Joyful Leader

We’re talking about how to think about the process of change — which is essentially rewiring your brain. When we change anything, we switch from an existing brain habit to a new one. Today we’re discussing how this process FEELS like it should just happen overnight, as soon as we become aware of us. That would be fantastic. But in reality, the process is like building muscle. Repetition is what cr...

Every time we change anything in our lives — habit, relationship, attitude, anything — we are essentially rewiring the brain. We’re creating new patterns of thought, feeling, and action. Many times, our existing patterns have been around for a very long time. Creating new ones doesn’t happen overnight. Today and next week, I’m sharing how I help my clients avoid frustration along the way — by shar...

Get ready to connect all the dots. In the last several episodes, we’ve been talking about using time well, and today, we’re bringing all the concepts together in a step-by-step guide to planning your week. This process gives you time for your highest priorities, clarity, allowance for emergencies, and a greater sense of calm about your week. Thanks for listening. Hungry for more of the things we t...

Today, we’re talking about the third phase of the accomplishment and time usage process: doing. While doing the thing — task, project, conversation — might seem like the most straightforward part, you and I know that it’s sometimes the part that feels most fraught. There are all kinds of external distractions and obstacles — the world doesn’t stop to honor our project priorities. But also, we expe...

Way back a few episodes ago, when we launched the series about using your time well, I mentioned the idea of deciding vs. intending. It was sort of a gloss-over moment, but it’s a hugely important idea. I’ve gotten so many questions about this difference. Today, we’re looking at this concept, which is pivotal in understanding your time decisions (and many other things). It’s key to understanding w...

I’ve thought it many times. And hear it often from clients. An obstacle to planning our time is that we don't know how much time things take. Surprising but true, this is the very definition of a self-fulfilling prophecy. When we believe it, that’s exactly what we experience. Inspired by a recent client conversation, we're going inside the brain, looking step-by-step at how this plays out. And the...

Continuing in our series about using time in alignment with our values and priorities, today we're talking about design. So many of us have experienced the feeling that time got away from us. Or the sense that our day got derailed. How we approach designing our time can make all the difference in minimizing or eliminating these experiences. In today's episode, I share my top three time-design reco...

We have more demands on our time now than we ever have. With all the noise, it can be difficult to figure out what to prioritize. Especially given that our mental, physical, and emotional resources are limited. We can't possibly do everything. In today's episode, we're talking about how to make that decision. I'll give you my take on what to prioritize when planning your time or your team's time....

We’re slowing down to take a look at how we use our time. In this episode, we’ll look specifically at how we make decisions about time. We’ll ask two incredibly important time decision questions. One: when are we deciding how we use our time? And two: what do we decide to prioritize? I’ll share what three decisions I recommend you make and when to make sure your time usage aligns with your highest...

Many of my clients want to work on how they use their time. Sometimes in their personal lives — spending more time with family, for example. Sometimes in their professional lives — using their work hours for what’s meaningful and important. or working on those meaningful, important things when they have the greatest energy to give. No matter what their time use goals, the theme is wanting to use t...

I recently had an experience that threw me. It was challenging mentally, physically, and emotionally. And for several weeks I didn’t feel like myself. But out of this came an opportunity I didn’t expect. I could see how I responded, what skills and techniques I used, and how I led myself through this experience differently than past challenges. It was imperfect. And messy. And I’m proud of myself...

I’m going to say it right off the bat: I don’t like the term impostor syndrome (or imposter if that’s your preference). It implies sickness, something for which we need treatment. And that it’s somehow something we “come down with.” Though I don’t love the term, it describes a very real experience of very many real human beings. 🙂 So today we’re going to break it down — what is it, why does it ha...

Imagine you’re watching a play. And the theater has a spotlight operator — someone who directs a beam of focus on the appropriate dialogue or action at any given moment. This focus isn’t the only thing happening — other scenery, other characters — but it’s the most useful thing happening. The focus is on the thing that moves the story forward. Our brains have this spotlight ability — to focus on o...

Let’s talk about science. The scientific mindset, specifically. Last week, I shared that there are two skills that help us build habits that look big and impressive from the outside, but feel easy and delightful from the inside — embracing small steps and adopting a scientific mindset. And today we’re talking all about the latter. So often, when we try new things or start new routines, it can feel...

I have some insider info for you. A secret tip, if you will. People sometimes hear about some habit I have and comment that they think I have superhuman discipline. Or commitment. And I’m shocked because so much of my life is centered around having as much freedom and free time as possible. Today and next week on the podcast, I’m sharing the two skills that have allowed me to build habits that loo...

You’ve got a plan for your week, balancing multiple high priorities. And then something goes sideways. Something specific — someone else doesn’t deliver in the way that you expected. In this scenario and other similar situations, many people do something that I almost always coach against — doing someone else’s job. This means jumping in to take on more work to compensate for someone else’s mistak...

Imagine that every situation you find yourself in, every circumstance in your life, is a song. What you think about yourself in relation to that circumstance or situation is the song's baseline . . . . . . the sometimes under-the-surface yet nonetheless powerful theme that shapes the entire song. Or in your case, how you experience the entire situation. Today on the podcast, I'm talking about this...

“You need clear boundaries.” “You need to draw a boundary with that person.” There’s so much talk about boundaries, needing to have them, and how to establish them. What are they? What does it mean to have them? How do you establish them? How do you make sure they’re upheld? Today on the podcast, we are talking about boundaries. I’m giving you my recommendation for a working definition of boundari...

Last week we talked about change resistance — how, in the effort to be efficient, the human brain manufactures thoughts that, if listened to, will keep us where we are. Today I want to share three more thoughts that come up more often — and very commonly — in women. They are different variations of the thought I shared last week: I can’t do it. It won't work. It's confusing. It's too hard. But the...

Let’s talk about change, shall we? Specifically, changing our actions, habits, and behaviors in ways that make our lives better. When we try to change something about our lives, we often experience doubt, insecurity, or resistance. And while these things feel very true and worth listening to, they are actually a manifestation of the human brain’s natural desire for efficiency and keeping the statu...

How’s “Failure” as an episode title? Does it really make you want to listen? I thought so. Today we are indeed talking about failure. Specifically, how many of us encounter situations where our fear of failing threatens to prevent us from seizing opportunities or going after things we’d like. I’ll share a bit about where our fear of failure is born, and how it changes over time. And, we’ll break d...

Today on Joyful Leader we’re diving back into team culture. This week is all about specifics — I’m walking through WHY, HOW, and WHAT from the framework we shared last week, and giving you different ways to apply each. I’ll share specific examples from my experience. And, I’ll tell you how to apply a cultural leadership approach to your company, team, or a specific situation. Thanks for listening....

Every group of humans who spend time together develops a group culture — a set of behavioral or attitudinal norms. These norms become the group’s default way of being — the way they are without even thinking about it. See where I’m going? When it comes to our teams, building culture — common behaviors and practices — intentionally, helps us create the culture we want. The culture that makes for a...

Today we’re talking about a standard I recommend to my clients: self-evaluation without self-judgment. Many of us are committed to learning, growth, and deeper self-understanding. Judgment moves us farther away from these things. Every single time. Setting this standard means — inside your own mind — redirecting self-judgment. Instead of judging, you’ll walk yourself through an evaluation process....

Today is the 2nd of two episodes on creating a great meeting culture and improving your company or team meetings. (Or your one-on-ones!) This episode is all about clear and well-executed roles. We’re talking about facilitation, participation, power structure, decision-making, and having the right people in the room. We’ll also talk about why facilitation and participation aren’t tasks, but positio...