Say It Skillfully®

Say It Skillfully® is a show that helps you to benefit from Molly Tschang’s expert guidance on the best possible ways to speak your mind at work in a positive and productive manner. In Episode 75, master storyteller and one of the most influential leaders on the day-to-day management of people and companies, Ken Blanchard joins Molly for inside look into what’s most shape him and his success. He chronicles his parents’ profound impact and not exactly planful academic and career paths! Being the 7th grade “compromise candidate” for president started his leadership training, his Dad noting: “Don’t ever use your position—leaders are great because people trust and respect them, not because they have power.” From his Mother, “don’t you act like you’re better than anybody else, and don’t let anyone act like they’re better than you. There’s a pearl of goodness in every human being–dig for it and you’ll find it.”

Being a dormitory counselor at Cornell had Ken wanting to be a dean of students, so he earned masters and doctorate degrees (by the way, he was told “you can’t write!”). A magnificent personal and professional partnership with wife Margie led to a family enterprise with humility, humor and love as constants. Hear how The One Minute Manager came to be, opening his eyes to servant leadership and a lifetime of joyful collaboration with authors. Co-founder of the Lead like Jesus ministry—teaching people about servant leadership worldwide—Ken shares how servant leadership is especially vital now, and how this was demonstrated in his own firm so that they could navigate challenging Covid times. Gems galore! The most important thing about leadership is what people do when you’re not around. Keep your head up and listen. Worst thing that can happen is you learn… Ken inspires us to be the best version of ourselves. Tune in and learn how to navigate life while being invaluable and true to yourself.

Thought for the week from Ken: None of us is as smart as all of us.

Learn more at: www.kenblanchard.com www.kenblanchardbooks.com

Say It Skillfully® is a show that helps you to benefit from Molly Tschang’s expert guidance on the best possible ways to speak your mind at work in a positive and productive manner. This Episode is Molly’s #1 “growth” episode for you. If you’ve had self-doubt, if you’ve been confused about what’s next… if you’re a parent, please have a listen (perhaps with your kids)—without judgment and with compassion. She hopes you’ll be a better you for doing so. Molly’s guest is Noah Fense, hip hop artist, entrepreneur, event curator, and founder of Foresee—a music and arts collective label (4C: Conscious Conduits Constantly Connected). He shares his journey; one that is simultaneously sobering, humbling and enlightening. After years of suffering from drug addiction, mental illness, homelessness, low self-confidence and legal issues, Noah rediscovered himself at his lowest and realized the unlimited potential that we all possess within. His spiritual awakening led to a complete transformation as he met the essence of his true self.

“Calculated rhymes, carefully spiced and layered with thought-provoking word play, emotional concepts and storytelling, multisyllabic rhyme schemes, ill punchlines, hard bars and deep metaphors...” Noah now creates music with the intention to uplift and drops gems that if caught, can transform the listener into something greater than who they believed themselves to be. As he fulfills his potential, Noah inspires others to realize theirs. This episode will help you reconsider the meaning you give to life. Tune in and learn how to navigate life while being invaluable and true to yourself. More at www.noahfense.com and follow Noah on IG:@noahfensemusic and FB: @noahfensebeers.
Molly’s Thought for the Week, from a Taoist parable: “Who knows what is good and what is bad.”

Say It Skillfully® is a show that helps you to benefit from Molly Tschang’s expert guidance on the best possible ways to speak your mind at work in a positive and productive manner. In Episode 73, the 11th feature of OUR VOICES, Chris Yeh—author, investor, speaker and mentor—shares his journey as a first generation born in the US after his parents were exiled from mainland China. Precocious, extroverted and audience-seeking, he recalls his anti-Tiger Mom and pivotal early mentor Harold Connolly, who won Olympic Gold despite being disabled. Product design engineering and creative writing majors at Stanford (along with improv, peer counseling, public speaking) led to a fascinating job search, including a D.E. Shaw “mystery letter” and 1st class flight (unthinkable). Luck was a theme; he stresses preparation is key. He notes the role of his competitive spirit and confronting reality: you can have it all, but not at the same time. With two young kids, he put family first and left all-consuming CEO life. He discusses his and Reid Hoffman’s interest to explore and impact the world and how friends helped him gain self-awareness and empathy. He now thinks it vital to take on others’ viewpoints and overcome racism. Other gems: “Take control of your own narrative” and “Don’t get caught up with job title labels.” Thought for the week: “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.” —Suzuki Roshi. Join the show to hear Chris’ journey, inspiring us to know no boundaries and to commit to taking action so that all can be safe, seen and heard, and our true and best selves. Learn more at https://chrisyeh.com and books Chris has co-authored:

And his beloved high school vice principal and mentor: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Connolly

Say It Skillfully® is a show that helps you to benefit from Molly Tschang’s expert guidance on the best possible ways to speak your mind at work in a positive and productive manner. In Episode 72 Molly’s first caller Ryan opens vulnerably by acknowledging his “bubble” of white, male privilege. Feeling disappointment and shame for events of the past 18 months, he’s keen to be a part of the solution. Jane then shares how she felt asleep at the wheel, witnessing a newly acquainted Caucasian, male professional—who should know better—say to an early-in-career Asian woman at his company, “I don’t understand how your Asian boyfriend doesn’t have an accent, but you do. We need to fix that.” How to respond in the moment? And Molly helps Jane, Asian as well, unpack her own feelings (10:30). Then Jason calls in with mixed experiences on diversity in corporate America. While optimistic, he’s seen firsthand the negative impact when transparency is lacking and senior leaders are left off the hook for poor behavior. They also discuss ways employees and managers can help all to feel safe, seen and heard (22:45).

Say It Skillfully® is a show that helps you to benefit from Molly Tschang’s expert guidance on the best possible ways to speak your mind at work in a positive & productive manner. In Episode 71 Molly’s first caller, Adam, is starting out with a new organization and team; he wants to get started in the right way, especially as lots of change is in the air. Then Jon, who leads an amazing non-profit organization that helps people rehabilitate after serious health issues, has stakeholders all over the globe and is keen to instill a “say it skillfully” culture. As they’ve been onboarding many new folks, it’s top of mind for him that everyone communicates openly and productively, regardless of tenure, introvert or extrovert...(15:50). And Nayantara is inspired by how we can emerge better from the pandemic; we chat about having actionable conversations around equity (40:50).

Say It Skillfully® is a show that helps you to benefit from Molly Tschang’s expert guidance on the best possible ways to speak your mind at work in a positive & productive manner. Molly’s first caller, Keishla, is keen to succeed in change management and engage her entire team: “leapers, road builders and tradition holders” alike. Then, Heidi had three different friends reach out to her... on their behalf we unpack how to return after a medical leave, to not be caught as a “go-between” when some wants you to relay information to another, and to call out gossip in a constructive way (20:45). I then cover two situations: 1) someone caught between 80-hour work weeks and having a life with his young family, and 2) being self-confident to go for a promotion and knowing how to be lucky (38:30)! Molly closes with a Harry Palmer’s Avatar compassion exercise and urges you to take a few minutes to experience this ???? (45:40).

Molly’s thought for the week – Thank you Seth Godin!

Join the show and learn how to navigate work while being invaluable and true to yourself.

Say It Skillfully® is a show that helps you to benefit from Molly Tschang’s expert guidance on the best possible ways to speak your mind at work in a positive & productive manner. In Episode 69, 10th feature of OUR VOICES, Molly’s childhood friend and CEO of world-class branding agency Turner Duckworth, Joanne Chan, recounts growing up in upstate NY, the lone Asian until high school...wanting to fit in, even attending Hebrew school! Supportive parents had high expectations, but were clear: do what you love. Her art gallery dream job meant living in debt and compelled a career change. Thanks to an amazing mentor’s advice, Joanne joined Turner Duckworth as employee #2, working her way to CEO and building a culture for creativity to thrive. She shares her focus on sustaining culture as Publicis acquired them and credits her husband for being lead parent—enabling her career and their daughter’s growth. Joanne shares a profound early-in-career learning moment and urges “stand together, be our best selves and keep marching forward.” Molly’s thought for the week: Your relationship—with yourself and others—makes or breaks your success. Listen in as Joanne inspires us to “do what makes us happy,” to know no boundaries, and to commit to taking action so that all can be safe, seen and heard, and our true and best selves.

Say It Skillfully® is a show that helps you to benefit from Molly Tschang’s expert guidance on the best possible ways to speak your mind at work in a positive and productive manner. Branding and culture expert Martin Lindstrom masterfully brings you on his remarkable journey—childhood LEGOmania, a lawsuit before he was a teen, starting/selling an ad agency.

He shares learning the hard way with eureka moments of corporate politics at 18 and “Merry Christmas” emails—helping him internalize deep empathy, which has been instrumental to his success, and what he sees as an enormous need in organizations everywhere.

After Molly's chat with Martin, Vince, weeks into a new job, calls about how to respond to his boss, seemingly not pleased with his performance. (38:45)

Then, Virginia recalls a leader publicly bullying a teammate and wonders if with a different response, she might not have faced the retribution she did (46:25).

Join the show and learn how to navigate work while being invaluable and true to yourself.

Say It Skillfully® is a show that helps you to benefit from Molly Tschang’s expert guidance on the best possible ways to speak your mind at work in a positive and productive manner. In Episode 67, CV shares a situation in which several team members blatantly won’t follow her direction, although they used to when her boss (who was white) was in place. Racism? How to handle? Next, Jan calls in for a lively conversation, including how to be the voice when a change program may risk losing what worked in the past (15:25). Check out Jan’s amazing videos—consider “how much am I being me at work?” (https://bit.ly/2LYqjIW). Among his gems, “Failure is unfinished success”, “A good leader is produced at age 3.” He shares how he & his boss formed a strong relationship (31:00). Thought for the week, inspired by John Chambers: If it’s getting tough, don’t go down alone—get help. We lose together—we win together. Tune in and learn how to navigate work while being invaluable and true to yourself.

Say It Skillfully® is a show that helps you to benefit from Molly Tschang’s expert guidance on the best possible ways to speak your mind at work in a positive, productive manner. In Episode 66, 9th feature of OUR VOICES, Molly’s friend and top healthcare venture capitalist Nisa Leung shares her vivid journey across continents. Time in the US helped her mindset blossom; an unexpected and life-changing MBA experience culminated in a market crash—half her class couldn’t find jobs; 50% of friends in VC lost theirs. Before healthcare investing was vogue—Nisa saw China’s underserved market. Asked to set-up Qiming’s healthcare practice she led the firm to invest in 130 companies…vaccines, diagnostics, drugs to HC IT. She reveals intense commitment & collaboration of her companies on Covid front lines, thoughts on why China’s VC playing field is more gender-level and her aspirations ahead. Nisa inspires us to know no boundaries and models the best way to help others is to help them to succeed.