Lee Cockerell - Podcast Details

Shows

Creating Disney MagicOrganizational Change Management"When you tell the truth, you get better results from your customers and, from your employees and your teams." Key Moments 01:06 Prompt communication about organizational restructuring and challenges. 04:38 Perform well to reduce layoff risk, communicate openly. 10:06 Utilize team knowledge for better communication, productivity. 11:32 What's available on the Cockerell Store and Cockerell Academy Resources The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Magical Vacation Planners 407-442-2694 Organizational change is a constant in today's fast-evolving business env...2024-08-1312 min

The Mike Fallat Podcast#282 - Lee Cockerell (Creating Magic: 10 common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney)Mike interviews Lee CockerellWelcome to a captivating episode of our podcast, where we delve into the enchanting world of Disney to uncover timeless leadership strategies. Today, our host, Mike, sits down with Lee Cockerell, the esteemed author of "Creating Magic: 10 common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney." Join us as we explore the principles that have made Disney a beacon of excellence and learn how you can apply these lessons to your own leadership journey.Lee Cockerell, a seasoned executive and former Executive Vice President of Operations for the Walt Disney World...2024-06-1248 min

Creating Disney MagicBe a Teacher"We need less bosses and more teachers because that's where you make the big impact, and that's where people get better, And that's where people get more comfortable with you." Key Moments 00:57 Reflecting on the importance of teaching, helping others, and leaving a lasting impression. 05:11 Learned skills at Marriott and Disney then developed training and the skills to others 09:06 Professional experience open opportunities to share knowledge and influence others positively. 10:31 Write down skills and strengths when reflecting on career 13:44 Upcoming workshops and Masterminds with Lee Re...2024-05-2116 min

Creating Disney MagicLeaders Break Down Barriers“Every problem in business is a person that didn't do what they say they're going to do.” Key Moments 01:37 Effective leadership requires self-reflection and collaboration. 03:52 Identifying and overcoming workplace barriers. 05:13 Candor is truth with empathy. 07:01 Identifying and overcoming personal barriers. 10:14 Cockrell Academy program: guiding you to leadership. Resources The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Magical Vacation Planner 407-442-2694 Leaders Break Down Barriers Great leaders are good at removing obstacles to crea...2024-05-1413 min

Leaders of TomorrowHow to Find Career Magic + Achieve Goals | Lee CockerellIn this episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, host Cassie Tucker sits down with Lee Cockerell, Former Executive Vice President of Walt Disney World, to explore invaluable insights on career development and personal growth. Lee candidly shares personal anecdotes of overcoming setbacks and challenges in his illustrious career. He discusses key strategies and tactics he employed to advance in the dynamic hospitality industry, emphasizing the importance of attitude and treating others with empathy. The episode concludes with Lee offering encouragement for listeners to apply the lessons learned in their own career journeys.Episode Takeaways:Adversity is...2024-05-0829 min

Creating Disney MagicYour Leadership Toolbox - Celebrating Episode 500After many years in leadership I found there are some great tools to keep in your leadership toolbox. During this special virtual event celebrating episode 500, Jody and I welcomed people to a live recording. It was a great turnout and fun seeing so many familiar faces. Thank you for the ongoing support and commitment to create Disney magic in your organization. This episode focuses on one big question to ask yourself: Do YOU have the right tools in your toolbox to be an effective leader? When you have a people problem, you need the...2024-05-0735 min

Creating Disney MagicTreat People as Individuals"The most important customer interaction is the one with the person you are in front of." Key Moments 01:20 Cultivating a Positive Culture in Leadership and Management 02:56 Customer Centric Business Approach 05:08 Personalizing Interactions and Customer Service 09:09 Maintaining Personal Service in Large Organizations Resources Register for Episode 500 The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Treat People As Individuals The heart of customer service and leadership is the importance of valuing every person as a "Very Individual...2024-04-3012 min

Listen LoudlyCreating Magic in Your Team An Interview with Lee CockerellJoin us as Lee Cockerell, former executive at Disney, Marriott, and Hilton, shares a lifetime of leadership lessons from the world of hospitality. From the significance of fostering a positive culture and hiring the right team to the transformative power of treating employees well, Lee draws from his childhood on an Oklahoma dairy farm to his ascent through corporate ranks without a college degree. Emphasizing the values of reliability, personal growth, and overcoming insecurities through mentorship, Lee inspires listeners to take charge of their own development. Tune in for a masterclass in leadership, where Lee Co...2024-02-2128 min

Creating Disney MagicPlanning Organizational Communication“Keep some of the trust within the organization by respecting your team enough to tell them before the whole world knows about something.” Episode Highlights 02:50 Timely communication builds trust. 05:15 Keeping secrets can be detrimental to organizational culture 08:43 structured systems help decide what facts to include and what to omit. 12:12 “Frontline Rules” is coming to Cockerell Academy about operating on the front line. 13:06 Importance of preparation and first impressions. Resources The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Planning...2023-12-0516 min

Creating Disney MagicYou Can be Nice and Tough “When you lead, be tough, not hard." Lee Cockerell Episode Highlights 01:04 Gain a reputation of high standards. 05:32 Rules and values must be enforced to be effective. 07:36 Appearance impacts perception of leadership and quality. 10:33 High standards requires consistent education, training, and discipline. 13:16 Train managers to make tough decisions. Resources The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader You Can Be Nice and Tough A listener recently reached out with a question about my leadership style. They say...2023-11-2816 min

Strong By Design PodcastEp 317 Turn Your Morning Routine into Disney Magic ft. Lee CockerellSend us a text He creates Disney Magic everywhere he goes! Our truly magical guest today on the Strong By Design podcast is the former Executive Vice President of Operations for the Walt Disney World Resort, Lee Cockerell. When it comes to leading others well, no one has more experience and know how than Lee. For 10 years Lee led a team of 40,000 cast members and was responsible for the operations of 20 resort hotels, 4 theme parks, and 2 water parks along with other shopping and entertainment operations. Whew! How did he do it?? One...2023-11-1547 min

Creating Disney MagicTake Advantage of Information“If you want to have a better life and start to do better, to be better, and to feel better, you need to start making better decisions." - Lee Cockerell Episode Highlights [00:01:32] The importance of following up [00:04:50] Make time for learning; Manage your time to improve your life. [00:09:30] Analyzing meetings is essential for getting more out of training and meetings [00:12:47] Hiring, training, and treating employees well are key factors that impact performance. [00:14:11] A recap of high impact books featured on the podcast. Resources Th...2023-11-1414 min

Creating Disney MagicManage Like a Mother"Women are natural born leaders. The things that women do at home and they do it in a Very naturally because it's their motherly instinct..." - Valerie Cockerell [00:02:18] Valerie Cockerell's new book about parallell between motherhood and leadership [00:06:30] Learning on the job and adapting to challenges [00:13:06] Men must become advocates for women. [00:17:17] Gaps in women's resumes should not be seen as setbacks, but as opportunities to develop leadership skills. [00:19:58] Different perspectives shape our effective teamwork. [00:22:37] In evolution, men relied on strength, while women collaborated defensively; this may...2023-10-1025 min

Creating Disney MagicFind Out What Your Team Needs“it's really up to the leader to set that environment and culture where people are comfortable, bringing up anything because everybody matters in them here." – Lee Cockerell leaders can create a successful team by understanding their needs. Take the time to ask your team members what they need from you to enhance their performance. The “small” things that may seem insignificant to you as a leader can have a significant impact on your team's efficiency, satisfaction, and ultimately, their success During my time as a manager of the Marriott hotel in Massachusetts I would ask every de...2023-10-0317 min

Creating Disney MagicEnforce Your Training"If you have a good way to do things and everybody in your organization does it, you're going to get more business because people are going to love you because it's very consistent." - Lee Cockerell Training without enforcement is like building a grand castle on a weak foundation—it simply won't hold up. Jody and I have a great conversation on the importance of enforcing your training and creating a lasting impact in your business. Organizations should understand the significance of tying together the three pillars of success: training, testing, and, of course, enforcement. Bi...2023-09-2619 min $Most People Don\'t... But You Do!$ Most People Don't... But You Do!#106 From Big Bad Boss to Teacher; Disney Alumni Lee CockerellLee Cockerell (former Executive Vice President of Operations for Walt Disney World) shares on today's podcast that he thought he needed to lead with just discipline. After an employee's health experience, he realized that EMPATHY needed to be included and that there was a kinder way to lead and manage. Listen to his remarkable rise from an Oklahoma farmer to an Executive Vice President leading 40,000 Cast Members, 20 resort hotels, 4 theme parks, and 2 water parks with Disney. We discuss very humble beginnings. Not reading a newspaper until the age of 20, lacking confidence, and lacking...2023-09-2238 min

Creating Disney MagicLet's Talk About Introverts"Be self aware enough to realize you are an introvert or extrovert and know how that could be perceived" - Lee Cockerell Introverts and extroverts are wired differently. The differences are often noticeable in both our personal life and in our professional roles. Recently I told Jody that we need to talk about introversion. So we recorded an episode on how it can be perceived in the professional world. As someone who identifies as an introvert, I understand the challenges and misconceptions that can often come from this personality trait. During the conversation, we talk...2023-09-1917 min

Creating Disney MagicWorking Through AnxietyThere are some decisions you make in your life that will help you get better and get over [anxiety] quicker. - Lee Cockerell Several years ago Jody and I talked about my struggle with anxiety and depression. It became one of our most listened to episodes. I still get messages about it today. We thought it would be important to revisit this conversation, especially with the prevalence of anxiety in our society. It is important to know about the importance of support systems. After years of being the person everybody turned to in times of...2023-09-1235 min

Creating Disney MagicInvest in RelationshipsDon't underestimate the power of a simple phone call or message. Reaching out and staying connected is essential, especially during challenging times. - Lee Cockerell Teens and young adults are experiencing rising levels of anxiety and depression. Sometimes changes come faster than they are able to comprehend. It is important that we take the time to invest in relationships and support those who may be struggling. Parents and individuals in the workforce need to dig deeper and engage in meaningful conversations so people of all ages feel supported. It is bittersweet sending your kids off...2023-09-0520 min

Creating Disney MagicCreate a Vision People Can Rally Around If you don't know where you're going, you're probably not going to get there. - Lee Cockerell Vision comes from a leader that sees the desired future for an organization. It's crucial for leaders to transfer this vision to employees, so they can visualize it and get excited about it. One of the challenges leaders face is translating their enthusiasm and clear image of the future to their team members. During our conversation, Jody and I talk about the importance of effectively communicating vision and mission to our teams. Many employees often don't understand or...2023-08-2917 min

Creating Disney MagicPrioritizing Needs During Major Life Changes"Your child's early development is the most valuable thing you have. Build your life around them and let the other stuff come later." - Lee Cockerell Having a child is indeed a life-changing occurrence. When my son was born 54 years ago we were young, with no substantial means of income. Despite the financial challenge, we knew we had the most precious gift in our arms. That is why time management is incredibly important when major life events seem to disrupt the balance of work, home, and family. Expectant couples or new parents who are facing...2023-08-2214 min

Creating Disney MagicHow to Handle a Non Performer "Your job should be to want to help them find out what the problem is. If they are unhappy, try to figure out why so we can all work on it and you can work on it." - Lee Cockerell During my days at Hilton, I found myself tangled in a web of union operations and non-performing employees. It was deeply frustrating at times. I found myself constantly questioning how to handle these situations. Then I realized, the solution was simpler than I initially thought - consistency. I began documenting every single instance of underperformance...2023-08-1515 min

Creating Disney MagicBoost Training Effectiveness by Testing on What You Train "Teaching is useless unless people are learning. Training needs to be sticky and impactful for it to truly make a difference." - Lee Cockerell There was a time in my life when I was practically living in hotels and restaurants. A lot of my time was spent observing the activity around me. I quickly recognized the significance of training effectiveness. One thing that has stuck with me was the realization that the implementation of a training is critical but often overlooked. We can conduct countless training sessions, but if they don't translate into a...2023-08-0816 min

Creating Disney MagicHiring Someone for Their First Job"Experience changes you, and hopefully for the better." - Lee Cockerell I remember the uncertainty I felt as a young boy starting my first job. I was 16, behind the wheel of a delivery car for Parks Drugstore. There was an enormous responsibility that also gave me a thrill of independence. I also really wanted to prove myself. On the first day, my eyes strayed from the road to the address I was supposed to deliver to. Before I knew it, I had crashed the car. The fear of facing my employer was almost paralyzing. But wh...2023-08-0116 min

Creating Disney MagicHow to Implement Training into ActionIn a big organization, you have to have clarity of expectations. You follow the recipe, you get a good product. You leave ingredients out, you don't get consistency. - Lee Cockerell One of the most common questions I get asked is how to implement new polices and programs. During this conversation Jody shares a question from Jennifer, who recently asked something very similar. She said that during their training things seem to go well, yet after that she sees a problem. Whether it's a new dress code or a behavior they talked about in training, things seem...2023-07-1817 min

Lead a Life You Can LoveThe Secrets to Creating Magic In Our Lives with Lee Cockerell from a Career at DisneyThe secret to creating magic in our lives both personally and professionally is outstanding leadership; according to former Executive Vice President of Walt Disney World, Lee Cockerell. If you want to learn how to ultimately just be a good human being and lead a good life...you need to listen to this episode. Check out the highlights below for a glimpse of all the amazingness covered in this conversation with, in my opinion, a living legend.Episode Highlights:What outstanding leadership looks likeDifference between management & leadershipHow to live with integrity The importance of continuous l...2023-06-0654 min

The Support Automation Show[Greatest Hits] How to Achieve Top-Class Customer Service with Lee Cockerell, Chief Learning Officer at Cockerell Academy and Founder of Lee Cockerell Creating Leadership MagicIn this episode of The Support Automation Show, a podcast by Capacity, we are joined by Lee Cockerell, Chief Learning Officer at the Cockerell Academy and Founder of Lee Cockerell Creating Leadership Magic. We discuss the role of leadership in creating world-class customer service.Episode resources:Lee Cockerell’s WebsiteLee Cockerell on LinkedInLee Cockerell on FacebookLee Cockerell on TwitterLee Cockerell on InstagramLee Cockerell’s BooksCockerell Academy WebsiteCreating Disney Magic PodcastIf you enjoyed this episode then please either:Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple PodcastsFollow on SpotifyThe Support Automation Show RSS FeedThe Support Automation Show is h...2023-06-0137 min

Creating Disney MagicGet Ahead of Your Problems"Build the relationship before you need it." In this episode of Creating Disney Magic, Jody and I discuss the significance of tackling problems promptly. It’s the best way to reduce stress and improve relationships. Recognizing mistakes and apologizing immediately helps you manage your emotions and build trust with others. There is a difference between stress and distress. Distress causes issues due to a lack of control in situations. Make sure you take control and responsibility for your actions. That way you can set a positive example and promote mutual respect. It’s the best way...2023-04-1816 min

Creating Disney MagicHow to Achieve Performance ExcellenceToday, Jody and I are recording live in my home office. We just finished recording our newest course for the Cockerell Academy and want to share some thoughts about the topic: Performance Excellence. Simply put, performance excellence is implementing an environment and system that ensures the guest experience is amazing; which begins long before a guest arrives. It isn’t complicated. It is intentional. It starts with hiring the right people and equipping them. When you have the right people, you can focus on training beyond the necessary hard skills. Train and equip to understand how to be...2023-03-1419 min

Creating Disney MagicHandle Difficult Situations FastToday, Jody and I discuss why you need to handle difficult situations quickly. No one likes dealing with difficult situations. However, the speed that we employ handling them is crucial. The longer these issues are left unchecked, the bigger they become. If you don’t deal with them right away, you are running the risk of them escalating into a crisis. We need to learn to do the urgent things urgently. Put a fire out right away, do not let it grow and cause more damage. If you have hard things to do, do them. Do...2023-02-0713 min

The Performance Mindset Show - Helping you level up in entrepreneurship, commercial real estate, leadership and lifeLeading with Empathy and Discipline with Lee CockerellOn this episode of The Performance Mindset podcast, Amy speaks with Lee Cockerell, a former Executive VP of Operations for Walt Disney World Resort. One of Lee’s lasting legacies was the creation of Disney Great Leader Strategies, which was used to train and develop the 7,000 leaders at Walt Disney World.Before joining Walt Disney World in 1990, Lee held various executive positions with Hilton Hotels and the Marriott Corporation. Today, his time is dedicated to public speaking, authoring several books, performing leadership and service excellence workshops, and consulting for organizations around the world, including for Disney Institute....2023-02-0147 min

Creating Disney MagicWhat Do You Do With What You LearnDuring a Cockerell Community call in December Lee gave everyone a challenge asking them to think about what do you do with what you learn. When people are given an abundance of tools it is up to them to make use of them. During this episode Lee everyone to think about what do you do with what you learn. When people are given an abundance of tools it is up to them to make use of them. As we enter the New Year, ask yourself: What do you do with what you learn? Often, people f...2023-01-0315 min

Will Talks BizLee Cockerell's Career MagicLee Cockerell, former Executive Vice President of Walt Disney World Resort, is someone we have talked about frequently. Since retiring from Disney he has written several books, does speaking, and has the Cockerell Academy where he offers a varity of leadership courses. Today he joins to talk more about his book, Career Magic Key Takeaways: {2:07} Lee wrote the book as a way to look back at his career and understand how valuable experience and exposure are to life in addition to their education. {4:03} If there is something you really like and want to...2022-09-2818 min

Five Star Counsel PodcastFSC Rewind: Running Your Service Delivery Like Disney w/ Lee CockerellWe're on a brief break while we gear up for Season 2 of FSC, but we still want to give you something to think about (or revisit) in the mean time, especially if you missed it the first time around. Service guru Lee Cockerell sat with us for a freewheeling chat about his service career and what we can learn from his time at Disney and beyond. ----- Lee Cockerell is a customer service icon, and I was thrilled to have him join our show. Lee served as the Executive Vice President of Operations...2022-09-2238 min

The Only One Business ShowS4e11 The Everything Matters Edition with Lee CockerellJames chats with Lee Cockerell, retired Executive Vice President of Operations for the Walt Disney World® Resort. Growing up in Oklahoma, Lee attended Oklahoma State University for two years before joining in the United States Army. His career includes eight years with Hilton Hotels, seventeen years with Marriott International and sixteen years with The Walt Disney Company. Lee Joined Disney in 1990 as Director of Food and Beverage, Quality Assurance and Vice President of the hotel division for Disneyland Paris. In 1993 Lee became the Senior Vice President of the hotel division at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida and in 1997 wa...2022-09-2234 min

The Leadership Crucible PodcastEPISODE 001: LEE COCKERELL | THE COCKERELL ACADEMYLee Cockerell retired as the Executive Vice President of Operations for the Walt Disney World® Resort. Growing up in Oklahoma, Lee attended Oklahoma State University for two years before joining in the United States Army. Lee’s career includes eight years with Hilton Hotels, seventeen years with Marriott International and sixteen years with The Walt Disney Company. Lee Joined Disney in 1990 as Director of Food and Beverage, Quality Assurance and Vice President of the hotel division for Disneyland Paris.In 1993 Lee became the Senior Vice President of the hotel division at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida and in 1...2022-09-0936 min

Before the LightsLee Cockerell: Retired Executive VP of Walt Disney World Resort/ Best Selling Author & Public SpeakerSend us a textConsultant, bestselling author, public speaker, that led a team of over 40,000 cast members. He was responsible for operations of 20 resort hotels, 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, shopping & entertainment village along with ESPN Sports, A retired executive VP of the Walt Disney World Resort. He spent 8 years with Hilton Hotels and 17 years with Marriott International. He teaches leadership, management, customer service from his life at Disney. Served as chairman of the board of Heart of Florida United Way and Board of Trustees Culinary Institute of America. What a small-town boy from Oklahoma had a...2022-09-0843 min