Work That Matters Podcast

On today's episode - Shawn talks with Debra Benton, co-author of "The Leadership Mind Switch: How We Lead in the New World of Work." We like to think of Debra as a sort of "leadership whisperer", who shares skills and secrets that we think you'll find quite useful in your life whether it be personal or work-related. Join us and hear some of these simple, yet overlooked tips on how to be a better human being, and do Work That Matters. 

On today's episode we talk with Co-founder and CEO of Cogito: Josh Feast. Cogito is a fascinating company with technology that specializes in.. lets just say, helping people become more charming in conversation. Join your hosts Shawn Murphy and Mark S. Babbit in a discussion about how person perception works, and how receiving feedback in real time rather than after the fact, is an invaluable enterprise solution that can't be matched. Have a listen and take a moment to contemplate: "How charming am I, really?"  Welcome, to Work That Matters!

Friend and Writer David Burkus (Author of "Friend of a Friend: Understanding the Hidden Networks That Can Transform Your Life and Your Career") joins your hosts Shawn Murphy and Mark S. Babbit in a conversation about diversifying relationships, knowing where your network influence is coming from, and the importance of quality over quantity when creating and having relationships. Join in as we discuss the best ways to grow your universe, and do Work That Matters!

On today's episode we talk with Karen Martin. A known author and leadership consultant with a reputable track record of award-winning books. Karen demonstrates practices that help others improve performance, release maximum potential, and do Work That Matters! Join us as we discuss the importance of purpose, and the three different types of clarity outlined in Karen's recent book: "Clarity First."

Mike Steib is CEO and author of: "The Career Manifesto: Discover Your Calling and Create an Extraordinary Life." Dive in with Shawn and Mike as we discuss happiness at work, the five pillars of your career, and what it means to be a CEO driving both happiness & self-fulfillment in the workplace!

On today's episode of Work That Matters, your hosts Shawn Murphy and Mark S. Babbitt talk about improving the experience of work by understanding, and then improving, our Workplace Intelligence (or WQ). But what does "Workplace Intelligence" really mean? Listen in as we discuss seven key elements that impact your team's and organization's WQ!

Anne Bahr Thompson is a pioneer in Brand Citizenship, Founder of brand consultancy Onesixtyfourth, and author of "Do Good: Embracing Brand Citzenship to Fuel Both Purpose and Profit." Anne talks one-on-one with Shawn about internal values, how they impact your your business, the importance of "the brand inside", and how purpose nurtures profit.     

China Gorman is the former CEO of Great Places to Work. She now leads UNLEASH America, an organization that helps leaders prepare for the future of work. China talks with Shawn and Mark (your hosts) about talent and technology strategies needed for the future, understanding the employee experience, and the secret sauce for creating a great place to work.

I used to imagine what it would be like to explore alien planets. I would daydream about discovering alien life forms. I wanted to be an astronaut. So it was quite a delight for me to interview astronaut Ron Garan. Ron and I talk about lessons he learned about collaboration working with the Russians when building the International Space Station. We talk about themes from his book Orbital Perspective spanning human nature and business. Get ready to take notes, more great wisdom coming your way.

Relationships thrive on great communication. When it breaks down, relationships suffer. I interview Dean Brenner, communication consultant and CEO of the Latimer Group, about the key elements of art to communicating persuasively. Dean breaks down the components of being a good storyteller. The place humility plays in sharing big news in organizations. We also explore executive presence and the difference between influence and authority. Get ready to take notes, more great wisdom coming your way.

I've been studying for a short while the phenomenal business Ari Weinzweig and his team built at Zingerman's. It's a family of businesses made up of coffee shops, training, and a restaurant to name a few. Zingerman's is a shining example of positive businesses: They do right by their employees and treat their customers as if they are family. Ari and I explore some of his company's philosophies: vision setting, sevant leadership, and what we can learn about the workplace from anarchists! Get ready to take notes, more great wisdom coming your way.

Conversations about millennials in the workplace can resort to mundane insights and stereotypes. What I enjoyed about this interview with Jon Mertz is he transcends the ubiquity of millennial observations. Instead Jon explores with me deeper insights about millennials. In our conversation we explore why it's important for the Gen Y to know its leadership roots and ways to align with them. We also explore the importance of developing connection as a leader. Though the wisdom in Jon’s message is directed to younger leaders, there is great wisdom for everyone. Get ready to take notes, more great wisdom coming your way.

How High Achieving Women Get Ahead with Bonnie Marcus The workplace can be a source of frustration. Add gender disparity to the mix and it can be down right infuriating even disheartening. Author Bonnie Marcus has written an insightful book, The Politics of Promotion, that can help women get and stay ahead in the workplace. We explore tactics to leverage politics in a favorable manner. We even talk about how self-promotion can be effective. Listen to the interview for a chance to win a copy of the book. Get ready to take notes, more great wisdom coming your way.

How do you capture people’s attention in a world that offers an overwhelming amount of choices? If you do any type of work that needs to captivate people's attention then this is an interview for you! I'm speaking with Ben Parr, former co-editor of Mashable and Managing Partner of DominateFund, an early-stage VC fund. Together Ben and I explore the three stages of attention: ignition, kindling, and bonfire. Get ready to take notes, more great wisdom coming your way.

This episode's guest is Fred Kiel. In his new book, Return on Character, he writes, "Being cynical is easy when it comes to the topic of character's role in business leadership." Kiel makes a point many feel: Today's leaders seem out of touch with the humanity needed to motivate, inspire and move employees or peers to do their best work. I talk with Kiel about the importance of character and its many dimensions and influence on people's behaviors, influence, and ultimately their effectiveness. Get ready to take notes, more great wisdom coming your way.

"Life is too short not to do something that matters," artist Huge McLeod once said. This quote brilliantly tees up the focus of this episode. I talk with New York Times best selling author Tom Rath about how to infuse your life and work with meaning. We explore the three keys to energize your work and life with meaning, quality interactions (relationships) and having the energy to live a fulfilling life. It's an inspiring conversation. Get ready to take notes, more great wisdom coming your way.

This isn't about office romance. It's a different type of romance. It's the kind of romance that evokes a passion for the work that people are head over heels crazy about what they're doing. Who couldn't use more mystery in their work? Why not more emotion over reason or curiosity and intrigue in your work? Author and executive Tim Leberecht unveils a compelling argument for a renaissance of business romantics. Listen in as Tim and I explore the intriguing notion of business romantics and their powerful influence today. Get ready to take notes, more great wisdom coming your way.

The military is traditionally bureaucratic and driven by hierarchy. So what happens when a Captain in the Navy turns such tradition on its head? It's an amazing turnaround. In this episode of Work That Matters, I talk with David Marquet. David is the author of bestseller Turn the Ship Around. We talk about actionable ideas that can help you turn followers into leaders. Whether it be giving up control in a way that doesn't lead to chaos or using organizational legacy to create clarity, there are plenty of actionable ideas. Get ready to take notes. More great wisdom coming your way. If you enjoy Work That Matters, please rate the podcast. For show suggestions, please email Shawn Murphy at shawn@switchandshift.com.

The latest science shows what we've intuitively known—humans crave connection. But as my guest says, "Too many workplaces suffer from a lack of connection. Employees, and the organization's bottom line, pay the price." So in this episode of Work That Matters, I interview Michael Lee Stollard about what organizations can do to create more connection to address the suffering in most workplaces. Get ready to take notes, more great wisdom coming your way.

Have you often thought to yourself, "how do I get noticed for my big idea?" We live in a time that barriers are more easily overcome to get that big idea noticed. Your big idea could be a new business venture, or a project that could mean big money for your company, or maybe a passion project that if you did it would mean something to you. In this episode of Work That Matters, I talk with Dorie Clark about what you can do to make your big idea a reality and stand out. Get ready to take notes, more great wisdom coming your way.