Over the last year or so, Lee Cockerell’s Creating Disney Magic: Lessons in Leadership, Management, and Customer Service podcast has become a Tuesday
morning priority for me. The podcast opens
with host Jody Maberry setting up Cockerell, a former Disney executive, to
discuss business topics that come from Maberry or even the listening
audience. The topics covered are diverse
ranging from leadership to customer service to using data to time
management. In short, if there is a
topic that could be useful to a professional working adult it is likely they
will talk about it. for those of us with
a whimsical side, Cockerell discusses these items in the very serious Disney
business setting along with his
background in hotel management. Along
with these topics, Cockerell provides a very honest appraisal of his own
struggles as a leader and as a human being.
Integrity and common sense are really the words that come to
mind when I think of Lee Cockerell. And these
qualities make this show essential listening to me. I find that I not only listen on a weekly
basis but also will search the archive for specific work issues that myself and
others are facing in the workplace. And
the reason this is a must listen is due to Cockerell. His answers typically provide an outlook that
relies on common sense, being a person of integrity, and treating others
fairly. This is not cut throat business
advice, this is advice for people. He
often makes it clear that a leader has to foster development in even poorly
performing employees and that caring for people is really a core function of a
leader. The Disney background gives
Disney fans a background that helps understanding. Though honestly I have sent episodes to
plenty of non-Disney fanatics and they still found these episodes highly
useful.
Creating Disney Magic:Lessons in Leadership, Management, and Customer Service is probably one of
my top three podcasts. It is
informative, educational, honest and short.
It attracted me through the door due to my interest in Disney history
and business developments. But I stay
due to Cockerell’s reliable professional and personal development life!
