Inspirational Leadership for People Managers, Executives & HR Leaders

What are your important goals, and are you willing to take the time to achieve them? Reaching your full potential requires an investment, but most of us are stuck in an instant gratification mindset. The truth is, it is through the process of working towards your goals that you feel meaning, purpose, and satisfaction.

In this solo episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, Kristen discusses how to identify what’s important to you and take the necessary action steps to achieve those goals. She explains the importance of understanding that big goals take time, persistence, commitment, and dedication, not solely focusing on instant gratification.

Listen in to learn how to stop self-sabotaging by allowing self-limiting beliefs to take over when good things happen, plus how to overcome the upper limit problem.

Key Takeaways:

• How the process of working towards your goals gives you meaning, purpose, and satisfaction.
• How to identify what’s important to the lifestyle you want to create and stop limiting yourself in terms of what’s possible.
• How to change old patterns of self-sabotage by lasting longer in the uncomfortable to develop new patterns.
• How to take small steps towards achieving your goals and becoming who you want to be.

Standout Quotes:

• “Success comes from a lot of consistent hard work, focus, and commitment that a lot of times is happening in the background.”– Kristen [00:56]
• “If you can get really clear about what those dreams are and start to challenge yourself, you’ll realize how often your mind and thoughts can hold you back from achieving amazing things you never thought possible.”– Kristen [03:44]

⇢ Let's connect! I love hearing from my community. Learn more about my programs and services at www.kristenharcourt.com

Are you aware that your leadership style is rooted in your past traumatic experiences? Many leaders are operating from a place of distracting themselves from experiencing the full spectrum of human emotions. But to become a more centered, rooted, grounded, and well-resourced leader, you must do the work needed to heal your trauma experiences.

In this episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, I speak with Kelly L. Campbell (they/she) about healing traumatic experiences to become a better leader. Kelly speaks and writes about trauma, leadership, and consciousness— “The New TLC.” The author of Heal to Lead (Wiley, April 2024), Kelly, is a Trauma-Informed Leadership Coach to emerging and established leaders who know they are meant for more. Kelly’s vision is to empower more than half of humanity to heal its childhood trauma so that we may reimagine and rebuild the world together.

Listen in to learn the importance of curiosity and exploring different practices to help you find what works to heal and integrate your trauma. You will also learn how, as a leader or organization, you can support your team by doing things that positively impact their health.

Key Takeaways:

• How addressing and healing your past traumatic experiences can lead to conscious leadership.
• The importance of experimenting with different practices to find what works for you to integrate your trauma.
• How to do the healing work to become a centered, rooted, grounded, and well-resourced leader.
• How to support your team in ways that will impact their emotional, physical, mental, and psychological health.

Standout Quotes:

• “The more centered, more grounded, and the more resourced we are, we can show up in a way that might influence the people who haven’t done healing work.”– Kelly [19:22]
• “When it comes to healing and integrating trauma, you don’t know what’s going to work for you until you try it.”– Kelly [25:23]

⇢ Get full show notes and more information here: https://bit.ly/KellyLCampbell

Are you ready to let go of the drama and restore sanity in the workplace? Drama in the workplace is a time and emotional waste, but with tools like self-reflection and accountability, it can be eliminated.

In this episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, I speak with Cy Wakeman about how the ego works, embracing self-reflection, and diffusing drama in organizations. Cy is a drama researcher, New York Times best-selling author, and 2023 World’s #1 Leadership Guru who is recognized for her Reality-Based approach to leadership. Backed by over 25 years of unparalleled experience partnering with top brands spanning all industries, Cy’s philosophy offers a modern approach to leadership in which employees and managers alike can deliver better results with less drama, higher engagement without entitlement, and more happiness in even the most challenging workplace realities. Cy’s avid fanbase online has surpassed 250,000 followers.

Listen in to learn about drama in the workplace, the five sources of drama, and how to clear up drama in an organization. You will also learn the difference between self-reflection and venting and how to evolve and give opportunities for self-reflection.

Key Takeaways:

• The importance of questioning your thoughts to stop your ego from controlling your life.
• How to clear up drama in an organization by getting out of verbal communication and self-reflecting.
• How to get into a place of neutrality by naming whatever comes your way as an unpreferred reality and changing the story.
• The importance of understanding and articulating your needs as a leader to avoid working on the wrong thing.
• The power of doing profound inner work to be able to lead with love and be a great leader and or team member.

Standout Quotes:

• “Surrendering is as simple as naming whatever came your way as neutrally as possible as an unpreferred reality.”– Cy Wakeman [24:30]
• “I am convinced that very little needs to change in my world for my world to change; all of what needs to change is my thinking.”– Cy Wakeman [29:08]
• “It takes a lot of evolution to move through the world lovingly because you can’t move through the world lovingly if you haven’t done your inner work.”– Cy Wakeman [42:37]

⇢ Get full show notes and more information here: https://bit.ly/PodcastCyWakeman

How do you lead with empathy and build a team of people that align with your core values? When you support and add value to your team without micromanaging them, you enhance their efficiency and productivity, and they become your best brand ambassadors.

In this episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, I speak with Julie Cole about her entrepreneurship journey and the effectiveness of the results-only work environment (ROWE) culture. Julie is a recovered lawyer, a mom of six, and co-founder of Mabel’s Labels. She is also a published author, keynote speaker, engaged community member, and winner of countless entrepreneur awards. In Julie’s latest book, Like a Mother, she shares her inspirational stories and lessons learned through parenting her lively crew of kids and building a multi-million-dollar business with her co-founders.

Listen in to learn how leading with empathy while still holding boundaries can help you hire right and retain employees. You will also learn how to integrate your work and life by knowing your needs, asking for help confidently, and owning your boundaries.

Key Takeaways:

• How to build a results-only work environment that gives people the freedom to be effective managers.
• The power of having an empathetic leader who holds boundaries in retaining employees.
• How to understand and establish your boundaries and respect your time as a leader for work-life integration.
• The importance of knowing your needs, getting clear about your boundaries, being confident when asking for help, and being less of a people-pleaser.
• How to make giving back part of your core values, plus how powerful it can be for your brand.

Standout Quotes:

• “You have to get uncomfortable being comfortable because as soon as you think you know what you’re doing, you experience growth.”– Julie [08:36]
• “Everything about business is personal, particularly your team, and if you create support and build an incredible team of people who align with your core values and lead with empathy, then they will stick with you and be your best brand ambassadors.”– Julie [35:50]

⇢ Get full show notes and more information here: https://bit.ly/JulieCole

Have you established a speak-up culture as a leader in your organization? For teams and organizations to thrive, it’s crucial to create a speak-up culture where everyone feels psychologically safe to share their ideas, concerns, feedback, and vulnerabilities.

In this episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, I speak with Stephen Shedletzky, or “Shed,” about the positive impact of speak-up culture on teams and organizations. Shed is a sought-after speaker, coach, and advisor and has led hundreds of keynote presentations, workshops, and leadership development programs around the world. He helps leaders listen and nurture the voice of others and supports humble leaders who put their people and purpose first, all while knowing they are both a part of the problems they experience and part of the solutions they seek to create. As a thought-leader on psychological safety in the workplace, he works with leaders in all industries where human beings work. His latest book is called Speak-Up Culture: When Leaders Truly Listen, People Step Up.

Listen in to learn about the hard work that goes into psychological safety and its importance for safety, performance, and innovation in organizations. You will also learn how to be a better leader by studying leadership behaviors, getting constant feedback, and committing to leadership practice.

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding why leaders aren’t born or made but chosen based on the way they behave.
• The importance of the speak-up culture and how leaders can create a speak-up culture through encouraging and rewarding.
• How to provide coaching and feedback on behavior and the impact of speak-up culture even as you reward the intent.
• How to stay committed to your leadership practice and search and find leaders you’d want to follow and work for.

Standout Quotes:

• “Leadership cannot be claimed, it must be earned; culture cannot be declared, it must be lived.”- Shed [13:27]
• “Wherever you are in your leadership development journey, the fact that you’re committing to a leadership development journey, that’s good news.”- Shed [32:21]
• “Oftentimes, leaders display toxic deleterious behaviors because they don’t know better and they’re struggling really badly.”- Shed [35:07]

⇢ Get full show notes and more information here: https://bit.ly/StephenShedletzky

Is your never-ending busyness a way to avoid reflecting and hearing answers to your big questions? Slowing down forces you to get clarity on whether the choices you’re making are aligned with what you say is important to you.

In this episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, Kristen discusses the power of intentionally slowing down and focusing on what truly matters. She explains bigger questions you need to ask yourself to understand what you’re avoiding by not slowing down, plus how to use the holidays to reflect on your 2023 wins, struggles, and learnings.

Listen in to learn how slowing down allows you to hear your intuition, identify what truly matters to you, and get your habits aligned.

Key Takeaways:

• How to de-prioritize and give yourself permission to slow down and connect.
• How slowing down forces you to get clarity and answers on what’s important in your life.
• How to use the holidays to reflect on your wins, struggles, and learnings and visualize your future goals.
• How to get intentional about growth opportunities that will result in more fulfillment, joy, purpose, and connection with yourself and others.
• How slowing down allows you to hear your intuition and identify what truly matters to you.

Standout Quotes:

• “We all need rest; we need that time and rest where we’re not doing anything.”- Kristen [07:07]
• “It’s important as you start to think about your vision and goals for 2024 that you’re very clear this is not something you’re doing on your own but something you can do with others and have support in order to feel less alone working on them.”- Kristen [16:04]
• “As you slow down, it is much easier to hear your intuition; it is much easier to hear your most resourceful self.”- Kristen [16:48]

⇢ Let's connect! I love hearing from my community. Learn more about my programs and services at www.kristenharcourt.com

What are some of the things you can do as a leader to make your teams more effective? The major reasons why teams fail to be high-performing are alignment-related and dynamic-related issues.

In this episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, I speak with Liane Davey about her experience working with teams and what leaders need to do to improve their team performance. For the past 25 years, Liane has researched and advised teams on how to achieve high performance. Known as the “teamwork doctor,” she’s worked with teams from the frontlines to the boardroom, across a variety of industries, and around the globe from Boston to Bangkok. In working with hundreds of teams, including 26 Global Fortune 500 companies (and counting), she has developed a unique perspective on the challenges teams face – and how to solve them.

Listen in to learn about the layers of trust and the critical role of trust in teams to make things easier. You will also learn the difference between tension and friction in conflict and the importance of being aware of healthy tension.

Key Takeaways:

• How to eliminate inefficiency by getting better at time management and creating boundaries.
• How to be a vulnerable and accountable leader to earn confidence and connection from your team.
• How to be aware of healthy tension and properly recognize friction and shut it down.
• How productive conflict enhances psychological safety and strengthens team relationships.

Standout Quotes:

• “We need to address meetings and email problems so that we can create space for focus and flow.”- Liane Davey [16:29]
• “The more productive conflict we have, the higher the psychological safety gets because people learn that they can come out the other side and the relationship will be stronger.”- Liane Davey [33:01]

⇢ Get full show notes and more information here: https://bit.ly/PodcastLianeDavey

Are you in a fixed mindset or a growth mindset? A fixed mindset is when you have scarcity thinking, while a growth mindset is thinking from a place of possibilities. You can shift from a fixed mindset at any point; it’s just a matter of choosing and allowing yourself to create new patterns.

In this solo episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, I discuss the difference between a fixed and a growth mindset and how to adopt a growth mindset. I explain why we need to show ourselves compassion, patience, understanding, and grace as we work through new things and create space for emotions when they arise.

Listen in to learn the importance of having a growth mindset to be creative, innovative, and create new things. You will also learn how to challenge yourself to get out of your comfort zone and reach your full potential.

Key Takeaways:

• Why you must have a growth mindset to be creative, innovative, and create new things.
• How to allow yourself to be in the process of practice by showing yourself self-compassion and grace.
• How to show up from a place of curiosity in order to adopt a growth mindset.
• How you can challenge yourself to get out of your comfort zone and reach your full potential.
• How getting feedback from others can help you shift from a fixed mindset and into a growth mindset.

Standout Quotes:

• “Anyone who’s thinking about doing innovation or creativity and trying to create new things cannot do that if they’re staying in a fixed mindset; it has to come from a place of a growth mindset.”- Kristen [04:46]
• “If you’re not consistently setting goals for yourself and having stretch goals, you’re not going to feel much meaning and fulfillment in your life.”- Kristen [19:10]

⇢ Let's connect! I love hearing from my community. Learn more about my programs and services at www.kristenharcourt.com

Do you know who you truly are deep inside? Knowing who you are deep inside and your experiences will guide you to your why, and it will stop you from settling with what you think your why is or what other people tempt you to think it is.

In this episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, I speak with Paru Radia about relationship-building with senior decision-makers and owning who you are. Paru is a rare commodity! Most people fall into one camp as either left-brained or right-brained. Paru, however, has always mixed her logical side with her creative side to thrive while navigating challenging environments, whether in the corporate world or as a founder and entrepreneur. Becoming a C-Suite Whisperer® and Execution Ninja was a natural path for Paru as she has a keen understanding of the corporate world, having been both an employee and a consultant.

Listen in to learn how to build interpersonal relationships with senior leaders and develop the confidence to make it about them. You will also learn the importance of highlighting the challenges behind success when inspiring others.

Key Takeaways:

• How to build relationships with senior leaders to get their buy-in before you’re in the room.
• How to develop interpersonal relationships by taking time to analyze others and learning what’s important to them.
• The power of knowing and owning who you are to have the confidence to make it about the other person.

Standout Quotes:

• “The only way you can feel confident in yourself in order to make it about them is owning who you are, but you can’t own who you are until you know who you are.”- Paru Radia [27:56]
• “You won’t know your why until you know who you are deep down inside.”- Paru Radia [31:45]

⇢ Let's connect! I love hearing from my community. Learn more about my programs and services at www.kristenharcourt.com

How strong are your boundaries at work and in your personal life? Setting healthy boundaries is something most people struggle with due to self-limiting beliefs and patterns you can unlearn. To reap the fruits of setting healthy boundaries, you have to get clear about your needs and stay committed to them.

In this solo episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, Kristen discusses the power of learning to set healthy boundaries by getting clear about your needs at work and in life. She explains how self-limiting beliefs such as people pleasing, hyper-achieving, peacemaking, controlling behaviors, avoidant personality, perfectionism, and victim mentality negatively impact setting healthy boundaries.

Listen in to learn the importance of having compassion for yourself when setting boundaries because there are systems set up for you to stay within the unhealthy boundaries.

Key Takeaways:

• How people pleasing negatively impacts setting healthy boundaries.
• How hyper-achieving can impact your relationship with others and your well-being.
• Why being a peacemaker in family and work dynamics can lead to being there for others and not yourself.
• Have compassion for yourself because there are systems set up for you to stay within the unhealthy boundaries.
• Learning how to set boundaries at work from an empowered place without it always being a yes.

Standout Quote:

• “When it comes to boundaries, this is something that’s constantly evolving, shifting, and it is a journey, not a destination.”- Kristen [01:11]
• “The clearer you are on what you’d like commitment to look like, the easier it is to recognize when you’re in alignment and out of alignment because you’re really clear on what that commitment is.”- Kristen [13:00]

⇢ Let's connect! I love hearing from my community. Learn more about my programs and services at www.kristenharcourt.com