POPULARITY
Proof changes everything. When the world serves you endless "hot takes" about health, habits, and mindset, we need to slow down and build on what actually holds up—methods that work across people and across time. Today we unpack why evidence-backed tools make personal growth more predictable, less stressful, and far more sustainable, and we put 3 practical techniques in your hands so you can start reshaping your limiting thinking and story-telling right away. You'll learn how to build a confidence stock—an ongoing log of small wins and improvements that counters your brain's negativity bias and grows self-efficacy. We then pressure-test the stories you tell yourself with a clean filter: does this belief serve you? If holding it for a year shrinks your action and your world, it's time to rewrite it toward utility, practice, and progress. Finally, we explore self-distancing—third-person self-talk that lowers emotional heat and boosts clarity. This simple shift moves decision-making into a calmer part of your brain, so you can see options, choose a next step, and act with less friction. Along the way, we highlight how modern, science-backed approaches deliver the predictability you need to navigate fast change without drowning in noise. The result: fewer yo-yo fixes, more consistent outcomes, and a sturdier path to the future self you're building. If this resonates, share the episode with one friend who's stuck in a limiting story, then subscribe and leave a quick review to help others find us. Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
Chain of Learning: Empowering Continuous Improvement Change Leaders
Registration is now OPEN for the November 2026 cohort of my Japan Leadership Experience: https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/What changes when leaders stop learning alone—and start learning together?Leadership development often focuses on individual insight: reading, listening, reflecting. But some of the most meaningful shifts in leadership don't happen that way.They happen when leadership teams go see, ask questions, and reflect together.That shared experience becomes a catalyst—aligning leaders around a new way of seeing their organization, supporting one another in practicing new behaviors, and driving lasting transformation.In this episode of Chain of Learning, you'll learn why immersive experiences can transform how leadership teams align, learn, and develop—and why learning in context often leads to change that lasts.Drawing on examples from my Japan Leadership Experience, we look at what happens when leadership teams step away from the day-to-day pressures of their roles and create space to learn and reflect in new ways.Shared experiences give leadership teams something powerful: a common reference point for how they want to lead and improve—accelerating organizational transformation.In this episode, we explore how to:Shift from learning as an individual activity to learning as a leadership team practiceCreate alignment by seeing and reflecting on the same thingsMove from “What did I learn?” to “What are we seeing differently?”Turn shared insights into new leadership behaviors back at workUnderstand why immersion and context matter when developing people-centered leadershipIMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes with links to other podcast episodes and resources: ChainOfLearning.com/67 Check out my website for resources and ways to work with me KBJAnderson.comFollow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjandersonDownload my free KATALYST™ Change Leader Self-Assessment: KBJAnderson.com/katalyst Learn more about my Japan Leadership Experience: kbjanderson.com/japantripRELATED EPISODES:Episode 25 | Getting Results Through the Power of Serious Leadership with Kecia Kelly and Amy ChaumetonEpisode 20 | How to Coach Executives and Influence Change with Brad ToussaintEpisode 48 | Make Leadership Meaningful: From Tools to Purposeful Impact with Josef ProcházkaEpisode 67 | Why Lifelong Learning Is the Foundation of Influence (and Can Limit Your Impact)Episode 4 | Leading for Impact: The Power of Being Over DoingEpisode 17 | Leading Change from the Middle with Pennie SaumTIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE:1:30 The gap between inspiration and the system you return to2:46 Three conditions that most leadership development is missing.4:13 The fundamental difference when others are learning beside you vs. learning alone4:47 How Jim, Healthcare COO, accelerated transformation by inviting his team on the Japan Leadership Experience6:49 Transformations that past Japan Leadership Experience have experienced in accelerated learning and sustaining excellence in their organization10:34 Unlocking shoshin - the beginner's mind - through immersive experiences12:04 The benefits of observing Japan employees and companies in person14:22 The depth of connection that forms when you learn together16:43 Why shared learning is important for leaders to make changes that sticks18:55 The cultural impact of the Japan Leadership Experience21:31 The deepest leadership changes that come from shared learning and shared leadership Registration is now OPEN for the November 2026 cohort of my Japan Leadership Experience: https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/
Change is constant. But too often, leaders treat change as a project instead of a core leadership skill.That's when teams disengage, resistance grows, and initiatives stall. The problem isn't the change itself. It's how it's led.Fortunately, this week's guest shares a powerful new approach to help leaders guide their teams through uncertainty, build trust, and turn resistance into meaningful progress.Yvonne is a Change Management Strategist & Advisor, Founder of The Change Leadership, Author, and a Change Leadership Advocate with over 20 years of experience helping professionals and organizations lead and navigate change in today's disruptive environment.In this conversation, we explore the difference between change leadership and change management, how empathy and adaptability drive adoption, and why resistance is one of the most valuable signals leaders can receive.Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week's episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.Join the conversation now!Conversation Topics(00:00) Introduction(01:34) Change leadership vs. change management(04:24) Core change leadership skills every manager needs(06:50) Adaptive leadership and the head, heart, and hand model(09:42) Empathy and understanding how others hear change(11:36) Leading AI adoption and understanding impact first(14:50) The change curve and why people react differently(18:55) Involving stakeholders early to avoid failure(21:48) Transparency, trust, and early communication(24:26) Why resistance to change is valuable feedback(27:29) Designing better communication through real questions(29:26) The role of trust in strong leadership relationships(31:22) [Extended Episode] Avoiding performative change(36:45) [Extended episode] Driving change adoption(39:19) [Extended Episode] When feedback creates insight
Big transformations don't come from heroic sprints; they come from steady steps that respect how our brains and bodies adapt to change.We unpack the ABC coaching tool, a simple, repeatable way to make progress effortless and consistent, making it feel less like a war with yourself and more like a rewarding collaboration.If you're ready to evolve on purpose - this guide is your blueprint. Subscribe, share with someone who's hungry for change, and leave a review to help more people find a gentler path to lasting growth. Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
Feeling flat, unmotivated, or stuck in your head? We walk through a simple, science-backed way to get moving again: 3 precise questions that flip inertia into momentum, replace vague drama with evidence, and turn discipline into something you can do on cue. Starting with Newton's first law, we connect the physics of motion to the psychology of habits, showing why starting feels hard and why it gets easier once you cross the first minute. No pep talks, no clichés—just clear prompts that work on Mondays, during setbacks, and when doubt is loud. Along the way, we share a client story, practical micro-steps, and ways to keep these prompts visible so they interrupt hesitation in real time. You'll learn how the brain conserves energy with easy narratives, how to counter with better questions, and how two focused minutes can flip your state and protect your identity as a person of action. If you're ready to spend less time arguing with yourself and more time taking steps that compound, this toolkit is for you. If this episode helped you move, share it with a friend who needs a gentle push forward, subscribe for more mental models and tools, and leave a review to help others find the show. Which question will you use first? Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
Chain of Learning: Empowering Continuous Improvement Change Leaders
What if your commitment to learning is actually limiting your influence as a change leader?Many of us pride ourselves on being lifelong learners. We read, earn certifications, study new tools, and go deep into our methodology. That depth is a strength. But as your responsibility grows—from running projects to shaping transformation—what's required of you changes.At some point, going deeper into your method or functional expertise is no longer enough. Your role shifts from applying tools to enabling leaders to see the whole system, define the real problem before choosing an approach.In this episode of Chain of Learning, I help you learn how to move from learning as accumulation to learning as adaptable influence.As your scope expands, you're no longer just responsible for executing well. You're responsible for how others think, decide, and take ownership. That requires more than expertise. It requires the ability to step back, question the form, and respond to what the situation truly calls for.Your learning might be limiting your impact. We often define lifelong learning as going deeper into our expertise, but what's missing is the shift toward adaptability and broader perspective. A learning mindset is the foundation for enabling a learning organization—yet if it stays attached to one form or method, it can constrain your influence.In this episode, you'll explore how to:Describe the impact you create tools or jargonMove from Shuhari—rigidly following a method to adapting based on contextPractice beginner's mind—Shoshin, even when you're the expertIdentify when you've fallen into the Doer Trap—and choose to develop others insteadNotice when you're following the form in situations that call for flexibilityIf you want to build a learning organization, your own learning mindset must evolve first. It's not just what you know, but how you show up.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes with links to other podcast episodes and resources: ChainOfLearning.com/67 Check out my website for resources and ways to work with me KBJAnderson.comFollow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjandersonDownload my free KATALYST™ Change Leader Self-Assessment: KBJAnderson.com/katalyst Learn more about my Japan Leadership Experience: kbjanderson.com/japantripRELATED EPISODES:Episode 65 | From Learning to Impact: Turn Insight into Leadership ActionEpisode 9 | The 8 Essential Skills to Become a Transformational Change Katalyst™Episode 15 | 5 Steps to Revitalize Lifelong LearningEpisode 27 | 3 Practices to Become a Skillful FacilitatorEpisode 42 | Do the Right Thing: Japanese Management Masterclass Part 1 with Tim WolputEpisode 52 | What You Love About Lean and Operational Excellence — And Your #1 Frustration: How to Get Executive Buy-inTIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE:00:40 The Katalyst model revision and why lifelong learning was removed as a standalone competency03:24 Why learning isn't what distinguishes your influence. It's what makes influence possible05:07 What it means to be a lifelong learning enthusiast06:52 Three questions every change leader should be able to answer without jargon09:22 What 75 leaders revealed in a survey and the lesson underneath it10:31 The concept of Shu Ha Ri that shapes how you develop and learn:11:13 [SHU] following the form11:25 [HA] where you begin to adapt11:35 [RI] Transcending the form entirely12:20 Five Toyota Kata Coaching questions developed by Mike Roth that requires learning and unlearning to develop, grow, and improve15:05 The concept of Shoshin and clearing what's in the way16:04 Katie's personal confession about her own telling habit and what modeling the way actually looks like in practice17:35 The "doer trap" and why getting leadership buy-in starts with us20:39 What lifelong learning really means and why it's a being practice21:01 Three practices to try this week to create more impact
Ever feel split between the warm safety of what you know and the cold thrill of what could be? We unpack how competing priorities like comfort, growth, belonging, ambition, and health can collaborate instead of collide. Then we hand you a simple, powerful toolkit: 5 coaching questions to illuminate what each option protects, what the conflict says about who you're becoming, how each path serves comfort and growth, and how to design decisions that honor more than one value at a time. Expect practical, usable examples, how to keep the hike and the blanket, the ambition and the recovery, the treat and the training—without drifting into all-or-nothing thinking. This is about building a wider container for a whole life, where focus sharpens because you stop wasting energy denying parts of yourself that matter. If you're ready to make choices that feel aligned instead of adversarial, press play, take notes, and try the questions this week. If the episode helps, share it with a friend who's standing at a crossroads, subscribe for more tools, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
I invite you to reflect on one change you're leading or living through. Ask yourself:On a scale of 1-10, how psychologically safe does my team feel to voice concerns?When was the last time I really listened to someone's experience of this change without jumping in to problem-solve?What is one small way I can serve my people's needs in this transition?I'd love to hear which of the concepts (servant leadership, psychological safety, compassion) resonates most with your experience. Find me on Instagram @womenwhochange.official and let me know what resonated.
What if your goals didn't need more willpower, just better engineering? We break down a practical, client-tested system that helps hundreds of people to achieve the best shape of their life and keep it, a system that shifts you from just planning to the right kind of preparing so your intentions survive real life. Using Navy SEAL-level readiness as a metaphor, we map the 5 moves that make change stick. You'll learn how to define “done” so clearly you can describe it like a movie, then reverse-engineer steps from that finish line. From there, we draw a hard line between planning and preparing. Planning is the checklist. Preparing is the logistics: what you'll eat, when you'll shop, where food will be stored, how you'll handle late meetings, travel days, and mornings that go sideways. By stress-testing your plan upfront, you remove excuses before they appear. Next, we show how systems outperform discipline. You'll hear simple ways to make the right action easy and the wrong action hard—staging tools where the behavior starts, preloading meals and shakers, and stripping out friction points that derail progress. We also get tactical about accountability, from enlist-your-team check-ins to light public commitments that raise the stakes just enough to double adherence, a pattern supported by health research. Finally, we walk through measuring what matters, reflecting on obstacles, and adjusting fast so momentum never stalls. If you've ever watched a goal wither after day 3, this conversation gives you a repeatable framework to protect your plan from chaos of daily life. Subscribe, share with a friend who's stuck, and leave a review to help more people build systems that make success the default. Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
What if your habits didn't rely on willpower at all? We dive into the overlooked superpower of behavior change. Instead of forcing motivation, we focus on removing friction: the tiny barriers that keep you from starting. Along the way, we unpack real stories that show how visibility, proximity, and preloaded steps consistently beat discipline. Angela shares how a 25-year exercise streak survives busy seasons and travel by relying on zero-friction options. We look at how a single choice transforms eating habits without any extra effort. Then we jump to the desk: a client's under-desk treadmill gathers dust until we this, turning intention into daily miles. Another leader's “progress and purpose” team check-ins finally happen once we write a short script. Same people, same goals—new environments that make action obvious. You'll learn practical ways to make good choices inevitable. By shrinking the setup and clarifying the first move, you eliminate decision fatigue and let systems do the heavy lifting. The result is consistency that feels natural, not forced. If you're ready to trade heroic effort for smart design, this conversation will give you the playbook: reduce friction, set gentle defaults, and build surroundings that pull you forward. Listen now, try one change today, and tell us what you removed to make your next good choice automatic. If this helped, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who's striving for better habits. Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
Big goals are easy to write and hard to live.When strategies promise transformation but leave people asking what do I do on Monday, momentum dies and the execution gap widens.We sat down with Andrea Olson - behavioral scientist, Harvard Business Review contributor, TEDx speaker, and founder of a change agency that works with companies from $300M to $36B. She's helped some of the biggest organizations in the world figure out why their strategy looks great on paper and dies in execution. We unpack how to move from lofty visions to daily behaviors that actually change outcomes.We'll chat about:Why "getting the right people in the right seats" is nearly meaningless without a definition of rightThe mistake most companies make at the top with their strategy that cascades down into chaosWhat Andrea calls a "Rosetta Stone" — a simple tool to translate high-level strategy into real behaviors for every person, from the CEO to the janitorWhy SMART goals aren't the answer at the strategy level (and what is)The 2 things that actually change behavior at work: confidence and beliefWhy culture and strategy aren't two separate things, and why treating them that way is costing youHow to help your team make better decisions in uncertainty without just telling them what to doThe Undercover Boss move every executive should be making right nowWhat AI adoption really requires, and why "everyone just use it" is not a strategy...This one is for every leader, business owner, and striver who's tired of watching great plans go nowhere. Expect concrete language, role-level guidance, and a step-by-step way to cascade strategy without crushing initiative.Subscribe, share with a leader who needs a clearer path from plan to action, and leave a review telling us the one behavior you'll change this week.Connect with Andrea:Personal website: andreabelkolson.comPragmadik: pragmadik.comLinkedIn: Search Andrea Belk Olson Andrea's work:Articles on Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur Magazine, Inc. Magazine, and World Economic Forum — just Google "Andrea Belk Olson" or check out one of my favorites, "Jargon is Hurting Your Strategy"Her book What To Ask: How To Learn What Customers Need but Don't Tell You — available on her website and everywhere books are soldHer upcoming book Execution Drift: The Invisible Forces that Derail Strategy Implementation and How to Fix It — available for pre-order at andreabelkolson.comText Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
We unpack a simple, revealing contrast - the same person, the same goals, and the same low-energy, being sick week produced 2 outcomes: 1 habit failed, 1 succeeded - and the difference came down to this.Our goal is to help you build habits that work when life doesn't. If you design the path so the right action is the easiest action, consistency stops relying on willpower and starts relying on structure. If this conversation helps you see change through a systems lens, follow the show, share it with a friend who's stuck, and leave a quick review to spread the word. What's the one habit you'll redesign this week?Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
Janice Francisco, a partner at Touchpoints Learning andInnovation and an advisor to Signal 49 Research, helps leaders and teams build organizational capacity for change. Based in Toronto, she holds an MS in Creativity and Change Leadership from SUNY Buffalo State and developed both the ThinkUP Framework™ and the Innovative Instructional Systems Design method. In this episode, Janice reveals how a shared process and language can unite teams, even in crisis. She shares real-world stories from international event safety and remote mining, showing how clear direction, creative problem-solving, andconscious leadership unlock team potential. She explains that adopting a mindset of total responsibility for what we create is essential and describes experiencing creativity as dancing with the Universe.You'll learn to reduce ambiguity in innovation, empower teams to tackle tough problems, and maintain a human touch as AIevolves. Janice also explores the value of creative flow and staying attuned to what matters most while leading change.
What if joy wasn't something you earned after life behaved, but something you could create today?We explore a simple, repeatable tool that helps you stop waiting for perfect conditions and start building real happiness in your life as it is today.We talk about the hidden cost of “I'll be happy when,” why high achievers often suffer more when things won't budge, and how to draw a clear line between what you can and can't control. To keep your mind from spiraling, we share a visualization that helps you to live with unsolved issues peacefully without denying them. The deeper takeaway is that peace isn't the absence of problems; it's the presence of choice inside problems. By practicing this one question morning and night, you train selective attention, reclaim agency, and build a steadier baseline of happiness regardless of external chaos.If you're ready to stop postponing joy until ... this conversation gives you a toolkit to do that.Listen, try the question for a week, and watch what shifts. If it helps, share the episode with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review so we can reach more people learning to live with more calm, gratitude, and courage.Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
Chain of Learning: Empowering Continuous Improvement Change Leaders
What does it really take to lead transformation as responsibility grows?At some point, leadership stops being about doing the improvement work or having the right answers. For operational leaders and change practitioners alike, the work moves to holding the system—people, priorities, and consequences—and helping others learn how to do the same.In this episode of Chain of Learning, I'm joined by Carlos Scholz, CEO of Catalysis, to explore the critical shift leaders must make to enable systemic, lasting organizational change.Carlos shares his journey from technically trained engineer in manufacturing, to transformational change leader in healthcare leading a team of continuous improvement practitioners, to operations leader, and now CEO. Across these roles, he's learned that transformation doesn't fail because leaders don't care or aren't trying, but because we often rush to outcomes and skip the systems-level and behavioral maturity required to sustain them.This conversation highlights a critical truth: leadership is practice. It's not a role or a title, it's how you intentionally show up and get better, day after day.Together, we explore what really changes as leadership responsibility and organizational complexity increase, how leaders have to change their own behavior, and how influence shifts when the work is no longer about doing improvement, but about developing leaders who can own the system.In this episode, we explore:Why leadership becomes less about expertise and more about intentional practice as scope and responsibility expandWhat changes when you move from leading through influence to owning the system through positional authority and the consequences that come with itHow identity and perceived value shape resistance to change, including your ownWhy skipping organizational and behavioral maturity undermines reliability, even with strong intentionsHow repositioning improvement teams from doers to coaches helps leaders change their behavior and allows transformation to scaleIf you're navigating your own growth as a change leader—or supporting leaders in truly owning their system—this conversation offers language and perspective to help you lead with greater impact.ABOUT MY GUEST:Carlos Scholz is the CEO of Catalysis, a mission-driven organization advancing people-centered, value-based healthcare. A former manufacturing engineer and healthcare operations and change leader at Kaiser Permanente and NYC Health + Hospitals, he brings deep experience driving system-wide Lean and continuous improvement transformation and developing leaders at scale. Carlos was named a Shingo Rising Star and serves on the Shingo Institute Board.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes with links to other podcast episodes and resources: ChainOfLearning.com/66 Check out my website for resources and ways to work with me KBJAnderson.comConnect with Carlos Scholz: linkedin.com/in/carlosscholz Follow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjandersonDownload my free KATALYST™ Change Leader Self-Assessment: KBJAnderson.com/katalyst Learn more about my Japan Leadership Experience: kbjanderson.com/japantripRELATED EPISODES:Episode 9 | Move from Technical Expert to Influential LeaderEpisode 16 | Leverage Analytical Systems Thinking and Psychological Safety to Drive Organizational Improvement [with Mark Graban]TIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE:03:02 Leadership shifts Carlos made stepping into senior executive responsibility06:19 The start of Carlos' journey and how it evolvedrelationships as it does on technical expertise12:19 Learning that sustainable change depends as much on influence and being vulnerable and sharing openly 17:42 Multiple approaches in creating conditions for leaders to feel safe enough to be vulnerable18:44 Importance of organizational assessment to identify behavioral gaps24:05 Understanding that sustainable change requires aligning the entire system, not just improving isolated parts26:32 When leaders are not on board with change efforts28:48 Importance of both the technical and social side of being a change leader31:30 The process of building a system of coaching36:23 Transitioning from leading through influence to stepping into direct operational leadership43:28 How skills developed as an influence leader strengthened operational leadership45:57 A surprising lesson from stepping into an operational leadership role50:16 How Carlos is leading transformation as a CEO of Catalysis55:08 Steps to make real transformation happen1:00:13 Reminders for leading transformational change1:01:43 Questions for reflection to strengthen the system around you Learn more and apply for the November 2026 cohort of my Japan Leadership Experience: https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/
We sat down with Lisa Broderick, CEO of Marshall Goldsmith Advisors and co-author of a new book Permanence: Become the Person You Want to Be and Stay That Way, to unpack a 2-minute practice that helps high-achievers, leaders and teams start compounding wins into lasting change. We walk through the Daily Questions Method and the crucial shift from outcome obsession to effort tracking. Lisa explains why willpower collapses under stress, how comparison culture hijacks identity, and how a tight feedback loop builds lasting habits using your brain's reward system. Beyond the core ritual, we dive into other practical tools you can use immediately to grow and improve permanently.Feedforward replaces backward-looking critiques with future-focused guidance you'll actually act on. The hero exercise turns admired qualities into your personal North Star. The wheel of change helps you decide what to keep, what to let go, and what to accept—so your motivation stops leaking into unwinnable fights.For teams, we outline a simple rollout: lightweight 360s to pick 3 behaviors, a shared cadence, and leaders modeling effort scores.Expect a clear, repeatable framework for personal growth and culture change, one that takes minutes, not meetings, and scales from individual habits to organizational norms.Ready to trade resets for lasting results?Subscribe, share this with a friend who wants to grow, and tell us: which 3 behaviors will you track this week?Short BIO:Lisa Broderick is a seasoned C-suite executive, corporate board member, and nonprofit founder with three decades of leadership experience across diverse industries, blending science with personal transformation.Author of the international bestseller All the Time in the World, which was translated into dozens of languages, and a frequent contributor to Psychology Today, Lisa distills human behavior, science, and systems thinking into complex organizational and behavioral insights.Her books deliver practical, results-driven strategies that empower individuals and organizations to achieve lasting success. Learn more about Lisa and get the book: https://permanencebook.com/Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
Big goals fail for simple reasons: they're fuzzy, they are not supported by consistent practice, and we forget to repeat what already works. We unpack a 3-question toolkit that turns foggy aspirations into clear, repeatable wins without demanding more willpower or a personality transplant.Along the way, we connect practice and fast feedback as the core loop of transformation, share concrete examples across health, writing, and workplace culture, and outline a simple rhythm to test, observe, and adjust each week.You'll learn how to define outcomes you can see, fix the constraint that truly slows you down, and standardize the conditions that already help you win. No hacks, no heroics—just systems that make the right action the easy action.If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who's chasing a big goal, and leave a quick review so more curious minds can find us.Got a bright spot to share or a constraint you're fixing this week? Drop me a note, I'd love to hear it.info@yourbestculture.comText Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
Think your willpower is weak? It's probably just untrained. We explore a practical, science-grounded path to stronger discipline by reframing willpower as a skill you can build, not a talent you either have or don't.From late-night snacking to endless scrolling to skipped workouts, we map the moments that derail you and show how small, targeted shifts create big results.We start by redefining willpower, then we dig into 7 exercises you can use today that reset your nervous system and clear your mind.Along the way, we share practical examples you can copy. We close with a step-by-step way to apply these tools to one habit this week and measure real progress without relying on motivation.If you're ready to align actions with values and train willpower where it counts, press play and pick one tool to try today.If this helped, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs their willpower to make a change, and leave a quick review so more people can build the discipline they want.EVENT: Mindset Gym is Open! Let's train your inner game. Save your seat here: https://mindset-gym-lets-train-y-6umh3qc.gamma.site/Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
Plans don't fail because you're lazy; they fail because life pulls your attention away at the exact moment choices are made.Today we explore a practical, research-backed shift: deliver the right reminder at the right time so the goal you cared about is still vivid at action time. From slashing no-shows at early-morning events to nudging better hiring decisions and strengthening everyday habits, we map out how simple, timely cues can drive behavior change without adding complexity.You'll learn how to build your own just-in-time nudges: short, identity-linked prompts before the moment of action. We also tackle why resolutions fade and how a daily why makes consistency easier than you think.Whether you lead teams, organize events, or want your personal habits to finally stick, these tools help you turn intention into execution with minimal friction and maximum effect.If this resonates, follow the show, share it with someone who needs a nudge that lasts, and leave a quick review so more people find these practical, science-backed strategies.Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
In dieser Folge spricht Sabine Gromer mit Andreas Raml, Director of Group IT bei Semperit, über künstliche Intelligenz, Change Leadership und die grundlegende Transformation unserer Arbeitswelt.Andreas Raml bringt über 20 Jahre internationale Führungserfahrung im IT-Bereich mit. Im Gespräch teilt er seine Erkenntnisse darüber, wie Organisationen KI strategisch einsetzen können, ohne in die typischen Fallen von Status-Quo-Denken und Optimismus-Bias zu tappen.Es geht darum, wie eine echte KI-Strategie aussieht und warum Governance, Ethik und Datensicherheit von Anfang an mitgedacht werden müssen. Ein vielfältiges Gespräch über den Einsatz humanoider Roboter in der Produktion und die Ausbildung von Mitarbeitenden, bis hin zur kritischen Betrachtung der Limitationen aktueller KI-Systeme, und darüber, warum "Effizienzsteigerung" die falsche Überschrift für die KI-Transformation ist.Unser Gast: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreas-raml-58370012/
Pressure doesn't make us superhuman; it exposes our defaults. Today we unpack why motivation evaporates on the hardest days and show how to build systems that hold when life gets loud. Drawing from executive coaching and leadership development, Angela breaks down 7 practical resilience tools you can train now so they become your automatic response later. We start with a candid look at why traditional leadership programs often fail. From there, Angela shares a coaching story about a client navigating a rough career transition. That story sets up the toolkit - the goal isn't to feel amazing when things get tough, it's to be proud of how you showed up. If you're a leader, entrepreneur, or high achiever who wants resilience that actually works outside the workshop, this one's for you. If the ideas land, share this with a friend who's in a tough season, hit follow, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more strivers find tools they can trust when it counts. Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
Chain of Learning: Empowering Continuous Improvement Change Leaders
What if the reason your learning feels productive—but your impact feels stuck—has nothing to do with effort?Many change leaders and improvement practitioners are excellent learners. You're likely a Learning Enthusiast—like me. You read the books, attend the workshops, listen to podcasts, and gather ideas with genuine enthusiasm.And yet, despite all that effort, learning doesn't always turn into impact. In fact, it can sometimes lead to overwhelm or paralysis—more ideas, more options, and less clarity about what to actually do.I've lived this pattern myself, and I see it again and again in my work with leaders around the world. When learning becomes something we collect rather than something we practice—and bring to fruition through our habits—it stalls our impact.The challenge isn't gaining more knowledge.It's learning how to turn insight into behavior—and connect behavior to results.In this episode, I explore a critical shift: moving from the Chain of Learning® to a Chain of Impact.Instead of treating continuous learning as something to acquire, I invite you to see learning as something to harvest—by making the value chain of impact explicit: turning insight into specific behaviors, practicing them deliberately through doing and reflection, and connecting that practice to the impact it creates for people and results.If you care deeply about learning, growth, and people—and want to build the capability to translate learning into action and impact—this episode will help you do exactly that.YOU'LL LEARNHow to recognize when learning feels productive but isn't changing how you actually show up as a leaderHow to make the connection between learning, behavior, and impact visible—and actionableWhy behaviors—not intentions, traits, or inspiration—are the real bridge between learning and resultsHow treating leadership actions as experiments helps you learn by doing and reflection, not just aiming for a targetWhy harvesting learning means finishing what's ready—not endlessly adding more ideas or initiativesIMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes with links to other podcast episodes and resources: ChainOfLearning.com/65 Check out my website for resources and ways to work with me KBJAnderson.comDownload my free KATALYST™ Change Leader Self-Assessment: KBJAnderson.com/katalyst Learn more about my Japan Leadership Experience: kbjanderson.com/japantripTIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE:00:59 Why doing more is not mean progress02:13 The invisible trap of when we are focused on learning vs. putting it into practice02:27 Harvest - what it means and why it's a fitting word for 2026 05:04 The difference between learning and behavior in creating impact05:25 How to apply Intention = Heart + Direction® to close the execution gap07:40 Four key practices to take action on learning to impact your work and life 07:48 [ONE] Make the learning itself concrete and specific09:00 [TWO] Focus on specific observable behaviors, not traits that we want to develop10:48 [THREE] Identify the gap you want to close and identify what you expect to happen and the impact when you put the learning into practice11:42 [FOUR] Reflect and adjust for accelerated improvement12:49 Where intention stems from and why intention plus direction is important to see results13:54 How leaders turn into impact through the Immersive Japan Leadership Experience14:52 Three open ended questions for leaders to reflect on to create a clear action plan17:07 Josef's experience in shifting from being seen as an expert to a trusted partner18:06 Questions to ask to help break the telling habit21:12 How the meaning of “harvest” is focused on collaboration and creating the space for others to grow22:40 Reflection questions to reflect on to make an impact through your behaviorP.S. This episode happens to be released on my birthday
What if the fastest path to high performance is learning to quit sooner?We challenge the “never quit” myth and replace it with a sharper rule: winners don't quit the right things, but they quit the wrong things often and fast. Through a 24-hour race story, client case studies, and a simple question that filters good effort from wasted grind, we show how to align your time, energy, and identity so progress feels focused instead of frantic. We dig into the difference between productive discomfort and misaligned struggle, a distinction that shields you from burnout while accelerating results. You'll hear how to choose your hard with intent, avoid the competence trap, and recognize sunk-cost thinking before it steals another month. Then we introduce the displacement principle, a practical way to make healthy habits stick by adding more of the right inputs first. Finally, we walk through a ruthless but freeing calendar audit. The goal is clarity: a schedule that tells the truth about your values and a week that compounds toward the person you want to become. High performance without burnout isn't about adding more; it's about putting the right things in first so the wrong things fall away. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who's drowning in commitments, and leave a review to help the show reach more people. What's the first misaligned task you'll cut today? Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
The grind feels right until it doesn't. If you've been stacking wins yet sensing a misfit between effort and fulfillment, this conversation offers a fresh compass for your next chapter. We explore how to replace blind push with intentional pause through 3 precise questions that recalibrate your direction, clarify your target, and protect your time for what truly matters. We start by unpacking why high performers still hire coaches when results look strong from the outside. The truth: the same patterns that powered your early success often cap your next level. You hear how external validation can mask inner drift, why “what got you here won't get you there” is not a critique but a signal, and how structured reflection creates space for new choices. From there, we introduce the 3-question framework. You'll learn how to eliminate misaligned commitments before adding more, create empty space for mastery to take root, and structure thinking time that's unrushed and uninterrupted. Whether you're aiming for deeper impact, calmer days, or work that feels aligned, these tools help you lay the right bricks on the right path, step by step, without the fog of indecision. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who's navigating change, and leave a quick review to help more high achievers find their compass. Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
Ever notice how a new habit feels great for a week, then suddenly turns into an impossible grind? We dig into the 2 hidden reasons change collapses, and show how to flip both. Using intermittent fasting as a working example, we unpack what's really happening in your brain when routines shift: the nervous system flags big change as threat, stress hormones surge, and your mind rushes to restore safety by pushing you back to old patterns. That's not failure; it's biology doing its job. From there, we build a better playbook. We lean into kaizen, small, steady steps that fly under the brain's alarm threshold, until 16 feels normal. We talk practical sequencing. We also show why design beats discipline: aligning your fasting hours with your calendar, planning meals in advance, stacking cues like “tea at seven means kitchen closed,” and choosing low-friction activities on tougher days. The same system applies to sales outreach, workouts, writing, and any skill that looks intimidating until repetition normalizes it. You'll learn how to reduce friction, add supports, and use the environment as your silent coach. When obstacles hit, you'll know whether to lower the load or improve the design instead of blaming motivation. By the end, you'll have a stepwise method to make fasting and other goals sustainable, joyful, and resilient under real-life stress. If this helped, subscribe, share it with a friend who's wrestling with change, and leave a quick review so more people can build habits that last. Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
The ground keeps shifting, but your core doesn't have to. We dive into the art of evolving your identity without feeling lost, using one deceptively simple question to turn uncertainty into clarity. When we anchor to purpose and let the packaging change, we gain freedom to pivot, experiment, and still feel like ourselves. We start by dismantling the end of history illusion, that sneaky belief that who we are today is who we'll be forever. You'll hear how Maya Shankar reframed a lost violin career into cognitive science by following her values, and how Vera Wang translated the drive of elite skating into world-changing fashion. Those stories aren't fairy dust - they're blueprints. If your why is service, creation, truth, or potential, there are many hats that can honor it, even as technology and markets evolve. Walk away with a simple, repeatable practice to keep your core steady while your tools, titles, and tactics evolve with the times. If this sparked something for you, follow the show, share it with a friend or your mastermind, and leave a quick review so more people can navigate change with clarity and courage. Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
Host Sarah Nicastro welcomes Jeffrey Yip, Associate Professor of Management and Organizational Studies at Simon Fraser University, who teaches leadership in the Executive MBA and Management of Technology programs, conducts research that addresses managerial challenges in work relationships and leading change, and has contributed to resources like HBR and Psychology Today. Jeff shares the need for leaders to listen to organizational pain through a process called “painstorming” and explains how doing so can significantly improve change management.
Forgetfulness isn't a character flaw - it's a design problem.When your mind is crammed with small reminders, you burn the fuel needed for creativity, focus, and complex thinking.We walk through a simple, 3-step blueprint to make good habits effortless and free up your best mental energy. The key is treating habits like brain software: write a clean script and it runs without fail.Ready to build habits that don't fail and reclaim your focus for high-impact work?Share this episode with someone who needs a better system, and leave a quick review so more people can unlock their best thinking.Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
Chain of Learning: Empowering Continuous Improvement Change Leaders
Apply for the Japan Leadership Experience here:https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/What if the reason leading your organization's transformation feels heavy isn't the work itself—but the role you've been playing as a change leader?If you're a change leader, continuous improvement professional, or internal consultant, this tension may feel familiar. You're helping. You're busy. You're delivering results. And before you realize it, you're wearing every hat—facilitator, teacher, problem-solver, checker—all at once.That was my experience too as an internal change leader. And it's a pattern I see again and again in my work with internal change leaders and continuous improvement practitioners: when we're not clear on our role, we become the doers of transformation—when our real work is to enable others to lead it.In this episode of Chain of Learning, I'm joined by Jill Forrester, Director of Continuous Improvement at 3sHealth, to explore the leadership shift that changed how she and her team show up—and the impact they're having—by moving from helping to intentionally creating the conditions for learning and ownership.If you've ever felt the weight of carrying organizational transformation on your shoulders, this conversation will help you see why—and how redefining your role and how you help can change everything.You'll LearnWhy internal change leaders often become the default doers—and why that role isn't sustainableHow lack of role clarity creates confusion, overburden, and dependency for leaders and their internal clientsWhat it really means to create the experience for learning, not just drive improvement outcomesWhy clarifying and labeling your role and intention changes how others engageHow shifting from doing to enabling builds capability, ownership, and sustainable transformationABOUT MY GUEST:Jill Forrester has been a leader in health system transformation since 2012. She has collaboratively guided the development of a comprehensive management system at 3sHealth, encompassing patient and customer engagement, problem-solving and process redesign, strategic visioning and deployment, performance measurement, leadership coaching and development, and employee engagement. Jill is an active member of a strong provincial network of continuous quality improvement leaders dedicated to strengthening Saskatchewan's health system through learning-centered, people-focused practices.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes with links to other podcast episodes and resources: ChainOfLearning.com/64 Check out my website for resources and ways to work with me KBJAnderson.comConnect with Jill Forrester: linkedin.com/in/jill-forrester Follow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjandersonDownload my free KATALYST™ Change Leader Self-Assessment: KBJAnderson.com/katalyst Learn more about my Japan Leadership Experience: kbjanderson.com/japantripDiscover how to get out of the Doer Trap: kbjanderson.com/doertrap TIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE:03:27 Jill's new role director of continuous improvement and when she realized she needed to make a shift05:00 The question, “Are we actually helping”? that changed how Jill viewed her role07:01 Why starting a training with questions makes a bigger impact10:12 Why opening up space for others to learn and contribute can improve engagement13:56 Two shifts Jill and her team made to clarify their roles for better continuous improvement outcomes and build confidence16:07 Labeling your role (even when it feels awkward) to better guide others to transformation22:47 What lead Jill to invest in the Japan Leadership Experience to take her leadership to the next level25:14 Seeing quality as trust and quality as love to reshape how you think about improvement25:44 What good 5S is as something you feel instead of a checklist27:16 An example of 5S in the Japanese culture29:20 The importance of long term thinking to sustain your company for decades30:42 How giving with two hands can be applied to your organization to show respect and support others33:08 The impact of creating space for others to ask questions and learn more quickly35:05 Doing less doing and creating the conditions to increase results and coach more effectively37:15 Reflections to shift from doers to catalysts of change 38:29 Top recommendation for change leaders and continuous improvement practitioners who want to show up in that different space from doing to enabling40:35 Your role as a change leader and creating an experience for others to learn and to lead change themselves42:38 The impact of an intention pause before your next meeting or discussion to help you shift from doing to enabling Apply for the Japan Leadership Experience here:https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/
The 55th episode of The Creative Flow: Thinkers and Change Agents Podcast features Helene Cahen, an innovation strategist, trainer, and author with over 30 years of experience helping companies navigate innovation challenges. At Kinetic Consulting, she supports Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits in developing new products, building effective teams, and fostering user-centered cultures. Helene holds an MS in Creativity and Change Leadership from the Center for Applied Imagination and is the author of "Fire Up Innovation," making her an expert in balancing creativity with structure for real-world results.The conversation offers key takeaways on applying creative frameworks to real-world business challenges. Helene shares success stories, including how team profiles and tools like the Business Model Canvas can reveal gaps and empower organizations to innovate more effectively. She also offers her perspective on the evolving role of AI, highlighting that while it can be a powerful tool, the human element remains essential for making strategic choices and navigating the market.Listeners will learn practical ways to balance the dynamic nature with structured processes. This episode offers valuable insights into staying relevant in a rapidly changing world, the importance of a clear innovation framework, and how practices like improv can help you stay in a state of creative flow. Tune in for an inspiring discussion on how to systematically build and apply creative thinking for transformative results.
In this episode of the Your Health University Podcast, Jamie sits down with Matt Whitehead, Chief Ancillary Officer at Your Health, to unpack one of leadership's hardest realities: you rarely have all the information you want when decisions matter most.Drawing from decades of healthcare leadership experience, Matt explains how early decisions were driven almost entirely by gut, ethics, and urgency—long before real-time data existed. Together, they explore the balance between data and instinct, confidence and humility, decisiveness and recklessness.This conversation tackles real leadership tension: when waiting causes harm, when momentum matters more than perfection, and why doing nothing is often the most dangerous choice. Matt also shares a candid leadership failure, what it taught him, and how Your Health built a culture where mistakes are learning tools—not career-ending moments.If you lead people, teams, or systems—especially in healthcare—this episode reframes uncertainty not as a weakness, but as the proving ground of great leadership. www.YourHealth.Org
Overwhelm doesn't come from having no options. It comes from having too many options, and feeling like the “right” one is always out of reach. Today we open up a grounded way to choose when the stakes are high and the clock is ticking, using a 4-lens framework that cuts through noise and surfaces what actually matters for the life you have right now. With that foundation in place, we walk through the 4 lenses: Values, Joy, Success, and Impact, borrowed from Decisions That Matter and refined through coaching experience. Values asks what truly matters this season, not in theory but in practice. Joy identifies the energy sources that keep you moving under pressure, enjoying the journey no matter what. Success demands a clear target. Impact clarifies who you want to reach and how your environment either enables or blocks that reach. By scoring options against these lenses, trade-offs stop feeling like failure and start looking like strategy. There's no perfect world, only the world you're building from where you stand. The easy choices are gone; what remains are the ones that shape trajectory. This conversation helps you act with alignment and peace of mind. Listen, apply the prompts, and pick the best available choice for who you're becoming, not the imaginary version of you with endless time and resources. If this resonates, tap follow, share the episode with someone stuck at a crossroads, and leave a quick review so more people can find tools that move them forward. Your next aligned step starts here. My Daily Blog on Substack: https://yourbestcoaching.substack.com/ Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
Ever notice how a choice can look perfect on paper yet feel wrong in your gut? Or do you ever wake up with this thought, "What was I thinking?" We unpack why that happens and how to fix it by pairing clear analysis with the kind of steady feeling that signals identity and values. Instead of chasing quick relief and regretting it later, we walk through a simple routine that turns impulse into alignment and helps your future self breathe easier. You'll learn a 3-step inquiry to break the impulse loop. These steps work for everyday purchases and high-stakes moves like career shifts or creative pivots. By the end, you'll have a toolkit to cut regret, increase follow-through, and design choices that feel right and make sense. If this helped, share it with someone facing a tough decision, hit follow, and leave a quick review so more people can find it. What's one choice you're ready to make with your WISE MIND today? Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
Food advice that finally meets real life and your future.We break down the new U.S. Dietary Guidelines for 2025 and translate them into clear, doable steps you can apply today, whether you're an athlete, a busy parent, or just trying to feel better and think sharper. From higher protein targets to gut-friendly eating, we explore what matters, what to skip, and how to turn policy into a plate you can repeat.We start with personalization, calories, and hydration. Then we dig into the biggest shift: prioritizing protein at every meal, with a target of 1.2 to 1.6 g/kg and a focus on quality sources. We highlight microbiome health with vegetables, fruit, legumes, whole grains, and fermented foods, and explain why ultra-processed foods create the wrong gut signals over time.You'll hear practical guidance on fruits and vegetables, healthy fats from fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, olives, and avocados, and a realistic approach to whole grains that respects calorie budgets. We get candid about added sugars, plus alcohol moderation and sodium basics, including when active people should add salt for hydration. Finally, we share how to implement all of this to plan macros without overthinking and with some smart tools like your favotire chat bot. If this helped you rethink your plate, follow the show, leave a quick review, and share this episode with someone who wants more energy, better focus, and a simpler way to eat well. Your Free Nutrition ConsultationLink to US Dietary GuidelinesText Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
This should shock you! Only 25% of executives feel prepared to lead through disruptive change. In this episode, we explore why reactive leadership fails—and how anticipatory leadership equips leaders to navigate AI, automation, workforce shifts, and uncertainty with confidence.You'll learn the four core components of anticipatory leadership, the future-ready skills leaders must develop now, and how to shift from crisis-driven decisions to opportunity-focused strategy.Timestamps00:00 – Why reactive leadership is no longer enough 01:00 – What anticipatory leadership really means 02:00 – AI, automation, and workforce disruption 04:00 – The hidden cost of avoiding uncertainty 05:00 – Reactive vs anticipatory leadership explained 08:00 – The four components of anticipatory leadership 09:00 – Environmental scanning and spotting quiet signals 15:00 – Scenario planning and testing your strategy 19:00 – Adaptive decision-making in uncertain environments 22:00 – Change shaping and building trust 26:00 – Future leadership skills you must develop 31:00 – Reflection questions for leaders 35:00 – Final thoughts and next stepsCalls to Action✔ Subscribe & follow the show ✔ Leave a review to help other leaders find the podcast ✔ Share this episode with your leadership team
Ever feel like you're doing more and moving slower?! We dig into meaningful productivity and share three practical frameworks to help you ship the work that matters without burning out or drowning in “work about work.” First, we reframe productivity around outcomes, not activity. Taking on too many projects creates coordination overhead, constant context switching, and slower delivery. We explain how a simple limit on simultaneous projects, paired with a public queue, frees up deep work time and accelerates real progress. This is about concentrating effort, not clocking fewer hours, so the final product is sharper and more valuable. Next, we install a 5‑word buffer that protects your focus. With a living list of current priorities, every new request becomes a conscious trade‑off. You keep your best hours for your highest‑impact work, reduce overwhelm, and regain the satisfaction of finishing important things well. Finally, we tackle AI with a practical lens. Open‑ended chat can expand options and slow shipping, but a human‑first, AI‑second flow flips the script. You preserve your voice and lived experience while capturing speed on the back end. We share concrete examples from presentations and coaching to show how this approach saves time and avoids the sameness that turns off clients and recruiters. If you're ready to cut busywork, protect your attention, and deliver distinctive results, this one's for you! Follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a focus reset, and leave a quick review to help more people find the pod. Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
Dr. Jen Frahm, co-founder of the Agile Change Leadership Institute is a global expert on organizational change, communications and transformation. In this interview, we get up close and personal with Jen to explore her history, perspectives on life and cutting-edge ideas for taming ambiguity, speaking truth and guiding business agility.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
Your sharpest ideas can still fool you into doing the wrong thing. Today we unpack why smart, driven people overtrust their thoughts, and how a simple 3-question filter turns hunches into high-quality decisions. Instead of chasing certainty, we practice decision hygiene: use evidence, test small, and weigh real outcomes before you go all in. We start with the cognitive traps that quietly steer choices: availability bias makes vivid stories feel true, while the halo effect lets first impressions spill into misplaced trust. From there, we shift to practical tools you can use today. You'll walk away with a compact framework you can apply to health goals, career pivots, and strategy shifts: evidence → experiment → evaluation → expanded outcomes. If you're ready to swap guesswork for smart iteration, hit play, save the three questions, and put them to work. If this helped you think clearer, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who's making a big decision right now. Have more time to upgrade your thinking? Listen to the most popular episode of 2025: Simon Lancaster. How to speak like a leader: influence, inspire, educate to create change. Neuroscience of public speaking. Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
Ready to stop sprinting into burnout and start winning your year with calm, focused momentum? Focus not Frenzy? We dig into why so many smart, motivated people fail on their goals and how a few design choices can flip the odds in your favor. Instead of spreading energy across a dozen ambitions, we show how to pick the one that matters most, translate it into daily behaviors, and engineer your environment so doing the right thing becomes the easy thing. We unpack the EAST framework. You'll learn how to strip friction, make your cues impossible to miss, connect actions to identity and values, and raise stakes with smart accountability. We talk pacing and capacity too: why marathons are won by people who manage resources, not by those who sprint the first mile. This conversation also tackles a subtle trap: not every good idea is a good idea for your life right now. We offer a clear lens for evaluating goals against your current time, energy, and context so you stop forcing seeds into dry soil. If you're ready to trade diluted focus for designed progress, hit play, pick one target, and build the system to support it. If this helped you think differently, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
Chain of Learning: Empowering Continuous Improvement Change Leaders
When you hear the word sustainability, what comes to mind first?If it's recycling, you're not alone. But sustainability is far bigger—and more complex—than end-point solutions that address the symptoms of deeper problems. As this episode reveals, sustainability efforts—like many major transformations, including lean—don't stall because leaders don't care. They stall because of an execution gap: the gap between what organizations say matters and what actually shows up in daily work, decisions, and priorities.In this episode of Chain of Learning, I'm joined by Rose Heathcote, sustainability expert, lean adviser, and author, to explore sustainability as a leadership and transformation challenge, not just an environmental one.Together, we discuss why sustainability often lives in strategy decks and slogans, but struggles to take root in everyday work, and how leaders can shift their focus upstream to close that gap: to how work is designed, how problems are framed, and how people learn to see new kinds of waste and impact.This conversation goes beyond sustainability to address a pattern that shows up in any transformation—lean, AI-enabled change, or building a people-first learning organization. If you're working to close the gap between intention and execution, this episode offers perspective and practical starting points for leading meaningful change that lasts.You'll Learn:What sustainability really means—and why it's often treated as an aspiration instead of embedded in daily workWhat the sustainability execution gap is, and why it mirrors lean and culture-change failuresWhy shifting problem-solving upstream—from symptoms to root causes—is critical for creating lasting impactHow lean thinking and problem-solving skills enable sustainability and organizational transformation when paired with influence and change leadership skillsWhy speaking the language of business matters for gaining leadership buy-in—and how AI can be used as a thinking partner to support systems thinking and better decisionsABOUT MY GUEST:Rose Heathcote is a speaker, adviser, and Chartered Environmentalist who works at the intersection of Lean thinking and sustainability. She is the founder of Thinking People and the author of "Green Is the New Gold." With decades of experience supporting organizations across industries and regions, Rose focuses on helping leaders move sustainability from aspiration to everyday practice through systems thinking, problem-solving, and people-centered change.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes with links to other podcast episodes and resources: ChainOfLearning.com/63 Check out my website for resources and ways to work with me KBJAnderson.comConnect with Rose Heathcote: linkedin.com/in/rose-heathcote Follow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjandersonDownload my free KATALYST™ Change Leader Self-Assessment: KBJAnderson.com/katalyst Learn more about Rose's book, “Green is the New Gold”: learn.thinking-people.co.uk/courses/green-is-the-new-gold Learn more about my Japan Leadership Experience: kbjanderson.com/japantrip TIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE:01:04 Why the real challenge with sustainability starts with where the conversation begins02:39 A broader definition of sustainability meeting the needs of people, planet, and future generations04:16 Why people mistake sustainability for “recycling”05:54 The execution gap lean leaders keep running into07:43 A real-world example: when “people first” and sustainability don't show up in the metrics09:58 Important shifts leaders must make to close the execution gap11:26 Seeing waste, energy loss, and impact through a green lens14:06 Using AI as a thinking partner, not a replacement15:16 The skills leaders must develop in an AI-driven world16:41 How multidisciplinary thinking led to a smarter, more sustainable solution19:19 Why sustainability requires systems thinking across the value chain20:23 How to make progress towards big challenges23:05 The meaning of the Japanese concept, “sanpo yori” and “yanpo yori” for goodness in four ways and happiness for the long term view24:33 How the book “Green is the New Gold,” came to be27:10 Three ways to build better products and be more efficient while reducing impacts on the planet29:19 What we are doing well as a global community to make improvements towards sustainability31:31 How to broaden your lens and use what you already know to do more good32:35 Practical first steps lean leaders can take to apply a sustainability lens at work34:29 Why productivity alone doesn't reduce damage to the environment36:45 A simple reflection on looking upstream to improve sustainability
Want steady energy without complicated biohacks? We walk through the small, overlooked habits that create outsized gains - from underappreciated easy sleep hacks, to nutrition supplements and the science of drinking water. This is practical leverage for high performers who need clarity, energy, cognitive stamina, and mood stability to do their best work. Choose your weakest link and start small. These simple shifts compound fast. If this helped you think differently about energy and focus, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a boost, and leave a quick review so more people can find us. Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
AI is accelerating change at a pace most organisations have never had to manage before. For marketers and business leaders, this is not just another wave of innovation. It is a fundamental shift from linear change to exponential change, where familiar planning cycles, transformation programmes, and long-term roadmaps start to break down. In this episode of The Digital Marketing Podcast, Daniel Rowles is joined by Geoff Tuff, Consulting Principal at Deloitte and co-author of Hone: How Purposeful Leaders Defy Drift. Together, they explore why traditional transformation initiatives fail so often, and what leaders can do instead to build organisations that continuously adapt without losing their sense of direction. Drawing on real-world examples, behavioural science, and lessons from Geofff's latest book, the conversation reframes change as an ongoing discipline rather than a one-off event, and offers a practical way to respond to the disruption created by AI and other exponential forces . In This Episode Why AI represents a shift from linear to exponential change, and why this makes traditional planning models fragile Why large-scale transformation programmes fail so frequently, and the hidden costs they create for organisations The concept of "drift" and how companies slowly move away from their original purpose without realising it The difference between sharpening and honing, and why constant realignment beats radical reinvention How leaders can "bake in" innovation so it becomes urgent, not just important Why behaviour, not technology, is the real engine of change inside organisations The role of management systems as the invisible drivers of culture and decision-making What Minimally Viable Moves are, and how they help organisations adapt without overcommitting Lessons from Amazon and Jeff Bezos on designing systems that reinforce the right behaviours How informal signals from senior leaders can unintentionally shape priorities and outcomes Key Takeaways Exponential change makes waiting for the perfect moment to transform a dangerous strategy Most organisations drift off course through accumulated small decisions, not dramatic failures Honing is about continuous, incremental alignment rather than destructive overhauls Leadership power lies less in vision statements and more in the systems that guide everyday behaviour Small, testable moves reduce risk and keep organisations responsive in uncertain environments What leaders praise, question, or ignore can matter more than formal strategy documents Staying aligned to purpose requires constant attention, not periodic transformation projects
Resolutions don't fail because you're undisciplined; they fail because the system around you was never built to help you win.Kicking off 2026, we get brutally practical about why goals crumble by mid-January and how to make behavior change stick using evidence, not hype. Drawing on research from behavioral scientists like Katy Milkman and hard-won coaching lessons, we unpack 7 common traps and turn each one into a simple, brain-friendly plan you can use today.By the end, you'll know exactly which bottleneck holds you back and how to install a system to fix it, whether that's a two-minute starter habit, a standing calendar cue, a lockbox for your phone, or a rule that pairs your favorite show with the treadmill. Trade willpower for design and watch consistency become your new default.If this conversation sparks a plan, share it with a friend who needs it, hit follow, and leave a quick review so more high performers can find us. What's the one system you'll set up today? Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
What if your best ideas are getting crowded out by mental clutter, not a lack of talent or willpower? We dive into simple, science-backed habits that free working memory, protect your peak focus hours, and turn effort into meaningful output without relying on endless caffeine. We walk through practical tools you can use, then we map your day to biology to honor ultradian cycles with breaks that reset your brain instead of scrolling. We also tackle the hidden costs of multitasking and the massive upside of a decluttered environment. Finally, we cover nutrition for steady focus. The result is less overwhelm, fewer mistakes, and more work you're proud of in less time. If you're ready to think clearer, create better, and finish more without burning out, press play and try one tool today. If this helped, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs a cleaner mental desk. Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
Big decisions get heavy when our lives don't match our values. We set out to change that by getting ruthless about clarity and gentle about self-honesty.Think of this conversation as a blueprint for making choices that align with your best life you always think about: together we define deal breakers across career, relationships, and where you live, and we show how a short pause for reflection can prevent months of second-guessing. Instead of hoping the shiny option will evolve into your best-case scenario, you'll learn to look for evidence, protect your daily non-negotiables, and walk away from almost-right.We start with a simple truth: successful people get what they want because they know what they want and act on it. From there, we map a practical process. The Clarity Reset. Year-End Guided Reflection. Claim Your Seat.The goal is probability, not control, designing for a high chance of fit instead of gambling on luck.I'm hosting a free, 90‑minute Clarity Reset on January 3 to help you do this work in real time. Bring your year, your questions, and a willingness to define what you won't trade away. Subscribe, share this with someone making a big choice, and join us for the reset.What's one deal breaker you're ready to honor now? JOIN THE CLARITY RESET AND INVITE FRIENDS AND FAMILY Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
Most big goals don't fail because they're impossible. They fail because people never set themselves up for winning.They fail because the plan is vague, the timeline is short, and the strategy doesn't fit the person.We dig into a single question that changes everything: what would have to be true for this (for YOU) to succeed?From there, we map a decade-long vision into near-term moves you can actually execute, and we show how to replace wishful thinking with a system that compounds.This conversation is a playbook. You'll learn to deconstruct a bold goal into components you can build, design systems that run on bad days, and choose what to say no to so your yes actually matters.If you've ever felt overwhelmed by your own ambition, this is your map from inspiration to implementation, no luck required. Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
What if the motivation you need to reach your goals doesn't last because you don't know how to set your goals? We dig into the goal gradient effect and the surprising lesson from elite marathoners who don't stare at the finish line. That shift fuels engagement in careers, health, and creative projects. Then we tackle 3 research-backed changes with outsized payoff. First, swap leap goals for stretch goals so effort reliably becomes progress. Second, trade blind positive thinking for mental contrasting: vividly imagine the outcome, then list likely obstacles and your if-then responses. This lowers drama, speeds recovery, and keeps action steady when reality resists. Third, stop celebrating outcomes you can't control and start rewarding actions: reps, attempts, sessions, pitches, miles. Track what you do, learn from feedback, and adjust without shame. Mastery is built rep by rep, and momentum is a function of consistent starts. By the end, you'll have a practical framework to plan 2026 with fewer illusions and more traction: vision as compass, milestones within reach, sober plans for obstacles, and a daily system that reinforces action. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who's mapping their year, and leave a quick review - it helps more curious people find these tools and start taking the next right step. Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
Busy isn't the same as better.We sat down with product strategist, coach and consultant, and now a pubslihed author Tim Herbig to unpack a simple truth: real progress with impact that matters happens when strategy, metrics, and discovery align.If you lead change across a product, a platform team, culture or your own habits - you'll leave with a clearer way to choose what to focus on, what to measure, and what to learn.Say no with confidence. Retire progress theater. And build momentum you can be proud of.Key Insights:Context beats templates every time - "better practices" for your situation matter more than copying what worked for someone elseStrategy's real job is helping people say yes and no fastThe "why" question is ruthlessly effective - if you can't explain why you're doing something, you're probably just checking boxesAI helps you reach hard problems faster but only if you're ready to actually solve them instead of automating busyworkHow to spot progress theater before it drains your energy and budget ... also how to choose a better strategy for your beach body in 2026 and a lot more!___________TIM'S BIOTim Herbig is a product management coach, consultant, and author who helps teams make evidence-informed decisions by connecting strategy, OKRs, and discovery. For over a decade, he worked in various in-house and consulting roles across publishing, professional networking, and enterprise B2B SaaS. Tim's work has helped organizations from Lufthansa Group Digital Hangar to early-stage startups move from following "best practices" to developing better practices suited to their context that led to desired impact. Tim writes a popular weekly newsletter and is the author of "Real Progress: How to Connect the Dots of Product Strategy, OKRs, and Discovery." He lives by 3 core values: integrity (doing what you say), curiosity (going down rabbit holes), and sincerity (being honest even when it's hard).5) CALL TO ACTION & RESOURCESReady to move from alibi progress to real progress?Connect with Tim's work:Newsletter: https://herbig.co/newsletter (Weekly insights on strategy, OKRs, and discovery)Book: "Real Progress: How to Connect the Dots of Product Strategy, OKRs, and Discovery"Website: https://herbig.co/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/herbigtMentioned in the episode:Petra Willa's PM Wheel conceptJames Clear's quote on context-dependent adviceRavi Mehta's concept of "market interrupt moments"Gibson Biddle's Strategy/Metric/Tactic frameworkTim's homework for you:Start by asking one question this week: "Why are we doing this?" Then see if you can connect your answer to actual measurements and learning. That's where real progress begins. _________Enjoyed this conversation? Don't forget to subscribe to never miss an insight! Rate, and share the show with someone who needs a better way to make progress. Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
What if worry stopped being a wall and became an action signal? Today we take on the everyday fears that stall big goals and break them down using a simple, repeatable framework that turns anxiety into momentum. Drawing from coaching work and the fear-setting method popularized by Tim Ferriss, we show how to move from vague dread to concrete action without pretending fear disappears. You'll leave with a t3-step tool you can use today: define the fear, prevent what you can, repair when needed. Apply it to outreach anxiety, high-stakes presentations, career shifts, or relocations. When the worry voice shows up, you'll have a script to answer it and a system to keep moving. If this helped, share it with someone who's stuck on the edge of a decision, and subscribe to get more practical frameworks for growth. Your next brave step is one question away: what's the worst that can happen? Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
What if follow-through wasn't a willpower problem but a design problem you can fix? We unpack a clear, 5-part system to create dependable action for yourself and your team. Drawing from behavioral science and real leadership practice, we show how uncertainty, skill gaps, weak rewards, and hidden blockers quietly kill momentum, not laziness, and how to replace them with simple, repeatable processes that make high performance the default. By the end, you'll have a straightforward playbook to design conditions where action is easy, results compound, and performance becomes consistent rather than heroic. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who leads or is building better habits, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. Your feedback helps us grow and keeps the conversation moving. Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant