Episode 3: The Soft Skills That Shape Strong Leaders with Dr. Susan Dean

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When Dr. Susan Dean talks about leadership, you don’t just hear theory. You feel lived experience.

She’s stood in the sweltering heat picking bad blueberries off a conveyor belt. She’s led distribution centers through chaos. She’s rebuilt herself—again and again—after grief, illness, and unexpected loss. And she’s still showing up, every day, to serve over 200 employees with heart, resilience, and a fierce commitment to growth.

In Episode 3 of The Joy CEO Podcast, Susan shares the experiences that shaped her—and the soft skills every leader needs now more than ever.

1. Leadership is What Happens When Things Go Wrong

Susan teaches her team to separate “the problem” from “the person.” Her signature tool? The “Phone in the Middle” method—where the issue is placed at the center of the conversation, not pointed at any individual.

“It’s not about blame—it’s about growth.”

This kind of emotional safety builds stronger teams, better communication, and leaders who know how to respond—not react.

2. Real Resilience Starts at Rock Bottom

Susan’s story includes surviving a major car accident, a cancer diagnosis, the loss of her mother and siblings, and a train derailment. But her message is about more than hardship.

It’s about recovery.

“The goal isn’t to avoid falling off the cliff. It’s learning how to land on a ledge instead of in the water—and pull yourself back up.”

Resilience isn’t a personality trait. It’s a practice.

3. Soft Skills Are Power Skills

Susan’s doctoral research centers on the soft skills needed for the 21st-century workforce—and they’re more essential than ever:

• Communication

• Critical thinking

• Emotional regulation

• Cross-generational leadership

She’s seen firsthand how these skills transformed a team of formerly incarcerated individuals into thriving employees—and why overlooking them in today’s workplace is a major leadership gap.

4. Engagement Isn’t Complicated—It’s Just Rare

Sometimes, the key to building a healthy culture is as simple as saying, thank you.

“Gratitude is free. And it makes people feel seen, respected, and ready to show up.”

Susan reminds us that when people feel valued, productivity—and joy—follow naturally.

5. Leadership Without Humanity is Just Management

From mentoring multilingual workers to volunteering with purpose, Susan’s approach to leadership is deeply human. She doesn’t gatekeep success—she lifts people toward it.

“If even one life breathed easier because you were there—that’s success.”

Leadership Takeaway:

Whether you’re leading a warehouse team or a global boardroom, success isn’t in the title. It’s in the people who rise because you believed in them.

📩 Journal on This:

• What stories from your life shaped the leader you are today?

• Where are you managing… when you could be mentoring?

• What legacy are you building, one person at a time?

📲 Connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram

🗓️ Book a Discovery Call: loripine.com

Because leadership without joy isn’t leadership.

It’s survival.