In this episode of the Building Thinkers podcast, Tracy is joined by Dr. Alaina Szlachta to discuss one of her 12 favorite problems, “how might we close the research-practice gap (the knowing-doing gap) across social impact sectors?"

Dr. Alaina Szlachta is a Measurement Architect who's passionate about making data literacy accessible for education professionals. In the discussion, they dive deep into the world of data-driven learning, the importance of bridging the research-practice gap, creating a learning culture, and more.

Alaina’s insights on building a strong learning culture, the power of feedback, and the importance of both quantitative and qualitative data will leave you thinking about how we can better use data across many of our domains and improve performance. They also touched on how personal problem-solving and experimentation play a critical role in developing data literacy, both at work and in everyday life.

If you're looking to elevate the way you or your organization approaches measurement and data-driven decision-making, Alaina's expertise will offer valuable guidance.

Key Takeaways:

• Data-Driven Learning: Organizations should shift away from traditional learning methods and focus on collecting data to identify specific performance gaps and challenges. This data-driven approach allows for more targeted and effective learning initiatives.

• Prioritizing Professional Development: A culture of continuous learning is essential for organizational growth. Companies should invest in opportunities and provide the necessary support to help employees develop their skills and knowledge.

• The Power of Practice: Practical experience is key to developing valuable skills. Engaging in problem-solving and experimentation allows individuals to apply their knowledge in real-world situations and foster a growth mindset.

• Data Literacy: Understanding and utilizing both quantitative and qualitative data is crucial for making informed decisions. Developing data literacy skills can empower individuals to analyze information and drive positive outcomes.

Alaina’s Recommendations:

Book Recommendations:

Measurement and Evaluation on a Shoestring, by Dr. Alaina Szlachta https://amzn.to/4ePySgT

Partner for Performance, by Ingrid Guerra-Lopez https://amzn.to/4eKB6hu

Show the Value of What You Do, by Patricia Pulliam Phillips https://amzn.to/47V1Jye

Podcast Recommendations:

2 Bobs: https://2bobs.com/

Clark Howard: https://clark.com/podcasts/

Creator Science: https://podcast.creatorscience.com/

Connect with Alaina:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drszlachta/

Website: https://dralainaszlachta.com/

Newsletter: https://dralainaszlachta.substack.com/

Episode Summary:

In this episode of the Building Thinkers podcast, Tracy and Stephanie Silver discuss one of Tracy’s 12 favorite problems, “how might we rewrite broken soundtracks?” The concept of "rewriting broken soundtracks," refers to the limiting beliefs and negative thoughts that often replay in our minds.

Stephanie’s incredible life story is one of resilience and healing in the face of deep trauma and heartache. She shares her deeply personal journey with overcoming those broken soundtracks to build a life beyond what she could have imagined.

In this conversation, Tracy and Steph discuss the power of rewriting our internal soundtracks and overcoming limiting beliefs. They explore the origins of these scripts and how they shape our lives.

Tracy and Stephanie share their personal journeys with soundtracks and how they have found freedom and joy in rewriting them. They emphasize the importance of recognizing and challenging negative thoughts, and offer guidance for those who want to start exploring and rewriting their own soundtracks.

Key Takeaways:

• Soundtracks are the limiting beliefs and negative thoughts that get stuck on replay in our mind. These internal dialogues can significantly impact our feelings and actions. Recognizing and challenging negative thoughts is the first step in rewriting broken soundtracks.
• Neuroplasticity allows us to rewire our brains and create new, positive neural pathways.
• Rewriting broken soundtracks requires self-reflection, honesty, and a willingness to challenge our own beliefs.
• Perceptions of success and failure vary among individuals. Stephanie challenges the notion that one must hit "rock bottom" to initiate change, arguing that personal definitions of bottom differ widely.
• They discuss the importance of viewing one's challenges from different perspectives to foster change. By embodying positive beliefs about oneself, individuals can shift their energy and influence how they are perceived by others.

Book Recommendations:

Anywhere, USA by Stephanie Silver https://amzn.to/4d8E6TH

Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Dr. Joe Dispenza https://amzn.to/3Xzqf3e

Existential Kink by Dr. Carolyn Elliott https://amzn.to/3Xvb37i

Radical Honesty by Brad Blanton https://amzn.to/3zqEpeO

The Universe Has Your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein https://amzn.to/4dbsHTm

Connect with Stephanie:

https://www.vine-collective.com/

Podcast: https://www.vine-collective.com/mvp-business/

In this episode of the Building Thinkers podcast, Tracy speaks with Gretchen Fox Palmer about one of her twelve favorite problems: “how might we increase flow and creativity to bring joy to work?”

Gretchen opens up about her personal path to self-awareness, including how she identified and dismantled her own hyper vigilance at work. From a self-described "toxic executive" to a champion of conscious leadership, she reveals how this process led to immediate positive changes in her team's culture, offering valuable lessons for leaders at all levels.

Now, Gretchen teaches performance-driven organizations, teams, and leaders through her EQ @ Work program, focusing on the five EQ skills that can rescue employees from burnout. Her approach to emotional regulation and resilience is what has taken her from merely surviving to truly thriving.

The conversation explores the importance of vulnerability and joy in the workplace. It emphasizes the need for vulnerability to be approached with care and used as a tool for connection.

Tracy and Gretchen discuss how increasing flow and creativity to bring joy to work requires prioritizing emotional intelligence skills, which are easy to learn and have quick transformative outcomes.

Key Takeaways:

• Emotional intelligence skills are easy to learn and have quick transformative outcomes.

• Leaders need to prioritize emotional intelligence to create emotionally healthy performance-driven cultures.

• Feedback and vulnerability are essential in creating a culture of growth and productivity.

• Joy can be structured and designed for in organizations by tying it to well-being, fostering connection, and prioritizing people's livelihoods.

• Emotional capacity plays a crucial role in individual and organizational well-being, and it can be developed through self-awareness, boundary-setting, and healthy coping mechanisms.

Gretchen’s Recommendations:

Books:

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron: https://tinyurl.com/zvrwp6jk

The Presence Process by Michael Brown: https://tinyurl.com/3ya9ke2a

Podcasts:

Satsang with Mooji: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/satsang-with-mooji/id1134425259

Connect with Gretchen:

MTO Agency: https://mtoagency.com/