Lead For Clarity

Trust is either growing or eroding. So let's talk about growth. When trust is growing, you are working at it. You are putting effort into it. You are, taking vulnerable chances. You are sharing your weaknesses. You are sharing your strengths. I think sometimes it's harder to share our strengths than it is to reveal our weaknesses.Thanks for joining me - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website and follow us on social media - Facebook, Instagram & LinkedInWe LOVE your feedback & questions - click HERE to share your questions/feedback or email us at shandel@shandelgroup.comSubscribe for our free 66 Seconds with Shandel Group at shandel.com#LeadForClarity #LeadershipDevelopment #Leadership #Growth #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #Clarity #PersonalAccountability #CommunicationThanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website and follow us on social media - Facebook, Instagram & LinkedInWe LOVE your feedback & questions - click HERE to share your questions/feedback or email us at podcast@shandelgroup.comSubscribe for our free 66 Seconds with Shandel Group at shandel.com#LeadForClarity #LeadershipDevelopment #Leadership #Growth #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #Clarity #PersonalAccountability #Communication

In this episode, Shandel and Melanie discuss strategies for avoiding burnout through effective time management and prioritizing what matters most. They explore an assessment tool for gaining clarity on life priorities across different categories like work, family, health, and more. The team reflects on seasons in their own lives when work consumed too much energy, and how they've worked to establish better balance. Melanie shares how realizing she was negatively impacting her team's work-life balance through her own habits prompted change. This discussion highlights the importance of leaders setting the right example to avoid normalizing overwork cultures. Throughout, Shandel and Melanie stress that revisiting time management strategies is always beneficial. Their insightful conversation provides actionable takeaways for avoiding burnout through prioritizing what fulfills both professional goals and overall well-being.Sign up for our upcoming webinar HERE! Balanced Leadership: Mastering Time and Avoiding Burnout Key Takeaways:Use self-assessment tools to evaluate multiple life categories in order to identify areas that need more focus and balance. Seeing your priorities reflected in numbers can be an eye-opening experience.Leading by example is crucial, as your own habits directly influence your team's work culture and expectations. Be mindful of behaviors you want to promote, like a good work-life balance.Balance across work, family, health, and personal fulfillment is important for sustainable long-term success and avoiding burnout. While career goals require effort, neglecting other categories takes a toll.Revisiting time management strategies periodically helps you continue improving and can catch imbalances before they become problematic. What worked before may need adjusting.Small changes like dedicated weekly time with loved ones or limiting after-hours availability can make a big difference in establishing a balanced lifestyle.Thanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website and follow us on social media - Facebook, Instagram & LinkedInWe LOVE your feedback & questions - click HERE to share your questions/feedback or email us at podcast@shandelgroup.comSubscribe for our free 66 Seconds with Shandel Group at shandel.com#LeadForClarity #LeadershipDevelopment #Leadership #Growth #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #Clarity #PersonalAccountability #Communication

Welcome to another episode of Lead for Clarity! Today Shandel Sutherland and Melanie Montgomery continue their discussion on mastering your time through a leadership approach to balance. They dive deeper into understanding personal work styles and strengths using tools like the Working Genius model and DISC assessments. Shandel and Melanie share insights into their own styles and how they maximize productivity. Practical tips are provided for avoiding distractions and staying focused, like using timers and scheduling focused work periods.Melanie and Shandel emphasize the importance of self-awareness. Only by understanding your energy levels, strengths, and weaknesses can you plan your days intentionally. They encourage building this "self-awareness muscle" through reflection.Key Takeaways:It's important to understand your personal work style, strengths, weaknesses, energy levels, and zones through self-reflection and assessments. This self-awareness allows you to optimize your productivity.You should schedule your day intentionally around your "green zones" when you have the most energy, rather than just reacting to what feels urgent.Practicing self-care through taking breaks, creating margins in your schedule, and prioritizing rest can help you avoid burnout and stay focused.Working from home can make it harder to stay on task, so using tools like timers and scheduling focused work periods without distractions can help maximize your effectiveness.Being intentional with how you spend your time based on your values is more important than trying to achieve an unrealistic "balance." Prioritizing what energizes you and matters most is key.We hope you find these insights on mastering your time through leadership and balance helpful! Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss future episodes.Sign up for our upcoming webinar HERE - Balanced Leadership: Mastering Time and Avoiding BurnoutThanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website and follow us on social media - Facebook, Instagram & LinkedInWe LOVE your feedback & questions - click HERE to share your questions/feedback or email us at podcast@shandelgroup.comSubscribe for our free 66 Seconds with Shandel Group at shandel.com#LeadForClarity #LeadershipDevelopment #Leadership #Growth #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #Clarity #PersonalAccountability #Communication

In this episode of Lead for Clarity, Melanie and Shandel discuss the common challenges that prevent effective delegation in leadership. They share stories from their own experiences struggling to delegate tasks and identify issues like lack of trust, pride, and not having systems in place. The team also provides strategies for overcoming these barriers, such as embracing mistakes, building relationships, and communicating expectations. They emphasize the importance of delegation for career development and empowering teams. The hosts encourage listeners to recognize excuses and delegate tasks with a growth mindset.Key Takeaways: Delegation is a process that requires consistent communication, follow up, and relationship building over time. Simply asking someone to take on a task once is not enough.It's important to recognize our own excuses for not delegating and have a growth mindset to overcome challenges through practice. Mistakes will happen but that's part of the learning.Effective delegation empowers team members and supports career development by providing opportunities for growth, contribution and feeling valued in their work. Making delegation a priority has benefits for both individuals and the organization.Resources: Click HERE to register for our FREE live webinar, Transformative Delegation: Unleashing Potential in Your Team! It will be held on Thursday, March 28, 2024 from 12pm - 1:30pm PST.Article from Harvard Business Review, Management Time: Who's Got the MonkeyThanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website and follow us on social media - Facebook, Instagram & LinkedInWe LOVE your feedback & questions - click HERE to share your questions/feedback or email us at podcast@shandelgroup.comSubscribe for our free 66 Seconds with Shandel Group at shandel.com#LeadForClarity #LeadershipDevelopment #Leadership #Growth #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #Clarity #PersonalAccountability #Communication

Shandel and Melanie discuss the importance of delegation for leaders and teams. They explore how to build trust and confidence through communication to build a foundation to delegate effectively. Learn how to avoid frustration when others do tasks differently and build a growth mindset. The team shares tips on understanding team members' strengths and weaknesses to set them up for success. Listen in to discover how delegation can help prioritize values, avoid burnout, and create room for visionary work!Click HERE to register for our FREE live webinar, Transformative Delegation: Unleashing Potential in Your Team! It will be held on Thursday, March 28, 2024 from 12pm - 1:30pm PST.Click HERE to learn more about our Science of Self Class, which starts on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 12pm PST. Key Takeaways:Delegation is key to personal and professional growth for leaders and their teamsInvesting time upfront to understand team members pays off in empowering their potential  Trust and confidence are built through open communication and embracing different strengthsLetting go of control and perfectionism allows room for creativity and shared leadershipPrioritizing delegation frees up time and energy for what truly matters - family, vision, valuesThanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website and follow us on social media - Facebook, Instagram & LinkedInWe LOVE your feedback & questions - click HERE to share your questions/feedback or email us at podcast@shandelgroup.comSubscribe for our free 66 Seconds with Shandel Group at shandel.com#LeadForClarity #LeadershipDevelopment #Leadership #Growth #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #Clarity #PersonalAccountability #Communication

This episode features a conversation with Scott Sutherland about his experience going through Shandel Group's 12-week coaching program and achieving success in the "profit" stage of the Process of Sustainable Growth. Scott shares how he overcame his lifelong fear of failure by setting clear goals with Melanie and challenging himself to step outside his comfort zone. Through the accountability of the program, Scott was able to accomplish his goals of improving his leadership skills.As a result of facing his challenges, Scott has found fulfillment in his daily work running a bowling business. He enjoys embracing new opportunities and tackling difficulties head-on. Melanie and Shandel discuss how Scott's personal growth has positively impacted his professional life and relationships. They highlight the importance of self-awareness, authenticity, and aligning with shared values.The conversation demonstrates how leadership development can enhance all areas of life when focused on becoming your best self. Listeners learn practical tips for overcoming obstacles and achieving profit through personal transformation.Key Takeaways: Facing fears and stepping outside your comfort zone is necessary for growth. By challenging himself through goal setting and accountability, Scott was able to overcome his lifelong fear of failure.Authenticity, self-awareness and values alignment are important. By embracing who he is and advocating for his needs, Scott has built more genuine connections and situations where he feels respected.Setting clear goals and having an accountability partner is important for achieving success. Scott was able to overcome his fear of failure by working through the goal setting process with Melanie's support and accountability.Personal development enhances all areas of life. Through focusing on himself, Scott strengthened his leadership skills professionally and improved his relationships personally through increased self-awareness and authenticity. He's now able to advocate for himself while also being a peacemaker.Thanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website and follow us on social media - Facebook, Instagram & LinkedInWe LOVE your feedback & questions - click HERE to share your questions/feedback or email us at podcast@shandelgroup.comSubscribe for our free 66 Seconds with Shandel Group at shandel.com#LeadForClarity #LeadershipDevelopment #Leadership #Growth #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #Clarity #PersonalAccountability #Communication

Shandel and Melanie discuss the signs and dangers of falling into an "unhealthy cycle of misery" as a leader. They explore how fear, insecurity, and a lack of humility can disconnect leaders from their values and damage relationships with their team. However, they emphasize that recognizing when you've gone off track is the first step to getting back to purposeful, values-aligned growth.Key Takeaways:Pay attention to your internal dialogue, as it can provide insights into where you are in your leadership growth and when you may have fallen into a "Cycle of Misery."Don't be too hard on yourself if you recognize unhealthy patterns - the important thing is to take responsibility and get back on track as quickly as possible.Look out for signs like a lack of humility, fear of being wrong, blaming others, and disconnect from feedback from your team. These can indicate a disconnect from your values.Avoid being too busy "doing stuff" instead of prioritizing what really matters. Reframe excuses around not having time.Be open to pruning less effective practices, even ones you've "always done," rather than doubling down on the past.Personal stories can help identify unconscious patterns so you don't justify bad behaviors for the sake of success alone.Thanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website and follow us on social media - Facebook, Instagram & LinkedInWe LOVE your feedback & questions - click HERE to share your questions/feedback or email us at podcast@shandelgroup.comSubscribe for our free 66 Seconds with Shandel Group at shandel.com#LeadForClarity #LeadershipDevelopment #Leadership #Growth #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #Clarity #PersonalAccountability #Communication

This podcast episode features Nancy Bacon discussing the important process of "pruning" for nonprofit organizations to experience sustainable growth. The team provided helpful framing and strategies for nonprofits to thoughtfully prune in a way that supports their long-term health, impact, and sustainable growth while staying aligned with their core reasons for existing. Both organizations and individuals should reflect on how to "prune" themselves to better support others in taking action.It's important to periodically "prune" programs and practices through a lens of what still aligns with an organization's mission and purpose is important for sustainable growth. Honoring and openly discussing emotions, which are deeply tied to nonprofits, can help with difficult pruning decisions. Having courage is needed to proactively prune and make changes rather than just doubling down on the status quo.Key Takeaways:The importance of periodically evaluating programs and practices to determine what still aligns with the organization's core mission and purpose. Nancy encouraged nonprofits to take everything out and only put back what "brings them joy."The challenges of pruning given the emotional nature of nonprofits, but the importance of openly acknowledging and discussing emotions.Examples of nonprofits collaborating within their sector's ecosystem to maximize impact and do less duplicative work.Tips like focusing on an organization's higher purpose rather than emotional attachments to specific projects or programs when deciding what to prune.You can find Nancy on LinkedIn or at https://nancybacon.com/ !!Thanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website and follow us on social media - Facebook, Instagram & LinkedInWe LOVE your feedback & questions - click HERE to share your questions/feedback or email us at podcast@shandelgroup.comSubscribe for our free 66 Seconds with Shandel Group at shandel.com#LeadForClarity #LeadershipDevelopment #Leadership #Growth #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #Clarity #PersonalAccountability #Communication

As companies hit the progress stage of growth, it's important not to get complacent and assume the hard work is over. In this episode, Melanie, Shandel and guest, HR consultant Skye Mercer, discuss strategies for acknowledging success, getting employee feedback, and pruning back to set yourself up for continued growth. Skye shares insights on navigating the progress stage of growth. The team discusses the importance of employee experience and having strong HR foundations in place. Skye offers tips for celebrating accomplishments, conducting annual planning, checking in with teams, and letting go of old habits to prepare for the next phase. Skye shares examples of companies that have succeeded or struggled in this phase based on their people practices. Practical tools are also provided for annual planning, team check-ins and more.Key Takeaways:Treat your people strategy as importantly as your financial strategy. Your employees are the most important part of your business.Have strong HR foundations like employee handbooks and clearly defined values in place before reaching the progress stage.Celebrate accomplishments regularly by making successes visible and recognizing individuals' contributions.Conduct annual HR planning to map out your people strategy and compliance priorities for the upcoming year.Create a "stop doing" list to prune back inefficient tasks and free up capacity for the next phase.Check in regularly with your team using a structured framework, and understand their preferences for communication and support.Rethink traditional performance review models and look for new ways to motivate employees.Resources: Skye's Free HR Resources and sign up for her blog2024 Employee Handbook Update ChecklistConnect with Skye on LinkedInThanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website and follow us on social media - Facebook, Instagram & LinkedInWe LOVE your feedback & questions - click HERE to share your questions/feedback or email us at podcast@shandelgroup.comSubscribe for our free 66 Seconds with Shandel Group at shandel.com#LeadForClarity #LeadershipDevelopment #Leadership #Growth #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #Clarity #PersonalAccountability #Communication

Shandel and Melanie interview Aliza Brown about her experience navigating the Plant stage of growth. Aliza discusses shedding old mindsets of overcommitting and multitasking in favor of consistency, accountability, and communicating clearly. She shares obstacles faced like not asking enough questions, and strategies used like finding trusted advisors. Aliza emphasizes the importance of evolving one's leadership approach through self-reflection on values.Key Takeaways:The importance of shedding old mindsets like multitasking and short-term gratification in favor of consistency, accountability, and focusing on long-term impact.The importance of communication, both written and in-person, and finding the right method for the situation. Too much digital communication can lead to misinterpretation.Asking clarifying questions upfront to fully understand expectations and negotiate support as needed for important projects.Learning to say no and prioritize the most important tasks, rather than taking on too much and risking burnout. Focus on quality over quantity of work.Using self-reflection to identify personal values and strengths, and ensure one's leadership approach aligns with those over time as situations evolve.Leaning on a support system of trusted advisors for honest feedback during challenging times, rather than isolating oneself.Unlearning habits that don't serve growth, like assuming rather than inquiring, and relearning strategies tied to sustainable progress.Thanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website and follow us on social media - Facebook, Instagram & LinkedInWe LOVE your feedback & questions - click HERE to share your questions/feedback or email us at podcast@shandelgroup.comSubscribe for our free 66 Seconds with Shandel Group at shandel.com#LeadForClarity #LeadershipDevelopment #Leadership #Growth #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #Clarity #PersonalAccountability #Communication

Shandel and Melanie welcome a special guest, Ed Wickman, to discuss his experiences with the Purposefully Connect stage of the Process of Sustainable Growth. The team explores the concepts of the healthy cycle of growth versus the unhealthy cycle of misery. Ed reflects on how early in his career he lacked leadership tools and fell into a "boss mentality." He contrasts this with his current approach of aligning teams around shared values and purpose. Ed shares his insights, favorite tools and leadership approaches! Key Takeaways: Focus on building trust and authentic connections with employees. Get to know them as people through daily check-ins and active listening. This helps foster engagement and open communication.Shift from a top-down "boss" mentality to a side-by-side coaching approach through empathy, shared language, and supporting employees' growth and goals.Be persistent over time in driving cultural changes through small, consistent actions each day like recognizing contributions and using shared values in conversations. Building trust among peers is also important for facilitating change.Thanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website and follow us on social media - Facebook, Instagram & LinkedInWe LOVE your feedback & questions - click HERE to share your questions/feedback or email us at podcast@shandelgroup.comSubscribe for our free 66 Seconds with Shandel Group at shandel.com#LeadForClarity #LeadershipDevelopment #Leadership #Growth #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #Clarity #PersonalAccountability #Communication

In this episode, hosts Shandel and Melanie provide listeners with strategies and tips for effectively setting goals for the new year 2024. The team talks through digging into the "why" behind goals and drivers, what success specifically looks like numerically, creating attainable action plans, planning for life obstacles, and making goals connect to one's deepest values and purpose. They discuss the importance of having both a strategic plan as well as flexibility to adapt goals over time. Distinguishing between surface level "symptoms" like customer service issues, versus deeper underlying "causes" such as low morale or lack of tools that should be the real focus of goals.Shandel Group's comprehensive SMAART goals template adds elements beyond the typical SMART framework. This includes making goals specific, setting quantifiable and measurable metrics, breaking large goals into achievable smaller steps, anticipating potential barriers and how to overcome them, ensuring goals are truly meaningful and relevant, and setting regular dates to re-evaluate progress and celebrate milestones. Each component of the template is explored in detail to help listeners set clear, measurable and attainable goals. The value of accountability partners is highlighted, as is reflecting on successes and failures from the past year. Additional resources will be shared through the Shandel Group newsletter to support listeners at various stages of the goal setting process. If you'd like to use our worksheet to workshop your goals, reach out to us at melanie@shandelgroup.com! We encourage you to apply the discussed strategies to inform your own goal setting for 2024. Thanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website and follow us on social media - Facebook, Instagram & LinkedInWe LOVE your feedback & questions - click HERE to share your questions/feedback or email us at podcast@shandelgroup.comSubscribe for our free 66 Seconds with Shandel Group at shandel.com#LeadForClarity #LeadershipDevelopment #Leadership #Growth #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #Clarity #PersonalAccountability #Communication

This episode of Lead for Clarity focused on the "pain stage" of the Process of Sustainable Growth. Shandel and Melanie interviewed their guest, Rob Shipp, about his experiences in the Navy and how he has worked to develop trust with his team. Rob discussed how he realized the Navy hadn't been focusing enough on developing leadership skills. He worked with Melanie to provide a 9-week leadership training program for his team. The discussion explored how acknowledging pain and being uncomfortable can help drive growth. Rob also shared personal stories about improving communication with his children and looking inward at his own behaviors. The episode emphasized the importance of addressing pain points in order to progress through the growth cycle.Key Takeaways:Addressing pain points and areas of discomfort is necessary to progress through the healthy growth cycle.Focusing only on behaviors and results is superficial; getting to the root causes by exploring events, stories, and feelings leads to deeper understanding and change.Developing trust, both giving and receiving it, is an ongoing leadership challenge that requires self-reflection and commitment.Personal growth often happens through acknowledging pain in relationships close to home, like with children, and looking inward at one's own behaviors and communication styles.Providing opportunities for teams to have open discussions about both work and personal lives can foster stronger connections and engagement with leadership development.Thanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website and follow us on social media - Facebook, Instagram & LinkedInWe LOVE your feedback & questions - click HERE to share your questions/feedback or email us at podcast@shandelgroup.comSubscribe for our free 66 Seconds with Shandel Group at shandel.com#LeadForClarity #LeadershipDevelopment #Leadership #Growth #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #Clarity #PersonalAccountability #Communication

Shandel Sutherland and Melanie Montgomery welcome back guest Lydia Faitalia. Lydia shares how centering her values helped bring balance and opportunities in her life as a working mom. She shared her story of centering her life around her values, having hard conversations, digging deep within herself, and building a fulfilling career. Having the courage to confront difficult issues and go through hard situations, even if it meant disappointing others, allowed her to thrive.Focusing on and centering your life and decisions around your core values can lead to positive growth, shifts, and opportunities. It's important to take the time to understand your own values and priorities through self-reflection and difficult conversations. Leaning into discomfort and confronting hard issues, even if it means disappointing others, allows for growth and thriving in the long run. Investing in your own leadership development through coaching and mentorship focused on values profoundly impacts all areas of life. Having the courage to go through difficulties and revisit values during uncertainty provides clarity, confidence, and freedom to say no when needed. Doing inner work and being vulnerable in the process of understanding values leads to benefits personally and professionally. Leaders should encourage others to value themselves enough to invest in their own growth and leadership through focusing on their core principles.To learn more about the Process of Sustainable Growth, check out the first episode of this season! Thanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website and follow us on social media - Facebook, Instagram & LinkedInWe LOVE your feedback & questions - click HERE to share your questions/feedback or email us at podcast@shandelgroup.comSubscribe for our free 66 Seconds with Shandel Group at shandel.com#LeadForClarity #LeadershipDevelopment #Leadership #Growth #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #Clarity #PersonalAccountability #Communication

In this episode, Shandel Sutherland and Melanie Montgomery discuss the dangers of "off ramping" from sustainable growth and entering an "unhealthy cycle of misery." They provide frameworks to identify unhealthy vs. healthy leadership cycles and steps to get back on track.Off ramping occurs when leaders stop investing in growth and instead focus only on short-term wins and survival. This leads to an "unhealthy cycle of misery" characterized by negative mindsets, culture, and lack of positive change. The cycle of misery centers around having a "victor" mindset of only caring about winning rather than values. Behaviors in the cycle of misery include blaming others, being distracted to avoid problems, and only focusing on short-term dollars and dividends. As the cycle continues, it leads to a culture of dictating orders rather than empowering growth, which disconnects the leader from the team over time.To get out of this cycle, leaders must reconnect to their values and those of the organization through truth, trust, and humility. Admitting mistakes is key to regaining focus on sustainable growth. The goal is not to never off ramp, as all leaders will occasionally, but to recognize it quickly and take steps to reconnect and get back on track through values-based leadership.The podcast provides a framework to identify unhealthy vs healthy leadership cycles and emphasizes that all leaders will occasionally off ramp, so the goal is recognizing it and getting back on track as quickly as possible.Discussion Questions:Have you ever recognized being in the Cycle of Misery in your leadership? What phase do you think you may be in now?How can you reconnect to values and get back on track?Thanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website and follow us on social media - Facebook, Instagram & LinkedInWe LOVE your feedback & questions - click HERE to share your questions/feedback or email us at podcast@shandelgroup.comSubscribe for our free 66 Seconds with Shandel Group at shandel.com#LeadForClarity #LeadershipDevelopment #Leadership #Growth #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #Clarity #PersonalAccountability #Communication

This episode of Lead for Clarity focuses on the final stage of the Process of Sustainable Growth - Profit. Shandel and Melanie discuss what profit means beyond just monetary gains, emphasizing things like team morale, effectiveness, and clarity of vision. ACTions to take in the profit stage are accomplishing the mission, conveying appreciation and celebration, and tackling the next pain point or challenge.Properly reflecting on accomplishments and celebrating as a team builds stronger relationships and confidence to tackle what's next in the continuous process of sustainable growth. Leaders should give themselves and their teams permission to feel good about wins before moving forward. Rushing ahead without acknowledging goals being met can demoralize teams.Tools suggested include financial planning, strategic analysis and ensuring cultural alignment as the organization expands. Additional takeaways are that growth happens in ongoing cycles, and each new challenge should be faced with optimism after celebrating wins. Sharing one's growth journey can help coach others. Maintaining momentum comes from continually seeking new ways to improve.Key Takeaways:Define profit beyond just monetary gains to include team morale, effectiveness, clarity of visionMake time to celebrate accomplishments to boost confidence for the next challengeTrack personal and team wins to reference past successes when facing future difficultiesAvoid rushing to the next objective without acknowledging goals being metIn profit stage, accomplish mission, convey appreciation, celebrate, and tackle next pain pointGive yourself and team permission to feel good about wins before moving forwardConsider financial planning, strategic analysis, cultural alignment as organization growsThanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website and follow us on social media - Facebook, Instagram & LinkedInWe LOVE your feedback & questions - click HERE to share your questions/feedback or email us at podcast@shandelgroup.comSubscribe for our free 66 Seconds with Shandel Group at shandel.com#LeadForClarity #LeadershipDevelopment #Leadership #Growth #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #Clarity #PersonalAccountability #Communication

In this podcast episode, Shandel and Melanie the important but often overlooked "prune" stage of the growth process. They explain why pruning is necessary for long-term sustainable growth and share tools and strategies for effectively pruning at both the individual and organizational levels. Listeners will learn a framework for effectively navigating this stage of growth through asking questions, collaborating with others, and carefully trimming areas that are no longer serving long-term goals.The episode provides a framework for thoughtfully navigating the prune stage through collaboration and trimming non-essential things to focus on long-term sustainable growth. Pruning involves removing things that served you in the past but may now be hindering momentum. It allows for working smarter with less effort. Collaboration and communication are vital. Involving teams and being a good listener helps facilitate change and avoids losing trust. Leaders should ask questions like "Why are we doing this?" and recognize they don't have all the answers. Delegating effectively and learning what can be pruned frees up time and space. Individuals can prune habits, set new goals, and optimize processes during downtimes. Even good things may need pruning to make room for new priorities as circumstances change over time.Topics covered:Why the prune stage is so important but often resistedThe difference between pruning happening "to you" vs. being proactive  Examples of what to look for to prune like hidden renegades on teamsAsking the right questions like "Why are we doing it this way?"Learning to delegate effectively to free up time and spaceInvolving teams in decision making through collaboration and communicationSetting new goals and priorities after pruning unnecessary habitsUsing downtime to optimize processes and sharpen existing skillsPersonal examples of pruning even good habits to make room for new focus areasThanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website and follow us on social media - Facebook, Instagram & LinkedInWe LOVE your feedback & questions - click HERE to share your questions/feedback or email us at podcast@shandelgroup.comSubscribe for our free 66 Seconds with Shandel Group at shandel.com#LeadForClarity #LeadershipDevelopment #Leadership #Growth #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #Clarity #PersonalAccountability #Communication

In this episode, Shandel and Melanie discuss the key stages of the growth process model, with a focus on navigating the Progress stage. The team stresses the importance of celebrating milestones to maintain motivation as changes start to take shape. Checking in on morale and buy-in, simplifying processes, and clear communication are also highlighted as important factors for success during this phase. The discussion provides actionable tips leaders and individuals can apply to stay on track during periods of progress.The Progress stage of the Cycle for Sustainable Growth is where changes start to be seen. The team discusses what growth looks like in reality vs expectations. Growth is not a straight line, and we need to embrace the ups and downs. Identifying meaningful ways to mark progress and using these milestones to celebrate wins along the way and stay motivated is key. During this stage, it’s important to check in to ensure everyone remains on board with changes. How is the morale? Check for contentment and discontentment. Simplifying and streamlining as things start to fall into place will set you up for success in the next stage. Communicating progress clearly to build understanding and buy-in helps continue the growth.  The ACTion steps in the Progress stage are:Acknowledge success – celebrate progress & follow through on celebration plan of milestones.Check in – continue to guard the culture and make sure people are not becoming complacent. Take fuel, take a breath – really get to know and invest in your team.Thanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website and follow us on social media - Facebook, Instagram & LinkedInWe LOVE your feedback & questions - click HERE to share your questions/feedback or email us at podcast@shandelgroup.comSubscribe for our free 66 Seconds with Shandel Group at shandel.com#LeadForClarity #LeadershipDevelopment #Leadership #Growth #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #Clarity #PersonalAccountability #Communication

In this episode, Shandel and Melanie discuss the third stage of the Process for Sustainable Growth - the Plant Stage. This stage is all about doing the hard work of implementing changes after an initial period of excitement. Lasting change requires continuing the hard work of implementation even after the initial excitement fades. Sticking with training, accountability practices and skill-building leads to profound results.It's important to have patience during the Plant Stage as new habits and behaviors take hold over time. Sticking with the process of implementation and not giving up prematurely is critical for success. Accountability, confrontation, and training/development are critical actions during this stage. Holding teams and individuals accountable to new standards through feedback and healthy conflict helps ensure goals and expectations are properly understood and met. Investing in systems, processes and regular development opportunities like strategic planning, sales training and leadership labs helps new behaviors take root culturally and form lasting habits. Ongoing training that uses tools like the 12 Steps to Accountability empowers people with understanding, confidence and skills so they can meet expectations independently over the long run. People want to feel their skills and careers are being continuously invested in. Consistent checking in and reinforcement aids long-term learning retention and application. Driving real and lasting change requires continuing efforts even after initial enthusiasm fades. Sticking with training, accountability, and skill-building over time leads to profound results by forming new habits and transforming organizational culture for the better. Regular check-ins aid in ongoing learning and proper application of new strategies.Thanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website and follow us on social media - Facebook, Instagram & LinkedInWe LOVE your feedback & questions - click HERE to share your questions/feedback or email us at podcast@shandelgroup.comSubscribe for our free 66 Seconds with Shandel Group at shandel.com#LeadForClarity #LeadershipDevelopment #Leadership #Growth #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #Clarity #PersonalAccountability #Communication

Shandel shares the "Commit to It and Do It" framework she presented in Germany for living according to one's core values. She outlines the six steps using the acronym COMMIT: Clarify values, Organize life around them, acknowledge Misery as a sign you've strayed, Make hard decisions, Invest in your values, Trust yourself by not compromising.The COMMIT Framework: C - Clarify your top 5 values. Getting crystal clear on the values that are most important to you is essential for the next steps. Clarity provides focus.O - Organize your life around those values. Once you know your values, intentionally structure your time, goals, decisions, etc. to align with what really matters to you.M - Misery is a sign you've strayed from your values. Pay attention when you feel unhappy or unfulfilled - it could indicate you're off course from living congruently.M - Make hard decisions to stay true to your values. Living by your values often requires letting go of less important things, even if they're convenient or profitable. Having the courage to do this is key.I - Invest in what you value and divest from what you don't. Put your energy, money and resources toward the things and people that align with your values.T - Trust yourself by not compromising your values and orienting your life around them. Have integrity by staying true to your word with yourself. Rely on your instincts to guide decisions.Clarifying your top 5 values provides focus and is the foundation for living intentionally and developing self-awareness of your core values provides clarity and focus to achieve goals. Organizing your life and decisions around your values, rather than other factors, ensures you spend energy on what's most meaningful and leads to fulfillment. Feelings of misery or unhappiness can indicate you've strayed from your values and it's time to realign. Living by your values may require difficult decisions, but has rewards like peace of mind that outweigh other benefits. Invest your energy and resources into what really matters to you based on your values. Surrounding yourself with truth-tellers who hold you accountable helps you stay aligned with your values over time. It’s important to treat yourself with the same kindness you show others to stay motivated living congruently. Having compassion for yourself during missteps helps you get back on track living according to your values instead of experiencing shame.Thanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website and follow us on social media - Facebook, Instagram & LinkedInWe LOVE your feedback & questions - click HERE to share your questions/feedback or email us at podcast@shandelgroup.comSubscribe for our free 66 Seconds with Shandel Group at shandel.com#LeadForClarity #LeadershipDevelopment #Leadership #Growth #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #Clarity #PersonalAccountability #Communication