Getting Unstuck – Cultivating Curiosity

How do you view life's changes? As a series of one-off events that are largely disconnected from each other? Or as an ongoing transition? To get a perspective on those question, we listen in on an interview our friend, Sarah Elkins, conducted with Kris Macchiarola on her podcast, "Your Stories Don't Define You, How You Tell Them Will." Kris is a consultant, speaker, leader, coach, and author of #N...

How do you show up as a leader at work (and in life)? What impact do you want and need to have to feel engaged, energized, and accomplished? In this episode, Kirsten and Jeff talk with leadership expert, Kimberly Davis , author of the best seller, Brave Leadership . Here we'll learn how to show up authentically in life and at work, and how to define our "super objective" – our personal impact stat...

Our lives are rarely linear. Most of start out "here" and then make a series of twists and turns. In this "Transformation Story," we talk with Becca Bycott . Becca's life began to take a major turn one day riding the Metro in Washington D.C. "Courage" she would later say, "is the willingness to realize that something isn't working and to change it." As she stepped off the train, she began a journe...

How do you view change – as episodic or as a constant? In this episode, which is Part 2 of a two-part series, we'll continue to explore the idea of building a culture of change – a culture of continuous curiosity, experimentation, and learning. We'll focus primarily on leaders and organizations that operate in the absence of that philosophy. We're joined  Amy Sokal. Amy brings almost twenty-years...

How do you view complex changes – as one-offs, or as a constant to support getting desired results? In this episode, which is Part 1 of a two-part series, we'll start to explore the idea of building a culture of change, or as we prefer to call it, a culture of continuous learning and improvement. We'll be joined mid-way through the episode by Edtech innovator, Claire Hollenbeck. Claire will draw o...

OK, you've agreed on a plan for a complex change. Now, what do you need to consider to implement the plan? How do you get staff buy-in? In the first part of this episode, we'll suggest some answers to those questions. Then we'll hear from veteran educator and consultant Margaret Zacchei. With more than 25 years of experience as a school principal and teacher backing her up, Margaret will comment o...

How can organizations and individuals experiment with change in a way that reduces risk and prevents the "fixedness" monster from keeping them stuck? In this episode, we focus on the experimentation phase of change for both organizations and individuals. Midway through, we'll hear from master experimenter, Alyssa Boehm. She describes the various methods she and her team use to prototype, test, and...

New ideas are often met with criticism and concern. In this episode, Kirsten and I review a number of strategies individuals and leaders can employ to overcome obstacles to change. Midway through this episode, we talk to author and leadership expert  Lyle Kirtman  who has worked extensively with business, government, and educational leaders. In this far ranging interview, Lyle explains why change...

Our lives are rarely linear. Most of us start out "here" and then make a series of twists and turns. In this series we're calling "Transformation Stories," we interview one individual about how they came to be where they are now – aligned with who they really are and where they want to be in life. In this episode, we talk with Mike Johnson. Mike's work life began in the corporate world, but he exi...

You or your organization are stuck. How do you break free and come up with new ideas to help you move forward? Dr. Esmilda Abreu, Getting Unstuck's producer, interviews hosts Kirsten Richert and Jeff Ikler to share a few systematic methods for helping teams and individuals generate break-through ideas. Kirsten shares six key steps toward creating an effective Innovation Lab. Jeff closes the show w...

Here, Kirsten is interviewed by Joe Kwon, our friend and host of the uniquely formatted "Why It Works" podcast. We'll learn what motivated Kirsten to give up the relative safety of a full time position and step out on her own as an innovation consultant. Kirsten and Joe will discuss common misconceptions people have around innovation, what holds us back from innovating, and how we can move beyond...

Here, Jeff is interviewed by Joe Kwon, our friend and host of the uniquely formatted "Why It Works" podcast. We'll learn why Jeff chose coaching as a follow-up to his career in educational publishing, the main challenges he faced in shifting from that career to coaching, and some foundational coaching principles such as being stuck in the first place, having a hidden commitment not to change, and...

Effective change leaders acknowledge what is holding them back. Hosts Jeff and Kirsten explain how individuals and organizations can recognize how systemic and self-imposed obstacles – the inner critic, bad habits, and self-defeating stories – can stand in their way of moving toward their desired goals. Jeff interviews expert storyteller Sarah Elkins, who shares her experiences, and challenges us...

Unlock your potential to get unstuck by actively envisioning your ideal future state. Host Jeff Ikler interviews educator Dr. Melissa Hughes, author of Happy Hour with Einstein. Dr. Hughes shares her insights on how the brain works and how to harness what we know about neuroscience to build cultures of learning and leadership. Co-host Kirsten Richert offers brain-friendly methods you can use with...

In this podcast, we look at how those exploring a potential change can ready themselves and or their organization by learning more about the broader external environment, including trends in society, economics, new technology, and other parts of the big picture. "Getting Unstuck" co-host Kirsten Richert is joined by our producer Dr. Esmilda Abreu and special guest Carl Fengler who runs the Ignitio...

In this episode, hosts Kirsten Richert and Jeff Ikler recommend the counterintuitive strategy of pausing – intentionally slowing down to conduct an internal scan to fully grasp what's underlying the state of being stuck.    For individuals, Jeff Ikler suggests asking powerful questions, taking personal assessments, and engaging in specific activities as ways to unlock greater understanding. For or...

In this episode, hosts Kirsten Richert and Jeff Ikler review the "why" behind their respective practices of serving as an innovation catalyst for organizations, and a career and leadership coach for individuals. They then dive into the world of being stuck and the phases that one goes through to get unstuck. The critical first stage is accepting that you are stuck in the first place. At this stage...

In this first episode, innovation catalyst Kirsten Richert, and career and leadership coach, Jeff Ikler, explain their mission – to help individuals and institutions think differently about change, not as something to fear, not as something they constantly have to react to, but as something they can initiate to have the impact they desire. Through these podcast episodes, they will introduce listen...