian Acquah is a workplace wellness and an Amplify DEI advocate. She advises organizations on achieving sustainable employability in a holistic way, including element diversity, equity, and inclusion. The coolest thing Vivian has ever accomplished is creating a healthy cooking show for TV “Cooking Back To Our Roots”.

You can connect with Vivian on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/vivianacquah, Twitter @VivalaViveNL, Facebook @VivaLaVive, Instagram @vivalavivenl, and Youtube at bit.ly/vlvYouTube.

Resouces:

Amplify DEI summit

When was the last time you gave someone advice? It’s easy to fall into that trap because we feel like we’re helping.

But Dr. Marcia Reynolds argues this doesn’t help at all. If we truly want to support someone’s growth and development, we need to stop transacting with advice, and start transforming with coaching.

In particular, we should employ conversational coaching. Here the emphasis is on helping others understand what they know, through considered and safe conversation. This requires vulnerability, trust, and curiosity. The result is sustainable change, not quick fixes of surface irritants.

Conversation implies dialog. The next time you arrive at a coaching moment with someone, check to see who’s doing most of the talking. If it’s you, back up. That’s just one suggestion from Dr. Reynolds. In the podcast, she talks through how to make the most of your coaching conversations, and see long-term change take root.

About our Guest:

Dr. Marcia Reynolds is an award-winning author and world-renowned expert on how leaders inspire change through conversations. Her books include Wander Woman; Outsmart Your Brain; The Discomfort Zone; and her latest, Coach the Person, Not the Problem.

You can connect with Dr. Marcia Reynolds on on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/marciareynolds/, Twitter @MarciaReynolds, Facebook @outsmartyourbrain, and Youtube at youtube.com/user/MarciaReynolds.

Resources:

Coach the Person, Not the Problem

Leaders, I feel for you. It’s been a rough year.

Ordinarily, there’s a ton of pressure on you to build teams, deliver on projects, and keep your people engaged. Now you have to do all that while dealing with the fallout of a global pandemic.

But, it’s not all doom and gloom. According to leadership coaches, Jan and Michelle Terkelsen, there’s a lot to embrace and relish in our changed work world if we know how to be resilient.

It starts with understanding who you are as a leader and being responsible for self-growth and awareness. If you work on yourself and then pay attention to what your team needs, you’ll be set to tackle any challenge that comes your way.

In this jam-packed episode of People at Work, Jan, and Michelle tag-team to share what they’re seeing on the front lines of leadership. They talk about ways leaders can practice self-care and growth, while engaging and caring for their people.

If you’ve been wondering how you’re going to keep up with relentless change and uncertainty, this episode is for you. You may even find yourself thriving if you practice the clarity, kindness, and optimism that Jan and Michelle express.

About our Guests:

Jan Terkelsen has been an executive coach, consultant, and facilitator in corporate Australia for more than 18 years. She’s an experienced personality profiler and behavioral change specialist, who has a deep interest and track record in assisting people with a preference for introversion.

Michelle Terkelsen has been ‘bringing out the best’ in individuals and teams in the corporate environment for almost 20 years. Her coaching specialties include leadership development, creating high performing teams, and building personal resilience.

You can connect with Jan on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/janterkelsen and Michelle at linkedin.com/in/michelle-terkelsen-creating-leaders-of-the-future-a992744/.

Resources

peopleleaders.com.au/resource-centre/  (Free Resources for Leaders)

peopleleaderspodcast.com  (Podcast)

When a podcast guest says “This isn’t a fairytale”, I buckle up because I know we’re in for an interesting and useful conversation.

In today’s People at Work episode, Gonçalo Silva, CTO at Doist, tells the story of this fully remote company’s growth and culture journey over the past decade.

Even though Doist is doing a lot right, there are still obstacles in their way and a team to take care of from afar. Oh, and did I mention they’ve also had to adapt to cope during the pandemic? Granted, they’ve had a head start with the remote work gig, but the struggle has been real for them too.

The hero in the story is trust. Everything they do, how they work, how they make decisions, centers on trust. The success of their asynchronous, remote, fully distributed team depends on this.

This interview is real and refreshing, with many insights that can help those of us adapting our workforces to fully remote or hybrid arrangements. Give it a listen and let me know how you enjoyed the ride.

About our guest:

Gonçalo is the CTO of Doist, working remotely on Todoist and Twist. He’s obsessed with building the future he wants to work in, where location is irrelevant to being part of a highly productive team. He loves to work odd hours, but wonders if there’s even such a thing within a fully distributed team.

You can connect with Gonçalo Silva on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/gon%C3%A7alo-silva-006748171/, Twitter @goncalossilva, or Youtube at youtube.com/user/DoistApps