In this episode of The Behaviorist, host Kedren Crosby is joined by Salena Coachman, VP of Talent Sustainability & Acquisition at Armstrong World Industries, for a thoughtful conversation on self-confidence as a practice—not a personality trait. Together, they explore what confidence really is, how it’s built over time, and why inner authority, decisiveness, and values alignment are essential to modern leadership. Drawing from personal stories and leadership experience, they discuss executive presence, cultivating cultures of confidence, and practical habits that sustain confidence through uncertainty and change.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

In this episode of The Behaviorist, host Dylan Ehlert and guest Joey McMonagle, Chief Business Development Officer at Atomic Design, explore how loss aversion influences our decisions—often keeping us from taking the risks that lead to growth, innovation, and fulfillment. Together, they unpack why our brains are wired to avoid loss, how that bias shows up in leadership and organizational culture, and practical ways to reframe risk, cultivate a growth mindset, and lead with courage.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

Join Liz Orr and Sarah Colantonio as they dig into a lesser-known aspect of the Enneagram types: the Instincts. Since instincts originate from an unconscious place, having an understanding of our default and what they look like can help us navigate conflict and lead more effectively.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

In this episode of The Behaviorist, we're introducing The Reset, a simple yet powerful self-coaching method designed by Work Wisdom to help you reframe your perspective, recenter your mind, and reality-test your current challenges. Whether you're facing change, working through adversity, or both, this tool is here to support your growth.

You'll hear the origin story of the Reset methodology, along with two guided experiences: use it during your commute with Maria Hoover’s calming voice helping you return to peace, or incorporate it into your journaling practice with Todd Snovel’s reflective guidance toward clarity and hope.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

In this episode of The Behaviorist, we're introducing The Reset, a simple yet powerful self-coaching method designed by Work Wisdom to help you reframe your perspective, recenter your mind, and reality-test your current challenges. Whether you're facing change, working through adversity, or both, this tool is here to support your growth.

You'll hear the origin story of the Reset methodology, along with two guided experiences: use it during your commute with Maria Hoover’s calming voice helping you return to peace, or incorporate it into your journaling practice with Todd Snovel’s reflective guidance toward clarity and hope.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

In this episode of The Behaviorist, we're introducing The Reset, a simple yet powerful self-coaching method designed by Work Wisdom to help you reframe your perspective, recenter your mind, and reality-test your current challenges. Whether you're facing change, working through adversity, or both, this tool is here to support your growth.

You'll hear the origin story of the Reset methodology, along with two guided experiences: use it during your commute with Maria Hoover’s calming voice helping you return to peace, or incorporate it into your journaling practice with Todd Snovel’s reflective guidance toward clarity and hope.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

When so much of our worklife is about conflict, how do we learn to value disagreements and harness the benefits of crackly tension?  Research is increasingly demonstrating that the most powerful teams are those that know how to disagree and even fight to improve and sharpen ideas, all the while preserving (or repairing!) the relationship.  Bring your pen when you listen to this episode, as you'll want to take notes!

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

The quality of our team’s conversations drives the quality of our outcomes.  It’s that simple.  Listen in as Kedren and Sarah discuss team conversations and how to gauge their quality by noticing whether three distinct interactions are happening and how all of it contributes to the overall existence of psychological safety. 

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

While you might think that too much authenticity can backfire, trust in our leaders is low, and employee engagement is low. We are desperate for leaders who lead with authenticity. So what does that mean for Authentic Leaders? How do we balance being authentic and leading? Join Sarah and Abby Rivera as they discuss what it means to be an authentic leader and how that can lead to trust and high performance on your team. 

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

Have you ever been on a Zoom call where a single raised eyebrow or subtle head shake said it all—no words needed? In this episode of The Behaviorist, host, Kedren Crosby, is joined by Work Wisdom President, Sarah Colantonio, and Director of Communications, Hunter Smith, for an insightful exploration of the world of nonverbal communication.

From the foundational work of anthropologist Ray Birdwhistell on kinesics, to Gen Z’s fashion-forward self-expression at work, and even a nod to David Rose’s expressive genius on Schitt’s Creek, this conversation dives deep into how we communicate beyond words and why it matters more than ever.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

Are you feeling burned out and unmotivated with your work? In this episode of The Behaviorist, host Sarah Colantonio is joined by Maria Hoover, Director of Educational Services at Capital Area IU, and Todd Snovel, Chief Leadership & Engagement Officer at the County Commissioners Association of PA, for an insightful conversation about sparking intrinsic motivation in themselves and others.

What drives us from within, and how does that differ from external rewards? How can we recognize and strengthen our own internal motivators? Tune in as Sarah, Maria, and Todd explore the science and strategies behind tapping into our intrinsic motivation and why it matters more than ever.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

In our latest episode of The Behaviorist, we explore the fascinating concept of "split personas"—how we create separate versions of ourselves for work and life. Drawing on the hit show Severance, Dr. Ryan Berardi, Dr. Alex Rohrer, and Emily Abbruzzese dive into the psychological cost of living with these dual identities. Are we sacrificing authenticity for safety? Can we truly integrate our personal and professional selves, or does the divide serve a deeper purpose? Tune in as we unravel these complex questions and discover practices that can support both our work and mental well-being.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

The Behaviorist Podcast has been a library of ideas, a resource for shared language, a training manual, a community meet up, and most of all, a labor of love by the team at Work Wisdom.  Join our producer AND host, Adam Rohrer, as he interviews the founders of The Behaviorist Podcast, Sarah Colantonio and Kedren Crosby, to learn about the surprises and thrills of creating 100 episodes of the only podcast that delivers accessible, concrete tools to help you achieve good work AND have more joy on your journey.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

What does it mean to lead with calm amidst chaos? Why is equanimity so essential for leaders navigating complexity, conflict, and constant change? And how can leaders cultivate this inner steadiness without becoming detached or indifferent? In this week’s episode of The Behaviorist, Kedren Crosby sits down with Jenna Cramer, President & CEO of Green Building Alliance, and Joe McMonagle, Chief Business Development Officer at ATOMIC, to discuss the powerful, yet often elusive, leadership trait of equanimity.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

How do we accept evolution and become skillful at leveraging perpetually shifting realities? What is 'Walk Away Power,' and why does it make perfect sense to talk about Chappell Roan at the Grammy Awards on The Behaviorist? Join Jaime Arroyo, Dylan, and Kedren as they reflect, explore, and develop dynamic methods and mindsets for adapting as individuals and organizations. Hear Jaime discuss how a winning modern 'game plan' actually requires that we skillfully improvise 'play by play.' Listen along as we let the antifragile framework help us reimagine who we are becoming and how we will continue to do good work in new, evolving ways.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

Join us as Mike McKenna talks with Clarke Madden from the PA Office of the State Inspector General about the way a strategy screen is just the right tool to strengthen your decision-making in your work, and even in your personal life!

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

*Views expressed by guests are their own, and no endorsement of any good or service is expressed or implied.

Five years after Kedren interviewed Fearless Leaders Jess King and Sam Bressi in an article on WW Press, she meets up with them again to explore what additional wisdom they’ve gleaned through the past challenging years to help leaders now.  

Join the three leaders in discussing the necessity of building values-aligned teams, quantifying your fears, habituating renewal, reframing uncertainty, dropping the need for credit, and even forgiving in order to sustain fearless leadership for the long game.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).

Work Wisdom's 2017 office was our first foray into Work Wisdom Design, where every detail of space: light, furniture, color, and fabric, was used to cultivate an aspired identity and culture. Join Kedren Crosby and Christy Slothower in a conversation about intentionally using design to create the best future for your teams and your company. In this episode, Kedren and Christy share their motivation, methods, and aspirations of Work Wisdom Design. The conversation is driven by the words of Peter Drucker, "The best way to predict the future is to create it" and Modernist architect Mies van der Rhoe, "God is in the details."  

You can follow Work Wisdom On LinkedIn and Instagram, at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

Join us for a powerful conversation as Ryan Berardi sits down with Dr. Taylor Alouisa and Dr. Alex Rohrer to explore the essential role of “trust density” in fostering impactful work. Discover practical insights on building and maintaining “trust hygiene” in the face of pivotal, complex challenges that not only affect trust today but shape the foundation for stronger relationships tomorrow. Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of trust in transformative ways!

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).

What really drives a leadership team to greatness? Hint: it’s *not* about everyone being a superstar. Join Sarah, Dylan, and Kedren as they dive into the essential ingredients that make executive teams excel. Discover the surprising qualities that elevate team performance and how balancing the paradox of leadership is key to sustained success. Ready to rethink what it takes to lead? Don't miss this insightful conversation

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).

The Work Wisdom team invites you to join us for our second installment of our series on Curiosity as we explore what behaviors you can adopt that enhance your ability to learn and grow. We will also explore some behaviors and mindsets that may interfere with your curiosity and block you from engaging with information in ways that are ripe for learning

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).

Asking questions that help us more deeply and richly connect can be harder than it seems. Join us in our series on the benefits of cultivating curiosity as we explore the art of asking questions with Dr. Scott Waltman

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).

In a world where we sense so much division, could listening be the superpower we didn’t know we needed? Join us as Mike McKenna talks with Tracy Cutler about concrete ways to truly listen deeply and connect more meaningfully across the many forms of differences in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and social lives. “Listening Across the Divide” will help you understand others even when you don’t or can’t agree.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).

What is the most hard-won, unglamorous, yet high-performance skill in leadership?  It may be one that is almost never discussed: killing your darlings.

How do we recalibrate our bias towards adding?  How do we accept, normalize and even grieve when it is time to let go of a beloved offering, product, department for the long-term health of the organization?  What role does confidence play in creating elegant and enduring companies?  How does 'killing your darlings' enable us to optimally direct the energy in our companies?  How must humility evolve as we scale our organizations and movements towards even higher performance, greater impact and joy?

Join Kedren and Dylan to explore the art of shedding, pruning, and tailoring your organization through elegant leadership

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).

Intuition is simply knowing without fully knowing how you know.  We benefit from accessing ALL of our knowledge (both cognitive and intuitive), yet some of us have been encouraged to undervalue our intuitive knowledge.  Join Kedren and Sarah to learn about the four types of intuition (Expert, Creative, Relational, and Temporal) as well as Kedren's top ten favorite techniques for developing your own intuitive skills so that you have more fruitful and joyful work lives.  You already have this intuition; you just need to clear the obstacles to it.  Choose a few of the techniques, experiment, and let us know how you are reconnecting to your own untapped resource.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).

Inspired by the leadership book Extreme Ownership, Sarah *convinced* Nate Shea from SecureStrux to return to the podcast and dig into what Owning It means on our teams. “What’s rewarded is repeated.” In a recent March 2024 article by Zenger and Folkman, the research about the culture of empowered teams shows that if we want high engagement and productivity, we need to set the tone and help our teams by trusting them, encouraging them, and letting mistakes be opportunities to grow. It requires a fair dose of humility and willingness to let go of control. Nate and Sarah discuss the wins and the challenges of creating that culture and reveal what they think is the secret sauce to motivation and empowerment.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).

Join Ryan Berardi, Mike Mason, and Kedren as they explore recent research documenting the shifts in what we truly want and expect from our leaders.  The necessary and elusive role of 'Executive Presence' is evolving in significant and even some encouraging ways.  What makes a leader now?  What skills should we hone to be a modern leader?  Listen in to learn about both the changing and evergreen facets of leadership gravitas, communication skills, and the 'right' appearance.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).

This week on The Behaviorist, join Sarah and Kedren for an impromptu discussion on how to build one's confidence. During this episode, you'll learn what mindsets, behaviors and habits foster sustained, enhanced self-regard. Explore Work Wisdom's experience about the facets and building blocks of MODERN confidence, which include humility, polish and deep listening.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).

Join us as Janine talks with Liz Orr, creator of the Rude Ass Enneagram, about the best way to discern your number, Liz's process of writing her new book “The Unfiltered Enneagram, A Witty And Wise Guide to Self Compassion,” and how to recognize the negative patterns of your number and move toward Badass Pattern Breaking You can follow Liz on Instagram @rudeassenneagram and visit her website www.rudeassenneagram.com to preorder her book and get a personalized snarky message according to your enneagram number!

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).

We certainly needed to hear this right now, and we hope it’s perfect timing for you, too.  This is possibly the most countercultural business podcast ever recorded. What would our workplaces be like if we learned to love uncertainty?  How do we double down on our inputs, our habits, our practices and let go of trying to predict the future?  Why is our intolerance of uncertainty growing?  How do we actually grow if we don’t expose ourselves to uncertainty? Read this article for more context on this envelope-pushing conversation with Dr. Chris Peterson and Kedren.  We challenge you to share this podcast with your teammates and discuss how this research could positively transform your organization’s culture

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).

Join us as Sarah talks with Alisa and Alex about three key ways of maximizing potential. If you’re interested in unlocking your potential or, as a leader, unlocking your team's potential, the following episode might interest you. We’re not getting anywhere fast sitting in Zoom meetings in our pajamas. How can we level up and get that boost of energy and performance that makes life exciting and worth getting up and dressed in the morning?! Tune in and find out.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).

Join us as Work Wisdom’s Real-Time strategy associate, Mike McKenna talks with Work Wisdom Founder Kedren Crosby and Vanessa Philbert, CEO of Community Action Partnership, about lessons in growth mindset from one of Hollywood’s culinary anti-heros. Follow along as we slice and dice the journey of Cousin Richie from Hulu’s hit The Bear.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).

We received too many requests for this content to wait until we could get into the studio. Are you burning out, or have you lost your spark?  If you’re trying to find your vibrancy, listen to Kedren as she shares her top twenty favorite ways to sustainably revive and renew in times of uncertainty or unprecedented stress.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).

Join some Work Wisdom leaders to reflect on Adam Bryant’s new work on Leap to Leader. Adam Bryant has found that there are SIX focus areas when growing. 1. What do you stand for? Your values? 2. Hone your decision-making. 3. Setting the bar at the right level. 4. Compartmentalization 5. Self-awareness 6. Know and own your own story.             Sit back and listen as Sarah, Janine, Kedren, and Matt discuss Freud, ponies, Taking the B, NOT oversharing, the Authenticity Paradox, when to recognize that you ARE a leader, and pony jokes.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

We need entrepreneurs everywhere. They’re gritty, they take risks, they inspire us and they solve problems. Join us as we dive into the ingredients of an entrepreneurial mindset with three entrepreneurs: Deb, Nate and Andy. Find out what has inspired these leaders to do what they do despite the challenges and how their entrepreneurial mindset has influenced their leadership style. They just might inspire you to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset yourself!

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).

Employee happiness has been in steady decline since 2020.

In an article in Fast Company earlier this week, CEO and author Jenn Lim asked, “Why are employees so glum? They’re no longer riding the ‘highs and lows’ of their roles but instead shifted to ‘resignation and apathy’” writes Lim. “The true problem with employee engagement isn’t a lack of motivation but a disconnect between the employee and the organization’s purpose.” 

Disengaged teams cost the global economy $8.8 trillion annually, but a massive individual cost exists, as well. “Workers aren’t feeling a sense of purpose in their work, unable to see the alignment between their values or connections to what matters most,” Lim says. 

As leaders, there are things we can do! Join Dr. Ryan Berardi and Kedren as they share tips, mindsets, and behaviors to shift The Great Gloom to The Great Flourishing.  Make your organization an outlier for positive engagement and happiness at work!

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).

Join us as Work Wisdom’s Real-Time strategy associate, Mike McKenna talks with Atomic Design’s CBDO, Joey McMonagle about lessons of fatherhood that can strengthen your workplace leadership and help with effective, compassionate parenting, too.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram(@workwisdom).

Self-less leadership is bad for everyone.” Join us as Sarah talks with Kedren about the impact of self-less leadership on leaders and teams and the sustainable ways leaders can empower and invest in team members without burning out.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

The closing song is "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" by The Smiths.

It's crucial for leaders to become competent in guiding their teams through transitions. In this episode of The Behaviorist, Kedren Crosby shares evidence-based insights for leaders to effectively navigate the different stages of transition. A significant takeaway from this conversation? Embrace the fact that 'uncertainty is the only certainty'.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).

Join us this week as Vanessa and Kedren explore Organizational Burnout. We can’t yoga and meditate our way out of an epidemic of burnout, but we can reframe the problem, lead courageously, and apply systems-wide interventions.  Listen in to learn about the mindsets, habits, and guardrails your organization can adopt to shield your teams from burnout.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).

Join Kedren and Sarah on this episode of The Behaviorist as they delve into the pressing importance of trust in these times of uncertainty. With the pandemic and remote work, coupled with the phenomenon of the great resignation, the overwhelming presence of over-employment, and a sea of Instagram posts playfully mocking the predicament of being at Target while the boss is calling, It is abundantly clear that what we truly need is a remedy for the trust deficiency that exists. This is particularly crucial since cultivating a culture of high trust yields tangible benefits and gifts us the experience of genuine joy.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).

From The Great Resignation to The Great Regret, leaders and teams have experienced epic challenges in recruiting, retaining, and engaging talent over the past three years.  Join Kedren and Sophie Nicholas, a recruiter at Siemens, as they discuss concrete, strategic, modern, and inclusive methods for attracting and empowering new talent to your team.  Tune in to learn Sophie’s tactics for deploying inclusive recruitment, leveraging smart technology, and shaping culture to win the long game.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).

What is the difference between perfectionism and excellence? Maybe you’ve heard the line, “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” Perfect is an ideal that is, by definition, unattainable. Many of us strive for a high standard beyond merely “good.” On today’s podcast, tune in to hear Mike, Vanessa, and Sara clarify key differences between the pursuit of perfection and the pursuit of excellence AND share concrete practices to meet high standards without the baggage.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

If you’re wondering how an article on project management could possibly be inspiring, tune into the latest episode of The Behaviorist to hear Work Wisdom’s founders, Kedren Crosby and Sarah Colantonio discuss how the architect Frank Gehry epitomizes creativity and innovation in surprising ways.  While we might assume creative and innovative organizations are throwing paint at walls and having pizza parties, the recipe for sustained innovation is unexpected and paradoxical. Listen to find out how you can foster innovation and creativity in your own life and organization.

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).

Meme culture is a mainstay of social media, and today's guest uses memes and humor to educate her Instagram followers on the ancient wisdom of the Enneagram. Join us as Janine talks with Liz Orr, creator of the Rude Ass Enneagram, about the importance of self-awareness, the different centers of the enneagram, and some of the caricatures that lead to mistyping. There is so much laughter in this episode, and as always, practical advice for personal development. Listen to learn more about the enneagram and how laughing at yourself can help you revolutionize achievement in work, life, and relationships. 

You can follow Liz on Instagram @rudeassenneagram and visit her website www.rudeassenneagram.com.  

To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).

In an era rife with quiet quitting and quiet firing, there is a healthy alternative: Conscious Uncoupling. Join Kedren and Sarah as they discuss Conscious Uncoupling which requires honest observation about the relationship and a nonjudgmental evolution to allow both parties to flourish. Learn when to use conscious uncoupling and how to move through it with grace.

You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn and Instagram, at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com

As organizations experience unprecedented levels of difficulties with engagement and retention, where people report a host of personal and professional stressors that are affecting their needs, priorities, and well-being, trust is at the center. In this episode, Dr. Carmella Tress talks with Vanessa Philbert, CEO of Community Action Partnership in Lancaster; and Jason James, Art Director at Fig Industries, to explore the role of trust in cultivating workplaces and relationships that feel healthy, productive, safe, and where people want to be.

You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn and Instagram, at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com

For most of our listeners, it’s been a brutal week, compounded by a tumultuous couple of years.  We heard you when you asked for concrete advice about how to keep putting one foot in front of the other. This is required listening for leaders because you are both emotionally highly contagious to your teams (who want to feel valued right now), AND you are responsible for progress in our companies and communities.  It’s a big lift when the world feels like it’s unraveling. Join Dr. McCray and Kedren to learn about three categories of ordering the chaos, and then consider whether borrowing their habits could help you or potentially serve your team as we collectively put one foot in front of the other. 

You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn and Instagram, at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com

Join Sarah as she interviews Work Wisdom’s dynamic friend, Isaac Etter to discuss the art of being assertive as a leader. As an entrepreneur and leader, Isaac puts himself out there in order to move his work and mission forward. While his dynamism might not come naturally to everyone, Isaac has some helpful advice for those of us who are on the shy side.

You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn and Instagram, at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com

Join Sarah as she interviews Vanessa Philbert, the CEO of Community Action Partnership AND an associate at WW as well as Esther Angell, Vice President at Cargas to discuss what it means to have an inclusive workplace, where to start, how we can measure success, and why it is a never-ending journey.

You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn and Instagram, at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com

Imposter syndrome is characterized by doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud. It disproportionately affects high-achieving people, who don’t believe they’re deserving of recognition and promotions. Psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes developed the concept, originally termed “imposter phenomenon,” in a 1978 study which focused on high-achieving women. They found that “despite outstanding academic and professional accomplishments, women who experience the imposter phenomenon persist in believing that they are really not bright and have fooled anyone who thinks otherwise.” Viola Davis, Sheryl Sandberg, Michelle Obama and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor having all confessed to experiencing it. Join Sarah, Vanessa and Kedren to close out Women’s History Month for an exploration about what Imposter Phenomenon is, who experiences it, the role of organizational culture in perpetuating it, and how to begin to own your accomplishments and realistically integrate your successes into your identity. 

You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn and Instagram, at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com

Join Kedren and Sarah as they talk about how to stop wasting effort on activities that won’t actually help you win.  Don’t waste your life being in the gear that doesn’t move you forward.  Learn six concrete techniques for strategic engineering so your hours and activities fold up into the life you want to live.

You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn and Instagram, at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com

Join Kedren and Dr. Tress as they answer the burning question of 2021: “How can leaders continue to lead while they themselves are burning out?”  Despite the emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and lack of professional efficacy that characterize clinical burnout, there are effective methods for restoring vibrancy.  Kedren and Carmella share the five concrete, actionable Emotional Intelligence skills that can mitigate burnout as well as neuroscience practices that can motivate during periods of epic uncertainty. In an era of widespread burnout, we hope this episode helps you and your teams to map a path back towards vitality and joy.

You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn and Instagram, at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com

This week on the Behaviorist Podcast, listen in as Kedren Crosby interviews Lyndsey Sturkey and Chad Martin about being an Enneagram 6, the Loyalist. Loyalists are assumed to be the most common type and are described as committed, security-oriented, engaging, responsible, and, in darker moments, anxious and suspicious. In this episode, Lyndsey and Chad discuss what they love about being a 6, what challenges them, and what they wish others knew. If you are a 6, work with 6's, or consider yourself a Loyalist, this podcast is a must-listen! 

You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn and Instagram, at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com

19 million American workers have quit their jobs since April and the number continues to climb. Leaders are scrambling. While the answer to attracting and retaining talent is simple, it is not easy. In this episode, Kedren Crosby and Sarah Colantonio discuss the recent study from McKinsey that reports on the massive attrition happening across industries and give advice to leaders who instead want to create cultures that attract, motivate and retain employees.

You can follow Work Wisdom On LinkedIn and Instagram, at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

Burnout is at epidemic proportions, with 52% of the workforce now reporting feeling burned out.  In this impromptu bonus episode, Sarah and Kedren share seven concrete (and personally tested) methods that you can begin using today to restore vibrancy and prevent future bouts of burnout.

You can follow Work Wisdom On LinkedIn and Instagram, at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

What does work-life integration mean to you? Is it being on a work call while emptying the dishwasher? Putting your toddler in front of a Disney movie while you attend a zoom meeting? Instead of work-life balance, which pits our career against our personal lives, work-life integration takes the various threads of our lives to bolster and reinforce each other. Working with the same set of values, towards the same goal, it requires our clarity of purpose, clarity of our values, our crucibles, and then we pull together all the facets of our lives in service of this overarching purpose. Join Kedren Crosby and her guest, the talented, whole-life enthusiast, Dr. Erica McCray from the University of Florida.

You can follow Work Wisdom On LinkedIn and Instagram, at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

This week on the Behaviorist Podcast listen in as Randy Berridge interviews Therese Crosby Toczek & Jen Beachy about being an Enneagram 5. In this episode we take an exciting journey into the mind of the knowledge seekers on the Enneagram. Enneagram Type 5’s are the intense, cerebral, perceptive, and sometimes detached type. These self-identifying Type 5’s discuss what they love about being a 5, what challenges them, and what they wish others knew. If you are a 5, work with 5's, or consider yourself an ‘Investigator’, this podcast is a must-listen!

You can follow Work Wisdom On LinkedIn and Instagram, at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

One of our dearest clients wrote in an email, “I have this feeling like there isn’t enough of me as a mama, wife, daughter, sister, friend, employee, community member. Not enough time, not enough for all the needs. It feels like a scarcity mindset that is difficult to break out of.” When sociologist Caitlyn Collins interviewed working women in the U.S. she heard a similar refrain. In this episode of The Behaviorist, join Sarah as she interviews Ashlinn, Vanessa, and Carm to discuss the perils of Mom Guilt, the important ways we can more fully understand it as a mindset and concrete behaviors to address it.

You can follow Work Wisdom On LinkedIn and Instagram, at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

Many of us are tired, suffering from the fog of Pandemic Brain and the fallout of the Great Resignation.  Those of us who are survivors are wondering how to lead, how to scale, how to empower, and how to build back better.  While the resignations, presenteeism and disengagement continues, there are these unusual positive deviants who are doing something particularly rare at this moment in history. The enthusiasts among us are exceptionally appreciated and causing an upward spiral bringing hope, energy, creativity and joy back to our work.  How do we as leaders SPARK the enthusiasm? How do we help fuel the joy? Listen to Becky Walck, Partner at Simon Lever, Vanessa and Kedren explore how to get more of what we all need now: joy, spark, and enthusiasm for our work.  

You can follow Work Wisdom On LinkedIn and Instagram, at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com

Is it really true that ‘people don’t leave jobs, people leave bosses’?  There are a lot of bosses who are reeling from this quote in the midst of The Great Resignation. On this week’s episode of The Behaviorist, Kedren and Sarah argue that perhaps now, during The Great Resignation, people are NOT focused on leaving their bosses, but instead are truly leaving for greater meaning, increased flexibility, better compensation, and more joy. In this episode, learn about mindsets, habits and communication that can help leaders process the emotional toll of this Great Resignation. You can follow Work Wisdom On LinkedIn and Instagram, at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com

The Great Resignation is an indication of the enormous numbers of people choosing not to return to their pre-COVID frenzy.  Join Kedren to hear about why Work Wisdom Press decided to re-release a book she wrote in 2008 which offers a prescription for living an intentional life worth savoring.  Learn about her rationale for writing this book, the ingredients of this slower way of living, and what as aged well and what feels a little dated more than a decade later.  

You can follow Work Wisdom On LinkedIn and Instagram, at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

The closing song is "Beautiful Day" by U2

Join Sarah and Kedren to discuss how the role of leaders is changing in managing the emotional response to external tumult.  Learn how to name it, norm it, make it, build it, move it and relate in order to help individuals and teams journey together through traumatic times. You can follow Work Wisdom On LinkedIn and Instagram, at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

This week on the Behaviorist Podcast listen in as Randy Berridge interviews Dionna Wright, Aaron Spangler, and Christy Slothower about being an Enneagram 4. In this episode we take an exciting journey into the mind of the resident Artist of the Enneagram. Enneagram Type 4’s are The Sensitive, Withdrawn Type: Expressive, Dramatic, and occasionally Self-Absorbed, These self-identifying Type 4’s discuss what they love about being a 4, what challenges them, and what they wish others knew. If you are a 4, work with 4's, or consider yourself an ‘Artist’, this podcast is a must-listen! You can follow Work Wisdom On LinkedIn and Instagram, at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

Link to In & Of Itself

This week on the Behaviorist Podcast listen in as Sarah Colantonio & Randy Berridge interview Jennifer Powell, Sarah Payne, and Will Kiefer about being an Enneagram 3. Enneagram Type 3’s are the Success-Oriented, Pragmatic Type. They are adaptable, excelling, driven, and image-conscious. They are named ‘The Achiever’ because they are on a perpetual journey to achieve success in their environment.These self-identifying Type 3’s discuss how knowing their type has helped give them a new set of language for the way they view the world and the way they engage their work. If you are a 3, work with 3's, or even new to the Enneagram, this podcast is a must-listen! You can follow Work Wisdom On LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

How did a humble rabbi convince the Japanese counsel to protect his community during World War II? Find out on The Behaviorist podcast. This week, Jaime Arroyo and Sarah Colantonio of Work Wisdom discuss The 5 styles of Influence: rationalizing, asserting, negotiating, inspiring and bridging plus which styles they prefer as leaders.  You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com

Leading Through Crisis: In response to the uncertainty and anxiety that so many of our friends and clients are sitting with right now, last night, Kedren and Sarah recorded a special podcast on Leading through Crisis. We hope this conversation will bring you some perspective, hope, and concrete tools to take into the coming days - for you and your teams. You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com

This week on the Behaviorist Podcast, Kimberlee Peifer interviews the lovable Lissa Holland about what it was like realizing she's an enneagram type 2: the Helper. The Helper is the caring, interpersonal type. They are generous, demonstrative, people-pleasing and at lower levels can get possessive. They do intensely enjoy helping others so it makes sense that Lissa works at our public library! Some well-known 2s: Desmond Tutu, Eleanor Roosevelt and Elizabeth Taylor. If you are a 2 or work with one, you'll want to hear this episode.  You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at

Grief is a universal human experience. Yet workplace culture is often inhospitable to people suffering profound loss. How do we work to bridge this gap? On this extraordinary episode of The Behaviorist, we are truly honored to be joined by Ashely Garcia and Tom Baldridge of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce. Last year, Ashley went through an unimaginable and sudden loss in her family. She and her supervisor Tom sat down with Kedren to talk truthfully, bravely, and frankly about how her loss was felt and responded to in her workplace. There isn’t much more we can say about this episode except to express our deepest thanks to Ashely for opening her heart so much to us and our listeners, and to Tom for being such a powerful example of what it means to lead with authenticity, vulnerability, and towards human-centered work spaces. You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

What is a cognitive distortion? It’s when your mind convinces you of something that isn’t true. Cognitive distortions can manifest in many ways, such as black-and-white thinking, filtering (only seeing the bad stuff), overgeneralization, blaming, emotional reasoning (“If I feel this way, it must be true.”) catastrophizing, and taking things personally. There is no magic wand to eliminate one of the most potent scourges in the workplace (people lying to themselves). But fear not! On this week’s podcast, Kedren and Sarah explore the depths and power of Authentic Self Communication. What five concrete tools can you start using today to combat cognitive disorders? And what does all this have to do with Schitt’s Creek? Tune in to find out. You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

Enneagram Type 1’s – The Perfectionist or Reformer – are rational, idealistic types. They are principled, purposeful, self-controlled, and perfectionistic. These are conscientious, dependable people who bring clarity and order to life. However, their belief that there is only one way to do things correctly can make them rigid and intolerant. On this episode of the The Behaviorist, Work Wisdom’s Kimberlee Peifer is joined by Wes Reminder, Director of Operations at Godfrey, Salina Almanzar, Visual Artist and Graduate Studies Professor at Drexel University Westphal College of Art and Design, and Mike McKenna, President at Tabor Community Services. These three self-identifying Type 1’s discuss how knowing their type has helped give them a new set of language for the way they view the world and the way they engage their work. They share their experience of the deep sense of justice they carry, the  uncovering of their dominant emotion anger and how that shows up in each of their lives, the intense voice of their ‘inner critic’, learning to take compliments, being attentive to others’ needs versus projecting expectations of perfection onto them, and talking through the behaviors they access from Type 4 and Type 7. If you are a Type 1, or someone who works with or loves a Type 1, this podcast is a must-listen!  You can follow Work Wisdom On LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com. 

“We’ve built a culture where it’s exciting to come to work every single day. It’s an atmosphere that is conducive for learning and to be successful.”

- Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach Doug Pederson

What does it mean to be a good coach? How do you move from a place of supervising and disciplining to one of listening, motivating, and inspiring? On this week’s episode of The Behaviorist, Kedren and Sarah review their coaching playbooks. Find out the difference between managing and leading, and how those two roles should not be pitted against each other, but rather work in tandem, like a good offense and defense. Learn what “Gold Mine” book on leadership Kedren and the entire Work Wisdom team are currently reading, as well as how to frame conversations to elegantly allow the other person to discover what power and creativity they already have within them. Fly, Eagles, Fly!  You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

Enneagram type 9’s - The Peacemakers - are self-effacing, receptive, reassuring, and agreeable. They are generous, calm, and able to see all sides of an issue with a level head. Their desire to keep the peace can lead them to becoming complacent and indecisive. On this episode of The Behaviorist, Work Wisdom’s Kimberlee Peifer is joined by Jill Laskowitz, Attorney at Blakinger Thomas, and also an Enneagram 9. Jill shares how a 9’s ability to mediate and de-escalate tensions is a valuable skill in her chosen profession in the courtroom. Find out how Jill discovered that the “low energy” common for 9’s does not mean lack of drive or work ethic, but rather how 9’s can need to turn inward and need to remember to ask for help in making decisions. Spoiler alert: Marie Kondo is a 9’s best friend!  Jill and Kimberlee delve into the “why” of what 9’s do, and how learning more about this type’s deepest fears and motivators can lead to creating healthy habits and mindsets specific to this type. You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

How did an art museum in Baltimore make one small - but enormously radical - decision to challenge their inclusivity? What are the four stages on the inclusivity spectrum and how can a leader move through them? Study after study has shown that diverse teams outperform their competitors. But even the most diverse and equitable team is only as strong as their leader - and inclusive leadership is a skill that every manager can work to improve upon. On this week’s Behaviorist podcast, Jaime Arroyo chats with Xavier Garcia-Molina, teacher at La Academia Charter School, Co-Founder of  The Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition, and Council-Elect member of the Lancaster City Council. Xavier speaks candidly about growing up in the “limbo” of an immigrant - not feeling like he truly belonged among his Puerto Rican family or his white schoolmates. Xavier turned this uncertainty into drive, graduating from High School at 15 and finding his purpose - to serve those in need - while in college. His work as a school teacher, advocate, and civil servant are all guided by giving voice to those who have none. You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” is a quote often attributed to Peter Drucker.  But what if culture didn’t eat strategy for breakfast? What if they had breakfast together? On this episode of The Behaviorist, Kedren sits down with Chloe Rich, Vice President of Brand Strategy ATOMIC, and Sam Bressi, President and CEO of the Lancaster County Community Foundation. These two leaders know firsthand how much culture shaping can change the trajectory of a business’s strategy and success. Listen to find out what the Ed Schein “Iceberg of Culture” model teaches us about the visible, invisible, spoken and assumed norms and values that shape an organization’s DNA. Find out what concrete practices Chloe and Sam have incorporated into their workplaces to ensure their innovative, creative cultures stay vibrant and present at every level of their organizations. You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

How did a simple question about making copies in the office lead Work Wisdom to a revolutionary understanding of empowerment? On this episode of The Behaviorist, Work Wisdom’s Sarah Colantonio and Kedren Crosby share a revealing conversation about how the company is working towards a culture of empowerment. Find out the subtle but critical difference between being held accountable for something, versus truly “owning it”. Listen to hear how Kedren arrived at the company’s “Big Question” for 2020 and how that shifts the locus of control in her decision making and delegating. There are four essential elements of an empowered culture in any workplace - does your organization stack up? You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

Enneagram type 7’s - The Enthusiast - are busy, fun loving, and inquisitive. Their unique energy can also be perceived as self-centered, scattered, or over-extended.  On this episode of The Behaviorist, Work Wisdom’s Kimberlee Peifer is joined by Anna Kennedy, Executive Director of the Lancaster Osteopathic Health Foundation, and sculptor-artist Jonathan Colon. Anna and Jonathan, both proud, enthusiastic 7’s, share with listeners what makes being an Enthusiast fun, and what challenges they face with their “ball of energy” personality. They discuss the “why” of what 7’s do, and how learning more about this type’s deepest fears and motivators has led them to creating healthy habits and mindsets specific to their type. Find out how Anna faces her Fear of Missing Out, and why Jonathan is comfortable “jumping into the cold water” of uncertainty. You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

What are high-performance habits? Hint: it’s not just waking up early or checking off a to-do list in a fancy notebook. On this episode of The Behaviorist, Work Wisdom’s Jaime Arroyo sits down with two exceptionally high performers: Doug Krane, Director of Account Management at ATOMIC Design, and Emma Parnham, COO of Atlee Hall, Attorneys at Law. These driven, determined leaders share their formulas for success, including mindset, intention, daily practices, and physical workplace environment. Find out how honing in on the “why” of what you do can lead you to a clear and steady focus on your day-to-day tasks and what these wise leaders would like to tell their 18-year-old selves, knowing what they know now.

. You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

Enneagram type 8s - The Leader - self-confident, decisive, and direct - make strong, effective decision-makers. They can also be perceived as overbearing, intimidating, and confrontational...making them difficult bosses and colleagues. On this episode of The Behaviorist, Work Wisdom’s Kimberlee Peifer is joined by andculture’s Erin Deller and Burns Mechanical’s Dan Kerr - both 8’s - to talk about the fears, motivations, strengths, and challenges that this strong personality type faces within themselves and among others. They’ll discuss the “why” of what 8s do and how learning more about The Enneagram and their driving emotions and fears has broadened their self-awareness towards eureka moments of positive change. How can 8s redirect their passion for action to create space for others and grow as empathetic, patient communicators? What should others know about 8s to help them reach higher levels of behavior and thinking? 

You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

Few things are as potentially scary and uncomfortable as uncovering your own deep-rooted biases. To discover, observe, and begin unpacking bias, a safe and confidential space needs to be created where individuals can share candidly and with no judgment. Equity Club is one such place. On this week’s podcast, we learn more about Work Wisdom’s Equity Club - a leadership accelerator for men that serves as a place to navigate gender inequity, grow skillful in managing their privilege, and make small changes in their behaviors to become an ally. Kedren is joined by two Equity Club members: Dave Koser, Director of Programs at Lancaster Community Foundation, and Josh Keene, Director of Schools for the School District of Lancaster. Listen to learn what each has gained from “figuring it out together.” Find out how powerful a safe space can be in creating structural and behavioral change to empower leaders to step up - regarding their behavior or those around them. You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

On this week's episode of The Behaviorist, Work Wisdom's Jaime Arroyo sits down with Leo Silva, Associate Director of Attollo, a rigorous college access and leadership program for underserved high schoolers. As a young leader in the organization, Attollo (Latin for "Rise Up") has served over 341 scholars in 7 school districts. 98% of Attollo Scholars are accepted to and attend a college or university. But Leo's story is more than these numbers. As a young child, his parents immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic, and he came to this country with a language barrier and the odds stacked against him. Despite all this, Leo has succeeded beyond his expectations of himself and is now pursuing his Master's degree in School Leadership with a focus on Educational Entrepreneurship from Harvard University. Leo is both an extraordinary mentor and a student. Learn how much resilience plays a role in nurturing young leaders and what non-traditional professional development methods can help you foster the next generation of brilliant minds. You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

In a recent survey, 66% of consumers said they would be willing to pay more for a product or service if they knew the company was socially and environmentally responsible. Earning a B Corp certification is the bat signal for such companies. Work Wisdom's Sarah Colantonio speaks on this week's podcast with Sarah Payne, Impact Consulting Manager at Assets. Sarah, a passionate advocate for companies to pursue B Corp certification, explains how certification works as well as some small but powerful changes you can make within your organization right now to "be like a B Corp." Find out what choices you can make to impact your "triple bottom line dramatically": people, planet, and profit. You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

Every organization faces “tough times” - a bad quarter, unexpected staff turnaround, or an even more mission-critical challenge - like Sheila Mastropietro has faced for the last three years. Sheila is the Director of Church World Service in Lancaster, which assists refugees, immigrants, and asylum-seekers to find home, peace, and stability to rebuild their lives in the United States. The current White House administration’s policies have sent shockwaves across organizations like CWS as they desperately try to continue their important work in the face of many legislative, legal, and cultural challenges. In this candid and important conversation, Work Wisdom’s Sarah Colantonio talks with Sheila about how she keeps her head above water and stays focused on the work she was put here to do. Find out how Sheila rebounds from disappointment and what skills and focus you need to keep your eyes on the prize in your own tough battles at work - and in your community. You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

Contemplative leadership helps leaders "move from the illusion of me to the reality of us, from the illusion of scarcity to the reality of abundance, from powerlessness to the presence of power, from institutional self-protection to embracing the mission, from fear to trust." - Parker Palmer

What is contemplative leadership? It's incorporating mindfulness practices into your work life: stilling yourself, listening, examining, and learning to lead with your heart more than your head. On this week's Behaviorist podcast, join Work Wisdom's Kedren Crosby, Sarah Colantonio, and Kimberlee Peifer in a conversation about Contemplative Leadership and its mysteries. Learn what practices will help you receive the gift of contemplation, and find out if you need to practice a specific spiritual path or religion to embark on contemplative leadership (spoiler alert: you don't). You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

Is optimism a crucial trait for effective leadership? What is the difference between being optimistic and being naive? Can optimists be empathetic and work alongside their pessimist nemesis? These questions and more will be explored on this week’s episode of The Behaviorist podcast. Kedren is joined by Dr. Jill Koser,  Director of Curriculum and Instruction at the City of York School District, and Joe McMonagle, Vice President of ATOMIC. Listen as these three optimists discuss the benefits and potential costs of maintaining a hopeful outlook, and find out in what ways a stubborn pessimist can be an asset to your vision, not a thorn in your side. You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

Music: The Pretenders // Message of Love

In this week’s episode, we welcome Dr. Amy Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership at Harvard Business School and author of The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation and Growth. Dr. Edmondson is an expert on leadership, teaming, and workplace psychological safety. The Work Wisdom team frequently references and recommends her work to our clients. Psychological safety is believing one will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes. Listen to learn what the costs are when an organization ignores psychological safety (both tangible failures and intangible lost opportunities), as well as hear about some specific companies who are doing it right (what is Pixar’s “Brain Trust” and how does it guide peer critiques?). Dr. Edmondson also shares some concrete practices anyone can use to create psychological safety at home or work - setting the stage, inviting participation, and responding productively. You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

When facing adversity, or knee-deep in the “messy middle” of progress, how do we know when to power through, versus when to tactfully cut bait and walk away? On this week’s Behaviorist podcast, Kedren is joined by longtime friends and mentors Laura Howell and Kathryn Ross to discuss how to hone the power and proper proportions of grit and grace. Listen to learn practical ways to help guide those “should I stay or should I go” decisions - like what three rulers you can use to measure whether a challenge is taking too much of a toll to be worthwhile. Find out how our guests activate and strengthen their grace in day to day interactions - and how admitting you’re wrong and working to find your “do-over” can be the greatest grace of all. You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

Do you know the five main ways we all respond to any given conflict? Avoiding, accommodating, competing, collaborating, and compromise. None of these types are singularly bad or good - each one has a time and place for its use. However, every individual has types that they rely on more heavily and ones they don’t.  On this week’s Behaviorist podcast, join Work Wisdom’s Kedren Crosby and Sarah Colantonio for a candid and personal conversation about how learning their conflict style preferences made a world-shifting change to their relationship, and how learning those styles can benefit you both personally and professionally. By taking the Thomas Killman Instrument (TKI), a 20-minute assessment of your conflict style, individuals and teams can learn their predispositions to use certain conflict styles and which styles they tend to avoid. Unlike IQ or personality types, your TKI score is not fixed - learning when each style is best used and how to be agile in switching between them is a skill that successful leaders need to navigate through differences to harness creativity and positive change. You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

Do you know your Enneagram number? On this week’s episode, Sara (9, The Peacemaker) is joined by Partners for Sacred Places’ Chad Martin (6, The Loyalist) and Work Wisdom’s spiritual director Kimberlee Peipher (4, The Individualist) to explore how this ancient model of the human psyche can be harnessed for powerful self-discovery. Unlike other “personality tests” that categorize individuals based on their behavior, the Enneagram is based on a person’s innermost motivations and fears - it’s not what you do, it’s why you do it. Exploring your number and its complexity (what are triads and wings?) can bring to a simultaneously vulnerable and powerful level of understanding of your own core essence. This knowledge can be carried into your personal and professional relationships - which in turn can make everyone a more empathetic and perceptive partner, colleague, parent, friend, leader, and coworker. You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

What does it mean to work in a company that practices forgiveness on an organizational level? On this week’s episode of The Behaviorist, Work Wisdom’s Kedren Crosby is joined by Jess King, Chief of Staff of the Mayor’s office of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in a candid and heartfelt conversation about organizational forgiveness. Listen to learn what the research shows about groups that are able to collectively reframe traumas and offenses - including the three ways individuals and organizations respond to distress from failed expectation (Begrudging, Neutralizing, and Transcending). Kedren and Jess share personal stories - over a lot of laughs and perhaps even a couple of tears - that prove this is a subject that organizational leaders should be talking more openly about and practicing to benefit both their interpersonal relationships and the health of their company overall.

You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

“A vision without a strategy remains an illusion.” - Lee Bolman Have you ever found yourself in a position of leadership but sensed the organization was without a cohesive strategic plan? How do you thoughtfully and intentionally work towards creating a plan with your your team that they will not only believe in, but rally behind? This week, Work Wisdom’s Kedren Crosby and John Walker are joined by Stacie Reidenbaugh, President & CEO of 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania to discuss their experiences with the process of strategy shaping. Listen to learn what concrete steps you can take to create a strategic plan that is not merely a to-do list, but truly a roadmap to winning that will energize your team with positive emotion and momentum. You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

When you go to work every day, you more than likely know what the purpose of your organization is. But how about when you wake up in the morning - do you know what your purpose on this planet is? On this week’s podcast, Sarah chats with Work Wisdom research intern Hillary Schulze about unlocking the mystery of what our true purpose is. Seeking out this lighthouse can drive big choices, like your career path and smaller ones,  like your daily habits. Listen to find out what Hillary has learned about self-discovery in the office and in the spirit. You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

Leading through Transition

How can leaders and change makers use their core values as a compass to navigate their own job transitions? This week, Kedren and Sarah are delighted to chat with Mike McKenna, who was recently named President of Tabor Community Services. Mike speaks candidly about his transition from COO at his previous company to President at Tabor, including the challenging dichotomy of becoming the most senior person in an organization - which can suddenly make you feel like a beginner all over again. Listen to learn how Mike thoughtfully and humbly moved into his new role, as well as his practical tips for leaders who are thinking about transitioning onwards and upwards.

You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com.

Do you know your organization’s archetypes? Do you recognize how your personal archetype comes into play as a leader and team member? On this week’s Behaviorist, Kedren sits down with Ryan Martin, Co-Founder of Infantree, and Tracy Cutler, Executive Vice President of the Lancaster County Community Foundation to talk all things archetypes. Listen to find out how identifying your organization's archetype can serve as an invaluable “north star” and “guard rail” to help guide decisions, prevent mission creep, and create a shared language for your staff and your audience to grasp your message and purpose. You’ll hear how Infantree has used exploring personal archetypes as a beneficial tool for hiring, team building, and creating clear and revealing job descriptions. Kedren, Ryan and Tracey all share what concrete practices leaders can begin with to start uncovering and incorporating your archetypes to help move your organization forward.

You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website athttps://www.workwisdomllc.com.

On this week's Behaviorist, Sarah goes deep with Aiyana Ehrman, Co-Owner & Co-Founder of Imagine Goods Sustainable Supply Co. Imagine Goods partners with survivors of sex trafficking to design and create ethically made clothing.  Over the last 12 years, Imagine Goods has helped countless skilled artisans in Cambodia, Haiti, and here in the U.S. through job training and income generation to establish financial stability and dignity. This year, the company is courageously launching a new, upscale brand of ethically made fashion to appeal to new markets.  Listen to learn how Aiyana uses the "sacred ordinary", inspiring podcasts, and her own work wisdom to boldly use business as a source for good in the world. You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com .

What makes an influencer influential, anyway? On this week’s episode of The Behaviorist, Sarah sits down with Melisa Baez to discuss the power of charisma and influence. Melisa works as Director of Entrepreneur Training of ASSETS, a Pennsylvania non-profit that cultivates entrepreneurial leadership to alleviate poverty and build vibrant, sustainable communities. Melisa reveals what people in her life have resonated with the personal magic of charisma - and what advice these magnetic leaders gave her that she carries with her every day.

You can follow Work Wisdom on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @workwisdom, and learn more at our website at https://www.workwisdomllc.com