Leading Through Continual Transformation with Fortune 500 CEO Keith Demmings of Assurant (Part 1)

The holidays can amplify everything: joy, stress, reflection and different emotions. For leaders, this season often feels like both a gift and a weight.In this episode, Gayle Lantz explores an often-overlooked quality that strengthens leadership: lightness. Not frivolity, but the kind of lightness that comes from clarity, perspective, and the ability to not take everything so seriously.Find the full show notes at:https://workmatters.com/Less-Weight-More-Light---How-to-Move-Forward-without-Burning-Out

Many executives average just six and a half hours of sleep a night, yet sleep and rest are essential for sharp thinking, sound judgment, and creativity. The problem? Most leaders treat rest as something to be earned rather than a strategic necessity.Gayle Lantz challenges the myths and beliefs about rest that keep leaders from getting the restorative downtime they truly need. As she explains, "Rest isn't a reward that you earn by pushing yourself to the brink. It's not lazy."Find the full show notes at:https://workmatters.com/Finally-Get-the-Real-Rest-You-Need

The holidays aren't just for catching up, they're a strategic opportunity to accelerate your goals. But many conversations stay frustratingly surface-level, leaving us drained rather than energized.Gayle Lantz shares why talking about your aspirations out loud during this season could be the most powerful action you take for the year ahead. As she explains, "What you focus on grows. What you talk about grows even faster."Find the full show notes at:https://workmatters.com/Voice-Your-Vision---Steering-Conversations-to-Achieve-Your-Biggest-Goals

Leadership development doesn't always happen in a boardroom. Sometimes the most transformational insights come from stepping completely outside your familiar environment and immersing yourself in a radically different way of life.Gayle Lantz speaks with Oli Raison and Boris Maguire, co-founders of Safarini Leadership. They guide executives on six-day wilderness treks in northern Kenya alongside Samburu warriors and elders.Find the full show notes at:https://workmatters.com/Inspiring-Your-Transformational-Journey---Leadership-Lessons-from-Africa-with-Oli-Raison--Boris-Maguire

Most of us practice gratitude by looking back, reflecting on the year, mining our memories for moments worth celebrating. But what if gratitude could be a leadership tool that shapes your future instead of just honoring your past?Gayle Lantz introduces a powerful concept she calls "gratitude forward," the practice of being thankful for what's coming, even when you can't name it yet.Find the full show notes at:https://workmatters.com/Gratitude-Forward---Thankful-for-Whats-Coming

Change is accelerating at an unprecedented rate, and traditional change management approaches are no longer sufficient. Leaders need a new way to navigate constant transformation, one that puts people at the center.Gayle Lantz speaks with Mohammad Anwar and Frank Danna, co-authors of Love as a Change Strategy. (Other co-authors are Jeffrey Ma and Christopher Pitre.) Together they previously wrote Love as a Business Strategy, which chronicled their culture transformation journey.Find the full show notes at:https://workmatters.com/Leading-Change-with-Love---A-People-First-Approach-with-Mohammad-Anwar--Frank-Danna

Many leaders feel stuck trying to predict the future and create perfect plans. But the most powerful move isn't necessarily predicting or planning. It’s simply staying open--being willing to explore new and emerging opportunities.As Gayle Lantz explains, "Sometimes the next opportunity is not in the direction that you assumed it would be. It's in the direction that shows up once you're already moving."Find the full show notes at:https://workmatters.com/Stay-Open-to-Unpredictable-Paths-Whats-Your-Next-Move

Many leaders reach a point where transactional success feels empty, and they begin searching for deeper meaning in their work. The shift from transaction to transformation can unlock extraordinary impact not just for yourself, but for entire industries.Healthcare is at a critical crossroads. While the traditional system focuses on sick care, a new paradigm is emerging that prioritizes root cause healing, prevention, and true health optimization. Leading this kind of change requires courage, clarity, and a big vision.Find the full show notes at:https://workmatters.com/Transforming-Health-Inspiring-Change---Think-Bigger-with-CEO-Tim-Organ

Fear has a way of shrinking your world and your leadership. Sometimes the fears driving your behavior are ones you can't even see.In this episode, recorded near Halloween, Gayle Lantz explores the hidden fears that may be limiting your effectiveness as a leader. From the fear of uncertainty to imposter syndrome, from micromanagement to avoiding difficult conversations, these fears show up in subtle ways that can erode trust, kill creativity, and paralyze decision-making.Find the full show notes at:https://workmatters.com/Unmasking-Fear---Whats-Really-Holding-You-Back-as-a-Leader

Many leaders struggle with the difference between being tactical and being strategic. They spend their days firefighting and reacting to whatever comes up, leaving little time to think about the bigger picture.But strategic thinking isn't just for annual planning sessions—it's a skill that can and should be practiced regularly.Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/Sharpen-Your-Strategic-Thinking--Todays-Essential-Leadership-Skill-with-Rich-Horwath