Grow Strong Leaders Podcast

Everyone has been impacted by COVID-19, and it’s been a source of great financial, emotional and physical stress for many. My guest Dr. Kozhi Makai shares important insights on how to successfully navigate these unprecedented circumstances. We discuss ideas from his latest book, Disrupted! Resiliently Reintegrating After Stress & Adversity that are relevant to the challenges facing the world – and each of us – today. Kozhi is a performance psychologist and Founder of Kozhi Makai Worldwide. His sole mission for the past 20 years has been to use behavioral science to help people thrive.You’ll discover: How to reframe the idea of stress so you can use it to transform your lifeThe difference between distress and eustress – and why eustress is betterThe three types of narratives that influence the way you see and interact with the worldThe benefits of approaching circumstances from a neutral positionCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

What does it mean to be a Healing Organization? That’s the focus of my interview with Michael Gelb, who co-authored a book of the same name with Raj Sisodia. Together they interviewed 25 companies that are focused on delivering value for their STAKEHOLDERS, not just their shareholders. In our rich conversation, Michael explains why he and Raj felt compelled to write this book…and how the approach of these companies improves the lives of everyone—employees, customers, the community and the world.  Michael is the world’s leading authority on the application of genius thinking to personal and organizational development.You’ll discover: What a healing organization isWhy a focus on stakeholders is more important than just caring about shareholdersThe 3 core principles that distinguish healing organizationsThe attitudes and behaviors of employees who work for these kinds of organizationCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

Do you know how to create strong relationships with people from different cultures? My guest Maya Hu-Chan is an expert on this topic, and she describes it in terms of “saving face.” You’ll learn that this term goes much deeper than helping someone avoid embarrassment and what it looks like in action. Maya is an internationally recognized speaker, author and Master Certified Executive Coach, specializing in global leadership, diversity, inclusion and cross-cultural management. She’s the author of an outstanding new book, Saving Face: How to Preserve Dignity and Build Trust, and we focus on several ideas from her book in this conversation.You’ll discover: The 3 aspects of “Face” and why they matterHow using face is a type of social currencyWhat leaders can do to ensure they help build and save face with the people on their teamExamples of leaders who have helped someone save face—and the benefits for both partiesCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

Would you like to become the key person of influence with your ideal clients? My guest Frank Mulcahy has achieved this goal, and in this interview he gives you the exact steps for achieving this status yourself. Frank is a best-selling author, international speaker and coach. His entrepreneurial journey has included high’s and low’s; he lost more than $5 million in one venture, then came back to build a highly successful speaking career, where he is in high demand globally. Bring a notepad when you listen to this episode because Frank drops a lot of gems along the way.You’ll discover: How Frank defines a “sabbatical” and why it’s critical to build it into your scheduleThe questions to ask yourself during a sabbatical to achieve breakthrough ideas and solutionsThe 5 key steps you need to complete in sequence in order to become a Key Person of InfluenceHow Frank made the shift from local to international speakerWhat event organizers want to know…that most speakers missCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

Are your sales skills at the level they need to be? My guest Steve Heroux speaks openly about what’s wrong with much of the sales training offered today and what he’s doing to address it. Steve is Founder and CEO of Victory Selling, and he uses a unique tool called the Sales DNA Test to help anyone in a sales role, including business owners, to identify the real factors that are holding them back. Steve was #1 producer with Aflac and CUTCO Cutlery, so the insights he shares in this episode are based on his experiences “in the trenches.” You’ll love his positive energy and passion for this topic! You’ll discover: Why Steve was an unlikely candidate for success in sales yet became the #1 producer in two big companiesThe reason a one-size-fits-all approach to selling doesn’t workCritical pieces that are missing from most sales training programsThe three traits essential if you want to make more salesCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

How do the principles in music apply to work teams? My guest Dr. Pelè explains this clear connection in our conversation and in his new book, The 7 Songs of a Successful Team. Dr. Pelè blends his passion for music with his purpose to help leaders and teams achieve the success they seek, and you’ll feel his enthusiasm for both topics in this interview! You’ll also find out how you can listen to the songs that are part of each chapter in the book – the story will come to life, and you’ll love the melody and lyrics.You’ll discover: The difference between Emotional Literacy and Emotional IntelligenceThe elements of Harmony that are essential in music and in a teamHow “Profitable” and “Happiness” work together to create a harmonious teamWhy music-based training is uniquely designed to make training stickCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

In this special episode, we have a “mic swap.” Former guest Angela Cusack interviews Meredith Bell about her new book, Strong for Performance: Create a Coaching Culture with Learning & Development Programs That Stick. Meredith kicks off by revealing the famous Star Wars actor she was friends with in high school! We then turned our discussion to more serious topics, like what’s required to change behavior for the long-term. Meredith describes a four-step roadmap that organizations can use to create an environment where people love to come to work, contribute their best efforts and achieve high levels of performance.You’ll discover: The famous Star Wars actor that Meredith knew in high school Why Meredith wrote her book and the impact she wants it to have on organizationsThe one element missing from most learning and development programs that results in a lack of long-term impactA proven three-step process for rewiring the brain for a new skill or habitWhy a support system and accountability coach are key components for improving a skillCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

Have you ever heard these words paired together – culture + humility? If not, you’ll learn why they belong together—and how you can use them to deepen your understanding of yourself and others—from my guest Angela Cusack. Angela is the Founder of Igniting Success, working her coaching magic with C-suite executives to have a transformational impact on the entire organization. For the past 15 years, she’s also provided mentor coaching and supervision for coaches preparing for certification as PCC or MCC. Angela shares profound insights that will help expand your understanding of inclusion and cultural awareness.You’ll discover: The difference between cultural humility and cultural awareness Why Angela recommends compassionate self-reflection as the first step in your own journeyThe 3 principles around cultural humility and how they apply to youPower questions you can coach leaders to ask when they are leading a meeting or having a 1-1 conversationCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

Why is it critical for a leader to have a clear vision in order to create a culture that’s thriving? My guest Dr. Oleg Konovalov has written an entire book about this in Leaderology! In this interview, he explains why effective leadership requires executives to understand their role in shaping a culture where people thrive. Oleg is a thought leader, author, business educator and consultant with over 25 years of experience operating businesses and consulting with Fortune 500 companies internationally. He’s also the author of Corporate Superpower and Organisational Anatomy.You’ll discover: Why there is no single definition of visionElements to consider when forming a visionWhy leadership is a system, not a functionThe 3 aspects of culture that contribute to high performanceBehaviors you can expect to see in a culture that’s thrivingCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

Have you or someone you know had to deal with a serious health issue? My guest Pamela Cournoyer faced Stage 4 Lymphoma in 2012, and she is thriving today. In this interview she describes her journey from diagnosis to recovery and talks about how she uses this experience and insight in her work with clients today. Pamela is an internationally recognized conflict management maven, and her specialties include mastering mindset, boundary setting, and resolving conflict.You’ll discover: What a friend said that shocked Pamela into creating a recovery planWhy she put together a team of coaches to help her through treatment and recovery of her illnessHow Pamela helps clients change their perspective about past failures so they appreciate these experiences as giftsThe Serenity Process Pamela uses to guide clients to slow down, think clearly and get past roadblocksCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro