Exercising Your Character Muscle with Mary Crossan

Identifying and nurturing leadership potential is more critical than ever in today's diverse and dynamic workplace. Bias in the selection process can undermine efforts to build an inclusive environment, potentially perpetuating systemic inequities and hindering diverse perspectives. This issue becomes particularly pressing when selecting leaders, whose influence shapes organizational culture and performance. To address this challenge, it is essential to adopt strategies that mitigate bias and ensure fair evaluation of leadership potential.  Dr. Kimberly Janson is CEO of Janson Associates, a talent and organizational development company, and was named a Top 10 Thought Leader, Top 10 Executive Coach in 2021, and Top 10 Inspirational Leader in 2022.  Dr. Melody Rawlings is a business professor, doctoral chair, and director of the Center for the Advancement of Virtual Organizations at Northcentral University.  Their new book is: Determining Leadership Potential: Powerful Insights to Winning at the Talent Game. In this episode, Kimberly and Melody explore the keys to assessing leadership potential, focusing on methods to uncover and mitigate bias during the selection process. By leveraging objective criteria, structured assessments, and insightful questioning, organizations can better identify and promote leaders who are both competent and high-potential leaders.    What you will learn from this episode:  Identify the three challenges of determining leadership potential. Discover why assessments play a crucial role in identifying leadership potential and explore the valuable assessment resources available. Uncover the key predictors of leadership potential and learn why job performance doesn't indicate good leadership.   "This is honestly where a number of women get limited in terms of their trajectory, the problem is that performance is the most commonly used indicator of potential. It's just a mistake." - Kimberly Janson   Valuable Free Resource:  To the first five people who go on the website and complete the contact form, you get this book for FREE! Click here: Determining Leadership Potential: Powerful Insights to Winning at the Talent Game   Topics Covered: 02:04 - The approach they enacted to come up with the book, Determining Leadership Potential 04:13 - The challenges of determining leadership potential that were uncovered in the research  09:20 - Applying the 'Leadership Blueprint' framework to identify four main areas critical for determining leadership potential 10:59 - Limitations of this method: Observation of motivation 13:29 - How observation is a valid method for assessing leadership potential and a part of a multi-method assessment 17:49 - Additional assessment tools and resources in addition to observation 19:31 - Why job performance should not be the primary criterion for leadership potential 23:00 - Addressing and mitigating bias in the selection process 25:54 - Targeted questions and assessment for screening bias in candidates 28:25 - How to get a FREE book, Determining Leadership Potential 30:46 - Q: What question would we offer people to think about? A: If not you, then who is going to change it? If you think it might be you then figure out what you need to do in order to create this change.   Key Takeaways: "90 plus percent of folks in all three studies relied on observation as indicators of their criteria. But the reality is people aren't trained behaviorists." - Kimberly Janson "Someone who is really negative, or caustic, or extremely conservative, or very self-promoting; takes credit for themselves, so detail-oriented that they can't elevate to see the bigger picture. If you have those in extreme, you are limited in your leadership impact." - Kimberly Janson "You absolutely can learn capabilities that help you look for things that tell of high intelligence or no derailing personality characteristics." - Kimberly Janson "But you are most successful when you have a multi-trait, multi-method assessment process of which observation is one and then balanced with other resources to help you with that." - Kimberly Janson "Performance isn't a predictor, because what you have at this job, at this level, is different from what you need at this next level." - Kimberly Janson "One thing that was obvious was because of all these variations, it's clear why so many people are mismatched and are in leadership roles when they shouldn't be." - Melody Rawlings "If those who are selecting the leaders are not trained, or do not have the skillset to, or framework, to be assessing leadership skills, then how can they place the right people?" - Melody Rawlings   Ways to Connect with Kim Janson and Melody Rawlings: Website: https://www.determiningleadershippotential.com   Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/knowguides LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com  

When talking about character, it's common to oversimplify its meaning. However, extensive research reveals that it encompasses a multitude of dimensions, incorporating various behaviors within these dimensions. When evaluating a leader's character, it becomes evident that achieving an effective balance across all these dimensions is essential for leadership effectiveness.  Dr. Mary Crossan is a Distinguished University Professor and Professor of Strategic Leadership at the Ivey Business School, Western University. In 2021, she was recognized on a global list representing the top two per cent of the most cited scientists in her discipline, and in 2023, she received the life-time career achievement Academy of Management Distinguished Educator award. Her research on leader character, organizational learning and strategic renewal, and improvisation is published in over 100 articles and books. Mary Crossan is co-author of: The Character Compass (October 30, 2023).  In this episode, Mary shares how you can exercise the muscles of a leader character exercising all the different dimensions in balance with each other so you get more effective as a leader.   What you will learn from this episode: Discover the various dimensions and behaviors that comprise a leader's character to effectively achieve balance and maximize effectiveness Find out the steps to cultivate an organizational culture that truly embodies the unique character of each individual Explore an innovative app designed to enhance leadership skills and foster personal character growth   "The essence for great leadership actually lies in your character." - Mary Crossan   Valuable Free Resource: Get the app here and have a virtual character coach at your fingertips: https://virtuositycharacter.ca   Topics Covered: 01:43 - What's behind pursuing research about leader character 03:11 - Character to mean not just about one thing but a multifaceted dimension 05:42 - Learning how to develop the muscles of character  07:35 - The assessment and development sides of character found in her book including an app  11:14 - What dimension does confidence belong 13:42 - How do you keep all these behaviors associated with the 11 dimensions get to be in balance with each other 17:11 - What's in the character app:  19:06 - Organizational culture a reflection of individual character 22:05 - Two important angles of leaders' blindspots 24:10 - Mary's important insights on leader effectiveness and most importantly the need for people to have access to toolkit and resources that would reinforce such   Key Takeaways: "Picture this that if you want to rewire the culture of an organization, start with rewiring the character of the individuals within it, and then through that we begin to see some of the systems that don't really work or align well." - Mary Crossan "We miss the major point that any potential virtue would operate like a vice in excess or deficiency. But if I put it another way, if you're going to have a lot of drive, you also need a lot of humanity and temperance in the other dimensions to support it." - Mary Crossan "The work around character not only is around individual development, but it's around organizational transformation." - Mary Crossan "...the culture of an organization will be a reflection of the character of the individuals within it, particularly senior leaders." - Mary Crossan "Part of the way that we would talk about changing culture is, you know, fostering the development of character of the individuals in the organization and then addressing the systems that don't support it." - Mary Crossan   Ways to Connect with Mary Crossan: Website: leadercharacterassociates.com   Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/knowguides LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com  

Leaders today face the significant challenge of connecting with their employees and effectively recognizing and leveraging their unique talents. This often results in disengagement and underperformance. As the millennial generation, which highly values authenticity and compassion, becomes the dominant force in the global workforce, this issue becomes even more pressing. Traditional leadership styles frequently fall short, leaving employees feeling unrecognized and disengaged. The solution lies in adopting a more compassionate, gift-centered approach to leadership. By embracing and acknowledging the unique strengths of each individual, leaders can foster a more connected, motivated, and effective team. Susan Inouye’s proven track record as an executive coach in transformational change has positively impacted over 600 businesses in 40 industries. A recognized expert with millennials, she was instrumental in taking a revolutionary method called Sawubona Leadership (Zulu for “I see you”) and is being used globally because of its capacity to unite all generations through their gifts, passions and purpose. She is the bestselling author of Leadership's Perfect Storm: What Millennials Are Teaching Us about Possibilities, Passion and Purpose.  In this episode, Susan shares the importance of recognizing and leveraging individual gifts within an organization to foster a more engaged and productive workforce. She emphasizes the need for leaders to practice self-awareness and vulnerability, particularly in the context of working with millennials and Gen Z, who value authentic and compassionate leadership. She talks about the concept of "gift-centered praise," which focuses on acknowledging the underlying strengths behind employees' actions to encourage broader application of their talents.    What you will learn from this episode: Discover the necessary core shifts in leadership that will be a game changer in the workplace Find out how these three simple yet profound principles of Sawubona Leadership drive significant positive outcomes Listen to Susan's spot coaching and discover practices that develop heart intelligence and intuitive knowing to help you make decisions more effectively and avoid staying too long in unsuitable roles   "The shifts that we have to make as leaders are, and we say this in Sawubona leadership, is number one, we have to go from control to connect and receive." - Susan Inouye   Valuable Resources: Free 15-Minute Executive Coaching Session. Your Questions Answered No Strings Attached. Click here: https://ask.susaninouye.com   Topics Covered: 03:19 - Susan shares her journey in focusing on millennials in the workplace and how she adapted this approach called Sawubona Leadership 06:52 - Sawubona leadership and how it drives necessary shifts in workplace culture from transactional to human-centric 13:34 - Millennial mantras and how they are driving significant changes in leadership  14:58 - How these three profound approaches not only enhance leadership but also leads to significant business growth 17:46 - Listen to Susan demonstrate with Sarah the power of Sawubona through her laser coaching 43:32 - How effective change start 46:10 - Fostering leadership through vulnerability and recognition of individual gifts  47:50 - Q: Why do women have the edge in being the kind of leaders we need to take companies to the next level and to thrive in the 21st century? A: Millennials want compassionate leaders who see and accept them for who they are. And while men can employ it, women are more attuned to compassion.   Key Takeaways: "It's not about the practices in their life, it's the practices integrated in their life that actually gets them to do it and transform in the way they do." - Susan Inouye "My execs have found, when you see and accept someone for who they are, they see and accept you for who you are. And a different conversation unfolds. It's not one of us lecturing to each other, but one of us listening and learning from each other." - Susan Inouye "In its simplicity, the three things of Sawubona, if you connect and receive, if you see people's gifts, if you create a culture where people feel a part of something greater than themselves, so many things can happen." - Susan Inouye   Ways to Connect with Susan Inouye: Website: http://susaninouye.com/ Book: Leadership's Perfect Storm: What Millennials Are Teaching Us about Possibilities, Passion and Purpose   Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/knowguides LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com  

Imposter syndrome can be quite gripping, affecting both personal and professional fulfillment. However, through self-awareness and intentional efforts to embrace discomfort and reframe beliefs, one can break free from its constraining grip. Coline Monsarrat is a passionate author, driven by a mission to help others thrive. She weaves captivating stories that transcend boundaries. Whether through her insightful nonfiction work or the adventure YA book series, Aria & Liam, she imparts valuable wisdom that inspires readers to overcome challenges and embrace their potential. Her new book, You Are Not an Imposter - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Unlock Your True Potential So You Can Thrive (Apicem Publishing, April 11, 2023), offers a powerful and personal exploration of this all-too-common condition. Learn more at youarenotanimposter.com In this episode, Coline shares about her experience with imposter syndrome, recounting how it led her to endure a toxic job that took a toll on her health and well-being, all for a meager income. This experience also caused her to harbor resentment and self-doubt, ultimately hindering her from realizing her full potential. However, through her journey, we gain insight into how she overcame these challenges and embarked on a healing process, complete with actionable steps that helped her establish new, empowering beliefs, ultimately transforming her into a confident and empowered woman.   What you will learn from this episode: Uncover the psychological root cause of imposter syndrome to increase self-awareness and take proactive steps Discover the cost of imposter syndrome Learn three effective strategies to conquer imposter syndrome and gain the confidence to achieve your goals   "It's going to be uncomfortable -- the journey. Don't blame yourself, have fun and embrace the change." - Coline Monsarrat   Valuable Resource: Break free from the grip of imposter syndrome and live with confidence and authenticity: Get the book here: You are not an Imposter - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome.   Topics Covered: 01:53 - What is Aria and Liam all about and what is her goal in writing this book [and the readers' age bracket] 02:55 - Quitting the corporate job that wasn't a fit for her 06:16 - Trading her health for a non-fit job 07:45 - Defining imposter syndrome and how it becomes dangerous for you 10:17 - Manifestations of self-doubt 11:43 - The price you pay for imposter syndrome 16:17 - Emotional issues that comes with imposter syndrome 18:13 - What's behind why she wants to write a book 20:08 - Psychological reasons why there's a big percentage of imposter syndrome in women 23:43 - Action steps you can do to slowly get past your imposter syndrome 27:42 - What it means to have a quality life   Key Takeaways: "My biggest advice will be: do not ruminate. It's not going to change anything. And you're just going to build resentment that is going to be very costly for your health." - Coline Monsarrat "Resentment really damage your body in a hard way." - Coline Monsarrat "Go after what you want and do not fear to ask. And stand for yourself." - Coline Monsarrat "When you have built belief [imposter syndrome] in childhood and you are an adult, those beliefs are so anchored in yourself that it takes time to erase them. It takes a lot of self-awareness and daily action." - Coline Monsarrat "I think we can always improve, but we need to learn how to receive criticism and how to be able to distinguish a good work, how you can improve it without blaming ourselves." - Coline Monsarrat "You know why the self-help industry is so lucrative? It's because a lot of people read a lot, but do not take action." - Coline Monsarrat   Ways to Connect with Coline Monsarrat: Website: https://www.youarenotanimposter.com   Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/knowguides LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com  

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the constant juggle between work and personal life? Do you find yourself struggling to maintain a sense of balance while trying to excel in your career and meet the demands of your personal commitments? Indeed, the pressure to perform both professionally and personally can often leave us feeling drained, stressed, and burnt out. We may find ourselves sacrificing our personal well-being and happiness in pursuit of career success, or vice versa. But what if there was a way to break free from this cycle and find a balance that allows you to thrive both in your career and personal life? Why not consider flexible work arrangements? Wendy Cocke, author of the best-selling books “Making Flex Work” and "Reimagine Your Work,” is the founder of Engineering Leadership Solutions where she works with high-achieving, technical professionals and organizations who think about work differently. Wendy spent over 20 years leading teams in Fortune 500 companies before opening her own company and joining the faculty at Georgia Tech. About ten years into her career, Wendy pursued a flexible work arrangement to balance all aspects of her life. This catalyzed and propelled her career as she worked her way from engineer to PMO director. With her experience and engineering mindset, she can help other people do the same. In this episode, Wendy delves into the transformative power of embracing flexibility in both work and life. Through her significant experience and practical tips, she shares her personal journey of navigating flexible work arrangements and managing her time and energy wisely. Wendy offers valuable advice on achieving greater balance and fulfillment, providing actionable insights to help revolutionize your approach to work and life.   What you will learn from this episode:  Unlock the path to simplifying and streamlining your systems and processes with this tried-and-proven method Learn ways to use your time purposefully and manage it effectively Find out how to create a flexible work setup that harmonizes your personal needs with the company's goals, all while ensuring optimal business results   "Just find the one thing that you can say yes to and give it a shot."  - Wendy Cocke   Valuable Free Resource:  Click here for access to resources to help you along your journey to flexibility: Making Flex Work by Wendy Cocke   Topics Covered: 02:41 - Describing what her job now after leaving corporate 04:37 - Starting a flexible work arrangement and being successful at it 09:15 - Lessons learned from starting flexible work time 10:30 - Doing a great job of balancing her own and the company's needs with the flexible work set up 13:01 - What inspired her to write a book 14:30 - Sharing her book's core message [EVAL-uation method] 17:18 - Helpful tips and resources to manage your time and work 20:37 - Relevant insight on when spending time in the office 23:01 - Sharing her important thoughts on 'proximity bias' 24:38 - Q: What do I do if I'm the leader? A: If you really want to embrace flexibility with your team and you don't know how, start small, just figure out something you can say yes to and try it.   Key Takeaways: "In-person time should be valued at a different level than your remote work; thinking about doing the right work at the right time." - Wendy Cocke "If you are only going to be in the office a very small portion of your time, you should be treating the office as a business trip." - Wendy Cocke "Remote employees who manage that relationship well are not a victim of proximity bias. Because as a manager you feel like you have that same close relationship, but it is very much the case that you could become out of sight, out of mind if you are not being intentional to stay top of mind." - Wendy Cocke "Your leader and your leader's leader all the way up to the CEO, for them, nothing from a business perspective has changed. They still need to deliver those business results. And so if you can partner with them to help them feel comfortable to reduce their feeling of risk, then you're going to be more successful." - Wendy Cocke   Ways to Connect with Wendy Cocke: Website: https://www.engineeringleadershipsolutions.com/making-flex-work LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-anderson-cocke Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendycocke?   Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/knowguides LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com  

Feel like there's an invisible barrier holding you back, preventing you from reaching your full potential? Perhaps it's that nagging feeling of not being "enough" or the fear of failure that keeps you from pursuing your dreams. In a world where self-doubt and uncertainty can often overshadow our capabilities, it's easy to lose sight of our inherent worthiness. But what if the key to unlocking your true potential lies within, waiting to be embraced?  No one expected Jane Boulware, the scrappy girl from the cornfields of Iowa, who paid for college selling used carpet and her mom's prayers. She is a proud small-town girl who is unwilling to let circumstances, fear, or others define her. Jane was penniless and married at 20, earned an MBA at 24, saw the ocean at 25, commuted to South America each week at 31, brought two sons into the world by 35, was a millionaire at 37, and one of the top 10 women at Microsoft at 40. By 52, Jane had launched three billion-dollar businesses, been VP of the largest merger in the history of the US, forged global alliances, won many awards, and left a legacy of strong leaders in her wake. Join us in this episode with Jane, where we delve into the transformative power of recognizing our own worth. Through captivating stories and invaluable insights, Jane shares her journey of overcoming the "uns" – those limiting beliefs that once held her back – and embracing her inherent worthiness. From her humble beginnings in the cornfields to her remarkable career at Microsoft, Jane's journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Discover how she navigated obstacles, pursued her passions, and ultimately found success by challenging the notion of unworthiness.   What you will learn from this episode:  Uncover what's underneath the book title 'Worthy' with the 'un' crossed off Discover the essence of 'Worthy' and the profound relevance of the stories it holds Learn about the three criteria you need to ask for a job   "You are worthy as you are. Whether you got that promotion, whether you got that title, that degree, that bank statement, doesn't matter." - Jane Boulware    Valuable Free Resource:  Overcome expectations, failure, and fear and get inspired to rethink what’s possible with this book resource: Worthy: From Cornfields to Corner Office of Microsoft   Topics Covered: 00:35 - What is so special about the cornfields and how it strongly relates to her upbringing 03:39 - How she ended up going to college and finally work at Microsoft  05:31 - What got her to pursue forestry and how she got a job that didn't exist from a university that didn't hire  08:47 - Sharing her incredible journey of success from Kimberly Clark to Microsoft 12:08 - What's the book all about and how she came up with 'Worthy' as the title with the 'un' striked out 13:44 - Whose stories are featured in the book 14:24 - One story of overcoming struggles highlighted in the book 16:38 - Three key questions she asked herself about any job she has 16:50 - The ultimate reason for writing a book and who this is for 19:49 - What to her is success and what's her ultimate belief 20:29 - The value of mentorship and how she pays it forward 23:45 - Articulating the core message of her book   Key Takeaways: "The book is called Worthy because it reflects the emotions and it reflects the experiences that I had, not just in terms of the successes, but the struggles that I had." - Jane Boulware  "The 'Un' is crossed off as a reflection of, folks, if we don't 'un' our own 'uns,' we'll never get to the able, the worthy, the capable, the powerful, all of those things that we actually are but don't give ourselves credit for." - Jane Boulware  "I didn't want to be the person that said no before I tried." - Jane Boulware  "I would rather have failed trying than regretted not doing it." - Jane Boulware  "I firmly believe it's important for us to change the people in the corner office and if we don't get women or people that think differently in those roles, nothing will change." - Jane Boulware  "If you believe that you don't have something to offer, so you're afraid to ask; you do. If you think you don't have the time to mentor or that it's a gift. It's not. You're getting what you give and it's very important." - Jane Boulware  "One of my favorite words is, YET. I didn't get it yet. I haven't achieved it yet. I'm going to begin again and again and again because I will get it and I will get it yet." - Jane Boulware    Ways to Connect with Jane Boulware: Website: http://janeboulware.com/   Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/knowguides LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com  

Do you ever find yourself feeling trapped, as if the energy in the room or your office is draining your spirit? It's like each space carries its own weight, pulling you down instead of lifting you up. Have you noticed certain objects around your home or workplace that seem to exude negative energy, casting a shadow over your mood? It's a heavy burden to bear, but there's hope in understanding the source of these feelings. Consider the art of Feng Shui—a practice that not only identifies life's blockages but also paves the way for the free flow of high-level energy, fostering an environment where success effortlessly blossoms. Patricia Lohan is the creator of Powerhouse and Author of The Happy Home: A Guide To Creating A Happy, Healthy, Wealthy Life. Patricia Lohan helps women make their home magnetic to money, luck, and blessings. She shows you what they don't teach in school, what lies between the lines, your top secret tool for success. She is a Feng Shui expert, a healer, and a passionate female entrepreneur who has shaped her dream life living in Bali with her husband. Patricia has a gift at making Feng Shui simple and easy to understand and implement. She has helped thousands of people across the globe embrace Feng Shui and create lasting changes in their homes, lives, and businesses. Patricia has seen firsthand the power of the mind, surroundings, and inner healing, clearing and aligning everything so it works holistically.  In this episode, Patricia shares a holistic approach to evaluating the nine key areas of your life. By doing so, you can create pathways for abundance and success to flourish with the help of Feng Shui. She emphasizes the importance of surrounding yourself with objects that evoke happy memories, serving as reminders and sources of energy to help you pursue your aims and goals.   What you will learn from this episode: Find out how to gain clarity on your goals and genuinely feel positive about achieving them Explore the nine essential aspects of life that you need to analyze and evaluate to uncover pathways for energy to thrive and flourish Discover how to craft a vision board that reflects your future aspirations through tangible items around you that serve as daily reminders of your goals and desires   "Be prepared for change and don't resist it." - Patricia Lohan   Valuable Free Resource: Take the life areas FREE quiz and get the clarity for yourself to unlock abundance and success in life: https://patricialohan.com   Topics Covered: 03:05 - An interesting thing that's going to happen especially for women as we approach a new cycle this year 06:57 - What women can do to tap into their alignment this year 08:45 - How is it possible that the fire cycle will last for 20 years and what industries will flourish in this fire cycle  13:57 - Creating a vision and getting clarity of your goals in the nine areas of your life. 17:42 - Physical environment around you that needs attention for energy to flow and keep things moving 20:26 - How to make your home a vision board for what you want to accomplish 23:21 - Action steps for 2024 to get the energy flowing 24:38 - The good and bad things about the fire element that you should be wary about   Key Takeaways: "This is going to be a time of deep transformation and change, which is very exciting. There's going to be an opportunity for fame, for expansion, for collaboration and technology is going to change even more and even more rapidly than we've been experiencing." - Patricia Lohan "With this fire element, what's really important is that the fire energy and people need to stay grounded." - Patricia Lohan "You're an influencer in your life already. You don't need to be on social media and have a million followers to be an influencer. Like showing up every day, feeling excited about life, being happy, being joyful, and actually just contributing the way that you are." - Patricia Lohan "If you're looking at those nine areas and you're seeing something that's off, that's not balanced, I would start with your home because it's the easiest thing to change." - Patricia Lohan "That's that idea of alignment, making sure that the art represents where you're going." - Patricia Lohan   Ways to Connect with Patricia Lohan: Website: https://patricialohan.com/   Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/knowguides LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com  

Colette Phillips is President and CEO of Colette Phillips Communications, and Founder and President of Get Konnected! and The GK Fund. She is a strategic advisor for C-level executives and corporate teams and develops public relations branding and internal/external communications strategies.  She is frequently consulted by corporations and nonprofits on how to establish healthy, inclusive working environments and engage and serve culturally diverse consumers.  Colette's work in creating a DE&I ecosystem in Boston showcases the power of collaboration, courage, and commitment. Her approach emphasizes communication, curiosity, and connections to foster inclusivity and drive positive change in organizations and communities. In this episode, Colette discusses the importance of inclusive leadership and the impact of culturally savvy anti-racist leaders.   What you will learn from this episode: Understand the importance of the $2.4 trillion buying power of culturally diverse audiences Determine the significance of commitment in driving diversity and inclusion initiatives, and the importance of taking imperfect action to make progress Learn strategies for effective communication in promoting diversity and inclusion, including being mindful of language and addressing implicit biases   “The only people who benefit from division are the people creating the division.”  - Colette Phillips   Valuable Resource: Support Colette Phillips’ new book The Includers: The 7 Traits of Culturally Savvy, Anti-Racist Leaders   Topics Covered: 03:51 - Culturally diverse consumer markets 08:51 - White males' role in DE&I 14:42 - Engaging white males as allies 16:49 - Overcoming the fear of rejection 24:42 - Implicit biases and curiosity 30:26 - Paying attention to communications 32:43 - Unintentional microaggressions 40:32 -  Embracing diversity in Boston 43:41 -  Building inclusive business ecosystems   Key Takeaways:  “I want people to stop thinking of DE&I as if it's musical chairs. When the music stops, you're not in front of a chair, you're out of the game. Think of diversity, equity, and inclusion as a Thanksgiving table, an Easter table, a Rosh Hashanah table. Think of it as a table where, when you are celebrating, you add more chairs, you cook more food. For example, if you're having your Ramadan fast and breaking it with your family and friends, you add more chairs.” - Colette Phillips "85% of the new entrants into our workforce are women, people of color, and immigrants." - Colette Phillips "When people do something that they don't have to do, I believe we should basically acknowledge and recognize them because we want others to emulate them." - Colette Phillips   Ways to Connect with Colette Phillips: Website: cpcglobal.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CPCGlobal  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/colette-phillips-communications/    Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com  Twitter: https://twitter.com/knowguides  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd  To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com  

In a world where the traditional boundaries of workplace attire are evolving, the conventional norms that once dictated formality are being redefined. Navigating the balance between comfort and professionalism can be quite confusing. As remote work becomes the new normal and fashion trends weave their way into the fabric of our professional lives, the question emerges: How can we seamlessly marry the art of dressing stylishly with the unwavering commitment to maintaining a professional image? Nicole Russo founded Let's Get You in 2017 and has since styled hundreds of people, sat at NYFW, and contributed to, or has been featured in Fast Company, Bustle, TodayxTmrw, and Martha Stewart Weddings. She has been a private stylist and personal shopper for over a decade, with fashion industry detours at J.Crew, Theory, and was a senior personal shopper at NET-A-PORTER for almost 5 years, where she helped the world’s most successful women dress impeccably. “We are on a mission to give people the style skills and fashion resources to see themselves and live their lives differently. We help high achievers create personalized, stylish wardrobes quickly, so they can dress confidently and have extra time for the more important stuff (like being a superb CEO or attentive parent).” In this episode, Nicole shares an insightful journey to uncover the harmonious blend of professionalism and personal style. Gain valuable ideas into curating a wardrobe that embraces the dynamic workplace environment while showcasing your authentic personal flair. Prepare to reshape your professional story and uncover the empowering connection between fashion, confidence, and integrity.   What you will learn from this episode: Discover the art of dressing stylishly while maintaining a professional look at work Learn how to curate a professional wardrobe that perfectly complements your personal style while upholding your integrity Find out how leaders can support their teams when it comes to styling themselves for work   "There are a lot of opportunities to dress more sophisticated or more modern without compromising your integrity or your professionalism." - Nicole Russo   Valuable Free Resource:  Stay in Style With These 37 Wardrobe Items That You'll Love : https://nextlevelcapsule.com   Topics Covered: 02:43 - The problem her clients have when they reach out for help: They're usually overwhelmed. 03:51 - Biggest mistake her clients make before asking for help: Waiting so long. 04:16 - What the process looks like: discovery stage and the closet editing 07:13 - Does she offer in-person or virtual services on fashion styling? 10:49 - How your body posture affects your confidence 15:25 - What the 'red sneaker effect' is all about and balancing being work-dress appropriate and being non-conventional 21:55 - The best way to dress up when working remotely and showing up virtually 23:37 - How leaders can support their teams when it comes to style preferences 25:57 - Why dressing up for success matters and is relevant   Key Takeaways: "We hold on to so much stuff that doesn't serve us in many different facets, but particularly in our closets. Our closets are not only a metaphor for our lives, there's just usually a lot of junk that is in the way." - Nicole Russo "When you do work virtually, I may not be there touching the pieces with you, but this is where the education comes into play with our approach as well, is that you learn tactics and tools to change the way that you look at editing your closet, getting dressed. So it's really simple and easy to decide, do I keep it, do I not?" - Nicole Russo "Studies found that you can convey a very positive message that conveys status, confidence, power, by going a little bit against the dress code grain." - Nicole Russo "I believe that everybody can really feel incredible every day when they look at themselves and they walk down whatever street they are going to." - Nicole Russo   Ways to Connect with Nicole Russso: Website: https://www.letsgetyou.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_letsgetyou/   Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/knowguides LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com  

How do you embark on a transformative journey toward the life you desire, one defined by conscious choices and met with resilience and determination? The compass guiding this path is the intentional mindset—a powerful force that empowers individuals to align their thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors with their goals and values. Each decision becomes a conscious step towards a more meaningful and fulfilling life. And one that resonates with one's purpose.  Jane Frankel is a business author, lifelong educator, workforce consultant, and successful entrepreneur. Today, she serves as the managing principal of The Art of Performance, LLC and as an adjunct professor in economics at Temple University. Her new book The Intentional Mindset: Data, Decisions, and Your Destiny (Business Expert Press, August 2023). In this episode Jane delves into the four crucial components of mindset to assess one's trajectory towards achieving goals and discern if one's decisions align with desired outcomes. She highlights utilizing the 5-Why Tool as a means to comprehend one's mindset, identify areas for improvement, and take corrective steps towards alignment with one’s goals.   What you will learn from this episode: Discover the four key components of mindset to assess if you're on track to achieve your goals Learn about the 5-Why Tool, a valuable resource for gaining insight into your mindset and taking corrective action when needed Find out about the concept of 'invisible capital' to effectively navigate and leverage it for the creation of sustainable goals   "It's really important to understand how you think and what you think so that you can make decisions that are aligned." - Jane Frankel   Valuable Free Resource:  Propel yourself to success with this book resource: The Intentional Mindset: Data, Decisions, and Your Destiny   Topics Covered: 01:37 - Uncovering what behavioral economics is in a nutshell 02:54 - The problem she helps her clients with: Creating internship programs with companies who needed to hire people 04:57 - What motivated her to write a book 06:13 - Explaining the four components of mindset, understanding why they are important, and what a value means 10:32 - What the process looks like in examining your mindset if it works or didn't 14:27 - Turnaround for a failed mindset and the need to have clarity about one's persona 18:40 - Career mapping based from understanding your mindset 22:05 - Ideal reader for her book, The Intentional Mindset: Data, Decisions, and Your Destiny: Anybody who wants to grow. 23:54 - What it means to be truly autonomous   Key Takeaways: "If you can make your decisions and your behaviors all aligned to your goals and your values, you're going to increase your comfort level and your peace of mind, because you're going to know that you are ultimately working towards what you want to achieve." - Jane Frankel "I really believe that we all have the ability to be independent, to understand when we need to ask for help, to be in charge, to understand what our options are, to develop the agency that will give us control of our destinies." - Jane Frankel "Being autonomous is not an independent activity. It's an independent plus dependent activity, because nobody knows everything, and you have to be aware of where you need help, what you don't know, and then go find that from another person or an institution or whatever." - Jane Frankel "Your invisible capital allows you to make some good and sustainable goals." - Jane Frankel "The key is if you're autonomous, you need to be seeking and looking for what you're going to learn as opposed to feeling bad that you've failed." - Jane Frankel   Ways to Connect with Jane Frankel: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-frankel   Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/knowguides LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com