Getting Unstuck – Cultivating Curiosity

Here, Jeff is interviewed by Joe Kwon, our friend and host of the uniquely formatted "Why It Works" podcast. We'll learn why Jeff chose coaching as a follow-up to his career in educational publishing, the main challenges he faced in shifting from that career to coaching, and some foundational coaching principles such as being stuck in the first place, having a hidden commitment not to change, and how our inner critic can hold us back from leading the life we really want.

Effective change leaders acknowledge what is holding them back. Hosts Jeff and Kirsten explain how individuals and organizations can recognize how systemic and self-imposed obstacles – the inner critic, bad habits, and self-defeating stories – can stand in their way of moving toward their desired goals. Jeff interviews expert storyteller Sarah Elkins, who shares her experiences, and challenges us to take control not only of which stories we tell ourselves, but how we tell them.

Unlock your potential to get unstuck by actively envisioning your ideal future state. Host Jeff Ikler interviews educator Dr. Melissa Hughes, author of Happy Hour with Einstein. Dr. Hughes shares her insights on how the brain works and how to harness what we know about neuroscience to build cultures of learning and leadership. Co-host Kirsten Richert offers brain-friendly methods you can use with groups to visualize a successful future and capture key elements to activate change.

In this podcast, we look at how those exploring a potential change can ready themselves and or their organization by learning more about the broader external environment, including trends in society, economics, new technology, and other parts of the big picture. "Getting Unstuck" co-host Kirsten Richert is joined by our producer Dr. Esmilda Abreu and special guest Carl Fengler who runs the Ignition Lab at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York.

In this episode, hosts Kirsten Richert and Jeff Ikler recommend the counterintuitive strategy of pausing – intentionally slowing down to conduct an internal scan to fully grasp what's underlying the state of being stuck. For individuals, Jeff Ikler suggests asking powerful questions, taking personal assessments, and engaging in specific activities as ways to unlock greater understanding. For organizations, Kirsten Richert recommends gathering customer and staff input through observations, interviews, questionnaires.

In this episode, hosts Kirsten Richert and Jeff Ikler review the "why" behind their respective practices of serving as an innovation catalyst for organizations, and a career and leadership coach for individuals. They then dive into the world of being stuck and the phases that one goes through to get unstuck. The critical first stage is accepting that you are stuck in the first place. At this stage, you acknowledge your discomfort and begin to contemplate change.

In this first episode, innovation catalyst Kirsten Richert, and career and leadership coach, Jeff Ikler, explain their mission – to help individuals and institutions think differently about change, not as something to fear, not as something they constantly have to react to, but as something they can initiate to have the impact they desire. Through these podcast episodes, they will introduce listeners to different ways of thinking through tools and thought-leaders to help them move toward their desired goals