KickStart Your Coaching Edge: Recent Episodes
Jenn Barley & Karen Sullivan
Coaching: Invigorating. Inspiring. Isolating. Ever feel like you could use some backup? In this no-BS podcast, master coaches and founders of KickStart Your Edge, Jenn Barley and Karen Sullivan, are in your corner like ninjas in tutus (stealthy, but with flair). As your secret coaching weapons, Jenn and Karen build your coaching mojo each month by breaking down tough concepts. The Thing Behind the Thing: Check. ICF Core Competencies: Check. No-hold-barred discussions: Check. Laughs: Double Check. Learn more at kickstartyouredge.com
When it comes to success, are you laying eggs or becoming bacon? In this thought-provoking episode, Karen and Jenn explore the crucial difference between involvement and commitment in business. Through colorful analogies of chickens, pigs, and even rats, they challenge listeners to examine where they might be settling for involvement when commitment could transform their results. Ready to stop putting out fires and start preventing them?
Ever wonder what your March Madness bracket strategy says about you? Join Jenn and Karen as they dissect their tournament picks and uncover surprising life parallels. From embracing uncertainty to finding joy in upsets, discover how your approach to filling out brackets might mirror your life philosophy. Plus, learn why Karen's rooting against all #1 seeds (despite being in last place!)
Discover how one forward-thinking organization mastered the human side of transformation. Rather than simply announcing changes and expecting adaptation, they invested in their people's success by reaching 400 employees through targeted virtual workshops. This episode showcases how prioritizing mindset and emotional support during organizational change creates a more engaged, empowered workforce ready to embrace transformation.
From ski boots to "maybe I'm the best skier here" moments, Jenn's journey from mountain newbie to a more confident snow enthusiast teaches us four game-changing lessons. Check out this episode where we break down the four insights all based in the Play To Win mentality all while not succumbing to the magic carpet conveyor belt.
What separates great leaders from the rest? In this episode, discover the three game-changing questions that define leadership success: What did you know? When did you know it? What did you do about it? Karen and Jenn unpack how these simple yet powerful questions build accountability, prevent crisis escalation, and create cultures of trust. Learn why "doing nothing" might be your riskiest move yet.
Want to know the secret sauce that separates good leaders from great ones? (Spoiler alert: It's not what you think!) In this episode, we're dishing out five game-changing questions that will transform your leadership conversations from 'meh' to magnificent. Plus, we're throwing in two bonus questions that'll make you rethink everything you know about growth. Get ready to level up your question game and start playing to win!
Buckle up, leadership rockstars! đ˘ Think office politics is all smoke, mirrors, and water cooler drama? Think again! In this episode, we're flipping the script on organizational politics and introducing your new secret weapon: Political Intelligence. Discover why understanding others' priorities isn't just smartâit's your ticket to the strategic big leagues. Plus, learn the three essential networks that'll transform you from a political wallflower into an organizational influencer. No scheming required, just pure strategic genius!
Every workplace has rulesâbut what about the ones nobody talks about? In this episode, we dive into the unwritten rules shaping organizational culture, from late-start meetings to camera-on expectations. Are these norms helpful or harmful? Do they build trust or create confusion? And most importantlyâhow can leaders be more intentional about them? Tune in as we uncover the hidden forces behind workplace behavior and share tips for rewriting the rulebook.
Ever feel like there's a 6-ton elephant doing cartwheels in your team meetings? You're not alone! In this trunk-tastic episode, we're getting up close and personal with those big, beautiful beasts that everyone sees but no one wants to talk about. From tiny action elephants that just need a nudge, to those massive pachyderms requiring some serious heart-to-heart chats, we're sharing the secret sauce for turning awkward silences into game-changing conversations. Time to make friends with your elephants!
What do mirrors, hand sanitizer, and a grumpy bunch of elevator riders have in common? They're the stars of this mind-bending episode about solving the RIGHT problems! Join us for a wild ride as we unpack how one building's "slow elevator" crisis led to a brilliant plot twist. Spoiler alert: Sometimes the solution has nothing to do with what people are complaining about! Ready to level up your problem-solving game? Going up!
ONE powerful theme can transform your entire team in 2025. Yes, ONE. From turning dreaded meetings into can't-miss collaborations to making prioritization actually stick, we're sharing real stories of teams who've cracked the code. Plus, discover why the best time to start isn't January 1st (plot twist: it's right now!). Time to turn those team areas of focus into results!
Plot twist: January 10th might be more important than January 1st! Welcome to National Quitters Day (yes, it's a real thing!), when 80% of resolutions wave the white flag. But hold onto your party hats - we're flipping the script on quitting! Join us for some fresh insights on why the "fresh start effect" might be playing tricks on you, and discover why the third Monday in January could be your new favorite holiday. Time to turn quitting season into winning season!
Today, we're diving into the fascinating world of emotional self-management and personal empowerment. Ever found yourself saying, "You make me so mad" or "You wind me up"? It's time to take a step back and explore how those phrases inadvertently hand over your personal power to others. Tune in to learn how to reclaim your emotional autonomy, manage your inner thoughts, and kickstart your leadership edge today.
Today, we dive into a topic that's often whispered in the hallways yet rarely brought to the forefront: gossip within organizations. Join us as we unpack the dual nature of gossip and how it can either undermine or strengthen organizational culture. We discuss how informal conversations around the water cooler aren't always a bad thing and explore the potential of harnessing positive gossip to foster inclusion and camaraderie among team members.
Voting isn't just a right; it's a responsibility that holds tremendous power. Regardless of your state's political leanings, your voice matters for every position on the ticket. We explored how voting is expressing our values and standing for what we believe in. Remember, democracy is an actionâso make it count. If you're eligible and able, go out and vote, because your vote truly matters. Thanks for listening, and keep the conversation on voting alive!
09In today's episode, we dive into the intriguing concept of âdebateâ within organizations. With a real-life example from a team looking to foster more discussion, they explore the diverse reactions and definitions people have around the word "debate." Join us as we unpack why healthy debate and conflict are often necessary for teams to achieve their goals and make critical decisions. Whether you're curious, apprehensive, or enthusiastic about debate, this episode is sure to offer valuable insights into enhancing communication and decision-making within your team.
In this episode, we discuss Rose Zhangâs "effortless power" in a golf swing, and how this principle can serve as a powerful analogy for personal and professional growth. By examining the contrast between "effortless power" and "powerless effort," we discuss how maintaining composure, being adaptable, and working smarter can lead to more fulfilling outcomes. Join us as we tee off on another engaging discussion to kickstart your leadership edge.
Today, weâre diving into the cool world of your AirPods Pro to uncover some seriously game-changing leadership hacks. Learn how the settings on your AirPods Proâtransparency, adaptive, and noise cancellationâcan be powerful metaphors for leadership. Learning to filter out unnecessary noise, adapt to different environments, and know when to be transparent can significantly enhance your leadership game.
We all hold preconceived notions that can significantly shape our perceptions and decisions, especially in leadership roles. Through the lens of a recent presidential debate, we explore how bias manifests and its broader implications beyond politics. Does your existing bias hold you back from opportunities?
Imposter syndrome is a self-inflicted label that creates a fixed mindset and often can become an excuse. We need to stop living into limiting labels that cause us to only focus on overcoming the label versus embracing a growth mindset to get more comfortable in certain situations. Check out this episode for insights.
Think of all the things you hear that you believe at face value. Does that go the same for the thoughts in your head? In today's episode, we dive into a thought-provoking conversation about the importance of digging deeper into the things we believe. We reflect on recent experiences with misinformation on social media and discuss the need for critical thinking and fact-checking, both in our external sources of information and in our own internal beliefs. Itâs time to be a journalist in your own mind and start fact-checking your thoughts.
In this episode, we dive into an intriguing concept called the "what if" concept. You can redefine your past and use it as a secret weapon for your future. By examining our beliefs, behaviors, and experiences through a new lens, we discuss how to unleash endless possibilities and break free from self-imposed limitations. What if this podcast episode was the answer you were looking for?
If you want to work on being more patient and being more persistent â just change your golf swing. Karen is two months in on her new golf swing and she is committed to staying the course no matter how easy it would be to go back to her old ways.
Do you think that everything you need is already inside of you? In our latest podcast episode, we talk about whether or not that statement is true. And if so, how we go about tapping into the potential and strengths that lie within us as we face various situations.
Does constantly thinking about getting better in the future take away from the ability to improve in the present? We share a-has from the yoga mat about how to harness the power of now to improve in the moment of whatever you are doing. It all comes down to applying the mindset in the moment as opposed to waiting for another day.
You could see it in his face, by the decisions he made, how he played his game after the missed putt on the 16th hole. Rory shifted from Playing to Win to Playing Not to Lose. He diverted from his plan and strayed from the calm, cool, collected, boring golf he had been playing.
Are you struggling with employee engagement and communication in your organization? In this episode, we dive deep into the challenges facing modern workplaces, from the silent treatment between generations to the impact of return-to-work policies. The stats are staggering and it doesnât seem to be getting better. Itâs time to explore the importance of clear communication, company culture, and connecting to your organization's mission and purpose.
It doesnât take a rocket scientist to know the importance of mission, purpose, vision, and values in everyday conversations. You canât motivate people by saying âwe need to hit a numberâŚâ Engagement continues to take a hit in the workforce.
From collaborative wonderlands to innovation hotbeds, and from customer-centric paradises to results-focused utopias, we'll be exploring the vast array of cultures that shape the business landscape. It's like stepping into a kaleidoscope of possibilities, where every hue represents a unique flavor of organizational dynamism. With a description like that, how can you NOT listen?
How well do you know your organization's grand vision and purpose? Are you living and breathing it, or is it gathering dust on a forgotten shelf? Are you walking your talk turning those visions into action-packed realities? So, buckle up, folks, and let's journey deep into the heart of the components of an organization's culture. It's time to ignite the fire within and paint the world with our purpose!
From the language we speak to the quirky behaviors we share, and even the systems we use, it all contributes to the unique flavor of an organization's culture. We'll take you on a journey through the colorful components of workplace dynamics, exploring how shared values and ways of working can shape the very essence of a company.
In this episode we share the best one-liner overheard at Orangetheory Fitness that highlights the need for companies to care more about the people in order to have people care more about the company. Organizations are missing the boat by not focusing on the most important secret weapon (people) to hit their goals (profit). Join us as we deconstruct it all.
Join us on this episode as we delve into the intense showdown between Iowa and LSU in the women's March Madness Elite 8 game. Leaning on her Play to Win mindset, discover how the top player, Caitlin Clark, overcame past controversies and focused on the present moment to play to win.
The article referenced in this episode can be found here.
Strengths are such an asset, until they arenât. Situational awareness is crucial in using your strengths effectively. Consider the context and people involved to choose the most appropriate strength for the situation. When overdone, your strength can actually get in your way. Together, we uncover the keys to effective leadership and harness the superpower of situational strengths.
Feeling like your team's brilliant ideas need to be getting the traction they deserve? This episode dives into how CliftonStrengths⢠can unlock your leadership potential and elevate your team's impact.
We'll share a powerful story of a leadership team using CliftonStrengths⢠to identify individual and collective strengths, tailor their approach to their leader's strengths, and ultimately deliver a winning presentation that secured buy-in for their ideas from âthe bossâ. Tune in and discover how YOU can unlock your team's hidden potential and achieve lasting success!
In this episode, we dive into the crucial concepts of one team versus first team mentality. We'll explore the staggering ripple effect of a first team mentality and how it can create a more focused and successful organization.
We've worked with teams from California to Kuwait, and we've seen firsthand the power of a first-team approach. If you're ready to break down silos and build a more collaborative team, this episode is for you!
Let's jump into the realm of mindset exploration: Can one be shackled by a fixed mindset when grappling with the notion of a growth mindset? Picture this: we're on a ride of recounting our escapades at a recent leadership summit, where diverse viewpoints on this very topic ignited impactful conversations. Join us as we unravel the significance of embracing a growth mindset while transcending mere intellectual awareness. Strap in for an adventure where the mind expands and perspectives collide.
Do you want more possibilities in your life? If so, embrace the mantra of âWeâre open.â Join us as we delve into the power of "yes" and explore the secrets of highly open people (us). This episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiring stories to unlock your full potential and experience extraordinary things.
Our brains naturally crave predictability and certainty, which can lead to stress and anxiety when fear comes up. There are four types of fear and once we learn to navigate the unknown and find the possibilities it brings we can stop giving excuses and start going for our goals. Time to become fearless.
We dove deep into the power of fearlessness and how it connects to self-awareness. Being fearless means challenging our own belief systems and being mindful of our thoughts. It's about taking action and choosing who we want to be, even when fear tries to hold us back.
Change happens. All. The. Time. We dive into the importance of focusing on making a difference instead of dwelling on what's not working or feeling like a victim. Mastering change in an organization is a sign of true leadership.
When you start to respect yourself and find your passion, the impact you make grows tenfold. Huluâs The Bear, Season 2, is filled with self-respect, passion, and really making a difference. Are you finding purpose in your work? What kind of impact could you be making? Learn a lesson from Richie. Because heâs wearing suits now.
Last week the US celebrated Independence Day, which is all about Freedom. Whatâs your perspective on Freedom? Some believe that more freedoms are being offered, while others feel they're being taken away. What's the difference between independence and freedom? What does freedom mean to you? How important is autonomy? Join Jenn and Karen as they ask the questions that will have you reflecting on what it all means to you.
A great exercise that helps generate your creativity and imagination is: I like⌠I like⌠I wonderâŚ. Stop your black and white thinking and start to get curious. I wonder what might be possible. Learn all the details in this short episode.
Setting a goal isnât enough. Goals arenât about the results, they are about the experience. Are you just checking the boxes to get by or are you going above and beyond? When you step up your game, how do you influence others? Itâs time to go the extra mile.
Small minds and weak people kill dreams. Who is in your foxhole (aka: inner circle)? How do they help you grow and stretch and keep you focused on where you say you want to go? Itâs time to evaluate your selection process.
It only takes one second to make a decision. Time to challenge your thinking and make sure it is a dialogue instead of a monologue. Your mental game can win out over the emotional game in the moment.
If you arenât getting any traction, growth, or movement â you might want to look at what emotions are keeping you stuck. Overwhelm, confusion, and comfort are reasons why we donât get the momentum that we need. Itâs time to stop playing small and go after what we want in life.
When we work with teams, the teams who have a high degree of trust perform better. Work moves faster, the results are better, and people are more engaged. There are two components of trust that will have you question, which one is more important to me?
Do you like the results you have in your life? If the answer is âyesâ, say thank you to yourself. If the answer is ânoâ, time to get it in gear. Once we start to take 100% responsibility for the results we have, it all can fall into place. We share the âsecretâ for getting what you want.
Rocky road ice-cream, a burnt crème brulee? If you had to describe last month as a dessert, what would it be? This metaphor can give you insight into what you need more of and what you need less of.Â
Strength-based leadership is where ebb, flow and ease can be found. Your natural talents are the ones you should gravitate to for any situation. We got real with the SHRM NJ chapter and it's all about finding your own solutions through your strengths.
Your brain is always offering up thoughts. So. Many. Thoughts. What might change if you took 30 days and paid attention to your thoughts? We give you the 5 questions to ask yourself so you can rewire your thinking and choose the thoughts that work for you.
The Big Brain Experiment starts May 1st:Â www.kickstartyouredge.com/bbe
Imagine who you could be as a leader if you had the right amount of sleep, proper nutrition, exercised regularly, increased your novelty, and had a regular mindfulness practice. We think youâd be even MORE effective. Connect it with Emotional Intelligence and two words come to mind: Game Changer.
What is the noise in your head that is distracting you? How are you managing attention fatigue? Zoom in and find your focus. Focus is about managing your brain and narrowing in on whatâs important. Check out our latest episode. The Big Brain Experiment starts May 1st: www.kickstartyouredge.com/bbeÂ
Itâs madness. Where are you the Cinderella story in your own life? So often, people rank up, classify us, seed us, and it can either have us playing to win or playing not to lose. Where have you busted your own bracket in life? When have you shocked the world?
So many things come with a manual, an instruction book, or tips. People donât. When you have manuals on how people SHOULD behave, you are giving your power away. In fact, when frustrated based on what someone else does, you will create the exact same results for yourself. Listen up and let go of the âshouldâ.
You 100% create the experience you have in all situations. You canât control others, however, you can determine how YOU show up. Bitching, moaning and complaining about âleadershipâ will get you nowhere. Becoming the leader you wish you had, changes everything.
It's time to use the wisdom you already have. What if you used the advice you would give your younger self as the springboard for the advice you need now to get to the next best version of yourself? It's trippy and oh-so-effective.
What is brilliant about not knowing? EVERYTHING. A Play To Win mindset is all about becoming the person you need to become in order to actually know. Donât know what we are talking about, time for a listen.
Have you stopped being future-focused? Do you let your past define who you are, determine what you are capable of, and allow you to accept the status quo? We talk about our nieceâs basketball game which got us to ask the question, when do people lose their milestone mentality? Time to hop to the future to help you determine who you need to be to get there.
Mastering a Play to Win mindset requires you to think about your thoughts. It is time to be an observer of what you think and why you are thinking it. Start to get meta with yourself, jump into observer mode and understand who you are by looking at why you think the way you think.
When you start to blame external circumstances for how you feel, you are giving away 100% of your power. Your power comes from understanding that the way you feel is because of the way you think about the external circumstance. Plus, hear how Karenâs Joe Friday âJust the Factsâ reference was never true.
The Play to Win mindset is the process of learning to design your life from the future instead of the past. What results do you want? Decide. Then 100% commit to the actions that are required for you to achieve those results. Donât waiver when the going gets tough. Double down and do it anyway. Your future self with thank you.
We live in a brain filled with recycled thoughts. It is time to let go of the thinking we were taught to think and start to decide what we want our thoughts to be. We get all our beliefs, perspectives, and worldviews from internal, external, and organizational influences. What thoughts have you stuck? What thoughts do you want to stop borrowing from others? You get to decide.
Every single thing that has been created by humans has been created with a thought in someoneâs brain first. If you donât think on purpose, you wonât create anything purposeful. A thought is a sentence. You create a sentence, and then you create the results of that sentence. Imagine what is possible even with a half-managed mind.
Since the beginning of time, our brains have been wired to seek comfort, find food, connection and keep ourselves alive. In todayâs work, those basics are a bit easier to come by. The next evolution of ourselves needs to be purposeful. What if you were able to be motivated by the exact opposite of comfort and safety? Game on!
Plot twist: To live a results-based life requires putting what you already have at risk for something bigger, something better, something faster, and something stronger. Are you willing to do it? You know, go all in on YOU. If you arenât happy about where you are now, or you arenât inspired by where youâre headed, hintâŚyour current strategy needs attention.
Play to Win. Game on. Design the life you want. Lead on purpose. Results-based living. Itâs time to step into the next best version of you. You get to decide what you want your life to be like. Start with learning the difference between playing to win and playing not to lose. This is all about mastering your mindset. Letâs go, 2023.
It is time to Master A Play to Win Mindset. As we take a pivot with our podcast, you will get the inside-out approach to KickStart Your Edge 2.0, where we focus on leading yourself so you can lead others and the business.
So often we measure our success based on comparing ourselves with others. Knock it off. Success is an inside job. You get to define it. And note to self, it isnât about the end result, it is about the experience.
Your mindset about success determines your relationship with it. What does success mean to you? How do you interact with success? How do success and achievement tie together? You get to create the relationship you want.
The more you are willing to fail, the more confidence you have. It takes confidence to take risks. Confidence that you can handle the failure. Confidence that you can grow and go. Confidence that you are not your outcomes.
To get to where you are capable of going there will be failure all along the way. Thank goodness! The more failure, the more we put ourselves out there. Own it, embrace it and aim for itâŚ.yes, aim for failure. The only way is through. Success is on the other side.
Just because you quit does that mean you failed? Thereâs a saying: smart people quit. If you decide that you are done with something â you have to determine whether you like your reason. Your reason is the difference between making a decision or feeling bad about not following through
We arenât afraid of failing. We are afraid of what failing feels like. You create your reality by what you think about the results you produce. Once you know you can handle disappointment, discouragement, sadness, etc. you have cracked the code on achieving whatever the hell you want in life.
Your mindset about failure determines your relationship with it. What does failure mean to you? How do you interact with failure? Where do you avoid it? Where do you gravitate to it? You get to determine what you want your relationship with failure to be.
âThis game is rigged. And it does not reward people who play by the rules. You either got to stand in the corner or get in the ring.â Ramona, from Hustlers. What rules do you need to let go of so your game isnât rigged? Find the ones that work FOR you vs. the ones your parents, society, etc. say you should follow. Itâs time to get in the ring.
âWhy do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves back up.â
Batman got this one right. Are you willing to stumble, trip and fall to really get to know what you are made of? This is what life is all about because falling isnât the same as failing.
âIf it makes you happy, then why are you so sad?â
Sheryl Crowâs documentary Sheryl shares how even though Sheryl sold millions of records it didnât necessarily make her happy. More times than not, people imagine once they get to a âdestinationâ then theyâll be happy. Get out of the milestone moments and start to focus on what really matters.
âI donât need easy, I just need possible.â Ninja Warrior contestant. Self-inflicted limitations will often get in our way. The question is, are you willing to open the door to possibility even when it isnât going to be easy?
Guess what? You have the power to choose happy. Listen to how itâs possible to just make that decision for yourself in this episode. Forget yesterday. Itâs okay that you werenât happy yesterday. You can be somebody different today. It can change in a momentâand you donât need a plan. What can you decide now about yourself?
What does Formula 409 have to do with decision making? Find out in this episode where weâre talking about taking actionâflippinâ trying stuff and maybe even failing!âversus that ugly ass habit of overthinking (you know, the thing thatâs keeping you from living your best life). Hereâs a hint: make the decision, THEN make the decision right.
Are you going to take the red pill or the blue pill? Jenn finally figures out the Matrix â and sheâs staying in Wonderland. WTF? Well, this episode is about how decision making says so much about you and what could be in your life. You can change IF youâre willing. P.S. If youâre late to the Matrix party, thereâs a spoiler in here.Â
One of us bought a house in twenty minutes because thatâs just how she rolls. Not everybody can make that decisionâsometimes we hang out on the fence, asking ourselves questions that keep us thereâself-sabotage much? In this episode, weâre talking about putting decisions in perspective and whatâs getting in the way.Â
In this mind-bending episode, weâre talking about how your thoughts dictate your relationship with your past. Think T-FARâ˘: Your thoughts create your feelings, your feelings create your actions, and your actions create your results. When you change a thought about your past, it can change your whole relationship with something that happened. What could that mean for you moving forward?
Zoom out! In this great big world, what are you focused on? Are you making things happen or are you spending way too much time on what other people think (not to mention your inner critic)? In this episode, weâre going to show you how to take a helicopter view for a new perspective on your own life and your place on this spinning ball hurtling through space.
Life hack: start loving your life! Weâre going further down the road of self-love and sharing insight into loving yourself. Nope, itâs not always rainbows and butterflies. It can feel like a stinking pile of sh*t. But how can we take things that happen to us and give them meaning and learn from them? Listen in ⌠especially carefully toward the end and see if the final question in this episode doesnât spark a big aha moment.
Eat the f-ckin cookie or donât ⌠Weâre returning to the concept of self-love in this episode and putting the hard press on self-love. Is it serving you and your clients or keeping you stuck? Itâs not the same for everyone weâre ready to call it out. Weâre going to show you what it looks like when self-love sabotages your goals.
Which one of us do you think readily admits she would date herself if possible? Listen to this episode on self-love and youâll find out. More importantly, youâll hear us dig into how we might define self-love. It turns out, itâs a little murky and self-love is not always a good thing. We want to know how your relationship with yourself compares with the relationship you want to have with yourself (and whatâs getting in the way).
Your entire life is nothing more than your personal experience of it. An angle. A way of looking at your life that became much more than just a simple viewpoint. It became an excuse for why you keep falling into the same destructive patterns. But it doesnât have to be.
Whoâs scamming who? What makes self-reflection challenging is that youâre both the con artist and the one being conned. WhoaâŚwhere are we pulling the wool over our own eyes? Jenn and Karen talk about how we are 100% in control of setting ourselves up for success.
Choose. What are you going to fight for? The past or the future? Your self-sabotaging BS or long-awaited freedom? All of your past is based on how you currently think about the past. Jenn and Karen talk about how your self-sabotaging is just trying to get the pain over with all because you told yourself stories about who you think you are.
If you know why youâre stuck and youâre still stuck, that ainât it. Jenn and Karen take a page from Gary John Bishopâs Unfu*k Yourself calendar and talk about if you know why and arenât taking action ... what is the thing behind the thing?
Calm the F- down! Actually, weâre too zen in this episode to yell at you. Weâre wrapping up our month on the emotional intelligence skill of emotional expression by talking about how to find your sense of calm despite what might be swirling around you. What other emotions make up calm? We want to inspire you to find what works for you to get you to that place. Letâs get the right questions and observations going.
As we continue down the Yellow Brick Road of emotional expression, we run right into fear, uncertainty and doubt, oh my! In this episode, weâre talking about how to challenge fear and uncertainty, and consider whether weâre feeding or fighting these emotions. Weâve got some aha moments in here if you have trouble articulating your fear and limit your opportunities. If this is you, or youâre a coach guiding your clients through fear, you need to listen to this.
Bad pun alert (youâve been warned)! Letâs amp our confidence this week. Confidence is one of our favorite aspects of emotional expression and itâs the emotional intelligence skill weâre focusing on all month. How do you get more of it? Listen up and learn about the emotions that make up confidence and ask yourself what resonates and what you might do differently. And donât forget to listen to episode 310!
What does a song played on the ukulele have to do with emotional expression? And why are we so pumped to be talking about it? In this four-part series of episodes, weâre putting our J&K spin on the emotional intelligence skill of emotional expression. This time around, weâre talking specifically about what it means to be bold. Listen in and try to tune into what feelings come up for you around boldness.
Donât worry! It doesnât have to happen overnight, but you CAN learn to be assertive (or more assertive). This episode is devoted (not hopelessly) to developing more of this important EQ skill. Weâre sharing some very real and very doable tips for using your voice in growing your assertiveness. Remember to start small, and realize your boundaries and opinions are important to you. They deserve airtime.
Saying âyesâ when you want to say ânoâ? Whatâs that all about? Are you still putting other peopleâs needs above your own? Are you worried about what they might think? In this latest episode about the emotional intelligence skill of assertiveness, weâre talking about why people pleasers give their power away. Of course, we wrap with a series of questions for you (or your clients) to wrap your head around your relationship with assertiveness.
Turns out when youâre part of a team, respecting yourself is part of respecting your team. Itâs all part of the emotional intelligence skill of assertiveness, because being able to express yourself and being clear about what you want is your contribution. Listen in and get more comfortable with âgoing thereâ and even making a few mistakes along the way. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Find out what it means to me.
How do you strike a balance between sharing your thoughts and not coming off like an arrogant ass? How fine a line is it? Weâre talking assertiveness, people. This emotional intelligence skill shows up in good, bad, and ugly ways at home and in the workplace. Where do you fall on the continuum? In this episode, weâll conclude with a fun little exercise to help you explore this concept. Hereâs the EQ-i Certification link again: kickstartyouredge.com/eqi
Go ahead⌠fail! And fail like a champ! Try it. Donât take the results personally, and figure it out. The more willing you are to fail, the more likely you are to achieve your âimpossible goal.â Weâre going new places in this episode, exploring the emotional intelligence skill of self-actualization. Lots of ahas to take in, to help you manage the mindset around failure. And of course ⌠a story thatâll bring it all together.
Just rollinâ on by the cheese shop for the win! In this episode, weâre talking about taking the kind of approach to our goals that kicks obstacles to the curb. Itâs about being connected, making decisions, and holding to them. Despite the craving, itâs about commitment and taking action. We share a couple of fun stories ⌠and a totally cheesy example to illustrate our point.
Shout out to James Clear and his book Atomic Habits (and members of our Inner Circle) for inspiring this weekâs episode. Weâre talking about identity-based habits, the skills, and the mindset needed to achieve what we really want. We promise itâll be enlightening. If youâve already scrapped this yearâs resolution, listen in and youâll probably learn why.Â
What does the Ab Dolly have to do with Self-Actualization? Youâll see. Itâs time to grow and strive. So, this week, weâre talking about how fulfillment means different things for different people. Yep⌠weâre all over the place. Youâll hear about what goal setting looks like for us personally, and weâll give you some emotional intelligence snacks to nibble on⌠like being able to recognize the emotions tied to your goals (because thatâs what theyâre all about).
Holy cow, itâs 2022! New year, new you? Ugh, that sounds sooo clichĂŠ. Even more clichĂŠ are âresolutionsâ (got some?). Instead, in this episode, weâre talking about setting goals and the emotional intelligence skill of self-actualization. When we look at goals, we need to separate the âshouldâ from the âwants.â As a coach, what questions are you asking yourself and your clients? Weâve got some good ones. Listen up.
Letâs wrap this up! Before we close the door on 2021, weâre asking some key questions for reflection on the year that was. Play along, Coach. In this episode, weâre talking about our lessons learned as the pandemic stuck around and impacted everyoneâs lives. Thereâs some big insight wrapped up in here. And yes, we confirmed we like Zoom (itâs great), but in-person (real people!) is better.
Feeling a little tense with all the expectations around the holidays and the end of the year? Letâs put the focus where it should be and watch what happens to your stress. In this episode, weâre talking about honoring our values, traditions, and maybe flipping the script on those situations which tend to make us tumble down holiday stress mountain. Hint: Itâs all about perspective and thinking about why youâre really making the cookies.
Yep. Itâs your thoughts. That crap swirling around in your head is whatâs dictating your stress level. Even though you really want to blame the thing, the person, the timing⌠itâs not the situation at fault. In this episode, weâre showing you what YOU can control. Weâre connecting the emotional intelligence skill of stress tolerance with what youâre thinking so you can improve your relationship with stress.
Holidays ⌠they always bring out our best, right? Family, friends, food, and lots of plans ⌠They can make a hella-good time or a whole big ball of angst. How do you navigate the waters? In this episode, weâre talking about the emotional skill needed to surf the waves of stress instead of avoiding them altogether. Hang ten, Coach. You got this.
P.S. Thank you, Kenya!
Time to play along ⌠grab a notepad (yeah ⌠we totally still use them). Itâs self-eval time, coach! Weâre focusing on your impulse control. Donât worry, weâre not judging. This is all about you. Karen is our Cosmo quizmaster. P.S. Could you buy the crocodile boots? Would you toss the toaster? Listen up.
Itâs easier to get a clear picture of the puzzle when the emotional intelligence pieces come together. In this episode, weâre talking about the connection between impulse control, assertiveness, and flexibility. Weâll give you examples of how the highs and lows in these skill areas impact each other. Then, as coaches, we can see what needs to be amped up or tamped down. Totally eye-opening. Hereâs that link Jenn shares at the end: https://kickstartyouredge.com/eqi
You wanna call the shots? Take a moment⌠a breath⌠a pause. The impulse control convo keeps going in this episode with the Power of the Pause. Thatâs right. Itâs all about the magic between the stimulus and the response. The control, the freedom in how you respond to a trigger is all on you. So how do you coach someone to use the power of the pause? Listen up.
Letâs do it! Add to cart. Bring it on. IF itâs high reward, low aggravation. Otherwise, donât. Weâre dissecting Karenâs impulse control (and her lack of it in many cases). In this episode, weâre looking at how impulse control is driven by emotions. Why does it show up in some places and not others? Letâs have a look at why thatâs important and how we should be coaching around it.
Canât NOT say something? Got no filter? Do you need one? This episode is all about the emotional intelligence skill of impulse control. And what youâll learn is that there is a Grand Canyon-like range of results here. Sometimes high impulse control is a good thing, sometimes itâs not. Youâll see how it plays into decision making, big risks, getting stuck, and some serious regret.
As promised, coach, weâre cominâ at you with our four-step emotional intelligence process when it comes to problem-solving. Yes! Itâs like a roadmap! Weâre going to walk you through these steps with a few examples so you can think about how you would coach around it. Reminder to check our EQ-i certification course starting Nov. 4. https://kickstartyouredge.com/eqi
Emotions getting in the way of understanding the real problem? Think about it⌠which âproblemsâ are you working on that donât have emotions tied to them? Aha! So what to do, coach? Hereâs another emotional intelligence wake-up call. In this episode, weâre talking about separating the emotions and getting real about whatâs triggering them. Learn more about our virtual EQ-i 2.0 certification course starting Nov. 4: https://kickstartyouredge.com/eqi
Did you know EQ (emotional intelligence) is four times more powerful than IQ in predicting workplace success? Shut the front door! Yep⌠itâs the skillset that gets you understanding your emotions and your behavior, and EQ is what helps you understand the impact of your emotions on those around you. Top organizations need it, and YOU should be coaching it. In this episode, weâre talking about why you should be EQ-i 2.0 certified. Learn more here: https://kickstartyouredge.com/eqi
Coaches! Getting to The Thing Behind the Thing (TTBTT) is critical. Unearthing whatever the THING is â not the story â not the âwantsâ and âifsâ âwill deliver the kind of change your clients need. This episode is the audio from our recent Facebook Live. Itâs a bit longer than usual but hang with it, thereâs so much insight to be had.
No, you canât do it all ⌠well. Thereâs some reality we all can stand to wrap our heads around. Highly developed emotional intelligence means we understand how we show up in the world â where we shine and where we could use a little polish. Weâre looking at another side of reality testing in this episode ⌠looking at the reality of our strengths and weaknesses as a coach.
Want to know more about EQ-I 2.0 certification? Go to kickstartyouredge.com/eqi
When youâre pissed and ready to go off! ⌠How do you check yourself before you wreck yourself (as the nineties kids might say)? In this episode, weâve got a question exercise for you coaches that will absolutely help you or your clients who might be frustrated or triggered. This is about walking through reactions objectively. And itâs all about emotions, people.
Hereâs that link to EQ-i 2.0 certification happening in November: kickstartyouredge.com/eqi
Want to boost your reality testing skills? This is a crucial piece of your emotional intelligence AND, as a coach, in guiding your clients to putting the brakes on when it comes to fantasy instead of reality. In this episode, weâre talking about our ability to see whatâs really happening around us ⌠ahem ... objectively. Weâve got questions to help you gauge where you are on the scale of make-believe to fact. Want to know more about EQ-I 2.0 certification? Go to kickstartyouredge.com/eqi
Feeling stressed? Did you know the emotional intelligence skill of Optimism plays a key role in that? ⌠along with your Flexibility and Stress Tolerance? In this episode, weâre talking about how your thoughts contribute to your optimism or your pessimism. And it all wraps up with a deep question you need to ponder as a coach.
Join us Fridays at noon ET for our Facebook Live in our group.Â
Hey ⌠can you handle it? As a coach, can you let go of your agenda so you can be in the moment with your client? Releasing yourself from the outcome as a coach is an indication that youâre confident in your abilities. Get there by using your emotional intelligence and your optimism. It will open up the possibilities in your coaching. Bonus alert: Jenn also shares her go-to question when she gets to tough places with a client.
You might be surprised what Karen had as her ringtone back in the day. Take a listen. Not only will you learn what that tune is, youâll also learn about the concept: âF- the HOW.â Karen tells her story about achieving her goal of Police Chief despite not knowing HOW in the beginning. As a coach, are you aware when your clients are stuck in the HOW?
Our Facebook GroupÂ
Our free coaching series
Doo doo doo doo doo feelinâ groovy! Picking up where we left off last time, weâre digging into the emotional intelligence skill of Optimism by breaking down the difference between being in a groove and being in a rut. And in our coaching, thereâs a fine line between the two. Optimism is a key to keeping in flow and staying inspired. Hereâs where you can register for our free Holy Sh*t master coaching series.
Where have all the unicorns gone? Spoiler alert: Optimism (the focus of this episode) is more than unicorns and rainbows. Itâs a choice that doesnât let the âwhat ifsâ cloud your vision. And it isnât about fake positivity. Weâre connecting optimism and Playing to Win. How does optimism show up in your coaching?
Jenn mentioned our email list with our awesome free download. Itâs here.
And you can register for our free master coaching series here.
Time to put the exclamation point on the topic of social responsibility for this month, coaches and friends. Are you connecting the dots for your clients when it comes to social responsibility? Itâs about committing to setting specific goals, building relationships, and caring for others. In this episode, weâre focused on increasing our social responsibility through the EQ-i 2.0 subscales of self-actualization, interpersonal relationships, and empathy. The ripple effect continues.
What could the late Princess of Wales have taught you as a coach? Why was the world so touched by someone who could have been seen as having it all? Well, she rocked social responsibility. This episode is about how you can develop the social responsibility aspect of your emotional intelligence with tips on how to use the power of observation, how to learn from others who care, how to use great questions, and how to take action.
Itâs important to remember, as coaches, that social responsibility is not just about âcharity.â Social responsibility-- whether at home, on the playground, around the conference table, at the food pantry, OR at the gym-- means caring about the welfare of other people. Itâs a sign youâve tapped into the superpower that is emotional intelligence. In this episode, Jenn shares a recent story about an experience on the treadmill that illustrates the concept in a way you might not expect.
As coaches, are we asking our clients to think beyond themselves? Are we asking ourselves to do the same? Do we look to the greater good? Does social responsibility feel inconvenient? In this episode, weâre getting real around the concept of social responsibility. Itâs the aspect of emotional intelligence asking us to understand the impact of our actions on our team, our company, and society as a whole ⌠the ripple effect.
Empathy. Stop the sad conga line. Itâs not a pity party. Itâs about acknowledgment, understanding, and expression. In this episode, we break it down by sharing insights from a coaching perspective. We share where empathy can be a game-changer in relationships at home and at work. And guess what? You can develop empathy! We wrap up with a bunch of great coaching questions ready to go!
We pulled even more amazing insight from Karenâs niece Jacqueline who is wrapping up her time with KickStart Your Edge. Jacqueline shares more about what the EQ-i 2.0 assessment of emotional intelligence has brought to light for her. She has a new perspective now on relationshipsâmost importantlyâwith herself (despite being only 17!). Then ⌠dun dun dun ⌠we ask her what sheâs going to work on moving forward. This is super insightful stuff no matter how old you are.
Karenâs niece Jacqueline is back! Sheâs sharing more of the insight sheâs taking away from working with KickStart Your Edge--T-FAR in particular. Jacqueline thinks everyone in the world needs to know this stuff! Why? T-FAR (your thoughts, feelings, actions, and results) is the foundation for how we run our livesâgood and bad. Jacqueline walks us through her understanding of it with her real-life example. And we break it down ⌠you know ⌠like coaches do.
Left brain. Right brain. Structure and common sense vs. creativity and big picture. With our special guest (and Karenâs niece) Jacqueline, weâre talking about understanding left vs. right, where our strengths lie, and how to exercise the âother side.â Weâll also share how relying too much on one side of the noggin can keep taking you down a bad path and why thereâs a huge benefit to coming at tough situations with the WHOLE brain. Â
Pulling the right emotional intelligence strings when it comes to Interpersonal Relationships is not a one-size-fits-all operation. Youâve got to size up the who and the what⌠and a host of other wâs before fitting the situation with the best EQ subscale for the job. In this episode, Jenn poses a question and Karenâs answer provides great insight into the interplay of all elements of EQ with examples instead of textbook definitions.
A simple message on a greeting card is what kicks off this episode on Interpersonal Relationships. Weâre talking about how our personal relationship is based on fun and how we show up. We donât take ourselves too seriously and we donât live in fear. What fun is that? Listen and ask yourself whether you could give that card to someone and how your emotional intelligence could impact your answer.
Hey Rockstar! Relationships are all about how you make someone feel. And as it turns out, making someone feel special strengthens relationships (you donât say?!). But what does that look like? In this episode, Jenn shares a story about Karenâs crazy strong ability to make people feel connected and inspired with some seriously high emotional intelligence).Â
What is it like for us to work together and be married? What makes it work? Nope ⌠magic ainât it. We keep intentions top of mind. We divide and conquer based on our strengths. We embrace the ebb and flow. This episode puts emotional intelligence (Interpersonal Relationships) under the microscope with our real life as the sample.
Cannonball!!! Weâre heading back into the deep end of the Emotional Intelligence pool, talking about how to coach around Interpersonal Relationships. Itâs time. People need deeper connection beyond Zoom. In this episode, we have key questions for you as a person and a coach.
What gets in the way of the results you want? When it comes to accountability, it might be the big âEâ word (excuses), confusion, and other B.S. In this episode, Jenn and Karen talk about why and how commitment and accountability get replaced by all this B.S. and put the kibosh on high-performing teams. Learn how to work through this, and coach our clients and teams around accountability when it goes AWOL. Â
What do IKEA cabinets have to do with accountability? Well ⌠itâs about the tools, people. Got your Allen wrench handy? Listen up coaches, in this episode, Jenn and Karen walk through (although we might say run) the pieces of accountability. This is going to be a framework (ooooh sounds serious) for accountability with teams. And if we want to get tactical, it sets up your checklist. And in the end, remember ⌠âIf it is to be, itâs up to me!â (*Insert eyeroll)
What does accountability mean to you? To your team? What does it even mean? As Karen will tell you, the dictionary falls flat on its face when defining accountability. But have no fear! In this episode, Jenn and Karen fill in the blanks, giving the concept great coaching context and beyond. Accountability is tied to relationships, alignment, and expectations. Listen in and try to get beyond Jennâs knock-knock joke.
Ready to hold up your end of the bargain, people? Accountability is that unwritten part of every job description (and weâre talking at work and at home). Itâs the part that has a hella-impact on results. Every. Single. Time. In this first in a month-long series, Jenn and Karen peel back the layers of accountability and pose some great questions for yourself, your clients, your team, and your coaching. Hereâs a hint: it starts with you!
Jenn and Karen put the smackdown on Commitment in this last episode of the month. Grab your notebook, because this oneâs got some serious gems (FYI, Karen hates the word nuggets). Learn how to get more commitment out of your intentions. Jenn and Karen both share their three questions (or together, their âsix-step processâ) to test commitment. And Karenâs got a story about how those questions worked for one of her clients ⌠priceless.
Are you just wishing for stuff? Depends. Do you put any action behind your intentions? When you say youâre going to do stuff ⌠are you following through? Really? Thereâs a price to pay for intention without commitment. In this episode, Jenn and Karen go deep with the help of words from meditation expert davidji. Listen in, then listen to davidji, then ask yourself if your âIâm going toâ today is going to turn into âI was gonnaâ ⌠tomorrow?
Are you involved or are you committed? Are you the chicken or the pig? Ahhhhh ⌠thereâs the riddle. Tune into this episode and youâll see what we mean. Karen and Jenn talk about the levels of commitment and how to look at where youâre putting your energy. Itâs not about good or bad. It turns out itâs really about whatâs meant to fit. Itâs time to ask ourselves why we say âyesâ and ânoâ to things in our life.
Jenn and Karen wrestle with the concept of commitment in this episode (itâs not quite clear who wins the match). They ponder whether theyâre rationalizing their own decision to skip recording an episode last week. Try not to laugh! Plus, they break down the real definition of commitment which should make total sense to coaches. And (yes!), they provide a spot-on interpretation of Alanis Morissetteâs 1996 hit, Ironic. Â
There are no shortcuts. Ugh ⌠we said it. Sometimes it sucks. Doing hard things can wreak havoc on our emotions, and thereâs a reason. We should do it. We say we want it. Itâs frikkinâ hard. The hardest things are usually part of our big âwhy,â people. As coaches, we need to move our clients toward acceptance and understanding why it means so much to them. Weâre talking about moving them toward the mindset of the person who accomplishes their goals.
We continue down our path to accomplishing hard things â they just keep coming! Yeah, it turns out life is full of them. So, what do you do, Coach? What do you tell your clients to do? Your most powerful force is your emotions. Use them to fuel you! In this episode, weâre talking about just thatâdigging into how to adjust your mindset from fear to excitement and embracing the challenge (or âthe suckâ), and taking action.
Ever coach someone who just never seems able to push through when things get tricky? Or are you the one whoâs backing down when the going gets tough? In this episode, we share a very real tip on how to stretch yourself. Itâs actually about surrounding yourself with the right people. The ones that have been there, done that, and how that plays into your goals. Sometimes when looking for that transformation, it helps to look outward to look inward. Trippy, but true.
Ugh⌠this is hard! In this episode, Karen tells a story (yeah!) about a realization she had while out for a run ⌠itâs about doing hard things. We want you to think about the thoughts and feelings that come up for you when ⌠letâs say ⌠the climb gets steeper ⌠or the you-know-what hits the fan. Some people check out. Some people give in. Even we, as master coaches, need to get real and remind ourselves we can do hard things.
Whatâs really happening when you say you want something and itâs just not happening? Yeah, you know what we're talking about. When your actions donât support that thing (that goal) you want ⌠Spoiler alert! Internal Conflict is at play. Letâs take a look at that together, shall we? In this episode, we're looking at ways to combat your inner conflict (Tae-Bo anyone?). Stop being held back by your own damn self! Cue your internal Billy Blanks.
Our discussion on radical candor takes another step into the deep with the help of the book Radical Conflict (all about being a âkick-ass bossâ) by Kim Scott. Youâre going to get real (fun) takeaways, including some new language for talking about honesty. Know this: Rocking the boat is a good thing. The homework question for this one will give you pause. Take it.
Radical candor isnât about spewing honest digs with reckless abandon (e.g., âYour personality rivals a wet napkinâ). And it isnât an expression coined by Bill and Ted (although itâs totally excellent). So, what is it? Well, weâre breaking down radical candor in this episode and talking about its relationship to healthy conflict. Yeah ⌠it goes there. Listen up, because you'll have a great question to ask yourself when the episodeâs done.
Here we go ⌠Starting 2021 looking at the concept of conflict. Ewwww ⌠Why? Sounds hard! Want to grow? Well, time to imagine whatâs on the other side of that conversation you're avoiding. Letâs walk through it and try on a different perspective.
Calling all our math geeks! Weâve got an equation for you and the result is trust. Go figure! (Figure! Ha!) Anyway ⌠here are the key pieces: credibility, reliability, intimacy, and self-orientation. Weâre going to show you how it works with examples you can probably relate to. The equation comes from David Maister, author of The Trusted Advisor.Â
You canât just have one. Nope. To get you and your team rockinâ those results, youâve got to have both practical and emotional trust. Guess which one requires the hard work? In this episode, weâre going to show you what you need to know about both to sow the seeds for growth. Tune in ⌠build your trust.
Think that team success comes from action and checking off the to-do list? Well, no. If thereâs no trust, youâre going to crash and burn. You canât just skip to results, youâll have nothing to lean on. So, how do you create trust? Well, as we talk about in this episode, youâve got to show up willing to be a bit vulnerable. Weâve got the questions to ask yourself (the real work) before you get to that other work.
A small, but mighty word. Trust is the foundation for everything: relationships at home, at work, wherever ⌠if you donât have it, you can forget long-term success. What are your expectations? What do you need? Weâre going to get down to it in this episode ⌠starting with you and what you need from yourself first. This is the first in our month-long series on trust.
OK ⌠You know by now you canât change the other person, right? Because you know by now theyâre not going to change (at least not because of something you said). So, what can you do? Drumroll ⌠You can change! Ba-dum-pum. Oh yeah ⌠you gotta focus on what YOU can control and what you can let go. As a coach, itâs about putting the spotlight on the person present, instead of the people in their story.
Par for the course, Thanksgiving 2020 is going to look and feel different. Shocker! We can see this in two different ways - either as a loss or as an opportunity to think about what we really value and what we WANT tradition to represent. Give it a listen ... you'll be thankful.
Youâre going to learn a lot about what makes us tick (youâre welcome!) ⌠and itâll help you understand your own behaviors, strengths, and weaknesses. Weâre continuing our series on the major elements (composites) related to emotional intelligence by talking about the umbrella of Stress Management and sharing our high points on the EQ-i 2.0 assessment. We define, in real terms, the subscales: flexibility, stress tolerance, and optimism (we might throw in a wee bit of sarcasm too).
Weâre baaaack ⌠with problem-solving, reality testing, and impulse control âoh my! Weâre talking about the Decision-Making composite of the EQ-i 2.0 model of emotional intelligence. Weâre going to help you understand how emotions play a role in your decision making (say it isnât so!), how you manage yourself, and how the subscales all play into each other.
So important right now: maintaining good relationships and connection! Weâre moving on to breaking down the Interpersonal composite of the EQ-i 2.0 model of emotional intelligence. Itâs all about interpersonal relationships, empathy, and social responsibility. These are your social go-to skillsâkicking up your trust, compassion, and vulnerability meter. Howâs your needle moving? Do you have a handle on what it all means? Do you know the difference between sympathy and empathy?
Just like Madonna said, âExpress yourself.â You know, you know youâve got to. Right? In this episode, weâre looking at the next composite on the EQ-i 2.0 model of emotional intelligence: Self-Expression. We also touch on the importance of not being a douche canoe (technical term). Self-expression builds off of self-perception (which we talked about in episode 149) for sure. Itâs about your communication to others about the inner you broken down into emotional expressiveness, assertiveness, and independence.Â
Break out your notebook and get scribblinâ. In this series of episodes, weâre sharing the CliffsNotes (remember those?!) versions of the major elements of emotional intelligence (EQ), starting with Self-Perception. Of course, weâre starting with the one thatâs all about YOU. We define self-perception (according to the EQ-i 2.0 model) and break down its parts: self-regard, self-actualization, and emotional self-awareness. How well do you know you?
Ever have someone try to talk you out of your feelings? ⌠âCâmon, donât be angry.â Uh, what? Hey ⌠emotions are some of the best data for understanding ourselves and others. Why would you want to put the kibosh on that?!! Letâs not gloss over this hidden gold mine. This episode sets the stage for getting our shovels out and digging into all the ins and outs of emotional intelligence (EQ) and coaching it. ⌠Letâs recognize the impact of emotional intelligence because thereâs no better time to be putting it to use! Â
Do some of your clients suffer from âlackâ thinking? You know ⌠looking at others with that green side-eye and wishing they had ⌠X, Y, or Z? How do you coach around this? Get on the helicopter with us in this episode so we can take a ⌠well ⌠helicopter view of the situation. On the ride, weâre going to talk about some questions thatâll get your clients to think about what is at the root of their beliefs ⌠Strap yourself in ⌠and climb aboard.
Hereâs a great, free takeaway from this episode: âPeople who think abundant thoughts are going to have abundant lives.â So ⌠what are your thoughts telling you? Uh oh! Shhhh ⌠Listen up ⌠because, in this episode, weâre breaking down what keeps people from having an abundance mindset. And, more importantly, weâre going to share advice on how to attract abundance. Itâs easy really ⌠and pretty damn rewarding ⌠so much so youâll feel like you struck oil.
More, more, more⌠How do you like it? How do you like it? Yes, we just referenced a song from 1975⌠and, yes, we all just want more, right? People say they want abundance (be it physical, material, or emotional things). The truth is we already have abundanceâabundance in certain areasâof good and maybe an abundance of bad. Letâs look at where the abundance is working for us and where itâs not. This episode is all about bringing awareness to what your abundance looks like.
Does your personal need for certainty (yes, yours!) drive you to try and create the same comfy sense of certainty for others? Weâre throwing this idea out there in Podcastland to see how it lands. Do you feel like you need to make others feel comfortable at your own expense (weâre lookinâ at you people pleasers)? Or maybe youâre minimizing someoneâs issue (even though you didnât mean to) to make them feel better (and actually doing the opposite)! In this episode, we ponder the risks ⌠come along.Â
OK. Truth is ⌠as humans we all crave a certain (ha!) degree of certainty and a certain degree of uncertainty or variety (are you willing to try the lobster on the diner menu?). We donât all crave certainty or uncertainty around the same things (duh!). This episode weâll get you thinking: In what areas do I really value certainty versus uncertainty, and vice-versa (and why). Creating a bit more balance will payoff big time. Weâre also sharing a quick lesson from a recent adventure involving jet skis. Listen up!
We know what we know, and we donât know what we donât know yet, but we will⌠soon. Sounds like that great scene from Spaceballs the movie. BUT, it does make sense⌠itâs all about the certainty that is now, versus the uncertainty in the future. The question is: Are you okay with that? You donât want to spend your time future trippinâ right? In this episode, weâll get you thinking about embracing uncertainty, instead of spending so much energy âWhat-if?â-ing. Listen up and then go re-watch Spaceballs (so worth it).
Change. Whatâs the deal? Some say they want it ⌠(maybe) ⌠and some fight it like theyâre being forced to sit through a marathon viewing of the movie Cats. So, whatâs behind the resistance? Turns out some valid stuff when you break it all down ⌠and thatâs what we do in this episode. Weâre going to give you the six main reasons people have a hard time with the âcâ word (NO! Not that one!) and lay out how to coach around feeling competent, in control, and positive about switching things up. Â
Knowing ... or let's say ... accepting life is uncertain, gives us power: the power to see opportunity and the power to be curious. 2020 is hella unpredictable. Spoiler alert: life is unpredictable. So what? How are you dealing with it? ... We're reminding you in this episode to stop and focus on all elements of T-FAR⢠(your Thoughts creating your feelings, your Feelings creating your actions, and your Actions creating your Results) and to get to know your default Fight, Flight, or Freeze response to uncertainty. This is going to be the magic that gets you rockin' out above the line.
Jenn and Karen get all science-y in this episode (WAIT! Donât go ...)! Actually, theyâre diving into neuroplasticity â you know your neural pathways and allâto get you on the road to building a growth mindset. This one is big ⌠get your notebook ready because the steps are going to come flying at you. Wanna change your brain? Listen up!
So, does it seem like weâre throwinâ shade at the fixed mindset? ⌠Sure, sometimes. In this episode, Jenn and Karen talk about knowing yourself well enough to understand when itâs okay to have that fixed mindset and when you need to bust yourself out of it. You see, people, when you tell yourself youâre really passionate about something it should align with the direction of your mindset. Do you want to grow as a person, in your business, and a coach?
Think youâre smart, but at the same time, youâre afraid youâll screw up? Do you say you like a challenge- but are you really BS-ing yourself about how far youâll go? Are you willing to stretch or is your mindset fixed? Jenn and Karen are talking through some statements to help you sort it all out. Maybe this will be that smack upside the head ⌠you know the one.
The downsides to a fixed mindset play out in a way you may not have considered. Fixed mindsets keep our doors closed to challenges and learning ⌠because ⌠well ⌠we got this, right? We know it all. WRONG. Why is it so important for us to look smart? On the flip side, growth mindset folks want to embrace the challenges of life and thrive on feedback. Not easy for some because sometimes it might look like we donât know exactly what weâre doing when weâre open to learning (hmmmm, kinda makes sense). Keep your ready-to-fill cup handy.
When it comes to mindset are you in a rut or a groove? Jenn and Karen start to deconstruct the difference between the two...spoiler alert: one is fixed and the other is growth. And, If it's a growth mindset that's going to get you closer to your goals in life (according to Dr. Carol Dweck in Mindset: The New Psychology of Success), what does that actually look like in action? Youâll see where conviction and curiosity come in to play. Buckle up...this is first in a series of episodes about understanding and shifting mindsets.
A lot of people are asking questions right now.  But are they the right ones? If you want better answers, ask better questions. As coaches, weâre usually pretty good at the whole questioning thing⌠and now is the time to put these superpowers to use to move our clients and our communities forward. In the fifth episode (out of five) in a series around racial equality, Jenn and Karen offer guidance about asking the right questions: What are we really asking? What do we really want to know?
Unless youâve been living under a rock, you may have noticed emotions are running a little high right now. How are you coaching around it? Are you monitoring whether you have an agenda? In the fourth part of this series on coaching around racial justice, Jenn and Karen ask lots of questions to get you thinking about how youâre handling discussions with your clients, and whether youâre able to stay in coach mode or whether you even want to.
Now is the time. In this third episode (in a series of five) about racial equality and our role as human beings and coaches, Jenn and Karen drill down on our awareness of our own biases and their influences. It's about how as individuals we need to look closely at our own experiences and how they shape our behaviors. And guess what? You can consciously change if you want to. The fiction book Jenn references is Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult.
Your beliefs come from what youâve been exposed to. So⌠what is it you still need to know to get a better understanding of your own unconscious bias? Jenn and Karen continue their conversation, digging into how they come to their points of view and talk about how to use your own curiosity. This is the second in a series of five episodes dedicated to helping people get to a place where youâre best positioned to have a conversation with your clients, friends, families, and your communities around this very real and very raw topic.
It may seem like a bizarrely simple statement, but ... the road to our answers lies in our questions. The right questions. In this first in a series of five episodes, weâre going to set the stage for how we take responsibility right now for our own education and response to racial injustice and the swirling conversations in our lives and in our coaching. Here, and in our Get REAL: Inner Circle, weâre opening up a space to discuss and help push the conversation towards solutions (AKA: action). Two words: OWN IT.
You're setting a boundary, are you? You have to communicate it. Yes, Captain Obvious, yes. Well, maybe not ⌠Even when we get to the point of setting an important boundary weâve been hemming and hawing about, we often donât implement the all-important second step: telling the people it involves. Will it work? Maybe. Will it work well? Nope. Donât worry. Jenn and Karen show the way to convey the message. It might not be all sunshine and lollipops, but itâll be what you (or your client) need.
The series on boundaries continues ⌠with a super swan dive into why some situations need boundaries and some donât. Jenn and Karen drill down on the idea of âneedâ versus âwantâ and the whole sense of obligation dealy. Added bonus: Jenn shares a personal story to highlight the whole shebang. As Karen says, it will have you on the edge of your seat.
Staying rock-solid in your commitment to setting boundaries means getting crystal clear about what you want in the relationship (can be any relationship ... even how you deal with the mailman, your brother-in-law, no matter). So, how do you get that clarity? Jenn and Karen will help you figure it out. In this episode, theyâll share a handful of questions meant to unmuddy the waters and frankly stop you from your avoidance. Do it. Listen up.
Thereâs a reason youâre not doing it. You know youâre afraid of something ⌠or fear you might rock the boat. But ⌠arenât you sick of saying âYesâ? Or maybe youâre done rehashing the same conversation. Care about yourself? Wanna improve the relationship? Set some frigginâ boundaries already. Hereâs more about why we donât set boundaries and why we should.
Boundaries aren't about staking a claim and pitching a 'No Trespassing' sign on the edge of your property and standing guard to see what happens. Boundaries are about staying in relationship with yourself or others. It's about figuring out what is acceptable and what isn't. Coaching boundaries can be tricky as there are many parts to consider. Here is step one...
We make lots of decisions ⌠like hundreds every day (even when we're self-isolating!). And decisions mean we have choices! And choices are good, right? (Dunno, ask Sophie). In all the noise, how are you gonna get your client (and yourself!) to see the big picture (weâre talkinâ IMaxâif thatâs still a thing). Do they even really need to make that call right now? What are they bringing to the table? What are you bringing? Is it clear as mud? Well, maybe itâs about time to let the dust settle (so ⌠many ⌠metaphors!) and just chill with it. Donât worry, Jenn and Karen make it make sense.
Wanna know a cool trick for a mindset shift during these oh-so-interesting-times? Hint: itâs not a lobotomy (much less costly and no visible scars). Pay attention to what follows the words: 'What if...' There are a few simple steps (no magic potions involved) to teach yourself to open yourself up to possibilities. And thereâs a ripple effect here, kids ⌠listen in ⌠WHAT IF it's a game changer?
Whatâs the rush? Look around. Breathe. It. In. Oh yeah, these are different times. Are they making you ⌠uncomfortable? Of course, they are! Even Mickey Mouse is furloughed. The thing is ⌠we can do things to make us FEEL less uncomfortable by getting our heads around what we know for certain. In this episode, weâve got strategies to get you and your clients a step closer to being okay with where you are right now.
Did you know? Words can actually shape your behavior and how you feel. That's right, peeps. Your words could make a mega difference right now. Saying you're in 'lock down' .... saying you 'feel isolated' or 'bored' ... These words in your head that sneak out of your mouth actually impact how you see your world. And guess what? They're totally in your control! In this episode, Jenn and Karen get REAL, and get specific, about how to switch this up. Listen up!
No. Not a "Jenn and Karen" course -- this course is for ALL of us and it's one we didn't sign up for. We're talking about the recent hand dealt to the whole of humanity. If THIS isnât a crash course in personal development â we donât know what is. The in-your-face, look-in-the-mirror type of personal development is when things are hard, uncertain and unexpected. If things were easy â we wouldnât be learning about ourselves. BOOM! Consider this your wake-up call!
One tiny tweak is all it takes. Say what? Yes! A simple mindset shift can leave you inspired instead of dreading whatâs to come. In this episode, Jenn and Karen break down how having a curious mindset can help turn off nervous doubt and build confidence. It's all about the questions, yo! Try it on for size.
Have you looked around? Since we are in the space of social distancing, perhaps it's time to give your social circle a no B.S. assessment. In this episode, Jenn and Karen get real about the people we surround ourselves with and their impact on our confidence. Who's helping? Who's not? How do you coach around it? Listen up ... Itâll be a confidence booster.
Hey, children whatâs that sound? ⌠Whatâs that nagging, self-doubting noise rattling around up there in your head? Oh yeah ⌠thatâs YOU dammit (or your Inner Critic more accurately)! In this episode, Jenn and Karen have your back when it comes to shutting off the loud voice that drowns out your confidence. They break down ways we can help our clients get out of their own heads. Hereâs the hint: Action trumps inner critic. Every. single. time.
In this episode, Jenn and Karen give you the skinny and the scoop on three ways to approach the issue of confidence with your clients. In just a few minutes, youâll come away with a boatload of questionsâespecially ones that will help you get your confidence conversation started on the right path. Posing the right questions will get your clients thinking differently about their relationship to confidence. Game on!
Not Rocket ScienceâŚItâs Neuroscience!  And the interesting thing, unlike rocket science, this tidbit of neuroscience is actually pretty simple (although not necessarily easy ... wink wink).  To master the art and science of coaching you need to wrap your head around the concept of T-FAR! Thoughts create feelings, feelings create actions, and actions give you your results.  Some say feelings come first and weâre good with it. Regardless.  Learn this concept.  Know this concept. Live this concept. Your clients will thank you. To learn more about KickStart Your Edge go to www.kickstartyouredge.com