The Porch with Lindsay Boccardo

As Millennials continue to grow into their forties and GenXers are moving into their sixties, there is a pressing issue that every workplace is dealing with. Their leaders need time off to take care of (not their kiddos) but their aging parents. I brought Scott Sutherland on the Porch to provide a perspective on what this looks like and what questions we need to be asking our parents now so that we don't end up in a chaotic and heartbreaking situation later.  Check out this fascinating conversation with Scott and grab his 10 Questions here: https://www.practicewithlindsay.com/talktoyourparents

We had my dear friend and incredibly talented author, coach, and facilitator Kris Taylor on The Porch to talk about the trends in the workforce and how they are impacting all of us. It was such a thought-provoking conversation: We're seeing 3 main areas of change in the workforce and the all intersect and compound change for one another:  -The work itself is changing - think AI, technology, etc. -The workforce - demographics are changing quickly -The workplace - we are becoming more virtual, more flat, and much more fluid In order for us to successfully adapt to this ever-changing world we must adopt the identity of being agile and being a lifelong learner.  It is important to have your own “report card” of what is important to you - the world is full of priorities (that are always changing) - by having your own true north you can avoid getting caught up in the chaos. The people who will have more success and peace in their life in this increasingly complex business world, have decided to be more agile and are willing to adapt.  We have to bake in some slow-ness into our work. It doesn't excuse you from learning and growing, but you don't have to know everything immediately. Increasing your speed will only burn you out in the long run! You can find Kris here ⬇️ LI Link:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorkris/ Website: https://evergreenleadership.com/ Books:  Owning It - Take Control of Your Life, Work, and Career The Leader's Guide to Turbulent Times KEEP IN TOUCH

Have you ever wondered what it's like to work with a coach? Missy's new book "Forces at Work" will introduce you to life-coaching principles and stories that give you that sense of wonder and imagination many of us lost as we grew up and took on adulting.  We covered a lot of topics during our conversation: 

We had Forbes' top-rated speaker Jess Ekstrom on The Porch to talk about speaking with confidence and using your story to make a difference. There is so much great advice in here for speakers. Here are just some of the tips she shared: 1. A good story has a Premise and Promise. Your Premise is your story. The Promise is the takeaway for the audience. The lessons you've learned shared in your premise can apply to everyone through a promise. 2. The best speakers have a curious mindset and are learners, not just tellers. 3. You don't have to be the expert on the stage to be credible. Simply being ahead of the game compared to your audience, having an interesting story, and a relatable message is enough to provide value and influence to your audience. 4. You decide what your “success currency” is for yourself. It won't be the same for everyone and the freedom is letting go of the expectations of others with different currency expectations compared to you. There are so many ways to stay in Jess' world in real life. Her weekly hype texts (which I receive and LOVE), her Mic Drop Workshop, TikTok, LinkedIn... stay connected so you can borrow her courage! You can find Jess here ⬇️ LI Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-ekstrom-speaker-author/ Website: https://micdropworkshop.com/ Sign up for her weekly hype text: 704-228-9495 - text the word: HYPE KEEP IN TOUCH

This month, I came on the Porch solo to talk about my experience as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. There were several reasons we held a special Porch session: 1. Representation. There were folks on the call from all different backgrounds. I work with many leaders who are working hard to understand someone different than them. I also know many folks who are closeted for fear of losing their job, their stability, and their community. I did this to create a safe place for those that have known me for years. 2. To talk about implicit bias and learn about how the brain categorizes information naturally. We really can't stop how our brain categorizes information but we can choose how we interpret it! 3. To give some direction for how business and non-profit leaders can be more supportive of their LGBTQIA+ teammates. If you are looking for ways to support your LGBTQIA colleagues, here are some starting points: 1. Spend quality time with LGBTIA+ folks and show up to events that are designed to celebrate them. It shows us that you're safe and you care about our well-being. 2. Know that actions speak loudly. If you put a pride flag pin on your jacket, we notice it. You are sending us a clear signal that you get it. 3. Be mindful of the language used when talking about families, whether you are speaking to adults or children. Many folks do not live with their mom and dad in the same houses. This could be from divorce or death, or maybe there wasn't a mom and dad to begin with. Using language about "moms and dads" makes it hard for many people to feel like they belong. 4. Establish an employee resource group. There is power in numbers and representation matters! Find a champion in a senior leadership position to give the group a voice. You can find more information about that here: https://www.hrc.org/resources/establishing-an-employee-resource-group Know that your words and actions matter. Teens are at risk and are watching the way we speak and act around LGBTQIA issues. There is plenty of research available but two important sites I'd like to highlight: 1. LGBTQ Youth are more likely to be bullied at school: https://www.hrc.org/news/new-cdc-data-shows-lgbtq-youth-are-more-likely-to-be-bullied-than-straight-cisgender-youth 2. LGBTQ Youth are more likely to attempt suicide: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/article/facts-about-lgbtq-youth-suicide/ KEEP IN TOUCH

We had bestselling author Mark C. Crowley on The Porch to talk about what it looks like to Lead From The Heart. Warning: Do not be confused by the word "heart". This is not a fluffy interview full of cozy stories. Mark brings research and years of leadership experience to the table to tell us the biological NEED for us to change the way we lead others. Here's some of what we covered: - We need to ask ourselves if we are willing to make life better for those we lead or if we want folks to experience the same hardship we did. -Human beings are hardwired to reciprocate - if you treat them well they want to treat you well. But it has to be genuine care and not a quid pro quo expectation. -We have to practice boundaries, not just talk about them. Consider those after-hours emails and texts that ruin your teammate's time away from the office. (It doesn't matter if you say "don't worry about it until Monday" it was still sent...) -Do a gut check on why you're talking about well-being at work. Is it a means to get more productivity out of employees? This is not helpful. Employees know when it's not genuine. The heart tells us. -We now know that the heart is not just a pump. It's the core of our humanity. It's sending information even ahead of what the brain is able to process. -The heart is connected to EVERYTHING, without it, everything else does not work. The future of leadership is not just an intellectual exercise, it's a spiritual and emotional one. We must align ourselves with human nature as we lead into the future. You can find Mark here ⬇️ LI Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markccrow... Website: https://markccrowley.com/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Lead-Heart-Tra... KEEP IN TOUCH

We had Alison Martin, Founder, and Managing Director of Engage Mentoring on The Porch. She joined us to talk about the serious need for mentorships in all sizes and types of organizations. Did you know that by 2030 boomers will have reached retirement age? That means companies need to start thinking about the transfer of knowledge of their senior leaders NOW to ensure future success. Mentoring isn't a “nice to have” it's a highly strategic "need to have", and Alison shared quite a few reasons why: 1. Everyone needs to grow regardless of tenure and experience. The core of mentorship is the successful transfer of knowledge. That can occur at all levels and through all levels - it doesn't have to be only top-down mentorship. 2. Mentorship training = Emotional intelligence training. When you teach people the specific skills of mentorship, the byproduct is transforming the culture. Not only are the mentees transformed but so are the mentors. This is because they are learning how to listen, how to support, and how to continue to develop their own communication skills as well. 3. Custom growth paths for each person. Every organization has different developmental needs - mentoring is the only program that meets people where they are and lets them take charge of their own developmental plan. 4. Inclusion and belonging. A formalized mentoring program ensures that diverse employees (ethnicity, gender, background, etc.) aren't passed over simply because senior leaders tend to pick mentees that they have the most in common with. This is how we raise minority voices. You can find Alison here ⬇️ LI Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-martin-she-her-7347319/ Website: https://engagementoring.com/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Lead-Through-Mentoring-Relationships/dp/1530346584 KEEP IN TOUCH

We had Kristin Fuller on The Porch to talk about taking a sabbatical. No, not a yearlong vacation in Europe (although, that could work for some!) For Kristin, it was a set-aside time full of rest, learning, and quieting the noise of life to recover parts of herself. Here are some tips she gave us on creating a sabbatical for yourself: -Financial: Start small by figuring out the actual monthly amount of income you need to live. Consider living below your means to give yourself some wiggle room and come up with a game plan so you can do this without considerable stress and anxiety. -Focus: It can be easy to just want to take a long vacation and not strategically make purpose out of your extended time off. Instead, identify your needs for your sabbatical first by prioritizing the things you need to restore the parts of your lost self. -Listen: Even in the self-care world, we can be distracted from what we actually need! You're the only one that knows your deepest desires and needs. Create the space to get rid of the noise so you can hear your inner voice again. It's not that you don't know what to do, it's that you can't hear yourself. You can find Kristin here ⬇️ LI Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinefuller/ KEEP IN TOUCH

We had Ann Betz, an expert on the intersection of neuroscience, coaching, and relational trauma on The Porch. She joined us to talk about recognizing toxic traits in the workplace and what to do about it. So many of our guests felt seen and heard by what she shared, one attendee even called it “balm for the soul”. This is one of those conversations that can permanently change your perspective on toxicity in the workplace. If you don't have time to listen to the whole thing, here are some major key points: 1. It's the good, flexible, hard-working, intelligent souls that get worn to the bone by toxic relationships. In fact, having high empathy can make you a target for narcissism. 2. The FIRST sign of a toxic relationship is surprising because it feels good. It's called LOVE BOMBING and it's the initiation into a toxic dynamic. If someone is admiring you, lavishing praise on you, idealizing you, and it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! The irony is after being LOVE BOMBED for weeks or months, the individual is quickly DEVALUED and DISCARDED. All of a sudden, you aren't being asked to those meetings, and you aren't asked for your input. You may even feel accused of things you haven't done. This roller coaster of admiration and then accusation can be very disorienting. The individual with "super traits" like extremely high empathy will give more to try to fix this pattern. The average person won't tolerate and flex that far and will leave before the dynamic continues further. 3. One of the best things you can do is listen to your body after you leave a meeting. Your body is telling you the truth. If it seems too good to be true, or you feel very disoriented, this is a sign that you are walking into a toxic situation. 4. If you recognize that you are in a toxic dynamic, don't engage. You will not win. Do whatever it takes to get away (yes this may mean quitting your job). Ann said it best: "don't wrestle with a pig in the mud. You'll get dirty and the pig likes it..." Want to learn more about toxic relationship patterns? Video - Explaining Narcissism to others using the CRAVED Method- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4ypZnVF03M&t=0s Book - Dying for a Paycheck - https://www.amazon.com/Dying-Paycheck-Management-Employee-Performance/dp/0062800922 Webinar Series - Narcissism at Work - https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.beaboveleadership.com%2Fwebinar-narcissim-at-work%2F&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1673466459561065&usg=AOvVaw2kZeanDgbw5hIIeIbGD6Nx You can find Ann here ⬇️ LI Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-betz-a6b31018/ Website: https://www.beaboveleadership.com/ KEEP IN TOUCH

We had Lindsay Mitrosilis on The Porch to talk about LinkedIn as a strategy for recruiting and retaining top talent.

We had Trista Rucks of Sounds True on The Porch to talk about caring for employees as whole people. There were several takeaways: 1. Looking for a positive way to start your next meeting? Try “The Good Minute” - ring a bell, and everyone (even on Zoom) sit quietly for a minute. It allows people to let go of previous stressors from their last hour and start fresh. Stretch their body, center themselves, and prepare for the next moment. 2. When dealing with a difficult conversation - ask for what someone needs in the situation, and be aware of what you need in the situation as well. We often talk about feelings but don't always focus on what a person needs. 3. People in HR have difficult and life-changing conversations for a living. You have to rest to survive. When you take care of yourself with a break, it models the habit for others to do the same. You can find Trista here ⬇️ LI Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trista-ru... KEEP IN TOUCH

We had Katie McLaughlin on The Porch to talk about what we can do to improve our workplace culture in this remote landscape. There were several takeaways: - Being a remote employee and leader takes more emotional energy than being in person. What we save in commute time, we use towards connecting over technology. - Culture is found in small moments like showing up on time and celebrating small wins. - In a remote workforce culture, it can be easy to assume you'll save resources because you aren't paying for office space. Practically speaking, those same resources can be re-allocated to enrich the lives of your teammates. You can find Katie here ⬇️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mclaughlinkatie/ Website: https://www.mclaughlinmethod.com/ KEEP IN TOUCH

We had Dr. Kristie Overstreet on The Porch to talk about how the LGBTQIA+ community navigates unique challenges in life and how allies can better support them. It was a powerful conversation and Dr. Kristie offered a myriad of ideas on how to be an ally. There were several takeaways: - Representation is everything. Being in the LGBTQIA+ is not a fad, the younger generation is seeing their experience represented in society, which is allowing space for them to come out with confidence and in larger numbers. - We never change someone's mind through argument and locking heads. Choosing curiosity, asking questions, and modeling kindness goes a long way. Advice for folks in the LGBTQIA+ Community: - Remember you are the priority not the person that isn't understanding of you, so take care of yourself at all times. Advice for Allies: - Find everyday opportunities to challenge binary systems. It's not a threat to you to push for changes in the same way it is for a LGBTQIA+ person. Use that privilege. You can find Dr. Kristie here ⬇️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristieoverstreet/ Website: https://www.therapydepartment.com KEEP IN TOUCH

We had Megan Reilly on The Porch to talk about her journey to success and "Who is Your Momma" a podcast shining the light on the women that raised extraordinary people! Main ideas from this episode: Our Fairy Godmother is not coming. We will not be escorted to our dreams, we have to earn them. The missing ingredient to success is often WHO not WHAT. If you want to catapult your career, take the risk and get around people you deeply admire. "Do something you love so you never work a day in your life" is B.S. - Do something you're passionate about so that you enjoy the journey! You will work hard, and you will spend years in the quiet preparing if you want to do something great, so make sure you enjoy the process. We each have an emotional oven that can be cranked to 450 or lowered down to 150. We always have the power to move the temperature in that oven to save our energy. You can find Megan here ⬇️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganlreilly-tippitoes/ Podcast Website: https://whoisyourmomma.com/ KEEP IN TOUCH

We had April Shprintz on The Porch to talk about her book Magic Blue Rocks and her work with The Generosity Culture. There were several takeaways: -Leaders who open up about the things they aren't good at help make others feel safe. If you've failed, tell your team. It will help them focus on growth and not perfectionism. -If you're afraid to get feedback, take a personal inventory. Ask yourself, is this an area I want to grow? If so, the pain of the feedback is worth it! -You don't have to want to grow in every area of your life all the time. We need to contextualize the concept of having a “growth mindset.” -Don't bypass difficult feelings. The secret to finding a solution is not turning off your emotions. It's flowing with them. When things don't go as expected, take 5 minutes to throw yourself a pity party and then you can find a solution. All links You can find April here ⬇️ LI Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilshpr... Website: https://drivenoutcomes.com/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08V18C5DF/... KEEP IN TOUCH

We had my friend Gary Danoff on The Porch to talk about human connection in the workplace. Whether it be cross-generational or virtual meetings across time zones - it all matters. Gary shared with us his formula for building connection: fun, trust, and encouragement. We talked about how to tend our team gardens and sprinkle in little habits that make a big difference. You can find Gary here ⬇️ LI Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garydanoff/ Website: https://www.GaryDanoff.com Gary's podcast: https://anchor.fm/gary437/ KEEP IN TOUCH

We had Britni on the porch to talk all about Industrial and Organizational Psychology (IO Psych). She shared with us how the psychological contract between an employer and employees has been broken. YIKES! And how people are figuring out the new contract along the way. Here are a few takeaways that stick with me: -Psychological safety is the belief that I can screw up and be honest about anything. This is fluid and exists between each team member. Not just leadership down. It's truly the responsibility of every teammate to own that within a company. -The future of work is about EQ - that's the mastery skill we need to continue to develop throughout our career. -Employees want 2 things: to see that you value them and to believe they belong. It's our responsibility to create environments where this happens regularly. You can find Britni here ⬇️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/britni-ei... https://www.genelevate.com/ KEEP IN TOUCH

We had Ashton Applewhite on The Porch this month to talk about Ageism. Unfortunately, like many biases, the idea that aging is BAD has made its way into our brains and beliefs. This means we have negative judgments towards others that we deem “old” (and toward our FUTURE SELVES!) In this episode, Ashton helps us think differently about age: -What if life got BETTER as we get older? (The U-shape curve of happiness demonstrates this.) -What if it's not helpful to our well-being to retire right at 65? Can we change our own expectations about what retiring means? -What if older employees have very different skill sets that your company needs to hold onto? What if they help reduce turnover by their presence? Learn more here: This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto against Ageism by Ashton Applewhite https://www.amazon.com/This-Chair-Rocks-Manifesto-Against/dp/1250297257/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=this+chair+rocks&qid=1639075439&sr=8-1 Ask Ashton a question: https://yoisthisageist.com/ Ashton's 2017 TED talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/ashton_appl... Let's stay connected: https://www.lindsayboccardo.com https://www.practicewithlindsay.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsayboccardo/

I had Robb Holman on The Porch to talk about his new book: Move the Needle. Here are some key points that stood out to me: 1. As a leader you need to PAMPER yourself. Indulge in taking good care of yourself so you can give freely to others. 2. Lead with the Platinum Rule. Treat others as they wish to be treated (not everyone feels appreciated with a huge public shoutout). 3. Define your seasonal priorities. For yourself and for your team. Life changes quickly and getting clear alleviates a lot of tension. 4. If you are struggling to get clear on your vision and purpose, connect with others. We find clarity in our community. Talk this out with people you admire and clarity will come to you. You can find Robb and his new book here: https://robbholman.com Stay connected here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsayboccardo/ https://lindsayboccardo.com https://practicewithlindsay.com

We had Cara on the Porch to talk about employee retention. As an author and speaker around this topic, she had a LOT to share with us. Here are very tactical things leaders can do to help retain talent right now: 1. Increase pay by at least 5.4%. That was the rate of inflation this last year. The hardest year of most of our lives. This isn't a raise – it's simply keeping up with the cost of goods. 2. Prune job responsibilities for teammates. There is no more room to “do more with less.” We need to be clear about what priorities matter the most and what we need from our team on a week-to-week basis after we prune. 3. Embrace technology. Forward-thinking organizations are using technology where it saves time and human energy. Don't fall into the trap of “robots are taking over people's jobs.” Robots are taking jobs that humans don't want! This is a creative way to raise the pay of the staff that you do need. You can find Cara here ⬇️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/carasille... https://www.magnetculture.com/ KEEP IN TOUCH

Ryan brought his SOUL to The Porch this week. Three things we discussed that I'm still thinking about: 1. You can be productive AND a caring person at the same time. 2. Authentic leadership means you can serve others well because you've already served yourself well. We lead from our overflow. 3. He started to ask himself and his body “what do you need?” and he found that his body and mind responded and gave him answers. Ryan is presenting an entirely different VIEW of work and asks the questions "What happens if we bring our SOUL to work with us?" This interview is full of fresh perspective, real-life painful stories, and the hope we all need to overcome. You can find Ryan at: https://www.ryanmccarty.com/ https://www.cultureofgood.com/ Stay connected with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsayb

We brought Galen to The Porch to talk all things CULTURE. You know it's good when the audience is saying “DON'T STOP TALKING!” We covered a lot of ground in 49 minutes, so if you love his energy as we all did, I strongly encourage you to watch the interview. Here are 3 things that we needed to hear: 1. Exceptional culture is created through clearly (very clearly) defined behaviors and mindsets that everyone understands and takes responsibility for. No one on the team is exempt from them. 2. This past year has shown us how companies actually feel about their culture and employees. It also revealed their level of understanding of how to build a culture (for better or for worse!) 3. Strong cultures are built through the three C's – Clarity, Commitment, and Consistency (You can listening at 35:37 to hear him break these down) You can learn all about Galen and sign up to hear from him weekly here: https://galenemanuele.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/galenemanuele/ Find me here at: https://www.lindsayboccardo.com/ and JOIN THE BAND: https://www.practicewithlindsay.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsayboccardo/

We had Tiffany Sauder on The Porch to talk about her relationship with fear and confidence. Here are three nuggets she shared that made me want to stop and

We brought Claude Silver of VaynerMedia BACK! Over a year into the pandemic, we laughed thinking we'd be back in the office by now. But here we are, caring for people as best we can over video chats. We talked about: 1. Misconceptions about human behavior and workplace culture. 2. The need to change our inner dialogue (spoiler: high achievers tend to be very mean to themselves!) 3. Compassionate workplace environments and why they matter (we get better results!) 4. How you can become the next Chief Heart Officer. Her answer was surprising and a little convicting... I'm so glad I get to share one of my heroes with you!

Do we spend our lives trying to fix and convince others or are we on a mission to find out what's RIGHT with the people in our life? Brian's books and TedX talk (seen over 2.3 million times) all point to the importance of asking QUESTIONS that validate the people we work and live with. We'll be talking about his life as a consultant and speaker and what he's learned about confidence, courage and vulnerability. I'll be asking him about powerful brain tools and what it means to have people strength. Brian is the author of a book titled “Experts of Our Potential” that outlines, in story form, how creating value and certainty in a post industrial economy has changed and what we need to do as individuals to thrive in this new reality. In line with this message, Brian was invited to deliver a Tedx talk entitled “What a Fifteen Year Old Meth Addict Taught Me About Leadership” which received over half a million views in the first couple months of being uploaded to Youtube. As a speaker and consultant, Brian has spent a great deal of time delivering in environments that have historically been a challenge for communicating the importance of “soft skills.” From nuclear engineers, to Oil and Gas chemist's, from coal miners, to data analysts in tech companies, Brian enjoys making somewhat intangible subject matter more tangible, logical and inspiring for all audiences.

I'm thrilled to welcome Dr. David Rakel to The Porch to talk about compassion in the Workplace. He's the author of The Compassionate Connection, where he outlines the research behind compassion and healing in doctor-patient relationships. This book turned treating people compassionately from a ‘nice to have' to a ‘critical' status. Three things Dr. Rakel said today on the Porch that I am processing as a leader: 1. When we don't have enough time to connect, we (as doctors) prescribe more things and order more tests. When you sit with full attention and a sense of curiosity and compassion the truth comes more easily. 2. Authenticity is mostly nonverbal. 3. Anyone who is a leader of other humans should have to go through a self-reflective process so they can serve others without their ego getting in the way. Dr. David Rakel was founder and director of the University of Wisconsin Integrative Medicine program. He is now professor and chair of the Department of Family & Community Medicine at the University of New Mexico. You can find Dr. David Rakel here ⬇️ https://davidrakel.com/

I had an incredible time with Ann on the Porch this week. We talked about the importance of having a Chief People Officer with the sole focus of paying attention to and caring for humans in an organization. Here are a few take-aways: 1. Safe relationships help us moderate the stress that we encounter every day at work and in the world. 2. We are designed to neural regulate with each other then community at work. 3. One of the most stressful experiences for humans is feeling out of control and unable to predict the future. 4. Be as rooted as you can be as a leader, make promises you can keep, keep people informed. 5. Talk to your team and find out where you all can have some novelty, creativity, growth (anyone else stuck in groundhogs day right now?) 6. When we are bored OR overwhelmed, our brains don't work well. It's hard to fully wrap this conversation in a few bullets. So, if you're a Chief People Officer, if you just love humans and want to see them flourish, listen to this episode!

I'm sitting in an audience of 200 other public speakers waiting to hear from Broadway playwright and performer, Bo Eason. He is brilliant. When he's on stage I ignore my cell phone entirely (which says a lot coming from a millennial). He walks on stage, puts his arm around Joan Rosenberg and says “if you want to be an incredible public speaker, you need therapy. You need a therapist on your team to help you process the pressure and the ego it takes to do this for the long haul. You are here to GIVE to the audience, not take. You don't need the audience to give psychologically and emotionally to you. You need to give to THEM. Get a therapist to take care of yourself so you can truly take care of others.” Ever since that moment, nearly five years ago, I've been grateful for my weekly appointment with my therapist. It has become an anchor for my week and how I show up for the people in my life. I am so grateful for this unexpected (and strange) advice from Bo! And as a little holiday gift from me to you, I figured it was about time I introduced you to Joan. She's not my therapist, but she's the therapist to a who's who list of celebrities and someone I have deeply admired for a long time. Joan Rosenberg, PhD, is the creator of Emotional Mastery and a highly regarded expert psychologist. Her two books, Ease Your Anxiety and 90 Seconds to a Life You Love: How to Master Your Difficult Feelings to Cultivate Lasting Confidence, Resilience, and Authenticity have been pivotal resources for me in my life. Join me on The Porch as I talk with Joan about how we can all work through difficult feelings that may be circling as 2020 comes to a close.

I can't wait for you to meet my next guest on The Porch, Robb Holman. He's an internationally recognized leadership expert, executive coach, keynote speaker, podcast co-host, and best-selling author. He has a heart for authentic relationships and a true talent for equipping people with the skills and the knowledge necessary for their success. In his most recent book, All In - he outlines his counterintuitive approach to leadership. He says: "So much in leadership comes down to how you build trust, but organizations are often obsessed with numbers. They care about how much is built, but not how it is built. Imagine if leaders would channel that energy in a different way? A way that focuses on "the one" rather than the crowds." Hmmm.... As you can imagine, this will be a refreshing look and a lively conversation. Want to join us?

Join me as I chat with Adam Weber, Chief People Officer of Emplify. We will be discussing employee engagement, culture, and team development – because in the year of COVID, these topics seem more important than ever (right?!). You'll love hearing about how Emplify takes a data driven approach to understanding employee engagement, and I can promise you we'll be talking about how that data helps us work with different generations on our work teams (and in the rest of our life too).

Oh, 2020. The year of ups and downs, pivots and new ways of… well, everything. If you're like me, you probably feel like you have a few emotional bumps, bruises and battle scars from navigating the past few months. I always love sharing my go-to resources with you, but especially when times are tough and we all need a little boost. That's why I invited my friend Ryan Stanley to join me on The Porch next week. We'll be talking about lessons learned about ourselves and others in the age of COVID, and Ryan will share why being patient, present and joyful can make all the difference (even in a year like this… actually, especially in a year like this). Won't you join us for this conversation? Bring your dog, a glass of end-of-summer iced tea and your questions for Ryan. You're going to love being a part of this episode!

Oh, believe me. This one is going to be good. I'm turning up the volume on The Porch with my good friend, Amy Woodall. One of the reasons I love and appreciate Amy so much is because she is obsessed (in a good way) with keeping it real. ​She's a straight shooter, a to-the-point trainer and advisor to many, and truly practices what she preaches. On this episode of The Porch, Amy and I will be talking about what she calls “Owning Your 50,” or how to take responsibility for your life and recognize your personal power. Wow. See, I told you this would be a don't-miss episode.

Don't you wish you could predict the future (especially this year!)? I'm hearing from so many of you who work in Human Resources that you're constantly being asked what will happen if/when/maybe things go back to normal… if we even know what “normal” is anymore! ​I decided it was time to bring in one of the brightest minds in the state of Indiana to help us all understand where the trends in HR are headed as we adjust to changes in the workplace. Join me as I talk with JoDee Curtis, the Founder of Purple Ink and the Chair of the 2020 HR Indiana statewide conference as we explore what HR pros can expect in the months ahead.

Jill Castilla is the president of Citizens bank in Edmond, OK and is most recently in the news for partnering with Mark Cuban from Shark Tank, to help get much needed funds into our hands QUICKER during a national crisis. Anytime in the last 3 years when I've talked about the future of banking, I pull up a slide with Jill's face on it. Not just because she's making huge strides as a leader in her industry, but because she really LISTENS and cares for her colleagues and clients. Come chat with a national leader, who cares about her community deeply, and is making a life changing difference in thousands of people's lives. I know you'll feel empowered after hearing from her.

We know that you worked so hard to get here. You beat out your peers, won awards, and your work ethic is impeccable. There's a chance now that you're tired. You're feeling crispy, spread too thin, and everyone depends on you to make it happen. Sound like you? Join me and Lauren Moffatt on The Porch to learn about three things you can do to build your Emotional Intelligence. Seriously, this changed the course of both of our lives.

Is there room for LOVE in the corporate setting? DID I JUST USE THE “L” word professionally?! The emotional and psychological state of our teams has a direct impact on our client experience. If our team doesn't feel loved, how are they going to pass that on to our clients? There is a HUGE culture shift coming. Nick and I talk about this constantly. When Millennials want to experience love and belonging at work, it's not because they are entitled, it's because our society is changing. We need purpose in work, we need love and belonging, we need to be seen as a whole human and not a cog in the machine. Join us for a lively and heartfelt conversation. Nick is CO-CEO of ComplianceLine. ComplianceLine is the nation's leading provider of outsourced ethics, compliance, and HR services -- intake hotlines, case management, screening & monitoring, and compliance training. ComplianceLine is passionate about servanthood and changing the world by improving organizations, reducing risk, and reinforcing cultures that give people a voice.

Ready for a radical (and I suspect much more effective) point of view about leadership? I'm so excited to bring Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer of VaynerMedia to The Porch. We all hear people say it's time to bring humanity to the workplace and create more empathy, but what does that actually look like? Join me and hundreds of others as we sit with Claude to hear how she is doing this every day, behind the scenes as the first ever Chief Heart Officer.

The first time I saw Tiffany Sauder speak, she ran up on stage in her bomber jacket and t-shirt and owned the place. I knew I needed to get to know her. I'm so excited to have her join us on The Porch! If there was ever a time to dig deep into who we are and utilize social media to build social and professional connections, it's NOW. Tiffany is the perfect person to talk about this, and not just because she's the CEO of Element Three - a marketing company in Indianapolis. It's in her blood to help others take their masks off. Can't wait to have you join us!

There's been so much buzz about mental health during quarantine. How do we control our own stress, anxiety and fears? And keep our families sane? And keep our teams engaged? What if there was a secret sauce that could help with all of these? Join me on Thursday, May 21st for a conversation with Sherry Richert Belul to talk about how you can find impactful ways to help the people in your life navigate the stress of today's world. Sherry Richert Belul helps people find creative, intentional and impactful ways to celebrate life and to express love for family and friends. As a certified high performance coach, Sherry supports people in living their best lives, full of joy, success, engagement, and meaningful relationships. She is the author of “Say it Now: 33 Creative Ways to Say I Love You to the Most Important People in Your Life” and has had her work featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Huffington Post. You can find Sherry at Simplycelebrate.net.

Join me and Colleen Hauk on The Porch to talk about how it is critical that leaders know how to pivot their influence for a virtual setting. We will discuss the three critical strategies to do so. 1. Connect (why establishing trust is more important now and the best way is through personal story) 2. Competence (competence/respect is second thing people look for and how to demonstrate competence virtually) 3. Captivate (why it's more important now and 5 effective ideas they can begin using right now… camera positioning, background, lighting, sound, presence.) Colleen is speaker, trainer and co-author of two books – the bestseller, "Women Who Ignite" and "Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me This Sh!t Before". She trains and coaches elite performers on techniques to ‘have it all' without losing it all. Colleen has appeared in Forbes and Best Self, and spoken for organizations such as Panasonic, Merck, IPSEN, US Foods, CBRE and Coldwell Banker.

Join Lindsay and Ann Betz while they discuss how to survive the screen, the Groundhog Day Effect and the unknown.

Well Done Marketing is doing more than Friday afternoon Zoom drinks to maintain their sense of culture during the pandemic. Lisa is coming on to share how much some bosses care about their people. If you want to ask a boss (that isn't YOUR boss) a tough question, or if you just want to hear some good news about corporate culture, you'll enjoy this LIVE chat with Lisa!

Join Lindsay as she talks with Christy Whitman, New York Times bestselling author (The Art of Having It All: A Woman's Guide to Unlimited Abundance) and celebrity life coach, to learn how you can master your energy during this disruptive season of our lives. They'll be talking about how the pandemic actually AMPLIFIES our life and gives us choices we may have not been able to see before. We'll give you solid take-aways you can start doing immediately to build your resiliency and come out stronger on the other side.

Welcome to The Porch! This week we had Ann Betz giving incredible guidance on adjusting to the culture shock of early 2020.