During this #WorkTrends event, we will discuss the superpowers of leaders, briefly touching on the powers of: AccountabilityConvictionPersuasion, andCollaboration. We will also discuss: The ingredients of an effective leader;How superheroes can make you a better leader; andThe use of pop culture to enhance talent management initiatives.  David Kahn, Ph.D. is the author of "Cape, Spandex, Briefcase: Leadership Lessons from Superheroes.” He is an experienced researcher and practitioner in leadership and has been speaking and consulting on the principles of company culture, management, organizational behavior and business strategies for almost 20 years. David also writes for leadersayswhat.com where he makes leadership theories and research accessible by adding a twist of pop culture.

While we have been led to believe that we can separate our personal and work personas, we are only one person. We don’t need to have this separation and balancing act in our lives. For many, work has become how we define ourselves and why we need balance is because many of us no longer have a life outside of their work. We can buy into the work-life balance mythology or we can change the story and realize there is only life; no blending or integrating required. We need to become whole as people by figuring out what role work plays in our lives and our own relationship with money and power. Many people of all ages no longer want to live someone else’s stories and are picking themselves instead of waiting to be picked for a job or a promotion.   LIFEworking is an approach that meshes life and work into an integrated existence, but most importantly, it is a way of living in which the individual and not the organization defines the meaning of success. To achieve LIFEworking, we need to first understand what success really means for us, and then systematically address the fears that stand in the way of change. These fears typically relate to personal anxiety and the social consequences of choice. We will discuss these topics and more during this very introspective #WorkTrends event.

Destructive management has been percolating in organizations for some time. Its adverse affects have become commonplace and too little is being done about it. Our guest, Shawn Murphy, will discuss his debut book, The Optimistic Workplace, which defines the symptoms and many antidotes to overcome destructive management; he will also share why and how to move towards building an optimistic workplace.  Shawn Murphy is an author, keynote speaker, and the CEO/Founder of the consultancy Switch + Shift. Connect with Shawn on Twitter @TheShawnMurphy and read his weekly Inc.com column, “Positive Business.”

The TalentCulture #TChat Show is back live on Wednesday, February 3, 2016, from 1-2 pm ET (10-11 am PT). Last week we talked about how HR leaders achieve talent brand dominance, and this week we’re going to talk about how to manage through influence. Organizations are becoming more matrixed and less hierarchical every day. Command-and-control corporate structures are relics of the past.  Like most managers today, dealing with flatter organizational structures, outsourcing, and virtual teams are all quite challenging. Because of this, more and more managers need to get things done through their peers inside and outside their organizations.  However, because the world of work has gotten so complex, the very act of change has grown increasingly difficult. Today’s flatter organizations actually give employees and managers much more flexibility in deciding how work gets done, but they also require greater levels of collaboration than ever before. This means that success is often dependent on persuading other individuals and teams to support your projects, even if they’re not direct reports.  This skill is called “managing through influence” and is as critical to success in today’s world as a sterling resume or a tireless work ethic.  Join TalentCulture #TChat Show co-founders and co-hosts Meghan M. Biro and Kevin W. Grossman as they talk about how to manage through influence with this week’s guest: Jim Fields, Vice President of Customer Experience Marketing at SAP, a multinational software corporation that makes enterprise software to manage business operations and customer relations. Thank you to all the TalentCulture sponsors, partners and supporters!