Lessons from a Bully Boss: Leadership Behavior and the Bottom Line with Jay Guilford

Jay Guilford has a very interesting background. He once worked with a bunch of clowns — literally. A few years ago, he ran away with Cirque du Soleil where he created their corporate training program called Spark. With Spark, Jay challenged corporate leaders to collaborate, communicate, and tap into their creative potential by working with Cirque performers on Cirque du Soleil stages!   Jay considers himself a cultural refugee, having migrated from the inner city to the ivy league. After sparking (pun-intended) the creative insights of many corporate teams at Cirque, Jay ran away once again to found CoWorks Leadership Strategists, a consulting firm specializing in leadership training, team building, and talent optimization.   As a former and reformed 'bully boss,' Jay personally understands how a leader can slide down the slippery slope of workplace toxicity — which is the focus of today's episode! Jay shares how to begin addressing and remedying a toxic workplace as a leader, personal experiences and lessons learned from both sides of the coin of workplace bullying, and the importance of taking swift action when it comes to a hostile workplace environment.   Key Takeaways: [:50] Welcoming Jay Guilford to the podcast! [1:07] About Jay Guilford. [2:38] Jay shares what got him started on the path that has led him to where he is today. [4:58] How did Jay earn the title 'the Boss whisperer?' [7:57] How did Jay make the connection between a contemporary circus and corporate training events? How did he come up with the idea for Spark? [11:11] Jay defines workplace toxicity and outlines what the behaviors look like. [15:52] How to begin addressing and remedying a toxic workplace. [18:52] The importance of taking swift action when it comes to a toxic workplace. [21:54] Jay shares his experiences of being bullied in his workplace, what he learned from it, and how he addressed it head-on. [26:37] Sharing a personal experience of workplace hostility, what it taught me, and how I addressed it. [28:14] The importance of setting boundaries in the workplace (especially with those higher up in the hierarchy). [28:50] Jay shares his experience as a former (and reformed) bully boss and how he came to realize he was part of the problem. [32:22] Jay speaks to the five dimensions of leadership and shares what he believes are the most important qualities of a leader. [35:08] Jay shares some final words of wisdom for leaders in 2021. [38:02] Should you call out toxic behavior in the workplace? Jay offers some tips and advice to leaders on addressing a toxic work environment. [39:02] Giving thanks to Jay for joining the podcast!   Mentioned in this Episode: Jay Guilford Cirque du Soleil CoWorks Leadership Strategists Fifth Dimensional Leadership Ep. 23: "'The Attributes:' Leadership Lessons from Former Navy SEAL, Rich Diviney"   About Fifth Dimensional Leadership & Ginny Clarke Fifth-Dimensional Leadership is a podcast about leadership — knowing yourself, speaking your truth, inspiring love, expanding your consciousness and activating your mastery. As an executive recruiter and career expert currently leading executive recruiting at a Fortune 20 tech company, Ginny Clarke is a passionate and authentic thought leader with a unique and deliberate perspective on work and life. She synthesizes aspects of her life as an African-American single mother who has successfully navigated corporate America for over 30 years. She has inspired, uplifted, and changed the lives of thousands and is intentional about bringing conscious awareness to people of all ages and stages.   Every other week, a new edition of Fifth-Dimensional Leadership will include fascinating guests, covering a variety of topics: power, personal branding, self-awareness, networking, fear, and career management   Stay Connected! To find more episodes or learn more, visit: GinnyClarke.com Connect with her on social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Youtube