Jazzed About Work

Today’s guest, Mark Anthony Dyson, says the U.S. job search process has changed considerably in the last year. Mark is a well-known career writer, podcaster and speaker, and his robust website, The Voice of Job Seekers, offers a wide range of helpful career information. In this episode, he discusses evolving trends, like the wave of interest in “upscaling.” He describes new resources, like additional tools at LinkedIn. And he offers advice, like volunteering to build expertise, and thinking about networking and other career development as a continuing lifestyle, and not just a short-term push. See more: https://thevoiceofjobseekers.com

Jazzed About Work guests often mention LinkedIn as an important tool for learning about career trends and building your network. Today’s guest is actually from LinkedIn, and he’ll be focusing on some of the deeper aspects of connecting with other people. His name is Scott Shute, and not long ago he was LinkedIn’s vice president of global customer operations. Then he made a significant shift, and now he’s the company’s head of mindfulness and compassion. Scott will share insights from his new book, “The Full Body Yes.” It’s about mindfulness, compassion and how you can create a more meaningful work life. See more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottshute/

Today’s theme is how to help your team members grow and thrive by building coaching into your everyday conversations at work. Our guest is Wendy Swire, an executive coach, leadership consultant and pioneer in the art of using neuroscience to help people become more engaged and productive on the job.

She’s also co-other (with Teresa Kloster) of “Anytime Coaching,” which offers a practical model for developing your coaching skills and mindset. Wendy will describe how you can become a more effective leader by cultivating practices like observing and listening. See more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-sherwin-swire-ma-pcc-0286961/

It’s time to create more productive and welcoming workplaces. Today’s guest is Laura Krista, a White American cross-cultural consultant whose commitment to building diverse and collaborative work teams dates to her early years working in Japan. She’ll talk about her book, “The Business of WE,” which describes the benefits of fostering connections among people of varied backgrounds. And Laura will offer simple suggestions for helping to bridge gaps in our organizations, whether they are related to age, race, ethnicity or any other factor of identity. Also, she’ll focus on the growing wave of hatred directed at Asian Americans, and she’ll describe ways we can all fight back.

Our returning guest, Joan Lynch, is a jobs expert who is in touch with some of the hottest trends related to the future of work. She is also the Chief Content Officer of WorkingNation, a nonprofit media group focused on both the jobs skills gap and solutions for the American economy and our working people. In today’s show, Joan guides us through key developments related to the current unemployment crisis. And she also points to some hopeful signs for the future. She describes fields where new jobs are opening up and talks about emerging partnerships to promote employment. She also explains why and how to upskill, so you will be ready for the new wave of opportunities. See more: https://workingnation.com/media/

David Ibarra is an entrepreneur, leadership consultant and well-known speaker. But he says his real mission is working with employed adults who drift through jobs feeling unsatisfied. And David models what it takes to take charge of your own destiny. The son of a Mexican immigrant father and rural Utah mother, David spent much of his youth in foster care. In his book “Stop Drifting,” he describes how mentors and the teachings of Napoleon Hill inspired him to create new goals and redirect his life. In this episode, David shares advice from the book and describes how choosing a positive outlook can help you enjoy life and empower your career. See more: https://davidribarra.com

The career path hasn’t always been easy for Jawad Ahsan, the son of Pakistani immigrants. But along the way he chose to be a leader and to guide his own career by following his “North Star.” In his inspiring book “What They Didn’t Tell Me,” Jawad describes how he made his way up the corporate ranks by cultivating values like integrity, collaboration, accountability and positivity. Today he’s the CFO of Axon, a $6 billion public safety technology company. In this episode he shares lessons that helped him rise to the top while in his 30s. And he offers good advice for building your resilient career.

Although we have moved beyond rigid standards about how to dress, Jordan Stolch, Founder of MiKADO Personal Styling, says the way you shape your look still matters at work. In this episode, Jordan explains that dressing for success doesn’t mean you have to be a fashionista. Your goal should be to feel and project confidence. Even when you work remotely, it’s empowering to create the impression that you make mindful choices as you put together your look. Sometimes the most important step in upgrading your image is to clean out your closet, getting rid of items that don’t fit or help you feel good about yourself.

For more, see: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mikado-personal-styling

In this Special Edition of Jazzed About Work, your usual host Beverly Jones reviews with guest host Tom Hodson some of the topics from past episodes but more importantly, previews what’s to come in 2021

Beverly and Tom also delve into career issues confronting us during the pandemic and Beverly gives advice on what is helpful during these troubled times.

She encourages anyone who feels stuck in the doldrums of pandemic isolation to “do something.” She emphasizes that personal growth, in some form, is a key to happiness and satisfaction.

Beverly particularly emphasizes the need for each of us to “learn something new” and to push ourselves beyond our normal creative limitations.

Positivity also is important, she says. It helps people spot opportunities, stay motivated, remain healthy and get along with others.

Especially during forced isolation, Beverly trumpets the need to stay involved with other people.

“Humans are hard-wired to need connection with other humans,” she says. “To be well and perform at your best, you need relationships with other people.”

Beverly also emphasizes the need for each of us to “look forward and move forward.” She warns that to remain static will only deepen the doldrums and lead to stagnation.

We, at WOUB Public Media, look forward to our ongoing relationships with Beverly and Jazzed About Work for at least another one hundred episodes.

In this episode we talk about why core values are so important in shaping an organization, and how well-defined values can be a powerful management tool. Our guest, serial entrepreneur Darius Mirshahzadeh, shares tips from his book, “The Core Value Equation.” He describes how strong organizational values can help you make decisions. He talks about ways to create and bring life to your value statement. And he describes his own journey, as he experienced the impact of a core value formula. See more at: https://therealdarius.com