Quote: “Nice is something that you do; kind is something that you are.” Shola Richards
Today we’re tackling a topic that every single speaker will eventually face, yet few ever plan for: what happens when life throws an unexpected curveball right in the middle of a packed calendar? Joining me today is the incomparable Shola Richards—a master of workplace civility, bestselling author, and a speaker who knows firsthand how to lead with transformative kindness, even through profound personal grief. In this episode, Shola and I dive deep into navigating loss while maintaining your commitments, honoring your humanity without derailing your business, and why showing up with radical kindness—especially toward yourself—is the ultimate key to resilience. Grab a notebook, because this is a conversation your heart and your business both need to hear.
Shola Richards speaks about workplace transformation, but he didn’t start out as a fighter. For years, he waited for someone else to step up when he faced bullying and workplace dysfunction. When no one came, he realized a simple truth: what you allow is what will continue. He had to become his own hero. Now a workplace kindness expert and bestselling author of three books, Shola has testified before Congress on civility and spoken to audiences at organizations across three continents, including Google, Microsoft, and St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Highlights you won’t want to miss:
- When Life Interrupts the Busy Speaker [0:00]
- Shola’s current business model. [1:00]
- Fighting through grief. [6:00]
- Grief sometimes starts before death. [12:30]
- The show must go on. [17:00]
- Prepare for the worst. [21:00]
- Kindness in an AI world. [23:00]
- Where to hang out on social media. [28:00]
- Speak your truth. [32:00]
- See you next time. [38:23]
Shola’s message isn’t about being nicer. It’s about building the strength to stand up for what’s right, even when it’s uncomfortable. Organizations worldwide turn to him when they’re ready to stop managing incivility and start eliminating it. He calls it being “Strong Enough to Be Kind”, and it’s creating workplaces people never want to leave.
If you could use some great ideas on how you can deal with any kind of loss or emotional distress and keep things moving forward, you simply can’t afford to miss this episode.
I hope you’ll listen and learn.
Links:
Shola’s website
The Kindness Extremist Podcast
Shola’s books
Shola’s previous podcasts with Jane
Jane’s podcast with Simon T. Bailey
Shola’s LinkedIn profile
Jane’s LinkedIn profile
Email Jane
Jane’s Personal Coaching options
Jane’s Business Coaching options
