Leaders’ Playground

There’s dozens of leadership styles to try on, but choosing one off-the-rack can feel inauthentic, like putting on armor or wearing someone else’s clothes. How can you create a leadership identity that’s completely authentic? The answer lies in the one-of-a-kind design of your brain at its very bestYou're going to need a partner for this podcast episode (ideally) because we're going to use the power of storytelling to craft a leadership style that is uniquely yours. Personal narratives not only define but also strengthen authentic leadership. You'll walk away feeling seen, heard, and valued. You'll be more confident and ready for whatever challenge comes next because you can stand tall in your authentic leadershipResources:Learn more about the Heroine’s Journey Women’s Leadership Retreat: https://www.irenesalter.com/leadership-retreatBill George’s book, Authentic Leadership: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/255199.Authentic_LeadershipThe Brene Brown quote came from Dare to Lead: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40109367-dare-to-leadA lovely, very accessible article about how to be more authentic at work: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_be_more_authentic_at_workA great review article on post traumatic growth: http://bit.ly/3ZQRIjN Identifying your core values lies at the heart of authenticity. Go to the Resources section of my podcast page to download a worksheet to help you name your core values: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcastAnd if you liked this episode, check out Episode 3 to identify the five keys to identifying your leadership style.For complete show notes, transcript, and free downloadable resources go to: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcast

What can the Pixar movie Inside Out teach leaders about management? A lot!In this episode of "Leaders' Playground," we dive deep into the emotional landscape. A whirlwind of emotions can hit in a single day—fear, joy, sadness, and everything in between. By understanding those emotions, we can transform our leadership style.We unpack the science of emotions, drawing on the groundbreaking research of psychologists like Paul Ekman, Dacher Keltner, and Lisa Feldman Barrett. Discover how emotional awareness not only enhances personal well-being but also boosts team dynamics, productivity, and overall job satisfaction.As much as we might wish to shove emotions into a jar and pretend they don't exist, emotional intelligence can turn work into a far more enjoyable and fulfilling experience. Resources:Inside Out 1 trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRUAzGQ3nSYInside Out 2 trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEjhY15eCx0Plutchik’s Feelings Wheel and how to use it https://positivepsychology.com/emotion-wheel/Brené Brown’s list of emotions to expand emotional vocabulary https://brenebrown.com/resources/atlas-of-the-heart-list-of-emotions/Emotions Revealed by Paul Ekman https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/156462.Emotions_RevealedAwe by Dacher Keltner https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62352297-aweHow many emotions are there? This article explores the latest research. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_many_different_human_emotions_are_thereAtlas of the Heart by Brené Brown https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58330567-atlas-of-the-heartHow Emotions are Made by Lisa Feldman Barrett https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23719305-how-emotions-are-madeEmotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26329.Emotional_IntelligenceSome data on how EQ matters https://www.fastcompany.com/90614212/iq-vs-eq-in-the-workplaceAlisa Yu’s work at Stanford on why it pays to notice emotions https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/all-feels-why-it-pays-notice-emotions-workplaceMark Fenton-O’Creevy on the impact of emotions on picking stocks https://oro.open.ac.uk/31984/4/JOB-08-0440-pre-publication.pdfFor complete show notes, transcript, and free downloadable resources go to: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcast

The other day, my husband and I were looking at the impact of a recent heat wave on the trees near our property. Some trees were doing okay, others were dying. Why? We consider access to resources, the type of tree, the amount of shade, but ultimately, I think it comes down to the connection between trees -- whether they're all alone in a field or in relationship with others.Just as trees thrive in connected communities, so do we as humans. The Harvard Study of Adult Development shows that connectedness is key to health and happiness. There's lots of other data as well from workplaces and neighborhoods. In this episode, I’ll share practical strategies for deepening your relationships and building a supportive network, both at work and in your personal life. Join me to explore how nurturing our social ecosystems can make a real difference.Resources:Consider joining my Leadership circle and find connection of your own: https://www.irenesalter.com/leadership-circleRead all about the Harvard Study of Adult Development: https://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org/A National Geographic article with new developments on plant communication: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/plants-can-talk-yes-really-heres-how A lovely in depth article in Smithsonian on how trees communicate: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-whispering-trees-180968084/ Suzanne Simard’s TED talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/suzanne_simard_how_trees_talk_to_each_other/up-next?subtitle=enGallup Q12 has a lovely explanation for the best friend at work question in their survey: https://www.gallup.com/workplace/397058/increasing-importance-best-friend-work.aspx Read Richard Sampson’s book, The Great American City for more on the importance of social cohesion in neighborhoods: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/G/bo5514383.htmlCheck out Episode 4 where I talk about collective effervescence: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcastFor complete show notes, transcript, and free downloadable resources go to: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcast

Join me, Irene Salter, as I reflect on a serene visit to Arima Onsen, one of Japan's oldest and most charming hot springs. I'll describe how the tranquil waters and peaceful ambiance offered a profound sense of relaxation and inspired a deep dive into mindfulness.In this episode, I’ll  guide you through a centering meditation, dive into the neuroscience of mindfulness, and offer practical tips on how to bring the peace of a hot spring back to work, a moment of calm amidst life’s chaos. Tune in to explore how soaking in tranquility—whether through a hot spring or mindfulness practice—can renew your mind, body, and soul.Resources:This article in NPR was the one that led me to the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn: https://www.npr.org/2021/12/21/1066585316/mindfulness-meditation-with-john-kabat-zinnJon Kabat-Zinn’s website: https://jonkabat-zinn.com/For a fantastic, and fairly accessible review of your brain on mindfulness meditation, see this article in Nature Neuroscience: https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn3916But if you want a one-page infographic of your brain when centered, head to my podcast page to find that resource. Or better yet, subscribe to my newsletter and get beautiful illustrations of your mind on beauty, awe, adventure, and much more: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcastIf you’d like to access this episode’s centering meditation directly, you can download the audiofile at: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcastOr try one of many many others on my favorite mindfulness app, Buddify: https://buddhify.com/Episode 10 - Time confetti, goes more deeply into the default mode network: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcastHere’s the onsen that I went to visit in Arima: https://www.arima-gh.jp/en/For complete show notes, transcript, and free downloadable resources go to: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcast

Stuck in the grip of bad habits? Me too. In this episode, we dive into the challenge of altering entrenched habits, starting with my own terrible phone habits, ending with my friend who is shifting her company from a rigid, top-down culture to one driven by collaboration and innovation. Both scenarios highlight a common theme: despite knowing what needs to change, actual transformation is elusive.Our discussion will center on the science behind motivation and behavior change, drawing on Chip and Dan Heath's influential book, Switch. We'll dissect their "Rider and Elephant" analogy, exploring how our rational and emotional sides interplay. You'll learn strategies to direct the "Rider," motivate the "Elephant," and shape the "Path" to facilitate change.Resources:We’d love to see you at book club! https://www.irenesalter.com/leaders-campfireSwitch by Chip and Dan Heath: https://heathbrothers.com/books/switch/ Or check out the 16 minute summary video by the author: https://vimeo.com/191668697 Leaders' Playground Episodes 6 and 10  discuss cognitive load and working memory capacityThinking fast and slow by Daniel Kahneman: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11468377-thinking-fast-and-slowAtomic habits by James Clear: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40121378-atomic-habitsPositive psychology on the science of motivation: https://positivepsychology.com/improving-motivation-at-work/Attuned.ai has a beautiful, easy to read, free white paper comparing extrinsic and intrinsic motivation: https://www.attuned.ai/whitepaper-intrinsic-motivation-downloadMotivation pyramid graphic can be found under podcast resources on my website: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcastFor complete show notes, transcript, and free downloadable resources go to: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcast

Ready to ditch the "super-mom" cape and toss out those impossible workplace expectations? The newest episode of eaders' Playground" is here to shake things up!We're diving into the wild world of social norms and asking the big questions: Can anyone really "have it all"? Why do we keep tying ourselves in knots to please everyone? And what does Barbie have to say about it all?Join us for a fun, science-filled ride (yes, fun and science belong together) as we explore the myths we've all bought into - from the "ideal worker" (hello, 24/7 email responder!) to  "ideal success" (TED talk, anyone?). We'll chat about cognitive biases, share  stories, and even draw our own "ideal" selves (spoiler: mine looked suspiciously like Legally Blonde's Elle Woods).So grab a coffee, put your feet up, and let's rewrite those old-school rules together. It's time to turn work into play and find success on our own terms. Who's in?Resources:The Barbie movie: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1517268/America Ferrera’s monologue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBqlDWHkdHkPsychology 101 primer on social norms: https://www.simplypsychology.org/social-roles.html All about that persnickety anchoring bias: https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/anchoring-biasGreat Forbes article on the bandwagon effect: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brycehoffman/2024/05/26/bandwagon-effect-what-it-is-and-how-to-overcome-it/Find Brigid Schulte’s fabulous books and TED talk here: https://www.brigidschulte.com/Why Women Still Can’t Have it All by Anne-Marie Slaughter: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/07/why-women-still-cant-have-it-all/309020/William Ouchi’s Theory Z merges Japanese and American management philosophies: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_Z_of_OuchiIf ideals show up for you in the form of impostor syndrome, then check this out: https://www.irenesalter.com/post/how-to-get-good-at-impostor-syndromeFor complete show notes, transcript, and free downloadable resources go to: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcast

Can anyone truly become a master, or is it a talent reserved for the naturally gifted? This episode of the Leader's Playground promises to shatter the myth that genius is inborn by drawing upon Robert Greene's book "Mastery" and the lives of icons like Zora Neale Hurston, Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, and Ben Franklin. We'll reveal the hidden truths behind their extraordinary achievements—truths rooted in relentless dedication, practice, and the honing of unique talents. And of course we'll dive into the neuroscience of mastery! Are new neurons are born in adult brains? How did bird brains help change the minds of an entire field? What actually happens to a master's brain as they hone their craft? How long does it take?Ultimately, we find that mastery is within reach for all of us.For complete show notes, transcript, and free downloadable resources go to: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcast

Tick-tock goes the clock, echoing the relentlessly busy pace of life. From my early days as a teacher to life as a principal juggling a young family, my obsession with time management and productivity twisted my days into a chaotic, multitasking, exhausting whirlwind.In this episode, we explore the concept of "Time Confetti," a term coined by Brigid Schulte, representing the way time in our modern lives gets chopped up into tiny scraps like confetti. Through a series of experiments (try it with me!) and surprising studies (featuring a unicycling clown?!?) we'll explore the science of task switching and multitasking, revealing how they drain energy, increase errors, and reduce productivity.We'll end with practical tips for reclaiming your time, from focused time blocking to batching small tasks. Transform your scattered days into a balanced flow, achieving what time researchers call "Time Serenity."Resources:Read Brigid Schulte’s book Overwhelmed! It’s great. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17934399-overwhelmed?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=dej8btydIc&rank=3In this episode I mention... Episode 5 about avoiding overwhelm https://leadersplayground.buzzsprout.com/2282726/14850884-5-how-to-cut-one-million-to-do-items-down-to-just-threeEpisode 6 where we talk about decision fatigue https://leadersplayground.buzzsprout.com/2282726/14967365-6-how-to-dump-delegate-date-do-re-define-your-to-do-listEpisode 9 about executive attention and default mode https://leadersplayground.buzzsprout.com/2282726/15196587-9-four-ways-to-make-conferences-worth-the-effort-with-the-science-of-creativityHere’s a link to some NYTimes coverage about that WWU study on task switching https://archive.nytimes.com/well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/what-clown-on-a-unicycle-studying-cell-phone-distraction/To learn more about time blocking and bunching the little things, see this blog post https://www.irenesalter.com/post/overwhelmed-by-your-to-do-list-5d-s-to-the-rescueLearn about pulsing in Tony Schwarts’s book The Power of Full Engagement https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68985.The_Power_of_Full_Engagement?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=m3DBV1malu&rank=1For complete show notes, transcript, and free downloadable resources go to: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcast

Why do we endure the hassle of conferences and retreats with time away from family, expensive travel, noisy venues, and exhausting days? The allure of online professional development is strong. Yet, something magical happens at the best events that leave us feeling rejuvenated and inspired. Why?In this episode, we’ll learn what makes some conferences and retreats so powerfully invigorating. After attending a playful and creative DnD convention, I began to see a pattern. The best events reignite our creativity. We explore three unique professional gatherings I experienced this year, dive into the four stages of creativity, and learn how to harness this power to make our future conferences and everyday lives more creative and fulfilling.Join us to discover the top 4 ways to transform your next conference into a creativity-fueled adventure!Resources:Links to the four conferences I mention in the episode:Join me in Mendocino for the annual women’s leadership retreat! https://www.irenesalter.com/leadership-retreatCharter School Development Center’s annual Leadership Update and other trainings https://www.chartercenter.org/support/leadership-trainingsDunDraCon an annual Dungeons & Dragons convention takes place Presidents Day weekend every year https://www.dundracon.com/Book Passage Travel Writers and Photographers Conference https://www.bookpassage.com/travelThis BYU article offers a great introduction to Graham Wallas’ four stages of creativity https://www.designreview.byu.edu/collections/graham-wallas-the-creative-processThis is a surprisingly readable research report on the neuroscience of creativity in the premier scientific journal, Nature: https://www.nature.com/articles/srep10964.pdfAnna Abraham’s book, The Neuroscience of Creativity, is a great deep dive http://www.anna-abraham.com/book-the-neuroscience-of-creativity-2018.htmlFor more on the stuck cycle vs inquiry cycle https://www.irenesalter.com/post/are-you-stuckFor complete show notes, transcript, and free downloadable resources go to: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcast

Why can music move you to tears, while other times you walk right by it, not noticing? Why does some art freeze you in your tracks, but other times it's just a desktop screensaver? How does beauty happen in the brain?In this episode we visit Paris! We'll explore museums, chapels, and subway stations on an expedition to understand your brain on beauty.  You'll meet several neuroscientists who specialize in neuroaesthetics such as Andrew Chatterjee and Samir Zeki, as well as violinist Joshua Bell who conducted a social experiment in the subway that reveals a lot about how to prime your brain to find more beauty. Together, we'll learn practical ways to shift your perspective in order to find beauty even in the most mundane everyday moments. The writer Leo Tolstoy said, “We are accustomed to understand art to be only what we hear and see in theatres, concerts, and exhibitions... But all this is but the smallest part of the art by which we communicate with each other in life.” By understanding the neuroscience of beauty, we can understand how to find beauty everywhere.Resources:Learn more about my book at https://www.irenesalterbooks.com Original Joshua Bell in the subway video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnOPu0_YWhw Joshua Bell returns to the subway 10 years later: ​​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJhZ0J3bIYcAnjan Chatterjee’s book, TED talk, and research on the three components to beauty in the brain https://www.ted.com/speakers/anjan_chatterjeeSemir Zeki’s work on beauty and the mOFC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlzanAw0RP4The fMRI research on how shifting perspective shifts the perception of beauty https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2009-22048-052If you’re in Paris, go visit the Musee D’Orsay https://www.musee-orsay.fr/enAnd go see Rodin’s Dance at the Moulin de la Galette https://mymodernmet.com/renoir-bal-du-moulin-de-la-galette/Or listen to a concert in Saint Chapelle https://www.classictic.com/en/special/concerts-in-la-sainte-chapelle/216/For complete show notes, transcript, and free downloadable resources go to: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcast