Lead the People

Joel Zeff creates energy. His spontaneous humor and vital messages have thrilled audiences for almost 25 years. As a national workplace expert, speaker, author and humorist, Joel captivates audiences with a unique blend of hilarious improvisational comedy and essential ideas on work and life. He has shared his experience and insight on collaboration, leadership, change, communication, innovation, fun and passion at more than 2,500 events. His book, Make the Right Choice: Creating a Positive, Innovative and Productive Work Life is consistently listed as one of the top work/life balance books on Amazon. He has appeared on CNBC and featured in the Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle, The Kansas City Star, and many other media outlets.

Top 3 Takeaways

  1. Show up. Treat every leadership opportunity with the care it deserves. You never know who’s watching and what they’re taking away from your performance.
  2. Go first. Nobody will consider you an expert before you do. Give yourself the recognition you deserve after you’ve worked diligently to develop your capabilities.
  3. Share the love. Offering your appreciation doesn’t take a lot of time or a lot of money, but it can make a huge difference in the performance and welfare of those around you.

From the Source

“I have a job where I get a round of applause. I do my job. People clap. Most people don't have a job where they get a round of applause. It doesn't mean they don't deserve it. They absolutely do.”

“You have to perform, whether you're performing in front of a crowd of a thousand people and they're all energized and excited, or there's eight people and and stale coffee and the bad lighting, you have to perform, like there's a king in every audience because you never know where that next opportunity is coming from.”

“The first person that calls you an expert is you.”

“It's not the first time you're gonna jump on stage, you're just gonna be brilliant. It's gonna take hours and hours and hours, but every little step takes you to your destination.”

“I love making people laugh, and I love telling people what I think, and so I figured out a way that that was my career.”

“I don't know if I like the word burnout. I think it's just, people just don't feel fulfilled or rewarded. They're not happy, and they're not happy because they're not receiving that fuel that rewards them.”

“You shouldn't be doing it thinking, ‘What am I going to get out of it? What's in it for me?’ If you're helping people, it will come back to you, but that's not why you made that choice. You made that choice because you're passionate, you're energized, you're supportive, you're being a great leader, a great teammate.”

“We don't give enough positive support. We don't say enough. ‘We appreciate you. Thank you for taking that extra time. We know that we're really busy right now and you've gone above and beyond.’ It's a gift and it's the best gift you can give anybody, and it really takes little time. It takes no budget.”

Connect with Joel

Website: http://www.joelzeff.com

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

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thejoelzeff

What is Lead the People?

Lead The People is your guide to unlocking your true potential as an authentic leader. Hosted by Dr. Matt Poepsel—The Godfather of Talent Optimization—this podcast dives deep into the art and science of what it takes to lead at the next level. With insightful conversations and practical strategies, each episode equips executives, strategic HR pros, and aspiring leaders with the tools it takes to boost performance, inspire teams, and drive meaningful impact. Whether exploring the latest workplace trends or tackling real-world leadership challenges, Lead The People offers an enlightened approach to leadership. Embark on a rewarding journey to become the leader your people deserve—the leader you were meant to be.