leadership strategies – Leadership Kung Fu -The Podcast

Episode 59 – Conscious Un-Bossing: The New Distaste for Managing

May 31, 2025May 30, 2025Jennifer Long

It’s a group effort over here on Leadership Kung Fu, so we’re glad you’re here for episode 59!
Join Jen and Sandi as they dissect the topic of Concious Un-Bossing, and listen along as they cover:

Jen’s NEW book Workers are the Solution, Not the Problem: A Guidebook to Leading Differently
how Gen Z is bringing changes to the workplace
conscious uncoupling
what it means to start to change a workplace culture
purpose over power
inclusivity is a power tool
trust at every level and how it becomes an operating system
mature accountability systems
how group leadership makes you a better person
how leading is a capability, not a title
what advantages your business can gain from this model
how shifting to a new cultural model takes time
the books Humanocracy by Gary Hamel and Michele Zanini and The Social Leadership Handbook by Julian Stodd
what happens when human solve problems together

and more!

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!
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@own-up.com or leave us a comment on LinkedIn! If you like what you hear, leave us a review on your favorite listening platform!

Jen’s Website

Sandi’s Website

Episode 58 – Leading Hybrid and Remote

April 30, 2025April 30, 2025Jennifer Long

Travel back in time with Jen and Sandi as they chat about a topic that’s not necessarily new, but is certainly still a topic of discussion: working remotely and hybrid workforces!

Whether you’re taking a break in the breakroom or moving laundry inbetween meetings, listen along as Jen and Sandi discuss:

The importance of asking questions and the weight of listening
a brief conversation about how engagement surveys can fail you
thinking about how your work is best done could influece hybrid work management
what working in a conducive environment to the work you do can influence work output
looking at the work instead of seeking giving “same treatment”
what can cause resentment among hybrid teams
the strategy of shaping in office/remote work around the type of people who work for/with you
the state of strategy
your workforce is the solution
if you are setting them up for success regardless of environment
new terms and slang that have come from 5 years of hybrid workforces
how celebrating success is important
half thebattle is understanding the correct problems to solve
Red Team Thinking benefits

and more!

Jen’s Website

Sandi’s Website

Episode 57 – Reactive Fist, Broken Mind: The Cost of Fearful Leadership

March 31, 2025March 27, 2025Jennifer Long

Don’t be afraid, it’s a new episode of Leadership Kung Fu!

This episode is all about fearful leadership and what that can cost your place of business. Jen and Sandi waste no time diving into what can truly be at stake when leadership takes a reactive instead of a strategic approach. Listen along as they delve into:

what can trigger reactive leadership
how you show up and how that can impact your team and their action
what short-term thinking means for long term effects
how reactionary actions affect overall messages/goals of a company
what drivers trigger responses/what leaders might be afraid of
talent drain
the fear around fear-based decisions
the dangers of a non-response
impacts on factors outside of business
what helps create strategic calm
the importance of time for strategies
tools that can help combat reactive leadership

and more! Listen in to help give your leadership tips to retract the reactivity and hold space for strategy.

Jen’s Website

Sandi’s Website

Episode 56 – Deflect and Redirect: Handling Conflict Like a Kung Fu Master

February 28, 2025February 25, 2025Jennifer Long

How to deal with conflict can be, well, confliciting! In this episode, Jen and Sandi tackle the topic of conflict and how knowing yourself can aid you in knowing how to master conflict! Listen along as they cover:

why conflict can be good for leaders
the different types of conflict
how to identify what your own conflict behavior is
what harm withdrawing from conflict can do
the role of EQ (emotional intelligence) in conflict and the weight it carries
the gift of considering different perspectives and the ability to get out of your own head
how engaging with others is NOT a weakness in leadership
increased communication versatility
the importance of sleeping on a decision and taking time to process the information
the cost of doing conflict poorly

and more! Tune in to hear more tips so you can conquer conflict with ease!

Have a comment, question, or topic for Sandi and Jen? Leave us a comment on LinkedIn and be sure to leave us a review on your favorite listening platform.

Jen’s Website

Sandi’s Website

Episode 55 – Leading with Clarity-Debunking Leadership Myths

January 31, 2025January 28, 2025Jennifer Long

Welcome to Episode 55 of Leadership Kung Fu! Jen and Sandi are back after a shiny new rebrand and a first episode of 2025! To start out this year, listen along as they tackle topics such as:

what has changed within things you subscribe to and how the workplace is different than what it was 10/15+ years ago
how “no” is not a bad word in the workplace
vulnerability is a good, healthy thing
not all leaders are charismatic
Everything DiSC by Wiley
results vs. relationships and the importance of workplace connections
how relationships ≠ “liking” someone
how our words set us up to show up
time and energy management
HBR: Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time

and more! Tune in as they bust more leadership myths to start your 2025 with clarity!

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

Jen’s Website

Sandi’s Website

Episode 54 – The Art of Goal Setting, Keeping, and Achieving

December 27, 2024January 7, 2025Jennifer Long

Happy holidays from Organizational Transformational Kung Fu: The Podcast! Jen and Sandi are looking to the future this week and talk about goals and how to set them, keep them, and meet them! Follow along as they chat about:

their year in review
what reflection can do for you and writing vs. typing/digital record keeping
hard vs. soft transformations
the role of practice and support in discipline
what we’re really doing when we “let ourselves off the hook”
the importance of the set up short term does for long term
how we are influenced by the number of goals we set
Atomic Habits by James Clear
considering a “shift” instead of a “stop”
an exciting new change coming to OTKF in 2025!

We want to thank each and every one of you for your support all throughout 2024, and we cannot wait to see what we can do in 2025! See you next year!

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

Jen’s Website

Sandi’s Website

Episode 53 – Listening as a Leader

November 29, 2024November 26, 2024Jennifer Long

In this week’s episode of OT Kung Fu, Jen and Sandi revisit the types of listening they talked about with author Sean Grace and ponder how the listening types affect us in the workplace. Join them as they cover:

how virtual calls have affected listening
the importance of body language
what curiosity really does for you
conversational blindspots
levels of learning
Neha Sangwan’s book TalkRx: Five Steps to Honest Conversations That Create Connection, Health, and Happiness

and more!

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

Jen’s Website

Sandi’s Website

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

October 25, 2024October 25, 2024Jennifer Long

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!

Jen’s Website

Sandi’s Website

Episode 51 – Conversations on Change with Curtis Bateman

September 27, 2024September 25, 2024Jennifer Long

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 Element, Leaders@Change, Managing Millennials, Millennials@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!

Jen’s Website

Sandi’s Website

Episode 50 – Thinking About Hidden Potential by Adam Grant

August 30, 2024August 28, 2024Jennifer Long

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!

Jen’s Website

Sandi’s Website