The Modern Manager

• 356: Escape the Distraction Trap Before It Drains You with Marcey Rader

  Have you ever sat down to work, only to be pulled in a dozen directions—emails, Slack messages, endless browser tabs—all demanding your attention? You’re not alone.All the technological advancements have made it almost impossible to focus. But what if it didn’t have to be this way?Fortunately, this week’s guest is here to share with us how you can be more focused at work and finally reclaim your workday.Today’s guest is Marcey Rader. Marcey is a speaker, coach, and author who helps individuals and companies reclaim their workdays with health-powered productivity™. As the founder of RaderCo, she’s worked with Fortune 500 companies and startups worldwide, inspiring sustainable habits to work well and play more.In this episode, Marcey shares why so many of us are more distracted than ever—and what focus really looks like in today’s workplace. She also provides practical advice on how to use project management systems to streamline communication and how structured office hours can empower your team instead.Lastly, for members of the Podcast+, Marcey reveals strategies for effective one-on-ones and a simple but powerful Zoom trick to help you and your team stay focused during 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(01:49) Why people are more distracted than ever(07:48) The hard truth about multitasking(11:37) How to stay focused at work(16:23) Setting boundaries with work emails(19:52) Can slow replies build independence?(22:01) How to prevent email from derailing your day(29:13) A great manager Marcey has worked for(30:43) Keep up with Marcey(31:15) [Extended Episode Only] How to make one-on-ones more engaging and productive(34:54) [Extended Episode Only] #1 Zoom trick to avoid distractions during 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 Marcey Rader- Follow Marcey on LinkedIn here- Get a copy of her book, Reclaim Your Workday, here-  Power up your productivity here- Visit her website for more information hereExclusive Discounted Price for Powered Path ProgramMembers of Podcast+ get Marcey’s Powered Path Program at an exclusive discount.The Powered Path Program is a one-hour productivity boost designed to help you and your team reflect, prioritize, and plan more effectively (without adding extra work to your plate). For managers, this program will help you: ✅Streamline 1:1s to make them more efficient and action-driven ✅Ensure wins aren’t forgotten by tracking progress throughout the year, not just at review time ✅Make reflection and planning easier so you and your team stay focused on what matters most.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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• 355: Elevate Your Influence as a Manager Monday to Monday with Stacey Hanke

  Do you feel like your team isn’t really listening to you? It might be time to rethink your influence.Many managers assume authority is enough. But real leadership—motivating people to take action—comes from influence. And this week’s guest believes that one of the most powerful ways to build it is by strengthening your communication skills.Today’s guest is Stacey Hanke. Stacey is a leading expert in communication and influence. For over 20 years, she has empowered Fortune 500 leaders and teams to elevate their communication skills to build the trust and credibility needed to influence action. In addition to being a Hall of Fame speaker, executive coach, and business leader, Stacey is the author of three books, including her newly released book, Influence Elevated, which provides leaders with skills to manage employees and increase accountability in a hybrid work environment. Her Monday to Monday® philosophy empowers professionals to be impactful in every interaction, from presentations to everyday conversations, helping them drive action and achieve success.In this episode, Stacey and I dive deep into how feedback, self-awareness, and understanding your influence style can drastically improve your leadership presence.Plus, in the extended episode available to Podcast+ members, Stacey shares actionable strategies to elevate your influence and highlights common mistakes that can undermine it.If you’re ready to elevate your leadership game and truly connect with your team, tune in and start mastering your influence today!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(02:15) Defining influence: What it is (and isn’t)(04:06) Why consistency is key to building influence(08:51) The power of video feedback(13:22) Improving communication style to influence more effectively(17:35) Different styles of influence and their strengths(20:52) Aligning influence style with team goals(23:57) A look at my personal influence style in action(27:41) A great manager Stacey has worked for(29:09) Keep up with Stacey(30:39) [Extended Episode Only] How to elevate your influence(34:54) [Extended Episode Only] Common mistakes people make that jeopardize their influenceAdditional 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 Stacey Hanke- Follow Stacey on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.-Subscribe to her YouTube channel here- Visit her website for more information hereFREE Digital Copy of Influence RedefinedStacey is giving members of Podcast+ a FREE digital copy of Influence Redefined. In Influence Elevated: Maximizing Your Connection Monday to Monday®, Stacey unpacks what commonly interferes with our level of workplace influence. She shows leaders how to overcome the ongoing distractions that threaten employee relationships, workplace morale, and productivity. She offers readers actionable practices to create the momentum needed to achieve their goals and experience consistent success.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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• 354: The Do’s and Don’ts of Using AI Tools at Work with Theresa Fesinstine

  Are you overwhelmed by the rapid rise of AI in the workplace?AI tools are already being used by managers and teams in various forms. But what are the risks that come with using them? Today’s guest believes that clear guidelines and educational training can help everyone use AI wisely without feeling restricted.Meet Theresa Fesinstine. Theresa is a 25-year HR executive turned AI educator. She has been certified for AI and Business Strategy through MIT in 2023, and has been focused on flattening the AI learning curve for HR and other non-technical functions for almost 3 years. In addition to her company, peoplepower.ai, she is an adjunct professor of both AI in Business and HR Management for City College of NY - a CUNY institution, and volunteers as a mentor through All Tech is Human.Today, Theresa shares smart, actionable ways to use AI without risking company data or personal privacy.From educating your team to building clear, adaptable AI guidelines, she breaks down how to make AI a powerful tool for managers and their teams.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(01:52) The truth about AI in the workplace(08:58) How to set AI policies that actually work(11:16) Using AI to enhance your management skills(21:30) How to avoid biases when using AI tools for team management(23:26) A great manager Theresa has worked for(25:35) Keep up with Theresa (26:28) [Extended Episode Only] How to talk to your team about what AI tools they’re already using(32:03) [Extended Episode Only] Is using AI at work considered cheating?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 Theresa Fesinstine- Follow Theresa on LinkedIn here- Visit People Power AI for more information here FREE PDF People Powered by AI: A Playbook for HR Leaders Ready to Shape the New World of WorkTheresa is giving members of Podcast+ a copy of her People Powered by AI: A Playbook for HR Leaders Ready to Shape the New World of Work for free.In this practical and forward-thinking guide, Theresa draws on decades of People & Culture expertise to help HR leaders confidently integrate AI into their everyday work. With real-world use cases, accessible frameworks, and a human-first lens, this book empowers HR professionals to unlock the potential of AI while staying grounded in empathy, ethics, and strategy.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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• 353: How to Be a More Inclusive Leader with Kelli Lester

  Are you struggling to get your team to perform at its best? Are you unsure about how to unlock the potential of each individual? This week’s guest says the key is inclusive leadership.Meet Kelli Lester. Kelli is co-founder and partner of Onyx Rising, a change management consulting firm specializing in individual, team, and organizational behavior transformation. Her “occupassion” lies in fostering environments where inclusive leadership thrives, leveraging over two decades of experience to drive meaningful progress.In this week’s episode, Kelli and I explore what inclusive leadership really looks like, the traits that define it, and the role leaders play in making everyone feel seen, heard, and valued.Kelli also illustrates how inclusion isn’t just about people—it’s about ideas and perspectives, too. Plus, in the extended episode available to Podcast+ members, she dives deeper into five other inclusive leadership traits and shares how to navigate style differences without friction.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(02:13) What is inclusive leadership?(06:18) Inclusive leadership begins with self-awareness(08:49) What an inclusive workplace really looks like(14:04) Inclusion goes beyond people—it’s about ideas, too(19:35) Why inclusive leadership matters(23:13) A real-life story of inclusion at work(27:53) A great manager Kelli has worked for(30:17) Keep up with Kelli(30:43) [Extended Episode Only] Other inclusive leadership traits that every manager can embody(37:34) [Extended Episode Only] Navigating style differences without frictionAdditional 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 Kelli Lester- Follow Kelli on LinkedIn here- Achieve financial empowerment with Onyx Rising’s Money Matters here- Visit Onyx Rising for more information hereFREE Inclusive Leadership Traits AssessmentKelli is providing members of Podcast+ her Inclusive Leadership Traits Assessment. The PDF includes an overview of inclusive leadership traits and a self-assessment to help you identify areas for improvement.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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• 352: How to Create a Workplace that Truly Supports Working Parents with Dr. Anne Welsh

  Being a working parent shouldn’t feel like a daily juggling act on the brink of disaster. If you truly want everyone on your team—parent or not—to thrive at work, you need a workplace that lets them show up as their best selves. And today’s guest is the perfect expert to discuss how to make work work for working parents.Today’s guest is Dr. Anne Welsh, a sought after thought leader on working parenthood. After leaving a career at Harvard to create her own firm, Anne draws on her significant training, research, and experience to champion women and working parents in leadership. She brings expertise in career development, emotional intelligence, leadership skills, and women’s mental health to her work as a consultant, executive coach and psychologist. She supports organizations and individuals through one-on-one work, group coaching for working mothers, and workshops and talks.In this episode, we dive into creating a workplace where parents and caregivers can navigate the many demands of them with greater ease. Learn how to “parent out loud”, build a culture of empathy, and leverage leadership skills parenting teaches. Plus, in the extended episode available to Podcast+ members, Anne shares top tips on how to set yourself or your team up for success after parental leave, and how to be sensitive to individuals struggling with infertility.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(02:27) Unique challenges working parents face at work(04:22) How COVID blurred work-life balance(06:56) The mental load of working parents (08:21) Normalizing parenting at work(14:52) The five P’s of parenting leadership skills(20:21) Advocating for better workplace policies for working parents(23:55) Why workplace empathy is crucial to working parents(26:03) A great manager Anne has worked for(27:13) Keep up with Anne(27:46) [Extended Episode Only] How to set yourself or your team up for success after parental leave(35:02) [Extended Episode Only] Supporting team members struggling to become parentsAdditional 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 Dr. Anne Welsh- Follow Dr. Anne on LinkedIn and Instagram- Interested in working with Dr. Anne? Learn more here - Explore Dr. Anne’s partner organization here 25% Off Working Mothers LifelineAnne is providing members of Podcast+ 25% off her Working Mother’s Lifeline, a 6-month coaching program for women who want to feel more connected and intentional in their lives- moving from just surviving to thriving in working motherhood, in a community of women who get it. 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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