Management Development Unlocked - Management & Leadership Training

National Conflict Resolution Center

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A Dash of Naughtiness with Steph Edusei

Eric Girard — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0700

Today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked features Steph Edusei, Chief Executive of Saint Oswald’s Hospice in North East England. Steph is also a mom and a leader who has worked in healthcare for nearly 30 years. She is also Chair of Eliot Smith Dance, a coach, speaker, and podcast host of Black All Year. Eric and Steph delve into what she’s learned from her many years spent in leadership.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Steph Edusei’s role as Chief Executive of Saint Oswald’s Hospice, a large adult and children’s hospice in North East England.
Why Steph would like people to come to hospice earlier than they think they need to make the most of their remaining time.
The purpose of leadership and why it’s about creating the right environment for your team to thrive.
Tackling challenges at work while remaining supportive and providing accountability with direct conversations.
Overcoming self-doubt, reframing imposter syndrome, and learning to believe in yourself.
Implementing positive self-talk into your daily affirmations.
Being authentic in how you look and act in a leadership position.
The one piece of advice Steph has for managers and leaders.
What Eric has learned not to do as a leader.

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The Science of Productivity with Michelle Risinger

Eric Girard — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0700

This episode of Management Development Unlocked features Michelle Risinger, founder and CEO of the DC-based social innovation strategy firm Rising Solutions. Michelle spent most of her career in the social sector, and after 10 years of doing direct humanitarian assistance overseas, she transitioned into an R&D technical role. Four years ago, she opened Rising Solutions to support organizations, governments, and corporations in launching new ideas, products, and services. Rising Solutions only works on concepts with a double bottom line: a financial return and a quantifiable social return.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Michelle Risinger’s role as the founder and CEO of a DC-based social innovation strategy firm and what she loves about it.
What the future of work means and how Michelle began her research on the topic.
Chronobiology and how it impacts your work.
The history of the eight-hour workday and why there’s been a burnout epidemic in the modern workplace.
The secret to human productivity.
The product Michelle is building to help people find their chronobiology indicators.
The art of thought and its four phases.
Michelle’s tips for managers to incorporate chronobiology and neuroscience into their work.
Eric’s take on how using chronobiology in Silicon Valley would work.

Connect with Michelle Risinger:

Rising Solutions

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Maximizing the HR-Manager Relationship with Lotus Buckner

Eric Girard — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Lotus Buckner, the bestselling author of “The Joy of HR.” Lotus is the founder and CEO of LB Talent Solutions, where she executes fractional work in addition to consulting and executive coaching. Lotus is an HR expert, and you’ll hear her thoughts on why it’s so important to partner with HR rather than viewing them as an adversary you have to deal with.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why companies need great HR and great leadership in collaboration to create success.
The most common misconceptions about HR and why they’re incorrect.
Processes that are in place to protect leadership–not just the company.
Reaching out to HR early to support team development and employee success.
What you may not be aware HR can assist you with, including payroll, benefits, learning and development, and more.
How a proactive partnership with HR can help you nip problems in the bud before you have to put out a fire.
Lotus Buckner’s new book, “The Joy of HR,” and what you can learn from it.
Eric’s perception of HR during his career and some of his experiences.

Connect with Lotus Buckner:

“The Joy of HR” book

Talent Remix

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Secrets of a People-Focused Leader with Ryan Weber

Eric Girard — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0700

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Ryan Weber joins Eric to talk about his path into leadership and how his youth spent playing hockey helped develop his skills. Ryan is Vice President of Workforce Planning and Tax Pro Experience at H&R Block. He’s been with the company for 14 years, working in various roles. Ryan shares how he honed his leadership skills with a course at Xerox, why moving to Hawaii taught him relationships matter, and when corrective action at work can be positive.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Ryan Weber’s journey into leadership at H&R Block, how youth sports helped start him on that path, and the impact Xerox’s sales course had.
The three things that have impacted Ryan’s sales leadership roles the most.
How a move to Hawaii taught him to foster trust and build relationships, which carried over to his work.
Dealing with career setbacks and how to overcome and learn from them.
Asking leadership what you can do to improve as a part of propelling your career forward.
The influential forces on Ryan’s career outside of his family.
When corrective actions can be a positive influence at work.
Ryan Weber’s advice for new leaders today.
His experience as a hockey player throughout childhood and why he’s more nervous about coaching his kids’ teams than adults at work.

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Constructive Disagreement with Ashley Virtue

Eric Girard — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0700

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Ashley Virtue from the National Conflict Resolution Center. Ashley travels around the country, teaching people how to resolve conflicts and disagreements in a healthy manner. While their conversation is focused on conflict at work, Ashley and Eric also explore what’s driving the increased conflict in our culture, some tools you can use to handle it, and what Ashley points to as the catalyst.

Ashley shares some strategies workplace leaders can use to help their teams communicate effectively. She also reveals NCRC’s three steps for responding respectfully when you hear something you disagree with: 1) demonstrating understanding, 2) acknowledging the impact it has on the other person, and 3) identifying what the underlying needs are. Ashley emphasizes that simply feeling heard is critical to feeling fairly treated and moving forward.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Ashley Virtue’s role with the National Conflict Resolution Center and what her organization does.
The diversity of her work and why there are so many commonalities across industries.
Increased conflict in the culture and workplace and the new tools you can utilize to deal with it.
What Ashley points to as the catalyst behind the increased divisiveness.
Some strategies workplace leaders can use to help their teams communicate effectively.
The three components of responding respectfully when you hear something you disagree with.
Why Ashley finds her work to be a form of self-care and how it encourages her.
Training and workshops NCRC offers in addition to mediation and conflict resolution.
Eric’s perception of new managers’ soft skills in leadership roles.

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Lead Like a Pro: Managing Change and Transition

Eric Girard — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked, you’ll hear the final installment of Eric’s audiobook, Lead Like a Pro: The Essential Guide to New Managers. This episode focuses on change and why managers must be willing to adapt to new ways of doing business and relating to people. You’ll hear the elements required to handle change effectively, the benefits that come from it, and how the five stages of grief relate to change. Eric reveals three places you can focus your time and how to divide them up to decide where to invest your time and energy. He also outlines the Kubler-Ross model of change and the Bridges transition model. Finally, you’ll hear the five common reasons behind resistance to change, some steps you can take to address it, the three things resistance to change represents, and learning to view change as an opportunity.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Change and the need for managers to adapt to new ways of doing business and relating to people.
The elements of handling change effectively as a manager and the benefits you can get from managing change well.
How understanding the five stages of grief can help you handle your team members’ reactions to change.
A real-life example of what happens when a manager doesn’t prepare a team for a big change.
Reflecting on how you view change and what it models for your team.
Three places you can focus your time and how to divide them up to decide where to invest your time and energy.
The Kubler-Ross model of change.
Reducing resistance to change in your organization and how it manifests.
The five common reasons behind resistance to change and some steps you can take to address it.
The three things resistance to change represents and how to overcome it.
Giving team members space to adjust to the change.
The Bridges transition model.
Beginnings and new understandings, values, and attitudes.
Gaining control of your own responses and viewing change as an opportunity.
The path to action: fact, story, feel, act.
Remaining connected to your peers and boss through the change and maintaining a positive attitude.

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Laughter, Levity, and Leadership with Jen Recla

Eric Girard — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric welcomes Jen Recla to the show. Jen works in the coaching and team development space, helping leaders build engaged, collaborative, and resilient teams. She uses coaching, team development work, leading retreats, and leadership workshops. Jen is a believer in the use of fun and levity to improve team dynamics and project outcomes. She has 12 years of experience in this space, leading teams and learning functions at various organizations before opening her business.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Jen Recla’s work with leaders and what she offers them.
How fun can help develop a high-performing team by reducing stress and burnout, creating connections, building trust, and improving communication.
Incorporating fun to improve team dynamics and project outcomes and one of Jen’s favorite activities to do this.
Implementing AI into your team-building activities.
Balancing productivity with a fun and engaging environment and asking for feedback.
The practicalities of introducing fun into your team environment.
Using small gestures to ingrain levity into your day-to-day environment.
Jen’s advice for leaders uncomfortable introducing fun into a traditional or serious workplace culture.
The risks of adding in fun and creating toxic positivity.
The services Jen offers to her clients and organizations.

Connect with Jen Recla:

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The Delegation Playbook: Strategies for Empowering Your Employees

Eric Girard — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s Management Development Unlocked, Eric shares his fifth power session from his Lead Like a Pro Course. This episode focuses on the art of delegation. You’ll hear why entrepreneurs have to learn how to delegate, questions to ask yourself as you delegate to your team, and your five responsibilities when you delegate.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why entrepreneurs must learn the art of delegation.
A poll asking participants if they delegate too much or too little and why.
What you should be able to accomplish by the end of this session and the agenda.
Some questions to ask yourself as you delegate work to others.
The five responsibilities you have as you delegate to your team.
Playing “Delegate That” and discussing it with other participants.
Delegation best practices and the questions you can ask to determine that.

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Goal-Setting Essentials: Setting Yourself Up for Success

Eric Girard — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0700

Today’s Management Development Unlocked is the fourth installment of Eric’s power sessions series from his Lead Like a Pro course. This episode focuses on goal-setting. You’ll hear the objectives and agenda behind a goal-setting session, some common flaws, and how to set quantitative and qualitative goals. Finally, you’ll hear the four things you should be able to do by the end of the goal-setting session.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Eric’s guidelines for this session.
The objectives and agenda of the goal-setting session.
The common flaws in goal-setting and previewing what a good goal looks like.
The questions a good goal answers and SMART goal criteria.
How to set a quantitative goal.
What a qualitative goal is and how to set one.
Setting team goals, receiving input from everyone on the team, and encouraging out-of-the-box thinking.
The four things you should be able to do following this session.
Creating a chat waterfall to share ideas.

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Celebrating 100 Episodes: Empowering Managers to Develop Talent with Al Dea

Eric Girard — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0700

Popular guest Al Dea returns to the show on this 100th episode of Management Development Unlocked. Al is the founder of The Edge of Work, a leadership development firm helping organizations develop the next generation of leaders inside their organizations while building high-performing and highly engaged cultures. Like Eric, Al has a passion for developing leaders and managers.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Al Dea’s observations on managers’ role in employee career development and why it’s important.
Finding ways to prioritize career development and what that could look like.
Al’s thoughts on offering career coaches or mobility teams inside organizations.
Why all leaders should be talent developers and make it a priority.
The interconnectivity between doing your job, investing in talent, and developing talent and Al Dea’s suggestions for implementing it.
He advises how organizations, talent development, and L&D can play a role in this process.
Some of Al’s exercises for implementing talent development at your workplace.

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Leveling Up: Nailing the Transition to Management

Eric Girard — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s Management Development Unlocked, Eric shares his third power session of the Lead Like a Pro Course. This session focuses on the transition into management and what differentiates managers from leaders. You’ll hear the objectives of this session, the three groups of people whose expectations matter, and how your time distribution in a management role differs from that of a contributor. Lastly, Eric explains the importance of accountability.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Eric’s guidelines for his Lead Like a Pro class.
What makes managers different from leaders.
The objectives and agenda for this session of the Lead Like a Pro course.
The three groups of people whose expectations you should be concerned with and the questions you should be thinking about.
Your time distribution in a management role and some prompts to help you determine the adjustments you can make to how you spend your time.
Holding yourself accountable with a partner.

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Empathy 101: Leveling Up Your Management Skills

Eric Girard — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0700

Today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked is part two of the Lead Like a Pro power sessions. Eric outlines why empathy is imperative at work, four things empathy improves, and its three components. He shares three action items to increase your empathy, improve your listening skills, and the two questions you can ask someone at work to change the depth of your conversations. Empathy is no longer an unimportant skill in the workplace. Instead, it is a key to building better relationships throughout your career.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why empathy is an imperative skill at work.
Four things empathy improves: innovation, engagement, retention, and inclusivity
What empathy is and the three components of empathy.
Three things you can do to increase your empathy.
The three levels of listening and how they can improve your empathy skills.
The two questions you can ask someone at work to change the depth of conversations.
The skills you should have at the end of the Lead Like a Pro course.

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An Insider's Guide to the Lead Like a Pro Program

Eric Girard — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0700

In the first of five Power Sessions, Eric outlines his Lead Like a Pro course and what each session offers. Eric offers these sessions to clients for free and wants to offer them to podcast listeners as well. You’ll hear an outline of the Lead Like a Pro course, why empathy is invaluable in management, and the differing expectations employees, managers, and peers have of you at work. Eric explains the process for defining goals and setting targets, the impact of trust and integrity in the workplace, and the objectives that drive the full Lead Like a Pro course.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why empathy matters in management.
Eric’s personal experience with an empathetic manager as he grieved his mom’s death.
The definition of empathy and how it differs from sympathy.
The differing expectations of employees, managers, and peers.
Defining goals and setting specific targets.
Trust and integrity’s impact on the workplace.
The objectives behind the full Lead Like a Pro course.

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Burnout-Proof Your Management Career with Brian Walch

Eric Girard — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Brian Walch, owner of Shiftfocus Coaching and Consulting. Brian is based in Anchorage, Alaska, and he helps organizations develop their managers. Brian also assists organizations in building best-in-class management cultures. He has a 25-year career in IT consulting and decided to move over to helping managers make a bigger impact while helping people develop in their careers.

Eric and Brian cover the challenges managers face after they move past the honeymoon stage, Brian’s advice for burned-out managers, and why burnout can happen even when you love what you’re doing. He shares four domains you should consider as a manager, what to do when you believe you’re ready for more responsibility, and the one thing that can benefit brand-new managers most.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

The challenges managers face in their own careers once they move past the honeymoon stage.
Brian Walch’s advice for burned-out managers and why internal motivation matters more than external.
Why burnout can happen even when you love what you’re doing.
Investing in yourself for the long haul and reaping the benefits.
Continual progression even as you become more comfortable with your management position.
Brian's four domains to consider as a manager: relationships and influence, skills and experience, results, and systems.
What to do when you think you’re ready for more in management.
Brian’s business, Shiftfocus, and what it can help you with.
The one thing Eric believes can benefit brand-new managers.

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Lead Like a Pro: Building a Coaching Habit

Eric Girard — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s Management Development Unlocked, you’ll hear part five of Eric’s six-episode series of his audiobook, Lead Like a Pro: The Essential Guide for New Managers. Building a healthy coaching habit can help break three vicious cycles at work, and Eric shares some tips for becoming a great coach for your team. You’ll learn about the GROW model, becoming an active listener, and some questions you can use in your next coaching session. You’ll also hear why feedback is crucial to a successful team. Eric outlines why feedback should be a habit—both constructive and positive—and how to handle adverse reactions to feedback and reward and recognize your team without money.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Building a coaching habit and the three vicious circles at work that it can break.
Evolving beyond your own tasks and taking proactive steps to help your team perform better.
Coaching and feedback and the three things it can help you do as a new manager.
Why you should always coach in private, be curious, and avoid statements that may make the coachee defensive.
Questions that can help you evaluate your team’s performance.
Challenging your assumptions and digging deeper.
The purpose behind coaching at work.
Four essential coaching skills and the GROW (goals, reality, options, and way forward) model for coaching.
GROW in practice and avoiding offering advice.
Six behaviors or active listening.
Seven essential coach-like questions to get a coaching session rolling.
Making feedback a habit and the simple things you can do to ensure it is received well.
Keeping a record of the feedback you provide.
Handling negative reactions to feedback.
The coaching-feedback-coaching technique.
Offering rewards and recognition to team members.
The three ways to reward and recognize your team that doesn’t involve money and how to do it.

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The Power of Soft Skills with Roberta Ndlela

Eric Girard — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric welcomes Roberta Ndlela to the show. Roberta is a member of the Zulu tribe in South Africa and grew up under the apartheid system. Apartheid ended when she was 18, and at 19, she began her corporate career in the transportation industry, where she honed her communication skills. Later, as she taught English in South Korea, Roberta recognized the value of adaptability. She credits her communication and adaptability skills for her success today.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How Roberta Ndlela defines “soft skills” as human skills.
Why you need soft skills in addition to technical knowledge.
The top eight behaviors that successful managers or leaders possess.
The data behind soft skills, why CEOs spend 20% more time learning soft skills than the average person, and the increased productivity rates of their teams.
Quiet quitting and workers’ reluctance to do more than the minimum at work.
Roberta Ndlela’s free 30-minute call to assist listeners with speaking or leading people.

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Psychological Safety and Growth in the Workplace with Roger Martin

Eric Girard — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On this Management Development Unlocked replay, Eric interviews Roger Martin, co-founder and CEO of ThriveMore Brands. ThriveMore is a platform company with franchise brands under its umbrella, including RockBox Fitness and beem® Light Sauna. They also have a nutrition company and are discussing bringing an overseas franchise concept to America. The company employs 27 people in its home office.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Roger Martin’s company, ThriveMore Brands, and an overview of what it does.
His tips for overcoming imposter syndrome and why you’re probably not growing if you haven’t experienced it.
What competency-selective interviewing tactics are, and how they contrast with just using your gut to hire.
The impact of AI in the workplace and what makes it a powerful tool.
How managers deal with failure, take responsibility for it, and work to fix the problem at the speed of trust.
Psychological safety and the value of feeling safe to make mistakes and grow.
The franchise brands that make up ThriveMore Brands and the goal of those brands.

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The Productivity Slapdown: Clashing Approaches to Getting Things Done with Brian Nelson-Palmer

Eric Girard — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On this episode of Management Development Unocked, Eric welcomes Brian Nelson-Palmer back to the show for a friendly debate. Brian is the founder of Productivity Gladiator and teaches personal, practical productivity skills. Brian’s target audience is recently promoted office people managers. Brian and Eric have different productivity styles, and this episode is all about their dueling opinions on various ways of remaining productive, including calendars, task lists, what time work should start, and more. While they may disagree on their methodology, Eric and Brian share a passion for getting things done in a timely manner.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

The five things Eric and Brian Nelson-Palmer are in disagreement about.
Using a calendar for tasks and events (Eric) versus Brian’s use of a calendar and a separate task list.
The paradigm differences that may make Eric’s method work for one person but Brian’s method for someone else.
Planning every facet of your day versus leaving room in your schedule to remain flexible.
Why Eric works out in the afternoon but starts work very early.
Brian’s preference to sleep in later and work out earlier in the day.
Brian’s explanation that meditation does not work for him other than getting back to sleep.
The benefits of meditation that Eric loves.
Why Brian loves Amazon’s Subscribe and Save and Eric’s dislike of it.

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Lead Like a Pro: Trust and Team Development Essentials

Eric Girard — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0700

Today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked comes from chapters five and six of Eric’s bestselling book, Lead Like a Pro: The Essential Guide for New Managers. These chapters outline how to perform a SWOT analysis of your team and the importance of building trust with your team members. Eric shares how to implement the Tuckman model of team development, the five dysfunctions of a team, how to overcome or avoid the five dysfunctions, and eight values to incorporate into your leadership style. Finally, Eric shares some important takeaways from The SPEED of Trust by Stephen R. Covey.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How to perform a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis to focus on your team’s internal and external factors.
Holding a team meeting to discuss a SWOT analysis together.
An alternative method of a SWOT analysis suggested by the Harvard Business Review.
Performing SWOT analysis regularly for your team and yourself in conjunction with the brainstorming methodology mentioned in chapter three.
Why using a SWOT analysis can help you identify where to focus your coaching efforts and training programs and develop a plan to improve team performance and achieve goals.
Implementing the Tuckman model of team development (forming, storming, norming, and performing) and what to expect.
Setting expectations with your team as you use the Tuckman model.
The importance of building trust within your team.
The essential concepts all managers should know to build trust with a team and how it can benefit managers.
The five dysfunctions of a team.
Overcoming or avoiding the five dysfunctions of a team.
The key to a successful team.
Why managers must lead by example and demonstrate a commitment to the team.
The eight values to incorporate into your leadership style.
Takeaways from The SPEED of Trust you can use with your team.

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Front & Center Leadership with Brandon Birkmeyer

Eric Girard — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0700

This episode of Management Development Unlocked features Brandon Birkmeyer. Brandon is a former Madison Avenue agency executive who worked on accounts like Coca-Cola and Apple. He left the corporate world six years ago and now does corporate training and speaking. Brandon is the author of the book, “Front & Center Leadership: How Leaders Can Use Personal Branding to Stand Out and How You Can Too.” He is also the host of the podcast “Brands on Brands.”

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Brandon Birkmeyer’s book on personal branding in the corporate space, “Front & Center Leadership.”
The three components of a successful personal brand.
Brandon’s catalyst for writing his book and leveraging your human potential to become a personal brand.
How the principles laid out in his book apply to the future of management development.
His steps for bringing leaders to the forefront with practice.
Who Brandon’s book is for and why new managers can benefit from it most.
Overcoming the reluctance to build a personal brand.
The three types of reluctance.

Connect with Brandon Birkmeyer:

Bringing Shadow Behavior into the Light of Day book

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Creating Healthy Work Environments with Phyllis Quinlan

Eric Girard — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0700

Today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked features Dr. Phyllis Quinlan, president and CEO of MFW Consultants. Phyllis has 40+ years of experience in the nursing field and is a certified professional coach, which she weaves into her consulting firm. She specializes in helping leaders create healthy work environments, building a sense of resilience and well-being in staff using emotional intelligence and the principles of healthy work environments.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Phyllis Quinlan’s role as president and CEO of MSW consultants, her background as a nurse, and her work as a coach.
The components of a healthy workplace environment and the part an emotionally intelligent leader plays in that.
Civility at work, why it matters, and what incivility looks like.
Phyllis’s tips for creating a culture of civility and citizenship alongside a healthy workplace.
The differences between bullies and individuals who are chronically uncivil.
Why leadership finds it challenging to address bullying behaviors on their teams.
The importance of documentation.
What you can expect from Phyllis’s book, “Bringing Shadow Behavior into the Light of Day.”

Connect with Phyllis Quinlan:

MFW Consultants

mfwconsultants@gmail.com

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The Business Continuity Playbook with Anca Enache

Eric Girard — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric welcomes Anca Enache, founder of 3P Impact Consulting. Anca helps purpose-driven small- and medium-sized companies create a competitive advantage by revealing the environmental, social, and governance risks and opportunities that may impact their business.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Anca Enache’s work in sustainability alongside purpose-driven companies.
The definition of a business continuity plan at the team level and how it can help a company.
A real-life example of the benefits of a continuity plan.
The six components of an effective team-level business continuity plan.
The steps required to implement a continuity plan.
Anca’s work as a consultant.

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Lead Like a Pro: Mastering SMART Goals and Delegation

Eric Girard — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric shares part three of this six-part series from his book, Lead Like a Pro: The Essential Guide for New Managers. Featuring chapters three and four, you’ll hear why it’s important to set SMART goals for your team, Eric’s brainstorming guidelines for setting team goals, and why you should be performing weekly one-on-one meetings with team members. Eric also shares why you must learn how to delegate effectively and how it can improve your relationship with your team. You’ll also hear about the six levels of initiative that can help bring out the best in everyone, along with Eric’s tips for helping you decide what to delegate.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Creating clear goals for your team and how you benefit from them.
Understanding the purpose behind a goal and the four components behind a good goal.
SMART goals: specific, measurable, achievable (or aligned), relevant (or resourced), and time-bound (or trackable).
The benefits of SMART goals for new managers and how to set them in three simple steps.
Questions you can ask to identify a SMART goal.
Eric’s eight brainstorming guidelines for setting team goals.
Setting one-on-one weekly meetings with team members to make progress toward goals.
Altering SMART goals to fit your organization’s needs.
Learning to delegate tasks to your team effectively and how it can improve your relationship with your team.
The benefits of effective delegation and some reasons managers fail to delegate.
The ten commandments for effective delegation.
Delegating the right tasks to the right people and how to determine if a team member is ready for the task at hand.
The six levels of initiative, encouraging higher-level thinking from team members, and bringing out the best in everyone.
Eric’s tips for deciding what could be delegated to your team.

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From Manager to Executive with Stacey Caster

Eric Girard — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0700

Today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked features Stacey Caster, co-founder and CEO of North Executive Advisors. Stacey specializes in leadership development and executive coaching. She is also a speaker, podcast host, and author.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Stacey Caster’s background in senior leadership and her role today as the CEO and co-founder of North Executive Advisors.
What’s different about leading leaders versus leading individual contributors.
The leadership skills required to lead leaders and why it requires forecasting farther into the future.
Building a network outside of your four walls to understand what your competitors are doing.
The importance of emotional intelligence in leadership.
Leveling up your career development from becoming a leader to becoming a leader of leaders.
Marketing your personal brand inside your company to position yourself for leadership roles.
What good leaders can do to strengthen a business.
The mistakes a leader can make that will crash a business.
Stacey’s upcoming book, “The Leadership Navigator: Chart Your Course to Leadership Mastery.”

Connect with Stacey Caster:

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Balancing the Bottom Line with Environmental Impact with Eloisa Marquez-Gonzalez

Eric Girard — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s Management Development Unlocked, Eric interviews Eloisa Marquez-Gonzalez, an operation strategist and advisor to green tech organizations. Eloisa helps them design their operations, and once they’ve grown, she helps those companies streamline to ensure their impact is growing along with their company. Another fun fact about Eloisa is that she is a former professional tennis player who eventually left that career to pursue an engineering degree.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Eloisa Marquez-Gonzalez’s position as an operation strategist and advisor focused on green tech organizations.
Her career in professional tennis, a pivot to engineering, and finally to the climate space.
The differences between innovation and continuous improvement.
What the green tech sector encompasses, and what green tech operations are.
The metrics that differentiate green tech ops from traditional ops.
Creating an environment of collaboration where people feel comfortable bringing new ideas to leadership.
The steps managers in any industry can take to integrate sustainability practices into existing operations.
Eloisa’s green tech operations roundtable and what she hopes to accomplish with it.
How to foster curiosity and creativity within your team.

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Walking Tree

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Don't Be the ASKhole with Kerri Burchill

Eric Girard — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0700

Today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked features Kerri Burchill, author of “Leading Out of the ASKhole™ Trap.” Kerri is a leadership consultant who started her career in education. She specializes in helping leaders and teams in messy, dynamic situations.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Kerri Burchill’s role as a leadership consultant and how her first career in education led her to where she is today.
The definition of an askhole and how an askhole can trap you.
The importance of active listening and why senior leaders and experienced managers need to actively listen to their teams.
Her advice for avoiding the constant spin and getting stuck which leads to more issues that need to be resolved.
Kerri’s favorite part of being a leadership consultant.
What you can expect from Kerri’s book, “Leading Out of the ASKhole™ Trap.”
The one leadership skill everyone should have.

Connect with Kerri Burchill:

Kerri Burchill’s website

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Lead Like a Pro: Becoming a Manager

Eric Girard — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric shares part two of his book, Lead Like a Pro. This section focuses on what it takes to successfully transition into management from a role as a contributing team member. You’ll hear the benefits you can reap by preparing for this transition, the five common misconceptions about people who move into management, the six mindset shifts you need for a smooth transition, and how you can expand your influence to manage your boss, peers, and team. Eric shares some of his personal experiences, tips from Forbes, and the differences between power and influence.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why being a successful manager is different than becoming a successful team member.
Eric’s move into a management position and his initial mistakes with a problem team member.
The benefits you’ll reap by preparing for a transition into management.
Five common misconceptions about people who move into management roles.
Six mindset shifts for making a smoother transition into management.
Expanding your influence to manage your boss, your team, and your peers and its positive impact on your career.
What it means to “manage up.”
“Managing down,” getting the right people on the bus, and creating psychological safety at work.
Building a collaborative culture with your peers to “manage sideways” and create a better understanding of your organization and corporate goals.
Some ideas for putting managing up, down, and sideways into practice.
The Forbes 14 tips for transitioning into a management role.
Some tips from Eric for making a successful transition into a manager based on his experiences.
Power versus influence in management.
Eric’s favorite pieces of advice for new managers.

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WOMEN Unlimited with Rosina Racioppi

Eric Girard — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Dr. Rosina Racioppi, President and CEO of WOMEN Unlimited, Inc. WOMEN Unlimited helps Fortune 1000 companies cultivate the talent they need for ongoing growth and profitability. Dr. Racioppi previously held executive management positions in human resources and has over 25 years of experience in this sector. She earned her doctorate in education from the University of Pennsylvania, and her dissertation, “Women’s Mentoring Wisdom,” focuses on how women use and fail to use mentoring at the mid-career level. Dr. Racioppi is a contributing member of Reimagining Talent, Learning & Development Congress, a contributing leadership expert to publications such as Fortune, Fast Company, and Chief Learning Officer magazines, and serves on the Advisory Council of the Women Business Collaborative.

Eric and Dr. Racioppi discuss the transition from functional expert to manager, the psychological shift required to become a successful manager, Dr. Racioppi’s advice for women in management, finding a mentor, and the mission of WOMEN Unlimited.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why the transition from a functional expert to management can be challenging and the obstacles a new manager may face.
The psychological transition required to shift from an individual responsible for tasks to a leader accountable for getting results.
Overcoming the discomfort of having difficult conversations with team members and helping them become successful in their roles.
Dr. Rosina Racioppi’s advice for a woman stepping into a managerial role for the first time.
The value of mentorship—especially for female managers—especially in management roles and how a mentor can help guide you to success.
The preparation required in a mentor-mentee relationship and the work needed to build a productive conversation with a mentor.
The impact mentorship has had on Dr. Racioppi’s career.
WOMEN Unlimited’s mission.

Connect with Rosina Racioppi:

WOMEN Unlimited

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AI in Management with Josh Irmler

Eric Girard — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Josh Irmler, an AI expert who’s creating new tools and teaching others to embrace the positive changes AI can bring to the workforce. Josh’s company, Landdai, offers customized GPT tools for the talent development space. Eric and Josh cover why Josh doesn’t believe AI is going to eliminate jobs, advantages new managers may have with AI, the customization and personalization it offers, and how AI could be used in the management space.

If you’re a manager wondering how AI is going to impact your role in the future, you won’t want to miss this episode.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Josh Irmler’s background in consulting and what his company, Landdai, is teaching learning and development professionals about AI.
How AI is going to change the way our work looks but probably won’t take our jobs and instead make us irreplaceable.
The difficulties with keeping track of all the constant changes in the AI space.
The possibilities AI can offer us at work and the tools Josh uses for various purposes.
What new managers can get from using AI in their roles and changing the way you think of it.
The advantages new managers may have with AI versus established managers and the customization and personalization they may be able to offer.
Why AI may not eliminate jobs but instead change what those positions look like.
Josh’s free AI starter kit for podcast listeners and what’s included.
Eric’s take on how AI could be used in the management space.

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Landdai’s website

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Leading Diverse Teams with Hazel Quiatchon

Eric Girard — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0700

Today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked features Hazel Quiatchon, a leadership development practitioner and executive coach with 20 years of experience. She is the senior director and head of leadership development at a San Francisco Bay Area tech company. Hazel has trained hundreds of leaders to be the best coaches for their teams and shares tips and tricks for getting your team on the same page.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Traits of the most successful managers Hazel Quiatchon has observed.
How she coaches managers who need to address common team dilemmas and why clarity matters.
Hazel’s favorite coaching model and what makes it effective.
The five dysfunctions of a team listed in the classic Patrick Lencioni book.
The foundation of an effective team and creating conditions to promote trust.
Her advice for managers who lead diverse and global teams and the importance of being aware and intentional.
The unique challenges of remote and hybrid work and Hazel’s suggestions for maintaining team spirit and collaboration as well as equity and fairness.
The three things new managers can do to make leading a team feel less daunting.
Why you should practice what you preach to your team and set an example.
Hazel’s coaching services and her areas of focus.

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Lead Like a Pro: Empathy in Management

Eric Girard — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0700

Today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked features a chapter from Eric’s book, Lead Like a Pro: The Essential Guide for New Managers. In part one of this six-part series, you’ll hear why empathy in the workplace has ROI in multiple arenas. Eric shares some ideas for building and maintaining trust with your team, the five qualities of a good manager, and the qualities of an empathetic person, which is not the same as sympathy. You’ll hear the three kinds of empathy, how they intertwine with psychological safety at work, and ten methods for building cross-cultural communication with your team. Finally, Eric reveals five steps to building empathy within yourself and at your workplace.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Eric’s passion for management development and why it’s essential in today’s workplace.
What VUCA is (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) and how it’s impacting team members at work.
Building and maintaining trust with your team.
The five qualities of a good manager.
The differences between managers and leaders.
Why empathy is critical in a management role.
The qualities of an empathetic person and how it differs from sympathy.
Three kinds of empathy: cognitive, emotional, and empathic concern.
Creating psychological safety at work with empathy and trust.
Ten methods for building cross-cultural communication on your team.
How small gestures can create immense loyalty with your team.
The work required to create an empathetic mindset.
Five steps to building empathy within yourself and your workplace.
The ROI you can achieve in an empathetic work environment.

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The 7 Dimensions of Motivation with Will Goldstein-Mahon

Eric Girard — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0700

Knowing what motivates you and your team members can be a huge advantage as a manager.

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Will Goldstein-Mahon to discuss the differences between engagement and motivation and why leaders have to know what motivates and demotivates their teams. Will is the Director of Learning and Organization Development at Jordan’s Furniture. He has been in the L&D space for 20 years, focusing on leadership development and new hires.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

The differences between engagement and motivation and how they overlap.
Why leaders need to understand what motivates and demotivates their teams.
How the interview process can help new managers address motivation with their employees.
The discomfort of discussing what demotivates each employee individually.
Creating an environment where a leader can assign tasks motivating each team member.
How effective leaders can find ways to bring more positives to a team member’s role and offer creative solutions to avoid demotivating environments.
The seven dimensions of motivation and how they relate to the roles we pursue at work.
Applying your natural motivators in your personal and professional lives.
Resisting the urge to attempt to motivate others with what motivates you.
Developing individualized follow-ups to ensure everyone on the team is on the same page.

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Escaping the Career Trap with Tammy Alvarez

Eric Girard — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric welcomes guest Tammy Alvarez to the show to talk about her new book, Escaping the Career Trap. Tammy is the founder and CEO of Career Winners Circle, where they empower business leaders to make a big impact and love every Monday again. They focus on helping people navigate a career step into leadership roles, run businesses in a way that energizes them, and get back to loving getting started on Monday.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Tammy’s book, which was written for those who have lost their ambition, and what she wants you to take away from it.
The change in perspectives over the past five years and why there is always opportunity in times of chaos.
Small, incremental changes to move forward faster.
The mid-career funk and how to transform it into something that’s thriving and energizes you.
Why Tammy Alvarez is emphatic in her book about never hating Mondays again.
The struggles new leaders experience and the impact finding your joy and playing to your strengths can have on your performance at work.
Her reasoning for being raw and honest in the book and keeping it approachable.
Becoming the CEO of your career and why that changes everything.
Tammy’s speaking engagements and what her focus is.

Connect with Tammy Alvarez:

Career Winners Circle website

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Humanizing Work Communication with Melissa Sheehan

Eric Girard — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s Management Development Unlocked, Eric interviews his former colleague Melissa Sheehan, a marketing expert based in San Francisco, California. Melissa currently works in the talent marketing and employer brand space for a global technology company, where she helps attract and engage employees. Melissa’s background spans various areas of marketing, ranging from brand to communications, demand generation, and talent marketing. She is passionate about building brands from the inside out and making work meaningful and enjoyable for teams.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why communication is a crucial skill for managers and the foundation of strong, productive relationships at work.
Examples of missteps managers often make in communication—especially with their teams—and the impact of the power dynamic at play.
Melissa Sheehan’s tips for gauging how your team is feeling in a situation.
The impact missteps can make on relationships with your team and the potential implications they can have.
The characteristics of a leader who is also a successful communicator.
Humanizing your communications by embracing your unique voice and tone.
Communicating with an inclusive lens and listening to and getting to know communities you are not a part of.

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No More Boring Meetings with Mamie Kanfer Stewart

Eric Girard — Tue, 28 May 2024 05:00:00 -0700

Today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked features Mamie Kanfer Stewart. Mamie is an expert on meetings, including when and how to make them effective, engaging, and enjoyable. Mamie hosts The Modern Manager podcast and is the author of Momentum: Creating Effective, Engaging, and Enjoyable Meetings. She is a coach and hosts trainings and workshops on meetings. She also has a membership and courses to help managers become their best selves and do their best work.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

The number one thing to do before holding a meeting and why its outcome must be clear.
Questions to ask before scheduling a meeting and deciding whether a different communication method might be more effective.
The seven reasons to hold a meeting and one reason not to.
Best practices for starting a meeting and completing it early or on time.
The three things you can do to end a meeting on a high note.
Why consistency matters for meeting notes and can be used as an active tool in your work.
The challenges of using transcription services to take meeting notes.
Debunking two common myths about meetings.
Some questions to ask if you’re struggling with meeting attendees multitasking during meetings.
Mamie Kanfer Stewart’s Modern Manager Skills Accelerator program to help develop your skills as a manager.

Connect with Mamie Kanfer Stewart:

The Modern Manager

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Shaping Your Executive Presence with Alexa Chilcutt

Eric Girard — Tue, 21 May 2024 05:00:00 -0700

Today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked features Alexa Chilcutt, a professor of executive education at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and Texas Christian University. Alexa is also an executive coach who works one-on-one with professionals and is an expert on executive presence.

Eric and Alexa focus on executive presence (EP) in this episode, defining it and naming some of its personality traits. They also cover what it means to believe someone has EP, the importance of a great first impression, and why a lack of executive presence can prevent your career from progressing. Alexa explains the importance of self-awareness surrounding your non-verbal communication, ten character qualities of someone with executive presence, and her tips for developing a positive EP.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

The definition of executive presence and the personality traits it consists of.
Identifying who you believe has executive presence and why a great first impression and authenticity matter.
Aligning who you are with what’s important to the organization or the position you seek.
How a lack of executive presence can prevent you from advancing your career.
The initial first impressions you might have of someone who has executive presence.
Having self-awareness about your non-verbal communication and learning how to improve them.
Ten characteristics of executive presence, why those qualities aren’t necessarily positive, and shifting perceptions of your executive presence.
Alexa Chilcutt’s tips for developing an executive presence.
Her questions for Eric about the biggest challenges new managers face as they shift into leadership roles.

Connect with Alexa Chilcutt:

Joe Navarro on Confidence

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Escape the Multitasking Trap with Jimmy Burroughes

Eric Girard — Tue, 14 May 2024 05:00:00 -0700

Today, on Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Jimmy Burroughes, founder and CEO of Jimmy Burroughes Leadership. His company focuses on turning busy, overworked, and overwhelmed managers into high-impact leaders. Jimmy achieves this using his books, a podcast, and 400-500 workshops annually. Those workshops include facilitated conversations, seminars, and webinars that allow people to learn in the flow of work. Jimmy’s team consists of around 460 associates and facilitators.

Eric and Jimmy’s conversation focuses on why we’re working so much harder in today’s corporate world, the three factors contributing to a leadership perfect storm in the post-COVID world, tips for overcoming burnout, and the enormous costs of multitasking. You won't want to miss this episode if you’re a manager experiencing a lack of engagement on your team.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Jimmy Burroughes’ leadership development company and its mission to help overwhelmed and overworked managers become high-impact leaders.
Jimmy’s theory on why we’re working much harder today than our parents did and the impact of being bombarded with all this information.
The three factors creating a perfect leadership storm in the post-COVID world.
Two reasons leaders are struggling to lead in the hybrid work and remote work environment.
Lack of engagement from employees and the critical mass point they’re reaching.
Increasing burnout, why just “working harder” doesn’t resolve the issue, and how it impacts aspects of your entire life.
The huge costs of multitasking.
Jimmy’s podcast, The High Performance Leader, his upcoming new book, “Escape the Multi-tasking Trap,” and his first book, “Beat Burnout, Ignite Performance.”

Connect with Jimmy Burroughes:

Beat Burnout, Ignite Performance

Escape the Multi-tasking Trap

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Managing Peers with Heli Nehama Ozery

Eric Girard — Tue, 07 May 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Heli Nehama Ozery, founder and CEO of Artemis OD, a management consulting firm based in Silicon Valley. For the past 15 years, Heli has been working with global companies to help them elevate performance and productivity while fostering employee growth. Heli is passionate about making learning experiential and creating “aha” moments. She also trains trainers and learning experts on how to do the same thing.

Eric and Heli’s conversation encompasses several topics, including navigating friendships at work when you become a manager, setting boundaries between work and your personal life, and creating a harmonious environment amid competition.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Heli Nehama Ozery’s work with global companies to elevate performance and productivity and her passion for making learning experiential.
Her experience navigating friendships at work after moving into a leadership role.
Some of the common challenges new managers face when they manage their peers or friends and why people pleasers struggle more.
The two main things required for managers to be most effective in dealing with a friend at work without losing the friendship.
Setting clear boundaries between work and friendship.
Immediately addressing issues to achieve resolution instead of letting them fester.
Fostering a positive and collaborative team culture when there is competition at work and empathy’s role in smoothing things over.
Avoiding resentment at work, building trust, and gaining support from others.
Some successful strategies and best practices for overcoming conflict and creating a harmonious environment.
Heli’s leadership development program for organizations and how it can help.

Connect with Heli Nehama Ozery:

Artemis Organizational Development

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5 Key Habits of Winning Leaders with Rusty Fulling

Eric Girard — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric explores the five key habits of winning leaders with guest Rusty Fulling. Rusty is the founder and CEO of Fulling Management & Accounting, based in Olathe, Kansas. Fulling Management & Accounting serves business leaders around the country in the accounting space, helping them gain clarity, grow profits, and gain peace of mind.

Eric and Rusty start their conversation by exploring how consistency in leadership and being “boring” can create a more positive impact. They cover the three values consistency can produce, why managers should practice curiosity with their teams, and the differences between mentors, influencers, and coaches. You’ll also hear why setting boundaries is important as a mentor or mentee, the role effective listening plays in boosting a team’s morale, and Rusty’s advice for people who believe their companies aren’t pouring into or helping them grow.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Consistency in leadership and why the “boring” can help create a more positive impact.
Three values that consistency can produce: respect, integrity, and authenticity.
Why managers should practice curiosity with their teams and the results it can produce.
How you can apply curiosity to leadership, your business, and your community.
The differences between a mentor, influencer, and coach.
Where to look for a great mentor in personal, business, and spiritual.
Becoming a mentor or a mentee as a manager, its benefits, and setting boundaries around those relationships.
Effective listening and the role it plays in boosting a team’s morale.
Recognizing a team member’s accomplishments based on their personality.
Rusty Fulling’s advice for people whose companies aren’t pouring into or helping them grow.
Resources Rusty recommends for working on personal and professional growth.

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Fulling Management & Accounting website

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Psychological Contracts with Ethan Nash

Eric Girard — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Ethan Nash. Ethan is the CEO and a leadership consultant at Nash Consulting in the Seattle, Washington, area. Eric and Ethan dig into his background in management, consulting, and leadership development and training, the one thing managers should know to be successful, and what it means to create a psychological contract between a manager and their team. They also discuss the importance of psychological safety in the workplace, some practical tips for implementing skills and behaviors to develop psychological safety, and how to repair the psychological contract when it breaks.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Ethan Nash’s background in management, consulting, and leadership development and training and his dad’s influence on his career choice.
Why Ethan went into business with his dad early in his career.
The one thing managers should know to be successful in their positions.
The concept of a psychological contract between a manager and their team creates a sense of psychological safety.
Employee engagement when they feel care and respect in their workplace.
The skills and behaviors managers can implement to develop psychological safety at work.
Making one-on-one meetings sacred and the questions you can use in them to build on the psychological contract.
How to repair the psychological contract when it breaks.
Ethan’s Managing with Mind and Heart program.

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Website - Use code MUPOD24 for a 24% discount!

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Building C-Suite Relationships with Kristin Cummings

Eric Girard — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Kristin Cummings, founder of Virtual COO. Virtual COO helps small and midsize businesses strategize to help their businesses grow. Eric and Kristin dig into how virtual or fractional C-suite team members can help businesses, what a COO’s job entails, and Kristin offers some helpful tips on forming relationships with the C-suite as a new manager.

Kristin, her husband, and their five-year-old son are traveling the world while they work as digital nomads. They’re currently spending several months in Europe.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

What a COO is and what they do for businesses of all sizes and types.
Fractional and virtual COOs and the benefits having someone in this position can offer to a small or midsize business.
Kristin’s tips for interacting with the C-suite as a new manager and why being clear about what you’re asking for is crucial.
Getting buy-in from key stakeholders and how preparedness can help.
Making an impact in your company as someone in operations.
Creating a trusting relationship with visionaries as someone in operations and knowing when to shut ideas down.
Kristin Cummings’s answers to Eric’s lightning round.

Connect with Kristin Cummings:

Virtual COO on LinkedIn

Management Time: Who’s Got the Monkey?

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Harnessing the Power of DISC with Jason Dreyer

Eric Girard — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0700

This episode of Management Development Unlocked features Jason Dreyer, a training and development professional with 18 years of experience in the field. Jason works for a midsize engineering firm, helping their leaders across the country to be better. Eric sits down with him to talk about the DISC personality assessment, how it can help you better understand your team and communicate more effectively, and some of the pitfalls that can come with this powerful tool.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Jason Dreyer’s foray into learning and development 18 years ago and why it stuck.
What DISC is (dominance, influence, steadiness, and conscientiousness).
How DISC helps people understand their preferences surrounding work and relationships.
The first activity Jason’s leadership development program does when they come together as a group.
His first exposure to DISC and the characteristics that made it so attractive.
Using DISC as a manager to support team communication and better understand what they need.
Why managers should understand their own DISC profile in order for their team to understand them.
Some of the pitfalls of DISC profiles and how to overcome those.
The importance behind a leader flexing their style to the team rather than expecting everyone else to flex theirs.

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Cutting Through the Leadership Noise with Stephen Davis

Eric Girard — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Stephen Davis, the Director of Learning and Development at ArchKey Solutions. ArchKey is one of the nation’s leading electrical contractor and service suppliers. Stephen has been in the learning and development industry for more than 20 years and has experience in various industries, including healthcare and retail. He is also a proud husband and father.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Stephen Davis’s 20+ years of experience in the learning and development space in various industries.
Keeping it simple when it comes to developing new leaders and why you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
What Stephen believes new leaders struggle with the most.
The differences between management and leaders and how to become a leader by managing the process.
Why the process is unique to each individual and a firsthand example from Stephen.
Incorporating empathy into your leadership style and having your team’s back when they need it.
Learning to filter through the noise of leadership development and its dependence on your background, position, experience, etc.
The assignment Stephen Davis creates for his leadership training sessions and why it applies more to your manager than you.
An explanation of the Kirkpatrick Model levels of evaluation.
His experience at Target and what made it a phenomenal leadership learning experience.
Why the return on training has to be apparent to leadership.

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Behavior-Based Training for Managers with Matt Gjertsen

Eric Girard — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Matt Gjertsen, the founder and Chief Learning Officer of Better Every Day Studios. Better Every Day Studios aims to transform how companies view talent development by building custom training solutions that deliver business results for organizations. Matt uses what he learned as an instructor pilot in the U.S. Air Force and a SpaceX manager as a foundation for his training and development solutions.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Matt Gjertsen’s background in the U.S. Air Force and SpaceX, which laid the foundation for how he thinks about training and development.
How Matt defines behavior-based training and the four levels of training evaluation using the Kirkpatrick Model.
Why culture is just an accumulation of behaviors within an organization.
The differences between behavior-based training and “normal” training and coaching.
The three realms of practice: naive, purposeful, and deliberate, and why they are critical elements for a manager.
How managers can apply behavior-based training with their teams.
Identifying the gap between desired performance and current performance to focus your training.
What Matt Gjertsen’s company does and the new products they offer help hiring managers and interviewers.

Connect with Matt Gjertsen:

Peak by Anders Ericsson

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Habits for Success with Wendy Pfeiffer

Eric Girard — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0700

Today’s Management Development Unlocked features Wendy Pfeiffer, an executive in technology roles for the past 30 years. Wendy’s career focus is on the intersection of technology and business operations. Her goal has always been to help companies and people use technology for all their purposes. She primarily focuses on assisting mid-level and senior executives in developing and learning how to master the tech they operate.

Eric and Wendy explore the mistakes she made in her first management role, the three lessons she learned about being a good leader, how she implements Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People in guiding teams, and why leaders should strive to create long-term relationships with their teams.

This episode is all about establishing good leadership habits--advice new managers won’t want to miss.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Wendy Pfeiffer’s background working at the intersection of technology and business and teaching mid-level and senior executives to master the tech they operate.
The mistakes Wendy made in her first management role and how she handled devastating criticism from an employee.
Three lessons she learned about being a good leader from that first management role.
Why you should strive to advance to higher levels of management and the changing goals as you move up the ranks.
Wendy Pfeiffer’s use of Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People to guide teams.
Empathy’s role in management success and the loyalty it encourages from your team.
Creating long-term relationships with your team and why they’re the secret sauce to your success recipe.
What Wendy loves about the Great British Baking Show and humility as a superpower.

Connect with Wendy Pfeiffer:

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Inclusivity in the Workplace with Jolene Jang

Eric Girard — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with Asian American inclusivity expert Jolene Jang. Jolene is a fourth-generation American with Japanese, Chinese, and Swedish heritage. As an Asian American, she recognizes that Asian Americans are left out of many conversations and is working to change that. During her career in organizational development, she’s spent a lot of time building teams and performing motivational speaking, and she will soon release a podcast.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Jolene Jang’s background as a fourth-generation Asian-American, building teams, and motivational speaking.
Eric’s response to Jolene’s question: Why does diversity matter to Girard Training Solutions?
Why it’s valuable to companies to recognize diversity and expand their markets beyond their traditional customer profiles.
Current demographics in the United States and how those statistics will change by 2045.
The companies finding success by marketing to Asian Americans and how they’re doing it.
Jolene’s advice for new managers who want to be more respectful to their employees and customers.

Connect with Jolene Jang:

Become an Asian Ally

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Think Faster, Talk Smarter with Matt Abrahams

Eric Girard — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s Management Development Unlocked, Eric speaks with Matt Abrahams. Matt is a lecturer at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, where he teaches strategic communication. He is also an author with a new book called Think Faster, Talk Smarter, and the host of a podcast by the same name. Matt is passionate about communication and helping others find their confidence and voice to speak up without freaking out.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Matt Abrahams’ explanation of the impact of effective communication on personal and professional success and how it affects new managers.
The goal for new managers should be to connect, no matter who their audience is.
Matt’s three-question structure to make communication more effective.
The three steps to becoming a better listener.
Two curses we all suffer from and the antidote to both.
How having good boundaries can help you manage FOMO (fear of missing out).
Steps new managers can take to write better for busy readers, according to Matt Abrahams.
Matt’s new book, Think Faster, Talk Smarter, and what you can expect to learn from it.
Some fun facts about Matt.

Connect with Matt Abrahams:

Think Faster, Talk Smarter book

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Humanizing Leadership in the Age of AI with Gerardo Segat

Eric Girard — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0700

Today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked features Gerardo Segat. Gerardo spent 20 years as the Chairman and CEO of a family office business before starting a leadership coaching business in 2017. Over the past decade, he has been a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization, the world’s largest community of leaders and CEOs. He has served as a serial chapter chair and founder of YPO. In his current business, Gerardo created a corporate leadership program, a magazine interview format, and a decisional debate format for a postgraduate training program. His latest creation is a performing arts show to humanize authentic leaders.

A fun fact to know about Gerardo is that he is a heli-skier and a DJ.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Gerardo Segat’s background as a CEO and entrepreneur and his move into the leadership space in 2017.
The two approaches leaders can use to flip a fear into a pinnacle of strength.
The value of self-awareness in leadership and recognizing your triggers for reacting in a particular way.
Why AI can’t out-human a human and Gerardo’s thoughts on AI’s future.
How deep authenticity and human connection impact a leader’s behavior and performance, and leading by example.
The steps leaders can take to move away from harmful, defensive behaviors and toward a state of courage and fulfillment.
What Gerardo says leaders need to captivate and inspire other leaders to be the best versions of themselves.

Connect with Gerardo Segat:

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Leading Better with HR Business Partners with Cath Song

Eric Girard — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0700

Eric sits down with Cath Song, Human Resources Business Partner at Baidu, on this episode of Management Development Unlocked. Cath has more than six years of experience in the HR world and is a results-driven strategic thinker with a global background. Her company, Baidu, is a Google competitor emphasizing AI and is one of the biggest search engines in the world.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Cath Song’s position with Baidu USA and what Baidu does.
What a human resources business partner is and how she became an HRBP.
The role of an HRBP at Baidu and what new managers should know about working with an HRBP.
How new managers engage with human resources business partners during day-to-day business and the expertise they can provide.
Why you should form a relationship with your HRBP as soon as you step into your new management role and the coaching you can receive from them.
The most important things a new manager should know about hiring in tech.
Some considerations when hiring an expat manager including their finances and benefits that the job could impact.

Connect with Cath Song:

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Psychological Safety and Growth in the Workplace with Roger Martin

Eric Girard — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s Management Development Unlocked, Eric interviews Roger Martin, co-founder and CEO of ThriveMore Brands. ThriveMore is a platform company with franchise brands under its umbrella, including RockBox Fitness and beem® Light Sauna. They also have a nutrition company and are discussing bringing an overseas franchise concept to America. The company employs 27 people in its home office.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Roger Martin’s company, ThriveMore Brands, and an overview of what it does.
His tips for overcoming imposter syndrome and why you’re probably not growing if you haven’t experienced it.
What competency-selective interviewing tactics are, and how they contrast with just using your gut to hire.
The impact of AI in the workplace and what makes it a powerful tool.
How managers deal with failure, take responsibility for it, and work to fix the problem at the speed of trust.
Psychological safety and the value of feeling safe to make mistakes and grow.
The franchise brands that make up ThriveMore Brands and the goal of those brands.

Connect with Roger Martin:

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Building a Support Network for Success with Nathalie Pincham

Eric Girard — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0700

Today, on Management Development Unlocked, Eric interviews success coach Nathalie Pincham. Nathalie specializes in coaching ambitious, vision-driven founders and leaders. She is also the host of the Your Success Tonic podcast and founder of Story Tonic. As a high achiever herself, Nathalie helps her clients redefine success on their own terms instead of with a set of traditional achievements.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How Nathalie Pincham defines a high achiever and its impact on her personal and professional journeys.
Nathalie’s process for helping her clients define success on their own terms instead of with a set of traditional achievements.
Overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome as high achievers transitioning into leadership roles.
Why sharing your experience can help others connect and empathize with you.
What energy leadership is and why Nathalie believes it can increase your personal and leadership potential.
The value of emotional intelligence in the workplace.
Her advice for avoiding burnout at work even as you maintain high performance.
Why good time management plays a vital role in preventing burnout.
Having people you can turn to in your life who offer support in different ways.
Nathalie’s success advantage quiz.

Connect with Nathalie Pincham:

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Setting Expectations and Accountability in Leadership with Deb Harrison

Eric Girard — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric sits down with guest Deb Harrison. Deb is a kindness advocate as well as a catalyst for growth and change. She is a consultant, coach, speaker, and author. Deb’s goal is to help others optimize every opportunity and every person they interact with. She helps people find the gifts they have within themselves and recognize the gifts other people possess, which can make great things happen.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

The importance of making kindness a priority in your day-to-day life.
Deb Harrison’s perspective on being a growth and change catalyst and getting people to embrace them in various circumstances.
Curiosity’s role in helping us be the best version of ourselves.
The two biggest misconceptions new managers have about leadership.
How adjusting your approach to individual team members can make work run more smoothly.
Deb’s approach to coaching new managers and helping them feel more comfortable in their roles.
Setting expectations with your team and modeling them to hold yourself and your team accountable.
Mindfulness and its impact on the work environment.
A personal story from Deb Harrison on driving change in a difficult situation.
Her coaching and consulting business and her upcoming book of poetry.

Connect with Deb Harrison:

Facebook

Manager to Manager podcast

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Manager to Manager with Kamaria Scott

Eric Girard — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0700

Eric welcomes guest Kamaria Scott to the show on today's Management Development Unlocked. Kamaria is the owner of Enetic, which is a boutique consulting firm that helps organizations leverage their people leaders as partners during times of change. Her goal is to ensure that leaders can lead engaged, healthy, and high-performing teams and can do that when their organizations are going through dynamic changes. Kamaria is also the host of the Manager to Manager podcast. Her varied career background allows her to draw from her experiences in various industries to help managers succeed.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

The one skill Kamaria Scott believes new managers need to master for success.
Curiosity’s influence on how a manager leads a team and flexing yourself to adapt to the specific needs of a team member.
Influencing engagement and performance on a team and how to get your team to lean in and give a little bit more.
Why curiosity shows up in everything you do and can allow you to gauge multiple components of a project.
Some practical ways managers can learn about their team members aside from just asking questions.
Why Kamaria started her podcast and what she wants people to take away from it.

Connect with Kamaria Scott:

Enetic

kamaria@eneticlps.com

Humble Inquiry by Edgar H. Schein

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Empowering Teams Through Agency with Nick Smith

Eric Girard — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric interviews Nick Smith. Nick specializes in helping leaders and teams deal well with people to remove stress and increase profitability. He is certified in using The GameChanger Index, DISC-based personality instruments, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming techniques. Nick’s varied background enables him to understand how to coach leaders. He prefers to spend much of his time outdoors and coaches outdoors as well.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why Nick Smith sees leading outdoors as similar to leading in business and the importance of feeling like you are in a safe space before producing work.
Motivating people who want to be involved and the three things that encourage people.
How to handle people on your team who don’t want to be involved and find the why behind it.
The power of giving agency to a team.
The twin roles of leader and manager and how they play out in an outdoor context.
The amount of emphasis you need to place on leading yourself and why looking after yourself first allows you to be in a good place to care for your team.
The GameChanger Index, what it does, and how it can benefit your workplace.

Connect with Nick Smith:

Square Pegs Coaching

The GC Index

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From the Sorbonne to Silicon Valley with Minette Norman

Eric Girard — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0700

Eric welcomes guest Minette Norman on today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked. Minette is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, and after 30 years in the software industry in Silicon Valley, she became a speaker, author, and leadership consultant. Today, her focus area is inclusive leadership.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Minette Norman’s path from studying at the Sorbonne and a degree in drama and French to the tech industry in Silicon Valley.
How she defines a great high-performing team and diversity’s vital part in that definition.
A manager’s role in fostering a team culture where everyone can do their best work and set an expectation of curiosity.
The most challenging aspects of managing people and the importance of asking yourself how you’re showing up for your team.
Why managers should love people and become good listeners for their teams.
The reason we should focus on inclusive leadership in today’s workplace.
Minette’s book, The Boldly Inclusive Leader, and its focus on helping all leaders do better in creating inclusive cultures.
Her answers for Eric’s lightning round.

Connect with Minette Norman:

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Building a Positive Mindset in Management with Christy Freddo

Eric Girard — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric interviews Christy Freddo. Christy has a background as a trainer in Corporate America and also developed training curriculums. A few years later, she became a marketing manager and director of international marketing, which involved a lot of travel. Ultimately, Christy left her career in international marketing to become an entrepreneur. She purchased a spa about ten years ago and has been a business owner since then.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Christy’s varied business background and why it gave her deep experience in management.
How new managers can create a positive mindset for themselves whether they’re in Corporate America or a spa.
The role of wellness programs and taking time off in promoting a positive mindset.
The definition of manifesting, what it means, and how it can benefit managers.
How positive affirmations can help new managers without getting too “woo-woo” with them.
A manager’s role in leading change for their team and how to keep it positive for the team.
The catalyst that led Christy to develop her coaching business, roadmap, and e-book.
Eric’s lightning round questions for Christy.

Connect with Christy Freddo:

For your free “Create Your Best Life” e-book, go to keap.app/contact-us/6430519435464693

To download your free “Reinvention Roadmap” guided workbook, go to: Bestlifemindset.com

Contact Christy directly at Christy@bestlifemindset.com

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The Power of Soft Skills with Roberta Ndlela

Eric Girard — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0700

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How Roberta Ndlela defines “soft skills” as human skills.
Why you need soft skills in addition to technical knowledge.
The top eight behaviors that successful managers or leaders possess.
The data behind soft skills, why CEOs spend 20% more time learning soft skills than the average person, and the increased productivity rates of their teams.
Quiet quitting and workers’ reluctance to do more than the minimum at work.
Roberta Ndlela’s free 30-minute call to assist listeners with speaking or leading people.

Connect with Roberta Ndlela:

Breathing Life Into People: The View from an Undertaker’s Chair

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Mastering Mindset with Mark Panciera

Eric Girard — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s Management Development Unlocked, Eric welcomes Mark Panciera to the show. Mark is CEO of The Pacific Institute, where he is committed to providing people tools to think about what they think about and help them think in a way that illuminates their potential to drive greater personal and professional performance than ever before. Throughout his career, Mark has specialized in accelerating growth in companies, teams, and individuals while wearing many hats--from business owner and community leader to executive and entrepreneur.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How Mark Panciera defines mindset and how you can transform it into a skillset.
Awareness, acceptance, and action and then celebrating the achievement.
Some practical steps you can take to begin overcoming unhelpful beliefs about yourself and recast how you view yourself.
Why repetition is the mother of learning and the role of stamina in creating new habits.
The crucial mindset new leaders and managers need to have.
How managers can take small steps to help your team create a productive mindset by modeling, mentoring, and monitoring.
Mark’s answers to Eric’s lightning round.

Connect with Mark Panciera:

Mark’s website

The Pacific Institute

Invent Your Future

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Taking a Tactical Pause with Stephen Morris

Eric Girard — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Today, on Management Development Unlocked, Eric welcomes Stephen Morris to the show. Stephen is a retired Army veteran turned entrepreneur. After leaving the Army, Stephen joined the corporate world and hated every second of it. Upon reflection, he determined that he hated it because he wasn’t pleased with the lack of leadership development in the corporations he worked with. Rather than complain about it, he decided to try to find a solution.

Stephen Morris is the CEO of Renowned Leadership and has more than 21 years of experience in leadership roles. He is passionate about sharing everything he’s learned as a Leadership Development and Career Coach.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Some of the most important lessons Stephen’s learned about leadership.
Why the worst decisions you’ll ever make are the ones you make quickly and the value in taking a tactical pause.
What Stephen wants new managers to know as they move into leadership.
Why getting to know your team on a personal level and working alongside them can increase your team’s trust and performance.
The secret to becoming a good leader when you’re new to management.
The three books Stephen Morris recommends for new managers.
What his new product is and where you can find it.

Connect with Stephen Morris:

Renowned Leadership

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Compensation Considerations with Tom Applegarth

Eric Girard — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked marks the 50th episode! Eric’s guest is Tom Applegarth. Tom’s entire career has been spent in human resources at multiple companies, both big and small. Today, he is the Vice President of Human Resources for Preferred CFO, which works with about 150 companies to offer outsourced finance, accounting, HR, and payroll for smaller companies.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

The compensation issues new managers should consider when hiring or contemplating merit increases for their employees.
The most common financial mistakes new managers make.
Terminating employees, the issues that can arise in those situations, and one of Tom’s best examples of it.
The limitations of offering references for a candidate and Tom Applegarth’s advice for who you should really be speaking to about someone.
Why the best managers are always recruiting.
What Tom’s company does and makes it unique.
Eric’s lightning round questions for Tom.

Connect with Tom Applegarth:

Preferred CFO

tom@preferredcfo.com

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Cultivating Empathy with Lisa Alvarez

Eric Girard — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Eric welcomes Lisa Alvarez on today’s Management Development Unlocked. Lisa is a leadership development manager, guide, facilitator, and teacher. She helps leaders develop their skills, EQ, and feedback conflict management. She helps leaders engage feelings and emotions and bring them back into the work environment.

Lisa is the founder of The EMOTIVE lab and helps businesses achieve results by creating an environment where their employees can thrive and perform at their highest potential.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How Lisa Alvarez says leaders can improve their EQ and empathy’s role in influencing others.
Defining self-awareness, learning to be with how you’re feeling, and why it’s the first step toward empathizing with others.
What managers can do to become more self-aware.
The importance of centering yourself to relax and focus to handle a situation in a responsive rather than reactive manner.
The biggest challenges new managers face when it comes to empathy.
Why exposure to people who are different from you can help you develop empathy.
Lisa’s EQ workshops for leaders and what you can learn from The EMOTIVE Lab.
Her final thoughts on developing empathy.

Connect with Lisa Alvarez:

The EMOTIVE Lab

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Building a High-Performance Culture with Eric Stone

Eric Girard — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric is speaking with Eric Stone, a business consultant who helps organizations build a unique, high-performing culture. He is also a speaker and a coach who helps newly promoted managers get their bearings. Eric’s new book is Jumpstart Your Workplace Culture: A Road Map for Igniting High Performance.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

The five key factors of employee engagement, according to Eric Stone, including trust, clear communication, tools, encouragement, and rewards.
What new managers can do to hone their time management skills and implement scheduling with precision.
The four Ds of emails: delete, defer, do, and delegate.
Eric’s tips for effectively communicating with your team.
How you can create a high-performance culture in your organization using Eric Stone’s framework.
The biggest myth about workplace culture.
His new book and what makes it stand out.

Connect with Eric Stone:

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Leadership Lessons From Formula One with Paul Teasdale

Eric Girard — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s Management Development Unlocked, Eric interviews Paul Teasdale. Paul is a father of two, a husband, and a friend to many, but ultimately, he loves to connect people. In his day-to-day job, he helps people accelerate their performance, primarily using lessons from the high-performance world of Formula One, where Paul had the privilege of working for seven years.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Paul’s background in manufacturing and consulting, how that eventually led to a position at a dairy company’s headquarters in New Zealand, his transition into banking, and how he ultimately landed in the Formula One racing industry.
What it was like to work at the McLaren Technology Centre, why it’s built to inspire, and how Paul kept high performers engaged.
The key leadership lessons he learned from working at McLaren and how to identify the leaders on your team.
The pitfalls to be aware of and avoid as a new manager, along with the role of influence in a leadership role.
Paul’s online course that teaches you to determine what you want to achieve, the actions that impact results, who the team is, what insights your team needs to make the best decisions, and the data you need to drive those insights.
RAPID Performance = Results, Actions, People Insights + Data
Paul’s responses to Eric’s lightning round and his surprising answer to the person he’d most like to interview.

Connect with Paul Teasdale:

Things Leaders Do podcast

paul@paulteasdale.co.uk

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From New Manager to Effective Leader with Colby Morris

Eric Girard — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked features Colby Morris. Colby has spent the last several years developing leaders and leadership teams. He is also a consultant, a dad, and a husband--not necessarily in that order.

Colby Morris is an experienced Chief Operating Officer with a proven track record of driving revenue growth and operational excellence. He is a strong leader passionate about developing highly engaged, high-performing teams. A strategic thinker, he has a proven ability to execute complex plans. Colby is the founder and president of NXT Step Advisors, a consulting firm based in Austin, Texas.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why developing yourself is one of the most important first steps of leadership development for a new manager, and recognizing that leadership is about the people.
The aspects of leadership development that new managers should avoid.
Colby’s take on the fallacy that a new manager can’t develop leadership skills.
Where new managers can discover resources to develop their leadership skills and why it’s well worth making the budget and time investment.
Colby’s consulting business with his wife, their roles as a fractional CFO and fractional COO, and his podcast.
Eric’s lightning round questions for Colby.

Connect with Colby Morris:

NXT Step Advisors

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Did you know that one in four managers were promoted to leadership positions with no formal training? Unsurprisingly, this trend negatively impacts employee performance. Research proves that “accidental managers” make team members feel less satisfied, valued, and motivated in their jobs.

If you don’t know how to support your new managers in their transition to their new position, my upcoming FREE Masterclass: Lead Like a Pro, is for you! In this special session, I will give you an executive overview of a new course I have developed to help new managers thrive in their new leadership roles.

Save the date: November 8, 2023, at 10 am PT.

Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to get a free copy of my eBook, "Advice for a New Manager."

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Unlocking the Manager's Superpower with Vidal Graupera

Eric Girard — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0700

This episode of Management Development Unlocked features Vidal Graupera. Vidal is an entrepreneur who is currently building an AI coaching platform. Initially, his AI platform is focused on job interviewing. He also runs a website and a podcast called ManagersClub and served as an engineering manager in the past. Vidal is also an author.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

What makes one-on-ones a manager’s superpower, and why they can help build trust and connection as well as offer valuable feedback to team members.
The purpose of a one-on-one and the opportunities they provide your team members.
The three-step structure of a great one-on-one and how to ensure you’re getting the information you need while the team member is receiving value from the meeting.
Vidal’s suggestions for questions you can ask to make sure your one-on-ones aren’t rote or boring and where you can find his entire list of questions.
What the outcome should be after a good one-on-one session.
Why you should be taking notes in your one-on-ones as a manager and Vidal’s advice for creating a successful one-on-one meeting.
Eric’s lightning round for Vidal.

Connect with Vidal Graupera:

ManagersClub

Interview Igniter

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Save the date: November 8, 2023, at 10 am PT.

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Managing Yourself as a Leader with Wayne Mullins

Eric Girard — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0700

On this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric interviews Wayne Mullins. Wayne is a husband, father, entrepreneur, leader, and manager who always tries to learn and grow. He is the founder of Ugly Mug Marketing, where most of his management and leadership takes place today. He is passionate about helping others develop and become better versions of themselves.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How Wayne manages self-accountable, high-performing teams and what being self-accountable means.
Self-accountability’s role in leadership and management, why leaders have to create a clear vision for where they want to go for their teams, and the three components of a clear vision.
The most important person you need to manage (hint: yourself!), how to do that gracefully, and what the concept of “when furious, get curious” means.
Wayne Mullins’ recommendations for dealing with team members who don’t fit the company culture and why cultures are self-selecting.
How you can fix a company culture that isn’t in line with company offerings and an example of that concept in play.
The value in having mentors, coaches, therapists, etc., in your corner as a leader.
The story behind Ugly Mug Marketing’s name.

Connect with Wayne Mullins:

Ugly Mug Marketing

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Save the date: November 8, 2023, at 10 am PT.

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The Four Pillars of Performance Management with Felicia Shakiba

Eric Girard — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Eric’s guest on Management Development Unlocked this week is Felicia Shakiba. Felicia is the founder, podcast host, and global leadership and HR consultant for CPO Playbook Consultancy. She previously held the role of Global Head of Performance Management at WPP. Felicia has more than 20 years of HR leadership experience.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

The definition of performance management and its four pillars: goal creation, measurement, conversation, and rewards and recognition.
Why high performers should be rewarded accordingly.
The primary goal of performance management and how it can help align employees' efforts with the organization's goals.
The importance of having ongoing conversations about performance expectations so that employees aren’t blindsided in a performance review.
How managers can actively participate in effective performance management, and the three questions you can ask team members to structure these dialogues.
Some of Felicia’s suggestions for building rapport and trust during a one-on-one.
The questions you need to ask to get your team member to take ownership of an issue with your support.
The steps managers can take to measure their own performance within the performance management framework.

Connect with Felicia Shakiba:

CPO Playbook

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10 Time Management Hacks for Managers with Brian Nelson-Palmer

Eric Girard — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Today, on Management Development Unlocked, Eric welcomes Brian Nelson-Palmer as a special co-host. Brian is the mastermind behind Productivity Gladiator, where he helps project managers and soon-to-be project managers with specific tools and tactics they can use to handle overwhelm and burnout.

In this episode, you’ll hear ten time management hacks for up-and-coming managers, with Eric and Brian sharing their best tips and their thoughts on figuring out what will work best for you.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why everything needs to go on your calendar.
Estimate the time a task will take on your calendar.
The best system is the one you’ll actually use and what that could look like.
How Eric implements his multiple-calendar system.
Eric’s “do it, delegate it, or delete it” philosophy.
Why Brian says up-and-coming managers need to stop running errands.
Use Subscribe and Save for subscriptions to automate part of your life.
How you can implement AI to increase your productivity at home and work.
Why Brian insists that you need to stop emailing back and forth to schedule meetings.
Try dictation instead of typing.
Some final thoughts from Eric and Brian.

Connect with Brian Nelson-Palmer:

Productivity Gladiator

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Empowering Remote Teams with Vasily Malyshev

Eric Girard — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric welcomes guest Vasily Malyshev to the show. Vasily is the CEO and Founder of Intelogos, an employee well-being recognition and performance management software. He’s been in the software entrepreneurship startup industry for the last 15 years and started three companies during that time.

Through his experience with these companies, Vasily partnered with New York University’s Stern School of Business, where he taught at a partnership that created a contest for the best idea. He taught students everything from how to design software to development to marketing. He was also invited to speak at the United Nations about his immigrant entrepreneurship experience.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Vasily Malyshev’s experience at the United Nations and how it all began with an appearance on a podcast.
Some of the biggest problems managers face with remote teams and how they can be addressed.
The three ways Vasily keeps remote teams productive and engaged.
Why finding a way to be together virtually creates collaboration and relationships and makes it easier to handle conflict when it arises.
What Intelogos’ mission is, and how the app implements feedback.

Connect with Vasily Malyshev:

Intelogos

“When Something Goes Wrong--Always Blame Yourself” podcast episode

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Building a Culture of Caring with Brent Kostiw

Eric Girard — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric welcomes special guest Brent Kostiw. Brent was Eric’s first manager in Silicon Valley as well as his first remote manager. He is a prominent figure in Eric’s upcoming book and has been a friend and mentor for over 20 years.

Brent Kostiw has been in HR since 1983, spending 23 years specifically in HR doing everything you can imagine. His primary emphasis has been on training and organizational development, which is what his consulting practice, Corridor Business Consulting, focuses on. Those skills also spilled over into the UPS Store franchises he and his wife run in Central California.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

The value of sincerity and care in management and who Brent’s role model for management was.
Why getting people involved and inviting them to participate in the solution encourages employee buy-in.
How building a culture of care and flexibility builds trust with your team and reduces turnover.
What new managers can do to establish a relationship with their teams right away, including:
Clear vision, clear direction, and clear mission
Get objectives set, and do it
Adjust as needed
Communicate and be present
Listen to the players who are already there
Brent’s tips for managing people who have different needs, including:
Adjust to the person and how they are
Understand that people respond similarly
Don’t make it too complicated
Offer positive feedback
Be empathetic to your team’s emotions, both personally and professionally
Offer genuine gratitude
The difference positive reinforcement can make in management, along with a genuine “thank you.”

Connect with Brent Kostiw:

Take Brenden's free workshop

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Unleashing Your Public Speaking Potential with Brenden Kumarasamy

Eric Girard — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Today on Management Development Unlocked, Eric speaks with Brenden Kumarasamy. Brenden shares how he changed his career path from accounting when he discovered his talent for coaching others how to speak. In college, Brenden presented competitively, which taught him how to speak, but then he began coaching other students how to speak, which helped them win competitions. In January 2019, Brenden started to create YouTube videos on public speaking on his channel, MasterTalk, which is also the name of his company.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

The most important part of communication a new manager should master.
How new managers can run effective meetings that stay on track and get things done.
The action steps you can take to project confidence when presenting in a meeting or a larger venue.
What new managers can do to present themselves well and overcome intimidation in front of senior executives.
Eric’s lightning round questions for Brenden.

Connect with Brenden Kumarasamy:

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Embracing Technology to Manage Better with Christopher Lind

Eric Girard — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Today, on Management Development Unlocked, Eric interviews Christopher Lind. Christopher is a husband and father of seven children as well as the Chief Learning Officer for a large healthcare company in Miami. He also participates in a lot of industry work to help shape and influence the intersection of business technology and the human experience.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How new managers can use technology to become better managers, why it should free up more time to spend with your teams, and how AI can help.
What prompt engineering is, and how you can think of AI as a brilliant intern to adjust its usage to your needs.
Why your job isn’t at risk to AI but rather to someone doing your job with AI, and how understanding this new technology can help you remain relevant at work.
How you can successfully manage a team remotely and the reason it requires more intentionality.
AI’s capability to make us more human and more effective if used correctly.
Building effective relationships digitally and how you can leverage technology to strengthen relationships.
Some of Christopher’s must-have tools and tech for managers including Fellow, Marco Polo, and ChatGPT.
Christopher’s responses to Eric’s lightning round.

Connect with Christopher Lind:

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Global Leadership with Janet Livingstone

Eric Girard — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked features Janet Livingstone. Janet is an executive coach, team performance coach, trainer, and consultant. She is a global multi-potential, multilingual leadership development practitioner who coaches folks worldwide. She has lived and worked in several different countries on several continents and has empathy and experience that lends itself well to people from other cultures and people transitioning from one culture to another. She is based in Seattle and sometimes in Bratislava, Slovakia.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why life doesn’t stop at a promotion and there is still so much to learn even at the management level.
The impact of bad coaching and the benefits of grooming someone for management beforehand so they understand what to expect.
The difference between listening well and fully focusing on someone and paying attention to their cues and just being quiet,
Cultural variances, how they impact team interactions, and why they can efficiently push you out of your comfort zone.
How an attempt to speak the local language is received with gratitude and interest and the value in educating yourself about other cultures.
Janet’s intercultural focus in her coaching business and her Team Elements coaching methodology based on iterative dialogue.

Connect with Janet Livingstone:

janet@cultureiskey.coach

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Building Trust for Better Communication with Gary Ross

Eric Girard — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0700

In today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric is speaking with Gary Ross. Gary is a workplace communication, trainer, coach, and consultant who helps people communicate better at work. He is a former FORTUNE 500 corporate executive, Emmy-nominated broadcast journalist, and current stadium and arena public address announcer who knows you don’t always need a booming sound system to get your message across. He provides actionable tips and advice that people can use to inform, persuade and influence others.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why first-time managers have difficulty communicating effectively and how they can improve their communication skills.
The fragility of trust and the reason it takes time to build it.
Gary’s three number-one rules of communication and how to evaluate your communication goals.
The four questions you should be asking yourself about what you’re trying to communicate.
What new managers can do to build confidence in their ability to communicate with their new teams.
How practice and preparation can make all the difference in your communication.
Gary’s tips for new managers who need to build their confidence in their ability to communicate to leadership and manage up to them.

Connect with Gary Ross:

INSIDE COMMS

INSIDE COMMS Plus

info@insidecomms.com

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Leading While Learning with Russell Sweep

Eric Girard — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Today, on Management Development Unlocked, Eric welcomes guest Russell Sweep. Russell is a content development manager for Goodwill Industries International. He oversees a team that works on developing new learning strategies, adopting content, populating LMSs, and more. Russell is new to learning and development as well as management. Eric was recently a guest on Russell's podcast, The L&D Hot Seat.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Russell’s experience transitioning into L&D and why it’s been a positive experience for him so far.
The two books he recommends and the advice he’d give to someone new to L&D or any other field.
What it’s like to manage a team when you don’t have deep domain expertise and why listening can be a game-changer in a new role.
How Russell builds relationships with his team and why listening collaboratively is crucial when leading a team.
The importance of connection with your team members and how it can influence communication with them.
What Russell would tell a new manager managing a team where they’re not an expert in the team’s field.
Eric’s lightning round for Russell.

Connect with Russell Sweep:

GLDC

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What Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Can Do for Your Organization with Jennifer Martineau

Eric Girard — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked features Jennifer Martineau. Jennifer is an industrial organizational psychologist with an interest in training, leadership development, and what makes it effective. After graduate school, she joined an organization called the Center for Creative Leadership as a junior researcher. She spent most of her career there on staff, creating evaluation processes and helping clients evaluate the programs her company ran for them, which led to designing and delivering effective leadership development.

Jennifer ultimately became a member of the Center for Creative Leadershp’s executive leadership team. In 2020, she left the organization she loved and created her own organization called Leap and Inspire Global. She is a coach and consultant for leadership development, focusing on the content areas she most enjoys.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

The meaning of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), its importance in the workplace, and how it can improve an organization.
Who is affected when organizations don’t pay attention to EDI and how diversity of experience can create innovation.
What to be aware of as you transition from an individual contributor to a manager.
How managers can create an equitable, inclusive environment that supports and sustains diversity.
Jennifer’s tips for signs that an organization is doing a good job with EDI and what to look for.
Her answers for Eric’s lightning round.

Connect with Jennifer Martineau:

jennifer@leapandinspireglobal.com

Kick Some Glass book

Twitter

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Using Neuroscience to Create Better Connections with Dr. Mark Williams

Eric Girard — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric welcomes Dr. Mark Williams to the show. Mark is a cognitive neuroscientist who studies the brain, how we connect with each other, how we become more productive, and how we learn. For the past five years, he’s been working with organizations to create brain-healthy organizations where people learn and are more productive. He is based in Sydney, Australia.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why we need to connect with people before we can manage them.
How engagement differs from connection and two ways can create a connection with others.
The reason people are more likely to listen and respond positively to people they’re connected with and the impact of confirmation bias.
Some ways you can increase productivity by connecting to people in real life as opposed to using apps and technology.
Dr. Mark Williams’ answers to Eric’s lightning round questions.

Connect with Mark Williams:

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Why Managers Should Care About Employee Career Development with Al Dea

Eric Girard — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric interviews Al Dea, a leadership development facilitator and consultant. Al helps smart people become people smart and build the human skills you need to lead or manage effectively in today’s world of work. Al is the founder of Edge of Work.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why career development matters in today’s world of work and the opportunities we now have to define a career.
The critical role managers play in the career development of their employees and the reason they should care about their employees’ development and growth.
The responsibilities managers have with respect to the career development of their employees.
Why managers should help their employees develop their careers and make it a priority in how they manage their teams.
Eric’s lightning round questions for Al Dea.

Connect with Al Dea:

The Edge of Work Podcast

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How to Ask Powerful Questions with Wayne Brown

Eric Girard — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Today, on Management Development Unlocked, Eric interviews Wayne Brown. Wayne is an executive coach heavily involved in learning and development. He spends most of his time in the Coaching 4 Companies division of his organization, Skills 4 Executives.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How you can prepare yourself for listening before sitting down to coach an employee.
Using mindfulness techniques daily to calm yourself and why it requires practice.
The four levels of deep listening, how our learning styles impact the language we use, and Wayne’s tips for listening more effectively.
The why, what, and how of asking powerful questions and his favorite coaching models.
Eric’s lightning round for Wayne.

Connect with Wayne Brown:

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Leading with Love with Jane Lovas

Eric Girard — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric welcomes guest Jane Lovas. Jane is an executive leadership coach and author. She’s working on a new book that will be published this October called Leading with Love which explores love as a power instead of our 15-year-old emotions. She helps people create their visions and see the big picture, which allows them to create more when they know what they’re focused on.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Jane’s upcoming book and how the concept of love impacts leadership in organizations.
The difference between developing people and managing what they’re doing and how it can impact the human side.
How leaders can fix poor meetings, communicate with their teams more effectively, and get more buy-in.
What managers should do when a team won’t do what the manager tells them to do.
Jane’s answers to Eric’s lightning round.

Connect with Jane Lovas:

Put Your Big Girl Panties On and Kick Fear in the Ass

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Getting Real with Your Expectations with Tammy Alvarez

Eric Girard — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric speaks with Tammy Alvarez, founder of Career Winners Circle, which aims to empower business leaders to make a big impact and love every Monday morning again. Career Winners Circle has a team of coaches who work with brand-new leaders up to the C-suite and beyond to ensure that people get the most out of their careers and ultimately become the leaders they choose to follow.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Tammy’s background as an executive on Wall Street and her new life as a digital nomad for the past five years.
Her focus on transitioning from individual contributor to a manager or leader and the most important thing you can do when you’re leading your peers.
Why acknowledging out loud that leading your peers is awkward can set the tone going forward.
The reason you need to get real with your expectations and the typical mistakes people make during this transition.
The importance of building a network around you that will speak plainly with you and some of Tammy’s experiences as a new manager.
Her program, The Leadership Accelerator, and what it does for new managers.

Connect with Tammy Alvarez:

Career Winners Circle on LinkedIn

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The Power of Story with Theresa Francomacaro

Eric Girard — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric welcomes guest Theresa Francomacaro to the show. Theresa is the Chief Storyteller for Why Story Works, where she helps people put together their stories. She is a storyteller, leadership coach, professional development trainer, and author on a mission to help people tell the right story at the right time to the right audience to get the right results.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Theresa’s point of view is why new managers should use storytelling as they lead their teams.
The elements of a good story and how managers can become better storytellers.
The three keys to telling a great story.
Her secret sauce for keeping an audience from fleeing and how a great story can help your team achieve better results.
The congruence between your body language and facial expressions and their impact on your stories.
The role of storytelling in reducing the stressful narrative surrounding AI taking over their jobs or their team’s jobs and how you can leverage AI tools.
What brings Theresa the most joy in her life.

Connect with Theresa Francomacaro:

theresa@whystoryworks.com

The Anatomy of a Book

YouTube channel

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High Altitude Leadership with Don Schmincke

Eric Girard — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked features Don Schmincke. Don is a strategic growth advisor, author, and keynote speaker who trains 700 CEOs annually. Eric interviews Don about his leadership books, Don’s samurai philosophy on leadership, and why management theory fails 70-90% of the time.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Don’s philosophy on new managers and why they should know their “altitude.”
What winning looks like when you’re in leadership, and why engaging your team in that process is important.
The samurai philosophy he uses in leadership training and why ego can sabotage your ability to lead.
The reason management theory fails 70-90% of the time and how it can be repaired.
How the Viking saga plays into leadership and management, and what’s missing in companies’ cultures and teams.
Why Don relates climbing to leadership and the lessons we can take from climbing.
The one book he’s written that would help new managers transition into their role.
Eric’s lightning round for Don.

Connect with Don Schmincke:

Saga Leadership

Don’s books

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Becoming a Great Leader with Brian Washburn

Eric Girard — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked features Brian Washburn, owner of an instructional design and training company called Endurance Learning. He is the CEO and serves as the face of the company, but he has a team of eight working behind the scenes that he credits with amazing work.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How Brian became CEO of his own company and what his product, Soapboxify, does.
His transition into management following a position working to create a GED curriculum and GED students and what he learned from that experience.
Why Brian’s approach to his next leadership role was different and how recognizing the human component made all the difference.
His philosophy on management development today and why it takes practice and humility.
The SMART goals model and why it’s a great place to start when developing a management structure.
The SBI model and how it relates to SMART goals.
Brian’s answers to Eric’s lightning round.

Connect with Brian Washburn:

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Leading with Empathy with Jimmy Burroughes

Eric Girard — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0700

In today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric speaks with Jimmy Burroughes, a consultant and leadership executive advisor who works with organizations to help them build high-performance cultures. He focuses on the human side of development, which boils down to helping leaders build trust, connection, and clarity of purpose with their teams. Jimmy is also a nomadic globetrotter who’s spent the last 40+ years on a journey of exploration and has visited 69 counties. His home base is in Mexico.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Jimmy’s version of a high-performance culture and how that applies to new managers.
What leaders often get wrong and why it’s difficult to let go of being a high-performing individual contributor.
Two common challenges managers face and how they can address them head-on.
The three consequences of getting the concept of high-performance culture wrong.
Why Jimmy says new managers have to establish trust with their teams and his seven-point framework for doing that.
The role of empathy in management and how it differs from sympathy.
His responses to Eric’s lightning round questions.

Connect with Jimmy Burroughes:

“Who’s Got the Monkey?” article

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How Feedback Helps Growth and Development with Kacie Walters

Eric Girard — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Today, on Management Development Unlocked, Kacie Walters, a solopreneur who coaches managers and leaders, joins Eric for a conversation on implementing tacts to deliver more effective feedback. Kacie is also an author and speaker with more than 20 years of experience working with global organizations.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

The need for delivering feedback and its importance to growth and development.
What makes delivering feedback trepidatious for many people and the steps you can take to deliver it more effectively and constructively.
Why sandwiching feedback can send mixed messages to employees and why bad feedback is usually vague feedback.
The questions you should ask your team to get better feedback.
The three different constituencies of feedback and the reason each should be addressed in a different way.
Kacie’s answers to Eric’s lightning round of questions.

Connect with Kacie Walters:

Succeed From the Middle

Blog

kaciejune@gmail.com

Crucial Conversations

“Who’s Got the Monkey” article

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Building Engagement in a Virtual World with John Chen

Eric Girard — Tue, 30 May 2023 05:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric speaks with John Chen, CEO of Engaging Virtual Meetings. His company works hard to design and produce, speak at, and emcee the top and most engaging virtual meetings. John is originally from Stockton, California, where he was a skateboarding honor student at Tokay High School. He was a University of California Santa Barbara student and became an amateur skateboarder on his way to going pro when his left ACL went out. John pivoted, became a computer science major, took a position with Microsoft, where he had tremendous success, and became CEO of Geoteaming and founded Engaging Virtual Meetings.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

John’s journey as an amateur skateboarder to computer science student and now CEO.
His best tips for managing teams remotely, what high-performing teams have in common, and the roles psychological safety and accountability play.
How to avoid a disastrous virtual meeting and why having a plan can lead to more productive meetings.
Some specific ideas for building engagement into your virtual meetings.
The difference between managing a team virtually versus managing a team in person and how the theory of bandwidth applies.
What brings John the most joy in life.

Connect with John Chen:

john@engagingvirtualmeetings.com

Engaging Virtual Meetings

Conference

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Flipping the Script in Leadership with Bill Gentry

Eric Girard — Tue, 23 May 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Flipping the Script in Leadership with Bill Gentry

In this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric speaks with Bill Gentry, an industrial organizational psychologist who has studied and trained leaders for over 20 years. He also wrote the bestselling book, Be the Boss Everyone Wants to Work For: A Guide for New Leaders. After working for the Center for Creative Leadership for many years, he landed at High Point University and has worked as an adjunct faculty member at several colleges and universities in North Carolina. His passion is helping people lead better.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

What Bill’s book is about, what inspired him to write it, and how it can help you flip your script when it comes to leadership.
What a “red thread” is and the six flips you can make to become a better leader.
Why the two flips you should focus most on are relationships and a “do it all” attitude.
Why you have to let go of the things you aren’t as good at to focus on the things you are good at.
The cycle of life choice and how that applies to professional and personal relationships.
Who Bill would interview if he could talk to anyone, and why.
His favorite vacation spot and what brings him the most joy in life.

Connect with Bill Gentry:

Be the Boss Everyone Wants to Work For book

Center for Creative Leadership

What Got You Here Won’t Get You There book

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Managing Conflict at Work with Lorraine Segal

Eric Girard — Tue, 16 May 2023 05:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric welcomes Lorraine Segal. Lorraine owns a company called Conflict Remedy, which specializes in helping leaders navigate conflict more skillfully. She does that through coaching, training, and folding in clear communication along with feedback and releasing resentments. She is also an author and speaker.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

What managers should understand about conflict.
How she helps leaders manage conflict, and why she loves training to prevent friction at work proactively.
How managers can give and receive feedback that’s effective even for highly sensitive people.
How to make negative or vague feedback useful without taking it personally.
Why miscommunication plays a prominent role in conflict and how to communicate more clearly to avoid conflict.
Some of Lorraine Segal’s most interesting management clients and how she helped them manage their conflicts at work.

Connect with Lorraine Segal:

Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman

Blog

Lorraine’s book

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Creating Safety in Feedback with Joel Silverstone

Eric Girard — Tue, 09 May 2023 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric welcomes Joel Silverstone to the show. Joel is a Senior Professional Skills Facilitator and Coach at The Great Canadian Training & Consulting Company. He joined the company about two years ago because there was a gap in soft skills for a lot of people, so Joel redesigned or created the new soft skills courses, which included everything from time management and delegation to new manager courses, and difficult conversations.

Joel has more than 20 years of experience as a facilitator and speaker on communication skills. In his previous life, he was also a professional actor, and he uses that experience to bring some acting techniques into his training.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why giving feedback is important for new managers, why they need to be comfortable with it, and make it a new part of their behavior.
How the terminology you use as a manager can create anxiety in your team, what you can do to make the feedback feel safe, and how you can frame it as growth.
The communication skills managers can use to provide feedback and why listening to your team is crucial.
The impact giving feedback can have on a team.
Joel’s answers to Eric’s more personal questions.

Connect with Joel Silverstone:

Great Canadian Training

info@greatcanadiantraining.ca

joel@greatcanadiantraining.ca

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Inclusivity in Management Development with Mikaela Kiner

Eric Girard — Tue, 02 May 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Today, on Management Development Unlocked, Eric is speaking with Mikaela Kiner. Mikaela is based in Seattle, mom to two young adults, and is currently planning a gap year in Costa Rica. She is also the founder and CEO of a people development firm called Reverb. In addition, Mikaela is a coach, which played a large part in founding Reverb.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Mikaela’s approach to management development and how she approaches transitioning people from individual contributors to leadership.
Why she values management development, what it does for her company, and how she approaches it at Reverb.
How approachability and accessibility contribute to management development, why she ensures her materials and approach are inclusive, and the role storytelling plays.
Where the management development space needs to go to achieve even more and what “remote fluency” is.
Mikaela’s advice to new authors following the publication of her book Female Firebrands.
Her answers to Eric’s lightning round questions.

Connect with Mikaela Kiner:

Reverb

Female Firebrands

Multipliers book

The Leadership Pipeline book

The First 90 Days book

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Leading with Clarity with Deb Zahn

Eric Girard — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked features Deb Zahn. Deb is a practicing consultant in the healthcare industry in the U.S. who primarily helps organizations at the leadership level make decisions, get unstuck, and move forward together. She also owns a company called the Craft of Consulting where she helps fabulous consultants figure out the business side so they can ultimately create the business and life they love.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

What Deb Zahn is seeing in organizations and what’s working versus what’s not working.
The types of function and dysfunction she witnesses and how it most affects the doers in a company.
Why you can’t throw everything at your team and expect them to adapt with context.
The need for clarity at the leadership level about what performance means to them.
How managers can use empathy to relate to their employees and work together to find solutions to their problems.
Deb’s answers to Eric’s speed round questions.

Connect with Deb Zahn:

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Leading with Stories with Mark Carpenter

Eric Girard — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Today on the Management Development Unlocked podcast, Eric is speaking with guest Mark Carpenter. Mark is the co-author of the book Master Storytelling and teaches a workshop about that topic. The book is designed to help us identify experiences in our lives that we can turn into stories to teach, lead, sell, and inspire. It’s all about taking real-life experiences and turning them into something where you can lead your team, teach important principles, or help inspire the actions that you want from your team in a more personal and impactful way.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why storytelling is a developed skill and why storytelling is important for connecting to people as a manager.
How you could use storytelling to create a connection with your new team as a new manager and why new managers don’t tap into storytelling.
Why storytelling helps build empathy and helps people remember what you’ve discussed better.
How you can develop the ability to tell stories by looking at your everyday life.
Eric’s speed round questions for Mark.

Connect with Mark Carpenter:

Free eBook - Master Storytelling

Team of Rivals book

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Creating Great Leaders with Emotional Intelligence with Jason Meucci

Eric Girard — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked features Jason Meucci. Jason is a leadership development and team-building facilitator. He is also a coach for early career leaders and is a certified emotional intelligence coach. His work mainly revolves around workshops on DISC and team-building workshops.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Jason’s philosophy on management development and why it begins with relationships.
Why he values management and leadership development and what it does for his clients.
How he approaches management development in his own company and the importance of building connections throughout the organization.
Jason Meucci’s favorite approaches to DISC, what he thinks about Clifton Strengths, and Patrick Lencioni’s 6 Types of Working Genius.
Where the management development space needs to go to achieve more, where the gaps are, and the issues he’d like to see resolved.
Jason’s answers for Eric’s speed round of questions.

Connect with Jason Meucci:

jason@roiofleaders.com

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How to Coach Yourself Up with Mike Normant

Eric Girard — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Today, Eric welcomes Mike Normant to Management Development Unlocked. Mike was once Eric’s coach, and he is a leadership coach. Many of his clients are leaders in the high-tech sector and range from new managers to vice presidents. He is also a leadership trainer who went into business for himself about 10 years ago.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Mike’s philosophy on management and leadership development and the difference between them.
How defining coaching can serve companies well and how a new manager can become a good coach.
Why curiosity plays a big role in becoming a great coach and how you can coach yourself up.
What Mike’s book is about and how you can use it to improve your leadership skills.
His answers to Eric’s speed round questions.

Connect with Mike Normant:

Coach Your Self Up book

“Who’s Got the Monkey?” article

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Why Managers Need Cultural Competence with Liu Liu

Eric Girard — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Today, Eric welcomes guest Liu Liu to the Management Development Unlocked podcast. Liu Liu was born in China but is British and lives in the southwest of England. His wife is from the UK, and they met while he was working at a university. He is a project manager and leads an international team of managers and technical specialists who are based all around the world.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How Liu Liu moved from the postroom, became interested in project management, and transitioned into senior management.
Why it’s important for managers to develop cultural competence.
The reason cross-cultural training needs to be a part of training new managers as they move into leadership roles.
Eric’s lightning round for Liu Liu and his surprising answers.

Connect with Liu Liu:

Liu Liu Coaching

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The 3 Cs of Management Development with Marriot Winquist

Eric Girard — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Marriot Winquist is Eric’s guest today on Management Development Unlocked. Marriot is an executive coach with more than 20 years of experience in the tech industry. In the past, she’s worked in marketing, strategic and product management, and she enjoys the breadth of business building and working with teams. Coaching felt like a natural transition in her career path.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Marriot’s philosophy on management development, the two areas where it applies, and her three Cs.
Why she values management development and how it adds value to companies.
How she developed the three Cs and why they’re developed over time.
Her favorite tools to use for identifying her clients’ strengths.
Marriot’s answers to Eric’s speed round.

Connect with Marriot Winquist:

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Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to get a free copy of my eBook, "Advice for a New Manager."

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Engaging Teams with Emotional Intelligence with Faris Aranki

Eric Girard — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric’s guest is Faris Aranki. Faris is the CEO of a strategic consulting firm called Shiageto Consulting. Shiageto Consulting works with companies and individuals to make them more effective today than they were yesterday through three key pillars: creativity, emotional intelligence, and focus.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

What FQ is, why companies should be devoting more attention to focus, and how it relates to new managers.
The importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace today and being able to communicate with teams in their style to get them excited and engaged.
How new managers can develop empathy and emotional intelligence to better relate to their team members.
What introverts can do to become more comfortable with placing themselves in uncomfortable situations in order to attain more empathy.
Faris Aranki’s answers to Eric’s speed round questions.

Connect with Faris Aranki:

Girard Training Solutions

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Living with Intentionality and Purpose with Andy Storch

Eric Girard — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Today, Eric welcomes Andy Storch to the show. Andy and Eric have something in common: they both fought and beat cancer. A husband and father who is passionate about health and fitness, Andy is also in the talent development space with a podcast called The Talent Development Hot Seat. This conversation is all about how two cancer thrivers had their lives permanently changed.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How Andy Storch discovered he had cancer, how it was treated, and where his health is now.
Why it’s important to have an advocate who can ask questions and keep the information you need in order.
How Andy’s experience with cancer was a wake-up call for his health and help him gain empathy for others struggling with health issues.
The purpose and motivation he gained from his cancer journey and why he wasn’t fearful.
What having intentionality and a plan changes your life and some words of wisdom to people who are experiencing challenges in their lives.

Connect with Eric Girard here:

Connect with Andy Storch:

Owning Your Journey with Cancer

Five Steps to Owning Your Career

Podcasts

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Transforming Managers into Leaders with Beth Miller

Eric Girard — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric welcomes guest Beth Miller to the show. Beth is a Talent Management Advisor who works with business owners to help them develop leadership pipelines within their organizations. Her work includes new managers and seasoned leaders who want to reach the next level in their organization.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How Beth Miller defines management development and the difference between management and leadership.
The leadership attributes a new manager needs to develop and how you can weave leadership into a management development program.
Why she loves using 360-degree assessments and Business DNA.
Where management development needs to go to evolve and help companies achieve more and some issues she’d love to see solved.
Beth’s answers to Eric’s speed round.

Connect with Beth Miller:

Replaceable: An Obsession with Succession book

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The Lessons I've Learned from Starting a Business

Eric Girard — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0700

In this solo episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric is sharing what it’s like to start and run your own consulting business. Eric has been in learning and development his entire career, which began in 1992. In 1999, he began to focus on management development, and it became his passion.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why a move to Seattle in 2020 led to starting a management development consulting firm and how losing an anchor client took him to the next level.
The steps Eric took to get his business started and why he hired people to handle specific areas of the business.
Why impulsiveness can lead to bad decisions and how frugality can benefit you.
Make an “I hate this” list and find creative ways to address those tasks.
How asking for feedback can help improve your business and the importance of playing the long game.
The reason you should love your office space.

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Using Management Development to Move Goals Forward with Mary Emerton

Eric Girard — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0700

This episode of Management Development Unlocked introduces us to Mary Emerton. Eric first met Mary in Silicon Valley several years ago, and she is an operations executive with more than 25 years of experience in high-tech. She's developed and implemented a variety of programs for companies, including kickstarting programs like diversity and inclusion, and going through the IPO process.

Mary graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in purchasing and logistics management.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Mary Emerton’s management development philosophy, her belief that it’s an underinvested area in most companies, and why she values it.
What management development can do for companies and how she’s seen it evolve within organizations.
How she approaches management development to move the company goals forward and develop individuals and where the space needs to go in the future.
The issues Mary would like to see resolved and why alternative options in development are needed.
Eric’s lightning round questions for Mary.

Connect with Mary Emerton:

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Head over to girardtrainingsolutions.com to get a free copy of my eBook, "Advice for a New Manager."

Connect with me on LinkedIn.

The Power of Positive Feedback with Zovig Garboushian

Eric Girard — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0700

This week, Eric welcomes guest Zovig Garboushian to the Management Development Unlocked podcast. Zovig runs a consulting practice called Boldness Ablaze Coaching as an executive coach, speaker, and group facilitator. As a coach, she works primarily with women in leadership. She empowers them to overcome challenges unique to being a woman, understand who they are, and lean into who they naturally are as leaders boldly and unapologetically.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

What drew Zovig Garboushian to coaching women in leadership and her philosophy surrounding management development.
Why management development should be a concerted effort and how repeated positive feedback can be transformative.
Her approach to operationalizing management development and the first thing she does when she begins working with a team.
Zovig’s favorite questions to teach her clients to ask as she coaches them.
Eric’s lightning-round questions and some of her surprising answers.

Connect with Zovig Garboushian:

Boldness Ablaze Coaching

Leadership Essence Conference

zovig@boldnessablaze.com

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The Evolving World of Management Development with Seth Rosenbloom

Eric Girard — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0700

On today’s episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric welcomes guest Seth Rosenbloom. Seth is an executive coach who’s been coaching for the last 15 years. He’s also a management and leadership consultant and has been in the field for about 20 years. Before Seth began his consulting career, he worked in the tech industry in product and program management.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Seth Rosenbloom’s philosophy on management development and how the mission of the team and company helps guide his approach.
Why he values management development and how he works with clients to develop strength and new skills in how they lead one another.
How managers can work toward getting teams in flow and finding joy in their work to serve customers.
What the information age has done to change the nature of our work and the increased importance of relationships in the workplace.
Seth’s take on where the management development space needs to go to evolve and help companies achieve more.
His answers to Eric’s speed round of questions.

Connect with Seth Rosenbloom:

Duende

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Finding Purpose When Life Throws a Curveball

Eric Girard — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0700

In this solo episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric shares how he entered the world of learning and development. He also explains why he started Girard Training Solutions.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How the Boy Scouts influenced Eric’s interest in learning and development from childhood to adulthood.
Why joining the student chapter of the American Society for Training and Development in college led to a corporate career in learning and development.
How a testicular cancer diagnosis brought Eric’s career path into sharp focus.
His desire to develop managers into great people managers, avoid common mistakes, and the skills he teaches in his courses.

What Got You Here Won’t Get You There book

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Empathy in Management Development with Betty Dannewitz

Eric Girard — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 04:45:00 -0700

In this episode of Management Development Unlocked, Eric is speaking with Betty Dannewitz. Betty is a learning solutions architect for The Ken Blanchard Companies, a leadership development company. She is also the host of the podcast, “ifyouaskbetty,” which featured Eric as a guest. Ifyouaskbetty also does strategy and consulting for nontraditional learning and development modalities such as virtual reality, augmented reality, podcasting, and more.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How Betty Dannewitz came to work for The Ken Blanchard Companies and why it all came down to networking.
What management development means to her and why she values what it does for companies.
How she approaches management development at Blanchard, why it allows leaders to evaluate their competence and confidence, and her favorite change models at work.
Where the management development space needs to go to continue to evolve and help companies achieve more.
The issues she’d like to see resolved and how empathy can be beneficial at work.
Some of Betty’s recommended resources and her answers to Eric’s lightning round.

Connect with Betty Dannewitz: