People Business w/ O'Brien McMahon

A serial entrepreneur who entered the United States as a refugee from Ukraine at the age of 8, Diana had launched and sold millions of dollars worth of products and services by her early thirties. Today, she is an innovation consultant, leadership development keynote speaker, and New York Times bestselling author whose books have been taught in over 100 universities. And her parents would like you to know that her sister is a doctor. Diana is the author of Go Big or Go Home. 

Mentioned on the Show:

• Go Big or Go Home by Diana Kander: https://a.co/d/5x73IOK
• Be sure to listen to Diana’s interview with O’Brien to learn how to receive her book for free
• Diana’s website: https://dianakander.com/
• Learn more about Diana’s other books here: https://dianakander.com/books/
• Jesse Itzler and the Big A## Calendar: https://jesseitzler.com/products/calendar-2024
• Gabrielle Reece on The Joe Rogan Experience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7HhQhQjC4A

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• Connect with O’Brien McMahon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obrienmcmahon/
• Learn more about O’Brien: https://obrienmcmahon.com/
• O’Brien’s new book—How You Become You—is available now: https://a.co/d/22kZ0sV

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Timestamps:
(2:11) - Welcoming Diana.
(3:02) - How does one become an innovation consultant?
(3:44) - What is most misunderstood about innovation?
(6:51) - How do you limit your capacity so you have flex time?
(9:52) - What are examples of your "impossible tasks"?
(13:03) - What makes a person or a pitch memorable?
(15:22) - Can you talk about the level of research you do to prepare for a pitch?
(16:37) - Is that different than the old school build rapport?
(20:49) - How do you balance technical knowledge with relationship building?
(22:49) - What are tips to build trust in high-stakes situations?
(25:04) - What do you say to people who say these methods are cheesy?
(29:01) - How do you avoid starting a meeting by telling them about yourself? 
(31:18) - What does it mean to take people on a journey with your pitch?
(33:23) -  How important is it to have a global overarching theme?
(34:06) - How do you think about losses?
(36:03) - How do you think about surprise and how important is it?
(37:41) - Can you give examples of ways you’ve used surprise?
(39:16) - Why are 3D objects important?
(42:04) - Is it correct to say you need to be both thoughtful and vulnerable to make it a successful pitch?
(44:04) - How do you keep this fresh without burning out?
(45:28) - How do you guide people through resistance to the GO BIG OR GO HOME method? 
(45:59) - What do you say to the person who thinks they’re not creative?
(48:49) - How do you apply these principles in your personal life?
(50:08) - Remember: you want to pitch something that is unique.
(53:43) - Where can people reach you?

In this special episode, O'Brien and past guest Jason Lauritsen announce a unique in-person event for People Business listeners who lead HR.

Designing Work for Humans: A People Business Summit will take place in Chicago on June 3rd and 4th, teaching HR leaders design skills they can use in their organizations to solve pressing business problems while making work better for the humans who work there.

APPLY HERE: https://peoplebusinesssummit.com/

This will be a project-based learning environment, meaning it will be immersive and hands-on, giving attendees a chance to practice what they are learning in real-time and with real-world applications.

We are partnering with Embarc, a Chicago-based nonprofit helping underserved students across 20+ schools by designing experiences that show them all the city (and the world) has to offer. Check out Embarc's mission here: https://embarcchicago.org/

If you are an HR leader who wants to be a better internal consultant to your executive team, who wants to help your organization face an uncertain future, who wants to improve the lives of your employees... this is the event for you. 

Julie Dirksen is the author of the books Design For How People Learn and Talk to the Elephant: Design Learning for Behavior Change. She is a learning strategy consultant with a focus on incorporating behavioral science into learning interventions. She’s been an adjunct faculty member at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and is a Learning Guild Guildmaster.

Mentioned on the Show:

• Talk to the Elephant: Design Learning for Behavior Change (book): https://a.co/d/hYJTByT
• Design For How People Learn (Voices that Matter) (book): https://a.co/d/9BoCfdX
• Augmented and Virtual Reality for Behavior Change (white paper): https://www.learningguild.com/insights/237/augmented-and-virtual-reality-for-behavior-change/
• Connect with Julie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliedirksen
• Julie's website: https://usablelearning.com/

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• Connect with O’Brien McMahon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obrienmcmahon/
• Learn more about O’Brien: https://obrienmcmahon.com/
• O’Brien’s new book—How You Become You—is available now: https://a.co/d/22kZ0sV

Timestamps:

(2:04) - Welcoming Julie
(3:58) - Do adults and kids learn differently?
(8:00) - Can you explain the title of your book ‘Talk to the Elephant’?
(18:34) - How does delayed gratification play into corporate training?
(26:53) - How do you feel about the concept of experiential learning?
(31:18) - How do you see people using augmented reality and virtual reality in the workplace?
(41:29) - Can you talk about what is extrinsic vs. intrinsic motivation?
(49:49) - Can you talk about what is the difference between individual and group behavior change?
(1:03:20) - Where can people find you if they want to learn more about this?
(1:04:16) - What suggestions would you give people to start implementing instructional design?

Erin Diehl is a Business Improv Edutainer, Failfluencer, and Professional Zoombie. Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn, play, and grow. Her new book, I See You: A Leader's Guide to Energizing Your Team Through Radical Empathy, has paired her eighteen years of leadership experience with her improv-honed sense of humor to create a mindset shift for busy, stressed-out leaders. Using laughter, positivity, and empathy, Erin will take you on a journey of self-exploration to discover a newfound sense of self-love and inner peace that translates into improved leadership performance.

Mentioned on the Show:

• I See You: A Leader's Guide to Energizing Your Team Through Radical Empathy (book): https://a.co/d/7USky6M
• Erin's website: https://www.itserindiehl.com/
• Erin's Meditation Album: https://www.itserindiehl.com/i-see-you-store/p/i-see-you-meditations-for-magnetizing-and-attracting-abundance
• Improve It!: https://www.learntoimproveit.com/

Time Codes:

(1:54) - Welcoming Erin.
(3:32) - What is this book, I See You, and why did you decide to write it?
(8:05) - What does “life is an energy management problem” mean?
(10:20) - How did you get that internal energy? 
(13:15) - What does energy correction look like?
(16:26) - How did you come up with this process?
(28:29) - Can you talk about self-limiting beliefs?
(41:49) - Why is “if you love what you do you’ll never work a day in your life” B.S.?
(45:02) - What advice do you have for people who want to embrace Radical Empathy and feel stuck?
(59:14) - A final message for the audience.

Jon McGraw co-founded Vision Pursue (VP) after it’s principles radically shifted his mindset, performance, and overall life experience. He’s since guided and assisted in the successful application of these principles inside hundreds of corporate teams and sports franchises. He’s a sought after keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, and Performance Mindset trainer. Before VP, Jon played 10 years in the NFL plus completed business management and entrepreneurship programs at Harvard Business School and Wharton Business School.

Mentioned on the Show:

• Learn more about Jon’s organization, Vision Pursue: https://visionpursue.com/
• Jon’s profile and bio: https://visionpursue.com/vp-team/jon-mcgraw/#bio-anchor
• Connect with Jon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonmcgrawperformancemindset
• Jocko Willink’s podcast: https://pod.link/1070322219
• Jocko Willink – “GOOD”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdTMDpizis8
• Wim Hof breathing techniques: https://www.wimhofmethod.com/breathing-exercises

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• Connect with O’Brien McMahon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obrienmcmahon/
• Learn more about O’Brien: https://obrienmcmahon.com/
• O’Brien’s new book—How You Become You—is available now: https://a.co/d/22kZ0sV

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Timestamps:

(2:13) - Welcoming Jon
(2:54) - How did you get into brain science and mental performance as a profession?
(4:48) - Can you talk about the different components of brain productivity and brain healing?
(6:32) - When you shift to a more conscious response what do you see in the brain from a health perspective?
(7:59) - What have you seen with your own brain scans?
(11:45) - What do you think meditation would have done for you while you were playing football?
(13:03) - What do you mean by “hard drivers especially need to use meditation techniques?”
(17:51) – Does our society have an unnatural focus on “purpose?”
(24:06) - What are your recommendations to keep the loose, playful mentality when we need to make money?
(27:30) - What does the shift from analytical to experiential brain?
(36:12) - How do you help people keep the big vision and be present in the same moment?
(38:34) - How do we attach dopamine to things it wouldn’t normally be attached to?
(43:13) - What do you do when that negative voice comes back?
(49:03) - How does your work help people stay on task and not need the dopamine rush of escape activities?
(53:27) - How do we assess the emotion we’re feeling and how do we find a healthier path for it?
(57:16) - What would you recommend as a place to start?
(1:01:02) - What is power breathing?
(1:02:57) - Where can people reach you?

Brad is the Founder and CEO of JB Training Solutions. An accomplished public speaker and executive coach, Brad has been featured on CNN, CNBC, and Dr. Phil, and has been quoted in: The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Fortune, and USA Today among many others. Brad is also the author of three business books including the critically acclaimed Manager 3.0: A Millennial’s Guide to Rewriting the Rules of Management. Brad presents annually at the SHRM National Conference and was ranked #1 out of more than 200 speakers.
 
Mentioned on the Show:

• JB Training Solutions: https://jbtrainingsolutions.com/
• Connect with Brad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradkarsh/
• Manager 3.0 by Brad Karsh (book): https://a.co/d/3QO4E48

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• Connect with O’Brien McMahon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obrienmcmahon/
• Learn more about O’Brien: https://obrienmcmahon.com/
• O’Brien’s new book—How You Become You—is available now: https://a.co/d/22kZ0sV

Timestamps:

(2:11) - Welcoming Brad.
(4:06) - How did you go from advertising to running a training and development company?
(7:57) - How did you hone your ability to command attention? 
(11:30) - What was the process for improving your speaking ability?
(15:48) - How do you balance the best possible you with the authentic you?
(20:27) - Can you talk about different styles for different scenarios?
(24:21) - How do you think about language?
(31:15) - How have you built your ability to tell stories and connect with other people?
(33:10) - How did you become the guy who thinks in stories?
(37:45) - Do you have examples of how to bring these subjects to life?
(45:06) - Is there anything we haven’t covered?
(49:25) - Where can people find you and JB Training Solutions if they want more of this in their lives?

Shannon is the Practice Leader of Lockton's Global People Solutions team in the United States where she works with multinational companies, helping them organize and manage their global benefits programs. 
 
Mentioned on the Show:

• Lockton People Solutions: https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/people-solutions
• Connect with Shannon Boyle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-boyle-8299604
• Learn more about Shannon at Lockton: https://global.lockton.com/us/en/news-insights/shannon-boyle-named-practice-leader-of-lockton-global-people-solutions

Timestamps:

(2:14) - Welcoming Shannon.
(2:54) - How did you get into global benefits?
(4:59) - How should a leader think about rewards and benefits globally?
(7:20) - When does it make sense to bring global benefits oversight in-house and when is it better to keep it with a global PEO model?
(8:20) - Are there good global payroll companies?
(12:24) - Can you talk about the variety of benefits from country to country? 
(16:01) - Where do you start when consulting with a new client?
(23:16) - Are companies looking for equality or equity when it comes to benefits across the globe?
(25:58) - What is the state of wellness or well-being programs around the world?
(31:17) - How should employers think about managing small and large populations under the same umbrella?
(34:01) - Has EAP utilization changed around the world?
(38:42) - What are best practices for avoiding cross-cultural mistakes?
(39:54) - Can you define "governance" when it comes to managing global benefits?
(42:32) - How can leaders tap into the local market while keeping decision-making centralized?
(44:35) - What types of benefits are available to Expats?
(49:16) - What is multi-national pooling?
(51:50) - How is Lockton approaching global benefits differently than competitors?

Laura Kriska is an expert on cross-cultural relations with more than thirty years of experience bridging gaps in diverse workplaces. She has worked with Fortune 500 companies on four continents, helping thousands of professionals build trust across Us vs. Them differences based on nationality, ethnicity, race, religion, age, or any factor of identity. Her WE-Building framework provides practical and actionable insights for creating a more inclusive and productive world.

Mentioned on the Show:

• Laura Kriska's book, The Business of We: https://a.co/d/bcm1SVq
• Learn more about Laura at her website: https://www.laurakriska.com/
• Connect with Laura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-kriska-0a93902a
• Marcus Buckingham (author): https://www.marcusbuckingham.com/
• Bonus! Twelve Hours' Sleep by Twelve Weeks Old (baby sleep training book): https://a.co/d/aklrwro

Timestamps:

(2:16) - Welcoming Laura
(3:15) - Why are we so afraid of those who are different than us and how do you see that showing up in the workplace?
(5:03) - Can you give us a little bit about your background that led you into this field?
(10:10) - What’s your response to the attitude of ‘let’s buck up and move on’ in relation to that kind of situation?
(16:44) - Are microaggressions real or no?
(21:45) - How can we 'reframe' some group identities we may hold?
(29:25) - How do we do this in corporate environments?
(35:19) - How do we open ourselves to embrace new and diverse situations?
(43:02) - Are there ways to do this that don’t fall into 'tokenism'?
(48:56) - How can leaders harness truly improve communication among various groups?
(50:29) - What do we really have to get at to be bridging these connections?
(55:49) - Do you have any suggestions for business leaders on how to make room for nuance and allow difference of opinion to exist?
(1:00:21) - Laura invites us all to WE-build

Kendra Brodin is the Founder and CEO of EsquireWell, a lawyer well-being and professional development company providing consulting, training, and the EsquireWell Academy, a cutting-edge online learning community, to help lawyers be happier, healthier, and more successful. Before founding her company, Kendra was Chief Attorney Development Officer at a large national law firm where she managed firm-wide lawyer training and development as well as well-being initiatives. In this episode, we talk about the performance expectations placed on attorneys and what they (or professionals in any industry) can do to be at our best in a demanding environment.
 
Mentioned in this Episode: 

• Kendra's Coaching firm Esquire Well: https://www.esquirewell.com/
• The Feeling Wheel developed by Dr. Gloria Wilcox: https://cdn.gottman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/The-Gottman-Institute_The-Feeling-Wheel_v2.pdf
• The Upside of Stress by Kelly McGonigal: https://a.co/d/7DQEt4Q TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend?language=en

Timestamps

(1:44) - Welcoming Kendra
(2:01) - What do you do and how did you come to be doing that work?
(5:26) - Is it safe to say that this conversation is not just limited to corporate attorneys but to all who think about the workplace as performance?
(6:39) - What are the demands placed on attorneys?
(10:48) - What are the traits required to navigate the legal field at a high level?
(15:35) - What are good ways people can start to do this work and recognize the impact of their emotions?
(22:23) - Can we do this on our own? Are there any exercises to start to do this?
(40:01) - Is discussing these "soft" emotional matters a distraction?
(42:31) - How do you think about grit and mental toughness?
(46:53) - How do you help clients determine where they are in the spectrum and whether they need to hang in there or stop and take a break?
(50:43) - What does good recovery look like?
(1:00:08) - Is there anything you’d like to add to sum up our conversation?

Paul A. LaLonde, SHRM-CP, CCAP is a deliberate HR pro, who believes philosophy is a difference-making pursuit in business and life. Paul serves as the VP of People & Culture for CEDA of Cook County in Chicago. CEDA is one of the largest Community Action Agencies in the Country. Paul has won numerous awards including the HR Today MVP Award for his blog HR Philosopher. He is also a bestselling author of the book People Fusion: Best Practices to Build and Retain a Strong Team.

Mentioned on the Show:

• The HR Philosopher (blog): https://hrphilosopher.com/
• People Fusion (book): https://a.co/d/8nbTBkg
• The Art of Living and Finding Happiness translated by Sharon Lebell (book): https://a.co/d/e5lGvcy
• The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday (book): https://a.co/d/gKitXFF
• Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl (book): https://a.co/d/7KWlloq
• The Tao of Strategy by L. J. Bourgeois, Serge Eygenson, Kanokrat Namasondhi (book): https://a.co/d/bcvtVIl

Timestamps:
(1:44) - Welcoming Paul
(2:15) - What is philosophy to you?
(6:16) - How did you come to philosophy originally?
(8:37) - What types of philosophy have you studied the most and which do you think are most relevant to business leaders today?
(14:28) - Can you explain the Philosopher Manager concept?
(16:41) - Where do people start and what are the basic principles of the Philosopher Manager?
(25:13) - What does it mean to lead yourself?
(27:28) - What does your journaling practice look like?
(28:56) - Will you take a quote or a line and break down what it means to you?
(31:05) - What does the personal reflection look like when you don’t act as you think you should have?
(40:05) - How do you use philosophy when making decisions?
(42:10) - Is there anything you’ve learned from philosophy that's helped you communicate better?
(47:11) - What changes have you made in your personal life based on these philosophies?
(55:01) - Where is the best place for the newcomer to start?
(57:14) - What is the purpose of business?

Casey Jacox is the founder of Winning The Relationship, LLC, a consulting firm providing executive sales leadership and coaching. He is also the author of a book by the same name and host of The Quarterback DadCast, a podcast that offers stories, advice, and wisdom for fathers looking to improve their leadership skills and emotional intelligence. In this episode, he shares the importance of relationships and what it means to "win the relationship, not the deal".
 
Mentioned on the Show:

• Win the Relationship, NOT the Deal (book): https://a.co/d/hZstgIb
• Learn more about Casey: https://www.caseyjacox.com/
• Connect with Casey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseyjacox
• Listen to O’Brien on Casey’s podcast, The Quarterback DadCast: https://pod.link/1492347381/episode/a2c5d75f419dd644efc8b88c6c220b81
• Getting Naked by Patrick Lencioni: https://a.co/d/cWa9vqs

Timestamps:
(1:34) - Welcoming Casey
(2:30) - Who are you and what do you do?
(7:11) - Why is your book titled “Win the Relationship, Not the Deal”?
(12:11) - Where do we start when building relationships?
(14:20) - How do you think about rapport and what makes a good question?
(18:45) - Do you have any stories of when it doesn’t work and how you bring it back?
(23:17) - Have you always been quick on your feet?
(27:55) - What advice do you have for learning to think on your feet?
(32:57) - How long does it take to build relationships?
(37:42) - What do you say to people who feel like that’s forced?
(43:55) - How do you feel about the hustle culture?
(47:24) - How do you balance between hustling and taking care of yourself?
(50:25) - What is your process for gaining clarity?
(56:15) - Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Dan Michelson is the CEO of InCommon and author of Holy Shift! Moving Your Company Forward  to the Future of Work. In addition to his work at InCommon, he is an Adjunct Professor at the Quinlan School of Business at Loyola University. In this conversation, Dan talks about historical shifts that have rocked the workplace and how what we are going through now is just the next wave (one we all need to recognize and adapt to). 

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Holy Shift (book): https://www.theholyshiftbook.com/
• InCommon: https://incommon.com/
• Dan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danmichelson

Timestamps
(1:51) - Welcoming Dan
(2:52) - What shift are you seeing in the workplace?
(11:13) - What did you learn from studying past pandemics?
(14:45) - What happens after a big change?  
(19:48) - How do you readjust and recalibrate your view of the world quickly?
(26:07) - How do you teach others to adjust quickly?
(31:52) - Do you have a practice for reflecting on how you see the world?
(37:25) - How do we create a more human-centric approach to business? 
(39:50) - How do we foster connection?
(46:07) - How can you orchestrate a struggle to bring everyone together in the workplace?
(52:06) - What percentage of the population has this agile/shift skill set?
(1:00:00) - What is the purpose of business?
(1:00:58) - Is there anything you can share to direct us to what you’re doing?

Cece Sykes, LCSW, ACSW, is a consultant and senior trainer with the Internal Family Systems Institute where she specializes in trauma and addiction and educates therapists internationally on how to apply the IFS therapy model to addictive processes. In this episode, she shares ways concerned bosses, colleagues, and friends can broach the subject of addiction to help people get the care they need.  
 
Mentioned in this Episode:

• Cece Sykes, LCSW: https://www.cecesykeslcsw.com/
• Internal Family Systems Institute: https://ifs-institute.com/
• IFS Therapy for Addiction (book): https://a.co/d/ckmh356
• Befriending Your Inner Critic with Carolyn Sellers: https://peoplebusinesspodcast.com/carolynsellers/

Timestamps:
(2:52) - Welcoming Cece.
(4:32) - What terminology should we use instead of ‘addiction’?
(6:18) - Is addiction a disease we can cure or is it with us all the time?
(9:13) - What’s a good frame of mind to be in when you have a conversation about addiction with someone?
(11:43) - What’s the right way to approach a conversation when something is off with a person?
(23:16) - How should someone prepare for this conversation?
(24:47) - How do you do this as a therapist when you don’t have people giving you information or examples of negative behavior?
(33:40) - Is it fair to say people who are struggling with an addictive process are in some way seeking balance?
(36:28) - If someone is struggling and wants help would finding a specialist in Internal Family Systems be a good starting point?
(36:43) - How can someone evaluate themselves to know when they’re losing control?
(39:40) - What can we do to stop the cycle?
(43:50) - How does somebody work through stopping a behavior?
(47:19) - What’s the best way to help someone recognize they’re under pressure and need help?
(49:43) - Can you talk about how to strike a balance between empathy and having boundaries?
(54:42) - Is there anything else we haven’t covered that you think is important?

Pamela Meyer is a leading Agile Innovation expert who works with leaders, teams, and organizations that need to be more agile and innovative to compete in a rapidly changing world. She is the author of five books on agility, innovation, and learning, including her newest book, Staying in the Game: Leading and Learning with Agility for a Dynamic Future as well as The Agility Shift: Creating Agile and Effective Leaders, Teams and Organizations and From Workplace to Playspace: Innovating, Learning and Changing Through Dynamic Engagement.

Mentioned in this Episode: 

• Meyer Agile Innovations: https://pamela-meyer.com/meyer-agile-innovation/
• Staying In The Game (book): https://a.co/d/2Cg32lx
• The Agility Shift (book): https://a.co/d/3IYwA3e
• Tim Ferriss podcast with Arthur C Brooks on happiness: https://tim.blog/2023/09/11/arthur-c-brooks/
• Finite and Infinite Games: https://a.co/d/cOX4j21
• Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away by Annie Duke: https://a.co/d/9ldS2uY
• The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek: https://a.co/d/4znuPke

Timestamps:
(2:32) - Introducing Pamela and her work.
(3:38) - Why did you write “Staying In The Game” and what is it about?
(6:48) - What is a "game"? How should we think about our life in terms of games, and how do we know what game we are actually playing?
(8:22) - What are the four ‘P’s?
(10:15) - If we aren’t feeling purpose or passion in our career should we find another "game"?
(12:15) - How do you take something that's working in one area and transfer it to other areas of your life? 
(15:55) - How do we balance the hard work and suffering it takes to reach a goal with happiness?
(21:47) - How do you think about deciding between "how do I embrace the struggle?" versus "it’s time to move on"?
(26:40) - How do we continue to play the game that makes us money while also loosening its grip on us so we can enjoy it?
(29:03) - What does it mean to be agile?
(29:58) - How does somebody self-assess their agility?
(31:30) - Where do we start to improve our agility?
(35:44) - Why is slowing down important to agility?
(38:06) - Can you talk about the four different kinds of reflection?
(43:40) - How do we move from self-confidence to self-awareness?
(49:42) - What is the purpose of business?

Megan Lally is the CEO at Highdive, an award-winning advertising firm working with clients like Jeep, Rocket Mortgage, State Farm, Lay's, Beam Suntory. She was recognized in AdAge’s “40 Under 40” list. In this conversation, she shares how Highdive creates better work by focusing on the relationships employees have with each other and with their clients. 
 
Mentioned in this Episode:

• High Dive: https://highdiveus.com/
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni: https://www.amazon.com/Five-Dysfunctions-Team-Leadership-Fable/dp/0787960756
• Brene Brown on Vulnerability (TED Talk): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o 
• The Medici Effect by Frans Johansson: https://www.amazon.com/Medici-Effect-Preface-Discussion-Guide/dp/1633692949
• Frans Johansson on People Business: https://peoplebusinesspodcast.com/fransjohannson/

Timestamps:
(2:20) - Welcoming Megan
(2:52) - What is High Dive and how did it come to be?
(4:47) - What makes a good relationship?
(6:57) - What were the conversations like among the six people who founded High Dive at the beginning?
(9:05) - Do you have any stories about how you came up with your mission and values?
(14:04) - How do you work through disagreements?
(17:41) - What do you do when someone behaves in a way that is detrimental to the relationship?
(19:48) - Do you coach your people on how to have difficult conversations?
(27:46) - How do you balance collaboration with clients and being the experts in the room?
(38:13) - What is the process for onboarding new employees into your culture?
(43:40) - What have you learned about continuing in a hybrid environment?
(47:17) - What’s been the employees' reaction to keeping work and vacation separate?
(54:54) - What tips do you have that lead to better creative outcomes?

Meisha-ann Martin is the Senior Director, People Analytics & Research at Workhuman. She has a PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and has spent almost twenty years as a researcher and practitioner on topics like recognition, wellness, inclusion and psychological safety. In this episode, we talk about employee recognition programs and adjust some of O'Brien's preconceived notions. 

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Connect with Meisha-ann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meisha-ann-martin
• Learn more about Workhuman: https://www.workhuman.com/

Timecodes:
(2:20) - Welcoming Meisha-ann
(3:05) - What is Workhuman?
(4:31) - Why is a company like Workhuman needed in the first place?
(6:22) - What is an employee recognition program?
(8:02) - Why are we so bad at this?
(9:10 ) - What is the power of saying ‘thank you’?
(11:03) - The things you acknowledge are the things you reinforce so if you want to see more of something complimenting people gets it done.  Is it that simple?
(13:29) - Practical tips for showing gratitude
(15:07) - What do you say to nay-sayers who say it’s just about checking off boxes and going through the motions to say the culture is working?
(18:50) - How do you balance the line between showing gratitude but not expecting people to over-extend themselves?
(21:14) - What does the data look like?
(23:45) - Do you have examples of clients who have improved business outcomes and how they’ve demonstrated that?
(25:42) - How drastic are the results for this?
(27:22 ) - How do you see bias play out in this?
(34:03) - How do we think about money in tying money to these programs?
(36:41) - How do we avoid bias while still giving managers the ability to adjust compensation?
(37:48 ) - Do you see a difference between written recognition and spoken recognition?
(41:20) - What do you see in the research from people who say they don’t like public recognition?
(44:03) - Do you find feedback has more of an impact in a one-on-one or group setting?
(45:20) - What do you say to someone who thinks this is too much work?
(47:44) - Can you share some examples of how you’ve made changes with this in your personal life?
(50:41) - Anything else we haven’t covered regarding recognition?
(52:42) - What is the purpose of business?

Dr. Meghaan Lurtz is a Professor at Kansas State University where she teaches courses for the Advanced Financial Planning Certificate Program, a lecturer at Columbia University where she teaches Financial Psychology, an undergraduate adjunct professor through the University of Maryland system in their CFP program, and a writer and Senior Research Associate with Kitces.com, a financial planning blog. She is also a past president of the Financial Therapy Association.

Mentioned in the Episode: 

• Kitces: https://www.kitces.com/
• Change Your Questions Change Your Life (book): https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Questions-Life-4th/dp/1523091037
• Financial Therapy Association: https://financialtherapyassociation.org/
• Find out more about Certified Financial Planners: https://www.cfp.net/
• Mind Over Money by Dr. Brad Klontz: https://www.amazon.com/Mind-over-Money-Overcoming-Disorders-ebook/dp/B002WA4O9E
• Other books by Dr. Brad Klontz: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Brad-Klontz/author/B001KHI4BO
• Brene Brown (author): https://brenebrown.com/
• Changing To Thrive (book): https://www.amazon.com/Changing-Thrive-Overcome-Threats-Happiness/dp/1616496290
• The Good Life (book): https://www.amazon.com/Good-Life-Lessons-Scientific-Happiness/dp/198216669X

Time Codes:
(2:09) - Welcoming Meghaan.
(2:29) - What is the Financial Therapy Association?
(5:05) - Where are we in the spectrum of how we think about money?
(13:14) - Why are we so bad with money?
(19:40) - Who do we call when we have psychological money questions?
(23:27) - Is there a right mindset for money?
(26:36) - How do we start to identify our own issues with money?
(38:34) - Do you have recommendations to help people with shame around money?
(45:12) - What are some tips you can offer to get on the path and stay on the path to dealing with money shame?
(53:58) - What are you sick of talking about?
(55:28) - What are you most excited to talk about?
(58:46) - What is the purpose of money?

As a clinical assistant professor in the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, Gina Fong teaches Ethnographic Customer Insights. She was voted "Professor of the Year" by Kellogg's 2023 graduating class. In this conversation, we discuss how her work translates to understanding and improving the employee experience. 

Mentioned in this Episode: 

• Gina Fong on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginafonginsight 
• Ethnographic Customer Insights (course, Kellogg Northwestern): https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/faculty/directory/fong_gina.aspx
• Fong Insight on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fonginsight

Time Codes:
(2:01) - Welcoming Gina.
(2:12) - What is a consumer anthropologist and what is ethnographic research?
(4:10) - Is it fair to say employee anthropology would be a way to apply some of the ethnographic skillset as well?
(5:19) - How is ethnography different than the way employees may be surveyed today?
(7:54) - What are we looking to learn versus what can’t we learn from ethnographic research?
(9:49) - Is there a best practice approach or do you cycle through both options?
(12:51) - What are the basics of how to conduct ethnographic research?
(18:53) - How do we become better observers?
(22:02) - How do we improve our ability to inquire?
(23:12) - Is it a myth to help people who are struggling to think of a couple options?
(26:15) - What are the actual steps to doing the research?
(27:42) - What would be the better research objective
(30:02) - Are there any other steps we haven’t covered yet?
(32:18) - Have you ever taken improv classes?
(40:43) - Do you share your subcultures with students?
(43:09) - What are the best ways to keep bias from this type of research?
(48:16) - What are the other final steps?
(50:28) - How do you help people go deeper when you’re asking questions of them?
(54:49) - How do you think about being in the environment changes the environment?
(56:18) - Is asking ‘why’ questions, as opposed to ‘what’ or ‘how’ something you do?
(57:11) - How can leaders in a business start to practice this?
(1:00:26) - How do we get better at giving gifts? 

Jim Suprenant is the Senior Managing Partner at Guggenheim Partners. A career investment banker, Jim joins the show to discuss the ins and outs of buying and selling businesses. 

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Guggenheim Partners: https://www.guggenheimpartners.com/
• Go Big or Go Home (book): https://www.amazon.com/Go-Big-Home-Customer-Experience/dp/1544536364

Time Codes

(1:48) - Welcoming Jim.
(2:12) - What is an investment banker?
(6:41) - If I want to sell my business where would I go to find buyers?
(10:34) - How do I think about pricing my company?
(13:01) - What is an example of constraints an investor would put in to make it harder to turn a profit?
(14:21) - How much does the people side of a business weigh into what the price will be for that business?
(18:19) - How should sellers think about cutting as much from the business as they can and how do buyers vet to make sure the business they’re buying hasn’t just been gutted?
(22:01) - How many companies understand this before you work with them and how many default to a scarcity mindset?
(33:02) - How do you manage the human side of a transaction?
(35:10) - How do you evaluate a leadership team?
(38:21) - How can HR become stronger in these transactions?
(39:55) - How often do you see HR having a prominent seat at the table?
(42:40) - What are the best practices for making sure from that date forward you have the best odds for success?
(48:45) - What are the things that kill deals right at the end?
(51:22) -  Do you see management teams when they’re closer to the finish line manage their business ‘not to lose’?
(52:59) - What are you sick of talking about?
(53:40) - What are you hoping to hear more talk about?
(56:18) - What is the purpose of business? 

Linda  Rossetti is a business leader, Harvard MBA, and pioneering researcher who has dedicated her career to advancing our understanding of personal and organizational transformation. She is the author of two books, Dancing with Disruption and Women & Transition. She also hosts a podcast called Destination Unknown.

Mentioned on the Show:

• Dancing With Disruption (book) https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Disruption-Approach-Navigating-Biggest/dp/1538169371
• Women in Transition (book) https://www.amazon.com/Women-Transition-Reinventing-Work-Life/dp/1137476540
• Destination Unknown (Linda’s podcast) https://pod.link/1445942178
• The War of Art by Stephen Pressfield (a must-read) https://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Through-Creative-Battles/dp/1936891026

Time Codes: 

(1:39) - Welcoming Linda
(2:14) - What is the difference between a disruption, a change, and a transformation?
(9:47) - Can happy events be disruptions?
(15:33) - What happens to us when we face a disruption?
(23:26) - Can you tell people how they can let go more easily?
(28:16) - How does somebody know that their voice is buried and other voices have been piled on them?
(39:07) - Reframing emotions
(51:34) - Can you talk about what choice patterns are?