The Modern Manager

• 350: Why Validation is the Missing Key to Stronger Relationships at Work with Caroline Fleck

  How do you make your team members feel truly seen and heard at work?It’s a common struggle for many managers, but this week’s guest says there’s something even more powerful than praising your team.Joining me today is Dr. Caroline Fleck. Caroline is a licensed psychologist, corporate consultant, and an Adjunct Clinical Instructor at Stanford University. She is the author of Validation: How the Skill Set That Revolutionized Psychology Will Transform Your Relationships, Increase Your Influence, and Change Your Life.In this episode, Dr. Fleck explains that validation isn’t just about acknowledging someone’s work; it’s about showing genuine understanding and acceptance of them as individuals.She also shares simple techniques that managers can use to validate their team members, especially when navigating difficult conversations or conflicts.Plus, in the extended episode available to Podcast+ members, Dr. Fleck breaks down how validation can support behavior change.Join the conversation now!Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.Conversation Topics(00:00) Introduction(01:51) Validation vs. praise: what’s the difference?(04:54) The three components of validation(06:37) Techniques for validating when empathy is difficult(09:12) The impact of intuition in understanding others’ feelings(10:49) How to recover when you get validation wrong(13:09) Why validation is the most crucial quality in relationships(14:54) An example of validation strengthening a manager-employee relationship(19:06) How to validate without agreeing(28:02) A great manager Caroline has worked for(29:24) Keep up with Caroline(30:07) [Extended Episode Only] How to use validation to support behavior change(36:20) [Extended Episode Only] The power of validation in meetingsAdditional Resources:- Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month- Read the full transcript here- Follow me on Instagram here - Visit my website for more here- Upskill your team here- Subscribe to my YouTube Channel here- Check out these 20 Best Team Building Podcasts here Keep up with Caroline Fleck- Follow Caroline on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok- Grab a copy of her book here- Visit her website for more information hereDiscount on Validation: How the Skill Set That Revolutionized Psychology Will Transform Your Relationships, Increase Your Influence, and Change Your LifeCaroline is providing members of Podcast+ with a discount on her book Validation: How the Skill Set That Revolutionized Psychology Will Transform Your Relationships, Increase Your Influence, and Change Your Life.Full of captivating stories, laugh-out-loud moments, and actionable takeaways, Validation reveals how the science of seeing and being seen is the key to inner and interpersonal transformation.To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.---------------------The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

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• 349: Turn Dull Virtual Meetings into High-Impact Sessions (On-Air Coaching Session with Jill Molee)

  Have you ever left a virtual meeting thinking, “That could’ve been an email.”? Today’s guest used to feel the same.Meet Jill Molee. Jill is the Director of Counseling & College Advisor at College Prep 360. I’ve been lucky to have Jill as a client and I’m grateful she was willing to experiment with me for this on-air coaching call.As the director of a fully remote, client-facing team, her calendar was packed—but not productive. Her meetings lacked clarity, structure, and worst of all, real collaboration.In this special on-air coaching session, Jill shares how she restructured her meetings around open agendas, clear objectives, and authentic team participation.Learn how she used simple tools (like Google Docs and a consistent format) to shift her team meetings from chaos to clarity—creating a culture where team members engage, collaborate, and even look forward to meetings.Join the conversation now!Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.Conversation Topics(00:00) Introduction(01:35) Meet Jill Molee of College Prep 360 (03:31) Managing a fully virtual team(04:04) Jill’s meeting strategies that work(06:10) Tips on how to manage time and prioritize better(08:15) Encouraging participation in meetings(12:07) Building community in a virtual team(15:08) Types of meetings Jill runs(18:18) Knowing when to end meetings early(21:19) Encouraging attendance in optional meetings(24:07) Celebrating collaboration outside of meetings(25:08) Leadership lessons and takeaways(27:26) [Extended Episode] Bonus Tips for Improving MeetingsAdditional Resources:- Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month- Read the full transcript here- Follow me on Instagram here - Visit my website for more here- Upskill your team here- Subscribe to my YouTube Channel here Keep up with Jill Molee - Visit College Prep 360 hereFREE PDF: 2 Strategies for Assessing and Improving Your Meetings This step-by-step workbook walks you through two simple strategies that any manager can immediately implement to improve their meetings.To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.---------------------The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

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• 348: Master Collaboration and Leadership Using Improv Techniques with Joel Zeff

  Most workplaces focus too much on structure and not enough on fun. But what if the secret to a thriving team was something unexpected—like improv? Fortunately, today’s guest is here to break down everything you need to know about improv and how it can benefit you and your team.Meet Joel Zeff. Joel creates energy. His spontaneous humor and vital messages have thrilled audiences for more than 25 years. As a national speaker, work culture expert, author, and humorist, Joel captivates audiences with a unique blend of hilarious improvisational comedy and essential ideas on work and life. He has shared his experience and insight on collaboration, leadership, change, communication, innovation, fun and passion at more than 2,500 events. His new book, “Make the Right Choice: Lead with Passion, Elevate Your Team, and Unleash the Fun at Work,” is now available.In this episode, you’ll discover practical ideas for bringing fun into the workplace—from skit nights to appreciation rituals–in ways that translate to greater collaboration every day. Joel and I also discuss why great leaders should focus on setting their teams up for success rather than simply directing them.Plus, in the extended episode available to Podcast+ members, we talk about navigating change with an improv-inspired mindset.Join the conversation now!Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.Conversation Topics(00:00) Introduction(02:49) How improv principles improve teamwork and leadership(05:31) Examples of improv games and their workplace implications(13:07) Why fun at work matters (and how to introduce it)(17:15) Building “team currency” through shared experiences(22:07) The best question a leader can ask(26:10) How to facilitate an improv game with your team(30:53) A great manager Joel has worked for(34:49) Keep up with Joel(36:33) [Extended Episode Only] How to navigate change with an improv mindset(43:07) [Extended Episode Only] The one thing you can’t do in improv (and why it matters for teams)Additional Resources:- Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month- Read the full transcript here- Follow me on Instagram here - Visit my website for more here- Upskill your team here- Subscribe to my YouTube Channel here Keep up with Joel Zeff- Follow Joel on LinkedIn here- Grab a copy of his book Make the Right Choice here- Visit his website for more information hereFree Excerpt on Teamwork from Make the Right ChoiceJoel is providing members of Podcast+ with an excerpt on Teamwork from his book Make the Right Choice. To get this guest bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.---------------------The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

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• 347: 8 Toxic Thought Patterns That are Sabotaging You at Work (And How to Stop Them) with Cynthia Pong

  We all have thought patterns that work against us—whether it’s feeling like an imposter, overextending ourselves at work, or assuming the worst in situations. Today’s guest breaks down eight negative mindsets that prevent professionals from thriving.Meet Cynthia Pong. Cynthia is an award-winning executive coach and speaker who empowers women of color leaders to advance their careers into positions of power. A Forbes Contributor and LinkedIn Top Voice for Job Search and Career, she has been featured in HBR, The Atlantic, and on NBC, CBS, NPR, and more. Cynthia’s book, Don’t Stay in Your Lane: The Career Change Guide for Women of Color, has cemented her as a foremost voice on career advancement, negotiation, and thought leadership.In this episode, Cynthia shares how we can recognize and reframe limiting beliefs, such as the martyr complex, regretful thinking, and comparison bias, to step into our power with confidence.Through real-world examples, you’ll learn actionable strategies to develop a growth mindset, set healthier work boundaries, and show up as your best self. Join the conversation now!Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.Conversation Topics(00:00) Introduction(02:35) Dealing with the martyr complex in the workplace(10:31) Self-doubt isn’t always imposter syndrome(14:56) The impact of a weaker locus of control (20:09) Letting go of regretful thinking(23:44) Judgmental thinking creates a toxic team culture(29:05) Stop assuming the worst with crystal ball thinking(32:35) A great manager Cynthia has worked for(33:49) Keep up with Cynthia(35:00) [Extended Episode Only] Comparison bias is stealing your joy(41:28) [Extended Episode Only] Catastrophic thinking turns small problems into crisesAdditional Resources:- Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month- Read the full transcript here- Follow me on Instagram here - Visit my website for more here- Upskill your team here- Subscribe to my YouTube Channel here- Watch this quick lesson on Imposter Syndrome- Check out the Self-Compassion Skills Workbook  Keep up with Cynthia Pong- Follow Cynthia on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok- Subscribe to her YouTube channel here- Explore her work on Forbes hereFREE PDF: Overcome Negative BeliefsCynthia is giving members of Podcast+ a Free 10+ page PDF that includes activities to address the Martyr Complex, Locus of Control, and Comparison Bias to help you overcome negative beliefs.  To get this guest bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.---------------------The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

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• 346: Elevate Your Virtual Communication with Science-Backed Strategies with Andrew Brodsky

  Do you realize how important virtual communications are to your team’s effectiveness? Except for in-person meetings, all our communications with our colleagues happen virtually.This is true whether you’re fully remote, hybrid, or even in-office. But what if you could communicate clearly and authentically every time, no matter the virtual method? That’s exactly what today’s guest is here for.Meet Andrew Brodsky. Andrew is the CEO of Ping Group and an award-winning professor at the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. He is the author Ping: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication and was named one of Poets&Quants' “World’s 40 Best Business School Professors Under 40”. Andrew specializes in workplace technology, communication, and productivity, and today, he is going to share his science-backed strategies for communicating effectively through virtual modalities. We dive into why even in-office teams are communicating virtually more than ever, how different modes (like audio vs. video) affect perceived authenticity, and practical tips for setting communication norms in the workplace.In the extended episode available to Podcast+, we explore the dangers of relying too heavily on AI to help you manage your communication and how to avoid misinterpretations in virtual communication.Join the conversation now!Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.Conversation Topics(00:00) Introduction(02:20) Defining virtual communication beyond remote work(04:54) Different modes of virtual communication and what they’re intended for(06:39) The importance of authenticity in virtual communication(11:03) When to choose synchronous vs. asynchronous communication(15:57) The PING Framework for effective virtual communication(20:51) Adapting language mimicry for better text-based communication(23:21) Tips for setting communication norms (29:28) A great manager Andrew has worked for(30:24) Keep up with Andrew(31:53) [Extended Episode Only] The hidden problem with using AI for virtual communication(36:50) [Extended Episode Only] Misinterpretations in virtual communication and how to avoid them(40:06) [Extended Episode Only] Overcoming communication default biasAdditional Resources:- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month- Read the full transcript here- Follow me on Instagram here - Visit my website for more here- Upskill your team here- Subscribe to my YouTube Channel here- Watch this episode on Brainstorming HacksKeep up with Andrew Brodsky- Follow Andrew on LinkedIn here- Grab a copy of his book hereFREE PDF: Virtual Communication Styles ToolAndrew is providing members of Podcast+ his Virtual Communication Styles Tool. This tool will not only help you identify your virtual communication style but it will also help you adapt your communication approach to facilitate clearer exchanges, forge stronger connections in virtual settings, and achieve your communication goals.To get this guest bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.---------------------The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

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