The Resilient Leaders Podcast with J.R. Briggs

The most effective leaders are life-long learners. One of the most straightforward ways leaders can cultivate a posture of lifelong learning is to read books. On this episode, J.R. shares the best 25 books he read in 2025. . . . Coaching is a GREAT way to include reflection into your leadership rhythms. If you’re interested in securing a free no-pressure exploratory coaching session, check out www...

In Roman mythology, the god Janus was the god of transitions – of beginnings and endings. He was often depicted having two faces, one looking back and one looking forward. It’s where we get our month January from. On this episode, we’ll take a Janus posture and look back on the year and look forward to the new one by asking some reflective questions. . . . To download the Congruence reflection res...

On two previous episodes, J.R. has shared some interesting musings, questions, and quotes he’s been thinking about lately. Nothing fancy – just a few thoughts that may be helpful for you. So we thought we’d do a third installment of some of the current musings rolling around in his head and heart. We hope you can find a nugget or two to help you grow in your leadership. . . . Coaching is a GREAT w...

Sometimes leadership requires us to lead in situations that feel like there are no good solutions. How do we do the right thing when whatever we do doesn’t feel like the right thing? Today we explore that tricky dynamic in how to lead well in spite of this tricky dynamic. . . . Coaching is a GREAT way to include reflection into your leadership rhythms. If you’re interested in securing a free no-pr...

Do you know about the fiddle-leaf fig? It needs wind in order to become strong; without it, it topples over. This is true in leadership: without resistance, difficulty, and hardship we, too, will topple over. We need wind-filled leadership in order to grow strong and study in leadership. . . . Coaching is a GREAT way to include reflection into your leadership rhythms. If you’re interested in secur...

This is Thanksgiving week – and let’s be honest: it can be easier to be thankful because everyone is thinking about it. But what if we could cultivate gratitude the other 51 weeks? We’re look at some practices of gratitude to make it a mindset and heart-set, not just a holiday. . . . Coaching is a GREAT way to include reflection into your leadership rhythms. If you’re interested in securing a free...

Back in July, J.R. tried something different: he shared some interesting musings, questions, and quotes he’s been thinking about lately. Nothing fancy – just a few thoughts that may be helpful for you. So we thought we’d do a Volume 2 of some of the current musings rolling around in his head and heart. We hope you can find a nugget or two to help you grow in your leadership. . . . Coaching is a GR...

J.R. reflects on his recent interactions with churches – one that is almost 400 years old (!) and one that is just two decades old – and what we can learn about that as leaders. . . . Check out J.R.’s newly released and highly anticipated book ‘The Art of Asking Better Questions’ to help you grow in the art of being a better question-asker. Because the quality of your life is determined by the qua...

The Los Angeles Dodgers won their second straight World Series this season, much of it powered by Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto was named World Series Most Valuable Player. But it’s what he did in the dugout, not just on the mound, that is inspiring – and it’s what we’re talking about today. . . . Check out J.R.’s newly released and highly anticipated book ‘The Art of Asking Better Questions...

“Meekness? Who would want to be that?” That’s the question a leader asked me several years ago and it’s stuck with me. Today we’ll unpack one of the most unprioritized traits in leadership today. . . . Check out J.R.’s newly released and highly anticipated book ‘The Art of Asking Better Questions’ to help you grow in the art of being a better question-asker. Because the quality of your life is det...

Wisdom is not highly valued in our culture today. We often are enamored by the sizzle and lose focus on the steak. Today we’ll explore 8 thoughts and practices we can pursue as resilient leaders to cultivate a life of wisdom. . . . Check out J.R.’s newly released and highly anticipated book ‘The Art of Asking Better Questions’ to help you grow in the art of being a better question-asker. Because t...

Today we’ll explore the 3 stages of maturity – and how it’s revealed in the types of questions we ask ourselves when we experience failure, setback, and suffering. . . . Want to participate in the FREE webinar to learn how to enhance your questions? September 11 at 1pm ET. Just log on to www.kairospartnerships.org to register today. . . . Coaching is a GREAT way to include reflection into your lea...

The time has finally arrived. J.R.’s book, The Art of Asking Better Questions, releases this week! . . . Coaching is a GREAT way to include reflection into your leadership rhythms. If you’re interested in securing a free no-pressure exploratory coaching session, check out www.kairospartnerships.org/contact or email me at jrbriggs@kairospartnerships.org If you haven’t signed up for my every other w...

It’s October, the month J.R.’s new book The Art of Asking Better Questions releases into the world. On this special edition of the podcast, J.R. takes time to read from the introduction to give you a sneak peek of the book to help you grasp the power and potential of questions. . . . Coaching is a GREAT way to include reflection into your leadership rhythms. If you’re interested in securing a free...

In this episode J.R. unpacks the crucial concept of mental models – and how every leader needs to be aware of the mental models he or she uses to make decisions. More specifically, we’ll look at a handful of specific questions, a form of mental models, and he’ll give you 7 specific questions to help you focus and give you confidence to make wise leadership decisions moving forward. . . . Coaching...

It’s tempting to think that as leaders we must have all the right answers. But the truth is we don’t have to have it all together. Today we’ll look at the wise words of Don Howell Jr. in his book Servants of the Servant where he reminds us God doesn’t depend upon heroes. . . . Want to participate in the FREE webinar to learn how to enhance your questions? September 11 at 1pm ET. Just log on to www...

In 2014 researchers asked over a thousand people from all over the country, “Who is your worst enemy?” Five hundred of them gave the same answer: “Myself.” As leaders we feel that angsty feeling called Imposter Syndrome. What do we do about it? . . . Want to participate in the FREE webinar to learn how to enhance your questions? September 11 at 1pm ET. Just log on to www.kairospartnerships.org to...

The late leadership and organizational expert Peter Drucker said, “The leader of the past may have been the person who knew how to tell, but certainly the leader of the future will be the person who knows how to ask.” Today we’ll explore how we can grow in questionable influence – how we can be more effective leaders when we ask more effective questions. . . . Want to participate in the FREE webin...

Leaders face lots of distractions which can keep us from thoughtful reflection, being present with others, and taking action. Today we’ll explore the greatest of enemies for leaders and the practices we can engage in to defeat the enemy. . . . Coaching is a GREAT way to include reflection into your leadership rhythms. If you’re interested in securing a free no-pressure exploratory coaching session...

Oftentimes we hear that leadership is a marathon. And in many ways it is… but what if instead we thought of it in 6-week spurts? Today we’ll explore a simple structure to help plan out your next 6 weeks to make your leadership pace more manageable and beneficial. . . . Coaching is a GREAT way to include reflection into your leadership rhythms. If you’re interested in securing a free no-pressure ex...

Today we talk about the scientific reasons why you have so many creative ideas in the shower and the wildly beneficial habit of going for walks and how it can strengthen your resiliency muscle. We unpack the Latin phrase solvitur ambulando, which means “it is solved by walking.” . . . “The Power of the Outdoor Office” (Cal Newport): https://www.calnewport.com/blog/2015/10/21/the-power-of-the-outdo...

We know that leaders are learners – and one of the ways we grow in through reading. But how are we to decide what we read? Today we talk about a framework given by A.J. Swoboda on what to read and how to learn from others so we can be humble, open, malleable, and resilient. . . . Coaching is a GREAT way to include reflection into your leadership rhythms. If you’re interested in securing a free no-...

Maybe you’ve heard the concept of coaching. Or maybe you know what it is but you’ve never experienced it first-hand. Or you’ve had a coach a few years ago, but because of the leadership challenges and complexities you’re facing you are are thinking that it may be time to lean in to coaching again in this season. Today we unpack exactly what coaching is – and what it’s not – to help equip you bette...

On this episode we try something different: J.R. shares some interesting musings, questions, and quotes he’s been thinking about lately. Nothing fancy – just a few thoughts that may be helpful for you. We hope you can find a nugget or two to help you grow in your leadership. . . . Coaching is a GREAT way to include reflection into your leadership rhythms. If you’re interested in securing a free no...

Effective leaders are reflective leaders – and summer is a good time to reflect, as we’re at the halfway point of the year. Today J.R. asks some questions all leaders should reflect upon. . . . Coaching is a GREAT way to include reflection into your leadership rhythms. If you’re interested in securing a free no-pressure exploratory coaching session, check out www.kairospartnerships.org/contact or...