Who Am I, Who Are You, Who Are We?

Episode 14: Mastering Difficult Conversations with Ellen Zimmerman

When coaching or training leaders, there tends to be a pattern of procrastination around having difficult conversations. Sometimes, those difficult conversations are avoided for too long and then you have a major mountain to address! Fortunately, Ellen Zimmerman's no stranger to difficult conversations - as an executive coach she's worked with leadership all over the globe, identifying two things that provide support to leaders to take action and address situations that need a 'difficult conversation'. Today, she's sitting down with Ken to talk about the tool she developed to help anybody broach those challenging subjects - and why she's giving it away, free of charge.  Find Ellen's Difficult Conversations Tool at https://www.ellenzconsulting.com/articles/2021/3/25/free-tool-for-having-those-difficult-conversations Ellen Zimmerman is an executive coach, trainer, and the chief executive officer of Ellen Zimmerman Consulting, a training and development consulting firm located in Dallas, Texas. Ellen’s background in team building, performance management, finance and productivity, and human resources have fostered her unique, multifaceted approach to employee engagement and people-first management initiatives, and her experience and passion provide her with the ability to support individuals and teams in the development of successful business and personal plans. Founded in 2013, Ellen Zimmerman Consulting offers training and consulting services to individuals, teams, executives, and specializes in Dare to Lead training, Sāge Masterminds, DiSC assessment and training, and customer relationship management. Find out more about Ellen and her firm, Ellen Zimmerman Consulting, at https://www.ellenzconsulting.com. Show Highlights: * What Makes Having a Simple Conversation So Challenging?  * The Value of Quality Preparation for Challenging Conversations * Tips for Approaching Tough Talks with a Clearer Mindset * How A Mere Sixty Seconds Can Make All the Difference * The Impact of Using Fact-Based Language for More Effective Communication * How Can Talking to a Superior Make This Even Harder?  * What Can Leaders Do To Destigmatize Professional Workspaces?  Resources: Connect with Ellen: Website: https://www.ellenzconsulting.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellenlzimmerman Email: ellen@ellenzconsulting.com Connect with Ken:  Website: https://kenjenkinsllc.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KenJenkinsLLC Twitter: https://twitter.com/kenjenkinsllc Find Ken’s Book, Resilience: Stories of Courage and Survival in Aviation Disasters, at https://amzn.to/3Me2pUl

Episode 13: The Art of Apology with Zach Lewis

"I Am Sorry." For some, those are three of the most challenging words to say. Why is it so hard to apologize when we have wronged or offended someone, like a family member, friend, or work colleague? Is it a vulnerability issue? Do you feel like you are being judged if you apologize? Are you afraid of what will happen as a result of the apology? Ken invites Zach Lewis back onto the podcast digs into why so many of us seem to struggle with apologizing, the key strategies worth highlighting when crafting a quality apology, and how a good apology gone wrong may do more harm than help when it comes to the Art of Apology.   Zach Lewis is the founder and CEO of Reach Creative Media, a digital media content creation company in North Texas. He and his colleagues have been creating podcasts, videos, advertisements, graphics, social media, and more for over a decade for clients in all avenues of media, including radio, television, film, and online. He is driven by a tenacious desire to create, collaborate, and craft stories that teach, humor, and inspire people all over the world. Show Highlights: *  What steps are needed for a good apology? *  What are the risks of apologizing? *  What are the risks of not apologizing? *  What are the benefits for apologizing? *  Why is apologizing challenging? Resources:  Connect with Zach Lewis: Website: https://reachcreativemedia.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReachCreativeMedia Twitter: https://twitter.com/applezachintosh Connect with Ken:  Website: https://kenjenkinsllc.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KenJenkinsLLC Twitter: https://twitter.com/kenjenkinsllc Find Ken’s Book, Resilience: Stories of Courage and Survival in Aviation Disasters, at https://amzn.to/3Me2pUl

Episode 12: Life, Death, & Wills with Estate Planning Attorney Robert Jewett

Do you have a Will? Why not? We may all know where we're headed, but no one ever really wants to dwell on what we're leaving behind. Ken sits down with Family Estate Planner Robert Jewett to talk about why many Americans don't have a will, the processes that go into estate planning, and why so many of us seem so resistant to plan for what we already know is only inevitable.  Robert Jewett is an Estate Planning Attorney at Jewett & Hanna Law, PLLC in Cypress, Texas - a dedicated law firm tailored to the distinctive needs of porfessionals with demanding schedules. Whether you prefer the ease of online consultations or face-to-face meetings, Jewett & Hanna's services are tailored to accommodate your preferences with fixed fees on most services, ensuring upfront clarity costs and empowering you to make well-informed decisions about your legal needs. Find out more about Robert at https://jhlawtx.com. Show Highlights: *  Understanding the Value Having a Will Has for Your Loved Ones *  Learning Why Most People Don't End Up Having A Will *  Discovering What Can (and Can't Be) Consider a Documented Will  *  Additional Documents Worth Having, Like the Power of Attorney *  How to Avoid the Estate Planning Zombie Apocalypse *  Why You Shouldn't Be Scared of Probate, or What Comes After Resources:  Connect with Jewett & Hanna Law:   Website: https://jhlawtx.com Find Ken’s Book, Resilience: Stories of Courage and Survival in Aviation Disasters, at https://amzn.to/3Me2pUl

Episode 11: Just Trust Me with Ken Jenkins

How do you build trust in a relationship? In a polarizing world of digital media, what's the secret to making a real connection? Ken digs into the trouble with trust at home, work, and everywhere in between, and why loving yourself, understanding others, and being there when it really matters goes a long way in developing lasting relationships and brighter futures. 4 Life Sustaining Tenets to Keep You Grounded: https://kenjenkinsllc.com/4-life-sustaining-tenets Ken Jenkins is a professional emergency manager with extensive experience in planning, logistics, training, deployment, response, and after-action analysis in aviation disasters. He has been involved in the aftermath of 9/11 events, along with many other catastrophic events. He has provided strong leadership for over 30 years in the transportation disaster sector. His work has enabled him to use his collaborative skills under conditions of high stress, and, in becoming a coach, he knows how these skills relate to the coaching profession. He is a coach, trainer, and author, as well as the owner and president of his own emergency response company. His book is Resilience: Stories of Courage and Survival in Aviation Disasters. Show Highlights: * Defining the Fundamental Qualities that Build Trust * Understanding The Value of Cognitive Empathy * Why Consistency (And Being On Time) Really Matters * The Value of Keeping a Secret, For Better or Worse * How Building Trust at Home and Work Can Be Entirely Unique * Ken's Four Tenets To Building Trust and Staying Grounded Resources: Connect with Ken: * Website: https://kenjenkinsllc.com * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KenJenkinsLLC * Twitter: https://twitter.com/kenjenkinsllc * Find Ken’s Book, Resilience: Stories of Courage and Survival in Aviation Disasters, at https://amzn.to/3Me2pUl

Episode 10: Vexing Pet Peeves with Zach Lewis

Why are pet peeves so annoying? What is it about a minor annoyance that can get under your skin, unsettling you in the worst ways, and all without hardly an effort? For some it's traffic, for others it's wordsmithing, but one thing's for sure - everybody has a pet peeve, and pet peeves are here to stay. Ken invites Zach Lewis back onto the show to talk about minor vexes, annoyances, and the peeves listeners shared before digging into the history of just why pet peeves are so universal - even if we can't stand them. Zach Lewis is the founder and CEO of Reach Creative Media, a digital media content creation company in North Texas. He and his colleagues have been creating podcasts, videos, advertisements, graphics, social media, and more for over a decade for clients in all avenues of media, including radio, television, film, and online. He is driven by a tenacious desire to create, collaborate, and craft stories that teach, humor, and inspire people all over the world. Show Highlights: * What Annoys Ken, Zach, and You, Our Listeners! * The Difference between a Pet Peeve and a General Annoyance * Where Pet Peeves Come From, Starting with the Origins in the Late 19th Century * How Cognitive Dissonance Comes Into Play when Tempers are High * Why Pet Peeves Ultimately Brings Us Together, and May Not be as Bad as We Think Resources: Connect with Zach Lewis: * Website: https://reachcreativemedia.com * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReachCreativeMedia * Twitter: https://twitter.com/applezachintosh Connect with Ken: * Website: https://kenjenkinsllc.com * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KenJenkinsLLC * Twitter: https://twitter.com/kenjenkinsllc * Find Ken’s Book, Resilience: Stories of Courage and Survival in Aviation Disasters, at https://amzn.to/3Me2pUl