SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES 2025 – Featuring Michael Kerr

Last year, I launched a Spring Leadership Series to think about leadership in nontraditional ways. As 2024 continued, I presented additional ways to think about leadership during my Olympics Leadership Series and Holiday Leadership Series. With a new year upon us, I've invited 25 thought leaders to share their responses to five questions relating to team-building, reading, and leadership. My #SpringLeadershipSeries2025 began the first day of Spring and continues through June 20th, the first day of Summer.

Before we begin, I'd like to applaud two special individuals for providing the inspiration for this series. First, big applause goes to Erika Andersen, a leadership expert and author who I've had the pleasure of knowing for nearly 15 years, and she's appeared on my blog 13 times since 2011. She wrote an article for Forbes entitled, "How Springtime Can Make Us Better Leaders," and that article serves as the core of the series as its first question. Second, I also applaud Joseph Lalonde, a leadership expert and author of a book called REEL LEADERSHIP, for planting the seeds for last year's Spring Leadership Series on my blog. After I read Joe's book, I started looking at movies as well as works of fiction, TV shows, and TV characters with "leadership-tinted glasses."

For today's post, I'd like to introduce Michael Kerr. Michael is a Canadian Hall of Fame speaker who speaks on inspiring workplace cultures and businesses that leverage their humor resources to create outrageous results. He is the author of 8 books, including, "The Humor Advantage: Why Some Businesses Are Laughing All the Way to the Bank," "Hire, Inspire, and Fuel Their Fire," and "The Jerk-Free Workplace: How You Can Take the Lead to Create a Happier, More Inspiring Workplace."

QUESTION: Leadership expert and author Erika Andersen wrote an article for Forbes entitled, "How Springtime Can Make Us Better Leaders." In the article, Erika compared gardening to management and leadership. What are your thoughts, or was there something that stood out from the article?

MICHAEL KERR: I love the take in this article and completely agree with the analogy. I have used a similar analogy when it comes to creativity in the workplace, comparing it to a romantic date. You can't force romance to happen, but you can set the stage and create an environment that is more conducive to romance.

And I wholeheartedly agree with getting the right plants – as I write about in my book, "Hire, Inspire, and Fuel Their Fire," hiring the right employees who are a fit for your culture, and not just a fit – employees who will help you grow your culture – is 90 percent of the work when it comes to creating a truly inspiring workplace.  

I would take the pruning analogy one step further and suggest that unfortunately, for the sake of the well-being of a company and the culture, one of the difficult tasks of any great leader is knowing when to transplant a plant that just isn't a good fit for the workplace environment. It doesn't necessarily mean they're a bad employee (or plant), it just means that they weren't a right fit for your environment - and the kindest thing you can do for both them and your team is to help them find an environment where they can flourish.

SHARE THIS: For the sake of the well-being of a company and the culture, one of the difficult tasks of any great leader is knowing when to transplant a plant (terminate an employee) that just isn't a good fit for the environment. ~@HumorAtWork #SpringLeadershipSeries2025 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: What was the most recent example of inspiring leadership that made an impact on you?

MICHAEL KERR: It was not so much an example of leadership in action, but an inspiring example that reflected leadership excellence. While recently delivering a workshop on workplace culture, an employee stood up and shared a story about how their CEO (who was standing 20 feet away from her) had come to her and another employee with an "epically bad, stupid idea." She elaborated on just how bad and stupid she thought the idea was (the CEO then chimed in and agreed) and how she handled the situation. The fact that she felt comfortable sharing that publicly, and that no one in the room of 100 employees laughed nervously or seemed surprised by her comments and willingness to speak out, spoke volumes about the culture in that company and the CEO's leadership style where it comes to creating a psychologically safe work environment.

QUESTION: What is your favorite team-building activity, and why?

MICHAEL KERR: It’s a silly one but it always gets people laughing: A theatre improv exercise called the "energy ball" where people form a circle in groups of 5-to-10 and clap out an imaginary energy ball to one another. Everyone always laughs (because it's so ridiculously silly) so it's a great energizer and stress buster. I use it to talk about communication skills, the power of laughter, and as a physical reminder that they hopefully will remember for a long time: that in every single interaction with another human being, they have the chance to pass along some positive energy, or do something that inadvertently sucks a bit of their soul out of them.

QUESTION: Which book is on the top of your to-be-read pile, and why?

MICHAEL KERR: My next book on the pile is You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters by Kate Murphy. I am always interested in improving my own communication skills and looking for fresh insights on any aspect of communication I can pass along to my audiences and readers, and the importance of listening is always top of mind for me - and this book was highly recommended.

QUESTION: In the past year, has a TV show, film, or work of fiction stood out as a result of its emphasis on leadership?

MICHAEL KERR: I just finished the third season of The Bear – a brilliant show about a Chicago restaurant. I was struck by many leadership lessons in this season. Often they were lessons related to what NOT to do as a leader - such as yelling at employees or not involving them properly in key workplace decisions. There's a pivotal theme around a list of non-negotiables the head chef writes down. He stresses that these are not "goals" but rather lines-in-the-sand, non-negotiables that everyone must commit to. He is, of course, speaking about values, and while his commitment to excellence and treating them as non-negotiables is laudable, he clearly would have had better success if he had co-created the values with his team rather than forcing the values upon his employees!

My gratitude to Michael for sharing his leadership insights and for being a part of my #SpringLeadershipSeries2025. Did these questions open your eyes to think about leadership in nontraditional ways? That was the hope!

Image Credit: Tanatat via DepositPhotos.

Read Erika Andersen's article, "How Springtime Can Make Us Better Leaders"

https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikaandersen/2015/05/14/how-springtime-can-make-us-better-leaders/

Read Michael's previous appearance here on my blog:

The Intersection of Employer Branding, Workplace Culture, and Leadership (December 2022)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/12/the-intersection-of-employer-branding.html

Connect with Michael at these links:

Website: https://www.MikeKerr.com

Books: https://mikekerr.com/books

Inspiring Workplaces YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/channel/UCeaRB1AE5C_RWBjK87wwRYg 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelkerr3

Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/HumorAtWork

SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES 2025 – Featuring James Strock

Last year, I launched a Spring Leadership Series to think about leadership in nontraditional ways. As 2024 continued, I presented additional ways to think about leadership during my Olympics Leadership Series and Holiday Leadership Series. With a new year upon us, I've invited 25 thought leaders to share their responses to five questions relating to team-building, reading, and leadership. My #SpringLeadershipSeries2025 began the first day of Spring and continues through June 20th, the first day of Summer.

Before we begin, I'd like to applaud two special individuals for providing the inspiration for this series. First, big applause goes to Erika Andersen, a leadership expert and author who I've had the pleasure of knowing for nearly 15 years, and she's appeared on my blog 13 times since 2011. She wrote an article for Forbes entitled, "How Springtime Can Make Us Better Leaders," and that article serves as the core of the series as its first question. Second, I also applaud Joseph Lalonde, a leadership expert and author of a book called REEL LEADERSHIP, for planting the seeds for last year's Spring Leadership Series on my blog. After I read Joe's book, I started looking at movies as well as works of fiction, TV shows, and TV characters with "leadership-tinted glasses."

For today's post, I'd like to introduce James Strock, an independent writer, speaker, reformer, and entrepreneur, based in Southern California. He's the author of several books about leadership, politics, Ronald Reagan, and Theodore Roosevelt - and I've had the honor of learning from him since we first met back in 2011.

QUESTION: Leadership expert and author Erika Andersen wrote an article for Forbes entitled, "How Springtime Can Make Us Better Leaders." In the article, Erika compared gardening to management and leadership. What are your thoughts, or was there something that stood out from the article?

JAMES STROCK: Erika Anderson's piece touches enduring truths. Leadership is grounded in relationships. Relationships are living things, existing in evolving ecosystems. Being mindful of the constant change, of seasonality, of the back and forth of negotiating unexpected circumstances, these are all analogous to gardening.

QUESTION: What was the most recent example of inspiring leadership that made an impact on you?

JAMES STROCK: J.K. Rowling (author of the Harry Potter series) has exhibited inspiring leadership, assuming a public role in a contentious debate concerning transexuals in traditionally biologically female spaces, including sports teams. This is a highly contentious, evolving issue at the intersection of science, culture, and politics. Rowling well recognized that her wading into this would inevitably put her business and perhaps her personal safety at risk. She persevered and her example has emboldened others. She has modelled effective, determined, relentless civility. Whether one agrees with her views or not, one must admire her courage.

QUESTION: What is your favorite team-building activity, and why?

JAMES STROCK: Almost any group activity can be a team-building activity. I like outdoor activities involving physical activity in verdant surroundings, outside of customary settings and disconnected from phone, email, etc. For distributed teams, simply meeting in-person, including highly directed business meetings as well as social time, can be of great value.

SHARE THIS: Almost any group activity can be a team-building activity. ~@jamesstrock #SpringLeadershipSeries2025 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: Which book is on the top of your to-be-read pile, and why?

JAMES STROCK: I am looking forward to reading On Grand Strategy by John Lewis Gaddis. Though focused on historical examples, with an emphasis on statecraft and warfare, it's widely respected for having lessons for work and life generally.

QUESTION: In the past year, has a TV show, film, or work of fiction stood out as a result of its emphasis on leadership?

JAMES STROCK: The film, A Complete Unknown, isn't explicitly about leadership. It's about the evolution of Bob Dylan, amid the artistic, cultural, and political changes of the 1960's. Dylan makes decisive personal and professional decisions that alter his career trajectory, and ultimately, become foundational to a career of notable significance. Through his art, Dylan crafts a leadership role that continues to develop decades later and will likely remain as a living legacy.

My gratitude to Jim for sharing his leadership insights and for being a part of my #SpringLeadershipSeries2025. Did these questions open your eyes to think about leadership in nontraditional ways? That was the hope!

Image Credit: Dr. Nicola Davies.

Read Erika Andersen's article, "How Springtime Can Make Us Better Leaders"

https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikaandersen/2015/05/14/how-springtime-can-make-us-better-leaders/

Read Jim's previous appearances here on my blog:

HOLIDAY LEADERSHIP SERIES – Featuring James Strock (November 2024)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2024/11/holiday-leadership-series-featuring_0843516022.html

OLYMPICS LEADERSHIP SERIES – Featuring James Strock (July 2024)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2024/07/olympics-leadership-series-featuring_0590013298.html

SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES – Featuring James Strock (April 2024)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2024/04/spring-leadership-series-featuring_0620073012.html

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES – Featuring James Strock (October 2023)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/10/fall-back-to-reading-series-featuring_0711042239.html

What Happens When Leadership, Service and Encouragement Join Forces? (July 2020)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2020/07/what-happens-when-leadership-service.html

Sharing Timeless Leadership Lessons (November 2018)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2018/11/sharing-timeless-leadership-lessons.html

Leadership Is All About Serving Others (March 2014)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2014/03/leadership-is-all-about-serving-others.html

Serve to Lead - What a Visionary Concept (March 2011)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2011/03/serve-to-lead-what-visionary-concept.html

Connect with Jim at these links:

Website: https://servetolead.com

Website: https://jamesstrock.substack.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/servetolead

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/jamesstrock

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

Leadership Quotes: https://www.azquotes.com/author/97151-James_M_Strock

SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES 2025 – Featuring Amanda Hahn-Peters

Last year, I launched a Spring Leadership Series to think about leadership in nontraditional ways. As 2024 continued, I presented additional ways to think about leadership during my Olympics Leadership Series and Holiday Leadership Series. With a new year upon us, I've invited 25 thought leaders to share their responses to five questions relating to team-building, reading, and leadership. My #SpringLeadershipSeries2025 began the first day of Spring and continues through June 20th, the first day of Summer.

Before we begin, I'd like to applaud two special individuals for providing the inspiration for this series. First, big applause goes to Erika Andersen, a leadership expert and author who I've had the pleasure of knowing for nearly 15 years, and she's appeared on my blog 13 times since 2011. She wrote an article for Forbes entitled, "How Springtime Can Make Us Better Leaders," and that article serves as the core of the series as its first question. Second, I also applaud Joseph Lalonde, a leadership expert and author of a book called REEL LEADERSHIP, for planting the seeds for last year's Spring Leadership Series on my blog. After I read Joe's book, I started looking at movies as well as works of fiction, TV shows, and TV characters with "leadership-tinted glasses."

For today's post, I'd like to introduce Amanda Hahn-Peters, based in Los Angeles. Amanda is a copywriter, content writer, and marketing strategist that collaborates with creative business owners and impact-driven brands to uncover and share the stories that connect them to their audience and build trust. Additionally, she is a former professional triathlete-turned-endurance coach and has assisted many teams throughout her 14-year coaching career - and now coaches age-group runners and triathletes through her endurance coaching business, AHP Endurance. When she isn't writing or coaching, Amanda enjoys traveling, reading, attending theater productions, and spending time with her husband and cat. She is also a lover of musicals who thinks in song lyrics...when I met her on Twitter/X, her pinned post was: "If you could swap your email sign-off with song lyrics, what would you choose? Defying gravity, Amanda." Is anyone else a fan of WICKED?!

QUESTION: Leadership expert and author Erika Andersen wrote an article for Forbes entitled, "How Springtime Can Make Us Better Leaders." In the article, Erika compared gardening to management and leadership. What are your thoughts, or was there something that stood out from the article?

AMANDA HAHN-PETERS: I love how the article compared gardening to creating an environment for employees to thrive! And I don't think we can emphasize listening and fostering two-way communication enough. Employees want to know that their ideas are heard and taken into account by leadership, and when given room for feedback, they feel understood. This creates an environment where employees feel comfortable, collaboration is encouraged, and leaders and their employees most likely look forward to coming to work and thriving.

QUESTION: What was the most recent example of inspiring leadership that made an impact on you?

AMANDA HAHN-PETERS: I'm a big fan of companies who lead by meeting their customers where they are and stepping up to meet their needs. As a resident of Los Angeles, the devastating fires of January 2025 are still fresh in my mind as my city begins to recover from this disaster and makes plans to rebuild. For weeks, when so many were forced to evacuate their homes, businesses (both small and large) stepped up to care for their community. 

Although many businesses made notable contributions, one that stood out to me was Planet Fitness. The gym chain opened its doors to residents, first responders, and others impacted by the fires and offered them basic necessities like showers, locker rooms, Wi-Fi, charging stations, and other resources. I admire that they temporarily changed their policy and opened their doors to non-members to care for those who needed it most. 

QUESTION: What is your favorite team-building activity, and why?

AMANDA HAHN-PETERS: As a freelance copywriter who works mainly with creative brands and service-based business owners, it's been a while since I've participated in team-building activities. However, as an agency copywriter, I appreciated team-building activities because they helped break the ice between new co-workers I didn't know very well. I also enjoyed getting to know people outside of work processes. 

My favorite team-building activities are escape room-like games or any type of situation where team members rely on each others' unique strengths to figure out a puzzle or solve a riddle. It's fun to see how everyone uses different problem-solving techniques to reach a solution, and team-building activities are a great way to encourage team collaboration.

SHARE THIS: Team-building activities are a great way to encourage team collaboration. ~@amandahpcopy #SpringLeadershipSeries2025 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: Which book is on the top of your to-be-read pile, and why?

AMANDA HAHN-PETERS: I'm currently in a season where I'm drawn to mostly fiction books. While there are some great memoirs and business books on my TBR, I love how fiction (specifically historical fiction novels) usually include story arcs where characters overcome obstacles to grow, evolve, and remind us that transformation is possible. 

That being said, the book at the tippy top of my list is Kristin Hannah's The Women. One of Hannah's other books, The Nightingale, is one of my all-time favorites. From reading a plot summary of The Women, I can tell that, similar to The Nightingale, Kristin Hannah's The Women highlights the power of female friendships and the strength of women in general. 

QUESTION: In the past year, has a TV show, film, or work of fiction stood out as a result of its emphasis on leadership?

AMANDA HAHN-PETERS: It's been out for more than a year and I'm just late to the party, but I recently binge-watched and loved the TV show Ted Lasso on Apple TV+. There's something so refreshing about Ted Lasso's leadership style — he's humble, vulnerable, self-aware, and, above all, joyful. 

Early in the series, when Ted Lasso, a former American football coach, takes over as the head coach of an English Premier League soccer club, he isn't afraid to be vulnerable and admit that, despite being one of the organization's higher-ups, he's a soccer newbie. Instead of being embarrassed by his lack of soccer knowledge, Ted accepts suggestions from others in the organization to help make the team better. 

A specific example is when he seeks input on game strategy from AFC Richmond's kit manager, Nathan Shelly. As kit managers don't usually contribute to a team's strategy, this stood out as a moment of transformational leadership. 

This is also a good reminder to all current and aspiring leaders that great ideas can come from anywhere and at any level of an organization. Now, what's the best way to create a system within your company that encourages everyone to share their views and voice their opinions? 

My gratitude to Amanda for sharing her leadership insights and for being a part of my #SpringLeadershipSeries2025. Did these questions open your eyes to think about leadership in nontraditional ways? That was the hope!

Image Credit: Bryan Garces via Unsplash.

Read Erika Andersen's article, "How Springtime Can Make Us Better Leaders"

https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikaandersen/2015/05/14/how-springtime-can-make-us-better-leaders/

Good news for Amanda - and all of us who enjoyed the Ted Lasso series:

"Everything We Know About Ted Lasso Season 4"

https://www.si.com/soccer/everything-we-know-about-ted-lasso-season-4

Read Amanda's previous appearance here on my blog:

OLYMPICS LEADERSHIP SERIES – Featuring Amanda Hahn-Peters (August 2024)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2024/08/olympics-leadership-series-featuring.html

Connect with Amanda at these links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-hahn-peters

Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/amandahpcopy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandahpcopy

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@amandahpcopy

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/amandahpcopy.bsky.social

SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES 2025 – Featuring Anthony Gaenzle

Last year, I launched a Spring Leadership Series to think about leadership in nontraditional ways. As 2024 continued, I presented additional ways to think about leadership during my Olympics Leadership Series and Holiday Leadership Series. With a new year upon us, I've invited 25 thought leaders to share their responses to five questions relating to team-building, reading, and leadership. My #SpringLeadershipSeries2025 began the first day of Spring and continues through June 20th, the first day of Summer.

Before we begin, I'd like to applaud two special individuals for providing the inspiration for this series. First, big applause goes to Erika Andersen, a leadership expert and author who I've had the pleasure of knowing for nearly 15 years, and she's appeared on my blog 13 times since 2011. She wrote an article for Forbes entitled, "How Springtime Can Make Us Better Leaders," and that article serves as the core of the series as its first question. Second, I also applaud Joseph Lalonde, a leadership expert and author of a book called REEL LEADERSHIP, for planting the seeds for last year's Spring Leadership Series on my blog. After I read Joe's book, I started looking at movies as well as works of fiction, TV shows, and TV characters with "leadership-tinted glasses."

For today's post, I'd like to introduce Anthony Gaenzle, CEO and Founder of Gaenzle Marketing in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Anthony works as a personal brand consultant for executives, business owners, and others. He is a two-time published author and digital marketing influencer. He has helped brands both large and small grow and thrive across multiple industries through strategic marketing campaigns and leveraging a powerful network of influencers.

QUESTION: Leadership expert and author Erika Andersen wrote an article for Forbes entitled, "How Springtime Can Make Us Better Leaders." In the article, Erika compared gardening to management and leadership. What are your thoughts, or was there something that stood out from the article?

ANTHONY GAENZLE: There were some excellent points in this article. One that stood out to me is the power of listening. And not just basic listening. Listen to understand, listen to build trust, listen to empower your team to feel open and free to come up with and present their ideas freely. This builds the right "soil" in which your people and your company can grow and thrive. 

SHARE THIS: Listen to understand, listen to build trust, listen to empower your team. ~@AnthonyGaenzle #SpringLeadershipSeries2025 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: What was the most recent example of inspiring leadership that made an impact on you?

ANTHONY GAENZLE: As an Eagles fan, I've been really impressed by the leadership exhibited by the team's two biggest stars, Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley. They both put team and winning ahead of their own personal goals. They sacrificed long hours, gave up the opportunity to set personal records, and made sure to give credit to the rest of the team at every turn. These two set a very positive example for future leaders. 

QUESTION: What is your favorite team-building activity, and why?

ANTHONY GAENZLE: When I attended the Clemson Leadership Summit a few years back, I really appreciated a team-building activity we did that involved working as a team to create a robotic hand. The hand was designed to help people in other countries who'd lost limbs due to the violence they faced. We not only learned excellent team-building skills in the process, but we were able to work toward a common goal that hopefully helped a lot of people. 

QUESTION: Which book is on the top of your to-be-read pile, and why?

ANTHONY GAENZLE: I am currently re-reading Good to Great. It's such a valuable text, and I haven't read it in a few years, so I wanted to jump back in and revisit some of the concepts. It's a must-read for any business professional. 

QUESTION: In the past year, has a TV show, film, or work of fiction stood out as a result of its emphasis on leadership?

ANTHONY GAENZLE: One of my favorite TV shows is "The Office." While Michael Scott is largely the example of how NOT to be a leader, there is one thing that stands out about him. Despite all of his flaws, he truly, genuinely cares about his team. It's so important to have your team's back and reassure them that you are there for them. Let them know that the leadership team supports and appreciates them, and assure them that they are not alone. This gives your team a feeling of security, and it creates an environment where they are comfortable and feel like they can grow.

My gratitude to Anthony for sharing his leadership insights and for being a part of my #SpringLeadershipSeries2025. Did these questions open your eyes to think about leadership in nontraditional ways? That was the hope!

Image Credit: Globus Insights.

Read Erika Andersen's article, "How Springtime Can Make Us Better Leaders"

https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikaandersen/2015/05/14/how-springtime-can-make-us-better-leaders/

Read Anthony's previous appearances here on my blog:

OLYMPICS LEADERSHIP SERIES – Featuring Anthony Gaenzle (August 2024)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2024/08/olympics-leadership-series-featuring_01563617303.html

SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES – Featuring Anthony Gaenzle (April 2024)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2024/04/spring-leadership-series-featuring.html

The Importance of Branding (May 2022)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/05/the-importance-of-branding.html

Connect with Anthony at these links:

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Anthony-Gaenzle/e/B096WJ3DZ6/

Website: https://eicreative.online

Twitter/X: https://www.x.com/elev8tinspire

Twitter/X: https://www.x.com/AnthonyGaenzle

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

SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES 2025 – Featuring Debbie Szumylo

Last year, I launched a Spring Leadership Series to think about leadership in nontraditional ways. As 2024 continued, I presented additional ways to think about leadership during my Olympics Leadership Series and Holiday Leadership Series. With a new year upon us, I've invited 25 thought leaders to share their responses to five questions relating to team-building, reading, and leadership. My #SpringLeadershipSeries2025 began the first day of Spring and continues through June 20th, the first day of Summer.

Before we begin, I'd like to applaud two special individuals for providing the inspiration for this series. First, big applause goes to Erika Andersen, a leadership expert and author who I've had the pleasure of knowing for nearly 15 years, and she's appeared on my blog 13 times since 2011. She wrote an article for Forbes entitled, "How Springtime Can Make Us Better Leaders," and that article serves as the core of the series as its first question. Second, I also applaud Joseph Lalonde, a leadership expert and author of a book called REEL LEADERSHIP, for planting the seeds for last year's Spring Leadership Series on my blog. After I read Joe's book, I started looking at movies as well as works of fiction, TV shows, and TV characters with "leadership-tinted glasses."

For today's post, I'd like to introduce Debbie Szumylo. Debbie is a Senior Manager of Customer and Employee Experience at Elite, leveraging 20 years of expertise in the industry. With nearly a decade at Elite, she enhances customer and employee satisfaction through a customer-facing online community, surveys, and journey mapping. Her key achievements include boosting client retention, launching an internal recognition program, and managing online communities. Additionally, Debbie plays a pivotal role in developing internal training programs, shaping the employee experience, and leading the development of Elite's Values.

QUESTION: Leadership expert and author Erika Andersen wrote an article for Forbes entitled, "How Springtime Can Make Us Better Leaders." In the article, Erika compared gardening to management and leadership. What are your thoughts, or was there something that stood out from the article?

DEBBIE SZUMYLO: There is a quote from Alexander Den Heijer, "When a flower doesn't bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower." This quote gets to the heart of what leaders should focus on: creating the right environment for their team members to thrive. And Erika Andersen's article really resonated with that idea.

The comparison between gardening and leadership is a powerful one. If a flower isn't blooming, you don't try to fix the flower itself - you adjust the conditions around it. That's basically what leaders should be doing. They should be creating an environment that's conducive to growth, collaboration, and success.

What I loved about Andersen's article was how she emphasized the importance of understanding each team member's unique needs. Just as a gardener needs to know which plants require sunlight and water, leaders need to know how to tailor their approach to each team member. That way, you're not just trying to force change, but actually creating an environment where people can flourish.

It's a really beautiful way to think about leadership, and it's definitely something I'll be keeping in mind as I go forward.

SHARE THIS: Just as a gardener needs to know which plants require sunlight and water, leaders need to know how to tailor their approach to each team member. ~Debbie Szumylo #SpringLeadershipSeries2025 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: What was the most recent example of inspiring leadership that made an impact on you?

DEBBIE SZUMYLO: No longer leading her country, but I immediately think of Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand. Ardern's leadership beautifully illustrates how empathy and decisiveness can create real change. As Prime Minister of New Zealand, she responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by swiftly implementing lockdowns and providing honest communication, making people feel valued and supported.

After the Christchurch Mosque shootings, her compassionate response fostered unity, condemning violence, and supporting the Muslim community with swift action. Her approach is like good gardening: she prepares the soil through open communication, champions inclusivity, and isn't afraid to make tough decisions when needed. 

Ardern reminds me that true leadership nurtures communities, showing that empathy and decisive action can help everyone flourish together.

QUESTION: What is your favorite team-building activity, and why?

DEBBIE SZUMYLO: I love the "Yes, And" exercise for several compelling reasons. It embodies creativity, positivity, and collaboration while encouraging a growth mindset. By building upon each other's ideas without judgment, we foster an environment where innovation thrives.

This exercise sharpens our listening skills, develops our ability to think on our feet, and enhances our problem-solving capabilities. As we work together, we gain valuable insights into each other's perspectives, establishing a deeper understanding and respect for one another.

The lasting impact of "Yes, And" is profound. It cultivates a culture of openness, encourages diverse perspectives, and inspires a supportive environment where feedback is welcomed. This exercise not only enhances our immediate interactions but also lays the groundwork for long-term success and resilience as a team.

QUESTION: Which book is on the top of your to-be-read pile, and why?

DEBBIE SZUMYLO: Reading is an escape for me. While I do read business books, much of my reading is fiction. However, on my TBR list for 2025, I am looking forward to digging into "Chief Joy Officer: How Great Leaders Elevate Human Energy and Eliminate Fear." I'm craving outlets where I can find joy and happiness these days, and this book seems to hit the mark. From what I've read, this book captures three key elements of being an effective leader:

(1) Empowerment and growth: As a leader, my role is to foster a culture of self-understanding and capability development, empowering everyone on the team. By encouraging collaboration and individual growth, leaders create a supportive environment that drives shared success.

(2) Transformational approach: I am responsible for emphasizing joy and energy in the workplace. By cultivating a positive and engaging atmosphere, I can boost morale and productivity, making work more fulfilling and aligned with the values that inspire both myself and my teams.

(3) Inclusive Perspective: My ability to influence both peers and superiors is vital for driving change. By adopting an inclusive mindset that values every voice, I can enhance my leadership skills and effectiveness as a change agent, fostering a collaborative environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute.

QUESTION: In the past year, has a TV show, film, or work of fiction stood out as a result of its emphasis on leadership?

DEBBIE SZUMYLO: The Hulu series THE BEAR offers an interesting exploration of leadership through the story of Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto, a young chef running his family's sandwich shop. Key aspects of his leadership include:

(1) Transformational leadership: Carmy's vision for his family's sandwich shop inspires change and excellence in his team. However, like a gardener who initially may prioritize a single type of plant, he struggles with inclusivity. Slowly, he learns to value diverse contributions over a singular focus.

(2) Team dynamics: Tasked with uniting a dysfunctional team, Carmy learns to recognize and leverage individual strengths. His journey emphasizes the importance of trust and collaboration, essential nutrients for a thriving team.

(3) Resilience and adaptability: Carmy demonstrates resilience under pressure, yet his intense approach stifles growth and creates tension. He learns that vulnerability can be a strength, allowing for deeper connections within the team.

(4) Emotional intelligence: Over time, Carmy develops greater empathy, using it to motivate and support his team. This growth in emotional awareness helps create a cohesive work environment.

(5) Work-life balance: Carmy's personal struggles highlight the necessity of maintaining balance for effective leadership. He realizes that prioritizing his own well-being is crucial for sustaining his leadership effectiveness.

Through his journey on The Bear, Carmy illustrates that effective leadership, much like cultivating a diverse garden, involves continuous learning, adaptation, and the ability to inspire growth while positively impacting those around him.

My gratitude to Debbie for sharing her leadership insights and for being a part of my #SpringLeadershipSeries2025. Did these questions open your eyes to think about leadership in nontraditional ways? That was the hope!

Image Credit: AlexRaths via DepositPhotos.

Read Erika Andersen's article, "How Springtime Can Make Us Better Leaders"

https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikaandersen/2015/05/14/how-springtime-can-make-us-better-leaders/

Connect with Debbie at this link:

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

SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES 2025 – Featuring Elia Guardiola

Last year, I launched a Spring Leadership Series to think about leadership in nontraditional ways. As 2024 continued, I presented additional ways to think about leadership during my Olympics Leadership Series and Holiday Leadership Series. With a new year upon us, I've invited 25 thought leaders to share their responses to five questions relating to team-building, reading, and leadership. My #SpringLeadershipSeries2025 began the first day of Spring and continues through June 20th, the first day of Summer.

Before we begin, I'd like to applaud two special individuals for providing the inspiration for this series. First, big applause goes to Erika Andersen, a leadership expert and author who I've had the pleasure of knowing for nearly 15 years, and she's appeared on my blog 13 times since 2011. She wrote an article for Forbes entitled, "How Springtime Can Make Us Better Leaders," and that article serves as the core of the series as its first question. Second, I also applaud Joseph Lalonde, a leadership expert and author of a book called REEL LEADERSHIP, for planting the seeds for last year's Spring Leadership Series on my blog. After I read Joe's book, I started looking at movies as well as works of fiction, TV shows, and TV characters with "leadership-tinted glasses."

For today's post, I'd like to introduce Elia Guardiola. Based in Madrid, Spain, Elia has been an international speaker for 10 years for corporate training programs worldwide and is also a professor at international universities and business schools in Spain and Latin America. She is the Founder of the StoryEmotion School, and since 2021, has been an official speaker at the e-World Marketing Summit led by Professor Philip Kotler. Elia has developed her own methodology for creating impactful storytelling with powerful narratives that drive results for corporations and businesses of all sizes and industries. She is a co-author of several books on Marketing and Communication; and is also the creator of the Four Pillars of Emotional Marketing, which are taught in programs at international universities.

QUESTION: Leadership expert and author Erika Andersen wrote an article for Forbes entitled, "How Springtime Can Make Us Better Leaders." In the article, Erika compared gardening to management and leadership. What are your thoughts, or was there something that stood out from the article?
ELIA GUARDIOLA: Erika Andersen's article draws a compelling parallel between gardening and leadership, emphasizing the importance of renewal and growth. As leaders, embracing the concept of starting fresh, much like in spring, allows us to invigorate our teams and encourage development. This analogy underscores the need for nurturing environments where individuals can thrive, reflecting the cyclical nature of growth both in gardens and organizations.

QUESTION: What was the most recent example of inspiring leadership that made an impact on you?
ELIA GUARDIOLA: The story of Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, continues to be an inspiring leadership reference for me. His ability to transform the culture of such a massive company by focusing on empathy, inclusion, and innovation is truly impressive. Recently, I read an interview where he talked about the importance of curiosity and a growth mindset in leaders. It made me reflect on how, in our daily lives, we must remain open to learning and evolving, not just as professionals but as human beings.

QUESTION: What is your favorite team-building activity, and why?
ELIA GUARDIOLA: I love any activity that involves storytelling. One of my favorites is when each team member shares a personal story related to a core value of the company or team. Not only does it strengthen the connection between people, but it also fosters empathy and mutual understanding. In the end, leadership and teamwork are not just about productivity — they are about emotions, relationships, and shared purpose.

SHARE THIS: Leadership and teamwork are not just about productivity — they are about emotions, relationships, and shared purpose. ~@EliaGuardiola #SpringLeadershipSeries2025 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: Which book is on the top of your to-be-read pile, and why?
ELIA GUARDIOLA: I'm really looking forward to reading The Persuaders by Anand Giridharadas because I'm fascinated by everything related to communication, storytelling, and persuasion in leadership. This book explores how ideas can influence and transform societies. I believe it's an essential read for those of us working in storytelling and strategic communication.

QUESTION: In the past year, has a TV show, film, or work of fiction stood out as a result of its emphasis on leadership?
ELIA GUARDIOLA: Without a doubt, The Bear has had a huge impact on me. Although it's set in the world of gastronomy, it brilliantly portrays leadership in its most human form — chaotic, emotional, and full of learning experiences. The protagonist, Carmy, is a leader in the making, with all his strengths and flaws. I find it a powerful representation of how leadership is not just about giving orders but about inspiring, adapting, learning from mistakes, and, above all, connecting with the team through vulnerability.


My gratitude to Elia for sharing her leadership insights and for being a part of my #SpringLeadershipSeries2025. Did these questions open your eyes to think about leadership in nontraditional ways? That was the hope!

SHARE THIS: Brands using storytelling have more opportunities to make their audience fall in love with them. ~@EliaGuardiola via @telecoming #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Save the date: Elia returns to my blog on May 27th to celebrate World Marketing Day and to share her international perspective about marketing and brand storytelling!

Image Credit: Techminds.

Read Erika Andersen's article, "How Springtime Can Make Us Better Leaders"
https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikaandersen/2015/05/14/how-springtime-can-make-us-better-leaders/

Read an interview with Elia about brand storytelling:
https://www.telecoming.com/blog/elia-guardiola-brands-using-storytelling-have-more-opportunities-to-make-their-audience-fall-in-love-with-them/

Read some quotes from Philip Kotler:
https://www.pkotler.org/quotes-from-pk

Connect with Elia at these links:
Website: https://www.eliaguardiola.com/
LinkedIn: https://es.linkedin.com/in/eliaguardiola
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eliaguardiola/?hl=en
Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/EliaGuardiola
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/EliaGuardiola/playlists
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/eliaguardiola/

Best Social Media Post of the Month for April 2025

How many social media posts do you recall? Do some go viral because they are for charity, like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge? Or do some go viral because they happened at the right moment in time, like the Oreo tweet when the lights went out at the 2013 Super Bowl? Or do some go viral and become memorable simply because they're funny?

In a new monthly series on my blog - appearing during the first week of each month - I am sharing the best social media post of the preceding month. The choice may appear on Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.

According to Google, "The best social media post of the month is typically one that effectively combines high engagement with relevance to current events, holidays, or trending topics, while also aligning with your brand identity and authentically connecting with your audience; this could include a thought-provoking question, a relatable story, a visually appealing image, a timely meme, or a behind-the-scenes look, depending on your platform and target demographic."

Without further ado, the post that earns my recognition as the best social media post of the month from April 2025 was shared on April 1st, 2025, by the dictionary brand Merriam-Webster on Twitter/X, Facebook, and Instagram. While April 1st is also known as April Fools' Day, some brands change their recognizable colors, competitive positioning, or some other form of brand marketing to stand out on that day. In this case, Merriam-Webster added some humor to the world of social media by promoting a new version of its best-selling dictionary: "Merriam-Webster's ALL CAPS, For People Who Are Mad." On Twitter/X, the following description accompanied the image: "PERFECT FOR SOCIAL MEDIA USERS!"

Brands that can align their products or services to an event or holiday that everyone is talking about have the potential to be memorable.

What brand do you think will stand out during May, and why?

Image Credit: Merriam-Webster via Twitter/X and Instagram.