• How to reframe "soft skills" as "power skills" that directly drive profitability, people retention, and productivity metrics.
• The 90-second rule for accelerated decision-making: Give employees 90 seconds of undivided attention without distractions.
• Why ego and internal narrative are the biggest barriers to effective listening.
• How to shift from directive to curiosity-based questions that unlock insight instead of compliance.
• The three-part framework for successful AI transformation: Technology alone fails; you need technical implementation, process redesign, AND people/change management.
• How AI is fundamentally reinventing the HR function, from one-time annual surveys to real-time engagement tracking embedded in actual work.
• The counterintuitive truth about speed in high-growth environments: Slowing down to listen now prevents costly rework later
• How to adopt mass personalization in learning and development, using AI to customize training examples to individual interests.
• The one habit that transforms leadership during change:
  

Highlights and YouTube Chapters:

• [00:00] Intro
• [00:33] Welcome to Voice Activated
• [00:03:14] Reframe "Soft Skills" as "Power Skills" to Drive Business Metrics
• [00:06:18] Bridge Strategy and Frontline Insight Through Leader Coaches
• [00:09:39] Build Trust Through Consistent Human Action and Coaching Culture
• [00:13:26] Replace Directive Questions with Curiosity-Based Questions
• [00:16:51] Overcome Ego and Internal Narrative to Listen With Intent
• [00:21:20] AI Implementation Requires Technology, Process, and People Alignment
• [00:27:57] HR's Opportunity to Reinvent Work Through AI Transformation
• [00:35:30] Real-Time Engagement Intelligence and Mass Personalization Examples
• [00:39:50] Prioritize Listening Over Speed to Accelerate Performance
• [00:43:33] The 90-Second Rule: Undivided Attention Accelerates Decisions
• [00:46:52] Shift From Answer Mode to Curiosity and Inquiry Mode
• [00:47:30] Key Takeaways: Listen, Lead, and Transform
  

Quotes:

1. "The real power in leadership isn't around knowing the answers. It's really around learning how to ask better questions and really listen with intent and purpose to the people you're asking those questions of."
2. "The best way that I know of how to bridge the gap between strategy and frontline insights is by training, teaching, and encouraging leaders within the organization to become leader coaches."
3. "Trust is built over time through repeated observance of human actions. So leaders just need to remember to be human first."
4. "Slowing down to listen now prevents you from slowing down later to fix and rework what you missed earlier."

Episode Resources:

• Ken Finneran on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-finneran/
• Brightstar.ai on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brightstarai/
• Sean Fitzpatrick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-j-fitzpatrick/?originalSubdomain=ca
• TalentMap Website: https://talentmap.com/