Heart to Heart | Episode 5: Dr. Gercken on how leaders stay relevant in today’s fast-changing world.

Join host Chuck Firlotte on the Heart to Heart podcast by the Welch College of Business and Technology at Sacred Heart University for a compelling conversation on leadership with Dr. George Gercken, a consultant psychologist.

In this episode of the Heart to Heart podcast series, Dr. Gercken shares his unique journey, from studying neuropsychology and surviving cancer at a young age to becoming a highly sought-after consultant. He discusses:
His Career Path: How a personal crisis led him to organizational psychology and his first job at Nordley Wilson.
The Power of Urgency: Bringing a necessary sense of urgency to corporate clients and the importance of making choices.
The ""Gray"" of Leadership: Why effective leaders must embrace the ambiguity and complexity of situations.
Coaching & Development: His process for assessing candidates, onboarding new hires, and the concept of ""realistic job preview"" (RJP).
The Definition of Intelligence: ""The ability to get off the train track when the train is coming""—seeing problems differently and taking action.
Growth and Success: The reasons for disparity in career growth, emphasizing ""internal fire,"" execution, learning, and ""pluck"" or grit.
The Manager's Role: Agreeing that many managers don't actually manage and the importance of viewing the role as a service to one's team.
AI as a Tool: Discussing the impact of AI on entry-level jobs and the need to use it as a learning tool, not ""the answer.""
Modern Leadership: The shift from ""table pounding"" to collaboration and serving people as partners, not subordinates.
The GE Story: The danger of leaders believing their own PR and losing the ability to listen and learn.
Culture & Values: His simple definition of culture (""the way we do things around here"") and the necessity of having a limited, lived set of core values (referencing the host's three values: respect, responsiveness, and responsibility).
Advice for Students: Encouraging students to develop a strong work ethic, explore opportunities, and commit to lifelong learning.
Dr. Gercken views himself as a ""professional irritant"" who pushes people to grow, believing that continuing to learn and adapting to change is the only way to stay relevant today.
SPONSORED BY: Aquarion Water Company, Bridgeport CT and Ganim Financial Management, Shelton CT

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