The Modern Manager

• 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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• 351: How to Master Your Time and Crush Your Goals Without Burnout with Andrew Hartman

  Ever felt like there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done? You’re not alone—managers know this struggle well. Fortunately, today’s guest has the time mastery secrets to help us take control of our time.Meet Andrew Hartman. Andrew is the founder of Time Boss, a training organization helping leaders and their teams master their week to get the results they want without overwhelm. Andrew founded Time Boss after burning out several times in early-stage startups, even losing his sense of smell for a season. He has taken all he has learned over the years to build a system to help others avoid the same mistakes and instead find their Highest Sustainable Pace, making more progress on their top priorities and experiencing more peace in their day-to-day schedule.In this episode, Andrew shares game-changing insights on meeting overload, time boxing, and helping out your future self.Plus, in the extended interview available to Podcast+ members, he shares his unique approach to helping your team members manage their time without you micromanaging them and why personal breaks are non-negotiable.Join the conversation now!And check out these 20 Best Team Building Podcasts here!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(01:54) The truth about time and calendars(06:53) Balancing proactive vs. reactive work(10:07) How to deal with meeting overload(16:31) Treat your tasks like meetings(19:27) Using time studies to track your time(26:39) A success story on effective time management(30:29) A great manager Andrew has worked for(31:37) Keep up with Andrew(32:17) [Extended Episode Only] Empowering your team members by helping them manage their time and priorities(36:03) [Extended Episode Only] The power of time boxing and planning personal breaksAdditional 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- Consider using a tool like Sunsama to easily combine your calendar and your to-do list  Keep up with Andrew Hartman- Follow Andrew on LinkedIn here- Visit Time Boss for more information hereSpecial Price for Time Boss Digital Course - $49Andrew is offering an incredible special price of $49 for his Time Boss Digital Course which contains everything you need to immediately upgrade your time habits. Access the Time Boss model in short, self-paced videos and templates to get immediate results in as little as 2 hours. By course end, you'll master getting more done with your time without stress or anxiety. Learn more about the course here.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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• 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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