We all have unique strengths that we bring to our work. And we rightly celebrate all the ways that our strengths support and improve our performance. At the same time, it’s also possible to overuse a strength in ways that lead to unintended, less than ideal results.

In this episode of the Knowing Kenning podcast, Partner Annie Howell interviews Partner Jennifer Lachance about how, at times, we all need to “Beware our Strengths”. Jennifer offers a wealth of examples of how strong leaders she has coached have come to realize that their strengths are on “overdrive”. She shares a step-by-step process that anyone can follow to name their strengths, build greater awareness of how these strengths show up, and take small steps to purposefully and productively dial back how they bring their strengths to bear.

To reach the hosts:

https://www.kenningassociates.com/jennifer-lachance/

https://www.kenningassociates.com/annie-howell/

What’s the secret to running great meetings? Stellar content and a modicum of charisma?  According to Kenning Partner Laurie Burkland Waller, that’s not enough. Experience with hundreds of leaders has shown her that great meetings are actually the product of carefully considered preparation.

An experienced executive coach and leadership development expert who helps senior leaders show up with impact when it matters most, Laurie has developed a practical preparation framework called “The 5 Ps of Meeting Mastery.” This checklist highlights the importance of carefully planning for:

1. Purpose
2. Process
3. People
4. Pivot
5. Presence.

Join Laurie as she demonstrates the value of each element with scientific research and provides real world examples of their successful application.

References

• Harvard Business Review (2017), “Stop the Meeting Madness.”
• Fortune (2023), “The Art of the Effective Meeting.”
• Harvard Business Review (2022), “The Science of Communicating with Impact.”
• Forbes (2023), “Mastering Difficult Conversations.”
• Harvard Business Review (2024), “The New Rules of Executive Presence.”

To reach Laurie: https://www.kenningassociates.com/laurie-burkland-waller/

Everyone tells stories. It's a natural part of our everyday lives. But should you tell stories at work? And if so, how can you do so skillfully?

In this episode of the Knowing Kenning podcast, Partner Cathy Boeckmann speaks with Ramya Mahalingam, Expert Practitioner, about the power storytelling. Ramya explains how telling a story is one of the most powerful ways to make the information you share memorable. She gives her take on why anyone who is trying to grow as a leader should also sharpen their skills for telling stories. And Ramya offers five practical tips for how to make stories effective:

1. Identify a micro story
2. Build a world
3. Focus on the people
4. Work in an exterior-interior frame
5. Find the emotion and show, don't tell