Episode 182 – You are not the lowest common denominator

Episode 182 – You are not the lowest common denominator
by | January 15, 2021

A couple of years ago, a magazine I enjoyed reading announced they shifted focus, thus, overhauling their content and a lot of their staff. With that, its quality, in my opinion, has gone downhill. This magazine used to have brilliant content with entertaining articles containing helpful and valuable information. Now, the articles aren’t as dynamic and detailed. I find them quite generic, and there’s not much value in them as before. I then realized why I am no longer drawn to it; they are writing to the lowest common denominator.  When information is conveyed with the lowest common denominator, there’s
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Episode 180 – Do you get lost in your passion?

Episode 180 – Do you get lost in your passion?
by | January 8, 2021

When we’re passionate about something, we approach the subject matter with a level of dedication, enthusiasm, and intensity. That amount of attention often translates to good things, especially when your passion aligns with your work or projects. However, there can be a tendency to get lost in our passion. The further we go down the rabbit hole, the more it can cause a disconnect or confusion in communication. Your colleagues, especially those from another department, may not have the same understanding or may not have your perspective toward the matter. This isn’t to discourage you from being passionate about your
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Episode 178 – The dark underbelly of normalizing

Episode 178 – The dark underbelly of normalizing
by | January 1, 2021

When we experience a recurring stressful situation that we cannot change or do something about, we tend to normalize that situation and attempt to live with it as we go on. This is a natural coping mechanism to reduce or subdue its stressful effect on us. While normalizing an abnormal or chronically stressful situation can be helpful, it can also be detrimental when mismanaged. It can desensitize us to things that are uncustomary, potentially unhealthy, or socially unacceptable. Having patience and acceptance toward something we cannot change is important to alleviate this unwanted side effect. Listen in as Dawn and
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Episode 177 – Methods of giving feedback

Episode 177 – Methods of giving feedback
by | December 29, 2020

Much of the work we do in our businesses revolves around communication, particularly when we talk about employee engagement.  Feedback is one of the most effective means to ensure that you have actively engaged employees.  So how do we make sure we’re giving effective and meaningful feedback? Before answering that, what exactly is feedback? Feedback is communicating clearly about a person’s progress, strength, and areas of improvement. With that definition, your feedback should acknowledge their strengths and areas of improvement. Great feedback should be a balanced combination of positive reinforcements and areas that needs work. If the balance is off,
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Episode 176 – 7 Creator Personality Types

Episode 176 – 7 Creator Personality Types
by | December 22, 2020

In a successful professional or business setting, each individual is designated to their role based on their strengths, qualifications, and creativity. Good team dynamics is essential in maximizing your team’s productivity, and their Creator Personality types are a good indicator of their place on the team. In my years working as a coach and consultant for individuals, teams, and organizations, I have identified the 7 Creator Personalities: The Planner The Storyteller The Divinely Inspired The Muller-Dreamer The Doodler-Storyboarder The Mirror The Maximizer. Listen in as Dawn gives us a more detailed breakdown of each Creator Personality type, their strengths, their
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Episode 174 – Right people in the right seats – for real

Episode 174 – Right people in the right seats – for real
by | December 11, 2020

One of the most rigorous processes a company goes through is recruitment. Regardless of whose perspective, several boxes need to be checked to ensure we get the right person for the position or land the perfect job as applicants. Recruiting and qualifications go beyond what’s in the resume. Yes, credentials and skills are essential, but often overlooked are the intangibles. Character, inquisitiveness, and enthusiasm are equally important qualities that need to be carefully considered. A lot of these qualities are not measured or conveyed in a resume. A person showing genuine eagerness, curiosity, and confidence toward the ins and outs
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Episode 173 – 4 areas of competence

Episode 173 – 4 areas of competence
by | December 8, 2020

There are four areas of competence: the Zone of Incompetence, Competence, Excellence, and Genius. A brief description of each: the Zone of Incompetence includes areas you’re not good at doing. Zone of Competence are the things that you can do, but you’re inefficient at it. Zone of Excellence are areas you’re very good at, but there’s little desire in doing it. Lastly, the Zone of Genius comprises areas where you excel, but the difference is you have the passion and enthusiasm to do the things you excel in. Identifying and having a better understanding of these areas of competence has
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Episode 172 – Employee engagement, employee happiness, and the choice to make

Episode 172 – Employee engagement, employee happiness, and the choice to make
by | December 4, 2020

One of the cornerstones of the success of any organization or business is the people behind it. And one of the most reliable ways to guarantee productivity and growth is keeping employee engagement up. A handful of research and statistics show that actively engaged employees perform much better, more likely to go the extra mile, and less likely to take paid time off, or even leave the company when they’re engaged in their work. Disengaged employees often only do what’s in the job description and usually do not show initiative to better their performance. So, employee engagement is crucial to
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Creating a Strengths-Based Culture

Creating a Strengths-Based Culture
by | November 25, 2020

To be successful, you need to play to your strengths, and the people in your organization need to play to their strengths as well.  All this as opposed to boosting your weaknesses because  of the traditional “weaknesses are  your biggest area of growth and opportunity” drivel that shows up in old-style employee evaluations. Your biggest area of growth and opportunity is really to focus and maximize your strengths. It’s about creating a strengths-based workplace, creating a strengths-based culture. When you do that, you create a winning culture because when you have that strengths-based workplace, it’s transformational. That type of culture
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Episode 168 – Energy units, self-care, and compassion

Episode 168 – Energy units, self-care, and compassion
by | November 20, 2020

Our lives look far different now than they were about a year ago. If there’s anything to learn from events this year, it’s the crucial importance of self-care. Every day we’re faced with situations that can mentally or physically take its toll. I’ve talked before about energy units and how they’re finite. Some of us wake up with fewer energy units because of what’s going on. The social distancing, staying at home, missing important events from family and friends, all these seemingly little things can add up and drain us. We’re constantly facing circumstances that can take energy units away
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