KATHY ARCHER
  • Home
  • Membership
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Coaching
  • Confidence Book
  • About
  • Contact Me
  • Free Worksheets

How to Awaken Your Inner Wisdom by Scheduling PAUSES into your Workday

28/10/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
If you are like most leaders, you spend a lot of time running. We go from one meeting to the next with barely any breaks! As a result, we never have time to go to the bathroom, eat our lunch or let everything catch up with us.
The problem is that it is hard to do the work of great leadership when
​you don't have time to PAUSE, slow down and tune in. 
Effective leaders need time to think, ponder and tune in. However, many resist pausing, stopping, or taking a break despite being overloaded, overworked and overwhelmed. 

Most of us say it's because we don't have time to take a break. Yet, pausing is essential to developing confidence and becoming a stronger leader. You can't wait for time to pause. You need to make time for it!


Learn to access your Inner Guidance System
​In this series of blogs, I'm introducing you to the steps in the Inner Guidance Cycle, which gives you access to your Inner Guidance System. Your Inner Guidance System is your inner wisdom. If you've been around for a while, you've heard me talk about the steps often, but it might be a good time for a review.

There are four steps in the Inner Guidance Cycle. They are 
  1. PAUSE - Step back into this moment
  2. PONDER - Tune in to what is going on inside of you 
  3. PIVOT - Shift your thoughts
  4. PROCEED - Move forward with intentionality 
Picture

​The first step: PAUSE
By taking the first step, PAUSE, you'll start to awaken your Inner Guidance System. It's that wise part of you that helps you to get a hold of your thoughts and then move forward with a conscious response. 

From reacting to responding
​Most of us are so stressed that we react to whatever shows up. However, because of our stressed state, we can't think clearly. As a result, we don't take time to choose how we want to respond, engage or the kind of leader we want to be at this moment.

Pausing is stopping, pulling back or taking a break. When we PAUSE, our brain and body begin to relax, allowing us to get out of stress mode and think more clearly. Being more relaxed will enable us to respond and make conscious choices instead of reacting to every fire that pops up.

Pausing is part of journeys
Think for a moment about a road trip. Often when you are travelling, you take breaks. You pull over to the side of the road and stop. That might be a roadside turnout so that you can stretch. You might pause on your trip to stop for fuel. The point is that you can only way to refuel, stretch, or go to the bathroom if you stop.


Leaders need pauses too
In leadership, when we pause, the pause allows us to become mindful and present to what is happening. Rather than being present, most of us have a ton of racing thoughts whirling about in our heads. Those racing thoughts are usually about a future worry or passed incident that we are still stewing about. 


Pausing settles your racing thoughts
When you pause, you are not in the future or the past but in the present moment. At this moment, you will find access to your Inner Guidance System. When you mindfully tune in to those thoughts, feelings, and sensations, you will find the inner wisdom that helps to guide you forward.


You won't always remember to pause when you need to
Learning to make pauses a regular part of your routine takes time. Eventually, you may get to the point where there is a trigger that reminds you to pause. That trigger could be when you're feeling:
  • lost
  • anxious
  • irritated
  • off-balance

Those might be signals to go for a little walk, take a deep breath or spend some time trying to figure out why you are so agitated. But often, we ignore those triggers. We push them aside because we have too much work to do. So, for now, don't wait for the trigger. Instead, schedule the time in to pause.


You'll need to prompt yourself to take pauses
You need to schedule your pauses in. Creating breaks in your schedule will help you to build a habit of pausing. So that you get used to responding to the triggers, it is important to start with establishing a routine of stopping and pausing. Remember, it's this first step of pausing that is going to allow you to awaken your Inner Guidance System.


Plan to make these kinds of pauses

Look through your day and decide how you can add these types of pauses:

??‍♀️BODY BREAK - Having a physical break to go to the bathroom, for eating and move your body

? SOUL BREAK - A mindful moment to take a few breaths, meditate or sit in peace

? MIND BREAK - Time for self-reflection. Effective leaders need time to think, ponder and tune in. Self-reflection is the time for leaders to ask themselves:
  • What am I feeling?
  • What am I thinking? 
  • What's going on in my body?
  • What just went on with that person?
  • What just happened in that meeting?
  • What will help me be my best self in this situation?


Scheduling your pauses in
It's time to schedule those breaks in. I recommend adding triggers to help you remember to do them, even when busy.

? Block time off in your schedule or day-timer. If you think you'll remember to do it, guess what? You won't. Schedule it in.

?️ Set reminders to notify, encourage and motivate you. 
  • Use the alarms on your phone, computer or watch.
  • Leave sticky notes to remind yourself. 


Reminders about WHY you must schedule the pauses in

? Because you will only do it regularly if you schedule it.

? Because even though you mean to, you'll get busy and forget

? Because it takes longer than you think to establish a habit

? Because it tells those around you that you value balance



Awaken your Inner Guidance System: Step # 1 - Pause
Start accessing your inner wisdom and allowing it to guide you by pausing. By awakening your Inner Guidance System, you will be learning to get control of your thoughts and feelings. That internal control will help you become confident in your leadership abilities, bounce back when adversity hits and be your best self. Begin to awaken that Inner Guidance System by scheduling pauses throughout your day.


P.S. If you are ready to dive into all four steps of the Inner Guidance Cycle and use it to boost your confidence, grab Mastering Confidence: Discover your leadership potential by awakening your inner guidance system
Picture

Get the guide to help you PAUSE


​Do the work to insert pauses in your days and you'll be a more confident leader.

​​Get the guide below ??
0 Comments

Here is how to be positive as the leader of your nonprofit organization

20/10/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
If you've been dealt another blow like staff shortages, funding cuts, dealing with disciplinary action, or general overwhelm, you might start to feel negativity wash over you. 

You know that negativity can spiral if you don't catch it so you might be wondering:
  • How do I stay positive?
  • How do I motivate myself?
  • How do I keep moving forward when I don't feel like it?


How can I stay positive?
Questing how to stay positive is the theme of my clients this week. They want to know how to stay positive and motivated, and move towards their goals when they feel tired, overwhelmed and challenged.

One client is working on a certification process. She is studying for the next level exam. Yet, time is already running away from her. She is quickly becoming stuck in not-enoughness.
  • I don't know if I am smart enough. 
  • I don't know if I have what it takes.
  • I don't know if I will find time to study. 

Another client is in the process of starting a new program and isn't sure if she can pull it off within the deadline. Self-doubt has crept in and is robbing my client of her confidence. 

A third client was dealt a nasty blow at work. She's feeling insecure about her future. It's hard not to be negative and sarcastic. "Why bother trying so hard?"

The message we hear is to keep our chin up.
Social media posts, motivational books and well-meaning peers tell us:
  • Be positive
  • Things will work out
  • Keep thinking optimistically

Heck, I preach positivity too. I am constantly working with my clients to help them see the positive, be confident, and believe it is possible. However, how do you do that in the face of so much challenge?

The secret isn't to focus on what we are experiencing.
It's to focus on what we are thinking.


You can learn to focus on the positive
It is not what you see that makes up your reality but what you think about what you see. We all experience similar events but react to them differently.

Suppose you have a message to call your kids' teacher because of missing assignments.
  • You might feel angry. 
  • Someone else might feel embarrassed. 
  • A third parent might be grateful for the call. 

Think about the thought accompanying each of the above parents' emotions.
  • The angry parent has thoughts something like, "That little $#!t."
  • The embarrassed parent thinks I haven't done a good job raising my child.
  • The grateful parent may have concerns and is thankful the teacher is also identifying concerns and feels someone is on her side and offering help.

Our inner voices are powerful. They impact our emotions and our experiences. The messages we tell ourselves about our events create our reality of the event. 


Our inner dialogue controls our outer experience.If I tell myself leading my team is hard, I will notice all the hard things I experience daily. 
  • If I instead tell myself that leading my team will be full of learning opportunities, I will see the lessons I have learnt and apply those lessons in the future.

If you tell yourself the day started bad, is getting worse and going to be a gong show, guess what you'll experience? 
  • On the other hand, if you tell yourself that the rough start to your day was an important less and that you are doing your part to turn your day around, perhaps you'll experience it differently.

The secret is getting control of what is going on in your head. 

You can use The Inner Guidance Cycle to get control of your thoughts.
Here's how 👇🏻


1) Pause
Step back from what you are doing, take a deep breath, or grab a piece of paper to write on. 
You'll never shift your thoughts if you stay stuck on the hamster wheel. 


2) Ponder
Start becoming aware of your inner dialogue. 
When you are frustrated, unenthusiastic or cynical, start to notice what is happening in your head. 
  • No one cares. 
  • It won't work. 
  • It is going to be rough.

Notice your thoughts. Becoming aware of the constant stream of thoughts helps to manage them. You'll likely notice a running commentary of your day going on in your mind. Most times, it's rambling on, and you aren't controlling what you are thinking.

Try consciously listening to your inner dialogue rather than having it run in your subconscious. The more you notice it, the more aware you will become of what you are telling yourself. 


3) Pivot
Start to shift your thoughts by examining them. 
  • Is my thought true?
  • Is this the thought I want to be thinking? 

Perhaps you think, "This is the worst thing that could happen." 
Is it? My guess is it could be worse. 

Maybe you repeatedly say, "I don't know if I can pull this off." 
Notice how that allows doubt to creep in. 


4) Proceed
Once you consciously shift your thoughts to the ones you want to be thinking, you can get back to "work."

Shifting thoughts isn't necessarily easy. It takes practice and discipline. 

For example, changing "I don't know if I can pull this off" to "I can do this" isn't a one-and-done process. However, when you slip back to "I don't know if I can pull this off ...
  • You then PAUSE again. 
  • PONDERING about falling back to old thinking patterns, you may identify a trigger, value or expectation that you may revert. 
  • That new awareness will help you PIVOT your thoughts and..
  •  PROCEED back into action. 


You can learn more about The Inner Guidance Cycle in

Mastering Confidence: Discover your leadership potential by awakening your inner guidance system 


Staying positive requires willpower

Positivity isn't a magical pill. It's work. It's choosing what you think, what you focus your thoughts on and learning to manage your thoughts. That process all takes willpower. 

Willpower is also known as self-control or discipline. Using your willpower to train and control your thoughts requires the same energy you would use to resist the donut and stick to your workout schedule.

It's also the same energy you use to stick to responding to an email you've been avoiding, staying focused on the annual report despite your cell phone notification calling you or biting your tongue when someone irks you. 

Willpower is a powerful tool for leaders. It's willpower that helps you stay positive, productive and poised. 

If you want o learn more about using willpower in your leadership, check out the Willpower Essentials course here.


Shifting thoughts is a lifelong process. It's called Inner Work.
Learning to choose thoughts, managing thoughts and changing thoughts IS the inner work of a great leader. Do the inner work. It's worth it!
0 Comments

This is why pausing was good for nonprofit leaders and for me

18/10/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Are you a nonprofit leader who loves learning but doesn't have much time? If so, podcasts are a great way to get snack-sized bites of wisdom during times when it's "ok" to multitask. There are many valuable podcasts for nonprofit leaders. If you have a favourite, comment below so we can all learn from each other!

Did you know that I produce a podcast? I do! However, it's been on hold for a few months, but guess what? The latest episode of the podcast is out 👏🏻

It's been seven months since I released the last podcast episode. I certainly did not expect to take that long of a pause. However:
  • It's been good!
  • And needed!
  • And I learn some lessons from the pause👇🏻

Lessons Learned:
The first lesson I learned is that things often take longer than expected. I, of course, thought it would only take a couple of months, but it did take a little bit longer 😉

There are four other lessons I take away from the extended pause that I share in this week's episode of the podcast.
🎙 To hear those four other lessons, tune in here.

Catch up on the faves
If you are new to my work or have yet to listen to other episodes, below are some that you might be interested in.

Podcast Episode Favourites

One of my favourite conversations was with Elizabeth Bishop
# 45 - How to regain your passion for your nonprofit work

One of the top listened-to episodes is
Episode # 42 - How to have brave board conversations with Heather Terrence

And another favourite of listeners is
Episode # 33 - Permission for Ambition with Anna Gordon

If you are having a crazy day, try this one:
Episode # 26 - Wellness Tips for Overloaded & Overwhelmed Women Leaders

The most listened-to series of episodes:
  • Episode # 1 - Fundamentals of Leadership
  • Episode # 2 - Managing Yours and Your Teams Workload
  • Episode # 3 - Managing Others
  • Episode # 4 - Managing yourself for increased composure

I'd also love to hear what you would like me to share in future podcast episodes. 
  • What do you want to learn more about from me? 
  • Whom do you think I should bring onto the podcast to interview? 
Comment below so I can add your ideas to my list of podcasts to produce. 

And in the meantime, happy listening!

p.s. Don't forget to share your favourite podcasts below
0 Comments

    Join the membership

    Picture

    Listen to the podcasts

    Picture

    Read the book

    Books for Nonprofit leaders
    Available on Amazon


    Kathy Archer

    Women leaders often hit a point where they find themselves in over their heads and wondering if they have what it takes to lead.
    ​
    ​In my online courses and coaching I teach them inner and outer tools to restore their lost confidence so they can move from surviving to thriving in both leadership and life.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

    Categories

    All
    Conflict Resolution
    Courage & Confidence
    Emotional Intelligence
    Employee Development
    Goal Setting
    Health And Wellness
    Leadership
    Mastery
    Mindfulness At Work
    Personal Growth & Development
    Priority Management
    Productivity
    Project Management
    Shifting Perspectives
    Shifting PerspectivesShifting Perspectives
    Supervision

    RSS Feed

Picture

For you:

About Me
​
Join The Training Library membership
Get Coaching
​
Join the Confident Women Leaders Free Community
Free Resources
​Privacy Policy
The Training Library 
Imagine getting the training  you need, when you need it most. Find that in the membership

Join the Membership

Picture

Search the Website


Resources

Mastering Confidence: 
Discover your leadership potential by awakening your inner guidance system 
Picture
Surviving to Thriving Podcast: Strategies, systems and support to lead with confidence
Picture
  • Home
  • Membership
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Coaching
  • Confidence Book
  • About
  • Contact Me
  • Free Worksheets