The Danger of Silence with Elaine Lin Hering

Have you ever noticed that what you say can make all the difference in the type of information you receive, how people respond to you/what you share, and the overall trajectory of a situation?

In this episode, I talk to the CEO and President of Let’s Grow Leaders, Karin Hurt and David Dye about dealing with workplace conflict, communication in conflict, and the greatest-of-all-time power phrases you can rely on to achieve your desired outcomes.

You’ll also learn about The 4 Dimensions of Healthy Conflict – since not all conflict is destructive. When handled correctly, it can be an incredible catalyst for engagement, creativity, and innovation.

Let’s dive in!

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Karin Hurt and David Dye help human-centered leaders find clarity in uncertainty, drive innovation, and achieve breakthrough results. As CEO and President of Let’s Grow Leaders, they are known for practical tools and leadership development programs that stick. Karin and David's many books include Courageous Cultures: How to Build Teams of Micro-Innovators, Problem Solvers, and Customer Advocates, and a new book coming out in May 2024, Powerful Phrases for Dealing With Workplace Conflict: What to Say Next to Destress the Workday, Build Collaboration and Calm Difficult Customers. 

A former Verizon Wireless executive, Karin was named to Inc. Magazine’s list of great leadership speakers. David Dye is a former executive and elected official. Karin and David are committed to their philanthropic initiative, Winning Wells – building clean water wells for the people of Cambodia.

Learn more about their work and pre-order the book at letsgrowleaders.com.

Welcome to a 2023 Year in Review! In this episode, we flip the script and Céline is the featured guest (interviewed by her podcast manager, Erin).

Get a behind-the-scenes look at:
- Céline’s biggest takeaways from the year
- Our favorite guests and conversations
- What’s changed (or hasn’t) in the leadership space
- Some topics and themes that are top of mind going into 2024
- Céline’s secret BFF and dream guest list

As Leading Through Crisis heads into its fourth year and approaches its 100th episode, the thing we most want to convey is a big, juicy THANK YOU. Thank you for listening and engaging this last year. It is so cool to hear about what matters to different people in different ways and to highlight the folks that we do. We are so appreciative of your support!

*After this episode, we’ll take a short break but will be back with more good stuff soon! Don’t forget to subscribe to the show (wherever you consume your podcast content), sign up for the newsletter (at leadingthroughcrisis.ca, scroll to the bottom), and keep suggesting guests, listening, and sharing with your friends. 

Here’s to another year of GREAT conversations!

In this week’s episode, we’re talking to Entrepreneur, Investor & CEO Andrew Swiler about his experience taking over a Ukranian company 3 months after the war started. We get into the types of things they were dealing with and how they led through it, as well as what they learned.

The company, Lanteria, is a Human Resources Management System (HRMS) software so we also discuss what that is, what it can do, the opportunities that exist in that space right now, and why it matters.

“One of the unique things about HR software is that it’s one of the only pieces of software (besides email) that everyone in the company will touch at some point… HRMS is a tool. But, if it’s set up well, it could be a step towards making your company the most high-performing.”

This is a conversation about compassionate, growth-focused leadership, human resources/management, and retention. And, it really highlights leading through a crisis, like war, that affects everyone. I hope you’ll join us for this one.

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Andrew Swiler has been an entrepreneur for 10 years. Working across several software verticals. Andrew is a strategic entrepreneur and investor. He is currently the CEO of Lanteria, a leading HR software for Microsoft users headquartered in Seattle, WA.

To learn more about Lanteria visit https://www.lanteria.com/. To connect with Andrew, seek him out on Twitter (https://twitter.com/swilera) or LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/swiler/).

In this week’s episode, we’re talking to coach, consultant, and founder of Grow Better Together, Gen Retzlaff about the need for more balanced leadership in the world – and how the traits often missing are those perceived as more feminine.

This is, in some ways, a conversation about binaries and the spectrum that exists between two extremes, but it’s also about being more aware of what you don’t have or aren’t operating in that could make you a better leader (or your team a better team, your organization a better organization, etc.). 

Finally, it’s about what folks can do to explore how they can step more fully into leadership if they’ve been shying away from it and what those currently in power can do to help cultivate diversity and be more collaborative. 

It would be wonderful if some of these more slow-burn issues and crises would solve themselves. But, since they won’t, it’s on us to take action and be part of the solution.

I hope you’ll listen and that this conversation ignites or inspires something in you. 

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Geneviève Retzlaff, or Gen as she's widely known, stands as the driving force behind Grow Better Together. With a mission centered on organizational transformation and the reduction of employee turnover, Gen leverages her 15 years of HR experience and holds certification as a transformational and team performance coach (PCC & CTPC).

Gen's sole passion is to introduce people to the profound impact of coaching, helping them enhance their influence on the world. She's particularly drawn to empowering women to overcome the prevalent underrepresentation in corporate boardrooms and the imposter syndrome struggles they face.

Having witnessed these challenges firsthand, Gen excels at identifying and eliminating limiting beliefs. She specializes in guiding women to step into leadership roles, serving as inspiring role models for emerging professionals. At Grow Better Together, Gen is at the forefront of creating organizational change while addressing the issue of employee turnover, fostering a future where women in leadership roles are more commonplace.

To learn more about Gen and her work, visit grow-better-together.com, connect with her on Pick My Brain (https://www.pickmybrain.world/profiles/genevieve-retzlaff), or LinkedIn.

In this episode, we're talking about (and to) front-line managers with leadership development expert, Summer Davies. 

Middle management is essential to our organizations because they know our clients, customers, products, and brands better than anyone. They see crisis, change, or potential risks first – and are often the ones who have the most important and creative solutions.

In this conversation, we discuss a couple of their biggest hindrances (the ability to prioritize well, while communicating upward and downward, as well as micromanaging).

We explore how to check in and know whether you're doing either, as well as some practical solutions to address both, change the environment, and get the best results from your team.

I hope you'll join us! 

And, if you know a front-line manager, give them some work-appropriate love – they need it.

*If you are one, thank you for ALL that you do. We see and appreciate you!

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Summer Davies is an award-winning leadership development expert with over 15 years of experience. She helps burgeoning leaders develop the mindset and tactical skills to lead with impact, confidence, empowerment, and a genuine love for what they do. As a lifelong equestrian, beekeeper, and sub-par snowboarder, Summer brings a unique perspective and sense of urgency to Leadership Development conversations. 

Based in Parker, Colorado, she lives with her husband and two beautiful daughters, and together they love to travel, explore local breweries, and indulge in their passion for food trucks. Tune in to hear her inspiring journey from unexpected leadership to a passion-driven career in coaching and empowering others to become the leaders they aspire to be.

Check Summer out at www.leader-shop.com or follow her on LinkedIn for more!

FREE Micromanager Assessment
https://www.leader-shop.com/home#micromanagerassessment

Dr. Bev Kaye is recognized, internationally, as one of the most knowledgeable and practical professionals in the areas of career development and employee engagement/retention. She has won five lifetime achievement awards for her work and, today, we have the pleasure of talking to her about:

- Talent mobility
- The importance of unpacking and anchoring experiences
- Acknowledging and learning from mistakes
- How to facilitate safety and growth, as a leader
- Why external validation can be lacking

As Bev shares and T.S. Eliot said, "The sad thing is to have the experience and miss the meaning." 

Slow down and listen to this episode. You won't be sorry!

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Dr. Beverly Kaye is recognized internationally as one of the most knowledgeable and practical professionals in the areas of career development and employee engagement/retention. Her contribution to the field of engagement and retention includes the Wall Street Journal bestseller, Love ‘Em or Lose ‘Em: Getting Good People to Stay, which is now in its 6th edition. Her recent books in the career development field include Up is Not the Only Way and Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go, which provided overwhelmed managers with a way to blend career conversations into their everyday routines. 

In 2018, ATD honored Beverly Kaye with their Lifetime Achievement Award recognizing "her advanced knowledge and extensive practice across the talent development field." In 2018, ISA awarded Dr. Kaye their Thought Leadership Award for her body of work in the support of work-related learning and performance. In 2019, IMS awarded Dr. Beverly Kaye its Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the field of career development and employee engagement. In 2019, the Best Practice Institute awarded Beverly Kaye with the Lifetime Achievement Award based on her significant contributions as a founder of the field of career development. In 2022, i4CP awarded Beverly Kaye their 2022 Industry Legend Award in appreciation of her outstanding contributions and commitment to the field of human resources and leadership.

To learn more about Bev and her work visit bevkaye.com or connect with her on LinkedIn.

In this episode, licensed clinical psychologist, emotional intelligence skills training expert, and bestselling author of The Holy Shit Series, Dr. J.J. Kelly (aka The Punk Rock Doc), talks to us about how to process anger, release emotions, and cut the bullshit to increase our emotional intelligence. 

Join us as we get into:
- The misunderstanding and avoidance of anger in our society
- Why anger is necessary and how to manage it well
- Dismantling systems that don't serve us
- The best time to go into conflict
- A simple formula for assertiveness
and so much more

Conversations with J.J. tend to leave a lasting impression and this one certainly does that -- it's the butt-kicking we didn't know we all needed!

Here's why it's particularly important for leaders:
"To be exposed to someone who doesn't crumble in the face of rage or anger is such a comforting redirect for people. They learn not everybody's gonna die if you're mad at them." Then, you can model for them how to act right and build their own emotional intelligence. 

Listen in and see what this episode triggers for you. 

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Dr. J.J. Kelly, The Punk Rock Doc, is a licensed clinical psychologist, emotional intelligence skills training expert, and bestselling author of The Holy Shit Series. J.J. is also the CEO & Founder of UnorthoDocs, Inc., a punk alternative to traditional psychotherapy. Dr. Kelly and the unortho “docs” live their lives with the belief that global healing is achieved by teaching people the skills to like themselves. “Happy People Act Right!” - Dr. J.J. Kelly, The Punk Rock Doc

You can learn more about or connect with J.J. on her website at https://www.drjjkelly.com/ or on Instagram @drjjkelly.

In this episode, we are joined by Chief Navigation Officer™, Laurel Rutledge who talks to us about two of the biggest challenges in business today – figuring out what to do with AI and creating a healthy, sustainable workplace culture (HR folks and managers, this one’s for you… what she says might surprise you, it’s likely not what you think).

Join us as we get into:
- What you really need to know and be mindful of when it comes to AI
- How we regulate the bad and exploit the good (embracing the tool as opposed to being fearful of it)
- The current problem with HR/management and how we swing the pendulum back
- How to have hard conversations and why it’s not unkind to be clear
- Plus, so much more

This conversation, as my favorite ones do, will leave you with lots to think about and, hopefully, implement (to your benefit).

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Laurel K. Rutledge, your Chief Navigation Officer™, guides 7-figure female business owners in their move from Founder to CEO. Her corporate experience in accounting, consulting, enterprise risk management, and HR enable her to support these incredible, successful business owners as they continue to lead with their heart but learn to act with their head. 

Laurel helps her clients navigate rejecting “big C” corporate bureaucracy while harnessing the power of “little c” corporate processes through clear business strategies supported by aligned people strategies. 

When not working with clients, Laurel hosts a radio show and two podcasts focusing on heart-led, mind-driven, aligned leadership. You can learn more about her and her work at https://laurelrutledge.com/ and connect with her on the following social networks:
LinkedIn (@laurel-k-rutledge/)
Instagram (@laurel.k.rutledge)
Facebook and YouTube (@therutledgeperspective)

"We can’t give to [or lead] others when we don’t even have our own self taken care of."

In this episode of Leading Through Crisis, we’re talking about self-aware leadership with certified life coach, the creator of AuthenticMe® and CEO of Live Joy Your Way, Kamini Wood.

We’ve talked about this on the show before... the strongest leaders are the ones with high emotional intelligence who, as a result, propel their teams at a much greater rate than the ones who have a more old-school, top-down mentality and approach.

But, Kamini brings a really big piece of that self-awareness/emotional intelligence puzzle into the conversation today – three of them actually: core values, core beliefs, and core needs.

Listen in for a fantastic description and examples of each, how we can shift old stories or limiting beliefs, and what self-compassion and self-care (the real kind) can do for us. 

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Kamini Wood, a certified life coach, helps high-achievers heal their relationships with themselves. She helps people take courageous steps in identifying limiting beliefs, reasons for stagnation and overcoming self-doubt in order to live a full professional and personal life.

She is the creator of AuthenticMe® and CEO of Live Joy Your Way - a coaching company helping high performers and overachievers who have seen success through old-rooted, traditional metrics, reestablish their relational self-awareness. Trained in internal family systems and cognitive behavioral-based coaching, she can help her clients navigate past traumas and toxic relationships and truly live in self-acceptance, self-confidence, and self-leadership. 

Kamini is a best-selling author; holding certifications in various modalities including life, wellness, high-performance coaching, teen life, conscious uncoupling, calling in the one, new money story, breath work, meditation and diversity, equity inclusion, and belonging. She is also trained in conscious parenting and coaching for children.

You can learn more about Kamini and grab her free 8-step guide to overcoming limiting beliefs at https://www.kaminiwood.com. You can also find her on LinkedIn (@KaminiWood), Instagram and Facebook (@itsauthenticme).

“Conflicts are based on values, history, culture... We all bring our little suitcases of baggage wherever we go. And, often, we can’t entirely resolve a conflict but we can manage to the win-win.”

In this episode of the podcast, we are talking to bestselling author and leadership consultant, Diana Peterson-More about effectively managing conflict in the workplace and communicating with your team (in a way they’ll receive and understand).

These are two of the most important skills a leader can have and, coincidentally, can be the hardest to retain and implement.

Join us for some great examples, a discussion about how social media has changed things, the difference between managing conflict and resolving it, what most adults’ greatest fear actually is – and so much more!

“The golden rule of communication is “I will communicate with you the way I want to be communicated with. Whereas, it should be the other way around… I will communicate with you the way you want to be communicated with. As a leader, this is critical.”

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Bestselling author, Diana Peterson-More, a former practicing employment lawyer & HR head, left a Fortune 50 to launch The Organizational Effectiveness Group. Her company focuses on people strategies & organizational systems to support strategic workplace goals. Services and products include custom-designed training, team and individual coaching and strategic planning. She also conducts investigations and serves as an expert witness. 

Peterson-More is a blogger, guest columnist, and a conference presenter. She has been featured in CEO Magazine, ATD, TICE and HR.com online and print editions, and on leadership podcasts. Her first book, Consequential Communication in Turbulent Times: a Practical Guide to Leadership, will soon be joined by her second book: Courageous Communication – A Return to Civility: “Can’t We All Just Get Along?” Peterson-More received a BA, from UCLA & JD, from Loyola Law School. Learn more at www.dianapetersonmore.com. You can also find her on LinkedIn and Twitter/X.