Episodes

  • On The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air when Will goes to confront his birth father is emotional and beautiful. And in this episode of the podcast, Justin Jones-Fosu and Jenn Whitmer connect this episode not only to Justin’s journey, but also you as a leader.

     

    The big idea Justin brings from his experience with his father is the power of conversation over a confrontation.

     

    And he gives us his five pillars of respectful disagreement. Not only how they saved him from more anger and heartache, but also how you can use these pillars as a leader when you face disagreements with and among your colleagues (or really any humans!)

     

    This conversation was beautiful and powerful. I hope it helps you lead with an open heart and welcome respectful disagreement in your workplace. Because when you do, you’ll discover how healed relationships and genuine curiosity unlock new levels of productivity, engagement, and joy.

     

    Here’s what we talked about:

    03:11 Five pillars to help you start respectfully disagreeing

    06:31 The Tortoise Principle

    09:17 Turning a confrontation into a conversation

    14:30 Four powerful questions for understanding differences

    20:50 The power of three

    24:08 Practice asking and listening deeply

     

    Links/ Resources:

    Grab Justin’s latest book, I Respectfully Disagree.

    What happened to you? by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry

    Clip of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

     

    The Free 99 Step:

    Connect with Jenn on Instagram and LinkedIn and join the conversation.

     

    Joyosity Explorer Map will guide you to understanding the deeper purpose and story you tell yourself about your work. Joy is linked to purpose and productivity increases by 20% or more when you directly link your purpose to your work.

     

    Ready to Make a Plan:

    Joyosity Jumpstart

    If you’re ready to stop leading from survival mode and lead with connection and joy, the Joyosity™ Jumpstart Session is for you. Clarify what you want, where you are, and what’s getting in the way so you can make a real plan.

    Starting the Journey:

    Enneagram Navigator

    Walk through the process to identify your Enneagram type — accurately! But then also know what does that mean in your every day life.

    Ready to Dive In:

    1:1 Joyosity Leadership Intensive

    http://jennwhitmer.com/intensive

    Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn 1:1 when it fits your schedule. Five spots available in November and December 2024.

     

  • Do you thank someone for disagreeing with you? Not usually! But after this conversation with Justin, I hope you consider the benefits of respectful disagreement.

     

    Justin’s most recent book, I Respectfully Disagree, takes readers on the journey to one of my favorite topics: conflict is a necessity in a functional workplace.

     

    In this conversation, Justin shares how his mother challenged him to be open to new experiences growing up, we tackled the definition for what a disagreement really is, and we even dove into the touchy topic of an “open-door” policy.

     

    Justin’s wisdom from how he’s seen disagreement at work directly result in better performance will help you implement this idea immediately as a leader.

     

    Respectful disagreement is a powerful tool for leadership and workplace harmony. Willing to give it a try?

     

    Here’s what we talked about:

    03:57 Lessons from Mom and planting seeds of humanity

    08:04 Indirect vs direct disagreements

    11:24 Misconceptions about respect and being open minded

    17:45 Why we should lean into healthy conflict

    18:45 Challenging the open door challenge

    25:45 Thanking your team for disagreement

     

    Links/ Resources:

    Grab Justin’s latest book, I Respectfully Disagree.

    The Free 99 Step:

    Joyosity Explorer Map will guide you to understanding the deeper purpose and story you tell yourself about your work. Joy is linked to purpose and productivity increases by 20% or more when you directly link your purpose to your work.

    Ready to Make a Plan:

    Joyosity Jumpstart

    If you’re ready to stop leading from survival mode and lead with connection and joy, the Joyosity™ Jumpstart Session is for you. Clarify what you want, where you are, and what’s getting in the way so you can make a real plan.

    Starting the Journey:

    Enneagram Navigator

    Walk through the process to identify your Enneagram type — accurately! But then also know what does that mean in your every day life.

    Ready to Dive In:

    1:1 Joyosity Leadership Intensive

    http://jennwhitmer.com/intensive

    Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn 1:1 when it fits your schedule. Five spots available in November and December 2024.

     

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  • Disagreement is a part of leadership. It’s uncomfortable, it’s hard but it’s a skill that we need to cultivate in order to lead well. This week, we dove into the art of leading when everyone isn't on the same page.

     

    As I sat down with a plate of eggs and hashbrowns, I noticed the table conversation revolved around lab-raised meat and a skeptic — not what I was expecting at a business networking breakfast before 8am!

     

    How many times have you found yourself in the middle of a conversation that was, well, less than agreeable? When faced with a heated conversation, what's your initial reaction? Understanding whether you're a moonwalker or a stirrer-upper can set the stage for effective leadership.

     

    We covered my favorite "Three Question Rule" and how this helps you understand hidden perspectives, builds trust, and opens up avenues for diverse ideas. I gave examples for each of these questions and how to pivot as you listen intensely and with an open heart.

     

    Eventually as the leader you will have to make the call, but asking questions will help you lead more effectively and explaining your decisions fosters respect and shows you value your team's input.

     

    Transforming disagreements into moments of connection and productivity can make your leadership journey not just successful but joyful. So keep those questions coming and see the positive ripple effects throughout your organization! Still have questions? Book a spark call with me, I’d love to chat!

     

    Here’s what we talked about:

    04:33 What is your first instinct to disagreements

    06:08 Why you should ask three questions before you jump in

    10:58 First question to ask

    12:30 Second question to ask

    19:02 Disagreement is rarely efficient

    20:00 Third question to ask

    22:29 The person asking the questions is leading the conversation

     

    Links/ Resources:

    The Free 99 Step:

    Spark Session

    Book a 15 -minute spark session with me here. We'll work together to take a look at what's working and what isn't, uncover the most pressing problem that's keeping you stuck, and identify your next best step.

    Ready to Make a Plan:

    Joyosity Jumpstart

    If you’re ready to stop leading from survival mode and lead with connection and joy, the Joyosity™ Jumpstart Session is for you. Clarify what you want, where you are, and what’s getting in the way so you can make a real plan.

    Starting the Journey:

    Enneagram Navigator

    Walk through the process to identify your Enneagram type — accurately! But then also know what does that mean in your every day life.

    Ready to Dive In:

    1:1 Joyosity Leadership Intensive

    http://jennwhitmer.com/intensive

    Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn 1:1 when it fits your schedule. Five spots available in December 2024.

     

  • “Just”

    My business is “just“ me.

    I’m “just” a manager.

    I’m “just” a stay-at-home mom.

    I spoke to a room of “just” 20 people.

     

    This seemingly innocent word can creep into our vocabulary and minimize our achievements. Both Shelby and I realized how impactful it is to shift away from minimizing language and embrace our full worth thanks to Krista this month.

     

    Krista Monson reminded us of the importance of respecting ourselves, trusting our intuition, and holding others in high regard.

     

    Shelby and I dove into some of our favorite lessons learned this month and how Krista’s words showed up in our lives all month. We explored the beauty of building meaningful connections and communities. Shelby introduced the brilliant concept of a “trust bank,” where small acts of trust can accumulate and provide immense value in times of need. We also discussed the power of taking “untethered hours” away from technology to spark creativity.

     

    Whether it’s redefining success, practicing bold asks, or leaning into human connection, this episode is packed with wisdom for every leader seeking joy and harmony at work. Tune in, reflect on these lessons, and let's create flourishing organizations together!

     

    Here’s what we talked about:

    03:12 Tips for overcoming self-doubt in your business

    08:45 How to recognize minimizing language in your communication

    12:17 The struggle of working your dream job and preventing burnout

    15:21 Red flags to watch for when people do not have a high regard for people

    24:50 Exercises to help regulate emotions during high-stress moments

    30:15 Why maintaining a high regard for others matters in leadership

    34:27 How connecting with nature can spark professional creativity

     

    Links/ Resources:

    The Unplugged Hours by Hannah Brencher

    The Free 99 Step:

    Joyosity Explorer Map will guide you to understanding the deeper purpose and story you tell yourself about your work. Joy is linked to purpose and productivity increases by 20% or more when you directly link your purpose to your work.

    Ready to Make a Plan:

    Joyosity Jumpstart

    If you’re ready to stop leading from survival mode and lead with connection and joy, the Joyosity™ Jumpstart Session is for you. Clarify what you want, where you are, and what’s getting in the way so you can make a real plan.

    Starting the Journey:

    Enneagram Navigator

    Walk through the process to identify your Enneagram type — accurately! But then also know what does that mean in your every day life.

    Ready to Dive In:

    1:1 Joyosity Leadership Intensive

    http://jennwhitmer.com/intensive

    Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn 1:1 when it fits your schedule. Five spots available in December 2024.

  • Bumblebees. That was the inspiration for one of Krista’s biggest shows at Cirque Du Soleil.

     

    Creativity comes to us in moments we aren’t expecting. It’s rarely when we’re checking emails and sitting around a board table trying to force it.

     

    In this episode, Krista shared her 8 survival skills for how to stay true to yourself and your creativity in high pressure situations and big transitions.

     

    Krista’s years of creativity and work in the arts has seen both. She warns us to stay away from the word “just” and how to have the courage to lean into curiosity as we navigate periods of uncertainty and transformation.

     

    Krista emphasized that a leader’s ability to listen deeply—not just to others, but also to oneself—is essential for aligning values with action. We laughed together about the importance of play and rest and explored the concept of deep listening.

     

    If you’re creativity is feeling low, I invite you to listen. Krista’s expertise is hard earned and beautifully put. This episode was packed with unique strategies that blend clarity, courage, and curiosity.

     

    Let’s lead with flexibility and joy, and remember: a little chaos can actually be your creative ally!

     

    Here’s what we talked about:

    04:40 The Creative Survival Kit

    06:35 The impact of your self talk

    09:15 Why ‘just’ may be sabotaging your leadership presence

    10:48 How to gain perspective you need when overwhelmed

    17:58 Tips for building trust through curiosity and deep listening with your team

    25:07 Tips for fostering creativity during uncertain times

    30:33 How to effectively balance preparation and flexibility in leadership

    35:22 Common mistakes leaders make when dealing with failure and chaos

    38:16 8 big ideas to fuel your leadership

     

    Links/ Resources:

    The Free 99 Step:

    Joyosity Explorer Map will guide you to understanding the deeper purpose and story you tell yourself about your work. Joy is linked to purpose and productivity increases by 20% or more when you directly link your purpose to your work.

    Ready to Make a Plan:

    Joyosity Jumpstart

    If you’re ready to stop leading from survival mode and lead with connection and joy, the Joyosity™ Jumpstart Session is for you. Clarify what you want, where you are, and what’s getting in the way so you can make a real plan.

    Starting the Journey:

    Enneagram Navigator

    Walk through the process to identify your Enneagram type — accurately! But then also know what does that mean in your every day life.

    Ready to Dive In:

    1:1 Joyosity Leadership Intensive

    http://jennwhitmer.com/intensive

    Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn 1:1 when it fits your schedule. Five spots available in November and December 2024.

     

  • “More”. I am guilty of wanting to add one more sentence, one more ornament to the tree, one more side to Thanksgiving dinner. How do we know when “more” is leading us to the right thing or distracting us from what matters?

     

    This week Krista shared with us her journey through a VERY successful career and how she knew when to step back or when to add more— not more tasks but diving deeper into what's truly meaningful.

     

    Anyone who knows me knows that I want my life to be a musical, so I was so excited to sit down with Krista Monson, an award winning choreographer who spent years working with Cirque du Soleil! Krista shared her personal struggle of burnout despite a glittering career and reminded us that even the most dazzling careers have moments where we need to step back, readjust, or even try something new.

     

    Like so many leaders I’ve spoke with, the higher you get on the ladder, the further you get from the work that you love. We dove into what that looked like for Krista, how you can recognize the need for something different and how to navigate career transitions.

     

    Grab that favorite beverage, get comfortable, and tune in. This conversation with Krista Monson is packed with wisdom and a great reminder to stay curious and seek out joy in work!

     

    Here’s what we talked about:

    02:43 Who is Krista Monson?

    07:28 What it feels like when work is in alignment with our values

    08:32 Common mistakes leaders make when seeking fulfillment in their career

    12:22 How connection leads to better work

    14:26 Overcoming burnout and career transitions

    17:48 How curiosity and wonder lead to more

    24:00 The kind of more that we need to add

     

    Links/ Resources:

    The Free 99 Step:

    Joyosity Explorer Map will guide you to understanding the deeper purpose and story you tell yourself about your work. Joy is linked to purpose and productivity increases by 20% or more when you directly link your purpose to your work.

    Ready to Make a Plan:

    Joyosity Jumpstart

    If you’re ready to stop leading from survival mode and lead with connection and joy, the Joyosity™ Jumpstart Session is for you. Clarify what you want, where you are, and what’s getting in the way so you can make a real plan.

    Starting the Journey:

    Enneagram Navigator

    Walk through the process to identify your Enneagram type — accurately! But then also know what does that mean in your every day life.

    Ready to Dive In:

    1:1 Joyosity Leadership Intensive

    http://jennwhitmer.com/intensive

    Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn 1:1 when it fits your schedule. Five spots available in November and December 2024.

     

  • I had a coworker who was like sandpaper for me. Every time my slack would ding with their name, I would just feel a pang of “ugh”. Have you ever felt that? Truthfully, if you work with people long enough, someone will be this for you…and this might be inevitable at some point in any relationship.

     

    I decided to start with donuts. I knew she obsessed over donuts, and I thought maybe some time outside of work talk would do us some good. So I asked her to go for donuts. After that donut shop meeting, her messages did not send me into groan mode. This is the magic of connection!

     

    Connection is the glue of healthy leadership.

     

    Start with understanding your personality and values to connect with others. Then move to understanding others. Without connection, we start to feel untethered from the goals of an organization and the team.

     

    Every relationship doesn’t have to include donut shop meetings. But as a leader, you MUST connect with people for your work and team to be effective. In this episode I’m sharing three tips to help you work torward connection. With so much collective anxiety around this election time in the U.S., you may be noticing your team struggling with the connection piece right now. I invite you to sit down and have real conversations.

     

    Show your authentic self and be genuinely curious about your team members. You can transform your leadership style and your team this way. It's time to make every workplace a more joy-filled space, starting now!

     

    Here’s what we talked about:

    08:18 Building trust requires communication and connection together

    10:14 Disconnection reduces productivity

    14:13 Solid connections require self-understanding and presence

    19:15 How to be vulnerable and authentic as a leader

    25:50 Explore Joyosity for joyful, productive workplace connections

    27:23 How to use curiosity to become a better leader

     

    Links/ Resources:

    The Free 99 Step:

    Joyosity Explorer Map http://jennwhitmer.com/joyosity-explorer  will guide you to understanding the deeper purpose and story you tell yourself about your work. Joy is linked to purpose and productivity increases by 20% or more when you directly link your purpose to your work.

    Ready to Dive In:

    1:1 Joyosity Leadership Intensive http://jennwhitmer.com/intensive Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn 1:1 when it fits your schedule. Five spots available in November and December 2024.

  • Chaos. October brought more than its fair share! So how do you lead in the midst of it all? The short answer? Values. They operate as a North star for your behavior and decisions.

     

    Shelby lives in a small mountain community and saw chaos and values play out right in front of her eyes all month in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. We spoke about how values impacted so many decisions in her own response and in her community at a larger scale. We spoke about leaders owning up to mistakes, and how values don’t have to feel like a backpack of heavy rocks but a guiding force in times of uncertainty.

     

    Ken’s conversations about values being lenses you see the world through was a helpful reminder through it all. We touched on how knowing other people’s values can help you lead more effectively and understand behavior that might be leaving you thinking “well I would never do it that way”.

     

    When there are blank question marks in the middle of hard times leaning in with curiosity and being intentional about filling those spaces is key to living and leading with confidence.

     

    This month really smacked us with reminders that we can’t control the weather, or the outcome of an election, or a boss you may not align with. What we can do is control ourselves.

     

    Our values influence our behavior and the way we see the world, and they are foundational to self-leadership. If you know you need to define your values take a listen and let us know what you think!

     

    Here’s what we talked about:

    04:37 How abandoning your values can lead to conflict

    08:55 Tips for onboarding with a values first mindset

    12:28 Using your values to lead in chaos

    16:05 How values showed up in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene

    21:14 How tragedy amplifies your values

    24:48 Recognizing the signs of burnout in yourself and your team

     

    Links/ Resources:

    The Free 99 Step:

    Values Identifier Guide Put those values down on paper so you can align your actions to living as your best self which reduces decision fatigue and improves decision quality.

    Ready to Make a Plan:

    Joyosity Jumpstart

    If you’re ready to stop leading from survival mode and lead with connection and joy, the Joyosity™ Jumpstart Session is for you. Clarify what you want, where you are, and what’s getting in the way so you can make a real plan.

    Starting the Journey:

    Enneagram Navigator

    Walk through the process to identify your Enneagram type — accurately! But then also know what does that mean in your every day life.

    Ready to Dive In:

    The Joyosity Leadership Retreat

    Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn and other women who are leading. Reset. Reimagine. Revive.

     

  • Being seen by someone else is one of the best feelings in the world.

     

    A dear friend gave me a necklace of three rows of clustered, bright wooden discs in every imaginable color. A necklace that she would never wear. But because she's seen my bubbly self, she knew jewelry in riotous color would not only be worn frequently, but treasured.

     

    In this week's episode, Ken Black and I finish our conversation about the magic of values. We unpacked how knowing our core values can extend our leadership in surprising ways. Not only leading ourselves, but knowing the values of individuals on the team can people be accountable to the type of person they want to be. We problem-solve differently when we understand each other and can see each other clearly. This clarity not only helps prevent team conflicts but also aligns everyone towards a shared vision.

     

    Integrating your values into all areas of your life brings joy at work and at home. When you show up as your true self, it creates a more joyful workplace and life. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting out in your career, this chat offers practical steps to figuring out what you value and how to navigate your career in a way that will feel right to you — based on your own values! You already have them. You just need to name them.

     

    Here’s what we talked about:

    03:39 Tips for identifying team values and reducing conflict

    06:59 Choosing specific values versus generic ones

    09:55 Practical steps to help your team feel seen and heard

    17:11 How to use your personal values at work and home

    20:54 Tips to know when it's time to leave a job

     

    Links/ Resources:

    The Free 99 Step:

    Values Identifier Guide will lead you to putting those values down on paper so you can align your actions to living as your best self which reduces decision fatigue and improves decision quality.

    Ready to Dive In:

    The Joyosity Leadership Retreat

    Registration closes 10/25/24. Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn and other women who are leading. Reset. Reimagine. Revive.

  • My son’s part-time job as a boy was running into walls. The phrase “face the way you’re walking” constantly came out of my mouth. One because I was tired of dirty walls, but mostly for his success.

     

    Ken shared the same idea for leadership success. Focus on where you want to go and so difficulties and disruptions don’t sway you from the goal. Choosing how you want to shoe up in the world or the lens through which you choose to see the world, Understand Seeing the world will revolutionize your leadership success, your organization’s culture, and, actually, every part of your life. Ken and I dive into how adopting a values-driven approach can transform not only how you lead, but how you show up everywhere.

     

    Ken offers a refreshing take on values, describing them as dynamic lenses rather than fixed rules. These lenses shape how you see and interact with the world, helping you lead with clarity, consistency, and purpose. When you know your values—and live them out—challenges become opportunities, and leadership becomes a lot more joyful. When your team knows what you stand for and sees you live it daily, trust naturally follows.

     

    Ken's stories and strategies provide actionable steps to ensure your values guide you, making your leadership more authentic and impactful. Whether you're rethinking your organizational culture or striving to become a more transparent leader, this conversation is a goldmine of insights to help you bring more joy to your culture at work.

     

    Here’s what we talked about:

    01:27 Why seeing the world differently matters in leadership

    02:35 Practical steps for defining values as lenses in leadership

    04:38 How following others' expectations can cause a midlife career crisis

    08:53 Articulating a vision to attract and retain top performers

    12:35 Self-reflection questions to integrate kindness into leadership

    16:04 Effective accountability methods without the shame

    18:41 Why showing love and trust at work boosts team performance

    20:54 How to tie personal values to consistent professional behavior

     

    Links/ Resources:

    The Free 99 Step:

    Values Identifier Guide will lead you to putting those values down on paper so you can align your actions to living as your best self which reduces decision fatigue and improves decision quality.

     

    Ready to Dive In:

    The Joyosity Leadership Retreat

    Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn and other women who are leading. Reset. Reimagine. Revive. Nov. 7-9, 2024 Registration closes next week!

  • “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

     

    How many times were you asked this as a kid? How many times have you asked that TO kids?

     

    Is that the question we really should be asking them? Or does it tie their worth to their role at work?

     

    I love how Ken and I dove into the idea of being vs doing in this episode. Some times work doesn’t align with our values, even when it’s what we’ve been saying we want to be (or not be) our entire lives.

     

    “I want to be a teacher when I grow up” is that true or do you really want to influence the next generation to be better?

     

    “I want to be a nurse when I grow up” or do you want to help people heal when they find themselves hurting in life?

     

    Unraveling our values from our role opens up an entire new world for us.

     

    Defining what those values are and using them as a lens to view the world and make decisions through will change the way you walk through life. I hope you find this conversation helpful and my DM’s are always open if you’d like to talk through your values together!

     

    Here’s what we talked about:

    03:30 Who is Ken Black

    07:22 The importance of curiosity in leadership

    08:30 What questions to ask yourself when making career changes

    09:01 How to align your personal values with your professional role

    17:48 How values shift the way we see things and decisions we make

     

    Links/ Resources:

    The Free 99 Step:

    Values Identifier Guide will lead you to putting those values down on paper so you can align your actions to living as your best self which reduces decision fatigue and improves decision quality.

    Ready to Make a Plan:

    Joyosity Jumpstart

    If you’re ready to stop leading from survival mode and lead with connection and joy, the Joyosity™ Jumpstart Session is for you. Clarify what you want, where you are, and what’s getting in the way so you can make a real plan.

    Ready to Dive In:

    The Joyosity Leadership Retreat

    Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn and other women who are leading. Reset. Reimagine. Revive.

     

  • You’re already leading and living by your values. But the problem is… you might not know what they are and how they show up in your work.

     

    What may surprise you is how much this impacts your success and your bottom line.

     

    With a few stories of stuck in airports and stuck in the bosses office, Jenn shares real-life examples of how living by values (or not) and how that improved (or destroyed) experiences.

     

    Bonus: a quick turn through the Joyosity model that helps you visualize how understanding yourself, your mindset, and your values will build trust on your team so you can be more productive, which means you will be be more profitable without sacrificing your humanity.

     

    “Identify values” has probably been on your to-do list since, well forever. And maybe you’ve done it before, but you’re not sure where that notebook is…

     

    Now is the time to get intentional about identifying how you want to show up in the world so that you have a blueprint for your life and leadership. It reduces decision fatigue and leads to a more healthy and happy home and work life! Isn’t that what we want?

     

    Here’s what we talked about:

    02:31 Living by values in a sticky situation

    06:52 The Joyosity™ model and how it can help you know yourself

    10:40 How values build trust

    14:25 Ways to live by your values as a leader

    17:43 How Disney won Jenn over spend money

    19:40 How to figure out your values (that you already have)

     

    Links/ Resources:

    The Free 99 Step:

    Values Identifier Guide will lead you to putting those values down on paper so you can align your actions to living as your best self which reduces decision fatigue and improves decision quality.

    Ready to Dive In:

    The Joyosity Leadership Retreat

    Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn and other women who are leading. Reset. Reimagine. Revive.

     

  • You have a culture whether you’re aware of it or not. Pay attention to culture, even if you’re a one-(wo)man show. Here’s why: as you grow you want to make sure it’s what drives your hires, fires and business decisions. Whether you realize it or not, culture will create conflict ,and we want that conflict productive and repairing.

     

    In this episode, Shelby and Jenn discussed some ah-ha moments we got from our wonderful guest Moe Carrick, and lessons we’ve seen in our own lives and business around culture. We talked about how to

    - welcome questions as a leader (even when they’re hard!)

    - foster a culture where people feel comfortable challenging you when you step outside of your values.

    - be honest about where you culture is “The way you do things here” is up to you! And it takes being an intentional leader and welcoming conflict to create a culture that bring joy at work.

     

    Here’s what we talked about:

    04:51 A common mistake business owners make when hiring

    10:06 How values impact your culture at work and how conflict arises

    14:05 How to foster curiosity and the story of porky the pig

    19:30 The truth about leaders in toxic cultures

    25:30 Culture and conflict

    28:34 How you can influence culture as a middle manager

    34:10 What is bringing joy at work right now

     

    Links/ Resources:

    Resources from this Month:

    Episode 53: Great Workplaces Need Conflict https://youtube.com/live/gDAtiNEbg8I

    Episode 54:  How Culture, Productivity, and Joy Go Hand In Hand With Moe Carrick https://youtu.be/yhVKXqA5xIo?si=4f-LJTjJjAcY350M

    Episode 55: Cultivating Culture Starts with this Question with Moe Carrick https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mCjgYHsSqk

    All about Moe:

    LinkedIn Profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/moecarrick/

    Website - https://moementum.com/

    Grab Moe’s Book: When Work is Good https://amzn.to/4giUNi2

    The Free 99 Step:

    Joyosity Explorer Map http://jennwhitmer.com/joyosity-explorer will guide you to understanding the deeper purpose and story you tell yourself about your work. Joy is linked to purpose and productivity increases by 20% or more when you directly link your purpose to your work.  

    Ready to Make a Plan:

    Joyosity Jumpstart https://jennwhitmer.com/jumpstart  If you’re ready to stop leading from survival mode and lead with connection and joy, the Joyosity™ Jumpstart Session https://jennwhitmer.acemlnb.com/lt.php?x=3TxtmrUFUqPUT55qA3P3hOdr~a-jjAT0w-xlk5HEIFnKDXV8y_xGh.ae3HVViwBfx1K2Z5UWKXOd954KzNLKUr is for you. Clarify what you want, where you are, and what’s getting in the way so you can make a real plan.  

    Ready to Dive In: 

    The Joyosity Leadership Retreat http://jennwhitmer.com/joyosity-retreat Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn and other women who are leading. Reset. Reimagine. Revive.

  • No leader is waking up thinking “I want to create a toxic workplace”, quite the opposite! But without self awareness, that’s exactly what you’ll create.

     

    Every leader should be able to answer this one question: Why do you do what you do? Whether it’s a casting broken bones, serving a chai latte, or building aircrafts. That question —Why? — is so important because that is what shapes workplace culture.

     

    In part two of our conversation, Moe Carrick shared a story about how her daughter’s workplace (a restaurant) and how every employee had excitement and a story around each cocktail or dinner entree. The culture in that restaurant was palpable in the way the employees talked.   

     

    The contrast to that is “toxic” workplaces that have BIG and very public mistakes. (think Boeing) We spoke about the pain that those big mistakes in leadership cause and how it can send leaders (and entire organizations) into a shame spiral.   

     

    Moe shows us how to create a healthy culture, even sharing how her own team has let her know when she was acting misaligned with their team values.   

     

    Telling the truth at work can be hard! For employees and leaders alike. Leadership is messy, and at times, very humbling. Self-awareness of our strengths and blindspots and choosing to live by our values is the first step to a healthy, positive workplace culture.   

     

    Here’s what we talked about:  

    03:45 The opposite of joy  

    07:35 What leader’s need to do about culture  

    12:36 The noticing phase as a leader  

    17:35 Learning through big mistakes  

    23:00 What can employees do to shift culture

     

    Links/ Resources: 

    Books mentioned:  

    Dying for a Paycheck

    https://amzn.to/3XmyH5x

    When Work is Good

    https://amzn.to/4giUNi2

    Connect with Moe:  LinkedIn Profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/moecarrick/  Website - https://moementum.com/  

    The Free 99 Step:

    Joyosity Explorer Map http://jennwhitmer.com/joyosity-explorer will guide you to understanding the deeper purpose and story you tell yourself about your work. Joy is linked to purpose and productivity increases by 20% or more when you directly link your purpose to your work.  

    Ready to Make a Plan:

    Joyosity Jumpstart https://jennwhitmer.com/jumpstart  If you’re ready to stop leading from survival mode and lead with connection and joy, the Joyosity™ Jumpstart Session https://jennwhitmer.acemlnb.com/lt.php?x=3TxtmrUFUqPUT55qA3P3hOdr~a-jjAT0w-xlk5HEIFnKDXV8y_xGh.ae3HVViwBfx1K2Z5UWKXOd954KzNLKUr is for you. Clarify what you want, where you are, and what’s getting in the way so you can make a real plan.  

    Ready to Dive In: 

    The Joyosity Leadership Retreat http://jennwhitmer.com/joyosity-retreat Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn and other women who are leading. Reset. Reimagine. Revive.

  • “That’s how we do things here.” Sometimes that’s used as an excuse…at least in my experience! But at it’s best, it’s a wonderful definition of culture. Moe Carrick, workplace culture expert, defines the sometimes squishy term “culture” with “that’s how we do things here.” I love that definition for a few reasons. 1 - It implies that if ignored culture will still be there 2- It means you have to live out your values in order to influence the culture.

     

    In this conversation we dove deep into the power of being seen by a strong leader, the reward an organization will have when intentionally building a culture and the way joy can show up in the workplace. (spoiler: it’s increased productivity and engagement)

     

    Moe shared some warning signs for what will happen when culture is ignored and helped us understand that. Although we’re two Enneagram Sevens, we’re both aware that work will not always be sunshine and rainbows. If you’re a leader trying to build a postive culture, I invite you to join us to talk through what that REALLY means and how we can move the needle toward a workplace filled with Joyosity.

     

    Here’s what we talked about:

    04:50 How Moe overcame big challenges young

    07:50 Interpreting the experiences that shape you

    08:44 The power of being seen

    11:23 Defining culture

    16:08 What does employee engagement mean?

    20:30 The consequence of not paying attention to culture

    24:35 Productivity and joy

     

    Links/ Resources:

    Connect With Moe on LinkedIn here, or visit her website here.

    The Free 99 Step:

    Joyosity Explorer Map will guide you to understanding the deeper purpose and story you tell yourself about your work. Joy is linked to purpose and productivity increases by 20% or more when you directly link your purpose to your work.

    The Leadership Lift free online workshop will help you rise above the cycle of stress and exhaustion so you can avoid burnout — and even have joy at work. You'll map your own path with Jenn as a guide. Let’s move you toward excitement and confidence with a plan for your success for the whole of your life.

    Ready to Dive In:

    The Joyosity Leadership Retreat

    Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn and other women who are leading. Reset. Reima

     

  • In order to have joy at work you must have conflict. I know that sounds absurd but stay with me here. It’s unrealistic to have a workplace that doesn’t experience conflict. It’s unrealistic to have any relationshipe without conflict.

     

    Conflict is the struggle of limited resources and differing goals. And I hate to break it to you, but that shows up in every workplace, home, and friendship at some point.

     

    Instead of running from the conflict, this episode invites you to lean into it. I share the four stages of conflict resolution and what you can do to move through the steps with dignity and respect for those around you. I share three questions to help you understand the other person in the conflict better — and we even talk about Goose and Maverick.

     

    You deserve a workplace that has healthy conflict and real joy. If you’re ready to give up fake peace take a listen, and let me know what your thoughts are!

     

    Here’s what we talked about:

    02:46 Why do workplaces need conflict

    05:26 How conflict shows up in remote workplaces

    06:19 What is conflict

    10:12 The 4 steps of conflict

    10:53 What questions to ask to get to a resolution

    23:33 How to heal from fake peace

    Links/ Resources:

    The Free 99 Step: 20 Helpful Phrases For Difficult Conversations: https://jennwhitmer.com/20-phrases

    Ready to Dive In: The Joyosity Leadership Retreat - http://jennwhitmer.com/joyosity-retreat

    Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn and other women who are leading. Reset. Reimagine. Revive.

  • What do you do when someone tells you a story that isn’t true? Maybe you were there or you heard it from someone else differently. As a leader, knowing how to handle stories (true or not) is so important for the integrity of your team.

    This month was all about the science behind why stories work and tricks for engaging others through story, thank you Kindra Hall! In this episode Shelby, who works behind the scenes in my company, and I dove into what we loved most about this month’s content. What we noticed in our day to day lives about stories and my favorite part… what to do when stories don’t feel true. 

    We laughed about how to use stories in parenting and leadership and went through a few scenarios at work and home when a story was viewed differently from multiple people experiencing it. 

    If you haven’t been able to tune in to each show this month (we know you’re busy!) This is a great one to get the overview of what we learned and what we’re taking with us moving forward.

     

    Here’s what we talked about:

    04:07 Are you stealing stories?

    08:42 The biology of storytelling 

    11:45 How to rewrite stories truthfully

    13:02 What to do when someone tells a story that’s untrue

    16:06 What to do when you have two opposing point of views

     

    Resources from this Month:

    Episode 49: We’re Literally Dying Without Joy

    Episode 50: The Biologial Power of Stories for Leaders, part 1 with Kindra Hall

    Episode 51: Storytelling as a People Power Skills, part 2 with Kindra Hall

     

    The Free 99 Step:
    Joyosity Explorer Map will guide you to understanding the deeper purpose and story you tell yourself about your work. Joy is linked to purpose and productivity increases by 20% or more when you directly link your purpose to your work.

     

    Ready to Make a Plan:
    Joyosity Jumpstart

    If you’re ready to stop leading from survival mode and lead with connection and joy, the Joyosity™ Jumpstart Session is for you. Clarify what you want, where you are, and what’s getting in the way so you can make a real plan.

     

    Starting the Journey:

    Enneagram Navigator 

    Walk through the process to identify your Enneagram type — accurately! But then also know what does that mean in your every day life.

     

    Ready to Dive In:

    The Joyosity Leadership Retreat

    Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn and other women who are leading. Reset. Reimagine. Revive.

  • Having your values plastered on the office wall is not living by them. Wanting to know how to infuse them into your business so your team embodies them as well? That requires one of our people power skills — storytelling.

     

    The best way to showcase your values is to live by them and tell your personal story around them. Storytelling is an essential skill in leadership. 

     

    Last week Kindra shared the science behind storytelling and it led us right into this episode where she breaks down the “how to” of storytelling. If you stay in the mode of  “I’m not a storyteller,” I have bad news folks: Your leadership will suffer.

     

    Storytelling is the key to change. It’s almost impossible to elicit change without a good story. (a true one I might add!) 

     

    Kindra broke down what every good story needs and gently reminded us to start paying attention to the stories around us, yes, even the uncomfortable ones! 

     

    We spoke about how stories build confidence and connection and how we can start today to gather and tell better stories. If you enjoyed the episode please send me an email and share your story with me! I would love to hear it!

     

    Here’s what we talked about:

    2:56 How to find your personal story 

    05:27 Ways to find connection through story 

    07:07 How stories build confidence

    07:43 Tips for finding your own leadership stories

    11:03 The power of asking others in your story 

    12:20 Recognizing stories in your challenges

    14:45 How to tell an effective story

     

    Links:

    The Story Edge:

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/1400228573/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_ZY7DVCSS8HMBHN905JBZ?linkCode=ml2&tag=jennwhitmer0a-20

    The Joyosity Leadership Retreat:

    Work on your leadership stories with Jenn and other women who are leading. Reset. Reimagine. Revive.

    https://jennwhitmer.com/joyosity-retreat  

  • “The shortest distance between two people is a story.” My coach Harris says this frequently, and I find it true over and over. In person, in an email, a LinkedIn post, a TikTok…stories change us AND shape our leadership.

     

    I‘ve watched Kindra Hall for a long-time as a mentor from afar. Someone who’s doing what I want to do. Author, speaker, and storytelling expert, her stories have impacted me in profound ways (that she didn’t even realize!). 

     

    I was thrilled she joined me for another podcast episode. We really got into the science of storytelling and it was such a great reminder to me that storytelling is quite literally a part of our DNA. It’s how we evolved as humans (and how we continue to!). 

     

    We shared laughs about keynote speaking and how people often overlook stories as a form of learning. But as a teacher and keynote speaker, I’ve seen stories awaken sleepy students and executives! But not just to entertain, but as a powerful leadership tooI. I loved how Kindra put it: “Would a scorpion not use their poison? Would a Zebra not use their stripes?” It’s a superpower only humans have and to say you don’t need story is to say you’re not human.

     

    If you have overlooked finding and using stories in your leadership, join this conversation. And then…I’d love to hear your story!

    Here’s what we talked about:
    03:45 Who is Kindra Hall?

    07:47 How Kindra discovered the power of storytelling

    12:50 Defining what a story is

    16:11 The proof that stories can persuade

    18:30 The science behind storytelling

    Links:

    The Story Edge:

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/1400228573/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_ZY7DVCSS8HMBHN905JBZ?linkCode=ml2&tag=jennwhitmer0a-20

    The Joyosity Leadership Retreat:

    Work on your leadership stories with Jenn and other women who are leading. Reset. Reimagine. Revive.

    https://jennwhitmer.com/joyosity-retreat  

  • “It’s fine, that’s just the way work is. It isn’t supposed to be fun” 

    “I just need to put my head down and work harder”

    “Why am I so weak?”

     

    Have you said these things to yourself? Me too. In this episode I tell the story about the “summer of crying on couches”. It wasn’t a fun summer. But it led to the work I’m doing now, the work I believe in - joy at work. 

     

    Toil and languishing should not be the norm. We have to believe a new story. But that means erasing these common thoughts and rewriting our stories around what work should feel and look like. We have to believe we deserve joy and that’s not easy. 

    The stats on why joy matters:

    Every year there are 120,000 work related stress deathsThose events cost 190 billion dollars a yearWhen you center joy you have a 31% increase in productivity If 1 person has joy at work there’s a 25% increase in the groups performanceJoyful people are 3 ½ more likely to help others

    Here’s where you can start: 

    Thursday August 22nd I’m hosting a Leadership Lift. It’s Free! It’s an hour long and it’s one of my favorite ways to help leaders identify how they can start putting joy back into work.Download the Joyosity Leadership Map for free by entering your email hereJoin me in St Louis in November for a complete reset at the Joyosity Retreat. 

    It matters. You deserve a life that’s full of joy both at work and at home and I’ll continue to shout that from the rooftops. I hope you’ll start believing me and joining in!



    Here’s what we talked about:


    03:09 The story of crying on a couch in front of my leader

    06:51 3 things I learned from this painful experience

    18:26 How we get to joy at work

    23:08 How to find clarity on what motivates and drains you

     

    Links:

    Joyosity Leadership Map - https://jennwhitmer.com/joyosity-explorer 

    Joyosity Leadership Lift - https://jennwhitmer.com/leadership-lift