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

Today, Jody and I are recording this episode in person, and we are exploring what it means to have a professional presence. You don’t need a corner office to carry yourself professionally. It’s not just something executives have or need. When you put yourself forward professionally, you communicate that you are trustworthy and dependable. Whether it is dressing for an interview or the way you interact with individuals in everyday encounters, how you carry yourself says far more than your resume. If you want to create a professional presence, be confident. As you gain exposure and experience, your confidence will grow. Dress the part. First impressions are important; you don’t get a redo. Be composed. When you are comfortable, you allow others to be comfortable as well. Another way you set yourself apart is by being others-centered. Ask about others rather than talking about yourself. When you pay attention to others, it leaves a good impression. People may forget what you say, but they won’t forget how you ma

Today, we have a listener question from Will Walsh. Will has a complex question. In short, he asks, “What do you do when leaders have to tend to legitimate family issues that will keep them out while they prioritize family?” Will specifically asks about those in management who will be missing multiple shifts in a given month. It is not an easy needle to thread. In today’s cultural setting, it is important to allow employees the space to prioritize family. The workforce today isn’t looking to live to work; they want to work so they can live. So they can provide for their family. It says a lot about a culture when employees know there is space to take time and care for their families. Whether it is for bereavement or a medical issue, it is an issue that communicates value. It is also important to keep your company running. It may be easier to look at someone in a non-management role and allow them to take extended or repetitive time for a family issue. With management, it is a bit more nuanced. A conversation i

Today, we have a listener question from Rich Urich. Rich asks, “Can you talk about the interview process and how to prepare?” Thankfully, we live in a day and age when preparing for an interview is easy. First and foremost, look presentable when you show up. It is better to be overdressed and need to scale back than to be underdressed and try to recapture the first impression. Dress for the job you want and be in step with the industry. A tech company may have a different atmosphere than a fortune 500 organization. Dig around and see what you can find out. Second, dig deep and learn all you can about a prospective company. Google is your best friend. What do they stand for? What do their current and previous employees say about them? What are their goals, and do they align with what you want to do? An interview isn’t just one way. You need to ask questions and figure out if what they expect and require is what you want to do. Make sure you walk into interviews with open eyes. Don’t be afraid to ask the questi

Every business, no matter the industry, can benefit from having a purpose statement. People need to know what you want them to do and how their role fits into the overall purpose. Often, it can be complicated. Sometimes, that overarching goal hasn't been clearly defined, in a way that everyone understands. That is where a purpose statement comes in handy. When you are developing a purpose statement, make it simple. So simple, anyone can understand it. When you have a clear statement of what you want people to do, and you train people on how to do it, you are that much closer to producing the best experience for your customer. How do you develop a purpose statement? First, sit down and talk about it. Get with team members from every area and ask them. What is the one thing they want as employees? What is the one thing that your customers want? Once you have that clear, you can create a simple, repeatable statement. Keep the statement in front of your team and train them with that end goal in mind. No matter th

If you have been around for a while, you may be familiar with our Main Street Leader Newsletter. This topic is one I have mentioned in the Main Street Leader before, and it is a simple concept with a great return. The pre-shift meeting is a tool that can be a difference-maker for your company and team. When we get ready to embark on the day, we need to ensure we connect and get on the same page. Once shift starts and customers arrive, it will be too chaotic to ensure everyone has the game plan. These pre-shift connect points are short and equip our team to be the expert for what they will be doing over the next few hours. If you are in the restaurant business, it might be covering the specials or what is not available. If you're in retail, it might be discussing promos and making the team aware of any pertinent information. These pre-shift meetings are perfect for providing information, inspiration and equipping the team for what is coming. To ensure the time is valuable and that you utilize it fully, make an

Today, we have another question from a faithful listener, Tanner Brock. Tanner requested advice on becoming more comfortable and confident in your professional background. Especially in situations where business partners or fellow team members have a longer tenure in the workforce. It is part of the game and part of learning business. We all start out being intimidated by others having experience. It takes time to get smarter; to learn new things. Pushing yourself to expand your understanding will help you grow and learn. With time, you won't be intimidated, because you have gained experiences of your own. Wisdom comes with age, education, experience, and exposure. If you want to get past intimidation, you need to get outside of your immediate sphere. Meet people and put yourself in situations where you can learn willingly. Spend time around your customers and employees. You have to work at it. Be intentional about seeking out understanding; you don’t just get to absorb it. Rather than being intimidated by th

In the book, The Goal by Ellyahu Goldratt, business is boiled down to one goal. If you are in business, the goal is to make money. Business owners use this end to justify the means, especially how you treat people, especially employees and customers.  If you treat people right, you will make money. Modern business tells us to look at the bottom line. If you devalue the customer, who is going to contribute to that bottom line? There is no upside or reason to mistreat people if you want them to pay you. You can still have the end goal of making money. You need to do it in a way that creates a sustainable model. Be approachable and nice. Treat people like you want people to treat your grandmother, mother, or daughter. When you find yourself in a situation, predetermine how you will behave. The potential for negative interactions comes every day. You must be intentional and program your brain to react in a kind and patient way.  Make sure what you are doing is in line with what you are working for. Don’t lie. Wor

Today we are answering an anonymous listener question. Our listener asks: “What is your take on personal and family considering and advice on making a transition overseas?” Thinking about relocating for work? You live in the right era for it. Approach it like you would if you were moving domestically. The first thing you should do is get on the internet and do your research. Make a list of potential impacts to your family, like schools, cost of living, taxes, housing, spousal employment, etc. Identify what it will take to make your family happy and then compare what is available to you where you want to move. Will your family be happy there? If the answer is yes, examine some of the other benefits. Exposing your family, especially your children, to other experiences and locations will prepare them for life. It instills confidence and provides varied life experiences that will help them engage their world. If you get the chance to work internationally, I recommend grabbing it. If you can, take a small trip bef

Every industry feels the impact of turnover and instability in staffing due to the current pandemic. Every industry’s customer service is also suffering. Constant staffing changes mean employees often lack training or the development needed to go above and beyond to serve. It also means that anyone can rise to the top right now by offering outstanding service. It is the perfect time for people who want to show up and be great. There is a hole in service that needs to be filled; that means you can shine by showing up and providing service at a higher level. When you help people and take care of them, it will distinguish you. People can go anywhere for products. How they are treated keeps them coming to you; as a leader or an employee. Often, people are getting put into the thick of it with inadequate training, and they don’t know what they don’t know. If you have something to offer your team, do it. Help those around you to succeed, and you will rise as a result. If you are a leader, think outside of the box.

Today we are answering a listener question. Our anonymous listener asks: How do you balance the need to take care of employees with the very real challenge a business is facing? First, you as a leader need to define what ‘taking care of’ means for you. I think you can start with caring for your team emotionally. Let them know they matter. When you are faced with the type of decision that puts the team against the company, bring them into the discussion. Ask their opinion on the decisions that impact them, like needing to cut costs. Communicate your desire to take care of them and always be honest around uncertainty. When people know you care about them, and you deal with them truthfully, people are understanding. It isn’t always an easy solution, and you have to make the best choice you can. At the end of the day, you are responsible. Tell people what they are going to be thinking anyway and help them understand the reasoning for decisions. Be willing to take the heat when necessary and deal with people perso

Today is one of our rare episodes that Jody and I are in the same room, in person. We just wrapped up the Creating Magic Mastermind. It is amazing what can come out of a concentrated time when people who are passionate and want to grow and learn come together. Two big themes emerged over the mastermind: Strategy and everyone matters, and should know they matter. The strategy doesn’t have to be complicated. When you boil it down, you need to ask yourself how you will be different from your competitors so that people want to work with you. It’s not about being flashy. It is about being different. Are you trustworthy? Do you show up and do your job accurately and with integrity? It isn’t about your job; it is about who you are. That is what makes people want to work with you. We were surprised to have Reggie Williams drop in and join us for part of the mastermind. Reggie always reminds me that it is important to really look out for everyone and not back down from what you know is right. There is power in being a

Today we are answering our first listener question of 2022 (full disclosure, we recorded it last month). Eric Reys asks: My daughter just became a manager and has not had any leadership training. Should she look into outside courses and bring them to her boss or do it on her own? I have explained previously that there is a difference between management and leadership. Management is about getting things done and is technical. These are the hard skills needed to do a job, and ideally, you should have the skillset and the training you need to perform your job. Leadership, however, is about empowering those around you by helping them and developing them. When it comes to being developed as a leader, do it on your own. You don’t have to invest lots of money. You can start by listening to podcasts (this one is great – we have almost 400 episodes). Find voices in leadership that you trust and dig into what they teach. You don’t need to go to your boss to get what you need; it is already at your fingertips. It is you

If you feel bored with your own story, bored with life, or feel like your life is a story you are not enjoying right now, you need to hear this episode.  Donald Miller returns to Creating Disney Magic to talk about his new book, Hero on a Mission.  Don shares the three stories he is living with his life. When you are know what story you are living, you know what you won't do. You get more clarity in your life. You have a filter to help you make decisions.  Many people struggle when one story in their life ends and they don't start a new story. When there is a void in your mind about your story, it becomes hard to know what to do next.  "Meaning is only experienced in motion," Don says. In order to feel fulfilled, you have to take action to feel you are doing something worthwhile.  Every morning, Don reads his eulogy to remind him of what he will regret not doing. It keeps him actively involved in his story.  At one point during my career, I realized what my reputation was. People called me "Doberman" because

Wrapping up one year and moving into the next can get people thinking of things they want to change and improve. I have learned over the years that knowing how to set deadlines is a make-or-break strategy when it comes to being organized and getting things in your life done. In life, you get done what you want to do. If you desire to do more, you need to get organized. Often, we know what we need to do; we don’t do it. It is easy, especially in our personal life, to fail to complete those things that no one knows you are working on. By setting deadlines and making sure you have time blocked off to work on them, you will give yourself space to complete them. You can be organized at work, but you need to be organized across your life. Deadlines help you to make sure you get what is important done. Set them. Meet them. When you do that, people trust you and want to work with you. Deadlines allow you to get it done. If you are looking at improving your time management skills, my Time Management Magic is available

We have another listener question, this time coming all the way from the UK. Deanto Callo wants to know if it is possible to be friendly and informal with your staff and still maintain professional standards? It is possible to be friendly and maintain expectations and standards with your team. You have to decide who you are and what you stand for, as a leader and as a company. Make sure your team knows what you stand for and how it will help them grow and get better. When you have clear expectations, you can still be friendly and approachable. It is good to have friendly relationships and a comfortable atmosphere, as long as your team knows how it works. I like to say manage like a mother. Mothers want you to be successful. They care about you, and they will hold you to the family standards and expectations because it is in your best interest, and they care about you. Mothers are informal and friendly, but they are firm and fair and manage with empathy and discipline. As long as you set expectations, reinforc

You have heard me talk about the cloud recently and how I am trying to become more familiar with what it means for business. We have a special guest today. Kenneth Johnson, CEO of Blue Sentry, joins us to help us better understand the benefits of “the Cloud”. There are a lot of implications for business when it comes to migrating to the cloud, and it can seem overwhelming. The best way to understand it is as a public utility company. It is the same way that water and electric companies provide utilities. An individual property can have a well and get water, but it is easier to have the water provided and managed by the water company. The cloud is like public utilities for your data storage. You can spend the time and resources to build your infrastructure. Or you can build huge data centers with a few lines of code by utilizing an already existing infrastructure. Often, companies are slower to utilize cloud services because they fear security issues. There have been many advancements in this area, and it can

Today we are answering a listener question. Karen Ellis asks “What can help a person break out of a role or job title and get others to see they can do more and grow into another role?” Karen gave the example of an administrative assistant looking to move into more responsibility. There are two sides to this discussion. If you are on the employee side and want to move into a new role, the answer is pretty straightforward. First, make sure you are being a high producer. Do what you are currently doing well. If you are doing that, make your desire known. Talk with your leadership and ask them what needs to happen for you to move into your desired role and what you can do to prepare for it. While you are waiting, take classes. Work on your skillset and expand your tool belt. If you are doing all of these things and an opportunity to advance doesn’t manifest, it may be time to move on and look for another job. If you are a leader in a company, it benefits you to promote from within your existing organization. Be

I just returned from the annual IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) Conference. Not only can you get a good hot dog, but if you are in the entertainment park business, it is a great opportunity to learn about upcoming innovations in the industry. No matter the industry you are in, it is important to get outside the walls of your own company and expose yourself to new ideas. See what else is out there and challenge yourself. You will lose out as an organization if you don’t prioritize getting out. In addition to encountering innovations, you may cultivate new contacts as well. Another benefit is what it communicates to your employees when you send them out to conferences and tradeshows. It tells them you trust them and that they are worth the investment. It’s a practical way of offering more than a paycheck. Another way you can communicate trust and investment to your team is The Cockerell Academy. Check out the available courses and resources at cockerellacademy.com. Also, if

This year, I was honored to attend the Elevate Prize Conference in South Beach. If you are not familiar with it, the Elevate Prize is awarded by The Elevate Prize Foundation to ten or more global leaders who are tackling pressing issues in innovative ways. The foundation also sponsors the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award and the Elevate Giving Program. While attending the conference, I encountered many individuals who are making a difference in the world. From a woman helping to get bili lights to help treat jaundiced babies in impoverished countries to a gentleman helping to translate global literature into Arabic, amazing people are doing amazing things. How can we help to get the word out about what is being done? Maybe you aren’t in contact with global initiatives. Chances are, you are closer than you think to someone who is using their time, resources, and energy to make a difference in your community. Pay attention to the news, ask around. The biggest way you can help them out is to spread the word about th

We have made mention before the current labor shortage most companies are experiencing. While people may be enjoying a time away from the daily grind, sooner or later, the vast majority will have to return to work. Many mindsets, however, have been permanently changed. The workforce will return, but with a different set of expectations. People are going to look for companies that invest in their employees. Providing training and cultivating a culture of inclusion is key to attracting and retaining employees. It is no longer just about the paycheck. You must be a company known for taking care of your employees and your customers. Be willing to rethink and focus on the individual. Work with employees on their schedules, make them feel special. Show them you want them there. Everyone wants to be where they are appreciated. At the end of the day, when you are nice to your employees, they want to stay. The old rules don’t apply anymore. In the new landscape, management may not be for everyone. Make sure you know w