Closing The Gap With Denise Cooper

A “compassionate achiever” is someone who attains success by helping others. Many leaders today believe in a dog-eat-dog mentality, where only the strongest survive. However, if you look under the headlines and deeper into the science, all the empirical evidence shows that success is not only greater but more sustainable when achieved through a “survival of the kindest”/compassionate approach. Throughout the pandemic, many organizations found themselves going through seminars and workshops that focused on empathy. However, empathy has limits - just because you're feeling what someone else is feeling doesn't mean you're giving them the support they need. Instead, Chris Kukk offers up the idea that compassion can drive us to create action that ripples out meaningful change. If you've found yourself wondering how you can leverage your skills around collaboration, servant leadership, and heart to better lead your team - this is the episode for you. In this week's episode, Denise Cooper interviews author of The

You know how to prioritize resource management in your organization, but what about boundary management? What role is boundary leakage playing in the productivity of your team? In many cases, individual contributors and leaders alike are not clear on what it is that they're accountable for. Once we know what we are accountable for, how do our conversations evolve? Anytime we are working towards an organizational goal, only 10% of the work is task-related. The other 90% is people. If you've found yourself wondering how you can bring more accountability to your team or organization one conversation at a time - this is the episode for you. In this week's episode, Alexa Greer interviews public speaker, podcast host, and author Denise Cooper for her take on how to create a culture that prioritizes accountability. Listen in for Denise Cooper's expert advice on how to influence change in your working relationships with these simple changes. Keep up with Denise Cooper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisecooper/ ht

Did you know: in order to be able to make strategic changes, you have to change your mindset away from planning and implementation. Strategic thinking does not equal strategic implementation. These are completely different ways of thinking. 97% of executives say that strategic thinking is their biggest concern. 81% of executives don't know where to start when it comes to strategic thinking! By making space for problem solving without immediately focusing on the implementation piece, you can lead your organization to reach greater heights over time. In this week's episode, Dr. Julia Sloan talks us through her Three-Stage Model for learning strategic thinking. Dr. Sloan is a leading authority on the cognitive aspect of strategic thinking and is widely recognized for her pioneering work on the application of complex cognitive theory to everyday strategic thinking practice in global business and public policy. If you find yourself wondering how to be a better strategist, this is the episode for you. Listen in fo

What is strategic thinking? What does it look like in the C-Suite or the workplace? We often think about our careers in terms of taking the "fast path" to success - however learning is cumulative. To become a strong strategist, you have to implement lessons that you've learned across your entire career journey. In this week's episode, Dr. Julia Sloan talks us through her Three-Stage Model for learning strategic thinking. Dr. Sloan is a leading authority on the cognitive aspect of strategic thinking and is widely recognized for her pioneering work on the application of complex cognitive theory to everyday strategic thinking practice in global business and public policy. If you find yourself wondering how to be a better strategist, this is the episode for you. Listen in for Dr. Sloans 's expert advice on how you can apply your expertise to make an impact in your organization and in the world. Keep up with Dr. Sloan: https://www.sloaninternationalconsulting.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjuliasloan/ Book:

How do we start thinking about what we really need from our boss? Often, our mind goes straight to getting that next raise. However, for most people - the real key to happiness is a bit more holistic. For many workers, they find that the ideal work situation requires a fair balance of income, time spent at the job, and attention required. Have you thought about talking to your boss about what can be done to balance the scales? The process can be more collaborative than you think. In some cases, a raise may be what you need. In other cases, the answer may be rearranging your daily job routine, re-evaluating the tasks that suck up your time, and negotiating a new way to get the work done. If you find yourself wondering how to ask your boss for what you need, this is the episode for you. Listen in for Denise Cooper's expert advice on how to lead this conversation with your boss to get an outcome you'll be happy with. Keep up with Denise Cooper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisecooper/ https://rllessons.com/

How do we deal with someone who is a work jerk? We've all worked alongside a prickly boss in the past. Between the Great Resignation, the ongoing pandemic, and increasing economic disruption many workers are finding their tolerance for insensitive bosses has gone down the drain. If you find yourself wondering how you can more effectively deal with difficult colleagues, this is the episode for you. Listen in for practical advice on addressing interpersonal workplace challenges. In this week's episode, Denise Cooper interviews interpersonal work relationship expert, consultant, and author Louise Carnachan for her take on the good, the bad, and the ugly of workplace communication. Keep up with Louise Carnachan: https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.louisecarnachan.com&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw2D7XkSDEA3I_CQaL7aPz2K (www.louisecarnachan.com) Work Jerks: How to Cope with Difficult Bosses and Colleagues (June, 2022, available for presale) https://www.amazon.com/Work-Jerks-Difficul

How do we set boundaries so that we can all feel safe to push back in the workplace? Whether you're working in a virtual, hybrid, or face-to-face environment there are times when you may find yourself needing to set boundaries with someone who simply doesn't get it. This person could be a colleague you're collaborating with, someone from a siloed department you've never met, it could even be your boss. It is key to learn how to set boundaries in a work environment. This ensures that you walk away from doing the work still feeling whole. When we feel overwhelmed or panicked - our brains simply shut down. It doesn't matter how smart you are. No one is immune. By learning new strategies to interact with our colleagues, we can make better decisions that are grounded in mutual understanding. This helps us to bring our authentic selves to work while leading inclusive and high-performing teams. In this week's episode, Denise Cooper interviews Human Performance Specialist Pamela Brooks-Richards, for her take on how

How can we better support people with disabilities in the workplace? What role does language play in the way our world frames disability? Business conversations are often rife with ableist language - saying business results are "paralyzed" or that a conversation was "tone-deaf" can reinforce negative stereotypes about people with disabilities in the workplace. Once we know better, how do we do better? HR often thinks that the goal of disability awareness is to create a work environment where as many people as possible feel comfortable disclosing their disability. When instead, the goal should be creating an environment that's inclusive for everyone - whether they have a disability or not. How can we as leaders be proactive about accessibility, to take the burden off of disabled people to constantly advocate for their needs? In this week's episode, Denise Cooper interviews public speaker, DEI consultant, and content creator (@BlindishLatina), Catarina Rivera, for her take on how managers can become an advocat

2022 has brought a slew of changes - some workplaces are switching to hotelling instead of requiring employees in their offices, while other organizations have chosen to stay fully remote. However, as the workplace continues to evolve, it has become clear that hybrid work is here to stay. Working remote during a pandemic calls for more than flexibility from managers - it requires compassion to truly close the gap. For some employees, working remotely has given them a boost in productivity. They’ve learned how to complete their work duties in less time. What does this mean when being called back into the office? Do we work more slowly to “look productive”? Or is there another way? In this week's episode, Denise Cooper interviews award-winning international speaker, Amazon #1 best-selling author, and renowned culture change and project management expert, Colin D. Ellis for his take on how managers can address the compassion gap in hybrid teams. Keep up with Colin D. Ellis: www.linkedin.com/in/colindellis www.

How do we create psychological safety for historically marginalized communities in the workplace? Inclusivity matters at every level in an organization - from the board room to the front lines. How do you ensure that all employees feel a sense of belonging and respect? This requires long-term about your company's approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Inclusivity has to become part of your company's DNA and corporate strategy. In the same way that your quarterly earnings, turnover, and financial reports are discussed at each meeting, we can do the same for DEI. In this week's episode, Denise Cooper interviews Chief Change Agent and Founder of Flying Elephant, Deanna Singh for her take on how companies can begin prioritizing inclusivity in their organization to help their teams reach new heights. Keep up with Deanna Singh: Website: https://www.deannasingh.com/flying-elephant Podcast: https://bit.ly/3sZ7tEo Keep an eye out for her book, Actions Speak Louder, releasing May 31, 2022.

How does your project management style evolve to different work cultures? Project management is more than knowing how to organize spreadsheets, GAANT charts, and building goal charts. If you're a project manager who hopes to influence your organization's strategic outcomes you have your work cut out for you. This means building your skills in EQ and learning to lead others regardless of their personality traits, leadership preferences, and reservations. In this week's episode, Denise Cooper interviews Global President & Chief Project Officer, Jana Axline for her take on how project managers can up their contribution by driving inclusive, high-performing teams. Keep up with Jana Axline: projectgenetics.com Podcast: Corporate CPR

Ladies, what if we told you that you could thrive in IT? This impactful and high growth industry can offer you the opportunity to expand on lucrative skills while closing the gap in a spacehistorically dominated by men. Careers in IT expand far beyond coding, and many people make a career in this industry without ever learning to code themselves. In this week's episode, Denise Cooper interviews leading-edge female entrepreneur, Prema Chuttoo for her take on how women can transition into the IT world. Prema is passionate about advocacy for women in the IT sector globally. As we know, it is not sustainable to be "the first, the one, the only" when it comes to representation in the workplace. Hear Prema's take on how women and other individuals from historically marginalized groups can seek the support they need to get started on their career in STEM. Keep up with Prema: https://www.linkedin.com/in/premachuttoo-globalsapexpert/

Part of being a good leader is knowing that things are bigger than you. But what does that mean for how we choose to handle these challenges? On the flipside, it's also important to assess your own self-worth. This applies whether you are a new leader or someone who has been leading teams for years. After all, how we see ourselves is the most quintessential part of leadership. In this week's episode, Denise Cooper interviews author, business advisor and speaker, Joe Caruso. Listen in to hear his take on how leaders can close the gap between who we want to be and who we are. Joe brings his lifetime of expertise to help organizations and leaders change the way they see themselves -- and in turn, the way they think about markets, products and services. Joe has learned this change in thinking drives new behavior and allows organizations to sharpen focus and reach greater levels of success.  Keep up with Joe Caruso: https://www.linkedin.com/company/carusoleadership/ https://twitter.com/JosephACaruso https://w

Hybrid work means we can’t assume we can watch people work — now what? How do we go from working at our most efficient pace from home back to a 9 to 5 office environment? On the flipside, remote work really isn't quite as new as we seem to think. For those of us working in international organizations, remote work has been one factor of getting the job done for over 10 years. In this week's episode, Denise Cooper interviews the Director of EMEA ALLEO, Glenn Wastyn. Listen in to hear his expert take on what working in global organizations can teach us about hybrid work and why forcing people to go back to their office will be a recipe for disaster. If you've been asking yourself "what is the work to be done with the transition hybrid work?" - this is the episode for you. Keep up with Glenn Wastyn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennwastyn/

How would your life look different if you were part of a community that made you feel included and valued? In conversations about resilience in the face of disruptive change, community is often an undervalued resource. On the flip side, as community leaders, we often ask ourselves "how do I build a community that is welcoming, inclusive, and engaging?". It is easier said than done. In this week's episode, multi-award-winning leader, keynote speaker, podcast host, author and university professor Linda Fisk will be talking about how she has bridged the gap. She is the Founder and CEO of LeadHERship Global, a community of unstoppable women enhancing their leadership blueprint and embracing their power to be the best version of themselves- in work and life. If you've ever wondered what it looks like to shepherd a values-oriented community, this is the episode for you. Keep up with Linda Fisk & LeadHERship Global: ● Facebook.com/leadhershipglobal ● Twitter.com/leadhershipglob ● Instagram.com/leadhershipglob

We've all heard the phase, "the only constant in life is change". For people of color, and people from historically marginalized groups - we often have to adapt to the workplace in more ways than one. For us, the question becomes how do we level up our adaptability so that we are better able to thrive in our careers, rather than just cope with them? How do we remain adaptable when faced with institutional barriers in our careers? In this week's episode, guest William A. Adams pulls on his background as an award-winning D&I innovator, engineering trailblazer, and philanthropist to answer these challenging questions and more. Adams' mission is to help Blacks & people of color own a stake in technology development, and with his advice, you can be part of the movement too. Keep up with William A. Adams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thewilliamaadams/ https://twitter.com/leaptotech https://www.theev3nt.com

I love my job, but hate my boss... what should I do? In this week's episode, the tables are turned as Denise Cooper gets interviewed for her take on how to handle a bad boss. She will answer questions like how do you know if you have an unskilled boss or someone who is intentionally bad? What should I do if my boss is intentionally picking on me? Denise Cooper shares her wisdom on how we can make the best of these turbulent times and take care of ourselves in the process. This is the last episode in Season 4, see you in 2022! Keep up with Denise Cooper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisecooper/ https://rllessons.com/ https://www.instagram.com/denisecooperinc/

How do we learn to rebuild trust after it's been broken? What role do forgiveness and redemption play in the workplace? In an age where DEI is more talked about than ever before, how do I make a mistake and still move forward?  In this week's episode, our host Denise Cooper talks us through the importance of trust in the workplace. More specifically, how can we learn to trust others when they've hurt us in the past. Similarly, in instances where we've caused harm, how can we change our behavior to restore the relationship? You can expect to walk away from this week's episode knowing how to better respond to instances of harm in your workplace environment, and you will be able to recognize the difference between forgiveness and redemption. Keep up with Denise here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisecooper/ https://rllessons.com/ https://www.instagram.com/denisecooperinc/

We say often that employees are your great resource, but how do you know if you're in the right headspace to lead them? How we think about challenges gives us the courage to tackle tough issues. What do you do if you really like your employee, but they aren't performing up to business standards? How do you rely on cultural values and shared expectations to inspire them to become your greatest resource during disruptive times? In today's episode, Denise Cooper interviews Dr. Hall on the importance of creating a culture of teachability in your workplace. With more than 40 years of practical leadership experience and a Ph.D. in Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship, Dr. Troy's passion is helping others succeed. Keep up with Dr. Troy Hall: https://drtroyhall.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtroyhall/ https://www.amazon.com/Cohesion-Culture-Proven-Principles-Retain/dp/1633939316

How do we bring our whole selves to work, when the system is not set up for historically underrepresented workers to be authentic? In this week's episode, Denise Cooper interviews Trudy Bourgeois for her take on why D&I, as it stands, does not work. How do we ensure that we move from superficial changes to genuine changes in the workplace? About Trudy Bourgeois: Trudy Bourgeois is a renowned and respected authority on leadership development, diversity, equality, inclusion, and workplace transformation. She is a bestselling author, speaker, trainer and coach. Most importantly, she's a teacher at heart. Trudy believes that when people can learn and grow, they can achieve. Which ultimately empowers them to LEAD! Keep up with Trudy: www.workforceexcellence.com https://www.amazon.com/Equality-Courageous-Conversations-Diversity-Breakthrough/dp/1976596335