Stories from the Heart of Leadership: Recent Episodes
Shahmeen Sadiq, PCC
Over my years as a leadership consultant and executive coach, I’ve been fascinated by the stories that lie underneath the surface of our human façade. I’m noticing a theme: We think we are alone in our experience and we have learned that it’s not OK to talk about it.brbr Things happen in life: wonderful, terrible and sad things. It appears safer, especially at work, to put a neutral face on it all and carry on. Better to look like we have it all together than to let them see the joy, shame or dread we might be feeling on the inside.brbrMy hope is for us to become more resilient and effective by connecting at the level of our shared humanity. When someone courageously gives voice to their yearning, fear or uncertainty, the potential for creating extraordinary results at work, at home and elsewhere is exponentially increased.brbrLearn more about this, how it works and how you can put it into service in your life.
What is it like to be a consultant these days? Are you greeted with eye rolling, or enthusiasm by your clients? The media sometimes portrays consultants as an opportunistic shiver of sharks just waiting to grab their next victim. In the past I, as a member of this profession, have internalized some of this poor reputation and as a result have felt some shame in selling my services. The good news is, there are consultants out there who are trusted, trustworthy, heartfelt, conscious leaders who are oriented to being of immense service while guiding their clients to empowerment, ease and the creation of sustainable business performance and leadership effectiveness. I'm honoured to be part of a community of people just like this and am thrilled to be speaking with our leader this week. Join me in a rich conversation with Bill Adams, the CEO of Full Circle Group and The Leadership Circle to explore what it is to powerfully and effectively consult with heart, integrity and consciousness.
What do these two things have to do with each other, and why would leaders care about them? Join me on Stories from the Heart of Leadership and find out. Can't wait to be with you!
Many of us would include ourselves in the category of people who practice loving kindness - to others. We spend passionate energy being helpful, of service and on purpose. But how many in that group can also claim to practice loving kindness to themselves? I have not been particularly good at this inward practice, but am starting to turn the tides on this more now. What is the balance between being selfless and selfish? Where is the middle way that includes healthy respect and regard for self while continuing to serve others and spread good intentions and well-being out there. Join me today to discuss this radical offering - loving kindness to the self.
Are you like me? I'm so good at talking about what I'm up to from the inside, but I struggle sometimes to talk about it in an outside way. To put this in sales terms, I know the features of what I'm offering and can talk about this all day long, but when it comes to the benefits, there isn't as much flow. As my practice evolves to serve more and more people on a global scale, it is imperative that I learn to frame my offer in terms of what's in it for my clients. Join me today and learn about what is in the works at Anjali Leadership, and help me turn this upside down so that you and others like you can put this into service for your own success.
Have you ever tugged on a loose thread on a garment, thinking it's a random errant piece that will slide right out, only to find that it is much longer and actually weaves through the entire thing? Life is like that. Threads wind through your life story, often without you even realizing it. These threads have themes or patterns that are hard to see when you're in it. It's only when you are listened to by another, or when you slow things down enough to take a broader perspective, that these threads can be revealed. I've found there can be great value in taking this sideways look at these threads...and I trust you will too.
Join me as I pull out a couple of my own threads and take a look, and learn how to pull out your own. I look forward to being with you!
We've talked at length on Stories from the Heart of Leadership about how to change the mindset of individuals. What about organizations? Can they too shift, grow and develop new mindsets and actually expand their consciousness? What does it mean to be a truly conscious business anyway?
Join Shahmeen and her guest, Koray Parmaks, CEO of Telax Hosted Call Centre, as he shares his responses to these intriguing questions. Learn what it was like to navigate yet-uncharted terrain, what it took to make the organizational shift in consciousness, and how customers, employees, leaders and business performance have benefitted as a result. Bring your questions and your curiosity and join the conversation live on the show.
We look forward to being with you!
After 10+ years of working with humans to create greater leadership effectiveness, it is apparent to me that the number one thing that will determine our success is what mindset we hold. Mindset is not the same as values or purpose...although they are definitely related. I like to think of mindset as a lens that we look at life through. Imagine putting on a pair of glasses that filter the information received from out there, then deciding based on that filter, what it all means in here. This week I am joined by a new colleague, Judy Murray, who is a master at helping people to shift their mindset (or put on a new pair of glasses!) for optimal success in all areas of life. Join us and hear her story: what led her into this work and how she has helped so many. As well you will hear about how she and I are going to be working together to bring the power of Anjali Leadership to the established and growing success of Jeunesse Global. We look forward to being with you!
I've expressed and discussed gratitude many times on Stories from the Heart of Leadership, but never has it felt as important as right now. In a time of such fear, violence, polarization and harshness I see gratitude as one part of a powerful remedy and counter-balance. Sure, I could spend my time bemoaning the downhill slide, complaining about the political players, and fighting or defending against what I don't like in the world. (And I really do find myself shocked and dismayed daily when I read the newspaper.) However, when I come back to myself and the foundation I continue building for myself and my life, I'm always led back to gratitude and a commitment to focusing on what I DO want to see, hear and experience. Join me for this check-in on where things are at, how things are and then let's turn our attention to gratitude as a vehicle towards the kind of life and world we'd like to co-create. Looking forward to being with you, as always!
No matter how high you've risen in the organizational ranks, or how successful you are in your area of expertise, there is always an opportunity to continue tuning your primary instrument: yourself! This episode arises out of a continuing theme for me: coming back to the awareness that I'm a work in progress; not a finished product. Now, I'm sure that very few of us actually consciously think of ourselves as having reached some sort of destination with nothing left to learn, yet I've noticed that I, and others, sometimes operate unconsciously in this respect: believing we have to have the right answer, know everything, do it perfectly, and generally have it all together. If you know this can sometimes be true about your behaviour, join me and my guest this week and learn practices you can put into place to aid with tuning your instrument, reducing the burden of your perfectionist tendencies and increasing your overall consciousness.
Leadership is not limited to the boardroom, the office, the client meetings or the networking functions. It includes how we conduct ourselves at home, with our spouses, children and other family members, and yes, with those with whom we are in dispute. This week we will talk about leadership as it pertains to our role in fostering the best for our children, especially when we are having issues in our relationship with their other parent. Having navigated the separation with my former spouse with dignity and grace, I'm often shocked when I witness how other separating couples behave and am dismayed by how blind they seem to the impact it is having on their children. Join me today as we take on this challenging topic - for the sake of the children.
I used to think the best thing I could do was wear my strongest face, put my best foot forward and present with the most shiny, positive and sunny version of myself. In recent years I'm learning that pretending everything is just fine isn't a particularly useful strategy. What if it was OK to include everything and be present with it all? In the past few weeks life has tested this hypothesis in my world, big time. Join me for a heartfelt and courageous conversation about what it is like to include everything: the joy, the sadness, the pain, the sorrow, the elation of accomplishment, the defeat of helplessness, the satisfaction of success. Imagine what would be possible for you, if you could accept and include it all? Clear an hour of your day to nourish yourself in this deeper conversation about life and leadership. Looking forward to being with you!
You may recall an article written for Harvard Business Review by Bill Oncken, Jr., entitled Managing Management Time: Who's Got the Monkey? I had heard the term monkey on my back but was quite young when the article was written, so never knew about it until recently. It was as if someone hit me over a head with a baseball bat when I realized...I'm addicted to carrying monkeys and most of the time they don't even belong to me! I do this most of all at home, in my personal life, but I can see how I carry monkeys of an emotional nature in my work life as well. Join me for a conversation about monkeys, how to know whether you are carrying them, figuring out who they actually belong to, and the journey to identifying them and being at choice before you actually hoist all of those monkeys onto your shoulders and stride bravely forward. Call in and share your experience of carrying monkeys and together let's learn to lighten the load!
What does it mean to be a model? In the fashion industry, it's all about perfection - at least the projection of perfection as it is defined in the moment. I've seen plenty of posts on social media recently contrasting the full curves that were fashionable years ago with the slender models of today. Today we will focus on a different kind of modelling - that of transparency, courage, and even raw authenticity. It's not about projecting an image of perfection, but rather about being real, open and human, even when it's not pretty. What kind of model do you want to see? What kind of model do you want to be? Join the conversation today!
What is your primary default style when things get hard? Is your tendency to criticize others for what is happening to you? Perhaps you are the type to take the entire burden onto your own shoulders and carry it alone. Or maybe you put your head in the sand and pretend everything is fine, despite the gnawing feeling in the pit of your belly that something is very, very wrong. Whatever it is, there is hope! It lies in finding the middle: between aggression and passivity, between defensiveness and taking 100% responsibility, between not speaking up and being harsh and judgemental. There is a path in between that offers more grace, more peace and more ease. Join Shahmeen today as she shares her own challenging and lifelong journey from one side of the spectrum to the other and into the middle possibilities, and explore how walking towards this Middle Way can serve you, your leadership and your life.
Many of us would include ourselves in the category of people who practice loving kindness - to others. We spend passionate energy being helpful, of service and on purpose. But how many in that group can also claim to practice loving kindness to themselves? I have not been particularly good at this inward practice, but am starting to turn the tides on this more now. What is the balance between being selfless and selfish? Where is the middle way that includes healthy respect and regard for self while continuing to serve others and spread good intentions and well-being out there. Join me today to discuss this radical offering - loving kindness to the self.
Sometimes all we can do is sit in the space in between one chapter and the next. Reflecting upon what has passed, celebrating, summarizing and just allowing it all to settle...this is what I call the bridge that connects one place to another. It requires self-awareness and trust to tolerate crossing this bridge, as there are no prizes or accolades for doing so. Nothing remarkable seems to be happening, yet I trust that this neutral bridge-crossing is very valuable! Join me as I stand on the bridge between what was and what is yet to come. Looking forward to being with you!
We’re all evolving on multiple levels. Why should the same not be true here with me. Here is what has unfolded recently:
The old way was for me to say “yes” to everything, then deliver it all by myself. I was finally able to admit to myself a few months ago that the performance I was getting with this structure was much less than optimal. Though my clients may have been well served, I was not.
What to do? Join me on Stories from the Heart of Leadership this week and find out what options presented themselves, how life challenged me to change my story and what has unfolded since then. Consider what evolution YOU are in the midst of and how you can cooperate with it, or stand in its way.
Ever wonder how someone could possibly see that thing that you're so clear about, in a totally different way from you?
Every day we have the opportunity to make meaning out of the things that happen around us. Most of us default to one perspective: our own. Yet you might be surprised to learn that everyone has the capacity to look at things in multiple ways.
What would be possible if we could pause and look at things in more than one way, as if we were trying on different coloured sunglasses and observing how the same things appear different? How would this help us to create more choices for action, for connection and for effective and sustainable performance?
Join me and uncover the stories you tell yourself about yourself, other people and the way things work, decide whether these stories are useful now, and choose the way forward that will be best for you!
Pay yourself first.
People have said this to me in many ways, shapes and forms over the years, but I don't think I really heard the spirit of this message until recently. I've begun an experiment with myself: paying myself first with money, with energy, with nourishment and with enjoyment. The fruits of this have been illuminating and have shown themselves surprisingly quickly. If you know that your tendency is to give your gifts away before receiving payment yourself, this show is for you! Join me in this conversation and consider how paying yourself first could improve your leadership and well-being. I look forward to being with you!
One of the buzzwords in the organizational realm these days is Authenticity. Everyone is talking about being authentic, in fact entire programs have been developed to help leaders become more authentic! What if I told you that you are being authentic all of the time? Join me as we explore this mind-bender: Everything we do is an expression of our authenticity AND there are things that we do out of habit, or training, that may not be a true reflection of our core values. In other words, we can learn a practice of authentic expression and get better at it while always being authentic nonetheless. If this intrigues you, tune in this week for more!
What is the most important and most required leadership quality, habit, trait and practice that we can cultivate today? Self Awareness, beginning with Noticing Your Noticing. With the help of my own coaches, I've been attending to this in myself, and I'm astounded by how useful and generative it is for my leadership, effectiveness and continued development. Join me to learn more about how this could be important for you. Receive a template to help you establish more of it. Consider the invitation to establish a practice of watching yourself in action so that you can transform your leadership and create the results you want. Looking forward to being with you!
Life for many successful professionals is fast, ever-changing, full and sometimes overwhelming. What does being touched have to do with any of it? My immediate response: When we can slow down enough to feel touched by the kindness or thoughtfulness of another, we reconnect to our shared humanity. How is this helpful for leaders and what might be gained if we allowed it? Join me today at 2pm Eastern for a deeper conversation about leadership, life and our shared membership in the human family. Looking forward to being with you!
I used to think the best thing I could do was wear my strongest face, put my best foot forward and present with the most shiny, positive and sunny version of myself. In recent years I'm learning that pretending everything is just fine isn't a particularly useful strategy. What if it was OK to include everything and be present with it all? In the past few weeks life has tested this hypothesis in my world, big time. Join me for a heartfelt and courageous conversation about what it is like to include everything: the joy, the sadness, the pain, the sorrow, the elation of accomplishment, the defeat of helplessness, the satisfaction of success. Imagine what would be possible for you, if you could accept and include it all? Clear an hour of your day to nourish yourself in this deeper conversation about life and leadership. Looking forward to being with you!
In a recent survey about projected leadership trends, I noticed something missing. In the question about what qualities did I think leaders would need most in the next 5 years, Self Awareness didn't show up! This is significant on two fronts: First, I believe Self Awareness is the number one most useful and valuable quality a leader could and should cultivate. Second: It's not surprising that it didn't make it onto this list, as we're still in the transition from leadership being solely about what leaders do to include how leaders are. To help us all awaken to the usefulness and practice of Self Awareness, I've asked one of my teachers, Shavasti, to speak with me this week. Join us for part 1 of an essential conversation about Exquisite Self Awareness: what it is, how it can help and what we can do to practice it more as leaders, coaches and human beings who are here to be of service. We look forward to being with you!
Over recent weeks we've discussed surrendering to what is and letting go of addictions to worry. This leads naturally to this: Acceptance. Wherever you are is where you are! Join Shahmeen as she shares her own experience of sitting in the tension between vision and acceptance. Consider how you can find more peace in between striving for something that matters to you and resting in the place you're at in this moment. Most importantly, practice holding yourself with respect, dignity and love even in the midst of missteps, mistakes, and challenges. Leading is easier when we're not wasting energy on beating ourselves up for all that has gone wrong, or all that hasn't happened yet. We look forward to being with you today, no matter where you are!
Are you addicted to worrying? If so, what are you noticing about it? Does it actually help, or does it make no difference to the outcome? Join Shahmeen as she shares her observations on the spectrum of peace: from worry on one extreme, to hurry on the other. How does each end of the spectrum serve us, and how does it not? Hear about the gifts inherent in each extreme that we could apply, in order to spend more time in the middle, more peaceful, places along this spectrum of peace. Finally, learn some processes, practices and strategies we can all employ to explore, experiment and choose peace more often.
Sometimes the best laid plans go astray when life takes over. We had it all mapped out, then the unexpected shows up and we are taken way off course from our original goal. When that happens, we have choices. We can resist what is, we can rebel against it in denial, we can put up a fight against it, or grudgingly go along with it, leaving us and others feeling our resentment. Or, we can surrender gracefully and wholeheartedly remain present to what is happening. Join Shahmeen as she reflects on how our life story influences our habits and how to shift from old, limiting patterns to a new way forward: the opportunity to choose.
What is it like to be a consultant these days? Are you greeted with eye rolling, or enthusiasm by your clients? The media sometimes portrays consultants as an opportunistic shiver of sharks just waiting to grab their next victim. In the past I, as a member of this profession, have internalized some of this poor reputation and as a result have felt some shame in selling my services. The good news is, there are consultants out there who are trusted, trustworthy, heartfelt, conscious leaders who are oriented to being of immense service while guiding their clients to empowerment, ease and the creation of sustainable business performance and leadership effectiveness. I'm honoured to be part of a community of people just like this and am thrilled to be speaking with our leader this week. Join me in a rich conversation with Bill Adams, the CEO of Full Circle Group and The Leadership Circle to explore what it is to powerfully and effectively consult with heart, integrity and consciousness.
What is your primary default style when things get hard? Is your tendency to criticize others for what is happening to you? Perhaps you are the type to take the entire burden onto your own shoulders and carry it alone. Or maybe you put your head in the sand and pretend everything is fine, despite the gnawing feeling in the pit of your belly that something is very, very wrong. Whatever it is, there is hope! It lies in finding the middle: between aggression and passivity, between defensiveness and taking 100% responsibility, between not speaking up and being harsh and judgemental. There is a path in between that offers more grace, more peace and more ease. Join Shahmeen today as she shares her own challenging and lifelong journey from one side of the spectrum to the other and into the middle possibilities, and explore how walking towards this Middle Way can serve you, your leadership and your life.
Back in the old days it was commonly thought that humans were all finished with growing up or maturing after passing through our adolescent years. What we know now, is that we can actually evolve throughout adulthood. This evolution impacts how we think, make meaning and behave at work, at home and in all aspects of our lives. In our current complex times, there are some ways of thinking and behaving that are more helpful than others. Join Shahmeen and her guests, Barbara Braham and Chris Wahl, two practitioners specializing in the field of coaching and adult development, to learn more about YOU and how you can develop and grow into enhanced effectiveness in all realms of your life.
Join Shahmeen as she shares more about Anjali Leadership, her Leadership Development and Executive Coaching company. Learn about how Anjali Leadership evolved, what they are, who they serve and how they can help you gain a competitive advantage as you go forward. Hear about Team Anjali and their leadership philosophy of growing up gifts. Be inspired to take a deeper dive into your own leadership.
Are you in Sales? You probably are, whether you think you are or not. If you've ever tried to get others to buy-in to an idea or tried to promote your own offerings, you're in Sales. The fact is, just about every one of us is in Sales, but we don't want to admit it to ourselves because it conjures up the image of arm-twisting people to buy things they don't want or need. Carl Benscoter has been selling and building sales organizations for over thirty years, and he's not afraid to claim this as his specialty! Join Shahmeen and Carl as they explore ways that people make decisions, how focusing on others rather than ourselves can bring us the right results, and how we can build resilience and courage in our attempts to get others to buy our services or buy-in to our ideas. We can sell while remaining in service to others. In fact, selling (or better yet helping others to buy), is in itself a service to others. Join us and let your inner salesperson out for some air and a fresh perspective!
Most leadership coaches will tell you that the best way to create the results that you are after is to get clear about what really matters to you. Knowing your values helps you to set goals, and once these goals are set, you're off! Except...that's not really how it works. There's a whole other side to the equation which involves having clarity about where things stand today. Once you know both: your vision and your current reality, then you can get to work on closing the gap. But how do you go about doing that? Join Shahmeen and her guest, Linda Cattelan, Executive and Career Acceleration Coach, President of Results Catalyst Inc. and creator of the 2015 Catapult Your Career Success Summit to learn the how behind the what of bringing your goals into reality.
I've heard myself ask these questions over and over of myself and my clients: Who are you? Why are you here? What is the gift or contribution you are here to offer? While these are very powerful and important questions to consider, the one of who I am becoming is quite different and is intriguing indeed. If I am NOT my accomplishments, what I have been know for, my brand, who I serve or how much money I make, then who am I? Join host Shahmeen Sadiq as she explores this today.
Extraordinary leaders understand and work with this essential question: What am I choosing in this moment: hope, or fear? Am I choosing to take the next step based on moving towards something that I am passionate about, something that really matters to me; something for which I am willing to do whatever it takes to bring it into being? Or am I choosing to react to try to keep what I don't want as far away from me as possible, to stop something from happening, to move away from what I don't want? Both choices will give us a result...but it is the one we are hoping for? Join Shahmeen as she reflects on this question through the lens of current events at the local, national and personal level.
We spend so much energy on wishing things were different from how they are right now. How I'd love to be 10 pounds lighter, a few thousand dollars richer, that much farther ahead in my career and my life, for example. This yearning for better can be even more pronounced during the holiday season, and adds an unnecessary burden to what can often be a fairly stressful time. What would it be like to be free of this heaviness? Join Shahmeen this week as we explore finding peace with what is present in your life right now. Then relax and enjoy all that the holiday season, and life, has to offer!
Anyone who has travelled on an airplane has heard the direction to put your own oxygen mask on before assisting others. But when it comes to everyday life, many struggle to put their own well-being first. As leaders (people who are passionate about creating something that really matters to them) it is imperative that we learn to do so! Engage in a deeper conversation about challenges and strategies for building resilience, strength and health. Live callers are especially welcome today. Join us!
Have you ever tried to project an image of perfection? Have you strived to look, act and speak in a way that shows you've got it all together? If you answered 'yes' to either of these questions, you are not alone. While the accumulation of all of the accoutrements of a finished product may gain us entrance to the clubs into which we seek membership, it can also be the source of unhappiness, hollowness, disappointment and even our own undoing.
What if having it all together actually meant having the awareness that we are all learners making our way through the journey of life? What would be possible if we could recognize that we are NOT our image? How would we lead if we could remember that we are all works in progress? Join Shahmeen and her guest, Ann Betz, as they take on this crucial leadership reframe.
The landscape has never been more complex. Demands at work, busy kids, keeping up with the daily requirements of running a household, aging parents and a whole host of loved ones and friends to stay connected to. Staying afloat is a matter of hanging on for dear life; getting ahead of the game, even a little, feels like a luxury way out of reach.
If this is true for you, or for anyone you know and love, join Shahmeen to explore, share (you're not alone!), laugh (a little humour goes a long way) and learn how to come back to center when things get way out of balance. We welcome your calls as together we'll find strategies to not only survive, but thrive. Join the conversation!
So often people have great ideas and then immediately think of all the reasons why they can't be taken forward, effectively stopping themselves before they even begin. Perhaps it feels too out there to create that, or maybe we tell ourselves, it's impossible to have that, or, I don't have what it takes to make that happen. If you've ever felt this way you'll enjoy hearing from our guest this week, Canadian creator extraordinaire, Linda Stephenson, founder of Mèreadesso. Join us for an inspiring conversation as Linda shares her winning formula of moving from curiosity, to idea, to reality, this week on Stories from the Heart of Leadership.
We live in complex times: so much to do, so few resources, so little time. Many of us have learned to navigate very well, relying on our drive, ambition and active energy to make it all work. This masculine energy lives in all of us: male and female, and is highly valued and rewarded by the systems and institutions in which we all operate. The feminine energies of receiving, allowing, intuition have much to offer us in partnership, and also live in both women and men. Join Shahmeen and her guest, Donna Poulidis, to learn more about how to source, cultivate and put this Goddess energy into service alongside your striving and driving. Everyone is welcome!
Extraordinary leaders understand and work with this essential question: What am I choosing in this moment: hope, or fear? Am I choosing to take the next step based on moving towards something that I am passionate about, something that really matters to me; something for which I am willing to do whatever it takes to bring it into being? Or am I choosing to react to try to keep what I don't want as far away from me as possible, to stop something from happening, to move away from what I don't want? Both choices will give us a result...but it is the one we are hoping for? Join Shahmeen as she reflects on this question through the lens of current events at the local, national and personal level.
Conventional thinking deems failure as a waste of time, grounds for dismissal and something to be avoided at all costs. Entire corporate cultures are formed around the avoidance of failure, resulting in caution, risk aversion and stifled innovation. However in recent times failure is getting a reshaping of sorts. From failing forward to intelligent failure, we're starting to hold failure as something to learn from; definitely not the waste of time we may have viewed it as! What does failure have to contribute to sustainable business performance, effective leadership, authentic interactions between humans and the creation of results with greater ease? Join Shahmeen and her guests, the Toronto Co-Leads of Women Reshaping The World for a vibrant conversation about this new paradigm and the useful gifts that failure may offer.
Although the calendar year begins in January, it always feels like September is the start of a New Year. The fact that my children are still school-aged and their school year begins now could explain this, and the autumn season has a freshness to the air where I live, that brings the energy of hope and new beginnings with it. Join me, Shahmeen Sadiq, host of Stories from the Heart of Leadership, to express gratitude for what has brought us to this point, take the closure necessary to clear past disappointments, and set clear intentions for the year ahead. Callers are most welcome for this co-creative hour! Here is the number to call on Monday September 8 from 2-3pm Eastern Time: 1-888-346-9141. I look forward to being with you!
We live in complex times: so much to do, so few resources, so little time. Many of us have learned to navigate very well, relying on our drive, ambition and active energy to make it all work. This masculine energy lives in all of us: male and female, and is highly valued and rewarded by the systems and institutions in which we all operate. The feminine energies of receiving, allowing, intuition have much to offer us in partnership, and also live in both women and men. Join Shahmeen and her guest, Donna Poulidis, to learn more about how to source, cultivate and put this Goddess energy into service alongside your striving and driving. Everyone is welcome!
The fall is like a new year and a new opportunity for you to create fresh new changes. You have a wonderful opportunity to start thinking and behaving differently so you can achieve outrageous success.
But what can you do differently to ensure you don’t fall back into old habits that keep you stuck?
Now is the perfect time to set the stage for the year to come. The habits and patterns that you create now will decide on how your future will unfold.
Are you letting fear stop you? If you are not leading fearlessly then this mindset will not only affect you but your business, career and life, as well.
Louise Veres joins Shahmeen to help you learn: 1.What you are afraid of and why so you can actively and intentionally create your most successful year. 2.How you hold your fear and how that affects your success. 3.Tips and tools for addressing your fears and moving forward.
Join us!
Anyone who has travelled on an airplane has heard the direction to put your own oxygen mask on before assisting others. But when it comes to everyday life, many struggle to put their own well-being first. As leaders (people who are passionate about creating something that really matters to them) it is imperative that we learn to do so! Engage in a deeper conversation about challenges and strategies for building resilience, strength and health. Live callers are especially welcome today. Join us!
We all need friends. They can act as supporters, listeners, influencer, and beloved ones; they can serve to challenge, annoy and be our worst button-pushers! What constitutes real friendship and why is it so important for us all? How easy is it to be honest and open in the most valued friendships? It is not always easy, but in those most vulnerable moments we can discover the power of authentic connections. The more we give, the more we receive. Join Shahmeen and her guest (and good friend!), Caroline Francisco, for a deeper conversation about what it takes, the risks, the benefits and the joy of a real friendship.
Although the calendar year begins in January, it always feels like September is the start of a New Year. The fact that my children are still school-aged and their school year begins now could explain this, and the autumn season has a freshness to the air where I live, that brings the energy of hope and new beginnings with it. Join me, Shahmeen Sadiq, host of Stories from the Heart of Leadership, to express gratitude for what has brought us to this point, take the closure necessary to clear past disappointments, and set clear intentions for the year ahead. Callers are most welcome for this co-creative hour! Here is the number to call on Monday September 8 from 2-3pm Eastern Time: 1-888-346-9141. I look forward to being with you!
What does it really mean to follow your dream? In this episode, Shahmeen and her guest, Kaleena Lawless, an emerging professional dance artist, discuss vision and living purposefully. Learn about the hard work, satisfaction and rewards of committing to your passion and bringing your vision into reality. Hear as well about the pitfalls, obstacles and costs that such a courageous journey necessarily includes. Be inspired to continue walking the path of your own purposeful life and reflect on how what others face is true for you too. Passion and challenges: they meet us hand in hand. How do you stay the course nonetheless? Join us!
Life is a journey. We do a great job of setting goals and visions for ourselves, and then are faced with the invitation to take the next step in the journey towards them. It takes much courage to say yes to these invitations, as each journey asks us to consider, uncover and integrate a new way of behaving, acting and relating. Fierce work indeed. Even when we get there, there is always something next beckoning. Which invites us into the next new ways!
Join Shahmeen as she reflects on three journeys: the path two leadership teams have courageously chosen to walk, Shahmeen's own professional and personal journeys, and our collective journey as a family of human beings. Reflect on your own life with two powerful practices that will be shared, and reconnect to our shared humanity in service of a more peaceful way forward.
Join Shahmeen and her guest, Deborah McCrea, to uncover the gift within the wound that leads us to greater truth, freedom and fulfillment.
Depending on our life path and purpose, it’s said that we choose a family and set of circumstances to be born into. While we exist as pure energy and consciousness, we’re aligned with the truth that humans are “spiritual beings having a material experience.” But as gravity calls and we are born into a physical body, we essentially die to the spiritual while being birthed into matter. We begin to center our sense of ‘self’ in the wound of the unhealed ego and then build elaborate defenses to protect it through separation - rather than embrace and heal it. Often there’s no one present to remind us of the magnificent beings we truly are. Or, how courageous it is to have chosen a human journey. We then expend vast amounts of energy accruing possessions and elaborate facades in the effort to avoid feeling the pain of having abandoned our authentic selves. We forget that we are not the wound but something deeper that connects us to every other soul on earth: That we truly are - not alone. The revelation that we can spiritualize matter and have the best of both worlds, transforms the wound into a gift - the key to our liberation and freedom
You might be familiar with the art of Egyptian Dance. Perhaps you've been to a restaurant where a belly dancer performed, maybe you travelled to Egypt or other Middle Eastern countries and saw it there, or you might be a dancer yourself. What you might not know, is that this beautiful art form has also been what Shahmeen calls complementary cross training for her professional career as a leadership consultant and executive coach! Join Shahmeen and her inspiring dance teacher, Nada El Masriya, for an illuminating conversation about this graceful dance: its history, its roots, how Nada has brought her passion for Egyptian Dance to Canadian dancers and how Shahmeen continues to integrate it to bring a new aliveness to her professional and personal life.
Nada El Masriya Nada El Masriya is an international level performer and instructor of Egyptian and Middle Eastern Dance, trained by the world-renowned Reda Troupe. She has received awards and accolades from some of the greatest living Belly Dancers.
“Nada El Masriya is the Ambassador of Egyptian Dance in Canada.” - Fifi Abdou
Egyptian born and raised, Nada El Masriya has been featured in many national and international festivals, including Dance Ontario, Luminato, The International Council for Traditional Music, Salamat Masr in Cairo and the World Belly Dance Convention in Seoul Korea. Nada has appeared on Egyptian television and appears regularly in Canadian television, radio and media. You can see many of Nada's performances on Youtube, just search for Nada El Masriya. Also go towww.discoverbellydance.com
Poet David Whyte says, What you can plan is too small for you to live. Many of us have built successful careers, loving families and other monuments that pay beautiful testimony to our passion, desire and willpower. And then there comes a time when all of that planning and striving isn't so satisfying or useful anymore. If you've felt inklings of this, you'll love our show this week. Join Shahmeen and her guest, Sonia Sinisterra, as they explore what it's like to sit in the in-between place where knowing and striving aren't going to work, but the new way hasn't shown itself fully just yet, how to let go even though it feels like an utter freefall to do so, and what practices support this surrender to allow life to have its own way.
In these busy times, kids sometimes spend more time at school and in extra-curricular activities than they do at home with their families. This can have a variety of positive impacts: building confidence and independence, exposing them to diversity of ideas and activities, and more. There are downsides too: over-scheduling, less family time and insufficient opportunities for free or down time.
But what about when your beliefs clash with those of the other adults and mentors in your children's lives? How do you raise issues with teachers and activity leaders while still maintaining good relationships with the school/organization? How can you model productive problem solving for your kids, discerning when to step in and when not to, helping them (and yourself) grow into increasingly resilient and confident human beings?
Join Shahmeen and her guest, teacher Royal Carney, this week as we explore this from a number of perspectives: teacher, coach, parent.
Most of us believe we made it this far because of what we know and what we are able to do. We busy ourselves by knowing about and preparing for a future we are sure will be better than where we are now. We have created an identity that says if we are more of this or less than that we will be better than what we actually are. Our coaching and consulting practices are often built around these premises. How much of this do we know for sure is true? What if what is unreal and not true about us simply dissolved upon discovery, with no further effort needed? Have we ever stopped, inquired into and allowed ourselves to rest in not knowing until what is true and already complete was discovered? The Refiners’ Playground, founded by Jim Anderson and Dan Holden, is a community dedicated to finding out what’s true about our essential nature. They join Shahmeen today for a conversation you’ve been waiting for.
Join Shahmeen as she shares her current learning in the leadership and human development realm.
Life is purposeful. We are not here by accident. We are up to something in being here, whether we are aware of it or not. In short, we are here to contribute to the world, and to grow as we do so, in ways that are unique to each person. We call this purpose. We are all pulled by a purpose that is largely mysterious. As one colleague put it, “God gave me a purpose and then hid it from me.” Often that purpose reveals itself to us in the form of yearnings or longings. It is up to us then to notice the longings and follow them forward into our purpose. In this conversation, our guest, Bob Anderson, will share his story of stalking his longings throughout his life. This led him into the field of Leadership Consulting where he is now a global thought leader. It then led him into leading the global assessment, development and consulting companies that emerged around his work. Join Shahmeen and Bob and hear: - Personally and vulnerably his story of following the quiet, urgent voice of purpose - How he often bet the farm to bring that purpose into realization - What he has learned about the practice of stalking your longing - His understanding of how the discernment of purpose, and its constant pursuit, is the core practice of leadership - How the pursuit of purpose requires courage - How to creatively live with the fear that comes along with pursuing purpose.
Have you ever tried to project an image of perfection? Have you strived to look, act and speak in a way that shows you've got it all together? If you answered 'yes' to either of these questions, you are not alone. While the accumulation of all of the accoutrements of a finished product may gain us entrance to the clubs into which we seek membership, it can also be the source of unhappiness, hollowness, disappointment and even our own undoing.
What if having it all together actually meant having the awareness that we are all learners making our way through the journey of life? What would be possible if we could recognize that we are NOT our image? How would we lead if we could remember that we are all works in progress? Join Shahmeen and her guest, Ann Betz, as they take on this crucial leadership reframe.
Anyone who has travelled on an airplane has heard the direction to put your own oxygen mask on before assisting others. But when it comes to everyday life, many struggle to put their own well-being first. As leaders (people who are passionate about creating something that really matters to them) it is imperative that we learn to do so! Engage in a deeper conversation about challenges and strategies for building resilience, strength and health. Live callers are especially welcome today. Join us!
What do you get if you take a Physical Education teacher and a Leadership Coach, then mix them together with students from an elementary school? Power Circles! Join us for an inspiring conversation about this new program that has been running in a local school over the past two school years. Learn what it takes to step outside the box, to co-create even when you hold different experiences and perspectives, and to surrender what you know so that teachers can become students and students can become teachers. Be sure to have a box of tissues nearby, because what you will hear will surprise you, move you and warm your heart.
We all have the sacred opportunity to see and be seen- really seen by another. This gift of witnessing another’s life and having our own be seen through loving and expansive eyes is transformative, restorative and frequently healing. Seeing, listening and speaking gives us an opportunity to truly be of service to another.
Join Shahmeen and her guest, Laura Lesher as they ask: What does it take to really see another? It asks that you courageously throw your heart over the fence to them. It starts with wholehearted listening for what appears on the surface and what is underneath. It continues with being willing to reflect, to say what you see and feel, standing by them in the secret places without running away; courageous and uncommon work that can heal in an instant.
Most of us believe we made it this far because of what we know and what we are able to do. We busy ourselves by knowing about and preparing for a future we are sure will be better than where we are now. We have created an identity that says if we are more of this or less than that we will be better than what we actually are. Our coaching and consulting practices are often built around these premises. How much of this do we know for sure is true? What if what is unreal and not true about us simply dissolved upon discovery, with no further effort needed? Have we ever stopped, inquired into and allowed ourselves to rest in not knowing until what is true and already complete was discovered? The Refiners’ Playground, founded by Jim Anderson and Dan Holden, is a community dedicated to finding out what’s true about our essential nature. They join Shahmeen today for a conversation you’ve been waiting for.
Are you in Sales? You probably are, whether you think you are or not. If you've ever tried to get others to buy-in to an idea or tried to promote your own offerings, you're in Sales. The fact is, just about every one of us is in Sales, but we don't want to admit it to ourselves because it conjures up the image of arm-twisting people to buy things they don't want or need. Carl Benscoter has been selling and building sales organizations for over thirty years, and he's not afraid to claim this as his specialty! Join Shahmeen and Carl as they explore ways that people make decisions, how focusing on others rather than ourselves can bring us the right results, and how we can build resilience and courage in our attempts to get others to buy our services or buy-in to our ideas. We can sell while remaining in service to others. In fact, selling (or better yet helping others to buy), is in itself a service to others. Join us and let your inner salesperson out for some air and a fresh perspective!
Life is purposeful. We are not here by accident. We are up to something in being here, whether we are aware of it or not. In short, we are here to contribute to the world, and to grow as we do so, in ways that are unique to each person. We call this purpose. We are all pulled by a purpose that is largely mysterious. As one colleague put it, “God gave me a purpose and then hid it from me.” Often that purpose reveals itself to us in the form of yearnings or longings. It is up to us then to notice the longings and follow them forward into our purpose. In this conversation, our guest, Bob Anderson, will share his story of stalking his longings throughout his life. This led him into the field of Leadership Consulting where he is now a global thought leader. It then led him into leading the global assessment, development and consulting companies that emerged around his work. Join Shahmeen and Bob and hear: - Personally and vulnerably his story of following the quiet, urgent voice of purpose - How he often bet the farm to bring that purpose into realization - What he has learned about the practice of stalking your longing - His understanding of how the discernment of purpose, and its constant pursuit, is the core practice of leadership - How the pursuit of purpose requires courage - How to creatively live with the fear that comes along with pursuing purpose.
What does it mean to live and work consciously? This question has been at the forefront of the life of our guest – personally and professionally – for decades. Beginning with life events which sparked his interest and study of intentional lifestyles and communities and into his organizational focus of facilitating the conscious leadership and teamwork, David Emerald Womeldorff often refers to himself as an “evolutionary facilitator.” Come listen in on the conversation with Shahmeen and David as he shares his journey and the lessons he has learned along the way about what it means to live and work consciously from he calls a Creator Orientation. As he writes in this book, “Human beings must create; it’s hard-wired. The reality is this: you cannot not create! The question is, are you creating consciously or sleepwalking through your life, simply reacting to what comes at you?”
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work with a leadership coach? Join Shahmeen and her courageous client to hear excerpts from coaching sessions followed by discussion with the client live on the show. Learn from the client perspective how coaching has served in many realms of life: work, home, parenting, leadership. Decide whether this approach would be helpful to you!
Join Shahmeen and her guest, Deborah McCrea, to uncover the gift within the wound that leads us to greater truth, freedom and fulfillment.
Depending on our life path and purpose, it’s said that we choose a family and set of circumstances to be born into. While we exist as pure energy and consciousness, we’re aligned with the truth that humans are “spiritual beings having a material experience.” But as gravity calls and we are born into a physical body, we essentially die to the spiritual while being birthed into matter. We begin to center our sense of ‘self’ in the wound of the unhealed ego and then build elaborate defenses to protect it through separation - rather than embrace and heal it. Often there’s no one present to remind us of the magnificent beings we truly are. Or, how courageous it is to have chosen a human journey. We then expend vast amounts of energy accruing possessions and elaborate facades in the effort to avoid feeling the pain of having abandoned our authentic selves. We forget that we are not the wound but something deeper that connects us to every other soul on earth: That we truly are - not alone. The revelation that we can spiritualize matter and have the best of both worlds, transforms the wound into a gift - the key to our liberation and freedom
What do you get if you take a Physical Education teacher and a Leadership Coach, then mix them together with students from an elementary school? Power Circles! Join us for an inspiring conversation about this new program that has been running in a local school over the past two school years. Learn what it takes to step outside the box, to co-create even when you hold different experiences and perspectives, and to surrender what you know so that teachers can become students and students can become teachers. Be sure to have a box of tissues nearby, because what you will hear will surprise you, move you and warm your heart.
You might be familiar with the art of Egyptian Dance. Perhaps you've been to a restaurant where a belly dancer performed, maybe you travelled to Egypt or other Middle Eastern countries and saw it there, or you might be a dancer yourself. What you might not know, is that this beautiful art form has also been what Shahmeen calls complementary cross training for her professional career as a leadership consultant and executive coach! Join Shahmeen and her inspiring dance teacher, Nada El Masriya, for an illuminating conversation about this graceful dance: its history, its roots, how Nada has brought her passion for Egyptian Dance to Canadian dancers and how Shahmeen continues to integrate it to bring a new aliveness to her professional and personal life.
Nada El Masriya Nada El Masriya is an international level performer and instructor of Egyptian and Middle Eastern Dance, trained by the world-renowned Reda Troupe. She has received awards and accolades from some of the greatest living Belly Dancers.
“Nada El Masriya is the Ambassador of Egyptian Dance in Canada.” - Fifi Abdou
Egyptian born and raised, Nada El Masriya has been featured in many national and international festivals, including Dance Ontario, Luminato, The International Council for Traditional Music, Salamat Masr in Cairo and the World Belly Dance Convention in Seoul Korea. Nada has appeared on Egyptian television and appears regularly in Canadian television, radio and media. You can see many of Nada's performances on Youtube, just search for Nada El Masriya. Also go towww.discoverbellydance.com
There are so many things in life that we label coincidence, but what if they’re not? What if they’re gifts, opportunities to unfold just a little more of the beautiful Beings we’re meant to be in order to live our unique purpose in life? Shahmeen and her guest today, her spirit mother Linda Sadiq, know their meeting was no coincidence. Linda recognized that Shahmeen was a special addition to the pattern of lovely, bright, creative women – daughters, friends and clients – who keep showing up in her life to help her live her purpose. Linda says, “These women are such gifts. I see some of myself in each of them; I know their excitement and dreams, their pain and confusion, their loves and their losses. I too, dream big. I too, stumble, fall, and pick myself up again. I’m old enough to know I don’t have all the answers. Experienced enough to know some of the right questions. And comfortable enough to listen deeply and to learn. Listen in and learn today with Shahmeen and Linda. Whatever happens will be no coincidence!
Linda Sadiq At 5 years old, my favourite song was “I’m a Lonely Little Petunia in an Onion Patch”. Though it certainly didn’t feel like it, that loneliness and sense that I didn’t fit in was a gift that helped shape who I am and how I interact with the world. I zero into the heart of the issues and the hearts of the people dealing with the issues; I can’t do otherwise. The amazing people I’ve worked with in communities, organizations, and teams around the world, have helped me learn that as we journey through life, each of us at some point feels like a lonely little petunia. It’s working from inside those feelings, beginning with values, beliefs and sense of purpose, that we’re able to transform our visions into actions that make this world a better place. I’m never more thrilled or touched than when I’m able to contribute a question, a comment, a hug or a cheer to that transformation. There is an especially warm place in my heart for my husband, four children and four little grandsons. They remind me daily about what really matters.
It is easy to lose hope. The headlines scream out at us with all the bad news: wars, human suffering, scarcity, plunging profits and dire warnings of the losses soon to come. We grapple with more complexity now than we ever did: at work, in our home lives and in our communities. Will it ever get better? Will it ever be easier?
Our guest this week, Andrew Bennett, believes that hope is one of the most important things in life and in business. At the core of this is his reverence for the human spirit and the role that organizations can play in helping people thrive. His work with individuals and business leaders is aimed at finding, maintaining, and cultivating hope. Join us for an inspiring conversation to hear Andrew’s amazing story about the beauty of the human spirit, thriving versus surviving, and transformational leadership.
Andrew Bennett is a former Fortune 500 corporate executive who started his career as former U.S. presidential candidate H. Ross Perot’s personal assistant. Eight years later he led a $65 million business in Australia. He has over two decades experience as a leadership and organizational culture consultant and executive coach working with leaders all over the world in companies like Ford Motor Company, Marriott, GE Healthcare, and organizations of all sizes in government, education, health care and non-‐profit. Andrew has been involved in nearly 40 major organizational transformations over the last 20 years. For over 45 years Andrew has been a magician and is a member of London’s Magic Circle, the highest honor in magic. Ross Perot encouraged Andrew to use magic in his business presentations and he has been refining this approach for the last 30 years. Magic is the art of transformation and Andrew uses it to enable people to rethink possibilities and obstacles, opening the door to innovative thinking. Overarching all of this Andrew is thriving despite decades of tragic losses. He uses his experience to teach others to find profound strength and meaning in adversity.
Are you certain that if something is to be done right, it needs to be done by you? Do you find yourself working late into the night, tackling the mountain of administrative tasks that you didn't have time for during the day? Do you feel left out during those few times when you're home, as your spouse and kids seem to have no need for you, other than to gladly accept and spend the money you bring in? If you answered YES to any of these questions, it might be time to consider getting a Virtual Assistant. Join host Shahmeen Sadiq and her guest, Beatrice Ten-Thye, Virtual Assistant extraordinaire and learn how partnering with a VA can transform not only your work life, but your entire life. Control freaks will be especially intrigued; all are welcome!
Beatrice Ten-Thye, SmartVA
I love people! I need to be with them, talk, meet, laugh, joke; I need connections like my body needs food. In 2009, I had been working as an administrative assistant in the corporate world more than 20+ years; I was so disillusioned. When I heard about AssistU, a training academy for virtual assistants, I decided to take its program. What a change in my life this made! Now, I support business- and leadership coaches in their quest for success, and love what I do! I thrive working in close and trusting client relationships. I create that client relationship that turns into a partnership, a bond! I want to make every client feel special. I am with them all the way, and care deeply not only about their business success but about them as persons. I am active in my AssistU VA community, and feel very honored to have been chosen as its most supportive member for two years. Being able to create my life, to choose my clients, and to create awesome relationships with them makes me feel whole.
Join Shahmeen Sadiq for the first episode of Stories from the Heart of Leadership and learn what led her to create this show, why she is so passionate about it and what you can expect from it. Shahmeen will be joined by her dear friend and colleague, Kat Hay, triple certified coach, compassionate leader and powerful storyteller. Come and listen in on this deeper conversation about the heart of leadership and how both of these extraordinary women have grown, through their experiences, to create results that matter to them.
Kat Hay
During a recent international training when introducing myself to fellow participants, I said, Hi, I'm KAT and I'm a storyteller. Realizing I had been building up to this very moment, I breathed a sigh of relief at the same time trying to comprehend the magnitude of what I had just said. When I share my stories my audience and clients alike get it, and they get me. I show up, I let them in, I paint a picture and I take them on a journey. When I am at my most authentic, I am at my most vulnerable.
A pioneer in the realm of professional coaching and one of the first coaches worldwide to earn the Certified Systems Coach designation, I believe our purpose in life is to become more of who we were born to be, by loving and living with true empathy and compassion.