My Circus, My Monkeys

Using CliftonStrengths can be a huge asset to your team. A strengths-based approach can increase productivity and help with onboarding and employee retention. This episode features a discussion between three Gallup Certified Strengths coaches. Find out how they use strengths with their teams and students and how you can increase your own confidence and competencies using a strengths based approach...

Employee engagement is vital for the success of your team and organization. Engaged employees are connected to their work, their team, and the wider mission of the organization. Unfortunately, most organizations don't actively invest in creating a culture focused on developing engaged teams. This is an expensive mistake both financially and in terms of lost potential, missed opportunities, an...

As leaders, especially in higher education, non-profits, and small businesses, you’re no strangers to tight budgets and difficult decisions. But economic uncertainty can magnify these challenges. So, how do you lead effectively when resources are limited? More importantly, how do you make sure we’re still supporting our teams and driving long-term success? In this episode, we’ll explore the unique...

Sometimes finding a new job isn't an option. But that doesn't mean you need to be stuck in the status quo and be forced to just stick it out. In this episode, we discuss three strategies for making the most of your current job while you're waiting for your next great opportunity. If you’re listening to this podcast, you take your role as a leader seriously. You want to be more effec...

The patterns you have dictate the results you get in life, both professionally and personally. Yes, there are also external forces at play, but it's your underlying patterns - the things you do everyday that lead you one way versus another. In this episode, we discuss how important it is to identify the patterns in your life that that weaken your confidence and progress. Once you do, you can...

It's spring! If you look outside, you see trees, flowers, and grass full of lush green growth. While this growth is beautiful to watch, not all growth is healthy. If you don't take the time to prune your garden AND your department, it can easily become overwhelmed and switch into survival mode. In this episode, we discuss how the same principles that keep your garden thriving apply to yo...

Do you want better communication, understanding, and productivity for yourself and your team? A Strengths-based approach can help you, your team, and your organization do all of that and more. In this episode, I give listeners several personal and professional that illustrate how understanding one's own and others' talent themes can lead to better self-regulation, improved delegation, an...

Leadership is about collaboration, not control. In aviation, Crew Resource Management (CRM) training helps keep planes and passengers safe by improving communication and teamwork. But this powerful tool can also be applied to leadership and team management in the workplace. In this episode, we discuss five key components of CRM: respect, managing mistakes constructively, creating a supportive cult...

We've talked a lot about stress management and self care on previous episodes, but maybe I've been calling it the wrong thing. Is it self care or is it really your basic needs. In this episode, we'll explore whether you've been thinking about self care backwards and how to change your mindset so you can start showing up at your best.  If you’re listening to this podcast, you ta...

In this episode, we discuss how to identify and escape from ruts, which are patterns that no longer serve us effectively. I use the example of Sally, an employee who continues to perform a task incorrectly despite understanding the correct way, to illustrate how our conscious mind understands a change but our subconscious mind continues the old pattern due to deeply ingrained habits. Ruts are not...

You know too much stress decreases your productivity and your ability to effectively solve problems. Yes, you can focus on stress management to help curb its effect, but what do you do about all the things on your plate? Afterall, it's that increased workload that's contributing to your stress problem. In this episode, you'll learn about a tool that can help you better prioritize, a...

When I left you in 2025, I challenged you to do a quick wrap up of the year. Now, I know some of you had zero energy to do any such thing, but in that wrap up, my last question for you to ponder was, "What’s the ONE thing you could upgrade in 2026 that would give you the biggest return on your investment?" In this episode, we’re going to focus on that ONE thing and how you can effectivel...

As we wrap up 2025, it’s a good idea to take the time to reflect on the year. And if you’re already thinking, nope! I have neither the time nor energy for such pursuits, just hold on to your horses. I’m going to make this as quick and painless for you as possible. The benefit of doing this is a better 2026. The cost of skipping it means 2026 might just be a rerun of 2025. And I don’t think anyone...

It’s a stressful time of year. If you’re in Higher Ed, you’re wrapping up the fall term and planning for the spring. Plus, you’re smack dab in the middle of the holiday season. That's a ton of expectations and stress for you and your team, so it's perhaps the perfect season to discuss boundaries. In this episode, you'll learn the difference between boundaries and rules. And you&apos...

Have you been wondering how to effectively establish a Strengths-based culture with your team or organization? It's a fantastic way to increase your overall productivity, engagement, and wellbeing. But there are challenges. In this episode, I share the three key components you'll need to implement to ensure you have an effective and sustainable transformation.  If you’re listening to thi...

Going to conferences can be a fantastic experience. But with so much going on in such a short amount of time, how can you make sure you're getting the most out of your time and money? In this episode, I'll talk about three main goals of attending a conference and five hacks that will ensure you make the most of your conference experience. If you’re listening to this podcast, you take you...

CUPA-HR has released the results of another Higher Education Employee Retention Survey. The 2025 results found that supervisors are facing even more stress and responsibilities. But surprisingly, supervisors are now less likely to leave their positions. In this episode, I outline the changes for supervisors in the last two years and discuss two of the recommendations by CUPA-HR to retain superviso...

If you're like me, you have a tendency to over think. And that tendency often steals a lot of my energy and makes me feel like BLEEP. I've talked about how our stories and beliefs can get in our way in previous episodes. I recently came across a book by Joseph Nguyen, "Don't Believe Everything You Think" that really resonated with me and I believe adds another layer of und...

In our last episode, I discussed a big picture perspective of how to navigate the all too common experience in Higher Ed of being down a staff member. In this week's episode, I continue the conversation but with more tangible to-do items. Learn how to focus on the most important aspects of what you do so you and your team have a reasonable workload and students get the most important things t...

What happens to you and your team when you're suddenly down a staff member? Many of you are knowingly dealing with this right now. And for some of you, it isn’t even knowingly because someone left long before you got there and your position absorbed their work. Either way, it means you and the folks around you are most likely doing more work, often without any additional compensation. So, in...

Do you have a coworker or team member who frustrates you? More specifically, does the way they operate conflict with your strengths so much that it drives you crazy? Well in this episode we’re going to talk about what you can do to work better with those folks to decrease your frustration or anger and be more productive. If you’re listening to this podcast, you take your role as a leader seriously...

It's that time of year again. You and your team are swamped prepping for the fall semester. But you don't have to let things get overwhelming because you and your team can use your superpowers to slay the stress and chaos. In this episode, we discuss how you and your team can harness your collective Talent Themes to be more productive over the next month. That includes better planning an...

In 2017, Alicia and I founded Strengths University to help supervisors feel more confident, empowered, and less stressed. Alicia joins me on today's episode to talk about what we wish we would have known about supervising before we started Strengths University and really researching how to be an effective supervisor.  Please enjoy this replay of episode 111 while the host, Anne Brackett, reco...

If you’ve ever had conflicts on your team, encountered problems you need to solve, or need to accomplish the right things to help you students succeed, you'll want to listen to this short episode. We'll dig into one of the Guiding Principles of using CliftonStrengths, Differences Are an Advantage. This principle is key to getting the best outcomes for yourself, your team, and your studen...

One of the great things about using a Strengths-based approach, is leaning into the unique differences each one of us offers. In this episode, we dive further into that idea by honoring the neurodiversity of those who might be on your team, including perhaps you. Join me as I speak with Dr. Carolyn O'Laughlin about how to better support neurodiversity in the workplace. If you’re listening to...