Episode 70 – The Future of Competitive Advantage with Doug Stephens

Episode 70 – The Future of Competitive Advantage with Doug Stephens

Plan for the future, episode 70 of Leadership Kung Fu is here!

Today Jen and Sandi welcome Doug Stephens to the show to talk about his latest book The Future of Competitive Advantage: A Business Plan to Save Your Customers, Your Company, and Democracy and how to navigate a leadership role in an uncertain business world. Join them in their dive into the texts and discuss:

  • Doug’s accolades as an author and futurist
  • How workplaces are changing as political and economical climates change
  • How silence is no longer considered “neutral”
  • An example of Patagonia and Bear’s Ears Monument as an act of defending a value core to the brand
  • Doug’s 3 main ideas in his newest novel
  • What collective prosperity looks like
  • What “stoking white male anxiety” has done to workforces over the decades of different workforces
  • DEI and the role in male anxiety
  • Where the workforce has trended due to these factors
  • Bryce Hoffman’s American Icon
  • The difference between fairness and equality

and much more!

Thank you so much for joining us on Leadership Kung Fu, Doug!
You can connect with Doug on LinkedIn, check out his blog, and his business website!

As a business owner or leader, are not alone in your fears for our society and the future. Knowing that there are other business leaders and executives out there who are just as concerned as you, who are seeking to learn more about how they and their organizations can become part of the solution to saving democracy.

Doug recommends establishing or joining a community of like- minded business leaders. Here are few places he suggests you might start:

https://leadershipnowproject.org/

Leadership Now Project (U.S.): A membership organization of

business leaders who believe democracy is the foundation for a thriving economy and a politically engaged citizenry. LNP invests in leaders, influences policy, responds to risks, and partners to drive solutions. LNP’s membership is national, with members in more than 25 states and chapters in 8, drawing on extensive business and alumni networks to drive local and national impact.

https://www.wfd.org

The Westminster Foundation for Democracy (U.K.): WFD is a public body dedicated to strengthening democracy around the world. Through its programs, expertise, and international partnerships, WFD helps solve problems of democracy so that democracies can address challenges, from climate change to corruption.

https://www.bfa.us

Business for America (U.S.): Business for America is a nonpartisan nonprofit business organization that focuses solely on improving America’s civic health by increasing civic participation and voter turnout, restoring trust in elections and democratic institutions, reducing gridlock and polarization, and setting a positive example for business engagement in the political sector.

https://www.civicalliance.com

Civic Alliance (U.S.): The Civic Alliance is a nonpartisan coalition of businesses united by a commitment to democracy. The Civic Alliance supports its member companies as they inspire their employees and consumers to engage in civic life and their communities.

https://www.isdglobal.org

Institute for Strategic Dialogue (U.S. and Europe): This group is dedicated to safeguarding democracy and human rights by reversing the rising global tide of polarization, extremism, and authoritarianism.

https://defenddemocracy.eu/about/mission/

Defend Democracy: Defend Democracy is an independent, non-partisan, nonprofit civil society organization with the mission of strengthening and defending democracy against foreign, domestic, and technological threats. Defend Democracy is registered as a non-profit foundation in The Hague, the international city of peace, justice, and security, and while most of its day- to- day work is done in Brussels, it engages both European and transatlantic allies.

https://www.samaracentre.ca

Samara Centre for Democracy (Canada): This nonpartisan charity produces research and holds events that advance a vibrant culture of civic engagement across Canada. The Samara Centre works to support a resilient democracy with responsive institutions, shaped by an engaged public.

Thank you so much for listening! If you like what you hear, leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform, and make sure to check out the video under the “Videos” tab or over on the Leadership Kung Fu Youtube Channel!
Connect with Jen on LinkedIn and visit her website Own Up!®
Connect with Sandi on LinkedIn and visit her website Satori Consulting, Inc!

Have a comment, question, or topic for Sandi and Jen? Email us at podcast@dramafreeworkforce.com or leave us a comment on LinkedIn.

Episode 52 – Say What? The Art of the Question with Author Sean Grace

Episode 52 – Say What? The Art of the Question with Author Sean Grace

Welcome back to OT Kung Fu: The Podcast!

Sandi and Jen are joined this week by the incredible author Sean Grace!

From Sean’s website: 

“Sean Grace is a communication consultant, author, coach, and speaker, with over 25 years of experience developing and training sales, marketing, and leadership talent across diverse industries. His unique brand of business consulting is forged from his long career in media, advertising, and the creative arts.

Sean studied music performance at the Juilliard School and SUNY Purchase, and finance at Wharton. As an award winning musician and multi-instrumentalist, he borrows techniques from jazz improvisation to help foster creative collaboration and cooperation within and across teams.

Sean’s track record of success as a consultant and coach has earned him a reputation as a trusted advisor and trainer to some of the world’s most innovative and successful organizations.”

Listen along as Jen, Sandi, and Sean discuss topics from Sean’s new book The Art of the Question: A Guide for Seekers, Dreamers, Problem Solvers and Leaders such as:

  • the value of creative thinking in a post-pandemic workplace
  • Sean’s workflow in how he got started in the formulation of questions
  • how vital curiosity and openness is to the process of questions
  • the 3 phase model
  • types of listening and the effect on conversations and situations
  • the Socratic 8
  • his work as a musician and his album “Wonderland”
  • the origin of the name OT Kung Fu!

You can connect with Sean at peakluma.com and find his book over at Amazon!

Thank you so much for joining us, Sean!

Thank you so much for listening! If you like what you hear, leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform, and make sure to check out the video cast under the “Videos” tab!

Have a comment, question, or topic for Sandi and Jen? Leave us a comment on LinkedIn! 

Episode 51 – Conversations on Change with Curtis Bateman

Episode 51 – Conversations on Change with Curtis Bateman

Welcome to Episode 51 of OT Kung Fu: The Podcast!

Joining Jen and Sandi this week is Curtis Bateman, co-author of Change: How to Turn Uncertainty Into Opportunity and vice president of direct international offices for FranklinCovey. From the FranklinCovey site: 

                “With over twenty-five years of experience in the training industry, Curtis is an internationally recognized presenter, content developer, change consultant, business leader, and coach. His passion for enabling organizations “at change” resulted in the co-creation of transformative, industry-leading solutions, including Change ElementLeaders@ChangeManaging MillennialsMillennials@Work, and the Change Practitioner.” 

We’re thrilled to have Curtis join us to talk about what change means to a leader and the workplace as a whole! Listen along to the conversation as they cover: 

  • -the behaviors that show up when change comes
  • -what it means to be reactive vs. choosing a reaction
  • -what a change introduction does
  • -risks and rewards of change
  • -how leaders can maintain good effects of change
  • -compliance vs. engagement

and more!

You can read more about Curtis and check out more of his articles at his FranklinCovey page and follow him on his LinkedIn!
Thank you so much for listening! Make sure to check out the video cast under the “Videos” tab!

Have a comment, question, or topic for Sandi and Jen? Leave us a comment on LinkedIn! 

Episode 50 – Thinking About Hidden Potential by Adam Grant

Episode 50 – Thinking About Hidden Potential by Adam Grant

It’s OT Kung Fu’s 50th episode!
We have another book review episode, this week featuring Hidden Potential by Adam Grant! Join Jen and Sandi while they cover topics like:

-Performance Reviews and how they have changed from potential to goal-oriented
-How imperfect leaders are more beneficial than “perfect” leaders
-How meeting folks where there are at instead of where you want them to be cultivates a better workplace culture
-High potential compared to related experience
-Why learning agility is more valuable as a leadership predictor
-Why self-reflection is such an important tool
-Learning curves and useful uncomfortability
-Imposter Syndrome and feedback
-Self-awareness and how it echoes into other aspects of life
-How a “scarcity”mindset affects you
-“Learning Organizations” and follow-through
-How tech and instant delivery plays in

You can check you more about Adam Grant book and take the assessment on his page at adamgrant.net!

Thank you so much for listening! Make sure to check out the video cast under the “Videos” tab!
Connect with Jen on LinkedIn and visit her website Own Up!®
Connect with Sandi on LinkedIn and visit her website Satori Consulting, Inc!

Have a comment, question, or topic for Sandi and Jen? Leave us a comment on LinkedIn! 

Episode 47 – Work-Life Bloom Interview with author Dan Pontefract

Episode 47 – Work-Life Bloom Interview with author Dan Pontefract

We have a real treat for listeners today! Jen and Sandi are joined by award-winning author Dan Pontefract to talk about his new book Work-Life Bloom: How to Nurture a Team that Flourishes! From his website: “Dan is a renowned keynote speaker who has presented at four TED events and delivers approximately 50 keynotes annually. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Victoria’s Gustavson School of Business and has received over 25 industry, individual, and book awards.” Listen along as Dan, Sandi, and Jen cover topics such as:

  • -The origin of Work-Life Bloom
  • -Personas in Work/Life Balance
  • -“Soil” vs “Water” tests in the workplace
  • -Workplace Vulnerability and Gen Z

You can connect with Dan on his website donpontefract.com, and you can check out the book’s page at worklifebloom.com
Dan’s Assessment: worklifebloom.com/work-life-assessment
Connect with Dan on LinkedIn!

Thank you so much for listening! Make sure to check out the video cast under the “Videos” tab!
Connect with Jen on LinkedIn
Connect with Sandi on LinkedIn

Have a comment, question, or topic for Sandi and Jen? Leave us a comment on LinkedIn!

Episode 46 – Critical Thinking and Problem Solving for Teams: A Red Teaming Review

Episode 46 – Critical Thinking and Problem Solving for Teams: A Red Teaming Review

Welcome back to OT Book Club, er, we mean OT Kung Fu! Jen and Sandi invite you to listen in as they discuss “Red Teaming: How Your Business Can Conquer the Competition by Challenging Everything” by Bryce G. Hoffman.

Enjoy the ASMR of Jen and Sandi flipping through to their favorite parts and points of the book and how you can empower your teams to think critically in tough situations, and how you can get that critical thinking to produce critical solutions! If you want Jen and Sandi to review more books/literature about teams or accountability in the future, let us know!

Thank you so much for listening! Make sure to check out the video cast under the “Videos” tab!
Connect with Jen on LinkedIn
Connect with Sandi on LinkedIn

Have a comment, question, or topic for Sandi and Jen? Leave us a comment on LinkedIn!