86% of the people surveyed (Consumer Content Report) say that authenticity is important when deciding what brands they like and support.In this episode, we&apos;re going to talk about the power of authenticity and branding.  Don&apos;t worry. It&apos;s going to be a good conversation. You&apos;re going to appreciate it. No matter what position you hold in your organization. Check out why it&apos;s so important to let the real you shine through....not the #authenticversionofyou.About Maria RossMaria Ross is the founder of Red Slice, a consultancy that advises solopreneurs, startups, and fast-growth businesses on how to build an irresistible brand story and authentically connect with customers. She is a keynote speaker who regularly speaks to audiences on marketing and building a standout brand that engages the right customers and drives growth. She is the author of Branding Basics for Small Business and The Juicy Guide eBook Series for Entrepreneurs.Maria started her career as a management consultant with Accenture and went on to build marketing and brand strategies for multiple companies, including Discovery Communications, Monster.com, BusinessObjects (now SAP), and many other startups and technology leaders, before starting her own business. Maria understands the power of empathy at both a brand and personal level: in 2008, six months after launching her business, she suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm that almost killed her. Her humorous and heartfelt memoir about what is was like to survive this health crisis, Rebooting My Brain, has received worldwide praise.Maria has made numerous media appearances, including on MSNBC, ABCNews.com, and Forbes.com; in Entrepreneur magazine; and on hundreds of radio shows and popular podcasts such as Entrepreneur on Fire, The Shameless Mom Academy, and Suitcase Entrepreneur. She writes a contributor column for Entrepreneur.com and has written for Huffington Post, MarketingProfs.com, Seattle Business, Life by Me, Inspire Me Today, Columbus CEO, among others.Resources mentioned:Website: www.red-slice.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/redslicemaria/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redslice/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariajross/Email: maria@red-slice.comBook: The Empathy Edge: Harnessing the Value of Compassion as an Engine for Success (www.theempathyedge.com)About the Lead with Levity PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.Support the show (https://paypal.me/leadwithlevity)

Lead with Levity

Will customers still like you if you're not perfect?

I woke up one day and realized that I was too busy to enjoy life. Have you ever been there?I get real in this episode, and reflect on a common problem that we typically see as a "good problem to have" in America--busy-ness. We seek out this lifestyle because we stand to gain from it, but if we&apos;re honest with ourselves we know that we also have to give up some pretty important things in the process.Today, we take a moment to pause and think about how the curse of busy-ness keeps us from activating the more playful side of ourselves. We explore what playfulness is, redefine it for busy adults, and cover the benefits we stand to gain from being letting loose more often.I bring on a past guest, Robin Dreeke, to find out how he deals with the increasing pace of change in his life and how he is choosing to lead with levity.About Robin DreekeRobin is a best-selling author, professional speaker, trainer, facilitator, and retired FBI Special Agent and Chief of the Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program. Robin has taken his life&apos;s work of recruiting spies and broken down the art of leadership, communication, and relationship building into Five Steps to TRUST and Six Signs of who you can TRUST. Since 2010, Robin has been working with large corporations as well as small companies in every aspect of their business. Whether it is newly promoted leaders, executives, sales teams, or customer relations, Robin has crafted his People Formula for quick results and maximum success.Website: https://www.peopleformula.comAbout the Lead with Levity PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.Support the show (https://paypal.me/leadwithlevity)

The Curse of Busy-ness: My Most Vulnerable Episode Yet

This episode is for managers and job seekers alike. I chat with Chris Delaney, interview expert, life coach, and hypnotherapist, about some very real challenges that come up in the interviewing process. Chris shared several key statistics and tips to make the process work well for both parties. Find out how you can ace your next interview!What&apos;s included in this episode:Why you need levity to increase your chances of finding a good fitWhat kind of humor works better in a job interviewHow too much pressure in an interview hurts the candidate&apos;s ability to showcase their talentsUnconscious bias in interviews and how to overcome itOur thoughts on the controversial handshake (especially during the pandemic)How AI is changing the interview gameHow a manager approaches an interview says a lot about the company&apos;s cultureAbout Guest: Chris DelaneyChris Delaney is a qualified NLP Life Coach, Hypnotherapist and Career Advisor. With over 15 years of experience supporting people to achieve their life and career goals, Chris has the experience and skills to help you achieve your dreams. As an experienced Coach and the Founder of Employment King, Chris has years of experience to help you move forward in both your career and your life.https://christopher-delaney.com/Find Chris&apos; books on AmazonAbout the Lead with Levity PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.Support the show (https://paypal.me/leadwithlevity)

Ep. 59 Interviewing Secrets for Managers and Applicants

We&apos;re experiencing a lot of turnover and movement across the job market right now. People are leaving their jobs in droves in search of better cultures, better supervisors, and better opportunities. What can you do to avoid becoming a casualty of the #GreatResignation?Tune in, because Dr. Beverly Kaye and I unpack the 4 letter word that seems to be missing right now--L.O.V.E.--and what that looks like at work.We talk about:Why love at work isn&apos;t such a dirty wordHow you can incorporate love into your leadership styleWhy your employees need to know what you love about them and their workHow love connects to inclusion and employee engagementWays that you can tell someone that you appreciate themAnd more!About Dr. Beverly KayeBeverly Kaye&apos;s name is recognized internationally as a professional dedicated to helping individuals, managers and organizations understand the practical “how-to” principles of employee development, engagement and retention. Her books and learning materials have stood the test of time.ATD honored her with their 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award recognizing her advanced knowledge and extensive practice across the talent development field. ISA (The Association of Learning Professionals) also honored her with their 2018 Thought Leadership Award for her body of work in support of work-related learning and performance. Through Beverly’s advocacy of ideas and commitment to actions, she has not only positively influenced clients and industry colleagues but has facilitated respect for the learning and performance industry overall.Beverly’s recent books in the career development field included Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go which provided overwhelmed managers with a way to blend career conversations into their everyday routine.  Her most recent book Up is Not the Only Way was directed at managers and individuals and highlighted the career choices that were available other than the traditional career ladder.Her contribution to the field of engagement and retention included the Wall Street Journal bestseller, Love ‘Em or Lose ‘Em which offered managers 26 strategies for engaging and retaining their key talent.  Love It, Don’t Leave It provided similar advice to individuals about how to take responsibility for their own work satisfaction.  Hello Stay Interviews, Goodbye Talent Loss suggested an approach to using the idea of stay interviews to stem the tide of exit interviews.Beverly received her doctorate from UCLA in 1976 and founded Career Systems International, an organization dedicated to offering managers and employees practical learning solutions and consulting that enables organizations focus on their talent.  As part of her own focus on talent, she recently transitioned its ownership to two key members of her leadership team.  She supports the rebranded enterprise, Talent Dimensions, who delivers and expands on her thought leadership.WebsiteLove in the Workplace: Landmine or LifelineAbout the Lead with Levity PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.Support the show (https://paypal.me/leadwithlevity)

Love 'Em or Lose 'Em: How to Avoid Becoming a Casualty of the #GreatResignation

Have you ever heard that culture eats strategy for breakfast? Well, it does. The best-laid plans won&apos;t get far if people aren&apos;t on the same page. Being in tune with your culture is the key to success.In this episode, Brett Putter and I talk about ways to embed culture within your organization. Tune in for ways to identify and celebrate the uniqueness of your culture and empower your organization to work more collaboratively.About Today&apos;s Guest: Brett PutterBrett is the founder and CEO of CultureGene he&apos;s also published a couple of books, one in particular that I&apos;m interested in today, which is Culture  Decks Decoded. About the Lead with Levity PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.Support the show (https://paypal.me/leadwithlevity)

Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast - 6 Ways to Embed Your Culture

It&apos;s August! The season is changing and life is still knocking on your door. Do you want the ability to maintain inner and outer peace regardless of the situation? I do!I got a chance to speak to a spiritual mystic, Amy Lynn Durham, recently about this concept of spiritual intelligence (SQ). As you can imagine, she debunked some myths and shared how SQ fits in a corporate world. This show is for skeptics, mystics, and the usual suspects. I hope that you enjoy the banter and new ideas. Here are a few topics we cover:What does it mean to be a spiritual mystic and how does that play out in Amy&apos;s life?What is spiritual intelligence?Is spiritual intelligence faith-based or connected to a specific religion?How does spiritual intelligence connect to levity?The SQ21 - A tool that helps people build their SQ.Enjoy!About today&apos;s guest: Amy Lynn DurhamAmy Lynn Durham is the founder of Create Magic At Work™ and an international authority on improving workplace culture so employees and teams have better results with less drama and stress. In addition, Amy is:A U.C. Berkeley Certified Executive CoachCertified to coach in the 21 skills associated with Spiritual Intelligence (SQ) using the SQ21 Assessment. A Certified Emotional Intelligence Practitioner  Discover all the ways you can connect with Amy and this concept below: Get her book "Create Magic at Work"FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedInYouTubeAbout the Lead with Levity PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.Support the show (https://paypal.me/leadwithlevity)

Why Leading with Spiritual Intelligence is Trending

Who knew the pandemic would end so suddenly? Insert wink emoji!I had a delightful conversation with speaker, coach, and the co-founder of LeadHERship Consortium, Dr. Lori Baker-Schena. We discussed the most pressing matters for today&apos;s professional:Nutella vs. ChocolateQuirks that we picked up during COVIDWhat change management looks like coming out of the pandemicStaying positive A key issue that is often missed in customer service About Our Guest: Dr. Lori Baker-SchenaMy professional career reflects a journey … not a destination. I have continually re-invented myself based on three factors: a) my passions b) my ability to impact others and c) my ability to find joy every day. Each chapter of my life’s story is a building block to the expertise I bring to my clients.I co-founded LeadHERship Consortium, LLC with my dear friend and business partner Sabine Liedel.  Our company is dedicated to developing successful women LeadHERs by filling in the training gaps that are a byproduct of promotion without preparation. We deliver real-life leadership skills through LeadHERship conferences, keynote speeches, corporate retreats and training, and interactive workshops. Our ultimate goal is to position women LeadHERs for success, creating careers that are empowering, fulfilling and joyful. https://www.loribakerschena.comwww.leadHERshipconsortium.comAbout the Lead with Levity PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.Support the show (https://paypal.me/leadwithlevity)

A Humorous Look at Post-COVID Life

I spend the majority of my time on this podcast honing in on the need to incorporate play, or for you adults, exploratory time into your workday. There will always be one more thing to do, and if you focus solely on that you miss the opportunity to celebrate the journey. You may even miss the opportunity to come up with fantastically creative ideas that often show up when you allow your mind to wander.Today, I spoke to Dr. Adarsh Vijay Mudgil, author of Let&apos;s Get It: Hustle and Grind Your Way to Personal Empowerment, a book about empowerment and pushing through no matter what. As a dermatologist, professional pimple popper and podcast host, Dr. Mudgil brings the energy. Check out our conversation about (almost) everything under the sun: Why Dr. Mudgil believes in the hustle and grindHow he went from "just graduated" to a successful dermatology practice in New YorkHow "hustle and grind" links to empowerment and personal successDr. Mudgil&apos;s advice on the one thing you can do to look amazing as you age (i.e., age like a vampire!)Pimple popping, Tik Tok, and what Dr. Mudgil did to keep his team together during the pandemicAbout our Guest: Dr. Adarsh Vijay MudgilI’m Dr. Mudgil, a New York City-based pimple-popping, podcasting, positivity-peddling dermatologist! A few years ago, when I became very active on Instagram, launched my YouTube channel, and started my podcast, some folks (understandably) may have thought I had a few screws come loose. After all, why would a successful dermatologist be posting content related to mindset and motivation, rather than about Botox, butt augmentation, and lip filler?!?Living on a plateau wasn’t for me, and shouldn’t be acceptable for anyone. Living on a plateau is settling for average, and average sucks. We can always do better, get better, and be better.About the Lead with Levity PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.Support the show (https://paypal.me/leadwithlevity)

Can You Hustle and Grind Your Way to Levity?

Does your blood boil when it&apos;s time to chat with a loved one about politics, race, and other hot button topics? Do you feel misunderstood? Do you struggle to understand the other person&apos;s position? Well, if you ever wanted to bridge the gap, then you&apos;re in good company. Join me as I sit with Robin Hills, emotional intelligence trainer and founder of Ei4Change, as we unpack Dr. Seuss, Trump, racial stereotypes, and other hot button topics. Learn how to navigate your next conversation with grace today!About Our Guest: Robin HillsRobin Hills is an emotional intelligence coach, trainer, and facilitator with over 35 years&apos; business and commercial experience.With more than 250,000 learners in 190 countries, Ei4Change are the leaders in emotional intelligence coaching and we provide a wide range of emotional intelligence courses and free resources. Our online courses are widely available and are being accessed internationally by businesses, groups and individuals all looking to make a change.About the Lead with Levity PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.Support the show (https://paypal.me/leadwithlevity)

How This One Skill Can Help You Speak to Your Arch Nemesis

Continuing with the theme of improvisation, I invited Michael Glatts, Founder of 901 Innovation, to chat about how improv techniques enrich the workplace. Michael shares how we all engage in improv when we get put on the spot at work and how we can build up our ability to tackle these situations when they come up. We also explore design thinking, LEGO play, and his advice for bringing more fun into your day.About Michael GlattsHaving decades of experience, always asking “why?”, Michael loves to challenge the status quo. It is the only way to break free, have fun, and unleash your unique ability.A class comic through twelve years of catholic and private school, Michael knew how to have fun, when to appreciate the supportive teachers, and when to challenge those “not-so-supportive” ones. Naturally, he carried this through college and into a fulfilling 26-year career with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals – a great company, oh but brutally bureaucratic. The perfect place to hone one’s disruptive skills with the right mix of humor, respect, and rebelliousness. Mix in 20 plus years of improv and the formula is set to take out to the world. Now it’s time to really have some fun!901innovation – Excite. Ignite. Take Flight.About the Lead with Levity PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.Support the show (https://paypal.me/leadwithlevity)

Design Thinking Meets Improv: Innovation Can Be Fun!

**New episodes starting Sept 16 with new episodes aired bi-weekly.** Lead with Levity is a show for progressive business leaders on the forefront of employee experience and workplace culture. Our goal is to shine a light on the power of levity at work through interviews, case studies, and new research. If you want to create an awesome workplace where interactions are light, enjoyable, and uplifting then this is the show for you. Extending research to workplace, Dr. Heather Walker sheds light on the power of levity at work. "Join me in my journey to find workplace solutions that improve work climate, culture, and support a positive employee experience. I talk to leaders across industries to find out what they do to improve their work environment through levity, better management, and survey insights." If you're ready to survey your workforce, get a copy of the show notes and other resources, go to www.leadwithlevity.com