We often talk ourselves into believing that growth is something that just happens. Almost as if growth is automatic and just unfolds - like magic. ✨

In this episode, Lisa Dempsey sits down with Jesse (Jesus) Hernandez to discuss his transformative journey and what he has learned about what real growth takes.

Jesse shares his journey and insights gained from his experiences. From being an apprentice plumber to starting his own business, Jesse's story is one of growth, learning, and embracing discomfort.

Important lessons for growth:

💥Accepting we are all more alike than we are different

Jesse shares his journey, starting as an apprentice plumber and transitioning through various roles in the construction business. His experience has taught him valuable lessons, including the realization that regardless of background or credentials, we are more alike than different. He emphasizes the importance of valuing the ability to connect with others on a human level.

💥Stop undervaluing your own life experiences

Jesse recounts a pivotal moment in his career when he challenged his boss's perspective and offered a different viewpoint. This courageous move led to a shift in dynamics and opened up opportunities for meaningful conversations and collaboration. He highlights the importance of speaking up and challenging the status quo, especially as you move up the organizational ladder. It’s easy to polish up stinky news, it’s much harder to get uncomfortable and tell the truth in a way that’s digestible. Don’t underestimate this power.

💥Lessons from Mistakes

One transformative moment for Jesse was when he stopped negotiating away his own power. He learned the importance of guiding and supporting others through their own change and transformation, both personally and professionally. We often can do something well, because we got it wrong for so very long. Jesse's journey highlights the significance of being open to change and growth, even in the face of discomfort.

💥Mindset Shifts for Growth

Jesse shares two powerful mindset shifts that have helped him in his journey:

• "I'm either going to win or I'm going to learn." This mindset encourages taking action, knowing that there is value in both success and failure.
• Asking the question, "What could also be true?" This helps to shift perspective from a negative mindset to a more positive and open one.

Jesse's story and insights serve as a reminder that growth and learning often come from embracing discomfort. By embracing discomfort and being open to change we can all navigate challenges and achieve genuinely transformative growth.

More about Jesse Hernandez:

Website ⁠⁠ https://www.depthbuilder.com

LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://linkedin.com/in/jessedepthbuilder

Order "Becoming the Promise You Are Intended to Be” https://www.depthbuilder.com/2nd-first-book

More about People Impact:

Lisa Dempsey – ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisakdempsey/⁠ - ⁠https://www.leadershiplabs.eu⁠

And a new Co-host TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!

Reach us at ⁠PeopleImpactPodcast@gmail.com⁠

Have you ever felt like you are working in a complex, yet primitive place?

You are not alone. Drew Jones is a cultural anthropologist and workplace strategy consultant who studies workplaces through the lens of anthropology.

In this episode we explore the overlap between business and cultural anthropology and the importance of understanding and influencing organizational culture.

Drew emphasizes the need for creating conditions for culture to develop organically, and provides examples of companies with successful organic cultures.

In the latest episode of the People Impact podcast, Lisa Dempsey explores with Drew Jones the primitive yet complex space of the modern day workplace.

⚒️The Power of Intentionality and Autonomy

Jones emphasizes the importance of intentionality across an organization, highlighting how empowering individuals to manage their own energy and output can lead to greater effectiveness. He stresses the need for intentionality from the top down to the shop floor, with everyone taking responsibility for their own actions.

⚒️ Balancing Autonomy and Community

Addressing the challenge of balancing conflicting human needs for autonomy and community, Jones points out that giving employees choice over when and where they work is crucial. He advocates for a commitment to start with choice and build workplaces and teams around peer-to-peer self-organization and radical accountability.

⚒️ Encouraging Innovation and Experimentation

Jones suggests implementing an innovation program that allows employees to dedicate time to coming up with new ideas for internal processes, products, or services. He believes that providing time for innovation teams to use their creative brains can lead to valuable contributions to the business. This approach also aligns with the idea of fostering autonomy and experimentation in the workplace.

⚒️ The Importance of Choice and Collaboration

By fostering a culture that values choice, collaboration, and experimentation, leaders can create environments where employees can thrive and contribute meaningfully to the organization. There is genuine value and potential for employees to flourish when given the opportunity to contribute to the organization in meaningful ways.

For more insights on empowering organizational culture through intentionality and autonomy, be sure to tune in to the People Impact podcast and explore Drew Jones's work in workplace design and cultural anthropology.

More about Drew Jones:

Website ⁠⁠https://www.drewjones.co

LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/amjonesphd/

Order “The “Open Culture Handbook ⁠⁠https://amplifypublishinggroup.com/product/nonfiction/business-and-finance/leadership-and-management/the-open-culture-handbook/

More about People Impact:

Lisa Dempsey – ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisakdempsey/⁠ - ⁠https://www.leadershiplabs.eu⁠

And a new Co-host TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!

Reach us at ⁠PeopleImpactPodcast@gmail.com⁠

Have you ever paused and asked yourself “where did I learn that belief” with the powerful follow up of “AND IS IT TRUE?”

In this insightful episode Joshua Berry and Lisa dive into the concept of limiting beliefs and the impact they have on personal and professional growth. Joshua shares his personal journey of recognizing and overcoming limiting beliefs, and the impact it had on his life and career.

Joshua also shares practical tools and approaches he uses as a seasoned advisor to help individuals challenge and overcome their limiting beliefs.

🛠️ Practical Tools for Overcoming Limiting Beliefs

• Hypotheses and Experiments: Joshua introduces a practical approach that combines the principles of innovation with the exploration of culture and human potential. By formulating hypotheses and conducting experiments, individuals can gain insights into their limiting beliefs and explore new possibilities.
• Self-Reflection Questions: Joshua emphasizes the importance of self-reflection by encouraging individuals to ask themselves key questions such as where they learned a particular belief, its validity, and the gains and losses associated with holding onto that belief.
• Creating Hypotheses for Change: By challenging existing beliefs and creating hypotheses for change, individuals can take proactive steps towards integrating new behaviors and practices into their lives.

🩵 The Power of Choice and Compassion

• Empowering Individuals: in our conversation we highlight the significance of placing individuals in the space of choice, allowing them to evaluate the costs and benefits of their beliefs and decide whether they want to continue holding onto them.
• Practicing Compassion: Joshua emphasizes the need for self-compassion and grace, acknowledging that every belief, whether limiting or empowering, comes with its own set of gains and losses. By approaching beliefs with understanding and compassion, individuals can navigate their personal growth journey with greater ease.

🚀Embracing Change and Authenticity

• Shifting Perspectives: The discussion encourages individuals to challenge the "we have to do this because" mindset and explore the underlying beliefs that drive their actions. By examining the reasons behind their choices, individuals can gain clarity and make informed decisions.
• Daring to Be Naive: Joshua and Lisa conclude the conversation by emphasizing the importance of embracing authenticity and shedding limiting beliefs.

By daring to be naive and open to new possibilities, individuals can unlock their full potential and lead more fulfilling lives.

More about Joshua Berry:

Website ⁠https://joshuaberry.com

LinkedIn ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshberrygphr/

Order "Dare to be Naive" ⁠https://joshuaberry.com/dare-to-be-naive/⁠

More about People Impact:

Lisa Dempsey – ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisakdempsey/⁠ - ⁠https://www.leadershiplabs.eu⁠

And a new Co-host TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!

Reach us at – ⁠PeopleImpactPodcast@gmail.com⁠

Hey Listeners!

Lisa here with a quick update and important request.

Tune in to fund out more!

“How did you feel when you realised that?”

“I must say, I finally felt happy with it. This is making me happy because this makes sense.”

In this new episode we dive deep with Paul ter Wal, a former lawyer turned leadership developer and professional speaker who is reshaping the workplace through his motto, Happiness Makes Money: the well-being of employees isn't just a nice-to-have; it's a must-have for business profitability.

Paul shares his development journey from old-school top-down manager to a new shape of leadership. Achieving this isn't about quick fixes; it requires transforming traditional management mindsets focused on control into cultures of support. He realised that he needed to rethink our standard approach to human resources, from treating employees as mere resources to recognizing them as individuals with unique contributions and needs. Leaders asking "How can I help you?" instead of "What should you do?"—this is a simple but immense pivot. Paul experienced that something as casual as walking meetings or coffee chats can break down formalities and encourage genuine dialogue about what each person needs to thrive at work.

Reflect upon your core values at work – what are your non-negotiables?

Begin implementing supportive strategies within your team.

Start conversations that matter in our workplaces.

It’s these steps towards understanding and supporting one another that build more engaged teams, successful organizations, happier work lives.

More about Paul ter Wal:

Website https://paulterwal.com/team

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulterwal/

More about us:

Lisa Dempsey – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisakdempsey/ - https://www.leadershiplabs.eu

Marjolijn Vlug – https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjolijnvlug/ - https://www.marjolijnvlug.nl/

Reach us at PeopleImpactPodcast@gmail.com

The right words at the right time can make all the difference—not just in business but life itself.

On this episode, we unravel the concept of radical candour developed by Kim Scott. Radical candour isn't a tool as much as a commitment to authentic conversations that drive meaningful change. It invites us to balance truth with care in the words we use. It is a feedback mechanism and more: a transformative approach to your interactions.

We also place radical candour in a cultural perspective; acknowledging that this will pan out differently across cultural (international) contexts where you’ll work together with people from other backgrounds.

Radical candour is built on two fundamental principles: caring personally and challenging directly. At its core, it’s about finding the sweet spot where empathy meets honesty. It facilitates an environment where people feel respected enough that they're open to constructive criticism. When leaders care deeply about their team members as individuals (not just as employees) while also having the courage to provide and receive (!) clear, direct feedback—even when it’s uncomfortable—true growth can occur.

Shift gears towards more impactful communication.

Referenced in this episode:

Radical Candor, by Kim Scott https://www.radicalcandor.com/our-approach/

The Culture Map, by Erin Meyer https://erinmeyer.com/books/the-culture-map/

More about us:

Lisa Dempsey – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisakdempsey/ - https://www.leadershiplabs.eu

Marjolijn Vlug – https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjolijnvlug/ - https://www.marjolijnvlug.nl

Reach us both at PeopleImpactPodcast@gmail.com

The thing with burnout is… you’re largely unaware of it until it happens to you. When we’re ambitious, we’re driven by goals and metrics. Financial success denoted by things and the balance in your bank account. Who are you, in the journey towards that result you’re aiming for? Julian Reeve shares his experiences and wisdom with us in this episode. He's shaping the way organizations tackle stress and burnout and his story is a deeply human wake-up call for work-life harmony.

Julian journeyed from a high-pressure career as music director for Broadway’s "Hamilton" into a role where he now supports organizations and entrepreneurs in managing stress effectively as the founder of Perfect Equilibrium. From massive success to massive burnout to paying it forward, with a responsibility he feels deeply.

Essential realisations that he shares with us:

• detaching his identity from his work and looking at what success truly means
• focusing on the journey to the results, rather than just the results themselves
• learning the tools to deal with the psychology of healthy, sustainable achievement

Having your identity tied up in your work can drive you towards unsustainable levels of perfectionism. But many people don't think they need to do anything before they reach the pain point. That's the most complex thing about burnout. People don't stop to really understand the pain that they're in, physically and psychologically. This is why Julian’s mission includes inspiring change before reaching critical pain points, with a three-question approach he developed specifically for this purpose.

We talk about

• finding your purpose
• recalibrating to create equilibrium
• opening up workplace conversations about burnout

And much more.

“Figure out how to start talking to yourself as you would do a best friend, because if you can get that right, it really is a super superpower.”

Listen to this episode to get inspiration for creating a resilient organizational culture equipped to handle today's fast-paced business environment with gracefulness and agility.

And to be well.

More about Julian Reeve:

Website https://www.julianreeve.com/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianreeve

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/julian.reeve/

Referenced in this episode:

Reframing Perfectionism, the vital need for change – TEDxSantaBarbara https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi-kD8_dyKw

Perfect Equilibrium https://www.perfectequilibrium.co/

More about us:

Lisa Dempsey – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisakdempsey/ - https://www.leadershiplabs.eu

Marjolijn Vlug – https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjolijnvlug/ - https://www.marjolijnvlug.nl/

Reach us both at PeopleImpactPodcast@gmail.com

In today's fast-paced corporate world, the term ‘toxic work culture’ is more than just a buzzword; it's a reality that can deeply impact both individual well-being and organizational health.

This deep dive into workplace dynamics ties together the recognition that toxicity isn't just about individual burnout or interpersonal conflicts; it can be embedded in structures and policies with ripple effects that shape our daily work lives.

From one bad apple or a single poor manager, to performance reviews fostering unhealthy competition or leadership strategies that inadvertently fuel burnout, all levels of toxicity issues deserve noticing.

Leadership is key—whether it’s managers with formal leadership or the personal leadership leveraged from any position, this is about taking the responsibility and opportunity to address toxicity. There are ways to choose (personal) leadership in how you show up when you find toxicity at each of these levels.

How do you, personally, want to be around each other and the organization?

How do you want other people to be around each other and the organization?

As we peel back the layers involving toxic work cultures, and the interplay between them, the goal isn't merely survival within these spaces but transformation so they become places where thriving is possible for all involved.

More about us:

Lisa Dempsey – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisakdempsey/ - https://www.leadershiplabs.eu

Marjolijn Vlug – https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjolijnvlug/ - https://www.marjolijnvlug.nl

Reach us both at PeopleImpactPodcast@gmail.com