Excited for my conversation with Erin Diehl on this episode of the podcast. We talk improv in the workplace for helping team members feel seen, heard and valued. Plus, Erin shares her MOVE ON method for mental and physical healing.

Dive In:

1:45 Not soft skills… but power skills! Meet Erin and learn why she started her company: Improve It!

5:30 Erin talks about wearing your “work mask.” Improv takes off this mask, allowing your team members to feel seen, heard and valued.

8:15 “For anything in life you want to be better at… it’s just like going to the gym, the more reps you put in the stronger you get.” – Erin

9:50 “For a long time, I was afraid of my own voice.” Erin shares her journey of improv and growing a business after 2020.

12:45 “In order to correct your future, you have to redirect the way you think about your past.” – Erin

14:30 The “3 P’s” of Erin’s life-changing moment: Pivot, People Pleasing, Physical Pain.

17:15 Erin’s MOVE ON method:

• M – Marinate (sit in the suck)
• O – Own it
• V – Verify lessons learned
• E – Evaluate next steps
• O – Oooommmm (being still with what you’ve processed)
• N – Next failure

25:00 The thought / mind / action connection.

25:30 Erin’s Life Hack: Take a “light saver day” – preserve your own light (take 1 day per month for yourself!).

Show Resources:

• To download this show and catch up on others, find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify and YouTube.
• Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn.

Today on the podcast, I’m talking with “The Sacred Meaning of Everyday Work” author, Robert Tribken. Robert is such a cool guy–with an MBA and a theology background he has a unique perspective about work. We continue our theme of purpose and discuss how to see the value in everyday tasks. It’s a powerful conversation. I hope you’ll listen in!

Dive In:

02:00 Meet Robert. He kicks off the conversation by connecting our spiritual / faith side with our work side.

07:00 “When we have a sense of purpose, we’re more likely to show courage.” – Robert

08:00 How “small,” everyday jobs can show purpose (e.g., serving others in a restaurant, taking care of a customer service need).

10:00 “What we’re doing now is important. It’s making a contribution.” Robert on how you don’t have to change what you’re doing to be purposeful. Start by seeing the value in what you’re doing right now.

12:00 Two questions to ask yourself to help find your purpose.

13:30 Individual agency. Robert explains corporate purpose, individual purpose and how they tie together.

18:00 The joy is in the journey. This is a life-long process.

19:00 Job, career, calling.

22:30 Can we have our purpose and calling change throughout life?

26:00 Robert’s Life Hack: Listen first.

Show Resources:

• Check out Robert’s book, “The Sacred Meaning of Everyday Work.”
• To download this show and catch up on others, find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify and YouTube.
• Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn.

Fair promotions, well-matched managers and fewer meetings. Inc. columnist, author and friend of the show, Jeff Haden returns to share three things you, as a leader must do in 2023 to set your team – and the business as a whole – up for success.

03:30 Catch up, meet Jeff and hear about what he’s been up to (like the Arabian Business Awards!).

05:30 The promotion process, a recent study and what to focus on. Jeff explains the study – employees want effective and fair promotions – whether they were the ones promoted or not.

08:30 The key to making fair and effective promotions? Ask: “What is it this job does?”

12:30 Don’t put a timeline on promotions. Who owns this conversation? Brandon and Jeff discuss giving feedback in the moment. “If anything’s a surprise in the annual review, that’s the leader’s fault.” – Jeff

18:00 Jeff shares what to look for in a manager, both in-person and virtual. Think about the nature of the team.

21:30 “The most forgotten superpower is being nice…[Mark Cuban] But – nice should come with a level of effectiveness.” – Jeff Haden

25:00 Meetings! Why we don’t like ‘em… and how they make us less smart!

29:00 Could vs. Should. Jeff explains the difference based on a recent study.

35:30 Like Hack: Jeff meets Mark Cuban. Key takeaway? “Be nice! It only takes a few moments to stop by someone’s desk to say “you did a really good job on ‘x’. And it means the world to them!”

Show Resources:

• Check out Jeff’s book, “The Motivation Myth” and his Inc. articles.
• To download this show and catch up on others, find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify and YouTube.
• Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn.

It’s official! My latest book, “The Author vs. Editor Dilemma: The Leadership Secret to Unlocking Your Team, Your Time, and Your Impact” is now available in audiobook format.

In celebration, we’re releasing a sneak peek of the book as I read Chapter 1. You’ll meet Carlos, a new CEO doing his best to learn about his team and lead them in the right direction. You’ll get an intro to urgency, the hero trap and “two seats” (Author and Editor)… but that’s just the start! Head over to Audible and begin your journey through all eight chapters after the episode.

Show Resources:

• To download this show and catch up on others, find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify and YouTube.
• Catch a new episode of The Workplace Therapist Show Monday mornings on Facebook Live.

Today’s episode is the perfect follow-up to our show last week on gaining visibility. While your good works catch the eye of your boss, they also catch the eye of fellow employees. Potentially toxic employees who are seeking the same promotion as you. Berta Aldrich, author of “Winning the Talent Shift,” shares how to navigate this new challenge.

Dive In:

03:00 Meet Berta and hear her passion behind the work she does.

05:45 “People compete with you and you don’t even know it.” What creates this toxicity?

08:30 “You don’t have to be in person to be bullied or targeted.” Brandon and Berta discuss workplace politics in-person vs. virtually.

10:45 How do we spot these toxic individuals?

13:30 Why “gaslighting” was “the word of the year in 2022”. What is it and how do we navigate this?

16:00 Berta explains “manufactured conflict.”

20:30 As an executive leader, how do we handle this manufactured conflict?

25:00 Narcissists want to find out more about you in order to use it against you.

32:00 Berta’s Life Hack: “Do not absorb other people’s bad behavior.”

Show Resources:

• Check out Berta’s book, “Winning the Talent Shift.”
• To download this show and catch up on others, find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify and YouTube.
• Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn.