The Bill Perry Show

As a leader, are your attempts at intended appreciation with your team falling flat? Maybe it's because you're not speaking their language. Today, I'm talking with Dr. Paul White, the man who literally wrote the book on appreciation at work. He is the co-author of the book, Five Languages of Appreciation in The Workplace. It is hands down one of the best books that leaders can utilize in order to grow their sense of effective communication with their teams.  RESEARCH SHOWS 79% OF PEOPLE WHO QUIT VOLUNTARILY DO SO BECAUSE OF LACK OF APPRECIATION Dr. Paul explains “Not everybody feels appreciated in the same way.” In our conversation we cover the five languages of appreciation being words, quality time, acts of service, tangible gifts, and even physical touch. APPRECIATION IN THE WORKPLACE MAKES SENSE FOR BUSINESS We also discuss how appreciation can help increase a business’s bottom line. For instance, if your team feels valued, they're more likely to be cheerful and helpful to the customers to get a problem solved. This positive action could mean repeat business. Dr. Paul and I take on many aspects of appreciation in the workplace. My hope is this conversation may illuminate the need to be more intentional with the communication of appreciation as leaders, as team members—both professionally and personally.  EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS Behind the book, The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace including collaborating with co-author Gary Chapman. Employee engagement isn’t what leaders should be focusing on and instead what leaders should be focusing on. Why compensation and financial reward is a poor long-term motivator. How appreciation makes a difference in an organization. How to transform a toxic workplace into a place that is healthier and vibrant.  Until next time, lead well! Bill    Connect with Dr. Paul: Paul’s Blog: https://www.appreciationatwork.com/blog/ Paul's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-white-ph-d-3178276/ Get the Book: Five Languages of Appreciation in The Workplace   Connect with Bill: Book a time to speak Web: https://www.theinnovatusgroup.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-perry/ Twitter: @innovatusgroup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebillperryshow/ *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

It is a new year. It's a new decade. Welcome to 2020! With these moments on the calendar, there's always the hope of great change. But the reality is the movement of dates on the calendar doesn't create change, something else has to happen. Very little change occurs until you make a significant change in the way you see the world. And this is the topic of this week’s podcast episode. A BETTER VERSION OF YOUR LIFE BEGINS WITH A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF YOURSELFBy better I don't mean earning a greater revenue or obtaining more success. These things are valuable. When I talk about better I mean less entangled and becoming more available to the people you serve (family, team, community). Change cannot be based on what's going on outside. It really has to begin on the inside. And this can actually pose a challenge to many. CHALLENGE YOUR MINDSET IF YOU’RE GOING TO GET BETTER You have to challenge your own mindset if you're going to get better. Oftentimes, pushing through challenges to come out as a better version of yourself—you cannot not get there alone. Leaders need other leaders. Peers need other peers. You need people in your corner who have experienced the same challenges, the same threats, or the same types of successes. We need others to fuel our endeavors in order to afford us the sense of safety which comes from knowing our struggles aren't unique—even though our paths may be different. In actuality, our journeys are more the same.  Leaders who are free in themselves will encourage freedom in those they're given to serve. If we, as leaders, are still trying to get our needs for safety and survival met, we will never be fully available to give anything more to those who are making the journey with us.  Until next time, lead well!  Bill    Connect with Bill: Book a time to speak Web: https://www.theinnovatusgroup.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-perry/ Twitter: @innovatusgroup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebillperryshow/ *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

Ho, ho, hold on…you don’t like Christmas? I understand this season can be painful for some. It can be a season where depression and suicide rates are on the increase. Or perhaps, as you get older the events of Christmas don’t match the warm, sentimental memories you carry for the season. Today, I want to offer you a message of kindness and hope. YOU CAN’T SLOW THE CLOCKThe holiday season is filled with frenetic energy and pressure. You are faced with doing the right thing plus fulfilling obligations to be at all of the holiday social engagements. The reality is you can’t slow the clock. But you can positively influence the movement of your soul as it responds to the movement of time. I want to offer you a couple of recommendations to help make the season a little bit easier to manage. BE KIND AND GIVE YOURSELF MERCYThis season offer the gift of kindness to those around you. Everyone around you is in a great battle. I also would like to ask you to offer yourself the gift of mercy. You don’t need to do it perfectly, but I'm pretty confident you can do it. When you offer yourself the gift of mercy, only then are you able and free enough to give unto others the gift of kindness. Be kind to them and to yourself this holiday season. Until next time, lead well!  Bill    Connect with Bill: Book a time to speak Web: https://www.theinnovatusgroup.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-perry/ Twitter: @innovatusgroup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebillperryshow/ *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

Do you know how much it costs an organization when employees are not engaged? It can be very costly to the bottom line. Employee engagement is a vital piece to any organization and effective coaching on the part of your management and leadership can be a solution to engaging employees.  My guest today is Keith Webb. Keith has years of experience training individuals about how to effectively coach others in their organizations within their spheres of influence.    EMPLOYEES WANT RESPECT Employees want to be heard, be respected, and be involved with the decisions affecting them. In this episode we discuss the fact that good managers recognize the importance of asking for input from their employees. Having input makes employees  feel appreciated and valuable. Having a voice makes them feel as though they matter.    LISTENING IS KEY IN COMMUNICATION WITH EMPLOYEES When you give people a voice, it is critical to listen to them. People tend to only listen for about 17 seconds before they interrupt with a thought or a question. However, as effective managers, it’s critical to really listen to your team members about the matter you are discussing with them. You may find that coaching them through a situation goes much quicker when you know exactly what they are discussing! We will discuss more about listening and other traits to help you as their coach to grow your team!   Episode Highlights: What coaching really is Keith’s biggest challenge as he moved into coaching The deeper level of coaching What leadership should do to promote employee engagement Understanding the difference between advising and coaching How to adjust the expectations of employees Keys to effective listening and the importance of open questions Curiosity is an important leadership trait The time effective coaching takes as you encourage ownership and accountability of your team Until next time, lead well!  Bill    Connect with Keith Webb: Website: http://keithwebb.com/  Creative Results Management: https://creativeresultsmanagement.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/webbkeith/   Connect with Bill: Book a time to speak Web: https://www.theinnovatusgroup.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-perry/ Twitter: @innovatusgroup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebillperryshow/ *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

Emotional intelligence is a skill that is so important to everyone, including those in leadership. My guest this week is Teresa Quinlan. She has over two decades of experience in learning and development, and she has spent the last 15 years training leaders and their teams, giving particular attention to the area of emotional intelligence. On this episode, she helps us understand why we need to develop that area of our lives and how to go about doing it.  YOU CONTROL YOUR EMOTIONS, AND YOU CHOOSE HOW TO REACT TO THEM In a very simple way of putting it, emotional intelligence is growing your capacity to understand your emotions and use that information to be more effective. And in this episode, we discuss the fact that emotional intelligence is a skill that can be developed. There are strategies you can use to identify your triggers and manage how you handle them.  IT’S DIFFICULT TO BE SELF-AWARE WHEN YOU ARE UNDER STRESS It can be hard to pay attention to yourself when sources of stress are coming at you. However, especially as leaders, it is important to be self-aware so you that you can manage your responses as you handle not only your situations but those of others you manage as well. We will discuss ways to become more self-aware so that you can always bring your best to your life - whether that is your personal life or your life at your business. Episode Highlights: Emotional intelligence as an approach to drama in any relationship, whether that is personal or executive What emotional intelligence is How emotional intelligence can change and develop The components of emotional intelligence How stress affects our self-awareness What the ROI is on developing emotional intelligence with regards to businesses How emotional intelligence affects drama in a positive way The influence of emotional intelligence on the accountability of team members Directing people beyond your scope of ability when you realize additional professional guidance is necessary Some effective immediate strategies to develop your self-perception Until next time, lead well!  Bill    Connect with Teresa Quinlan: Website: IQEQTQ YouTube: Teresa Quinlan LinkedIn: Teresa Quinlan   Connect with Bill: Book a time to speak Web: https://www.theinnovatusgroup.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-perry/ Twitter: @innovatusgroup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebillperryshow/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com   

Today I’m talking with Jennifer McClure, a former executive recruiter and HR executive who offers a wealth of knowledge on the subject of corporate leadership. Jennifer is here to talk to us about developing corporate leaders and the importance of employee appreciation.   People don’t leave companies, they leave managers It seems like common sense that people want to be appreciated, they want to feel like the work they do, matters. We’ll discuss the old adage that people don’t leave companies, they leave managers and how employees want to know that someone’s paying attention. It may be easy for people to jump ship when times get tough, if they don’t feel a connection with management, so we’ll cover how to avoid this downfall.     When you think you’re doing it right, but you’re not Jennifer will share with us, a time she thought she was doing everything right, until she found out she wasn’t. One of her best employees left, and thankfully, that employee opened up to Jennifer about why she was leaving. This gave her the opportunity to make changes in the way she managed, and create more meaningful connections with the employees under her care.   Episode Highlights: People don’t leave jobs, they leave managers Managing people the right way How to create meaningful connections with your employees Making your appreciation intentional Avoiding stereotypes, especially about generations The importance of feedback How technology has allowed us to be more connected Until next time, lead well!  Bill    Connect with Jennifer McClure:Podcast: Impact Makers Podcast with Jennifer McClure Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JenniferMcClureSpeaker Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactmakerspodcast/ LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermcclure Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenniferMcClure   Connect with Bill: Book a time to speak Web: https://www.theinnovatusgroup.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-perry/ Twitter: @innovatusgroup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebillperryshow/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com   

The holiday season is my favorite time of year. I grew up in a great family situation where holidays were marked with extended family time together with good food and great family engagements. However, there is a lot of pressure attached to the holidays. This year, I would encourage you to take a step back and relieve some of that stress during this busy season.  THE HOLIDAYS ARE A VERY EXCITING BUT CONFLICTING TIME OF YEAR While the season is filled with joy, for many leaders it can be the most stressful time of the year. This has to do with making year-end numbers, increased activity with teams, and the distractions facing team members as they move through the holiday season and its many events. We spend 93% of our lives indoors - in an artificial environment. Take some time to get outside and move around to breathe.  GIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF MARGIN THIS YEAR It is important to remember to be good to yourself during the holidays. Give yourself some room to connect, create joy, and create time for rest. It is important to relax and release stress - whether that means taking time to walk and breathe deeply or to isolate yourself some other way to recharge a bit so you can bring your whole self to others. Episode Highlights: With so much pressure during the season, it is okay to skip some obligations to relieve some of this stress Question your involvement in things that take away from your joy Reasons why many leaders point to this time of the year as the most stressful  The importance of taking time to connect with your family A great idea for separating yourself from tech  How to create margin for yourself How to connect on a level that brings you life and joy  Until next time, lead well!  Bill    Connect with Bill: Book a time to speak Web: https://www.theinnovatusgroup.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-perry/ Twitter: @innovatusgroup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebillperryshow/ *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

Today I welcome friend and business leader, Charles Weathers to the show. I've known Charles for some time, and I've benefited from his extensive knowledge of leadership development.  Charles spends time working with nonprofits and faith-based organizations. He loves working with them because they share his heart for the community. He has worked to help these companies with board development, governance, leadership development and strategic planning.  Intergenerational Boards Today, boards have a broad range of Gen X, Boomers, Gen Y and Millennials. Companies must find ways for these groups to work together if they are going to sustain their business. Interacting with intention and working together to overcome stereotypes will go a long way toward building trust and successful relationships.   The Last Seven Words of a Dying Organization Backward thinking often gets in the way of forward progress. The “we’ve never done it that way before” mentality stalls progress and causes organizations to crumble. Businesses must be willing to engage in conversations about the future and look at things from new perspectives.  Episode Highlights: How board leadership is changing The positive impact of intergenerational boards A strategic plan is a mindset, not a piece of paper Setting the organizational culture How culture is a primary indicator of sustainability Facilitating courageous conversations The danger of agreement  Being seen, heard and valued Building trust through vulnerability The inclusion illusion   Until next time, lead well!  Bill Episode Resources: Connect with Charles Weathers: Website: charlescweathers.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/charlesweathers LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesweathers/   Connect with Bill: Book a time to speak Web: https://www.theinnovatusgroup.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-perry/ Twitter: @innovatusgroup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebillperryshow/   ***   EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors, create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

I am so pleased to welcome Laurie Ruettimann to the show. Laurie had spent many years in human resources leadership and realized she hated her job. She left her position in HR and is now on a mission to fix work. She has some ideas about what is currently wrong with work and some steps we can take to fix those problems; not only in our workplaces but in our lives as well. FUNDAMENTALLY THE WORLD OF WORK IS BROKEN The world of work exists so corporations can make a profit. Profits are acquired based on the work of employees. Because of that, there is a lot of talk about the employee experience and the importance of employees. However, most policies do not match up with what we say we want for our employees versus what we actually provide them. This is a system problem and Laurie has some thoughts on addressing this problem, head on.  WE FIX WORK BY FIXING OURSELVES The other element, when it comes to fixing work, is the emotional and psychological side of ourselves that we take to work. Laurie says that she fundamentally believes, “We fix work by fixing ourselves.” We need to examine ourselves, our values, and how we lead our lives at home. In this week’s episode, we dive deeper into the holistic view of fixing work as well as working to make positive changes to fix the world around you. Episode Highlights: Laurie’s upbringing and how it informed her view of work  The concept that there is no leadership without self-leadership The importance of recognizing that the responsibility of corporate success should be placed upon employees  Workers are capitalists too and need to be put first The need to focus on your relationship with money and be proactive in controlling that aspect of your life Examining your view of wealth and realizing it refers to more than just money The holistic view of fixing work by fixing yourself as well as working to make positive changes to fix the world around you   Until next time, lead well!  Bill Episode Resources: Connect with Laurie Ruettimann Website: http://letsfixwork.com Laurie on Twitter & Instagram LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/laurieruettimann   Connect with Bill: Book a time to speak Web: https://www.theinnovatusgroup.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-perry/ Twitter: @innovatusgroup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebillperryshow/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors, create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

This week I am pleased to have Danny Ozment of Emerald City Productions on the show. Danny is the producer of this podcast and always works hard to make me sound good! Danny and I talk about the creative potential for leaders and human resources teams to utilize the medium of podcasting to drive vision, values and policies through every level of your organization!  PODCASTING IS A GREAT WAY TO COMMUNICATE INTERNALLY When it comes to internal communications within a business, podcasting is a great option for leaders to effectively communicate their messages to employees at all levels. Danny says this is referred to as “enterprise podcasting,” and he discusses the benefits of using podcasts as opposed to traditional methods of communication within a business. PODCASTING PROVIDES A GOOD ROI Are you looking for ways to communicate with employees more effectively while also watching the bottom line with regard to expenses? Podcasting provides good ROI when it comes to the time and money that will be invested. The productivity and efficiency of podcasting allows leaders and employees to save time. They can create the content and then be done as the actual production and hosting of the podcast can be outsourced. We discuss this and other benefits of enterprise podcasting on this episode of The Bill Perry Show. Be sure to listen to this enlightening interview with Danny Ozment! Episode Highlights: Danny’s journey to becoming a podcast producer Why people are gravitating toward podcasting Podcasting as a vehicle of trust within organizations, from leadership to the members of the team Reasons an executive team should choose podcasting over traditional methods of communication The ROI that can be gained when teams choose to distribute information through podcasting Hosting solutions available to keep your podcast secure Resources that have researched how audio is consumed in the industry and how effective it can be Until next time, lead well!  Bill  Episode Resources: Connect with Danny Ozment: Podcast Services: https://emeraldcitypro.com/Website: https://dannyozment.com/Podcast Strategies For Growing Your Business, Community, And Influence While Profiting   Connect with Bill: Book a time to speak Web: https://www.theinnovatusgroup.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-perry/ Twitter: @innovatusgroupInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebillperryshow/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors, create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

It’s my pleasure to have my friend, Mike Kim, on the show this week. Mike is a marketing strategist, and his philosophy is, “Marketing isn’t about closing a sale. It’s about opening a relationship.” As we move through this discussion, you will hear that if you don’t love yourself, you’re not going to manage any other relationship around you. THE MOST IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP YOU’LL EVER HAVE IS THE ONE YOU HAVE WITH YOURSELF The longest relationship you will ever have is the one that you have with yourself. So, it is vital to ensure that this relationship is a healthy one. To help form the foundation for that healthy self-relationship, Mike has three questions to help us view ourselves better and more objectively and to help us understand why we make certain decisions. PEOPLE MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON EMOTION Mike’s three questions are intended to tap into the emotion that is underneath whatever people have going on. He says that no matter what kind of business or persuasive challenges you face, you have to appeal to the emotions of others. People make decisions based on emotion, and then they justify it with logic later. In this episode, we discuss those three questions and how they have been a catalyst for many of the decisions Mike has made and the fact that he wants to help as many people as possible to step into their new life. Episode Highlights: The importance of loving yourself Mike’s 3 bizarre questions that help form the basis for a healthy self-relationship  Seasonal shifts and what we need to do to follow these subtle shifts with regard to the questions...answers change based on the season of your life that you’re in You can’t just be saved from something; you have to be saved to something How to approach these questions and the value of walking through them with an advisor or coach Action cures fear; the importance of moving forward Adults learn differently than kids, so the learning process is much different as an adult   Must commit to change, have courage, get competence, and then you have confidence The importance of seizing opportunities when they become available  Until next time, lead well!  Bill  Episode Resources: Connect with Mike Kim Podcast: The Brand You Podcast Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikekimtv Connect with Mike on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikekimtv/   Connect with Bill: Book a time to speak Web: https://www.theinnovatusgroup.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-perry/ Twitter: @innovatusgroupInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebillperryshow/   ***   EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

My guest this week is doing amazing things for people and focusing on the dialogue of moving people forward at work. He has recently begun focusing on the value of humans, creating a community known as HumansFirst. One of the things he has identified is that we are in a current leadership crisis. But he has a potential solution for this. THERE IS A GLOBAL LEADERSHIP CRISIS Mike says that when we look at the condition in companies, there isn’t a lot of hope for positive change because, “While people want to do the right thing around them and the people that they engage with every day, they feel that they're encumbered by a structure and a system that doesn't allow positive change.” However, he goes on to note that he has learned over time that people will be able to move companies forward if we create a shift in culture to emphasize people. PEOPLE WILL DRIVE PRODUCTIVITY When we look at corporate settings, it is clear that people drive productivity. Mike notes we must focus on the fact that “Business is people.” And when we do that, the business has the ability to change in a positive way and move forward. He notes that change is happening at a much quicker pace than in past years, and, because of that, companies must depend upon humans to move forward. Episode Highlights: People will drive productivity Employment structures are transactional as workers are measured against finite pieces and then get paid to “do their job” ROI with regards to putting humans first People for profits - when people are growing they will bring their best effort The concept of HumansFirst The necessity to bring our whole selves to the office and the opportunity to be heard to make people feel valued Workers must feel free to express themselves This is an experiment - doing discovery now Until next time, lead well!  Bill Episode Resources: Connect with Mike Vacanti: HumansFirst Club: https://humansfirst.club/ HumansFirst Playground LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/mjvacanti   Connect with Bill: Book a time to speak Web: https://www.theinnovatusgroup.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-perry/ Twitter: @innovatusgroup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebillperryshow/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Today it’s my honor to have a new acquaintance on the show with me. Steve Woodruff has a really interesting title. He is known as the “King of Clarity.” If your organization needs some guidance on getting through all of the “noise” that is out there, this is the episode for you! BREAK THROUGH THE GRAY MATTER OVERLOAD We live in an age of information that is everywhere, all the time. Everywhere we turn there is more noise; it is coming from all angles and from companies of all sizes. There is so much out there competing for our attention. So companies are faced with the challenge of breaking through gray matter overload (“GMO”). Steve points out that everyone out there is suffering from GMO, and companies need to find a way to reach their audiences. Does your company have an effective way to cut through all that sensory input and get your message heard? Steve has ways of doing that, and he shares some valuable information in this episode. CLARITY HAS VALUE Steve describes clarity as being characterized by a memory dart, a way of cutting through the clutter and making people understand you. He thinks of the memory dart as “a way to get a message across into people's brains very quickly.” That is important when you consider all of the information people process each day. Clarity has a great deal of value for every organization. How do you effectively get your message across to others? He also discusses the core value of organizational clarity both internal and external to the organization. We all know to prioritize connecting with our customers for branding and growth, but there is also great value to be had internally. After all, it is essential to have everyone on the same page with regards to internal communication, collaboration, networking, branding, and vision. So we also discuss this huge need for internal clarity. Episode Highlights: What a memory dart is and how it can help your business GMO - gray matter overload - what it is and how to cut through it What the human brain reacts to and how even small companies can be competitive “It’s not our audience’s job to figure us out” - the importance of truly understanding that and moving beyond it The huge need for internal, as well as external, communication and some insight on developing that Keywords to communicate identity and value within an organization The 5 elements on the approach to clarity Referral readiness - what it is and why it’s important Until next time, lead well!  Bill Episode Resources: Connect with Steve Woodruff: https://clarityfuel.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/swoodruff/ FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/kingofclarity/ Book: Clarity Wins   Connect with Bill: Book a time to speak Web: https://www.theinnovatusgroup.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-perry/ Twitter: @innovatusgroup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebillperryshow/   ***   EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

This week it is my privilege to have Dr. Michael Hudson on the show. Michael is a full-time speaker, coach, and consultant. He enjoys working with leaders and teams to build their strategic visions. Today we focus on the importance of being true to yourself to be the most effective leader. PUT YOURSELF IN THE RIGHT ROOM Are you in the right place right now? Sometimes we find ourselves working very hard to do what we need to do in public, but we are not being true to ourselves. Michael believes we must put ourselves in the right room with the right people. If we don’t do that, we will “find a way to mask that discomfort” as he says. And that is not the most productive way for us to live our lives. After all, at some point we have to take that mask off and deal with the issues that are going on internally. However, if we are authentic with ourselves, we can pull on our own strengths to be good and effective leaders. ARE YOU STRONG ENOUGH TO BE VULNERABLE? Being a successful leader can be simplified into looking at a couple of positive traits. Good leaders are curious and humble. They know that they need to rely upon the information that those they are leading have. Asking questions and listening intently can create good relationships. These qualities help to demonstrate the vulnerability or authenticity that many seek in a good leader. When we open up communication and break down the barriers between leaders and their teams or organizations, then trust can be built. And this will lead to a healthy organization. This episode is truly inspiring as Michael and I discuss looking at ourselves honestly, without any masks, to tap into our authenticity. Sometimes that process leaves us feeling very vulnerable. But it opens the door to move forward on our journeys past our inner struggles. Episode Highlights: Finding ourselves “not in the right room” and needing to make a change Imposter syndrome causes us to want to compensate The 3 things we have to do when it comes to leadership The possibility of moving forward past our inner struggles Successful leaders can frame their lessons in a replicable framework that they can teach to others Real integrity is living from the inside out - making sure we stand up for what is right Michael’s mantra for good leaders: ask, listen, learn, and serve...and serve first How sometimes we put on a mask to hide discomfort in our lives, and it’s okay to get help from friends, coaches, or professionals to get beyond that Until next time, lead well!  Bill Episode Resources: Connect with Michael Hudson: https://www.michaelhudson.com/coaching/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmichaelhudson/ To start a conversation with Michael: michael@michaelhudson.com Attract Your Clients video series   Connect with Bill: Book a time to speak Web: https://www.theinnovatusgroup.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-perry/ Twitter: @innovatusgroup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebillperryshow/   ***   EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

This week we are introducing a new concept to the show in which I bring in trusted friends and advisors who have had a positive impact on my life and who, I believe, can be beneficial to you as well. It is my pleasure to welcome Kevin Monroe to the show. Kevin is a business consultant, podcast host, and, as he likes to highlight, a husband, father, and grandfather!   LEADERSHIP IS CONNECTING AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS Connecting with other people is key to moving forward. It is so interesting to see how, through connecting with others, you ultimately connect with more and more people as your message gets out there. Through leadership and the relationships you build, amazing things can happen in life and also help foster a healthy team in the workplace. Kevin details exactly how this shows up in his business and in his life, during our conversation together.  GRATITUDE OPENS YOUR PERSPECTIVES Gratitude expands your field of vision so that you can see life and the problems you face from different angles, and build a deeper appreciation for it all. As Kevin says, “Gratitude gets you out of the pit and into possibilities.” Focusing on gratitude is changing lives. Our thoughts are what we bring to life. If we look at things for which we are grateful, even while bad things are happening, we start to see the good and focus on it. The good things were there all along, but we miss seeing them by not focusing on the things for which we are grateful. Gratitude is an attitude or mindset, and when you are a member of a community of others who are expressing gratitude, it helps to spur you on. Episode Highlights: Relationships are essential to moving forward on your journey through life What the gratitude challenge is and the impact it is already having in just a few months  Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly - sometimes you have to take an idea and run with it People who have taken gratitude into the office have seen incredible differences in their office environments and employee retention The challenge of looking at your life and noting something you are grateful for today The line from the book “Surviving to Thriving: The 10 Laws of Grateful Leadership” that changed Kevin’s life Until next time, lead well!  Bill Episode Resources: Connect with Kevin Monroe: Web: Kevindmonroe.com Podcast: https://kevindmonroe.com/listener/ LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/kevinmonroe Twitter: @kevin_monroe The Gratitude Challenge  Surviving to Thriving: The 10 Laws of Grateful Leadership by Stephen Foran    Connect with Bill: Book a time to speak Web: https://www.theinnovatusgroup.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-perry/ Twitter: @innovatusgroup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebillperryshow/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

Change is in the air. The last several months, I’ve offered some thoughts and ideas regarding life and leadership and how to do both with all of your heart. It’s time to bring some other voices into the mix.  Starting next week, I’m going to introduce you to some of my amazing friends. You’ll hear from accomplished leaders, consultants, and creatives who will offer excerpts of their stories and share the wisdom they’ve gleaned in their journey. Why the Change You may have noticed my absence for the last couple of weeks. I had to take some of my own medicine. Remember my battle cry: Put your own mask on first! Client engagements have taken a healthy leap forward, and I had to hit pause to evaluate and make sure I was offering you quality content. I felt that I wasn’t bringing my best self to the table. I’m not after perfection, but I do want to offer the best of what I’ve gleaned over my 56 years. One thing I’ve realized about myself is that I really don’t enjoy talking to the wall. I’m uncomfortably self-conscious and overly self-critical in isolation. As Donkey reminded Shrek, “you gotta have friends!” I’ve got some. They are amazing. And I’m going to share them with you. What to Expect In the first season, I kept most episodes to just under 15 minutes. These conversations will take a bit longer to unpack ideas well, but I’m still committed to offering wisdom for your journey in smallish chunks. Time is one of your most valuable assets, and I’ll do my best to honor it. I’ll continue to promote self-care as one of the chief investments you make, not only for yourself but for those in your sphere of influence. You can’t give away what you don’t have. If you don’t care for yourself, you won’t care well for others. We’ll also be diving into the latest research and thoughts on how healthy leadership trumps process efficiency in establishing sustainable success. While efficient and strategic process determines profitability, how you lead those with whom you work largely determines sustainability. I’ll host guests who have demonstrated great courage and agility in maintaining their integrity in life and leadership. Some have been at the leadership helm for years while others have walked away from successful endeavors to take a road less travelled and forge new paths. Season 2 of The Bill Perry Show begins next week. Don’t miss it! Until next time, lead well! Bill --- Tiffany Taylor and the team at sparkit in Los Angeles help me look better than I probably am. They maintain and develop all my collateral material for these podcasts, including my social media presence. If you need help getting your message heard, contact Tiffany at tiffany@sparkitmarket.com.   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

Organizational health is often a messy process, and it requires a great deal of intentionality. As in any relationship, for a team’s health to be sustainable, we and others on the team need to make subtle adjustments at various crossroads. What you choose to do during challenges, difficulties, and opportunities will determine your growth and experience. That is the case with all of life.  In this episode, I talk about the responsibility of choosing to work within the values and vision of our team.   The Choice to Fit the Values of the Larger Team When you take a job or develop a relationship with a friend, a significant other, or a child, entering into that relationship will always require adjustment. If we are going to relate well, we have to make adjustments to accommodate the needs and visions of others. When you join a team, you demonstrate responsibility by accommodating your behavior to fit the values of the team. For example, a client of mine had an employee who, over time, began to demonstrate repeated unproductive behavior, meaning behaviors not aligned with the larger team’s values or vision. The employee’s manager explained the impact their behavior was having on the team, and the employee was given the opportunity to shift and adjust the behavior. They instead chose to continue the unproductive behavior. They did not choose to responsibly make the subtle adjustments needed to work within the values of the larger team. Entrepreneurs Are No Exception If you are an entrepreneur, and more specifically a solopreneur, you are not exempt from the process. You will have to make adjustments to accommodate the needs and personalities of your audience and clients. If we’re going to relate well, we must adjust. Choose Organizational Health, but Don’t Choose a Wrong Fit Making adjustments for the team’s values is a demonstration of responsibility to the community, the vision, and the relationships you are entertaining. If you are unwilling to adjust to fit easily into the population you are joining, it’s very likely that you will also find yourself unwelcome there or unable to sustain the relationship in healthy ways.  On the flip side, don’t try to make yourself fit with teams that don’t share your core values. If you find a fit, exercise intentional responsibility in making subtle adjustments toward a healthy organization by bringing your best self to your team. How Do You Know if It’s a Good Fit? If you want to give yourself the best chance for success, learn the values of the company you are joining, the friends you are entertaining, or the love you are courting. Do your values align easily with theirs? If there are stark differences in expectations of behavior, that should be a red flag that informs your response. Asking good questions is always a key to revealing vision and values in any relationship. Here are a few good ones to ask when you are inviting someone to work and walk with you or when you are being invited to join a group: What values are most important to you? To this team? How do those values play out in daily interactions? What is it about me that makes you feel like I align with those values? Your Mission, if You Choose to Accept It Do yourself and those around you a favor. Don’t try to make yourself fit in with people or teams that do not share your core values. There will rarely be an absolutely perfect fit. Even the healthiest connections require some measure of adjustment. If you find a fit, exercise responsibility in adjusting to the opportunity you are given in a relationship. Every invitation to a relationship, to friendship, or to be a part of a team or a vision requires a response. Every response requires some demonstration of ability. Therefore, every opportunity invites us to grow in responsibility.  A better you, better team, better business, and better life is possible, but the choice is yours. Until next time, lead well! Bill ---  Tiffany Taylor and the team at sparkit in Los Angeles help me look better than I probably am. They maintain and develop all my collateral material for these podcasts, including my social media presence. If you need help getting your message heard, contact Tiffany at tiffany@sparkitmarket.com. *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

How do you recognize the possibilities that business and life are handing you? In this leadership podcast episode, I expose an incredibly effective key to seeing more opportunities—gratitude.  Be Present and Thankful to See More Possibilities We are pre-wired for negativity. When faced with a challenge, our default perceptions and our automatic narratives kick in before we have time to consider options.  To kick the negativity narrative and become more aware of opportunities, reframe your perceptions to recognize challenging situations as invitations to grow and become. A key that makes a better perspective possible is gratitude. It may sound simplistic, but giving thanks for what you have—even when it’s insufficient—opens your eyes to possibilities, to opportunities that are hidden when you’re entangled in broken thought and behavior patterns. Thanksgiving Reveals One Thousand Gifts I’ve known and taught this principle for years, but I still need reminders. I recently read One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. It was like getting hit in the face with a bucket of cold water. Her story serves as a shocking wake-up call to remember that all of life is a gift for growing and that thanksgiving is the key that reveals the gift. (If you are one of the first five people to mention this specific episode on your Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn profile, I’ll send you a free copy of Ann’s book. Tag me so I see the post!) Intentional Gratitude Opens Your Eyes Gratitude is not a command, it’s an invitation. It’s an opportunity to see the best, to acknowledge the beauty, to capture the benefit of a moment or a situation. When you begin to practice gratitude intentionally, your eyes are opened to the possibilities around the moment or the relationship. Several years ago, I spent an entire year focused on being grateful. The more gratitude I expressed, the more I found to be grateful for.  I believe that intentional gratitude is an act of resistance and rebellion against the prevailing presence of anxiety in our culture. Psychologist Robert Leahy points out, “The average child today exhibits the same level of anxiety as the average psychiatric patient in the 1950s.” Maintaining an attitude of gratitude isn’t easy. You will need some help getting started if this isn’t in your normal emotional regimen. The Gratitude Challenge My friend Kevin Monroe has developed a powerful kickstart to a lifestyle of intentional gratitude. The Gratitude Challenge is a free 10-day jumpstart, or catalyst, to living a life marked by thanksgiving. If you need a push in your process, this is a great, free tool to help you shift your perspective. Gratitude Is Too Simple This is one of those invitations that seems too simple to be effective. I promise that if you will begin to intentionally find things to be thankful for, especially in moments when you could express the opposite, you’ll become increasingly aware of possibilities around you. Your perceptions will begin to conform to your gratitude. It will make you a better version of you! A better you, better team, better business, better life is possible, but the choice is yours. Until next time, lead well! Bill ---  Tiffany Taylor and the team at sparkit in Los Angeles help me look better than I probably am. They maintain and develop all my collateral material for these podcasts, including my social media presence. If you need help getting your message heard, contact Tiffany at tiffany@sparkitmarket.com. *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Often prospective clients ask if I can guarantee improvement in their leadership and work experience. They want to become a better leader, and they recognize the need for change in their business culture or personal life and leadership skills. I’ll tell you what I tell them: If you want different results, you must overcome the resistance to change, invest energy to breaking unproductive patterns, and choose transformation.  Step one to improving your leadership is to say yes to the invitation for growth. The Invitation to Becoming a Better Leader What I offer and recommend in the way of improving your life and business is simply an invitation. What you choose to do with what you are given will determine your growth and experience. That is the case with all of life. A better you, better team, better business, and better life is possible, but the choice is always yours. Much of life seems to be contingent on our conformity to an established hierarchy or compliance with existing structures. While adjusting, conforming, or complying, never forget that you have a choice. There are costs and consequences to every choice you will ever make, but you still get to choose. Positive change is determined by your intentionality. A better experience and a better life are the result of accepting the invitation to do something different in order to get a different result. Information Is Not Transformation We live in information overload. One of the more significant challenges in our culture is the temptation to substitute the acquisition of information for the work necessary to experience transformation. Information is not transformation. Transformation occurs when you apply appropriate information. It’s not what you’re given; it’s what you do with what you’re given! Breaking Bad (Patterns) There is a lot of energy required to break bad behavior patterns and unproductive work practices. It is so much easier to stay in an unproductive pattern. You don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to. You also don’t have to experience the recognition and reward attached to new and better opportunities. If you want different and better results, you are going to have to change the way you are doing things. Change Is Not a Command but an Invitation Change is not a command. It’s an opportunity. In my client work, I occasionally meet individuals who hold everyone and everything around them responsible for their success. The way that I recognize them is that they blame everyone and everything around them for their failure. At the end of the day, recognition and promotion are not inalienable rights. They are the fruit of offering yourself to the invitation to grow and become. You May Need to Find Another Garden If you can’t bloom where you are planted, you may need to find another garden. Every work experience and every relationship is not going to offer you the culture and the affirmation you need to become the best version of you. Don’t stay where it isn’t working. But if you find that you are moving from garden to garden, relationship to relationship, job to job, the problem may not be with the garden, the companion, or the employer. It might be you! Reframing What would happen if you began to look at the events of your life as an invitation? What if your difficult work experience is simply an invitation to become a better communicator? Change and growth are not requirements that you have to obey. They are opportunities. You can stay right where you are in life, work, and relationships. Or you can see opportunity as an invitation to become a better version of you. Where Are We Going? Over the next few episodes, we are going to talk about what it looks like to respond to life’s invitations, what it may cost you, and what you will face in terms of resistance to growth. Here’s a secret: Even resistance is an invitation. It all depends on how you respond. Until next time, lead well! Bill ---  Tiffany Taylor and the team at Sparkit in Los Angeles help me look better than I probably am. They maintain and develop all my collateral material for these podcasts, including my social media presence. If you need help getting your message heard, contact Tiffany at tiffany@sparkitmarket.com. *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

In this leadership podcast series, we discuss the value of working as a community and collaborating as a team. In this episode, we dive into four benefits of not going it alone. Create Better End Products When we create and work with others, we are more likely to produce better quality work in a timelier fashion. This stems from an implied accountability. An ancient proverb states that “in the multitude of advisors, there is safety.” In healthy collaboration, we are less likely to create a product or service that will harm others or ourselves. It’s easy to get myopic when you are ideating and creating solo—you can’t always see the ripple effects of your efforts or your vision. Having someone, or a number of “someones,” who can easily speak into your vision reduces the likelihood of damaging yourself or others along the way. This goes back to the trust I talked about in Episode 33. Get More Joy in the Creating Having a team to share your dreams, your vision, and your work helps minimize the effects of failures. It also magnifies the celebration of small wins and big victories. Introverts Need Community Too I work with a number of leaders who are introverts by design, and I’ve been told by some of them that they just prefer to work alone. As a creative who is an introvert, I can assure you that I need the influence and wisdom of those who can see through and around me. Be Known One of the greatest joys in life is the joy of being known and appreciated by at least a few. Some may find larger stages and venues for their visions and dreams, but to be known in a small community creates a sense of safety and appreciation that satisfies the most basic human needs. We need to feel safe. We need to feel valued. We need to create work experiences where those who give themselves to our vision find the same. Let Me Help I can help your team create a more authentic collaborative environment. Set up a time to talk with me, and let’s get your team healthy together. Here’s a link to set up a call: Complimentary Consultation. Until next time, lead well! Bill *** EPISODE CREDITS: Tiffany Taylor and the team at sparkit in Los Angeles help me look better than I probably am. They maintain and develop all my collateral material for these podcasts, including my social media presence. If you need help getting your message heard, contact Tiffany at tiffany@sparkitmarket.com.   If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com