"Organizations have to get to the point where everybody in the organization feels comfortable speaking up. Those people know things you don't know as the leader and as the manager."

NOTABLE MOMENTS

01:03 Open dialogue to enhance organizational culture

04:56 Get culture right to boost business success

08:55 Weekly meetings reveal issues otherwise unknown

10:55 Trust and collaboration improve organizational culture significantly

16:19 Wrong path often results from poor behavior

19:58 Simplify and ease customer experience to improve

21:49 Problems and solutions both come from people

24:19 Event details at cockerellstore.com

As nice as it would be, you can't solve big problems in 15 minutes. When I was leading operations at Disney, I learned the value of giving problems the time they deserve. When I read Peter Drucker's "The Effective Executive," it struck me how often we try to patch things up with quick meetings and band-aid solutions. Whenever we would do that we'd get the same result. Guess what it was? A year later, the same issues still linger.

So, we changed the game. Read this blog about the adjustmentswe made that made our people feel more committed and involved.

Resources

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Jody Maberry

Travel Guidance

Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

 

 

"You gain a lot more business by improving the experience, the quality of your teams, and the training."

When I was with Disney, people often assumed our competition was Universal, SeaWorld, or even destinations like Las Vegas. The reality is that our real competitors were the things within our control. Read my blog to learn about the things we prioritized instead of worrying about other organizations. 

NOTABLE MOMENTS

01:01 9th Creating Magic Mastermind

02:12 Know who your real competition is.

04:31 Focus on improving your business, experience, and quality

08:48 Excellence requires attention to detail

11:55 Navigating team, corporate, owners, and finance constraints.

13:26 Offering an exceptional experience build brand reputation and retention

16:42 Visit Cockerellstore.com for Creating Magic Mastermind details and join the waitlist

Resources

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Jody Maberry

Travel Guidance

Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

 

"Be careful what you say and do because your words are going to do harm or they are going to do good."

NOTABLE MOMENTS

00:53 Hurricanes forced Disney to improve preparedness.

04:40 Be mindful and prepared for crises.

08:12 Childhood environments on personal development and leadership.

10:38 Repeated questioning improves behavior through reflection.

13:32 Cultural differences affect workplace behavior expectations.

17:22 I ensured visibility to maintain my reputation.

Words matter, especially when you’re leading a team. When I was in charge of Disney's operations, we faced numerous hurricanes in 2004. It wasn't just about managing logistics or coordinating safety measures. It was also about using the right words to keep everyone calm and informed. Read my blog for more on how words matter in moments like that. 

Resources

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Jody Maberry

Travel Guidance

Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

 

“The value of getting grouped together at an event for a couple of days is just talking about things. That is where most of the solutions come from.”

Notable Moments

00:53 Delegate responsibilities such as logistics and agenda

05:24 Masterminds should allow for collaboration since solutions can be transferable

08:06 Reminding attendees to apply lessons and value connections from events

12:24 Encourage actionable strategies to inspire self-motivation and implementation post event

13:18 Impact of family attendees and discussions across generations

When we first started the Creating Magic Mastermind events, I wasn't sure how they would turn out. There were always people asking about my years of experience from my time at Hilton, Marriott, and Disney. But bringing people together for an intensive two-day workshop was different than have conversations over a cup of coffee. Even though I was hesitant to start, I quickly learned how to help create magic through events like these. And a lot of the success comes down to how you are preparing for an event. Read more on my blog. 

Resources

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Jody Maberry

Travel Guidance

Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

 

"We don't get better when we're under stress, we get worse. We get quiet and we get isolated and nobody sees us. The success came when I changed the way I was dealing with my problems and became a more empathetic leader."

Early in my career, I was known as “the Doberman.” I managed with an iron fist and thought fear was the way to get things done. Meanwhile I was feeling isolated, stressed out, and disconnected. I was raising my voice, intimidating staff, and constantly feeling the weight of leadership alone. It was like being lost. I was being buried by insecurity. After a while I had a realization that changed the way I lead. Read about it in my blog. 

Notable Moments

04:24 Creating a positive, supportive work environment.

07:23 Stress and pressure can lead to isolation and anxiety.

10:18 Handle problems promptly to avoid overwhelming stress.

14:58 Success grows when leaders treat people well.

18:55 Seek help if the pressure of leadership leads to loneliness and isolation. 

22:01 Encourage conversation through engagement and resources

Resources

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Jody Maberry

Travel Guidance

Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

 

 

"Get to know them. Bring them into a room, and talk about how you like to work, and what's important to you. Create an environment where people are not afraid to see you."

NOTABLE MOMENTS

00:37 Leading a team you inherit 

04:51 Build relationships, avoid premature changes, seek gradual improvement.

07:55 Collaborate, communicate, and respect deadlines to succeed.

10:34 Business insights empower employees for a better future.

14:15 Disney prioritizes physical and mental health safety.

When I became the Executive Vice President of Operations at Walt Disney World, I took on a team that had been working together long before I arrived. It was unfamiliar territory, and I had to discover my place within an established team. Naturally, I wanted to make my mark, but I knew I had to do it thoughtfully. Read my blog to learn what I did to create magic with my team. 

Resources

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Jody Maberry

Travel Guidance

Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

 

“We've got to know the whole truth to solve the problem, because the parts you leave out may be the problem." Notable Moments

00:34 Creating a culture where honesty is respected and not punished.

03:50 Truthfulness builds trust and credibility in leadership.

10:12 Build integrity early; admit mistakes to supervisors.

11:45 Always inform leaders promptly about any potential issues.

 

Telling the truth is ALWAYS worth it. When I began my journey in leadership and management, there were moments where telling the whole truth felt almost impossible. Over time I learned that every challenging conversation is a step towards stronger, more authentic relationships and a thriving professional environment. For more on why the truth matters in leadership read my blog.

Resources

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Jody Maberry

Travel Guidance

Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

“Find a mentor that will be honest with you. That's how you're going to learn the most."

Notable Moments

00:32 Expert advice differs distinctly from organic mentorship.

01:10 Choosing the right mentor

04:43 Knowing what to ask a mentor

08:30 Ways to build and utilize a mentor relationship

12:43.How to approach a potential mentor

If you're looking for a mentor or some solid advice, take the leap and ask. When I joined Marriott and later Disney, I didn't have mentors handed to me on a silver platter. I reached out, asked questions. Sought advice.

Do you know what I heard back?

Not now. Too busy. Maybe later. Not interested. Work harder. 

It feels frustrating getting halfhearted or no responses. It didn't stop me though. You can read my blog for more about what I did next.

Resources

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Travel Guidance

Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

 

 

 

"Create trust in the organization. Let people know that you don't know everything, you don't plan to know everything, and you're there to help them get what they need from the organization when they need it."

Notable Moments

00:57 A leader's role is to support, understand, and guide 

03:56 Create a culture of trust for open communication and support

09:34 Avoid anxiety by trusting the competent people you hire

11:41 Understand your business by istening to employees and customers

Should a Leader Know Everything Their Team Does

As a leader, it’s okay not to know everything your team does. When I was promoted to oversee operations at Walt Disney World, I didn't fully understand the intricate details of every department. Imagine being responsible for managing a place as large as a city with over 50,000 cast members. There were times I felt totally out of control. But you know what I learned?

You don’t have to know everything.

Read more about this episode here in my blog.

Resources

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Travel Guidance

Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

 

 "Magic's when you do such a good job, nobody can figure out how you do it."

Notable Moments

01:27 Experience and education provide solutions to problems.

05:46 Becoming the Go-To Expert in Your Field

07:04 The Importance of Keeping Up With Advancements

12:03 Consistent Quality and Communication

13:41 The Power of Excellence

15:12 Importance of Industry Expertise

If you’re aiming to be an expert in your field, keep feeding your brain and stay persistent. 25 years ago, I was terrified to speak even if it were for just 2 minutes. Fast forward, and I’ve given presentations ranging from 90 minutes to 4 hours without any notes. How did I get there? By focusing on things I’m passionate about and continually learning. 

Read more in the blog found here. 

Resources

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Travel Guidance

Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

 

"Don't depend on your company to prepare you for the future. Invest in yourself; read, learn, and grow daily. Your future self will thank you."

Notable Moments

01:56 Identifying Future Leaders in Organizations

03:14 The Value of Developing Employees

07:21 Taking Ownership of Your Time and Learning 

09:44 Improving Employee Commitment Through Development

Resources

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Magical Vacation Planners  407-442-2694

 

Spreading leadership training across all levels can be beneficial for organizations. Long-time listener, Eric, recently asked if leadership training should be exclusive to those already in leadership positions. This is always an interesting question because my experience has show that it's essential for everyone to grow and excel, both personally and professionally.

Notable takeaways

• Leadership Training Enhances Commitment: Training employees, even those not in designated leadership roles, fosters a sense of appreciation and commitment. When workers feel invested in, they're more likely to exhibit improved productivity and loyalty.

• Self-Learning is Crucial: Don't rely solely on your company for personal development. Take ownership of your growth by seeking knowledge through books, podcasts, courses, and seminars. Proactively engaging in self-learning prepares you better for future opportunities and challenges.

• Small Steps Lead to Big Gains: Integrate learning into your daily routine. Whether it's reading a book during breaks, listening to a podcast episode, or engaging in online courses, these small, consistent efforts accumulate over time, significantly boosting your knowledge and skills.

Don’t wait for your company to invest in you—take charge of your own development. Dive into books, online courses, and podcasts like ours. Remember, self-improvement is your responsibility, and your future is in your hands.

Take a listen to episode 517, Should Everyone Be Trained as a Leader. Whether you're a seasoned leader, an aspiring one, or somewhere in between, this episode promises to offer great insights.

Learn More by Reading "Creating Magic"

"Creating Magic" continues to be a vital resource for aspiring leaders and managers. It's even used as a textbook in colleges across the country! If you haven't yet, grab your copy at CockerellStore.com and start your journey to creating your own magic.

Featured Course: The Frontline Rules

"The Frontline Rules," is a course in the Cockerell Academy designed to elevate frontline staff performance. If you're looking for something else, there are many courses designed for anyone looking to enhance their leadership skills.

Upcoming Articles in The Main Street Leader

Keep an eye out for the upcoming volume of The Main Street Leader, where I share more about lessons from throughout my career journey. The newsletter offers tips on how to train for the leadership role you are in or the want.

Vacation Planning

Ready to take a trip? Make sure you reach out to Magical Vacation Planners. They are always training their team so they are ready to lead you through the ins and outs of your vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.