Jennifer McClure`

Empowering Organizations and People Leaders to thrive in the ever-evolving world of work

Written by

Dancing with Monsters and Embracing Fearless Leadership with Dr. Todd Dewett

IMP Episode 079 - Dr. Todd Dewett

On this episode of the Impact Makers podcast, I welcome back my friend, Dr. Todd Dewett, a globally recognized leadership educator, author, and speaker, to chat about his latest book, “Dancing with Monsters: A Tale About Leadership, Success, and Overcoming Fears.”

If you’re familiar with and love some of the best-selling business books that are written as fables, like The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni, The One Minute Manager by Kenneth H. Blanchard and Dr. Spencer Johnson, or Who Moved My Cheese? by Dr. Spencer Johnson, then you’re going to love Dr. Dewett’s book as well.

Dancing with Monsters is written as a business fable, told through the perspectives of vampires and monsters, with names like Sheets, Mum, Wolfy, and Z.

Through these intriguing characters, Dr. Dewett explores what facing fears, leadership, and success have in common, and how embracing and confronting our fears is necessary in order to harness our teams’ true power.

The book is a fun read, and I believe it’ll inspire you to face and overcome some of your own fears, so you can better optimize your key relationships by leveraging humility, authenticity, and kindness.

Todd is always one of my favorite people to learn from, and in our conversation today, he does not disappoint.

While we do talk about the book, which I highly encourage you to read, I think you’ll really enjoy hearing more of his frank and fresh approach to leadership, authenticity, and self-awareness.

In today’s podcast episode, we’ll chat about why he believes that embracing authenticity must be a part of every leader’s journey, and why it’s important to view people as partners, not resources in the work we’re trying to accomplish together. We’ll discuss how toxic positivity can derail teams, and the difference that building trust and communicating with candor can create. We’ll also discuss how leadership has changed and is evolving in a post-pandemic world, and Dr. Dewett’s 5 Rules of Leadership, as well as a motto that he believes every leader should adopt.

Dr. Dewett is a lot of fun to talk to and listen to, so sit back, and get ready to discover how to embrace authenticity, build trust, and turn obstacles into opportunities on your leadership journey.

And don’t forget to grab a copy of his new book, “Dancing with Monsters,” to discover how you can overcome fears, lead with authenticity, and unleash your true potential.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

  • Dr. Dewett’s journey in writing his fifth book, “Dancing with Monsters,” after previous attempts at writing a novel.
  • His inspiration for creating a fable that addresses common struggles such as anxieties, fears, and confidence issues faced by millennials and Gen Z.
  • The importance of authenticity in leadership, and how it aligns with the expectations of today’s generations.
  • Dr. Dewett’s 5 Rules of Leadership.
  • The dangers of treating employees like children and the importance of creating a balance between authority and open dialogue.
  • The role of candor in leadership, and the necessity of balancing candor with kindness to foster a productive and supportive work environment.
  • The importance of framing challenges in a positive and productive manner to help teams see the silver lining and find opportunities for growth.
  • The motto Dr. Dewett believes that every leader should embrace: SSGW – Take the step, Get the scare, Grow, and Win.

LISTEN TO IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 79

Listen on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts or Spotify

Supporting Links and Resources:

Dr. Todd Dewett – Website, Linkedin, Books, LinkedIn Learning Courses

Dancing with Monsters: A Tale About Leadership, Success, and Overcoming Fears by Todd Dewett

Written by

Discovering Strength and Courage in the Face of Job Loss and a Cancer Diagnosis with Nicole Roberts

Impact Makers Podcast Episode 078

Imagine receiving a breast cancer diagnosis just nine days after losing your job.

This was the reality for my friend, Nicole Roberts, an HR executive who faced these challenges beginning in December 2022.

In this truly inspiring episode of the Impact Makers podcast, Nicole shares her journey through conquering cancer and navigating the financial difficulties that came with it. Not only is she shouldering her family’s living expenses and her own medical care, but she also embarked on the journey of starting her own HR consulting and coaching business, People Solutions Group.

In our conversation, my friend Laurie Ruettimann, host of the Punk Rock HR podcast, joins me to explore with Nicole the original misdiagnosis of her breast cancer, and to discuss the importance of self-advocacy and self-care. Nicole’s story highlights the significance of having a treatment plan and the unwavering support of loved ones, as well as how to better support those who may face health or personal challenges in the future.

As Impact Makers, let’s unite in showing Nicole our support on her journey in every possible way. Connect with Nicole through the links in the show notes and consider contributing to the GoFundMe campaign set up to assist her and her family during this time.

Don’t miss this powerful episode, as it is essential listening for leaders and anyone in the workplace who may face similar challenges.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

  • Nicole Roberts, President of People Solutions Group, shares about her 20-year career in HR, and the motivation behind starting her own business.
  • Nicole was laid off from her job as an HR executive in December 2022, and was diagnosed with breast cancer nine days later.
  • Why it’s important to be your own advocate: Nicole’s journey from an initial misdiagnosis through seeking a second opinion, leading to a confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer and lymph node involvement.
  • How resilience, mindset, and positive thinking has played a crucial role in Nicole’s approach to managing her health, while she is also pursuing the next steps in her career.
  • It can be embarrassing or difficult for many cancer patients to accept financial support, as it was initially for Nicole. She shares about her own experience with when she was ready and able to accept help and support from friends and professional colleagues, as well as why she believes it’s important to offer support without being asked.
  • A GoFundMe campaign has been created to provide an opportunity to support Nicole and her family in this journey. We hope that you’ll not only consider donating whatever you can, but also sharing it with others in your network who may be interested in her story, and ready to support.

LISTEN TO IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 78

Supporting Links and Resources:

GoFundMe: Support Nicole Roberts & Her Fight Against Cancer

Nicole Roberts – LinkedIn, Twitter

People Solutions Group

Laurie Ruettimann – website, Punk Rock HR podcast

Links for support for breast cancer:

Pink Ribbon Good

Breast Wishes Foundation

Susan G. Komen

I Have Wings

Phil’s Friends

National Breast Cancer Foundation

Facebook Private Support Group “”Breast Cancer Support – I Got This!

Written by

Discovering Your Why: How Clarifying Your Vision Can Transform Your Organization and Create a Bigger Impact

Impact Makers Podcast Episode 077

Do you ever wonder what it takes to be a great leader? To create an impact both at work and in life?

Sonya Shelton, Founder of Executive Leadership Consulting, joins me to explore this and discuss the power of discovering your WHY.

Sonya is passionate about partnering with leaders and high achievers to create a clear vision, enabling them to build work environments where employees are fulfilled and really committed to the organization’s success.

Her WHY? To contribute to the success of leaders to create a bigger impact.

Sonya’s advice is backed by her own experience as an executive, international speaker and consultant, as well as her bestselling book “You’re an Executive, But Are You a Leader?” She shares her wealth of knowledge, as well as actionable steps to help leaders craft a compelling vision and develop their leadership skills.

Tune in to this episode to be inspired and learn how to successfully lead your teams and organization into the future.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

  • What makes the difference between an executive and a leader
  • Defining success at your company: The importance of clarifying your vision
  • How organizations can create a strong vision in an ever-changing world, where the future is unknown
  • Practical steps you can take to discover your true WHY
  • How discovering your WHY contributes to effective leadership
  • How strategy and culture work together to create success for a company
  • What are the reasons for the increase in employees experiencing stress and burnout at work
  • Red Thread Leadership: The “5 P” formula to grow as fast as your ambition
  • What leaders can do to create the biggest impact right now

IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 77

People & Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

Key Quotes From This Episode:

“Organizations make the mistake of thinking that culture is just the values or the benefits the employees get or how they treat each other. And those are all very important things. But if your processes and your structure, and how you make decisions, and who gets hired, and who gets promoted and why, aren’t all tied into that – then there’s a disconnect in the culture.” ~ @Sonya Shelton

“Things are changing so fast, there’s so much uncertainty right now with what’s happening…I think that’s leading into a lot of stress at work. And so that’s why we talk about purpose as being so important. When you know why you’re doing what you’re doing, and you have clarity about the strategy and where you’re going and that vision, then it’s easier to navigate those rough waters.” ~ @Sonya Shelton

Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress; working hard for something we love is called passion. ~ @ Simon Sinek

Connect with Jennifer:

Send her a message [https://jennifermcclure.net/contact/]

On LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermcclure

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenniferMcClure

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer_mcclure/

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JenniferMcClureSpeaker

Written by

Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile to Build Your Personal Brand and Grow Your Career

Impact Makers Podcast Episode 076

How valuable is your LinkedIn profile? Hint: The answer is very!

If you don’t believe me, grab your phone, Google your name in quotes (“Jennifer McClure” for example), and hit enter.

Unless you’ve got an extremely common name, you’ll likely notice that the first page of search results for your name returns a number of social media profiles – which may include yours, as well as others that share your same name. And included in those top 10 results is likely a link to your public LinkedIn profile, or at least one created by one of your namesakes.

Whether you’re searching for your next job, open to career growth opportunities, or looking to grow your personal brand, or your business, your best opportunity to get noticed online is to have a robust, fully complete, and active LinkedIn profile.

While LinkedIn is straightforward – create a profile, connect with people, post and share your content, etc. – you may not be getting the most out of it as you would if you were to create an intentional strategy for using LinkedIn.

There are multiple ways that you can optimize your LinkedIn profile to build your personal brand and grow your career. By doing so, you can use LinkedIn to build your credibility as a thought leader and your reputation as a business leader that others want to work with or do business with.

You can also readily access a vast network of people and resources that you can utilize (for free) for your personal and professional development.

In this episode, I’m going to share some of my favorite tips and strategies for creating a LinkedIn profile that stands out, works for you, and increases your opportunities!

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

  • Why a LinkedIn profile is valuable
  • What makes a great LinkedIn profile?
  • 8 profile photo best practices
  • How to maximize your background photo
  • Tips for an effective LinkedIn profile headline
  • Tips in writing your About section
  • 10 profile summary tips

IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 76

Key Quotes From This Episode:

“People ARE searching for you online – or they should be – and you have a simple and free way available to you to deliver exactly the credibility, image, and authority that you prefer, by being intentional about how you use LinkedIn.” ~ @Jennifer McClure

Connect with Jennifer:

Send her a message [https://jennifermcclure.net/contact/]

On LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermcclure

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenniferMcClure

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer_mcclure/

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JenniferMcClureSpeaker

Written by

Is It Still Possible to Build Your Personal Brand Using Social Media in 2023?

Impact Makers Podcast Episode 075

We’re off and running in 2023, and I hope that you’re finding your footing after digging out of your email inbox, and resuming the regular rhythms of meetings and deadlines.

If you’re like me, you’re likely back to being busy – maybe even overwhelmed once again, so I thought I’d share some thoughts with you this week about one of the prime culprits of overwhelm for many of us – which is of course, is social media.

What used to be a great platform for connection, building personal relationships, and building your brand has now sucked a chunk of time out of us. And it has led us down this path where communication is made less civil, and sometimes, even hurtful.

Do I still think that leaders who want to stay current with business trends, and what’s happening in the future of work should be active on social media?

Yes, I do, because there are still ways you can use social media to grow your career or your business.

Today, let’s walk down the social media memory lane to see how these platforms have evolved over the years.

As you seek to continue to build your brand or grow your career this year, I’m diving into what’s working and what’s not working with these different social media and online platforms, in the next few episodes.

Next week, I’ll start with the most impactful of all – LinkedIn.

Make sure that you’re subscribed or following the Impact Makers podcast in your favorite listening platform, so you don’t miss an episode.

And, if you’d like to make an impact on someone in your network today, please share this episode with them, so they can embrace the future of work, and develop and grow the leadership skills necessary to make a positive impact at work and in life, right along with you!

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

  • The evolution of LinkedIn and how it’s helping business people until now
  • Twitter then and now
  • How Facebook has become a ghost town now
  • The popularity of Instagram today
  • Should leaders be active on social media?
  • Using social media to build meaningful relationships

IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 75

Key Quotes From This Episode:

“We have to be intentional and strategic about how we spend our time [on social media] consuming content, and how we create and share content to attract and engage the right people who want to hear from us and want to hear what we have to say.” ~ @Jennifer McClure

“I also still believe it is possible to build meaningful relationships with thought leaders, peers, and professionals in your industry and career field. But it takes time and more than a daily picture of your favorite cup of coffee to make those things happen.” ~ @Jennifer McClure

Connect with Jennifer:

Send her a message [https://jennifermcclure.net/contact/]

On LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermcclure

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenniferMcClure

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer_mcclure/

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JenniferMcClureSpeaker

Need A Speaker?

I've delivered keynotes and led workshops at over 350 conferences and corporate events.

If you want to check my availability for your event, or if you have questions, click below.

Start the Conversation »

Recent Blog Posts

Connect on Social