“Sometimes in deep trauma, there is a spark of clarity.” 

That is a quote from today’s guest, Azim Khamisa. His personal life experiences taught him the practice of compassion, forgiveness, and peacemaking - something we and our world need more of.

Azim became a peace activist after losing his 20-year-old son Tariq to a tragic, gang-related murder in 1995. Out of unspeakable grief and despair, Azim chose the path of forgiveness and compassion rather than revenge and bitterness. This amazing choice led to the establishment of the Tariq Khamisa Foundation (www.TKF.org) and the subsequent forgiveness movement which has reached millions.  

Azim Khamisa is an author, thought leader, and international inspirational speaker. He has received over 80 national and international awards for his work and has written several books, including The Secrets of the Bulletproof Spirit: How to Bounce Back from Life’s Hardest Hits. He also conducts public workshops and training programs in both the corporate world and the nonprofit sector to foster effective, purposeful, and impactful leadership through the process of forgiveness. Over the last 25 years, he has helped thousands of children, families, professionals, and management teams.

“Azim has had a positive impact on my life as I have applied the power of forgiveness in my own relationships with family, friends, and in business. It has given me a sense of relief, and joy and alleviated pain. I encourage everyone to take the concept of forgiveness to heart to heal ourselves, our relationships, families, and communities.”

Simon Vetter

Discussion Points

• The tragic specifics of his son’s murder in 1995 
• What the path of forgiveness can to do to individuals and communities
• Some staggering statistics on kids killing kids in the U.S.
• Four steps to find and practice forgiveness
• Embrace the process of grief - practice healthy ways to work through grief
• Forgiveness will change your life’s trajectory and possibly blow your mind!
• Restorative justice and its societal impact
• The five questions to ask in the restorative justice movement
• How to apply forgiveness and restorative justice in the corporate world
• Words to live by: “Forgiveness is the crown jewel of personal freedom”

Teaming Up Conversations is powered by Stand Out International, and hosted by Simon Vetter. He is an expert on behavior and culture change. He trains and enables teams to create high-performing organizations.

Resources: 

Azim Khamisa Website

Books by Azim Khamisa

Simon Vetter Website

Simon Vetter LinkedIn

High-stress situations pushes people to the edge. 

Some people rise the occasion, others fail. 

What makes the difference? 

Hostage negotiation tactics may at first seem a little too extreme, or intense, to be utilized at work. It’s exactly those situations that can teach us how to deal with tough and highly demanding situations. My guest, Geroge Kohlrieser, a leadership expert and a former hostage negotiator, believes that high-performing leaders are able to use these techniques in any personal or business relationship to ensure they are never a hostage to anyone, including themselves. 

In this episode, we speak about the “secure base” concept. George gives us real-life examples and practical advice on how this may manifest in leaders and how to become a secure base for themselves in order to build an inspiring work environment.

George A. Kohlrieser, trained as an organizational and clinical psychologist, is a Distinguished Professor of Leadership and Organizational Behavior at IMD Business School in Switzerland. He is the founder of the High-Performance Leadership (HPL) Program, the flagship six-day program for experienced senior leaders. George is a frequent speaker at management conferences including the World Business Forum, the World Economic Forum, and the United Nations. He is a media commentator on issues related to leadership, conflict, aggression management, and hostage negotiation and has been a presenter at TEDx talks in both New York and Lausanne.

TEAMING UP Podcast is hosted by Simon Vetter. He is an executive leadership coach and expert on building compelling cultures and inspired workplaces.  

Discussion Points

• What is ‘secure base’ leadership?
• Consequences when people don’t have a ‘secure base’
• The brain is fundamentally negative – and what to do about it 
• How to successfully apply the 'secure base' concept in sales 
• Importance of understanding a person’s pain points
• Techniques to calm down an angry person
• Why do so many leaders often lack excellent listening skills?
• Using the mind’s eye to play to win instead of not to lose
• Affirmations to shift a mindset or emotional state
• How to find a secure base at work: be open and emotionally available
• Recognize the power of ‘choice’ 

Resources: 

George Kohlrieser Website

George Kohlrieser at IMD.org

George Kohlrieser LinkedIn

George Kohlrieser Twitter

George Kohlrieser at Esalen, Big Sur, CA

Simon Vetter Website

Simon Vetter LinkedIn

How do we build a team culture in which teammates feel safe for risk-taking in the face of being seen as ignorant, incompetent, negative, or disruptive? 

In a workplace with high psychological safety, everyone is confident that no one on the team will embarrass or punish anyone else for admitting a mistake, asking a question, or offering a new idea. 

Today I’m talking with Maya Hu-Chan about the fundamental concept of “saving face”. “Face” represents one’s self-esteem, self-worth, reputation, and dignity. Saving face is often understood as saving someone from embarrassment. It is also about developing an understanding of the background, individuality, and perspective of others to discover the unique facets each person possesses. Without that understanding, we risk causing others to lose face without even knowing it.

Maya Hu-Chan is a globally recognized leadership educator, executive coach, and best-selling author. Her latest book "Saving Face: How to Preserve Dignity and Build Trust" is an Amazon #1 Best Seller. Maya has built a reputation for excellence in global leadership, cross-cultural management, diversity, and inclusion. Born and raised in Taiwan, Maya received her BA in journalism from National Chengchi University. She was an anchor for the China Broadcasting Company, then moved to the U.S. to earn a MA from The University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication. She lives in San Diego, California, with her husband and three children.

Teaming Up Conversations is powered by Stand Out International, and hosted by Simon Vetter. He is an expert on behavior and culture change. He trains and enables teams to create high-performing organizations.

Discussion Points

• What does “saving face” mean? What happens when a person “loses face”?
• Psychological safety - how can we foster it?
• Microaggressions - often unintentional offenses caused by bias
• Using the AAA model to work through bias 
• Impact versus intent – why is it important to understand the nuance  
• Life lessons from having raised triplets
• Turning the Golden Rule into the Platinum Rule: Treat others as THEY wish to be treated

Resources: 

Maya Hu-Chan LinkedIn

Maya Hu-Chan Website

Get the Book, “Saving Face”

Simon Vetter Website

Simon Vetter LinkedIn