Improving the Culture in Your Kingdom With Dan Cockerell

It takes more than pixie dust to shape a great culture, engage your team, and create a magical experience for your clients. 

For Dan Cockerell, the magic began when he took on the role of Operations Manager at Disney’s All-Star Resorts. But it didn’t play out as you’d expect: instead of beginning his role as the department’s overseer, he began on the frontlines with a broom and a dustpan. 

Dan worked alongside the other employees, earning their respect, gaining credibility, and getting to know what each facet of the department required. This helped him become the best leader possible since he knew exactly how to improve processes from the bottom up.

And it didn’t end there. Dan was so successful in his leadership strategies that he eventually worked his way up to Vice President of Magic Kingdom, leading a team of 12,000 cast members. But how did he maintain a great culture on a large scale?

It comes down to a few areas: you have to get the right people in the right jobs, spend time getting to know your employees, set clear expectations, and have a system for reward and recognition. When people are more engaged and supported, you get better results for your business.

Listen to this episode of The Judd Shaw Way Podcast with Judd Shaw featuring Dan Cockerell, Owner of Cockerell Consulting Group and former Vice President of Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Together, they discuss leadership best practices, why it’s vital to take care of your physical and mental wellbeing, how to improve your culture in a growing organization, and many more industry insights. 

In this episode: 

• [0:36] Judd Shaw introduces his guest, Dan Cockerell
• [2:40] Why Dan found his hotel cleaning duties more valuable than spending time with the CEO in their boardroom
• [9:01] What led Dan to write his book, How’s the Culture in Your Kingdom?
• [11:48] The four areas of magic: leading self, leading others, leading organization, and leading change
• [16:23] How does Dan measure culture?
• [22:22] Dan shares how Test Track’s first failures inspired his personal leadership improvement
• [28:18] How to keep culture alive when your company is growing exponentially
• [32:38] The importance of being highly accessible and approachable as a leader
• [35:02] How Dan helps leaders through his consulting business

🎙️ Featured Guest 🎙️

Name: Dan Cockerell

Short Bio: Dan has over two decades of experience working for Walt Disney World. He made his way up the ranks from Operations Manager at Epcot to Vice President of Magic Kingdom. Dan currently runs a consulting and speaking business with his wife, Valerie, where he draws on experience from his extensive career in Disney to help business executives provide exceptional leadership and build a strong culture for their team. 

Company: Cockerell Consulting Group

Connect: LinkedIn | Email | Phone number: [phone]

🔑 Relevant Resources 🔑

• Walt Disney World
• How’s the Culture in Your Kingdom?
• Method to the Magic Workshop

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