Call them changemakers. Call them rule breakers. We call them Redefiners. And in this provocative podcast, we explore how daring leaders from across industries and around the globe are redefining their organizations—and themselves—to create extraordinary impact in today’s rapidly changing world. In each episode, Russell Reynolds Associates Leadership Advisor Hoda Tahoun and former CEO Clarke Murphy host engaging, purposeful conversations with leaders in and out of the business world who shar ...
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Stephanie Barton에서 제공하는 콘텐츠입니다. 에피소드, 그래픽, 팟캐스트 설명을 포함한 모든 팟캐스트 콘텐츠는 Stephanie Barton 또는 해당 팟캐스트 플랫폼 파트너가 직접 업로드하고 제공합니다. 누군가가 귀하의 허락 없이 귀하의 저작물을 사용하고 있다고 생각되는 경우 여기에 설명된 절차를 따르실 수 있습니다 https://ko.player.fm/legal.
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Lost Cultures: Living Legacies


On the Season 2 debut of Lost Cultures: Living Legacies , we travel to Bermuda, an Atlantic island whose history spans centuries and continents. Once uninhabited, Bermuda became a vital stop in transatlantic trade, a maritime stronghold, and a cultural crossroads shaped by African, European, Caribbean, and Native American influences. Guests Dr. Kristy Warren and Dr. Edward Harris trace its transformation from an uninhabited island to a strategic outpost shaped by shipwrecks, colonization, the transatlantic slave trade, and the rise and fall of empires. Plus, former Director of Tourism Gary Phillips shares the story of the Gombey tradition, a vibrant performance art rooted in resistance, migration, and cultural fusion. Together, they reveal how Bermuda’s layered past continues to shape its people, culture, and identity today. You can also find us online at travelandleisure.com/lostcultures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…
The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS
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Stephanie Barton에서 제공하는 콘텐츠입니다. 에피소드, 그래픽, 팟캐스트 설명을 포함한 모든 팟캐스트 콘텐츠는 Stephanie Barton 또는 해당 팟캐스트 플랫폼 파트너가 직접 업로드하고 제공합니다. 누군가가 귀하의 허락 없이 귀하의 저작물을 사용하고 있다고 생각되는 경우 여기에 설명된 절차를 따르실 수 있습니다 https://ko.player.fm/legal.
The Forward Thinking podcast, powered by FCCS is to inform and inspire in the areas of leadership, employee engagement, governance, risk management & insurance, training, and strategic talent management. We feature industry experts and thought leaders with forward-thinking interviews and discussions.
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69 에피소드
모두 재생(하지 않음)으로 표시
Manage series 2814789
Stephanie Barton에서 제공하는 콘텐츠입니다. 에피소드, 그래픽, 팟캐스트 설명을 포함한 모든 팟캐스트 콘텐츠는 Stephanie Barton 또는 해당 팟캐스트 플랫폼 파트너가 직접 업로드하고 제공합니다. 누군가가 귀하의 허락 없이 귀하의 저작물을 사용하고 있다고 생각되는 경우 여기에 설명된 절차를 따르실 수 있습니다 https://ko.player.fm/legal.
The Forward Thinking podcast, powered by FCCS is to inform and inspire in the areas of leadership, employee engagement, governance, risk management & insurance, training, and strategic talent management. We feature industry experts and thought leaders with forward-thinking interviews and discussions.
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Obstacles and challenges are inevitable, but what if they are a catalyst for growth, opportunities, and transformation? This episode of the Forward Thinking Podcast features FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton and speaker, coach and thought leader Rousawn Dozier. Together, they consider the possibilities of navigating adversity with courage and confidence. They explore what happens when you face adversity head on, the power of shifting your perspective, and the opportunities that appear when you choose to embrace obstacles. Episode Insights Include: Why do we avoid adversity? Life is full of obstacles, and there is no avoiding that. As human beings, we have the option to avoid obstacles. Where there is no resistance, there can be no strength developed. Obstacles can be viewed as opportunities for developing strength. Avoiding pain does nothing to develop grit. The opportunities presented by obstacles Leaning into obstacles creates opportunities. Opportunities are often disguised as struggles. Avoiding conflict or struggle creates internal resentment. Doors open when we head into adversity head on. Shifting to a growth mindset Your mindset is nothing more than a set of ideals or beliefs. Look at obstacles for what they are, and what opportunities they present. Think of obstacles as something that can push you toward your goals. Rousawn recognized that fear was holding him back from his life’s purpose. The power of perception Your perception creates your reality, but it won’t help you grow. Stop out of perception, and step into perspective. Consider what the people around you are experiencing. Ask others to help you understand their perspective. Don’t focus on being right, focus on getting it right. Building systems of accountability The responsibility of being accountable can be heavy, but always brings rewards. Accountability may not feel good, but it’s for your good. Accountability breeds responsibility. Who is holding you accountable? The importance of rest Place the oxygen mask on yourself before you place it on others. If you aren’t taking care of yourself, you can’t be in the position of caring for others. Are you feeling more rushed or rested? Define rest for yourself. Balancing rest and ambition requires creating an intentional and healthy rhythm. Life is happening for us, not to us Faith, family, finance, fitness and freedom are the pillars of Rousawn’s life success. Gratitude for the experiences we are having is essential. Focusing on your successes will tell your energy where to go. Whatever you’re not changing, you’re ultimately choosing. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Connect with Rousawn Dozier — Rousawn Dozier Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com “Where there is no resistance, there can be no strength developed.” — Rousawn Dozier “Opportunities are often disguised as struggles.” — Rousawn Dozier “Stop out of perception, and step into perspective.” — Rousawn Dozier “Don’t focus on being right, focus on getting it right.” — Rousawn Dozier “Whatever you’re not changing, you’re ultimately choosing.” — Rousawn Dozier…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

1 Building Courageous Cultures: Unlocking Ideas and Innovation in Your Organization 28:08
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Where are all the good ideas? And why don’t the good ideas ever seem to get implemented? The disconnect between leaders and employees is holding back innovation and an environment of psychological safety is key to cultivating a courageous culture that fosters innovation. This episode of the Forward Thinking Podcast features FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton and Karin Hurt, Founder and CEO of Let's Grow Leaders and instructor in the FCCS Leading Leaders program. Together, they explore ways leaders can build courageous cultures that encourage innovation, create psychological safety, and empower employees to speak up. Episode Insights Include: Establishing a courageous culture In a courageous culture, people feel confident and capable of sharing their ideas. “How can we?”, “What if?”, and “Can we try?” are some of the commonly heard phrases in a courageous culture. The open-door policy still requires the employee's courage to walk in and start a conversation. Employees often feel that the feedback loop is never closed after they share ideas. Giving credit where due is an essential part of establishing a courageous culture. How not to respond to new ideas Leaders need to respond with gratitude, information and an invitation. Each of these steps is essential when responding to ideas, no matter how off-base they may be. Intentional responses will encourage future ideas to be shared. Tactical, practical strategies can make a real difference in creating a safe culture. Seven steps to building a courageous culture No matter where you are in your company’s leadership organization, you can do the first four steps. Navigate the narrative to lay a foundation of psychological safety. Create clarity about your interest in others' ideas and where exactly you want ideas and input. Cultivate curiosity by deliberately asking questions of your team. Essential leadership and management skills A courageous culture is implemented by leaders who set clear expectations and understand their strategic direction. 5x5 communication needs to be communicated five times, five different ways – town hall, follow up with leaders, in one-on-ones, emails, and more. Check for understanding to ensure information is both sent and received. Enhance curiosity by asking people for techniques for soliciting ideas. Own the UGLY – ask these four strategic questions to get great feedback. Manage up – check for understanding about what you are asking your employees to do. Is it working? Are you getting ideas that you can actually use? Consider the cycle of input and output of good ideas that are presented in a psychologically safe environment. Ensure that your efforts are supporting your strategic initiatives. Celebrate your successes! Build a cultural oasis where one clear idea is the focus of all efforts. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Connect with Karin Hurt — Karin Hurt Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com “If you are a human-centered leader working to create an environment where people want to speak up, pay attention to the experiences that people have had in the past.” — Karin Hurt “Having practical, tactical strategies will really make a difference.” — Karin Hurt “A courageous culture is implemented by leaders who set clear expectations and understand their strategic direction.” — Karin Hurt…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

1 Generative AI in Financial Institutions: Balancing Innovation 43:03
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Generative AI is developing at an exciting pace, transforming compliance, risk management, and the customer experience. It’s potential also requires financial institutions to navigate ethical dilemmas, security risks, and implementation challenges. This episode of the Forward Thinking Podcast features FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton and Kris Stewart, a certified regulatory compliance manager, product manager, attorney and business leader for Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions for a conversation about the power and possibilities of generative AI in financial institutions and how farm credit institutions can harness this technology while ensuring compliance and trust with their customers. Episode Insights Include: Generative AI in the Financial Industry Generative AI is already a game changer and will continue to shape the future. Real-world applications include credit risk assessments, servicing loans, and reviewing credit documents. Compliance officers can utilize generative AI to tackle regulatory updates. Generative AI can read data, find relationships, and report on actionable patterns. As an assistant, generative AI filters the work and never gets tired. Enhancing the customer experience A personalized banking experience is possible with generative AI. Considerations for lending, fraud detection and financial planning. A seamless process is possible with increased AI input. AI has the ability to catch and prevent fraud faster. 24/7 availability and endless time to answer questions are perks for AI users. AI utilities data that is already available and decreases time required for filling out forms. Risks associated with generative AI adoption Data security and privacy are at the top of the list of potential concerns. Loan decisioning data has the potential to have bias built into it. Generative AI hallucinations are a result of the language predictive model. Each of these considerations is improving, and still require human input where logical. Guardrails will always need to be in place to monitor accuracy. Addressing key ethical dilemmas AI needs to continually be working for customers, not against them. Transparency is key in utilizing generative AI. Strong governance and control framework are critical to successful AI application. AI has the potential to enhance or destroy customer relationships. The role of compliance officers in generative AI adaptation The standard approach to compliance governance must be employed to AI. Fair lending issues, whether created by humans or AI, must be addressed in the same way. AI must be considered as an additional way to deliver goods and services, and not permitted to violate laws that already exist. Overcoming implementation roadblocks The state of your data structure is critical to effective implementation. Inaccuracies and biases that are built into data need to be cleaned up prior to significant use within AI. A good governance structure needs to be in place from the beginning. Vendor solutions can help with implementing AI. Strategically identify where specifically your company will utilize AI. Consider use cases to maximize effort and investment. Measuring the success of AI implementation Consider your current customer processes and satisfaction, and apply the same metrics on AI. Operational efficiencies can be measured by key performance indicators. Apply the measurements that are already providing useful information to AI. Consider employee engagement – how is AI utilization affecting your team? The future of generative AI Deep research in generative AI is leveraging reasoning to find and analyze data. AI is coming, and we as humans need to be educated about and prepared for what it is capable of. Consider competencies required of future generations to optimize efficiencies. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Connect with Kris Stewart — Kris Stewart Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com “I like to think of generative AI as the most knowledgeable, fast, compliance assistant that I could ever hope to hire.” — Kris Stewart “Generative AI is not meant to replace the human, it’s meant to help filter the work.” — Kris Stewart “You need AI to do your work efficiently these days, but you need guardrails too.” — Kris Stewart “Be fearless about investing and learning. The technology wave is coming whether you engage or not.” — Kris Stewart…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Burnout is affecting everyone in farm credit, from individual contributors and managers to senior leaders. The recent FCCS Employee Engagement survey revealed that while everyone is feeling burnout, the why behind burnout varies based on each individual association This episode of the Forward Thinking Podcast features FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton and FCCS Organizational Development Consultant Angie Coleman unpack the data from this survey, define what burnout looks like across different roles, and explore what organizations can do to combat burnout, improve employee wellbeing, and drive engagement. Episode Insights Include: The FCCS Employee Engagement survey The survey highlights trends by region and size. The survey will be conducted annually. 2024 survey findings included a national and global decrease in employee engagement and an increase in management satisfaction. Burnout is continuing to increase, despite distance from the pandemic. Burnout at every employment level Middle management is most negatively affected by burnout. Senior leaders feel burnout the least, possibly because of their level of control, but also because they understand the ‘why’ behind change. Communications breakdown is a major player behind burnout. Leaders rarely overcommunicate with their teams. There is no clear correlation between burnout and company size, region, weather, or challenges. The manifestation of burnout Middle managers are carrying the heaviest emotional load as they support both upper management and individual employees. Burnout needs to be addressed from an emotional labor standpoint as well as a task-oriented perspective. Leaders can ask themselves what specifically they are worrying about with their teams. If everything is a crisis, then employees can’t get excited about anything. A customized approach to burnout The why behind burnout shows that a generalized approach to combatting burnout will not be effective. Customized training, targeted strategies and one-on-one meetings are essential to productive change. Managers can note specific employee concerns and address then at each one-on-one meeting. Successful burnout combat strategies Communicate survey results to the entire employee population at the same time in the same way. Set clear bullet points for leaders to address in one-on-ones and team meetings to enhance purpose behind communication. Consider if you are taking things off employees plates as often as you are putting things on. Leaders can use the findings from the surveys to connect with managers and employees about specific questions in one-on-one meetings. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Connect with Angie Coleman — Angie Coleman Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com “If you [as a leader] feel like you’re tired of communicating, you’re probably just scratching the surface on what your employees need in terms of their level of communication.” — Angie Coleman “While everyone is feeling burnout, the why is completely up to the individual association and what’s happening in that space.” — Angie Coleman “It’s helpful not to just approach burnout from a task-oriented perspective, but also recognizing how we can be supportive of that from an emotional labor standpoint.” — Angie Coleman “If everything is a crisis, then really nothing is.” — Angie Coleman “It is critical for leaders to ask the right questions so they can meet employees where they are.” — Angie Coleman…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

1 From Setbacks to Strength: The Antifragile Leader’s Playbook 32:57
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Engaging in deliberate practice, continuous learning, and fostering open communication are critical for building antifragile leadership. Antifragility challenges the way leaders think about resilience, adaptability, and growth. On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton is joined by Nicole Brusewitz, VP of Leadership Development, Learning and Consulting Services at FCCS. Together they discuss a superior approach to resilience – one that doesn’t just withstand uncertainty but thrives in it. Episode Insights Include: The power behind antifragility Antifragility is not just about bouncing back in the face of uncertainty or change. Antifragility harnesses disruption to grow stronger. Controlled strength is required to self-rescue in difficult times Building strong systems, skills and mindsets is essential to strength when things go wrong. Thriving in uncertainty In the last five years, the focus has been on bouncing back. It’s time to advance. Don’t just react to change. Benefit from it. Muscle growth comes from tiny tears and repairs. This applies to business strength as well. Adapting antifragility in the workplace Cultivate a company culture of antifragility by intentionally deciding to thrive in uncertainty. Be strategic – the more change that is introduced into the workplace, the more employees will begin to resist the change. Practice antifragility before it is needed. Practice antifragility Identify pain points and bottlenecks in the workplace, then engage frontline employees in implementing programs for improvement. Expand decision-making authority as solutions are put into place. Proactively implement strategies before frontline actions are needed. Build on success in manageable increments that don’t create additional stress. Don’t create change simply for the sake of change. Introducing small-scale stressors Amazon’s approach to innovation explored antifragility in controlled ways. Consider the introduction of Amazon’s Fire phone and Amazon Prime memberships. Controlled chaos is essential in achieving effective antifragility. Chaos should never be a total surprise. Overcoming common leadership struggles Leaders often think that instability is inherently bad – recognize that it encourages growth. Embracing change and uncertainty recognizes that it is unavoidable. Bulldozer parents try to remove every obstacle in their child’s path – antifragility leaders avoid this approach. Work alongside and encourage team members while allowing them the growth that comes with their struggle. Antifragility and technology disruptions Technology advancements can both encourage antifragility by introducing disruptions and also making businesses more adaptive. AI can be used to enhance flexibility and antifragility. AI is a tool for efficiency and adaptability. Habits for introducing antifragility Find ways to deliver deliberate discomfort. Encourage feedback from your team that is outside your comfort zone. Regularly and deliberately invite discomfort into your routines. Don’t just prepare for disruption, train yourself and your business to benefit from it. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Connect with Nicole Brusewitz — Nicole Brusewitz Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com “Building strong systems, skills and mindsets is essential to strength when things go wrong.” — Nicole Brusewitz “Antifragility is not just about bouncing back. It’s about advancing forward.” — Nicole Brusewitz “Don’t just react to change. Benefit from it.” — Nicole Brusewitz “Chaos should never be a total surprise.” — Nicole Brusewitz “Don’t just prepare for disruption, train yourself and your business to benefit from it.” — Nicole Brusewitz…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Accountability without compassion creates negative cultures that can’t retain talent, while compassion without accountability creates avoidant cultures that can’t perform. The need for both compassion and accountability is greater than ever before. On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton is joined by Nathan Regier, CEO of Next Element and author of Compassionate Accountability. Together they consider the importance of combining human connection and accountability in performance in ways that benefit all involved parties. Episode Insights Include: Compassion and Accountability Compassion is much more than sympathy – it means to literally suffer with another. Many problems don’t need to be fixed, they simply need to be journeyed through together. Compassion needs to be a co-creative process. Accountability is the co-creative process of getting things done. Accountability and compassion can’t exist in isolation, they have to work together. Why does this concept matter? Conflict can happen in a way that brings people closer together when compassion and accountability are present. The compassion mindset allows people to approach conflict with a productive mindset. People struggle with this concept until they realize that compassion and accountability can change our world. Defining a compassion mindset The compassion mindset understands the choices we make have a material impact on others and on outcomes. It is a fundamental choice that we have the opportunity to make. Value, capability, and responsibility are the three choices of the compassion mindset. Bridging the divide with a compassionate mindset Mindset is the first essential step. Skill set is critical to ensure that the correct behaviors have been learned. The bridge between compassion and accountability is conflict. There is no other way to get to compassion and accountability than through conflict because the purpose of conflict is to create. Navigating trust and conflict Conflict provides opportunities to build or destroy trust. ORPO can help navigate conflict - Openness, Resourcefulness, Persistence, and Openness to safety. Every interaction is an opportunity to choose drama or no drama. Ask yourself what would happen if you interacted with every conflict with respect. Incorporating compassion and accountability into culture Consider how your efforts support human value. No matter your company’s brand, it is an indicator of your company’s culture. Culture will always drive the brand. There is no excuse for anyone to dismiss their lack of efforts for compassion - growth is always an option. Consider the end result that you really want, then act accordingly. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Connect with Nathan Regier — Nathan Regier Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com “Compassion doesn’t mean to take away the suffering, it means to join with people and walk together through the suffering.” — Nathan Regier “We can’t have compassion and accountability in isolation, they just have to work together.” — Nathan Regier “If compassion and accountability can coexist, it can change our world.” — Nathan Regier “There is no other way to get to compassion and accountability than through conflict.” — Nathan Regier…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Keeping up with the rapid pace of technology and process changes is a challenge for organizations worldwide. On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton welcomes Greg DeVore, co-founder and CEO of ScreenSteps for a discussion about creating smoother transitions and stronger team performance. They cover strategies for developing adaptable employees and teams, tools and training that can empower employees to confidently adapt to change, and what happens when employees are given the framework that enables them to effectively enhance their performance and improve their procedures. Episode Insights Include: Why do organizations struggle with change? Change is often a people problem. No one likes change. The lack of clarity around change creates additional ambiguity and stress. Leaders need to be aware of the cognitive load they are putting on people when introducing changes. How can change be made less scary? A one-time lunch-and-learn does not provide enough time to retain new information. Employees lose 90% of the information presented to them, so they must be empowered to perform their new jobs after they have forgotten almost everything new. Creating a reference guide for change provides the framework that employees need to access new foundational knowledge. Empower employees to find the information they need at the moment they need it. Becoming a Find and Follow organization The only way you can make onboarding easier is if you change the way you work. Transferring information from one employee to the next is a critical component of organizational success. If you are truly seeking consistency and the ability to adapt to change, you don’t actually want employees to learn tasks. You want them to understand the foundational knowledge. Effectively introducing change A really good checklist will beat dozens of years of experience. Memorization is not the ultimate goal, empowering employees to access knowledge is. Start introducing change by identifying the needed change and the resources that will support it. High complexity and high rates of change require a high level of training and resources. The goal should be to transfer knowledge to employees in the moment that they need it. Identifying what employees need to know in order to be successful Include the person in charge of training, the person fixing the employees’ mistakes, and the person who answers their questions. Consider the employee triggers- tasks that must be performed and questions that must be answered. This approach can work for both large and small changes. Employees who follow this approach will feel more confident in their responsibilities. Effective, established frameworks can support AI in the future of work. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Connect with Greg DeVore — Greg DeVore Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

A company that values and celebrates performance has unlocked the first step to creating a culture that employees resonate with. The transformative power of creating a culture of recognition is a critical component of employee satisfaction and company success. On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton is joined by Don Nielsen, Employee Recognition Champion and Senior Strategic Partnerships Manager, Awardco. Together they explore the power of a strong company culture, the need for employee engagement and recognition, and the importance of intentionally designing a company culture that resonates with employees. Don shares a variety of ideas for getting started with intentional employee recognition and underscores the importance of celebrating employee successes whenever possible. Episode Insights Include: What is company culture? Culture means different things to different people. Consider the median sentiment across the entire organization. What are the happiest people saying about the organization, and what percentage of the organization do they represent? Culture is defined by what the least happy people in the organization have to say about it. There is culture by default, and culture by design. Intentional culture doesn’t just happen. In culture by design, leaders are thinking about the future of the organization. How is company culture created? There is always going to be a culture, but a positive one might need to be redefined. A culture that fits within a mission statement and brand is going to have a greater impact. There are 3 steps to creating a positive culture that defines the buy-in impact- consider why someone would come to work for you rather than your competitor. Employees have to understand the difference that they’re making in the world. Define the core competencies your employees are expected to live by. Incorporate an attitude of gratitude in the workplace. Intentionally designing a company culture Leaders have to set an example for their teams. The trickle-down effect matters- the mid-level managers have to exhibit the same cultural behaviors as the CEO. The actions of the leader that most resonate with the employee are the ones that the employee will replicate. Leaders have to demonstrate the behaviors that they want to see in their employees, and then reward those behaviors when they see them in action. Behaviors that are rewarded are behaviors that are repeated. Effective recognition ideas Sincerity is the most important aspect of recognition. Consider how people are receiving your efforts of gratitude. Allow opportunities to see others being recognized. Give gratitude yourself to model appropriate recognition efforts. Try increasing your recognition efforts by 3x in 3 months. Start with whatever employment experience data you have, and increase your efforts from there. Ask for feedback and then use that feedback to make improvements. Point-based incentive programs can help address the desire for increased wages. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Connect with Don Nielsen — Don Nielsen Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

1 2023 Winner of the Accelerator of the Year Allyson Tjoelker 26:14
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No matter the team size, a strategic plan, and inspiring vision can go a long way in accelerating a team toward success. On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton welcomes Allyson Tjoelker, SVP, Mission and YBS Lending for Capital Farm Credit and winner of the Accelerator of the Year Award. Allyson shares more about her professional journey and her YBS work for Capital. She highlights her tactics for developing a strategic vision from day one, offers strategies for supporting the next generation, and underscores the importance of developing a forward-thinking and collaborative leadership style. Episode Insights Include: Developing a strategic vision Assessing the situation at the beginning will help everyone start on the right foot. Meet with as many people as possible to understand the team environment and team member’s perspectives on its general health. Form an internal advisory group of champions who can advocate and steer the team toward success. Ask for input from team members about what might work and what might not work. Create an external advisory committee that can brainstorm solutions and provide feedback. Lean on your network to gain insights into successful programs. Strategies for supporting the next generation Identify who the target audience is. You can’t start too young – support youth in agriculture from an early age. Consider the three buckets of initiatives – education, outreach, and financial solutions. You will experience greater success when you are willing to share your vision and your resources. Marketing to the next generation needs to be intentional and impactful. Effective educational conferences highlight both marketing and succession planning. Youth educational offerings can engage the next generation from a middle school level. Executing and meeting goals as a one-person team The YBS forum has been key in supporting Allyson’s efforts. Empowering others to share their passion can lead to great results. Leadership support is a critical component of YBS and next-generation success initiatives. Overcoming the challenges of being a one-person team The desire to grow is not always matched by the manpower, but Allyson hasn’t let that slow her down. Finding the balance of excellence within the constraints of a strategic plan is essential to success. Consider a bigger perspective when facing challenges and keep moving forward. Lean on your bigger network and recognize that you are part of something impactful. Look at the strengths of others and then empower them. Allyson’s leadership advice Give yourself grace at every stage of your career. Solicit advice from people you admire. Listen, listen, listen to others. Trust in your leadership style. Ask for help where help is needed. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Connect with Allyson Tjoelker— Allyson Tjoelker Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com “In the farm credit system, we’re all in this together.” — Allyson Tjoelker “We wouldn’t be where we are today if I didn’t have the support from some of the people outside of our association that had been there and done this before.” — Allyson Tjoelker “You’ve got to cast a wider net in order to get your vision and your resources out there.” — Allyson Tjoelker “First you have to meet where people are, and then explain how you can help them.” — Allyson Tjoelker “We have to have that messaging and support from the top consistently.” — Allyson Tjoelker “Find solutions, be creative, and keep moving forward.” — Allyson Tjoelker “Ask for help. Nothing of significance is ever accomplished alone.” — Allyson Tjoelker…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Human-centered leadership is the antidote to low employee morale, high turnover rates, weak team dynamics, and negative organizational culture. On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton sits down with Karin Hurt, Founder and CEO of Let's Grow Leaders and instructor in the Leading Leaders, FCCS Leadership Journey program for a conversation about the four dimensions of collaboration that create connection and clarity in human-centered leadership. She highlights what it means to be on a dream team, strategies for leading a team that you didn’t hand-pick, and the importance of crafting daily habits that keep a team moving forward together. Episode Insights Include: Dream (and nightmare) leadership teams The best team Karin has ever been a part of was the Strategic Partnership Channel. This team was filled with human-centered leaders and it showed in the care that everyone showed for each other. Teams like this are filled with people who are aligned by a unifying mission, a shared goal, and trust for each other. The worst team Karin was part of was filled with conflicts that were caused by systems problems. Teams that are pitted against each other will continue to struggle to accomplish anything. The four dimensions of collaboration Connection- do we know one another as human beings? Connection needs to be in place before difficult conversations have to happen. Use connecting words when communicating with others. Clarity- do we have a shared understanding of success? Is your team aligned on the habits that lead to success? Curiosity- are we genuinely interested in one another and in different perspectives? Commitment- do conversations culminate in accountability? Accountability is everyone’s job, not just the boss. The importance of daily habits Detailed, informative directives are far more valuable than generic feedback. Daily habits can help improve connections and performance. Specific, measurable habits will lead to greater results. Daily habits can help align a team and move everyone in the same direction. Check for understanding by assigning a number of hours to a task before starting it. Communicate an assignment five times in five different ways. Restate expectations of the next steps before the meeting is over. Successful team-building activities Start by creating a unified team vision. Visualize or draw how you see the team today and what the future could look like. Determine what needs to happen to get from where you are to where you need to be. Advice for leaders who didn’t pick their team A team can only be built one person at a time. Start with curiosity and connection - let your team see who you are as a human being with thoughts and feelings. Create clarity about where your team is headed in the future. Empower your team to hold each other accountable, share best practices, and even meet without you. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Connect with Karin Hurt — Karin Hurt Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Empathy-Based Listening (EBL) is the transformative skill that can elevate your leadership and transform your listening skills. On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton is joined by Eric Maddox, speaker at the upcoming FCCS RISK 360 conference in Boston, author, motivational speaker and consultant who is known for the empathy-based listening method that is responsible for the capture of Saddam Hussein. Together they explore EBL, how to really listen to what really matters to clients and colleagues, and how to remove distractions from your conversations. Episode Insights Include: Tracking down Saddam Hussein with empathy-based listening From interrogations in a tight-knit Iraqi community to gaining the trust of prisoners, EBL was the key to tracking down the world’s most wanted man. Prisoner conversations begin at a negative-trust level. Eric’s biggest challenge was taking the enemy's trust from a negative level to a positive level. Effective techniques for building real trust Every conversation creates the potential for a relationship. Every moment together can become a future partnership. Positive partnerships are founded when one person shows interest in the other, not only in themselves. Transitioning to empathy based listening Eric recalls the specific prisoner who helped him realize that he needed to change his approach to listening. Partnerships don’t have to be about kindness and friendliness, but they do need to be about understanding. EBL can open up an avenue to the highest level of trust regardless of the circumstances. When Eric couldn’t get any of his prisoners to cooperate, he only had the option of looking at and changing his own approach. The utilization of EBL has taken prisoner cooperation from 4% to 65%. Applying EBL to business professionals Business culture can be improved by empathy-based listening. Relationships between lenders and borrowers tend to be imbalanced in favor of the lender. The person providing the service has the expertise and knowledge, and tends to focus only on trying to solve their problems. Identifying what makes a borrower’s situation unique creates a level of trust that cannot be matched. It only takes 3 minutes to ask questions about the other person to build real trust. Effective listening techniques Limit the major distraction of making sure that you know what you are going to stay next. The other person needs to know that you’re listening more than they need to hear your value proposition. Put the other person first- before your value proposition. Shift away from being first to being a more empathetic listener. Listen for the key words or phrases that the other person shares with you and wants to hear you repeat back to them- identify those breadcrumbs. Get off your own stage and get onto the other person’s stage. Resolving conflict with EBL Establish core goals regardless of trust levels. Discover the other person’s concerns by asking what their core goals are. Take the first step to get on their side and then meet them in the middle. Lessons learned from EBL With EBL, good is the enemy of great. There is much more work that needs to be done. Leadership is about solving problems that we have never faced before. Approaching problems happens more effectively with a clean slate. Empowering others creates greater opportunities for effective leadership. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Connect with Eric Maddox – Eric Maddox Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Successful transformations during disruptive change demand a very defined set of behaviors from leaders. On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton welcomes Dr. Janet Lapp, Former Professor, Psychologist, registered nurse, author, and speaker at the upcoming RISK 360 Conference for a conversation about the inevitability of change in the workplace, how leaders can embrace change and the importance of creating a vision that inspires your team. Episode Insights Include: The importance of planting your feet in mid-air Feet that are planted firmly on the ground might suggest an unwillingness to change. Staying grounded in mission, purpose and values is essential, but it isn’t all that is needed. Leaders need to question everything else from policies, titles, strategies, and old ways of getting things done. Effective leaders must be willing to build on shifting ground. Stay grounded while also making change where change is needed most. Finding and implementing the most effective change leadership advice Be extra careful when considering any new leadership approach. Too many leadership books are based on opinion- look for the facts amidst the opinions. Certain workplace elements need to be change-ready before any change experiment is attempted. Don’t try to implement change in a chaotic, failing workplace- consider your team and company culture first. Forward thinking leadership strategies Servant leadership that listens to others and considers their needs before making changes will never go out of style. Leadership based on vulnerability is more important than ever before. Leaders who can connect with others and are authentic in their efforts can be curious and ask questions. A creative and innovative workspace is not possible without vulnerability. Leaders need to be willing to admit when they don’t know all of the answers and are willing to ask others and continue learning. Effective leaders trust the talents and abilities of the team that they have created. Transformational leadership versus change leadership Change leadership is creating an organization that is capable of changing. Transformational leadership means creating a shared vision that can be followed through engagement and involvement. A transformation without a solid foundation will only lead to chaos. A cultural setting of transformation must be created before any effective change can happen. Engaging a team in inevitable change Leaders can engage people who actively resist change by listening to their concerns. People do not resist change, they resist the fear of loss. Leaders need to communicate regularly about the things that they know as well as the things they don’t know everything about. Leaders need to create a compelling vision of the future that all employees can get on board with. If people are having trouble getting on board with change, a stronger vision of the future needs to be created by leaders. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Connect with Dr. Janet Lapp – Dr. Janet Lapp Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com “Effective leaders must be willing to build on shifting ground.” — Dr. Janet Lapp “Vulnerability is the basic leadership skill that is so needed today.” — Dr. Janet Lapp “A creative and innovative workspace is not possible without vulnerability.” — Dr. Janet Lapp “People do not resist change, they resist the fear of loss.” — Dr. Janet Lapp “Change is not a force to be seized but an opportunity to be grabbed.” — Dr. Janet Lapp…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

The power of nonverbal communication is not to be underestimated. On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton welcomes Pamela Barnum, speaker at the upcoming and the FCCS Learning Conference in Chicago and Former Undercover Police Officer & Federal Prosecuting Attorney, Trust Strategist & Nonverbal Communication Expert for a discussion about the art of persuasion without coercion – a superpower for any effective leader. Episode Insights Include: The power of nonverbal communication Nonverbal communication is emotional intelligence on display. Nonverbal cues include tone of voice, cadence of speech, and body language. Leaders need to give as much attention to nonverbal communication as they do to the perfectly crafted verbal response. First impressions are often the most crucial moments of our professional lives. Nonverbal techniques can establish trust People make decisions about others within 1/10th of a second. It is essential to show up in a way that demonstrates confidence, empathy, and humility. First impressions establish the foundations of confidence and trust. Identifying sources of leverage in negotiations with DID questions Discovery questions ask ‘what’ and offer an overview of a person’s abilities. Implementation questions ask ‘how’ and give information that can be leveraged. Disclosure questions ask ‘why’ and offer insights into what the other person wants. DID questions provide opportunities to fulfill the other person’s wants as well as yours. Leveraging leadership strengths with priming Increasing self-awareness is critically important in overcoming imposter syndrome. The exercise of priming empowers leaders by reminding them of previous successes that will prepare them for future success. Keep a journal of successes to recall times that you got it right. A leader’s mindset controls their success. The importance of improving nonverbal communication Leaders often get caught up in doing things the way they’ve always been done instead of using each encounter as a unique opportunity for connection. Active listening is essential – ask intentional questions and listen for the answers. Conversations and connections can be improved with active listening. Effective leaders ask their team what kind of communication serves them best. Effective communication in the face of conflict Get purposeful about perspective taking – leaders are not separate and apart from their team. Slow down in the face of conflict to de-escalate the heightened tension. Take a break from the conflict if needed. Take time to consider the other perspective. Avoiding common communication mistakes Employ the SOME tactics– smile, open, mirroring and eye contact. Remain open through body language and avoid crossing arms. By remaining open, leaders appear more empathetic. Being open is effective and exhibits confidence and vulnerability. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Connect with Pamela Barnum – Pamela Barnum Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Where is agriculture headed? What developments will shape the future of the ag industry and which technologies will dominate agriculture? On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton welcomes Mitch Frazier, CEO of AgriNovus and a veteran of both the tech and ag worlds, for a conversation about what lies ahead for agriculture and the trends that will lead ag into the next decade. Episode Insights Include: Key developments in the recent past of ag bioscience Over the last decade, and historically, ag has continued to improve. Corn bushels, on average, have increased by two bushels per acre per year. Ag is the only economy in the world that touches every person on the planet. Innovations clearly matter in ag because more yield equals feeding more people. From crop protection to self-driving vehicles, innovations are shaping the ag industry in exciting ways. Animal innovations are improving health, performance, and sustainability. This is the only economy that we are all connected to three times a day. Advances and changes in the future of food and ag industries The tightening global economy will force us to innovate. Ag bioscience is going to be at the core of this innovation. AI will play an increased role in both accelerating and accomplishing needful ag bioscience work. Characteristics of additional change drivers Food security is a key component of national security. Application of digitization and AI operating systems will be critical to future success. Innovation is critical to ensuring that the general population will continue to be fed. The future of food security The pandemic gave us insights into what food insecurity could look like. Future disruption in grocery store shopping is inevitable. Innovation connected to a broader value chain will be a key component of the future. Sustainability will continue to be an increasingly key player. Food opportunities in the future American farmers are heroes who keep the world fed. Driving value, whether nutritional, economic, or sustainable, is the next chapter of success. The food system is driven by the collective health of the people it serves. Healthy, nutritious food is a critical component to the collective health and safety of a country. In the future, food security will be driven more by connectivity than proximity. Continually driving innovations The upcoming generation thinks differently about how to get things good, and that is a great thing. Innovation has to be continually driven by the desire to do good and to do well. Accelerate 2050 approaches the big questions and possibilities of the future of ag tech and farmer-led innovation. The greatest opportunities in food and ag innovation will come when people recognize why the industry exists. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Connect with Mitch Frazier – Mitch Frazier Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Change can be uncomfortable and uncertain, but some strategies and techniques can help build resilience and adaptability in the face of unexpected challenges or disruptions. On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton is joined by Nicole Brusewitz, FCCS’ VP of Leadership Development, Learning, and Consulting Services for a discussion about taking an intentional approach to managing change, including pitfalls to avoid and tactics to foster an environment of continuous evolution while prioritizing employee wellbeing and avoiding burnout. Episode Insights Include: Navigating the uncertainty of change Many of us don’t like change and respond to it differently than we think we will. Rather than viewing change as an obstacle to overcome, view it as a catalyst for intentional disruption. Embrace change as an opportunity to change habits and consider new possibilities. Discomfort can work as a signal that you are ready to face growth. Strategies for building resilience and adaptability Look back and learn from the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic. Resilience is not a muscle that we need to wait to start developing. Working on these skills now will help when the time for action arrives. First, consider ways to cultivate more adaptive styles of thinking. Encourage improvisation and creativity in team meetings. Devote time to practicing scenario planning and risk mitigation. Cultivating a mindset of change agility Have a sense of curiosity and openness to new experiences. Ask questions to uncover the root of changes to increase a willingness to learn about it. Leaders can cultivate this mindset by considering change as a natural rhythm of growth. Create a nurturing environment that strikes a balance between stability and chaos. Embracing the frequent change in technological advances Consider technological changes as the unknown wilderness that must be explored. Surround yourself with a good group of people who can help guide and share resources. Utilize networks and partnerships to avoid the need to be the expert on everything. Look for evidence of progress to sustain the needed energy to approach change. Avoiding change pitfalls Burnout can be avoided by remaining aware of the need for change in effective growth. Leaders can avoid sabotage by not clinging too tightly to the status quo. Leaders must be open to change and willing to set the tone of a positive change culture. Bright spots as a catalyst in change Bright spots highlight what is working rather than all of the things that are going wrong. Our brains are trained to focus on what is going wrong, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Bright spots move us out of a problem-solving tunnel into an awareness of what is already working. Don’t let one thing ruin everything – focus on what is going right. Where you keep your focus is where you are going to go. Strike a balance between resilience and employee wellbeing and burnout. Leaders need to provide a support system of psychological safety in the workplace and model a healthy work-life balance. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Connect with Nicole Brusewitz – Nicole Brusewitz Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com “Rather than viewing change as an obstacle to overcome, view it as a catalyst for intentional disruption.” — Nicole Brusewitz “Resilience is not a muscle that we need to wait to develop.” — Nicole Brusewitz “Cultivating a mindset of changeability allows us to embrace change as an opportunity for growth as opposed to a threat to our stability.” — Nicole Brusewitz “We feel better as employees when we’re able to give our best selves.” — Nicole Brusewitz “By shifting our perspective on change and reframing discomfort as an opportunity, we are faced with the opportunity for growth and can see change in a new way.” — Nicole Brusewitz…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

1 Unlocking Board Excellence: The Role of a Board Champion 29:58
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Boards are critical to the success of an organization. They hold the responsibility of ensuring the sustainability and shaping the future of the company beyond the tenure of any one employee. On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton welcomes FCCS VP of Governance and Board Development Leslie Hilton for a discussion about the key role of the board in successful business and how the board champion can help lead this charge. She details the role of a board champion, the effectiveness of their efforts, and who is the ideal candidate to become a board champion that can help enhance board trust and ensure future success. Episode Insights Include: The roles of the board in conjunction with the management team The board’s role is to represent the stakeholders in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the business. The board is responsible for the future of the business beyond the currently engaged management team. The board should be engaging with management regularly and in constructive ways. The board brings relevant insight from personal experience to help management and the board make better decisions. The board provides guidance to management about the long-term direction of the organization. The importance of the board champion A board champion is a way to embody a concept for boards who are interested in and take responsibility for their own effectiveness. A board champion believes that the board plays a key role in the success and sustainability of the business beyond compliance. The board champion could be a director, CEO or other leader who understands why the board needs to take accountability for their performance and effectiveness. A board champion doesn’t fall into the trap of complacency when things are going well. Identifying a board champion doesn’t need to be an assignment or designation, it is a reflection of someone’s commitment to the success of the board. The role of a board champion A board champion is committed to the continual growth and development of the board’s effectiveness. Board effectiveness is a journey, not a destination. Board champions understand that investment in the board is as important as investment in a management team. Any director can champion the board’s growth and ensure the board has the conditions necessary to do their work as effectively as possible. The board champion embraces a growth mindset to encourage continual growth. Becoming a board champion Board champions can be self-appointed with the desire to enhance board effectiveness. Board champions are intentional about forward-thinking steps and objectives. Board champions work to gain consensus and build awareness around why the board matters. Improving board culture with a board champion A culture of trust can be improved with the help of a board champion. The board champion encourages conversations that enhance teamwork and trust. Every board member needs to be engaged to take a board to the next level of excellence. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Connect with Leslie Hilton – Leslie Hilton Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com “The board’s role is to represent the stakeholders in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the business.” — Leslie Hilton “A board champion is a way to embody a concept for boards who are interested in and take responsibility for their own effectiveness.” — Leslie Hilton “Board effectiveness is a journey, not a destination.” — Leslie Hilton “Board champions understand that investment in the board is as important as investment in a management team.” — Leslie Hilton…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Leaders who want to inspire confidence and drive success know that presence is an essential part of their leadership. On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton is joined by Sally Williamson, CEO of Sally Williamson & Associates, speaker, and executive presence expert for a conversation about the missing link to your success as a leader or communicator – your presence. She highlights what presence is and what it isn’t, who your presence is really about, and what forward thinking leaders can do to improve their performance in today’s evolving workplace. Episode Insights Include: Defining presence and its importance to leaders Presence is not something you assign to yourself, it’s the assumptions of others based on how they perceive you. Presence has always been important, but it has become increasingly difficult in recent years as leaders are not always as visible as they have been in the past. Leaders must increase their intentionality surrounding their presence in order to be effective at it. Leaders need to identify when and why their presence matters and then act accordingly. Executive brand vs. executive presence Presence is more than just charisma, and it can be an integral part of an executive brand. A personal brand is something that leaders need to consider and determine how they want to be seen by others and known for. Coaching should not revolve around brands, it should focus on impressions. Others will comment on your impression before they comment on your brand. A leader’s brand is the sum total of their impressions over time. Presence is everyone else’s impression of you, and is reflected in what others ask of you. The 3 C’s of developing key components of presence There are three elements of presence coaching – confidence, commitment, and connection. Ask others for feedback about the impressions they perceive in your voice and body language. Presence is about your intention more so than your techniques. Authenticity is a huge part of effective presence, and has to be balanced with authoritative confidence. High visibility roles can’t easily translate authenticity in a conversational and personal way. The effective of presence on employee engagement Consistency is the magic word with presence. Within a thriving culture, people need to experience leaders and managers consistently. When intentions are effectively communicated, trust will continually grow. When people come to expect certain positive behaviors from leaders, they will continue to trust them. Awareness is the first step to increasing and improving presence. Consider the brand triangle- what do people say most often about you? What do you wish people would say about you? And what misconceptions do others have of you? Common presence pitfalls and how to overcome them People tend to plateau in their presence and stop focusing on it over time. Expectations are constantly changing, and leaders need to transition from good to great quickly. Working on presence will mean focusing on others even more than you focus on yourself. Too often people don’t want to work to enhance their presence, but intentional action has to be a part of your efforts. Don’t be afraid to ask for and then actually receive feedback. Offer effective and helpful feedback when others ask for it. Seek visibility opportunities where you can practice your presence. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Connect with Sally Williamson – Sally Williamson Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com “A leader’s brand is something that has taken shape over time with many, many impressions.” — Sally Williamson “Presence is everyone else’s impression of you.” – Sally Williamson “Presence is about intention, not so much about technique.” – Sally Williamson “The magic word with presence is consistency.” – Sally Williamson “Presence is less about pushing out and much more about pulling people in.” – Sally Williamson…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

A healthy intersection of business success and employee wellbeing has reached an all-time critical high. More than ever before, businesses and managers need to support a workplace where employees feel that their health and well-being are prioritized so they can thrive. On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton is joined by Debi Yadegari, Founder & CEO of Villyge for a look at the latest trends, strategies and best practices for fostering a healthier and happier workforce and workplace. Episode Insights Include: The growing emphasis behind employee well-being The pandemic provided valuable insights into who employees really are. It also caused a cultural shift on DEI, allowing a greater place for it. A shift in priorities has required employers to reconsider what they are offering their employees. Work is no longer the number one priority for many employees, and employers need to meet their team where they are at in order to attract top talent. Overcoming the challenges of implementing well-being initiatives Identifying who well-being programs are most effectively going to serve is one of the greatest problems facing many employers. Well-being initiatives need to offer programs that make financial sense as well. Villyge aims to serve everybody by offering greater bandwidth from the foundation and add on additional layers from there. Benefits to making employee well-being a priority Employee longevity is positively affected – retention is up when employees feel supported through life transitions and challenges at work. Managers who are able to better support employees have happier employees and keep their team in place longer. Employees who feel like part of a community are more confident to raise their hand and contribute to the team. A supportive culture will become ripe for cultivating new ideas. A manager can have a greater impact on a person’s happiness than their therapist, doctor or life partner. The role of leaders in promoting and sustaining a positive well-being culture Leaders need to model the compassionate side of human-to-human interactions. Productivity cannot be the only factor in employee-employer relationships. Leaders need to make it a point to show that they care about what is going on in their employee’s lives. Leaders can make note of life events in their calendar and check back in. Empathy is the power tool in demonstrating meaningful leadership compassion and interaction. Adapting well-being strategies to current events World events are just as impactful as life events for employees. While essential, employee support systems for childcare, healthcare, and mental health alone is not enough. There has to be support for a healthy workplace culture. Wellbeing initiatives are not going anywhere, and continue to be refined as companies continue to learn and grow. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Connect with Debi Yadegari- Debi Yadegari Villyge Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com “After the pandemic, work is no longer the number one priority for many employees.” — Debi Yadegari “Trying to dissect who these programs are going to serve is one of the greatest problems we hear about.” — Debi Yadegari “Employees can step in and make a difference during those moments of life shifts, and it will have a tremendous impact on the longevity of an employee’s career.” — Debi Yadegari “When employees feel like part of a community, they are more confident to raise their hand and share their ideas and thoughts.” — Debi Yadegari “What companies really need is support for the culture.” — Debi Yadegari…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Carefully cultivated positive habits have the power to transform our personal and professional lives. On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton is joined by FCCS Senior Consultant and Director Jeannie Clinkenbeard. Jeannie is also the lead facilitator of the FCCS Leading Self and Leading Leaders Programs. Together Stephanie and Jeannie explore actionable strategies and expert advice to help positive transformation through the power of habits. They discuss the potential for continuous growth and achievement with the habit-building secrets that can elevate your career and enrich your professional and personal journey. Episode Insights Include: The significance of habits Habits are rated as one of the top key indicators of professional and personal success. Habits are rated as more important than luck or talent. When you can change your habits, you can change your life. Habits are the key to success, performance, and even team culture. Cultivating team habits Leaders can cultivate strong habits by asking their team what their desired future looks like. Consider what habits need to be developed to create the future you are looking for. Help team members identify the habits that will help them reach future goals. If you want to change your life, you have to change your habits. The same applies to team habits. Overcoming habit roadblocks Consider the rewards for performing either good or bad habits. Identify the emotions that are attached to the habit as well as ways to replace the bad for the good. Imagine a circle that loops from the cue to the routine to the reward of a habit. Set up your habit loop so that it continually works in your favor. Identifying and implementing positive habits Health, diet, and productivity are common areas where people want to improve habits. Prioritize your top three must-do’s for each day and the associated reward for achieving them. Maintain habit consistency by either increasing the reward or decreasing the effort. Habit building as a leader Leaders need to consider habits as not just what they do, but who they are as leaders. Consider the mental reward of maintaining your habits – habits represent mental strength. Leverage habits to drive team growth in positive ways. Ask other leaders what habits have made the greatest impact on their leadership. Solicit actionable feedback from your professional circle. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Connect with Jeannie Clinkenbeard- Jeannie Clinkenbeard Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com “If you want to change your life, you’ve got to change your habits.” — Jeannie Clinkenbeard “A successful habit has to be specific and it has to be doable.” — Jeannie Clinkenbeard “Consider if your reward is big enough and if your habit is small enough.” — Jeannie Clinkenbeard “Good habits tend to create other good habits.” — Jeannie Clinkenbeard “Don’t diminish small, consistent actions over time. They are what makes up your success.” — Jeannie Clinkenbeard…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Welcome to the 50th episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast. Our guest today is THE original guest from episode one, Keynote Speaker Ryan Avery. Ryan has been partnering with FCCS for the Go From A Leader to THE Leader Online Strategic Communications Program and is THE Keynote Speaker at many of the FCCS conferences. Today we’re talking about celebrating! Celebrating success can happen in the face of adversity or failure, it can highlight appreciation for hard work, serve as a morale booster, and help foster an excellent team culture. Together Stephanie and Ryan discuss the value of celebrating, the power of storytelling, and the importance of expressing gratitude to your team for not only the work they accomplish but the effort they put into it along the way. Episode Insights Include: Being THE There are key differences between being ‘a’ and being ‘the’. Do you want to work for a company or THE company? Do you want a job, or do you want THE job? When you focus on being THE, your life changes forever. It becomes more fulfilling, more exciting, and more resilient. The simplicity of THE creates a simple but powerful mind shift. The definition of THE is going to be different for everyone. The power of celebrating success Celebrating is simply acknowledging something along the way. Don’t wait until the end to recognize the work that has already happened. Celebrating helps you acknowledge that you are actively participating, rather than sitting on the sidelines. Celebrating through storytelling The three F’s of storytelling can help you acknowledge your success in an effective way. Fear, family, and failures can connect you with others on a more meaningful level. People like to hear stories about people who are trying, whether or not they succeed. Sharing personal experiences will encourage others to try as well. Storytelling increases connections, especially when names are attached to the stories. Creating a culture of acknowledgement and success Don’t wait until something is finished to celebrate it. Communication itself will never change, but methods of communication will continue to change. Three R’s can help refine a celebration –reflect on what is working and what isn’t, reject anything that is clearly not working, and renew a commitment to continue what is working. Evolve, grow, and learn together by opening another box instead of thinking outside the box. Expressing gratitude for your team Recognize all that you have to be grateful for and express that gratitude regularly. Visit disappointment, but don’t live there. Live in gratitude. Don’t let one thing ruin everything. Consider living in an “and” world, not an “or” world. You and your team can be happy and sad at the same time. Measuring and quantifying success Success should be defined by each individual. A clear definition of success makes it easy to set boundaries about what you are willing to do. Your definition of success can help you make decisions. Contentment is not the opposite of ambition, it is a state of being that everyone is trying to achieve. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Learn more about the FCCS 2023 Director Leadership Conference- https://www.fccsconsulting.com/conferences/director-leadership Connect with Ryan Avery- Ryan Avery Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

It can be hard to see change coming, but there are patterns in the way change disrupts an industry that, when identified, can help to empower an organization to prepare for what’s coming and be prepared to act. In this episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Stephanie Barton, VP of Marketing and Communications at FCCS sits down with Vance Crow, Organizational Strategist, and CEO of Articulate Ventures for a look at how your organization can better prepare for change and create a shared language to facilitate open, meaningful and necessary conversations. Vance will be speaking at the upcoming FCCS Director Leadership Conference in Nashville, and in this conversation, he offers a look inside his session “The Edge of Chaos: Where and How Society Changes”. Episode Insights Include: Defining the edge of chaos The world can be viewed in a dualist way, like the yin and yang. Order and chaos are an integral part of everything. Order is what we know and understand while chaos represents the rest of the world and is often avoided. Nothing new comes from order, it only comes from the chaos that is brought back to order. The edge of chaos represents the border between what is unknown and what is known. Innovation and advancements are found at the edge of chaos. The challenge of preparing for change Change is difficult to prepare for because we never know when it’s coming. Change often comes quickly and all at once. Change can be preceded by pain and suffering. Change often requires that people move beyond the suffering to try something different, which is not always a pleasant experience. Creative tactics for excelling in the face of change Organizations need to consider what is and isn’t working in their messaging and be willing to try something different. Allow your teams to come up with new and innovative solutions to problems and see how successful they are. Create smaller teams that have the opportunity to explore wild innovations without having a major impact on company-wide endeavors. Identifying patterns of change Spotting patterns of change requires doing things that are uncomfortable. Expose yourself to ideas that you may not agree with. Surround yourself with people who have ideas that are different from your own. Identify people that you respect who have a different set of beliefs than you do. Ask questions from younger people and learn from their answers. Having conversations that encourage innovation and change Leadership plays a critical role in effective conversations. Leaders help others frame their contributions in ways that are well-received. Effective guides understand how the gears of an organization work and the important role that each team member plays. Creating an effective shared language An effective shared language represents shared values and shared knowledge. Shared language can help develop a new way of thinking about systems that can be shared and worked on by the entire group. Company culture is strengthened by a shared language. Shared language allows a team to move further faster. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Learn more about the FCCS 2023 Director Leadership Conference- https://www.fccsconsulting.com/conferences/director-leadership Connect with Vance- Vance Crow Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Emotional intelligence (EQ) has been identified by 85% of employers as even more valuable than IQ, but it is often seen as something that you either have or don’t have. New science shows that it is possible to increase emotional intelligence with training and practice, which can benefit relationships both in and outside of the workplace. In this episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Stephanie Barton, VP of Marketing and Communications at FCCS is joined by Maureen Breeze, Certified Executive Coach from the Institute for Social and Emotional Intelligence. Maureen will be speaking at the upcoming FCCS 2023 Director Leadership Conference and has joined the podcast today to discuss the importance of emotional agility. She highlights the need for leaders to increase their social and emotional intelligence in the workplace and offers tactics to improve EQ skills in ways that drive results effectively. Episode Insights Include: The importance of emotional agility Our ability to connect with others through emotional intelligence is not a stagnant skill, it can be refined and improved over time. The ability to read emotions and manage our own emotions is more important than ever before. Emotional agility requires understanding who you are working with and how you can show up as your best self on the team. Emotional agility is reflected in the confidence level of each team player. Emotional intelligence in leaders Leaders set the tone for the team and need to set the emotional temperature in every room they are working in. EQ leaders can either bring the temperature down if emotions are running hot or increase energy when more excitement is needed. The level of control demonstrated by leaders will be mirrored in the team. There is an opportunity for people to make conscious choices about how they want to show up and the impact they want to have. Leaders want to drive results but also need to consider who they want to be in the process. Key factors and skills that affect emotional intelligence Factors include personal emotional regulation, awareness of conflict, and psychological safety. Skills that can help develop emotional awareness include reflection time, leaning into strong listening skills, and identifying and acknowledging what you are seeing. Enhancing these factors and skills will help navigate healthy conflict. The science behind emotional regulation Humans are wired to be triggered in heightened or emotional situations. A heightened physiological state can hijack our thinking, but we have the power to get our thinking back online. Consider deep breathing, taking a pause, or stepping away to help create a distance that will allow the nervous system to realign. When receiving critical feedback, employ key phrases that will create a pause such as “I need a minute to process this”. The correlation between burnout and emotional intelligence Burnout is caused by many factors including our relationship with technology. Increased context shifting demands increased brain activity. Our relationships have changed since the pandemic and require a new level of connection. The blend-burn demands that we address a multitude of requests for our attention simultaneously. Energy management is essential for managing burnout. Resilience and emotional intelligence Any situation that requires a bounceback after change or disruption requires resilience. Maureen shares three of her five factors that build resilience. Anchor yourself in a sense of purpose. Make meaning in a difficult situation. Identify the why that you can hold onto. Talk about an experience so that you can begin to make sense of it. Optimism is the belief that with effort we can impact the outcome. Emotional intelligence in the boardroom Leaders need to be intentional about both the outcome and the relationship generation that they are seeking. Board members need additional courage to ask the tough questions that can expand thinking. Consider the frequency of interactions between board members when setting relationship expectations. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Learn more about the FCCS 2023 Director Leadership Conference- https://www.fccsconsulting.com/conferences/director-leadership Connect with Maureen - Maureen Breeze Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

In today’s fast-paced sales environment, sales leaders must possess the agility to adapt to a variety of situations. A rigid approach to leadership may have worked in the past, but it won’t work for companies that are going to succeed in the future. In this episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Stephanie Barton, VP of Marketing and Communications at FCCS welcomes Regional Vice President of Sales for Richardson Sales Performance Reuben Wilson for a conversation about sales challenges, capabilities, and more. Reuben will be speaking at the upcoming FCCS 2023 Sales Leaders Conference and has joined the podcast today to discuss the core capabilities that are required to lead winning sales teams. He offers advice about agility as it applies to sales leadership, tactics for embracing an agile mindset, and ideas for successfully engaging teams in powerful conversations. Episode Insights Include: The impact of agility on a sales team Recent shifts have resulted in worldwide supply chain disruption, economic uncertainty, and pricing volatility. The pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in organizations that have required a rethinking of operations. The average B-to-B decision now includes up to 10 involved decision-makers. A rigid approach to a constantly changing world simply does not work. Agile sales leadership can be defined as a way to swiftly and effectively switch between various roles and responsibilities. Sales leaders need to be able to guide their teams toward an objective and provide a plan during critical phases. Overcoming the greatest challenges of a sales manager Managers have to effectively determine which deals to prioritize and pursue. An increase in salespeople requires more management, which means less coaching time per team member. The volume of data requires an increase in processing and attention, which managers don’t readily have. Managers need to recognize that they have a strong role to play in helping their organization adapt to rapid changes. By embracing agility, managers can approach each interaction as an opportunity to identify the next steps effectively. Ongoing communication encourages agility and intentional coaching. The capabilities of a successful, agile sales leader Four core categories, including coaching, deliberate sales culture, motivation, and driving toward performance. Culture is a combination of where you came from and where you are going. Effective culture drives accountability, strengthens management disciplines and skill development, and engages the team in productive meetings. Effective managers get to know their people through world-class one-on-one meetings. Managers understand whether their sales professionals are motivated by achievement, power, or affiliation. Building relationships with powerful conversation capabilities Vital conversations need to be fair and balanced. Managers need to enter the conversation with a game plan and supporting data. Conversations can solidify relationships and address problems. Leaders should always model the behavior that they want to see in their employees. Mastering the pipeline review Pipeline conversations address growth business and potential. Addressing the funnel will identify desired outcomes and action strategies to achieve them. The shape of the pipeline can help identify the needed skills for a team. Industry conferences can offer advice to help successfully navigate pipeline conversations. Portrait of an Agile Sales Coach An agile leader should approach their coaching in sprints. Short bursts of activities are key to successful agility. Effective leaders who have mastered an agile leadership style can model effective interpersonal behavior. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Learn more about the FCCS 2023 Farm Credit Sales Leaders Conference- https://www.fccsconsulting.com/conferences/sales-leaders-conference Connect with Reuben - Reuben Wilson Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Times of uncertainty can make it very difficult to maintain momentum, but it is in these moments it is crucial that we don’t let these disruptions paralyze us. A proactive approach to overcoming challenges is key. In this episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Stephanie Barton, VP of Marketing and Communications at FCCS is joined by Business Performance Coach Michael Vickers. Michael will be speaking at the upcoming FCCS 2023 Sales Leaders Conference and has joined the podcast today to discuss tactics for navigating through turbulent times. He offers advice for focusing on goals and executing a plan with minimal distractions to achieve maximum productivity. Episode Insights Include: The impact of the pandemic on sales The pandemic accelerated every aspect of sales. A 10-year window of growth happened practically overnight. Advanced technologies are now enhancing client-to-customer relationships better than ever before. Exceeding client expectations in challenging times Differentiating a company in such a competitive environment starts when we excel in times of disruption. People only change when the pain is such that they have to, or the pleasure is so good that they want to. Pain points encourage change- when others are retreating it is time to create proactive strategies that encourage growth. Growth during a down market is a true sign of excellence. Brand experience is an essential market strategy. Successful companies utilize 5 different currencies to gain customer loyalty. The importance of strong client relationships Good relationships are determined by the client. Know and celebrate important dates of your clients to level up your relationship. If rates are all the same, emotional favorites are going to seal the deal. We want to become heroes to the people we serve and help them become heroes to the people they serve. Move beyond transactional interactions to help achieve goals and objectives. Tactics for differentiating against the competition Creating distinctive value starts with product-based, which can be easily duplicated. Service-based distinctive value can set one company above the rest. Model after the best service offerings out there to meet customer expectations. Avoid projecting biases on clients and allow them to form their own opinions. Celebrating clients will encourage them to think of you when they are ready to make their next transaction. Building a team that is focused on growth Teach your team how to tell stories that create connections. Create a budget that will allow your team to solve their client’s problems. Set goals with your team to increase their touch points with their clients. Appealing to every generation in the marketplace Consider the information medium that each generation would prefer for information. Ask clients what their communication preferences are and then meet them there. Listen to what clients are saying in conversation and then act accordingly. Opportunities are found in what your clients are interested in. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Learn more about the FCCS 2023 Sales Leaders Conference- https://www.fccsconsulting.com/conferences/sales-leaders-conference Connect with Michael Vickers - Michael Vickers Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

1 The Hard But Necessary Conversations on Farm Succession Planning 43:28
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Between emotional factors, unspoken expectations, and ineffective communication, a family business can be exceptionally difficult to navigate. A lack of succession planning can destroy a family business and cost Farm Credit a client. In this episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Stephanie Barton, VP of Marketing and Communications at FCCS welcomes Wesley Tucker, Farm and Ranch Transition Specialist with the University of Missouri Extension for a conversation about the messy world of family business succession planning. They discuss challenges that are unique to family business, strategies for navigating family and business roles, and actionable tactics that result in successful succession planning. Episode Insights Include: Why is succession planning necessary in family businesses? Too many people are afraid to broach farm succession and its necessary conversations. A family business may be the most difficult type of business to run. An overlap of family and business can cause areas of friction that must be addressed. A separation between family and business relations is essential to effective succession planning. Estate planning versus succession planning Estate planning is what happens with all of your stuff after you die. Succession planning is the continuation of the business after you die. Estate planning is an event while succession planning is a process. Generally, succession planning should have started yesterday. Consider the difference between a road map and a treasure map. First steps in succession planning Communication is the first step to getting started. Consider the plans for the future, no matter how difficult it may seem. Whatever you do, do something. Don’t assume your kids are going to work it out on their own. Employ a professional team that can advise you. Family meetings and interviews can help you determine the future of the farm. Explain the whys behind your decisions rather than leaving it as a surprise after the funeral. Consider the potential future of family relationships as they will change after your death. Strategies for effective family meetings Consider three types of family meetings- farm operation, farm business, and family council meetings. Business meetings need to happen regularly and before there is a crisis or major decision to be made. Delegate topics for each member to be in charge of, including compensation, vacation, and scheduling. Spend more time working on the business and less time working in the business. Don’t expect family council meetings to be fun, but know they will be effective. These meetings will help to protect family relationships long-term. Navigating fair and equal heir scenarios Farm succession is different than other businesses. Cash flow and wealth accumulation both impact succession planning. Fair market value buyouts are not going to happen the day after the funeral. Estate planning and succession planning have to work together. Timelines for effective transitions Five phases outline the stages of bringing family members into family farm ownership. In phases 1 and 2, ownership of the family farm needs to be earned or bought. Management is available to family members in phases 3 and 4. Phase 5 transfers the majority of ownership to the next generation. Transitioning roles for the older generation does not mean total withdrawal from the business. Generational and gender roles play into successful transitions. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Learn more about the FCCS Ag Lending Conference- https://www.fccsconsulting.com/conferences/forum Connect with Wesley Tucker - Wesley Tucker Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Today’s workplace is at a crossroads, and effective leaders need to know how to navigate through change, challenge and chaos. Inspiring hope is the best way to impact meaningful change, and today’s guest is an expert on the topic of hope. In this episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Stephanie Barton, VP of Marketing and Communications at FCCS sits down with executive coach and leadership expert Libby Gill. Together they discuss the power of hope, the inspiration leaders need to offer, and the importance of effective communication when navigating a team through times of challenge and change. Episode Insights Include: Leading with Hope Theory Hope theory examines your agency and pathways to a goal and determines your confidence level in executing change. Science is the key driver behind this theory. Hope offers improved health, finances, and mortality rates. When leaders role model hope, entire organizations are lifted up. Leaders have to teach, coach and model the growth mindset. Finding greater purpose in work When you connect people with the end goal, you increase their vision and purpose. People who recognize that they are solving problems are more successful in their work. It is the responsibility of leaders to connect the dots between people and purpose. Overcoming the challenges of change Change is constant and increasing- the rate of change right now is probably the slowest it will ever be again. The belief that change is possible is the first step. A growth mindset is essential to effective change. The habits that we subscribe to might need to be altered in order to make effective change. Include more voices in communicating needed change. Creating more effective communication Leaders can’t really over-communicate to their teams. Shout-outs and positive feedback are a great way to improve communication. Ask employees what kind of communication they prefer and switch it up between email, video, and in person. Employees want to know what’s in it for them. Tactics for embracing change Frame change as an actionable process that has a clear path. Limit the change time period to 12-18 months to limit overwhelm. Breakdown action items into smaller steps for an easier approach. Reflect on what needs to happen on your team and if what you are focusing on will get you there. Discover your leadership superpower Consider what you already bring to the table with your virtues and talents. Great leaders know what they are great at. Leaders need to be known for what they are great at and communicate it with others. Leaders ask for feedback and implement change afterward. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Learn more about the FCCS Farm Credit Sales Leader Conference- https://www.fccsconsulting.com/conferences/sales-leaders-conference Connect with Libby Gill - Libby Gill Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

1 Delivering World-Class Customer Service: Lessons from the Mouse 30:35
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Customers today have more choices than ever before, creating a flooded market that is filled with commodities. So what can organizations do to stand out in the crowd? The answer is simple, just ask Mickey Mouse. In this episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Stephanie Barton, VP of Marketing and Communications at FCCS welcomes author, consultant, and former Walt Disney World Company executive Dennis Snow. Dennis has world-class insights into differentiating your service in a way that attracts and retains customers and their loyalty, and insights into ways that leaders can hire and train the kinds of employees that will deliver the customer experience that creates long-lasting loyalty. Episode Insights Include: Creating the ultimate customer experience Disney isn’t focused on selling rides, they are selling an experience. Rides are simply commodities, a truly memorable experience is much more rare. Every element of the company culture is built around creating the ultimate customer experience. Key differentiators set employees and customers apart from the competition. Regardless of their position, all employees are expected to exhibit exceptional internal service. Teaching employees customer service skills The most important role of any leader in any organization is hiring the right people. Dedicated time needs to be given to hiring the right people who are going to live the culture of the organization. Training can help, but hiring the right people in the first place is the key to success. Employees who are not meeting standards should first be coached, then be given the opportunity to make a change. When performance doesn’t change, employees have to be let go so they can no longer negatively impact the company culture. Making the customer experience part of company culture Sit down as a team to have engaging conversations about these challenging times. Ask the following questions about customer delight - What have you done that has wowed a customer? What has someone thanked you for? How can we demonstrate an enhanced experience? How can we meet customers where they are? Listen to what other companies in your industry are doing that is working. Consider the customer experience of Disney, Southwest, The Walking Shoe stores, and Ritz Carlton. First define what the customer experience is supposed to be, then put behaviors in place to achieve it. Speaking the language of the customer and consistency in experiences is essential. Execution made easy An exceptional customer experience is easy, but it requires consistency. In team meetings, ask this question - What are three things we want our customers to remember and say about their experience with us? Then consider what has to happen in order to make that experience a reality. It is essential to be relentless in keeping that message at the front and center of the customer experience. Training needs to continue throughout the duration of every employee’s time at the company. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Learn more about the FCCS Farm Credit Sales Leader Conference- https://www.fccsconsulting.com/conferences/sales-leaders-conference Connect with Dennis Snow - Dennis Snow Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Climate risk is hardly a new concept, and the ag industry is always looking for ways to mitigate and adapt to the ongoing changes and increased risk exposures facing farmers today. In this episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Stephanie Barton, VP of Marketing and Communications at FCCS is joined by Chris Peacock, CEO and founder of AgCor for a conversation about the various aspects of climate risk and its implications for the ag lending industry. Together they explore the ways that the four major trends of generational shift, climate events, regulatory forces, and the rise of digital competition are all shaping the landscape of agricultural lending and its approach to climate risk. Episode Insights Include: Defining climate risk in the ag lending space Climate risk is not a new concept in the agriculture industry. Adaptations need to be made in response to long-tail risk exposures. The combination of multiple risk events are creating an unprecedented need to modify risk mitigation. The role of the lender is to be a partner to the farmer to better understand and prepare for potential risks. Increased climate risks require increased financing to make necessary adaptations. Why is climate risk such a hot topic now? Ag lenders have always had extreme weather events in mind, but compounding events are increasing its urgency. Generational shifts are altering expectations of land usage. There are fewer people entering the ag lending space, creating a knowledge gap. Consumer expectations of companies and brands are creating a higher demand from producers. Regulatory forces and fintech are also impacting climate. Benefits to ag lenders of increasing climate focus Making climate easy to understand helps to consider it when making decisions at the board level. The role of the lender is to encourage borrower success by providing the financial resources and capital necessary for growth. The bottom line is impacted by risk and trends are showing that climate is a major factor. There are major opportunities for financial institutions to help their borrowers find the capital necessary to make adaptive changes to their farms. Lenders have the opportunity to build new financial products to deliver capital to farmers. Climate related policies that will impact ag lending Chris offers insights into potential climate related policies and regulatory forces that will impact ag lending. There is practical value in farmers getting information in order for the regulatory frameworks that are coming. Elections and unforeseen natural events will have an impact on regulations, so be proactive and prepared for whatever possibilities might be coming. Trends in the world of water Drought, hurricanes, hail, wildfires and changing growing seasons are all a result of the power of water. The financial demands of managing water are continually increasing. Regulatory and policy changes are impacting the way water is managed. Hydroponics, vertical farming, improved irrigation systems and groundwater recharge trends are improving water management, and all require capital. Rights to aquifers Understanding and applying climate data AgCor works to decipher and distill water data to a more understandable format for ag lenders. Digital strategy plays a huge role in the future of agricultural lending. Contextualizing the lender data into organized format is an essential task. AgCor data can analyze whether there is enough water to successfully grow a crop through automated water budgets. Building better relationships is an important component to deploying more capital. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Learn more about the FCCS Passkey Program- https://www.fccsconsulting.com/passkey/home Connect with Chris Peacock - https://peacockcj.com/ Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

1 Using Data for Recruiting, Development, and Performance Improvement 50:49
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Attracting and developing human capital is more critical than ever in today’s high demand, low supply talent market. With the help of data assessments, hiring managers can feel confident that they are making the best decisions about who they are bringing onto their teams. In this episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Stephanie Barton, VP of Marketing and Communications at FCCS sits down with a panel of experts to explore the ways that hiring managers can use data to improve employee hiring, development and performance. Valuable hiring advice comes from Jay Lux, Vice President of Leadership & Organizational Development; Angie Coleman, Organizational Development Consultant; and Beth Oliphant, Talent Assessment Manager. Together they discuss a variety of hiring topics, from the power of utilizing data assessments, the danger of relying on intuition alone, and best practices for employing both qualitative and quantitative data when making hiring decisions that will benefit the individual, the team, and the organization on a whole. Episode Insights Include: Data is a key element of hiring and employee succession The most important decision a manager can make is who is on their team. Data utilization offers a way to strategically determine next hires. Hiring is the critical first step, investing in growth is equally important in employee success. Data can assist in better understanding what is important to individuals. Data driven selection and development tools are critical to the success of a business. An overview of the data-driven hiring process In the 80s, a loan officer interview was developed to identify who could handle good and bad times. A 20% turnover was reduced to a 2% turnover with the help of this data. Data helped hiring managers zero in on what resulted in best-fit hires. What’s wrong with relying on intuition? Intuition is often tied to experience, but that experience is not always an accurate baseline for finding the best-fit new hires. Just because you like someone does not mean they are right for the job. Utilizing effective assessment tools help to more fully know a potential new hire. Effectiveness can be measured with four distinct traits- cognitive abilities, motivators, personality, and course correction. Measuring from these buckets can help assess a potential new hire beyond just intuition. Everyone puts their best foot forward in the interview process, but there needs to be a way to determine how they will perform in a less than ideal scenario. Using data allows for a good fit without a biased decision A good fit does not have to mean a homogenous fit. Outside perspectives and different experiences bring a large, needed voice into the room. An employee who is a good fit for the value of the company does not have to have the same experience base as everyone else who works there. The more diverse the team in skill sets, personality and backgrounds, the more profitable the organization is. FCCS offers statistically reliable tools to help with the hiring and interview processes. Allow for in-person interactions with the team to help determine comfort and connection levels. Risks associated with using data assessments Data should not be the only factor utilized when considering new hires. Assessment instruments need to be validated and statistically reliable. Recognize that there is no validity in personality traits as the sole indicator of performance in particular roles. Any assessment chose has to be not only statistically reliable but also legally defensible and EEOC compliant. Data assessments should be used to build a robust interviewing structure and process using proven performance indicators Best practices when utilizing data assessment results Predictive index is a predictor of performance that uses the data to fill a hiring manager's needs against available assessments. Highlight the opportunities that become available as a result of understanding an individual’s best fit. Use appropriate wording when making a hire/do not hire recommendation. HR is the expert here and can use these tools to guide managers through the hiring process. Research and select tools that are going to be the most beneficial in the hiring process. Spend more time on the front end to reduce the need for refilling roles in the near future. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Learn more about the FCCS Recruiting Selection and Succession Consulting Practices- info@fccsconsulting.com Connect with Jay Lux - https://www.fccsconsulting.com/consulting-network/jay-lux Connect with Angie Colman - https://www.fccsconsulting.com/consulting-network/angie-coleman Connect with Beth Oliphant - https://www.fccsconsulting.com/consulting-network/beth-oliphant Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

1 The Relationship Between Leadership, Culture, and Behavior 47:31
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Culture makes all the difference between teams that thrive and those that struggle. We look to leaders to set the example of culture, but culture is really the responsibility of every member of the team. In this episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Stephanie Barton, VP of Marketing and Communications at FCCS welcomes speaker and consultant Derek Avera for a look at the critical intersection of leadership, culture and behavior. Derek will be speaking at the upcoming FCCS FORUM for Ag Lending, and today he offers listeners a glimpse of what he will be sharing there, including the importance of culture, the factors that have the greatest impact on culture, and conversation starters for building a greater team culture today. Episode Insights Include: Who is responsible for organizational culture? The short answer is that everyone is responsible for the culture. Leaders first set the tone and the example for a performance pathway. Leaders create the culture that drives the behavior that produces results. The entire organization is responsible for what they commit to the culture. Leaders set the tone with their energy and language. The relationships between leadership, culture and behavior These three are tethered together and must be aligned. If leaders want better results, they need better behavior. Better behavior is a product of better culture, which comes from better leadership. The sum of these three facets produces results in any organization. The biggest effects on culture Leadership and behavior can be extremely positive or negative. Realistic optimism and resilience are both critical for leaders. The behavior of the entire team can drive the desired results. How is positive culture built? Intentional, disciplined effort is the first necessary step to creating a positive culture. Impulses have to be limited and emotions need to be monitored. Working outside of our comfort zones will help teams build new skills. Conversation starters for culture conversations How is the culture of the team affecting the performance of the team? What does aligned culture look and sound like? How can you align your team to get the results you are seeking? The power of common vocabulary Short terms and phrases can be used to align team vision and culture. Consider your own ‘20 square feet’ and ‘BCD’ (blame, complain, defend). Common vocabulary allows everyone to quickly remember and remind about desired culture as needed. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Learn more about the upcoming FCCS FORUM for Ag Lending - https://www.fccsconsulting.com/conferences/forum Connect with Derek Avera - https://focus3.com/member/derek-avera/ Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Your effectiveness as a leader is only as strong as your ability to influence others. Unfortunately, too many companies aren’t giving their leaders the ability to positively influence their teams and workplace culture. In this episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Stephanie Barton, VP of Marketing and Communications at FCCS sits down with leadership consultant and speaker Anton Gunn for a discussion about the impact of an effective leader. Anton is a former Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama and is a speaker at the upcoming FCCS Leadership Conference. Today he offers his philosophy of leadership, questions need to be able to answer and actionable steps leaders can take today to improve their workplace culture. Episode Insights Include: Serving as Senior Advisor to the President Coming from a four generation military family, Anton understands that service comes before leadership. Determination drove his opportunity to serve under Barack Obama. Persistence is required for success — Anton called the office 11 times before he got a response. Anton’s belief in himself led him to serving and working with the president. Anton’s leadership philosophy The proof of a company’s values are found in their leaders. Anton lives by 4 leadership values. Service is the prerequisite of leadership. Empowerment — a leader’s greatest responsibility is to give others the tools they need to be successful. Justice — it is a leader’s responsibility to make things right. It may not be your fault but it is your problem as a leader. Legacy measures how we live every day of our lives. Leaders need to find out what tools their team members need to be productive and effective. Just Lead with diversity, equity and inclusion Anton’s new book contains 44 actions to break down barriers and boost retention. He highlights the characteristics of leaders that people admire. Leaders need to recognize the element of diversity that each team member brings to the table. Leaders need to increase their competency around diversity within their organization and develop a skill set that applies it in a way that drives value. Actionable ways to improve the workplace today Consider how a leader should answer the following three questions about their employees. Do you care about me? Leaders have to know their team before they can care about them. Leaders need to be able to pronounce each team member's name correctly, identify where they grew up, and remember their favorite candy bar. Will you help me be successful? Ask employees if there are any obstacles that are keeping them from performing at their best. Can I trust you? Trust is built over time as you show your team that you are invested in their success. Connecting through hip hop Anton’s experience brought a powerful understanding and dimension of connection into his world. Diversity of people is what made hip hop what it is today. Increased diversity in cultural perspectives and ways of thinking is a critical skill for effective leadership. Anton shares his top five favorite rappers of all time. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Learn more about the upcoming FCCS Learning Conference - https://www.fccsconsulting.com/conferences/learning-conference Connect with Anton Gunn - https://antongunn.com/ Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Traditional business success has been defined by profits, but the businesses that are going to succeed in the future are the ones that are thinking more about their people. Team members are humans with human needs and are motivated by so much more than just a paycheck. In this episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Stephanie Barton, VP of Marketing and Communications at FCCS welcomes leadership expert Matt Havens for a conversation about the importance of bringing a more human element into the workplace. As a speaker at the upcoming FCCS Risk 360 Conference, Matt offers his insights and wisdom into the power of creating authentic relationships, fostering a greater sense of community in the workplace, and keeping the focus on the human aspects of work. Episode Insights Include: What does it mean to make your business human? Too often people forget that they are working side by side with other human beings. The pandemic offered an unprecedented opportunity to experience the same event together. Making your business human is all about putting the focus back on the people. Addressing the 4 human truths Community- we are all searching for a sense of community and purpose. Imperfection- we all fall short and even fail at times, and we need to own that truth. Relationship with time- we all interact with time in an individual way. Ability to choose- we are not always in charge of our circumstances but we can make a choice within them. Employers have to recognize that employees have options and choices with their work. Employees today are not simply grateful for the opportunity to work regardless of the work environment. Employers need to approach employees with the desire to win their talent. Fostering a sense of community at work Recognize that there is a cap on the number of people that anyone can have truly meaningful relationships with. Dedicated time is the number one way to build a greater sense of community. Blurring the lines between work and personal lines can help create greater connections. Identify what is important to each person and help them create a sense of balance. Owning your choices No one has power over all of their circumstances, but we always have a choice in how we respond to our circumstances. Take two minutes at the beginning of each day to determine the choices you are going to make with intention. The choices that matter most are the ones that we need to focus on. Get more comfortable with failure by taking risks and failing more often. Move on from failures by identifying what went wrong and what you can do better next time. Balancing the present with the future Identify current priorities while also recognizing the goals you are working toward in the future. Dedicate time not only to what is right in front of you but to what will benefit you in the future as well. Spend intentional time with people who have been where you are and are where you want to be. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Learn more about the upcoming FCCS Risk 360 Conference - https://www.fccsconsulting.com/conferences/risk360-conference Connect with Matt Havens - https://www.matthavens.com/ Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

The rapid pace of change and uncertainty in the past few years has brought with it unprecedented levels of stress and anxiety in both professional and personal settings. Leaders know that employees have been operating in crisis mode for years and the impact of that stress can’t be ignored any longer. In this episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Stephanie Barton, VP of Marketing and Communications at FCCS is joined by Rhonda Scharf, licensed professional speaker and keynote speaker at the upcoming FCCS Learning Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. Together they discuss effective strategies and skills that every manager needs to know for helping their team handle stress. Episode Insights Include: What exactly is stress? Stress is the non-specific response of the body to any demand made on it. Sometimes stress is a good thing — like in the case of surprise. Good stress provides an adrenaline rush that the brain seeks and enjoys. At work, stress can lead to overwhelm and impact the quality of work. Who is responsible for managing stress in the workplace? Leaders need to start by being aware of team stress. Listening to employee concerns is key to helping to manage stress. Leaders are accountable for the success of their team, which includes owning the accountability to help their team through stress. How can companies help manage employee stress? Flexibility in work arrangements to accommodate commutes and family situations can help manage employee stress. One-on-ones are an essential part of leadership involvement in stress management. Flex hours, training, counseling services, and stress management training can help alleviate stress throughout the company. If one employee would benefit from a stress-relieving offering, chances are everyone at the company would benefit from it. Management tactics for leading a team through stress Managers need to offer a listening ear rather than direct stressed employees to HR. Managers need to lead by example and give their team a point of reference for an appropriate stress level. Offer compassion and empathy to your team when you know stress is present. Help teammates set boundaries regarding communications, work hours, and time away from work. Identify what you want from your leadership and aim to offer it to your team. Is it possible to make people happier at work? Statistically, people leave jobs because of the people there, not the work itself. A safe workplace is created by building up relationships. A manager’s aim needs to be to help people feel acknowledged, understood, and appreciated. Managers can listen to, talk with, and support their stressed-out employees to help them feel more valued. Managers can create an environment where employees can make friends with each other. Reducing work-related factors that create undue stress High expectations for others can create an unnecessary perfectionist environment. The manager’s example of busyness and expectations demonstrate the standards you are holding others to, whether intentionally or not. Managers need to consider what a workload looks like from the perspective of those who are expected to complete it. Ask your team for their ideas of ways to prioritize a healthy work environment. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Learn more about the upcoming FCCS Learning Conference - https://www.fccsconsulting.com/conferences/learning-conference Connect with Rhonda Scharf - https://on-the-right-track.com/about-us/about-rhonda/ Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

1 Create Unforgettable Customer Experiences for a Competitive Advantage 35:36
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How, when, and where we buy has changed dramatically in recent years. Winning companies in today’s competitive marketplace are the ones that are fast and easy to do business with. In this episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Stephanie Barton, VP of Marketing and Communications at FCCS welcomes back author, speaker, and customer experience consultant and expert David Avrin for a conversation about the shift in customer expectations. David will be presenting at the upcoming FCCS Home Lending Conference in Salt Lake City, and has returned to the podcast to share key ways to create unforgettable customer experiences that can become your competitive advantage. Episode Insights Include: What the Customer Experience Isn’t The customer experience is not customer service. The way a company does business with its customers is the customer experience. Just being friendly is not a sufficient customer experience. The customer experience measures how easy the business process is. Every person in a company is part of the customer experience. A Snapshot of Today’s Customers Expectations for speed, accommodation, and convenience have increased significantly. High quality and competence are the bare minimum expectations. Today’s companies are judged by how easy it is to do business with them. The convenience factor is essential to a successful customer experience. Identify your own preferences to identify what your clients are looking for. How to Improve the Customer Experience Make your process more visible to your customers. Turn setbacks into celebratory milestone announcements. Be proactive about status updates. Consider communications and relationship building opportunities. Take advantage of Zoom and other technologies to connect with clients. Developing Better Customer Relationships The balance between technology and humanity is critical. Give your clients choices — don’t force them to do business with you in only one way. Help people learn new processes as needed. Simplify processes and create solutions that make life easier all around. People want to know what to expect with no surprises. Overcome common customer experience mistakes Don’t be overly rigid or scripted — leave room for accommodation and conversation. Don’t push clients to do the business the way you want them to do it — offer choices. Don’t assume your customers know how you navigate your systems — eliminate points of friction by walking through the process through their eyes. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Learn more about the upcoming FCCS Home Lending Conference - https://www.fccsconsulting.com/conferences/home-lending-conference Connect with David Avrin - https://www.davidavrin.com/ Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

1 Developing a Personal Learning Strategy for Growth and Advancement 25:53
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Successful leaders continually learn, reinvent themselves, and stay open to new and different ways of doing things. In this episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Stephanie Barton, VP of Marketing and Communications at FCCS, is joined by Michele Padilla, Director, and Senior Leadership Consultant for FCCS and instructor and facilitator for the FCCS Leading Self and Leading Leaders Journeys. Together they discuss personal learning strategies- what they are, why they’re important, and how forward-thinking leaders can get started on taking control of their learning today. Episode Insights Include: The importance of a personal learning strategy A personal learning strategy identifies what a person’s learning needs are. It also considers the conditions, resources, and support an individual needs to improve performance. Personal learning strategies hone in on the key topics that need to be focused on. These strategies can be connected to your company’s vision but should remain applicable to the individual. How to get started on an intentional strategy Think of your strategy like a roadmap that highlights your intentional goals and success drivers. Deliberate practice is essential to progress. Constantly put into practice the things you are learning at every available opportunity. Highlight one or two areas to focus on first and be realistic in your aspirations. The benefits of getting your manager involved Identify your resources and the support that you will need to meet your goals. Communicate your learning strategy with HR and other advisors. Clearly define your goals and the resources that will help you reach each one. Achieving professional and personal goals The personal learning strategy can help you both at work and in your personal life. Attainable goals are key in any area where you are hoping to see growth. The same process works in both personal and professional strategies. Find an accountability partner that can help you get started. Adjusting your goals as needed Expect the unexpected and approach your goals with flexibility. Review your strategy often to adjust as needed. Accept needed adjustments and then get back on track as quickly as possible. Best practices for your personal learning strategy Be committed to your efforts and stay the course in order to achieve your goal. Be consistent and practice, practice, practice. Share your goals and ask for accountability from others. Identify key markers that will highlight your success along the way. Outline a realistic timeline for achieving your goals. Avoiding the common pitfalls Remember the reason that you developed your personal learning strategy and stick to it. Keep your personal wellness at the top of your mind in all that you do. Stay focused on your path and engaged in your goal efforts. Don’t overcomplicate your efforts- keep it simple and know that there are steps you have to take along the way to reach your goals. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Learn more about the Leading Self Leadership Journey program - https :// www . fccsconsulting . com / leadership - development / leading - self . Connect with Michele Padilla - https :// www . fccsconsulting . com / consulting - network / michele - padilla Get in touch info @ fccsconsulting . com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

1 Mergers Mastered: Expert Advice on Successful Leadership Through a Merger 39:21
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In this special edition episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Jean Cantey Segal, Chief Learning Officer, FCCS welcomes Jay Lux, Vice President of Leadership & Organizational Development for FCCS, Leslie Hilton, Vice President of Governance and Board Development, and Angie Coleman, Organizational Development Consultant with FCCS. In a roundtable format, they discuss their insights on mergers and strategic alliances. They introduce best practices to help teams, leaders, and board members navigate and thrive in the midst of a merger. Episode Insights Include: Successfully combining two company cultures Thoughtful strategies are necessary when two organizations are merging. Complex company cultures can be approached with intentional collaboration. Non-negotiables need to be outlined early in the merger to avoid employee confusion. Start by identifying if both organizations have a firm grasp on their own company culture. Effective communication during a merger Leaders need to stay in tune with the employee pulse throughout the merger. Surveys can help to avoid addressing issues that may not be a real problem. Leaders need to offer regular and transparent communication with employees to dispel rumors and fear. Mission values and company culture need to be preserved as appropriate throughout the merger process. Leadership advice for enhanced communication Ensure that there is clarity in the message as it is distributed to employees. A one page update can go a long way to prevent miscommunication. Senior leadership needs to be more candid about updates, with up to 10x more communication. Scheduled updates can provide expected and appreciated communication. Consider bringing back retired leadership to consult or temporarily removing employees from their regular position. The director perspective on mergers From a 30,000 ft level, the board’s role in mergers requires harder conversations about the impact on stakeholders. The board needs to keep an eye on the long-term future direction of the organization. The board has to consider the culture and integration of the two merging boards into one. Insightful questions to ask during a merger Who will this merger impact and how will they be impacted? What plans is management putting in place to manage impacts and mitigate risk? What opportunities and risks will this merger present? What does the future look like as a result of this merger? What key things will make this merger highly successful? This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

1 The State of the US Economy, Agriculture Transportation and the Risks and Opportunities of Climate Change on the Ag Economy 35:32
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In this episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Stephanie Barton is joined by Joe Somers, Director of Consulting in Agribusiness, Chris Varvares, VP and Co-head of US Economics and Paul Bingham, Director, Transportation Consulting all with IHS Markit, now a part of S&P Global. They have come together for a conversation about three critical topics in the US economy - agriculture transportation, climate change, and the ag economy specifically. There are no simple or fast answers to the problems facing the ag economy today, but the forward thinking advice and insights of today’s guests prove that there are solutions that have the potential to improve performance and sustainability in the future. Episode Insights Include: The current state of the US economy Currently tottering on the edge of recession, the US is facing the sharp edge of inflation. Rising interest rates, weakness in the stock market and the rise in the US dollar are all diminishing US demand and slowing supply growth. A possible recession is likely to be relatively short lived and relatively mild. Chris shares his insights on how high land interest rates are likely to go. The impact of climate change on ag transportation Climate change affects reliability which in turn affects performance. 2022’s severe drought is an example of what can be expected in the future. Increasing disruption is also expected in the future. Geopolitical threats also have the potential to impact production. The challenges of infrastructure and transportation Beyond climate change, there are key inadequate bottleneck areas where the US has suffered from disruption in the past. An imbalance of supply and demand has greatly affected productivity. Today, conditions are improving everywhere from air freight and water freight and rates are going down. The impact of market shifts and geopolitics on agriculture transportation Climate change is not only affecting extreme weather, it also affects growing areas, water access, and transportation choices. Beyond just US agriculture, there is a major global impact as well. The geopolitical impact on markets will likely not be reversing anytime soon. A strategic outlook needs to extend beyond the next year. Investment decisions need to consider the long term factors that are at work. The pandemic has increased the awareness that is needed to make effective improvements. Climate change risks to the ag economy Climate change, for the farmer, is a longer term concern that will have a major impact in 20-40 years out. Extreme weather events, including drought, have the potential to severely impact production. Although some northern countries will benefit from higher temps, lower yields can be expected in most production areas around the globe. Potential carbon and water credit benefits will not occur immediately, but will be seen over time. Even though there are challenges to implementing ag management practices, the value is there to do it over time. Tackling the long game There is a variety of research and scientific changes that could help tackle climate change for the better. Gene editing and precision agriculture can help support sustainability. Carbon and water credits can be made available to offset tax. A focus on sustainability and ESG needs to increase in the United States. Patience is going to be an essential component to tackling climate change. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

In this episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Jean Cantey Segal, Chief Learning Officer, FCCS, is joined by Scott Klososky, Founding Partner, FPOV and Annette Klososky, Founding Partner, Senior C-Suite and Executive Leadership Consultant, FPOV. Together Scott and Annette lead a leading technology strategy firm that focuses on helping organizations transform and leverage and transform their technology and talent to create a competitive advantage. As an affiliate partner in the FCCS consulting network, Scott has had a strong presence at many of our conferences and strategic projects for many years. Their conversation today is centered around the impact that technology has on human beings and building a positive digital culture amidst the increased integration of technology in every aspect of our lives. Episode Insights Include: Defining digital wellness Digital wellness is the optimal state of health and wellness for people who use technology. Digital wellness focuses on the balance between productivity and health and wellness. Pandemic-induced “Zoom fatigue”, for many of us, was only the tip of the iceberg of the impact that interacting with machines has on us. Increased digital interactions have decreased our ability to set reasonable boundaries on our productivity limits. The impact of technology on relationships While technology allows us to stay connected with people, it also can be distracting and damaging to the people that are most important to us. Consider how you can use technology as a blessing in relationships and how you can limit your use of technology when it is injuring your relationships. Work and personal interruptions from our phones are self-inflicted, and deserve revised consideration. Awareness and balance are key to finding the balance between digital efficiency and building relationships with humans. How to improve technology use Set boundaries to identify the reasonable limits of what you can and should accomplish within a set time period digitally. Identify when and if the apps you use are a better choice than face-to-face interactions. Focus more on productivity and less on hours at the computer. Start your day off with intentional screen usage. The impact of technology on careers While technology creates more opportunities for productivity and connection, it can also be incredibly draining. A machine is not empathetic and doesn’t have the ability to inspire you, only humans can do that. Learning new technology skills is a critical part of careers at every level today, including C-suite leaders. How can leaders create a more positive digital culture? The behavior a leader models says everything about what they consider to be appropriate digital use. Ask your team where they see the culture doesn’t match the values of the company. Perception is reality — ask for feedback and then let people help create the culture they want to see. Leaders need to use the technology they expect their team to use. Digital culture has to change moving forward, and effective leaders have to change with it. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Digital Wellness Institute Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

1 The Revelation Conversation: Inspire Greater Employee Engagement by Connecting to Purpose 37:53
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In this episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Stephanie Barton, VP of Marketing and Communications at FCCS welcomes Steve Curtin. Steve has 20 years of experience between hotel operations, sales and marketing, training and development, and customer service roles. He's the author of Delight Your Customers , and his most recent book coming out May 31, The Revelation Conversation. Steve explains what a revelation conversation is, how it can connect the employee’s daily work activities to the overall mission of the company, and why this leads to a greater engagement and overall stronger ability to delight customers. Episode Insights Include: What is a Revelation Conversation? It is a conversation designed to reveal the total job role and to connect the employee’s daily work activities to the purpose of the job role. The revelation conversation can help inspire greater employee engagement. According to recent research, 36% of the workforce is engaged, 49% are not engaged, and the remaining 15% are disengaged and actively working against the company’s efforts. How can one start to have the Revelation Conversation? Getting clear on the “job essence” and how it connects with a job’s skills and overall function. Realize the strong connection between employee engagement and delighting your customers, and keep that at the forefront of the conversation. In the same way that employees must grow and learn, supervisors must learn to have deeper revelation conversations as well. Be ready to articulate your single highest priority in alignment without compromising the organization's purpose and core values. How can we better provide service that delights our customers? Move away from compartmentalizing the quality of service that is offered. Make sure every aspect is functioning as best as it can, from internal to external public-facing sectors. Put an emphasis on the totality of the environment so that employees are clear on their purpose and know what’s expected in their job essence. What are some action items we can take to begin the revelation conversation? Supervisors can help drive engagement by really looking at how much of their day they are coaching, and trying to make it even more. Challenge: for the next 90 days, initiate a revelation conversation or follow up on your initial revelation conversation with a member of your staff. Notice the upward spiral of connection to job purpose that these conversations bring. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources The Revelation Conversation Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

A connected leader is one who is present, vulnerable, and inspiring, and today’s digitally distracted and emotionally burnt out teams are looking to their leaders for purpose, authenticity, and connection. In this episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Stephanie Barton, VP Marketing and Communications, FCCS at FCCS welcomes human behavior expert Collete Carlson, for a conversation about leveraging our connections with others for greater success for everyone. On today’s podcast she shares a glimpse of her upcoming presentation on The Connected Leader. Colette addresses ways to engage others in the digitally distracted world that we all have to navigate, how to create a stronger team culture, and what to do with the lessons leaders have learned from the pandemic. Episode Insights Include: Engaging others in this digitally distracted world Engaging others is harder than it has ever been before thanks to constant dings and notifications. Leaderships aim to model and empower others to achieve their personal best. Alignment of your team and your vision is the core work of any leader. Connection begins within- you can only lead effectively when you know your purpose. Communication, vision, and emotional intelligence are all critical leadership skills today. The 80/20 rule needs to apply to leaders in order to increase connection points and effective communication with your team. Leaders need to look for one-on-one opportunities to connect with the team daily. Creating a better team culture In successful cultures, everyone knows and lives the mission. Leaders consistently need to walk the talk of that mission and make decisions that align with the mission. Keep the team mission simple so every decision made can be measured against it. The voice of every team member needs to be valued and an expression of the team culture. Earning trust and respect from your team Trust begets trust — start earning trust by not micromanaging your team. Modeling trust and calm in every coaching moment will build trust with your team. Be genuine in your concern about how your team members are doing emotionally. Recognize the burden you might be putting on your team through your actions. A connected leader is one who is authentically aligned through their thoughts, words, and actions. Vulnerability can set the stage for earning trust with your team. Connection techniques that inspire action Leaders need to identify each team member's individual strengths and their purpose. Express appreciation in genuine and specific ways outside of performance based contributions. Build connection rituals by asking the team how they want to connect. Communication about what you’re doing with the information you’re collecting from employees is essential. Leadership lessons learned from the pandemic Biases are often inaccurate and need to be revisited regularly. The art of possibility and the rapid rate at which people can pivot and innovate is incredible and powerful. Steps toward employee wellness are no longer optional. It is necessary for leaders to take care of themselves in addition to their employees. Customized leadership happens with leaders ‘invite insight’. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Regardless of your position in your organization, you are in sales. As a representative of your company’s brand and a customer service representative in projects and processes, you are in sales and relationship management. In this episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Stephanie Barton, VP Marketing and Communications, FCCS at FCCS is joined by Aaron Tigert, Regional Vice President of Core Markets, Compeer Financial. Aaron will also be a featured speaker at the upcoming Learning Conference in San Antonio and at this fall’s Forum for Ag Lending. Together they discuss a new podcast topic — relationship management and sales. Together they highlight the importance of building the networking and sales relationships that every one of us have with both coworkers and clients. Episode Insights Include: Strengthening new and existing client relationships First consider the business model you are aiming to achieve. Both Covid-19 and the current economic environment have had a significant impact on perceived competitive advantages. Commit to having a desire to meet clients where they’re at and help them accomplish their goals. Identify the value that you are offering your clients beyond being a low-cost provider. Trust is the key to building strong relationships with every client. Building and achieving trust Trustworthiness is the combination of credibility, reliability and intimacy. Achieving trust is an on-going process that must be addressed in every interaction with clients. Being considered trustworthy by your clients should be behind your ‘why’ of all that you do. Understand the ways that you might undermine your clients trust in you. Your personal brand and your organization’s brand both play into your trustworthiness. Making connections with clients on their level Repeated positive experiences are key to making meaningful client connections. The process of building relationships will take an extended amount of time. Providing value to your client through intellectual property is essential. Your credibility will increase as you continually provide excellent value to your clients. Identify the role that each step of the sales funnel plays in enhancing client relationships. Seek the answers to questions about your clients that will help you understand their goals. Differences between networking and prospecting If you are a relationships manager and expected to bring in new clients, you need to take time to reflect on your previous year and the development of your business line. Your mindset matters- whether you are networking or prospecting, how are you developing your relationships and communication skills? How to increase sales without seeming ‘salesy’ Begin by grounding yourself in the problem that you are solving for your client. Always keep sales in mind, but don’t start every conversation with product specific pricing. Have 3 pieces of insight ready to share with clients at all times. Ask open-ended questions about your clients current concerns. Connect the dots between your product offerings and what’s happening on the farm. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

With an average of 120 emails received by employees every day, the ability to share information and ideas in an effective way is critical. But what makes an effective email, and how can you know if your writing style needs a little tweaking? In today’s episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Heather Sang is joined by author and founder of KDVM Communications Karen McDonald for a conversation about how to create high quality writing that gets a response. By enhancing individual communication and focusing on the needs, questions, and efforts of the recipient, you will be able to craft emails that reflect your company culture, strengthen your connections, and help you get the response you’re seeking. Today’s Insights Include: Why is good written communication so important? Written communication is essential to the work that we all do every day. We are all required to create emails, memos, reports and more. Employees receive an average of 120 emails every day, making the ability to share information and ideas in an effective way critical to getting work done. Your writing is a reflection of your brand, and you want that reflection to be positive. Overcoming the hurdles to effective writing Not everyone is equally effective in writing, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to improve. If you aren’t sure if your writing needs to be improved, ask for feedback. Consistent grammatical comments over content comments indicate room for improvement. If your emails aren’t getting the response you want, you might consider changing your writing style. If recipients are consistently responding to your writing with additional questions, your writing needs tweaking. Structuring emails to get the response you want Make it easy for the recipient to decide when to open and respond to your email. Subject line should indicate the email topic and purpose. Appropriate email length depends on the degree of information the reader needs. Provide reasonable information but not so much that it’s overwhelming. Clear, concise and organized writing is key- use bullet points if needed. Clearly state what you expect from the recipient in your closing. Traps to avoid in your writing Find the balance between professional and personal in all written communication. Remember that all written communication can be shared beyond your knowledge. Pause before you hit send — remind yourself who this is going to and what your relationship with them is. Exclamation points, emojis, and humor need to be used carefully. Steps to improving your writing now Consider how you would speak the message before you start writing it. Address questions the recipient might ask you. Utilize thesaurus.com, dictionary.com, grammarly.com and the doc spell and grammar checks. Review your writing before you hit send- read it out loud if needed. Hire a writing coach or editor for your most important writing. Improving internal company communication Communication from leadership Is a key component of employee engagement. Consistency is key in all communications. Share as much information as appropriate and why the information is of the employee’s benefit. Every email you send interrupts your employee’s workflow, so make sure they are effective and necessary. Consider the tone of your email to match your company’s culture. Improving external company communication Lead with a hook — focus on what the recipient wants to know. Consider what information is most important to them. Express gratitude in every communication. Recognize the work that your clients are doing. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources FCCS Farm Credit Home Lending Conference Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

1 Building Better Teams with the 2021 Accelerator of the Year Award Recipient 28:38
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The FCCS Accelerator of the Year Award is presented to a forward thinking leader who is working to make a difference in their organization by accelerating them beyond the norm and into the future. The award recipient focuses on growth and development within their organization and within the community at large. In this episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Jay Lux, VP of Organizational Development at FCCS is joined by Kayla Robinson, winner of the 2021 Accelerator of the Year Award. Kayla serves as COO with AgTexas Farm Credit Services and has joined the podcast for a conversation about her experiences with agriculture, her success with building teams, and how forward thinking leaders can accelerate growth and success in any organization. Episode Insights Include: Building better teams Leaders should be involved and engaged in every aspect of the company. Employees need to be in the ‘right seat on the bus’ in positions that help them feel empowered and engaged. The executive team should model the desire to achieve company success over the long run. Building better teams starts with recognizing that everyone has different skill sets and contributions to offer the organization. Building relationships in your community Project involvement can enhance company and community relationships. Leaders should consider serving on advisory boards. Development of the next generation of leaders through mentor relationships is key. Intern opportunities help to share and increase knowledge of career possibilities. Enhancing the employee experience Identifying the mission of the company is an essential first step. Understanding the why behind all the company does helps to get through difficult times. Balancing flexibility and compassion with business matters is essential to an enhanced employee experience. Consider if you are asking employees to run a marathon at a sprint pace. Diversity and understanding the values of each employee increases understanding of what each team member is bringing to the table. Leading in times of chaos or uncertainty Understanding the variety of needs within your team is essential. Flexibility is key to helping your team navigate uncertain times. Consider a more forward thinking approach and adapt as appropriate. The pandemic has taught leaders to be flexible, to adapt, and to ask for grace where needed. Maintaining a focus on the why of what the team does brings a valuable perspective. Don’t be afraid to look outside the box and consider a different way of doing things. This podcast is powered by FCCS Resources Want to know what your employees want? Utilize an employee engagement survey. FCCS’ Employee Engagement Surveys and Consulting - Optimize Your Workforce Start thinking about who you will nominate for the 2022 Accelerator of the Year. Learn more here https://www.fccsconsulting.com/accelerator-of-the-year Read the newsletter article with Kayla Congratulate Kayla on Linkedin Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

With four generations in the workforce, a talent pool that has been shrinking for over 30 years, and over two years of uncertainty and increased stress, it is no surprise that today’s employers are having to alter their one-size-fits-all approach to recruiting and retention. In this episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Stephanie Barton, VP Marketing and Communications, FCCS is joined by Lisa Cavanaugh, VP Leadership Development Experiences, FCCS and Beth Oliphant, Talent Manager, FCCS, for a conversation about the do’s and don’ts of talent retention in today’s evolving workforce environment. Episode Insights Include: The state of today’s workforce The US labor force has been shrinking over the last 30-40 years. Low birth rates, earlier retirement, and the pandemic all contribute to today’s smaller workforce. People are reevaluating what life looks like beyond employment. Employers today have to actively recruit their new hires. Strategies for recruiting top talent Personal connection is key to recruiting talent. Aligning with the candidates' purpose and relationship is essential. Flexibility with benefits is appealing to new hires. Offer flex time, pet benefits, education benefits, and health benefits. Think creatively about how you find candidates and entice them to your organization. New hires need to see and feel that they are becoming part of something bigger than just their position. Utilize social media to present your company and share your mission. You can’t start too early — identify ways to engage with the next generation. Approaching expectations from your potential new hires With four generations in today’s workforce, employees have a wide variety of needs. Managers need to focus on the individual in front of you, not the portrait of an ideal candidate. Consider tailoring benefits in a way that is customized to employee expectations. Identify the career and personal goals and motivators of each employee. Preventing a resignation crisis Intent to leave has increased over the last two years, particularly from millennial employees. An increase in remote work options has decreased local employee retention. Heavy work loads and high stress environments are resulting in employee burnout. Do not wait to show recognition and appreciation to employees. Ask employees what they want from their job and share their answers with HR. Steps to keeping key contributors engaged Consistent communication is key to every employee-manager relationship. Identify their goals and how the company can help accomplish them. Key contributors need to be their own advocate for their business development training. Offer feedback more regularly than only at a yearly performance review. Consider developing a mentor program to help empower new employees. Minimize micromanaging while offering consistent support. Key takeaways for talent retention Be flexible as much as possible with hours, location, and tasks. Be explicit about employee expectations. Mental health awareness is a key component to employee success. Identify ways to support whole-life wellness. Develop customized treatment of each employee. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Want to know what your employees want? Utilize an employee engagement survey. FCCS’ Employee Engagement Surveys and Consulting - Optimize Your Workforce Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

It’s been two years since the pandemic required a complete transition to online work, and the benefits and lessons learned from this shift have been expansive and long-lasting. But what does it take to be an effective leader in today’s remote and hybrid environment? In today’s episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Stephanie Barton, VP Marketing and Communications, FCCS is joined by Brian Carter. Brian has over 20 years of experience in marketing, digital media, and communications and will be speaking at the upcoming FCCS Farm Credit Home Lending conference in Nashville in May about e-leadership and challenges of leaders in today’s digital work environment. Brian’s entire career has focused on encouraging people toward optical performance while online, and he has valuable insights into leading teams through difficult tasks. Not with the use of a carrot or a stick, but as an aligned team with the values that lead to success, both in person and online. Today’s Insights Include: How has the pandemic changed the way work gets done? The pandemic has significantly improved the online interactions among teams. Leaders have to be able to motivate their team even when they’re not physically together. Many of these changes are here to stay, depending on the preferences of the employees. Managers who don’t have remote management skills are at the greatest risk of losing their positions. The skillset of effective remote leaders Engaging managers are successful managers. Emails can be personal and still professional. Effective managers can be a leader and a friend. Successful managers own up to their weaknesses and don’t demand perfection of themselves or others. Micromanagement is never an effective approach to leadership. Recognize that an eight-hour workday is not essential for every position. What doesn’t work for leaders? Influence and authority are not demanded, they have to be earned. Generational differences and values are significant and need to be recognized. Transparency and honesty are more important than perceived perfection. Economic disparity is a major millennial concern. Remote work can’t take the blame for all employee acquisition and retention problems. Steps to becoming a more effective leader Identify your company’s three main values and your own personal values. Hire and fire employees based on these values. Act and lead in accordance with these main values. Discuss the values of potential employees and whether they align to create a cultural fit. This podcast is powered by FCCS.…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

It’s that time of year again. Performance reviews are upon us, and without the proper preparation, even the best leaders can miss this valuable opportunity to make meaningful connections with their team members. In today’s episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Stephanie Barton, VP Marketing and Communications, FCCS is joined by Jeannie Clinkenbeard, Director and Senior Leadership Consultant, FCCS for a conversation about best practices for performance reviews. Forward-thinking leaders know why performance reviews are important, how to maximize their effectiveness and how to use them to engage their employees. Their conversation is filled with best practices and advice to help ease the stress and provide a clear structure for upcoming performance reviews to make the process a little less painful and a lot more effective for everyone involved. Today’s Insights Include: Why are performance reviews important and how have they changed? Formal performance reviews press the pause button and provide an opportunity to reflect on the past year and look forward to the future. Performance reviews provide an opportunity to celebrate what is working well and plan for what is coming next. Over 50% of employees used to dread performance reviews, but that has changed with the transition away from numeric performance rankings. A midyear review can help reduce the stress of the annual performance review. Performance reviews are an opportunity to connect with your employees, to give them encouragement and put them on a path for success. Key elements of a successful performance review Performance reviews should facilitate a positive, open conversation with the employee. Review past performance, successes and alignment with the job description. Consider the future — what is the plan moving forward? Ask the employee about their development aspirations — what opportunities would they like? How to prepare for a more effective evaluation Proper preparation can make a great difference in how meaningful the exchange will be. Set up a system that you can utilize throughout the year. Create an Outlook folder for each team member to hold compliments and positive feedback throughout the year. Send yourself emails about performance notes to include in the employee’s folder. Ask other team members for input and feedback about their experiences and interactions with the employee. Considerations for the environment of a performance review Select a location that is quiet and non-intimidating — consider a coffee shop or outdoors rather than your office or a conference room. Consider the physical distance between you and your team member — a conference room is an unnecessarily large space for the review. For virtual reviews, make sure both cameras are on and that you treat it with the same confidentiality and respect that you would any other review. Questions for the leader to ask What has this year been like for you? How would you describe your experiences this year? What projects have you been working on? What goals did you meet this year that energized you? Were there specific goals or behaviors that you found particularly challenging this year? What professional aspirations do you have that I can be aware of? What makes your heart sing in your work? Are there life aspirations that you are working toward? How to approach the difficult aspects of a performance review Do not wait until a review to let a team member know that there is a gap in their performance. Addressing a change or lack in behavior provides immediate opportunities for improvement. It is unfair to the team member to not offer immediate feedback when it is needed. If your employee has broken a policy or not corrected behavior after a clear conversation, HR or your manager will need to be involved. Keep track of course correction with documentation of a specific plan. Highlight the impact of negative or positive behavior to the team and the company culture. Wrapping up a performance review in a positive way Every employee wants to know that what they do is relevant. Thank the team member for the specific ways that they contribute to the team. Highlight the impact of the work that they do on the company. Key things to avoid during a performance review No surprises — keep the conversation going throughout the year. Avoid the ‘recency effect’ — don’t focus solely on what the employee has done in the last month or two. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about what has changed or what needs to change. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources FCCS Leading Self Program FCCS Leading Others Program Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

All that has really changed recently is everything. 2022 is a year of new opportunities, and it’s all about pressing forward to the future. On today’s episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, host Jean Cantey Segal welcomes Leslie Hilton, Jay Lux, and Lisa Cavanaugh to introduce the consultants from the FCCS Consulting Network and kick off the new year. In a fireside chat format, together they discuss forward-thinking and future-forward advice for leaders, directors, and teams as we all move forward into 2022. They highlight ways that leaders can take advantage of the opportunities of the new year and help organizations energize their leadership and their governance, strengthen their cultures, and create a distinct competitive advantage. Today’s Insights Include: Highlights from the panelists recent work The right person in the right position can have a huge positive impact on an organization. Jay’s work combines a quantitative and qualitative analysis to provide the best possible understanding of what each employee has to offer. Leslie reflects on the enthusiasm she has seen regarding training from subject matter experts and the concepts within their leadership roles. Many directors are stepping up to the challenge of providing more value to their organizations, particularly in light of recent disruptions. The unexpected shift brought on by the pandemic has created a different kind of opportunity. Lisa has seen clients embrace opportunities to do things differently. Potential team and organizational challenges in 2022 Uncertainty and volatility are going to continue to be present in the new year. Multimodal ways of getting work done require an increase in management. The Great Resignation could be reframed as The Great Reshuffle, and provide new opportunities for growth within teams. If an employee’s whole health and well-being isn’t being addressed, there is a higher likelihood they will look for opportunities elsewhere. A strong economy with low levels of unemployment means there are many options for change. Supply chain issues will continue into 2022. Boards need to challenge themselves to be continuous learners who understand these disruptions, challenges, innovation, and opportunities. Key actions directors can take today Consider the effectiveness of policies surrounding director training, board training and education. Be proactive about taking on direction, leadership, and training. Challenge assumptions to ensure that the best thinking is being engaged. Clearly articulate the kind of culture you want to have. Define and employ the key points of effective communication. Mind your mindsets — a fixed mindset will severely limit your access to talent. Abundance and self-efficacy mindsets will give you and your team an advantage. Be curious about what you don’t know and use that curiosity to learn something new. Focusing on forward thinking amidst day-to-day operations Set achievement-oriented goals instead of chasing perfection. Work-life integration needs clear boundaries in order to be successful. Leaders need to create space for reflection, thought and strategic planning. Connection building and psychological safety are critical to successful forward thinking. Creating and fostering strong connections in a multimodal work environment Virtual happy hours can help engage teams and form connections. Don’t stress about perfection as long as the goal is still being achieved. Resilience is key to proceeding on in this uncertain environment. Clear objectives and goals allow for measuring progress. Celebrate achievements, no matter how small, wherever possible. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Consulting Network Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

The last ten years has seen rapid changes to processes, projects and positions. And as essential as it is to keep up with change, it’s even more essential to ensure that your team is on board with you. People care about how change is going to impact them personally, and leaders need the tools and strategies that will help them and their team navigate change. On today’s episode of The Forward Thinking podcast, Stephanie Barton is joined by Rev Gen Partners Senior Manager Lauren Croucher for a conversation about the tools that can help any leader effectively navigate change. From evolving with the rapid changes that we have all experienced during the pandemic to embracing your team’s latest initiative roll-out, their conversation is filled with advice that can help leaders effectively manage change. Today’s Insights Include: Effectively managing change Change has the potential to be extremely destructive if it’s not managed properly. The pandemic has warped the speed of change and the need to change quickly. The change curve is a helpful tool in managing change- and it’s also known as the Five Stages of Grief. The right time to formally approach change Change management is the other side of project management. It is appropriate to utilize a formal approach to change every single time it happens. It is essential to focus on the people rather than the product affected by any change. Identify the reason behind the change and the goals you hope to achieve by making it. It’s never really too late to formally address change and what’s in it for those affected by the change. Involving your team in the change process Address WIIFM- What’s In It For Me? A sponsorship coalition is an integral part of effective change management. The team can be as large or small as needed based on the size of the initiative. Leadership and communication responsibilities can be given to this team leader. Team members need to hear how change is going to affect them from their direct supervisor. Effective change must-do’s and don'ts Train your managers and leaders on how to manage change with people. Follow the Rule of Seven- use seven ways to share your message seven times. There will be resistance- embrace it and plan for it. Utilize tools that allow for more casual communication and empower people to embrace the change. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Rev Gen Partners Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

The future of digital transformation is the future of business, the workforce, and the world. Today’s host FCCS Chief Learning Officer Jean Cantey Segal welcomes Future Point of View thought leader and speaker Scott Klososky, for a conversation about the future of digital transformation over the next five to ten years. Scott works to help companies understand how technology can be harnessed to create a bright and prosperous future, and he has joined the podcast today to share insights into what exactly companies can expect in the digital future, how to prepare for these rapidly approaching changes, and how to utilize technology to strengthen customer and company relationships. Today’s Insights Include: The rapidly advancing pace of digital transformation The pandemic has played a significant role in speeding up the pace of the digital transformation. Today’s technology provided a foundation that kept businesses running during the shutdown. The pandemic also improved organization collaboration, communication, and automation. Tools that were at our fingertips prior to the pandemic have been activated in meaningful ways. Advice for the leaders in any organization The pace of change in technology can catch leaders off guard, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Leaders need to invest more time and energy in staying up-to-date on digital transformations. Board members are valued for their wisdom- this requires learning about foundational technologies and applying it to preexisting knowledge. Cybersecurity is a key threat that leaders need to be prepared for with playbooks and cyber insurance. The future of the digital backbone and the digital halo The digital backbone refers to the core pieces of software that companies use to do business. Leaders need to consider how they are utilizing and modernizing their backbone. The digital backbone has grown in importance as a piece of an organization. A digital halo refers to the ability of a company to utilize technology to provide an exceptional customer experience. Seek the digital halo that your customers want to experience. The digital halo is critical today, and will be mandatory in the future. Creating a personalized digital experience Companies need to use the gathered information about customers to create personalized experiences for them. Building a digital collection means utilizing the technology that enhances the customer relationship. There are plenty of options in the technology toolbox that can be used to the advantage of the business-customer relationship. Companies need to be mindful of what tools to use and when. Changes to ag lending in the next 10 years There will not and should not be a quick return to in-office work. Collaboration software should continue to be used to improve company communication. High end human skills have to continue to mix with high end technology skills. In the future, more work will be done with less, but more powerful people. As automation continues to improve, customers will be able to do more with less company assistance, making strong relationships more important than ever. Relationships with borrowers will not change in the future- they will continue to be critical. Navigating a VUCA world Companies today are faced with a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguity world. The digital transformation offers a complex world that many of us are not built to navigate well. Calm down! Forward thinking companies make sure their people take time for their health. Rise of the centaur A centaur is a highly skilled human with high technology skills. Growing and developing centaurs is in the future of every company. Digital wellness is key to keeping centaurs healthy and happy at work. Companies need to be prepared to nurture and develop the centaurs of the future. Scott’s forward thinking advice Take time to go off the grid Spend as much time with people as you do with screens. Identify areas that feel off balance and take the time to correct them. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Future Point of View Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

1 Finding Your Network and Mentoring Others with Janet Riggs 32:13
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Surrounding yourself with wise mentors and a strong network can be the key to a successful career. But how can you develop these relationships? Today’s host John Regentin, Senior Consultant at FCCS is joined by the 14th President of Gettysburg College, faculty of Women of Distinction at Gettysburg Janet Riggs for a conversation about the power of networks and mentors. Janet is a featured speaker at the FCCS Gettysburg Leadership Experience Women of Distinction program and has joined the podcast today to share her insights into the power of finding your network and mentoring others. She shares her experiences of being pushed to higher levels with the encouragement of mentors, the support she found within positive and constructive networks, and the advice that she has for others when establishing and developing these valuable relationships in your career. Today’s Insights Include: The role of mentors in your career A mentor can help guide you through transition points in your career. A mentor will invite you to explore career moves you haven’t otherwise considered. Mentors invite the inclusion of less experienced team members to the table. Mentor interactions have the potential to impact a career in unexpected, positive ways. Mentors work to build confidence in others. The value of your building your network Networks function in a different capacity than mentors. Networks provide opportunities to connect with colleagues to gain guidance from shared experiences. Both networks and mentors should aim to push you to try new things. How to build sustainable relationships These relationships require care and feeding, they will not just happen. Identify ways to nurture relationships and then act on those opportunities. Supporting others in their roles will help build your relationships with them. Sound advice from networks and mentors If your ego can take rejection, go for the opportunities that are in your path. The most valuable advice is rarely complicated, it’s actually quite simple. You will gain more value from your network when you pay it forward to others. Take what you need from your network, but you also have to feed into it. Don’t wait too long or the opportunities tend to disappear. Seeking guidance through challenging decisions Talk to those in similar experiences about their strategies and successes. Moral support is easy to find when you share common challenges. Aim to turn struggles into constructive opportunities when counseling with others. Keeping your networks strong Intentionally seek out those who can support you and who you can support. Reach out to others but don’t force relationships that aren’t happening naturally. Remain positive and constructive in these interactions. Expect your network to shift as your career and responsibilities shift. Advice for women who are facing career choices Don’t underestimate your ability to take on new challenges and be successful. Take credit for your accomplishments and incorporate your successes internally. There is great power in the ability to say no to something that doesn’t feel right. Ensure that your personal and professional goals are aligned — there is more to life than work. Advice for your younger self Don’t sweat the small stuff. Get more sleep! Take care of yourself so that you can function well as a human being. Consider the long game in all that you take on. Don’t choreograph your future too tightly — be open to new opportunities. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources The Gettysburg Leadership Experience Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Conversations — whether you love them or hate them, we all have to participate in them. What feels like a gift to some can be torture for others, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Our guest today believes that anyone can learn how to be an exceptional conversationalist. Today our new host Michele Padilla, Director & Senior Leadership Consultant at FCCS is joined by Debra Fine, conference keynote speaker, trainer, and bestselling author of The Fine Art of Small Talk for a discussion about the power of conversation skills, building rapport, and networking. Debra will be speaking at the upcoming FCCS Leading Leaders course, and as an engineer, she has transformed her admiration for people who have the gift of easy conversation into a simple formula that anyone can follow. The skills in her conversation toolbox range from conversation starters, conversation killers, and the questions you can ask anyone to more fully enjoy your conversations, build your network, and earn the trust and possibly even the business of others. Today’s Insights Include: The why behind honing conversations skills There’s no getting around it — everyone has to participate in conversations. What seems like a natural gift for some can actually be learned by anyone. Introverts and extroverts have different strengths in conversations. Too many people don’t pay attention to their conversation skills because they have never learned how to hone them. Benefits of learning small talk Small talk is the appetizer to any relationship. Referrals will come more readily when small talk comes easy. Small talk creates a culture that people enjoy being in. Companies that have an environment of easy small talk rise above competitors. Traits of the best conversationalists They assume the burden of other people’s comfort. They introduce themselves to others first. They offer conversation topics that others can join in on. They ask open-ended questions that encourage continued conversations. How to start a conversation with anyone First, notice whether someone is already engaged in a conversation with someone else. Break into a group by introducing yourself first and offering some self-disclosure. Remind yourself of things you can discuss about the other person. Walk up to people and just say hello — make it a task if necessary. Move away from your desk or seat and make your way around the room. The value of networking as a leader You don’t know where you might be in three or five years from now. Networking has to happen before you need to rely on your network. Building a network is key to building rapport within your organization. People are much more interested in working with someone who is interested in them. Key networking habits of successful leaders Take ownership of your responsibility to connect with others. Leaders introduce people to other people. Leaders show a genuine interest in a person through their eye contact and body language. You may not be able to mentor everyone, but you can take 3-5 minutes to connect with anyone. Ask for referrals to get your company on other’s radars. Use Google Alerts to stay in touch with key happenings. Leaders don’t keep the conversation centered on themselves for long — keep the ball moving back and forth. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources The Fine Art of Small Talk by Debra Fine Leading Leaders Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

1 Connecting with Clients and Creating a Competitive Advantage with David Avrin 40:02
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Is customer loyalty dead? With constant disruptions in today’s marketplace, companies have to work smarter than ever before to maintain loyalties and meet the expectations of today’s customers, clients, and staff. Our guest today understands how forward thinking companies make this happen. David Avrin is one of the most in-demand Customer Experience and Marketing speakers and consultants in the world today. David will be speaking at the upcoming Forum for Ag Lending, and has joined the podcast to discuss the importance of connecting with your clients to ‘future-proof’ your business. David shares insights into navigating the fast-paced changes that companies are facing in every industry, the importance of building client relationships in a world that demands both speed and quality, and simple steps that every company needs to take to create and maintain a competitive advantage. Today’s Insights Include: Changes in expectations from today’s clients The pandemic has both accelerated and amplified many changes in the needs of today’s customers. There is a greater expectation for speed and access for consumers as well as for your clients. Customers are prioritizing speed, access, and convenience like never before. It is time to reevaluate where our company’s real value and competitive advantage lies. Quality is the entry fee, convenience is the new standard The importance of quality client relationships Speed is top priority for most clients, but the expectations are also high when it comes to quality interactions. Clients prioritize organizations that are remarkably easy to do business with. Customer loyalty isn’t dead- it’s simply harder to gain than ever due to disruptions in every market. Creating a competitive advantage Companies that excel are the ones that offer multiple options for getting business done. Simplified processes are critical to customer satisfaction. Future-proofing your engagement means deliberately envisioning how you think about changes that are facing your industry and how you can prepare for them. Your customers are comparing you against the best of the best in every other industry. Modeling your customer experience for today’s demands Forward thinking companies find ways to serve all of their clients. Authenticity is a critical component to making meaningful connections. Focus less on perfection and more on being human. Connections to customers starts with being really good at what you do and being customer-centric about how you deliver it. “Let me tell you what I can do” is a phrase that customers want to hear. How to move beyond a limiting mindset Put conversations on the calendar. Create space to have discussions with your clients about the things that matter to them. Don’t try to do more, consider doing what you’re already doing differently. Ask your team what you don’t know that you should know. Create safe spaces that your team can speak up about change that needs to happen. This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources 2021 Forum for Ag Lending: Accelerate Your Yields Visibility International Morning Huddle Membership Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

How we communicate is how we operate. What does your communication style say about you? Returning to the podcast, our guest Ryan Avery is here to discuss THE communication strategies that make great leaders. Ryan Avery is THE Keynote Speaker, and he has continued to partner with FCCS for the Go From A Leader to THE Leader Online Strategic Communications Program and is THE Keynote Speaker at many of the FCCS conferences. Today we’re talking about communication — what it is, what it isn’t, how it changed in the face of the pandemic, and what forward-thinking leaders need to do to maintain effective communication, reduce fatigue, and increase their luck in today’s continually changing world. Today’s Insights Include: Communication changes that are worth keeping The pandemic forced change on all of us, and some changes have been for the better Communication itself doesn’t change, but methods of communication do change Maintaining the hybrid model of communication benefits all aspects of our lives In-person events are irreplaceable and need to come back again Meetings need to be minimized wherever possible Effective email strategies will change the way that you communicate for the better Communication wins in today’s leadership Employee appreciation is critical and increasing in many companies Training budgets are increasing and offer aid in employees personal and professional lives The hybrid work model has required a positive, customized change in communication and will continue to be offered at many forward-thinking companies Warning signs regarding communication Too many meetings is a sure indicator of a breakdown in effective communication Overly strategic appreciation loses the personal and human element of interactions Failure to acknowledge the truly personal level of interaction that we are having with others, especially in the virtual environment Empathy is an essential skill that takes leaders to the next level The element of luck in communication Reliable luck requires actions, relationships, and proximity to what it is that you want Increased luck will come when you are willing to do more Luck does not mean chance — it requires action for what you want to see happen Moving beyond the fatigue of 2020 Fulfillment in work needs to be an essential part of the rebound from the pandemic Ask yourself if you are feeling jealous or inspired? Disappointed or grateful? Stop being overly passionate — convert your passion to being purpose-driven in the work that you are doing. Harness your creativity, whatever that means in your work and in your life This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Ryan Avery, THE Keynote Speaker Go From A Leader to THE Leader Online Strategic Communications Program Speaker, Leader, Champion: Succeed at Work Through the Power of Public Speaking, featuring the prize-winning speeches of Toastmasters World Champions by Ryan Avery and Jeremy Donovan “Don’t Wait for Your Luck to Change: Make it Work for You Today” by Ryan Avery FCCS 2021 RISK 360 Conference Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Courageous leaders are in greater demand today than ever before, but what exactly does such a powerful leader look like? What do they say and how do they interact with their team? On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications, Stephanie Barton welcomes Mike Stavers, executive leadership coach, author of Leadership Isn’t for Cowards and speaker at the upcoming FCCS Sales Leadership Conference for a conversation about the goals and actions of an impactful leader. He shares the characteristics of these courageous leaders, questions that leaders ask themselves and others, and the steps that anyone can take to make meaningful contributions to their team today. Today’s Insights Include: Leading courageously in today’s uncertain environment Courageous leaders see the threat and pursue the results inside the context of values and purpose anyway. What is C.O.U.R.A.G.E. and how does it define what a true leader should do? Followers look to their leaders for their positive influence. Too often, leaders underestimate their influence and miss out on key opportunities. Your leadership ‘style’ is not nearly as important as meeting your followers' needs. What do leaders need to focus on today? Focus on the human impact of what we’ve all been through over the last 12 months. Recognize and address the PTSD that is resulting from pandemic experiences. Create ways to cultivate a high-performing team without physically gathering everyone together. Take a self-inventory and increase your self-awareness, then solicit feedback from your team. 3 questions leaders need to ask themselves, and 3 questions to ask others. Creating a positive work environment Burnout is a ratio between energy and return on energy — what is worth the effort to your team? What you see and hear has the greatest impact on what you (and your team) are willing to do. Give yourself (and your team) permission to lean into the burnout that may be present. The words your followers need to hear in every conversation they have with you. 3 keys to creating a culture of excellence Clarity about expectations and purpose is essential to effective leadership. Accountability strives to identify outcoming, gain team commitment, and resourcing, encouraging, and asking questions. Recognition calls for massive celebration around wins. Mike’s tips for leaders and followers If you can connect without waiting for a meeting, do it now. Take initiative — find ways to make meaningful and helpful contributions to your team. Don’t worry about being the best on the team, but always bring your best to the team. Identify how to best communicate with and support others — according to them, not you. This podcast is powered by FCCS . FCCS Conferences Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

1 Bringing an Outside Perspective and New Expertise to the Board 27:32
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An overly agreeable board of directors may sound nice, but it is exactly the opposite of what a forward thinking company wants in their boardroom. To help explain what the board of directors should be striving toward instead, on this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton is joined by Jay Lux, VP of Organizational Development at FCCS. Together they examine the differences between management and the board of directors, review the process of finding the right fit for an outside director and highlight the many benefits that can come from being challenged in new and meaningful ways by inviting an outside director into the boardroom. Today’s Insights Include: Distinguishing between management and the board of directors Management’s main role is to run and operate the business. Key responsibilities include hiring staff, running daily operations, keeping products in stock, goal setting and maintaining a profitable margin. The board of directors is responsible for overseeing and supervising the CEO or general manager. The board of directors holds the management accountable for running the business. The board sets long-term goals for the company and holds three primary fiduciary duties. This cooperative structure sets co-ops apart from corporations. The value of an outside director Outside directors bring in a new perspective to create constructive tension. This unique role is valuable when asking the right questions and challenging board thinking. Outside directors offer increased diversity of thought and experiences. Pros of an outside director include complex decision-making and challenging the board’s perspective. Cons include adjustments from the board and with the bylaws, handling the learning curve, and a slight minimizing of industry experience. The process of bringing in an outside director Boards need to be aware of state regulations that may impact their efforts. A guest speaker may be helpful in educating the board regarding these considerations. The board needs to articulate the reasons they would like to see an outside director and adjust bylaws as needed. Boards need to cast a wide net when looking for the best fit outside director. Consider the value of a good fit director versus a fresh perspective. The board needs to be aligned on and supportive of these decisions and ready to adopt the insights that an outside director will bring in. This podcast is powered by FCCS . FCCS Conferences Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

The pandemic has impacted every facet of the US economy, leaving economists wondering what exactly the long-term impacts might be. To answer some of the most pressing economic questions, this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast joins FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton and Joel Prakken, Chief US Economist, IHS Markit, for a discussion about the current state and realistic forecast of the economy. Joel shares both the highlights and harsh realities of the pandemic aftermath and some of the most impactful trends and consequences to look out for next. Today’s Insights Include: Economic reflections resulting from the pandemic The scientific community offered an unprecedented response to developing a vaccine. There is the potential for vaccine setbacks that will keep the economy from moving forward. Full economic recovery will happen when the world is no longer preoccupied with the virus. While the initial US response to the virus was among the worst, vaccine action has been among the best. This global pandemic will require continuously improving global progress. GDP growth and first quarter insights The first-quarter numbers offer clues into where the economy might be headed throughout 2021. Sales versus production was much stronger in Q1, including purchases by domestic buyers, indicating that GDP growth should steadily increase throughout 2021. Monetary and fiscal policies continue to be extremely accommodating as we emerge from the pandemic. Implications of the CARES Act, the American Rescue Plan and other government pandemic relief funding. Implications of the presidential infrastructure spending plan The plan details $2.3 trillion spending to be dispersed over 8 years. Beneficiaries will include infrastructure, education, healthcare and pandemic relief. Prospects for the plan being passed are still relatively uncertain and open to change. Reconciliation would allow Congress to enact budget legislation taxes and spending with a majority vote. Additional fiscal stimulus will raise the economic forecast. Forward-thinking observations in economic operations The shift toward online shopping will affect retail space property values. Changing work from home norms will have a great impact on commercial office space and residential real estate. There are many considerations regarding environmental impacts and increased resilience. Workforce patterns in the labor force have been greatly altered as a result of the pandemic. Business capital spending in technology has already surpassed its pre-pandemic rising trends. When the US vaccination rate reaches 72%, we can most likely expect a booming rebound in the economy. This podcast is powered by FCCS . The Futurist FCCS Conferences Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Over the past year, the pandemic required that nearly every aspect of life be put on hold, but the time has come for forward thinking leaders to resume looking to the future. On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications, Stephanie Barton and the Futurist and founder of The Foresight Academy, Jared Nichols delve into what it takes to take control of your future and guide your team in a world that most recently has felt very out of control. Jared shares insights into the key skills of leaders who are proactively shaping the future, how they effectively strategize with their teams to turn possibilities into victories, and the steps that leaders take to create the future that they want. Today’s Insights Include: Skills of leaders who shape the future Leaders consider the implications of their choices on the future of society. Learning from the past is easier because of context while learning from the future requires considering the impact of the decisions we make on the outcomes we want. Leaders need to develop the skill of self-awareness. Diversity of thought is essential when making decisions about the future. Embracing life-long learning by recognizing that you don’t have all of the answers. Humility and curiosity are essential skills of a progressive leader. Effective leaders are able to listen and learn beyond their own echo chamber. Strategizing for the future Leaders take proactive steps toward the future, not reactive steps. Getting ‘unstuck’ starts with defining what you are stuck in right now. Reflect on recent milestones and celebrate each victory. Identify the steps you took before the shutdown that contributed to your success, and consider implementing them again. Excitement about the future creates creativity and draws you toward the future. Bringing company culture back to center stage Companies in a post-pandemic world need to focus on the grace of individual experiences. Companies need to create a safe place for employees to share their experiences without fear of losing their jobs. Invite your team to share their ideas for turning vision into reality. Give your team permission to slow down at times to improve overall performance. Taking the lead in your future Ask yourself “whose future are you creating?”. Recognizing and acting on opportunities will create a greater likelihood that you will actually accomplish your vision. Define what it means to you to be successful and make conscious decisions about achieving your success. Consider your future as an adventure, and have fun with the exploratory process. This podcast is powered by FCCS . The Futurist FCCS Conferences Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

What are you doing in 2021 to accelerate the success and growth of your organization? Effective leaders have a win-win mindset that shows in every aspect of their work, and today’s guest has proven that this mindset makes all the difference. On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS CEO Chad Moller is joined by Byron Enix, former CEO of American AgCredit, key leader and recipient of the inaugural Accelerator of the Year Award. Byron has contributed significantly to the growth, advancement and development of his organization as well as his community, and has joined the podcast to share insights into his forward thinking mindset. From the importance of increasing diversity and engaging in meaningful community involvement to effectively improving company culture and customer relationships, this episode is filled with inspiration and insights that will accelerate the success and growth of any organization, starting today. Today’s Insights Include: Creating distinction as a leader A focused leader maintains a team-oriented mindset. Personal development is key to honing leadership skills, defining greater vision and developing a clear understanding of personal goals. Networking and training are essential steps of leader development. A leader focuses on the value that they are bringing to their organization. Challenges and opportunities of diversity Increased diversity needs to be a goal for every portfolio. Diversity brings greater flexibility and risk bearing capacity to a portfolio Maintaining credibility and expertise is essential while increasing diversity. Focusing on community involvement Meaningful community involvement is important to both employees and customers. A greater sense of belonging and empowerment to make a difference comes from meaningful community involvement. Community involvement helps define the “why” behind the work we do. Driving a culture of innovation and growth Company culture is a mindset that should be driven by the desire to be the best. Developing trust and relationships are the starting point, delivering the best is the goal. Overcoming hurdles is a critical part of innovation and meaningful growth. There is no excuse for taking advantage of customers who are expecting the best. Excellent board relationships are key to a powerful company culture. Systems will benefit from intentional cross-company relationships. This podcast is powered by FCCS . FCCS Conferences Accelerator of the Year Award Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

How can the stories we tell create distinction with our clients? On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton welcomes author, speaker, and distinction expert Scott McKain to identify the value of stories and creativity in setting ourselves apart. Scott will be speaking in the upcoming FCCS virtual keynote series on what to do when great isn’t good enough to grow your business. Today he delves into the importance of sharing our stories, cultivating creativity, and creating the exceptional customer experience in every aspect of business. Today’s Insights Include: Telling the stories of success The standard of companies that used to define success may no longer be the best metric. How can you stand out in the marketplace to attract customers rather than pursue customers? Too many businesses don’t tell their founding and success stories. A story you keep to yourself has the same value as a story you don’t tell at all. Organization stories have become more important than ever before. Stories create the connections that bring us together. Unconventional ideas for becoming an iconic leader There is a difference between being negative and going negative about the things that could go wrong. Effective leaders identify problems in order to fix broken processes. Distinction highlights what makes you stand out and brings customers to you. Distinction is more important than ever before in the post-pandemic digital world. Exceptional businesses start with a place of caring and concern. Cultivating creativity Customers are attracted to what makes a business different, not what makes it similar to it’s competition. One small tweak can make an exceptional difference in your efforts. Complacency has the potential to kill a leader’s career and has to be combated by creativity. Improve team culture by treating people as an asset, not an expense. Put yourself in your customers shoes and identify what you would like to receive. This podcast is powered by FCCS . Iconic: How Organizations and Leaders Attain, Sustain, and Regain the Ultimate Distinction by Scott McKain FCCS Conferences Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Company culture has moved to the forefront of every organization’s efforts over the last year, and the results have been both valuable and insightful. On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, we’re exploring what it takes to align strong culture and purpose. FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton is joined by Andy Goldman-Gray, Founding Partner at AGG Marketing and Consulting to discuss the critical importance of strong company culture. From developing leaders who walk the talk to aligning what is best for the company with what is best for the individual, Andy shares practical advice that forward-thinking leaders need to follow in order to create and sustain a company culture that aligns teams and is guaranteed to result in greater success. Today’s Insights Include: Creating a sustainable company culture Every organization has been required to adapt company culture and sustain best practices as a result of the pandemic. Why is building a positive culture such an elusive endeavor, and what can you do about it? Leaders must define the actual and aspirational company culture, then ensure that your practices match your promises. Taking time to focus on company culture will result in greater success for your organization. Adapting company culture in a remote work environment 2020 was largely an exceptional year for company culture. A focus on increased communication, agility, and purpose results in increased employee and customer satisfaction. Companies that are taking sustainable forward-thinking steps are going to experience long-term success. Today’s leaders need to be open to new modes of working and employee preferences. Combining purpose and culture Shared values, experiences, and priorities create a strong company culture. Effective organizations have to consider what is best for the customer and best for the business. Leaders need to lead by example, articulate the vision for the culture, and invest time in people. Individual contributors can help positively influence culture by doing the work that stays in line with company culture and encouraging others to do the same. Celebrating peer successes helps strengthen company culture. Aligning purpose and culture for employees It is essential that people feel that the work they are doing matters to someone. Empowering people in their work is a critical component for engagement and retention. People are more likely to stay at a company if it aligns with their culture and values. This podcast is powered by FCCS . Crucial Accountability Conversations FCCS Conferences Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Accountability builds trust, creates consistency, and drives success, but how can you increase accountability in your employees? On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, we’re exploring the critical role that accountability plays in the productivity and efficiency of individuals and teams. FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton is joined by FCCS Director and Senior Leadership Consultant Michele Padilla to discuss ways to effectively increase team performance and leadership capabilities and create a culture and environment of greater accountability. Michelle shares effective ways to overcome a lack of accountability and ideas for improving employee accountability, even in a virtual work environment. Today’s Insights Include: Does accountability drive success? Team performance and strong leadership capabilities are more important than ever. Accountability forces a leader to own their decisions and the resulting actions. Accountability creates consistency and builds greater trust. Holding employees accountable should be a positive experience. Accountability is tied to motivation, yet only 14% of employees feel that their work is managed in a motivating way. Creating a culture of accountability Effective leaders set goals with their employees in engaging ways. Each leader level has to be accountable for their own actions, from the C-suite down to individual contributors. Increased accountability will result in increased productivity and efficiency across the company. Leaders should work to foster accountability at whatever level they influence and always be a role model of accountability. Overcoming a lack of accountability A lack of accountability can come from lack of motivation or a lack of ability. Leaders need to look for the why behind the lack of accountability. It is essential to close the gap between what employees can do and what they need to be able to do. Positive feedback given with care might create waves but should also affect lasting change. Leaders can create an environment of accountability by setting clear expectations for their team. Clearly defined metrics and progress reports will help measure employee accountability. Leaders who understand who their employees are and what they want experience increased success and accountability. Four P’s will help your employees feel accountable as they identify their progress, plans, priorities and problems. Celebrate the progress your team makes along the way. This podcast is powered by FCCS . Crucial Accountability Conversations FCCS Conferences Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

What does it take to take your team beyond motivated to fully activated? The ability to activate the prey drive in your team is the key to building a winning culture and leading any team to greatness, and today’s guest will show you how. On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton interviews Coach Micheal Burt. A unique blend of a former championship basketball coach combined with a deep methodology of inner-engineering people to produce at a higher level in the business world, Coach Burt knows what it takes to coach teams to greatness. In this conversation, he defines prey drive, shares the five activators of prey drive, and explains how a winning team — with the right leader — is capable of more than they ever thought possible. Coach Burt will be speaking at the upcoming 2021 Farm Credit Home Lending Virtual Conference. Today’s Insights Include: How to build winning cultures Winning coaches maintain certain mindsets and proper expectations. Never place your destiny in someone else’s hands. Create positive work environments in which your team can thrive. Connections are essential to a winning culture. Understanding prey drive Prey drive is an instinct in humans that has to be activated. The intensity and purpose that drives us forward is essential to success. Overcoming fears is the key to the initiation of action. The five activators of prey drive include fear of loss, competition, exposure, environment, and embarrassment. Persistence comes with discipline and the drive to see your goals through to completion. Intensity creates the desire to get things done at a quick pace. Activating prey drive in your team Prey drive is activated by attending to all four parts of your nature- physical, emotional, mental and spiritual routines. Your team’s prey drive is activated by the drive and fire that you light in them. Offer honest feedback to your team to activate their prey drive. A good coach is not afraid to have hard conversations about their team’s potential, future, or skill set. Overcome complacency by setting big and challenging goals. This podcast is powered by FCCS . Coach Micheal Burt FCCS Conferences Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

1 Developing Leadership Resiliency - Lessons from Lewis & Clark 33:17
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As leaders continue to guide their teams into the unknown of the future, the most essential leadership skills they need can be found in the past. On today’s episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton interviews Jeff Ton, speaker, author, IT professional, explorer, host and guest of numerous podcasts. Jeff is also a key collaborator on the now-open FCCS transformative leadership development opportunity The Lewis and Clark Experience. In their conversation, Jeff highlights several of the timeless leadership lessons that can be gleaned from Lewis and Clark and their relevance to today’s leaders. He offers insights into the importance of developing resilience as a leader, how to pivot, collaborate, and handle disagreements, and how to lead your team into the future with the confidence and skills of some of history’s greatest leaders. Today’s Insights Include: The relevance of the Lewis and Clark story today There are numerous timeless leadership lessons to learn from Lewis and Clark. Despite changes in today’s business landscape and technologies, key leadership traits have not changed. Unprecedented events such as the pandemic have proven that effective leaders are still essential. The future is always an unknown and unchartered territory. Leadership skills that were needed in the wilderness are still needed today. The greatest challenges for today’s leaders Paralysis in the face of the unknown has the potential to greatly challenge today’s leaders. Leaders must take action — they cannot afford to stop and wait to see what is going to happen next. Leaders who continue to move forward are the leaders who are going to excel. The ability to effectively pivot is an essential leadership characteristic today. Developing resilience and handling disagreements as leaders Individual and team resilience are equally essential skills in today’s world. Reflecting on overcoming past adversity will help understand how to overcome obstacles today. Collaboration with teams is more essential than ever before, even virtual collaboration. Lewis and Clark’s decision point teaches a powerful lesson for handling team disagreements. When making a verdict, the why can be just as important as the what . Once a decision is made, the team needs to be all in on it together. This podcast is powered by FCCS . The Lewis and Clark Experience — registration is now open From Sea to Shining Sea: A Novel by James Alexander Thom Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson and the Opening of the American West by Stephen Ambrose Everything I Learned About Leadership, I Learned from Lewis and Clark by Jeffrey S. Ton Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

1 Modern Leadership Lessons from a Historic Expedition of Discovery with Sean Murray 25:33
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In this time of pandemic and constant change, today’s leaders need to be prepared to face a future that is largely a mystery. There is no greater example of effectively leading a team into the unknown than that of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. On today’s episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton interviews CEO of RealTime Performance, Inc. and host of The Good Life Podcast Sean Murray. Sean has been partnering with FCCS on the soon-to-launch Lewis and Clark experience and has valuable insights that can be used as a metaphor to teach effective leadership in today’s world. Sean shares insights into this high-performing team and the actions that led to their ultimate success. From defining a vision and building a diverse team to journaling and overcoming burnout, there are powerful and relevant lessons to be learned from this incredible leadership team and their awe-inspiring journey. Today’s Insights Include: Looking to the Lewis and Clark expedition to teach leadership Just like Lewis and Clark, we are all moving toward unexplored territory every day. The upcoming FCCS experience will provide a valuable and insightful leadership experience. An overview of the Lewis and Clark expedition shows the importance of effective co-leadership. The true American story includes diversity and inclusion across a team. The relevance of the Lewis and Clark expedition today High performing teams start with a clear vision and a well-stated mission. Discovery can be the overarching goal of an effective team. Diversity in a team will lend the skills that accomplish a vision. Resiliency and the ability to overcome burn-out is a critical element of success. Surprising lessons learned Journaling was a critical element to the preservation of the lessons learned from this experience. Over one million words were captured by Lewis and Clark, detailing all they saw and how decisions were made. Journaling provides an opportunity to reflect on the day and prepare for the next day. It is essential for today’s leader to give a voice to all team members. Takeaways from the Lewis and Clark Virtual Experience This leadership development experience will meet six times to follow specific experiences in the expedition and then draw leadership lessons from each. From defining a vision and building a diverse team to journaling and overcoming burnout, there are several key lessons that will be discussed. Application of these lessons has the potential to create a great impact in today’s world. This podcast is powered by FCCS . Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Leadership skills and strengths are more important today than ever before. Increased complexity and volatility in today’s world demand that leaders navigate constant changes and intense challenges, leaving some leaders feeling unsure of how to effectively proceed. On today’s episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton interviews Lisa Cavanaugh, VP of Leadership Development Experiences at FCCS. They discuss what leadership needs to look like in these unprecedented times, including common leadership mistakes to avoid and key rituals that will increase your team’s productivity and connectivity. Today’s Insights Include: Critical leadership skills in today’s world Learning agility is essential in facing today’s volatile and uncertain world. Leaders have to remain curious in order to recognize that they don’t know everything and then pull in multiple key points and a variety of perspectives to solve challenges. Leaders need to ensure that their teams are comfortable sharing different viewpoints in order to solicit the best ideas for solutions. Crafting a compelling narrative starts with building a story that includes every team member and inspires them to work toward the team vision. Effectively leading dispersed teams The principles of good leadership are constant, whether you’re in the same room or on a different continent. Effective leaders exhibit technical competence, good communication and an ability to set clear expectations. The best leaders know their strengths and weaknesses and act accordingly. Maintaining team cohesion is especially important in dispersed teams, and can be accomplished by setting clear team goals, celebrating wins and crafting new team norms. Communicate, communicate, and then communicate some more and be thoughtful about how your team wants to communicate. Handling productivity during a pandemic Identify which jobs are best suited for dispersed work, and expect productivity accordingly. Top performers and bottom performers both tend to take their efforts to the extreme, and neither is ideal. Leaders should expect work to be done in ways that are balanced and sustainable. Good leaders don’t count hours, they count outcomes. Ask team members how they are doing to better understand productivity and team relationships. Various kinds of distance work including remote, dispersed, and hybrid setups each come with different positives and negatives. This podcast is powered by FCCS . Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

1 A Roadmap to Digital Transformation with Mark Sievewright 31:15
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2021 is just around the corner and for many companies that means preparing a new strategy for a new year. In today’s world of fast-moving digital transformation, the most successful companies have a relentless focus on the customer experience. On today’s episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS Chief Learning Officer Jean Cantey Segal interviews Sievewright & Associates Founder and CEO Mark Sievewright about the strategic importance of the transformations of our digital world. Mark offers valuable insights into the trends and drivers of transformation, as well as the new realities of financial services that are impacting the industry as well as what companies can do today to prepare for this rapidly changing future. Today’s Insights Include: Handling unprecedented changes in technology This moment in history represents a tipping point for financial services that are being created by digital services. Digital transformation reimagines how you bring together people, technology, data, and internal business processes to increase customer value and to improve your competitive position in the markets served. Customers are requiring increased convenience, simplicity, speed, and personalization. Benefits will include digital-based self-service options and greater operations efficiency. Advances in AI, data analytics, voice finance, video banking and greater 5G options are already taking place around the world. Understanding the new waves of competition Changes in the competitive landscape will vary based on farm credit system participation versus retail bank participation. Looking forward to the financial services industry and its players in 2030, including the digital delivery of services. Banks that don’t offer standard digital services are not going to last in today’s market. Identifying consumer and demographic changes Millennials and Gen Z consumers are demanding different access to financial services. Human interaction is no longer a top priority in the delivery of efficient financial services. The future of digital services and human interactions will potentially create different types of jobs that are more efficient and more rewarding. Financial institutions need to identify the kind of organizational structure and talent that they need on their teams. Preparing for the future of digital services Awareness and education are key to preparing for the future of digital services. Identify the strategy that your company is trying to achieve and build culture and talent accordingly. Focus on data analytics and internal efficiency to maximize behind the scenes efforts. Have a relentless focus on the customer experience and prioritize the initiatives that deliver the desired outcomes. The ability to adapt and to be agile is critical to preparation. This podcast is powered by FCCS . Resources: Mark Sievewright Sievewright & Associates Jean.CanteySegal@fccsconsulting.com Get in touch: info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

In today’s hectic world, with more distractions competing for your attention than ever before, how can you stay focused? How can you get and keep other people’s attention? On today’s episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS Chief Learning Officer Jean Cantey Segal interviews focus expert Curt Steinhorst to discuss harnessing the power of human attention. Your attention is the most valuable resource that you have, and Curt understands the need for increased focus in today’s world. He shares the importance of creating a focused environment for yourself and your team, provides doable actions to improve personal attention and reduce stress levels, and offers ways to focus on company culture at an organizational level at a time when the value of people is more important than ever before. Today’s Insights Include: The challenge of focusing at work Focus and attention is a systemic challenge in the workplace, yet no one is talking about it. Employees are overwhelmed with emails, meetings, and constant interruptions with unrealistic expectations for a prompt response. Humans are not wired to be in the situation of information overload and constant interruptions. Attention is the most important resource that you have, and it is in your control. Steps to cultivate greater focus Leaders set the standards — address the issues directly. Limit meetings — scheduling excessive meetings keeps people from getting their work done. Identify how information is being shared digitally across the company. Company culture can be maintained without increasing digital communication — your employees are not connecting as a group in a meeting that no one is paying attention to. Asynchronous videos and one-on-one connections are more effective than another group meeting. Create focused work environments that provide what people need to create a collaborative work culture. The great importance of focus in 2020 The challenges of 2020 have brought a greater need for focus and connection than ever before. Isolation is becoming even more dangerous and has to be combated with meaningful connections. Attention is limited and your brain does not differentiate between the attention you give to world news and your work. Leaders need to identify ways to alleviate stress and lighten the burdens of others. Double down on efforts to increase feelings of community, stability and value. Flexibility is essential to successfully navigating constant change. Value people first by emphasizing humanity in all interactions. Tools to enhance focus Look at your space — your attention is driven by what you see so adjust your web browser to only reflect the task at hand. Match the time to the task so that your brain can work on what matters most first. Create focused routines to eliminate how many active decisions you need to make. Increase movement when you are feeling stuck or distracted. Mind the gaps — do not fill up every moment of your day. Create a transition that mimics a commute at the beginning and end of every day. This podcast is powered by FCCS . Resources Curt Steinhorst Focuswise Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

1 Breaking World Records and Setting Goals with Ryan Avery 40:31
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Our guest today is THE Keynote Speaker Ryan Avery. Ryan has been partnering with FCCS for the Go From A Leader to THE Leader Online Strategic Communications Program and is THE Keynote Speaker at many of the FCCS conferences. Today we’re talking about world record goals and breaking history. Ryan works to break world records around big issues affecting local communities and has joined this first episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast to share the lessons he has learned about becoming THE Leader, taking action that inspires others, and finding purpose in your work. Today’s Insights Include: Breaking meaningful world records Ryan’s world records work to unite and support community events and efforts Successful record breaking starts with intentional planning Making change starts with identify issues that aren’t being addressed Giving back to good causes will benefit you even more than it benefits others Creating a plan to achieving your goal Transform your thinking from being ‘A’ to ‘THE’ best at whatever goal you have set Follow the five D’s of accomplishment — Dream, Decide, Design, Develop, and Deliver Everyone has access to the same tools, the successful people are those that follow through with the five D’s Dissect the process afterward to learn from your mistakes and triumphs Take action that inspires others You become THE leader when your actions inspire others to take action Ask your clients what you can do to serve them right now Find ways to translate your work to today’s digital world Focus on the potential for reaching your finest hour Seeking feedback and finding purpose Give and seek meaningful Meaningful feedback needs to include a how and a why to be effective Other people’s opinions are not your business When you are aligned with your purpose energy starts to flow Overcome stress by recognizing your purpose and focusing on helping others Don’t settle for being ‘a’ when you can be ‘the’ This podcast is powered by FCCS. Resources Ryan Avery, The Key Speaker Go From A Leader to THE Leader Online Strategic Communications Program Breaking History Speaker, Leader, Champion: Succeed at Work Through the Power of Public Speaking, featuring the prize-winning speeches of Toastmasters World Champions by Ryan Avery and Jeremy Donovan Get in touch info@fccsconsulting.com…
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The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Welcome to the Forward Thinking Podcast, powered by FCCS! This podcast’s mission is to inform and inspire in the areas of leadership, employee engagement, governance, risk management & insurance, training, and strategic talent management. We feature industry experts and thought leaders with forward-thinking interviews and discussions. Tune in every other Friday for more information and inspiration to get you forward-thinking.…
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