Executive Shaman

Need to learn a little more about the origin, structure and context of Executive Shaman Podcast? Listen in for a quick understanding of why, what, and how of the podcast process.

Julie and Krystal used to do an occasional, off the cuff, very rough-cut podcast, quite REAL podcast.  Krystal welcomes her as the first guest here to discuss how her Y-ness (check out thelettercode.com !) impacts her at work. I use strong language in this episode! Follow us on Instagram at @drkrystalwhite and post how Ys work. #howaYworks  

Kevin and Krystal are two professionals trained to identify patterns and help see themselves clearly. They both believe self-awareness is foundational to the change process. In Episode 3, they shed light on introverted leaders…and challenge all listeners to encourage regular “introcations”.

Gina and Krystal aspire to be real with each other, and real in their professions. Many times, this realness is uncomfortable. Authenticity isn’t a goal, it’s a value. And like values, we ebb and flow in our expression of them. Gina Renee is a Pattern Maker who helps people create clothes that make them feel great by providing fashionable Sewing Patterns that fit. Krystal follows her on Instagram. Episode 4 explores a fraction of our thoughts, lessons, research and tips regarding authentic expression.  

“What advice would you give yourself 20 years ago?” Antez and Krystal each reflected on this question over the Holiday season, as each of them experienced a major life transition. The topic of life-long development revealed to each of us what our major seasonal life lessons are. We encourage you to take a few minutes, a long walk, or a series of journal entries to answer this question for yourself before listening.

If you’re a leader, please consider how you are managing the talent of your team. Ann and I chat about helping them identify cognitive errors, the shadow side of a “can-do” attitude, and laying the groundwork UPFRONT to understand who they are as a human.

I love connectivity! Yet, we need to choose connectivity that helps, heals, and happifies us. Social Comparison has never been easier in this digital age. How do you love yourself and stay connected? Zac and I ponder this dichotomy. #howaWloves  

Whose on your team? Who knows you as you, has your back, and doesn’t BS you. Kristin and I discuss how life is lonely at the top, but only if climb solo. This convo just scratches the surface on how we unconsciously limit our support. We didn’t even get to how we also unconsciously give limited support to others.  Do you need a little more support? Check out Ready or Summit.

The impact you have on others is your brand. Often, we follow leadership philosophies without paying much attention to how we influence others. Hunter and I discuss how we consciously choose our brands, how we change and key lessons along the way. What’s your brand?

Are you a giver or earner when it comes to trust? How easy is it for someone to you’re your trust? Julie and I had this conversation a year ago….during a road trip. Join the wild ride, and identify what trust looks like, builds like, and weakens like for you.

Change is always possible.  Sustainable change needs an internal transition of some sort. We all know people who say they are “done” or have “moved on” but haven’t truly disengaged with a previous season of their life. Amiel and I chat here about conscious transitions and share insights and tips.

One of most challenging and unnatural tasks of adulthood is making new friends, being a conscious one, and being yourself in one. Learn a leadership model on how friends are one of the most valuable indicators of engagement in a workplace culture, and one of the most precious treasures of a meaningful, whole life.

One of the most fundamental disciplines of a peaceful, fulfilled life is frequent  metacognition (thinking about your thinking) and metaemotion (feeling your feelings). Today, Anné  and I share how to Reflect, and why it gives you a competitive edge.

We can live from a state of learning, or operate from a place of certainty. One helps us grow, the other helps us be safe. Both have their functional utility. Yet conscious leaders, utilize transformational wisdom. This relies on a willingness to learn from differences. AKA: Conflict. Dr. Michael Broom, a power-house of an organizational culture designer, provides guidance and insight as we ponder this topic. Krystal shares how a recent conflict automatically triggered her to "prove" rather than "learn," & offers guidance on how to quickly recover from this reaction.

We've all experienced a time where someone helped us and it caused us more stress. I myself have unconsciously "rescued" others in ways that made me feel better about myself, but didn't lead to a boost in the other person's growth or long-term well being. Social worker,  entrepreneur and self-actualizing friend Stacey and I tackle this frequent occurence and give tips on how to manage our "ego issues."

Thought leaders transform their teams by transforming their stories---individually and communally. Your competitive advantage often involves being aware of, mastering and then choosing your story. Tune into to be inspired, challenged and guided to choose your narrative. Is your story serving or derailing you and your relationships?

Our integrity relies on our ability to listen. We’ve been so socialized to listen to others, that listening to our own “voice/gut/heart” requires practice. Developmental editor and publishing consultant Stephanie Gunning is a 34-year veteran of the mainstream publishing industry, often specializing in books on the topics of health, spirituality, personal growth, and new thought. She is my conscious sounding board for unleashing my voice into a wider audience, and we give concrete tools you can play with to unleash yours. Watch her unleash mine as she interviews me about The Letter Code here:https://stephaniegunning.com/krystal-white-interview/ 

Self-awareness is the foundation of transformational leadership. It is the pre-requisite to learning new behaviors that are more helpful and goal-oriented. There are many concepts available to aid us to BEHAVE SMART. Michael Frisina and I chat about some “equations” and ideas that we utilize in our work. 

We've all had days when we've left work exhausted. We still feel good, though, when we feel like our efforts are worthy, productive and beneficial. Too often, there's just too much taking our energy and not enough inputs. Dr. Maiysha Clairborne, of StressFree MD, empowers the full health of her clients. Today we discuss why emotional exhaustion is so common in our professional experience these days and how to work in a way that fuels you.  

It's contagious. Following your passion. And it isn't always rainbows and unicorns. Figuring it out doesn't often happen in a light-bulb moment, and often it requires support from others along the way. Entreprenuer Jeff Bradford of Beer Wine and Spirits and I converse about the sacrifice and pleasure passion entails. And encourage you to live out yours in how you lead your life. From 20 years in the US Army to traveling around the world learning working with brewers, wine makers, distillers, and telling their stories, Jeff follows his passion.

People who appear to "have it all" annoy me, because I compare my insides to their outsides. AND YET: I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE IT IS POSSIBLE FOR US TO BE COMPLETELY FULFILLED. Are you suffering from a job, a relationship, a health issue that is just short of having it all? The stylish Melissa Rubini of The Mayfair Hall and I explore how to start living YOUR best life and commit to HAVING IT ALL. Inspiring and uplifting episode. 

If you read the book or take The Letter Code test, you'll learn why you love the way you love. Most of also want to love our work, and Hs are no different. Hs want to be self-reliant, independent thinkers and also fundamentally connected to the mission of their profession. Tune in today to discuss how they balance needs for natural self-stability with needs for contribution. And Tune into Episode 2 (Ys) and 18 (Ws)for more insights. You'll definitely discover yourself or colleagues in some of the descriptions!

All of us experience moments of uncertainty, stress, and chaos. Most of us have a season that are characteristically "chaotic." If you're a leader where you are faced with "dramas on the daily" developing skills to RESPOND in the moment that leads to growth rather than survival. Today we discuss the 3 reactions to chaos, and provide 3 key ways to start learning responsive habits. 

You can develop someone by giving them new skills, habits and disciplines. Or you develop somone by giving them new insights and responsibilities. I tend to work first by giving people more awareness into who they are, increase their capacity to lead (aka take responsibility) and THEN give them how-to-skills. This top down approach, called Conscious Use of Self, is a thought-leadership method to organizational success. Today Dr. Michael Broom and I discuss real world applicability and why we adopt it's tenants in our own lives.

Two ends of a spectrum. Ying and Yang. These forces are known as POLARITY, and we all express them. We all want balance. The first step is to be aware of where you're off balance. The easiest way to do it is to quickly assess your own tendency to lean, and implement realtionships, daily routines and frequent habits to motivate you to adopt another way. Intuitive coach Amiel and I light-heartedly discuss three main areas where polarity shows up in people and offer guidance in the name of balance.

Organizations that function well set professional development goals for their managers. This is a strategic way to achieve greater productivity and quantifiable results. Organizations that THRIVE have managers that help their employees ACHIEVE professional development goals for themselves. Adam and I review the framework he uses to inspire growth in those he leads. Those that work for and around him quickly move from being a "manager" to being a "leader" because he helps them get the real-life SKILLs to be ready for that role. 

Good Managers give great answers. Amazing leaders give good questions. This podcast uses great questions to provoke enhanced performance and effective improvement. What noise are YOU ignoring in your life? What is so loud you can't deny? What needs more volume or more filtering? Tune into this episode and use the process in your own self reflection or to develop your team. 

It is a common experience for others to type-cast you. Sometimes that works to our advantage, but in seasons where you need to transition or grow, it often hinders us.  We also unconsciously put ourselves in a position to play certain "roles" in relationships. Understanding the common ways you are triggered to play these roles will help break patterns of repetitive conflict, stagnation, and a lack of innovation. 

The Letter Code is a book that guides people to discover their real needs in love. Many professionals love their work, and therefore their code is expressed in many of their automatic behaviors, common conflicts and ways of communicating. Today we discuss how As nautrally seek their teams to be caring, mutually giving and understanding of one anothers needs. Hear More episodes: Hs (#26) Ws (#18) and Ys (#2) or read The Letter Code.

In a time of "yes" saying "no" often is a courageous step in the direction of productivity, energy management, and conscious growth. Today Julie and Krystal talk about how to say no in a way that inspires team optimization and how to handle a no in a way that manages your own ego. 

What was the last thing that you did that required personal courage in a professional setting? Research shows that more than HALF of managers feel uncomfortable in their role. It's not the discomfort that creates leadership failures, it's the lack of personal courage employed either consequetively or in a key moment. Eric and Krystal's conversation today provides insight and guidance on how to lead others to demonstrate personal courage. 

This is a podcast for adults who are financially secure, and yet continue to have thoughts, emotions and feelings about "money" that aren't helpful (maybe 80% of us???). Although we know that the most rewarding things about life can't be bought, we still often equate "success" with how much "we earn." Anne and I are called to move beyond seeing money as a mere transaction, or a validated stamp of worthiness. Our convo today will help you gain insight and some simple techniques that can transform how you "use" money (and not let it use you!). 

True Collaboration is not doing something together. It is both a shared mindset  and a shared behavior. It requires both deliberate definition and a strategic training plan to be achieved. It takes practice and often external support to help teams create cultures where the collective need out prioritizes individual needs. The conversation with Aaron, from The Yes Works, equips leaders to collaborate, compete or compromise more consciously. 

Most thought leaders have asked about, studied about, or received support about successfully integrating millenials as engaged employees into their organization. Jonathan and I discuss how to listen to them, empower them and leverage their global strengths.  This discussion is about diversity. Genuinely honoring and practicing it. And the leaders and teams who train in it will likely out perform those who don't.  

Inspired followers are the force behind fulfilling, effective and self-sustaining results. And yet, the skill of inspiring others is perhaps the most elusive to develop.  Leaders naturally struggle to learn this skill, or re-employ it in new cultures, new organizational seasons, or in new working relationships. COL Drew and Krystal discuss some foundational behaviors that are necessary for authentically inspiring others. Leaders who hone this skill shape culture.

Here at the Executive Shaman we are devoted to asking deliberate, change-driven questions. We often ask clients more questions than expected, inspiring their own insight and empowerment. The questions others ask of us can either shut us down, making us feel defensive and protective, or open us up, making us curious and engaged. They are one of the most valuable tools a leader can manage, master and muster. Bekah has been in the audio/podcasting industry for 7 years and hosts her own podcast called http://www.queerdos.com/Queerdos. She and Krystal discuss what makes a good question and how to develop this skill in ourselves.

High performing leaders are conscious followers. COL Newland and Krystal discuss a simple model to understand how much support leaders provide when giving a task/project/order. It sets clear and energy saving expectations for the leader to be aware of what the follower needs. And it provides a clear developmental pathway that aims for more confidence, independence and competence for the relationship and not just the individuals involved.

We all SAY we want diversity, but many of us don't know HOW to engender it. And MOST of us aren't willing to examine how our (real) biases, proclivity to conform, and self-interests show up in day to day life. We have biological, social and psychological impulses to see ourselves as "good" and to keep things manageable. AND: we want to experience true synergy and innovative collaboration. Today, Krystal and Royce go beyond external issues of diversity and discuss diversity of our minds---one outcome compassionate thought leaders tend to embrace. 

Reflecting on the last month, name the percentage of time that you performed at your best at work? in your personal life? How good do we feel day in and day out? In the last decade, prominent evidence has emerged indicating that our brains operate in different “states.” A useful simplification of the findings: your brain performs on a continuum from “survival” mode to “growth/evolution” mode.  Michael and Krystal explain science based models of performance that inform leadership effectiveness. Individual leadership performance has the largest impact on the functioning of a team. Training your brain and body to perform optimally, and then helping others do the same, is a thought leaders core responsibility. Tune in to discover what these states look like, and how to shift into your best brain, and lead others to do the same.

HIgh performing teams don't happen naturally. Like gardening, they require the correct soil (culture) and the correct gardening (leadership). Sometimes they need good fertilization as well. Which is where consultation comes in. Having a group of talented, successful individuals is not sufficient any longer to obtain clear goals, much less the complex ones modern organizations and teams tackle. High performing teams don’t happen naturally, and require both conscious investment, group training,  and a sustained “maintenance” schedule. Too often, executive leaders and chief leaders aren’t adequately prepared, genuinely aware, or properly resourced to perform together as a team. Michael and Krystal continue the conversation this week, pointing out conceptual and behavioral signs of a high performing team.  

You can be analytical and curious as the same time. And yet, the impact of your analysis is amplified by curisoity (rather than the other way around!). Curiosity requires a state of open observation.  This trait, which spans from explorers to scientists, social progressive movements to toddlers, requires practice and organization. Leaders who use curiosity consciously are often named as big contributors to teams. Curiosity as a SHARED discipline creates forward moving results. COL Stamp, Commander of Lakenheath Medical Hospital in the UK, discusses how he nurtures his own and his team's curiousity. Together, he and Krystal offer guidelines on how to start being and “doing” more curious.

Awesome work cultures engender amazing customer service. What is the difference between contexts where the customer is catered to (often at the expense of the employee) versus those where the customer actively participates (often for mutual benefit)?  What do on the ground, customer service staff need from their leaders? Alex, who has been in this position for over 30 years!, and Krystal provide clear direction on how to help this population, sharing personal and evidence based lessons.

Is your training effective at building, sustaining and enhancing new skills? How you “teach an old dog new tricks” requires repetitive experience. Educators, instructors, trainers, and those in healing professions want their information to make a difference in the student’s real life. Yet many of us don’t know how to shape learning environments to transfer into real life results. Today, Lindsey and Krystal discuss tips to do just that, and how having a talented team member solely responsible to assess transfer is essential for true learning success.

We all have “egos,” or our standard self operating system. We often go about our tasks so quickly, or when want something to work so much, that we fail to see ourselves fully. We interact without having awareness of the impact we have on others---both beneficial and unhelpful. COL (retired) Laterza and Krystal discuss the imperative of leaders to understand and manage their egos, and for senior leaders to help those they lead improve their self awareness. His leadership philosophy underscores this principle. Leadership = character X competence. We all could use training and coaching for us to match our ideal character with our external presence. Today’s podcast offers guidance on what this looks like in realistically at work.

Security and stability are essential needs, driving many beliefs, emotions and behaviors. We expect things to stay the same, and yet also live in a very uncertain world.  Change occurs naturally. Whether we want it, are ready for it, or understand it---things change. Transformation, however, requires insight, compassion and courage. It is the type of change where we genuinely progress, with absolute resolution. Most of us don’t do the latter, so we can’t fully do the former. Don and Krystal discuss some key tricks of personal and teams that compel us through the stages of transformation. 

50 episodes in a year. While there are too many individuals to name here, each cohost contributed insight, heart, meaning and partnership to this work. Tune into hear a few highlights, lessons, and reflections from the first season of Season 1. Bekah (awesome ESP editor) you are the best. This unedited, sloppy and noisy episode simply magnifies how much of a positive impact you've made. I am deeply humble and more ready and willing than I ever was. 

Many of us like to interact and exchange. We like to give and receive. Information (typically in the form of words or images) is the main thing we exchange at work. Often, teams and individuals meet their needs for exchange in unhelpful ways through slander or gossip. COL Farrell and Krystal discuss how leaders can increase their personal awareness of this tendency and also influence others to reduce these destructive tendencies.  

We are in a season of great opportunity, and also uncertainty.  Most of us function out of survival, success or transformation. In the course of a single day, we move in and out of each state. We are defensive or overly appeasing, we work to earn recognition or stability, or we guide ourselves and others to grow. Season 2 is all about what ACTIONS you can do or avoid to operate from a growth mindset, lead limitless and shape the future of professional lifestyles. Each month, Krystal and her comrades offer you an episode guiding you to STOP a behavior and another guiding you to START one. We are aiming to get really practical on how you can lead the next generation to their more meaningful, progressive production. It's time to tune in and speak out. Our tribe needs you.   

  On Average, an adult uses over 7000 words a day. When is the last time someone said something to you at work and your attention peaked, your heart clapped or your body leaned forward? I’m sure you can easily think of a meeting where nothing one person shared was memorable. The discipline we’d like to focus more on this month is improving the competent and consistent use of language. Believe us, if you want your words to positively impact others, it  requires INTENTIONAL focus and practice. Jonathan and Krystal provide some guidance on how to be a more confident and competent communicator. Our upcoming Mindful Men program (details to be announced soon!) will amplify the communication skills of leaders---aiming to guide them to use their words to positively impact listeners.  

The myth that we can “achieve balance” leads to burn out, inauthentic posturing and perfectionistic individualism. Leaders, especially senior and executive leaders, must stop passing along the message that staff need to “balance their work with their lives.” Given that many people willfully and happily devote their significant contribution to “work”, this message just doesn’t “add” up. Why don’t we make healthy organizations instead of forcing staff to “balance” it all? Setting priorities, honoring boundaries and asking for help must replace this over simplistic, and covertly dangerous, message.

The adult brain has a lot of built in systems to reduce and avoid risk taking. Our beautiful emotional systems go on high alert when we sense risk and activate our controlled logic system. Simply: our minds “talk us out of” risky behaviors. Our higher mind, however, understands that we get better results when we behave in “non-standard” (aka risky!) ways. Pauline and Krystal discuss how to influence others to take risks, innovate and motivate others to do the same. We suggest how to take result-driven risks at work and share a few personal commitments. 

We can create wellness and growth in this season of a LOT OF CHAOS! Our thoughts are just as contagious as our germs are...and so are the beliefs of what we stand for. Where do you want to see change the most right now? What needs to be dismantled, re-modeled, or re-committed to?  We all will be reactive and stressed in the upcoming weeks. That's ok. After we react, we can move toward honesty and integrity, ask for compassion and forgiveness, and step up for what we stand for. WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR? There is more light here than we may see. Consciousness, kindness, service is being amplified. From this place, responsible action is more efficient. We are ready and capable to rise together---create the places, programs, politics, people and ways of being that are aligned with our own heartful, intentional visions. What do you stand for? Where can you learn to consciously stand for it? How can you help support innovators, unsung heroes, community leaders, and those with inspiring skills into positions of power?  

We are a culture always on the go. Many of us have resisted slowness and being at home for a long time. The average person in the US commutes 26 mins each way to work each day. That comprises NINE full days each year. For myself, I've chosen mobility and multi-focus for the better part of the last decade. Those 5 am wake up calls to teach spin used to fuel me. I boasted in The Letter Code that I needed less than 6 hours a night to sleep. I have re-defined my resistance to rest in the past 18 months. This process has NOT been pretty, and it has prepared me for this current, temporary experience. What once made me adaptive and flexible NOW only inhibits my growth. Without question, this is the time where we are being forced to slow down. Time. Take it. Will we fight against slowing down? Numb ourselves out on netflix, gaming, online shopping, youtube and news obsessions? Or mindfully, lovingly, use it to remember to tend to our "homes" -----our mind/bodies/spirits, our dwellings, our intimate relationships, our professions. This short podcast offers some guidance on what obstacles we are likely to encounter, and some encouragement to persist WITH PATIENCE the name of "upping" our collective growth.   

We've all faked something, at some point, in a relationship, social setting or work. Mostly, a lot of us have faked things to ourselves. Stacey and I aren't talking about doing something you're committed to but don't really get/like at the beginning. We're talking about the level of deception where we are out of alignment with our own inherent "truth." Appearances are important only to the degree that they express yourself. Often we become so used to "this is how it is" or to how things look that we forget who we are, what we stand for, and what our bodies are telling us. This discipline isn't easy to adopt. You will upset others. And, it does TAKE ENERGY.  Yet, if you only committed to one discipline this entire year, this might be the one that produces the most benefit for your SOUL. Stop faking yourself or others in the choices you make. Living the "truth as I know it" is the medicine our professions, families, teams and individual spirits need right now.

What or who has the most influence on how you think             -about your money             -about your looks             -about your health             -about your intimate relationship             -about your future   Maybe you don’t think about yourself as much as you consider your children, your partner, other family members or your colleagues or supervisors, or your local/global groups. Apply the same questions to those people. Often, we don’t slow down enough to consider where our thoughts are coming from. Many times, they aren’t our own.  Kristy Laterza and Krystal discuss why the discipline of thinking for yourself is essential for our internal well being, and for our external progress. We explore how we do (or don’t do) this at a practical level, the impact our age has on how well we withstand social pressure, and how easy it go with convention even though we want to be original.

“Let’s be honest about our modern-day social lives.  Busyness, overstimulation, automation, pressure to produce and disconnection run rampant in our adult routines. We are saturated in experiences of being partially present, moderately engaged, or half-heartedly committed. We are so focused on getting things done, exchanging information, or making decisions, that it’s hard to connect to ourselves, much less build resilient connections with others. We can be so focused on taking care of or trying to please others that we forget who we really are and what we really stand for.” Dr. Krystal White, Check In   Retreating is an efficient way to discover some of your essential truths. Periods of seclusion, intentional rest, and focused attention on the “internal world” are well known to boost our physical, social and emotional well-being. Today, Chris and Krystal discuss why many successful individuals, especially men, still struggle to “retreat.” (Check out what the conscious space he's creating!) Although we want more space and time to reflect, concentrate our own energy and focus on ourselves, actually taking it does not come naturally. We offer individual and community bases guidance for making retreats more accessible at the psychological and relational level.