Better Experiences by Design™

Attracting new talent and keeping them engaged in your organization is no easy feat—and Benesch, an Engineering News-Record Top 100 U.S. Design Firm, has created a culture with single-digit turnover rates. Part of this success lies with their premier Leadership Development program.

In today’s episode, guest Kevin Fitzpatrick, President and CEO of Benesch, shares insights into the creation of their educational program which is proving to be a powerful return on investment for the firm.

Better Experiences by Design is a podcast series produced by circle S studio that highlights leaders across a variety of industries dedicated to delivering exceptional brand, employee, and client experiences. © circle S studio, 2024.

Being a good communicator may seem straightforward, but according to research from Leadership IQ, 93% of leaders think they are great at it, and only 11% of their employees agree. That’s because effective communication is a set of learned skills that requires incredible self-awareness, continuous development, and an improvement mindset.

Our guest, Lena Sisco, is a former Navy Intelligence Officer who is blowing up the international speaking stage as a Body Language and Communications Expert. In this episode, she shares powerful tips on how to communicate with confidence and clarity to propel growth for your team and company.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Tips for being an effective communicator that include putting emotions aside
• Ways to combat all-or-nothing thinking and confirmation bias
• Why providing feedback can help you become a better communicator and leader
• How increasing your self-awareness can lead to becoming a more trustworthy individual

Lena is a former Navy Intelligence Officer, a Marine Corps certified interrogator who served in the Global War on Terror, and the CEO and Founder of The Congruency Group. In 2024, she was voted the top 11th body language expert in the world. Lena is also an international keynote speaker and Former TEDx speaker. Since 2003, she has been training the Department of Defense, government agencies, special forces, and private sector in interviewing and interrogation, statement analysis, change leadership, and more.

Ways to contact Lena:

• Website: https://www.thecongruencygroup.com/
• Email: [email protected]

Better Experiences by Design is a podcast series produced by circle S studio that highlights leaders across a variety of industries dedicated to delivering exceptional brand, employee, and client experiences. © circle S studio, 2024.

In this insightful episode, host Susan Quinn sits down with marketing strategist and research expert Susan Baier, Founder and CEO of Audience Audit, who shares her unique approach to understanding your audience. Through attitudinal segmentation, she gets to the core of what’s most important and how organizations can use this information to better serve their clients.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The power of research in demonstrating your firm’s thought leadership.
• The significance of attitudinal research in thought leadership and marketing.
• How to gather feedback and, in turn, better serve your audience.
• Real-world success stories of businesses transformed through audience insights.
• Practical strategies for creating cornerstone content that resonates.
• The pitfalls of making assumptions and the power of asking questions.

Susan Baier is the Founder and CEO of Audience Audit, a research company specializing in segmentation research. Her superpower is her combination of strategic marketing and research expertise that allows each to inform the other on behalf of clients. Susan honed her expertise over 30 years in audience-based marketing strategy on both the agency-side and client-side of market research, strategic planning, and product and brand management.

Ways to contact Susan Baier:

• Website: audienceaudit.com
• Email: [email protected]
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanbaieraz/

Items referenced:

• Book recommendation: https://pamelaslim.com/the-widest-net/
• Predictive ROI research: https://predictiveroi.com/the-roi-of-thought-leadership-series/

Better Experiences by Design is a podcast series produced by circle S studio that highlights leaders across a variety of industries dedicated to delivering exceptional brand, employee, and client experiences. © circle S studio, 2024.

Welcome to a special episode of Better Experiences by Design! In this episode, we revisit some of the most impactful moments from the past year, featuring seven remarkable leaders across various industries. Together, these thought leaders share invaluable insights into key themes like understanding your audience, building a strong company culture, mastering effective communication, achieving personal excellence, and driving growth through adaptability and leadership.

Whether you’re looking to enhance your business development strategies, improve employee experience, or inspire your team to perform at their best, this episode brings together actionable takeaways to help you create better experiences for clients, teams, and organizations

Key Takeaways & Featured Guests:

· Understanding Your Audience
Susan Baier emphasizes that the most effective way to resonate with an audience is to understand their attitudes and motivations—not just their demographics.

· Thought Leadership in Business Development
Drew McLellan discusses how thought leadership builds trust and establishes your brand as the default choice when clients are ready to buy.

· Building a Culture of Care
Jeff Szyperski explains why focusing on employee experience drives both client satisfaction and organizational success, highlighting the power of care in the workplace.

· Effective Communication and Leadership
Lena Sisco shares insights on how self-awareness and empathy are crucial for effective communication and building trust in leadership.

· Achieving Your Zone of Excellence
Jeff Salzenstein explores how managing stress and integrating mind, body, and soul can unlock peak performance and long-term success.

· Adapting to Change in Industry
Mark Hourigan talks about the importance of staying nimble and adaptable to new trends and technologies to maintain competitiveness in a rapidly evolving market.

· The Flywheel of Success
Hunter Lansing discusses how applying the flywheel strategy—aligning people, values, and behaviors—creates momentum and drives long-term growth.

Stay connected with these leaders:

• Susan Baier - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanbaieraz/
• Drew McClellan - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewmclellan/
• Jeff Szyperski - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-szyperski/
• Lena Sisco - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lena-sisco-8a31b451/
• Jeff Salzenstein - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsalzenstein/
• Mark Hourigan - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjhourigansr/
• Hunter Lansing - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunter-lansing-38257814/

Better Experiences by Design is a podcast series produced by circle S studio that highlights leaders across a variety of industries dedicated to delivering exceptional brand, employee, and client experiences. © circle S studio, 2024.

In this episode of Better Experiences by Design, we’re joined by Steve Harvill, a renowned expert in high-performance sales and leadership, to discuss his book 21 Secrets of Million Dollar Sellers. Steve dives into the habits, mindsets, and strategies of top-performing salespeople, shedding light on the critical behaviors that set them apart and how anyone can adopt them to achieve success.

From storytelling to simplifying complex ideas, Steve reveals actionable insights that can be applied in any industry. Whether you're in sales, leadership, or simply looking to enhance your personal growth, Steve’s wisdom will provide the tools you need to elevate your game and foster meaningful client relationships.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• High-performing professionals view sales as a career, not just a job. Learn how to approach your work with a profession-first mindset.
• Complex ideas can alienate your audience. Simplifying your message is key to effective communication.
• Stories connect us to others. Steve explains why storytelling is a crucial skill for building relationships and closing sales.
• The key to building trust and relationships with clients lies in active listening. Steve shares tips for making every conversation more meaningful.
• Top performers handle rejection better than others by learning from their mistakes and viewing rejection as an opportunity for growth.

Featured Guest:

A seasoned expert in sales, leadership, and performance, Steve Harvill has written several books, including 21 Secrets of Million Dollar Sellers, and speaks regularly on how to enhance sales performance, leadership skills, and business growth.

Ways to connect with Steve:

· Website: https://www.creativeventures.com/

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-harvill/

· Email: [email protected]

Resources:

• 21 Secrets of Million Dollar Sellers is available for purchase.

Better Experiences by Design is a podcast series produced by circle S studio that highlights leaders across a variety of industries dedicated to delivering exceptional brand, employee, and client experiences. © circle S studio, 2024.