169: Human Skills Are Not Soft - They Are Strategic: A Conversation with Liesel Mertes
Release Date: 05/13/2025
196: Future Proof Your Career in 2026 and Beyond
Career Dreams
The future of personal growth and development can feel overwhelming, especially with the rise of AI and the rapid pace of change. In this episode, Michelle and Chase share four practical strategies to help you future proof your career by focusing on what you can control. These everyday strategies will empower you to take charge and become the architect of your career dreams in 2026 and beyond. Article: Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd like to hear answered on Career Dreams? You can an audio recording of your question to be featured on an upcoming...
info_outline
195: Five Dysfunctions - Inattention to Results
Career Dreams
Michelle and Chase wrap up their series on The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni with a conversation about the fifth dysfunction: inattention to results. They explore what happens when team members prioritize personal success over collective outcomes and how leaders can refocus teams on shared goals, accountability, and measurable impact. Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd like to hear answered on Career Dreams? You can an audio recording of your question to be featured on an upcoming episode! Like it? Share it! If you're finding value in...
info_outline
194: Five Dysfunctions - Avoidance of Accountability
Career Dreams
Michelle and Chase continue their series on The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni, this time diving into the fourth dysfunction: avoidance of accountability. They explore how accountability shows up (or doesn’t) on teams, why peer-to-peer accountability matters, and how leaders can foster a culture where commitments are upheld and performance is elevated. Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd like to hear answered on Career Dreams? You can an audio recording of your question to be featured on an upcoming episode! Like it? Share it! If you're...
info_outline
193: Five Dysfunctions - Lack of Commitment
Career Dreams
Michelle and Chase continue their journey through The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni, this time unpacking the third dysfunction: lack of commitment. They explore how ambiguity and avoidance can stall progress, and why clarity and buy-in are essential for team momentum. If you’ve ever struggled with getting alignment or follow-through, this episode is for you. Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd like to hear answered on Career Dreams? You can an audio recording of your question to be featured on an upcoming episode! Like it? Share it!...
info_outline
192: Five Dysfunctions - Fear of Conflict
Career Dreams
Michelle and Chase continue their series on the book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni, this time diving into the second dysfunction: fear of conflict. They explore why healthy conflict is essential for high-performing teams, how to recognize when it’s missing, and what leaders can do to create space for honest, productive dialogue. Article: Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd like to hear answered on Career Dreams? You can an audio recording of your question to be featured on an upcoming episode! Like it? Share it! If you're finding...
info_outline
191: Five Dysfunctions - Absence of Trust
Career Dreams
In this episode, Michelle and Chase explore the first dysfunction from Patrick Lencioni’s The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: the absence of trust. They talk about what real, vulnerability-based trust looks like on teams and why it’s the foundation for everything else. Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd like to hear answered on Career Dreams? You can an audio recording of your question to be featured on an upcoming episode! Like it? Share it! If you're finding value in exploring your Career Dreams through this podcast, please share it with your...
info_outline
190: Five Dysfunctions of a Team Series Kickoff!
Career Dreams
In this new series, Michelle and Chase dive into the book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencion, a timeless leadership classic for teams and leaders still today. Each episode will unpack one of the five core dysfunctions Lencioni outlines, offering practical insights and real-world applications for building stronger, more cohesive teams. Whether you're a seasoned leader or an emerging one, follow along as Michelle and Chase bring this powerful framework to life through thoughtful discussion and actionable takeaways. Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd like to...
info_outline
189: From Onboarding To Everboarding
Career Dreams
In this episode, Michelle and Chase sit down with Amber Watts to explore a transformative approach to employee development: Everboarding. Amber shares insights from her book From Onboarding to Everboarding: Redefining Employee Development, challenging traditional views of onboarding as a one-time event and reframing it as a strategic, ongoing process that fuels long-term performance, retention, and growth. Key Takeaways: Everboarding begins after the welcome packet. It’s about building systems that evolve with your people. Onboarding is a strategy, not an event. Leaders play a...
info_outline
188: The Hills We Die On
Career Dreams
Michelle and Chase explore the phrase "the hills we die on" and how rigid beliefs can hinder empathy, trust, and influence. They discuss the importance of recognizing alternative perspectives and moving beyond the mindset that the old way is always the right way. Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd like to hear answered on Career Dreams? You can an audio recording of your question to be featured on an upcoming episode! Like it? Share it! If you're finding value in exploring your Career Dreams through this podcast, please share it with your friends, followers...
info_outline
187: Practicing Positivity
Career Dreams
In this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode of Career Dreams, Adam Bouse, Founder & Coach at Optimistic Coaching, joins Michelle and Chase to share his personal journey. It's a wonderful a conversation about what it means to practice positivity in the face of life’s hardest moments. This episode explores how life and work intersect, especially during times of grief, loss, or personal challenge. Adam offers insights into authentic optimism, not the kind that glosses over loss or grief, but the kind that embraces it with honesty and hope. In this conversation, Adam unpacks how...
info_outlineLiesel Mertes joins the podcast to explore the power of empathy, emotional intelligence, and human-centered leadership at work. With a moving personal story that fuels her passion, Liesel challenges us to rethink what it means to truly support people - especially during life's most distruptive moments. She shares practical tools like Empathy Avatars and strategies for building self-awareness, offering a clear message: human skills aren't soft - they're strategic. Whether you're just starting your career or leading a team, this conversation is a reminder that even small steps in the right direction can create meaningful change.
Website: Handle With Care
Connect with Liesel: LinkedIn
Book: There Is No Good Card for This
Friendship Cards: EM & Friends
Book: The Wisdom of Your Body
Book: The Scandal of Redemption
Got a question? Ask us!
Do you have a question you'd like to hear answered on Career Dreams? You can submit an audio recording of your question to be featured on an upcoming episode!
Like it? Share it!
If you're finding value in exploring your Career Dreams through this podcast, please share it with your friends, followers and colleagues! Also, your ratings and reviews help others find the show...so please, let us know what you think!
You can share your Career Dreams with us anytime via email: careerdreams@forumcu.com.
To learn more about making your Career Dreams come true at FORUM Credit Union, visit our website: https://www.forumcu.com/careers
Dream on!