Ep23: How to bring creativity to business with Michelle James

Ep23: How to bring creativity to business with Michelle James

Michelle James bridges creativity and business. She helps leaders rediscover their creativity and apply it in the workplace. In this fast-paced conversation between Michelle and Halelly Azulay, host of the TalentGrow Show, they discuss the path to generating new ways of thinking about your challenges by tapping into your creativity as a leader, team member, and for organizations as a whole. Michelle shares the importance of balancing discomfort with safety, the infusion of improv theater principles into leadership, and how to cultivate more creative employees. She provides a great action tip for reevaluating some of your assumptions and even offers two great free resources to the listeners that can help them bring more of their creativity to work.

Read More

Ep22: How to hand-craft your dream job and how to make work better with Chip Joyce

Ep22: How to hand-craft your dream job and how to make work better with Chip Joyce

Listen to this fascinating conversation with Chip Joyce, CEO & Co-Founder of Allied Talent, about what the essential problem is with workplaces nowadays and his vision for how it could be so much better if we evolved the way in which we view the employee-employer relationships. Halelly Azulay, the host of the TalentGrow Show, first explores the highly unusual and very inspiring way in which Chip created his perfect job when the right job wasn’t simply waiting on some job board (and is it ever?). Then they discuss how managers should craft a professional alliance with their employees to build trust and create value and ways to make incremental positive changes in the world of work. Chip and Halelly talk about how companies and leaders need to get used to being in ‘permanent beta’ mode and iterate constantly, adapting to the needs and information presented by the moment and by the environment. Finally, Chip shares a great, actionable tip that will help you upgrade your leadership effectiveness and even offers a downloadable worksheet to help you implement his suggestion – see the link in the show-notes!

Read More

Ep21: How to be more strategic about networking

Ep21: How to be more strategic about networking

Networking - it's not a 4-letter word, and it's not just for getting a job or selling stuff. It's a key professional competency for everyone, regardless of your level, role, profession, or industry. In this episode, Halelly Azulay talks to networking expert Lynne Waymon about ways to be more strategic about developing your networking know-how. They review the eight networking competencies and the six trust-building stages, as well as how you can use networking to accelerate your career growth and increase your leadership effectiveness. Lynne offers listeners a chance to get her 40-item online assessment to diagnose their current networking proficiency and how to ratchet it up. Finally, as always, Halelly invites Lynne to share one actionable suggestion that you can use right away to give your networking a booster shot in the arm. Do it!

Read More

Ep20: Create a Connection Culture with Michael Lee Stallard

Ep20: Create a Connection Culture with Michael Lee Stallard

In this conversation with author Michael Lee Stallard, TalentGrow Show host Halelly Azulay explores the meaning, stories, research, and suggestions in his book, Connection Culture. Mike and Halelly discuss what he means by Connection Culture and why it can be a huge competitive advantage to every leader and organization. They chat about how to create cultures that bring about connection, community, cooperation, and collaboration. He shares ways in which a connection culture impacts health, stress, and the bottom line and how you can begin to create a better connection culture in your organization. And, find out how you can win a signed copy of Michael’s book – there are not one, but two ways to easily win this great book.

Read More

Ep19: 3 leadership lessons I learned from my first year of podcasting: The TalentGrow Show’s 2015 Year in Review

Ep19: 3 leadership lessons I learned from my first year of podcasting: The TalentGrow Show’s 2015 Year in Review

As I wrap up my first year of podcasting on The TalentGrow Show, I look back and shares my story of how the podcast got started and the three biggest leadership lessons I have learned that can apply to any leader as they think about their goals and their work. I get up-close-and-personal and share the behind the scenes stories, fears, concerns, hopes, and dreams I have experienced as a newbie podcaster and suggest lessons that you can immediately apply and benefit from. I also make a personal request for a couple of tiny, quick favors at the end - will you be one of the listeners who will grant me these easy wishes? Listen, enjoy, respond, and share!

Read More

Ep18: Accelerate your career and build better relationships: How to be a world-class connector of people and ideas like Michael D. Simmons

Ep18: Accelerate your career and build better relationships: How to be a world-class connector of people and ideas like Michael D. Simmons

Connecting online can be both more or less authentic, depending on your approach. But in the 21st Century, we have many new opportunities to connect with more and different people in a different way than ever before because of how we can create content online. We can leverage these opportunities to share more of ourselves, to be more thoughtful about how we share about ourselves, and build amazing connections and networks. In this episode, Halelly Azulay chats with Michael D. Simmons, an award-winning serial entrepreneur, best-selling author and internationally-acclaimed speaker who is a world-class connector of people and ideas who loves to research, synthesize, and share ideas about building relationships in the 21st century. We also talk about how contexts collide online, creating new challenges for managing our personal brands and calling on us to become more holistic and authentic so that we’re not trying to put up a front or share the wrong things in the wrong contexts. Michael also shares the fascinating concept of the “expert generalist” or “broker” as a massively effective way for professionals to accelerate their career success (by 65%!) and increase their own learning and the value they offer to their employers, employees, and clients. With so many people focusing on being seen as a specialist or expert, this counter-intuitive approach can be a powerful one to consider tapping into.

Read More

Ep17: Two easy gratitude exercises that will make you happier

Ep17: Two easy gratitude exercises that will make you happier

This week in the U.S. we celebrate Thanksgiving. Therefore, the TalentGrow Show episode this week is a special one all about gratitude. Did you know that studies show that people who practice mindful gratitude (like keeping a gratitude journal) are 25% happier? In this shorter solo episode, I will teach you how to try keeping a gratitude journal and writing a gratitude letter. These are just two examples of many kinds of habits that you can develop to become more grateful and, as a result, actually become happier.

Read More

Ep16: Mind Hacking Tips and Tricks with Sir John Hargrave: Get the passcode to get super-user-mode access to your mind today!

Ep16: Mind Hacking Tips and Tricks with Sir John Hargrave: Get the passcode to get super-user-mode access to your mind today!

Have you become "lost in your own mind"? Many of us are so bombarded by distractions (external AND internal) that we find ourselves being controlled by our meandering mind instead of in control of it. I talked with author Sir John Hargrave about lessons he's learned the hard way and shares through his new book, Mind Hacking, about how to develop the ability to go into super-user mode and get an 'admin user' passcode for your own mind. In this fast and funny episode, learn how to regain the lost art of concentration for greater focus, daily habits you can easily cultivate to get control of your daily deluge of to-do's, and hear John's personal story of how he learned this the hard way and why you probably don't need to (if you listen to this podcast and follow his tips). Plus you'll hear how John got the 'Sir' title (but it's not what you think). Check it out and share it with your friends, colleagues, and family!

Read More

Ep15: The Flipside of Leadership: Intelligent Disobedience with Ira Chaleff

Ep15: The Flipside of Leadership: Intelligent Disobedience with Ira Chaleff

All of us are both leaders and followers. While we often focus on how to lead, author, speaker, workshop presenter and innovative thinker Ira Chaleff has focused his career on the beneficial use of power between those who are leading and those who are following in any given situation. Ira chatted with me about ways in which we can all become more courageous followers and why there are times when we should all choose the path of intelligent disobedience. Taken from the lexicon of guide dog training, Ira introduces the term Intelligent Disobedience to fit our model of leadership and followership in organizations, societies, and families. Based on his latest book of the same name, Ira talks about when we should feel the responsibility – even the obligation – to speak up and push back to those in power, because it is the right thing to do and it helps our leaders avoid big, possibly hurtful, mistakes. And we discuss the important ways in which, as leaders, we can create the kinds of cultures that supports courageous followership. This episode will expand your view of leadership, courage, and living in a principled way and leave you deeply inspired!

Read More

Ep14: Optimize your leadership growth using the triangle of trusted advisors with Jonathan B Smith

Ep14: Optimize your leadership growth using the triangle of trusted advisors with Jonathan B Smith

Do you sometimes feel stuck or frustrated with your own and your business or team’s growth? Lots of leaders experience this, which is why they need a triangle of trusted advisors, says entrepreneur, author, and EOS Implementer Jonathan B Smith. I chatted with Jonathan about who exactly these three trusted advisors are and how everyone listening needs them. Jonathan shared very practical and actionable advice about how to scale this idea to any situation and budget, and how his new book, Optimize for Growth, can help you assess where to start and how to proceed. We also discussed the most common mistake leaders make and ways to avoid it, and Jonathan’s takeaway tip that you need to implement right away, at your very next meeting, to make a significant positive impact on your effectiveness.

Read More

Ep13: The Coach Approach and Leading from the Discomfort Zone with Dr. Marcia Reynolds, MCC

Ep13: The Coach Approach and Leading from the Discomfort Zone with Dr. Marcia Reynolds, MCC

In her work around the globe as an executive coach and leadership expert, Dr. Marcia Reynolds has seen some common challenges that leaders face. Halelly Azulay, host of the TalentGrow Show, and Marcia discuss these common challenges and ways to overcome them using a coaching approach. Marcia is one of the world’s leading coaches and a leader in the coaching industry. She shares ideas that can help leaders expand their employees’ capacity to do more and be more and why she suggests they push people into the discomfort zone. You’ll learn why and how to challenge people in ways that create breakthroughs and lead to lasting behavioral change. In the last few minutes, Marcia also provides a practical and actionable tip that every leader (current and aspiring) can use to upgrade their leadership competence.

Read More

Ep12: Developing resilience and positivity with Doug Hensch

Ep12: Developing resilience and positivity with Doug Hensch

Do you want to become more resilient in the face of all the change and chaos of our daily lives nowadays? On this episode of the TalentGrow Show podcast, executive coach and resilience expert Doug Hensch takes a break from writing his book on resilience to share some of his key tips on how to develop more resilience as a leader, both in yourself and in your team. We discuss Doug’s interesting career journey and major shift (and what book catalyzed a huge change for him), as well as lots of insights and stories that bring to life some of the research from the world of Positive Psychology that you can apply to the world of work. Be sure to check out Doug’s “front door and back door” strategies that he shares at the end of the episode to help you become more resilient, starting today!

Read More

Ep11: How to have better performance feedback conversations that get results with Marnie Green, CSP

Ep11: How to have better performance feedback conversations that get results with Marnie Green, CSP

It seems that everyone loves to hate on performance reviews and performance management. But the reason is most leaders (and organizations) are simply doing them all wrong. Are you one of those leaders? Find out in my light and fast conversation with Marnie Green, CSP, a leadership development expert, speaker, and author who specializes in performance management and has published two books on the subject. Marnie speaks all over the world, helping leaders improve the quality and outcomes of their performance conversations. Listen to discover the most common mistakes leaders make in performance conversations and specific suggestions for how to avoid or fix them. You’ll also learn the challenges facing many leaders regarding giving ongoing performance feedback and why some employees resist feedback. Marnie shares what the youngest members of the workforce REALLY want and gives a great actionable tip at the end that you can implement in your very next workplace conversation with any employee or peer. Give it a listen and leave a comment with your thoughts!

Read More

Ep10: Communicating as a thought leader through speaking and workshops with Alexia Vernon

Ep10: Communicating as a thought leader through speaking and workshops with Alexia Vernon

Do you want to enhance your communication skills? Would you like to be known as a thought-leader to accelerate your career and success? Communication and leadership expert Alexia Vernon and I talk about how she has found success doing just that, and how she teaches others to do the same. Learn how to become a better speaker, presenter, and communicator and how to be better as a leader by connecting with your audience and showing your true self in an impactful way. Be sure to check our Alexia's free video training and leave a comment about your insights and feedback.

Read More

Ep 09: Leverage Your Character Strengths with Shannon Polly

Ep 09: Leverage Your Character Strengths with Shannon Polly

In this episode of the TalentGrow Show, I chat with Shannon Polly, MAPP, ACC, a leadership development consultant and an expert on executive presence and positive psychology. Our light and funny conversation will give you great insights about why character strengths are important and how to leverage them using Shannon’s new book, Character Strengths Matter. You’ll learn about how Shannon blends her acting background with her depth of research into happiness and well-being into her work with organizations like the army and corporations, and her unique ways of teaching people to leverage their strengths and become more productive and organizations more profitable. Shannon shares three great actionable suggestions that can immediately give you results in your performance and happiness, but also information about how you can keep challenging yourself and keep learning from her and others to continue that improvement and keep those great results coming.

Read More

Ep 08: How to be a dynamic communicator with Jill Schiefelbein

Ep 08: How to be a dynamic communicator with Jill Schiefelbein

Get tons of insights and ideas from this conversation between The TalentGrow Show host, Halelly Azulay, and The Dynamic Communicator, Jill Schiefelbein, for how to improve your workplace communication skills as a leader and team member. Jill shares her own journey from teen motivational speaker to university instructor, to media coach, to keynoting and her current role helping businesses solve problems through dynamic communications. Jill and Halelly discuss ways to build trust, increase credibility, and avoid damaging your credibility unintentionally. Jill describes how you can create commitment on your team by communicating in a way that is supportive, proactive, authentic, genuine, and transparent. She diminishes the fear many leaders have around being vulnerable and sharing credit. Jill also shares the counter-intuitive secret to getting promoted and the key technique she used to teach athletes to prep them for media interviews that can help corporate leaders create team commitment and generate better results. Take a listen!

Read More

4 easy steps to rate and review a podcast on Apple Podcasts (formerly iTunes)

4 easy steps to rate and review a podcast on Apple Podcasts (formerly iTunes)

4 easy steps to rate and review a podcast on Apple Podcasts (formerly iTunes)

Do any of these concerns sound familiar to you?

“I really want to help you out and give your podcast a rating and review in Apple Podcasts/iTunes, but I

  • Don’t know how to do a review in Apple Podcasts (formerly known as iTunes)

  • Worry it will be hard to do a review in Apple Podcasts / iTunes

  • Don’t have lots of time to do a review in Apple Podcasts / iTunes

  • All of the above!”

Good news: you’re not alone

Better news: it’s not hard, you can do it, and with this fast and easy 4-step guide, you can do it in a few minutes, flat!!

Here's how to rate and review any podcast in Apple Podcasts / iTunes in 4 easy steps:

Read More

Ep 07: Think like a CEO to accelerate performance and results: Mindhacks for leaders from thinking expert Ann Herrmann-Nehdi

Ep 07: Think like a CEO to accelerate performance and results: Mindhacks for leaders from thinking expert Ann Herrmann-Nehdi

Ever feel frustrated because the people you work with don’t seem to be on the same wavelength or speak the same language? Ann Herrmann-Nehdi helps you crack the code of leading in a whole-brain kind of way. She’s a world-renowned author, thought leader, keynoter and researcher whose work specializes in the practical application of neuroscience, learning and ongoing thinking research. Ann talks about why the brain is one of our most important and most overlooked business tools. She describes what she means by “Whole-Brain Thinking” and why we all need to become more deliberate in our thinking. In fact, Ann shows us how we can, and should, think more like a CEO (she has researched more than 9000 of them, so she knows). Ann discusses common thinking errors, offers stories about how to overcome them, and suggests a super actionable and essential mindhack that every one of us must incorporate to improve our leadership skills.

Read More

Ep 06: How to be a more creative leader with Gregg Fraley

Ep 06: How to be a more creative leader with Gregg Fraley

Episode 6 of the TalentGrow Show features my conversation with speaker, author, creativity expert and innovation consultant Gregg Fraley. We discuss whether creativity can be taught (yes!), how important it is to ensure awareness and diversity of creative styles on your team, and ways to leverage the Creative Problem Solving (CPS) model to increase the quality and divergence of your ideas for solving important business problems. Gregg and I also chat about the surprising connection between creativity and conflict, the $4 billion secret you can learn from chocolate peanut butter to create exciting breakthroughs, and the cool product called “IdeaKeg” that his company, Kiln, has been sending clients like General Mills to increase their creativity and innovation (and why I totally want one). Get ready to harness your own and your team’s creative powers by learning the best tricks and tips from Gregg on this podcast episode!

What You'll Learn:

Read More

Episode 05: Elaine Biech’s Secret Focus Formula, 3 Big Workplace Trends, and the 2 Career Accelerators for Leaders

Episode 05: Elaine Biech’s Secret Focus Formula, 3 Big Workplace Trends, and the 2 Career Accelerators for Leaders

In this episode of the TalentGrow Show, I talk with award-winning organizational development consultant, prolific author, sought-after speaker, and “Trainer’s Trainer” Elaine Biech. We discuss the relationship between generosity and career success, Elaine’s four step formula for achieving total focus for those really important, deep-dive types of projects, and the three huge workplace trends that Elaine sees in our next five years that every leader and employer must pay attention to. Elaine also shares her two key actions that leaders must take to ensure they’re ready to succeed in our fast-moving world of work. Plus, learn about the insane number of books Elaine has authored and edited, why work-life balance is dead and what replaces it, and the surprising age at which organizations are currently beginning to develop leaders (it’s too old!).

What You'll

Read More