Unleashing Insights on Diversity and Inclusion with Chloé Valdary

In this episode of the Training Unleashed podcast, host Evan Hackel engaged in a profound conversation with Chloé Valdary, founder of the Theory of Enchantment. This episode delves into the intricacies of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), emphasizing the importance of curiosity, compassion, and cultural fit in the workplace. Chloé shares her unique perspective on DEI training, providing valuable insights and practical strategies for organizations striving to create more inclusive environments.

Understanding the Importance of Cultural Fit

Chloé Valdary highlights the significance of cultural fit when hiring new employees. She explains that beyond qualifications and skills, aligning with a company’s culture is crucial for long-term success. Chloé suggests asking potential hires about what attracts them to the company and why they want to work there. This question helps uncover their core motivations and ensures they resonate with the company’s values. Additionally, she recommends presenting candidates with problem-solving exercises to gauge their curiosity and approach to challenges, further revealing their potential fit within the organization.

Innovative DEI Training Approaches

Valdary introduces her innovative DEI training methods, which include workshops, coaching, and digital platforms. Her workshops range from 90-minute virtual sessions, known as sprints, to full-day in-person marathons. One of her standout initiatives is the Enchanted Games League, a practice-based digital program. Over nine weeks, participants engage in daily quests that encourage self-reflection and curiosity. These quests, which take just six minutes each, prompt individuals to explore their feelings of expansiveness and defensiveness, the mindsets inherited from caregivers, and instances of perceived superiority. This approach fosters a habit of living in the question, enhancing participants’ ability to navigate conflicts with empathy and curiosity.

Embracing Self-Compassion and Lifelong Learning

Chloé Valdary emphasizes the transformative power of self-acceptance and compassion. She encourages individuals to recognize and overcome internalized negative self-judgment. By treating oneself with curiosity and love, people can project these positive attitudes onto others, reducing defensiveness and enhancing interpersonal relationships. Valdary’s advice is particularly relevant in the context of DEI, as fostering self-compassion can lead to more empathetic and effective communication within diverse teams. This practice of self-forgiveness and continuous self-improvement aligns with the philosophy of being a lifelong learner, a concept strongly advocated by both Valdary and Hackel.

About the Guest

Chloé Valdary is the founder of Theory of Enchantment, a company dedicated to providing innovative DEI training through workshops, coaching, and digital platforms. With a focus on fostering curiosity and compassion, Valdary’s methods aim to create more inclusive and empathetic workplace environments. Her approach is rooted in the belief that understanding and accepting oneself is key to understanding and accepting others. For more information about Chloé Valdary and her work, visit Theory of Enchantment or contact her team at [email protected].

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2024-06-20T17:16:56-04:00June 26, 2024|

Unleashing the Power of Leadership: Insights from Michelle Beauchamp

In a recent enlightening episode, host Evan Hackel sat down with Michelle Beauchamp, an expert in leadership and corporate training, to delve into the essence of effective leadership and organizational culture. The discussion revolved around several key principles that are crucial for fostering a thriving, inclusive, and productive workplace.

The Importance of Culture in Leadership

Michelle Beauchamp emphasized that leadership is not just about guiding others but about cultivating a culture that aligns with the core values of compassion, competence, and character. These elements are fundamental to building a team that not only follows a leader but works alongside them, creating a collaborative and trusting environment. Michelle pointed out that:

  • Compassion: Leaders must show genuine care for their team members. This involves understanding their needs, challenges, and aspirations.
  • Competence: Continuous training and development are crucial. Leaders should invest in their team’s skills and provide opportunities for growth.
  • Character: Trust is built when leaders follow through on their promises and maintain integrity in their actions.

Generational Diversity and Unified Collaboration

One of the standout points in the conversation was the acknowledgment of generational differences in the workplace. Michelle highlighted the need for leaders to recognize and respect these differences, fostering a culture of collaboration that leverages the unique strengths and values of each generation. This approach not only unifies teams but also drives innovation and adaptability.

Assessment and Gap Analysis for Cultural Alignment

Evan Hackel and Michelle Beauchamp discussed the process of evaluating and realigning organizational culture. This involves:

  1. Assessing the current culture and values within the organization.
  2. Identifying the desired cultural values that will support the company’s goals.
  3. Conducting a gap analysis to find discrepancies between the current and desired states.
  4. Implementing training programs to bridge these gaps and, if necessary, rehiring to align with the new cultural direction.

Training as a Profit Center

A significant insight shared by Michelle was the concept of viewing training as a profit center rather than just an investment. Effective training programs can improve performance metrics, such as close rates in sales or error rates in manufacturing, leading directly to increased profitability. This perspective shifts the narrative from training being a cost to being a revenue-generating activity.

One-on-One Coaching vs. Mastermind Groups

Michelle differentiated between the benefits of one-on-one coaching and mastermind groups:

  • One-on-One Coaching: Provides personalized attention, allowing individuals to address their specific challenges confidentially and in detail.
  • Mastermind Groups: Offer a collaborative environment where like-minded individuals can share experiences, brainstorm solutions, and gain a sense of community and support.

The Champ Group’s Approach

Michelle Beauchamp’s company, The Champ Group, specializes in leadership training, diversity, equity, inclusion, and communication. They focus on ongoing training rather than one-time workshops, ensuring that the principles taught are integrated into everyday practices. The Champ Group provides various services, including workshops, corporate training, mastermind groups, and one-on-one coaching.

For those interested in assessing their leadership style, Michelle offers a free leadership quiz available on The Champ Group’s website. This tool provides valuable insights into personal leadership strengths and areas for growth, fostering self-awareness and continuous improvement.

Stretching Out of the Comfort Zone

Michelle concluded with a powerful tip: stretch out of your comfort zone. Growth and relearning require stepping beyond familiar boundaries. By embracing discomfort and continuously striving for improvement, leaders can significantly impact their organizations and drive meaningful change.

About Our Guest

Michelle’s passion is, quite simply, helping people grow. Her motto, “Unleash Your Inner Champ,” is evident in her client relationship rapport, vast course curriculum, design structure, and delivery method.

Michelle is a certified coach, speaker, and trainer on the John Maxwell team. Michelle’s 25 years in Corporate America as a Sales Leader in Telecommunications, combined with her 12 + years as an entrepreneur, has equipped her to help others explore their strengths, improve areas of weakness and through a journey of inner discovery, create and lead inclusive cultures that enrich relationships and increase productivity.

2024-05-31T00:49:24-04:00June 5, 2024|

Unleashing Trust in Leadership with Dr. Mike Armour

In today’s fast-paced corporate world, the importance of trust in leadership cannot be overstated. As organizations strive for success, the relationship between leaders and their teams plays a crucial role. Dr. Mike Armour, a seasoned expert in leadership development, shared invaluable insights on trust, coaching, and organizational culture in a recent conversation with Evan Hackel. Let’s delve into the key takeaways from this enlightening discussion and explore how trust can be built and maintained within an organization.

The Essence of Trust in Leadership

Trust is the cornerstone of effective leadership. Dr. Armour emphasizes that building and maintaining trust requires consistent effort and dedication. He quotes Warren Buffett, who famously said, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and 10 minutes to wreck it.” This highlights the fragility of trust and the importance of nurturing it daily.

Dr. Armour explains that every interaction within an organization is akin to a sales call, where individuals continually resell themselves to colleagues and stakeholders. This ongoing process is crucial in establishing and reinforcing trust. Leaders must be aware of their actions and words, ensuring they consistently reflect reliability and integrity.

From Coaching to Mentoring: Developing Leaders Internally

One of the significant aspects of Dr. Armour’s work involves helping organizations develop internal mentoring programs. By fostering a culture where experienced leaders coach and mentor emerging talents, companies can build robust leadership pipelines. This approach not only enhances individual growth but also strengthens the organization’s overall resilience.

Dr. Armour’s book, “Developing Leaders Who Coach,” provides a comprehensive guide for organizations aiming to cultivate a coaching culture. The book distinguishes between coaching, mentoring, consulting, and training, offering practical advice on fostering a supportive environment where leaders can thrive.

Identifying Trust Issues: The Role of Anxiety and Fear

A critical insight from Dr. Armour’s discussion is the link between trust and the levels of anxiety and fear within an organization. High levels of anxiety and fear often indicate that trust is in disrepair. This connection is rooted in our neurological wiring, where the presence of fear can inhibit the brain’s ability to trust.

To gauge the state of trust in an organization, leaders should observe the general atmosphere and emotional climate. Reducing anxiety and fear through transparent communication, consistent actions, and empathetic leadership can significantly enhance trust levels.

About Our Guest

For over 30 years Dr. Mike Armour has helped leaders and executives perfect their professional skills, attain peak performance, and discover new dimensions of satisfaction and fulfillment. A successful author in leadership and other fields, Mike is currently published in over two dozen languages. His writing and coaching are marked by an astute understanding of personal behavior, organizational dynamics, and the process of cultural change.

For those interested in diving deeper into these concepts, Dr. Armour offers a free eBook, “Developing Leaders Who Coach,” which provides actionable insights and practical strategies. To receive a copy, simply email [email protected] with the subject line “Free Coaching Book.”

2024-05-30T22:17:04-04:00May 30, 2024|

Nurturing Psychological Safety: Unveiling Workplace Insights with Mehmet Baha

His full name is Mehmet Baha and everyone calls him Baha. Since his childhood, he has been fascinated by the question: “How can I make a difference in the lives of people?” His interest led him to win a scholarship from Fulbright and finish his master’s in the USA on the topic of Conflict Resolution.

In this episode of Training Unleashed, hosted by Evan Hackel and proudly sponsored by C-suite TV, listeners are treated to an engaging exploration of psychological safety in the workplace.

Understanding Psychological Safety

Evan Hackel kicked off the conversation with a fundamental question, asking Mehmet to demystify the concept of psychological safety. Mehmet’s enlightening response highlighted psychological safety as the bedrock of environments where employees feel secure expressing questions, concerns, ideas, and even mistakes – an indispensable ingredient for fostering high-performing teams. Mehmet shared insightful strategies for establishing psychological safety, placing a special emphasis on involving employees in decision-making processes. Drawing from a transformative example, he illustrated how traditional organizations can shift decision-making power to frontline employees, fostering a culture of inclusion and agility.

Empowering Employees

Evan steered the conversation towards situations where employees fear making decisions without absolute clarity. In response, Mehmet advocated for organizational awareness, genuine interest, knowledge acquisition, and the application of empowering practices to instigate sustainable change. Mehmet shared his experiences at Facebook, shedding light on the company’s commitment to transparency, open communication, and active employee involvement in addressing challenges. The emphasis here was on fostering an environment where everyone feels heard and valued.

Free Resources

The episode drew to a close with Mehmet generously sharing free resources on psychological safety available at solutionfolder.com/free-resources. These resources include eight concise, actionable videos covering various aspects of psychological safety, providing valuable insights for organizations seeking to implement positive change.

About Our Guest

He has lived and worked in Germany, Turkey, Ireland, Guatemala, and the USA with more than 18 years of work experience. Baha was one of the first employees of Facebook in Europe. Throughout his life, he has realized the importance of collaborative work culture in organizations. So far, he has delivered training and given talks in more than 28 countries across 5 continents. Recently, he completed Harvard Business School’s Online Executive Education Programme “Organizational Leadership”. He is fluent in English, Turkish, Spanish, and German. In his free time, he loves to play percussion, travel with his family, and play puzzles with his 5-year-old daughter. His new book “ Playbook for Engaged Employees“ was published in April 2021 and has already been purchased in the US, Canada, Australia, Germany, the UK, and Switzerland.

2023-12-07T14:55:31-05:00December 7, 2023|
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