Episodes

  • Mastering the Art of Managing Up: How to Thrive in Today’s Workplace with Melody Wilding

    Mastering the Art of Managing Up: How to Thrive in Today’s Workplace with Melody Wilding
    Mar 4 2025
    John welcomes Melody Wilding, a human behavior professor, award-winning executive coach, and author of the new book "Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge". Melody shares her unique approach to navigating workplace dynamics, blending psychology, neuroscience, and professional development to help individuals build meaningful careers with confidence and emotional intelligence. Throughout the conversation, Melody delves into the importance of managing up, a crucial skill for career success in today’s fast-paced, hybrid work environments. She explains how understanding your boss’s motivations, setting boundaries, and mastering key workplace conversations can empower you to take control of your career trajectory. Melody also discusses the challenges of giving feedback, negotiating raises, and building workplace allies, offering practical, actionable advice for professionals at all levels. Whether you’re dealing with a difficult boss, navigating a matrixed organization, or simply looking to enhance your influence at work, this episode is packed with insights to help you thrive. Tune in to learn how to turn workplace challenges into growth opportunities and discover why managing up is the most essential career skill for the future.
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    40 mins
  • Self-Reliance and Personal Branding with Maha Abouelenein

    Self-Reliance and Personal Branding with Maha Abouelenein
    Feb 4 2025
    In this inspiring episode of Fire Your Hiring Habits, John welcomes Maha Abouelenein, CEO of Digital Savvy, personal branding expert, and author of the USA Today bestseller, Seven Rules of Self Reliance. With over 30 years of experience in global communications, Maha shares her extraordinary journey—from growing up with Egyptian parents in Minnesota to advising some of the world's top brands like Google and Netflix. Maha discusses the importance of cultivating self-reliance, building a strong personal brand, and adapting to the ever-evolving workplace. She delves into lessons from her career, including the transformative power of unlearning and relearning, leveraging AI as a storytelling tool, and the significance of empathy and adaptability in hiring. Whether you're a young professional, a seasoned leader, or someone looking to reinvent your career, Maha's insights on personal growth, networking, and creating opportunities will leave you inspired to take action. Tune in to discover how you can harness the power of self-reliance and become the most valuable asset in your personal and professional life. Don’t miss this engaging conversation filled with practical advice and transformative strategies for today's dynamic workplace.
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    44 mins
  • Think Differently: Unlocking Non-Obvious Ideas with Rohit Bhargava

    Think Differently: Unlocking Non-Obvious Ideas with Rohit Bhargava
    Jan 7 2025
    This week John is joined by futurist, bestselling author, and keynote speaker Rohit Bhargava to explore how "non-obvious thinking" can transform workplaces and leadership strategies. Rohit shares insights from his book, Non-Obvious Thinking: How to See What Others Miss, including his powerful SIFT framework—Space, Insight, Focus, and Twist—to help leaders and organizations uncover new ideas and navigate challenges creatively. Discover how leaders can break free from conventional thinking, foster innovation across teams, and embrace diversity in unexpected ways. Learn practical tips to create a culture of creativity, from redefining hiring practices to rethinking networking with strategies like the 7-Minute Meetup. Rohit also shares fascinating stories, including lessons from Dr. Seuss, the world's most dangerous playground, and the termite mounds of Zimbabwe. Whether you're an HR professional, a team leader, or simply looking to reimagine the way you work, this episode offers actionable advice to inspire fresh perspectives.
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    39 mins
  • Unleashing Leadership and Brand Potential with Sunny Bonnell

    Unleashing Leadership and Brand Potential with Sunny Bonnell
    Dec 3 2024
    In this episode of Fire Your Hiring Habits, John sits down with Sunny Bonnell, co-founder of Motto and co-author of Rare Breed, to explore the transformative power of branding and leadership in shaping thriving organizations. Sunny shares her journey from moonlighting as a graphic designer to helping iconic brands like Google, Microsoft, and Virgin build unified visions that inspire both teams and audiences. Listeners will learn practical strategies for fostering creative collisions in the workplace, embracing healthy conflict, and ensuring values aren't just words on the wall but actionable principles driving behavior. Sunny also discusses how storytelling can be a catalyst for aligning team culture with a brand's purpose, navigating uncertainty, and creating environments where innovation thrives. Packed with insights on leadership, team dynamics, and the art of the "big idea worth rallying around," this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to elevate their organizational impact. Tune in for actionable tips and inspirational stories that will help you reimagine the way you lead and build your team!
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    49 mins
  • From Bees to Boardrooms: Lessons in Group Intelligence with Siobhan McHale

    From Bees to Boardrooms: Lessons in Group Intelligence with Siobhan McHale
    Oct 17 2024
    John sits down with Siobhan McHale, a renowned expert in workforce transformation and author of "The Hive Mind at Work," to discuss her groundbreaking insights on group intelligence (GQ) and its crucial role in organizational change. Drawing from her extensive experience, including a seven-year initiative at ANZ Bank, Siobhan explains how leaders can harness group dynamics for rapid, meaningful change, challenging the myth that cultural transformation always takes years. She offers practical strategies for reframing roles and intervening in complex human ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of GQ over IQ and EQ in today's complex work environments. Siobhan shares the nine laws of group dynamics, methods for identifying and rewiring organizational patterns, and strategies for hiring and developing high-GQ leaders, providing invaluable insights for both seasoned executives and emerging leaders looking to create more agile, productive workplaces in an era of constant change.
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    43 mins
  • For the Culture: Reimagining Workplace Dynamics with Dr. Marcus Collins

    For the Culture: Reimagining Workplace Dynamics with Dr. Marcus Collins
    Sep 19 2024
    John is joined by Marcus Collins, a leading expert on cultural contagion and meaning making. Dr. Collins, the best-selling author of "For the Culture" and a Clinical Marketing Professor at the University of Michigan, shares his profound insights on how culture shapes our workplaces and organizations. The conversation delves into the invisible forces that guide human behavior, both in society at large and within companies. Dr. Collins explains the concept of cultural meaning-making and its significant impact on employee engagement. He also discusses how leaders can leverage cultural insights to address workforce challenges and foster a more inclusive environment. Through engaging examples and personal anecdotes, Dr. Collins illustrates the power of empathy and cultural competence in leadership, especially in global organizations. He emphasizes the importance of understanding different perspectives and seeing the world through others' lenses to build stronger, more cohesive teams. The episode also touches on strategies for building a culture of continuous learning and development, highlighting the crucial role of curiosity in driving innovation and growth within organizations. Listeners will gain valuable insights into reimagining workplace dynamics and creating a culture that attracts and retains top talent. This thought-provoking discussion offers practical advice for leaders looking to harness the power of culture to transform their organizations and navigate the complex landscape of today's workforce.
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    45 mins
  • Unlearning Silence: Finding Your Authentic Voice with Elaine Lin Hering (Part Two)

    Unlearning Silence: Finding Your Authentic Voice with Elaine Lin Hering (Part Two)
    Jun 13 2024
    In the second half of this insightful episode, Elaine Lin Hering dives deeper into the powerful concepts explored in her book "Unlearning Silence," sharing practical tips and exercises on how to rediscover and use our authentic voices more effectively in both personal and professional settings. She also discusses the profound mental and physical impacts of speaking authentically, drawing from her extensive research and work with clients across diverse backgrounds. Through thought-provoking anecdotes and actionable advice, Elaine empowers listeners to gain a deeper understanding of how giving voice to our truths can not only transform our relationships and work environments but also enhance our overall well-being and sense of self, embracing vulnerability, shedding self-limiting beliefs, and courageously expressing themselves in ways that foster connection, creativity, and personal growth—an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to cultivate a more fulfilling and authentic life.
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    24 mins
  • Unlearning Silence: Finding Your Authentic Voice with Elaine Lin Hering (Part One)

    Unlearning Silence: Finding Your Authentic Voice with Elaine Lin Hering (Part One)
    Jun 6 2024
    In this thought-provoking episode, John Mitchell is joined by Elaine Lin Hering, author of the groundbreaking book "Unlearning Silence: How to Speak Your Mind, Unleash Talent, and Live More Fully." As a renowned facilitator who has worked across six continents with leaders from prominent organizations like American Express, Google, and the Red Cross, Elaine has developed transformative strategies to help individuals find their authentic voices. Her paradigm-shifting approach compassionately acknowledges how we have all been both silenced and silencers throughout our lives. Elaine shares powerful insights from her extensive experience, challenging listeners to confront how they may have inadvertently contributed to perpetuating cultures of silence within their organizations and personal lives. Through candid discussion and practical exercises, Elaine guides the audience on a journey of self-discovery, empowering them to unleash their full potential by breaking free from self-imposed limitations and giving voice to their deepest truths. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to cultivate a more inclusive, collaborative, and authentic environment in their personal and professional spheres.
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    24 mins