Aim Higher: The podcast with purpose

This week on "Aim Higher,” my panel and I talk about how to be successful during the critical, initial phase of a new job, new department, or new manager. Drew Bordas, Tammi Spayde, and Brian Berry bring up dozens of great pointers on the subject. Not only have they had to be the new person in some high-level roles, but they’ve managed many people through the process. If you want a crash course in how to land on your feet, make a g...

I don’t know anyone who hasn’t thought about “reinventing” themselves. That desire can be pushed on us by an unexpected job loss, or we may want to proactively reach for a new dream. The bad news is that it’s hard to reinvent yourself without a plan. The good news is that my guest this week, Richard Bliss, can help you make that plan. Richard has worked in the military, in executive marketing roles, and as an author, speaker, and L...

In previous episodes of “Aim Higher,” we discussed how to leave a job well, and how, as a manager, you can deal with someone who doesn’t. This week, based on a listener’s request (“for a friend...”), we’ll tackle the thorny problem of how to recover from a bad exit that you now regret. I share 7 tips that can get you through this difficult moment, using it to grow and rebuild tr...

We’ve talked before on “Aim Higher” about the importance of leaving a job with grace and positivity. A move made for the right reasons shouldn’t create friction or enmity, even if the change brings challenges. However, as a leader and manager, you will at some point need to deal with staff whose exit behavior is less than exemplary. How do you handle “bad good-byes" without making the situation worse? If you prepare for this eventu...

It’s “mailbag” time again! I love these episodes, as they give us a chance to hear about what’s top-of-mind for our listeners. This week, my panel of experts addresses a variety of questions, including how to keep up with the amazing pace of change in technology, managing remote teams, and how to quantify a vague “transformation” project assignment. I’m sure that at least one of these will resonate with you, and I hope you’ll give ...

There are books and articles galore about how to start a new position successfully. What to do in your first days, weeks, and months to establish your expertise and make a great initial impression. Less discussed—but no less important—is how to leave a job successfully. We’re somewhat indoctrinated into thinking of departures as failures. Yet we know that sometimes we need to leave one situation to take our next logical steps. My e...

My guest for this episode of “Aim Higher” is research-based thought leader, Ford Saeks. Ford is known for his marketing prowess and for helping businesses grow and succeed. His book, “Superpower: A Superhero’s Guide to Leadership, Business and Life” is a must-read if you're looking to make a positive change in any area of your life. Don’t worry, though—you don’t need to leap tall buildings in a single bound to make dramatic improve...

Previously, we looked at the “death of ambition,” and why so many people seem to be less interested in pushing for high achievement. In this episode, my expert panel and I tackle the topic of ambition from a positive standpoint. What does “good ambition” look like? How can you distinguish it from things like greed or pushiness? How can you help identify and encourage appropriate ambition in your staff? And what can you do when they...

A recent survey indicated that around one-third of people do not trust their employers. Now, that might mean “in general,” without applying to a specific manager or leader. But it’s an extraordinary statistic, nonetheless. As Drew Bordas, one of my panelists this week, puts it, “A lack of trust drags down our ability to get the job done.” He’s right! Trust isn’t just “a feeling.” A lack of trust hampers creativity, kills honest fee...

I’ve been having conversations about creativity and writing with my next guest for almost ten years. Now you get to listen in as we discuss the topic more fully. Andy Havens is a content marketing expert, an adjunct professor of marketing and advertising at the Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD), and the author of, “The Side Ways,” an urban-fantasy trilogy I very much enjoyed reading. We discuss some of the myths surrounding...

In our last episode, we talked about the concepts of “quiet quitting,” the “death of ambition,” and how they relate to our post-pandemic working world. In this week’s roundtable discussion, my panel of leadership experts and I take it up a level and ask: what can leaders do about quiet quitting? How can you prevent it? How do you recognize the signs? And how do you help restore a team member’s enthusiasm and motivation? As always, ...

The term “quiet quitting” has been all over the news. It’s generally used to describe workers who have decided to do the minimum required at their jobs. No “going the extra mile,” no overtime, no volunteering for stretch assignments. In short: no ambition. What are the causes of this trend? Is it really something new, or are we just re-labelling a phenomenon that once might have been called “retiring in place?” Are there generation...

Our world is filled with all kinds of distractions. And we carry the source of many around with us—our smartphones—because they are also necessary for work and great productivity tools. But we also know how important it is to put those distractions aside and focus on what’s important. As Steven Covey said, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” How can we do a better job at that? Join me and my panel of business...

In this, the second of a two-part panel on leadership coaching, we continue with Tammi Spayde, Drew Bordas and Janet Walls, President of Delta Blvd. In the first half of our discussion, we covered some basics: who should get leadership training, what it can do for you, when you need a coach as opposed to a mentor. Now we get into some more advanced topics, including the idea of getting a coach for your entire leadership team. That ...

In this first of a two-part panel on leadership coaching, two of our regular guests—Tammi Spayde and Drew Bordas—join me and Janet Walls, President of Delta Blvd, a leadership consulting and executive coaching company she founded in 2007. Together, we get into the basics of leadership coaching: who it is for, how it can help you your leadership development, the difference between coaching and mentoring, and how to include your mana...

Patricia Fripp is an expert on how to give better presentations, and she shares some of her secrets with me on “Aim Higher” this week. She just recently co-authored the book “Deliver Unforgettable Presentations,” and it’s filled with step-by-step instructions on how to become a world-class public speaker. During our talk, she makes the great point that everyone can benefit from being a better presenter, even if you’re just leading ...

Today’s “Aim Higher” interview is an absolute must-listen. If you haven’t heard Inky Johnson’s story before, you need to do so now. Coming from a home that, in his words, was “poor in material wealth, but rich in spirit, love, and peace,” he was a rising star in college football, until a life changing injury shattered that path to success. But rather than succumb to despair, Inky went on to finish college, earn a master's degree in...

We all know the obvious “suck up” type. The obsequious, fawning sycophant who only gives the boss good news, is always complimentary, and who (probably) is disliked by everyone—including the boss. In real life, the distinction between “managing up” and “sucking up” is rarely that black-and-white. How can you be the kind of employee your boss wants and needs without simply slathering on empty praise? Hint: it’s all about honest comm...

We're in a difficult, stressful time in the world. That's why it's a good moment to go back and review Skip's interview with  Amy Blankson, bestselling author of “The Future of Happiness.” One of the first guests on "Aim Higher," Amy teaches us how to achieve more happiness even in the midst of difficulty. She is a co-founder of the Digital Wellness Collective and most recently has shared her thought leadership as a speaker at TEDx...