#71 - Welcome back! This week we’re talking about the science of happiness. First, we banter about marketing trends and how they relate to Shane’s work with leaders. Then, we dive into what the “science” of happiness is. Can happiness really be measured? Is it what we think it is? What does it mean for those of us who don’t experience it deeply? And, can it be disordered? Then, Shane breaks down the key distinction between eudaemonic and hedonic happiness. If you have follow-up question...

#70 - In most episodes Shane will reference books that have transformed the way he thinks and how CultureSmith operates. For this episode, we break down the 3 most transformational books he’s ever read. With each book he shares the key points that are important for leaders and parents, anything he disagrees with, and what moment sticks with him. Shane even shares the story that always makes him emotional. Then, we get his to-read list for Q1 of 2024. If you enjoyed this episode, let us know a...

#69 - A lack of motivation, increased negativity about the self and others, a lack of pride in work… These are all common symptoms of burnout that we’ve normalized in today’s society. And, we don’t need to. In this episode, Shane breaks down what burnout is, which industries it shows up most in, how leaders can determine if an employee is facing burnout, and how to remedy the condition based on your Cognitive Colour. If you have follow-up questions, you can always reach us at podcast@cu...

#68 - What does it cost you to be kind? Sometimes, that cost is giving up the chance to be cruel. In this episode, Shane breaks down what cruelty is and why we choose to engage in the behaviour. Shane explains the rationalizing behind cruelty, how each Cognitive Colour experiences cruelty, and what leaders get wrong about it. Then, we flip it to the home and talk about the ways cruelty shows up in our family life. If you have follow-up questions, you can always reach us at podcast@cultu...

#67 - What does it cost you to be kind? No, really. There is a cost associated with kindness that often we aren’t willing to pay. Why? That’s the focus of this episode. Shane first breaks down the defining components of kindness. Then, we explore why kindness is important, how it is viewed in both neuroscience and psychology, and common misconceptions leaders have about kindness. Shane explains why kindness needs to go both ways in the workplace (it is not only the responsibility of the leade...

#66 - 93% of human communication is non-verbal. In a world where we increasingly work online, almost 100% of communication now doesn’t work for us. We can’t read body language or tone over messaging apps and people love to lean on workplace cliches. Intentional communication is more important than ever. In this episode, Shane breaks down CultureSmith’s Leadership Messaging Template and how it helps to eliminate confusing goals and feedback. This template standardizes leadership communication ...

#65 - When’s the last time you received praise for something and it really made you feel a surge of pride? We’re guessing it’s less often than you’d think. Most of us never learned how to use praise effectively, making it feel more like a “nice to have” than an effective leadership strategy. But, the importance of praise should not be discounted. In this episode, Shane breaks down the model CultureSmith Inc. uses to deliver impactful, high performance praise. First, Shane explains the importa...

#64 - Welcome back, and happy new year! For our first episode of 2024, we’re diving into the anatomy of the Cognitive Colours. What needed to happen for you to become your specific behavioural profile (both good and bad)? Shane starts by explaining why he’s hesitated about sharing this information; then, we explore what this topic offers for listeners as a missing link behind their behavioural patterns. If you have follow-up questions, you can always reach us at podcast@culturesmithinc.com.&n...

#63 - Over this past year there were 6 key occasions that changed the way Shane and CultureSmith Inc. framed coaching. Inspired by clients, Shane’s own experiences, and stories, this episode breaks down these 6 “aha” moments in easy to understand terms for quick application. From incorporating sensory language, to using storytelling as an accountability driver, consider this your emotional intelligence trend report for 2023. If you have follow-up questions, you can always reach us at po...

#62 - We kick off this week’s episode with a bit of an existential discussion around the use of AI at work and ways it might be able to help teams grow their comfort with conflict. Then, Shane explains the goal of this episode and how it is different from our past episodes about conflict. In this episode, we discuss the stages of conflict. Shane explains what each stage is and how teams go through them at the workplace. He walks through the steps to put a formal conflict process in place, why...

#61 - If you’ve been listening for some time, you’ve likely heard Shane mention the enormous impact a 360 review had on his life and career. But, what we haven’t discussed is how these reviews are performed. This episode breaks that process down. First, we talk about a negative podcast review we got (this review was removed by the poster before this episode aired) as an example of feedback. Then, we transition into the role of 360 reviews and why they’re a crucial way for leaders to get feedb...

#60 - If you are a manager looking to make the transition to a leader, or a company looking to add current managers to your leadership team, this episode is for you. Recently, CultureSmith Inc. has seen an increasing need for companies to shift their managers into leadership positions. But, he cautions against only positioning this change as a positive. We have deep identity ties to our roles that can be disrupted when we make a role change. Undergoing a process framed by emotional intelligen...

#59 - There’s this perception that anyone who wants to be a leader needs to be a manager. Or that managers naturally will become leaders. In this episode, Shane breaks down the reality of these two distinct roles and why they don’t exist on a linear trajectory. Shane explains the method CultureSmith Inc. uses to identify leadership and management traits in employees and how they help companies fill their leadership gaps. On the home front, Shane answers the question, “is there such thing as a...

#58 - How do you know when a relationship needs repair? And if it does, what can you even do to fix things? In this episode, Shane walks through the 3 phases of relationship repairs. He begins by explaining the “toxic triangle” and how it is used to create an imbalance in power. Then, he explains the role it plays in relationships and quickly runs through the 5 types of power. After, he explains in-depth the 3 phases needed to repair relationships both at the workplace and in the home. ...

#57 - Previously, we talked about the different stages of organizational change. This time, we’re taking a deep dive into the 6 why's leaders need to address with each team member in order for change to happen effectively. Shane explains what the 6 whys are and how to address each one with team members, how our Cognitive Colours factor-in. Then, we flip things to the home and talk about how change shows up and strategies to handle it. If you have follow-up questions, you can always rea...

#56 - Recently, we talked about psychological safety and the various ways it shows up in the workplace. What we haven’t broken down yet is a tangible way to look at the different levels of safety present at your organization or home. In this episode, Shane breaks down the 4 levels of psychological safety: individual, team, organization, and leader. Shane explains what each of the 4 levels are, how to distinguish between them in the workplace, what to watch for to see if they’re at risk, and h...

#55 - The Five Dysfunctions of a Team is a business book written by consultant and speaker, Patrick Lencioni. In it, he breaks down 5 issues teams face: absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability, and inattention to results. CultureSmith follows a similar structure where conflict, accountability, and commitment rank extremely high as culture builders. However, Shane takes a unique approach to these dysfunctions to suit them to a modern workplace. In th...

#54 - How do you motivate your team? Do you lead with rewards and punishment, or use something unique based on people’s individual needs? If you’re unsure how to do the latter, this episode is for you. We kick off this episode with a discussion around AI and emotional intelligence, then we dive right into our main topic; motivation. Shane shares the definition, the 2 types of motivation, different ways leaders can motivate their teams, and strategies to motivate yourself. Then, we flip it to ...

#53 - Does the word “confrontation” evoke some feelings in you? Maybe negative ones? A confrontation doesn’t need to be a negative thing, but so many people avoid them because they don’t know how to have them effectively. In this episode, we’re breaking down the stereotypes and misinformation about confrontations. We discuss what a confrontation actually is, how it differs from a conflict or a fight, positive confrontations, and how to do this consciously at the workplace. Shane explains why ...

#52 - The term “psychological safety” has been picking up popularity online, so in this episode we’re revisiting the concept for a second time and diving into nuances we didn’t discuss on our first episode. First, Shane breaks down what psychological safety is and why the term itself is a bit of a misnomer. Then, we explain why psychologically safe workplaces will experience more conflict than not, the key distinction between “trust” and “safety,” ways to push a team out of its comfort zone, ...