418 Mindful Presence
Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will
418 Mindful Presence Being mindful of our presence in the lives around us is an integral part of the human experience, whether it be for our own personal comfort and growth or to ease the lives of those around us. Though we all have our own unique reasoning and paths to walk, it is important to remember we don’t have to travel alone and by working together we can all get to the finish line. In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Renée Smith discuss the importance of community in becoming the best version of yourself as well as the importance of developing our problem solving skills to...
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417 Being Fully Present
Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will
417 Being Fully Present Being present for those in your life can be a difficult matter at times, yes we can be in the same room as them, but it is far more meaningful to be there for them emotionally which can triple the difficulty of a situation. Which is why it is important to take a step back and to take stock of your emotions before responding, so that you can be your best self and not one that lectures or reacts with anger. In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Phil Friedman discuss the importance of patience, empathy, and seeking one’s one fulfillment in life that is not tied to...
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416 The Right Tool For The Right Job
Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will
416 The Right Tool For The Right Job Having the necessary toolset to build others and yourself up is something most of us continue to build and collect our entire lives. How we choose to interact with another, how we teach, learn, and grow with them is how we hone these tools in order to achieve excellence in our chosen life. In today’s episode Sarah Elkins ruminates on one of her former students, and how the lessons and tools she’s experienced now have made her a better advisor and teacher, by taking into account everyone’s personalized skillset. Highlights ...
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415 Striving For Excellence
Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will
415 Striving For Excellence When was the last time you took a moment to truly acknowledge just how far you’ve come and the work you have done to get to this point? No exceptions, no talking down about your accomplishments, just true and genuine acceptance of how amazing you are because of how hard you have worked. Perfection is impossible, but Excellence is achievable. We can always improve, but we must also acknowledge and sit with how well we have done to get to this moment. In this episode Sarah Elkins and Anne Catherine discuss the importance of art and the soul, the...
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414 Following Your Own Star
Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will
414 Following Your Own Star There comes a time in our lives where we need to stop and take stock of what we want to do next and our next steps in getting there. Perhaps it’s more than just one thing, perhaps you’re just floating through life trying to figure out what to do next, or perhaps you think this goal is too lofty despite all your hard work. Which is why it is so important to take all you know about others and yourself and apply it to whatever comes next. In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Professor KD Frick discuss the importance of that specific personal growth, as well...
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413 Love, Connection, Belonging, and Comfort Zones
Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will
413 Love, Connection, Belonging, and Comfort Zones It’s easy to forget to take care of the many facets of our health in a world obsessed with value and progress. We forget to care for our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health in ways that dramatically affect us in the long run, which is why it is vital for us to sit down and take stock of our health and to take the time to tend to our own needs. In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Kevin Strauss discuss the importance of connection, comfort zones, boundaries, love, and how important it is to ourselves as...
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412 Ego and Soul
Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will
412 Ego and Soul When was the last time you were proud of yourself? When was the last time you took a moment to truly look at yourself and say “I am proud of the person I am and I want other people to see how amazing I can be.”? When was the last time YOU fed your soul? It’s easy to forget when we’re cheering others on that we also need to cheer ourselves on, because if we don’t then who will? In this episode Sarah Elkins and Sharon Rolph discuss their own personal growth and the pride they feel in the people they have become and are still growing into. Highlights ...
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411 Encouraging Change and Growth
Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will
411 Encouraging Change and Growth In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Rachael Bohns discuss the significance and necessity of change as well as the importance of acknowledging and catering to the strengths of yourself and those around you. Highlights Doing what’s best for you even if no one knows, and especially for your own sake. Collaboration and commitment instead of obligation. Driving desire. Quotes “Most of the time change is thrusted upon us.” “Change is individual to people.” “Reward is individual.” Dear Listeners it is...
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410 Holding Space For Grief
Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will
410 Holding Space For Grief What can one say when faced with tragedy? Do you reach for a simple “I’m sorry” to let another know you sympathize with their pain? Do you offer an anecdote to show you empathize with what they are going through? Regardless, it is important that whatever you do you also hold space for your grief as well as those who need to know they are not alone in their grief. Highlights The importance of holding space for grief in the face of tragedy. Using healthy coping mechanisms to combat pain. You can sit in your grief and...
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409 Expanding Your Comfort Zone
Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will
409 Expanding Your Comfort Zone In today’s episode Sarah Elkins ruminates on how she has expanded her comfort zone by stepping into what she calls the “stretch zone”, where you aren’t entirely comfortable yet but willing to try just so that you can see what you’re made of. If we never stretch our wings, we’ll be trapped in the nest forever, so have faith in yourself, step into your stretch zone, and see how far it can take you. Highlights Telling stories to connect with another, not to change their mind. Taking time to calibrate yourself and find inner...
info_outline418 Mindful Presence
Being mindful of our presence in the lives around us is an integral part of the human experience, whether it be for our own personal comfort and growth or to ease the lives of those around us. Though we all have our own unique reasoning and paths to walk, it is important to remember we don’t have to travel alone and by working together we can all get to the finish line.
In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Renée Smith discuss the importance of community in becoming the best version of yourself as well as the importance of developing our problem solving skills to always be able to take action.
Highlights
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There is no linear path, take your time and find your own.
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Connecting with strangers through lived experience.
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Teaching others your toolset and learning others toolset so that everyone succeeds.
Quotes
“Being able to be present with them in a trusting way.”
“A problem is a gap between where you are now and where you want to be.”
“Maybe you don’t have what you need to take action.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
I’m really curious to hear what was sticky for you in today’s conversation. Whether you’re thinking now about your presence, about how you demonstrate love and support and care for people especially those that are strangers, those that you might disagree with. I know how hard it can be, how challenging it is to feel love for people that have different perspectives than us right now, more than ever before. And I’m here to say that if you can allow that open moment where you express your own experience and they hear it and that you are sharing this to connect with them and not to change their mind, this leaves the door open for them to carry that forward.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Renée
Renée Smith, MSOD (she/her) is the strategist leaders turn to when they want to make their workplace more loving and human. As the creator of Love-Centered Leadership
and the Human Workplace EX Roadmap, she helps people and results rise together. The founder and CEO of the consultancy, A Human Workplace, and the non-profit Center for a Loving Workplace, Renée promotes loving workplace cultures, primarily through research, education, impact projects. She led award-winning culture work as a state executive and served in the Governor’s Office as Director of Workplace Transformation for the State of Washington. Smith is a researcher, writer, and speaker who’s reached hundreds of audiences in eleven countries, making the business case for love. She earned a Master of Science in Organization Development from Pepperdine University and a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from the University of Washington. She lives in Tacoma with her husband Jim in a multi-generational household with her son and his family. When she is not traveling, she enjoys sculling on the Puget Sound, watercolor painting, and hosting dinner parties.
Be sure to check out Renée’s LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram! As well as Loving Workplace, Renée Smith Speaks, and A Human Workplace!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!