Inclusive leaders create a sense of community in their teams by making meaningful connections with their employees. They take the time to get to know their team members as individuals and understand what makes them tick. This connection allows for open communication and trust, which is essential for building a solid team. Inclusive leaders motivate their team members to give their best and help them reach their potential. By creating a positive work environment where people feel valued, inclusive leaders do more than lead teams – they develop a culture of success.

But how can leaders do this? How can they shift the culture from bias to belonging?

To learn more about how leaders can be more inclusive, I interview Lisa M. Ong - an award-winning Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Strategy Consultant, Executive Coach, and President and Founder of Wishing out Loud. 

In this episode:

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About Lisa M. Ong:

Lisa M. Ong is an award-winning Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Strategy Consultant, Executive Coach, President and Founder of Wishing Out Loud. She is known as a thought leader and inclusion connector who invests in trusting meaningful relationships to cultivate cultures of DEI+ and belonging for all. As a CPA she looks to data with discernment in designing approaches that grow inclusive leadership skills to unleash DEI’s ROI by focusing on "relationships, outcomes, and impact"™️

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For more information: 

Lisa's Website:  https://www.wishingoutloud.com

Lisa's LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/onglisam/

Lisa's Instagram:  @wishingoutloud

Chris's Website:  https://www.chrisasper.com

Chris' LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisasper/

Most people know that it’s important to take care of themselves – after all, if you don’t have your health and well-being sorted out, how can you be expected to take care of others?

But for managers, taking care of yourself is even more essential. After all, if you’re not feeling your best, it can be tough to motivate your team and keep things on track.

In this episode, I interview Lydia Di Francesco, a Workplace Wellness Specialist and CEO of Fit + Healthy 365. If you want to improve wellness, increase productivity, and decrease stress - both your own and your team members - then you need to listen to this episode.

In this episode, Lydia and I talk about:

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About Lydia Di Francesco:

Lydia Di Francesco is the CEO and Workplace Wellness Specialist at Fit + Healthy 365. Lydia has worked in the wellness industry for over ten years. She has an MBA from uOttawa and is in progress of becoming a Certified Workplace Health and Performance Practitioner.

Lydia is a weekly radio host of a wellness segment on CHIN Radio Ottawa and a regular TV guest expert on CTV and Rogers and has been published in national and local magazines. Lydia works with organizations to create and deliver workplace health and performance strategic plans that support employee well-being and mental health and result in greater productivity and retention.

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Links Mentioned:

Lydia’s Company: www.fithealthy365.com

Lydia’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lydiadifrancesco

Chris’s Website: www.chrisasper.com

What does an Emmy Award-winning Executive Producer have in common with great leaders?

They both know how to get the best out of their teams and get things done.

One such Executive Producer is Julie Carruthers, who has experience on Daytime Dramas such as General Hospital, Port Charles, Santa Barbara, and most recently, All My Children.

Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Julie about how she got her start (fantastic story) in Hollywood and the lessons she learned along her journey from Assistant to Executive Producer. 

While her stories took place in the entertainment field, I found that her leadership insights and lessons in negotiations and solving problems could be applied to any industry.

In this episode, we discuss: 

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About Julie Carruthers:

In her TV career, Julie produced over 5000 hours of network programming as a creative Supervising and Executive Producer.   Her experience includes daytime dramas, "General Hospital," "Port Charles," "Santa Barbara," and most recently "All My Children." She has received industry awards, including 8 Emmy Awards and seven additional Emmy nominations, and awards for socially relevant storytelling from GLAAD, Peace Over Violence, Women in Television, NAACP and a Centennial Health Award.

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Links Mentioned in this Episode: 

Julie’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/julie-carruthers-346962119

Julie’s email: [email protected]

Chris’s website: https://www.chrisasper.com

Spoiler alert: if you're not playing at work, you're doing it wrong. Sure, your job is serious business, and you need to stay focused on your tasks, but that doesn't mean you can't have some fun too.

According to a recent study, Play can be a powerful tool in the workplace. Researchers found that employees who were allowed to take short breaks for playful activities became more energetic, creative, and productive. Fun doesn't have to mean frivolous – there are plenty of ways to incorporate play into your day-to-day without sacrificing productivity.

In this episode, I interview Daniel Prince, a Play and Purpose Coach with more than 20 years in corporate marketing, bringing play and creating thinking in managing teams, agencies and projects. He believes that Play can be nearly an antidote to what keeps us stuck in life and work - from the bedroom to the boardroom.

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In this episode, we discuss:

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About Daniel Prince:

Daniel has a Masters of Science and Technology and is the co-founder of Prince Coaching and Consulting. As a sought-after Play and Purpose coach and podcast guest, Daniel helps people to (re)discover their aliveness through play and clarity of purpose - from the bedroom to the boardroom.

He has over 20 years in corporate marketing where he is an innovator and well-loved project and team leader. Additionally, he has invested over 20 years in facilitation, training and leadership positions and has extensive experience in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Growth Mindset, Positive Intelligence, Ontological Leadership, Emotional Intelligence and years of heart-led trainings as an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Certificated Coach.

He also serves the coaching and business community on the board of the International Coaching Federation - Oregon Coaching Chapter as Director of Marketing, an Ambassador and as a Non-Profit Leadership Coach.

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Links to Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul by Dr. Stuart Brown

Play Personalities

Love and Work: How to Find What You Love, Love What You Do, and Do it for the Rest of Your Life by Marcus Buckingham

Daniel's Website

Daniel’s LinkedIn

Daniel’s Instagram

Do you feel like you're constantly pulled in a million different directions? Are you trying to juggle too many things at once and feeling like you're not succeeding at any of them? You're not alone. Managing a team can be challenging, but finding ways to simplify your life and take care of yourself is essential.

That's where mindfulness comes in. Mindfulness can help you find clarity and focus amid chaos. And, best of all, it's a practice you can do anywhere, anytime. In this podcast, I interview Lisa Jacobs - a Certified Leadership Coach and Mindfulness Facilitator, on how anyone can become a more mindful leader.

In this episode, we discuss:  

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About Lisa:

Lisa Jacobs, MA, CPPC is a Certified Leadership Coach and Mindfulness Facilitator. As a sought-after speaker on leadership, legacy and mindfulness, she inspires people to create conscious choices resulting in empowered action in living a whole life with no regrets. Lisa partners with individuals, teams and organizations who face extraordinary responsibilities and time commitments, are disconnected from their dreams and loss of clarity, connect to their bigger Why and live a life with purpose. Her content includes topics such as mindfulness, leadership, emotional intelligence and elements of Brene Brown's teachings in courageous leadership.

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Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Lisa’s website: https://www.lisajacobscoaching.com

Book a Chemistry Session with Lisa: https://calendly.com/lisabergjacobs/30-min-chemistry-session?month=2022-03

Lisa’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisabergjacobs

Connect with Chris: www.chrisasper.com

You've been told to develop your leadership abilities as a new manager. But how do you build your leadership abilities and start leading your team successfully? And when are you going to find the time to do this?

In this episode, I talk with someone I consider an expert at developing leaders - Matt Tod. Matt is the Director of Learning & Organizational Development at Plan International Canada. He travelled the world and has spoken to and worked with over 100,000 youth educators and adults on leadership, emotional intelligence, sustainable high performance and personal development.

In this episode, we discuss

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About Matt Tod

For over 15 years, Matt has travelled the world and has spoken to and worked with over 100,000 youth educators and adults on topics such as leadership, emotional intelligence, sustainable high performance and personal development. He currently serves as the Director of Learning & Organizational Development for Plan International Canada, an organization that strives for a just world that advances children's rights and equality for girls and is a Lead Facilitator at 21 Toys.

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Resources Mentioned:

Book: The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner

Matt’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/matttod

Chris Asper: www.chrisasper.com

As a first time manager, you are likely looking for advice from those who have more experience. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to leading people, sometimes the best source of information is a CEO. That's why I interviewed a former CEO and COO of one of Canada’s largest national charities, Habitat for Humanity. In this episode with Dr. Mark Rodgers, he shares some of his advice on how to be an effective leader.

In this episode, we discuss:

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About Dr. Mark Rodgers

Dr. Mark Rodgers has over 30 years experience working in the chartiable and non-profit sector for some of Canada's top organizations. As the former CEO and COO of one of Canada's largest national charities, Habitat for Humanity Canada, Mark is obsessed with helping individuals and organizations achieve breakthough results, maximize their social impact, and make a difference in their community and world.

Mark holds a PhD in organizational development and is a Certified Leadership Coach, winner of numerous academic, leadership, and community awards, he has been named one of Canada's Top 25 Social Leaders, all of which aligns to his life and leadership motto: "Live to make a difference!"

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Links Mentioned:

Mark’s Website: www.leadershipvillage.ca

Mark’s email: [email protected]

Book: What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, by Marshall Goldsmith

Chris’ Website: www.chrisasper.com

I often tell new managers that the biggest challenge in their new role won't be dealing with difficult employees, or mastering complex processes – it will be managing themselves. Because if they can't get their own head right, they'll find it very hard to lead others effectively. If you want to be more effective at leading your team, you need to change the way you think. In this podcast episode, I interview Bo Gross (founder of Keel) on his leadership journey, the worst mindsets leaders can have, and how to shift those mindsets.

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In this episode, we talk about:

3:50 - Personal mistakes made and lessons learned

7:43 - Dealing with insecurity in your first management role

9:19 - How to overcome insecurity as a first-time manager

13:30 - The 3 worst mindsets leaders can have

22:57 - Why deep inner work is key for managers

24:21 - How to do the inner work (3 practical steps)

28:29 - The 3 best mindsets leaders can have

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About Bo Gross:

Bo is the founder of Keel - a consulting agency that believes in the limitless ripple of a leader’s impact.  With over fifteen years of experience leading teams from 5-125 people, and loads of time consulting, coaching and developing leaders, his ability to keep asking the next “why” and deep empathy for others sets his work apart.

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Resources mentioned in this episode:

Bo’s website: https://www.wearekeel.com

Chris’ website: https://www.chrisasper.com

It can be tough being a new manager. You've taken on a big responsibility, but also a lot of opportunity. You have the chance to help your team reach their potential and grow into their roles. But being a good manager isn't just about giving orders and making decisions - it's also about being human. In this podcast, I interview Lon Wong, author of “Dear Stellar - Letters On the Art of Being Human” on his leadership journey, his book, and what it means to be more human.

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In this episode, we talk about:

3:00 - Mistakes made and lessons learned

5:31 - Advice for his “younger” self

7:34 - What it means to be more human

8:31 - The benefits to managers when they become more human

9:56 - Examples of being less human

10:57 - The art of being a more human manager

14:36 - His book “Dear Stellar”

18:17 - What first-time managers struggle with

20:05 - The importance of a morning routine

24:11 - Why first-time managers need a morning routine

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About Lon Wong:

Lon is a coach, strategy consultant, and author, helping individuals, teams, and organizations become more human. He has led faith communities, non-profits, and social enterprise startups. His most recent tenure was with an international non-profit, where he held multiple leadership roles within public engagement, digital marketing, and segment strategy, as well as chairing the diversity, equity, and inclusion council. Besides organizational consulting, he currently coaches through the altMBA, helping them work through their toughest challenges.

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Resources mentioned in this episode:

Lon’s website: www.heylon.ca

Lon’s book: Dear Stellar - Letters on the Art of Being Human

Chris Asper: www.chrisasper.com

If you're an introverted leader, you may sometimes feel like you don't have the same abilities as your more extroverted colleagues. But that doesn't have to be the case! There are plenty of ways for introverts to use their "superpowers" and make a real impact in their organizations. In this podcast, I speak with Francis Ma - Director of Product Management at Google. We talk about his journey from Software Engineer to becoming a leader of hundreds of Engineers reporting to him at Google.  

In this episode, we discuss:  

2:50 – Transitioning from a Technical Individual Contributor Role to Managing a Team

9:29 – Learning when to be Hands-on and Hands-off

12:57 – Mistakes to avoid as a First-time Manager

15:09 – How to learn to be an Adaptive Communicator

16:46 – Advice for Introverted Leaders

19:13 – Advantages of being an Introverted Leader

21:04 – How introverted leaders can be successful in fast-paced environments

About Francis Ma:  

Francis is a Director of Product Management at Google. Since joining in 2011, he has led a number of teams working on products such as Firebase, Google Cloud and Android.  He has also presented in front of thousands of people at Google’s annual Developer Day called Google I/O.  Prior to Google, Francis was an entrepreneur and tech startup co-founder in Toronto.  Before that, he worked at Amazon as a Software Engineering Manager. Outside of work, Francis loves playing ice hockey, spending time with his family and aspires to be a chef someday!

Resources mentioned in this episode:  

Francis' Twitter:  @cantforget 

Social Styles Handbook:  https://www.amazon.com/Social-Styles-Handbook-Learning-Library/dp/9077256334/ 

Chris Asper:  www.chrisasper.com