Empowering Leadership Teams

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Leadership With a Twist https://leadershipwithatwist.substack.com/podcast Barbara Schindler Heather McGonigal Tami Blodgett https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com @empoweringleadershipteams https://linktr.ee/empowering

The “Cup of Gratitude” Rule for Leaders The more you give a cup of gratitude on a regular basis, love the cup. I like that cup anyway. It's a cool cup. But that cup of gratitude, not one big demonstration, but who you are as a supervisor, as a business leader makes the difference in how your team, team members start engaging. Through this type of relationship. So I'll let you talk about, well, I think what you're sharing here too, Barbara, is we want it to be your daily, your ongoing habit.
Three Levels of Listening Practice Transforming your leadership communication starts with awareness of how you listen. Understanding these three distinct levels can help you consciously choose how you show up in conversations that matter. Level 1 - Internal Focus: Notice when you're hearing words while focusing primarily on your own thoughts, judgments, and preparing your response. This is "waiting to speak," not truly listening. Level 2 - Focused Attention: Practice concentrating on the content being shared and asking clarifying questions to better understand the speaker's point of view. Level 3 - Deep Presence: Attend to the whole person—their words, emotions, and body language. Remain open to sensing unspoken needs and create psychological safety through your presence. Moving through these levels is a practice, not a perfect destination. The more aware you become of your listening quality, the more choice you have in how you show up for your team. Remember, even a few moments of Level 3 listening can transform a conversation. Empowering Leadership Teams
"Credibility isn't built on perfection or performance—it's built on consistency between your values and your actions." The Science of Authentic Leadership: Why Integrity Builds Measurable Credibility Barbara Schindler, MA/MAP co-CEO Empowering Leadership Teams Executive Coach Mindful Leadership, Transition Coach Entrepreneurial Consultant leadershipwithatwist.substack.com
The 4-Step Appreciation Formula (And How to Use It) - Empowering Leadership Teams
7 Psychological Safety Practices That Foster Team Innovation. - Separate Ideation from Evaluation - Create clear boundaries between idea generation and decision-making phases. Begin creative sessions by explicitly stating: "For the next 30 minutes, we're in exploration mode only—no evaluation permitted." This separation allows the brain's creative networks to operate without the inhibiting effect of the critical mind, resulting in more numerous and innovative ideas that would otherwise be filtered out prematurely. Model Appropriate Vulnerability - Demonstrate that uncertainty and learning are valued by sharing your own challenges, questions, and "in-process" thinking. When leaders acknowledge what they don't know or share lessons from setbacks, they create permission for others to do the same. This vulnerability isn't about exposing weaknesses but about showing authentic human learning, which creates the safety needed for others to take intelligent risks. Implement "Yes, And" Communication - Replace "yes, but" thinking with the improvisational theater principle of "yes, and..." This approach builds on ideas rather than immediately finding flaws, creating momentum and expansive thinking. When team members know their contributions will be built upon rather than immediately critiqued, they offer more creative and even unconventional ideas that often lead to breakthrough innovations. Practice "Last to Speak" Leadership - Hold your thoughts and opinions until others have had the opportunity to share theirs, especially in brainstorming or problem-solving sessions. This simple shift sends a powerful message that diverse perspectives are valued and prevents the (often unconscious) tendency of teams to align with the leader's first-stated position, leading to greater cognitive diversity in solutions. Create Learning-Focused Retrospectives - Establish regular sessions to discuss both successes and failures with an explicit focus on learning rather than blame. Frame questions …
Team Disengagement isn't about lazy employees, it's about psychological safety - Cartoon: Man lounging on desk propped on books. Book cover: Reclaim Your Energy: How Mindful Leadership Helps You Cut Through The Chaos by Heather McGonigal & Barbara Schindler - Empowering Leadership Teams
The HUDDLE: A Newsletter for Empowering Leaders, LinkedIn Version. Essential Skills, tools and mindset shifts for changing times. This edition: The Reflective Leader: Building Teams Through Self-Awareness. Published by Empowering Leadership Teams
The HUDDLE, A Newsletter for Empowering Leaders LinkedIn Edition: April 1st, Dourage, Creativity, and Transformation: The Mindful Leadership Revolution with Barbara Schindler and Heather McGonigal - Empowering Leadership Teams
Mindfulness Mastery - SEED Mindfulness Mastery Program: Professional Leadership Advancement & Peer Community - Practical tools for developing extraordinary listening skills that transform team dynamics and decision quality. - Empowering Leadership Teams
Appreciation is the number one culture builder. You want it because when you have effective appreciation in your business, then you can develop a team of leaders that truly enjoy what they do inside of your organization. They feel seen and valued, which has them show up fully empowered and participating and taking ownership of results.  All things that We hear again and again from CEOs and leadership. They want that ownership. They want that fully engaged team. Appreciation is one of the most underutilized team behaviors. And when effective appreciation is implemented and intentionally demonstrated in your organization, you can move the needle in big ways. - Empowering Leadership Teams
Set clear expectations for your team. Clarity is kindness and helps build psychological safety in the workplace. - Empowering Leadership Teams
Strategic Focus: Aligning Purpose with Performance - The Huddle, A LinkedIn Newsletter for Empowering Leaders - Empowering Leadership Teams
Take a moment to pause and connect with your heart before making important decisions. This simple mindful leadership practice can lead to better outcomes. - Empowering Leadership Teams
  📍 📍 📍 📍 📍 📍 The more you practice this in a staged way, and in a planned meeting process, the more your team will be able to start doing that while they're doing their daily work. And sharing ideas in the moment, so it's definitely something you want to cultivate for innovation, creation, and just confidence and satisfaction in our work day. So here's to great leadership and, give it a try. - Video by Barbara Schindler, EmpoweringLeadershipTeams
The HUDDLE: A Newsletter for Empowering Leaders - LinkedIn Edition - Mindful Growth: Leading Through Change with Purpose and Clarity - Empowering Leadership Teams
"In today's rapidly changing business landscape, organizations cannot survive with thinking concentrated only at the top; they need empowered thinkers at every level." - Empowering Leadership Teams
Video of Heather McGonigal: Humble Authority, because we're connected to our own humanity, also helps us create safety for those that work with us. Because when we're connected to our own humanity, and we don't have to be perfect in everything we do, well then neither does our team. And this allows them the ability to take risks and make mistakes and not have to be perfect, but bring their very best to what they're doing and working with you. See, that's what happens when people are able and safe to step up and take risks, is that they bring the innovative ideas. They bring the new things forward. They bring their creative ideas that just dropped in and they share those with you because they have the safety to do so.
Assuming positive intent from colleagues isn't just good for team dynamics—it's a powerful tool for reducing your own stress and improving your work experience.- Empowering Leadership Teams
Embracing a Growth Mindset - "Your willingness to pause, reflect, and remain open is your greatest leadership asset." - Empowering Leadership Teams
Heather McGonigal and Barbara Schindler, Empowering Leadership Teams, discuss active listening.
Active listening isn't just about hearing words-It's a powerful leadership tool that builds empathy, fosters understanding, and leads to better decision-making in teams. - Empowering Leadership Teams
Leadership isn't about doing everything immediately - it's about making strategic choices that move the needle for your business. -Empowering Leadership Teams
The Leadership Paradigm: Reaction vs. Response - Characteristics of Reactive Leadership: • Constant firefighting • High stress • Inconsistent decision-making • Team burnout Characteristics of Responsive Leadership: • Strategic thinking • Emotional intelligence • Clear communication • Team empowerment - Empowering Leadership Teams
Spaciousness is essential for creativity: It doesn't thrive in 'doing' mode. Empowering Leadership Teams
Like a garden, leadership flourishes when we create space for natural growth and development. - Empowering Leadership Teams
Make daily deposits in your team's 'relationship bank account' through positive interactions and support. It builds trust and psychological safety! - Empowering Leadership Teams
The rate of change in business is accelerating, requiring leaders to constantly reassess and adapt their approaches.
Barbara Schindler, Empowering Leadership Teams - We humans enjoy the gift of intellect, our thinking often leads our sense of self. Are you aware of how you utilize this wonderful gift of your thinking mind? Are you mindful to connect your heart, your compassion to your thinking? Are you aware of the power of goodwill? What impact would you like to create in the container of your work environment? Quote With all your intelligence, compassion, and goodwill, you can help create work conditions that don't cause your co-workers to become overwhelmed from stress. -Thich Nhat Hahn, The Art of Power
In entrepreneurial businesses, the ability to 'wear different hats' - switching between strategic thinking and hands-on execution - is crucial for success as the company grows. - Empowering Leadership Teams
Your thinking mind is a powerful tool. When combined with compassion and goodwill, it becomes a catalyst for positive change in the workplace. - Empowering Leadership Teams
When creating team standards, always include a recovery plan. It's not about perfection, but how you get back on track.
“Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.” – Dalai Lama [Empowering Leadership Teams]
LinkedIn Edition: The HUDDLE: A Newsletter for Empowering Leaders - Reflect & Project: Your Leadership Journey into 2025.
“Ask yourself: Where am I? Answer: Here. Ask yourself: What time is it? Answer: Now. Say it until you can hear it.” – Ram Dass
Recognize and appreciate how you show up, both in intention and action. Empowering Leadership Teams
Happy Holidays - Empowering Leadership Teams
Thoughtful choices create meaningful experiences. Empowering Leadership Teams - Woman in thought
Like a garden, leadership flourishes when we create space for natural growth and development. Empowering Leadership Teams
Schedule "soft prep" time in your calendar for unstructured thinking and exploration. It's not wasted time - it's essential for innovation! Empowering Leadership Teams
Humans have limited willpower. Instead of trying to change everything, focus on one strategic shift for maximum impact. Empowering Leadership Teams
Heather McGonigal, Empowering Leadership Teams, shares how to create focused work time and communicate boundaries effectively with your team.
What ONE skill would transform your professional journey if you committed to developing it? Empowering Leadership Teams
LinkedIn Live: Empowering Leadership IMPACT: Why Thoughtful Leadership Matters. Join Barbara Schindler and Heather McGonigal, Empowering Leadership Teams, Tuesday, December 10th. 1:00pm Pacific. Transform your leadership impact through mindset mastery and compassionate practices for today's evolving workplace.
Struggling with team efficiency? The problem may lie in unclear agreements. Defining specific, observable behaviors can transform your business culture. Empowering Leadership Teams