Joe Van Haecke runs InspireMeMrV.com, a success-coaching and applied-improvisation service. He points to Chapter 5 of his work as essential for companies maintaining momentum after building a foundation, and emphasizes listening as the core leadership skill that builds trust. He started at Target and learned how self-presentation shapes workplace relationships.
Chapters
This is Professor Pete Alexander with the Winning at Business and Life podcast, where business leaders share their insights. It is 6 questions in 7 minutes because successful business leaders are busy and rarely have more time to spare. So let's get to it. Question number 1: In a few sentences, please tell me who you are and what you do.
I'm Joe VanHacke, and I, uh, and building my own business called Inspire Me, Mr. V. I provide success coaching for people that are chasing a big dream and just need some help. I also provide applied improvisation workshops to build better people, better leaders, and better businesses all around.
Well, Joe, it's a pleasure to have you on the show. Question number 2: What is something that makes you smile and/or laugh about working in your industry?
When I'm providing workshops and I see people stepping out of their comfort zone and being successful at it and enjoying doing something that they didn't think they could do 5 minutes ago, that gives me joy and brings up a smile to my face.
I love it. I can just see, and it's, it's so fun what you do. So I can imagine that's really, really rewarding. Question number 3: I have a fictitious book with all the answers for business. What chapter would you think most companies should read?
They should read chapter 5. We've got the business going, we've built a good foundation, we've got employees, we've got clients coming in. How do we keep on that momentum? How do we keep it going? How do How do we build on that momentum to take the next step? Chapter 5. That's your answer.
I love it. Very succinct. I appreciate that. Question number 4. Other than the generic work harder, have a great attitude, and care for customers, what advice or insight would you give to other business leaders?
Business leaders need to listen, and I mean actually listen and provide an open space where their people and their teams feel safe so they can express what's going on, whether it's personal or business related, so they can help build those and deepen those relationships that help make the business successful. Listening is such an elemental skill that we take for granted, but we need to practice good listening every day. Mm-hmm.
And you know, it's in my experience, when good listening is in the organization, there's a much greater sense of trust within the organization. Is that your experience as well?
Yes, for sure. Trust comes from those relationships, and those relationships are built on listening. It all kind of works full circle. So the better we can listen, the stronger our relationships and the stronger trust we can build. Mm-hmm.
Love it. Love it. Question number 5: What other business leader like yourself would you like to acknowledge and invite to be on my podcast?
I would like to acknowledge a good friend of mine by the name of Sarah Noel Wilson. She provides coaching, leadership development, environmental and cultural change, and her Her big focus is mental health and mental wellbeing in the workplace.
She sounds like a great candidate. Thank you for that referral.
You're welcome. She'll be fantastic.
Okay. And our final question, question number 6, please tell me about your first job.
My first job started in high school, working part-time at a retail store by the name of Target. And I worked all there through all the way through high school and college and after college for a while. One of the great things I learned about it is how you present yourself also affects how people want to work with you. I didn't realize that some of my jokes came off as abrasive, and I had to really do some reflection and change myself and my approach to humor with other people. So I became much more enjoyable to work with.
I like that too. And it's interesting, I experienced that too early in my career too. You just, you know, the jokes, you know, I have a ton of them myself. And, you know, only with experience do you realize when it's appropriate to have a particular joke or not. Was that your experience as well?
Exactly. And I didn't realize how what I thought was coming off as funny actually was coming off as abrasive and maybe insulting. It's been 30-some-odd years, so I really don't remember, but I do remember that conversation and being taken aback by it and having to do some reflection. And that was one of the first times I had to reflect in my life.
Good learning from that. It's something that we can all appreciate, I tell you. So, thank you for that. And Joe, thank you so much for being on the show. How can people find you?
Pete, thank you for having me. They can fire me.
They can fire you?
They can fire me. And when they're done with that, they can find me at InspireMeMrV.com. Once again, InspireMeMrV.com.
Perfect. This is Professor Pete Alexander with the Winning at Business and Life podcast. Find hundreds of previous episodes on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for listening.
