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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.

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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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In this episode of The Leadership Vision Podcast, host Nathan Freeburg and Dr. Linda Schubring welcome Constantinos 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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CONTACT US

• email: connect@leadershipvisionconsulting.com
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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.