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The Bold and Courageous Leader Podcast

The Bold & Courageous Leader podcast brings resources to Christian marketplace leaders thirsting for a deeper connection between faith and work. Hosts Rhonda Peterson and Andee Marks provide insightful discussion, interviews with front-line leaders and those who have discovered unique ways of integrating calling and career, and reviews of current and classic leadership cultivating essentials. If you want to develop clarity and focus, a keen sense of time and energy management, and hone your God-given gifts to release your full potential, then this podcast is for you.
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Dec 28, 2016

As we move from 2016 to 2017, many people make New Year’s resolutions.  They take stock of where they’ve been and what they’ve accomplished.  In light of this process, we share this podcast redux, featuring Rhonda and Andee reviewing Andee’s results for the assessment, Where Are You Investing Your Life?  We discuss Priorities, Observations, Strengths and Weaknesses, Insights and the importance of Action Steps.

As you move into the New Year, we invite you to take the assessment yourself.  What will you find and how will this shape your new year? (And if you’re reading this or listening at another time of year, you can start anew at any point.  Take the assessment and find out where you’re investing your life.)

Key takeaways:

Where you are investing your life shows what is most important to you. If you find a disconnect between your schedule and your priorities, consider the changes you might make so your calendar matches your highest priorities.

Andee found a great sense of freedom in completing the assessment.  She learned some new things and became more intentional about connecting her relational values to each entry on her calendar.

Resources:

Where are You Investing Your Life: rhondapeterson.com/assessment

Calendar Sheets:                          Scatteredsquirrel.com

                                                   Productive flourishing.com

 

 

Dec 21, 2016

You Can have Peaceful Relationships Holiday Redux: an Interview with Rosemary Losser

Today’s podcast is a redux of our interview with Rosemary Losser, conflict management specialist.  With the holiday season in full swing, conflicts within families are often heightened.  We bring you this re-broadcast of Rosemary’s interview as our Christmas gift to you. We wish you holiday gatherings where conflict isn’t a dirty word, but an invitation to grow into more of who God created each person to become.

The Bold and Courageous Leader podcast team; Andee Marks, Dean Heid, Jill Lammi and I, all wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Rosemary Losser shares her journey as a Bold and Courageous Leader from a lack of confidence to living out the message she is called to share with the world.  Rosemary is an expert in conflict resolution. She has a Master’s Degree in Leadership and Personal Development, as well as graduate certification in Conflict Resolution and Peacemaking from Duquesne University.  Along with these credentials, she has a Life Coaching Certificate in coaching Work Teams from the Professional Christian Coaching Institute. 

She has become the "go to" person to mediate conflicts and present training programs on communication and conflict resolution.  She created comprehensive Leadership Development, Communication and Conflict Resolution Program to help leaders create a workplace where open, honest, and cooperative relationships are valued, and productivity is maintained.   Her signature program is Productivity through Peaceful Relationships. She provides one-on-one and group coaching,  as well as on-site training. Coming soon are online courses and webinars.

She shares her expertise with us in this podcast – teaching us valuable tips about conflict, perspective, and relationship building along the way.  She’s generously provided us with her LIFE poem, an acronym to help us remember the steps to conflict resolution.

Gems from the Interview:

“Life is all about conflict, solving one conflict after another.  That’s how we develop.”

“Conflict is normal and a sign of growth.”

“The strongest quality of a leader is being a listener.”

“It doesn’t have to be my way or your way, but let’s create a way.”

The LIFE acronym is the foundation of Rosemary’s conflict resolution process. She’s created a poem with it. Click here to download it.

Resources:

Dec 15, 2016

Have you ever experienced that much of what you learn from a conference comes from outside the time spent AT the conference?  That’s definitely been my experience of the Faith and Work Conference.  The value of attending a conference is in:

 

  1. New Information
  2. New Connections
  3. New Insights and Awareness

 

At the Faith & Work Conference 2016, I learned a great deal of new information.  The conference is hosted by the Center for Faith & Work, connected to Redeemer Presbyterian Church.  Rev. David Kim is the Executive Director.  The center focuses on helping workers in all different walks of life see the work they do in relationship to their faith and the intersection of the two.  Work is how we live out our role in the Kingdom of God – what we do, when we recognize it and live intentionally into where God is calling us – is Kingdom work. 

 

The honor of work was the focus of the conference.  This year’s conference was “The Wonder and Fear of Technology”.  Addressing technology in relationship to Faith and Work made the conference more full and robust.  This focus flipped my thought process.

 

  • Technology was used in the Bible. “Subdue the earth” requires technology.
    1. We are blind to much of technology.
    2. Technology is an extension of who we are.
  • Uses of technology are potentially good. At the conference I experienced this in two specific ways:
    1. Conference app – connections, surveys, information source.
    2. Uber for transportation.

 

Conference Insights

 

Work = Industriousness

  1. The production of the world
  2. Income
  3. Purpose

 

Costs of Technology

  1. Good – ease of accomplishing tasks through technology.
  2. Bad – job loss, replacing of human contributions in certain sectors.
  3. Ugly – ease of exploitation, dark side is it interferes with developing relationships as a developmental part of growing up.

 

Conference Attendance Benefits

  1. Knowledge
  2. Connections
  3. Stretching outside your comfort zone. What new insight will grow you in unexpected ways?

Resources from Today’s Podcast

Nov 30, 2016

Join us for a wide-ranging conversation with Teresa McCloy, solopreneur effectiveness coach.  Teresa started out as a serial entrepreneur. She then moved into full-time ministry for over 15 years.  In the last few years she’s returned to her entrepreneurial roots, joining her husband on the family grain farm.  She’s also obtained certification as a Spiritual Director and is working on Coaching Certification. 

This is how she describes her recent journey; “In the past year I have discovered my passion in the field of coaching which is really what I have been doing all my life and didn’t know it.  I feel a true calling to help Leaders and Solopreneurs discover how to be effective and efficient so they create intentional space in their lives to enjoy and do what matters most to them.”

Our interview covers a range of topics focused on Teresa’s career and family journey.  She shares the good and the challenging as she listened to God’s voice, doing her best to stay in the space where God was calling her for the current life season.

Teresa’s recommended resources:

Nozbe productivity app: - http://nozbe.com/a-teresamccloy

Living Forward by Michael Hyatt

Essentialism by Greg McKeown

Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton

Find out more about Teresa at her website: teresamccloy.com

On her website, you can get her FREE Resource: 7 Steps to an Effective Weekly Review. This also allows you to subscribe to her monthly newsletter with monthly tips and tricks for Solopreneurs to be Effective and Efficient.

Nov 24, 2016

What happens when we view our work as a good thing from God?  When you count your blessings, do you include your work?  This podcast is an exploration of how work is part of the abundance in our lives.  Also, join us in the challenge at the end of the podcast to list your gifts during this Thanksgiving and Advent season.

Nov 9, 2016

What happens when your neatly planned life is turned upside down by unexpected events?  Sometimes things happen we can’t plan for and our only choice is to respond in the best way possible.

Sep 20, 2016

Masterpiece Work Defined

"The Bible does not say you are God's appliance; it says you are His masterpiece.  Appliances get mass produced.  Masterpieces get handcrafted." John Ortberg.  Today we're going to talk about being God's masterpiece.  Specifically how our work is masterpiece work because we are God's masterpiece.

In The Deeper Journey, Robert Mulholland says, "Union with God results in our being a person through whom God's presence touches the world with forgiving cleansing, healing, liberating and transforming grace." That is the privilege we have in our masterpiece work.  Whether we are the CEO, the accountant, the mechanic, the pastor or the teacher - or any other job title, for that matter - in our masterpiece work, we have the privilege of connecting the world to God's presence by being who He created us, living out our true identity.  

We need to understand this, to internalize this truth.  It allows us to find our masterpiece work, the place where our life has deep meaning. Instead of being a cog in the wheel, we're stepping into our unique role as a child of the King, doing work He created specifically for each of us in the beginning.  

What is Masterpiece Work?

Masterpiece work is the work God created for each of us long ago.  We come to understand it as we are transformed, as we are created anew by growing deeper in our faith.  When we grow deeper in our faith, moving from a transactional faith to a transformational faith, we see the world differently, including our role in the world of work.  Our marketplace perspective shifts.

Where did this concept come from?

It stems from Ephesians 2:10.

We are God's masterpiece, created anew in Christ Jesus for the work he created for us long ago.

Genius Work vs. Masterpiece Work

Genius work is work that you are best at. Its work that gives you satisfaction, uses your strengths, and provides good outcomes.   It comes from inside you.

Masterpiece work is what you were created for.  There was a creator who knit you together with specific skills, strengths and gifts.  The way you are wired is not a fluke, but an intentional design by the God who loves you individually.  

The difference between genius work and masterpiece work is the recognition of God’s role in creating you for this work.

4 Components to Masterpiece Work

  1. It fits your strengths, gifts and passions.
  2. It is fulfilling.
  3. It is an extension of relationship with Jesus.
  4. You can do masterpiece work in any setting.  

What’s the path to Masterpiece Work?

  1. Journey inward, where we experience the Heart of God.  Here we learn how much we are loved and the fact that we are created for relationship with God.  
  2. We are formed in the image of Christ.
  3. Christ shapes us for the masterpiece work for which we were created.  He reveals in us those things that relate to our masterpiece work so we can connect to it.
  4. Christ’s image is reflected into the world in the work we do.
  • More space – we experience more space to live out our masterpiece work as we understand the meaning in our work.
  • More safety – we have no fear as we live fully into the masterpiece work we’ve been created to do.
  • More freedom – when we’re in that masterpiece work zone, we are free to express our true identity.  There are no constraints holding us back from fully engaging in our work.

 Masterpiece work looks different for every person

  1. The work you've done in the past, seen through different eyes.
  2. A new path that takes what you've learned in the past and uses it in new ways.  
  3. It may be work that springs from something you've done as a hobby or a new perspective on what you've experienced as a volunteer or a patient.  

Resources

The Deeper Journey, by Robert Mulholland Jr.

Sep 8, 2016

Leadership is a crucible of self-awareness.  As a leader, you’re out front, visible; that’s a key part of being a leader.  If others can’t see you, they can’t possibly follow you.  That visibility can be a benefit and a curse.  Your leadership is developed in the crucible of the life of your group, your team, your organization, your family.  That is an opportunity for succeeding and also an opportunity to fail.  Leading when at your best gives others a way forward, a vision for what can be and a way to get there. 

There is another side to leadership, though.  As a Bold & Courageous Leader you need to be aware of this side of leadership; the side that can trip you up and cause you to fail in your leadership. This side of leadership is often referred to as the shadow side of leadership.  Without awareness of this side, you will most certainly trip and fail in your leadership.  I’ve done it.  I’m sure you have, too. 

The Shadow Side of Leadership defined

Shadow side of leadership is any strength or behavioral style used to excess, going into overdrive. This overused strength becomes negative and creates toxic environments and relationships. It leads to resistance and a failure of leadership, rather than success.

How do we address the shadow of our leadership?

  1. Self-awareness – know your strengths and what the shadow of it looks like.
    1. According to StrengthsFinder, Maximizer is my top strength – the shadow of maximizer is perfectionism.  I struggle with this and have moved to a goal of excellence, not perfection.  This takes lots of pressure off and allows me to move forward.
    2. We've talked before about what self-awareness is, but as I was recently re-reading a book by Reggie McNeal, Practicing Greatness, I was struck by his comments about self-awareness. He uses six words to portray the meaning of self awareness:

Self-knowledge (knowing who you are)

Self-mindfulness (understanding your motives for doing what you do)

Self-vigilance (knowing what makes you tick and what ticks you off)

Self-consciousness (knowing how you come across to others)

Self-alertness (maintaining your emotional, physical, and spiritual condition)

The discipline of self-awareness then is the leader's intentional quest for self-understanding. The hazards of not engaging in this discipline can be disastrous for a leader! Hidden addictions or compulsions may lead to behaviors that create huge problems. McNeal points out the risk of being blindsided by destructive impulses and confused by emotions that threaten to derail the leader's agenda and effectiveness, as well as the risk of over- or under-estimating their abilities, leading to unpredictable responses. He makes the excellent point that for followers, credibility rides or falls on consistency—something leaders who are short on self-awareness usually do not have!

McNeal states that "leaders lacking self-awareness are besieged from within," making them their own worst enemy!

  1. Accountability Partners – others to walk the path with you.
    1. Find others you trust to speak into your life. Authorize them to speak, and then listen to what they say.
  2. Reflection time
    1. Set aside time to consider your leadership. What does it look like?  Is that how you want to interact with the world?  Margin is important here.  It gives you permission to evaluate your leadership and the relationships that are part of it.  How are you showing up?  Where are the gaps you need to address in your self?
    2. This speaks to self-alertness—if you don't have margin...don't spend time reflecting on what's going on internally, you will be unable to maintain your emotional, physical, and spiritual condition!

Resources:

StrengthsFinder 2.0, by Tom Rath

Practicing Greatness, by Reggie McNeal

Sep 2, 2016

The concept of “margin” has been around for a long time. Margin is the white space in life that allows us to rest so we can work effectively.

Margin is critical for productivity.  

Margin provides us with: 

  1. Rest.  Our body and our mind need time to regroup.  Eventually we must stop and let our body and mind catch up.  It's been found that sleep is when the brain transfers information into memory so we can access it in the future.
  2. Creativity.  Margin allows us to see solutions or new potential. Doing something different provides new connections by giving you a different focus.  It’s white space in your brain. We make new connections because we can see things from a new perspective after we've had some margin in our life. 
  1. A fresh start.  A fresh start provides new energy toward accomplishing our goals....getting stuff done! 

This is why we need margin in our lives.  We are not machines!  We are human beings and we cannot keep a pace of perpetual motion if we expect to make our best contribution to our work, our family, our community.   

Margin is critical to doing our best work.  

Margin only happens when we make it happen.  Michael Hyatt says, "Margin doesn't just happen, you have to fight for it."  And that is so true.  

 

Our culture does not support margin, despite all the books out there that address it!

Building margin into your life:

Daily—power naps, a real lunch hour, limit the amount of time you spend working,  

Weekly—Sabbath/day of rest, turn off electronics 

Annually—vacation, extended time away from work/productivity (not time to get work done at home) 

Resources

Margin, by Richard Swensen

Essentialism, by Greg McKeown

The Best Yes, by Lisa TerKeurst

The Contemplative Pastor, by Eugene Peterson

Invitation to Silence and Solitude, by Ruth Haley Barton

Sacred Rhythms, by Ruth Haley Barton

Aug 22, 2016

Listener Questions Answered

Today’s podcast features two questions submitted by our listeners:

  1. How do you know you’re a morning person?
  2. How do you know your WHY?

How do you know you’re a morning person?

In an earlier podcast, Rhonda mentioned she is a morning person.  Andee and Rhonda discussed the meaning of a morning person and how one goes about determining whether they are a morning person.

  1. Know your biorhythms.

This article from Psychology Today gives some insight into Biorhythms:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200404/biorhythms-get-in-step

  1. Know what is required of you to complete your task.

Andee shared her secret weapon when faced with a big task she feels unprepared to tackle.  She starts with a nap. Her strategy is supported by this article from Inc.com: http://www.inc.com/travis-bradberry/sleep-deprivation-is-killing-you-and-your-career.html

This is an interesting point from the article.  “One of the biggest peaks in melatonin production happens between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.

Andee’s Power Nap Training Instructions

  1. Find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed for 15 minutes. (If you work in your cubicle, is there somewhere else you can go?)
  2. If you have an office, turn your chair so you are facing away from the door.
  3. Set an alarm on your phone for 10 – 15 minutes. Make sure it’s no longer than 15 minutes.
  4. Prop your feet up and lean your head back into the chair.
  5. Relax and allow yourself to drift off.

Whether you are a morning person or a night owl, it comes down to knowing your time of highest productivity and scheduling your most important work tasks during those times as much as possible.

How do you know your WHY?

This question was posed after a listener heard our podcast, How is Your WHY Communicated to the World? The answer is one we’ll be addressing more fully at the upcoming Bold & Courageous Leader Retreat.  Your life experiences point to your WHY. Once you understand this, you can see your WHY more clearly.  You can download a copy of the assessment we use for this process here

Finding your WHY takes time.  It requires reflecting on your life.  There’s an arrow there; it takes time and reflection to see it pointing toward your WHY.  The time you spend identifying your WHY is well worth it.

Aug 15, 2016

Rosemary Losser shares her journey as a Bold and Courageous Leader from a lack of confidence to living out the message she is called to share with the world.  Rosemary is an expert in conflict resolution. She has a Master’s Degree in Leadership and Personal Development, as well as graduate certification in Conflict Resolution and Peacemaking from Duquesne University.  Along with these credentials, she has a Life Coaching Certificate in coaching Work Teams from the Professional Christian Coaching Institute. 

She has become the "go to" person to mediate conflicts and present training programs on communication and conflict resolution.  She created comprehensive Leadership Development, Communication and Conflict Resolution Program to help leaders create a workplace where open, honest, and cooperative relationships are valued, and productivity is maintained.   Her signature program is Productivity through Peaceful Relationships. She provides one-on-one and group coaching,  as well as on-site training. Coming soon are online courses and webinars.

She shares her expertise with us in this podcast – teaching us valuable tips about conflict, perspective, and relationship building along the way.  She’s generously provided us with her LIFE poem, an acronym to help us remember the steps to conflict resolution.

Gems from the Interview:

“Life is all about conflict, solving one conflict after another.  That’s how we develop.”

“Conflict is normal and a sign of growth.”

“The strongest quality of a leader is being a listener.”

“It doesn’t have to be my way or your way, but let’s create a way.”

The LIFE acronym is the foundation of Rosemary’s conflict resolution process. She’s created a poem with it. Click here to download it. 

Resources:

Aug 4, 2016

Beth Boehr wears many hats; investment advisor, budgeting resource and author. God has impressed on her heart the need to share a message of developing your legacy, the practical nuts and bolts details that your family needs in times of crisis or losing a loved one, as well as the emotional story you want to share with your family to be carried on through the generations.


Love Legacy Ledger
Beth’s life journey includes losing her Mom as a young woman and her husband in her mid-forties. After these experiences, she felt God calling her to organize her own papers and documents. Through that process, she developed a product for others called Love Legacy Ledger. This book is about the practical side of life. As she developed the Love Legacy Ledger, it became more obvious that there was more to the story.


Love Legacy Letter
Love Legacy Letter is in the design process right now. This book focuses on the emotional side of life. What do you want to be passed on to the next generations from your life? Just as the Bible shows us, there are lessons and stories that were passed down through the generations…ones that we’re learning from today. The book includes a collection of probing questions to stir your mind and heart to remember. Sometimes it’s painful; sometimes it brings laughter, sometimes tears. We need to take time to express the emotions.


Lessons from Nehemiah
Learning her WHY helped her to understand her reason for this passion. Through studying the book of Nehemiah, she learned that we need to rebuild healthy walls in our families; we need to tear down the unhealthy ones and get healing. My big vision for the Love Legacy is a retreat center where you have opportunities to have intentional conversations with each other. We need a focused time to say our family is coming together to share our hearts, to let our hearts be heard.
She says, “God has given me a vision and I’m learning to trust him for the journey.”


For more information on Love Legacy Ledger or Love Legacy Letter, contact Beth!
Email: mylovelegacy@gmail.com
Phone: 419-358-4146

 

Jul 21, 2016

In this podcast, Rhonda and Andee discuss the three kinds of pruning described by Dr. Henry Cloud and how that benefits us in life.

Initial Thoughts

Our culture isn’t good at endings.

“Pruning a bush means making hard decisions about proactive endings,” Dr. Cloud says.  This is the same process we need to go through in determining where we need to prune in our lives.

3 Kinds of Pruning Needed to Reach Your Vision

  1. Healthy buds and branches that aren’t the best ones. We have to evaluate relationships, activities, and obligations to determine which need to be pruned so we can thrive.  We have to say No to the good so we can say Yes to the best.

We must ask ourselves the question, “What does it mean to say something is good vs. best?”

  1. Sick or diseased branches are an energy drain on the plant. They can infect the plant or hold down production.  It’s the same way with us. We have a finite amount of time and energy.  Pursuing endeavors that are unable to produce good fruit is counterproductive.  Future Fruit depends on pruning away things that are sick or diseased. 

When we prune away those things that don’t provide results, we can invest our time and energy where we make the biggest difference.  THIS is where we can make the biggest Kingdom difference.

  1. Dead branches take up space needed by healthy branches. New growth has to twist and turn around old branches.  Old limiting beliefs need to be replaced with the truth of honoring, valuing and living into your strengths.  We need to view our strengths as the strengths they truly are, not weaknesses.

Pruning old outdated activities, connections, meetings and email lists can give you space in your inbox, calendar, and mind.  Removing these helps you be more productive in the space you’re in today.

We tend to shy away from pruning; it sounds really painful.  However, if we’re willing to go through the process, we can produce some beautiful fruit.

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast:

Necessary Endings, by Dr. Henry Cloud

Jul 14, 2016

Wiping the Slate Clean: Leveraging the Fresh Start Effect

The Fresh Start Effect is defined as the energy and determination we feel when we're able to wipe the slate clean.  Katherine Milkman, of the Wharton School identified the fresh start effect. 

Identifying Your Fresh Start

Defining the point of a fresh start can really make a difference.  When we define our fresh start by identifying a prime date, we’re much more successful in accomplishing the goals.  It’s how our mind defines that fresh start date.  We put a stake in the ground that we’re making a fresh start here.  We’re wiping the slate clean as of this date. There’s a marker there with which we identify.

Fresh starts can be calendar related (New Year’s Day, first day of spring, Thanksgiving).  We also have fresh starts in the context of the rhythms of our lives (starting a new job, marriage, anniversary, and birthday).

A fresh start may require releasing on what came before so you have room for the new opportunities that come in the fresh start. Wiping the slate clean requires intentionality.  We do that by creating a period of rest or Sabbath to release and receive; releasing what I needed to release, receiving the wisdom and insights I needed to receive…all while catching your breath.

Andee shares a suggestion of creating a fresh start during the day – at a time when you’re energy is flagging.  Mentally clear your mind, letting your body renew and refresh to reset your body.  Your productivity will soar when you give yourself that little fresh start.

Smart Leaders use the Fresh Start Effect

We have personal fresh starts; as leaders we set fresh starts for our team.  How do we use the fresh start effect to establish momentum for our team?  What does that mean for each team member individually?  Leveraging the fresh start effect for our teams can be done through stopping and reflecting, and celebrating when we complete a project.  WE can then give and receive feedback and evaluate the successes and learnings of the project. That provides closure, which is necessary to move forward.

Three Takeaways

Three takeaways about the fresh start effect from today’s conversation:

  1. Identify the natural fresh start opportunities in your life.
  2. Incorporate a time of rest or Sabbath in your life, create space to rest.
  3. Recognize the need for closure.

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast:

Interview with Katherine Milkman: http://www.strategy-business.com/article/00266?gko=6c11d

Andee’s blog post: https://andeemarks.me/2016/07/11/a-lesson-from-psalm-3/

Jul 7, 2016

Alignment is a word that’s become part of my vocabulary recently.  Thanks to some ergonomic issues in my office, I’ve been forced to focus on alignment and the body.  It’s not just our physical body that requires alignment in our workplace.  Our mind and spirit also benefit from alignment in our work.  The definition of alignment is “the proper positioning or state of adjustment of parts in relation to each other.”

When our God-given identity is not reflected in our work, we are out of alignment.  We struggle to stay motivated, to find meaning in the work we are doing on a daily basis.  We’re mentally, emotionally and spiritually all hunched over, in a defensive position.  We feel frustrated and stuck.  We don’t have proper positioning. Our parts are not in a state of adjustment in relation to each other.

When we have alignment of our body, mind and spirit, we are living as our True Self.  Only out of True Self can we interact authentically with others.

3 Benefits of Alignment  

  1. Releases potential
  2. Facilitates collaboration, as opposed to unhealthy competition (= vying for position and power)
  3. Enhances productivity

Alignment with Your Masterpiece Work

It always comes back to self-awareness as the understanding of our Masterpiece Work.  We have a deeper understanding of our self and what motivates us.  We have more “Open Space” as we consider the JoHari Window.  For more information on the JoHari Window, listen to the JoHari Window podcast here.

As a leader, operating out of your True Self is a catalyst for others to do the same.  When you’re in alignment with your True Self – Body, Mind and Spirit – you are living into who God created you, your being and doing is in alignment with His Masterpiece design for you.  You’re doing your Masterpiece work.

In this podcast, we talk about alignment in our workplace.  Our mind and spirit also benefit from alignment in our work.  The definition of alignment is “the proper positioning or state of adjustment of parts in relation to each other.”

When our God-given identity is not reflected in our work, we are out of alignment.  We struggle to stay motivated, to find meaning in the work we are doing on a daily basis.  We’re mentally, emotionally and spiritually all hunched over, in a defensive position.  We feel frustrated and stuck.  We don’t have proper positioning. Our parts are not in a state of adjustment in relation to each other.

Announcing the Bold & Courageous Leader Retreat!

Today, we’re announcing the Bold & Courageous Leader Retreat.  It’s September 30 to October 2 at the Sawmill Creek Resort in Huron, Ohio on the shores of Lake Erie.

 Here, you will discover better alignment with God’s masterpiece work for you.  You’ll find the opportunity and space to spend time listening for God's voice, allowing him to speak into your spirit, reminding you of how He created you as His masterpiece.  Gaining a deeper understanding of your masterpiece identity provides a profound alignment between work and your faith.

You'll leave the retreat refreshed, with a deeper understanding of God's desire and design for your life.  You'll return to work with a new perspective, anchored in your identity in Christ.

Listen for more details on the retreat in upcoming podcasts.  There are also more details on my website, rhondapeterson.com.  We would love to have you join us!

Jun 30, 2016

Liana George is a Professional Organizer and the owner of By George Organizing Solutions. She works one on one with clients to help them bring order, peace and balance to their homes and lives. Liana is also a writer, teacher and speaker on a variety of organizing topics.

Liana tells us everyone can be organized.  It doesn’t look the same for everybody.  Just do it  your way.

She started her company, By George Organizing Solutions, as her oldest daughter went off to college.  She figured out she can use her skills in organizing to be of help to others. 

She loves the smile on people’s faces when we’re done bringing order to a space.  They feel relief because they have a lighter load from releasing some stuff that was weighing them down and burdening them.

Liana starts her process by asking her clients for their vision, their goal for the project.  The process looks different based on what they’re looking for. 

Liana shared some thoughts and the organizational style by brain type from Lanna Nakone’s book, Organizing for Your Brain Type. The four Brain Types are:

  • Maintainer – orderly, likes structure and details, lists, schedules and predictability
  • Harmonizer – sociable, like space covered with reminders of people – pictures, collectibles
  • Prioritizer – very good at time management, goal and results driven, they design their space to support their goals.
  • Innovator – creative, spontaneous, don’t like structure or rules, free spirits, like things out, open so they can see them. Hooks and clear containers work well for them.

Liana’s wisdom as we talked about each type is, “Quit fighting your type and work with who you are.  You’ll keep it up if you work with who you are.”

The Faith Connection

Liana says, “God is a God of order.  All God does has order to it.  We are built with an innate need for order.  It doesn’t say in the Bible, “You shalt be orderly.”  Rather, I find gems and examples of being orderly. In Ecclesiastes, “There’s a time for gathering and a time for letting go.”  Exodus 16 is full of great lessons for trusting God for our needs and having more than enough.  That’s part of orderly living.”

When we’re so bogged down with stuff, we can’t do what God’s called us to do.  The stuff gets in the way.

4 Keys to Bring Order to a Leader’s Work Life

Liana shared these four keys to help leaders best organize for their role as a leader:

  1. Make a To Do List – Prioritize 3-5 things each day for getting work done.
  2. Delegate – Don’t just tell, but show.
  3. Organize Your Work Space – It’s hard to work and think in a cluttered, chaotic space.
  4. Have an Organized Home – This is a support to get to work on time and in a positive frame of mind.
  5. Resources
  • Organizing for Your Brain Type by Lanna Nakone
  • Every Child has a Thinking Style by Lanna Nakone
  • Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern
  • Organizing for the Right Side of the Brain by Lee Silber
  1. You can reach Liana through her website: com. There you’ll find her blog, as well as classes and her 180 Challenge – a decluttering challenge where you receive a weekly email to help you focus your decluttering.
Jun 24, 2016

What is it?  Mindset is your beliefs about yourself and your basic qualities – your intelligence, talents and personality.  Carol Dweck, a psychologist, and research on achievement and success has found that your mindset, your beliefs about your basic qualities, make all the difference in your life. There are two mindsets:

Fixed mindset – traits are just givens. You possess a certain amount of intelligence and talent that is unchanging throughout your life. You better excel at whatever you do naturally and you have to constantly prove your capabilities.

Growth mindset – your traits/qualities are just the starting point.  Through work and dedication, you can develop your traits and qualities to even higher levels.  You start out with one level of intelligence but can develop to even higher levels. 

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast:

Mindset, by Carol Dweck

Carol Dweck Ted Talk on Mindset

http://mindsetonline.com

To connect with Rhonda and discuss coaching to a more growth mindset, send an email with the subject line Mindset to rhonda@rhondapeterson.com.

Jun 16, 2016

How is your WHY communicated to the world?

Start with Why, written by Simon Sinek looks at success as the answer to a series of questions he calls “The Golden Circle”.

(Download your own copy of the diagram here: Golden Circle Diagram)

It’s a rare individual or organization that can articulate their Why, the reason they get up and go to work in the morning.  Your personal Why is your purpose, the belief that underlies everything you do.

The Golden Circle, with WHY at the center, is similar to a simple diagram of the brain and how we process information.

(Download your own copy of this diagram here: Golden Circle to Brain Diagram)

The What circle relates to the Neocortex, the Homo Sapien brain, the newest part of our brain, the center of logic, analytical thought and language.

The How and Why circles relate to the Limbic brain, responsible for our feelings, behavior, and decision-making.  This part of our brain has no capacity for language. 

Clarifying your Why defines the measuring stick that provides alignment in your work and your personal life.  You’ll match the authentic you on the inside to the work you do on the outside.

After you identify your Why, you need the discipline of How people to translate the Why into reality, a tangible expression. 

A Why without a tangible expression is just a dream.

Why equals Vision, How equals Strategy.

“People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.” Simon Sinek

The Golden Circle translates to a megaphone so you can share your message with the world.

(Download your own copy of the diagram here: Golden Circle to Cone Diagram

Click here for the Golden Circle TED Talk

Start with Why, by Simon Sinek: Find the book here!

Jun 9, 2016

Crystal Balas is a Christian Life & Leadership Coach, Personal Trainer and Exercise Instructor.  She focuses on healthy lifestyles, specializing in female baby boomers who need to practice self-care, time management, and work/life balance. They are rejuvenating their identity and life as they transition into the second half of life.   

She describes herself as an Overcomer, as she has gotten up and moved forward through many challenges in her life.  She says, “I’m a better me today than I was in my twenties.  I’m healthier physically, spiritually and mentally today.”

Crystal shares her journey from abused wife to single mom to working woman to entrepreneur.  Over the years, God and her community of faith have been constants in her life.  Listen as Crystal tells her story. Her message of hope and resilience in the face of major challenges will encourage you on your own journey as a Bold & Courageous Leader.

Her parting thought for us is, “If I can do it, you can do it, too!”

For more information on Crystal visit her website or her blog:

Website:              www.crystalrivercoaching.com

Blog:                      www.crystalrivercoaching.wordpress.com

Crystal mentioned two books in her interview:

Boundaries, by Henry Cloud, PhD and John Thompson, PhD

Daring Greatly, by Brené Brown

May 26, 2016

Often fear of failure leads to being stuck in our current state.  Our perspective on failure is clearly related to whether we move into new opportunities in our life or remain stuck in situations where we are frustrated with our circumstances.  In this podcast, Andee and Rhonda explore the brain process of moving from stuck to higher levels of competence, as well as how our perspective on failure impacts our ability to get unstuck.

The Conscious Competence Learning model was developed in the 1970’s by Noel Burch at the Gordon Training Institute.  And this is what our brain tells us.  There is a process we go through as we develop a new skill/knowledge/thinking process.  This is how it goes:

  1. Unconscious incompetence – we are merrily going along our way. We have no idea there is anything we need to know/see/do in an area of our life so we are unconscious of the fact that we are incompetent in whatever it is we don’t see.  
  2. Conscious incompetence – we become aware we are lacking the skill/knowledge/thinking process we need now. We are consciously aware of the fact that we are incompetent IN THIS AREA.  At this point, we have a choice to make.  Do I move through this uncomfortable place of not knowing so I can become competent? Even if I may embarrass myself in the process?  Or do I stay in this incompetent state? 
  3. Conscious Competence – I am developing my skills. In this place I’m very conscious of each move I make in the process of practicing my skill.  I’m very aware of the fact that I’m getting better and my skills/knowledge and thinking are moving into a place of being competent.  I am very aware (conscious) of the fact that I am LEARNING how to be competent. 

For many who are stuck in their role, this is the place they fear.  They know if they admit their conscious incompetence, they’re going to need assistance in some way to learn the new thing that will get them unstuck.  And so they stay stuck, frustrated with where they are; knowing that there must be something better, but unable to find a way to the place they need to go.  That’s the time and place where a coach, a counselor or a mentor could be so valuable in helping them see a different option, a way of moving from conscious incompetence to conscious competence.

  1. Unconscious Competence – in this space, the new skill/knowledge/thought process becomes second nature. The mastery you sought is now part of your being, your identity.  You do the new thing with ease, not having to think through it each time, but “just knowing”.  Your process is smooth and automatic. 

The Conscious Competence Learning Model is a cycle that repeats over and over in our lives.  We become competent in one area and find another where we desire to develop our skill, a new area of competence that will add to our repertoire of tools for success.

 

May 19, 2016

The JoHari Window is a self-awareness tool. Using it gives me a clearer picture of who I am, how I am viewed by others and my impact on those around me.  This tool focuses on what is known and unknown by self and by others.  The Johari window has been around for 60 years! It was created by two psychologists, Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham in 1955. It’s a helpful tool for personal growth as well as for team development.

The Johari Window helps you become a Bold & Courageous Leader.

  • Self-awareness – gaining deeper awareness of intersection of leadership and context – who am I and how do I show up to others? Also, what is my impact on my context?  Is that positive or negative?
  • Impact on context relates to followership. Who do I follow and who follows me?  Are my blind spots causing me trouble?  The JoHari window provides a space to look at this.
  • Self-awareness reflected through the JoHari Window reflects your WHY. It can show disconnects between your WHY and your behaviors.
  • Using this tool promotes deeper levels of self-awareness, which is a hallmark of a Bold & Courageous Leader.

JoHari Window consists of 4 quadrants – each quadrant represents information regarding the individual and whether it is known or unknown by self or others. 

  • Quadrant 1: Upper left quadrant is open – known to self/known to others. This area is what is known about you by both you and others.
  • Quadrant 2: Upper right quadrant is blind – known by others/not known by self.
  • Quadrant 3: Lower left quadrant is hidden – known by self/not known by others.
  • Quadrant 4: Lower right quadrant is unknown – not known by self or others.

Quadrant 1 is the Open Area.

When working with others, it’s important to be as open and transparent as possible.  The goal is working toward an open quadrant that is as large as possible. 

  • Shared knowledge – where individual and team are aware of behavior, motivation, values, experiences and strengths.
  • Increasing this area eliminates distrust, misunderstandings and conflict.
  • Builds trust.
  • Working together helps each person learn to trust others.
  • Becomes larger through disclosure,
  • In a team with large open areas and deep trust, conflict can lead to greater productivity.

Quadrant 2 is the Blind Quadrant.

Each of us has a blind area, areas of self that we can’t see, but that are obvious to others. 

  • Can be positive or negative.
  • Safety with trusted others gives us a place to gain feedback about our blind areas.
  • Blind areas can be stumbling blocks to making your highest and best contribution. (See experience above!)

Quadrant 3 is the Hidden area.

This area is information we see, but keep hidden from others.  We all have parts of our life we choose to keep hidden. Those hidden things can be idiosyncrasies or a major faux pas we want to keep covered. Bold & Courageous Leaders create an atmosphere of trust and safety.

  • The culture of your organization has a huge influence on team members’ willingness to share their hidden self.
  • Self-disclosure requires a level of vulnerability, sharing those things that others don’t know about you. These things could be small and even seem silly or loom large in your mind.
  • Your willingness to be vulnerable, sharing about yourself at the level where you feel comfortable, provides an example of openness that encourages others to decrease their Hidden Area and bring their best to your team.

Disclosure is always at the discretion of the individual team member. No one should be pressured to share things they don’t feel safe or willing to share.

It’s amazing what a team and the individuals within the team can accomplish when they establish safety and trust within the group. Through trusting relationships:

  • Hidden skills come to the fore.
  • Individuals are willing to try new things because they know their team has their back.
  • Failure is not an end, but an opening to learn and develop something new and better.

Quadrant 4 is the Unknown Area.

This area is information unknown to the individual and others.  It is a source of latent abilities, skills and desires we possess or experiences we’ve buried in our subconscious for some reason.  Information in this area can be positive or negative.

What do we do with this information on the JoHari Window?

As Bold and Courageous Leaders, our goal is being in the Open Space as much as possible. It is part of who we are. The more we develop our Bold & Courageous identity, the deeper our awareness of self and how we interact with our context. We will always have blind and unknown areas.  Intentionality helps us to manage these quadrants.  Seeking self-awareness and feedback limits the size of our blind area.  When I face a challenge in my leadership, looking for blind spots that impact others is part of my leadership responsibility.  I don't just hold others accountable, but I also look in the mirror and take an account of my own behavior.

The JoHari Window is a tool for increased self-awareness. It works for individuals and team development. It provides a framework for understanding relationships between people and teams.  As a Bold & Courageous leader, I encourage you to consider this tool for your toolbox.  Use it to make your team and your relationships safe places to be as open as possible.

Download a copy of the JoHari Window here: http://www.rkpbusinessadvisors.com/documents/Rhonda%20Peterson-Johari%20Window.pdf

May 12, 2016

Fran LaMattina, consultive coach, Master Certified Coach and owner of Strategies for Greatness, joins us for a fast-paced interview about Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and the difference it can make in your leadership.  She provides us with an understanding of what EQ is and how it adds to our ability to make a difference in our work and personal life.

Highlights from the interview:

  • EQ provides a 35% plus or minus factor in effectiveness.  If we’re more emotionally intelligent, we can be 35% MORE effective; if we’re less emotionally intelligent, we could be 35% LESS effective.  ~ Daniel Goleman
  • EQ is comprised of 5 areas. The first three are about self, the last two are about interaction with others.
    1. Self-awareness
    2. Self-regulation
    3. Motivation
    4. Empathy
    5. Social Skills
  • EQ causes you to catch yourself in areas of danger.  Feedback helps you know when you are in a dangerous place.

“The faster we go, the less margin we have for openness.”

Resources Fran mentioned in her interview:

  • Primal Leadership, Unleashing the Power of Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman
  • Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman
  • Good to Great, Jim Collins
  • 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Steven Covey
  • What Makes a Leader, Daniel Goleman, from Harvard Business Review
  • 5 Behaviors of a Cohesive Team, Patrick Lencioni - fivebehaviors.com
  • Right Path Assessment rightpath.com

 

May 6, 2016

Suzanne Bandy shares her experience of understanding and developing her strengths. This understanding led to a new position that allows her to use her strengths and help others gain awareness and use of their strengths. She now describes herself as a Bold & Courageous Leader, because she understands her strengths as strengths, not as weaknesses. She can see her contribution through her strengths.


Highlights of the podcast include:


• When you understand your strengths, you can step out and fully embrace who you are and not apologize for it.
• To be bold and courageous is to get past fear….past the fear of not being what someone else wanted or expected you to be. Rather you’re living out of your strengths, the masterpiece work God created for you.
• To call forth and honor the strengths of all on the team is the role of the leader.
• Taking on a role that is not in your strengths withholds opportunity for someone else to contribute their masterpiece work to the team and the world.
• As leaders, we need to help others understand they will make their biggest contributions in their strengths. Our role is to give them the freedom to find that place.

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast:
Strengths Based Leadership, by Tom Rath and Barry Conchie

Apr 28, 2016

In this podcast, Rhonda and Andee review Andee’s results for the assessment, Where Are You Investing Your Life?  We discuss Priorities, Observations, Strengths and Weaknesses, Insights and the importance of Action Steps.

Key takeaways:

Where you are investing your life shows what is most important to you. If you find a disconnect between your schedule and your priorities, consider the changes you might make so your calendar matches your highest priorities.

Andee found a great sense of freedom in completing the assessment.  She learned some new things and became more intentional about connecting her relational values to each entry on her calendar.


Two websites are discussed:

Where Are You Investing Your Life? rhondapeterson.com/freeoffer

Calendar Sheets: Scatteredsquirrel.com

Apr 21, 2016

Join Rhonda and Christina "Tini" Horning as they explore the journey into authentic leadership. 

From her beginnings as a teacher to her role as an intern, a staff member, and now a leader for Campus Crusade, Tini has grown from reluctant to confident in her leadership journey. She learned a great deal about her strengths, as well as the importance of leading authentically. 

Tini and I have journeyed together for almost 10 years, first as fellow staff members at a church, then as friends and in a coaching relationship. It's been a joy to watch Tini blossom into an amazing leader. Her ability to engage those she leads is incredible. 

Listen to hear Tini's heart for Jesus expressed in her leadership journey. 

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