Closing The Gap With Denise Cooper

How do boundaries evolve with the shift from being in person to working remotely? What does working from home mean for the future of HR? How do we think about building a diverse network and community even when working hybrid or remote? How do we think about the structure of the work that's being done? What are the implications of a 4-day work week in a hybrid/remote environment? We will be talking about these questions in more in this week's episode. If you've been wondering how to lead your organization through the transition to hybrid and remote work - this is the episode for you. This week, we interview Deborah Snow-Walsh for her expert take on the future of work. Snow-Walsh's expertise includes consulting for corporations regarding their internal policies, executive search processes, and coaching for leaders.  She has been involved with HRPS, and was co-chair of its annual conference and various planning committees.  This week kicks off a 12-month long series, where Deborah Snow-Walsh will b

What would health equity look like in America?Health equity means giving patients the care they need when they need it. What role do social determinants play in the likelihood of positive health outcomes? Education, health care, economic stability, environmental stresses, and social/communal factors account for over 80% of health outcomes. This means only 20% of care actually comes from medical providers and care. In this episode, Denise Cooper talks about the that role social determinants of care play in our healthcare systems. Denise also discusses her ideas on how we can begin closing the gap on the systemic issues that contribute to chronic illness, disease, and decreases in the quality of life for people across America. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOWIn this episode, Denise answers questions such as... What would equitable access to healthcare look like in America? How do healthcare resources vary between someone who is high income vs. someone who is low income? How do managers take income and privileg

How do we ensure that when we jump ship from one company to the next shiny opportunity, we are getting what we actually need from our employer? This requires an in-depth look at what will actually make your workflows more efficient, more productive, and more joyful.  People love structure - we can leverage this when asking for what we need. Structured asks give employers a sense of control, which helps to move them forward towards your goals. The more specific you are in what you ask for, the higher the likelihood you'll get what you want. By following 5 intentional steps, you can show up more fully and better advocate for your worth in the face of adversity. In this week's episode, we will take a deep dive based on our conversation from Episode 27 with Laura Fredricks. Ever wonder why some people can ask for something and get it, while others struggle? What if there's a formula that could improve your odds of getting a raise, increasing donor giving, or getting a promotion or job? Laura Fredricks,

We've all heard horror stories about people who have hated taking personality assessments for work. However, when done well, a personality assessment (such as DISC, Insights, Meyers-Briggs, etc) is a way of increasing your self-awareness. A common critique of personality assessments is that they're based on whatever emotion you're feeling at the time you take it. However, If you're taking a good report, it SHOULD be able to capture to capture where you're at emotionally in the moment and compare it to the baseline. When we take these types of assessments, it's very easy for us to point out traits that we don't identify with. One thing to remember and recognize with personality assessments is that the point is never to assess the totality of who you are. A good personality assessment will not put you in a box, but rather help you realize what strengths you can pull from to get through challenging work experiences. Additionally, by taking several assessments at once, we can get a better understanding of our hab

Why doesn't change stick? Why don't leaders do better at managing change? To answer these questions, we talk about the most popular tool for making change happen in companies - gatherings. A gathering could mean offsites, workshops, town halls, conferences, and webinars. Gatherings are where change happens. When we're matching a message with a moment, we create an effect with other people. When we understand the tool of gathering, we have a better chance of making change stick. Where we go wrong is by focusing on the grand production of HOW we present the change - what's in the binder, the presentation, etc. However, people don't change because of content, we change based on our reaction to the content being shown. In this week's episode, Denise Cooper interviews organizational psychologist and communication strategist Lindsey Caplan for her take on what we get wrong when it comes to change management in organizations. Listen in to better understand how you can drive change in your organization. Keep up wi

What is the difference between critical thinking and non-judgement? How do you respond when someone says something that's downright offensive? How do we close the gap with others who have very different value systems than ourselves? The way we navigate the world informs the biases we carry with us. But what if our life experiences could inform us to better support those around us? In the workplace, in our communities, and the world. In this week's episode, Denise Cooper interviews Founder and Principal Consultant of Brim-Donahoe & Associates, LueRachelle Brim-Atkins for her take on how we can keep a level head in the face of workplace conflict and strife. Keep up with LueRachelle Brim-Atkins: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://diversitycollaborative.com/luerachelle-brim-atkins/&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw06hWfamHMtLidQr_uaMOLm (https://diversitycollaborative.com/luerachelle-brim-atkins/) https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/luerachelle

What does it mean to show up vulnerably when it comes to topics you don't know? How do you balance good intentions with the reality that sometimes you will be in the wrong? When it comes to issues of belonging and inclusion, we tend to stick to people who we know are like us in some way. This is often unconscious, but as a result - people are marginalized in the process. In this week's episode, Alex Wait answers the question, what role can straight white men play in "social justice"? And bigger than that - how do we build lives that seek to welcome others in, even when they're from a much different background than ourselves? Keep up with Alex Wait: Epics Podcast: EpicsPodcast.com https://www.google.com/url?q=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/epics-podcast/id1573258127&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw0yeDDux5tVjp3u1g8Yf9Ko (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/epics-podcast/id1573258127)

What role does your particular comfort zone play in diversity & inclusion in your organization? How do we bring historically marginalized individuals into the C-Suite? We know that diversity brings innovation, however, women and people of color are underrepresented in the board room. We keep hearing "we don't know where to find them". 70-80% of jobs are based on who you know. However, what does this mean for people who are outside of your normal circle? We like working with people we feel comfortable with - but we only get comfortable if we are exposed. In this week's episode, Denise Cooper interviews performance coach Denise Conroy for her take on what it will take to get more women, people of color, and other historically marginalized groups leading change in their organizations and in the world. Keep up with Denise Conroy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conroydenise/

What role do the stories we tell ourselves play in office conflicts? Are the stories you tell yourself about how your boss feels about you rooted in reality or fear? Our emotions are our primary link to memory, connection, and disconnection. Frustratingly enough, it isn't always possible to simply "be more logical" about an emotional situation. How can we use our breath to rewire the neurochemicals that fire off in our frontal cortex in times of stress? At our core, people all want to know that they are safe, heard, seen, and relevant. If you've been searching for meaningful tools to work through workplace conflict, this is the episode for you. In this week's episode, Denise Cooper interviews Human Performance Specialist Pamela Brooks-Richards, for her take on how we can eliminate workplace conflicts at the source. Keep up with Pamela Brooks-Richards: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ccsuccess/

A “compassionate achiever” is someone who attains success by helping others. Many leaders today believe in a dog-eat-dog mentality, where only the strongest survive. However, if you look under the headlines and deeper into the science, all the empirical evidence shows that success is not only greater but more sustainable when achieved through a “survival of the kindest”/compassionate approach. Throughout the pandemic, many organizations found themselves going through seminars and workshops that focused on empathy. However, empathy has limits - just because you're feeling what someone else is feeling doesn't mean you're giving them the support they need. Instead, Chris Kukk offers up the idea that compassion can drive us to create action that ripples out meaningful change. If you've found yourself wondering how you can leverage your skills around collaboration, servant leadership, and heart to better lead your team - this is the episode for you. In this week's episode, Denise Cooper interviews author of The

You know how to prioritize resource management in your organization, but what about boundary management? What role is boundary leakage playing in the productivity of your team? In many cases, individual contributors and leaders alike are not clear on what it is that they're accountable for. Once we know what we are accountable for, how do our conversations evolve? Anytime we are working towards an organizational goal, only 10% of the work is task-related. The other 90% is people. If you've found yourself wondering how you can bring more accountability to your team or organization one conversation at a time - this is the episode for you. In this week's episode, Alexa Greer interviews public speaker, podcast host, and author Denise Cooper for her take on how to create a culture that prioritizes accountability. Listen in for Denise Cooper's expert advice on how to influence change in your working relationships with these simple changes. Keep up with Denise Cooper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisecooper/ ht

Did you know: in order to be able to make strategic changes, you have to change your mindset away from planning and implementation. Strategic thinking does not equal strategic implementation. These are completely different ways of thinking. 97% of executives say that strategic thinking is their biggest concern. 81% of executives don't know where to start when it comes to strategic thinking! By making space for problem solving without immediately focusing on the implementation piece, you can lead your organization to reach greater heights over time. In this week's episode, Dr. Julia Sloan talks us through her Three-Stage Model for learning strategic thinking. Dr. Sloan is a leading authority on the cognitive aspect of strategic thinking and is widely recognized for her pioneering work on the application of complex cognitive theory to everyday strategic thinking practice in global business and public policy. If you find yourself wondering how to be a better strategist, this is the episode for you. Listen in fo

What is strategic thinking? What does it look like in the C-Suite or the workplace? We often think about our careers in terms of taking the "fast path" to success - however learning is cumulative. To become a strong strategist, you have to implement lessons that you've learned across your entire career journey. In this week's episode, Dr. Julia Sloan talks us through her Three-Stage Model for learning strategic thinking. Dr. Sloan is a leading authority on the cognitive aspect of strategic thinking and is widely recognized for her pioneering work on the application of complex cognitive theory to everyday strategic thinking practice in global business and public policy. If you find yourself wondering how to be a better strategist, this is the episode for you. Listen in for Dr. Sloans 's expert advice on how you can apply your expertise to make an impact in your organization and in the world. Keep up with Dr. Sloan: https://www.sloaninternationalconsulting.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjuliasloan/ Book:

How do we start thinking about what we really need from our boss? Often, our mind goes straight to getting that next raise. However, for most people - the real key to happiness is a bit more holistic. For many workers, they find that the ideal work situation requires a fair balance of income, time spent at the job, and attention required. Have you thought about talking to your boss about what can be done to balance the scales? The process can be more collaborative than you think. In some cases, a raise may be what you need. In other cases, the answer may be rearranging your daily job routine, re-evaluating the tasks that suck up your time, and negotiating a new way to get the work done. If you find yourself wondering how to ask your boss for what you need, this is the episode for you. Listen in for Denise Cooper's expert advice on how to lead this conversation with your boss to get an outcome you'll be happy with. Keep up with Denise Cooper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisecooper/ https://rllessons.com/

How do we deal with someone who is a work jerk? We've all worked alongside a prickly boss in the past. Between the Great Resignation, the ongoing pandemic, and increasing economic disruption many workers are finding their tolerance for insensitive bosses has gone down the drain. If you find yourself wondering how you can more effectively deal with difficult colleagues, this is the episode for you. Listen in for practical advice on addressing interpersonal workplace challenges. In this week's episode, Denise Cooper interviews interpersonal work relationship expert, consultant, and author Louise Carnachan for her take on the good, the bad, and the ugly of workplace communication. Keep up with Louise Carnachan: https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.louisecarnachan.com&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw2D7XkSDEA3I_CQaL7aPz2K (www.louisecarnachan.com) Work Jerks: How to Cope with Difficult Bosses and Colleagues (June, 2022, available for presale) https://www.amazon.com/Work-Jerks-Difficul

How do we set boundaries so that we can all feel safe to push back in the workplace? Whether you're working in a virtual, hybrid, or face-to-face environment there are times when you may find yourself needing to set boundaries with someone who simply doesn't get it. This person could be a colleague you're collaborating with, someone from a siloed department you've never met, it could even be your boss. It is key to learn how to set boundaries in a work environment. This ensures that you walk away from doing the work still feeling whole. When we feel overwhelmed or panicked - our brains simply shut down. It doesn't matter how smart you are. No one is immune. By learning new strategies to interact with our colleagues, we can make better decisions that are grounded in mutual understanding. This helps us to bring our authentic selves to work while leading inclusive and high-performing teams. In this week's episode, Denise Cooper interviews Human Performance Specialist Pamela Brooks-Richards, for her take on how

How can we better support people with disabilities in the workplace? What role does language play in the way our world frames disability? Business conversations are often rife with ableist language - saying business results are "paralyzed" or that a conversation was "tone-deaf" can reinforce negative stereotypes about people with disabilities in the workplace. Once we know better, how do we do better? HR often thinks that the goal of disability awareness is to create a work environment where as many people as possible feel comfortable disclosing their disability. When instead, the goal should be creating an environment that's inclusive for everyone - whether they have a disability or not. How can we as leaders be proactive about accessibility, to take the burden off of disabled people to constantly advocate for their needs? In this week's episode, Denise Cooper interviews public speaker, DEI consultant, and content creator (@BlindishLatina), Catarina Rivera, for her take on how managers can become an advocat

2022 has brought a slew of changes - some workplaces are switching to hotelling instead of requiring employees in their offices, while other organizations have chosen to stay fully remote. However, as the workplace continues to evolve, it has become clear that hybrid work is here to stay. Working remote during a pandemic calls for more than flexibility from managers - it requires compassion to truly close the gap. For some employees, working remotely has given them a boost in productivity. They’ve learned how to complete their work duties in less time. What does this mean when being called back into the office? Do we work more slowly to “look productive”? Or is there another way? In this week's episode, Denise Cooper interviews award-winning international speaker, Amazon #1 best-selling author, and renowned culture change and project management expert, Colin D. Ellis for his take on how managers can address the compassion gap in hybrid teams. Keep up with Colin D. Ellis: www.linkedin.com/in/colindellis www.

How do we create psychological safety for historically marginalized communities in the workplace? Inclusivity matters at every level in an organization - from the board room to the front lines. How do you ensure that all employees feel a sense of belonging and respect? This requires long-term about your company's approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Inclusivity has to become part of your company's DNA and corporate strategy. In the same way that your quarterly earnings, turnover, and financial reports are discussed at each meeting, we can do the same for DEI. In this week's episode, Denise Cooper interviews Chief Change Agent and Founder of Flying Elephant, Deanna Singh for her take on how companies can begin prioritizing inclusivity in their organization to help their teams reach new heights. Keep up with Deanna Singh: Website: https://www.deannasingh.com/flying-elephant Podcast: https://bit.ly/3sZ7tEo Keep an eye out for her book, Actions Speak Louder, releasing May 31, 2022.

How does your project management style evolve to different work cultures? Project management is more than knowing how to organize spreadsheets, GAANT charts, and building goal charts. If you're a project manager who hopes to influence your organization's strategic outcomes you have your work cut out for you. This means building your skills in EQ and learning to lead others regardless of their personality traits, leadership preferences, and reservations. In this week's episode, Denise Cooper interviews Global President & Chief Project Officer, Jana Axline for her take on how project managers can up their contribution by driving inclusive, high-performing teams. Keep up with Jana Axline: projectgenetics.com Podcast: Corporate CPR