Cultivating an effective organizational culture is a complex and intricate task. It involves balancing elements that at first glance, may seem contradictory - love and accountability. In this podcast episode, Sheryl Porter and Mike Thompson explore this dynamic balance and offer valuable insights on fostering a high-performance culture, imbued with empathy and accountability.

Quickfires is brought to you by Learner Mobile, the learning experience platform that delivers the right information at the perfect time so you can win your day. To simply develop everyone in your organization and start your free trial of Learner Mobile, go to learnermobile.com

I want to express our gratitude to all our listeners.  August,  the "check yourself before you wreck yourself" month, is a great time to reach into the Quickfires vault. 

Whether you're a long-time listener or new to the podcast, I encourage you to check out our four-part series on Emotional Intelligence. It's a valuable resource that I genuinely believe will provide you with the information and inspiration to cultivate mutually beneficial relationships in your life.

Emotional Intelligence Series

• Part 1: The Secret Sauce to Success (2/8/23)
• Part 2: Let's Talk About Me! (2/15/23)
• Part 3: Becoming a Social Detective (3/3/23) 
• Part 4: Putting EI in Action (3/15/23)

Quickfires is brought to you by Learner Mobile, the learning experience platform that delivers the right information at the perfect time so you can win your day. To simply develop everyone in your organization and start your free trial of Learner Mobile, go to learnermobile.com

If you're striving to lead a perfectly balanced life, this may not be the podcast you want… but it may be the podcast you need.   In this thought-provoking episode, Sheryl and Mike challenge conventional wisdom and discuss how orienting toward an intentional imbalance can break passionless mediocrity and create a fulfilling, extraordinary life .   And when you really look closely, you’ll find it’s not trying to balance the things that are pulling at us every day.  It’s actually the opposite.

Referenced in this episode:
"The Organizational Champion" by Mike Thompson can be found here.

In the article  Periodization, for Brainz Magazine, Executive Contributor Giselle Saati writes  how introducing some form of periodization in the corporate world can lead to increased efficiency and productivity. 

Link to the article:  "The True Cost of Multi-Tasking"  from Psychology Today.

Quickfires is brought to you by Learner Mobile, the learning experience platform that delivers the right information at the perfect time so you can win your day. To simply develop everyone in your organization and start your free trial of Learner Mobile, go to learnermobile.com

Developing grit can help us pursue personal and professional goals despite what the universe may throw our way.  In the second part of our podcast series on Leading with Grit,  Sheryl and Mike discuss how passion fuels perseverance and that tenacity is a key component in building a grittier mindset.  And because we love a great alliteration, stick around to hear about what 'the well' represents.

Referenced in this episode:
Tough Times Create Strong Men video.

Heifer International:  Ending Hunger and Poverty While Caring for the Earth

The 12 Stones | Women in Nepal Form Community Group

Quickfires is brought to you by Learner Mobile, the learning experience platform that delivers the right information at the perfect time so you can win your day. To simply develop everyone in your organization and start your free trial of Learner Mobile, go to learnermobile.com

Individuals with grit are better at overcoming obstacles and sticking to their goals than those who lack perseverance and passion.  In part 1 of our two-part series dedicated to leading with grit, Sheryl and Mike explore what grit is, why it matters,  how you can cultivate it in your life, and why gritty people are happier. 

Referenced in the episode:
Learn more about Dr. Angela Duckworth and her work on the topic of grit here and check our her Grit Scale.

Tom Brady soundbyte "if you're gonna compete against me, you better be willing to give up your life"

Quickfires is brought to you by Learner Mobile, the learning experience platform that delivers the right information at the perfect time so you can win your day. To simply develop everyone in your organization and start your free trial of Learner Mobile, go to learnermobile.com

When you focus on your customers – internal and external – you understand what they really need and how it connects to how you can best support them.  Sheryl and Mike discuss an approach that will help you  anticipate needs, provide creative and appropriate solutions, overcome challenges and add value . When you do that, customers aren’t just satisfied, they’re grateful. And they don’t just come back – they bring others with them.

Click here to learn more about the history and concept of Imagineering.

Quickfires is brought to you by Learner Mobile, the learning experience platform that delivers the right information at the perfect time so you can win your day. To simply develop everyone in your organization and start your free trial of Learner Mobile, go to learnermobile.com

The connect component of the EI model represents how we interact with others, and it comes into play every time we engage with others.  Basically, it’s our emotional intelligence in action. It’s the culmination of acting on good reflection and detection skills.  Being effective at connecting means: 

• You are capable of developing and growing mutually beneficial relationships.
• You can move past biases and hold people in the highest regard.
• You can flex your communication to be in sync with other people's social style.
•  You act in big and small ways to build trust.

In part 4 of our Emotional Intelligence Series, Sheryl and Mike discuss how to use what we’re seeing to adjust our interactions to help build bonds, connect with others and get things done.   
 
Referenced in the episode:
The CONNECT component is about making conscious efforts to consider emotions and behaviors as we grow mutually beneficial relationships.

Trust builders:

• Admitting when you’re wrong
• Sharing credit with others
• Using the person's name
• Doing what you say you’ll do
•  Taking your share of the work load
•  Encouraging others

 
Trust breakers:

• Not following through on your commitments
• Distracting gestures
• Talking about only about yourself
•  Not taking your share of the workload
•  Being overly-negative or pessimistic
•  Casting blame when things go awry

We reference a technique called "Start, Stop, Continue".  You can learn more about that here.

These self-reflection questions are designed to help you gauge your level of emotional intelligence as it relates to the components of the EI model:  Reflect, Detect and Connect.
REFLECT

• You have a good grasp on what emotions you experience and why.
• If you become irritated, you have no trouble calming down quickly.
•  When you want to, you can put up a good poker face.

DETECT

• You are good at picking up on what emotions others are experiencing.
• It easy for you to pick up the vibe in a room.
• You are comfortable in emotional situations that would make other people uncomfortable.  

CONNECT

• Can you influence people.
• People seek your advice on how to deal with difficult people and situations.
• You always take other people’s emotions into account when delivering bad news.

Quickfires is brought to you by Learner Mobile, the learning experience platform that delivers the right information at the perfect time so you can win your day. To simply develop everyone in your organization and start your free trial of Learner Mobile, go to learnermobile.com

Becoming the next Sherlock Holmes of EI means you’ll have to be pretty good at picking up on subtle and not-so-subtle clues of others.   Being effective at detecting means:

• You can accurately identify the emotions of others by properly interpreting the verbal and non-verbal clues they’re providing.
• You have a better understanding of the impact that existing social or cultural networks, or circumstances have on a situation and can grasp the motivations behind their emotions.

In part 3 of our Emotional Intelligence Series, Sheryl and Mike discuss how to spot the emotions of others through  social awareness and social context.

Referenced in the episode:
The DETECT component is about focusing outward to understand others and their motivations. This includes being aware of things you can see as well as things that may not be as obvious. 

Quickfires is brought to you by Learner Mobile, the learning experience platform that delivers the right information at the perfect time so you can win your day. To simply develop everyone in your organization and start your free trial of Learner Mobile, go to learnermobile.com

Having an accurate understanding of yourself is the first step in becoming emotionally intelligent.  Being effective at reflecting means:

• You can accurately identify, understand and trust your emotions and feelings.
• You can self-manage by regulating your behavior. 

In part 2 of our Emotional Intelligence Series, we distinguish the difference  between emotions, feelings and behaviors,  introduce the spectrum of emotions, and provide pro-tips on how to trick your primitive brain. 

Referenced in the episode:
The REFLECT component is about identifying and understanding our emotions and feelings. Then using this knowledge to manage our behaviors.

Sorting out the terminology:

• Emotions are conscious mental reactions triggered by a stimulus.
• Feelings are physiological reactions to  an emotion.
• Behaviors are actions in response to external or internal stimuli

The 8 Primary Emotions are:

1. Joy
2. Trust
3. Fear
4. Surprise
5. Sadness
6. Disgust
7. Anger
8. Anticipation

This article provides a great visual of the 8 Primary Emotions, varying intensities and how they can be combined to create advanced emotions. 

Quickfires is brought to you by Learner Mobile, the learning experience platform that delivers the right information at the perfect time so you can win your day. To simply develop everyone in your organization and start your free trial of Learner Mobile, go to learnermobile.com

Regardless of our intellect, if we’re unaware of our behavior and lack the social prowess to bond with colleagues, we will inevitably experience setbacks. Being emotionally intelligent involves identifying and managing emotions during interactions and then using this knowledge to form healthy relationships with others.

In part 1 of our Emotional Intelligence Series, we define EI, discuss the benefits and introduce a model that will start (or propel) you on a path of growing your emotional intellect.

Referenced in the episode:
"Emotional Intelligence" book by Daniel Goleman

These self-reflection questions are designed to help you gauge your level of emotional intelligence as it relates to the components of the EI model:  Reflect, Detect and Connect. 
REFLECT

• You have a good grasp on what emotions you experience and why.
• If you become irritated, you have no trouble calming down quickly.
•  When you want to, you can put up a good poker face.

DETECT

• You are good at picking up on what emotions others are experiencing.
• It easy for you to pick up the vibe in a room.
• You are comfortable in emotional situations that would make other people uncomfortable.  

CONNECT

• Can you influence people.
• People seek your advice on how to deal with difficult people and situations.
• You always take other people’s emotions into account when delivering bad news.

Quickfires is brought to you by Learner Mobile, the learning experience platform that delivers the right information at the perfect time so you can win your day. To simply develop everyone in your organization and start your free trial of Learner Mobile, go to learnermobile.com