Speaker 1: 0:30

My full name is William Thomas Chaney Jr and the name of our company is the Chaney Coaching Group. Me and my wife, michelle run it together. What we offer our clients is opportunity to boost your team. We work with leaders and so they become more effective as team leaders. Some consultants come in and say, hey, if you just let me do training, your team's going to be better. Consultants come in and say, hey, if you just let me do training, your team's going to be better. We look at staying with you for three to six months Twelve would be optimal in order so that there is measurable change and a direct return on investment for the training opportunity as well as the coaching that goes along with it, and coaching is our primary perspective of how we work. We don't have to tell you what is best, but we can't help you discover what you already do well.

Speaker 2: 1:20

Okay, and then can you tell me what the number one issue that you are seeing right now with leaders and businesses and how you're helping them?

Speaker 1: 1:28

So there are two. One is hybrid versus remote, versus in-person offices. Managers have to change their perspective and their way of doing work, so that's been huge. And number two, gen Z, is a huge, unbelievable influence on the workforce. I think it's a positive influence, but it shifts from the baby boomers who look look, we're going to work, we're going to be workaholics and we're going to love being workaholics versus Gen Z. What's the mission of your company? Will it make a difference in people's lives? If not, I'll do my job, but I may not be here past five o'clock. That's a whole different perspective. So managers who have been trained in how to work with other baby boomers and maybe even Gen Xers, are now seeing a whole new way of how to engage the workforce, and I think it's exciting, although for some managers it is frustrating.

Speaker 2: 2:24

I'm sure it is, but no, you're right. There is a total shift in the perspective of how Gen Z is looking at the workforce versus how previous generations have looked at it, and I think that's very wise of you to obviously be looking into that and seeing those different changes in order to help you also help the companies figure out what's best going to work for them. Can you tell me a little bit about how you got started in this career, in this industry?

Speaker 1: 2:53

Really strange career path. So I started off in sales, doing sales for a company where we used to say if you buy this XT computer with a 64-meg hard drive, you'll never need another hard drive in your life.

Speaker 1: 3:08

That was a long time ago, yes, and as a result, I enjoyed that portion, and part of that was experiencing how do we get people to use these computers that are now on their desk? So I enjoyed organizational development. Then I went ahead and got my degree at Georgia State, and that's when I realized I can marry these two together my love of sales as well as the engagement around helping organizations function better. I started my own company. We did that for a little while, and then I went into another career. I was a pastor for 25 years.

Speaker 2: 3:42

Wow.

Speaker 1: 3:43

And then in 2008, I started coaching within the congregational and church leadership realm, and then in 2012, I was introduced to CliftonStrengths. And then, in 2012, I was introduced to Clifton Strengths and by 2013, I was certified as a coach, experienced this new relationship and just started growing from there and realized that, no matter where the team is, whether they were nonprofits, whether they were congregations or in business, having a team aligned with their gifts is so much different than trying to fix what's wrong with them. And so that's how I came to where I am today.

Speaker 1: 4:24

I believe truly that everybody's creative, resourceful and whole, and the key is not to focus on what are your weaknesses, but focus on what you do well. You're creative, with natural gifts and abilities. Let's highlight those, let's engage those and let's use those in how you execute your job, engage with your friends, live your life with your spouse. Even so, all of that is a part of understanding. We all have gifts, but which are the gifts that you're going to use in order for every relationship that you engage to be at its best?

Speaker 2: 4:57

absolutely. And then, um, when you first got started into this business, did you plan on having, like, a location, or do you more go to them, like, do you have a building where you're working at with employees?

Speaker 1: 5:10

I have four or five uh people on my team. There are other coaches, I have a couple of administrative people, but the answer is I go to them. We do our best when we are able to see the interactions and dynamics of the team working together, because there are some things people don't like to talk about. Who talks about what I don't do? Well, look at Instagram. How many people put up the worst days of their life?

Speaker 2: 5:39

Not very many.

Speaker 1: 5:39

Or the conflicts in their life. But people love to put up what they're already excited about and doing. And what we've noticed and what we've learned over the years is that as long as you allow them to come outside of their comfort zone, the natural behaviors change, because everybody didn't adjust to make sure it looks good for the company. I like going to the company, sometimes unannounced, just watching, walking around, not even introducing myself at first, to see these natural interactions and then be able to talk to whoever the team leader is. And hey, here's what we can do and how we can make it happen.

Speaker 1: 6:14

Wow, you're like a little secret agent like in there oh, secret agents, way over my pay grade, secret shopper maybe, okay, okay, you're just like, okay, I'm seeing this interaction here.

Speaker 2: 6:25

Hmm, red flag, I'm just kidding, but yeah, no, that's great. I feel like if our boss ever got that, I feel like I'm nervous like do people ever get nervous when they see they're like wait, like wait. Who is this person? Or do you come unannounced sometimes?

Speaker 1: 6:39

Well, the leader will know who I am. The manager, yes, I never go into any organization without somebody knowing who I am.

Speaker 2: 6:46

Okay.

Speaker 1: 6:46

Showing up as an African-American in some strange company could be anxiety-producing for some, and we've had that conversation and so we've learned. At least one person needs to know you're coming and say, hey, somebody's going to be watching Calms everything down.

Speaker 2: 7:01

You're like am I in trouble? Am I supposed to?

Speaker 1: 7:04

get arrested, right right, all those things. So it's been a good ride. Like I said, since 2008, when I actually started coaching, I actually learned this whole organizational development world new from the time when I started and way too long ago.

Speaker 2: 7:24

Okay, now for marketing. How are you getting the word out about your services, about yourself, about the work that you do?

Speaker 1: 7:39

Are you big on?

Speaker 2: 7:40

social media.

Speaker 1: 7:40

Instagram, YouTube, any of those.

Speaker 2: 7:43

LinkedIn Okay, and word of mouth hey it's different for everybody.

Speaker 1: 7:45

I will go to a Chamber of Commerce meeting and I'll be three or four people out of that. One person wants to sit down and talk. I'm good. I usually get two or three calls a month from people who I've done work with over the past years. They used to be on the team, now they're the team leader and they need to be refreshed, so that's been positive. I get a lot of business from. I used to be a Rotarian. What's that Part of the Rotary Club.

Speaker 2: 8:13

Ah, okay.

Speaker 1: 8:14

And so I'll visit clubs from time to time to talk and people are like, oh, that's what we need and so that's been awesome. So a huge marketing presence I wouldn't say huge, I'd say really moderate at best, but the years of engaging continuously had really worked well for me.

Speaker 2: 8:36

That's awesome. And now tell me a little bit about yourself. When you're not helping other businesses and leaders get it together, what are you doing? What do you like to do? How do you like to turn off everything and relax?

Speaker 1: 8:51

The exact opposite of what you're saying.

Speaker 2: 8:53

Okay.

Speaker 1: 8:54

I turn on my keyboards and it gets loud. I love to jam with other folks as well as myself, but it's about the music just being able to take time and create and engage. I like theater, I like going and watching musicals. My daughter and I have two things. That's our thing. Daughter and I have two things that that's our thing. Daddy, daughter time. Either we're in at a musical somewhere or we're at a Marvel movie, and so those are the two things. Somewhere around the creative world, I'm doing something to disengage.

Speaker 2: 9:29

Perfect. And now you said jam out. Do you play any instruments? Keyboard Okay, that's pretty cool. Have you ever written your own music or anything?

Speaker 1: 9:37

I have a few pieces I've written. Okay, mostly in the gospel realm.

Speaker 2: 9:41

Sweet, that's still cool, you know. You should put that on YouTube no-transcript.

Speaker 1: 9:46

It probably never hurts, but I like teaching a choir.

Speaker 2: 9:50

Ah, okay.

Speaker 1: 9:50

I like teaching a choir and seeing the product thereof, and it's not for other people to like or dislike, it's like the joy of seeing other people engage in my creative process. So that's really where I get my joy.

Speaker 2: 10:05

That's wonderful. I'm glad you have that avenue where you can escape and have some me time. And now, where do you see yourself in the next five years as a person and with your business?

Speaker 1: 10:15

I'm actually going to be accelerating my business, probably within the next five years because, as a pastor, I'll be hopefully retiring soon. So once that happens, I look at being able to do this that I love, you know 24-7. Able to do this that I love, you know 24-7. And the goal is to actually continue in the same realm, because that's where I'm really at my best, but also start and begin to train others, like the four coaches who are with me now. They do excellent work, but they all have their areas of expertise.

Speaker 1: 10:47

I have a career coach who she is just amazing at helping people figure out their career. We have a transitions coach. She really does well with women who are going through some type of life transition. So they all have their areas of expertise. I would love to be able to train and to engage others who want to understand organizational development, leadership development and working at building teams. So if I'm able to engage 20 to 25 people who want to do that, they do it on their own. Coming out of this experience that I've had, that would probably be my greatest joy.

Speaker 2: 11:23

Oh, wow. Well, I wish you the best of luck with that. I'm sure you won't have any trouble finding more people that align with your ideas and values, so that's awesome. And now, as far as being a coach, have you ever encountered any difficulty with some leaders and their staff maybe even when you were there, and they're still not able to maybe see eye to eye? What was the resolution with that?

Speaker 1: 11:48

if you have had any, so with conflict resolution, I'd like to do several things, but one of the strategies let's get totally transparent. And what is it that, when you're at your very best, you're doing? So we put it up there. What is happening when you're at your very worst? What's now happening with the two of you all, very worst, what's now happening with the two of you all? Usually, what you'll find is that there will be somewhere when they're not at their best is that where they're conflicting and we begin to readjust. But if this person has changed this perspective, and this person changes his or her perspective, then we can make things really work and changing perspective really works.

Speaker 1: 12:32

So one thing I do is I lay out a lunch bag and I say this is at your very worst. Tell me, what's in this lunch bag. This is when you're at your very best. What's in this lunch bag? Now, this lunch bag? Tell me, where is it that you're having conflict? But in this lunch bag, what's happening? When you all are functioning well together and there will be times when one or the other says I cannot let go of that.

Speaker 1: 13:05

Then you're not really looking to have a solution. Let's be honest, that jars people. It's like, well, he's supposed to change or no. If we're coming to the table to come up with a solution for us as a team, there's one bag that says here are the possibilities. You just told me what is reality? What is reality, why your two realities conflict, but for there to be a new reality.

Speaker 1: 13:29

What is reality, why your two realities conflict, but for there to be a new reality, your new perspective. That's a perspective where you have to use imagination, and if you're not willing to do that, then that means you really don't want the relationship to work. So, inevitably, who wins? It's always the team leader, the boss. Yes, that's difficult for some people to hear, because I'm right, but he or she is the boss. Yes, and so, man, I love that time when we do have conflict, but it's not on me to resolve it. The challenge is on the two individuals, and I love bringing them together. But I never say that you're supposed to do this, because if you can't see where you can make a difference, maybe that's not the right relationship for you.

Speaker 2: 14:18

Yeah, I know, man, that's a lot of thinking you got to do and, like you got to also be maybe self-aware and be like, okay, maybe I did overstep, you know, just having a conversation with somebody and getting it out on the table instead of holding everything in and letting it build and build and build. I mean, that's what you're here for.

Speaker 1: 14:36

Think about that, though. How many people are truly self-aware when you're in the middle of conflict?

Speaker 2: 14:41

Not a lot of people, because our emotions take place.

Speaker 1: 14:43

Yes, and so what emotional intelligence tells us is that two-thirds of our decisions are all made from our emotions. The part that's about logic, about thinking through critical thinking, is only one-third and we have to intentionally engage. Are we willing to actually say let's think through this without my emotions? But many of us we want to hold on to our emotion. It's not bad when it's things that don't matter. But if this relationship is important and most people say their work relationship is important, yes, Are you willing to give it up to look at something?

Speaker 2: 15:19

different Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. Well, hopefully some people maybe. I know this might sound bad, but sometimes maybe they'll realize, maybe they're the problem. Even if they walk, walk away, that could happen again to another when they go into another job and it's just gonna like never stop.

Speaker 1: 15:36

Remember we never, at least because we're coming from a positive perspective yeah you're not the problem.

Speaker 1: 15:41

You are who you are, uniquely created, and our mix may not work. You know, long before I met my wife, uh, there were a couple people I dated, great people. It wasn't for me, that didn't mean they were bad people. That means that our personality mix and where we're going in life was not in the same direction, and so that's the same thing. When you're in a job, there are some times when it's not going to work. That doesn't mean this person's good or bad. It doesn't work for this situation. Every workplace has an environment, a culture, and if that culture is already set and you walk into it and you're not able to fit, that doesn't mean you're good or bad. That means the culture is one that you cannot function in.

Speaker 2: 16:29

Okay, yeah, no, I see what you're saying. With that I have it. Probably another different approach that I was thinking, not so positive, but no, you're absolutely right about that. Yeah, no, I just amazed that you can go into this room and have these conversations with all types of people and what you do is like very important, very, very important for businesses, because that's the key to making a business grow is that you get along with your employees and your leaders and you guys work together as a team to get to one goal that you all share together.

Speaker 1: 16:59

So what's the ultimate goal when we plant a flower seed?

Speaker 2: 17:03

For it to grow and be beautiful and smell good.

Speaker 1: 17:06

All of those things. Every work environment is fertile ground for the right seed, and I don't believe every seed is right for every.

Speaker 1: 17:18

fertile ground for every place that's planted Pot, yeah, and so that's where the conversation becomes and that's a different way of looking at things, because I really believe wherever you are, if you're planted in the right place, you're going to thrive, you're going to grow. I don't have to just get along. I've been in a job before where I just had to survive with people I barely liked, didn't have a best friend at work, didn't have engagement beyond. Are you alive today to help me get where I need to go? But it's changed so that the people I walking through the room and we all know that we want the best for each other and we're looking at how our gifts, our strengths, can engage and make that person better as well as help us thrive in that particular group.

Speaker 2: 18:06

Absolutely.

Speaker 1: 18:07

That changes. What if you came in every day? You're so awesome that you're going to do so great today that, if you even look like you're going to fail, I'm going to support you. That's what you heard from everybody Versus. Hey, we got to get this done today. Make sure you don't miss this, this and this.

Speaker 2: 18:24

It makes you feel scared and pressured and I'm just like, oh my God, am I going to flop today? I don't know.

Speaker 1: 18:30

But, once again, when the office or work environment changes to be cultivating of all, it changes the opportunity for each person to thrive.

Speaker 2: 18:41

Yes, yes.

Speaker 1: 18:43

I didn't say it was easy, so let me also take a step back.

Speaker 2: 18:46

Let me clarify for this girl over here.

Speaker 1: 18:48

I've been doing this since 2012.

Speaker 2: 18:50

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 18:51

And so there have been challenges, there have been some organizations that couldn't change. But the reality is, if you're willing as a team, as a leader, to cultivate and change, you can get to a place where your team is thriving way better than you ever could. And for me, it's about business results. Is there a return on investment, either in productivity and in your finances and the relationships, the quality of relationships you know? There used to be a time the quality of your work relationships was not a quality to be talked about. With mental health on the rise, covid now over with and people dealing with still the after effects of that, all of a sudden I want my coworkers to thrive as mentally healthy and well as well as in their other areas, because if they're thriving there, they're going to definitely thrive at work.

Speaker 2: 19:43

Absolutely no, you're right about that. But most times.

Speaker 1: 19:46

As long as you give me what you do and you find your job description, you fulfill your job description, you're going to be just fine. That's the mentality we're changing.

Speaker 2: 19:57

Okay. Do you have any books or resources that you would recommend, maybe for somebody like me?

Speaker 1: 20:03

Fill your Bucket. I'm trying to remember who the author was. I'm sure if I look it up. Okay, Fill your Bucket. I'm trying to remember who the author was.

Speaker 2: 20:08

I'm sure if I look it up. Okay, fill your Bucket, I'll find out.

Speaker 1: 20:11

And then Strengths 2.0. Absolutely, the Leadership Triangle by Kevin Ford and Ken Tucker. Wow, I know the good Stephen Covey. I really believe in his original principles. Simon Sinek, great author. I love a lot of the work that he does. Yeah, personally with books, that's one of my goals Writing a book. Yes, we talked about it this morning. The talk about the conversation with my team was look, every day you're going out, you're spouting all this information, you've read these books, you've synthesized this and you're quoting everybody else, but nobody can quote you I was like I'm okay with that.

Speaker 1: 21:06

They said we're not.

Speaker 2: 21:07

We're not. You're writing a book, and so that's where we are now.

Speaker 1: 21:12

We've come to the conclusion, and so I hired a writing coach, and you know I am great being able to talk about everything that is going on. Yeah, sitting down and writing for long periods of time, I've been known to take a nap, and so we've come up with a strategy the same questions and prompts that she would ask on paper. She's now asking me in person. We're recording Perfect, and so we're going to get there, just to do a different, Because when we look at my top five strengths, communication is number one. And she was like oh, I got you, I know what to do, and so we're this has been what?

Speaker 1: 21:55

two weeks now in the works. And this morning was the. Okay, you don't have a say in this anymore. This is what you're doing.

Speaker 2: 22:04

I love that.

Speaker 1: 22:05

But that's part of the team. Our team is how do we help each other be at their best, not just for the jobs we're doing, but for everything that has to get done.

Speaker 2: 22:15

Yeah, have you come up with a title yet, or is it too soon to say?

Speaker 1: 22:18

It's too soon yet, okay, cool, but it's going to be around. How do you lead teams effectively?

Speaker 2: 22:23

Okay, and any particular idea of when maybe this book would be out? Maybe next year? We're going to submit it to several publishers and they say it's usually 18 months after the acceptance, so we'll see how that works. That is awesome, though, like that's something exciting to look forward to. You've never written a book before, so you can mark that off, I'm assuming.

Speaker 1: 22:45

I've written a dissertation.

Speaker 2: 22:47

Okay, that's close to a book, I guess. Okay, wow, no, that's great, like maybe you can sign some copies for your family and be like I made it y'all Read my book, oh, wow.

Speaker 1: 22:59

So in my family I'd be the last one to have written a book.

Speaker 2: 23:02

What.

Speaker 1: 23:03

Yes.

Speaker 2: 23:04

Okay, wow. So it's in your blood, like writing the books. No, dictating the book is my okay, dictating okay, not actually ready. Okay, you can still tell siri like hey, siri, I want to write a book. Repeat after me. So, dear diary today you know whatever, something like that.

Speaker 1: 23:20

It's gonna work so I'm I'm excited. I got some awesome brothers and sisters and cousins and they've done amazing things. I don't necessarily. I've never had that perspective. I need other people to validate where I'm going.

Speaker 2: 23:33

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 23:34

And they're saying, yes, you do. And so I've come to the conclusion okay, I'll do this. Yeah, but I'm excited about it, but it is for me a step in a different direction.

Speaker 2: 23:46

I'm excited for you and I'm glad that you have decided to go through with this, because I know everybody's like. We need to quote you, man, Write that book. So I'm glad you have cheerleaders in your life that are telling you to get it done. And now for my final question. If you could leave our listeners with a message, it could be anything that's in your heart in regards to anything.

Speaker 1: 24:12

It doesn't have to just be in your industry. What would that message be? You are naturally creative, resourceful and whole and that, when you actually embrace that and walk into every situation with confidence that the gifts that you have can help you to thrive, it'll change your perspective of where you work, how you work and those who you work with.

Speaker 2: 24:34

Well said, thank you so much for being on the podcast and thank you for sharing your advice and stories with us. We really appreciate it.

Speaker 1: 24:42

Thank you so much for inviting me.

Speaker 2: 24:44

Absolutely.