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Refine & Grow

69 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 months ago - ★★★★★ - 12 ratings

A podcast helping professionals navigate the soft skills needed to succeed in business and leadership.

Management Business business leadership business consulting business performance
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Episodes

Season 6 Summary

December 19, 2023 19:29 - 5 minutes - 5.1 MB

In this episode, Justin and Lynse reflect on themes from this season, their learnings from the interviewees, and preview topics that will be covered in the next season of Refine & Grow with Justin & Lynse. 

Interview with Career-Based Learning Expert and Entrepreneur, Mary Wenstrom

December 13, 2023 19:00 - 21 minutes - 16.6 MB

In this episode, Justin and Lynse interview Mary Wenstrom about her “Pathway to Purpose” program that enables students to find purpose and excitement about their career choices early-on; and how industry professionals, businesses, and local communities can support career-based learning. Want to learn more? Go to https://www.pilinaeducation.org/

Interview with Licensed Professional Counselor and DiSC Assessment Expert Tim Hast

December 06, 2023 19:00 - 27 minutes - 21.8 MB

In this episode, Lynse interviews Tim Hast about the DiSC (Dominance, influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness) personality assessment, how it works, and why learning to be an active listener is the key to being an effective communicator and having influence, as outlined in his book Powerful Listening, Powerful Influence. Want to learn more? Go to https://encorelifeskills.com/

Interview with Radio Host and Life Strategist Danielle Sax

November 29, 2023 19:00 - 27 minutes - 18 MB

In this episode, Lynse interviews Danielle Sax, the host of UKHealth Radio’s “From Stress to Authentic Success” podcast about her personal experience and expertise on stress, it’s impacts, why it’s important to address head on, and what it means to live authentic success.  Want to learn more? Go to https://daniellesax.com/

Interview with Radio Host and Physiotherapist Danielle Sax

November 29, 2023 19:00 - 27 minutes - 18 MB

In this episode, Lynse interviews Danielle Sax, the host of UK Radio’s “From Stress to Authentic Success” podcast about her personal experience and expertise on stress, it’s impacts, why it’s important to address head on, and what it means to live authentic success.  Want to learn more? Go to https://daniellesax.com/

Interview with Executive Trainer and Author, David Achata

November 15, 2023 19:00 - 24 minutes - 19.7 MB

In this episode, Justin and Lynse interview David Achata about his work guiding Executives on the importance of knowing and understanding your values in order to have a productive work and personal life, and the approach he outlines in his latest book, Executive Retreats for Busy Business Leaders.  Want to learn more? Go to https://achatacoaching.com/

Interview with Entrepreneur and Author, Jonas Akerman

November 08, 2023 19:00 - 17 minutes - 10.6 MB

In this episode, Justin and Lynse interview Jonas Akerman about how to grow a small business, what indicators point toward success, and the capability assessment and entrepreneurial stories he and his co-authors outline in their book, From 50 to 500.  Want to learn more? Go to https://www.alaricpartners.com/

Interview with Former Navy SEAL, Speaker, and Author Mary Strong

November 01, 2023 18:00 - 24 minutes - 18.4 MB

In this episode, Justin and Lynse interview Marty Strong about his journey from the military to civilian world, how that transition helped him identify the traits and requirements to lead, and his approach to developing a leadership mindset, outlined in his books, Be Nimble and Be Visionary. Want to learn more? Go to https://martystrongbenimble.com/

Interview with Therapeutic Coach and Author, Estelle Read

October 25, 2023 18:00 - 25 minutes - 19.3 MB

In this episode, Justin and Lynse interview Estelle Read on her journey to overcoming workaholism, her expertise in Imposter Syndrome, and her solution – called the Shine model, outlined in her best-selling book, Inner Brilliance, Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism and Stress. Want to learn more? Go to https://2beee.com/

Interview with Change Expert and Author, Dr. Elizabeth Moran

October 18, 2023 18:00 - 31 minutes - 20 MB

In this episode, Justin and Lynse interview Dr. Elizabeth Moran about understanding the important role neuroscience plays in our reaction to change, and the need for business leaders overseeing change initiatives to proactively utilize the five brain concepts outlined in her book, Forward: Leading Your Team Through Change, to get better results. Want to learn more? Go to https://www.elizabethmorantransformation.com/

Season 6 Introduction

October 11, 2023 20:50 - 2 minutes - 2.13 MB

In this episode, Justin and Lynse discuss this season’s theme of thought leadership and preview the list of interviewees.

Season 5 Summary

August 23, 2023 15:00 - 4 minutes - 3.74 MB

In this episode, Justin & Lynse summarize topics, highlight their favorite discussions from this season, and provide listeners with additional resources.

Take Inventory

August 16, 2023 15:00 - 18 minutes - 12.7 MB

In this episode, Lynse shares the story behind the analogy she applied to craft a methodology for self-reflection, and asks Justin & Shanae about how they build their toolkit, develop their “lessons learned”, and determine when it’s time to make a change. 

This Is What You Do, Not Who You Are

August 09, 2023 15:00 - 14 minutes - 10.5 MB

In this episode, Lynse shares the story behind the advice she received that helped her become proactive and confident in setting work-life expectations with employers, and asks Justin & Shanae how they define and approach the concept of “work-life balance”. 

There Is an Art and Science to Everything

August 02, 2023 15:00 - 23 minutes - 16.5 MB

In this episode, Lynse shares the story behind the advice that helped her blend rules with creativity to become a more well-rounded consultant, and asks Justin & Shanae to share their experiences working with colleagues and managers who work differently than they do. 

Don't Try to Understand Why If You Can't Influence It

July 26, 2023 15:00 - 21 minutes - 15.3 MB

In this episode, Lynse shares the story behind the advice that taught her how to best focus her time and effort, and asks Justin & Shanae about their tips on setting boundaries, aligning expectations, and avoiding burn-out in the workplace. 

Don't Avoid Failure, Minimize Its Impact

July 19, 2023 21:04 - 18 minutes - 13.6 MB

In this episode, Lynse shares the story behind her favorite advice from Justin, and asks him and Shanae about their tips on navigating ambiguity, risk tolerance, and mitigation approaches. 

Be Okay with Awkward Silence

July 12, 2023 15:00 - 16 minutes - 12.1 MB

In this episode, Lynse shares the story behind her favorite advice from Shanae, and asks her and Justin about their tips for being observant, communication styles, and holding space for others. 

Be Buttoned Up

June 28, 2023 15:00 - 14 minutes - 10.4 MB

In this episode, Lynse shares the story behind the advice she used to lay the foundation for her brand, and asks Justin & Shanae for their thoughts on the pros and cons of building a personal brand, and the importance of accountability. 

Ask Questions That Get to the Solution

June 21, 2023 15:00 - 18 minutes - 12.4 MB

In this episode, Lynse shares the story behind the advice that taught her how to push toward workplace solutions, and asks Justin & Shanae about tips for making forward progress in meetings, team alignment, and complex business problems. 

Find the Learning in Everything You Do

June 14, 2023 15:00 - 15 minutes - 10.1 MB

In this episode, Lynse shares the story behind the advice she received that helped her overcome frustration in the workplace, and asks Justin & Shanae about their advice on finding learning in mundane tasks and difficult discussions. 

Season 5 Introduction

June 07, 2023 15:00 - 4 minutes - 3.22 MB

In this episode, Justin & Lynse discuss this season’s theme – based on the new book Refine & Grow: Lessons Learned on Navigating the Business World. They introduce this season’s guest host, Shanae Strayer, and talk about the importance and impact of being a mentor in the workplace. 

You Don't Know What You Don't Know

June 07, 2023 15:00 - 15 minutes - 9.59 MB

In this episode, Lynse shares the story behind the advice she received when beginning a new job, and asks Justin & Shanae about their experiences with timing, building relationships, and learning how things work when onboarding to a new company, role, or project. 

Season 4 Summary

May 10, 2023 19:00 - 4 minutes - 3.56 MB

In this episode, Justin & Lynse reflect on the topics reviewed in season 4 including overarching themes, and offer a sneak peek into Season 5.

Never Leave a Position Until You've Demonstrated that You Can Thrive in It

May 03, 2023 19:00 - 15 minutes - 12.1 MB

In this episode, Justin & Lynse interview Caleb Brigman – a Senior HR Business Partner with 10+ years of experience. Caleb shares the advice that changed his perspective on how to build a career path.

Surround Yourself with Good People

April 26, 2023 19:00 - 12 minutes - 8.83 MB

In this episode, Lynse interviews Heidi Lahart – a Management Consultant and entrepreneur with 25+ years of work experience, and expertise in employee relationships and learning & development. Heidi shares the story behind the advice that guided her through a variety of roles she’s taken on.

Define Your Brand by How You Want to be Remembered

April 19, 2023 19:00 - 11 minutes - 8.88 MB

In this episode, Justin & Lynse interview Chris Justl – a Management Consultant with 15+ years of experience in strategy development and business performance. Chris shares the story behind the advice that helped him focus in on the bigger picture behind his work.

Your Career Has Seasons

April 12, 2023 19:00 - 14 minutes - 10.6 MB

In this episode, Justin & Lynse interview Brooke Spearmon – a corporate-based HR professional with 15+ years of experience, and expertise in team and program development and operational effectiveness. Brooke shares the story behind the advice that helped frame her definition of, and approach to, achieving work-life balance.

Your Best Mentor Is You, So Say Yes and Take Risks

March 29, 2023 19:00 - 13 minutes - 9.82 MB

In this episode, Justin & Lynse interview Devin Smith – an adjunct Professor with 25+ years of experience in supply chain management. Devin shares the advice he passes down to his students and helped guide his career decisions.

Always Take Opportunities to Learn New Things

March 22, 2023 19:00 - 14 minutes - 11 MB

In this episode, Justin & Lynse interview Angela Pierce – a CPA and Financial Executive with 15+ years of experience in city and state governments. Angela shares the story behind the advice that shifted her perspective on her brand and career goals.

Keep Your Mind Flexible and Resilient

March 15, 2023 19:00 - 19 minutes - 14.5 MB

In this episode, Justin & Lynse interview Eric Appesland – a Financial Advisor with 20+ years of work and a diverse background that includes expertise in product and project management. Eric shares the advice that helped frame his approach and decision-making process for building his career.

Recognize Your Long-Term Impact

March 08, 2023 17:30 - 12 minutes - 9.17 MB

In this episode, Justin & Lynse interview Shanae Strayer – a Management Consultant with 20+ years of experience and expertise in Change Management. Shanae shares the story behind the advice that helped inform her decision-making, prioritization, and people strategy.

Season 4 Introduction

March 08, 2023 17:25 - 4 minutes - 3.28 MB

In this episode, Justin & Lynse preview the theme and interviewees for season 4.

Season 3 Summary

September 13, 2022 20:00 - 5 minutes - 3.9 MB

In this episode, Justin & Lynse reflect on the topics reviewed in season 3 including overarching themes, and offer a sneak peek into Season 4.

Dealing with Difficult Executive Sponsors

September 07, 2022 20:00 - 11 minutes - 7.8 MB

In this episode, Justin & Lynse coach you on how to best approach and manage difficulties with Executive Sponsors (typically not the leader you report up through, but their peer) who have temporary oversight of a project you own.

Dealing with Support Staff

August 31, 2022 20:00 - 14 minutes - 9.99 MB

In this episode, Justin & Lynse break-down the importance of proactively engaging and building relationships with roles that are less visible but comprise the backbone of the company’s operations – known as support staff.

Dealing with Difficult Contractors

August 18, 2022 20:00 - 20 minutes - 14 MB

In this episode, Justin & Lynse coach the clients of business professional, contract-based workers how to manage and fix contractual relationships when experiencing performance and operational issues.

Dealing with Difficult Vendor Partners

August 11, 2022 05:00 - 13 minutes - 9.48 MB

In this episode, Justin & Lynse coach business professional, contract-based workers – such as consultants and program service providers – how to deal with other vendors at the client site, whose tactics and approaches are difficult to navigate.

Dealing with Difficult Clients

August 03, 2022 21:00 - 16 minutes - 12 MB

In this episode, Justin & Lynse coach business professional, contract-based workers – such as consultants and program service providers – how to navigate the most common types of difficult client relationships encountered while delivering work.

Dealing with Difficult Customers

July 27, 2022 21:00 - 19 minutes - 13.5 MB

In this episode, Justin & Lynse coach business owners and account managers how to navigate difficult business-to-business (B2B) customer contracts – including how to set-up the relationship for success, manage long-term expectations, and develop a personal connection.

Dealing with Skip-Levels

July 20, 2022 21:00 - 14 minutes - 10.4 MB

In this episode, Justin & Lynse coach you on how to best approach cadences and discussions with Executives – so you can proactively avoid the common pitfalls that lead to difficult consequences.

Dealing with Difficult Peers

July 06, 2022 20:00 - 12 minutes - 8.93 MB

In this episode, Justin and Lynse coach you on how to deal with difficult peers – including how to recognize and leverage strengths, cater to preferences, and set the right boundaries.

Dealing with Difficult Employees

June 29, 2022 18:00 - 20 minutes - 15.8 MB

In this episode, Justin and Lynse coach you on how to deal with difficult employees – including assessing role and skill fit, documenting expectations, and managing your direct reports out of the company when nothing else works.

Dealing with Difficult Managers

June 22, 2022 18:01 - 29 minutes - 20 MB

In this episode, Justin and Lynse coach you on how to deal with difficult supervisors – including their personal stories about navigating, learning, and growing through high-stress situations with managers.

Season 3 Introduction

June 22, 2022 18:00 - 4 minutes - 3.49 MB

In this episode, Justin and Lynse preview the theme for season three, including episode titles and topics.

Season 2 Summary

May 04, 2022 20:00 - 7 minutes - 5.6 MB

In this episode, Justin and Lynse reflect on the topics reviewed, discuss overarching themes, and share ways to contribute and submit topics for Season 3.

When to Say Goodbye

April 27, 2022 20:00 - 17 minutes - 12.1 MB

In this episode, Justin and Lynse discuss typical signs that indicate it’s time to move on, how to best approach a job search, and how to manage the impression you make if and when you do exit.

Is Grad School Worth the Investment

April 13, 2022 20:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MB

In this episode, Justin and Lynse break-down what you really get from a graduate degree, when it’s important to pursue, and why sometimes when you think you need it, you don’t.

Assessment Tools

April 06, 2022 20:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MB

In this episode, Justin and Lynse debrief you on the thinking behind workstyle assessments, when and why they do or don’t help, and what can impact the results over time.

Physical Presentation

March 30, 2022 20:00 - 19 minutes - 13.5 MB

In this episode, Justin and Lynse discuss the importance of physical presentation, when and why it matters, and how to cater your look to help gain the respect of a specific audience.