226: Building Trust and Accomplishing the Seemingly Impossible

Is there something you’d love to have but think it’s impossible for you to achieve? Listen to this inspiring conversation with Kimberly Wiefling, and you’ll likely see ways that you can, in fact, create what you want. Along the way, you’ll discover how the best leaders build trust with their teams through vulnerability.

Kimberly is the founder of Wiefling Consulting, and cofounder of Silicon Valley Alliances. She’s also the author of the globally popular book Scrappy Project Management: The 12 Predictable & Avoidable Pitfalls Every Project Faces. Her latest book, Turning Ideas Into Impact, is an anthology with 15 other Silicon Valley consultants.

Kimberly’s superpower is turning managers into leaders and groups into true teams who can achieve together what seems “impossible” but is merely difficult. She’s been described as a “force of nature,” and she’s determined to use that force to make a significant positive impact on our world.

You’ll discover:

The key differences between managers and leaders
What Kimberly did wrong when she managed teams early in her career
Differences in the cultures of a typical Silicon Valley company compared to one in Japan
How Kimberly helps leaders and teams believe the impossible is actually possible
The importance of structuring the work environment to reinforce the culture

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Connect with Kimberly

Kimberly’s Resources

Websites

Kimberly Wiefling

Silicon Valley Alliances

Scrappy Women in Business

Book

Scrappy Project Management

Amazon Author Page – All Books

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225: TechSmith’s Innovative Approach to Asynchronous Meetings

A big complaint in most companies is the amount of time wasted in meetings. If that’s been your experience, too, this episode is a must-listen. Amy Casciotti, Vice President of Human Resources at TechSmith Corporation, explains how they’ve created an innovative approach that’s eliminated the need for people to meet at the same time. You’ll learn how their Async-First environment has saved time and increased productivity.

TechSmith is a software company with a mission to empower people to create remarkable videos and images that help share knowledge and information. Amy is focused on being an advocate for both the company and its employees to ensure TechSmith and its staff have the skills needed to continue to move the company and employee engagement forward.

Meredith and her team have used their products, Camtasia and SnagIt, for more than 15 years and are huge fans!

You’ll discover:

TechSmith’s top 4 values and how they are practiced by everyone, starting with the CEO
The difference between synchronous and asynchronous meetings
What Amy and her team did to move people to a “No Meetings” mindset
How people now use videos to convey information that use to be presented in meetings
How the company practices “Put People First” with employees and customers alike

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Connect with Amy

TechSmith’s Website

TechSmith

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184: How We Show Up Changes Everything

What’s it like to hire, coach and fire based on your company’s Purpose, Values, and Mission? Clate Mask knows the answer because that’s exactly what he and his team at Keap are doing every day at Keap. And they’ve built a positive culture where everyone takes ownership and personal responsibility for their actions.

Clate is the co-founder and CEO of Keap (formerly Infusionsoft), with the mission of simplifying growth for millions of small businesses worldwide. Clate’s passion for small business success stems from his personal experience taking his software company from a struggling startup to an eight-time Inc. 500/5000 winner. He’s received numerous awards over the years, including Business Leader of the Year from the Arizona Technology Council, and he was a finalist for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Clate is also the co-author of the New York Times bestseller Conquer the Chaos: How to Grow a Successful Small Business Without Going Crazy, a must-read for every business owner.

You’ll discover:

What Clate learned from his coach Steve Hardison about how to show up for important conversations
The importance of hiring people who are eager to grow as individuals and be owners of their lives
Why Caring is the #1 core value at Keap
The questions you’ll want to answer if you’re committed to creating a positive culture
Some of the most important lessons Clate has learned as a leader

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Connect with Clate

Clate’s Resources

Website

Keap

Book

Conquer the Chaos: How to Grow a Successful Small Business Without Going Crazy

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Mastering the Top 10 Communication Skills

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180: A Leader Who Checks His Ego at the Door

What does it look like when you “Put People First?” My guest Mark McNally describes what how it works in his company, and it starts with listening to learn from the people around him. He’s a leader who isn’t afraid to say he loves the people he works with.

Mark is the Founder and Chief Nobody at Nobody Studios. He’s been involved in 15 start-ups over the course of his career, so he knows a thing or two about what it takes to create and maintain a successful business. I love the emphasis he puts on the PEOPLE side, and during our conversation you’ll see why and how he does that.

You’ll discover:

The story behind the founding and the name of Nobody Studios
Why Mark says communication is the key
The kind of culture Mark is creating in his company
The distinction Mark makes between leadership and culture
What he learned in the Army Special Ops that serves him well today

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Mark’s Resources

Website

Nobody Studios

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Mastering the Top 10 Communication Skills

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177: The Importance of Letting Go for a Leader

Would you have the courage to make the necessary changes if you realized your company or team was no longer working the way you’d hoped? Jonathan Keyser faced that challenge in his company, and he had the awareness and courage to tackle it head-on.

In this riveting conversation, Jonathan shares the struggles he experienced in identifying the changes that were needed, acknowledging his contributions to the situation, and the three core lessons he learned. You’ll connect with his transparency and vulnerability as he shares the process of transitioning from Keyser 1.0 to Keyser 2.0.

Jonathan is the founder of Keyser, one of the most innovative and trustworthy commercial real estate firms in the country. Along with their international partners, they have more than 560 people on their team worldwide. Jonathan’s efforts to change the business world through selfless service are reflected in his content, thought leadership, and the level of excellence he holds his team to within Keyser.

You’ll discover:

What caused Jonathan to realize he needed to make changes in his company
Why key problem areas were all based on misalignment
The key question he asked himself to determine which employees should stay…and which should move on
How Jonathan learned how to “do less and receive more.”

Watch the episode:

Connect with Jonathan

Jonathan’s Resources

Website

Keyser

Book

You Don’t Have to Be Ruthless to Win: The Art of Badass Selfless Service

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Connect with Your Team

Mastering the Top 10 Communication Skills

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Peer Coaching Made Simple

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