Jennifer McClure`

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

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Written by Jennifer McClure

Increasing Productivity, Profits, and Retention by Improving Employee Engagement with Dan Kessler

Impact Makers Podcast Episode 062

As a leader, if there was a secret recipe that included the ingredients to increase productivity, generate higher profits, and lower employee turnover and absenteeism in your organization, you’d want that, right?

Well, what if the recipe wasn’t a secret, and the ingredients were available to you today?

I’ve got some good news for you!

The levers that drive employee engagement are available to us all. However, the results vary based upon how well we understand which levers will be the most effective in our organization, and how we create and implement action plans to take advantage of them.

In this episode of the Impact Makers Podcast, I’m chatting with Dan Kessler, President & COO of Energage – a company whose purpose is to make the world a better place to work together.

Dan and the team at Energage help organizations to measure employee engagement, understand where they are today, and guide them to simple actions that they can take to improve their culture, as well as their recruitment and retention strategies.

I think you’ll find some really great takeaways in my conversation with Dan, and be inspired to take action to increase employee engagement in your workplace.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:​​

  • What companies should be doing differently related to their recruitment strategy than they have in the past.
  • How do companies represent authentically what it’s like to work in their organization?
  • The role that pay and benefits play in driving employee engagement.
  • The biggest drivers of employee engagement.
  • How purpose and meaning impact employee engagement.
  • What Top Workplaces are doing that create double the employee engagement levels as the average US workplace.
  • Practical steps that you can take as a leader to positively impact employee engagement in your organization.

IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 62

Key Quotes From This Episode:

“More engaged employees drives better business results.” ~ @Dan Kessler

“Compensation is essentially the least important factor that drives employee engagement.” ~ @Dan Kessler

“We measure employee engagement based on three things: motivation, loyalty, and employee net promoter score.” ~ @Dan Kessler

People & Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

Meta from Workplace

Dan Kessler

Energage

Top Workplaces

Top Workplaces Research Lab: Employee Well-Being and Burnout

Leaders Can Drive Employee Engagement, the Pandemic Showed Us How

Show Sponsor:

This episode of the Impact Makers Podcast is sponsored by Workplace from Meta.

Everybody’s talking about the metaverse these days, but Workplace from Meta is different – I mean, the clue’s in the name, right?

Workplace is a business communication tool that uses features like instant messaging and video calls to help people share information. Think Facebook, but for your company.

It’s part of Meta’s vision for the future of work – a future in which your job isn’t just something you do, but something you EXPERIENCE. A future in which we’ll all feel more present, connected, and productive.

Start your journey into the future of work at workplace.com/future.

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

Categories: Employee Engagement, Leadership, Podcast
Posted on September 12, 2022

Written by Jennifer McClure

Leading With Empathy: Why It’s Important and How to Do More of It with Marcy Klipfel

Impact Makers Podcast Episode 061

I’m speaking with Marcy Klipfel , Chief Engagement Officer at Businessolver, on Episode 61 of the Impact Makers podcast. As an experienced HR leader, Marcy oversees all aspects of HR, driving a high-performance culture at Businessolver.

For the last 7 years, Businessolver has released a State of Workplace Empathy report that examines the behaviors and benefits that make workplaces empathetic.

Our conversation focused on how empathy is becoming an integral part of effective leadership.

Marcy also shared some practical steps organizational leaders can take to help develop a culture that includes empathy, and more empathetic leaders in their workplaces going forward.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:​​

  • What empathy actually means
  • Why some leaders struggle with empathy
  • What leaders can do to strengthen their empathy muscle
  • The 2022 State of Workplace Empathy report, and why empathy ratings in the workplace are at an all-time low

IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 61

Key Quotes From This Episode:

“Empathy IS still about holding people accountable and it IS still about owning what you’re feeling or how you are behaving. But it truly is going to that place of saying ‘I really want to live by the reverse golden rule’ so it’s more about understanding what others want done unto them.” ~ @Marcy Klipfel

“Our research shows if you have an empathetic leader and someone who can display that in an authentic way, it is the difference maker when it comes to employees jumping jobs for things that can seem very attractive. But the question is ‘Will I have another empathetic leader? Will I have someone who really truly cares about my perspective in what I may be dealing with?'”~ @Marcy Klipfel

“Employees are not going to give you a pass and say, ‘Oh yeah, I have an empathetic employer’ if they don’t actually feel it and experience it.” ~ @Marcy Klipfel

People & Resources Mentioned In This episode:

Meta from Workplace

Businessolver

Marcy Klipfel

2022 State of Workplace Empathy Study

Brené Brown

The Table Group

Businessolver Webinar: Eavesdropping on the C-Suite: How executives are responding to the empathy gap

Show Sponsor:

This episode of the Impact Makers Podcast is sponsored by Workplace from Meta.

Everybody’s talking about the metaverse these days, but Workplace from Meta is different – I mean, the clue’s in the name, right?

Workplace is a business communication tool that uses features like instant messaging and video calls to help people share information. Think Facebook, but for your company.

It’s part of Meta’s vision for the future of work – a future in which your job isn’t just something you do, but something you EXPERIENCE. A future in which we’ll all feel more present, connected, and productive.

Start your journey into the future of work at workplace.com/future.

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

Categories: Podcast
Posted on August 25, 2022

Written by Jennifer McClure

4 Traits of Teachable Leaders – And How You Can Demonstrate Them

The role of a Leader can be a tough gig – one that’s made even harder by some who feel that they’ve reached a point in their career where they no longer need to submit themselves to learning and leadership development opportunities.

As Leaders, it’s easy to think that we got to where we are because we’re the most capable – and as a result should be teaching those on our teams how it’s done based upon our experience having done it all before. But every living thing needs to be fed in order to survive and thrive – and as a Leader, you do too!

So how can we be more teachable as Leaders in an effort to learn and foster growth? It’s starts by putting ourselves in the frame of mind that we can (and must) learn more.  Best-selling author and leadership expert John Maxwell calls this a “teachable attitude”:

Teachability is not so much about competence and mental capacity as it is about attitude. It is the desire to listen, learn, and apply. It is the hunger to discover and grow. It is the willingness to learn, unlearn, and relearn. I love the way legendary basketball coach John Wooden states it: “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”

When I teach and mentor leaders, I remind them that if they stop learning, they stop leading. But if they remain teachable and keep learning, they will be able to keep making an impact as leaders. Whatever your talent happens to be – whether it’s leadership, craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, or something else – you will expand it if you keep expecting and striving to learn.

Assuming that you’ve got the orientation of a Teachable Leader, here are four traits to focus on:

Trait #1: Teachable Leaders are consistent and continuous Seekers. 

To avoid stagnation as a Leader, seek out opportunities to listen, learn and apply knowledge not only from like-minded, similarly situated colleagues, but also from those who can offer different perspectives and even contrary points of view. Read books, blogs and news from authors and websites that are both similar and opposite to your way of thinking. Effective Leaders need to be able to think through and justify their own decision-making to many different stakeholders, so actively seeking out alternative perspectives in advance is a great way to solidify – and improve – your ideas and plans.

Trait #2: Teachable Leaders are willing to be Receivers.

As someone who has worked with and coached many senior level executives, I can confirm that it’s rare for Leaders to get honest and direct feedback from those on their teams and in their organizations – positive, negative or constructive. Why? There’s still also an unwritten rule within much of the business world – “The Boss is always right”, but an even bigger reason is that it’s actually rare for a Leader to ask – and be willing to receive feedback other than agreement with their approach or idea. If the people on your teams aren’t willing to or used to providing you with feedback, teach them how. And most importantly, act upon the feedback that you’re given. Show your team that you have a hunger and desire to grow and improve as a Leader, and that they’re an important part of that journey!

Trait #3: Teachable Leaders understand the importance of being good Followers.

We often assign mentors to young professionals at work, to help them gain insights and encouragement from someone that they can model and learn from. Regardless of your longevity in your career or within your organization, as a Leader you need mentors and role-models too. Do you have someone in your network that you can go to for advice and counsel? Maybe that’s another CEO, a colleague from a professional networking group or an outside coach, but make sure that you have someone whom you admire and respect to offer you a safe place to work through problems and opportunities – and be willing to submit to their leadership. We get better by learning from others who have been there/done that – and got the t-shirt.

Trait #4: Teachable Leaders grow stronger when the are Producers. 

A great way to grow in character and competence as a Leader is to build into other Leaders. Are you mentoring others? Are you actively sharing what you’re learning as a Seeker, Receiver and Follower? Don’t keep all of the goodness to yourself. Invest in others to multiply the results of your continuous improvement efforts!

Question: What did I miss? What are some additional traits that you feel Teachable Leaders have? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

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Unbridled Talent LLC is a consulting and advisory firm providing services to clients in the areas of leadership development, executive communication skills and talent strategy. Jennifer McClure offers keynotes, workshops and training that inspire and teach business leaders to be more effective in their careers and as leaders of their organization’s most valuable resource – people. Contact us to schedule an event or to discuss our strategic consulting and advisory services.

Categories: Blog, Leadership
Posted on November 5, 2013

Written by Jennifer McClure

Effective Presentation & Communications Skills for Business Leaders [slideshare]

Today, I’m sharing the slide deck from two recently completed workshops delivered for groups of senior executives who work for one of my corporate clients – Effective Presentation & Communications Skills for Business Leaders.

Effective Presentation & Communication Skills For Business Leaders from Jennifer McClure

Why is there a need for this type of program?

Effective communication and presentation skills are must-haves for Top Business Leaders and Executives in order to establish executive presence, build influence, gain buy-in and help their businesses to grow.

The good news is that these skills can be learned!

I always enjoy working with Leaders who want to develop and improve – and I hope you find some helpful tips to facilitate your own growth and development as a Leader in your organization.

What communication/presentation tips and tricks can you recommend? Share them as a Comment!

—-

Unbridled Talent LLC is a consulting and advisory firm providing services to clients in the areas of people strategies, leadership development and career growth. Jennifer McClure offers keynotes, workshops and training that inspire and teach business leaders to be more effective in their careers and as leaders of their organization’s most valuable resource – people. Contact us to schedule an event or to discuss our strategic consulting and advisory services.

Categories: Blog, Effective Communication, Executive Presence, Leadership, Presentations, Speaking
Posted on September 19, 2013

Written by Jennifer McClure

The Conference Board’s 2011 Future Leaders Conference (Discount Code)

If you’ve taken a look at my Speaking & Conference schedule for the next few months, you’ll see that I’ll be attending and/or speaking at several really great events. I’m excited about them all for a variety of reasons and each will provide its share of takeaways, new relationships and opportunities!

One upcoming event I’d like to highlight for you (and offer you a discount code) is the 2011 Future Leaders Conference in Chicago, Illinois September 14 – 15, 2011. The theme for the conference is – “Rethinking How We Attract, Identify, & Develop High Potential & Next Generation Leadership Talent” and this conference is put on by the good folks at The Conference Board.

At this conference, attendees will:

  • Explore best-in-class approaches to attract, identify, assess, and develop emerging leaders
  • Discuss leadership development strategies, methodologies, and tools used to meet the needs of high potential talent
  • Learn about unique challenges of next generation leadership development in emerging markets
  • Network with innovative leaders and discover new ideas to drive leadership development

Over the last couple of years, I’ve attended several Conference Board events and I can say with no hesitation that they are some of the highest quality, most well-run events around. Each of their conferences include great speakers (the majority of whom are practitioners) from leading companies sharing best practices and their experiences. The Future Leaders Conference will be no exception. Check out the lineup of some of the scheduled speakers:

Padma Thiruvengadam, former Vice President, Asia Pacific/Canada Operations – Oncology, Pfizer Inc.
Kirsten Aranda, Director – Talent Management, Boeing
Marc Wenzel, Vice President of Sales and Partnerships,ThinkWise Inc.
Melanie Tinto, Senior Director, Global Talent Management, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Maureen A Gillan-Myer, SVP Human Resources – Regional Head of Resourcing & Talent, HSBC North America
Bonnie Fetch, Director, People and Organizational Development, Human Services Division, Caterpillar Inc.
Tim Toterhi, Senior Director, Global Learning & Development, Quintiles
Brian Fishel, SVP Enterprise Leadership Development, Bank of America
Gary Ranker, Ph.D., The Global Senior Executive Coach
Donny Huang, Managing Partner, 4stones Cross Cultural Consulting Group
Susan B. Greer, Director, Leadership, Education and Delivery Services, IRS Human Capital Office
Sandy Mobley, Owner, The Learning Advantage
Carolon Donnally, Management and Program Analyst, Leadership, Education and Delivery Services, IRS Human Capital Office
Susan Rusconi, Head of Leadership Development, Adobe Systems, Inc.
Ronald J. Alsop, Editor, Workforce Management
John Seely-Brown, Independent Co-chair, Deloitte Center for the Edge, and Visiting scholar and advisor to the Provost, University of Southern California

This conference is a “must attend” for Human Resources Leaders, Leadership Development Professionals, Talent Management Professionals and Senior Business Leaders interested in developing high potential talent, as well as those responsible for global human resources and diversity, talent acquisition, learning and employee development, and succession planning.

For more information, or if you’d like to register and join me at The Future Leaders Conference in Chicago September 14th – 15th, visit The Conference Board’s website – www.conferenceboard.org/futureleaders  or call (212) 339-0345.

BONUS: Enter the discount code JM1 to receive $500 off of the conference registration price.

 

Note: I’ll be attending the Future Leaders Conference as a guest of The Conference Board in order to share with my network and clients some of my learnings from the event. But I’m not asked to say/write anything other than my personal insights. Just wanted you to know.

Categories: Blog, Leadership
Posted on August 4, 2011

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