Cultivating Healthy & Vibrant Workplaces Podcast

In Episode 16, we explore the power of leading through storytelling.

Our guest, Karuna Ramanathan, has an established track record in supporting senior leaders and organizations through difficult transformations, increasingly in middle manager execution challenges, and in values, people, and culture change.

Following two tours as a naval warship captain, Karuna went on to lead and architect leadership transformation and systems-level change in the Center for Leadership Development (2004-2014) as its Deputy Head.

Karuna is currently the Principal Consultant for KR Konsulting (KRK), based in Singapore.

He created the “251 Storytelling Model for Leaders”, adopted by UNICEF in 2013, and was featured as one of the “Top 10 Organisation Development Consultants 2023” by the Asia Business Outlook.

Episode 16 illuminates:

• Why Storytelling is a critical skill for leaders to hone.
• Specific techniques to structure and deliver compelling stories to inspire and influence.
• How storytelling helps cultivate a common sense of purpose, shared vision, and motivation.
• Common pitfalls or mistakes leaders should be mindful of when storytelling.
• Striking a balance between vulnerability, transparency, and confidentiality in storytelling.

Episode 15 offers a fascinating look into the role of Corporate Chaplains and the nexus of Corporate Chaplaincy and Spirituality in the Workplace.

Our guest, Cyril Gowler, shares how his work as a Corporate Chaplain helps enhance workplace relationships and offers much-needed emotional and spiritual support to employees in these challenging times.

Here is an overview of some of the many topics we discussed relating to his important work:

• The role and day in the life of a Corporate Chaplain.

• Cyril’s role and efforts in promoting and facilitating “Trauma Informed Care.”

• Common misconceptions about Corporate chaplains.

• How Chaplains help support employee well-being, work satisfaction, engagement, and performance.

• The benefits of this role in supporting employees experiencing personal challenges and crises.
• Ways in which Corporate Chaplains create a safe and inclusive space for employees to explore and express their spirituality.
• The impacts of loneliness today in the workplace and how his role is helping to address such.

[GUEST BIO] Cyril Gowler

Cyril Gowler is a Corporate Chaplain with All Weather Windows and an on-call Chaplain with the City of Edmonton and the Edmonton Police Service.

He is one of four district chaplains with the RCMP K Division and a member of the Canadian Police Chaplains Association.

He serves as a Board Member of the Edmonton Community Chaplaincy Association, the Association of Alliance Chaplains (Canada), and the Christian & Missionary Alliance. He also officiates weddings and offers marriage counseling.

His specialties include the "Prepare and Enrich Canada" evaluation process for pre-marital and marital counseling. He has been certified to administer this evaluation for about 23 years and has had excellent results.

You can learn more about and connect with Cyril via LinkedIn.

In Episode 14, Marc Michaelson, Founder of "LEAD LIFE FIRST" and arguably the Godfather of Workplace Well-being, illuminates five transformative shifts for navigating the future of Workplace Wellness, among other timely topics.

Our forward-looking conversation offers a strategic blueprint for leaders of all levels and disciplines, especially Workplace Wellness and HR professionals and Executive Coaches.

Topics we explored include:

• "Five Transformative Shifts" we need to embrace to cultivate healthy, high-performing organizations.
• Marc's "LEAD YOURSELF FIRST" model for personal, team, and organizational well-being.
• Why the Workplace Wellness leader role is more than a "back office function."
• How Workplace Wellness and HR leaders can become "Strategic Business Advisers" to senior leadership.
• Marc's "Memo of Promise" to Workplace Wellness leaders.
• Breaking down siloes to ensure Workplace Wellness is everyone's responsibility.
• Critical pain points executives are experiencing today on a personal and professional level.
• Ways in which executives can elevate well-being as a cultural pillar.
• Approaches for effectively "showing up" to those we lead and coach.
• Skills People leaders and coaches should be honing today.

[GUEST BIO] Marc Michaelson

Marc Michaelson is a distinguished professional with a remarkable career spanning over four decades in the realm of human and organizational development.

He was one of the original founders of the Workplace Wellness movement in 1978, pioneering a new approach to wellness and well-being that has transcended conventional boundaries over the past four decades.

In a landscape characterized by a constant evolution in wellness, organizational development, leadership, and management, Marc's dedication to lifelong learning keeps him at the forefront of trends and innovations.

His foresight led to the introduction of the groundbreaking concept of Intergenerational Intelligence (IGQ) in 2019, redefining cross-generational communication and fostering collaborative environments enriched by diverse perspectives, mutual mentoring, and support for intergenerational well-being education.

Among Marc's many influential programs is the D3 Leadership Learning program, which integrates total life well-being with leadership principles and strategies for leadership development. With this fusion of skills, leaders gain a balanced foundation for success on both a personal and professional level.

His forthcoming book, "The Art of Pivoting To Generative Purpose: Navigating Meaning and Well-Being in an Era of Longevity," set to be released in Spring 2024, promises to guide individuals on a transformative journey toward embracing generative purpose and well-being in the face of extended lifespans.

Collaborating with Marc Michaelson means embarking on a journey that explores the integration and alignment of total life planning, well-being, and success for a lifetime.

You can learn more about and connect with Marc via LinkedIn.

In Episode 13, John Toomey and I discuss thought-provoking questions and existential issues intersecting humanity and well-being, including:

• The importance of being mindful of the future of humanity.
• Well-being issues and challenges revealed and amplified by the pandemic.
• Responding to employee well-being needs in today’s hybrid environment.
• The role of governments in supporting our collective well-being.
• Advice for WWCOE program graduates and others launching a career as a Workplace Wellness leader or Concierge.

[GUEST BIO] John Toomey

John Toomey is an international speaker, writer, and thought leader who delivers seminars that inspire, educate, and empower people to take 100% responsibility for their lives and well-being.

His impressive background in high-performance roles in professional sports, including 7 AFL Clubs, and Culture Development roles in two A-League Clubs, and as Coach of an Olympic Gold Medallist, brings richness and depth to his presentations.

He holds a Phys Ed degree from Deakin University, did his Masters Studies in Applied Physiology at Victoria University, studied and taught Human Consciousness as an Avatar Master for 15 years, is a published author, and has lectured at multiple Universities in PE and Medicine. He served 5 years on RMIT University’s School of Health Sciences Program Advisory Committee.

Currently, John is the Global Chair of the Global Wellness Institute’s Workplace Wellbeing Initiative, the world’s premier advisory group on Workplace Wellness.

He’s delivered over 3,500 Corporate Presentations, spoken at Conferences worldwide, written two books and hundreds of published articles, completed 4 National Thought Leadership Tours for QBE, and appeared on multiple podcasts globally.

You can learn more about and connect with John via his website or LinkedIn.

Healthy work cultures are cultivated when we lead from the heart!

Our guest for Episode 12 is Mark Crowley, author of Lead From the Heart, an Amazon Top-100 Bestseller, and host of the "Lead From The Heart" podcast that ranks in the top 1.5% of all podcasts worldwide and has an audience in 163 countries.

In Episode 12, we engaged in a "heartfelt" discussion of the following:

• The inspiration for his book and podcast series
• How he defines and promotes "leading from the heart"
• How managers might lead from the heart in today's complex and ambiguous environment
• Principles for leading from a "people-before-profits" mindset and approach
• Fundamentals on how to transition from a manager to a heart-centered, employee-centric coach
• Healthy practices leaders might role model to demonstrate "visible permission" to employees to put on their "oxygen mask" as needed
• Examples of leaders who successfully "Lead From The Heart"

[GUEST BIO] Mark C. Crowley

Mark C. Crowley is the author of "Lead From The Heart: Transformational Leadership For The 21st Century." His mission is to fundamentally change how we lead people in workplaces around the globe.

Mark is a regular columnist for Fast Company Magazine and has been published in USA Today, Reuters, Forbes, the Stanford Social Innovation Review, the Huffington Post, Gallup, The Financial Times, CEO Magazine, Great Britain, and the Seattle Times. His two LinkedIn Pulse articles on inspiring a 21st-century workforce and managing millennials have been read well over a million times.

Mark is a graduate of the University of California, San Diego, and the University of Washington's Pacific Coast Banking School. He lives in La Jolla, California.

Connect with Mark C. Crowley:

[Email] Mark@MarkCCrowley.com

[Website] www.markccrowley.com

[LinkedIn] https://www.linkedin.com/in/markccrowley/

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In Episode 11, Newton Cheng, Director of Health + Performance at Google, takes us on an emotional journey of his experience with burnout during the pandemic.

We get an up close and personal look into how he addressed and transcended depression and ultimately cultivated "Emotional Vibrancy" (i.e., newfound meaning, purpose, and joy in his life and work).

In our discussion, we pulled back the curtain on:

- Contributing factors to Newton's burnout and his trepidations in requesting a mental health leave.

- How he summoned the courage to request a mental health leave.

- Reducing "mental health stigma" in the workplace.

- Why some referred to his leave as a "sabbatical."

- Wellness and stress mastery practices he now embraces to help prevent a burnout relapse.

- Impacts (good and bad) of remote and hybrid work on employee mental health, burnout, and performance.

- The rise and implications of senior leader burnout.

- How Newton's "burnout story" has been received at Google and elsewhere.

- Measures Workplace Wellness leaders might embrace to help prevent and address systemic burnout.

- What his speaking engagements have revealed about employee mental health and burnout today.

As you will discover in my revealing discussion with Lisa Elsinger, Associate Director of Workplace Wellness, Broward College, Workplace Wellness leaders can be instrumental in nurturing “Change Agents,” organizational alliances, and systemic transformation for healthy, inclusive, high-performing work cultures and thriving employees.

In Episode 9, we explored:

• Lisa’s role as Wellness Director with Broward College.
• What a typical month looks like for her and how her work has evolved.
• Where the role of Workplace Wellness leaders might best reside.
• The importance and function of Chief Well-being Officers.
• Changes to organizational and employee well-being in recent years particularly from the pandemic.
• Cultivating employee well-being and healthy workplaces via strategic, culture-building initiatives.
• How leaders might “lead by example” to help nurture healthy, inclusive work cultures.

“While the war for talent may ebb and flow with the unemployment rate, the war for top talent is always hot. The irony is that if individuals are given the opportunity to work and live intentionally, organizations just might find they had more top talent all along—they were just tired and a little resentful before.”  [Bree Groff, Senior Advisor, SYPartners]

The above quote by Bree is one of many underlying and thought-provoking themes discussed in this episode.

By way of introduction, Bree Groff is a Senior Advisor with SYPartners in New York. Her important work focuses on transformation, innovation, organizational design, and culture.

In Episode 8, Bree and I engage in a lively discussion of:

• Why building employee engagement is challenging for many organizations.

• Positive impacts of thriving hybrid cultures on employee and organizational well-being, engagement, and growth.

• Bree’s “10 Rules of Work” that can help optimize a broken system.

• Considerations and strategies for fostering JOY and FUN in the workplace.

• One practice all teams should do to create a healthier work culture.

• Opportunities for leaders to amplify employee creativity.

She is also featured in our book via the profile, “Talent Is Yours to Lose in This ‘Great Resignation,’” highlighting takeaways from our first interview, including a team-building activity she mentions in this episode.

As with all our podcast interviews, my discussion with Bree offers tactical insights and actionable strategies for cultivating employee and organizational well-being, performance, and growth.

[GUEST BIO] Bree Groff

Bree Groff is a Senior Advisor at the transformation consultancy SYPartners, which for the past 30 years has been working to create organizations and a world of work that are driven by humanity as much as performance. Her work focuses on transformation, innovation, organizational design, and culture. She has worked with companies like Calvin Klein, Target, Microsoft, and Google.

You can learn more about and connect with Bree and SYPartners via:

Drawing on the expertise of Charlie Estey, Senior VP of Strategic Partnerships with Asset Health, in Episode 7 (Parts 1 and 2), we explore opportunities to leverage Workplace Wellness programs to help connect “disconnected” organizations in today’s hybrid work environment.

In this two-part episode, we discuss:

[1] The direction and future of Workplace Wellness, and opportunities to foster and lead healthy workplaces in this post-pandemic environment.

[2] Aligning Workplace Wellness offerings with the organization’s critical business needs.

[3] Values, qualities, and competencies required of today’s Workplace Wellness professionals and providers.

[4] How organizations might leverage and benefit from the creation of Wellness Charters and social contracts.

[5] Opportunities for HR and Workplace Wellness leaders to apply the “Workplace Wellness Leadership Checklist” included in Cultivating Healthy & Vibrant Workplaces (co-authored by Lisa and Peter Kelly).

[6] How Asset Health’s high-touch high-tech platform helps organizations stay connected in today’s hybrid environment.

[7] Success factors and examples of impactful Workplace Wellness programs.

[8] Opportunities for employees and Wellness Champions to foster grassroots Workplace Wellness movements.

[9] Strategies independent Workplace Wellness professionals might embrace to position and promote themselves for Workplace Wellness employment or contract opportunities.

[10] Opportunities for and positive impacts of nurturing healthy workplaces to nurture healthy communities.

Whether you are a leader, employee, or Workplace Wellness professional, this two-part episode offers tactical insights and actionable strategies to support your important work and amplify your organization’s performance and growth.

[GUEST BIO] Charlie Estey

Over the past 25 years, Charlie Estey has served as an internal leader and wellness consultant for employers, hospitals, and health plans including Campbell Soup Company, Travelers Insurance, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Cigna Health, and General Motors. Programs developed under his leadership have been the recipient of the C. Everett Koop National Health Project Award (for their documented program impact) and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Innovation Award.

In 2016, he was elected President of the International Association for Worksite Health Promotion (now part of the Global Centre for Healthy Workplaces in London). More recently, Charlie was the recipient of the 2019 William B. Baun Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the International Association for Worksite Health Promotion at the American College of Sports Medicine Summit, Chicago, Illinois.

Charlie earned his Master of Science degree in Exercise Physiology from West Virginia University and his Bachelor of Science degree from Ithaca College in New York.

You can learn more about and connect with Charlie and Asset Health via:

[Email] Cestey3@gmail.com

Drawing on the expertise of Charlie Estey, Senior VP of Strategic Partnerships with Asset Health, in Episode 7 (Parts 1 and 2), we explore opportunities to leverage Workplace Wellness programs to help connect “disconnected” organizations in today’s hybrid work environment.

In this two-part episode, we discuss:

[1] The direction and future of Workplace Wellness, and opportunities to foster and lead healthy workplaces in this post-pandemic environment.

[2] Aligning Workplace Wellness offerings with the organization’s critical business needs.

[3] Values, qualities, and competencies required of today’s Workplace Wellness professionals and providers.

[4] How organizations might leverage and benefit from the creation of Wellness Charters and social contracts.

[5] Opportunities for HR and Workplace Wellness leaders to apply the “Workplace Wellness Leadership Checklist” included in Cultivating Healthy & Vibrant Workplaces (co-authored by Lisa and Peter Kelly).

[6] How Asset Health’s high-touch high-tech platform helps organizations stay connected in today’s hybrid environment.

[7] Success factors and examples of impactful Workplace Wellness programs.

[8] Opportunities for employees and Wellness Champions to foster grassroots Workplace Wellness movements.

[9] Strategies independent Workplace Wellness professionals might embrace to position and promote themselves for Workplace Wellness employment or contract opportunities.

[10] Opportunities for and positive impacts of nurturing healthy workplaces to nurture healthy communities.

Whether you are a leader, employee, or Workplace Wellness professional, this two-part episode offers tactical insights and actionable strategies to support your important work and amplify your organization’s performance and growth.

[GUEST BIO] Charlie Estey

Over the past 25 years, Charlie Estey has served as an internal leader and wellness consultant for employers, hospitals, and health plans including Campbell Soup Company, Travelers Insurance, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Cigna Health, and General Motors. Programs developed under his leadership have been the recipient of the C. Everett Koop National Health Project Award (for their documented program impact) and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Innovation Award.

In 2016, he was elected President of the International Association for Worksite Health Promotion (now part of the Global Centre for Healthy Workplaces in London). More recently, Charlie was the recipient of the 2019 William B. Baun Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the International Association for Worksite Health Promotion at the American College of Sports Medicine Summit, Chicago, Illinois.

Charlie earned his Master of Science degree in Exercise Physiology from West Virginia University and his Bachelor of Science degree from Ithaca College in New York.

You can learn more about and connect with Charlie and Asset Health via:

[Email] Cestey3@gmail.com

[LinkedIn] https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlieestey/

[Website] www.assethealth.com

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Coming out of a pandemic, caring for the well-being of employees has never been more critical. In this episode, two of our program graduates, Ruvi Makuni and Christina Della Rocca, share their strategic and holistic approaches to supporting the well-being of small to mid-size businesses (SMBs).

Whether you are an owner or leader of an SMB, an HR or Workplace Wellness professional (or aspiring to become one), this episode offers insights and tactical approaches for amplifying the well-being of the organization(s) you serve and support.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

1] The role of a Workplace Wellness Concierge (WWC).

2] How WWCs might support the well-being of small to mid-size businesses.

3] Types of organizations Christina and Ruvi have worked with.

4] Examples of wellness programs and services they offer as WWCs.

5] Success stories they experienced in their role as a WWC.

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How might organizations “lead infectiously in the era of Big Problems?” This was the overarching question explored (and I geek out over) in my fascinating discussion with Dr. Larry McEvoy — an emergency room physician turned CEO turned author, thought leader, and leadership expert.

Building on his profile in our book, “Cultivating Healthy & Vibrant Workplaces,” we dive deeper into opportunities for leaders to leverage the multiplier effect of PLV and other drivers of cultural transformation.

Leadership questions, fundamentals, and models discussed:

· Why should leaders think of epidemics as potentially positive?

· Characteristics of epidemics that leaders and organizations might leverage.

· Unleashing workforce potential and championing internal networks.

· Embracing the ACE model of practice (i.e., Affirmation-Appreciation, Curiosity, and Empathy).

· Advancing the multiplier effect of PLV (Performance, Learning, and Vitality) to effect cultural change.

· Fostering Change Agents to inspire grassroots movements.

Learn more about and connect with Dr. McEvoy via the links below.

“Coaches don’t practice with the team and leave them during the game when it really counts, and neither do good empathic leaders. They are there to provide support, guidance, understanding, and motivation through every step of the way.”

The above quote by Rae Shanahan, Chief Strategy Officer for Businesssolver, perhaps best summarizes a vital takeaway from my interview with Carm Moceri, Principal, Certified Executive Coach of Healthcare Alignment Solutions, in Episode 4.

As you will discover, through his vast leadership and coaching experiences, Carm builds a compelling case for why and how leaders serving as a “Performance Coach” (versus a manager) might better support, engage, and develop their employees.

Here is a look at the critical questions and Performance Coaching approaches we explored:

1. Why Performance Coaching?: What is Performance Coaching, and what are the benefits of coaching versus managing employees?

2. Training Leaders as Coaches: Why should organizations train leaders (at all levels) in Performance Coaching?

3. Coaching vs. Mentoring vs. Advising: How are they different, and when might a leader use one vs. the other or engage an integrated approach?

4. “Coaching Up”: When might a leader engage in “Coaching Up,” and with whom?

5. Active/Appreciative Inquiry: How and when might leaders effectively use “Appreciative Inquiry” in coaching conversations with their employees?

6. Garnering Feedback in Coaching Sessions: Why is it essential to ask for feedback, and when is the best time to ask?

Whether you are a leader, employee, executive or wellness coach, this episode offers tactical insights to support your role and amplify your performance.

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In Episode 3 of our bi-weekly podcast, Cultivating Healthy & Vibrant Workplaces, I pull the curtains back on our book-writing journey through a warm-hearted and never-dull interview with my husband, Peter Kelly, the co-author of our book, Cultivating Healthy & Vibrant Workplaces.

I asked (and he graciously answered) the following questions submitted by a few individuals profiled in our book. (To keep things extra interesting, I added a few questions and some of my perspectives on our book-writing experience.)

1) What was it like working with Lisa on the book?

2) What were some different viewpoints you brought to the book?

3) In your view, how did collaborating help enhance the book?

4) What advice might you offer someone challenged in completing their own book or struggling with Imposter Syndrome or perfectionism?

5) What advice might you give aspiring authors or those considering partnering with a spouse or someone else in co-creating a book?

6) What challenges or moments of frustration did you experience in co-authoring the book?

7) What personal outlets helped you stay grounded and inspired during your book journey?

[Guest Bio] Mr. Peter Kelly

Peter Kelly has over 30 years of progressive experience in Oil and Gas, Cogen operations (Steam & Electrical), Pulp and Paper, and Electronics Communications. He is currently employed as a Supervisor with Royal Dutch Shell in Alberta. As an Adviser to the Workplace Wellness Centre of Excellence, he brings diverse skill sets, perspectives, and achievements from past and current employment positions. He has also completed a Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety with Distinction from the University of Alberta.