Made for Impact Gretchen Schott

"Great problem-solving is not just about finding any solution, but the right solution that truly addresses the core issue." - Gretchen Schott
We seem to always struggle with finding the perfect solution to challenges at work or in your personal life. In this episode of "Made For Impact," Gretchen Schott unpacks the importance of defining the real problem before jumping to solutions, and she offers practical steps to sharpen your ability to navigate tough negotiations, brainstorm effectively, and stay focused on what truly matters.
Tune in to discover how you can identify blind spots in your thinking, rally your team around the best ideas, and develop practical solutions that drive real, transformative results. 
In this episode, you’ll learn: 
Why breaking down big problems into manageable steps ensures steady progress and focus that achieves impactful solutions
What hands-on activities can boost your problem-solving skills and also build your leadership muscles
Just how powerful valuable feedback exchange with your network illuminates missable areas and helps elevate decision-making
 
Get in touch with Gretchen, and let her know which impactful leaders you’d like to hear from: Connect on LinkedIn or Subscribe to our newsletter.
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://link.chtbl.com/QY4Knw_x  
Strong leaders at all organizational levels are requisites for business success. Gretchen Schott's GrowU Leadership Pathways keeps a leadership ‘pipeline’ flowing to ensure skilled and competent leaders are present throughout every brand in the Threefold Portfolio. This episode of Made for Impact delves into the fifth of six core competencies in this leadership journey – Problem Solving. 
 
Jump into the conversation:
[00:00] Introduction by Made for Impact with host Gretchen Schott
[00:20] Redefining problem-solving as an exercise for your brain 
[01:16] Understanding the common pitfalls when problem-solving
[02:21] Ways to improve problem-solving skills at work
[03:53] Putting those new problem-solving skills to practice 
[07:12] Working your way towards achieving milestones
[07:41] A surprise gift for avid listeners and subscribers
[09:38] Acknowledging summer challenges for parents
 

"Understanding internal motivation in both leaders and team members is crucial for improving communication and clarity within the team." - Jen Chapman
Overcoming personal challenges transforms how you look at your life and can dramatically transform your leadership style and team dynamics. In this episode of Made For Impact, Jennifer Chapman, certified life and leadership coach, best-selling author, and resilient stroke survivor, talks with host Gretchen Schott about her journey from sales leader to leadership coach and the personal challenge she overcame to put her life’s purpose into perspective.
Jennifer and Gretchen discuss how tapping into our internal motivations and facing life's unexpected turns can fundamentally enhance communication and leadership within your team. They also discuss the pivotal role of self-awareness in conflict management and how understanding the deep 'why' behind our actions can empower ourselves and those around us to thrive. Through her coaching, Jen leverages her rich background in negotiating sales and overcoming personal adversities to help leaders and teams enhance their communication, conflict management, and collaboration skills.
 
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How understanding your own internal motivations not only boosts your personal clarity but enhances team dynamics dramatically to cultivate a thriving work environment where everyone feels driven and understood.
How to embrace life’s curveballs and transform personal challenges into powerful growth opportunities, personally and professionally.
The importance of harnessing the power of your own “why” to understand and utilize personal and team motivations for a more cohesive and motivated workforce.
 
Connect with Jennifer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferchapmanleadershipcoach/ 
About Just Commit Coaching: https://justcommitcoaching.com/about/ 
Get in touch with Gretchen, and let her know which impactful leaders you’d like to hear from: Connect on LinkedIn or Subscribe to our newsletter.
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://link.chtbl.com/QY4Knw_x  
Strong leaders at all organizational levels are requisites for business success. Gretchen Schott's GrowU Leadership Pathways keeps a leadership ‘pipeline’ flowing to ensure skilled and competent leaders are present throughout every brand in the Threefold Portfolio. This episode of Made for Impact delves into the fifth of six core competencies in this leadership journey – Problem Solving. 
 
Jump into the conversation:
[00:00] Introduction by Made for Impact and guest Jennifer Chapman
[01:48] Jen’s personal journey from sales to life coaching
[05:33] Relationship building in sales and how that contributes to conflict resolution
[09:54] The life-changing impact of her stroke and its timing during her corporate success
[12:23] The questions Jen had to ask herself for deep reflective work
[14:08] Jen’s coaching work and transferable sales skills
[16:02] The impact of self-awareness on self-management
[20:00] Guiding teams to cultivate more empathy
[21:23] Introduction to the "WHY Institute" and the significance of finding one's "why"
[32:05] Translating strategies to conflicts at home
 

"Our purpose journey was around using our brand as a platform to bring forward and give a place for underrepresented talent... It became a way of working beyond just, hey, this is our purpose journey. It became the way the team started to think about everything we were doing." - Elizabell Marquez
Elizabell Marquez, Chief Marketing Officer at Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, shares how one initiative focused on empowering a marginalized creative community by providing a platform for their stories can work towards solving for purpose. Social responsibility isn’t just a buzzword for this company; it is their rally flag, and aligning teams and initiatives towards this concept has helped propel the brand to great heights not only with their consumers, but with their employees.
Elizabell discusses insights into embracing change and the importance of partnerships that align with company missions for lasting impact. Listeners will also hear about the brand's focus on sustainability, and even a sneak peek into new treats for 2024. 
Join Gretchen and Elizabell in this sweet and insightful conversation about making a difference through business, community, and, of course, ice cream. 
 
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The importance of aligning a brand with broader consumer values and societal issues to better reflect and connect with a diverse consumer base. 
The value of strategic partnerships in leveraging brand platforms to promote and integrate underrepresented talents in initiatives.
Businesses must be agile and responsive to market trends while also considering the environmental impact of their products.
 
Connect with Elizabell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabell-rivera-marquez-7811b6/
About Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream: https://www.icecream.com/us/en/brands/dreyers
 
Get in touch with Gretchen, and let her know which impactful leaders you’d like to hear from: Connect on LinkedIn or Subscribe to our newsletter.
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://link.chtbl.com/QY4Knw_x  
Strong leaders at all organizational levels are requisites for business success. Gretchen Schott's GrowU Leadership Pathways keeps a leadership ‘pipeline’ flowing to ensure skilled and competent leaders are present throughout every brand in the Threefold Portfolio. This episode of Made for Impact delves into the fourth of six core competencies in this leadership journey – Problem Solving. 
 
Jump into the conversation:
[00:00] Introduction to Elizabell Marquez
[04:52] The 60-year history of Haagen Dazs ice cream
[10:24] Setting a purpose and journey with partnerships
[14:39] Evolving Dreyer’s to meet customer demand for healthier options
[17:31] New flavor sneak peek
[20:29] Elizabell’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

"Leadership is about balance—the push and the pull. You need to know when to drive results and when to inspire and motivate your team." - Joe Folkman
Joe Folkman, psychometrician and co-founder of Zenger Folkman, specializes in leadership inspiration and teaching companies to build trust among their employees. He covers the role of interpersonal skills, the impact of trust on national economies, and simple behaviors that boost trust within organizations.
Joe and host Gretchen Schott share personal experiences and delve deep into the nuances of leadership styles, discussing the delicate balance between "push" and "pull" competencies. Together, they make a compelling argument for leadership that emphasizes strong relationships and effective conflict resolution.
 
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Trust is influenced by factors such as relationship building, consistency, and expertise, and its presence or absence can significantly impact an organization's success. 
Assessments can be more predictive and insightful when they incorporate the perspectives of others rather than self-assessment alone.
Learning to value diversity and differences, understanding one's limitations in diverse perspectives, and inviting feedback to build trust are necessary skills for resolving conflicts.
 
Connect with Joe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-folkman-4766813/ 
About Joe’s Company: https://zengerfolkman.com/ 
 
Get in touch with Gretchen, and let her know which impactful leaders you’d like to hear from: Connect on LinkedIn or Subscribe to our newsletter.
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://link.chtbl.com/QY4Knw_x  
Strong leaders at all organizational levels are requisites for business success. Gretchen Schott's GrowU Leadership Pathways keeps a leadership ‘pipeline’ flowing to ensure skilled and competent leaders are present throughout every brand in the Threefold Portfolio. 
 
Jump into the conversation:
[00:00] Introduction to Made for Impact
[00:44] Introducing Joe Folkman
[04:41] Shifting Zenger Folkman’s approach to assessment results
[06:31] Defining the push and pull of leadership styles
[09:57] Gretchen’s personal experience with 360s
[15:03] How to lay the foundation for successful assessments
[17:42] What inspired Joe to write Trifecta of Trust
[20:30] The three factors of building trust
[24:37] How leaders can effectively navigate and address conflicts between team members
[28:17] Developing skills that support conflict management

"We can't lead others if we can't lead ourselves. We can't serve others if we aren't taking time to serve ourselves and our own needs as well." – Gretchen Schott
Conflict is often viewed negatively, but it’s a part of daily life. Reflecting on areas of conflict gives you an opportunity to grow. In this insightful episode of Made For Impact, host Gretchen Schott digs into conflict management with a special focus on internal conflicts that leaders may face within themselves. She provides thought-provoking commentary on why conflict arises and how it can affect personal progress and leadership effectiveness.
Gretchen empowers you to lead with intention, tackle internal challenges head-on, and foster the growth necessary for profound personal and professional impact.
 
In this episode, you’ll learn: 
 
Why understanding and managing one's internal conflicts is crucial for personal well-being and for leading others effectively.
A hands-on exercise to organize thoughts and tasks, prioritize workload more effectively, and tackle activities you might be avoiding or causing stress.
How leaders can react more positively and be more present in challenging situations with their teams.
 
Get in touch with Gretchen, and let her know which impactful leaders you’d like to hear from: Connect on LinkedIn or Subscribe to our newsletter.
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://link.chtbl.com/QY4Knw_x  
Strong leaders at all organizational levels are a requisite for business success. The GrowU Leadership Pathways, developed by Gretchen Schott, keeps a leadership ‘pipeline’ flowing to ensure skilled and competent leaders are present throughout every brand in the Threefold Portfolio. This episode of Made for Impact dives into one of the six core competencies in this leadership journey – Conflict Management. 
 
Jump into the conversation:
[00:00] Introduction to Made for Impact
[00:16] A different way of examining self-management of conflict
[02:35] What to do when the overwhelm and anxiety threaten your workload
[04:51] Planning out an approach once you’ve identified tasks and a timeline
[06:10] Why it’s important to self-reflect in personal conflict management to become a better leader
[07:04] Understanding the role of self-care in leadership
 

"If we start growing the company and we're not growing the people, the tension between the company and the people stretches and stretches and stretches. Eventually, it's going to snap or break." - Pamela Carrington-Rotto
Dr. Pamela Carrington-Rotto is an executive coach specializing in neural leadership and neurolinguistic programming. With extensive experience facilitating company growth and strategic thinking, she offers insights into leadership, conflict resolution, and cultivating company culture. 
Host Gretchen Schott welcomes Pamela to discuss the intricacies of scaling up in business, managing a multigenerational workforce, and the importance of aligning core values with productivity within a team. 
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Though deeper and more tedious, strategic work is difficult to grasp but crucial for effective scaling. 
It is important to align team members with a company's core values and ensure their productivity to create a successful and cohesive culture through coaching and skills training.
Useful consensus and decision-making models for promoting quicker alignment and more efficient conflict resolution.
Connect with Pamela: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelacarringtonrotto/ 
About Pamela’s Company: http://markayadvisors.com/ 
 
Get in touch with Gretchen, and let her know which impactful leaders you’d like to hear from: Connect on LinkedIn or Subscribe to our newsletter.
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://link.chtbl.com/QY4Knw_x  
Strong leaders at all organizational levels are a requisite for business success. The GrowU Leadership Pathways, developed by Gretchen Schott, keeps a leadership ‘pipeline’ flowing to ensure skilled and competent leaders are present throughout every brand in the Threefold Portfolio. This episode of Made for Impact delves into the third of fourth core competencies in this leadership journey – Conflict Management. 
 
Jump into the conversation:
[00:00] Introduction to Dr. Pamela Carrington-Rotto
[03:56] The women who have impacted Pamela’s life significantly
[09:05] The seeds of initiative and presenting ideas
[12:32] What Pamela told Gretchen’s team about decision-making
[15:18] How a four-finger rule encourages consensus without stigma
[21:21] Understanding how you’re getting in your own way in making team decisions
[26:38] How to have the right mindset when facilitating team conversations
[31:07] Pamela’s pathway to scaling up
[35:07] The importance of growing your people as you grow your business
[40:31] Gauging team members’ productivity and values alignment for company growth
[46:14] Avoiding snap judgments about team member motivation