Leading Elephants

Your message isn’t getting through because you may be making this common mistake… Leaders often face a variety of pressures and priorities as they face decisions in front of them. But when we try to make our case for a topic that matters us, we may simplify and narrow our focus to the most straightforward path 🛑We make the mistake of focusing on just one aspect of a complex issue rather than considering all factors and individuals involved.🛑 Imagine your colleague, Alex, is passionate about improving team productivity. They keep hammering on one point—"We need more hours from everyone to meet our goal!"—without addressing other factors like morale, tools, or work-life balance. The result? Alex’s colleagues tune out, feeling overwhelmed and unappreciated. Simplifying complex issues hurts your influence. By focusing too narrowly, Alex is playing just one note, and it’s drowning out the bigger picture. Their colleagues are less likely to take them seriously because they see the approach as oversimplified and out of touch. Out of touch. Out of relationship. And out of the cache of empathy needed to motivate others. Ask yourself… Do you know the priorities, barriers, responsibilities, and motivations of those you are influencing? Consider the broader context, acknowledge different perspectives, and offer balanced solutions. When you do this, you’re not just making noise—you’re making music that resonates. Lead your peers to tune in such that they listen, are engaged and take action. In our upcoming session on influence, you'll learn how to see the full picture of any challenge. By mastering the art of influence, you'll expand your approach, make a bigger impact, and truly connect with others to drive change. Join us October 1st! https://hubs.li/Q02MxKJW0 #LevelUpLab #LeadingElephants #Management #Influence

🌟 Meet Rene Morgan, Dynamic Leadership Coach at Leading Elephants!🌟 Rene is an executive coach and facilitator with extensive experience in leading initiatives centered on partnership, strategy, and organizational culture. Her commitment to embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion and emotional intelligence into her practice sets her apart as a coach who encourages building deep adaptive and technical skills. Rene's passion lies in curating transformative experiences for professionals. She excels in cohort-based learning and professional development, always aiming to build the confidence and capacity of those she supports. One of the things we love about Rene is how she champions compassionate leadership. She shows how relationships and empathy can transform the everyday moments in the workplace. All of this is why we are thrilled to announce that Rene will facilitate the upcoming workshop, Leadership Amplified: Strategies to Increase Influence and Expand Your Impact on October 1st. Her dedication to nurturing leaders and creating supportive, equitable environments makes her a wonderful facilitator for this workshop. We can’t wait to explore with her the concepts of trust and influence and how they affect the work of leaders and their teams. Join us to see Rene in action and gain insights to amplify your leadership skills and expand your impact! https://hubs.li/Q02Mzb0G0 🚀#LevelUpLab #Leadership #ExecutiveCoaching #ProfessionalDevelopment #Influence

🤩Who needs coffee when you’ve got this?! 🤩 As professionals, it's easy to get caught up in the daily grind, but let's not forget what truly fuels us: joy. The things that light us up outside of work—whether it's spending time with loved ones, engaging in a hobby, or simply taking a peaceful walk—can bring incredible energy and resilience into our work lives. When we feel whole and allow our true selves to shine at work, we are not only happier but also more efficient and connected with our peers through the sharing of our experiences. People who feel a sense of belonging and joy are less likely to report burnout, and more likely to build strong, supportive communities at work. On our team, we believe in creating an environment where everyone can bring their full selves to work. This means celebrating what brings us joy, supporting each other, and holding space for the moments that make us smile. ✨Here are some of those moments: Jess The constant joy of my life is getting to experience it with my built-in best friends, my sisters! My youngest sister, whose name is actually Joy 😆, recently turned 30 and we planned a surprise birthday trip to New Orleans! Celebrating the amazing woman she is brought me so much happiness. We took in a show, delicious dinners and our accommodations were so great, we’re already planning another trip. Maybe for a special occasion or maybe not…there is no shortage of reasons to gather in our group. Photo credits: My sisters and me in matching shirts we made for my sister’s birthday! FYI: I’m the one on the far left. (top) Michelle One joy of our new hometown is making the most amazing friends of all ages!! Last Saturday, Alex and I attended a raucous 75th birthday party on a nearby island desi masquerading as (of all things) a Festive Funeral! (aka The Day of the Not So Dead). The athletic guest of honor celebrated the departure of several recently replaced joints with a musical procession, speeches, music, dinner and dancing that would give our New Orleans friends a run for their money! Picture credits: My gorgeous husband Alex and me, dressed as the angel of death! (bottom right) Amber Outside of work, I love to share connections with my family, even when they are far away. As an aunt to 20 nieces and nephews, I love to cheer them on and build memories with them. But the thing that is extra special is when I get a chance for in person 1:1 time like I shared recently with her 17 year old niece Katie who visited from her ranching community in Idaho! Photo credits: My niece Katie and I at an Oakland A's game. (bottom left) At Leading Elephants, we love to share the joys that fill our cups with each other. It helps lighten the days when they get long and allows us to see the full tapestry of each other's lives. Let's continue to celebrate the things that make us feel alive and bring that energy into everything we do. After all, a joyful team is a thriving team! 💪✨ #LevelUpLab #LeadingElephants ...

🌟 Ready to wield influence for greater impact and better relationships at work? 🌟 Join us for our upcoming Level Up Lab workshop, Leadership Amplified: Strategies to Increase Influence and Expand Your Impact, on October 1st. Learn practical strategies to influence the things that matter most to you and your team. Don’t miss out—register today for the early bird rate! https://hubs.li/Q02MxRWg0 #LevelUpLab #LeadingElephants #Trust #Influence #Leadership

🏃♂️💨 You won’t get off the starting block as an influential leader without trust. Olympians like Simone Biles, Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, and Katie Ledecky credit visualization for giving them a powerful head start. In leadership, trust plays that same role. When people can see how your ideas connect with their needs, that relationship becomes your launchpad for your next change initiative, program, or project. As Charles H. Green, author of “The Trusted Advisor,” said, “the level of trust in work relationships … is the greatest determinant of success.” This may seem straightforward, but it’s easy to overlook a critical factor: a lack of influence often stems from weak or damaged relationships. We can often assume that people know a good idea when they see it, and we think that the way to lead well is to be convincing. But influence is felt as much as it is understood. When we do successfully influence others, it's usually because we've built strong rapport. Simply put, trust is the key that unlocks influence. Without it, our attempts to persuade fall flat; with it, the chances of making an impact soar. How do you become a trusted leader to others? Join us on October 1 to find out! We will share how to build trust and leverage it to lead with impact. Give yourself the head start you need to influence effectively. https://hubs.li/Q02MxMMT0 #LevelUpLab #LeadingElephants #WorkplaceRelationships #Trust #Influence

😮💨 Deep sigh. Those moments where we see a solution to a problem where others aren’t convinced or haven’t acted on can be frustrating. Maybe you have tried to offer suggestions but haven’t been heard. Or you don’t try because you think it is a lost cause. Or maybe you think only certain people can influence and you don’t have enough positional power. But what if we told you your title or tenure don’t have to be a barrier to influence? Influence isn’t some elusive power reserved for a select few; it’s a skill, a learned experience that anyone can develop. The key is recognizing that influence is not just about authority or position, but about the ability to connect, communicate, and inspire action. Influence is built on a foundation of trust, authenticity, and a deep understanding of what motivates others. It’s not a one-time effort, but a continuous process of learning, adapting, and refining your approach. Whether you’re leading a team, advocating for an idea, or simply trying to make a difference, influence is within your reach—if you’re willing to invest in it. The journey to influencing requires both knowledge and skill. Our upcoming session on October 1st will explore how to successfully influence the things you care about. https://hubs.li/Q02M7mwz0 #LevelUpLab #LeadingElephants #Influence #Collaboration

You are exhausted. 😮💨 And you are not alone. Overwhelm is perhaps the most sticky challenge we see in our work. So many leaders, teams and organizations are just trying to survive this day / week / season .. with hopes of more spaciousness ahead. But that day never seems to come. Busyness in America has morphed from a short-term condition to a way of life. Adam Waytz in his book “The Power of Human” shares an anecdote about an immigrant he met who defined “busy” as a synonym for “good!” Why? Because when he asked people, “How are you doing?” most of the time they responded, “Busy.” We are thinking a lot this season about how we help you create more “wow” at work rather than “whew! I made it through the day!” and how to bring more joy. Read our blog where Michelle has taken the pen to Michelle takes the pen today on a phenomenon affecting us all in American culture and suggests ways to nudge this epidemic of burnout into remission. https://hubs.li/Q02LnDHf0 And if competing priorities for your work and challenging interpersonal dynamics are contributing to your sense of overwhelm, we can help you find solutions in our upcoming Level Up Lab offerings. Check them out on our website! https://hubs.li/Q02LnDMX0 #LevelUpLab #LeadingElephants #WorkplaceChallenges #BuildTrust

Last chance to register for our "From Pinch to Partnership" Level Up Lab! This interactive workshop will equip you with a powerful framework for understanding and addressing workplace friction so you can guide your team toward greater collaboration and success. Take advantage of this opportunity to invest in your leadership growth - registration closes August 8! https://hubs.li/Q02FvB_T0 #LevelUpLab #LeadingElephants #LastChance #LeadershipSkills

How did OCN navigate leadership changes and rebuild trust? OCN's leadership team was at a breaking point. Financial woes, leadership turnover, and a fractured culture had taken their toll, leaving principals feeling isolated and central office leaders struggling to hold everything together. If OCN leaders couldn’t find a way to figure out the path forward together, it was possible that there wouldn’t be an organization going forward. But a glimmer of hope emerged. With support, the leaders began to listen, share, and rebuild trust. Would this be enough to pull OCN back from the brink and unite them in a shared vision for the future? Click here to read about their story.

🌟🔓 Have You Been Pondering Leadership Coaching?🔓 🌟 You think you’re ready to step up your leadership but maybe… 🔒Feeling like you're on the sidelines, watching others make decisions in "the room where it happens"? 🔒Struggling to get others on board with your ideas or influence the direction of your organization? 🔒Or maybe you're being called to step into the spotlight but feel unsure of how to do so authentically. It's okay to feel vulnerable in these moments, but with coaching, you can turn that vulnerability into strength. Coaching with Leading Elephants provides you with the tools and strategies to make a meaningful impact while building lasting relationships that ensure continued success. Our experienced coaches have walked in your shoes and have the expertise to guide you through challenges and opportunities at every level of leadership. With coaching, you can become the kind of leader you've always aspired to be. Curious to learn more? Visit our website to request a free consultation and chat with one of our coaches. https://hubs.li/Q02tRsHn0 #LeadershipCoaching #Influence #SystemsLeadership #ProfessionalDevelopment #LeadingElephants 🐘