The Art of Grateful Leadership

5 Reasons

Join Art of Grateful Leadership Podcast host Judith W. Umlas as she discusses the joy and feeling of accomplishment we experience as leaders when we nurture and help develop great talent. Her “living example” is Ken Terry, IIL’s Director of Client Services, who she and others at IIL (including CEO E. LaVerne Johnson)  knew had a fantastic voice for promos, ads and video introductions. But how to get him started was the issue. So experience Ken’s  process and his progress, once Judy is appointed Ken’s Coach. Then be a “witness” to his big breakthrough – and his break into official voiceover talent ranks!

Join host Judith W. Umlas as she interviews Agile Consultant and former CEO of Scrum Alliance, Howard Sublett in an engaging and both fun and action-filled conversation. They discuss Howard’s passion to bring humanity to the workplace, and some amazing steps and practices he has initiated in organizations to do so. These include the “affirmation circle” for departing employees and the Gratitude Channel he set up at Scrum Alliance, as well as the impact these practices had. They discuss the strategic alignment of both Servant and Grateful Leadership with Agile and Scrum… and Howard’s awesome blue eyeglasses that “make a statement”!  Join them – you’ll love every minute of this upbeat conversation.

Host Judy Umlas shares her "guilt" for not having kept up the stream of podcasts she had originally intended to produce, due to...her perfectionism! So Judy commits to not letting perfection be "the enemy of the good" So she does a bit of imperfect but relevant rambling. She goes from celebrating her mother belatedly for Mother's Day, along with her mother's French pen pal with whom she corresponded for over 70 years.

She talks about the frustration she feels at "tip jars" which don't encourage the expression of appreciation from recipients. She closes with a shout out to Ed Hoffman, former Chief Knowledge Officer of NASA and Center for Grateful Leadership April webinar presenter.

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Join the Art of Grateful Leadership Podcast series host Judith W. Umlas as the “conversational tables get turned”… on her again, in the second of this series of interviews of Judy by prominent leaders of a variety of organizations! Tune in as she is interviewed this time by Brandy Emesal, Content Strategist at Scrum Alliance on “The Power of Acknowledgment for Agile Leaders.” In their engaging, nearly hour-long conversation, there is a great focus on “The 5 Cs of Acknowledgment” and how they fit so well into an Agile framework.

A New Year’s Resolution for us all to make:

It’s simple...

It’s cost-free...

It’s a daily practice...one that won’t overwork you...

It will dramatically change your life for the better...

it will dramatically change the lives of all those you interact with for the better...

It takes only your commitment, your intention...

And it’s this:

To acknowledge someone...(or many “someones”)....

In a heartfelt way...

In an authentic way...

Each and every day!

The POWER of Acknowledgment is beyond our wildest imaginations!

So use it generously, use it well and see the difference you make, that we all make.

Happiest of New Year ever!

Please listen to my personal New Year’s greeting to you,  and then share it and all your successes in making this critical commitment to yourselves ... with us all!

With appreciation, Judy

Join the Art of Grateful Leadership Podcast series host Judith W. Umlas as the “conversational tables get turned”… on her! Tune in as she is interviewed by Carole Jean Whittington, host of her own podcast series on her website, “Mind Your Autistic Brain, THE Place for Late Identified Autistics.” Judy and Carole Jean have a truly fascinating, empowering and intimate conversation as part of November as the month of Gratitude. They discuss, for example, why people on the autism spectrum have such a challenging time accepting acknowledgment, but are usually great at giving it. Get a sense of why large companies such as Google and Red Hat are specifically recruiting people on the spectrum, in order to make use of their special talents and skills.

Join podcast host Judy Umlas as she interviews a true Grateful Leader in Education, Alfred G. Waters Middle School Principal John Tanner. in this inspiring episode, John recounts how when he heard Judy as a guest on the #BetterLeadersBetterSchools podcast hosted by Daniel Bauer, he knew immediately that Grateful Leadership tools and practices were what he, his administrators, his teachers, and his students needed in order to truly create a culture that works!

Join podcast host Judith W. Umlas as she interviews the originator of this podcast series, James G. Trela, PMP, MBA,  Certified Professional in Grateful Leadership (Level 1), and Legal Program Manager eDiscovery at General Motors. Together they recount the journey that encouraged Jim to create the podcast series after taking Judith’s Grateful Leadership On-Demand course, and the way he is bringing this behavioral change model into General Motors.

Join “The Art of Grateful Leadership” podcast host Judith W. Umlas as she goes on another of her Gratitude Walks in the beautiful Pennsylvania forest. Hear her revelations about listening to her heroes, and discovering important and affirmative messages in what they “tell her.”

In this podcast, Judith W. Umlas recounts how her mother and her French pen pal at age 15 began a lifelong relationship for themselves and for Judy. Join her as she honors her “French father,” who just passed away at the age of 96.

Join podcast host Judy Umlas as she tells her “most requested story” in honor of National Tell-A Story Day, April 27th. Most recently she was asked to tell this riveting tale by Kathryn R. Kest, Grateful Leadership® Certified Professional Level 2, who was delivering a Grateful Leadership presentation to the American Business Women’s Association Houston Area Council that Judy was invited to attend and take pride in her protege.

So hear Judy retell that story which has reached and inspired so many that they want to hear it again, and again, and again… And then record and send us YOUR story about the difference that Acknowledgment and Grateful Leadership have made in your life and work!

Join podcast host Judith W. Umlas in a lovely and engaging discussion with Dr. Tresia Eaves,  PMP, Technology and Information Sciences expert on engaging, appreciating, enlivening, serving, and creating a condition of high performance with the project team members. How?  By treating them as they want to be treated, rather than as we ourselves would like to be treated. You don’t want to miss out on how to substitute the Platinum Rule in Project Management for the Golden Rule! 

Join podcast host Judith W. Umlas as she sits next to the babbling brook that goes under her PA home, and muses on the way Grateful Leadership and Agile Leadership are so well-aligned! She includes an excerpt from Tom Cagley’s Software Process and Measurement Cost (SPaMCast) podcast that featured Susan Parente, PMP, CSM, CSPO and Grateful Leadership Certified Professional, who discuss specific examples of this alignment.

Join podcast host Judith W. Umlas as she interviews Chaplain Lt. Colonel Primitivo Davis, Executive Officer, U.S. Army Institute for Religious Leadership. They discuss the synchronicity of purpose they have shared for nearly a decade, emanating from  Grateful Leadership &The Power of Acknowledgment and continuing with the powerful vision Chaplain Davis has for this work.

Join podcast host Judith W. Umlas as she speaks with Xavier Joly, CEO, and co-founder of GPX about the transformation of his team members when participating in the Grateful Leadership program at Volvo and Bayer. He describes how “less than willing” participants have an “aha” moment that leads to their true understanding and immediate action toward utilizing the message of Grateful Leadership.

Staying grateful can be instrumental in times of crisis, and the key to getting through successfully.

Making personal connections can produce magical results...

Many people who have taken courses and attended keynotes on Grateful Leadership over the years have wanted to make a case for deploying it in their corporations. But they need to be able to show the value of the initiative. Judith W. Umlas interviews Shana Serrano, Army civilian and planner, who is writing her dissertation for her Doctor of Business Administration degree on “Grateful Leadership, Measuring its Value in an Evolving Globally Connected World.” It may be just what has been wanted and needed! Come hear the lively exchange on this engaging topic!

Today we feature a conversation with Jonathan McCoy, a project management professional at Wells Fargo, who will share with us about his refreshing and inspirational first encounter with Judy Umlas and the Center for Grateful Leadership and how it motivated him to renew and deepen his practice of grateful leadership both personally and professionally.

Welcome to the Art of Grateful Leadership Podcast, where everything is about Acknowledgment and Grateful Leadership. And that is what this episode is all about

As the art of grateful leadership podcast takes a new direction, we would like to announce the latest episode, a special tribute to  James G Trela who is stepping aside for now, given the challenges of his work and personal life at this time. What an amazing contribution this series has been! Jim brought his expertise as a PMP, MBA, MS-IST and Legal Program Manager at General Motors as well as his intuitive resonance with all of the Grateful Leadership offerings, to make this one of the best podcast series I have ever heard! 

Keywords: Art of Grateful Leadership; Power of Acknowledgment; Grateful Leader; Judith W Umlas; James G Trela; Center for Grateful Leadership; Leadership; Management; Employee Retention; AGL; CGL; 

Welcome to the Art of Grateful Leadership Podcast, where everything is about Acknowledgment and Grateful Leadership. And that is what this episode is all about

We are now entering May, and have just passed the 3rd anniversary of the podcast. That’s right, in April 2017, the Art of Grateful Leadership was launched; and we have had over 14,000 downloads

Lets talk about the podcast and where it is headed.

Keywords: #IWorkForGM; Art of Grateful Leadership; Power of Acknowledgment; Grateful Leader; Judith W Umlas; James G Trela; Center for Grateful Leadership; Leadership; Management; Employee Retention; AGL; CGL; 

In this episode, we discuss:

Acknowledging the best supporting resources around; that it’s great to have someone that can anticipate what is needed; and, working remotely doesn’t mean you leave your acknowledgments in the office

Keywords: #IWorkForGM; Art of Grateful Leadership; Power of Acknowledgment; Grateful Leader; Judith W Umlas; James G Trela; Center for Grateful Leadership; Leadership; Management; Employee Retention; AGL; CGL;Chester Elton; Susan Parente;

In this special edition, you will get to listen into the uncut conversation with Chester Elton that was used to create the three Art of Grateful Leadership podcast episodes.

Chester has spent two decades helping organizations engage their employees in organizational strategy, vision, and values.

Chester is a founding partner of The Culture Works, and serves as a leadership consultant to firms such as American Express, Procter & Gamble, Avis Budget Group, and Cigna.

In 2020 Global Gurus research organization ranked him among the world’s top leadership and organizational culture experts. He is a member of Marshall Goldsmith’s #MG100 Global Coaches, member of the Fast Company Impact Council, and serves as a board member for Camp Corral, a non-profit for the children of wounded and fallen military heroes.

We begin with how he met Judith W Umlas and got involved with the Center for Grateful Leadership.

Enjoy Listening In!

Keywords: #IWorkForGM; Art of Grateful Leadership; Power of Acknowledgment; Grateful Leader; Judith W Umlas; James G Trela; Center for Grateful Leadership; Leadership; Management; Employee Retention; AGL; CGL;Chester Elton;

In this episode, we conclude our conversation with Chester Elton.  Chester has spent two decades helping organizations engage their employees in organizational strategy, vision, and values. 

He has written many best selling books including:

• All In
• The Carrot Principle

And his latest book:

• Leading with Gratitude

Once again we will hear how so many of Judith W. Umlas’ thoughts are in sync with what Chester has to say.

Let’s listen as Chester Elton tells us about how:

• It’s Time to Get Back to Gratitude and Civility

and

• Don't leave your best self at work, bring it home.

Keywords: #IWorkForGM; Art of Grateful Leadership; Power of Acknowledgment; Grateful Leader; Judith W Umlas; James G Trela; Center for Grateful Leadership; Leadership; Management; Employee Retention; AGL; CGL; Chester Elton;

In this episode we continue our conversation with Chester Elton. Chester has spent two decades helping organizations engage their employees in organizational strategy, vision, and values. Chester is a founding partner of The Culture Works, and serves as a leadership consultant to firms such as American Express, Procter & Gamble, Avis Budget Group. and Cigna.

In 2020 Global Gurus research organization ranked him among the world’s top leadership and organizational culture experts. He is a member of Marshall Goldsmith’s #MG100 Global Coaches, member of the Fast Company Impact Council, and serves as a board member for Camp Corral, a non-profit for the children of wounded and fallen military heroes.

Some of today’s topics include:
How Gratitude is built on relationships,
Psychological Safety,
And Servant Leadership,.

Here is the next installment of our interview with Chester Elton:

Keywords: #IWorkForGM; Art of Grateful Leadership; Power of Acknowledgment; Grateful Leader; Judith W Umlas; James G Trela; Center for Grateful Leadership; Leadership; Management; Employee Retention; AGL; CGL; Chester Elton; Relationships; Psychological Safety; Servant Leadership

In This episode I introduce Chester Elton.

Chester Elton has spent two decades helping organizations engage their employees in organizational strategy, vision and values. He’s been called the “Apostle of appreciation” by the Globe and Mail, Canada’s largest newspaper, and his work has been called “fascinating and refreshing‚” by Fortune magazine.

He is author of several leadership books including Leading with Gratitude, All In, and The Carrot Principle, which have been New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestsellers. Chester’s books have been translated into 30 languages and have sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide.

Chester is a founding partner of The Culture Works, and serves as a leadership consultant to firms such as American Express, Procter & Gamble, Avis Budget Group and Cigna. In 2020 Global Gurus research organization ranked him among the world’s top leadership and organizational culture experts. He is a member of Marshall Goldsmith’s #MG100 Global Coaches, member of the Fast Company Impact Council, and serves as a board member for Camp Corral, a non-profit for the children of wounded and fallen military heroes.

He is most proud, however, to be the father of four exceptional children—all the more exceptional now they have grown up and left home!

Let’s listen to how Chester met Judy Umlas, and got involved with the Center for Grateful Leadership.  Then, he will tell us about how Leading with Gratitude is the only way to lead.

Keywords: #IWorkForGM; Art of Grateful Leadership; Power of Acknowledgment; Grateful Leader; Judith W Umlas; James G Trela; Center for Grateful Leadership; Leadership; Management; Employee Retention; AGL; CGL; Chester Elton;

In the last episode, I spoke of how Grateful Leadership is needed more than ever today, and I encourage every listener to stop, take a deep breath and look at all we have.

These are unprecedented times. Nobody alive has seen anything like this before. Nor has the government ever given us the information we have about he COVID-19 virus

At this point I would like to Thank everyone or all they are doing. In Michigan, we have been asked to stay in our homes. physically separating ourselves from each other in order to keep the transmission of the virus to a minimum.

Lets talk about it...

Keywords: #IWorkForGM; Art of Grateful Leadership; Power of Acknowledgment; Grateful Leader; Judith W Umlas; James G Trela; Center for Grateful Leadership; Leadership; Management; Employee Retention; AGL; CGL; COVID-19