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As we close out the year, we're revisiting our most popular episode from 2024: 3 Things for Teams to Build Positive Team Culture. Originally released at the start of the year, this episode resonated deeply with leaders looking for actionable ways to improve their team dynamics.

What You'll Learn:
In this rebroadcast, Nathan Freeburg, along with Dr. Linda and Brian Schubring, explore three foundational strategies to elevate team culture:

1. Foster Inclusive and Diverse Practices – Go beyond surface-level DEI efforts by truly integrating diverse perspectives into team processes.
2. Invest in Growth – Whether personal or team-wide, growth starts with curiosity and intentional effort.
3. Encourage Work-Life Alignment – Shift the focus from "balance" to alignment with personal values and goals.

Key Takeaway for 2025:
Start small. Implement incremental changes to foster a more positive, inclusive, and generative team culture.

Why Listen Again?
This episode provides timeless advice for leaders gearing up for the challenges and opportunities of a new year. Whether listening for the first time or revisiting these strategies, you'll find practical insights you can implement immediately.

Additional Resources:

• Visit Leadership Vision Consulting for articles, tools, and curriculum to help your team thrive.
• Connect with us at connect@leadershipvisionconsulting.com for personalized support.

🎧 Don’t miss this encore presentation as you prepare for a successful 2025!

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The Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in discovering, practicing, and implementing a Strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. Contact us to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.

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Welcome to the Leadership Vision Podcast! In our final episode of 2024, we're highlighting key moments from 10 incredible conversations with thought leaders, authors, and experts. These clips are packed with wisdom to inspire reflection and growth as you prepare for the year ahead. From building resilience to fostering team connection, each guest offers practical advice to help you lead with purpose in 2025. Be sure to explore the full episodes for deeper insights!

Guest Highlights

1. Amy Noelle

• Key Insight: Embrace self-compassion by letting go of judgment and embracing the awkwardness of growth.
• Quote: "If you allow yourself to get through that awkward stage...you’ll find the power after that."
• Listen to the full episode

2. Tom Willis

• Key Insight: Authentic engagement stems from connecting teams to a higher purpose, beyond just mission statements.
• Quote: "If you want engagement, the real engagement is in a higher purpose."
• Listen to the full episode

3. Derek Newberry

• Key Insight: Culture isn’t perks or casual Fridays—it’s foundational to organizational success and requires intentionality.
• Quote: "If you’re not intentional about building the right culture, you’ll get one you don’t want."
• Listen to the full episode

4. Andrea Hollingsworth

• Key Insight: Compassionate leadership creates connection, resilience, and healing through meaningful check-ins.
• Quote: "Connection is the pathway to healing. It opens the door to resilience."
• Listen to the full episode

5. Pete Steinberg

• Key Insight: Leadership transitions require adaptability and a willingness to take risks.
• Quote: "Excellence is a journey, not a destination...you have to take risks."
• Listen to the full episode

6. Stephanie Krievins

• Key Insight: Balancing adaptability and stability leads to better collaboration and organizational growth.
• Quote: "Understanding your relationship to change is an amazing self-awareness point for any leader."

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ABOUT
The Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in discovering, practicing, and implementing a Strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. Contact us to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.

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In this final episode of 2024, Nathan Freeburg reflects on the concept of Ma, a Japanese idea of the "space in between" that fosters creativity, clarity, and connection. Inspired by Albert Read's The Imagination Muscle, Nathan explores how Ma can enrich leadership, parenting, and daily life by valuing pauses, silence, and purposeful disconnect. Through personal stories, cultural insights, and practical takeaways, Nathan invites listeners to create more space in their lives for reflection and innovation.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The meaning of Ma and its role in Japanese culture.
• How to integrate the beauty of pauses into leadership and parenting.
• Practical ways to embrace silence, reflection, and purposeful disconnection.
• Why the spaces in between tasks and moments matter more than we think.

Key Takeaways:

1. Value Pauses for Reflection and Innovation
   • Take intentional breaks to spark creativity and thoughtful decision-making.
   • Schedule time for team brainstorming or personal reflection without an agenda.
2. Embrace Silence to Build Deeper Connections
   • Allow pauses in conversations to foster meaningful dialogue and trust.
   • Practice listening instead of filling every moment with noise.
3. Create Space for Purposeful Disconnect
   • Set aside device-free moments or quiet hours for focused work.
   • To cultivate clarity, incorporate small habits, like avoiding phones first thing in the morning.

Episode Highlights:

• Nathan’s love of reading and how unexpected lessons from books influence leadership and parenting.
• The concept of Ma as “the pause where life deepens its imprint,” and its presence in Japanese traditions.
• Reflections on Jerry Seinfeld’s “garbage time” and how it parallels the idea of Ma.
• Practical steps to honor pauses in leadership, family life, and personal growth.

Additional Resources:

• Book: The Imagination Muscle by Albert Read.
• Related Leadership Vision Blog Posts and Podcast Episodes: Click Here.
• YouTube video on the power of silence in conversations.

Final Thoughts:
Nathan challenges listeners to reflect on how they can embrace Ma in their lives and leadership. By honoring the spaces in between, we can rediscover what truly matters, foster creativity, and cultivate stronger connections with others.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going!
Share how you’re incorporating Ma into your leadership or personal life:
📧 Ema

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The Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in discovering, practicing, and implementing a Strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. Contact us to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.

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In this episode of The Leadership Vision Podcast, we sit down with Anders Indset, philosopher, futurist, and author of The Viking Code. Anders shares his insights on how leaders can bridge individualism and collectivism to build high-performance cultures that are deeply rooted in shared values. Drawing inspiration from his Norwegian roots and global observations, Anders explores themes of adaptability, trust, and the role of friction in fostering progress.

This thought-provoking conversation is packed with actionable insights for leaders seeking to embrace a forward-thinking mindset, navigate complexity, and create environments where teams and organizations thrive.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How trust and friction drive meaningful innovation and progress.
• Why balancing individual ambition with collective success creates lasting impact.
• The importance of fostering adaptability and a generalist mindset in a rapidly changing world.
• Insights into using play and curiosity as tools for creativity and growth.
• The role of leaders in anticipating the future and embracing a culture of continuous learning.

Key Takeaways:

• Trust and Friction: These two forces are the foundation of progress. Leaders who cultivate trust while allowing healthy friction can unlock team potential and generate innovative ideas.
• Adaptability Over Specialization: In a fast-paced world, a broad “generalist” mindset allows for greater creativity and resilience in the face of change.
• Play and Curiosity: Organizations should encourage play and experimentation to stimulate creativity and develop a culture of continuous improvement.
• Future-Focused Leadership: Leaders must anticipate future trends and shift from reactive decision-making to proactive strategies that align with evolving realities.

Memorable Quotes from Anders Indset:

• “To grow as an individual or team, trust yourself first; only then can you trust others.”
• “Progress isn’t about reaching a finite goal; it’s about perfecting the next step.”
• “The organizations that thrive are those that embrace adaptability, creativity, and the unknown.”

Resources Mentioned:

• Anders Indset’s book, The Viking Code
• James P. Carse’s book Finite and Infinite Games
• Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull

Connect with Anders Indset:

• Website: VISIT!
• Social Media: LinkedIN,

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The Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in discovering, practicing, and implementing a Strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. Contact us to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.

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In this special Thanksgiving episode, The Leadership Vision Podcast explores the transformative power of gratitude and practical ways to make it a daily habit. Nathan Freeburg and co-hosts Brian and Linda Schubring discuss the neuroscience behind gratitude, its impact on mental and physical health, how it strengthens relationships, and how it enhances life at work and home. The episode concludes with five powerful reflective questions to help listeners cultivate gratitude in their own lives.

DOWNLOAD OUR GRATITUDE WORKSHEET HERE!

1. Gratitude and Brain Chemistry

• Key Point: Gratitude is scientifically proven to increase happiness by releasing dopamine and serotonin in the brain, creating pathways for positivity through neuroplasticity.
• Why it Matters: For leaders, this shift toward a positive mindset can foster resilience and help manage stress more effectively.
• Personal Story: Brian shares how a 20-year gratitude journaling habit, inspired by a mentor, has helped him combat negative thinking and maintain a balanced perspective.

2. Gratitude’s Physical Health Benefits

• Key Point: Studies show gratitude supports physical health, improving heart health and sleep quality, and lowering cortisol (stress hormone) levels.
• Example: Nathan discusses the Grace Study on cardiovascular health, which found that gratitude significantly improves recovery times and reduces inflammation.
• Personal Story: Linda shares how her mother’s gratitude practice has positively impacted her heart health and how clients’ gratitude toward their teams fosters better health across their organizations.

3. Gratitude in Relationships

• Key Point: Expressing gratitude strengthens relationships, builds trust, and enhances social connection. Leaders who acknowledge and appreciate team members create a culture of mutual support and trust.
• Supporting Quote: Ralph Waldo Emerson’s words, “I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new,” reflect the importance of gratitude in building bonds.
• Client Story: Brian and Linda share stories of clients who practice gratitude and build deeper, more meaningful connections with their teams, creating a supportive and appreciative work environment.

4. Gratitude in the Workplace and Home

• Key Point: Gratitude can improve both the work environment and family life, increasing job satisfaction and motivation and fostering a positive, joyful atmosphere at home.
• Example: Nathan mentions Maya Angelou’s quote, “When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, ev

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The Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in discovering, practicing, and implementing a Strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. Contact us to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.

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In this episode of The Leadership Vision Podcast, host Nathan Freeburg and Dr. Linda Schubring welcome Konstantinos Apostolopoulos, also known as Coach Kon. As the founder and CEO of Fresh Biz Solutions and author of The Engagement Blueprint: Building a Culture of Commitment and Performance, Coach Kon brings decades of experience to the conversation. Together, they discuss his immigrant background, unique approach to leadership, and his commitment to fostering human-centric workplaces.

Key Topics:

1. Coach Kon’s Immigrant Background
   • Coach Kon shares how his immigrant roots and Greek heritage shaped his leadership journey and resilience.
   • He discusses how hardship taught him to view adversity as an opportunity for growth, fueling his passion for creating exceptional workplace cultures.
2. Human-Centric Leadership as a Competitive Advantage
   • Emphasizing the importance of human connection, Coach Kon challenges the notion that fostering employee engagement is “soft” work, advocating instead that it’s critical for outperforming competitors.
3. The Importance of Valuing and Engaging Team Members
   • Coach Kon breaks down the four drivers of engagement: feeling valued, connected, productive, and supported. He explains why these are universal human needs, applicable across generations and industries.
4. Insights on Generational and Cultural Intelligence
   • Reflecting on his work with diverse industries, Coach Kon highlights the need for generational and cultural intelligence to bridge gaps in the workplace, particularly between younger employees and those preparing for retirement.
5. From Military Service to Corporate Leadership
   • A former military instructor, Coach Kon shares how his diverse background—from construction to higher education—has informed his approach to leadership development and culture building.
6. Practical Tips for Leaders to Foster Engagement
   • Coach Kon provides actionable advice, including creating a psychologically safe environment, offering specific praise and feedback, and recognizing the strengths of each team member.
7. Applying Human Skills Beyond the Workplace
   • Coach Kon discusses how leadership principles he’s used with youth soccer teams are equally effective in professional settings, illustrating the value of positive reinforcement and setting clear expectations.

Key Quotes:

• “The grass isn’t greener on the other side. It’s greener where you water it.”
• “When leaders think that engagement is soft, I can tell you it is the difference between being average and being exceptional.”

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The Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in discovering, practicing, and implementing a Strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. Contact us to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.

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In this episode of The Leadership Vision Podcast, Nathan Freeburg, Dr. Linda Schubring, and Brian Schubring explore what alignment truly means in team settings—dispelling the myth that alignment requires conformity. Using metaphors from nature, like the organized flight patterns of geese and the dynamic, colorful movement of flamingos, they delve into the complexities of alignment, why it’s essential for effective teamwork, and how it often looks messier than we might expect. The conversation highlights that alignment isn’t about uniformity; rather, it’s a shared commitment to move in the same direction while leveraging each person’s unique strengths.

01:25 Discussing Alignment in Leadership
02:50 Flamingos as a New Metaphor for Team Alignment
04:47 Defining and Achieving Alignment
07:59 Personal Stories of Alignment
10:43 Framework for Alignment
22:30 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Key Takeaways:

1. Rethinking Alignment:
   • Traditional metaphors, such as geese flying in a perfect V-formation, suggest that alignment means precise order and conformity. However, Brian and Linda introduce the image of flamingos flying together—distinct in color, spacing, and position—yet moving in the same direction. This imagery highlights that alignment can be diverse, flexible, and individualized, challenging the need for perfect uniformity.
2. Commitment Over Conformity:
   • Effective team alignment doesn’t mean everyone thinks or acts the same way. Instead, it’s about committing to a shared vision and staying adaptable in how each person contributes. Teams can have different strengths, perspectives, and ways of working yet still move cohesively toward a common goal.
3. Creating Personal Connections to Alignment:
   • Linda and Brian share insights on encouraging leaders to define alignment personally. By reflecting on times when they felt aligned within a team, leaders can better understand the nuances of alignment and recognize how it may look different from one team to another.
4. The Four Frameworks of Alignment:
   • The team outlines four critical aspects of alignment:
     • Clarity: Defining what alignment means for the team.
     • Cascade: Alignment often starts with a few and then cascades to the rest of the team.
     • Cultivation: Continuously reinforcing alignment as the team moves forward.
     • Culture: Embedding alignment into the team culture to ensure resilience over time.
5. Alignment as an Emotional and Relational Process:
   • True alignment isn’t just strategic; it’s emotional and relational. Team members need supportive relationships to maintain alignment, especially in challenging times. This relational focus helps individuals feel connected and engaged, fo

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The Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in discovering, practicing, and implementing a Strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. Contact us to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.

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In this episode of The Leadership Vision Podcast, Nathan Freeburg, Dr. Linda Schubring, and Brian Schubring sit down with Russell Harvey, known as “The Resilience Coach.” With over 20 years in leadership and resilience coaching, Russell shares his mission to impact 100,000 people by 2025. In this engaging and insightful conversation, Russell redefines resilience—not as merely bouncing back but as “springing forward with learning.”

Key topics covered include:

• The Power of Adaptability: Russell discusses research that suggests spending time developing adaptability, openness to change, and curiosity can elevate individuals and teams from just coping to truly thriving.
• Values and Resilience: How a clear sense of purpose and values is foundational for resilience within teams and organizations.
• Realistic Optimism vs. Toxic Positivity: Russell explains the importance of grounded optimism and honest conversations about challenges, strengths, and the journey ahead.
• Daily Practices for Building Resilience: Practical steps for leaders and teams to engage with resilience daily, focusing on adaptability, reflection, and fostering a culture of grounded optimism.

Takeaways:

• Shift your perspective on resilience from simply enduring to thriving by learning and adapting.
• Use challenges as opportunities for growth, practicing resilience in small ways to build strength for larger obstacles.
• Cultivate an optimistic yet realistic team culture, encouraging open, supportive dialogue about both struggles and successes.

Listen in as Russell’s insights and practical tips will inspire any leader to strengthen their resilience and build a thriving, resilient team culture.

For more on this episode and other resources, visit Leadership Vision Consulting. Follow us on social media and join our newsletter for the latest on building a positive team culture!

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CONTACT US

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ABOUT
The Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in discovering, practicing, and implementing a Strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. Contact us to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.