Leading Real Change

Dr Jacqueline Kerr

Welcome to the Leading Real Change podcast with host Dr Jacqueline Kerr, an expert in workplace culture change. I interview dedicated and passionate Changemakers about their careers, how they lead change, and what leaders can do today to make a difference to build healthy, inclusive workplace cultures for all. I am excited to share these examples of real workplace change with you. You’ll learn about effective strategies that are working and how to overcome real barriers to change that challenge us everyday. I hope you’ll feel inspired and more confident to keep leading change in your workplace. Please share this podcast with other HR, DEI or ERG leaders who you know are working hard, but are struggling to have impact, and need more support to effectively create a thriving workplace culture for all today.

  1. 26.06.2024

    Incentives that can improve workplaces with Professor and Author Uri Gneezy

    In this week’s in-depth episode of the Leading Real Change podcast, I discuss the value of incentives with behavioral economics professor Uri Gneezy, who is also the author of the book ‘Mixed Signals: How Incentives Really Work’. In this episode, Uri explains how incentives really work, as they often don’t deliver the results we expect. In fact, they can backfire. Should you charge more in hot weather for a cold drink or charge less in cold weather for a cold drink? This is why every new incentive should be tested before being scaled. Uri and I discuss the different social and systems challenges in the workplace including remote work, paid leave, and affirmative action. Uri explains when incentives can work and how incentives are not always financial, sometimes a positive workplace culture and more focused work hours can incentivize retention and productivity. In some situations, we may not even realize what our incentives are communicating or that our policies we are favoring one group more than another, unintentionally incentivizing certain workplace behaviors. As more companies embrace motivational strategies to engage workers including recognition and rewards programs, understanding the psychology and science behind motivational tools will help convey the right message and outcomes. Although behavioral economics is not a new science, Uri reminds us how little we understand about how humans will react to new stimuli. Uri always tests these assumptions before making recommendations. This is why we should also be skeptical of computer science models that claim they can predict human behavior. Every new situation and solution is new, with new parameters and potential consequences. Checking our assumptions actually play out in real life scenarios, is an important part of learning what works, when and with whom.

    48 мин.
  2. 01.05.2024

    Setting Guardrails for Increased Productivity with CEO Kelly Robinson

    In this week’s invigorating episode of the Leading Real Change podcast, Kelly Robinson, CEO of Panna Knows Recruiting, describes her journey to becoming a more supportive and compassionate leader. Instead of constantly trying to prove her worth, she now values her time and contributions and helps her staff do the same. She focuses on her staff so they can focus on their clients. It’s a win win. Key take aways include: **Transition from Employee to Entrepreneur:** Kelly's journey from being a managing partner to starting her own business highlighted the shift in priorities from pleasing others to focusing on personal fulfillment and work-life balance. **Prioritization and Focus:** Adopting a system of prioritizing tasks and focusing on the three most important things for the day helped Kelly manage her workload more efficiently. **Setting Boundaries:** Kelly learned the importance of setting boundaries, particularly regarding work hours and personal time, to avoid burnout and maintain a healthy lifestyle. **Leading by Example:** By demonstrating a balanced approach to work and personal life, Kelly sets the tone for her team, encouraging them to prioritize their well-being and personal commitments. **Empathy and Support:** Recognizing signs of stress or burnout in team members and offering support, whether it's granting breaks or providing resources for personal development, fosters a supportive work environment. **Transparent Communication:** Kelly emphasizes transparent communication with clients regarding the company's operating hours and encourages open dialogue within the team to address concerns or frustrations effectively. **Individualized Motivation:** Understanding each team member's unique motivations and preferences allows Kelly to tailor rewards and opportunities, fostering a culture of appreciation and personal growth. **Leadership vs. Management:** Kelly distinguishes between leadership and management, highlighting the importance of motivating and empowering employees alongside task delegation and oversight. **Self-Care and Reflection:** Prioritizing self-care activities, such as therapy and personal time, enables Kelly to maintain self-awareness and empathy in her leadership role, leading to more effective communication and decision-making. **Continuous Improvement:** Kelly emphasizes the value of accountability and continuous improvement, encouraging her team to learn from mistakes and strive for incremental progress each day. She advocates for small, consistent actions to improve oneself gradually.

    42 мин.
  3. 17.04.2024

    Operationalizing personal and corporate values with people leader Karen Price

    In this week’s in-depth episode of the Leading Real Change podcast, Karen Price of Progress Software provides very practical tools to define your personal values and how companies can support employees to align their values to create greater energy and purpose at work. Key take aways include: **Aligning Personal and Corporate Values**: Karen emphasizes the importance of aligning personal values with those of the organization. Finding synergies between personal and corporate values can lead to increased connection and energy. **Forgiveness and Self-Compassion**: Karen highlights the importance of forgiving oneself for not being perfect, especially in balancing personal and professional responsibilities. **Reflecting on Values**: It's crucial for individuals to reflect on their own values and how they align with the values of the company they work for. This reflection can lead to greater connection and energy in one's work. **Embedding Values in Processes**: Karen discusses the significance of embedding company values into various processes, such as performance evaluations and promotions, to ensure that employees' contributions are aligned with organizational values. **Inclusive Environment**: Creating an inclusive environment is essential for organizational success. This involves considering diverse perspectives, building communities, and examining processes and structures through an inclusive lens. **Leadership and Inclusion**: Leadership plays a crucial role in fostering an inclusive environment by acknowledging and appreciating different perspectives and backgrounds among employees. **Community Building**: Building communities within the organization fosters inclusivity and allows employees to connect with one another on a deeper level, thereby enhancing their overall experience. **Supporting Wellbeing**: Prioritizing employee wellbeing is essential for preventing burnout. Organizations can support wellbeing through various initiatives, such as wellbeing sessions, employee engagement surveys, and fostering supportive relationships among colleagues. **Baking Wellness In**: Incorporating wellness practices into regular check-ins and processes can help normalize discussions around wellbeing and ensure that employees feel supported in maintaining a healthy work-life balance. **Empowering Employees with Flexibility**: Organizations should empower their employees with flexibility and appreciate their contributions, especially in supporting working parents who often juggle multiple responsibilities. By creating an environment where employees can thrive both personally and professionally, organizations can enhance overall productivity and employee satisfaction.

    46 мин.

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Welcome to the Leading Real Change podcast with host Dr Jacqueline Kerr, an expert in workplace culture change. I interview dedicated and passionate Changemakers about their careers, how they lead change, and what leaders can do today to make a difference to build healthy, inclusive workplace cultures for all. I am excited to share these examples of real workplace change with you. You’ll learn about effective strategies that are working and how to overcome real barriers to change that challenge us everyday. I hope you’ll feel inspired and more confident to keep leading change in your workplace. Please share this podcast with other HR, DEI or ERG leaders who you know are working hard, but are struggling to have impact, and need more support to effectively create a thriving workplace culture for all today.