Business Excellence Podcast

Are Your Hiring Practices Stifling Innovation? Given how fast technology changes, there is room to assume the manner in which we hire staff ought to adapt too? John has seen firsthand how outdated HR practices can hold organizations back from tapping into their true innovative potential. "When you think about our HR practices, the HR people are just checking boxes - looking at degrees, certificates, and experience. They don't really know what that person is like or what unique expertise they can bring to the table." John argues that this superficial approach to hiring fails to recognize the value of diverse cognitive styles and backgrounds. "Some people are right-brained, some are left-brained, and some can blend the two - that's where the exciting innovation happens." Too often, HR focuses on fitting candidates into predefined molds, rather than embracing the richness that comes from people with varied experiences and ways of thinking. This narrow mindset can stifle the very creativity and problem-solving abilities that organizations desperately need. The solution? Leaders must challenge traditional hiring criteria and dig deeper to uncover the hidden gems - the individuals whose unconventional backgrounds and skill sets can breathe new life into your innovative ecosystem. Revolutionize your approach to talent acquisition. Look beyond the boxes and certificates and seek out the diverse thinkers and problem-solvers who can take your organization to new heights. #futureofwork #excellenceproject #raelbricker #futureofculture #businessexcellence #excellence #smallsteps EP: https://lnkd.in/g3buZBCN

In our final podcast episode for the year we were joined by a global innovation ecosystem architect, John Taylor McEntire. He has spent over 3 decades empowering organizations across 40+ countries to achieve their full potential. Drawing from his rich experiences living and working in diverse cultural contexts, from the US Midwest to the Middle East, John has developed a unique approach that blends Eastern consensus-building strategies with Western innovation principles. At the heart of John's leadership philosophy is the recognition that managing cross-cultural teams requires a nuanced, adaptive approach. As he eloquently states, "Even when you have cultural differences within the same neighbourhood or household, it can be complicated to manage. But when you're bringing people together from vastly different places and cultures, it gets more complicated." This keen awareness of the increased complexity involved in leading diverse teams is a cornerstone of John's advice for revolutionizing leadership. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the "orbs of influence" within an innovative ecosystem, recognizing the interconnected layers of internal teams, external partners, competitors, and clients. Crucially, John encourages leaders to view competitors not just as threats, but as potential collaborators, fostering a mindset of "mutual prosperity" where everyone can benefit. Beyond navigating cultural nuances, John highlights the significance of fostering authentic, inclusive organizational cultures. He draws inspiration from practices like the Filipino concept of "7M of Service" and the Middle Eastern "modulus," which prioritize empathy, consensus-building, and cross-cultural exchange. By implementing initiatives such as reverse mentoring and cross-functional meetings, leaders can break down silos and enable diverse voices to be heard and valued. Ultimately, John's holistic approach to leadership empowerment is encapsulated in his SYNC method, which aligns personal growth, authentic leadership, and the seamless integration of new skills and perspectives across the organization. As he seamlessly states, "The key is to empower diverse, innovative teams by understanding cultural nuances and creating a collaborative, inclusive ecosystem. #futureofwork #excellenceproject #raelbricker #futureofculture #businessexcellence #excellence #smallsteps EP: https://lnkd.in/g3buZBCN

My favourite phrase from this week’s conversation has to be the term, ‘communication expert’. Its not directly said in the conversation but Rich truly encompasses what it means to be knowledgeable in communication. It was only fitting that Lindsay and I use the term so often this week to stress the weight of importance of this weeks interview. Especially as we begin to draw the year down and plan ahead for the new year. I hope you all know that listening to this episode makes you one! And as such being communication experts, we're always searching for ways to make our messages more impactful, engaging, and memorable. I trust that the top 5 tips will resonate with you, and have a place in your business, or if its for your own personal growth, they help you achieve your goals. Tip One: Rich emphasized the importance of "aligning with the way the brain processes information." As he eloquently stated, "Suddenly, understanding of that communication goes up, which is the goal of communication." By structuring your content to match how the brain naturally makes sense of information, you can dramatically boost comprehension. Tip Two: Rich also stressed the power of creating "psychological safety" - ensuring your participants feel comfortable, trusting, and open to sharing He had a great analogy for how your brain is working when it's bored, stressed, worried, concerned or feeling entrapped. Foster that sense of safety, and you unlock the brain's full learning potential. Tip Three: Engaging multiple senses. Rich explained that "if you can tie these different parts of the brain together around a single thought. Now you're building these giant neural, uh, connections and that's, that's what learning is, that's what understanding is, that's what an aha moment is." Activate the visual, auditory, and kinesthetics centers of the brain, and you'll create experiences that are not just informative, but truly transformative. Tip Four: His emphasis on keeping it simple. By focusing on just 2-3 key points, you give your audience the space to actively process and make the information their own. Tip Five: Take your presentations and training to the next level - by creating experiences that stick, inspire action, and deliver tangible results - you need to embrace these brain-centric strategies. The human brain is an incredible machine, and unlocking its power is the secret to unforgettable communication. Are you ready to make that happen? Leveraging the power of the human brain is truly a game-changer when it comes to presentations, training, and all forms of strategic communication. By aligning our messages with how the brain naturally processes information, we can create experiences that are not only informative, but truly transformative. #futureofwork #excellenceproject #raelbricker #futureofculture #businessexcellence #excellence #smallsteps EP: https://lnkd.in/guk5x8Xm

Rich shared a game-changing tip that gets to the heart of effective communication: Keep it simple, stupid! Or as he eloquently put it, focus on "the magical number seven plus or minus two." The science behind this is fascinating. Rich explained that our working memory - the part of the brain that actively processes information - can really only handle 4 plus or minus 2 thoughts at a time. Anything more, and it starts to get overwhelmed. Think about it - how often have you sat through a presentation or training where the speaker just kept piling on detail after detail? By the end, your brain was fried, and you couldn't even remember the main takeaways. Rich warns that this is a common pitfall, especially for subject matter experts who know their stuff inside and out. In their enthusiasm to share everything, they end up overloading their audience's cognitive capacity. Instead, Rich suggests strategically structuring your communication to focus on just 2-3 key points. Then, you can scaffold additional details and examples underneath those core ideas. This not only helps with retention, but also creates space for active processing and application. As Rich put it, "If I asked what was surprising, let's just say there's five of us in the room. You're going to say something that's surprising. He's going to say something, she's going to be say something, he's going to say something. And while that's going on, you've got cognitive rehearsal." In other words, by keeping it simple, you empower your audience to make the information their own. They're not just passively absorbing a data dump, but actively engaging with the content in a way that cements their understanding. So, the next time you're preparing a presentation, training session, or any other important communication, take a step back and ask yourself - am I keeping it simple enough? Your audience's brains (and your impact) will thank you. #futureofwork #excellenceproject #raelbricker #futureofculture #businessexcellence #excellence #smallsteps EP: https://lnkd.in/guk5x8Xm

Being a business owner means you have to be a communication expert, which translates to you knowing the importance of keeping your audience engaged and attentive. But did you know that tapping into multiple senses is the secret to truly impactful and memorable experiences? Rich Carr, a renowned learning scientist, shared some brilliant insights on leveraging the brain's natural processing power. Let's dive in! One of Rich's top tips is to "engage all four learning lobes" of the brain. He explains that we have visual, auditory, tactile, and cognitive processing centers - and activating them simultaneously is the key to building strong neural connections. For example, instead of just lecturing, Rich suggests incorporating hands-on activities, multimedia elements, and opportunities for discussion. Picture yourself as a real estate agent, walking your audience through a sales process - you could show a video demo, have them role-play negotiating, and then unpack their insights as a group. This multisensory approach helps the information truly stick. Rich also emphasizes the power of "novelty and surprise" to grab attention. He shares the analogy of suddenly hearing your name in a crowded room - your brain instantly perks up. You can recreate that effect by introducing unexpected examples, thought-provoking questions, or interactive twists throughout your sessions. And of course, no discussion of brain-based learning would be complete without highlighting the importance of psychological safety. As Rich puts it, you want your participants to feel like they're chatting with "old school pals" - comfortable, trusting, and open to sharing their perspectives. By designing your presentations and training to engage the whole brain, you'll create learning experiences that are not only informative, but truly transformative. Your audience will walk away energized, inspired, and excited to put their new knowledge into practice. How do you plan on incorporating this week’s tools into your business? #futureofwork #excellenceproject #raelbricker #futureofculture #businessexcellence #excellence #smallsteps EP: https://lnkd.in/guk5x8Xm

Are you an entrepreneur, sales leader, or marketing professional looking to take your LinkedIn strategy to new heights? If so, you'll want to listen up, because Lindsay and I recently had the chance to sit down with LinkedIn expert Colin Hirdman, and he shared a game-changing playbook for leveraging this powerful platform to drive real results for your business. Let's dive into the top tips Colin shared. First and foremost, it's all about adopting the right mindset. On LinkedIn, it's essential to be authentic, educational, and experimental in your approach. Gone are the days of the hard sell - instead, you need to focus on providing genuine value to your audience. Position yourself as a trusted advisor, not just another salesperson. Next, it's time to get strategic about building your targeted audience. Leverage the advanced filtering capabilities of LinkedIn's Sales Navigator tool to hone in on your ideal prospects. But don't stop there - also keep an eye out for industry events and thought leaders that can serve as proxies to expand your reach. Once you've identified your audience, it's time to activate them. Rather than blasting out generic connection requests, take a more personalized approach by reaching out to 25 new contacts per day. And don't be afraid to re-engage those who don't respond initially - sometimes it just takes a gentle nudge. Of course, the real magic happens in the follow-up. Implement a strategic drip campaign, starting with a simple thank-you message and then providing value-driven content that educates and assists your new connections. This is where you can really start to nurture those relationships. Finally, take advantage of the power of LinkedIn Live streams to engage your audience in real-time. By identifying relevant topics and promoting your live events to your network, you can position yourself as a thought leader while also creating opportunities for continued one-on-one conversations. The common thread throughout all of these tips? A relentless focus on providing value, building trust, and fostering genuine relationships. It's not about the hard sell - it's about positioning yourself as a trusted advisor and opening the door to new opportunities. Ready to put these strategies into action for your business? Reach out, and let's discuss how you can leverage the full potential of LinkedIn to drive meaningful growth. The possibilities are endless. #futureofwork #excellenceproject #raelbricker #futureofculture #businessexcellence #excellence #smallsteps EP: https://lnkd.in/gvJvKBQJ

Struggling to find the right audience on LinkedIn? The key is building out targeted lists using LinkedIn's powerful Sales Navigator tool. Sales Navigator goes beyond the basic LinkedIn search, providing advanced filters to hone in on your ideal prospects. By creating and saving these custom audience segments, you can ensure your outreach and engagement is laser-focused on the people who matter most to your business. But it's not just about the filters - it's also about understanding audience intent. One clever tactic is to identify LinkedIn events hosted by your competitors or industry organizations. When you attend these events, you can see who else is registered, giving you a window into prospects who have already signalled their interest in the topic. Another pro tip is to use thought leaders as proxies. Connect with influential figures in your space, then leverage their audience by identifying their first and second-degree connections that align with your target market. Building the right audience is foundational to driving real results on LinkedIn. Leverage the power of Sales Navigator and audience intent to ensure your efforts are directed at the most promising prospects. How often do you use Sales Navigator? #futureofwork #excellenceproject #raelbricker #futureofculture #businessexcellence #excellence #smallsteps EP: https://lnkd.in/gvJvKBQJ

Are you looking to leverage LinkedIn Live streams to effectively engage and educate your audience? Look no further than this week’s Top Five Podcast episode with Colin Hirdman. There are several best practices to keep in mind. First and foremost, it's crucial to identify your target audience and a relevant topic that will provide genuine value to them. By determining the specific individuals, you want to reach and the information they would find most useful, you can ensure your live stream content is tailored to their needs. Next, be sure to create a dedicated LinkedIn event for your live stream. This not only allows you to promote the upcoming session to your network, but also enables you to track attendance and engagement. Speaking of promotion, leveraging your first-degree connections on LinkedIn by sending them invites to the event is an excellent way to drive viewership and participation. When it comes to the live stream itself, consider utilizing a third-party tool like Streamyard, as LinkedIn currently does not offer native live streaming capabilities. During the 30-minute session, be sure to allocate time for real-time Q&A and audience interaction, as this fosters a sense of engagement and demonstrates your willingness to address their specific questions or concerns. Finally, follow up with attendees after the live stream has concluded. Express your gratitude for their participation, provide a link to the recorded session, and offer the opportunity to schedule a one-on-one consultation. Additionally, repurposing the live stream content by sharing it on your website and social media channels can help extend the reach and impact of your valuable insights. By implementing these best practices, you can position your LinkedIn Live streams as a powerful tool for establishing your expertise, building relationships, and driving meaningful growth for your business. Thank you to Colin for joining Lindsay and I. #futureofwork #excellenceproject #raelbricker #futureofculture #businessexcellence #excellence #smallsteps EP: https://lnkd.in/gvJvKBQJ

Now, I want to challenge all of you listening to really take a hard look at Tip #5 - providing the right tools and technology to enable innovation. Too often, I see large organizations paying lip service to innovation, but failing to equip their teams with the resources they need to be truly creative and experimental. So, here's my challenge to you: Take a step back and honestly assess the tools and technology available to the innovators and change-makers in your organization. Are they working with outdated software? Do they have access to prototyping materials and dedicated collaboration spaces? Or are they just expected to innovate on their own time, without any dedicated resources? Really think about the barriers that might be holding your teams back. Are there certain tools or technologies that could dramatically accelerate their ability to test new ideas and bring them to life? Once you've identified those gaps, I want you to make a commitment - commit to taking concrete action to provide your innovators with the tools they need to succeed. It might mean securing budget for new design software. Or setting aside dedicated innovation labs or maker spaces. Or even instituting a "20% time" policy, like Google, where people can spend a portion of their week purely focused on creative projects. Whatever it is, the key is to stop treating innovation like an afterthought and start giving it the resources and priority it deserves. Because as Nick said, you wouldn't expect a world-class athlete to perform at their best without the right equipment. The same principle applies to driving innovation within your organization. So, take this challenge seriously. Identify the gaps, make a plan, and start equipping your teams to innovate at the highest level. I guarantee you'll start seeing the results - both in terms of the ideas they generate, and the impact those ideas have on your business. Who's ready to step up and lead the charge on Nick’s Top Five Tips? Thank you Nick for joining Lindsay and I in absentia, greatly enjoyed listening to this one. #futureofwork #excellenceproject #raelbricker #futureofculture #businessexcellence #excellence #smallsteps EP: https://lnkd.in/grvrs2Z6

We have shot right down to Tip #4 for Driving Innovation in Large Orgs: Create a Culture and Incentive Structure that Encourages Innovation One of the key insights from the discussion with innovation expert Nick Jain is the critical importance of creating the right culture and incentives to support innovation within large organizations. As Nick explains, the reality is that many large companies actually discourage innovation, rather than encouraging it. The typical approach is to give employees a "nice pat on the back" if they come up with a good idea, but then the organization simply takes that idea and runs with it - without providing any real rewards or recognition for the employee who came up with it. Worse yet, Nick notes that some organizations even actively penalize employees for failed experiments or "screwing around" on innovative side projects. The fear of looking "stupid" or getting passed over for promotions can be a major deterrent to taking the kinds of risks that innovation requires. This is a huge missed opportunity. As Nick points out, the reality is that true innovation involves a lot of trial and error - you have to be willing to fail 99 times before you land on that one breakthrough idea. But large organizations often don't have the patience or the incentive structures in place to support that kind of iterative, experimental approach. So what's the solution? According to Nick, organizations need to get much more intentional about creating a culture and incentive structure that actively encourages innovation. This could involve things like: 1. Monetary rewards (the "gold" incentive) 2. Opportunities for recognition and status ("glory") 3. Alignment with the company's broader mission and values ("common good") 4. The chance to prove one's own capabilities ("guts") The key is to understand what truly motivates your employees - whether it's financial gain, the desire for achievement, or the chance to make a positive impact. Then structure your innovation programs and incentives accordingly. Ultimately, if you want your large organization to be truly innovative, you have to be willing to put your money where your mouth is. Create the right environment, provide the right resources, and make sure people are properly incentivized to take smart risks and keep experimenting. It's the only way to unlock the full innovative potential of your team. What do you think about this tip? I'd love to hear your thoughts on how large organizations can build a culture that truly embraces and rewards innovation. #futureofwork #excellenceproject #raelbricker #futureofculture #businessexcellence #excellence #smallsteps EP: https://lnkd.in/grvrs2Z6