Today’s episode of the "7 Days of Sanity" series focuses on the importance of setting healthy boundaries, especially during stressful times like election season. Protecting your energy is essential to maintaining peace and well-being.

Key Points:

1. Understanding Boundaries: Boundaries are not about excluding others but about choosing what you allow into your space, like a fence or gate.

2. Practical Examples: Limit your exposure to potentially draining content (e.g., opt for movies instead of cable TV or restrict phone use).

3. Scripts for Communication: Inform others of your choices without criticizing them (e.g., “I won’t watch the news until after the election to protect my sanity”).

4. Protecting Your Space: Fill your personal space with activities that recharge you, such as cooking or reading.

5. Try This: Set a timer for social media or news consumption and leave the environment when the time is up.

Homework: Set a new boundary today and observe how it impacts your peace. Repeat it if it works for you.

Join us tomorrow for Day 4 of this series! Explore more about boundaries in Shawna’s book Meet Me in the Middle, which is on sale this week and now available on Audible.

👉 Link to the book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/e4jCJ1W

In today’s episode of Seven Days of Sanity, we explore managing emotional triggers and the power of responding thoughtfully rather than reacting impulsively. Shawna shares practical strategies to stay grounded during emotionally charged moments—especially in the lead-up to the election.

Key takeaways:

1. Understand the difference between responding vs. reacting.

2. Use breathing techniques and tactile objects (like keys or coins) to discharge emotional energy.

3. Anticipate triggers—prepare responses to maintain your peace in challenging conversations.

4. Align your responses with your personal values and the brand you want to project.

Homework: Identify your common triggers and plan how to respond next time they arise. Take deep breaths, walk away if needed, and maintain your inner calm.

Join us tomorrow for Day 3 of this series! If you'd like to dive deeper into managing emotions, check out Shawna’s book, Meet Me in the Middle, which is on sale this week and is now available on Audible.

👉 Link to the book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/e4jCJ1W

In today’s episode of Seven Days of Sanity, we focus on values as the key to staying grounded amidst the chaos of the upcoming U.S. election. Drawing from tools in my book Meet Me in the Middle, we explore how values serve as your personal compass, helping you make decisions and behave in alignment with what matters most.

Tune in to discover practical ways to identify your values:

1. What do you do with unexpected free time?

2. How would you spend money found in an old coat?

3. How do your actions align with your personal rules for behavior?

Daily Homework: List your top three values and reflect on what makes you feel alive and authentic. This exercise will help you navigate the next seven days—and beyond—with clarity and purpose.

The book Meet Me in the Middle is on sale this week and available on Audible. Join us tomorrow for the next step in this sanity-saving series!

👉 Link to the book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/e4jCJ1W

In this episode, we explore the different ways people make decisions and the pros and cons of each style. Whether you make decisions quickly, seek input from others, prioritize harmony, or rely on detailed research, it’s essential to recognize your tendencies and how they affect your outcomes.

We also dive into the concept of the sunk cost fallacy—when investments of time, money, or effort keep us stuck in situations we should leave behind. Using examples from the business world, such as Jeff Bezos’s pivot from Amazon’s failed phone project to Alexa, we discuss how to let go and open up new opportunities.

Key takeaways:

1. The four decision-making styles: Quick Deciders, Socializers, People Pleasers, and Evidence Weighers.

2. How to avoid "analysis paralysis" by setting boundaries.

3. Understanding the sunk cost fallacy and its impact on personal and professional decisions.

4. Creative ways to explore new paths, like trial runs and decision criteria tools.

If you're struggling with a tough choice or want help navigating change, we’re here to support you! Tune in next time for a discussion on remote team management best practices.

Connect with Shawna:

• Website: shawnacorden.com

• https://www.youtube.com/@shawnacorden

• Email: podcast@shawnacorden.com

• Instagram: @playbookforperformance

DON'T FORGET: If you found this episode helpful, leave a 5-star review or give us a thumbs-up on YouTube to help others find us!

In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked topic of strengths and how they can shape our personal and professional lives. We discuss the importance of recognizing and leveraging your natural abilities rather than striving for perfection. We also explore practical ways to identify your strengths using tools like Gallup's StrengthsFinder and learn how to maximize them to enhance individual and team performance.

Key takeaways:

1. Understanding what constitutes a true strength and why it’s crucial to focus on what comes naturally to you.

2. Tips for leaders to encourage and develop their team's strengths.

3. How to delegate tasks that drain your energy and focus on those that put you in a state of flow.

4. Building a personal "board of directors" to support your growth in various areas of life.

5. Strategies for expanding your strengths and reducing tasks that don’t align with them.

Tune in to discover how to make strengths the majority of your "life pie" and foster a more engaged, productive, and fulfilled team or personal life.

Connect with Shawna:

• Website: shawnacorden.com

• https://www.youtube.com/@shawnacorden

• Email: podcast@shawnacorden.com

• Instagram: @playbookforperformance

Next Episode Preview:

Remote Team Management – Tips and strategies for leading teams in a hybrid or fully remote work environment.

Want More?

Share your thoughts and feedback in the comments or reach out via www.shawnacorden.com. We'd love to hear what topics you'd like to explore next!

In this episode, we dive into the often-overlooked but crucial topic of team building. Shawna discusses the various aspects of team building, including communication, trust, problem-solving, and decision-making. She outlines the benefits of team building, such as improved collaboration, innovation, and trust within teams. Shawna also shares practical tips on how to incorporate team-building activities into your routine, the importance of psychological safety, and how to measure the effectiveness of these activities.

Key takeaways:

1. Types of Team Building: Understanding different communication styles, trust-building exercises, problem-solving challenges, and decision-making activities.

2. Benefits of Team Building: Enhanced team communication, collaboration, innovation, and trust.

3. Implementation Tips: Start small with regular, brief activities before investing in larger events. Ensure psychological safety and consider using a facilitator to maximize the effectiveness of team-building efforts.

4. Measuring Success: Look for signs of increased trust, better role understanding, and more efficient task handoffs among team members.

Connect with Shawna:

• Website: shawnacorden.com

• https://www.youtube.com/@shawnacorden

• Email: podcast@shawnacorden.com

• Instagram: @playbookforperformance

Next Episode Preview:

Shawna will explore leveraging individual strengths within a team to create a group of all-stars rather than a homogenous unit.

Call to action:

Interested in testing our new Resilience app? Email us at podcast@shawnacorden.com with "Beta Tester" in the subject line. If you need coaching support for your team, don’t hesitate to reach out!

In this episode of the Playbook for Performance podcast, host Shawna Corden dives into the vital topic of diversity and inclusion within teams. While this subject may seem over-discussed, Shawna brings a fresh perspective, sharing why diversity isn't just a buzzword but a critical driver for innovation, creativity, and effective decision-making.

Key takeaways:

1. Diversity in Teams: The importance of having diverse backgrounds and experiences in teams to foster innovative problem-solving.

2. Mastermind Groups: How diversity within mastermind groups can enhance personal and professional development.

3. Inclusion: Inclusion goes beyond just inviting someone to the table; it’s about ensuring they are prepared, confident, and able to contribute meaningfully.

4. Practical Tips: Role-playing, forming a personal board of directors, and engaging in "immersion therapy" to broaden perspectives.

5. Bias Awareness: The value of understanding personal biases and how they can impact decision-making.

6. Supporting Diversity: How to prepare and support diverse candidates for success within your organization.

Connect with Shawna:

• Website: shawnacorden.com

• https://www.youtube.com/@shawnacorden

• Email: podcast@shawnacorden.com

• Instagram: @playbookforperformance

Next Episode Preview:

Tune in next week as we explore team-building strategies that strengthen cohesion and upgrade team skills.

Special Announcement: Shawna is developing an app to improve resilience and is seeking beta testers. If you’re interested, email podcast@shawnacorden.com with "beta tester" in the subject line.

In this episode of "Playbook for Performance," Shawna Corden dives into the intricacies of performance management. Far from being a dreaded task, Shawna explains how setting clear expectations can transform this process into a seamless part of leadership.

Episode Highlights

1. Understanding Performance Management:

- Setting clear expectations for your team.

- Differentiating between job descriptions and position plans.

2. The Importance of Expectations:

- Aligning work with how it should be done and deadlines.

- Ensuring mutual understanding of tasks using metaphors like "paint the shed."

3. Managing Time and Projects:

- Balancing workload throughout the year with pie charts and forecasting.

- Addressing busy seasons and planning for personal and professional time.

4. Development Opportunities:

- Focusing on strengths over weaknesses.

- Utilizing mentoring and setting SMART goals for clarity and success.

5. Tracking Progress:

- Regular check-ins and feedback.

- Keeping detailed notes on individual progress.

6. Handling Underperformance:

- Assuming positive intent and offering support.

- Identifying capacity versus capability issues and providing necessary resources.

Resources:

• Contact Shawna Corden: shawna@shawnacorden.com

• Shawna’s book on conflict resolution and teamwork strategies

Next Episode Preview:

1. Topic: Diversity and Inclusion

2. Focus: The importance of diversity of thought in enriching teams and improving business outcomes.

Takeaway: Performance management is about setting clear expectations, fostering growth, and maintaining regular communication to ensure team success.