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Creating Disney Magic

Lee Cockerell, former Executive Vice President of Operations for Walt Disney World, shares his wisdom and experience from his time with Disney, Marriott, and Hilton. Lee joins show host Jody Maberry to discuss how you can apply lessons in leadership, management, and customer service to create magic in your organization.
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Creating Disney Magic
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Now displaying: October, 2024
Oct 29, 2024

"Be careful what you say and do because your words are going to do harm or they are going to do good."

NOTABLE MOMENTS

00:53 Hurricanes forced Disney to improve preparedness.

04:40 Be mindful and prepared for crises.

08:12 Childhood environments on personal development and leadership.

10:38 Repeated questioning improves behavior through reflection.

13:32 Cultural differences affect workplace behavior expectations.

17:22 I ensured visibility to maintain my reputation.

Words matter, especially when you’re leading a team. When I was in charge of Disney's operations, we faced numerous hurricanes in 2004. It wasn't just about managing logistics or coordinating safety measures. It was also about using the right words to keep everyone calm and informed. Read my blog for more on how words matter in moments like that. 

Resources

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Jody Maberry

Travel Guidance

Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

 

Oct 22, 2024

“The value of getting grouped together at an event for a couple of days is just talking about things. That is where most of the solutions come from.”

Notable Moments

00:53 Delegate responsibilities such as logistics and agenda

05:24 Masterminds should allow for collaboration since solutions can be transferable

08:06 Reminding attendees to apply lessons and value connections from events

12:24 Encourage actionable strategies to inspire self-motivation and implementation post event

13:18 Impact of family attendees and discussions across generations

When we first started the Creating Magic Mastermind events, I wasn't sure how they would turn out. There were always people asking about my years of experience from my time at Hilton, Marriott, and Disney. But bringing people together for an intensive two-day workshop was different than have conversations over a cup of coffee. Even though I was hesitant to start, I quickly learned how to help create magic through events like these. And a lot of the success comes down to how you are preparing for an event. Read more on my blog

Resources

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Jody Maberry

Travel Guidance

Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

 

Oct 15, 2024

"We don't get better when we're under stress, we get worse. We get quiet and we get isolated and nobody sees us. The success came when I changed the way I was dealing with my problems and became a more empathetic leader."

Early in my career, I was known as “the Doberman.” I managed with an iron fist and thought fear was the way to get things done. Meanwhile I was feeling isolated, stressed out, and disconnected. I was raising my voice, intimidating staff, and constantly feeling the weight of leadership alone. It was like being lost. I was being buried by insecurity. After a while I had a realization that changed the way I lead. Read about it in my blog. 

Notable Moments

04:24 Creating a positive, supportive work environment.

07:23 Stress and pressure can lead to isolation and anxiety.

10:18 Handle problems promptly to avoid overwhelming stress.

14:58 Success grows when leaders treat people well.

18:55 Seek help if the pressure of leadership leads to loneliness and isolation. 

22:01 Encourage conversation through engagement and resources

Resources

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Jody Maberry

Travel Guidance

Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

 

 

Oct 8, 2024

"Get to know them. Bring them into a room, and talk about how you like to work, and what's important to you. Create an environment where people are not afraid to see you."

NOTABLE MOMENTS

00:37 Leading a team you inherit 

04:51 Build relationships, avoid premature changes, seek gradual improvement.

07:55 Collaborate, communicate, and respect deadlines to succeed.

10:34 Business insights empower employees for a better future.

14:15 Disney prioritizes physical and mental health safety.

When I became the Executive Vice President of Operations at Walt Disney World, I took on a team that had been working together long before I arrived. It was unfamiliar territory, and I had to discover my place within an established team. Naturally, I wanted to make my mark, but I knew I had to do it thoughtfully. Read my blog to learn what I did to create magic with my team. 

Resources

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Jody Maberry

Travel Guidance

Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

 

Oct 1, 2024

“We've got to know the whole truth to solve the problem, because the parts you leave out may be the problem."

Notable Moments

00:34 Creating a culture where honesty is respected and not punished.

03:50 Truthfulness builds trust and credibility in leadership.

10:12 Build integrity early; admit mistakes to supervisors.

11:45 Always inform leaders promptly about any potential issues.

 

Telling the truth is ALWAYS worth it. When I began my journey in leadership and management, there were moments where telling the whole truth felt almost impossible. Over time I learned that every challenging conversation is a step towards stronger, more authentic relationships and a thriving professional environment. For more on why the truth matters in leadership read my blog.

Resources

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Jody Maberry

Travel Guidance

Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

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