Time to Reset

Penny Zenker
  • 5.0 (133)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

In a world full of challenges, complexity, and distractions, Time to Reset is your guide to tackling any obstacle with clarity, focus, and a fresh perspective. Join your host, 2 times #1 best-selling author and international keynote speaker, Penny Zenker. Each episode offers actionable strategies, inspiring stories, and practical insights for time management tips, innovation strategies, leadership lessons, problem-solving, business growth, and more. Take this Time to Reset.

  1. 3d ago

    Aligning Executive Leadership For Operational Excellence With John J. Murphy

    Your team can be productive, efficient, and incredibly busy—and still be focused on the wrong things. In this episode of Time to Reset, Penny Zenker sits down with John J. Murphy, global authority on change mastery, operational excellence, and leadership, to explore why leadership alignment is essential for sustainable business performance. John explains why many organizations mistake symptoms for root causes, how individual departments can become highly efficient while the overall business remains inefficient, and why leaders need to stop measuring activity and start examining the entire value stream. As John puts it, a leadership team is like an orchestra: everyone may know how to play their own instrument, but that doesn’t mean they know how to play together. Penny and John unpack lean leadership principles, operational excellence, root cause analysis, customer value, organizational alignment, and the hidden “white space” where time and resources are often wasted. They also explore why standardization can actually create greater flexibility and how the same principle of controlling your inputs applies to today’s use of AI. You’ll discover: Why executive alignment has to come before organizational changeHow to distinguish symptoms from the real root cause of a problemWhy being busy doesn’t necessarily mean you’re creating valueHow departmental efficiency can actually hurt overall performanceWhy leaders need humility to recognize what isn’t workingHow lean thinking helps organizations eliminate waste and improve flowWhy controlling inputs can produce better outputs in business and AIHow to refocus your organization on what creates real value for the customer John also shares a striking real-world example of executives discovering that a process taking 184 days contained surprisingly little actual value-added activity—revealing just how much opportunity can exist in the space between the work. If your organization is working harder but not necessarily moving faster, this conversation will challenge you to rethink focus, efficiency, alignment, and what “productive” really means. It may be time to stop asking, “How can we do this faster?” and start asking, “Should we be doing this at all?” Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

    Aligning Executive Leadership For Operational Excellence With John J. Murphy

  2. Sep 4

    Stop Deflecting Compliments: Learn to Receive

    Why is it so hard to simply accept a compliment? Someone tells you that you did a great job, that you look great, or that they appreciate you, and suddenly you're explaining it away, minimizing it, or deflecting the attention. In this short episode of Time to Reset, Penny Zenker explores why learning to receive can be just as important as learning to give. A compliment is a gift. When we immediately deflect it, we may be missing an opportunity to receive appreciation, recognition, support, and connection. And as leaders, parents, colleagues, and partners, the way we receive also sets an example for the people around us. Penny shares a simple story about accepting compliments that recently came full circle with her own mother, along with a powerful reminder: sometimes the best response really is just “thank you.” In this episode, you'll discover: Why we instinctively deflect or minimize complimentsHow receiving appreciation can strengthen connectionWhy the way leaders receive mattersHow accepting support, recognition, and even difficult emotions can shift your mindsetA simple reset to help you become a better receiverThe next time someone offers you a compliment, recognition, gratitude, or support, notice what happens. Instead of explaining it away, practice receiving the gift. Just say thank you. It might be a much bigger reset than you think. #TimeToReset #PennyZenker #ResetMindset #LeadershipMindset #SelfAwareness #PersonalGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

    Stop Deflecting Compliments: Learn to Receive

  3. Aug 28

    The Psychology Of Leadership: Why Top Leaders Choose Mastery Over Results With Sébastien Page

    What separates exceptional leaders from everyone else? It's not talent. It's not intelligence. And it's not working harder. In this episode of Time to Reset, Penny Zenker sits down with Sébastien Page, Chief Investment Officer at T. Rowe Price and author of The Psychology of Leadership, to explore the mental habits that help leaders thrive under pressure. Together they unpack why the most successful leaders focus on mastery over ego, why resilience is built through setbacks—not avoiding them—and how a psychology-first approach creates stronger teams, better decisions, and long-term success. You'll also discover why leaders need more than measurable goals, how AI changes what leaders should prioritize, and why meaning—not metrics alone—is the key to engagement. In this episode: The difference between mastery goals and performance goalsWhy resilience starts with your mindset—not your circumstancesHow positive psychology differs from toxic positivityThe leadership psychology behind high-performing teamsWhy focusing on process leads to better resultsHow AI is changing effective leadershipThe hidden danger of goal-induced blindnessWhy meaning drives motivation more than metrics Whether you're leading a business, managing a team, or simply trying to become a better decision-maker, this conversation will help you build the mindset needed to succeed in today's rapidly changing world. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Time to Reset for more conversations on leadership, focus, productivity, communication, and navigating change with clarity. Connect with Sébastien Page 📘 The Psychology of Leadership Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

    The Psychology Of Leadership: Why Top Leaders Choose Mastery Over Results With Sébastien Page

  4. Aug 21

    How to Prepare for Conversations without Sounding Scripted

    Scripts can help you prepare for a presentation, sales conversation, negotiation, or difficult conversation. But when you become too dependent on getting every word right, you can lose the one thing that matters most: connection. In this solo episode of Time to Reset Penny Zenker explores how to prepare for important conversations without sounding rehearsed or losing your ability to listen and respond in the moment. Penny breaks down why scripts should be used as a framework rather than something you have to follow word for word, how over-preparing can interfere with authentic communication, and why presence matters in leadership, sales, presentations, and difficult conversations. She also shares how to use AI as a role-play partner to practice conversations, anticipate objections, switch perspectives, and test how your message might be received before a high-stakes interaction. In this episode, you'll learn: How to prepare for difficult conversations without sounding scriptedWhy relying too heavily on a script can hurt connectionHow to stay present and listen during high-stakes conversationsHow leaders can prepare for objections and unexpected responsesHow to use AI to role-play conversations and improve communicationWhy your objective matters more than finding the perfect wordsPreparation gives you confidence. Presence gives you connection. The reset is knowing when you've prepared enough to let go of the script and engage with the person in front of you. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

    How to Prepare for Conversations without Sounding Scripted

  5. Aug 14

    Transforming Workplace Culture With The “Yes, And” Mindset With Avish Parashar

    What if the biggest threat to your team isn't resistance to change—it's apathy? In this episode of Time to Reset, Penny Zenker sits down with keynote speaker, improv expert, and bestselling author Avish Parashar to explore how the simple phrase "Yes, And" can transform leadership, communication, innovation, and workplace culture. Drawing lessons from the world of improv comedy, Avish reveals why the best leaders don't shut down ideas—they build on them. Together, Penny and Avish discuss how curiosity, adaptability, and emotional intelligence help leaders navigate uncertainty, inspire engagement, and create teams that are willing to think, contribute, and grow. Whether you're leading through AI disruption, organizational change, or simply trying to create a more engaged workplace, this conversation offers practical strategies you can apply immediately. In this episode you'll learn:  Why "Yes, And" is a powerful leadership mindsetHow leaders unintentionally create employee disengagementThe surprising connection between improv and business successHow curiosity builds trust and innovationWhy apathy—not resistance—is the biggest workplace challengePractical ways to increase creativity and collaborationHow to lead through uncertainty with confidence and flexibilityWhy asking better questions creates better teams If you're a leader, manager, entrepreneur, or anyone looking to improve communication, decision-making, and adaptability, this episode is packed with actionable insights.  📖 Learn more about Avish Parashar and his book "Say 'Yes, And!' to Change." Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

    Transforming Workplace Culture With The “Yes, And” Mindset With Avish Parashar

  6. Aug 7

    How Great Leaders Make People Feel Valued | Small Actions That Build Trust & Engagement

    How do great leaders make employees feel valued? What increases employee engagement without spending more money? How can leaders create stronger workplace culture through everyday interactions? In this episode of Time to Reset, productivity expert and leadership strategist Penny Zenker explores why the most memorable leaders aren't necessarily the loudest or the busiest. They're the ones who intentionally create moments that matter. Using a personal story about planning a milestone birthday celebration, Penny reveals how the same principles can transform team meetings, customer experiences, employee engagement, and even family relationships. The lesson is simple: meaningful leadership isn't built through grand gestures. It's built through consistent, thoughtful actions that help people feel seen, appreciated, and connected. In this episode you'll learn:How to make employees feel valued at workSimple leadership habits that increase employee engagementWhy meaningful workplace culture is built through small momentsWays to create more engaging meetings and stronger team connectionsHow thoughtful follow-up builds trust after employee surveysPractical leadership strategies to improve communication and retentionIf you're a leader, manager, business owner, or anyone looking to build stronger relationships at work and at home, this episode offers practical strategies you can implement immediately. Keywords: leadership, employee engagement, workplace culture, leadership communication, management skills, employee experience, leadership development, team engagement, company culture, trust in leadership, meaningful leadership, customer experience, workplace relationships, communication skills, productivity, Penny Zenker, Time to Reset Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

    How Great Leaders Make People Feel Valued | Small Actions That Build Trust & Engagement

  7. Jul 31

    The Future Of Human Capital: Moving Beyond Traditional Performance Reviews With Jacob Chase

    Most companies measure financial performance with precision—but struggle to measure the true value of their people. In this episode of Time to Reset, Penny Zenker sits down with entrepreneur and former Wall Street investment banker Jacob D. Chase, founder of The INFIN, to explore a new approach to measuring human capital, employee contribution, and organizational value. As AI transforms the workplace and top performers create exponentially more value, traditional performance reviews and compensation models are becoming outdated. Jacob explains why annual reviews often miss the employees making the biggest impact—and how organizations can use collective feedback to build a more accurate, fair, and motivating system. In this conversation you'll learn: Why traditional performance reviews failHow to measure employee contribution beyond job titlesThe connection between culture, performance, and business resultsHow AI is widening the gap between average and exceptional performersWhy crowdsourced feedback creates fairer compensation decisionsHow to identify hidden high performers before they leaveA new way to think about meritocracy, employee engagement, and leadership Whether you're a CEO, HR leader, manager, entrepreneur, or team leader, this conversation offers practical insights into creating a workplace where people are recognized for the value they actually create. If you're ready to rethink performance management, employee recognition, and modern leadership, this episode is for you. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

    The Future Of Human Capital: Moving Beyond Traditional Performance Reviews With Jacob Chase

  8. Jul 24

    AI Isn't Your Expert - It's Your Teammate

    AI can write, code, brainstorm, organize, and solve problems faster than ever—but that doesn't mean it's always right. In this solo episode of Time to Reset, Penny Zenker shares hard-earned lessons from building real AI-powered projects using Claude and ChatGPT. She explains why treating AI like a brilliant teammate—not an infallible expert—can dramatically improve your results while preventing costly mistakes. You'll learn: Why AI makes assumptions—even when you tell it not toHow long conversations can reduce the quality of AI responsesWhy documenting your project is essential for consistent resultsHow version control can save hours of frustrationThe importance of auditing AI instead of accepting confident answersWhen to use multiple AI tools for better outcomesHow a Reset Mindset helps you work smarter with artificial intelligence Whether you're using ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, or another large language model, these practical strategies will help you build better workflows, avoid hidden pitfalls, and collaborate with AI more effectively. In this episode: AI best practices, ChatGPT tips, Claude AI, prompt engineering, AI productivity, artificial intelligence, AI coding, version control, documentation, leadership, problem solving, decision making, and the Reset Mindset. If you've been experimenting with AI, we'd love to hear from you. What has worked well? What mistakes have you learned from? Share your experience in the comments so others can learn faster, too. #ArtificialIntelligence #ChatGPT #ClaudeAI #AIProductivity #Leadership #Productivity #PromptEngineering #BusinessAI #Innovation #TimeToReset Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

    AI Isn't Your Expert - It's Your Teammate
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About

In a world full of challenges, complexity, and distractions, Time to Reset is your guide to tackling any obstacle with clarity, focus, and a fresh perspective. Join your host, 2 times #1 best-selling author and international keynote speaker, Penny Zenker. Each episode offers actionable strategies, inspiring stories, and practical insights for time management tips, innovation strategies, leadership lessons, problem-solving, business growth, and more. Take this Time to Reset.

Information

  • Creator
    Penny Zenker
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    384
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2018-2026 – Penny Zenker | Tug of War with Time Podcast | Smart Moves Coaching, LLC – All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    Time to Reset

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