What Every Woman Needs to Know About Due Diligence, Even When Hiring a Nanny with Cynthia Hetherington

Workplace bullying isn't just uncomfortable—it's career sabotage. If you've ever felt targeted, diminished, or singled out by a colleague or boss, you're not alone. The harsh reality? There's likely at least one bully in every office, and they've honed their behavior over decades. Vicky Oliver is a leading career development expert and the multi-bestselling author of five books, including Bad Bosses, Crazy Coworkers & Other Office Idiots (Sourcebooks 2008) and 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions (Sourcebooks 2005), named in the top 10 list of “Best Books for HR Interview Prep.” She is a sought-after speaker and seminar presenter and a popular media source, having made over 901 appearances in broadcast, print and online outlets. In this episode, Vicky shares her insights on workplace bullying, drawing from her extensive research and personal experiences. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing bullying behavior and offers practical strategies for women to address it effectively.   What you will learn from this episode: Understand the definition of bullying in the workplace and how it can manifest in various forms. Learn the prevalence of bullying and why it often goes unaddressed in organizations. Discover actionable strategies for women to confront bullying behavior and advocate for themselves.   “If you feel that you are being teased, called out in any way, then you are being bullied.” – Vicky Oliver   Valuable Free Resource:  For more information, visit vickyoliver.com.   Topics Covered: 00:00 - Introduction to the topic of bullying in the workplace and the ingrained nature of bullying behavior. 02:23 - Vicky Oliver discusses her book and how she became interested in the topic of bullying. 02:57 - Definition of bullying and the subjective nature of what constitutes bullying. 06:02 - Insights on why bullies often remain in power and how they can be skilled at their jobs. 09:11 - Strategies for women to address bullying behavior they are experiencing. 10:36 - Importance of documenting bullying incidents and approaching the bully directly. 14:07 - Steps to take if direct communication with the bully does not work. 19:09 - Mistakes to avoid when dealing with bullies, including emotional reactions. 20:43 - Advice for bystanders on how to support colleagues who are being bullied. 23:28 - Discussion on why bullies often get away with their behavior and the dynamics of power in the workplace. 25:44 - Final thoughts on modeling good behavior and building a positive reputation in the workplace.   Key Takeaways: On Bully Behavior Patterns: “It isn't that somebody like arrives at an office and then they start bullying people. No, it's an ingrained behavior. Maybe it's been going on for 30 years with that person.” - Vicky Oliver On Changing People: “I also feel that it's very difficult to change people. Somebody has to want to change.” - Vicky Oliver On Documentation: “There's a difference between somebody teasing you once and then a pattern of abuse. What you're trying to get in your list is showing a pattern.” - Vicky Oliver On Workplace Dynamics: “Be the go to person who solves the problems and calms the waters. And as more and more people respect you, your reputation will rise.” - Vicky Oliver On Recognizing Bully Power: “Recognize that you're up against something that's quite dangerous and that they know how to survive.” - Vicky Oliver   Ways to Connect with Vicky Oliver: Website: https://vickyoliver.com/  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicky-oliver-737219/    Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSarahEBrown LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com

Scattered photos and digital clutter make it easy to lose precious memories. Without action, they risk being forgotten or destroyed.The longer we wait, the harder it gets, and disasters or time could erase them forever. By taking small steps and getting help, you can preserve, enjoy, and share your memories for generations. Bonnie Hillman Shay is a Certified Photo Organizer and founder of Mariposa Photo Organizing based in the Chicago area. She has been a photo organizer for 17 years. Bonnie loves helping her clients reconnect with their photographic memories and to tell their story which is part of their legacy. Clients tell Bonnie that she works magic, and they are so grateful for what she does. Bonnie’s business tagline is “Curate Your Photos, Preserve Your Legacy.” In this episode, Bonnie shares a step-by-step process for organizing and digitizing photos to preserve memories. She emphasizes the benefits of professional scanning, including backup, restoration, and easy sharing. She also encourages starting now, using small steps, and seeking help to make the process enjoyable and meaningful.   What you will learn from this episode: Learn a clear, manageable process for organizing and digitizing your photos. Discover insider tips on professional scanning, restoration, and outsourcing. Avoid overwhelm and get practical strategies to tackle photo clutter without feeling stressed.   “A curated collection of photos is a gift that keeps on giving; iIt's not just a one stop deal.” - Bonnie Shay   Valuable Free Resources: Subscribe to Bonnie Shay’s digital newsletter and receive the “Top 12 Ways to Curate Your Photo Collection” (6 for printed photos and 6 for digital photos). Click here: https://mariposaphotoorganizing.com/tips/ You can also schedule a complimentary 15-minute phone/Zoom chat with Bonnie Shay if you have questions. Ask here: https://mariposaphotoorganizing.com/schedule/   Topics Covered: 03:27 - What led Bonnie to start a business specializing in photo organizing 05:08 - How she never struggled with disorganized photos 05:40 - Explaining the first two steps in photo organizing process and why the need to discard some photos 07:47 - Sharing the third step in photo organizing and highlighting the benefits of scanning 09:48 - Why not scan the photos yourself and what you should do instead 11:07 - Vetting for reputable scanning service companies, check this out: https://thephotomanagers.com 12:27 - What it is like editing digital photos versus printed ones 14:09 - How to ease the overwhelm in getting started with gathering all the photos together  14:54 - Why organize your photos now rather than waiting for a later time 17:40 - Action step to help you reduce the mental overwhelm of an undefined project 18:25 - What makes photo organizing worth starting now   Key Takeaways: "You do an editing and you let go of photos to make sure that the best and the best are available to tell your story and be shareable." - Bonnie Shay “I want to tell people that all of us who are in the business, we're in this with our head, but we're mostly in here with our heart. We want people's precious photos to be kept, safe, and secure and shareable.” - Bonnie Shay “It's like an insurance policy to have your collection captured and that you had the chance to see it.” - Bonnie Shay “Don't think of it as just a to-do and that you're trying to get to the end result of having a finished collection. To me, part of the gift that you could give yourself is the journey, is going down memory lane and reconnecting with your story.” - Bonnie Shay “I know time is hard to get in our world with our busy schedules, but it's such a gift to be able to go down memory lane and reconnect and add a richness to your life that maybe you hadn't realized in a long time.” - Bonnie Shay   Ways to Connect with Bonnie Shay: Website: https://mariposaphotoorganizing.com/   Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSarahEBrown To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com  

Many professionals struggle to showcase their value, missing opportunities and career growth. Without a clear personal brand, others define your reputation for you.This lack of visibility leads to stalled promotions and overlooked achievements, especially for women.By owning your narrative and amplifying your impact, you can attract the opportunities you deserve. Dr. Carol Parker Walsh, JD, PhD, is an expert in transformative leadership and human development. She’s an accomplished former attorney, senior leader, professor, and dean who has won multiple awards for her impact on people-centered leadership. As the CEO of Carol Parker Walsh Consulting Group, her firm specializes in elevating and retaining top talent through leadership development, executive coaching, and organizational renewal and partners with organizations to increase engagement and productivity.  In this episode, Carol shares the importance of actively shaping your personal brand rather than letting others define it. She shares practical steps, like gathering feedback and aligning your brand with your strengths, to ensure it reflects your value; as branding isn’t a one-time effort—it’s an ongoing process that evolves with your career.   What you will learn from this episode: Learn to own your value and discover how to articulate your unique contributions and ensure your accomplishments don’t go unnoticed. Know how to boost your career opportunities and understand how a strong personal brand can open doors, from promotions to leadership roles. Get actionable steps to define, communicate, and elevate your professional reputation.   On brand assessment: “One of the easiest first steps you can do is, ask three to five people that you respect and value, this question: 'What three words come to mind when you think of me professionally?” - Carol Parker Walsh   Valuable Free Resource:  Download your Free guide, ‘Build Your Compelling Authority Brand Guide’. Click here: https://www.carolparkerwalsh.com/authoritybrand   Topics Covered: 02:17 - How she transitioned from a career as a labor and employment attorney to organizational consulting 03:27 - Describing her ideal client 04:17 - The challenges her clients face that she helps with and how she aids in finding solutions 05:50 - What personal branding is all about  07:25 - The importance of actively communicating your value and the many ways you can do it 10:25 - Why women must actively showcase their accomplishments 11:47 - One simple tip to assess if your perceived value aligns with how you want to be seen 13:28 - Identifying gaps in your brand perception and crafting a clear narrative around your unique value 15:25 - Explaining how this personal branding assessment can apply to a team context 16:52 - Q: How is my brand articulated and how can I continually make sure that my brand is being developed and presented in a way that is always aligned to where I'm at? A: This is an aspect of reputation management, which is so important because this is not a one or done deal. You don't position your brand and then put it out there and never touch it again, or never contribute to it. It is a living ongoing process.  18:20 - Highlighting how a well-defined personal brand serves as a versatile foundation for increasing visibility   Key Takeaways: "Definitely, communication is a key part of branding. It has to be visible, and the only way to be visible is to communicate it." - Carol Parker Walsh "If people are giving you information that's not aligned with who you think you are and what you think is showing up in the world, then you know you have some work to do. And that information will give you knowledge to know where you need to start building things up, how you need to start articulating things better, and the areas in which you want to put out there." - Carol Parker Walsh "If you've taken Strengths Finder or Enneagram or any of those type of things, if there are some words in there, phrases that really align to who you are and what you want to present in the world, you can borrow from that information to help articulate the story and articulate your brand.” - Carol Parker Walsh   Ways to Connect with Carol Parker Walsh: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parkerwalsh/ Website: https://www.carolparkerwalsh.com/   Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSarahEBrown To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com  

When hiring new employees, particularly in today's digital age, executives face the daunting challenge of ensuring they bring trustworthy and competent individuals into their organizations. The risk of hiring someone with a questionable background or misrepresented qualifications can lead to significant organizational damage, from financial loss to reputational harm. This is especially critical for female executives who may be more empathetic in their decision-making process, potentially leading them to overlook red flags. One can overcome these challenges by leveraging thorough background checks, trusting one's instincts while staying objective, and utilizing professional resources to ensure safe and effective hiring practices.  Cynthia Hetherington, MLS, MSM, CFE, CII, OSC is the Founder and CEO of Hetherington Group, a consulting, publishing, managed services, and training firm that leads in due diligence, corporate intelligence, and cyber investigations. Throughout her career, she has assisted clients on thousands of cases using online open sources and databases as well as executing boots-on-the-ground operations. She provides specialized training for investigative professionals through the OSINT Academy, and has authored many industry-leading books on conducting cyber investigations, including her latest, OSINT: The Authoritative Guide to Due Diligence: Essential Resources for Critical Business Intelligence, 3rdEdition. In this episode, Cynthia discusses the importance of conducting thorough background checks when hiring, emphasizing the need to use licensed professionals for accurate and comprehensive information. She highlights the role of intuition in the hiring process, advising executives to trust their gut feelings while also considering candidates' qualifications and histories.   What you will learn from this episode: Learn valuable advice on hiring practices, background checks, and how to protect your business and personal interests. Find out practical and actionable tips for navigating the complexities of hiring both in a corporate setting and for household help and understanding state laws. Discover specific strategies and support to help businesswomen succeed and make informed decisions in their professional and personal lives.   “You can trust your gut, but don't follow your heart.” - Cynthia Hetherington   Valuable Free Resources: Have questions? Chat with Cynthia here: The Hetherington Group   Topics Covered: 02:04 - What does this acronym OSINT stand for 02:28 - Her journey from a librarian into the intelligence space 03:02 - Importance of finding individuals who can match the pace and demands of the role rather than just being empathetic to personal circumstances 04:09 - Why choosing a candidate based on likability rather than skills led to a poor hiring decision 05:35 - The need to prioritize your instincts and thorough background checks over empathetic feelings 07:31 - What you need to know about the hiring process and valuable resources to help you find licensed firms doing background checks 11:20 - How to deal with a candidate's past questionable behavior found on social media 13:54 - Opt for practical considerations and intelligence in hiring decisions versus strictly adhering to legal requirements not aligning with real-world risks faced by businesswomen 16:05 - Advice on using professional help for accurate information and reputation management 18:41 - Navigating interstate laws when hiring 20:26 - How the laws of the company's home state are primarily operative when conducting background screenings and hiring 21:34 - Q: What's for free out there and how could we do this ourselves? A: I like to go through and review their LinkedIn profile; it's a social media profile that's open and accessible to everyone.   Key Takeaways: “If you have a sense that the individual you're talking to might present really well, but there's just something that just doesn't feel right, go with that.” - Cynthia Hetherington “At the core of what I do is, we're here to make the world a safer place. We're not going to compromise that because of whatever the statements of legislators who are not having the same issues or concerns that these business women are having.” - Cynthia Hetherington “Let's try to help each other out and empower each other to be the best executives we can by using intelligence. And not straight up jurisprudence to guide us at every turn.” - Cynthia Hetherington   Ways to Connect with Cynthia Hetherington: Website: https://hetheringtongroup.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthiahetherington/   Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSarahEBrown To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com  

Why do many women struggle to assert their leadership and set boundaries effectively in personal and professional environments? This challenge often stems from societal expectations and ingrained biases that prioritize selflessness over self-care. By fostering self-awareness, embracing neuroplasticity, and learning to communicate boundaries confidently, one gears up for a transformative shift in mindset that empowers women to lead authentically and achieve personal and professional fulfillment. Mindy Vail has more than two decades of experience in leadership development, change management, education, and public speaking. Working with emerging leaders to veteran executives, her focus is cultivating a growth mindset and fostering resilience. Her new book, The Mind Shift Effect: Where Change Management Is Redefined and Leadership Is Defined (April 16, 2024), provides a wellspring of inspiration for leading meaningful organizational change.  In this episode, Mindy Vail shares about the importance of self-awareness and empathy in leadership, emphasizing the need to recognize and address personal biases that can hinder effective leadership. She highlights the significance of setting boundaries to prioritize well-being and the challenges women face in doing so. Additionally, she underscores the role of repetition and neuroplasticity in developing new habits and behaviors for personal growth and leadership development.   What you will learn from this episode: Learn to challenge these leadership myths that are getting in the way of developing your highest potential as a leader. Delve into practical tools and strategies for leadership development and personal growth.  Gain significant insights on the importance of setting boundaries, overcoming biases, and fostering a growth mindset, providing valuable guidance for women aiming to advance in their careers.   "If we want to learn a new language, if we want to master a musical instrument, it's that repeated practice and reinforcement that will help to solidify those new patterns in our minds and our behaviors." - Mindy Vail   Valuable Resources: Unlock Your Leadership Potential, Embrace Change, and Transform Your Organization with this book resource: The MindShift Effect: Where Change Management is Redefined and Leadership is Refined   Topics Covered: 02:00 - Sharing her career transition from education to the corporate world [of franchise] 05:54 - What education and franchise have in common 07:28 - Her motivation in writing her book, 'The MindShift Effect' and what is it all about 11:08 - The significance of acknowledging that others may see the world differently than you and encouraging for an open dialogue 13:17 - Shattering leadership myths 14:53 - Mind shift as change in both mindset and behavior 16:24 - How repetition helps solidify new patterns in our minds and behaviors 17:28 - Harnessing neuroplasticity to rewire our brains to effect change 19:56 - Reinforcing the idea that progress requires action, not just passive reading 21:36 - Understanding and addressing both conscious and unconscious biases is for effective leadership 24:06 - Q: How can I as a woman effectively set boundaries to prioritize my wellbeing, my mental health, and my career? A: When you can identify what is truly important to you, what your true core values are, you then can start identifying what your limits should be.   Key Takeaways: "How we become leaders is assuming that everyone's on board with us. And that is the worst thing we can do." - Mindy Vail "When we are able to just pause and take a step back and say, share with me your experience. Share with me your fear about this change or share with me what you're most concerned about in your career progression. That then opens the door to conversation that we just don't have enough." - Mindy Vail "We don't need all the answers all the time. And sometimes it's better to say, I don't have the answer. I want to hear from you. I want to7 work collaboratively with this team, and we can come to an answer together." - Mindy Vail "When we start becoming more self-aware of how our behaviors impact those around us then we start not only to become more authentic, but we create a more positive and empowering environment for those around us because we are admitting that we have flaws." - Mindy Vail   Ways to Connect with Mindy Vail: Website: https://www.themindshifteffect.com/   Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSarahEBrown To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com  

Are you constantly juggling responsibilities and feeling overwhelmed by the relentless demands of your career and personal life? The pressure to perform, manage teams, and meet deadlines can leave you feeling depleted, affecting your mental and physical health.  But what if there's a way to break free from it all using a technique that can be seamlessly integrated into your hectic schedule? Embrace meditation, and you'll not only enhance your performance, but also cultivate a sense of peace and resilience that will ripple through every aspect of your life. Jennifer K. Hill is an Evolutionary Leader, entrepreneur, author, speaker, Podcaster and TV host. She has hosted popular shows with Dr. Deepak Chopra, Bruce Lipton, and many other leaders from around the world on her Regarding Consciousness podcast. After exiting her first company in 2018, she recently co-founded a new company in the technology space,OptiMatch (om.app) that utilizes their proprietary algorithm and built in AI to align and enhance trust in business relationships. When she is not hosting, speaking or building companies she loves to give back and has built two schools in 3rd world countries. In this episode, Jennifer discusses the transformative power of meditation and related techniques in enhancing resilience and managing stress for busy executives.   What you will learn from this episode: Discover how meditation can help in personal transformation and mental health improving self-regulation and reducing reactivity. Learn how to go about your day with meditation to maintain mental and emotional balance. Find out how to perform muscle testing on oneself to determine intuitive answers.    "What I love about it [meditation] from a neurodiverse standpoint and an executive standpoint, is that we have this opportunity to connect to that stillness and to quiet the voice. And it helps so much from a self-regulation standpoint." - Jennifer Hill   Valuable Resources: Teach yourself to meditate with Jennifer's favorite meditation tools. Click here: https://101spiritualtools.com/   Topics Covered: 02:04 - How failures and early challenges led to her great career journey 05:38 - Never regretting life's situations only thankful for what great things came out of it 06:19 - What made her develop OptiMatch and how will it help everyone from coaches to communities 09:06 - How she found herself doing meditation, how it helped her and the number of hours it takes for her to do it 11:34 - Jennifer's detailed explanation of her daily meditation and grounding practice and its significance in maintaining mental and emotional balance 15:53 - How she perceives intuitive answers through auditory sensations and feelings in her throat 19:50 - The right best way to do the muscle testing 21:48 - Can't imagine how she would gone through the difficult events in her life without meditation 22:40 - Sharing her favorite Insight Timer meditations 26:03 - How meditation and mindfulness techniques can build resilience 28:42 - Helpful tips and resources on how you can start incorporating meditation into your hectic schedules.  31:33 - Do one need professional help to learn how to meditate? 33:58 - Q: How to cultivate compassion? A: Be compassionate with yourself and be thoughtful of not shoulding on yourself.   Key Takeaways: “And as you say these mantras, you're giving your brain something, like giving your mouth something to chew on. And the idea is, as we repeat the mantra over and over, it begins to quiet the noise and the chatter, and you allow the thoughts to kind of float past as though they're going past on clouds. And then after time, you just sink more and more deeply in. And then you find the stillness.” - Jennifer Hill “And when we learn to contain it and to go within it gives us a greater capacity to be with other people and to not be so reactionary with people.” - Jennifer Hill "When I started doing that [grounding technique], it helped me to go through a divorce of getting out of a relationship that wasn't healthy, to find my soulmate, to build the new business, to gain self-confidence." - Jennifer Hill "You essentially love and cherish yourself rather than looking externally to spouses, children, whomever, for validation." - Jennifer Hill "I suggest to people to do this [cultivating intuition] after you've meditated because you quiet all that noise and then you can be more tuned to, is it in my highest and best good to go into this business deal with someone? Is it in my highest best good to date someone? And it helps to really sharpen our awareness." - Jennifer Hill   Ways to Connect with Jennifer Hill: Website: https://om.app/ Website: https://www.heartmath.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkhill/   Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSarahEBrown To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com  

Healing from illnesses and diseases involves more than just addressing the physical body. The toxicity of your work environment, often overlooked, could be a trigger for the illness. That’s why it's essential to acknowledge and address all aspects of life to achieve holistic healing. Focusing on just one part won't suffice; true healing happens when all areas are interconnected and work together. Sarah Dawkins is a Holistic Health and Healing Coach, Keynote Speaker, the Author of HEAL YOURSELF, a Multi-Award winning Entrepreneur and previously, she was a Registered Nurse for twenty years.  She has extensive experience in health and wellness gained from naturally self-healing a multitude of health issues and her work as a Registered Nurse.  Sarah supports clients to find and heal the root cause of their health problems, thereby improving their health and ultimately their lives.   In this episode, Sarah emphasizes the importance of recognizing that illness is not solely a physical issue. True healing involves addressing all four pillars of well-being --- physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. And what's crucial to this? The belief in our capacity to heal.   What you will learn from this episode: Discover the art of natural healing, free from the reliance on pharmaceuticals Uncover the essential four pillars that are crucial for achieving complete natural healing Understand the system behind how doctors operate within the pharmaceutical's norm   "It's about understanding that healing is holistic. We need to look at our body as a whole." - Sarah Dawkins   Valuable Free Resource: Read the book and heal yourself naturally. Click here: http://www.sarahdawkins.com/   Topics Covered: 01:45 - How her belief about pharmaceuticals and her work as a nurse got impacted with that one question 02:59 - Healing her illnesses without pharmaceuticals and for how long 05:55 - The length she took to find natural ways for healing and how she took a big leap from being a nurse to a coach 07:58 - What got her to finally write her book: Heal Yourself 10:48 - Mind-blowing stories of people healing naturally from multiple illnesses including the number one step they did first for healing success 15:04 - Four pillars in your life you need to strengthen to completely heal from your illness 18:06 - How she covers all four pillars when working with a client for their healing 19:25 - Sarah answers the question: Why don't doctors know this?   Key Takeaways: "...I realized that healing wasn't just physical, change your diet, do more exercise and hydrate. We had to look at what we thought about health and wellness and illness and heal our past." - Sarah Dawkins "If we can cover all of those four pillars, and address them all, we can heal ourselves. But we have to have that belief as well on top of covering those four pillars that we can heal." - Sarah Dawkins "If I can help them to address the point that's missing or the point in their health that needs addressing and take them to that, then they can have rapid healing." - Sarah Dawkins "If we can understand that the doctor is only putting our symptoms together and coming up with a name from what is being taught, and then identifying a pill that goes with that diagnosis, if we can understand that we can step outside of that paradigm and go, what is my body telling me?" - Sarah Dawkins   Ways to Connect with Sarah Dawkins: Website: www.sarahdawkins.com Email: [email protected]  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahdawkins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dawkinsse Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.dawkins.health Twitter: https://twitter.com/dawkins_sarah YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SarahDawkinsEssentialHealth/videos    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  

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