Rethink Culture

Do you have a safe space to share the challenges you face as a leader? Lisa Gill, a coach and trainer with Tuff Leadership Training, provides examples that highlight the importance of safe spaces for leaders. Listen to this episode On YouTube: https://buff.ly/4cvDsiT On Spotify: https://buff.ly/3MdvdNO On Apple Podcasts: https://buff.ly/4cwMAnm #RethinkCulture #podcast #WorkplaceCulture #Leadership

How do you communicate your company's strongest values from the moment of first contact with a candidate? Rich Sheridan, founder and CEO of Menlo Innovations, talks about the importance of communicating core values from the initial interview, on the Rethink Culture podcast. Listen to this episode: On YouTube: https://buff.ly/3ydacQ2 On Spotify: https://buff.ly/482xu8E On Apple Podcasts: https://buff.ly/3AdjCM5 #RethinkCulture #podcast #WorkplaceCulture

How do you bring a value to life so staff intuitively understand its meaning and the behaviors it guides? Will Scott discusses how to craft company values on the Rethink Culture podcast. Listen... On YouTube: https://buff.ly/3Yl4Z1v On Spotify: https://buff.ly/3UsihYK On Apple Podcasts: https://buff.ly/3Yr6WcC

Think your business is too serious for fun? Kristi Herold, founder and CEO of JAM, explains on the Rethink Culture podcast why play is essential—even in the most serious settings. Listen to this episode: On YouTube: https://buff.ly/4dY70qC On Spotify: https://buff.ly/3YDK0bz On Apple Podcasts: https://buff.ly/4g1nSOW #RethinkCulture #podcast #WorkplaceCulture #Leadership

What skills do leaders need to cultivate a culture of care for their people? Bob Chapman talks about the qualities effective leaders should aspire to have, on the Rethink Culture podcast. Listen... On YouTube: https://buff.ly/3MHkLye On Spotify: https://buff.ly/48wDKWw On Apple Podcasts: https://buff.ly/4dXfSx0

What would you do differently in your career or life if fear wasn’t holding you back? Traci Fenton talks about how a mentor’s question—"What would you do if you weren't afraid?"—helped her recognize the connection between stress and fear, leading to life-changing decisions, on the Rethink Culture podcast. Listen... On YouTube: https://buff.ly/3N2zxjk On Spotify: https://buff.ly/3D1q8GO On Apple Podcasts: https://buff.ly/3BfKj2Y

Sound familiar? I love how this distills the essence of the typical micromanager leader and the typical servant leader: “Some leaders practice "seagull leadership"-they fly in, hover above everyone, dump a lot of shit on everyone's heads, then fly out again. This type of leadership is as outdated as the old control-and-command style. … Why keep working for someone who sucks all the air out of the room and leaves none for you? Giving the team chances to shine and show up at their best is what makes a leader great, not their title.“ From the book Firesoul Leadership by Ulla Sommerfelt

"We found that there are some common traits in great managers… The best ones are really good motivators… sometimes they have to make tough decisions, but they're good at influencing people by helping to convince them why they are excellent… The best practice organizations… they have a really good intentional process for developing their… highly effective managers as coaches… I think if we do things right, and we combine autonomy with great managing, great leadership, that we could have the best workplaces ever." S03E06 of the Rethink Culture podcast shines the spotlight on Jim Harter, Gallup’s chief scientist for workplace management and well-being. Jim shares with us his extensive expertise on employee engagement and workplace culture. The author of five books, including the bestsellers It's the Manager, Wellbeing at Work and Culture Shock, Jim has led groundbreaking research, including the first large-scale study on engagement and productivity, covering 1.8 million employees across 200 organizations. With over 1,000 research studies in applied psychology and well-being, Jim’s data-driven insights are invaluable for understanding what drives organizational success. In this episode, Jim breaks down the critical elements of a thriving workplace culture: engagement, purpose, and great leadership. He emphasizes that managers should act as coaches, leveraging employees’ strengths to align personal growth with company goals. Engagement, he stresses, must be a year-round strategy, not just an annual survey. While global engagement remains low (23% globally, 32% in the U.S.), Jim highlights that best-practice organizations achieve up to 70% engagement. Jim also talks about the evolving post-pandemic workplace, where balancing autonomy with accountability is key while tailoring approaches for hybrid and on-site teams. Central to his message is defining a clear purpose—why your organization exists—and the ability to communicate it effectively. Jim envisions workplaces where autonomy and inspiring leadership create environments where employees thrive. Listen to this episode On YouTube: https://buff.ly/49Qrdhg On Spotify: https://buff.ly/4iQ2Gg7 On Apple Podcasts: https://buff.ly/4fxRodP To discover: • How managers can align employees' strengths with organizational goals. • Why leveraging natural strengths boosts both engagement and efficiency. • Why engagement must be a year-round strategy, not just an annual survey. • What are the key pillars of effective employee engagement. • What are the traits that exceptional managers have in common. • How career clarity and success impacts well-being. • How the role of managers has shifted and how to adapt to the post-pandemic reality. • Why managers must balance autonomy and accountability in the post-pandemic workplace. • How flexible work arrangements, such as hybrid or four-day workweeks, can succeed with team and customer alignment.

“The magic… is what happens between that frontline employee and the customer… the outcome is impact. It’s impact on people’s lives. And ultimately that impact, it drives business success. The framework to get there is to choose your mindset, create your culture, know your customer, define your differentiator, and pursue innovation and iteration. And those are not things we do once, we set them, we’re good and now we’re going to do something else. They’re continual. Culture is living, it’s people. It’s lives. It’s humans. We have to continually keep it alive.” S03E08 of the Rethink Culture podcast shines the spotlight on Elizabeth Dixon, President and CEO of the Trilith Foundation, a nonprofit for artists. Elizabeth is a speaker and entrepreneur with expertise in customer experience and workplace culture. She’s the author of two books, The Power of Customer Experience and The Strength of Purpose. Having worked with brands like Chick-Fil-A and inspired by visionaries like Horst Schulze of Ritz-Carlton, she brings purpose-driven leadership to life. Her book, The Power of Customer Experience, offers practical insights for creating impactful cultures and delivering exceptional service. In this episode, Elizabeth shares how aligning personal purpose with organizational culture drives success. She highlights leadership through vulnerability, continual growth, and her five pillars of workplace excellence: mindset, culture, customer knowledge, differentiation, and innovation. Her insights offer a clear path to building thriving, people-centred organizations. Elizabeth reminds us that culture is not a static element but a living system, nurtured through purpose, collaboration, and ongoing innovation. Leaders who actively shape and support their culture create workplaces where employees feel empowered, and customers feel valued, unlocking the full potential of their organization. Listen to this episode: On YouTube: https://buff.ly/4gP7qAS On Spotify: https://buff.ly/4iKvIxL On Apple Podcasts: https://buff.ly/4gmx7ZQ To discover: • The crucial role of frontline employees in shaping culture • The Five Pillars of a thriving workplace culture • How leaders shape culture through actions, decisions, and what they allow • The importance of aligning personal and professional identity • Why a clear purpose is essential for leaders and organizations to inspire their teams • How to stay adaptive by evolving your culture and practices • Leadership lessons on generosity and service from Dan Cathy of Chick-Fil-A • Lessons on excellence, consistency, and empowerment from Horst Schulze of Ritz-Carlton • Why leaders don't need to have all the answers, but must embrace collaboration and vulnerability

What is servant leadership and how can leaders stay committed to it during difficult times? lisa wise talks about embracing the servant leadership model, prioritizing people over profit, and navigating the complexities of consistently applying this philosophy on the Rethink Culture podcast. Listen... On YouTube: https://buff.ly/4h44ZeY On Spotify: https://buff.ly/3CT0KDd On Apple Podcasts: https://buff.ly/4gYYolR