PERSPECTIVES by ESSENCE LEARNING, LLC

Episode 46: Navigating Through Crucial Conversations

Poorly handling conversations that involve different opinions, strong emotions, or high stakes can cause stressful work environments that result in little progress, poor performance, and withdrawn employees. However, when you learn to handle crucial conversations effectively, the quality of your relationships and your workplace effectiveness tends to improve drastically. In this 30-minute episode, Essence Learning’s, Phyllis Williams sits with organizational leaders to discuss how to navigate through crucial conversations successfully.
 
To download this episode's Key Learning Guide, click the following link: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:08dbd424-bf74-4fb4-af06-e334a4a67e7e

Episode 45: You Go First! Leading By Example

The leader is typically a defining factor in what separates a strong team from a weak one. The saying “do as I say, not as I do” may have worked in the past, but it typically doesn’t get too far in today’s workplace. This episode of “Perspectives” will explore how the workplace is affected when the leader goes first and leads by example. 
To download this episode's Key Learning Guide, click the following link: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:aecd352d-02fc-49a7-b934-d5ee6cf3c7a1

Episode 44: Equitable Education

Nearly a year ago, “Perspectives” began a conversation on “Equitable Education” and today we want to continue the conversation. For this podcast, let’s use the working definition for “Equitable Education” as ‘the pursuit of creating an educational system that caters to students of all kinds and develops their educational experience accordingly.’ This means that no matter what a student’s background, language, race, economic profile, gender, learning capability, disability or family history, each student has the opportunity to get the support and resources they need to achieve their educational goals. With that in mind, are all school systems treated equally? Join Essence Learning CEO, Valerie Wilson, as she sits with DE+I leaders and professional educators to gain their perspective of America as an equitable classroom.
 
To download this episode's Key Learning Guide, please click the following link: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:1a6a4171-f303-4df7-8898-8f27ffc05325

Episode 43: Women Who Lead

As the advancement of women is highlighted during Women’s History Month, the gender bias in today’s workplace remains a part of the equality struggle. In 2023, women earned just $0.82 to the man’s one dollar. Women have a well-proven track record of leadership success within the workplace, yet still face cultural and systemic challenges attempting to climb America’s corporate ladder. In this 30-minute episode, Kanetra Hights will welcome other women who lead in America’s workforce to discuss strategies to bridge the gender gap, while celebrating the accomplishments women have made throughout history.
Click the below link to download this episode's Key Learning Guide: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:2a0cc166-e715-4b7d-9513-19262e8dd4fe

Episode 42: "Leadership Matrix" with James L. Jacobs

Written by James L. Jacobs, “Leadership Matrix 3.0” is a comprehensive manual and inspiring framework for leadership training and personal development. Join Essence Learning’s Phyllis Williams as she has a 20-minute one-on-one conversation with the author to discuss his book and perspectives on leadership.
To download this episode's Key Learning Guide, click the following link: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:886b447d-0524-4b0c-b402-79c1f0023adf

Episode 41: Managing the Role of Senior Leadership

Senior leaders oversee the work of other managers, their direct reports, and their teams – impacting America’s workforce in immeasurable ways. In this 30-minute podcast, Essence Learning’s Kanetra Hights will sit with senior executives, Crystal Kohanke and Valerie Wilson to gain insight into how they successfully manage their role of a senior leaders.
To download this episodes Key Learning Guide, please click the following link: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:582f3e6e-fbff-4388-b2a2-d6be1e7ef85b

Episode 40: Building Teams That Make You Better

There is one factor that nearly all business owners can control that may directly determine long term business success: hiring the right people and building them into a successful and powerful team that makes the organization better.
According to a February 2023 Zippa article, 86% of leaders blame lack of teamwork as the top reason for workplace failure. However, when a team is effective it can foster better strategies, execute more consistently, and build the confidence of stakeholders. Join Essence Learning’s Kanetra Hights as she gains insights from leadership executives on how to build teams that make organizations better.

Episode 39: The Art of The Pivot

The pandemic caused countless businesses to reinvent themselves at a speed once thought impossible. Retailers launched curbside delivery in two days instead of the planned 18 months, and engineering companies designed and manufactured ventilators at a record pace. These shifts happened because managers and their teams successfully pivoted. 
To pivot is to turn or rotate from one spot. When businesses ‘pivot’, it means it has fundamentally changed the direction of the organization. During this podcast Essence Learning CEO, Valerie Wilson sits with organizational leaders to discuss the art of the pivot. 
To download this episode's Key Learning Guide, simply click the link below: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:29cf23c9-26fa-4def-83ee-6e24a2c03175