The Smart Thinking Podcast

Episode 334: Unspoken Expectations (Process & Leadership)

55% of Americans (per GALLUP) indicate that they do not know what is expected of them at work. This is not good for stakeholders or leaders. This episode shares a process to help you help others seek clarity and become crystal clear of their expectations. The process begins with providing everyone choice and voice in their world so that they have permission to seek clarity and be engaged and empowered.

Episode 333: We Need To Talk To Our Kids About Uncomfortable Stuff: Sextortion (Process & Worry)

Gen Z and Gen Alpha are amazing and yet they are facing threats online that others generations could not have even imagined. Sextortion being one and this episode explores how to talk to young people about the threats they face in the 2020's. All of it by learning how to LEAN into difficult conversations with young people.
Learn together
Engage the topic
Announce expectations
Next steps
 

Episode 332: HR in the 20's (Reflection & Process)

Organizations create structure and people create culture. So how do we better support Gen Z in the workforce for a great culture? Take a listen as Ted breaks down strategies to support younger employees and colleagues - -oh heck -- these processes are actually good for everybody. 
Describe how you set yourself up for the future.
List programs and supports you need in your current season of life.
Describe innovations you could support in your workplace to increase success. 
Song: Better Days by Thomas LaVine

Episode 331: Colleagues to the RESCUE (Leadership & Process)

The RESCUE principle will help us increase the success of others as well as ourselves. Take a listen as Ted breaks down the behaviors of great friends and colleagues to support wellbeing, engagement, and the application of our strengths. 
Resources
Empathy
Support their strengths
Challenge
Understand 
Expectations
Buy Ted's book Duke's Storm here. 
 
 

Episode 330: Using a Tabletop to Plan

How good are you or your organization at proactively anticipating what could happen? This episode shares a process borrowed from emergency management and discusses the positive impact of using the wisdom of the crowd to proactively plan for the future. This way everyone understands their role and can support the system in better ways.
Describe where you could apply this process to increase team ownership and understanding.
List people that need to always be in the room when proactively planning.
Describe a past experience that would have been more successful had you done a tabletop.
Buy Duke's Storm here: https://store.cesa6.org/products/dukes-storm
 

Episode 329: I Was Inspired To Write A Book: A Discussion with Ted (author) and Allison (Illustrator).

There is now a name to our buffalo... Duke! Ted is now the author of a children's book entitled: Duke's Storm: A Story of Courage.
This episode is the story about the story and how Ted was "nudged" by a high school sophomore that had participated in his student leadership training. Listen and hear how their shared experience has created a beautiful book. 
This episode details how multi-generational people can do great things together. Ted and Allison combined their talents to create an amazing book!
Buy book here: https://store.cesa6.org/products/dukes-storm 

Episode 328: Midway Energy – BINGO (Process & Leadership)

What is your process to provide energy whenever you are midway through a process, project or year? This process introduces an engaging practice to support what Ted calls MC Squared. Milestones, Communicated, and Celebrated for engagement and empowerment. All by playing BINGO! 
List current initiatives that could use a boost.
Describe how you provide energy midway in your classroom, school, department, or office.
Determine how you’re going to celebrate effort to bring energy
 
Resource: https://myfreebingocards.com
 
 

Episode 327: Reading in the Context of Your Life - Five Books To Read

This week Ted continues his tradition of bringing you books in the context of your life. This "pile" is all about you developing you! Listen as he breaks down five texts that are best read in order. These books will help you plan forward your life and leadership.
The books:
Build the Life You Want, Brooks and Winfrey (Not a country band)
Principles, Dalio
The Mountain is You, Wiest
Tiny Habits, Fogg
10 to 25 The Science of Motivating Young People, Yeager
Song: Somnolent Love, James Tutson

Episode 326: Resolution by Committee (Process & Leadership)

Did you know that only 1% of the people who make resolutions succeed after one year? Let's disrupt that pattern by taking a new approach. The approach? Resolution by committee. Get a group together to increase your success, hold each other accountable, and make micro changes for macro outcomes!
List who your resolution committee will be.
Describe your commitment to self growth and improvement.
List the people who would benefit from this process.
BONUS: describe how you will be different on December 31, 2025.
Ted has also started a playlist that you can follow on Spotify

Episode 324: Overthinkers of the World Unite. A conversation with Meredith Arthur author of Get Out Of My Head (Tools & Reflections)

Great leaders apply empathy to every situation. They also practice self-empathy. This conversation with Meredith about her learning and tactics around overthinking will help you in many ways. First, empathy/self-empathy. Second, identifying what is going on in your heart and head. Third, providing you with strategies to support yourself and others. Finally, a language to help you claim and tame what causes you to be mentally or emotionally restless.
Book: Get Out Of My Head. Inspiration for overthinkers in an anxious world. Meredith Arthur. 
Meredith is the founder of Beautiful Voyager