Brain Chatter Podcast

Episode 30: A Bull in the China Shop & Emotional Intelligence

Whitney Tate and Delcia Petersen explore the practical side of Emotional Intelligence as it is most often encountered in the workplace. What is the cost of being ‘A Bull in the China Shop’ as it relates to EIQ? How do we each avoid being that bull in the china shop in our own workplace, dismissive of competence about it at our own immense personal cost? If Emotional Intelligence is arguably the greatest predictor of success in a leader and in success within any given career, then …

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Episode 29: Stuckeys: A Story of Grit and Brand Revival

Stephanie Stuckey recently released her book “UnStuck: Rebirth of An American Icon”. In this interview she discusses reviving and rebuilding one of the most iconic American roadside brands, “Stuckeys.” This 25 minute episode explores grit and how it can be contagious in organizational leadership. We look at the history of the brand, the various pivots that allowed it to survive and then thrive to its height of having 368 locations in 40 US States, why Stuckeys was able to weather so man…

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Episode 28: Generative AI & Workplace Culture: The Right Choices Provide an Edge

Michael Mendola is leading the effort at a 75,000+ employee consulting firm to implement Generative AI strategies for the benefit of their employees and clients. In this episode, Michael shares his insights on the impact Generative Artificial Intelligence is having and will continue to have on workplace cultures. He also shares a wide array of information about Generative AI, as well as some of the AI programs he is currently using the most. —–MORE ABOUT MICHAEL:Michael Mendola…

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Episode 27: An AI Literacy Primer for Organizational Leaders

Randy Sparkman delves into what an organizational leader needs to know about Artificial Intelligence (AI) right away. Randy is the author of LANGUAGE AI: A Guide for Humans. It is an “amplifier of opportunity,” as Randy puts it and he makes the case for why a leader needs competence on this transformative topic in order to make wise strategy decisions. Randy also makes the case on why and how an organization must ensure their employees are allowed to reasonably experiment with AI. He ad…

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Episode 26: Digital Transformation & How Success Hinges on Organizational Culture

Tom McNany walks us through the role of organizational culture in adoption outcome (success or failure) of new technologies that transform an organization. Rolling out a new technology that changes how business is done is stressful and difficult for all involved. Whether it is an ERP system, manufacturing execution systems, warehouse and inventory software systems, or otherwise. Very rarely on the leader’s mind before such a major undertaking is this question: “Is my workplace culture prepped…

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Episode 25: How To Find, Hire, Develop, and Empower Proactive Problem Solvers

Nisha Patel explores what it takes to populate an organization with problem solvers and how to be one. Problems at work are most often negatively associated with stress. Repeatedly, however, problems prove to be gates of opportunities for career catapults, entrepreneurial ventures, and other rewards for those who can leverage creativity, calculated risk, and resilience to solve them. And yet, that only happens in an organization that knows how to find, hire, develop, and empower proacti…

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Episode 24: Critical Mistakes to Avoid if You Serve on a Board of Directors (For-Profit or Nonprofit)

Many company leaders are asked to serve on boards of directors, whether with nonprofits or for-profits of various sizes. There are many questions and issues to consider before saying yes and after saying yes. It is always an honor to be elected to boards, and it allows someone to have far-reaching positive impact beyond their normal job or company. Board service comes with fiduciary responsibilities and can include personal liabilities and reputation risk. In this episode, Laura Gregory…

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Episode 23: The Agent of Your Own Life

The Agent of Your Own Life episode contrasts the long-reaching negative impacts of perennial victimhood mentality, with the never-ending positive impact of being an individual who is ‘the agent of their own life.’ As agentic, this individual recognizes that they can take actions and make decisions today that will make their tomorrow better. This contrasts with the perennial victim who always believes someone else’s decision controls their access to success. Someone who is the agen…

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Episode 22: Are Students Prepared for the Workforce? Insights from a School Principal

How are current high school students being prepared for the US workforce at a time when employers are desperate for qualified workers? What are the students’ pathways and options? Are schools getting the input from local industry about what those companies need most in foundational skills as well as developed skillsets? Do schools want involvement from local employers? This episode takes an in-depth look at current high school education and workforce preparation with someone on the front line…

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Episode 21: Practical Strategies for a Disability-Friendly Workplace

At the same time as historic unemployment, there has never been a greater number of well-qualified disabled people who want to work. These prospective employees are sitting on the sidelines. John D. Kemp, CEO of the Lakeshore Foundation and author of a new book entitled “Disability Friendly, How to Move from Clueless to Inclusive” talks practical strategy in this episode. How can an employer find, hire, and retain qualified workers who happen to be disabled? What do disabled employee pr…

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Brain Chatter

Effective leadership in our daily life and work requires each of us to wisely sort through a tremendous amount of ‘daily noise.’ We all want to become better at hearing and processing what matters and hear past what doesn’t, without disruption or derailment. Brain Chatter is a series of interviews with organizational leaders on the front lines of leadership who are skilled at doing just that. These are leaders who lead themselves, their teams, and their organizations with clarity. In each episode one of them offers their insights into what works and what doesn’t. Among the front line leaders interviewed are general managers of manufacturing plants, HR directors, supervisors, company executives, nonprofit CEOs, consultants, and individuals with no titles, but lots of influence.

Resources

Thank you for being a Brain Chatter Podcast listener. Here you’ll find resources from each episode.  If you have questions or comments about an episode, feel welcome to email Derek at dcbrown@leaderscode.com

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