Time to Reset

In today's hyper-complex, information-saturated world, the impulse is often to do more. More tasks, more meetings, more data consumption. But what if the path to true success lies in doing less while achieving more? We sat down with Rich Horwath, a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author and the leading authority on strategic thinking, to uncover the crucial insights that separate successful leaders from those stuck on the activity treadmill. Horwath, Founder of the Strategic Thinking Institute and author of Strategic: The Skill to Set Direction, Create Advantage, and Achieve Executive Excellence, argues that relying on AI to think for us is a critical mistake. Instead, leaders must intentionally carve out time to gain the "fuel insights"—learnings that lead to new value.In this must-read post, learn how to: Stop reacting and start acting on your own agenda.Implement simple, daily "Reset Practices" to capture one valuable insight a day.Use strategic reflection to clarify success and double down on what’s working.Leverage your time, talent, and attention for maximum strategic advantage.Discover why doing less leads to more strategic achievement and how you can develop the mindset required to thrive in a complex world.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

Technical experts are masters of their specific crafts, but they often find themselves dealing with the universal challenges of overwork, burnout, and micromanagement. Penny Zenker sits down with Alistair Gordon, CEO of Expertunity, who shares how he leads the so-called expertship revolution to address this growing problem happening in most workplaces. Alistair sheds light on how experts and specialists are often trapped in their “technical bubbles,” causing them to be extremely underappreciated and typically overwhelmed. Find out how to regain agency, set clear priorities, and push back on unreasonable demands to finally get the recognition you truly deserve.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

Stop letting fear of the wrong choice lead to the biggest mistake of all: no decision making at all. Join the conversation as host Penny Zenker sits down with neuroscientist, researcher, and keynote speaker Lorne Epstein, who consults with senior leaders on improving decision making outcomes. They dive into how to navigate today's volatile, uncertain, chaotic, and ambiguous (VUCA) world by identifying unconscious bias, the critical role of cognitive flexibility, and why you need to master your personal 'reset moment' to filter out the noise and find your signal. Lorne also shares insights on his novel psychometric assessment for teams and explains how AI can be a great advisory tool in your decision making process.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

Are you ready to dive deep into personalizing the sales process in a world saturated with AI? Nikki Rausch, CEO of Sales Maven, author, and podcast host, joins the conversation to explain why people still buy from people and how a "high-tech" world demands an even more "high-touch" approach. Discover her game-changing techniques for fostering authentic connections, including her specific, powerful questions to ask in a sales conversation, the strategic power of replacing "if" with "when" in your language, and why she believes the most important word for a salesperson's presence right now is "generous."Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

Stop running away from the tough conversations—start cultivating Fruitful Friction® instead. Our guest, Hilary Blair, CEO, CSP Speaker, Leadership Coach, and Group Facilitator, is here to explain why embracing that "messy middle" is essential for true innovation and team co-creation. She unpacks how to move beyond merely being polite, which can act as a wall, to adopt a kindly direct approach that honors relationships and builds trust. Hilary shares practical, actionable methods like "rocking your awkward" and leveraging playfulness to expand the space between "avoid" and "attack," helping you master the art of the proactive reset to elevate your communication, connection, and business results.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

The landscape of career search and hiring is being rapidly redefined by technology, specifically Artificial Intelligence, which, while simplifying the application process, is causing companies to overlook some of the most qualified candidates whose value doesn't translate well onto an automated resume. Mitch McDermott from Talent Ascension Group explains that this challenge requires organizations to look beyond paper credentials and be willing to dig deeper into a candidate's story. Success in the modern workforce also demands that companies move beyond cookie-cutter systems by prioritizing a highly personalized onboarding process and recognizing non-monetary "currencies"—such as impact, fulfillment, freedom, and growth potential—to ensure long-term employee retention and engagement.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

Market Eminence is more than visibility; it’s the art of earning respect, influence, and recognition by thinking differently. In this energizing conversation with keynote speaker and marketing strategist David Newman, host Penny Zenker explores how leaders can rise above the noise and become the “only” in their space rather than just the best. David reveals why the old “how-to” approach is obsolete and how to instead focus on how to think, what to believe, and how to prepare for what’s next. They discuss the power of storytelling, differentiation, and filtering faster in today’s crowded marketplace. With humor and clarity, David shares how founders, executives, and thought leaders can build market Eminence that attracts ideal clients, strengthens brand trust, and drives unstoppable growth.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/