The Illumify Game Changer

When a leader has a vision of change, others have to be able to see it too or they won’t act to help realize it. That means they have to share the same understanding of what it is. In Jonathan’s case, his vision centres on a new shared home. It’s easy to assume that everyone knows what home is. But do they? What does home really mean? In this episode, Jonathan explores life with and without a home...

Realizing a big vision takes more than just one leader. So how do you invoke others to help? In this minisode from Episode 32, Jonathan discovers that it takes more than just facts. Listen to the full episode here:  32. The Leader Struggles with Interest Produced by NOVA

Leaders usually do one of two things: they meaningfully challenge the status quo; or they meaningfully resist a challenge to the status quo. In this episode, Jonathan discovers that he does both. He then struggles with his dislike for the word “interest” in answering this next Amplify question. 01:35 Reflections on how it feels to give that oldest part of you a voice. 04:07 The urge to escape the...

Someone recently called this podcast Marianne’s “gift of love to the world”. In each episode, she’s revealing part of her Illumify® Method of igniting leaders and their initiatives. Listen to this brief minisode to discover why. Listen to the full episode here: 31. The Introverted Leader Wrestles with Leadership   Produced by NOVA

Leadership demands a lot of us. So much that it can be tempting to turn away, if only to protect yourself from the barbs that come from challenging the status quo. In this episode, Jonathan grapples with his introverted self that tempts him to keep his vision to himself. Nor, as he discovers, can he expect others to assume equal responsibility for igniting his vision. 01:11 How does expressing you...

Leaders can't ignite meaningful change all by themselves. But who would care enough to help? In this minisode from episode 30 of The Illumify Game Changer Podcast, the leader looks beyond his inner circle to find them. Listen to the full episode here: 30. Who’s Even Interested in the Leader’s Vision? Produced by NOVA

When leaders speak about their meaningful change, it has to be of interest to listeners. If not, they’ll tune out, and it can be difficult, if not impossible, to get them to tune back in. In this episode, Jonathan considers whether his vision is of interest to those he sees could help him realize it. But could it be they’re too preoccupied right now to even have it on their radar? 00:00 Amplify Ca...

When the leader faces a large chasm between what is now and what they know could be, it can be overwhelming at times. In this minisode from Episode 29, Katherine shares the powerful practice of Surrender. Listen to the full episode here: 29. The Leader’s People   Produced by NOVA

Leaders see what could be, beyond what is now. Their vision is of a future that doesn’t yet exist. As Jonathan knows, there’s a big chasm between the world now and the one in his vision. In this episode, he identifies those who may be willing to help him cross that chasm and ignite. 00:00 Reflections 3:45 Who do you see who should be on that first new ground with you? 7:30 What would the next circ...

The key difference between a leader’s communication and all other types of communication is that it needs to drive a response. To do that, you need to first know who to reach. This minisode from episode 28 speaks to why that matters. Listen to the full episode here: 28 - The Leader’s Vision Matters   Produced by NOVA

Igniting a big vision of change takes real leadership. You have to be able to engage, align and mobilize all those who can help. But if your change doesn’t matter to them, they won’t listen or act. So how do you ensure they care about it? First, as Jonathan discovers in this episode, you have to know who they are. 01:04 Amplify Question 25: To whom does this matter? 02:52 Why do you say it’s not y...

There’s an epidemic of loneliness in the world today. In this minisode from Episode 27, Jonathan sees that it’s something his vision of a shared home must help resolve. Listen to the full episode here: 27. The Leader’s Affected   Produced by NOVA

Having a vision of meaningful change is the first monumental step in your leader’s journey. But it’s essential to know if your change would matter to others as well – enough that they may even help you realize it. In this episode, Jonathan explores who would most benefit from his vision of a shared home. 01:29 Reference Cards: Illumify Definition; 02:32 Enleaven definition and the Enleavening expe...

Jonathan has arrived in Canada to continue his leader’s journey. In this minisode from episode 26, he shares whether he is still feeling the same about being a leader as he did when we began.  Listen to the full episode here: 26. The Leader’s Journey So Far   Produced by NOVA

We’ve left London to head home to Toronto, where a few weeks later, Jonathan joins us to continue his leader’s journey. He begins by reflecting on what’s emerged for him from these Illumify questions and how he’s now feeling about igniting his vision of change.   00:59 The Illumify Game Changer experience so far. 10:26 Does Artificial Intelligence’s ability to consume your words stifle you from vo...

Change can make some people uncomfortable, even when what is now isn’t serving them well. In this minisode, Jonathan reveals what he can do as a leader to help them be more comfortable with his vision of change.   Listen to the full episode here: 25. The Leader’s Uncomfortable Change   Produced by NOVA

A leader’s vision of meaningful change can make others very uncomfortable. So uncomfortable in fact that they may even fight it furiously. Why is that when it’s change that could better their lives? In this episode, Jonathan reveals the answer and what he can do about it.   01:00 Amplify Question: How might this change make some people uncomfortable? 06:24 If our assumptions are part of our identi...

When you have a big vision, it’s all too easy to give in to the voice inside you that shouts, “Who do you think you are to do this?” As Jonathan discovers in this minisode of Episode 24, leaders must overcome any self-limiting beliefs and just take it one step at a time.    Listen to the full episode here: [Link]   Produced by NOVA

Even leaders who have a vision of meaningful change can engage in self-sabotaging thoughts and actions. In answering this next Amplify question, Jonathan looks within to reveal anything he might do to impede his own ability to ignite his meaningful change.   00:58 Amplify Question 22: What could impede your ability to ignite this change? 02:59 My vision feels right and true. I can put my arms arou...

As Jonathan says in this minisode from Episode 23, each of us is complex. And that’s a good thing. Yet our institutions don’t reflect it; they deny it. “Today, we break with the past”, he declares, “because we have to.”   Listen to the full episode here: 23. The Leader’s Barriers to Change   Produced by NOVA

Leaders challenge what is now: the status quo. And that always provokes resistance from others who prefer, for whatever reason, for things to stay just as they are. As a leader, it’s not about protecting yourself from the barbs. It’s about expressing your vision of change so it becomes meaningful to them too. So meaningful that it quells their resistance, and they willingly help you ignite it. Fir...

Whether we work to live or live to work, our work doesn’t define us. In this minisode from episode 22, Jonathan speaks to how our work can be aligned with our true selves.   Listen to the full episode here: 22 – The Leader’s Vision Uplifts Us   Produced by NOVA

As a leader, realizing your vision of change takes more than just you. So it also has to matter to all those who can help you. In this episode, Jonathan looks at how his vision of a shared home enleavens to change lives and restore the true value of their work.       01:00 Reflections on the previous question of what difference it will make. 07:00 This is not about certainty. There is a necessary...

When only you can see what could be, the world can be a lonely place. In this minisode from episode 21, Jonathan speaks to how quenching that loneliness for a leader doesn’t come from other people affirming that what you see matters. It comes from within yourself and bears gifts.   Listen to the full episode here: 21. The Leader Sees The Difference     Produced by NOVA

Realizing a vision of meaningful change takes a lot. There will be resistance both from those who are benefitting from what is now and from those who would prefer to hang onto the familiar, even when they know it’s not ideal. So why would anyone be willing to do the hard work of leading the way to realizing a vision? In this episode, this leader questions whether it’s worth the effort.     01:12 C...