In this episode of The Kind Leader Podcast, host Gino Degregori sits down with Steven Gaffney, a globally recognized expert on change management, communication, and team performance. They discuss the crucial role of honest communication in building high-achieving teams and how emotional safety is the foundation of effective leadership. As the author of Unconditional Power, Steven draws on his extensive experience working with Fortune 500 companies, government organizations, and the U.S. military to share practical strategies that foster an environment of trust and openness.

Steven outlines five key strategies for creating open communication within any organization:

• Establishing emotional safety as a leadership priority

• Practicing strategic vulnerability to build trust

• Asking direct, open-ended questions that encourage dialogue

• Rewarding honesty with action to drive growth

• Sharing what you think others might be thinking to bridge gaps in understanding

Through this insightful conversation, you'll learn that kindness in leadership isn't about withholding feedback, it's about fostering an environment where honest, productive conversations can flourish. Steven highlights that emotional safety is critical for unlocking potential and achieving real results.

5 Key Takeaways:

1. True kindness is honest communication: Withholding feedback stunts growth. Kind leadership thrives when feedback flows freely.
2. Emotional safety is foundational: Before any innovation or feedback can happen, team members must feel emotionally safe.
3. Strategic vulnerability builds trust: Share struggles purposefully, guiding teams toward solutions.
4. Act on feedback: Demonstrating that you value feedback by taking action is the real driver of change.
5. Frame challenges as opportunities: Every problem holds the potential for growth, and the best leaders focus on turning challenges into chances to improve.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

🌐 Website: JustBeHonest.com Get a free digital copy of Steven Gaffney's first book, Just Be Honest, when you mention The Kind Leader Podcast.

📖 Book by Steven Gaffney: Unconditional Power Discover how to lead powerfully through any challenge with practical, proven strategies.

📚 Recommended Reading: Switch: How to Change When Change is Hard by Chip Heath & Dan Heath A powerful guide to making meaningful change, personally and professionally.

Chapters

06:05 Mastering Tough Conversations: Strategies for Success 09:59 Building Emotional Safety: The Key to Team Trust 16:00 Why Vulnerability is Essential for Strong Leadership 21:57 Asking the Right Questions: Encouraging Open Dialogue 23:31 Creating a Culture Where Feedback Thrives 25:21 Rewarding Honesty: Turning Feedback Into Action 27:38 Leadership Accountability: Owning Your Role and Impact 29:50 Turning Mistakes Into Learning Opportunities for Growth 32:45 Reframing Challenges: Transforming Obstacles Into Opportunities 36:36 The Future of Leadership: Fostering Emotional Safety for Teams 37:50 Rapid Fire Leadership Insights: Key Tips for Leaders in Action

What if the key to leading others starts with how you lead yourself?

In this powerful episode of The Kind Leader Podcast, host Gino Degregori sits down with Valarie Sandjivy, adaptive leadership mentor and business coach, to unpack what modern leadership really looks like. Valarie reveals how true leadership begins from within and why emotional intelligence, authenticity, and soul care are now essential skills for impactful leaders.

Together, they explore the four pillars of effective leadership—self-leadership, leading others, emotional mastery, and soul care—and how these foundations help leaders thrive while inspiring their teams to do the same.

This episode is a must-listen for leaders who want to evolve with the times, create meaningful impact, and show up with purpose, presence, and power.

You'll Discover:

• Why the journey to effective leadership begins with mastering yourself.

• How emotional intelligence is evolving into emotional mastery, and how to cultivate it.

• The truth about authentic leadership: it's about being real, not being perfect.

• Why redefining success around purpose and fulfillment leads to greater impact.

• How to harmonize your personal and professional life for sustainable leadership.

Whether you're leading a team or looking to grow as a leader in your own life, Valarie's insights will challenge, inspire, and empower you.

🎧 Tune in and learn how to lead with heart, presence, and strength.

🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned:

✨ Learn more about Valarie Sandjivy and her work: www.ellips.us.com

🧭 Take Valerie's Leadership Assessment Quiz: ellips.us.com/quiz

💼 Connect with Valarie on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/valeriesandjivy

📚 Book Recommendation from Valerie: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle – a guide to presence and spiritual clarity that has deeply influenced her leadership journey. Available on Amazon

Chapters:

00:00 – Why Adaptive Leadership Is the Future of Work 02:52 – What It Really Means to Be a Kind Leader 06:06 – How to Support Employee Growth Without Losing Yourself 08:58 – The First Pillar: Mastering Self-Leadership 12:01 – The Second Pillar: Leading Others Through Trust and Purpose 14:59 – The Third Pillar: Emotional Mastery as a Leadership Superpower 21:03 – The Fourth Pillar: Practicing Soul Care to Prevent Burnout 23:40 – Integrating the Four Pillars into Daily Leadership 25:24 – How to Apply Emotional Intelligence Across Your Team 27:31 – Rethinking Success: Purpose Over Performance 30:19 – Building a Leadership Style Rooted in Authenticity 36:15 – Why Human Connection Is Your Most Powerful Leadership Tool 39:11 – Mindfulness in Action: Self-Reflection and The Power of Now 41:20 – Simple Shifts to Accelerate Your Personal and Professional Growth

Struggling with toxic workplaces or difficult bosses? This episode of The Kind Leader Podcast is for you!

Host Gino Degregori sits down with Eric Charran, a tech executive with 25+ years of experience in digital innovation and AI strategies. Eric shares powerful insights from his book Have You Ever Had a Boss That... Succeeding in a Dysfunctional Workplace, providing a roadmap for thriving in toxic environments and mastering leadership. If you've ever faced challenging bosses or felt stuck in a negative workplace culture, this episode offers practical strategies to overcome these obstacles and lead with empathy and authenticity.

What you'll gain from this episode:

• Unlock Kind Leadership: Discover how to build a thriving work culture by leading with empathy, setting clear boundaries, and amplifying your team's wins.
• Master Your Energy: Learn how to pinpoint tasks and environments that drain you, and find out how to shift your focus to what fuels your passion and productivity.
• Handle Any Boss: Tackle the most common (and frustrating) boss types—whether it's the "Firefighter" or the "Amnesiac"—and gain the tools to navigate them confidently.
• Build a Winning Culture: Understand why a clear organizational vision is essential, and how to foster an environment where everyone thrives.
• Lead Through Tech: Explore how digital transformation and AI are shaping leadership, and why human connection will always be the key to success.

Whether you're a seasoned leader or new to your career, this episode is packed with actionable tips for navigating any work environment.

Take control of your leadership journey and start mastering your workplace today. Listen now!

Connect with Eric Charran:

• Linkedin
• Instagram
• Tik Tok

Get Eric's Book:

Have You Ever Had a Boss That... Succeeding in a Dysfunctional Workplace – Available on Amazon and other retailers.

Book Recommendation:

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck – A game-changing book that Eric credits with transforming both his professional and personal life.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: Confronting Leadership Challenges 05:03 Unlocking the Power of Kind Leadership 10:14 Harnessing Energy to Thrive in the Workplace 15:07 Mastering the Art of Dealing with Difficult Bosses 22:59 Navigating Common Leadership Obstacles 28:49 Embracing Digital Transformation and AI in Leadership 33:43 Preparing for the Future of Leadership and Talent 36:53 Essential Takeaways and Actionable Insights

Want to create a workplace where employees thrive, stay, and feel truly valued? In this episode of The Kind Leader Podcast, Rose Ann Garza, award-winning HR executive and Chief Human Resources Officer at Kerbey Lane, shares actionable insights on fostering a culture that attracts and retains top talent.

You'll learn:

• How corporate kindness directly improves employee retention
• Why mentorship should be short-term and goal-driven
• How to embrace microcultures while staying true to core values
• How to support employees beyond their job roles to boost engagement
• Practical ways to create open communication and trust in your organization

If you're a leader looking to build a workplace where people want to stay and grow, this episode is a must-listen! 🎧

🔗 Connect with Rose Ann on LinkedIn: Rose Ann Garza

00:00 – Introduction: People-First Leadership 02:53 – The Power of Kind Leadership 06:03 – Corporate Kindness & Employee Retention 09:07 – Rethinking Mentorship for Impact 12:02 – Building Open Communication & Trust 15:04 – Supporting Employee Growth 17:58 – Embracing Microcultures in Teams 21:02 – Managing Generational Differences 24:04 – Final Takeaways for Leaders

In this episode of the Kind Leader Podcast, Gino Degregori interviews Susan Inouye, a transformational executive coach, about the evolving nature of leadership in today's workplaces. They discuss the importance of kindness, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence in leadership, particularly in engaging younger generations like Millennials and Gen Z. Susan shares her journey from aspiring filmmaker to executive coach, emphasizing the significance of seeing and accepting individuals for who they are. The conversation highlights the Sawubona leadership style, which fosters connection and accountability, and the need for leaders to adapt to the changing expectations of their teams. In this conversation, Susan Inouye discusses the importance of kind leadership and how recognizing the gifts of employees can lead to better retention and productivity. She emphasizes the need to shift from expectations to intentions, fostering authenticity, and creating a sense of belonging in the workplace. The discussion also touches on the evolving nature of leadership, particularly in relation to younger generations who seek compassionate and authentic leaders. Inouye concludes with a call for organizations to prioritize growth and development as core values to enhance overall performance and employee satisfaction.

1. The Sawubona leadership approach involves seeing and accepting the whole person, including their gifts, strengths, and weaknesses. This creates an environment where people feel valued and contribute their best work.
2. Effective leadership requires both a "soft front" and a "hard back" - compassion and openness combined with core inner strength and conviction.
3. The five essential leadership shifts for today's multi-generational workforce are: from control to connect and receive; from conformity to see and accept; from expectations to intentions; from authority to authenticity; and from bottom line myopia to belonging.
4. Millennials and Gen Z have three core needs in the workplace: to feel heard, to use their gifts, and to have meaning and purpose in their work lives.
5. Traditional metrics may miss hidden value - as demonstrated in the story of "Jack," whose low new customer numbers masked his superior customer retention and profitability. Leaders must look beyond conventional measurements to see employees' true contributions.

1. "A manager holds people accountable, but a leader creates the culture and environment where the people hold themselves accountable. That's the difference between a manager and a leader." - Susan Inouye
2. "When we disconnect from our emotions, we disconnect from ourselves and who we are, and then we disconnect from our people and who they are." - Susan Inouye
3. "When we see bad behavior, there are two questions that a leader should ask: What are the gifts that are trying to come out in this bad behavior? And how do I redirect the gift so it better serves this person and the organization?" - Susan Inouye
4. "Millennials are the first generation that did not have to go through authority to get information. Information used to be used by leaders as leverage over their people. But today, the younger generation can get information like this." - Susan Inouye
5. "Business owners and executives forget that the people are the ones that create the profit. The more that you focus on the growth and development of your people, the byproduct will be increased productivity, revenues, and profitability." - Susan Inouye

• Susan Inouye's website: SusanInouye.com/kindleader
• Book: "Leadership's Perfect Storm" by Susan Inouye (Amazon)
• The three offers mentioned:
  • Free chapter download
  • Purchase the book (proceeds go to Youth Mentoring Connection)
  • Book a discovery call with Susan

00:00 Introduction to Kind Leadership

07:50 The Journey of Susan Inouye

14:53 Defining Kind Leadership

19:22 Engaging Millennials and Gen Z

25:40 Shifting Leadership Paradigms

26:19 Identifying Gifts in Leadership

31:15 From Expectations to Intentions

34:08 Shifting from Authority to Authenticity

35:53 Fostering a Sense of Belonging

41:11 The Future of Leadership

46:16 Final Thoughts on Growth and Development

Katie O'Malley, founder of Encouraged Coaching, shared her fascinating career journey from political science graduate to career coach and leadership educator. After working in political campaigns, nonprofits like the Innocence Project, and commercial real estate, she discovered her true calling in helping others navigate their careers. In 2018, she founded Encouraged Coaching while working at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, eventually going full-time with her business in 2022. The conversation explored themes of authentic leadership, workplace well-being, psychological safety, and the importance of aligning values with career choices.

SOUND BITES:

1. "Clear is kind, unclear is unkind. So if you want to be a kind leader, candor is the way, and candor and compassion can travel together." - Katie O'Malley

2. "At worst, work should have a net neutral impact on your life and at best, it's elevating your life outside of work." - Katie O'Malley

3. "People either grow or go. If they're able to." - Katie O'Malley

4. "We change workplace cultures, one employee at a time, one career path at a time, one team at a time." - Katie O'Malley

5. "Start before you're ready. Not ready to apply for that job, apply for it anyway." - Katie O'Malley

TAKEAWAYS:

1. True kindness in leadership isn't about being nice - it's about doing no harm and creating psychological safety

2. Employee well-being has five key dimensions: career, financial, community, physical, and emotional

3. Following natural talents rather than just passion can lead to more sustainable career success

4. Authentic leadership doesn't mean showing up however you want - it means aligning behavior with values

5. Creating psychological safety requires leaders to be self-aware and flexible in their communication styles

LINKS:

- Website: EncouragedCoaching.org

- Instagram: @EncouragedCoachChicago

- LinkedIn: /Kate O'Malley

RECOMMENDED BOOK:

"Teams" by Richard Hackman (Harvard Professor Emeritus)

Connect with Katie O'Malley through her website or social media platforms to schedule a discovery call and learn more about her coaching services.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey to Kind Leadership

13:40 Defining Kindness in Leadership

20:16 Navigating Career Choices and Transitions

22:18 Redefining Passion and Success

25:19 The Importance of Natural Talents

27:40 Employee Well-Being and Workplace Culture

30:44 Creating Career Paths and Growth Opportunities

32:07 The Role of Self-Awareness in Leadership

36:55 Authenticity vs. Professionalism

39:52 The Future of Leadership

41:45 Rapid Fire Insights

In this episode of The Kind Leader podcast, host Gino Degregori interviews Irene Riad, a transformational leader and coach with over 30 years of experience. Irene shares her unique multicultural background, having lived in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UK, and UAE, which shaped her perspective on leadership and culture. She introduces her Mosaic Integral Leadership System, a framework that integrates mind, body, soul, and spirit in leadership development. The conversation explores authentic leadership, compassion in coaching, and living one's legacy. Irene emphasizes that legacy isn't just about what we leave behind, but how we live and impact others in the present. The discussion also touches on self-reflection, cultural awareness, and the future of conscious leadership.

VALUABLE QUOTES:

1. "You are your legacy and you're living your legacy now. Whatever you leave behind, you're leaving it in the hearts of people." - Irene Riad
2. "Being a kind leader is being able to blend authenticity with decisiveness... in a way that is authentic and doesn't harm anyone." - Irene Riad
3. "We can only be as compassionate to others as we are to ourselves." - Irene Riad
4. "Legacy is about showing up fully, owning your gifts, taking ownership of your purpose and putting it to work." - Irene Riad
5. "You are powerful and you are enough. So find that dream or go after that dream and don't ever doubt yourself." - Irene Riad

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. True kind leadership requires balancing authenticity, decisiveness, and compassion
2. Self-compassion is the foundation for being compassionate with others
3. Cultural awareness and understanding play crucial roles in effective leadership
4. Legacy is not just about the future - it's about how we show up and impact others today
5. The future of leadership involves aligning consciousness with business success

IMPORTANT LINKS:

• LinkedIn: Irene Riad
• Website: www.sightcet.com
• Upcoming Book: "Radical Becoming: The Superpower of Success" by Irene Riad and Brian Tracy (releasing March 1st)

CHAPTERS

00:00 The Journey to Kind Leadership 13:40 Defining Kindness in Leadership 20:16 Navigating Career Choices and Transitions 22:18 Redefining Passion and Success 25:19 The Importance of Natural Talents 27:40 Employee Well-Being and Workplace Culture 30:44 Creating Career Paths and Growth Opportunities 32:07 The Role of Self-Awareness in Leadership 36:55 Authenticity vs. Professionalism 39:52 The Future of Leadership 41:45 Rapid Fire Insights

Dr. Karen Hills Pruden, founder of Pruden Global Business Solutions Consulting and the Sister Leaders Community, shares her journey from frontline work to C-suite leadership over a 29-year career spanning six industries. She discusses paying $350/hour for mentorship early in her career, which helped her transition into senior leadership. Dr. Pruden emphasizes that kind leadership involves being situationally aware, maintaining accountability while showing compassion, and understanding the impact of communication on team dynamics. She also discusses the importance of self-care for leaders, the challenges of hybrid workforces, and the future need for publicly compassionate leadership.

5 Valuable Quotes:

1. "Being kind, compassionate, considerate of your staff, your culture, and what they're going through does not mean that you aren't getting things done."
2. "You have one mind, one body, one spirit and your health is priority as well."
3. "There is power in the pause."
4. "No excuses make it happen - but how many dead bodies you leave in a row while you're achieving those goals is a whole different thing."
5. "It's never going to go back to everybody in-house... and we have to figure out how to navigate, how to communicate, how to hold people accountable based on all of these working situations."

5 Key Takeaways:

1. Kind leadership requires balancing accountability with empathy and understanding
2. High-performing leaders often neglect self-care, which eventually impacts their effectiveness
3. The future of leadership requires public displays of compassion, not just private ones
4. Successful hybrid workforce management demands situational awareness and flexibility
5. Career advancement often requires strategic investment in mentorship and personal development

Important Links:

• Website: drkarenhillsprudin.com
• Facebook Community: Sister Leaders
• Free Resource: "20 items other than salary that you can ask for from your employer" (downloadable)

Book Recommendation:

• "Who Moved My Cheese?" - recommended for understanding change management and its impact on workforce

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Karen Hales Pruden 05:14 The Essence of Kind Leadership 10:32 Empathy-Driven Leadership: A Learning Journey 15:33 Navigating Accountability with Compassion 20:10 Self-Awareness and Personal Growth in Leadership 25:45 The Future of Leadership: Kindness and Compassion 31:15 Rapid Fire Leadership Insights

In this episode of The Kind Leader podcast, host Gino Degregori interviews Christopher Seifert, founder of Enabling Empowerment and author of a book by the same name. Chris shares his 20+ years of experience across various industries, including the U.S. Navy submarine force and manufacturing leadership roles. The conversation centers on decision-making frameworks, kind leadership, and empowering teams. Chris distinguishes between being "nice" versus being "kind" in leadership, emphasizing that kind leaders provide necessary constructive feedback while caring authentically about their team's success. He also delves deep into how our brains make decisions, explaining System 1 (automatic) and System 2 (deliberate) thinking, and provides practical frameworks for better decision-making in leadership contexts.

5 VALUABLE QUOTES:

1. "Kindness is when I authentically care about somebody's wellbeing and want to see them be as successful as they can. Whereas a nice leader is somebody who just wants people to like them."
2. "The organizations that do invest in leadership development often cover conflict resolution and performance feedback... What I don't see them covering though is how to be better at decision-making."
3. "At the end of the day, none of those things really matter. What matters is do they believe in your mission... and do they believe they have the ability to influence it?"
4. "Even if instead of telling people what to do, you ask them to make a recommendation, the minute they do that, they now own the decision with you."
5. "Our brains aren't wired for making complex and uncertain decisions... businesses are complex and uncertain."

5 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. Decision-making is a skill that can be learned and improved through structured frameworks
2. Kind leadership involves providing necessary feedback while authentically caring about people's success
3. Understanding an employee's background and motivations is crucial for effective leadership
4. System 1 (automatic) and System 2 (deliberate) thinking affect our decision-making processes
5. Empowerment comes from giving team members the ability to make recommendations and own decisions

IMPORTANT LINKS:

• Website: www.enablingempowerment.com
• Book: "Enabling Empowerment" (available on Amazon and Audible)
• Recommended Reading: "Thinking Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman
• Recommended Reading: "The Choice" by Eli Goldratt

Chapters

00:00 Empowering Leadership: A Journey of Transformation 05:45 The Essence of Kind Leadership 08:05 The Importance of Kind Leadership 10:36 Understanding Employee Perspectives 13:24 Decision-Making Frameworks for Leaders 24:07 The Impact of AI on Decision Making 26:10 Understanding Decision-Making Systems 27:49 Empowering Leaders Through Decision-Making 29:39 Intentional Leadership Development 32:22 The Importance of Team Empowerment 33:37 Engagement and Ownership in Decision Making 34:57 Rapid Fire Leadership Insights 39:05 Connecting with Chris Seifert

In this conversation, Dr. Laura Gallaher, an organizational psychologist and transformational leader, discusses the importance of radical self-acceptance in leadership. She emphasizes that true kindness in leadership comes from a place of self-love and emotional awareness. Dr. Gallaher shares her experiences working with organizations like NASA and Disney, highlighting the role of psychological safety and the need for leaders to embrace their emotions to foster a supportive work environment. The discussion also touches on the fear of judgment that can prevent individuals from speaking up and the necessity of creating a culture where all voices are heard. In this conversation, Dr. Laura Gallaher and Gino discuss the essential qualities of effective leadership, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, empathy, and open dialogue. They explore how leaders can foster intrinsic motivation within their teams, navigate self-talk and decision-making, and the critical connection between self-acceptance and self-awareness. The discussion also highlights the evolving role of empathy in leadership and the necessity of genuine connection with team members to enhance productivity and loyalty. Dr. Gallaher shares practical insights and resources for leaders to cultivate these qualities in themselves and their organizations.

VALUABLE QUOTES:

1. "Clear is kind. Kind leaders are willing and able to have really difficult conversations, but they do it with a lot of heart."
2. "There is no amount of self-improvement that will ever make up for a lack of self-acceptance."
3. "We are extremely emotional creatures as human beings. We actually cannot make any decisions if we don't allow ourselves to feel emotions."
4. "Listen like it's not about you. Listening is a leadership superpower and defensive listening is unfortunately all too common."
5. "Self-deception exists to protect the ego, which unfortunately gets in our way all the time."

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. True kindness in leadership requires both clear communication and authentic connection with yourself and others.
2. Higher self-acceptance leads to higher self-awareness by reducing the need for ego protection.
3. Emotions are integral to business decision-making and shouldn't be suppressed or ignored in the workplace.
4. Creating psychological safety requires leaders to model vulnerability and explicitly invite different perspectives.
5. Effective leadership starts with self-awareness and the ability to sit with uncomfortable emotions.

IMPORTANT LINKS:

• Self-acceptance quiz: selfacceptancequiz.com
• Connect with Dr. Laura Gallaher on LinkedIn

RECOMMENDED BOOK: "The Untethered Soul" by Michael Singer

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Laura Gallaher 02:13 The Journey to Radical Self-Acceptance 06:04 Defining Kind Leadership 10:30 The Role of Emotions in Leadership 15:35 Creating Psychological Safety in Organizations 20:59 Encouraging Open Dialogue in Leadership 23:01 Fostering Intrinsic Motivation and Accountability 24:41 Navigating Self-Talk and Decision-Making 27:30 The Connection Between Self-Acceptance and Self-Awareness 30:26 The Evolving Role of Empathy in Leadership 32:54 The Importance of Connection in Leadership 35:43 Insights on Listening and Leadership 36:55 Resources for Self-Acceptance and Growth