BLOGS & RESOURCES
On Hiring the Displaced with Chris Chancey
Kevin Monroe met Chris Chancey seven years ago and they kept in touch. Two years ago Kevin visited Chris’ company Amplio and immediately knew that a conversation would happen in due course. Chris’ recently released book - Refugee Workforce: The Economic Case for Hiring the Displaced - provided the opportunity for Chris’ appearance on this week’s show.
Listen to the Episode:
About the Book
The book highlights the lessons Chris learned from five years of working with companies in manufacturing, construction and hospitality, to fill their labor shortage with a dependable refugee workforce. Chris says that over seven million jobs will go unfilled in 2019, mostly in those three categories.
What Refugees Really Want
We often stereotype refugees in two ways: we either think of them as charity cases that we need to provide for, or we consider them a terrorist threat that we need to be wary of. On the contrary, Chris says, refugees want to contribute, they want to pay taxes, they want to use their skills and time to provide for their families. They want to be seen as people who have value. The average length of time for a refugee to be in a refugee camp is 10 years. They’re not allowed to work while they’re there. Chris sees this as wasted potential, since these are the prime years of their working lives. When they do get an opportunity to work, they have a hunger to prove themselves.
Shalom
Kevin asked Chris to talk about the win-win-win opportunity Amplio is helping businesses discover. Chris responds that we have persons with strong motivation to work, for whom drug abuse is not an issue, and who are legal to work in the US. Amplio matches them with companies that have open positions. Very quickly they started seeing the true impact of engaging the refugee workforce at companies:
- Increase in retention: the industry standard in manufacturing is 40%. With refugees, the retention rate is 80%.
- Increase in productivity: Refugees are highly motivated to work so they can provide better for their families.
- Increase in profits: with higher productivity comes increased profits.
It's a win for the refugee, it's a win for the employer, and it's a win for Amplio, being the one making that relationship happen. Kevin calls this win-win-win state Shalom, as it’s the right order in all relationships.
A Challenge for Listeners
Chris throws out a challenge to listeners, which Kevin endorses: Let your table be filled with people not like you. He invites you to find someone from a different background or culture, and engage with them in deep, meaningful conversation. He promises that you'll come away with insights and perspectives that you didn't have before.
Resources
Kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com
Phone: 678-744-5111
Deep Listening with Oscar Trimboli
Host Kevin Monroe welcomes back his guest from episode 57, author Oscar Trimboli, to continue their conversation about deep listening. They talk about the cost of not listening, listening villains and how to overcome distraction.
This is the Century of Listening
Kevin recalls a statement that Oscar made in episode 57: “The biggest productivity gains for leaders and systems is by listening more, not learning to speak more effectively. We spent the last century learning how to speak. We'll spend the 21st century learning how to listen.” Oscar says that we are going back to our storytelling traditions, and there will also be a correspondent focus on improving our listening skills. Stories are a great way to teach children to listen.
The Cost of Not Listening
Kevin estimates that the cost of not listening is about $73 billion per year. In some notable crises in recent history, it took people outside of the system who were listening, to point out the impending disaster. Sadly, they were ridiculed at the time. Oscar points out that we find it difficult to pay attention to people who are different because we’re listening to prove them wrong. When you find yourself violently disagreeing with someone, he says, ask yourself which of your assumptions could be false, and what could you learn from that person. That is listening on a deeper level.
The Math of Listening
Eric explains the 125/400 and the 125/900 rules and how they keep us from listening well. He describes a good listener as one who helps the speaker to discover their own meaning.
Listening Villains
Most people think they are better listeners than they are. Oscar helps people in the workplace discover which of the 4 listening villains they actually are:
- The shrewd listener, who pretends they're listening but actually thinks they’re smarter than the speaker;
- The interrupting listener, who just wants the speaker to get to the point;
- The lost listener, who is stuck in his own head; or
- The dramatic listener, who always has a bigger, better story.
Overcome Distraction
Kevin shares a simple practice from Oscar’s book that helps him overcome distraction to listen better. That practice is simply to pause for a moment and breathe. Oscar says that putting your phone into flight mode and drinking a glass of water are other simple steps you can take. He finds that these simple practices have a big impact on business: meetings start earlier and end sooner, projects come in under budget, customers are happier, and employees stay with the company longer.
Join the Listening Challenge
Kevin and Oscar invite you to join them in the Listening Challenge. It's an opportunity for you to discover your listening villain, remove distractions and become comfortable with silence. You can enroll at ListeningChallenge.com.
Resources
Oscar’s book: Deep Listening - Impact Beyond Words
Join the Listening Challenge
Kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com
Phone: 678-744-5111
Higher Purpose Podcast 112: World-class Culture By Design
High-performance Culture Coach, David McGlennen, is the guest on the Higher Purpose Podcast this week. He chats with Kevin Monroe about the rhythms of life and how to become a world-class organization.Listen to the full episodeThe Rhythms of LifeDavid recognizes that life has rhythms that are very much like the seasons. There is a time to prepare, a time to bloom, a time for blooming to end and to prepare for winter, and a time to go deep and grow. Kevin concurs and adds that there is also a rhythm to the day. When we find and follow the flow of the daily rhythm, beautiful things happen.World-class by DesignIn every organization, there are success behaviors that lead to high performance. When we help people reach their fullest potential, we're actually helping our company to develop: high performance and being people-centered and not mutually exclusive, David says. He helps companies be intentional about creating a world-class culture. He states that a good company has a good culture by default, but a world-class company has a world-class culture by design. Culture is what we actually see as behaviors in an organization. It is either desired and led intentionally or it’s what is allowed to transpire.Traits of a World-class OrganizationWorld-class organizations intentionally develop the rhythms, disciplines and processes necessary to be high performance. We see it in their attention to detail and how they are purposeful about everything they do. David calls this playing like a champion: it's doing the things that matter most to people on a daily basis, over and over again, no matter how boring it gets. He stresses that it's important for leaders to step back from the business for a moment and define the behaviors that would lead to success. What does it look like to them to be world-class? What are the small behaviors that would make a difference? World-class Performance Begins With PurposeDavid says that most people want to do their best. In order for them to perform at their best however, we have to be able to align them with their purpose. If leaders develop their people, they will in turn bring all their skills and talents to the business to the benefit of both parties. Developing people is the groundwork for a culture that is magnetizing. Give people the opportunity to see their full potential, and believe in them, David advises. Leaders should be intentional about helping align their people with their purpose. If we’re on purpose, we're going to serve and impact more people and more lives, he says.ResourcesDavid McGlennen on LinkedInEmail: david@davidmcglennen.com Be The Leader Podcast on YouTubeKevin@higherpurposepodcast.comPhone: 678-744-5111
Higher Purpose Podcast 111: The Belonging Factor
Devin Halliday recently emailed his subscribers to announce the release of his new book, The Belonging Factor. Since Kevin Monroe couldn’t remember signing up for the list, he replied to Devin’s email explaining that he was unsubscribing on principle. Devin immediately felt that he had broken trust and he immediately emailed back Kevin to express regret and hope that he could earn back his trust in time. That interaction eventually led to today’s show. Kevin and Devin chat about finding your tribe, the belonging deficit and its effects, and how leaders can create an environment where people feel like they fit in.
Listen to the full episode.
Finding Your Tribe
We’re all looking for our tribe, Devin says. He relates how he came to realize that it was his responsibility as a leader to create an environment where his team could feel a sense of trust, connection, and cooperation. By creating a team with this dynamic, you're creating a culture where people can truly feel like they belong.
The Belonging Deficit
It's tragic that many people experience a belonging deficit, Kevin says. Devin explains that social media in particular exposes this. When we post on social media and many people like our post - ironically, most of whom we have no real-life relationship with - we experience a quick dopamine response from feeling we belong. This dopamine fix goes away quickly and the belonging deficit returns, so we post again and again. In the workplace, the belonging deficit manifests itself in 3 major areas:
- Misalignment between your personal values and the organization’s values - if the organization’s values are not lived by leaders, or employees are not allowed to fulfill these values, they start to question whether they belong. Ultimately the cost to the organization is the repeated loss of its highest-performing talent.
- Misalignment with your direct leader - when you don't believe you have trust from your leader, or you're unable to express your voice or share constructive dissent, you feel a growing dislike for your job.
- Misalignment with your team - this can usually show up in teams that are focusing on diversity just to fulfill a metric. Without the right leadership, the team will be unable to innovate or communicate, and members would feel that they don't belong there.
5 Key Characteristics
Devin describes five characteristics shared amongst brands and leaders that when replicated, have a tremendous impact on creating a sense of belonging.
How Leaders Can Create an Environment of Belonging
Belonging is feeling permission to show up as yourself, Devin says. Leaders can create an environment of belonging by:
- Being an ally and advocate four people in a different position than themselves;
- Making sure they have clearly defined the organization’s values, culture, and roles and behaviors;
- Modeling what's expected by being transparent.
If you aspire for great impact, be the leader who is taking the appropriate actions and live the values. Devin admonishes, choose the challenge of struggle because it's that path that's going to lead you to exactly the outcome you want to achieve.
Resources
Win one of 2 free autographed copies of Devin’s book: HigherPurpose.BelongingFactor.com
Email Devin: ibelong@belongingfactor.com
Website: devinhalliday.com
Kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com
Phone: 678-744-5111
Higher Purpose Podcast 110: The Neuroscience of Purpose
At the start of her career as a 4th-grade teacher, Melissa Hughes was tasked with teaching children how to learn, but she had never herself been taught how the brain works. Today, as a neuroscience expert, author and speaker, she finds that we all want to learn how to make our brain work better. She joins host Kevin Monroe in a lively discussion about the neuroscience of purpose on this week’s show.
Listen to the full episode
Psychological Numbing
Melissa posted a video about psychological numbing on LinkedIn that caught Kevin's attention. He asks Melissa to describe psychological numbing and the effect it has on us. She explains, when something tragic happens over and over, we feel the emotional magnitude of it less and less. It's not that we don't care; but the more we are exposed to bad stimuli, the more desensitized we get. Sadly, as the number of victims in a tragedy increases, our empathy or willingness to do something decreases, because we feel like there is nothing we can do.
Start With One
When it comes to tragedies, big numbers are really abstract but one is a real person. Melissa says that fighting psychological numbness takes intention. The answer is to look for one person and make a difference in his or her life. Kevin adds that this one intentional act of kindness creates a ripple effect.
The Neuroscience of Purpose
We are much more positive and engaged when we have a purpose, Melissa says. It's a myth that we want everything to be easy; the human brain likes a challenge but it needs to matter to us. We find joy when we are in a place where we can be both challenged and positive. When we live a purposeful life, the limbic system produces more happy chemicals - oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine - instead of cortisol, the stress hormone. Understanding why it’s important to increase these happy hormones intensifies their benefits to us.
Make Gratitude Part of Your Routine
Gratitude works the same way as the happy hormones: the more you do it, the more you benefit. In fact, the best way to get out of a negative feedback loop is to intentionally break it with gratitude. Melissa starts and ends her day by writing in her gratitude journal. Doing so sets her up for a successful day. When you envision yourself being successful, she says, you alert your reticular activation system, also known as the brain’s bouncer, to let in any opportunity that will help you reach your goal. At the end of the day, think of one thing that you are grateful for. You will feel more empowered and more empathetic towards others. We are in much more control of our brains than we think.
Resources
Subscribe to Neuroscience Nugget
Melissa’s book: Happy Hour With Einstein
Kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com
Phone: 678-744-5111
Higher Purpose Podcast 109: Becoming the Leader Your Team is Waiting For
Jonathan Raymond is the author of Good Authority: How to Become the Leader Your Team is Waiting For. He chats with host Kevin Monroe about his leadership journey and the core principles he discovered along the way.
Listen to the full episode
The Value of a Leader
Leaders commonly internalize the destructive notion that they need to have all the answers and solve all the problems in the company. In fact, we attach our sense of value to this idea, Jonathan says. This causes lots of problems at work. When it comes to the people part of leadership, a leader’s job is to ask good questions, to get answers you may not even think about. Rather than conducting meetings and presentations, have 1-on-1 conversations and listen actively.
Jonathan’s Journey Into Good Authority
Jonathan shares his gradual journey to becoming a good leader. He describes the moment he realized that things needed to change, and the steps he took from there. His wife asked him a question that would become the cornerstone of his life from that moment: what if professional and personal growth were two separate paths, but one journey? He now sees his life at work as daily opportunities for personal growth.
What is Good Authority?
Good authority is not command and control, as it has been historically accepted. It is also not no authority or hierarchy at all. Good authority is acknowledging and embracing that I am in a position of authority and that I use it respectfully and with two-way dialogue.
3 Core Principles
Kevin asks Jonathan to define the 3 core principles discussed in his book. Jonathan discusses these ideas:
- The deepest purpose of a business is to change the lives of the people who work there.
- The role of leaders and managers is to show people that personal and professional growth are inseparable.
- If you want people to be more engaged, you’ve got to be more engaged with them.
More Yoda, Less Superman
Superman’s whole identity is wrapped up in saving the day. He never mentored anyone. He was focused on solving all the problems on his own. By contrast, Yoda was invested in helping Luke to become the best version of himself. He asked Luke difficult questions, informative moments to empower him to self-reflect and make difficult decisions, instead of holding his hand at every step. Jonathan believes that the future of work is to give people more Yoda; in other words, a pathway to self-discovery and self-actualization.
Resources
Find Jonathan at Refound.com
Email: hello@refound.com
Book: Good Authority
Kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com
Phone: 678-744-5111
Higher Purpose Podcast 108: Reframing Adversity
Podcaster and author, Heather Younger joins Kevin Monroe to talk about how to move forward after adversity. Heather spoke at the TedX Colorado Springs event recently. She unpacks how adversity led to her purpose and how she helps others to reframe their adversity.
Listen to the full episode.
How Adversity Led to Purpose
Heather feels depleted by all the negative news in our society. She remarks that we have turned into a society of being victims. By contrast, she chose to use the adversity she faced early in life as fuel to do what she was called to do. She is driven to help others move forward because there is so much more to all of us than any of us know. She feels that God created her to do exactly what she is doing today. “I can't even be me if I'm not doing what I'm doing,” she says.
Heather’s North Stars
There are many guiding principles Heather lives by. She calls them North Stars. Two of her favorites are:
- End strong, never end weak.
- Uplift others always.
She comments that she came by these principles through her life experiences. It all started from the adversity: I am the person I am today because of my adversity, not in spite of it, Heather explains.
How to Reframe Adversity
When something bad happens, we each have a natural proclivity to either fight, flee or freeze. The first step in reframing is to allow the natural emotions to roll over you. However, there is a cut-off time: you don’t stay in that emotional mode forever. You move on to step 2 in reframing, which is to rethink that event or situation in a way that allows you to grow and move forward. Heather says that there are many ways to rethink what’s happening to us. Asking yourself questions such as “what did I learn from that? What can I do now because of this?” can help us see new possibilities. This same reframing process helps organizations and leaders to focus on rational ways they can impact the customer experience, rather than be discouraged by the things that are out of their control.
Reframing is Not Denying Reality
Kevin emphasizes the fact that reframing is not denying reality. It is letting reality sink in, but refusing to let it soak in for long periods of time. If you soak in it for too long you will wrinkle and shrink. Instead, focus on thoughts such as “what does this make possible? What's a different path forward?” If you think that there is only one path forward after a bad experience, that's being a victim. There is always more than one way to respond to any problem or dilemma.
Flip the Switch
A big part of personal, organizational and leadership effectiveness is to get a hold of your mind first. Once you discover what you can control after or in the midst of adversity, you feel a level of empowerment, like flipping a switch. 3 steps to start flipping the switch are:
- Step outside physically.
- Don’t soak in your adversity.
- Start imagining a new set of possibilities.
Resources
Heather R. Younger on LinkedIn
Book: The 7 Intuitive Laws of Employee Loyalty
Kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com
Phone: 678-744-5111
Higher Purpose Podcast 107: Thriving is Possible at Work
The team at One Stone Creative introduced today’s guest, Mike Sipple Jr. to host Kevin Monroe. Mike is the host of the Talent Magnet Institute Podcast, and the owner of a family business focused on helping organizations and leaders become talent magnets. Kevin and Mike meet up to chat about creating a culture of care at work and how to help people thrive.
Listen to the full episode
Creating Cultures Where People Thrive
Our duty as adults, Mike says, is to create environments where all people can thrive. This involves listening and creating empathy. He outlines 6 steps to help people thrive at work. Step 2 is to stop and evaluate your organization’s culture now, from the outside as well as the inside. He defines culture as the thousands of interactions that happen every day in your environment: the way people experience your culture, not the way you talk about it. In step 5 he advises to let TIP (Thoughtful, Intentional, Personal) guide your approach to employee development and retention.
What is Thriving?
You can know that someone is thriving if they are innately happy in what they’re doing, when their work is contributing to the company's mission as well as their personal life. The better you understand their personal goals, the more you can understand their motives.
Would You Want to Work For You?
The first step in evaluating your culture is to ask yourself, if you were interviewing with you, would you want to work here? Organizations and leaders who care about their people are crushing the competition: when you care about your people, others hear about it and want to work for your organization. Mike shares 3 ways you can evaluate your company culture. Kevin adds that another question to ask yourself is, would you want your children to work here? If the answer is no, Mike advises you to accept it and not excuse it. Be the change.
Caring is Good Business
Caring about your people is the right thing to do but it also makes good business. Research on positive work cultures show a tangible financial impact, including a 400- 500% greater stock price value and greater ROI for those companies who invest in their people. Mike advises leaders to treat their people just like they treat their customers. Kevin adds that the customer experience will never be better than the employee experience.
Successful Leaders
Mike shares 4 characteristics of leaders who love well and who are not afraid to let their people know they care. These leaders are courageous, they believe that people are genuinely good, they care about those that struggle, and they are good communicators. Success in leadership is not just about work, Mike says. He asks leaders, do you have 3 a.m. friends? Would you want your kids to live like you? Real success is also about how you show up personally, in relationships as well as the community.
Resources
Talent Magnet Institute Podcast
Kevin Monroe email: kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com
Kevin Monroe phone: 1-678-744-5111
Higher Purpose Podcast 106: Starting Over on Purpose
Kevin Monroe talks with Maryann Kerr, a consultant, and longtime listener and the Unofficial Sponsor of the Gratitude Challenge. They discuss gratitude, the cost of toxicity in the workplace, and how to have a purpose-powered reboot.
Listen to the full episode
Gratitude
Steve is grateful for Maryann and asks her to share why he dubbed her the Unofficial Sponsor of the Gratitude Challenge. Maryann explains that it was of the little thing she did by tagging Steve Foran in a post that Kevin had written on LinkedIn. Both men connected from that post which led to their collaboration. Kevin commented that a lot of the things we do are simple, but can be so significant. Actions do not have to be big to have significance.
What is Wrong With Me?
Maryann posted on LinkedIn about how she had been fired 3 times in the last 9 years. She says that she asked herself, why does this keep happening to me? What is wrong with me? The post generated lots of feedback, with many people telling her thanks because they could relate to what she wrote. She realized she wasn't showing the same kindness and compassion to herself that she showed to a complete stranger.
Shed the Guilt
Kevin says that fear holds a lot of us back from starting over, mainly because of our responsibilities. The purpose of this podcast, Kevin says, is to help people feel free to start over, and to help them shed the guilt of doing so. Maryann adds that the most important questions to ask yourself are Who am I, What am I meant to do, and What might I have to give up to live my purpose?
Starting Over With Purpose
Maryann’s purpose is bigger than herself: there are too many unhappy people in the workplace and her ‘empathy gene’ compels her to do something about it. She comments that if you want to lead your life, nothing is more important than knowing yourself really well. Come at life from a position of strength, knowing what you're good at and what other people whom you admire, say they like about you. Build on your strengths just like elite athletes do. They focus most of their efforts on honing their strengths.
Toxicity at Work Causes Illness
Kevin states that the stress and anxiety at work is the leading cause of chronic disease in North America. Maryann quotes the statistics of toxicity in the workplace and the impact it has on people’s lives. She concludes that if governments are trying to create more productive countries and companies, they could do so by investing in creating kinder, more collaborative, productive workplaces.
How to Have a Purpose-Powered Reboot
Maryann outlines the three steps to take to give yourself a purpose-powered reboot, and shares some stories about how they can work for you.
There may be things we have to give up, but what we are getting in exchange for those tradeoffs is of far more value than what we are giving up. Energy that is directed from purpose is transformative. If you want to have a purpose-powered reboot Maryann advises you to be brave, be kind to yourself, and embrace the support of the people you love and trust the most. Most of all be grateful: if you can step back and look at all the things you're grateful for, it will remind you that you are living in an abundant place and that the world is full of hope and possibility and that we're all here to help one another.
Resources
The Power of Gratitude by Steve Foran
It’s The Manager by Jim Clifton
Higher Purpose Podcast 105: Gratitude is a Way of Life
This week Steve Foran is back on the Higher Purpose Podcast to talk with Kevin about one of their mutual favorite topics - gratitude. They debrief the 10-day gratitude challenges, and the impact they’ve had on people’s lives, and go on to talk about the greater impact of gratitude, and why it’s so critical in this day and age.
Listen to the full episode:
Debriefing the Gratitude Challenge
The hypothesis was that in ten days we could move people from 0-10 in terms of surviving and thriving. The gratitude challenge was 10 days of emails to help people improve their gratitude. The hypothesis was proven right - the needle moved for many, many people, as proven by an avalanche of messages talking about the real, meaningful changes in their lives. The average self-reported change people experienced was a 46% improvement in how they felt. Steve points out that as more people take the challenge, this kind of data, and what it represents could be massively impactful.
What Happens When You Invite Gratitude In?
Steve talks about some of the physical, neurological changes that happen when you’re focusing and prioritizing on gratitude. When stress is one of the leading causes of disease and unhappiness, gratitude is a simple, effective and accessible antidote to the chemicals caused by stress. The hormones that stress causes cannot be produced at the same time as the hormones caused by gratitude. Kevin talks about reading the Abundance Loop, which talks about how negative outcomes have happened when decisions are made on fear. The fix for that is, you guessed it - gratitude. Steve points out that we can be tempted to dismiss the power of gratitude because it is so simple.
Gratitude is Critical
The average North American has the highest quality of life in recorded history. But happiness is not keeping up with the external indicators of happiness and comfort. Steve thinks that the negative is so easy to see, and humans have a tendency to notice and amplify the negative much more than the positive. Kevin and Steve talk about one particular challenge, and how the idea of turning lemons into lemonade can be a useful tool.
Breakthroughs
Kevin had breakthroughs in gratitude and outlook - even as the host of the challenge! Gratitude is the gateway to improvements in all areas of your life. Steve compares it to brushing your teeth. It’s something to do every day. It shouldn’t be rote, and the 10-day challenges are a way to keep your gratitude practice fresh and engaging. Steve asks Kevin to talk a little bit about the change in outlook he had during the challenge. Ultimately, Kevin doesn’t believe they found the gratitude challenge - the challenge found them. Like most things in life, gratitude is better together than alone.
A Grateful Community
The third gratitude challenge - new and improved! - is starting on August 12th. It is the foundation for an extraordinary life. Steve reminds the listeners that even if you’ve taken the first or second challenge - take the third one. There is always something more to learn and experience.
Kevin recalls the line from Steve’s book: “You are worthy and you have much to be grateful for.” Steve talks about what this means, and the way you can use the idea to keep yourself from living in the survival zone. We can all thrive.
Resources
The Power of Gratitue with Steve Foran
Higher Purpose Podcast 104: Exploring Forgiveness
When Anthony Thompson was 7 years old, God spoke to him and said: “you’re going to be a preacher.” He heard from God throughout his life, and his work as a man of the cloth, and again in the summer of 2015 when his wife, Myra Thompson, was murdered by a white supremacist while she was at church. Forgiveness is a pillar of many religions, but practitioners often find it easier to talk about than to put into practice. This is not the case for Pastor Anthony Thompson. In this episode of the Higher Purpose Podcast, he shares with us how God helped him to forgive the perpetrator, and feel peace again.
Listen to the full episode
The Lightness of Forgiveness
Kevin shares a quotation from Called to Forgive, and Anthony talks about how forgiveness is a journey that ultimately, is about the person doing the forgiving, and heals their life along the way. There are different aspects of forgiveness, and Anthony explains what they are, and how they are involved in the process. Forgiveness is a decision that you make.
Incurring a Debt
When you harm someone, Anthony believes you incur a debt. In the case of the murderer, the debt is in the form of multiple life sentences. Paying your debt is different than repentance, and Anthony explores the theological process of forgiveness, debt, and repentance. This process doesn’t necessitate a response to forgiveness, as satisfying as it might be - but it’s important to remember that forgiveness is for the person who was harmed, not the person who caused it. It releases the control the offender has over the victim.
When is Reconciliation the Goal?
Not every event that requires forgiveness gets a reconciliation, and that can be challenging, especially when it’s close to home. Kevin and Anthony discuss how to manage those situations and the feelings that arise because of it. “Forgive and Forget” is a saying that may not mean exactly what people think it means. Forgetting, in this context means not hating, and not taking revenge, but doesn’t mean losing the memory of what happened, or working to prevent it from happening again.
The Consequences of Unforgiveness
Anthony talks about the physical, mental and spiritual consequences of not forgiving those who have harmed you. The impacts of forgiveness and unforgiveness are not just personal, it affects communities, cities and whole countries. The response of the people of Charleston in 2015 was forgiveness, and that allowed them to begin healing. Kevin points out that when we have been wronged, we often want to take things into our own hands, and Anthony talks about what happens when you choose to put it into the hands of God.
The act of unforgiveness, or not forgiving, is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.
Remembering
Anthony shares what the community does each year as a memorial for the victims of the shooting. There are several purposes to these memorials: to honor and remember the victims, to connect with members of the community and other denominations, and to work together towards racial reconciliation and repentance.
Anthony and Kevin close the conversation with a reiteration of the power of genuine forgiveness and the benefits of making the choice to do so.
Resources
Victims of the Charleston Shooting:
- Clementa C. Pinckney
- Cynthia Marie Graham Hurd
- Susie Jackson
- Ethel Lee Lance
- DePayne Middleton-Doctor
- Tywanza Sanders
- Rev Daniel L. Simmons Sr
- Sharonda Coleman-Singleton
- Myra Thompson
Rest in Power.
Higher Purpose Podcast 103: The Problems with Purpose
You know Kevin as a Purpose Guy (or Guide) - that’s what this show is about, after all, but today he talks about how sometimes the pursuit of purpose isn’t actually all that easy. His pursuit of purpose often means plowing through or persevering through problems. Sometimes many. This episode is all about helping you navigate through the maze of purpose. All of these problems and their solutions can be useful in your personal life - but the main focus is going to be how purpose applies to business.
Listen to the full episode:
The Bottleneck Problem - there are all sorts of different shapes of bottles - but the neck is always at the top. Similarly, with purpose in businesses, the problem is at the top - people perceive purpose as the privilege of the few rather than the many. Often, many employees in an organization feel disconnected from it, and it is the opposite of how it should be. When every person in an organization has a purpose, they are mobilized in many ways.
The World Peace Problem - or the beauty pageant problem. If you have to look at the entire world and all the problems in it - thinking about how to move forward is paralyzing. The problems are so big, and the pursuit of purpose within that is so grandiose. We want to make our purpose granular, and actionable. Kevin shares some strategies on how to make purpose closer and more personal.
The Plaque Problem - when purpose is enshrined on the walls, but never seen in the halls. You see this when company discussions of purpose are all about PR, and not about actions. This filters down to how team members think about purpose. Kevin talks about the worst version of this - purpose-washing. Purpose should permeate the environment, and be a part of every day’s activities, rather than just the marketing departments.
The Megaphone Problem - this is when purpose is more talk than walk, something we've all seen, unfortunately. The solution is to start *doing* it before you start telling people about it. Put your plans into action, and then talk to people about how they’re experiencing it.
The Rainbow Problem - you see this problem come up when purpose is seen only as a dream, and not a reality, or something you can see in the abstract - but isn’t tangible. This is hard for people to connect with individually - it seems like something impossible to achieve. Kevin talks about how you can bring purpose into the day-to-day by breaking it down into something more actionable.
The (Jackson) Pollock Problem - when purpose is too abstract and open to different interpretations in your organization. Kevin points out that while everyone should have their own understanding of purpose when it’s too abstract, people can’t work towards the same goal. Put purpose into practice, instead.
The Marshmallow Problem - when purpose comes up at special occasions - but has no impact on the rest of the year. Purpose needs to be substantive and transformative - the main course rather than the appetizer.
Kevin talks about how these problems, when taken together, can make purpose something that gets eye-rolls and lip-service rather than the immensely powerful tool it is. There are concrete ways for your organization to use and take advantage of purpose, and when purpose permeates your organization, everything you’re trying to achieve becomes possible.
Right now Kevin is available to work with a select number of organizations as a Strategic Purpose Partner and Advisor, to help them identify, experience and enjoy the results that are possible. Call 678-744-5111, or email Kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com to put purpose to work in your organization.
Resources TheGratitudeChallenge.Community
Higher Purpose Podcast 102: Dealing with Imposter Syndrome
Everyone has had those moments where you have that feeling that everyone else has it all together, and you’re the only one who is completely paralyzed. Hopefully, you know that’s not true, and today, Kevin speaks with Kimberley Davis and Dr. Melissa Hughes, two women who deal with - and work beyond, the impostor syndrome.
Listen to the full episode
The Irony of Impostor Syndrome
More often than not, it is the people who are the most accomplished who suffer from impostor syndrome the most. Melissa talks about how high achievers aren’t always good at reaching out and asking for help. Kimberley agrees and talks about the steps that she’s taking to combat that hesitance to get involved in projects with others and collaborate professionally. That instinct to do it alone is a self-preservation instinct - but one that often backfires.
The Inner Critic
Melissa and Kimberley discuss what the impostor syndrome means to them: sometimes it’s when your inner critic takes over your confidence, sometimes it's about other people’s expectations - or what you think they are. Kimberley makes a powerful statement about giving yourself the right to do what you do, and take up the space you need. Melissa adds that it’s important to share what you’ve done and what you’ve learned without being afraid you’re speaking out of turn, or that you’re not ‘expert’ enough. When you chart your own path, you’ll often be faced with the impostor syndrome.
The Importance of Trust
Trust is a huge and critical part of the human experience. Melissa points out how important having trust for others is when it comes to achieving your goals. Kevin adds that the listeners to this episode are also being entrusted with this kind of vulnerability. Our early experiences can have a huge impact on our ability to trust, our bravery, and our confidence. They often supply the sound and tone of those inner voices that tell us we’re not good enough. Kimberley shares some challenges and experiences she has encountered when talking about her background, and what they have taught her about standing up for herself.
We’re Wired to Connect
Creating a Humans First culture makes a huge difference because it increases the sense of belonging we need to take risks and achieve great things. This matters at the organizational level, but on the personal level, we can’t afford to wait until we're in a fantastic culture - we need to take individual action to feel confident in ourselves. Melissa, Kimberley and Kevin discuss different strategies you can use to defeat your impostor syndrome.
Authenticity and Seeking Truth
It’s important to be aware of the impact you have on others and the world - how you show up and how you treat people matters. All too often, someone who is ‘just being honest’ may be telling the truth, but they’re often not being kind or helpful or supportive. None of us can control how other people will respond or react to us, and not having that control leads to impostor syndrome. Melissa points out that we often wouldn’t speak to others the way we speak to ourselves - and why not? Kimberley talks about faith, and the impact it can have on impostor syndrome.
The Jam Session ends with some final thoughts and reflections on impostor syndrome, connecting with others, and being mindful of the impact that we have on the world. One of the biggest fears leaders have is being exposed as an impostor - these feelings plague everyone on the path of achievement - and there is something validating about knowing you aren’t alone.
Resources
Kimberley Davis | onstageleadership.com | Dr. Melissa Hughes | Brave Leadership
Higher Purpose Podcast 101: The Power of Gratitude
In this week’s episode of the Higher Purpose Podcast, Kevin Monroe speaks with Steve Foran. This episode is one that Kevin has been looking forward to - and it’s actually been saved specifically for this week. The next hundred episodes of the Higher Purpose Podcast are going to be grounded in gratitude - and this conversation is going to begin that.
Steve Foran is a gratitude guide. He has a background in electrical engineering and an MBA - but had a revelation that led him to pursue gratitude as a full-time career. He’s written a book called Surviving to Thriving, and Steve talks about how it came to be, after banging around in his head for several years. Kevin notes that the book ended up cracking him wide open, and helped him solidify his goal of making gratitude his focus for the next 100 episodes of the show.
Listen to the full episode
The Hierarchy of Leadership
Steve talks about the 4 primary points on the leadership spectrum. Underlying them all is Influence.
- Surviving is drudgery.
- Striving is hard work.
- Arriving is a good place to be.
- Thriving is where life is like a playground.
Kevin and Steve discuss where you end up spending most of your time because it has a huge impact on how you feel, and what you’re able to accomplish. In other words: when the sh*t hits the fan - lean into gratitude!
One of the unrelenting forces pulling us back down the hierarchy is negative attribution bias - Steve discusses what they are, and the kinds of impacts they have on us physiologically and emotionally. Kevin notes that this is a good reason to keep your gratitude practice consistent!
You Are Worthy and You Have Much to be Grateful For
Gratitude has a profound way of touching each of our lives, and Steve couples it with the concept of worthiness. When you hold onto the belief that you are worthy - the opportunities to thrive and succeed open up for you. Many of us, deep down, don’t feel as if we are - but Steve (and Kevin!) both fundamentally believe that we are - every one of us.
The Benefits of Gratitude
More and more studies are finding there are physical benefits to expressing gratitude. Kevin asks Steve what the implications of gratitude are in business. Steve talks about increases in collaboration, empathy, successful/positive conflict and a general improvement in morale and profitability. It can be as simple as beginning meetings by asking everyone what they are grateful for.
The Gratitude Challenge
As Kevin was preparing this show, he was thinking about creating a short gratitude challenge - Steve’s immediate response was: Yes! The gratitude challenge is open for registration now - so whether or not you’ve had a regular formal gratitude practice, or you’re an old hand - Kevin and Steve invite you to go to Thegratitudechallenge.community. This is a 10-day challenge, with a daily email that will help you think about gratitude that day. Over the course of 10 days, Kevin and Steve both believe you could experience a major change in your life. If you don’t feel like you have a huge amount to be grateful for - this challenge could change that for you.
Kevin reminds us that gratitude may not immediately change anything about the situation, but it changes us and how we perceive and experience the situation. Steve adds that it’s easy to get complacent in your gratitude practice - and this challenge can be a way to re-invigorate it.
Resources
Use the discount code: Higher Purpose Podcast for $5.00CAD off the price of the book.
Higher Purpose Podcast 100: Waves and Ripples
The Higher Purpose Podcast has reached its 100th episode. Now, that's a cause for celebration. And to mark this significant milestone, we will be hearing from guests all around the world about their experience with our fellow host Kevin Monroe, or their feedback on the podcast. Sit back, and enjoy!
Listen to the full episode
Always Count your Blessings
Kevin asks his audience, what is it they are grateful for? On his end, he proceeds by enumerating everything – and everyone – he is grateful for in his life, ranging from his children and grand-children that offer him humorous coffee mugs for Father's Day, to his encouraging wife Gwen who always believes in him, without leaving out a heartfelt tribute to his parents who he considers to be his heroes – his Mother, which he describes as a faithful servant who taught him humility, and his Father, who modeled authenticity and was the most comfortable-being-himself person Kevin has ever known.
Heroes -- Mentors -- Encouragers -- Allies
Listen to Kevin speak more about his early mentors in the very first episode of the Higher Purpose Podcast - Welcome to the Higher Purpose Podcast
Dick Gourley from Northern California says he looks up to Kevin's leadership and pursuit of a Higher Purpose life.
Some of the other people Kevin would like to express gratitude for are:
Mentors
Allies
Christy Kern and Megan and Audra from One Stone Creative
Mike Vacanti, says it was an honor to be invited on one of the episodes, and how the friendships that have been created between the people that have connected him to Kevin, and Kevin to other people constitute a beautiful journey.
And of course - every guest who has been on the show - and every listener!
Humans First Heroes
Sesil Pir from Zurich loves listening to the podcast because she believes humanity is facing a crisis of leadership, and she loves being able to connect with people who are sitting with deep existential questions.
Many Ways to Celebrate
There are so many possible ways to celebrate the 100th episode of a podcast or any show for that matter. First off, Kevin explains how the 100th-episode-milestone is always a 'big deal' in business, simply because it is a reminder of success – and how many (most, even) podcasts don't get to make it that far. What are some of the ways other podcasters have celebrated their 100th mark? Kevin shares a few such as highlights, navel-gazing – some kind of introspective look on failures, successes, low and high moments of the podcast – and having special guests on the show. Which brings us to our next point…
Some Favorite Episodes...
Garry Turner from the U.K, shares his favorite episode of the podcast: a conversation Bob Chapman. He thanks Kevin, for also connecting him to one guest of the show, Oscar Trimboli who gave him a live coaching session that encouraged Garry to send a proposal to his CEO, which wouldn’t have happened otherwise.
Sonja Gerard says what resonated with her the most was the deep listening session with Oscar Trimboli, which she found to be calming and comforting. It has encouraged her to try and pause before speaking and truly listening to the other person.
Josia Nakash in Israel loves the episode with Traci Fenton and tells us how every time she listens to an episode, she thinks to herself 'this is amazing, it can't get any better than this' but then, she is more amazed with the following week's release. What she loves most is Kevin's passion and his branding.
The Top 10 Episodes from the first 99
10. Cultivating Joy with Rich Sheridan
9. The 7 Laws of Employee Loyalty with Heather Younger
8. Story Driven with Bernadette Jiwa
7. Being a Brave Leader with Kimberly Davis
6. Allowing Humans to be Human with Mark LeBusque
5. How Leadership is Evolving with Sesil Pir
4. Being a Chief Heart Officer with Claude Silver
3. Everybody Matters with Bob Chapman
2. Pivoting your Life and Living Your Purpose with Chris Patton
1. Being Afraid to Hope with Dr. Rick Rigsby
The People's Voice
Kevin mentions all of his guests are special, so none of these methods really resonate with him. That's why he saw it fitting to stay true to the foundation of the Higher Purpose Podcast and apply the three C's: Connection, Conversation and Community - and decided to put together a beautiful 'audio mosaic' for this 100th episode, hearing from fellow listeners just like yourselves from all over the world, about what moved them, inspired and affected them throughout the podcast. Let's have a look!
The Three C’s...
Craig Thomas from South Africa, tells us how he can always count on the Higher Purpose Podcast to lift up his day, no matter how badly it is going.
Megan Dougherty from Canada shares how as a listener she truly enjoys the spirit of generosity with which Kevin and his guests share their passions. Listening to the Higher Purpose Podcast is, as she calls it, 'a bright, calm spot in the week.'
Michael Hudson from Delaware, tells us what he loves most is the thought provocation that comes from the interviews – how it always keeps his mind stimulated because finding your purpose is something he holds dear.
Looking to the Future...
This has been a powerful journey - and what comes next is even more exciting.
Steve Foran from Halifax shares how he gets something from every single episode. He loves Kevin's uplifting energy and is able to share what he learned with friends, colleagues and clients.
A Final Thought
Gab Ciminelli in Japan calls the Higher Purpose Podcast a 'Celebration of People, Life and Love.' He mentions Kevin's wonderful ways of bringing people together for deep and meaningful discussions.
Thanks for joining the celebration of our 100th episode milestone. There’s a quotation attributed to Woody Allen, “80% of success is showing up.” Another way to say that is, you never finish anything you don’t start. I remember receiving an email from a friend in January of this year. “79 episodes? Wow. I’m inspired by your commitment, by the content itself, and by your positive energy. “It really is amazing what you – and I mean YOU can accomplish once you start something and “keep showing up.” How did we get to 100 episodes? One episode at a time…week after week and thanks to the encouragement of others, I just kept showing up.
Thank you for showing up and joining in to listen to Episode 100. I hope you’re inspired to take the next step on your journey – however small or insignificant it might seem. TAKE IT TODAY…and then take the next one tomorrow…
Higher Purpose Podcast 99: A Legacy of Purpose
Last week, I had the privilege of talking with Al Lopez, and today, we get to speak with him again - along with his daughter and son-in-law Harry and Leticia, the 5th generation of coffee farmers in the family - but the FIRST generation of coffee roasters and cafe owners. Harry and Leticia fell in love with their father’s mission of helping others.
Listen to the full episode!
Carrying on a Legacy
Al is thankful that Harry and Leticia have chosen to carry on and extend the legacy he and his family began generations ago. Alma Coffee - the cafe that Harry and Leticia just opened the week this episode was recorded - and being part of history while forging a new path, is something very exciting for everyone involved. This was a huge departure from the couple’s initial dreams of careers in accounting - despite becoming accountants, and getting jobs in their chosen companies, but making a difference through the family’s business was a stronger draw.
Fulfillment is Everything
As accountants, Leticia and Harry had a secure future but were miserable. The long hours, the stress, the whole environment was making them unhappy - and not filling their need for purpose. In being able to spend time at the family farm, and see the work being done - and the difficulties and challenges associated with it - they came to realize they needed to make a change - and fast! They quit their jobs, and committed fully to the family coffee business, learning how to roast and retail the coffee the family had been growing for generations.
Fixing the Supply Chain
For most coffee producers, all of the steps their product goes to - on its path from the farm to peoples cups - involve getting a smaller and smaller portion of the profits. Harry and Leticia believed they could change that, with their understanding of supply chains, marketing, and accounting. They started connecting the farmers directly to the people selling it - and everyone is better off. By controlling (and improving!) every step in the process, they and their clients have a more personal connection to the drink and understand the impact it can have.
Almadoption
Alma coffee adopts farmers they know personally, and that they’re going to re-invest in the industry and their communities - and they pay double the market rate for coffee. They have “Almadopted” three farmers outside of their family - and one of their measures of success is how many other farmers and families they can help. Success means being involved in the communities at all steps along the supply chain: from the farmer to the barista.
Making a Difference
Not everyone moves from prioritizing success to prioritizing significance at all - but by seeing Al make that transition while they were quite young, Harry and Leticia were able to see the value and the benefits of aligning your personal and work lives around your purpose. Making a difference through business isn’t always easy - but can be extremely satisfying. People talk to them and talk about how they can make their own major life changes - becoming an entrepreneur and making a difference in the world. Leticia advises people to discover what gives them purpose, and see what career opportunities are there. Success can be a solo endeavor - but significance almost never is.
Try Alma Coffee by visiting them at their location at The Circuit Co-Working space, or ordering online! Use the discount code Higher Purpose to get 15% off your online order.
Alma Coffee | Alma Coffee on Facebook | The Circuit Co-Working Space |The Second Mountain Book Summary // Get the Book
Higher Purpose Podcast 98: The Definition of Success with Al Lopez
Al Lopez is a fourth-generation coffee farmer, so it’s fitting that today’s episode is recorded in a coffee shop. Al has one of the most amazing stories you’ve never heard, and as he and Kevin share a few cups of Alma Coffee, you’ll discover the heart-filled lengths Al went to as he gave back to his community in Honduras.
Journey to the United States
Al grew up with coffee trees in his backyard, and it was his grandfather who instilled a love for them. He shares the story of how his grandfather encouraged him to pick and process the beans by hand, then took it a step further by allowing Al to sell the coffee and keep the profits. His father moved to the United States and Al joined him there on the promise of his own bicycle, and he shares the story of what it was like coming to a place with airplanes, electricity, indoor plumbing, and Coca-Cola in a can. He also shares the troubles he faced being ‘different’ in public schools, how he ended up in the military, and the injury that landed him in a factory.
Inspiration for the Future
While working in the factory, Al’s foreman kept telling him, “You have a head on your shoulders. Go to school.” So he did. From junior college to university, Al graduated with an accounting degree. As he waited for his first job interview, he had the crushing feeling that he wasn’t good enough to clean the bathrooms. Despite that, he had a phenomenal career there and moved to Sara Lee, where he really took off. He credits part of his success to growing up ‘on the streets.’
The Second Mountain
Al retired from his CEO position at age 42, having achieved his biggest goal. But he wasn’t finished yet; Al had a new purpose and it had nothing to do with his ego. He found himself being drawn back to his home in Honduras. For 800 years, farmers sold coffee and starved to death; they weren’t the ones making the money. Al decided to change that, and he shares the story of how he created Alma Coffee based on the idea of D2R, or ‘direct to roaster.’ But his holistic approach to helping the farmers goes much deeper.
The Real Deal
Al’s company was built, and he needed to find a roaster. He partnered with PJ’s Coffee in New Orleans after taking them to his farm in Honduras. He showed them that the story of his company, how he treats employees, and the difference it makes in the community was much more than a marketing ploy. It was the real deal because Al puts people first. He shares the three foundational pillars: improving lives, sustainable farming, and exceptional coffee. Al also shares his vision for the future; he wants the farming operation to continue 300 years after he’s gone.
The Definition of Success
Before Alma Coffee, the definition of success was the size of the paycheck. The golden parachute. Flying in private jets. But today, Al measures his success very differently: his farm director being able to buy his own home; his employees always having food, shelter, and community; lifting up the small town where he came from by improving the quality of life; his children wanting to continue the legacy. These things are the new definition of success.
Resources
Higher Purpose Podcast 97: Higher Purpose and Self Worth with Traci Fenton
Wouldn’t you love to live, lead, and work in freedom? Traci Fenton is the founder and CEO of a global leadership and transformation company called WorldBlu. What makes her company special is their unique model called ‘Freedom at Work,’ and helping people find freedom in their lives is the WorldBlu’s mission. They’ve worked with Zappos, Groupon, WD40 and 65 other countries worldwide. Listen to the full episode:
Freedom vs. Fear
Traci and WorldBlu teach people to live, lead, and work in freedom rather than fear. To do that, they tap into a deeper sense of love which results in freedom. In 20-something years of teaching this Traci realized something very important. Sometimes she would hit a brick wall with a company for no discernable reason. Traci discovered that most people have negative voices in their heads which directly affect self-worth, and if a CEO has self-worth issues, then they’re going to be threatened by employees with freedom. She shares one of the best - and worst - moments in her life at a Tony Robbins convention that drove this point home. And she also shares the profound reason why she doesn’t have the negative inner voice.
The Self-Worth Test
This isn’t a complicated test. In fact, you can do it right now. Answer this: On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your self-worth right now, and why? When Traci was speaking to a room of about 100 CEOs, she asked them this question and asked them to raise their hands if they had an 8 or higher. You’d expect most of them to raise their hands; they’re successful CEOs, after all. But only 3 raised their hands. That’s one thing, but the more interesting part is when they answer the ‘why’ part of the question. Traci shares some of the answers she received when she asked why people ranked themselves lower.
Why You Are a Perfect 10
True self-worth isn’t tied to anything outside of us. Our worth is inviolate and baked into who we are. Traci points out that our worth is separate from wanting to improve and always be better. She shares some of the common characteristics of people who understand their self-worth: joyous, humble, lifting others up, consistent, loving, and more. She shares something very profound: Your PURPOSE is your reason for being. Your MISSION is what you do with it. Traci shares a story about coaching her nieces and nephews the way she does adult CEOs, and the surprising revelation that came from it.
The Ultimate Protective Factor
Kevin and Traci can both agree that purpose is an anchor. It’s what protects you when the world presses in around you. Consider the connection between purpose and self-worth. When we have low self-worth, it’s ‘me’ thinking, whether it’s negative or not. But when our self-worth becomes higher, infused with purpose, the thinking turns outward and we’re committed to serving others. One exercise that Traci recommends is to have a mantra that you say to the ‘gremlins’ - the negative voices - as soon as they appear. She explains how this simple trick works and why it’s so effective.
Final Thoughts
Here’s a question to ask yourself when you’re dealing with negative gremlins and low self-worth. How would you handle the situation if you WEREN’T afraid, if you WEREN’T listening to those gremlins? Second, if you’re at a 4, what would it take to become a 5? Is it internal or external? Finally, if you decided to spend the rest of your day living and acting like a 10, what would that feel like? Traci encourages you to run an experiment for today: live it as a 10.
Resources
The Freedom-Centered Leader Course
Higher Purpose Podcast 96: The Employee Experience with Ben Whitter
Ben Whitter of the World Employee Experience Institute is known as ‘Mr. Employee Experience.’ It’s a title he’s earned over the years as he worked in over 8 countries, giving him a unique perspective on work, employees, and leadership. Ben’s first book, “Employee Experience,” is due out soon, and today conversation dives into the heart of what the title promises.
Ben’s Path and Inspiration
Ben started work at age 14, and his experiences were on both ends of the spectrum. He points out a very simple way to gauge what kind of experience you’re having as an employee: the way you feel when you walk in the door. Do you feel like you belong, like you’re rewarded for your efforts? Do people ask you how you are? These are some of the basic components of a good experience.
Worldwide Perspective on Work
As we mentioned, Ben has worked as a consultant in over 8 countries, and he’s spent that time observing work across those cultures. He found some striking similarities. That we are all human is obvious, but we also crave the same things regardless of where we are. Ben shares in more detail what those things are, then contrasts how we go about getting those things we crave in different cultures.
How to Observe and Understand
Ben tends to go about observation differently. Where many consultants walk in with a pre-made plan, Ben immerses himself in the culture surrounding him. In other words, experience life as a local, because above all, a sense of community is incredibly important. He shares his experience as a minority in China, and the surprising way people took care of him.
On a deeper level, Ben understood the similarities early in his journey. Humans are very different, but our humanity remains the same. We are emotional creatures experiencing the world through our senses. He explains how being ‘human-centric’ has been his driving focus and what he’s seen that trips up otherwise good companies. He launched the World Employee Experience Institute to help solve these issues, and Ben shares the story of how the Institute was born.
The Employer/Employee Contract
The idea of this is simple: a work relationship provides one thing for the employer, and a different thing for the employee. But have you considered the psychological contract? This revolves around rewards, being celebrated and appreciated, and growing, learning, and thriving within an organization. It’s a relationship rather than a contract or deal. This is the holistic way to look at employee experience.
The Basic Element of Humanity
Belonging is at the top of the list and that’s why Ben has put community first. When you build something people believe in and unite them within the organization, you achieve that sense of belonging. It’s much deeper than perks and ping pong tables. Ben reveals what creates a real sense of community, and how he can ask one question and learn the state of the community.
The Vital Factors
Ben’s book, called “Employee Experience,” dives into some of the vital factors of creating a great work environment. At the center of a good experience, there is a simple, unwavering belief in what the organization is doing. Partly, it’s about the ‘why,’ the passion, but that’s not enough on its own. You also need the ‘how,’ the mission and values of the organization. Ben calls this the ‘truth’ of an organization, which you’ll find instantly when you walk in the doors. It has nothing to do with marketing gimmicks, and Ben shares how organizations can find their own truth.
Resources
World Employee Experience Institute
Higher Purpose Podcast 95: Waves and Ripples with Kevin Monroe and Jason Meucci
This podcast is all about connection, conversation and community. On today’s episode, we’re diving deeper into these three "C's" with the idea of Waves and Ripples. I’ll be sharing some of my favorite stories, and Jason Meucci will join us in a special segment to share the waves and ripples in his life, which he connects to the Higher Purpose Podcast.
Waves and Ripples
Both waves and ripples are movements of water or liquid in response to a stimulus. The scientific definition of a wave is "a moving disturbance in the level of a body of water" — there is motion there. There is action, there is energy. Both definitions include movement and a response to some type of stimulus: something has to start the movement.
The distinction is that waves move you in a specific direction, whereas a ripple is a far-flung effect of something.
Opportunities in action
Imagine yourself sitting at the edge of the water, watching and listening to the waves. That’s one way to enjoy a wave’s impact. But unless you seize the opportunity, take action, and jump into the wave to have it carry you somewhere — you’re just sitting on the shore. You need deliberate and intentional action.
Jason Meucci’s waves and ripples
Jason has not only ridden waves and ripples, but has also created plenty of his own that we can trace through the Higher Purpose Podcast.
He shares the story of getting to work with Jake Haupert after listening to him on an episode. They’re spreading the word about how transformational travel works to make the world a better and more connected place, a project that has potentially global ripples.
He also shares a story about connecting with Bernadette Jiwa through the podcast, who, within a week, had sent him a box of her books from Australia for him to share. That’s a ripple that has bounced from the podcast in Georgia, to Jason in Washington, to Bernadette in Australia, and back to Washington — and who knows where else!
He talks about meeting and becoming friends with Renee Smith and Tyler Adams through the podcast, and says he can list another ten to a dozen people he’s connected with through the podcast. All of this because he decided to take action, get involved, get to know these people and invest in their relationships.
More waves and ripples
The first ever episode with Mark Tim was an introduction through Chris Patten.
The Profile of Purpose Series, made up of conversations with 12 business owners who are in the business of purpose, also came as part of a wave.
My friendship with Marcel Schwantes led to an introduction to Mike Vacanti, which then kicked off the HumansFirst series on the podcast (and the waves and ripples from each of my guests on the series!) and my involvement with the HumansFirst Club — which also led to my hosting the HumansFirst Hangout, which has been another set of waves and ripples all of its own!
A call to action
I want to invite you to share your waves and ripples story that is somehow connected to the tsunami effect of the Higher Purpose Podcast. Go to kevindmonroe.com/waves and you’ll find a page and instructions to record a voice message and share your story.
If you record it by Saturday, June 15, you’ll be able to hear it on our 100th milestone episode airing on June 25.
Resources
Submit your wave and ripple story
Episode 3: The Seven People You Meet on Your Path to Purpose
Episode 35: Transformational Travel with Jake Haupert
Episode 50: Make Work More Human with Renée Smith
Episode 4: Failing On the Quest for Higher Purpose with Mark Timm
Episode 77: Putting Humans First with Mike Vacanti
Episode 78: Creating a ‘Humans First’ Workplace with Marcel Schwantes
Episode 80: Making Work More Human with Renée Smith
Episode 81: The Future of Work with Dr. Heather Hanson Wickman
Episode 82: Being a Chief Heart Officer with Claude Silver
Episode 83: The 7 Simple Superpowers of the HumansFirst Heroes
Episode 84: Finding Real Happiness at Work with Brooke Erol
Episode 85: How Leadership is Evolving with Sesil Pir
Episode 86: Being a Brave Leader with Kimberly Davis
Episode 87: The 7 Laws of Employee Loyalty with Heather Younger
Episode 88: Everybody Matters with Bob Chapman
Episode 89: Allowing Humans to be Human with Mark LeBusque
Episode 63: Abundance and Scarcity Loops with Juliana Park
Episode 64: Experiencing and Cultivating Abundance with Juliana Park