“Conflict is inevitable. How we handle it separates great leaders from the rest.” - Valerie Cockerell

Episode Highlights

00:01:34 - Dealing with Conflict as a Mom

00:03:15 - Creating Common Ground

00:05:53 - Teaching Conflict Resolution  

00:06:40 - Cultural Differences in Conflict

00:15:21 - Conflict in the Workplace

00:16:38 - Finding Solutions

00:17:02 - Positive Conflict

Connect with Valerie:

Order the book – Manage Like a Mother

LinkedIn – Connect with Valerie

 Conflict

Through her own experiences raising three children and navigating the challenges of leadership roles, Valerie Cockerell learned the importance of effectively managing conflict to create a harmonious environment. Some days her children would go from being best friends to fierce rivals. She quickly realized the need to step in and separate them to diffuse the situation.

As a leader, Valerie applied the same principle in the workplace. She recognizes the importance of giving people time and space to calm their emotions before addressing conflicts. Strong leaders also recognize when they need to stay out of conflict. One creative tactic Valerie used with her children to encourage them to resolve their conflicts independently was linking their weekly allowance to their behavior. She motivated them to work towards a common goal of maintaining peace in the household. Leaders should also work to find ways to motivate employees toward a common goal to maintain a positive work culture.

Valerie's relatable stories and insights highlight the significance of conflict management in personal and professional settings, and provide valuable lessons for mothers seeking to enhance their leadership skills.

Valerie's book is filled with relatable stories and practical takeaways for aspiring and existing leaders. This is such a unique look into leadership that provides moms and those with many lessons from their mom, clarity and inspiration in the complex world of leadership.

“It is hard if you come to the table with just one set of tools. By bringing diversity and embracing diversity, you are bringing more tools to your toolbox. - Valerie Cockerell

Episode Highlights

00:01:46 - Valerie's Perspective on Diversity

00:04:33 - Diversity at Disney

00:05:48 - Stereotypes and Cultural Differences

00:09:40 - Overcoming Us vs. Them Mentality

00:13:42 - Perceiving Discrimination

00:14:35 - Challenging Assumptions

00:17:37 - Teaching Children the Value of Diversity

00:18:08 - Overcoming Workplace Exclusion

00:27:39 - The Importance of Diversity in the Workplace

00:30:19 - Embracing Individuality in the Workplace

00:32:02 - Purposeful Leadership and Unconscious Bias

Connect with Valerie:

Order the book – Manage Like a Mother

LinkedIn – Connect with Valerie

Diversity

From a young age, Valerie had a strong curiosity and desire to explore the world. She felt that there is so much to learn from different people and their unique perspectives. This curiosity led her to move to London at the age of 16 to learn English. Eventually that opened doors for her career with Disney and her journey to the US.

For Valerie, diversity is not something to shy away from, but rather a magnetic force that draws her in. She believes that embracing diversity and engaging with people from different backgrounds and cultures brings a wealth of knowledge and tools to the table. In her new book, Manage Like a Mother, Valerie dedicates an entire chapter to diversity and inclusion, emphasizing the importance of diverse teams in navigating the complexity of the modern world.

Make sure to listen to this episode on diversity. Her personal experiences and learnings inspire many, including managers and leaders, to create more inclusive and innovative teams.

Valerie's book is filled with relatable stories and practical takeaways for aspiring and existing leaders. This is such a unique look into leadership that provides moms and those with many lessons from their mom, clarity and inspiration in the complex world of leadership.

Make it genuine and make it immediate, otherwise one day they're going to find happiness somewhere else when they're being appreciated for what they do. - Valerie Cockerell

Episode Highlights

00:01:27 - Generosity in Recognition

00:03:57 - Effort vs Result

00:05:06 - Specificity in Recognition

00:07:22 - Building a Habit of Recognition

00:14:41 - The Importance of Feedback in Relationships

00:15:41 - The Goldilocks Paradox in Feedback

00:16:50 - The Value of Practicing Feedback

00:17:21 - Recognition and Feedback as Tools for Improvement

Connect with Valerie:

Order the book – Manage Like a Mother

LinkedIn – Connect with Valerie

Recognition and Feedback

As a French mom, Valerie initially found herself navigating the cultural differences in recognition and feedback practices when she moved to the United States. She discovered that Americans were more generous with praise and recognition, a concept that was not as natural for her. However, Valerie soon realized the impact of recognizing and encouraging others, especially when it was done selectively and specifically tied to behaviors.

She learned that recognition shouldn't be reserved only for exceptional achievements, but also for efforts and progress. Valerie also recognized the importance of timely feedback, drawing inspiration from how mothers provide feedback to their children on a daily basis. By giving immediate and constructive feedback, moms ensure that behavior corrections happen promptly and effectively. Valerie's personal experience as a mother and a leader has taught her the value of recognition and feedback in building strong relationships and fostering growth within a team. strategies for leaders in need of improving their recognition and feedback skills.

Listen to this episode of Manage Like a Mother to hear valuable strategies for leaders in need of improving their recognition and feedback skills..

Valerie's book is filled with relatable stories and practical takeaways for aspiring and existing leaders. This is such a unique look into leadership that provides moms and those with many lessons from their mom, clarity and inspiration in the complex world of leadership.