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Mike Sedam

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Crucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 113: Looking Ahead to Move Through Tough TimesAll of us have been through tough times, are going through tough times, or will go through tough times. In this episode, we discuss looking forward in order to move through those tough times. This includes three tools: Set goals Let things go Take control of your own future If you need to contact Mike, please visit www.crucialtalks.com2020-05-1000 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 112: Resilience NOW... Short-Term Tools for Tough TimesWe are going through tough times. We can't avoid them. We have to go through them. In this episode we discuss four tools to be more resilient in the short-term using the acronym MIND: M - Models I - Identity N - Now D - Decision-making You can reach out to Mike at www.crucialtalks.com  2020-03-2200 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 111: Ariel Garten Fear of Fear and how to get FreeAriel Garten talks to Mike about the fear of fear and gives tools to get out of our own way. Ariel is a psychotherapist, neuroscientist, and entrepreneur having started a tech company called Muse. In this episode, she talks about how fear can get in our way and is driven by parts of the brain that used to help keep us alive, but now may be barriers to our performance. We get two tools to use that can help us deal with fear including a technique to recognize and move past fear, and...2020-03-0100 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 110: Control Your ConfidenceConfidence is the key to having a better workplace experience. It is something you need to control and shouldn't be dependent on your boss or coworkers. We are all human, which means we will all make mistakes. We will frustrate other people, we will become frustrated ourselves. If we don't have high confidence, we can end up hating where we work or just feeling bad at the place we spend a lot of our time. The more we can control our own confidence, the better we will feel and perform. 2020-02-1600 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 109: What Makes People Tick with John VorisMike interviews John Voris, the author of Discover the Power That Drives Your Personality.  John discusses "Life Themes" which gives people structure and guidance in the decisions they make. Life themes help people deal with stressors they have in life from the decisions they are making to the careers they choose or the organizations they work for. John can be reached at www.johnvoris.com. His book can be found on Amazon: https://amzn.to/315SXuJ  2020-02-0200 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 108 Knowledge Not Just InformationThere is a difference between knowledge and information. Knowledge is the key to success. Information is the facts and data we can point to objectively and transfer easily. We can see how information can be easily provided and transferred in training and meetings.  It's also what a lot of people are tired of in organizations. Knowledge is different because it comes from experience and education. It isn't just information, it goes beyond information. If we understand the concept that knowledge is information, but information is not knowledge, we can d...2020-01-1900 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 107: J Scott It's Not About Business, It's About PeopleJ Scott is interviewed by Mike Sedam about the importance of people. The discussion revolves around how to actively listen, engage with people, and develop good solutions. J Scott gives great advice on how to prepare as a leader and engage with curiosity, not a critical mindset. Connect with J Scott at www.120vc.com or on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonscott120vc/  2020-01-0500 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 106: Susan Ibitz, The "Human Hacker"Susan Ibitz talks with Mike Sedam about "human hacking." Tips about communication, both verbal and in writing are discussed. Susan's company is the Human Behavior Lab where they unlock the science behind human behavior. She is also a member of the Forbes Coaches Council and lectures at Loyola University Chicago. She bases her information on how people want to receive, and now how we want to give the information. That nuance is a powerful mindset shift. Susan starts with discussing the importance of knowing ourselves first. This leads to...2019-12-2200 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 105: Safety - Focus on People, Impact the Organization with Mike KingMike King, a safety professional in the construction industry discusses safety with Mike Sedam. Not only are safety topics discussed, but the two Mikes discuss a deeper level of the importance of people and how focusing on people can have a high return on investment for any organization. www.crucialtalks.com2019-12-0800 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 104: Thanksgiving - The Power of GratitudeHappy Thanksgiving! Gratitude is powerful. People are programmed to lean toward the negative. Negative emotions cause us to think more and we process negative information more deeply than positive information. We just think deeper about the negative. We're programmed this way because, as a species, negative events had a bigger impact and urgency than positive events. Although we may be programmed to be negative, being positive and having gratitude has some significant returns. Gratitude is linked to lower stress, less sick days, higher satisfaction, and a feeling that we...2019-11-2400 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 103: Technostress with Carolyn GuglielmoCarolyn Guglielmo is interviewed by Mike Sedam about the concept of "techno stress." We all know the power devices have over people. Distracted driving is a big concern for many governments. Parents are worried about their kids spending too much time on devices. We can see ourselves being distracted and feeling stress because of constant connection and expectations we place on ourselves because of the devices. Carolyn talks about the concept of techno stress in addition to giving some solutions. To connect with Carolyn, visit her LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/c...2019-11-1000 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 102: Gabriella Van Rij on the Importance of Kindness and How to be Kind in the WorkplaceGabriella Van Rij talks with Mike Sedam about her goal to bring more kindness into the world and how this can positively impact the workplace. To get in contact with Gabriella please visit the following: For keynotes: www.gabriella.global For more on the kindness movement: www.daretobekindmovement.com To contact Mike, please visit: www.crucialtalks.com  2019-10-2700 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 101: Jay Allen Safety FM, Safety Differently and the Importance of PeopleJay Allen speaks with Mike Sedam about Safety. Jay describes his journey to founding Safety FM, lessons he has learned, and the future of safety. This discussion has implications for a number of people in several industries. It's as applicable to retail sales as it is for nuclear safety. Visit jay at www.safetyfm.com To contact Mike, visit www.crucialtalks.com2019-10-1300 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 100: Chris Clearfield on Meltdowns, How Systems Fail, and What We Can Do About ItMike Sedam talks with Chris Clearfield about the book he co-authored with Andras Tilcsik, Meltdown: Why Our Systems Fail and What We Can Do About it. https://amzn.to/2mG2cBT The conversation not only discusses why complex systems fail, but what we can learn from them and how we can apply that learning to systems like social media. This is a fascinating conversation with takeaways for everyone from safety professionals to CEOs. Visit https://www.rethinkrisk.net/ for more about the book and to contact Chris or Andras. Visit www.cruc...2019-09-2900 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 99: Dennie Laney Moo Yah Burger and People for PeopleMike Sedam interviews Dennie Laney, the Vice President of Training and Development for Moo Yah Burger. Dennie's self-proclaimed responsiblity is to be "people for people." She is a people-focused leader and trainer that understands the importance of understanding people. In this conversation, Dennie talks about how people behave, how they need to be engaged, and their need to feel both safe and valued. To connect with Dennie, please reach out to her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennielaney/ To connect with Mike for speaking or coaching opportunities, please visit: w...2019-09-1500 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 98 Purdeep Sangha on Mindset and Mindfulness for SuccessPurdeep Sangha talks with Mike Sedam about how he helps people in business. Purdeep discusses purpose, mindset, and mindfulness to create a better life. Rather than always hustling to do more, by focusing on being present, you and the people around you will be happier, which will lead to greater success. www.purdeepsangha.com   To contact Mike, visit www.crucialtalks.com  2019-09-0100 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 97: Magical Conversations with Pauline CrawfordPauline Crawford speaks with Mike Sedam about Magical Conversations. Conversations can use diversity and inclusion to move things forward. Conversations can be had in a way that everyone feels engaged and empowered, regardless of their role in the organization. These types of conversations can be beneficial to companies, teams, and relationships. Pauline's website is: www.missmagicalconversations.com Her book can be found on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2SCQILo To contact Mike, please visit: www.crucialtalks.com  2019-08-1800 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 96: Standing Out with Donna SpinaDonna Spina speaks with Mike Sedam about how business owners can stand out by focusing on what makes them special and what their customers need. Communicating and educating clientele is an important part of marketing for businesses. It can also help with internal issues that may be plaguing large organizations. Visit Donna's website at: www.coachingindeed.com You can email Donna for more information at: info@businessbuilderaccelerator.com To speak with Mike or to inquire about him speaking to your organization, please visit www.crucialtalks.com. 2019-08-0400 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 95 Gary Salyer on the Importance of Feeling Welcomed, Worthy, Cherished, and Empowered in RelationshipsGary Salyer talks with Mike Sedam about personal and business relationships. People that feel welcomed, worthy, cherished, and empowered will have more powerful relationships. Gary uses a number of stories to help people understand what he has found beneficial to building relationships. Gary is the author of the book Safe to Love Again. It is available on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1732977801 Gary can also be reached at www.garysalyer.com  2019-07-2800 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 94: Voice and Influence with Cynthia ZhaiCynthia Zhai talks to Mike Sedam about how to use your voice to have influence. Our voice is such an important part of our communication. The same words can have different meanings based on our tone, inflection, and how we use our voice. By working on our voice, we can also change our mindset and our confidence. In other words, we can work on our voice first, and other benefits will follow. Cynthia talks to us about gravitas and techniques to build authority and confidence in our voice. We...2019-07-2100 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 93: Slips and Falls Leads to a Talk on Perception, Stories, and Engaging with Others with Christian Harris Mike Sedam speaks with Christian Harris a slip specialist from the UK. Christian's experience is not only in slips and falls, but also entrepreneurship and poker. This discussion goes way deeper than merely a talk about how slippery floors can lead to falls. This talk goes into the importance of story, how to change perceptions, and the need to engage with people at all level so fan organization to institute lasting change. Christian is the managing director at Slip Safety Services, www.slipsafety.co.uk. There is also a free slip safety scorecard at: https://sl...2019-07-1400 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 92: Workplace Experience and Employee Engagement with Daren MartinMike Sedam interviews Daren Martin about his book, A Company of Owners. The book is available here. Mike and Daren talk about workplace experience, employee engagement, and how we can get there. This is a positive, proactive, strength-focused conversation about improving our workplaces regardless of the industry we are in. Visit Daren at: www.darenmartin.com. Visit Mike at: www.crucialtalks.com.  2019-07-0700 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Chat: Trust and Storytelling when Getting a Backstage PassMany times people need information about how work is actually getting done. Inspectors, assessors, leaders, and peers may all want to see how a person or group of people get their work done. This can lead to valuable learning and improvement. In order to ensure, our "backstage passes" are never revoked so that we get an unfiltered and open view of what is actually happening, we need two things: 1. trust and 2. accurate storytelling. If we want to observe others and get accurate information, we need to make sure we uphold the trust placed upon us...2019-07-0600 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 91: Leadership and The Music Paradigm with Maestro Roger NierenbergRoger Nierenberg is a Maestro who uses the art of music and orchestras to teach leadership lessons. The conversation he has with Mike Sedam covers many aspects of leadership and system-thinking using music and orchestras to explain concepts and show examples. This is a fascinating conversation about how music can be used to accelerate the leadership learning process. To learn more about The Music Paradigm and Roger's work, please visit www.musicparadigm.com.2019-06-3000 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Chat: My Brighter View of Behavior-Based SafetyI was extremely fortunate to present at a safety conference for a large oil refinery company. It was focused on Behavior Based Safety (BBS). My past experience with BBS (A long time ago) made me think it was focused on people as the problems and if we could fix what people were doing wrong, we could prevent incidents. It also used Heinrich's Triangle and said if we could prevent the little things, the big things wouldn't happen. This really tarnished my view of BBS. I am happy to say, my view of BBS is brighter now. Listen to see...2019-06-2800 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 90: The 7 P's of Resilience with Tracy Mehr-MuskaMike Sedam talks with Tracy Mehr-Muska about resilience based on her book, Weathering the Storm. Available from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2MZrXde. They discuss the seven P's of resilience, Tracy's use of stories from people in her own life, and how we can improve our capacity to be resilient. Tracy has used her education, experience, and examples to drive home a positive message of resilience that can help people in every facet of life. Visit Tracy at: https://mehrmuska.wordpress.com/ To contact Mike, visit www.crucialtalks.com  2019-06-2300 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 89: Mindset, Collaboration, and Success with Amy Perkins and Joelle SpeedMike Sedam talks with Dr. Joelle Speed and Chief Dreaming Officer Amy Perkins. They talk about business, life, and people. Their story includes creating a network and collaborating because everyone can succeed. They also talk about how people can live the dreams they have for their lives. Their focus is on people and how strong we are together. For more about Dr. Joelle Speedhttps://www.smilegallerykidsdds.com/ For more about Amy Perkins:https://www.keystocourage.com/ To contact Mike about speaking, consulting, or the Crucial...2019-06-1600 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 88: Uncertainty and the OODA Loop with Sean RomeroIn this episode, Mike Sedam talks with Sean Romero about how to deal with uncertainty using the OODA loop. Learn about the importance of Observing, Orienting, Deciding, and Acting to get through uncertainty. Contact Sean Romero: Instagram: @faithfully_led Facebook: faithfullyled.sean Podcast: Faithfully Led Podcast on Anchor email: Sean@faithfullyled.com    2019-06-0900 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 87: The Uniqueness of Success - Building Capacity and the Importance of Feedback with Jeanette PeacockMike Sedam talks with Jeannette Peacock of Learn2LearnNow. Jeanette talks about building the capacity to succeed through skills. Specifically, she helps children learn the skills they need to succeed in the future. Skillbuilding not only helps build capacity, but also shows us the importance of feedback to the process. Jeanette is using the same processes from her business in a non-profit to help children that would not normally have access to such training. In this episode you'll hear about capacity-building, how seeing ourselves in a new role can help us transform, and...2019-06-0200 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 86: Stories Help us Understand with Ayn Cates SullivanMike Sedam interviews Ayn Cates Sullivans about how archetypes and stories help us understand the world around us. This is an interesting discussion that helps us understand ourselves, our use of prototypes, and how stories have impacted behavior and decision-making for thousands of years. This helps us understand systems-thinking and our own individual place in the world, in society, and in our organizations. More about Ayn can be found at: http://ayncatessullivan.com/ Contact Mike Sedam at: www.crucialtalks.com2019-05-2600 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 85: Glenn Livingston Self-Transformation and Group Acceleration - Lessons from Food AddictionMike Sedam talks with Dr. Glenn Livingston about self-transformation. Glenn has based his work on dealing with his own food addiction and helping others. He provides lessons on self-transformation to overcome addiction to food. He explains the role of different parts of the brain in our decision-making. These lessons not only pertain to our health, but can also be used in other areas where we want to make significant changes in our lives. The role of groups and how we can crowdsource learning is also discussed as an important way to speed up our transformation.2019-05-1900 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 84: Ani Anderson on Finding Your PurposeChange your filter, look at your world, and transform. Mike Sedam interviews Ani Anderson. Ani is a thought leader, speaker, and coach on the leading edge in personal development. She is also the author of Find Your Soul's Agenda: The One Word That Will Make Your Whole Life a Success. More about Ani and her book can be found at www.findyoursoulsagenda.com. Ani talks to us about developing ourselves and fulfilling our highest potential. She discusses the benefits of the healing paradigm and personal development paradigm. In other words, she helps people look ahead so they ma...2019-05-1200 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 83: Todd Vande Hei on Leadership, Millennials, and StoriesMike Sedam talks with Todd Vande Hei about transformation, leadership, millennials, and stories. Todd is a successful CEO and entrepreneur in the health and fitness industry. As the CEO of Stark, www.starklife.us, he leads a successful team of coaches and medical professionals that provide best-in-class health and fitness services to clients.  We discuss how the stories we tell ourselves can impact our success. Todd also gives us tips on leading millennials and providing an environment where his team can not only succeed, but can also thrive with purpose. The im...2019-05-0500 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Chat: Work as PurposeMike Sedam talks about work that gives people purpose. The journey toward excellence also has defeats and mistakes. Those defeats are opportunities. They are learning opportunities and can lead to a greater purpose and contribute to our goal of seeking excellence. This is a valuable chat about the need people have for struggle and purpose. 2019-05-0100 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 82: Erik Clark - An Engineer turned Entrepreneur on Reinventing Ourselves and the Importance of PeopleErik Clark talks with Mike Sedam about his self-transformational journey from an engineer working on submarines, to a business consultant, to an entrepreneur. This discussion is packed with valuable about self-transformation and how we can get out of our comfort zones and become something different while learning something new. Erik also talks about the lessons he has learned during his journey which has resulted in the importance of engaging people in conversations, looking at people as part of the solution, and building trust and relationships. Erik can be reached at: erik.clark@fitzbusiness...2019-04-2800 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 81: Appreciative Resilience with Joan MacArthur Blair and Jeanie CockellMike Sedam talks with Joan MacArthur Blair and Jeanie Cockell about their book, Building Resilience with Appreciative Inquiry: A Leadership Journey through Hope, Despair, and Forgiveness. Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2IflW8O Many times, resilience is looked at as an individual trait and sometimes people think you are either a resilient person or you are not. Joan and Jeanie have taken the power of Appreciative Inquiry and wrapped it around resilience. This allows them to explain how people and groups can become more resilient. Looking at Hope, Despair, and Forgiveness we c...2019-04-2100 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 80: Lynda Sunshine West on Learning, Fear, and RelationshipsMike Sedam talks to Lynda Sunshine West about her journey from the corporate world, through 49 jobs, and to her calling. She talks about how learning something new can be a major driver of behavior. She discovered that she had value to offer others through the help of a coach. She previously believed negative things about herself and it held her back. Lynda has taken these lessons to transform her career and her life to "follow her dream and passion to help other people." She taught herself to recognize and breakthrough hear...2019-04-1400 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 79: Joshua Spodek on Leadership. You Have to PracticeMike Sedam interviews Joshua Spodek about leadership. Joshua is the author of Leadership Step by Step: Become the Person Others Follow. It is available on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2WPc4WQ. Joshua has a new book called Initiative that will be released in May. Joshua discusses relationships and leadership. He does a great job of explaining the need for practice to build leadership capacity and that leadership skill cannot come just from books, but also requires skill-building that comes with practice. Joshua's book and courses provide exercise leaders can use to improve their capacity to...2019-04-0700 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 78 Glenn Garnes: Isolation is the Problem Communication is the SolutionIn this episode, Mike Sedam talks with Glenn Garnes about one of the biggest issues people face today: isolation. Even though we may have the technology to connect, people can still feel isolated. Communication is the key to countering isolation. Glenn also talks about how people can live their best life by becoming self-aware and taking action to reach their goals. Glenn has provided a free resource for Crucial Talks listeners at: www.tipsforsuccess.com.  Visit Glenn at: http://expertsonstage.com/ or http://sbceo.com/ To contact Mike, visit www...2019-03-3100 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 77 Chris Milburn - Stories Build Culture, Lessons from Counter-TerrorismChris Milburn talks with Mike Sedam about storytelling. Counter-terrorism and culture is discussed through the lens of storytelling to show the value and power of stories to human behavior and decision-making. There are many lessons in this episode for leaders, business owners, and others. Chris discusses his studies in counter-terrorism from the Naval Postgraduate School and how his analysis of terrorist groups proved how storytelling has been used. The hero's journey is also discussed as a way for people to perceive difficult times they may encounter. Follow Chris on Twitter at...2019-03-2400 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 76: Sam Lucania on Self-Transformation, Responsibility, and MentorshipSam Anthony Lucania talks to Mike Sedam about his journey from addiction and the importance of self-awareness, taking responsibility, and mentorship to self-transformation. Sam is open about his past addictions, time in jail, and his new goal and drive in life to help others in need. Sam also discusses his book Hands Like You're Praying, available on Amazon:https://amzn.to/2F6O8qz More about sam can be found at: www.samanthonyspeaks.com Please feel free to contact Mike Sedam at: www.crucialtalks.com.  2019-03-1700 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 75: Deb Falzoi on the Epidemic of Workplace Bullying and AbuseMike Sedam talks with Deb Falzoi of Dignity Together about workplace bullying and workplace abuse. This is an epidemic in organizations that can have a major impact on workplace experience. As a result, people can feel marginalized and isolated. Organizations can see a lack of productivity, an increase in health-related issues, and can even open themselves up to liability. People are the most precious resource a company has, and understanding the issue of workplace bullying is the first step in improving the workplace and protecting employees. Visit Deb at www.dignitytogether.org. 2019-03-1000 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 74: Me with Jay Allen - A Rebroadcast of Safety FM Ep 55This is a rebroadcast of Jay Allen interviewing Mike Sedam on the Safety FM Podcast. Visit www.safetyfm.com/podcast The Crucial Talks Podcast will soon be broadcast through SafetyFM and will be available on their website, app, and Amazon Alexa. Regular episodes of the Crucial Talks podcast will still be released every Sunday. I didn't want to interrupt that schedule and the great guests we have coming up that is why this episode is being released mid week. Please visit www.crucialtalks.com 2019-03-0800 minSafety FM with Jay AllenSafety FM with Jay AllenMike SedamOn Today's episode of Safety FM, we speak with Mike Sedam. Mike has taken his education in counter-terrorism and public administration to help people understand what drives their behavior and the behavior of others. Mike’s weekly podcast, The Crucial Talks Podcast, provides valuable information on human behavior and has been downloaded thousands of times by people across the world including in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and China. Mike is a commander in a large law enforcement agency. In addition, Mike is also a Senior Advisor for Government Integration, serves as an Accreditation Commissioner, leads a multi-agency co...2019-03-0541 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 73: Dolores Hirschmann Clarity, People, and IdeasDolores Hirschmann talks to Mike Sedam about the importance of clarity, people, and ideas. In this episode, we talk about the boundaries set within our own minds. This makes us stay within our safety zone which doesn't help people meet external success. Getting beyond those "fences" helps us excel. Big ideas can overwhelm us or seem too big to tackle, but when people commit to the idea, they can overcome internal boundaries. Nothing starts big, it starts with someone saying yes and consistently taking action. Connect with Dolores and her company, Masters in...2019-03-0300 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 72: Lawrence Henderson - Bridging the Gap, Life, L.O.V.E., and LeadershipLawrence Henderson, the author of Bridging the Gap: Life, LOVE, and Leadership is interviewed by Mike Sedam about leadership and the value of people and relationships. The book can be found on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2XlBA7a Mike and Lawrence discuss what connects people, the importance of "human" in human resources, and storytelling. They also talk about how to reframe what we see in order to establish a mindset that can help us succeed. During the episode, the concept of fear, how people are "pack animals" and the transition that h...2019-02-2400 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 71: Regina McMichael The Safety Training NinjaMike Sedam interviews Regina McMichael, The Saftey Training Ninja. During the episode, Regina discusses how to create safety training that doesn't suck. She talks about the need to have outstanding training so that we can have a positive impact. She wrote the book, The Safety Training Ninja, to help safety professionals provide a more engaging level of training. Her book is available from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2V62UV0 Regina talks about how her journey started with a tragedy and how she learned she can have a broader impact by helping...2019-02-1700 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 70: Carrie Wooten on Cleaning a Toxic Work EnvironmentIn this episode, Mike Sedam talks to Carrie Wooten about improving the workplace experience. We've all been there. We've worked in organizations with low trust. We've worked for bosses that only understand transactional leadership that looks a lot like bullying. We've been in groups where co-workers don't trust each other, don't communicate, and don't care. In this episode, Carrie talks to us about the need for trust and communication so that we can have a better workplace experience. One that is vibrant, creative, and trusting. We cover topics such as the need for...2019-02-1000 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 69: Rob Howze on Networking for a Great CauseMike Sedam talks to Rob Howze about his great program called Campfit where he brings 50 kids together for eight weeks. Rob and his team provide these kids with a wonderful gift: the vision and capacity for success. Rob has been shot (yes, with a bullet) and has worked as a personal trainer, minister, speaker, author, etc. He has done what a lot of us do as people. We take everything we have learned, extract the good parts, and learn from them. Rob has taken his experience and continues to build a legacy that he can...2019-02-0300 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 68: Melinda Kelly on Diving Deep WithinMike Sedam interviews Melinda Kelly about her journey with self-reflection, self-awareness and honesty. Melinda took a deep dive to find the right coach. She learned from her experience and put what she learned into her book: Finding Your Coach, Diving Deep Within. On Amazon: https://amzn.to/2FShcVp. Her experience shows us the importance of trust and honesty with yourself and with others. For more about Melinda J. Kelly, please visit: www.melindajkelly.com Please visit www.crucialtalks.com.2019-01-2700 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Chat: Goals and Groups - Working Without PayThis Crucial Chat by Mike Sedam discusses what motivates people to keep going in the face of adversity. During the federal government shutdown, Mike was able to see some federal employees that continue to work without pay. What did he see? The employees were working toward a common goal. They stuck together in their teams. They were still looking out for the mission and the people they serve. What drives these people are the same things that drive us all: 1. People are driven by a goal bigger than themselves. 2...2019-01-2600 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 67: Leadership and the Hero's Journey with Brian CunninghamMike Sedam welcomes Brian Cunningham back to the Crucial Talks Podcast. In this episode, Brian and Mike talk more theoretically about leadership and how the "Hero's Journey" can help bring people to a new level of performance. The discussion talks about transformation, employee engagement, and emotional decision-making. The discussion includes references to Gary Varynerchuk's discussion about people that may want to try something new because they are unhappy in the workplace and the importance of self-awarness. It also mentions Jill Christensen and her work in employee engagement. Please visit w...2019-01-2000 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Chat: Sometimes You Take a Ball to the FaceMike Sedam brings another short crucial chat with lessons about the importance of roles in our decision-making and behavior. This week as my son's second indoor soccer game. He's eight and hasn't really played before. During the game, he had to play goalie. The first time ever. He had only seen goalies play on television and on video games. As social storytellers we all use prototypes to figure out the behaviors of the roles we play. He did the same thing. He tried his hardest to exhibit the behaviors of the "goalie" prototype h...2019-01-1900 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 66 - Dan Oblinger Life and Death ListeningMike Sedam and Dan Oblinger talk about Dan's book, Life or Death Listening: A Hostage Negotiator's How-to Guide to Mastering the Essential Communication Skill. Amazon: https://amzn.to/2RGFSGb Dan is a hostage negotiator, speaker, and trainer that focuses on the essential need to actively listen to others. In this episode, the role of "listener" is discussed as something we need to do in anything we do and in any other role we play. Listening adds value to everything we do. Master listeners excel at eight different listening skills. Peo...2019-01-1300 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 65: Douglas Vermeeren - Personal Power MasteryMike Sedam talks with Douglas Vermeeren about his book, Personal Power Mastery. Available from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2VvlLd0. Doug has interviewed over 400 of the top achievers of today to write his book. He has focused on people as having power over their choices. People are not always prepared to take the outcome of their lives personal. People need to "own it" and that lets them affect changes in their lives. Choice is our biggest fundamental power. Power is the ability to act or take action. Perception a...2019-01-0600 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Best of 2018Clips from 2018 episodes of the Crucial Talks Podcast. Have a great 2019. Please stay in touch by visiting www.crucialtalks.com  2019-01-0200 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 64: Jason Weber Trust, Relationships, and Self-Awareness in the Real WorldMike Sedam talks to Jason Weber about his enterprise-level experience in the state of Wisconsin. This episode applies to multiple industries in both the public and private sector because it discusses concepts that apply to any human-based system. We discuss the need for trust, how to build relationships, and how self-awareness is necessary to help see another person's or group's point of view. Jason is a training and development manager for Wisconsin, but also has his own consulting company, www.elements-consultingllc.com. For more information or to connect with Mike, please visit www...2018-12-3000 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 63: The Communication ClausESanta Claus is part of the magic of Christmas for a child. Ultimately, one day, some kid will mention something negative about Santa Claus to other kids. Similarly, every day in our organizations, our businesses, our communities, and our relationships, communication is happening. Sometimes communication is about something negative. Communication is more than just sending and receiving words. Those words carry meaning and emotions. We need to be responsible for the words we say and how we use them. The first lesson we can take from this is about...2018-12-2400 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Chat: Be The Hero of Your Own Story - Bumblebee and Optimus PrimeWe are all social storytellers and can be the hero of our own story. My son and I were watching the Bumblebee movie trailer and he asked if Bumblebee could be the hero since he wasn't the leader. Absolutely he can, and so can you. Heroes are uplifting, improve the lives of others, uphold values, and protect others. Please connect with me via www.crucialtalks.com2018-12-2200 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 62: Brian Cunningham - Leadership Revolution Because Evolution Takes Too LongIn this episode, Mike Sedam speaks with Brian Cunningham about his journey from parking lot attendant to CEO and his book, The Leadership Revolution - Because Evolution Takes Too Long. You can buy his book from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2BtsBq2 More about Brian and his book can be found at: http://awarenessquotientleadership.com/ In this episode, we talk about how leadership skills have to be functional. This means we don't just need theory, but we need to be able to operationalize those theories. Brian talks about the levels of leadership in...2018-12-1600 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 61: Jill Christensen on Employee EngagementMike Sedam talks with Jill Christensen about employee engagement. This includes talking about the fact all people want the same things we always have: openness, trust, purpose, and a feeling of belonging.  Jill has written a great book about employee engagement that can be found on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2QY5y0G Put people first and the rest will follow. People that do not feel they are trusted will not go above and beyond. When employees are engaged, they trust their senior leaders and feel an emotional connection to those leaders....2018-12-1000 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Chat: Building Capacity with CommunicationRedundancy in systems helps maintain a level of service when failures happen. In this 7 minute Crucial Chat, Mike Sedam discusses the use of a free tool we all have (communication) to build capacity in our systems. Please visit www.crucialtalks.com to connect with Mike if you have any questions or comments.2018-12-0700 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 60 Brave Leadership with Kimberly DavisMike Sedam interviews Kimberly Davis about Brave Leadership.  Kimberly has written a book called Brave Leadership. You can buy her book from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2CkA8t7  http://www.braveleadershipbook.com/ Kimberly also runs a program called OnStage Leadership. www.onstageleadership.com.  Kimberly talks about bravery, the role of storytelling, and tools to become an authentic leader. This entire episode of full of great tools to help build the capacity to lead, to connect, to be authentic, and to be brave.2018-12-0200 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Chat: Communicating from a Good Place. It Matters.Sometimes people need to communicate negative information. This can be bad news, a mistake someone made, or discussing how someone can improve. Leaders deal with this all the time. We can come to these conversations from two different places. A good place or a bad place.  People that come from a bad place feel that people are a problem to deal with.  People that come from a good place feel that people are valuable. Coming from a good place gives feelings of trust and openness. The exact same message may be co...2018-12-0100 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 59 Rick Grimes and Lessons on Decision-MakingMike Sedam uses three clips from The Walking Dead to talk about decision-making. In this episode, there are three key takeaways about decision-making and a bonus takeaway. Bonus Takeaway: There are micro-learning opportunities in everything we do. Try to grow in ways that can help in everyday life and in our workplaces... even while being entertained. If we can learn lessons from a television show about something as ridiculous as a zombie apocalypse, we can learn from anything. Takeaway 1: There is a battle inside of us between the roles we identify with and the groups...2018-11-2500 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Chat: Gratitude - Positive Social Emotion and Emotional IntelligenceThanksgiving is a great holiday: turkey, pie, football, and...GRATITUDE. Gratitude is a strong positive social emotion.  The more we practice gratitude, the more we and the people that experience our gratitude benefit. Gratitude can lead to higher levels of success, more loyalty, and increased happiness. Through gratitude, people can gain respect, earn trust, and motivate others.  Gratitude also replaces and prevents negative emotions. Gratitude can prevent anger, meanness, and jealousy. It's hard to be uncaring or unkind while you practice gratitude. Gratitude also helps us build our ability to...2018-11-2100 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 58 Risk Tolerance and Building Your Personal BrandIn this episode, Mike Sedam, uses a short clip from remarks made by Gary Vaynerchuk to discuss Risk Tolerance and building a personal brand. The full video of Gary Vee's remarks can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcgLyG2a6G4&t=60s or listened to here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/why-right-now-is-time-to-take-that-risk-3x-short-film/id928159684?i=1000423760460&mt=2 Mike uses a presentation he gives to professionals in the gas and petroleum industry, power generation, aviation, and public safety to invert the discussion he usually has (how to avoid taking risky behavior) in order to dis...2018-11-1800 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Chat: Antidote to Anxiety - Shift your MindsetMike Sedam talks about the antidote to anxiety. We all deal with anxiety. There are a bunch of tools that focus on our biology and physiology to deal with anxiety including getting more sleep, exercising, and breathing. They all focus on the physical. Shifting our mindset is a great antidote for anxiety because we are social storytellers that tell ourselves stories and because they come from such a great source, us, we believe them. We tell ourselves we aren't good enough and it causes us anxiety. Every conversation is either building something negative...2018-11-1400 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Chat: The WHY of The Crucial Talks PodcastMike Sedam reiterates and acknowledges the WHY of the Crucial Talks Podcast: To help people who are social storytellers that crave social belonging and social esteem. To help us experience the workplace and our lives in a way that impacts us as social beings. To help us tame the fast-paced world we live in.2018-11-1200 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 57 Jason Lauritsen on Unlocking High PerformanceJason Lauritsen joins Mike Sedam to discuss the workplace and how people can have a rewarding and fulfilling experience at work. Employee engagement is a cornerstone of the discussion. Jason talks about how he was driven to understand why a person would leave a job when he worked as a headhunter. He not only wanted to fill the position, but wanted to find out why the prior employee did not want to stay. The problem he saw was that he was trying to find someone who could merely survive working in that position. H...2018-11-1100 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 56 Mark Gober on Consciousness and Ending Upside Down ThinkingMike Sedam interview Mark Gober about consciousness and his book, An End to Upside Down Thinking. You can get his book from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2QEclgs In this episode, Mark introduces his ideas surround consciousness preceding reality. We get a different lens through which we can view our worlds. This expands our thinking into an area that relates to people as social storytellers. Mark views the brain as a "filter" that allows us to experience reality. Communication may also be happening at a non-physical level and lets us consider the pow...2018-11-0400 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 55 Isaac Tolpin Trust, Engagement, and Employee DevelopmentMike Sedam interviews Isaac Tolpin about the work he is doing on employee education through the concept of microlearning (www.conveyour.com) Isaac has even provided a free gift to all Crucial Talks listeners. https://new.conveyour.com/c/srlq5xng5c/free-high-performance-culture-system One of the important concepts of the Crucial Talks Podcast is that we learn from each other. Isaac talks to us from his lens as a futurist who not only understands technology, but applies human behavior to technology. Isaac's goal is to make training valuable by understanding how p...2018-10-2800 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 54 Amberly Lago Perception, Tribes, and TriumphMike Sedam interviews Amberly Lago about her journey of triumph over tragedy. Amberly has written a book called True Grit and Grace: Turning Tragedy Into Triumph. Her book is available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2S5FWfy In this interview, Amberly talks about how changing her perception allowed her to overcome tragedy after a terrible motorcycle accident and how her perception allows her to deal with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Amberly also talks about the power of social networks and how her "tribe" helped her through tragedy.  This is a powerful interview that can...2018-10-2100 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 53 Kevin Murphy and the Three RoomsIn episode 53, Mike Sedam interviews Kevin Murphy about his book The Three Rooms. Available from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2QB6pVy. For more about Kevin or his book you can visit: www.thethreerooms.com The conversation about this book lets us look at the power of perception. We also get tools to use to help us be more mindful of where we are. Are we in the past, the present, or the future. These are the three rooms Kevin explains we can be in at any one time. Kevin's premise is that our exp...2018-10-1500 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 52 Cheryl Rice the You Matter Marathon...No Running RequiredCheryl Rice is interviewed by Mike Sedam about the You Matter Marathon. No running is required (thank goodness) in this marathon. Visit: http://youmattermarathon.com/ for more information and for your 30 free cards to hand out. The cards are the size of a business card and simply say "You Matter." Cheryl's motivation is to provide people with opportunities to connect. Something all of us as social storytellers need and crave. In this fast-paced world, we are social animals that require the same social connections we always have. This movement is something that can he...2018-10-0700 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 51 Jackie Stavros and More Conversations Worth HavingIn this episode, Mike Sedam interviews the second half of the dynamic duo that wrote Conversations Worth Having. The book is available from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2S5hDOH Jackie Stavros talks to us about appreciative inquiry and how flipping the conversation can have a positive impact on how we deal with situations. She gives us two stories: one from an organization she helped and the second from her own personal life. These stories help us understand the concepts of appreciative inquiry and the tools that lead us to conversations worth having. Please v...2018-09-3000 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 50: Nate Regier, A Sherpa of Conflict, on Compassionate AccountabilityMike Sedam interviews Nate Regier, the author of Beyond Drama: Transcending Energy Vampires, and Conflict without Casualties about how his company, www.next-element.com helps people deal with conflict in positive ways. His book is available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2LlYrK4 Nate talks to us about conflict and how people can spend energy on drama or compassion. He explains the difference as:  Drama is to struggle against. Compassion is to struggle with. People can do more together than they can apart. Nate describes the 3 parts of the "Compassion Cycle...2018-09-2300 minThe Tyler Wagner ShowThe Tyler Wagner ShowMike Sedam: Crucial TalksMike Sedam is a professional speaker, consultant, and hosts the Crucial Talks Podcast. His goal is to help people understand what drives them and others. You can learn more about Mike here: www.crucialtalks.com This episode is brought to you by Authors Unite. Authors Unite provides you with all the resources you need to become a successful author. You can learn more about Authors Unite here: http://authorsunite.com/. Thank you for listening to The Business Blast Podcast! Tyler2018-09-1808 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 49 Three Degrees of Influence: My Friend Bob SakamanoIn this episode, Mike Sedam talks about the three degrees of influence that was written about in the book Connected by Nicholas Christakis and James Fowler. Mike uses an example from the show Seinfeld to explain how degrees of separation impact influence people can have on others.  This is important when we are trying to make changes in our organizations or communities. Mike uses his knowledge of social networks, people as social beings, and the role of identity in decision-making and sense-making to help describe why considering three degrees of influence can help us develop co...2018-09-1600 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 48 Karen Jaw-Madson on Culture Your Culture - Designing Work Experiences so People and Business ThriveKaren Jaw-Madson is interviewed by Mike Sedam about culture and her book Culture Your Culture: Innovating Experiences @Work. Her book can be found on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Lo48HB Karen talks about developing a plan so that work experiences can be designed in a way that both people and the business thrive. Culture has been a huge part of Karen's life and she learned to be aware of social structures which lead to her exploring culture at a societal level, then applying what she has learned and experienced to organizations.  Karen saw th...2018-09-0900 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 47 Seinfeld vs. Costanza: Changing Conversations to Remove ConflictMike Sedam uses an episode of Seinfeld to discuss how our beliefs affect how we see the world around us and how that impacts our decisions. In Seinfeld, Episode 12 of Season 9, George has a huge wallet where he keeps everything. It is so large it causes him pain. It is also so large it give Jerry a lot to make fun of him about. We use it to better understand the book, Conversations Worth Having, by Jackie Stavros and Cheri Torres. By listening to the interactions between George and Jerry, we can see...2018-09-0200 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 46 Cheri Torres and Conversations Worth HavingCheri Torres is interviewed by Mike Sedam about how to have strength-based conversations to implement change. Cheri co-authored the book Conversations Worth Having. It is available from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2CibTMf Words have power, so we should be intentional of the words we use. Appreciative Inquiry is the foundation of these conversations and helps us change the lens we use to view a situation. You may be dealing with the same exact situation, but the frame you use to construct the conversations you have can help change the focus, and thus the outcome. ...2018-08-2600 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 45 Marques Ogden 3 Steps to Transformation and 3 Steps to TrustMike Sedam interviews Marques Ogden about self-transformation and trust on Episode 45 of the Crucial Talks Podcast. Marques Ogden is a former NFL football player and author that speaks and consults about leadership and transformation. His book can be found on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Bor3xB What is so great about Marques is that he is relatable. His story of overcoming hardships relates to all of us. He has been through hard times. He has lost an important loved one. He has had to build his business from the ground up. Marques gives u...2018-08-1900 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 44: Melissa Agnes on being Crisis Ready and Brand InvincibilityHost: Mike Sedam Guest: Melissa Agnes On Episode 44 of The Crucial Talks Podcast, we talk to Melissa Agnes on her book, Crisis Ready. Check here for her book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2BreWjo Melissa is awesome and talks to us about how our organization can build the capacity to deal with a crisis in a way that we can come out on the other side with increased trust and credibility. This is more than being able to manage crisis, it's about being ready for crisis in a way that helps the...2018-08-1200 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 43 Esther Weinberg on the Dignity Zone: Trust, Respect, and Safety in Life and the WorkplaceIn this episode, Mike Sedam interviews Esther Weinberg. Esther Weinberg is a leader in redefining organizational culture. She has also written a leadership book called Become a Successful Leader: 57 Simple Strategies Any Leader Can Implement TODAY!. It can be found on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2LoLNtE In this episode, she talks about the role of dignity in workplaces and in our own lives. Esther is the founder of MindLight Group, www.mindlightgroup.com where she helps organizations understand and implement the Dignity Zone which consists of trust, respect, and safety. Operating in th...2018-08-0500 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 42 Joe Romm on Social Storytelling and How to go Viral and Reach MillionsMike Sedam talks to Joe Romm, the author of How to Go Viral and Reach Millions. Joe's book can be found on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2CjFlRR Joe earned a degree in Physics from MIT. As a physicist, he saw that scientists were not very good at communicating. He studied why some communication works better than others and how messages between people could go viral. He gives five rules to follow that will increase the chance of a message going viral: 1. Tell a story 2. Use figures of speech 3. Trigger on...2018-07-2900 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 41 Maja Kazazic Positive Perspective and RelationshipsIn this episode, Mike Sedam is humbled to interview Maja Kazazic. Maja Kazazic grew up in war-torn Bosnia. She lost her leg and many friends during an explosion. Maja then moved to the United States where she not only learned to walk again, but learned to run again. She also started a successful technology company and now takes the lessons she has learned throughout her life to help the rest of us. Maja is the epitome of what is discussed on the Crucial Talks Podcast... having a positive view and what this can do for...2018-07-2200 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 40 Steve Sims on Imperfection is our Perfection - Trust, Relationships, and Positive MindsetImagine your list of getting things done. Have you been able to send people to see the Titanic, or figured out a way for clients to sing with their favorite band? How about closing down a famous museum for dinner in front of a famous sculpture while a world-renowned singer serenades the dinner party? Steve Sims has done all that. However, important to us are the tips he can give us on a positive mindset, relationships, and trust. Learn about his belief that business is personal. Learn about being your "ugly self" and au...2018-07-1500 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 39 Appreciative Inquiry - People Positive: Lightbulbs and Lifeblood of OrganizationsAppreciative Inquiry pursues changes to human systems with a focus on strengths. It is ultimately a method that takes a positive view of making change by focusing on people. People are ultimately the greatest resource of any organization.  In this episode, we get to talk about the search for the lifeblood of our organizations, of the systems we are all a part of. This strength-based search can lead to motivating, positive places to work, live, and play. It gets us out of a deficit-view of our systems where we only see problems to solve and le...2018-07-0900 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 38 Name, Blame, & Shame Game - Intergroup RelationshipsHow we interact with others can have either a negative or positive impact on how we can get things done. If we see others as out-group members that we do not share a common goal with, it can cause us to behave differently toward them. The same things apply to how people treat us. In this episode, I explain what happened to me in a meeting.  When the meeting started I thought I was there to work with others in my organization to solve a problem. I was ready to take responsibility for a pretty l...2018-07-0200 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 37 Self-Transformation - Four Step Process in Heartbreak Ridge and October SkySelf-Transformation happens throughout our lives. We transform by adopting new roles and assigning behaviors to those roles. As the roles become more important to us, the behaviors we exhibit become more aligned with the roles we have adopted. We have done this since we were kids and continue to do it our entire lives. By understanding the process we have always used to change, we can make a conscious effort to transform who we are and what we want to become. There are four steps to this change process:  First, people define themselves as a m...2018-06-2400 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 36 People, Purpose, and Potential with Jeffrey DavidsonPeople are a company's biggest resource. Having the right people doing the right work maximizes potential. Jeffrey Davidson talks to us about people, about how teams are built, and what team members need to succeed. One of the first things a leader needs to do is ask "What did I do well? What can I build upon? Where could I have done better?" This shows a vulnerability and builds a pattern of feedback that can: 1. Set an example and 2. Allow teams to learn "As humans, we are social beings." We need...2018-06-1700 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 35 Legacy, Leadership, Lug Nuts - Rocky RomanellaEveryone plays roles. In this episode, Rocky Romanella, author of Tighten the Lug Nuts the Principles of Balanced Leadership, Senior Partner at 3 Sixty Management Services, a former leader at UPS, and all-around good guy talks to us about the role of leaders in instilling a legacy of behavior. Rocky's book can be found on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2QFdTXJ This concept is important because the roles people play and behaviors people assign to those roles will guide what they do. The role important at the time is how people make sense of the world around t...2018-06-1000 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 34 Transformation and Trust with Nichole CarlsonMike Sedam interview Nichole Carlson about transformation. Transformation is something we all need to do. One way to transform is to adopt a new role and live up to the behaviors of that role. In this episode, Nichole Carlson talks to us about her transformation as she left her comfort zone; traveled the world; was homeless, but happy; and then found success after she found happiness. She also talks about the need for trust in yourself and how to develop that trust. Nichole can be reached at www.nicholecarlson.com or visit her facebook page: ht...2018-06-0300 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 33 Empathy and Cooperation - Walking In Someone Else's ShoesThe roles people play impact their decisions. They will be more likely to work with others if they don't see the other person as a threat to the group they belong to. This is why it can be a valuable tool to consider the role the other person is playing. When considering the roles of other people, we are trying to "walk a mile in someone else's shoes." We should think about their needs, aspirations, and challenges so that we can communicate in a way that doesn't put them on the defensive. This will increase the chance...2018-05-2800 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 32 Emotionally Compromised or Emotionally Competent - Spock vs. KirkFor a number of years, ever since the industrial revolution, people have been on a path where data and analysis was king. People believed that if they had the right data and the right analysis, then the decision would be obvious. However, emotion trumps data every day of the week. We make decisions based on what feels right. We are social, storytelling animals and emotions play a huge role in what we do. The key takeaways we can gain from this are: If we understand the why and how of human decision-making, we can bring our...2018-05-2100 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 31 Top Gun Day! Lagging vs Leading Indicators and using Appreciative InquiryLagging indicators measure outcomes. Things that have already happened. Leading indicators measure inputs so that we can try to impact outcomes before they happen. Appreciative Inquiry, because it focuses on a strength-based, positive approach to change in human-based systems can help us when we are working on developing leading indicators. It's Mother's Day 2018, which coincidentally falls on Top Gun Day. So in this episode, we get to hear a clip from Top Gun to have a better understanding of lagging indicators (High speed passes over 5 air control towers and 1 Admiral's daughter). To have me speak...2018-05-1400 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 30 Discipline Disrupts Discussion - Bueller, Bueller... Learning from Ferris and a FerrariStrong disciplinary programs exist in many workplaces today. It has been a part of our work cultures and is the "goto" framework in many organizations when someone does something wrong. Although we may have been taught to operate this way, discipline can hamper positive discussions that may actually help our organizations get better. If we focus purely on discipline, we are losing out on a tremendous amount of learning. Organizational learning is the key to honing and sharpening what we do. The majority of the human-based systems we work in are fairly stable because we may have reached the...2018-05-0600 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 29 How Networks...Work - Armageddon and Soldiers - Goals and Categories.Networking works because of goals and shared social categories. Goals that transcend groups and transcend conflict give people a way to work together. Shared social categories allow us to break down the walls that can separate people. One group that has used this to great effectiveness is Energy Safety Canda. Made up of six different associations and numerous members from different companies, they all can work together toward the goal of everyone going home safe. In this episode, examples from the movie Armageddon and We Were Soldiers let us see how goals and shared social categories can help us...2018-04-2900 minCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks PodcastCrucial Talks Episode 10 Lightning Strikes Twice: Goals and StorytellingIn Episode 10 of the Crucial Talks Podcast we talk about lightning striking twice.  This title came form the interesting story of James Otis, who felt he would be killed by lightning, which he ultimately was.  He was struck by lightning two times in his life. We use the story about James Otis, a man John Adams credits with planting the seed of revolution in the American Colonies.  We also listen to part of a TED Talk by Nancy Duarte where she talks about stories and her outstanding work to determine a pattern followed in many of the greatest presentations (www...2017-12-1800 min