Creating Disney Magic: Lessons In Leadership, Management, And Customer Service

"Don't underestimate the influence you have every day on other people around you." Key Moments 01:14 Family and Leadership 04:06 The Importance of Building Strong Family Relationships  08:19 Sharing Knowledge and Experiences 11:27 The Importance of Hard Decisions 13:53 Power of Influence Resources The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Magical Vacation Planners  407-442-2694 Don't Underestimate What You Can Accomplish Leadership starts at home. Parenting taught me clarity and trust. A while back my son, Daniel Cockerell, interviewed me about leadership and parenting. It was recorded during the early days of Dan’s own podcasting venture. Our conversation highlights leadership lessons from a variety of personal and professional experiences. Whether you are a parent or in a management role it is imerative to have clarity and consistency. Providing clear expectations and addressing issues head-on is crucial. It builds trust and ensures everyone knows where they stand. The key is finding 

"Make sure you're doing things for other people long before you're going to ask them to do something for you." Key Moments 01:24 Building Meaningful Professional Relationships 04:57 How to Handle Unresponsive Colleagues 06:31 The Power of a Phone Call or Face to Face Conversation in a Digital Age 07:43 Impact of Personal Stress on Leadership Resources The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Build Relationships Before You Need Them A crucial aspect of leadership and management is building relationships before you need them. When a someone takes the time to build relationships across departments, they ensure seamless collaboration when the time comes. Throughout my years as a leader, including an executive with The Walt Disney Company, I learned a number of practical strategies that maintain strong connections and while also making sure everyone is held accountable. Everyone needs to recognize that proactive relationship building is always valuable. Develop strong connections with colleague

"I think 99% of the time, they don't tell you everything that is causing that, and maybe they don't even know." Key Moments 01:52 Effective Communication in the Workplace 02:46 The Impact of Workplace Pressure 05:34 Overcoming Fear in Your Career 07:58 The Power of Checking In Resources The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Helping an Employee Deal with Burnout One topic that resonates with many professionals is employee burnout. Someone recently reached out with concerns about an employee feeling overwhelmed and burnt out. It is a reality many employees and leaders face. However, it is important to recognize that it is not just about one stressor. Burnout is often due to a combination of personal & professional pressures. Identifying the root cause is key. Key takeaways from this episode: Understand the Underlying Issues: Often, burnout isn’t just about the current workload. It can stem from personal issues or a lack of balance. It's crucial to have open and honest conversations to

“Leaders need to recognize how important it is to have trust and involvement and being inclusive, and especially appreciating people telling you the truth." Key Moments 03:14 Mishandled meetings lead to a toxic culture. 05:15 Empower employees, listen, learn, and succeed. 07:08 Navigating the choice to improve or accept a bad workplace situation. 09:54 Responding to constructive criticism as a leader. 12:04 Impact of implementing pre-shift meetings 13:45 Recapping the art of effective meetings Resources The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Dealing with Bad Meetings One way to create a toxic environment and drive away talent is to lead with a “my way or the highway” style. Recently a listener reached out with a question about dealing with bad meetings. The meetings she mentions are so bad that employees now call their meetings the “you suck meeting.” This term was coined by employees frustrated by the negative and authoritarian style of their morning meetings. Unfortunately, culture issu

"Something I learned from Al Weiss was if you don't understand something, ask questions." Key Moments 01:10 Questions from 500th episode that are focused on Disney 02:49 Importance of asking questions in leadership 06:25 Opening day of "Euro Disney" had challenges with multinational staff 09:31 Disney enforcing professional uniform and appearance standards. 11:08 Value of sharing knowledge across generations. 15:31 Experience and exposure opens eyes to new career paths and possibilities. Resources The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Great Leaders Ask Questions During our live recording for episode 500 people asked a lot of questions in the chat. Any time someone asks a question I appreciate it. Years ago while working at Disney I realized that great leaders ask questions. During this episode we answer more questions about my years working for Disney, including who taught me to ask questions.  When I moved to Florida from Paris I worked closely with the president of Walt Disney World, A

"We don't make a big deal out of the podcast. It's just like you dropped by the coffee shop and we were sitting there talking." Key Moments 02:03 Global connectivity via podcasting 03:48 Value of dialogue about anxiety, depression, and feedback. 08:23 Using a podcast format best fit for your message 11:06 Solve problems through conversations and new perspectives. 15:25 Podcast bloopers and learning opportunities. 17:27 Celebrating 10 years of support for Creating Disney Magic podcast. Resources The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader  How to Spread Your Message with a Podcast We recently celebrated a big milestone for the podcast with the release of our 500th episode. That episode ended up being a live recording so people all over the world could join us, and they did. Despite Jody losing his voice, the event was a success with a lot of questions popping up in the chat. There were quite a few questions about podcasting, so we decided to dedicate this episode to answering them.  There have

"We need less bosses and more teachers because that's where you make the big impact, and that's where people get better, And that's where people get more comfortable with you." Key Moments 00:57  Reflecting on the importance of teaching, helping others, and leaving a lasting impression. 05:11 Learned skills at Marriott and Disney then developed training and the skills to others 09:06 Professional experience open opportunities to share knowledge and influence others positively. 10:31 Write down skills and strengths when reflecting on career  13:44 Upcoming workshops and Masterminds with Lee Resources The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Dan Cockerell’s Book How’s the Culture in Your Kingdom? Be a Teacher Adopting a teaching mindset can make you a greater leader in your professional and personal life. Once I took on a teacher's mindset I transformed my leadership style and career for the good. It's a lesson that took me a long time to figure out, but pretty fulfilling as I hear about th

“Every problem in business is a person that didn't do what they say they're going to do.” Key Moments 01:37 Effective leadership requires self-reflection and collaboration. 03:52 Identifying and overcoming workplace barriers. 05:13 Candor is truth with empathy. 07:01 Identifying and overcoming personal barriers. 10:14 Cockrell Academy program: guiding you to leadership. Resources The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Magical Vacation Planner 407-442-2694 Leaders Break Down Barriers Great leaders are good at removing obstacles to create a cohesive, efficient workplace. However, sometimes you just don't know why there's a barrier. When you don't know, you feel it and you know it's there, the leader should be the one to step up and find out why. We need to stay committed to the job that we took, which includes taking care of each other and our guests. And when you don't break down those barriers or put in the effort to remove obstacles, one of those is going to suffer. Whether you are leadi

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT TOOLBOX In this special virtual event, Lee and Jody Maberry record a live episode of the podcast with over 170 attendees. Thank you for the ongoing support and commitment to create Disney magic in your organization.    This episode focuses on one big question to ask yourself:   Do YOU have the right tools in your toolbox to be an effective leader?   When you have a people problem, you need the right tool/tools to fix it. I've put together a list of the tools that have been most effective in my professional and personal life.    42  TOOLS   *Hiring, *Training, *Treatment, Discipline, *Empathy, *Knowledge, *Truth, *Clarity, *Fairness, *Firmness, *Caring, *Coolness, *Calmness, *Collectedness, *Delegation, *Trust, *Coaching,  *Courage *Values, *Morals, *Learning, *Hiring, *Training, *Forgivness *Treatment, *Urgency, *Teach *Hard Conversations, *Patience, *Recognition, *Apology *Appreciation, *Encouragement , *Respect* Listen, *Inclusive, *Development, *Advice, *Simple reminder, * Verba

"The most important customer interaction is the one with the person you are in front of." Key Moments 01:20 Cultivating a Positive Culture in Leadership and Management 02:56 Customer Centric Business Approach 05:08 Personalizing Interactions and Customer Service 09:09 Maintaining Personal Service in Large Organizations Resources Register for Episode 500 The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Treat People As Individuals The heart of customer service and leadership is the importance of valuing every person as a "Very Individual Person (VIP)". It's the individual attention and personalized service that makes all the difference in both our professional and personal lives. Every interaction in leadership, customer service, or even daily life can be magical when we understand individual needs.  Here are 3 key takeaways from this conversation: - Every Person as a VIP: VIP stands for Very Individual Person. Treating each person according to their unique needs and preferences is what sets exc

"They are perfect place to remind everyone every day about your expectations and pump up the team to win big when delivering to your customers and team members." Key Moments 00:00 Pre-shift meetings are a key leadership strategy. 04:23 Regular training improves performance and morale. 06:35 Purpose of pre-shit meetings are communication, appreciation, inspiration. 10:14 Effective pre-shift meeting strategies. 12:46 Celebrate 500th episode with giveaways, on May 6th. Resources Join the live recording of the 500th Episode The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Creating Magic with Pre-Shift Meetings As a leader you should understand the importance of pre-shift meetings. These brief interactions can transform your team's performance and engagement, which ultimately impacts your customer experience. These meetings offer so much clarity that I know they are what help Disney World's leaders create excellent, consistent service. I want you to be able to make magic in your organization too. In t

“People don't know what you’re thinking. You have to have the courage to go tell them." Key Moments 03:46 Typecasting in the Workplace 06:02 Taking Opportunities for Career Advancement 08:33 Proactive Pursuit of Career Goals 10:54 Preparing for a Career Discussion with Your Boss 13:48 Supervisors Should Focus on Your Career Goals. Resources Join us for the live recording of episode 500. You can register here - leecockerell.com/500 The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Ask For Your Next Opportunity If you want to advance in your career there are times that you need the courage to ask for the opportunities you're seeking. Don’t let yourself continue to feel stuck or typecast in your role. The best way to shift toward your next opportunity is by making yourself visible and showing your value to leadership. Often, employees assume their hard work will automatically be recognized and rewarded. The reality is that it’s not always the case. It is crucial to be proactive about your aspirations.

"Include others that have been there and are doing the work. They know what works. If you ask their opinion and listen with an open mind, you don't need to know much yourself. And you can still make a good decision." Key Moments 03:02 Customer and Employee Wisdom 06:12 Inclusive Decision-Making in Business 08:01 Human Ego Impacts Learning Opportunities 09:33 Reflecting and anticipating lead to better leadership. 12:20 Growth and Maturity in Management 14:03 Leading By Example Based On Experience  Resources The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Leaders Don't Need to Know Everything   Leaders can get more clarity during times of uncertainty by involving employees in decision-making. Never underestimate the value of frontline employee and customer insights. This is one of those skills that can impact all aspects of life. I was reminded of this as I transition from executive vice president of Walt Disney World to a retired husband. There is a bit of a distinction between 'authority' and

“We sometimes, worry about telling people hard things or things that'll disappoint them. But in the end, if you do it, and you do it the right way, and tell them the truth with good reason, then there shouldn't be an issue." Key Moments 00:00 Navigating Tough Conversations 04:24 Corporate Restructuring 07:46 Patience While Hiring Pays Off 10:21 Decision Making in Hiring Resources Carol Quinn Best Culture Solutions The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader How to Tell Someone They Didn't Get the Job No one looks forward to delivering disappointing news to job candidates. Unfortunately some people avoid those difficult conversations altogether. This is a crucial step to maintain positive relationships and uphold a company's reputation. Anyone in a leadership role should be well trained on how to handle informing qualified, yet unsuccessful, candidates that they didn't get the job. To start, honesty is the best policy. Being truthful yet respectful is important when delivering the news to a can

“Your children have to know what you believe in, what you stand for, what the family is, what ethics are, and honesty, and what the expectations are in a family. It's the same in the workplace." Key Moments 02:37 Workplace Ethics at Disney 04:18Leadership and Transparency 08:02 Importance of Communication and Respect in Teams and Families 11:57 Workplace Discrimination Resources The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Leaders Need to Take a Stand There can be a number of challenges that come up when you are managing a work environment with cultural differences. It is important to know how to address such situations effectively. Creating a culture of respect and inclusion includes setting clear expectations for behavior and taking swift action when necessary. When leaders take a stand in the workplace they are setting the tone for the culture. During this episode, Jody and I explore more ways for leaders to take a stand, including: Establish Clear Expectations: It's vital for leaders to s

 “You can brag that you have a 99.5 safety rating on your rides, but what if you're the family member of the point 5% that something bad happens to? That's just not acceptable and therefore, there is no wiggle room.” Key Moments 01:37 Customer Service Challenges and Safety 03:44 Disney Parks Experiences with Safety 08:42 Handling Safety Concerns and Maintaining Guest Experience 11:14 Importance of Leaders Discussing Safety Resources The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Keep Safety a Priority There is a delicate balance between prioritizing customer service and maintaining safety in a customer-facing role. As a leader it critical that you stick to safety protocols, even in the face of unrealistic customer expectations. As a frontline worker or manager, it's crucial to have the support of management when enforcing safety policies. No one should be bending the rules for customer satisfaction. Make safety a non-negotiable priority. This should be the case in any customer-facing industry in

"It's about what can you do, not what you know. A lot of people know a lot, but they can't get anything done." Key Moments 02:37 Show what you can offer, expertise matters. 06:33 Education and skills matter for job opportunities. 09:11 Early experience crucial, expertise brings further success. 11:44 Overcoming doubts, gaining confidence, finding success. 14:09 Expressing gratitude and encouraging others to create magic. Resources The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Do You Need a College Degree to Succeed? There is often a debate on whether a college degree is necessary for career success. I belive that experience shows expertise and dedication can outweigh paper qualifications. That is how I became an executive at Marriott and Disney without a college degree. Here are three key takeaways from the episode that you won't want to miss: 1. Experience and Expertise Matter: The modern workplace is increasingly valuing skills and expertise over formal degrees. Companies are more interested

"This will take someone from feeling like they know nothing all the way through becoming quite successful. And it is done in such a way that the story itself kept the reader's hearts involved and the teaching was strong." Key Moments 00:00 Book set in New Orleans teaches sales principles 03:27 Collaboration and Mentorship 09:14 "Fusion Point" combines logic and emotion intentionally 11:21 Using Collaborative Storytelling in Businesss  13:52 Reframing "No" into Valuable Sales Strategy Lessons 19:45 Personal Beliefs Shape Individual Perceptions of Truth Connect with Bob and Jeff Order the Book Streetwise to Saleswise Bob Burg on LinkedIn Jeff West on LinkedIn Resources The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Becoming Saleswise Bob Burg and Jeff West have teamed up to write a new book, "Streetwise to Saleswise: Become Objection Proof and Beat the Sales Blues." They join Jody and I for a conversation on the valuable principles this book teaches about sales, rejection, and overcoming objecti

"If you've hired the right people and they're committed and loyal and they are trained and they know how to do their job, you can get them ready for you to be gone for a little while." Key Moments 03:16 The art of delegation as a leader. 05:51 Effectively managing a leave of absence. 08:42 Returning from a leave of absence 09:33 Organization culture’s influence on mental health in the workplace Resources The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Making a Leave of Absence Work Part of being a leader is developing your team and empowering them to make decisions when someone is on a leave of absence. A member of the Cockerell Academy recently asked a great question about minimizing the impact of taking time off for medical issues. This question highlights another reason to hire right, train them right, and treat them right. When you have the right people in place you can confidently give them the authority to handle things while someone is away. This means preparing for everything leading up to

"Create products based on the problems you are good at solving and you like solving." Key Moments 01:27 Career transition strategies for coaches.  03:13 Strategy sessions for high-value companies; focus on product messaging to boost sales. 08:51 Offer specific coaching services for targeted results. 10:04 Creating high-dollar workshops to increase sales. 13:09 Experienced mentors provide value through their wisdom and belief in achieving goals. Resources The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Starting as a Coach It is not impossible to become a successful coach that turns your expertise into a profitable career. Donald Miller returns to talk about the world of coaching and his new book, "Coach Builder: How to Turn Your Expertise Into a Profitable Coaching Career." He shares valuable insights on how to start and run a profitable coaching business. During this episode we discuss: When starting a coaching business, it's essential to design a menu of products and offerings rather than being