209. Beyond the Boardroom: Using Play and Improv to Drive Innovation ft. Kristen Brun Sharkey

In this episode of the Bringing the Human back to Human Resources podcast, Traci speaks with Kristen Brun Sharkey about building a culture of innovation and effective leadership strategies. Guest: Kristen Brun Sharkey Kristen Brun Sharkey is the Founder and CEO of Emboldify, an executive coach, facilitator, and speaker with 15 years of experience leading teams in advertising, tech, and marketing at companies from early-stage startups to Fortune 100s. She helps leaders advance their careers, make better decisions, execute change effectively, develop innovative solutions, and successfully engage their teams. Her unique approach combines evidence-based business and leadership frameworks with principles from improv theater. She holds a master's degree in management strategy and leadership from Michigan State University and has spoken at notable conferences including the California Conference for Women and the Chief in Tech Summit. Key Topics Discussed: 1. (00:00) Introduction and welcome 2. (02:09) Defining innovation and its importance in business 3. (02:35) Model for building a culture of innovation 4. (05:36) Incorporating improv principles into leadership 5. (10:18) Separating idea generation from evaluation 6. (14:50) Case studies in innovation failure (Blockbuster example) 7. (15:22) The role of humility in leadership 8. (22:31) Strategies for influencing resistant leaders 9. (26:55) Behaviors that support innovative culture Highlights: * Innovation requires both high commitment and openness to new ideas * Psychological safety and destigmatizing failure are crucial for fostering innovation * The "Yes, and" principle from improv theater can transform team dynamics and idea generation * Great leaders create more leaders by elevating others' ideas and solutions * Separating divergent thinking (idea generation) from convergent thinking (evaluation) is essential * Feedback, especially through third parties like coaches, can help leaders develop self-awareness * Successful innovative cultures celebrate failure and embrace play * Leaders must balance humility with the ability to guide their teams effectively Connect with Kristen Brun Sharkey: *LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenbsharkey/ *Company Website: https://www.emboldify.com/ *Podcast: https://www.loveandleadershippod.com/ Connect with Traci: * https://linktr.ee/HRTraci * Visit our website: https://HRTraci.com If you found our conversation valuable, please take a moment to rate our podcast. Your feedback helps us grow and reach more listeners who are passionate about human resources and leadership. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a comment, and give this episode a 👍🏼 Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed.

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