Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Know your strengths
Release Date: 12/04/2024
Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Loneliness
Illustrating Leadership
“It’s lonely at the top.” It is a phrase most leaders have heard and many have quietly felt. Especially for new and emerging leaders, that loneliness can feel heavy. You are the one people come to for answers. You are expected to project confidence and clarity, even when you feel unsure, overwhelmed, or exhausted. You carry confidential information you cannot fully share. You navigate decisions others never see. Over time, leadership can begin to feel isolating. But leadership does not have to be lonely. In this solo episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I explore why...
info_outline
Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Aligning Your Inner & Outer Life
Illustrating Leadership
Some of the most impactful leaders in our lives do not come with titles, corner offices, or formal authority. They enter our lives through relationship. They challenge us, ground us, mirror us, and sometimes even break our hearts before helping us put ourselves back together with more clarity, self-trust, and wholeness. That truth sat at the center of this episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, where I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Brenda Brummond, an intuitive business coach for female entrepreneurs. What unfolded was not just a conversation about leadership, but about...
info_outline
Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Leading Different Personality Types
Illustrating Leadership
One of the most important and most overlooked truths about leadership is this: your team does not think like you. And while that realization can feel uncomfortable at first, it is actually one of your greatest opportunities as a leader. Leadership is not about getting everyone to work the way you do. It is about understanding how they work and creating the conditions for each person to thrive. In this solo episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I explore what it really means to lead different personality types with awareness, empathy, and flexibility, without losing your own...
info_outline
Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Authenticity Leads to Trust
Illustrating Leadership
In this episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I sat down with Cindy Spratt, a holistic nutritionist who supports women in rebuilding peaceful relationships with food, body, and self. Cindy’s story offers a powerful reminder that leadership is not about fitting into a predefined mold. It is about knowing who you are, honoring your values, and creating trust through authenticity. The Leader Who Gave Permission to Be Real Cindy shared the story of a leader who deeply influenced her path, Meghan Telpner, founder of the Academy of Culinary Nutrition. While Cindy initially sought Meghan...
info_outline
Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Finding your guiding light
Illustrating Leadership
When leadership feels steady, it’s easy to move forward with confidence. But most leaders don’t struggle when things are going well — they struggle when things feel messy, unclear, stressful, or conflicting. When you’re pulled in too many directions, when decisions feel heavier than usual, or when something simply hasn’t gone well in your organization or business. In those moments, it’s tempting to look for more information. Another article. Another framework. Another opinion. But what gets leaders through those seasons isn’t more information. It’s clarity. It’s alignment....
info_outline
Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Reframing Failure
Illustrating Leadership
In this solo episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I explore one of the most important and least discussed realities of leadership: failure. Every leader will experience it. The question is not if it will happen, but how you respond when it does. Failure does not mean you are a bad leader. It does not define your character, your capability, or your future. What it does offer is an invitation to reflect, learn, and lead with integrity and resilience. Separating Who You Are from What Happened One of the most damaging patterns leaders fall into after a misstep is personalization. A...
info_outline
Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Belief Sparks Possibility
Illustrating Leadership
In this episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I spoke with Pam Miller, a Life and Health Transitional Coach whose leadership story perfectly illustrates the transformative power of one person’s belief. Pam shared a defining moment from her twenties. A moment when fear was holding her back, her confidence was shrinking, and she fully intended to say no to an opportunity that terrified her. But one leader saw something in her she couldn’t yet see in herself. That single moment changed the entire trajectory of her life. When Fear Keeps Us Small In her twenties, Pam worked...
info_outline
Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Trusting Yourself as a Leader
Illustrating Leadership
In this solo episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I dive into one of the most essential, and most underrated, leadership skills you can ever develop: self-trust. Leadership will always include moments where the decision, the responsibility, or the next step ultimately rests on you. And in those moments, the voice you trust matters. But for many new and emerging leaders, that inner voice is clouded by fear, doubt, overthinking, or the urge to please others. In this episode, I walk through how to recognize and redirect your saboteurs, tune into your intuition, release...
info_outline
Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Leading With Softness
Illustrating Leadership
In this episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I had the joy of speaking with Jodi Gagne, Energy coach, EFT practitioner, and former theater stage manager and wedding planner. Jodi’s career path is anything but linear, and that’s exactly what makes her leadership insights so powerful. From high-pressure environments where there are no second chances to the deeply introspective world of energy coaching, Jodi’s story teaches us that leadership isn’t just about strength, structure, or decisiveness. It’s also about softness, self-trust, and the courage to explore what’s...
info_outline
Illustrating Leadership Lesson: The Power of the Pause
Illustrating Leadership
A lot of new leaders feel pressure to have the right answer right away. And a lot of seasoned leaders get into trouble when they succomb to this pressure. In this solo episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I explore one of the most underestimated leadership tools out there: the pause. We live in a world that rewards speed. Fast replies, quick decisions, and constant motion. But some of the best leadership moves come not from rushing forward, but from taking a breath, slowing down, and leading with intention. Quick Doesn’t Always Mean Effective We often glorify leaders who...
info_outlineThanks for listening to this conversation with Anna Larson, a Gallup-certified CliftonStrengths coach and marketing strategist. Her insights on leveraging personal and team strengths provide a roadmap for leaders aiming to enhance both personal and group performance.
Discovering Your CliftonStrengths
The CliftonStrengths assessment, developed by Don Clifton, offers a transformative approach to self-awareness and team dynamics. With over 33 million completions, this robust tool evaluates 34 strengths, grouping them into four categories: executing, influencing, relationship building, and strategic thinking. Unlike traditional models that highlight weaknesses, CliftonStrengths focuses on enhancing natural talents, emphasizing that every individual can perform tasks efficiently through their unique strengths.
Why Leaders Should Know Their Strengths
Understanding your strengths as a leader is pivotal. It not only helps in personal growth but also in fostering a conducive work environment. When leaders are aware of their innate talents, they execute tasks with purpose and optimally utilize their abilities, leading to higher productivity and satisfaction. Anna emphasizes that knowing what you're great at unlocks endless possibilities, allowing leaders to make decisions that align with their natural capabilities.
The Importance of Team Strengths
A well-rounded team thrives when each member's strengths are recognized and harnessed. Leaders investing in this awareness can significantly boost team performance and morale. For instance, a leader who understands that one team member excels in ideation while another in execution can strategically assign tasks, ensuring everyone works within their zone of genius. This not only enhances productivity but also heightens job satisfaction, as team members feel valued and understood.
Overcoming The Weakness Mentality
In a world fixated on improving weaknesses, CliftonStrengths offers a refreshing perspective. It's not about avoiding what we're not naturally good at but rather leveraging what we inherently excel in to achieve phenomenal outcomes. Anna highlights the concept of 'basements,' suggesting areas where even our strengths might need refinement. The goal is not to eliminate weaknesses but to transform them into opportunities for growth, all through the lens of our strengths.
The Collaborative Advantage
One of the distinct advantages of this approach is fostering collaboration over competition. When individuals understand each other's strengths, they work together effectively, complementing rather than competing. Anna shares her personal experience of how her husband's ideation strength offers a balance to her strategic execution, showcasing the power of diverse strengths in achieving common goals.
Anna Larson's insights into CliftonStrengths open up a world of possibilities for leaders and teams. By focusing on what we naturally excel at, we create an environment where everyone thrives. For those interested in exploring their strengths, Anna encourages diving into the assessment and living the mantra of learning, loving, and living your strengths.
Connect with Anna
To embark on your journey with CliftonStrengths or to learn more about Anna's work, visit her at AnnaandSelena.com or connect with her on LinkedIn.
Your host, Jessica Wright, is a Life & Career Development Coach for Leaders and the Founder of Wright Life Coaching, LLC. You can follow her on LinkedIn and Instagram. Learn more about Leadership Masterclass, the private podcast and community at www.jessicawright.online/leadership-masterclass.
Want to help make more of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast happen? Donate $5 at https://ko-fi.com/wrightlife. Thank you so much for your support!