Summer Sparks: The Power of Seeing People as Humans

Hosts: Simon Phillips & Renée Smith discussing their conversation with Rick Gage

Listen to the full episode: [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Ram6ZbCEjaHJ8INt0vRhM?si=e3fa78376bf44a63]

What happens when you stop seeing colleagues as problems and start seeing them as people?

In this powerful summer episode, Simon and Renée explore a game-changing leadership insight from Rick Gage (Center for a Loving Workplace): how to transform team dynamics through loving leadership.

The 90-Minute Meeting That Changed Everything

Rick inherited a team drowning in blame and finger-pointing. His solution? Weekly 90-minute meetings where half the time was spent on personal check-ins - not just work stuff, but real life. What's happening at home? What challenges are you facing?

The result? When team members began seeing each other as three-dimensional humans instead of two-dimensional work personas, the blame naturally disappeared.

The Hidden Truth About "Difficult" People

That stubborn colleague driving you crazy? They might be dealing with a parent's cancer diagnosis or struggling with family challenges. Simon reminds us: "It's so easy to judge and blame others... but if you take time to get to know those people, you might just bump into someone whose mum's in hospital."

From Fear to Love: The LACE Way

When fear hits, we dehumanize others (and ourselves). But Simon's LACE framework offers a better path:

• Listen with curiosity instead of judgment
• Accountability means taking responsibility for people's growth
• Collaborate by asking "How can we help?" not "You fix this"
• Empathy creates psychological safety through zero judgment

Rick's Golden Question

When 150 leaders gathered to discuss team members, Rick's approach was revolutionary: "What do they need to continue to learn and grow?" Not judgment. Not ranking. Just genuine support for human development.

Your Challenge This Week

Spend 10 minutes learning something non-work related about one team member. Ask: "What's bringing you joy or challenge right now outside of work?"

The Bottom Line

True leadership transformation happens when we "hold precious what it is to be human" (Toyota's respect philosophy). As Renée clarifies, this shift from fear-based to love-based leadership unlocks team potential and creates psychological safety.

Ready to transform your team dynamics? Start with one conversation.

Share this episode with someone who could benefit from these loving leadership insights.

Connect with the Guest and the Hosts:

Rick Gage - LinkedIn Profile

Renée Smith - LinkedIn Profile

Simon Phillips - LinkedIn Profile

All Music composed by Adam Phillips

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Love Lead Change podcast, Simon Phillips and Renée Smith engage with Chris Hirst, CEO of Bespak, discussing the importance of love in leadership and workplace culture. Chris shares his journey from laboratory work to CEO, emphasizing the significance of trust, care, and values in fostering a positive work environment. The conversation explores the impact of a loving workplace on employee engagement, loyalty, and overall company success, highlighting the need for leaders to prioritize their own well-being while nurturing their teams.

Takeaways

• Love is central to effective leadership.
• A positive workplace culture fosters trust and care.
• Engagement and loyalty are results of a caring environment.
• Leaders should reflect on their own experiences to shape their approach.
• Celebrating small wins is crucial for team morale.
• Transparency and open communication build trust.
• Values-driven leadership attracts and retains talent.
• Creating a sense of belonging enhances employee satisfaction.
• Self-care is essential for effective leadership.
• Leading with love correlates with high performance.

Sound Bites

• "A loving workplace means trust and care."
• "I respond better to leaders who trust me."
• "It's a journey of everyone, not just me."
• "Celebrating small wins is important."
• "We owe it to people to make work a good place."
• "Leading with love drives performance."

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to Loving Leadership

02:48 - Chris Hirst's Journey to CEO

06:08 - Defining a Loving Workplace

08:56 - The Impact of Trust and Care

11:50 - Personal Experiences Shaping Leadership

15:11 - Practices of Loving Leadership

18:04 - Self-Care and Leadership Challenges

20:47 - Building a Positive Company Culture

24:03 - Values-Driven Leadership

26:55 - Creating a Fulfilling Work Environment

29:48 - Reflections and Insights

Subscribe at this link to get regular emails with proven insights to transform your workplace by leading with love from your hosts Simon Phillips and Renée Smith. https://a-human-workplace.myflodesk.com/love-lead-change-email

Connect with the Guest and the Hosts:

Chris Hirst - LinkedIn Profile

Renée Smith - LinkedIn Profile

Simon Phillips - LinkedIn Profile

All Music composed by Adam Phillips

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Love Lead Change podcast, Simon Phillips and Renée Smith engage with Gary Keough, a former Global Marketing Director and a leader in psychological safety. They explore themes of leadership, kindness, self-love, and the importance of diverse perspectives in decision-making. Gary shares his journey and insights on how to unlock potential in teams, the significance of creating a psychologically safe environment, and the balance between compassion and accountability in leadership. The conversation emphasizes the need for leaders to listen actively and to foster an environment where team members feel valued and empowered to share their ideas.

Takeaways

• Unlocking potential is a key leadership goal.
• Kindness in leadership is about empathy and honesty.
• Psychological safety allows for open communication.
• Diverse perspectives lead to better decision-making.
• Self-love is essential for effective leadership.
• Leaders should actively listen to their teams.
• Feedback should be constructive and supportive.
• Creating a safe environment encourages innovation.
• Compassion and accountability can coexist in leadership.
• Leadership is about empowering others, not just making decisions.

Sound Bites

• "Kindness is a level of empathy."
• "Self-care is a holistic view."
• "Stop guessing about your team's feelings."
• "Listen really, really well."
• "You can do compassion and accountability."
• "Be your authentic self."

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction and Weekend Reflections

02:25 - Introducing Gary Keough: A Leader in Psychological Safety

03:50 - Unlocking and Igniting Potential in Leadership

06:46 - The Importance of Kindness in Leadership

08:09 - Experiences Shaping Leadership Philosophy

12:48 - Loving Your Team: Practices and Impacts

15:33 - The Role of Diverse Perspectives in Decision Making

18:22 - Launching a 60-Year-Old Whiskey: A Case Study

20:17 - Self-Love and Its Challenges for Leaders

22:42 - Measuring Psychological Safety in Teams

25:31 - Positive Feedback Loops in Leadership

27:56 - Pride in Leadership: Making a Difference

29:25 - Advice for New Leaders: The Power of Listening

33:46 - Balancing Compassion and Accountability in Leadership

36:30 - Final Thoughts on Authentic Leadership

Subscribe at this link to get regular emails with proven insights to transform your workplace by leading with love from your hosts Simon Phillips and Renée Smith. https://a-human-workplace.myflodesk.com/love-lead-change-email

Connect with the Guest and the Hosts:

Gary Keogh - LinkedIn Profile

Renée Smith - LinkedIn Profile

Simon Phillips - LinkedIn Profile

All Music composed by Adam Phillips

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.