People Business w/ O'Brien McMahon

Tricia Sanders is the Founder & Lead Strategist at High Five Strategies. She and her team are the people leaders call when they need help connecting the dots between current- and goal-state. Tricia is an expert at challenging long-standing assumptions and drives creative yet pragmatic results. Prior to this work, she was COO at First Bank in St. Louis and an officer in the United States Army with tours in South Korea, Qatar, and Afghanistan.Mentioned on the ShowConnect with Tricia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patriciaasandersHigh Five Strategies: https://www.highfivestrategies.com/Brian Emerson discussing polarities on the People Business podcast: https://peoplebusinesspodcast.com/brianemerson/Coach Rachel Hanson on People Business: https://peoplebusinesspodcast.com/rachelhanson/________________________Connect with O’Brien McMahon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obrienmcmahon/Learn more about O’Brien: https://obrienmcmahon.com/Timestamps(1:50) - Welcoming Tricia(2:08) - What is the work of High Five Strategies?(10:17) - Why is setting strategy so uncomfortable?(15:30) - How do you help clients come up with the right set of goals?(21:20) - How do you pick one goal without letting the others slip?(25:42) - The "Even Over" statements exercise(31:29) - It's good to know the actual culture of a company(36:23) - Why is clarity so important when it comes to goals as well as knowing your "why" and your "what"?(42:03) - Why won’t you take on a client for less than an 18-month engagement?(43:52) - Where are the biggest pitfalls in implementing strategy?(49:41) - How do you help people become open to change?(57:04) - Where can people reach you?(57:42) - Do you have a personal 35 word strategy?

Ben Eubanks is a writer, speaker, and researcher living in Huntsville, Alabama. His work has been featured in numerous industry publications and his books have been cited by some of the world’s most prestigious universities as a method for instructing the next generation of HR professional. Ben spends his days as the Chief Research Officer for Lighthouse Research & Advisory, a firm that examines and delivers groundbreaking insights on the HR technology market as well as workforce trends in hiring, training, retention, and more.Mentioned on the ShowConnect with Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beneubanks Talent Scarcity: How to Hire and Retain a Shrinking Workforce by Ben Eubanks: https://a.co/d/akBprGPLighthouse Research Advisory: https://lhra.io/Listen to Loran Nordgren’s return interview on People Business: https://peoplebusinesspodcast.com/lorannordgren2/________________________Connect with O’Brien McMahon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obrienmcmahon/Learn more about O’Brien: https://obrienmcmahon.com/________________________Timestamps(6:10) - Why did you write Talent Scarcity?(10:31) - Can you explain what has been happening with the birth rate in America?(14:59) - What’s the difference between a scarcity and a shortage?(17:56) - How are companies approaching the people/talent scarcity dilemma?(26:04) - Where does the gig economy play into the scarcity discussion?(33:01) - How do you see companies shifting hiring to remain competitive in the coming market?(37:10) - What is the hidden labor market?(48:34) - How do you see organizations embracing this as part of the culture?(51:46) - Leading is reminding/the Forgetting Curve(56:10) - Do you see organizations doing anything different in how they market themselves to attract qualified applicants?(1:00:08) - Final thoughts: AI, the creativity killer? 

Rachel Hanson is a Builder with Built to Lead, a band of personal and leadership coaches helping individuals and teams awaken and transform. Prior to joining BTL, Rachel spent 12 years as a Division I Women's Softball head coach at Stanford and Dartmouth. Mentioned on the ShowLearn more about Build to Lead: https://builttolead.com/Rachel’s profile on the Build to Lead site: https://builttolead.com/rachel-hanson/Rachel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-hanson-48121817Meru (film): https://www.merufilm.com/Listen to Chet Scott’s interview on People Business: https://peoplebusinesspodcast.com/chetscott/Timestamps(2:14) - Welcoming Rachel.(3:01) - How do you describe Built to Lead and the work you do?(4:43) - How did you get introduced to Built to Lead in the first place?(5:37) - How has your coaching changed since starting? (13:01) - How do we see clearly the stories we are telling ourselves?(14:38) - What does discovery look like with a new client? (16:16) - What are your favorite discovery questions?(17:55) - What does the work in those first practices look like?(19:44) - How can you tell if someone lacks clarity? (23:35) - How do we change our beliefs once we’ve discovered them?(37:23) - Is there anything else we haven’t covered on the concept of changing the stories we tell ourselves?(46:03) - Where do you recommend people start with the writing/journaling?(48:55) - How do you help people who won't be honest with themselves because they are scared it will mean having to make a drastic change?(55:02) - How do you coach your clients when it comes to defining their purpose?(59:50) - What elements of this work have most influenced your life?(1:01:15) - What is a story that you changed about yourself?

Gretchen McMahon has had a wide and varied career as a horse show announcer, needlepoint belt maker, and sports photographer, all while raising her three boys full-time (one of whom happens to host this podcast). For our 200th episode, please welcome O'Brien's mom to the show. In this conversation, Gretchen shares how she has repeatedly adapted her work to align with her passions, building several successful businesses along the way.  Mentioned on the ShowGretchen McMahon Photography website: https://www.gretchenmcmahonphotography.com/Timestamps(1:07) - Welcoming Gretchen(1:14) - What was your first job?(8:40) - What made you a good door-to-door salesperson?(9:51) - What did you learn from sales?(14:03) - Why did you not like working for people in the stores but you did like it at the horse shows?(14:44) - What was the transition like going from doing the thing (riding) to working at the thing (announcing the show)?(16:11) - What made you a good horse show announcer?(18:21) - How did you decide to leave your work behind and raise a family?(19:51) - What was your work like as you continued to build a family?(22:34) - How did you decide to turn your needlepoint belt hobby into a business?(33:49) - How did you transition from amateur photograph (giving photos away) to professional (selling them)?(35:51) - How did you figure out how to price your work?(37:02) - Why don’t you like the term "side hustle"?(37:42) - Beyond making money, what does work mean to you?(40:43) - What was your attitude around learning new things for business?(45:10) - What have you learned from all the work you've done over the years?

Mag Retelewski is the driving force behind Clarteza, an innovation consultancy dedicated to amplifying growth through deep consumer understanding rooted in psychology and neuroscience. With 20 years of experience as an innovation strategist, she has advised Fortune 500 and mid-sized companies, including brands like Nestlé, Gallo, S.C. Johnson, Honest Company, Purina, and Blue Diamond Growers and many others. Her passion for understanding people fuels her work, delivering insights that inspire impactful solutions across industries and the globe. She has worked in the US, Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa.Mentioned on the ShowMag Retelewski on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mag-retelewskiClarteza – website: https://www.clarteza.com/Listen to Megan Lally discuss better relationships making better business: https://peoplebusinesspodcast.com/meganlally/Timestamps(1:43) - Welcoming Mag.(2:20) - How would you describe what you do?(3:43) - How do you define innovation?(7:22) - How do you begin to organize around a problem?(8:42) - Can having a hypothesis hurt you in the beginning?(11:20) - Do you have an example of unexpected outcomes?(16:09) - How do we ask the right questions?(17:51) - What are the characteristics of a research good question?(23:09) - What do you do with the research once you have it?(29:38) - How do you prime people before brainstorming to break out of their typical patterns?(32:14) - How do you break through limiting mindsets and corporate personas?(38:25) - Can you talk about the importance of liking each other?(43:07) - Does having a large team collaboration lead to better results?(49:14) - How do we apply all this to employee experience?(52:15) - Final thoughts.

Brad Englert is the author of Spheres of Influence: How to Create and Nurture Authentic Business Relationships, a practical guide to help emerging and established leaders develop and perfect the critical hard skill of building effective and lasting professional relationships. Brad has over 40 years of experience in the private and public sectors, including 22 years at Accenture and eight as Chief Information Officer at The University of Texas at Austin.Mentioned on the Show:Brad has set up a special link, exclusive for the People Business audience: https://bradenglert.com/peoplebusiness/Spheres of Influence, Brad’s book: https://a.co/d/5InNcHVConnect with Brad Englert on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradenglertTimestamps(1:52) - Welcoming Brad.(2:08) - Why did you write a book on relationships?(4:38 ) - How does one begin thinking about building a network for their career?(6:19) - How do we maximize our everyday relationships at work by being intentional?(10:10) - How do you recommend people shift their mindset from being all about ‘me’ to caring about others' success?(12:07 ) - How do you think about providing value to people in your network?(14:55) - How do you encourage people to take a longer time horizon?(26:03) - What is the coaching you had to give the most to develop this skill?(30:11) - How do you share your values with the team and learn theirs?(39:16) - How do you stay in touch with the external group differently than with the internal group?(44:15) - How do you advise people to approach helpfulness authentically?(47:43) - What is dog flooding?(49:03) - What is power mapping?(50:18) - Any final thoughts?

Carrie O'Neill is the owner of Possibilities Farm where she leads Equine Education Experiences for individuals and corporate teams. Carrie is a dynamic speaker and author who uses horse wisdom to help clients shift perspectives and reveal new possibilities. Her diverse leadership experiences as a healthcare regulatory attorney, hospital association executive, and consultant contribute to a uniquely effective approach for engaging teams. She is currently serving on the board of the Nokota® Horse Conservancy and previously served on the board of the Equine Experiential Education Association. She is the author of the award-winning book HorsePower Your Hospital: A Guide for Leaders to Improve the Healthcare Experience and the upcoming book HorsePower Your Team.Mentioned on the ShowConnect w/ Carrie: www.coneillconsulting.com Possibilities Farm website: http://www.possibilitiesfarm.com/Learn more about Carrie and see pictures of Jackpot and Sweet Potato: http://www.possibilitiesfarm.com/our-team.htmlHorsepower Your Hospital (book): https://a.co/d/gTg5Z9DTimestamps(2:04) - Welcoming Carrie.(2:35) - How did you start doing Equine Education?(3:43) - What made you want to get into this work?(8:13) - What can we learn from how horses function in a herd?(10:20) - What "strengths" are horses looking for in their herd mates?(13:04) - How do horses switch responsibility for different tasks in the herd?(22:23) - How does the herd reorganize when other horses come or go?(28:39) - How are horses reading humans?(39:04) - Can you share some of your stories?(59:42) - Where can people find you and your farm?

Cheryl Fields Tyler is the founder and CEO of Blue Beyond Consulting. Cheryl’s focus for over 30 years has been building organizations where both the business and the people thrive. Blue Beyond recently released an updated study analyzing what different generations look for in their work. Mentioned on the ShowBlue Beyond Consulting: https://www.bluebeyondconsulting.com/Send Cheryl an email: cheryl@bluebeyondconsulting.comCheryl on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylfieldstylerTimestamps(1:38) - Welcoming Cheryl.(2:25) - Can you introduce yourself and tell us your work origin story?(3:50) - Can you talk about the research you’ve done on generations in the workplace?(5:54) - Are you seeing enough major differences in generations or is it just nuances?(15:33) - What are some of the things that are important to different generations?(23:44) - Can you talk more about what employees want from a value standpoint?(27:53) - Is it that we want a place where internally or externally it aligns with our values?(31:52) - What do you think about some of the backlashes to DEI we are seeing at large companies?(37:27) - What do you see as the biggest differences in generations?(44:48) - How should leaders balance autonomy and accountability?(47:08) - What do you say to the people down on Gen Z?(53:54) - What do people get wrong when interpreting the data you put out?(55:04) - Where is the best place for people to find you?

Charles Feltman has spent 25 years as an executive and leadership coach helping individuals, teams, and entire organizations become exceptional at building and maintaining strong trust. Charles is the author of The Thin Book of Trust: An Essential Primer for Building Trust at Work, now in its 3rd edition.Mentioned on the ShowThe Thin Book of Trust (book): https://a.co/d/0kT51MICharles Feltman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesfeltmanInsight Coaching: https://insightcoaching.com/business-coaching/Essentialism (book): https://a.co/d/d0ZnyXxPeople Business episode on Clarity with Ann Latham: https://peoplebusinesspodcast.com/annlatham/Timestamps(1:37) - Welcoming Charles.(2:20) - How do you define trust?(4:09) - What are the four components of trust?(13:37) - What is the right amount of care in the workplace?(22:35) - What is "internal congruence"?(27:19) - What advice do you have for younger people who want to build a sense of inner congruence?(29:18) - Can you talk about a perceived lack of sincerity?(33:40) - How do you help clients keep commitments in a busy world?(35:31) - What are some strategies to say no without burning trust?(42:07) - How do we balance a need to appear competent with the reality that we will fail?(47:01) - How do we repair damaged trust?(49:15) - Final thoughts on building trust.

John Block is the CEO and Co-Founder of Unity Partners, a principles-based private equity firm that partners investors and operators to build better together. John serves in multiple senior leadership roles across the firm and is responsible for helping drive Unity’s Partner & Propel investment strategy while working with the firm’s investment teams to identify strong, ambitious leaders in attractive markets. Based in Dallas, Texas, Unity’s core principles provide a key foundation for the firm to build outstanding people-based services and technology organizations.Mentioned on the ShowLearn more about Unity Partners: https://unitypartnerslp.com/Connect with John Block on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnablockStart with Why by Simon Sinek (book): https://a.co/d/gC05b7CRadical Candor by Kim Scott (book): https://a.co/d/3rGAZffTimestamps(2:16) - Welcoming John.(3:07) - How did Unity Partners come to be?(7:14) - Where did Unity's operating framework come from?(12:30) - What does it mean to "be the best at getting better"?(14:51) - How do you push yourself to be better every day?(17:33) - What does abundance look like in a private equity firm?(19:42) - How are you impacting motivation and performance?(22:01) - How do you balance the spirit of abundance with accountability?(23:25) - How do you set a culture of accountability?(26:10) - How do you create a psychologically safe environment?(27:46) - How do you fight (disagree) at Unity?(31:15) - Define the difference between group thinking and team thinking.(33:05) - How are you evaluating the leaders of businesses?(40:32) - What would be a red flag that would turn you off to somebody?(43:08) - What do you mean that "being boringly consistent doesn’t mean you are boring"?(46:10) - Where do you see private equity going as an industry?(52:42) - What is the purpose of business?(53:30) - Where can people find you?