Productivity Paradox

Cultivating a healthy, strong culture for your team takes intentional work. However, doing this work will pay off tenfold as it will facilitate that environment of success that you want. We’re all vastly unique, and it’s that diversity that beautifully brings together different ideas, perspectives, and opinions on how to achieve your shared goals. But what do you do when tension arises? In this episode, I explored how you can embrace conflict more effectively and with more confidence (while teaching your team to do the same!). What’s In This Episode: Reframing the way you think about conflicts among your team Digging into differences in a healthier, more productive way How to teach your team to embrace conflict 2 tools to help cultivate that collaborative, motivated team environment you want

As a leader, you can create a strong team that works together to achieve your group’s goals, vision, and North Star. Teams are critical for reaching success, and as humans, we’re designed to work in groups. Our brains are literally wired for it! By seeking out effective people to join and grow your team, you’ll live each day fired up about the people you get to work with (not have to work with!). In this episode, I’m sharing 3 tips for growing a strong team, and why you shouldn’t fall for resume propaganda. We’ll also explore a few momentum-builders to get you started!  What’s In This Episode: Making sure your team knows and understands the boundaries The importance of being effective (rather than efficient) 3 tips for creating a strong team Momentum-builders you can start implementing right away JOIN MY FREE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY GROUP!

Welcome to the Intentional Advantage podcast! You might be wondering why I've decided to make a few changes around here. In this episode, I'll be explaining those changes to you and my reasoning behind them. You'll hear what it means to have an Intentional Advantage, plus what's to come on this season as we embrace strategies for success to help you confidently step into leadership purposefully, intentionally, and mindfully. What’s In This Episode: Why I decided to make a shift with the podcast Revisiting my North Star to make sure I’m aligned My new purpose statement  What it means to have the Intentional Advantage

Unplug from your job and do it often. There's this misconception in the workforce that busier is better, and it's simply not true. In this episode, I'm exploring why it's critical for you to regularly unplug from work. I talk about the importance of taking breaks, vacations, and time away from your job, plus how doing so can produce better, higher-quality work in less time. I also share a few momentum builders to help you unplug from work mode.  What's In This Episode: Symptoms of burnout and how to prevent it How to carve out space in your day to take breaks Focusing on being happy, healthy, and productive instead of busy Tuning out of work mode regularly for a renewed sense of energy, motivation, and creativity

Are the messages you’re putting out really embodying what you stand for as a business? At my company, one of the ideas that we’ve really been digging into while working to express our core values has been the “traditional workweek.” In this episode, I am diving into how the standard Monday through Friday, 9-5, came about. I touch on the benefits of reducing your working hours and explore some of the drawbacks you might expect from spending less time working. If you’ve been rethinking what you’ve been told about productivity and the 40-hour workweek, you’ll want to hear this episode!   What’s In This Episode: Shifting how you look at the 40-hour workweek The benefits that come from reducing the hours you work Potential drawbacks in reducing your workweek

Stepping into leadership with confidence takes courage. That's what Pat Flynn exemplified when he was laid off during the 2008 financial crisis. He quickly decided to make a move into entrepreneurship and hasn't looked back since. In this episode, he and I talk about how he's stepped into leadership within his business. He shares how he knew when to add people to his team and the importance of letting team members step up in their roles. We also discuss using Enneagram tests for insight on your team in the workplace (and at home!) and why you need to learn to fail.  What's In This Episode: Why you need to ask for help earlier than you might think Pat's advice on knowing when to hire people onto your team Two driving keywords for life and business Why you need to learn to fail

Let's be honest, meetings can drive everyone crazy. But the truth is, meetings are an essential part of the workplace. Knowing how to effectively run a meeting with your team can be a game changer for you as a leader. In this episode, I touch on why there's so much animosity toward meetings. I share why meetings are crucial for growth and why you need to look at what outcomes you want from them before diving in. If you're going to start creating more effective meetings for your team, you'll definitely want to hear the tips I share in this episode on infusing fun into the grand scheme of things while working on cutting down the time you and your team spend having them.   What's In This Episode: Understanding the frustrations behind meetings The importance of collaborating with others and allowing for different ideas, opinions, and voices to be heard Examining the outcomes that you want to come from meetings Creating an environment that's conducive for your business (and team members) to flourish

As a business owner or leader, you're responsible for cultivating motivation within your team. That's why I wanted to bring on two of my very own team members to dive into this topic. I was joined by two of my team members to talk about what we do to create a work culture we love, how we work together toward our shared vision, and what we do to build momentum every week. You'll hear how they make sure to stay on track, plus a few of their ideas of what you can do as a leader to move your business forward. You'll also learn some of the ways we work as a team to achieve our goals, and why team-building and celebrating your wins together is essential! What's In This Episode: What my team does for the inkWELL Press and Tanya Dalton brand Ideas on sharing your vision as a leader and working toward a common goal with your team How to create momentum and action plans What to do to build momentum each week and stay accountable My team's ideas for what people can do to move forward in business

Life doesn’t operate on a fixed timeline. It works in its own unique way. For a lot of us, 2020 has been a whirlwind of emotions. We’ve all had to do some shifting, evolving, and adjusting for our goals. As I’ve had meetings with other women in the business world--each of us in different industries, with different belief systems, religions and races--we’ve had some great conversations around COVID-19, and the Black Lives Matter movement. One of my good friends Myoshia, shared some excellent points that I wanted to share with you in today’s episode. I will discuss three steps to committing to change and why you should allow yourself and others to evolve. I’ve appreciated this time of being able to learn, grow, and change alongside my community, and I’m excited for you to listen to this episode.   What’s In This Episode: Shifting the way you think about life Assessing where you are and where you’re heading  3 Steps to Committing to Change Allowing others to evolve and grow as an individual JOIN MY FREE FACEBO

There's so much power in Community. A strong, supportive community can drive like-minded women up and forward. In this episode, I am chatting with Kristy Wallace, CEO of Ellevate Network. During our conversation, Kristy and I talk about why she set out on a mission to create a supportive community for women. Kristy also shares why now is the time for women to step up as leaders, and her tips on finding an excellent mentor to guide you on your journey toward your goals.    What's In This Episode: Why it was important for Kristy to create a network specifically for women Advice on finding a good mentor How recent shifts in business will affect women in the workplace Why now is a great time for women to step into leadership

Forming and fostering strong relationships is invaluable. In fact, partnerships with other entrepreneurs have been one of the biggest keys to my success in business. In this episode, I'm talking about why you need to be networking (and engaging in online networking, too!). It's these groups that can help you make contacts that will serve you for years to come! Networking is about connecting with people who understand your struggles, who want to help celebrate your wins, and who are there to offer advice and tips when needed. You'll hear why you should change the way you think about networking, why it's critical to build relationships, and why having accountability partners will get you closer to your business (and personal!) goals.    What's In This Episode: Engaging with networking groups and online networks Reframing how you look at networking and thinking of it as relationship-building instead How to view networking as an investment  Aligning with other people who are like-minded Ways to rely on your netwo

Women have the ability to really shift the way that we’re perceived in the world of business. Sometimes we face obstacles and stumbling blocks, whether they’re from our own head or something we’ve picked up from those around us. It happens, and that’s why in this episode, I brought on someone who has had an enormous impact on my own career. She’s my personal mentor and coach, Ali Brown. Ali shares so many truth bombs as we dive into what it’s really like to be a woman stepping into leadership. She discusses stereotypes that women face in business and symptoms that women show when they aren’t quite ready to step into their power. You’ll also hear why NOW is the time for women to reinvent themselves and step into leadership. What’s In This Episode: Why Ali ended up building her business to serve mostly women  The symptom that many women show when they don’t want to own their power Why now is the time for women to reinvent and step into leadership Ali’s advice on networking with women in higher positions of succ

What does it mean to lead with vision, and why is it important for not only you but those around you as well? That's what you'll discover in this episode as we dive into using your purpose statement to guide you toward your vision. I discuss how you can use your vision to help you stay on the right path toward your goals and why you should use both nearsightedness and farsightedness to guide you along the way. Not only that, but I'll also share tips for inviting others to be a part of your vision, and why doing so can make your future and the success you want more attainable. What's In This Episode: The importance of having a greater, more impactful vision of the future in mind (and how it can help you stay on track toward your goals) Incorporating the elements of farsightedness and nearsightedness into your life in a harmonious way, and how switching between different perspectives as a leader is important  How to communicate your vision to others and invite them to be a part of the journey How to share ideas

Are you running a company that can thrive without you there? If not, it's time to start thinking about how to make this a reality. That's precisely why I invited Mike Michalowicz on the show. Mike is the author of several books, including his latest release, Fix This Next. By his 35th birthday, Mike had already founded and sold two companies. Today, he is running his third multi-million dollar company. In this episode, Mike shares some of his biggest tips for creating a business with a lasting legacy, and how he's able to take a FOUR-WEEK vacation every year. Together, we also discuss Mike's framework for the business hierarchy of needs. So, if you're wondering what to fix next in your business, you're in for a treat!  What's In This Episode: What the survival trap looks like (and how to get out of it) Why Mike takes a four-week vacation every year Mike's framework for the business hierarchy of needs The number one mistake people make when trying to make an impact

How do you prioritize when everything feels like a priority? It's nearly impossible when you're not using the right system. This is why you need to ditch the tired, old to-do list and upgrade to a priority list instead. In this episode, I'll be exploring why a priority list will help you become a better leader and more intentional with your time. You'll learn how to decide what's urgent and what's important, and how a priority list can help you manage it effectively. If you've been having a hard time making room for your priorities, then you'll want to hear this episode. What's In This Episode: How to connect to your North Star How to determine what's urgent and what's important How to hold yourself accountable Doing the things that nourish your soul How to remove distractions

We need more women in leadership. It's about time that more women join the ranks of women-owned businesses and begin to own up to their greatness in corporate spaces. That's why in this episode, I am going to share the four simple habits of effective leaders. It is my hope that this episode will inspire women and help them realize that being an effective leader is within their reach. You'll hear about how to reframe your mindset (because you already have what it takes to be an effective leader!), and I'll also share why you need to set up your habits with intention. Plus, I'll give you a few resources from my book, The Joy of Missing Out, and share some past episodes on building solid habits for you to check out.  What's In This Episode: Reframing your mindset to believe you have what it takes to be an effective leader Setting your habits with intention Four simple habits of effective leaders Four steps of solid, intentional habits

During these uncertain times, leaders must step up and help counterbalance all of the fear-mongering occurring in our world. For those with a calling, the critical moment to learn how to embrace their leadership abilities and lead effectively has arrived. In this episode, I'm explaining exactly how you can start getting more comfortable with embracing your inner leader. It's a lesson that my dad began instilling in me from a young age, but I believe that anyone can be a leader. All it takes is the courage to believe in yourself and the confidence to start guiding those around you. What's In This Episode: Getting more comfortable with embracing your inner leader Leveraging the success you want and empowering those around you to do the same Learning to believe in yourself and becoming confident in your leadership abilities Three things to keep in mind when embracing yourself as a leader Three tips for becoming a more effective leader

Rituals are the things that help you find your center and keep you grounded, especially during times of crisis and uncertainty. In this episode, I'm breaking down how rituals differ from habits and routines and how to use them to align your day. I discuss the state of unconscious competence and how to use it to get more in tune with who you are at your core, so you can genuinely feel good about where you are as your day unfolds. What's In This Episode: The differences between habits, routines, and rituals What is the State of Unconscious Competence  How to use rituals to yourself up for success Stacking habits to build meaningful routines

There is no magic button or one single ingredient in the recipe for success. So often, grit has been attributed to much of the success that the elite in our society has experienced. But what if I told you that there was something else that could be key in the pursuit of your goals and dreams? What I am hinting at is this thing called willpower. Willpower is the yin to grit's yang. In this episode, I'm sharing how focusing too much on one thing can increase your risk of stress and anxiety, and the three simple things you can do to start flexing your willpower muscle.  What's In This Episode: Avoiding getting caught up in the vicious cycle of grit Using willpower to help you recover quickly from setbacks and maintain motivation in pursuit of your goals Building up your willpower and grit without burning them out 3 simple ways to flex your willpower muscle

Have you ever thought about choosing your goal for the day from the very get-go when you wake up? Think about this for a second, what if you started your day by planning what you want to be the highlight, and then worked backward to make sure it happened? That’s one of the things that today’s guest, John Zeratsky, shared in this episode. John is the co-author of Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day. He shares his wisdom on not living our life by default, and how things, like the busy bandwagon and infinity pulls, are tugging away at our attention. He explores what he’s learned over the years about productivity optimization, and how he uses the four-step structure of Highlights, Laser, Energy, and Reflect to help build his day.  What’s In This Episode: The negative consequences of the busy bandwagon John’s four-step structure of Highlights, Laser, Energy and Reflect Three strategies for selecting a highlight to concentrate on