The Rutledge Perspective Podcast

The thing about being "busy" is it keeps you from being still. And if you are never still, you can't hear the message you really need to hear. The busyness can keep us in action and in frustration because we are busy and active around stories that may not be true. That are limiting our potential. But to get still takes courage and work and a self-honesty that isn't easy. But it is soooooo worth it...

The real meaning of transparency. Getting deep into your own self-awareness so you can meet people where they are. Being HUMAN-CENTERED not just profit-driven. It's all here in this discussion with Céline Williams! Knowing how to navigate "need to know" without compromising integrity and open communication requires some forethought and deliberate action and a connection to self and others. And she...

Sometimes we make things so hard! But we don't have to. We can start with a consistent focus on gratitude. We can be fully aligned if we are willing to do the alignment work. And we can focus on those things that bring us joy! Those are just a FEW of the nuggets that Alexsys shares with us as what she knows for sure as she has built and continues to build a life she loves. About the Guest: Alexsys...

Why do we take ourselves out of the running before we even start? What is it about us that makes us unsuitable for that thing we are pursuing? NOTHING. The problem is that we don't take the time to review, understand, evaluate, and present our experiences and skill as the solution. Rather, we look for all the things we haven't done and use that as the test. Instead, let's start with how what we HA...

Not only does Tobi help businesses "find their soul" though their message, but she has found her own. After a life-threatening allergic reaction, she realized that she has been doing things – good things – but they were not her PURPOSE things. And many of us are doing good if not amazing things. Those things being misaligned with your purpose doesn't make them bad. It also doesn't make them your B...

Here's the bottomline: if you wake up another day, you have another opportunity to pursue the thing you are pursuing. Sometimes, things go away or a dream dies. But sometimes, they're just hibernating and recovering from some harsh environmental change. If we are aware enough, patient enough and determined enough, the dream shows back up. We just must be ready to recognize it and seize the opportu...

They say "your vibe attracts your tribe." But do we ever think about how our behaviors not only impact, but can create the culture of our organization, team, and relationships? People listen to what you say, but they believe what you do. Your behavior teaches others how to interact with you and those around you in order to get the outcomes they desire… or at least try to. So, ask yourself, "Is my...

This week, I'm giving myself a little grace by giving myself permission to pause. And this episode just so happens to tie into this weeks radio show on grace, forgiveness and love. Enjoy! Not everyone's "hustle" is the same; yet we measure ourselves by what others are doing. But we need to give ourselves grace. Grace to have a minute. Grace to have doubts. Grace to move forward. And, as leaders, w...

Change is difficult. It's difficult because we get comfortable with the familiar. That doesn't mean the familiar is good, the familiar is just familiar. We know what to expect so we know how to respond. But to get to the exceptional, we have to be willing to let go of the familiar and get comfortable with the anxiety of the unknown. About the Host: Laurel Rutledge's human-centered approach, empath...

Just pick one thing. Just one! It is so easy to get overwhelmed with all the things on our to do list. But just pick one. The same goes for your teams. When there are too many objectives, none of them gets the necessary attention for success! Get clear on the one thing and take action. About the Host: Laurel Rutledge's human-centered approach, empathy, and understanding of individual needs make he...

Does more, harder, faster always equal better? That was my question when I read an article about "CrossFit" Leadership style that is showing up in business. To be sure, there is much to be learned from how one prepares in the sport, but not everything translates one for one. And not every style is for every person. So what does it mean for your organization to adopt this leadership style? Let's ta...

You gotta read this book! But you need to be ready. David Goggins is non-judgmental, but he is also crystal clear about personal accountability in the quest for excellence and achievement. Words matter. Mindset matters. Clarity matters. Consistency matters. Preparation matters. GRACE matters. It's not about perfection, it's about continuing the journey to the goal and understanding failure is not...

When it is really noisy, it is important to get simple to get clear. Often, we are subjected to these elaborate processes to determine our strategies and goals. But that is just form over substance. It is really quite simple: What is the goal? What are you going to stop doing, start doing and continue doing to get there? That clarity helps the noise disappear and the path become clear. About the H...

It is not easy to wade through the chaos if your mind isn't clear. In order to lead others and manage your own style, you have to be clear on who you are, where you are, what you want, and what you need to get there. Once you do that, you can clearly articulate to others the direction, the reason for the direction, and the anticipated outcomes. Clarity is a beautiful thing. Let's make it a habit!

At the root of unmet expectations is a failure to communicate clearly. Communication requires the desire and the willingness to listen and understand the other person's perspective. It is also a willingness to modify words, tone, and structure to ensure the message is understood in the manner in which it is intended. Leaders understand the importance of great communication and are willing to take...

Is making a pivot a requirement? Or can we methodically evaluate and then decide? I would argue that it's the latter. The "pivot" has become the action of choice lately, but that negates the fact that initial action and direction were also purposeful and planned. Remaining flexible is important, but sometimes change is just clarification of purpose. It is just the next step on the journey not a re...

Those from whom nothing is expected cannot disappoint abundantly. This statement blew my mind. Why? Because it spoke simply and clearly to the FREEDOM that can be had when no one expects anything from us. Of course, the freedom to do nothing, but more powerfully, the freedom to do amazing things! What a concept!   About the Host: Laurel Rutledge's human-centered approach, empathy, and understandin...

Being disciplined really can suck. But it doesn't have to if we change our perspective from what we are "supposed" to do to what we learn from whatever we are doing. Then we take that learning to inform our actions to get to our desired outcomes. The discipline in and of itself is usually not the goal. The goal is something much bigger. But if we base our achievement solely on the level of our dis...

You have spent lots of resources preparing yourself to deliver – time, money, energy. Blood, sweat, tears. And yet, it is awkward or seems out of integrity to ask someone to invest in or with you. Why? Because what's missing is the true BELIEF in your value and the ability to articulate that value attached to the investment. But if you don't believe it YOU, why should anyone else? You are worth yo...

You never know who is watching! We often inspire people from afar – without ever even knowing it. And we are inspired by people whose stories we hear but who we never meet. What we forget to do sometimes is figure out how to inspire ourselves. The idea of not being tired but being uninspired is a powerful one. Being uninspired is a recipe for mediocrity. Finding those things that inspire you is cr...

Rachel Perry embodies all the qualities that make a great leader. She seeks feedback and uses it to move forward. She takes on roles that are outside of her comfort zone. She leads with transparency, honesty, and integrity. Rachel understands what she brings to the table; and because of that knowledge, she has the courage to tell others where their expertise fills in a gap in hers. For Rachel, lif...

I've reached a point in my life where I am selective about how and where and on whom I spend my energy. That includes deciding what I'm willing to go to battle over. But the deeper question that comes to mind, is this: is the fight ABOUT something or FOR something. The things we fight ABOUT may be complex, but the fight is personal. The things we fight FOR are often complex but are about issues gr...

My guest Tiffany Williams is the walking example of "go big or go home." She had a vision for what she wanted to do and decided the time was now. She took the risk to start her own business instead of the traditional path of employment because she trusted that, if it didn't work, she could find a job. Her belief in her own ability and learning to trust the process put her on a path to building a b...

Codeswitching from a social interaction perspective is a real phenomenon for those who are deemed as "other." The need to manipulate language or attitude or the need to emulate behavior that is seen as more "successful" creates an inauthentic existence that is difficult to maintain at best – trauma-inducing at worst. And yet, the adaptability and flexibility, and pure emotional intelligence that i...

There is a desire to know our roots to get grounded in our "belonging." And there is so much strength in that – and a little bit of trepidation because you never know what you will find when you digging for information. But our strength comes from the stories of survival and triumph that permeate our histories. We all have history and we all have the ability to be history makers. We should celebra...