EP 20: Stories from the Field: Thrive at Work- The Power of Mental Health and Personal Growth 

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What could happen if we take our workforce to new heights? Workforce on the Mic, presented by NAWDP, brings you inspirational stories, innovative solutions, and expert insights that are shaping the future of the workforce. 

Tune in for dynamic conversations that motivate and transform the workforce development community. And now, on to the episode. 

00:00:28 Alexis Franks 

Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening, all you workforce warriors across the country. My name is Alexis Franks, and I am your Director of Membership with the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals. 

This month actually begins our series called Stories from the Field. And for the next few months, we will bring you insights that bridge high-level strategy to ground-level execution. And in today’s episode, we’ll be discussing mental health and personal development in the workforce system.  

Workforce professionals across the country are working with individuals who are navigating so much more than just job searches. Participants are balancing stress, life transitions, and personal barriers that really impact their ability to succeed in training and employment and long-term career growth. 

So that’s why conversations around mental wellness and personal development are becoming essential components of effective workforce programs. 

In today’s episode, we’re joined by two leaders that are helping to address this through innovative approaches for personal well-being. 

We have with us Shannon Johnson and Zeus Kimbrough with Headspace Culture, an organization that focuses on empowering men through fellowship, personal growth, and genuine community all while implementing culturally relevant strategies that help people thrive personally and professionally. So welcome to you both. 

00:02:14 Jesus’ “Zeus” Kimbrow 

Thank you. Thank you, Alexis. Thank you for having us. 

00:02:16 Alexis Franks 

Absolutely. And Shannon is actually serving as our region 5 representative on our NAWDP board of directors. So Shannon, definitely glad to have you engaged with us today. 

00:02:27 Shannon Johnson 

Definitely glad to be here and definitely glad to represent Region 5. 

00:02:31 Alexis Franks 

Yes, we call it Live Region 5. So you are going to bring some life into our episode today. And usually what we do is just start by doing what we call passing the mic. So Zeus, I’m going to pass the mic to you. And let me just ask you, how did you find your journey in workforce development? Can you tell us a little bit about where you are in the country, just to give us some context too. 

00:02:56 Jesus’ “Zeus” Kimbrow 

The pressure. No, it’s, well, apparently I’m in St. Louis, working out in the Midwest region with the, you know, advocacy for mental health with men that Shannon and our partner, James Sutton, have been working on for the past four years. 

Me personally, I have a colorful background, right? I spent over a decade in marketing and promoting in the music industry. Professionally, not locally, no knocks. But I did that. 

I also worked for a law firm. I’ve also worked for the local circuit clerk office as well. So throughout all of that, what I have learned is that I do better remotely. 

There was a lot of lessons learned, but throughout that process, it was, again, not only looking at the experience that I was able to encounter, but also look at what my realistic personal strengths and weaknesses were. 

00:03:54 Alexis Franks 

Great, that’s awesome. And Shannon, you want to jump right in? Let us know a little bit about your background as well. 

00:03:59 Shannon Johnson 

All right, good deal. So good morning, good afternoon, and good evening, everybody that’s listening. Live Region 5 is being accounted for and present. 

So as far as it goes, I have well over 20 years in the workforce development sector. I’ve started as a serial entrepreneur right after I graduated from high school, but in the midst of that, I made sure that I still stayed in the workforce, you know, just building on the front line and just learning operations from the ground level and working my way up through leadership, but being able to have those true conversations with individuals as to what does it look like to grow organizations, but looking at it from the people standpoint. 

Because again, without your people, without building your people on a professional level, there’s no growth. 

And at that point, if you have no growth within your people, you honestly won’t have any growth within the organization as a whole. There will be no true success. 

You’ll be just kind of rolling stagnant. And so that was something that I got an opportunity to learn. That’s something I stand by. 

And that is something that we as a group have learned to implement in headspace cultures. We consistently talk about how do we build an infrastructure for men or just individuals in the workforce in general to be able to learn when to step back, learn what’s best for them, and then also learn how to grow themselves as well as the organization as a conglomerate. 

Because again, a lot of times we don’t understand the barriers and the basics of saying, I need a moment and let me refresh myself. So as I state all of that, 20 years of workforce, you learn a lot of things if you’re really paying attention. 

00:05:46 Alexis Franks 

All right, so we definitely have a lot of experience in the room right now. So we definitely appreciate all of what led you to really focus on mental health and personal development really in this space. 

But for you both, from your experience and the things that you’ve seen locally, regionally, even nationally, what has really been the connection between personal development and long-term career success? 

And Shannon, you can get us started. 

00:06:17 Shannon Johnson 

Okay, we can get. So I would honestly say something that I have seen is individuals want to grow, they don’t necessarily know where to start. 

And so that is the importance of leaders being able to reach out and have that one-on-one time to ask the true question of their staff. 

What is it that you want? What does it look like for growth for you? What does success look like for you? 

Because a lot of times most people won’t take the moment to actually ask that question and to truly sort that out. 

And so as a leader, I feel like it’s an obligation to grow those individuals, to prepare them for what’s next for them. 

If it’s, you’d hope that it is inside of the organization and potentially one day maybe taking your seat, but continue to grow them, even if it means that they grow and they step outside of the organization, you want them to thrive. 

So for me, that is something that I have looked forward to growing, you know, growing your staff, asking the true question of what does success look for them? Because you have to feed your staff. You have to give them purpose and value while they’re still with you. 

00:07:32 Alexis Franks 

That’s a really big concept, definitely, for making sure that individuals have that thought process. And for workforce professionals that are listening in today, that’s the big piece of what makes us stand out from your average career coach or career counselor. 

It is really about career exploration and pathways so that you know where you’re starting and where you want to end and then how to get there, right? So that’s a huge piece of our workforce system in general. 

And Zeus, feel free to add on to that as well. 

00:08:10 Jesus’ “Zeus” Kimbrow 

I mean, I’m 100% agree with Shannon. Although I did list my colorful past, right? Currently, I am a counselor, minister, and I have been able to travel. I’m also a social worker as well. 

So I’ve seen different stages of where people are. So we have honestly come to a point in society where we have developed this almost split personality of home and work, right? And not realizing that we actually need to merge. 

So what does that look like now for a leader paying attention to their team? Well, that looks like setting like healthy or even clear goals, right? Making sure that the boundaries are clear. 

Looking at, again, the reality of what these goals may look like and trying to lower the pressure of, as much as you can with the high demand. 

There’s been a lot of blurred lines with, different companies doing cutbacks and people taking on further roles or roles that they initially didn’t have. So again, like what does that look like now? 

And so given the clear boundaries, given the clear goals, the clear support and realizing that mental health is definitely noted now. You know what I mean? Like it’s been kind of pushed to the side in the past, but now it’s a reality that we’re all here to face. 

I mean, even looking at some of the studies with the mentalhealth.org Foundation, that, you know, mental health actually costs companies $1 trillion per year. $1 trillion, right? And that’s because they’re not getting ahead of get ahead of what the teams need to be successfully put in place in order to not only make the company better, but to also allow the individuals to become better and more positive, taking in a more positive mentality into the company. 

00:10:01 Alexis Franks 

Wow, that’s a big number. And, you know, so businesses have to be more aware of how they’re making sure that their staff, their employees, and for us as workforce professionals, the individuals that we’re putting to work every day are really prepared to be successful and work. 

And so we’ve talked about that connection and what it means, how important it is. What does Headspace Culture do to address that need? 

00:10:28 Shannon Johnson 

That’s a great question right there.nSo Headspace Culture, we do check-ins. We meet a couple of times. 

Well, we actually, we meet a couple of times out of the month in person as well as virtually but we are the accountability tribe. 

And so for the group of men that we have that are a part of, well, that we have in headspace, we ensure that they are being fed in the ways that they may need. 

It’s not a one-size-fits-all, but we’ve created a situation where the gentlemen feel comfortable with having the true conversation as to what they’re struggling with. Some of the things that they, you know, may need assistance with. 

It’s not always a bad conversation. It’s not always a, I need, help in a negative manner. 

Hey, I got a promotion that’s coming up. I need multiple ideas of how to properly address these situations or these questions that are coming up towards me, or what direction should I move in when it comes to this next level? 

And so at that point, we created a think tank to be able to have those conversations to help these individuals walk through that process. 

We’ve been able to talk with people and walk with people on journeys on the highest of the highs as well as the lowest of the lows. 

We’ve gotten some pretty heavy conversations. 

And then again, we’ve got some celebratory moments, even if it’s a gentleman that’s buying their new house for the first time, and we get to celebrate them, you know, or a birthday or anything else like that. 

So we’ve created this space of accountability, a part of growth, a part of thinking outside of the box, because in order for you to get to that next level, it’s always believed that you have to do something different. 

And a lot of times a thing that’s different is a thing that you’ve never done before. So you’re walking in the dark. 

So it’s better to walk with a tribe of individuals that may have taken a piece of that journey before and they can just kind of help guide you through that. 

00:12:20 Alexis Franks 

Absolutely. Absolutely. So I love that. 

And I think a piece of what I’ve seen around the work that you do is creating that genuine community. 

And sometimes for individuals, whether they’re receiving a workforce service or just making their way through their career journey, they need that ability to connect with someone who understands or someone that can help guide them through that process. 

So that’s definitely something unique that is provided in your community. We appreciate you for doing that. 

And we know that a lot of workforce professionals are not clinicians. So we have this idea, we come in and get into workforce or fall into workforce, and we think we just want to help people. 

We want to help them get sustainable employment and start or begin or end their career journey. So what are some practical ways that maybe workforce staff that are not social workers can support mental wellness in their participants without crossing that boundary. 

00:13:23 Shannon Johnson 

I would say, if nothing else, you start with meeting them where they are. But also, when you talk to them, you have that conversation of letting them know like, hey, I’m not a mental health professional, but here are some of the resources that I have for you. 

And it’s certain conversations that you may be able to kind of help them with, that’s relatable to you because of the fact that they trust you enough to be able to give you that information of what it is that they may be going through in that moment. 

And that is a part of that is a key piece, trust. The fact that they trust you enough to be able to have a true conversation with you and what they’re struggling with. 

And majority of time when they’ve walked in to come see you in the 1st place, they were going something in the 1st place and they needed some help. 

So when they sit down with you to give you a little bit more as you’re kind of gauging the question, if it’s something that’s outside of your capacity, you can let them know, hey, this is not necessarily my wheelhouse, but I have some resources for you or I’m going to check out some options that we may have to be able to help you with that. 

And then at that point, you’ve created another level of trust. You’ve also given them options to be able to grow as well as feel safe and protected. 

00:14:32 Alexis Franks 

Absolutely. Anything to add, Zeus? 

00:14:35 Jesus’ “Zeus” Kimbrow 

I mean, everything that we do, as far as the group, is practical application, there’s nothing that we have created or, I mean, came out the, we just, we actually just took the tools that we had and put them together to build the house. It doesn’t cost anything to pay attention, to be honest. 

So if you, see that there’s a lackluster performance with someone that’s on your team, it doesn’t hurt to check in.  

One of the illustrations that I like to use is the butter knife, right? So, I don’t know about anyone that’s listening, but me growing up, the butter knife was multi-used in the house, right? Like it was for butter, it was for bread, it was, you know what I mean? 

Like, and it was specifically, it was for like putting like different toys and things like that together, right? All to say is it was the screwdriver. So it only got me so far. 

But as I got older, I said, using the proper tool and a screwdriver, that it’s a lot easier, right? It’s a lot clearer to get this job done. 

So that’s the whole point of the butter knife illustration is that we’re putting together these tools to create not only just a house, but a culture of, hey, I may not know it all, but this is the network that we have to come together to go ahead and make ourselves a better version of ourselves. 

Actually, it’s one of the things that we often say is every day we try to become a better version of ourselves. So yeah, definitely. 

00:16:01 Alexis Franks 

I love that. I love that. 

And those ideas or concepts of meeting people where they are and really just paying attention, those are huge ways that workforce professionals can start today just to make sure that they’re integrating that mental wellness and personal development in their customers too. 

So, and actually that leads me to my last question, if you want to add on to any of that. But what is one specific action that our listeners may be able to take today in the next 30 days, just to make sure that they integrate some real practical uses for mental health and personal development in their programs? 

00:16:45 Shannon Johnson 

I like that. So you want to take that one? 

00:16:47 Jesus’ “Zeus” Kimbrow 

Yeah, I’ll go ahead and start with that one. Actually, so Alexis, one of the things that we do is we, with our social media, we post different videos, right? 

And that actually made me think about one of the recent videos that we posted is to simply pause, right? Pause, take a breath, be honest with who you are and what your needs are. 

Because if you give me a false sense of what you think I want you to say, then we’re never going to be able to get to the root of how I can truly help you. 

So, I mean, and I think of someone like as an example, Malcolm Jamal Warner, rest in peace. But like with him, he went through years of being on the Cosby Show without people even realizing that he was dyslexic, right? 

So, you know, throw away that shame, take a pause, be honest with yourself. And with that introspect, you can realize what you need. 

That way you can articulate to leadership or even someone that’s on your team of where you are, like Shannon said earlier, to meet me where I am so I can definitely go to where I want to go. 

00:17:51 Alexis Franks 

Absolutely. You hit home there. That’s my favorite show. 

So definitely want to make sure that we’re paying attention. 

Stannon, anything else to add? 

00:18:00 Shannon Johnson 

So as you said, pause, that’ll be the first piece. Pause, sit back, take a moment, evaluate. 

It doesn’t matter if you’re in an office, a cubicle, anything else like that, take a moment. Even if that means getting up and taking a walk. 

It’s a couple of individuals that are in my agency every day at lunchtime, they take a walk. 

Whether it’s 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 40 minutes, they always take a walk. If it’s a mile and a half, they normally go get it in. They get it in as a group, but they take that moment. 

Just to refresh it, reset it, whatever it is you need to do, that’s going to be able to get you to that level to say, you know what, I can go back and do this again. 

But it gives you that moment of clarity and that reset. Because again, we might get caught up in the midst of dealing in something extremely heavy with somebody or with a client. 

You know, you may have gotten cursed out. It wasn’t about you. It might have been something that they were going through and their level of frustration. 

Don’t take it personal, go walk it off, you know, and then reset and remind yourself. We’re here to help. 

And sometimes the things that might get said to us is not for us. It’s for something else going on. And at that point where, you know, you gave every, every ounce of resource, help, service, and you gave it with love, you did the thing. 

00:19:21 Jesus’ “Zeus” Kimbrow 

Alexis, can I also add this too? I’m sorry. You know, Shannon just inspired me, right? That’s my brother. I love him. 

One of, one of my favorite quotes from the Gladiator, right, is what we do in life echoes in eternity, which points back to you matter. Like wherever you are in the company, your part is vital. 

So just remembering that you do matter, you do count, your voice is there. And just remember, what you do in life echoes in eternity. 

What is your legacy? What is your grand masterpiece, right, that you’re going to leave with the company? 

00:20:02 Alexis Franks 

Wow, that’s awesome. I love all the references and illustrations. That really helps it to kind of hit home. 

And Shannon and Zeus, we thank you all both so much for joining us today on Workforce on the Mic. And usually what we have are called mic drop moments. 

So you gave us a ton today of mic drop moments for our listeners, meeting people where they are. It doesn’t cost to pay attention. Take a time, a moment to refresh and reset. And don’t forget about that butter knife. We want to use our tools in the right way to build a house. 

So we thank you both so much for joining us today. Thank you for your time and your partnership with NAWDP. We really appreciate that. 

If anyone wants to learn a little bit more about Headspace, what’s the best way to do that or to connect with you both? 

00:20:56 Shannon Johnson 

So if nothing else, they can always reach out to us via e-mail is headspaceculture@gmail.com. But also we are on Headspace Culture at LinkedIn, Headspace Culture, Instagram, Headspace Culture, Facebook. They can reach out any way. 

00:21:12 Alexis Franks 

All right, all the social medias, thank you both so much. And thank you again for joining us today. And we hope to get to partner with you again in the future. 

00:21:22 Shannon Johnson 

We look forward to it. And then also, one more thing before we go, make sure that when you see us at the NAWDP Annual Conference, be sure to stop by. Let’s take a picture. 

00:21:33 Alexis Franks 

Definitely, definitely. Thank you. 

00:21:37 Alexis Franks 

Enjoy what you heard. Join us in person at the NAWDPAnnual Conference happening May 18th through 20th in Phoenix, Arizona. 

Connect with workforce professionals from across the country for three days of learning, collaboration, and inspiration as we rise to the challenge together. Visit nawdp.org to learn more and register today. 

00:22:08 Closing 

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