Welcome back to another episode of The Leader's Journey podcast. Today we're sharing one of our favorite episodes from 2019, Quit Getting In Your Own Way. This episode is a deep dive into the complexities of leadership and the often-overlooked reality that we can be our own biggest obstacles. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting your leadership journey, this episode offers valuable insights into self-awareness and the power of understanding and unlearning our behaviors. We hope this conversation is helpful on your journey to get out of your own way Conversation Overview True self and false self We all have needs and we all have wounds Meaning-making How do we learn to see ourselves? How do we reprogram the autopilot?

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Chuck DeGroat to talk about the natural reactivity we have to anxiety. We’ve talked a lot about fight and flight, conflict and distancing, but we don’t always add two other instinctive reactions: freeze and fawn.  We may aspire to peace-making but we often settle for peace keeping and people-pleasing. When we can see our fawn response, we can stop hiding and courageously choose genuine connection instead. Conversation Overview:  Chuck's tweet that inspired this conversation How does the fawn response mimic healthy connection while also undermining it? How does the fawn response show up in leadership? How do we connect the fawn response to anxiety? What might we do instead of fawning? References:  Link to Chuck's Tweet Chuck Degroat Website https://twitter.com/chuckdegroat @chuckdegroat on Threads Janina Fisher  The Fifth Discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization Healing Developmental Trauma: How Early Trauma Affects Self-Regulation, Self-Image, and the Capacity for Relationship The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable

We grow our emotional maturity when we see ourselves and our relationships as part of creation and stay in touch with the natural world around us. Conversation overview:  Are we, humans, disconnected from nature? What is the relationship between emotional maturity and connection to the natural world? What are some practices that can bring us back into connection with nature? Links:  Steven Chase called Nature A Spiritual Practice iNaturalist Seek App "To make a prairie" by Emily Dickson The Peace of Wild Things Written and read by Wendell Berry

Esteemed guest Steve Cuss explores managing self in triangles, discussing leadership dynamics, anxiety, triggers, and navigating relationships. Practical insights on staying calm and principled in tricky triangle situations.

Dr. Jenny Brown discusses the complexities of triangles in relationships, highlighting the difference between being in a triangle and being triangulated. The podcast explores the predictable ways triangles work and how to remain neutral. It also delves into the importance of self-reflection, breaking cycles, and promoting growth in relationships.

In this episode, Jim and Trisha look back on The Leader's Journey, discuss key lessons and express gratitude for their clients, listeners, and the growth they've experienced through their work. We hope you'll connect with this authentic conversation.  Conversation Overview: Jim & Trisha discuss their history working together The context, culture, and spaces they work in The value of collaboration in their work The learning community they have developed The importance of learning The challenges of changing behavior Accountability in the learning process References & Links:  Tim McGee (personal, agency) Faithwalking The Podcast series on race Listening and Learning: An African-American Leader Shares His Story Changing Our Minds: How learning to see God and the world differently changed our view on race How We Got Here: Reflecting on our learning about race The series on trauma An introduction to trauma part 1 An introduction to trauma part 2 The series on power dynamics The Balance of Power: How trustworthy and transformative leaders balance authority and vulnerability creating space for flourishing Power Dynamics and Conflict: A conversation for trustworthy and transformative leaders Power Dynamics for Trustworthy and Transformative Leaders Using and Sharing Power to Create a More Just and Equitable Community Todd Bolsinger Juanita Rasmus Mandy Smith Phuc Luu Chuck Degrow Steve Cuss Robert Creech

Knowing and doing the right thing is hard. Staying calm and saying the course in the face of the resulting opposition can be even harder, and requires us to practice courage intentionally.  In this episode, the third in our series on courage, Jim and Trisha are joined by Jessica Shults and Mac McCarthy who discuss their unique, yet similar, pastoral stories about leading congregations through hard things in different ways. Together they talk about different practices that can be used to help grow courage in challenging circumstances. Conversation Overview Being courageous in challenging established mental models can effectively lead people into new ways of thinking Having a sense of calling, utilizing the help of others, and having to revisit challenging things over and over again are all ways help us work on courage The practice of controlling our own self-care, in addition to letting other help us carry the weight of change, helps us to be able to focus in on how to handle challenging opposition in the right ways Staying connected and staying the course while defining oneself are two styles of leadership that we can learn from to grow our emotional maturity Links & References Edwin Friedman Books Speeches By Martin Luther King Jr.: The Ultimate Collection Todd Bolsinger Books The Colossian Forum Crosspoint Church Podcast and Blog The Leader’s Journey Website The Leader’s Journey E-mail List

Facing trauma and pain in constructive and redemptive ways requires us to practice courage intentionally. With David Zailer, author of Death of a Fisherman, Trisha and Jim continue their series on courage. Together they discuss an important question from David’s life and book: “How will you and I grow through hardship and suffering?” Conversation Overview It takes courage to face our past traumas in order to grow emotionally The path to healing from addiction Connection and heal from pain The willingness to do small things Links & References Death of a Fisherman by David Zailer The Allender Center National Domestic Violence Hotline Child Abuse Hotline Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Alcoholics Anonymous Narcotics Anonymous Operation Integrity The Leader's Journey - An Introduction to Trauma for Leaders Series The Leader’s Journey Website The Leader’s Journey E-mail List

Podcast guest Nathan Herrington helps Jim and Trisha explore practices that can sustain courage in the third episode of a series that focuses on growing our emotional maturity. By saying yes to life on its own terms we lean into how we can learn to be courageous, and essentially more effective leaders through working on intentional focused practices. Conversation Overview Demonstrating courage by saying yes without knowing the outcome How body-based practices and body awareness can help our reactivity First action steps when starting a yoga or meditation practice Living a fully alive life by being brave Noticing growth through practice over time Links & References Nathan Herrington’s Listening to Leaders Podcast Brené Brown – Quote from “The Gifts of Imperfection” Nathan’s LinkedIn Nathan’s Instagram The Leader’s Journey Website The Leader’s Journey E-mail List

In today’s podcast, we discuss how leaders often live in a pace that stands in the way of being able to grow our emotional maturity. Our guest, April Fiet, is a pastor and author whose book The Sacred Pulse: Holy Rhythms for Overwhelmed Souls posits that the process of slowing down helps us live into our callings by tapping into holy rhythms which help pattern our days according to God’s desires for our lives.  The second episode in a series revolving around practices that help us grow our emotional maturity. Conversation Overview Learning to slow down to help us tap into rhythms of well being Chronos time vs kairos time Our longings to create space to be fully human How creativity and handcrafting helps us focus and ground Slowing down to examine our own selves and how we make time for others Links & References The Sacred Pulse: Holy Rhythms for Overwhelmed Souls by April Fiet Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Vivek H. Murthy M.D. April Fiet’s Blog April Fiet's Free E-Book Whispers in the Wilderness: 7 Devotions for Hope in Uncertain Times April Fiet’s Twitter April Fiet’s Facebook Thank you for listening. If you enjoy listening to The Leader’s Journey Podcast, the best way to support us is to take just a few seconds and leave a rating and/or comment over on iTunes or share it with your friends on Facebook … Thank you!