Shows
The Alley Church Podcast“Validation from the Cross, Not the Crowd” - with Special Guest Samantha HoggMain Verse:“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”— Galatians 1:10 1. Introduction – Who Are You Living For?Church, let me ask you something today.Not just something surface. Something that presses into the real you.The you behind the outfit. Behind the story. Behind the social media.Whose ap...
2025-09-0735 minThe Alley Church PodcastA New Year, A New Opportunity - Philippians 3:12-14A New Year, A New Opportunity - Hello 2025Philippians 3:12-14 We are having our worlds collide this morning by combining our Shandel Group Coaching with the Alley Church. This is a motivational message for setting goals in the new year in the most important area in your life. Your relationship with Jesus.SMART goals for Jesus people! specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Get into the right frame of mind and take a moment to th...
2025-01-0443 min
Lead For ClarityTrust is Either Eroding or GrowingTrust is either growing or eroding. So let's talk about growth. When trust is growing, you are working at it. You are putting effort into it. You are, taking vulnerable chances. You are sharing your weaknesses. You are sharing your strengths. I think sometimes it's harder to share our strengths than it is to reveal our weaknesses.Thanks for joining me - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website and follow us on social media...
2024-07-0909 minLead For ClarityLeading Without Burning Out: The Importance of Prioritizing BalanceIn this episode, Shandel and Melanie discuss strategies for avoiding burnout through effective time management and prioritizing what matters most. They explore an assessment tool for gaining clarity on life priorities across different categories like work, family, health, and more. The team reflects on seasons in their own lives when work consumed too much energy, and how they've worked to establish better balance. Melanie shares how realizing she was negatively impacting her team's work-life balance through her own habits prompted change. This discussion highlights the importance of leaders setting the right example to avoid normalizing overwork cultures...
2024-05-2815 minLead For ClarityMastering Your Time: Finding Balance Through Self-AwarenessWelcome to another episode of Lead for Clarity! Today Shandel Sutherland and Melanie Montgomery continue their discussion on mastering your time through a leadership approach to balance. They dive deeper into understanding personal work styles and strengths using tools like the Working Genius model and DISC assessments. Shandel and Melanie share insights into their own styles and how they maximize productivity. Practical tips are provided for avoiding distractions and staying focused, like using timers and scheduling focused work periods.Melanie and Shandel emphasize the importance of self-awareness. Only by understanding your energy levels, strengths, and w...
2024-05-1021 minLead For ClarityWhy Don't We Delegate? Navigating Trust Issues and PrideIn this episode of Lead for Clarity, Melanie and Shandel discuss the common challenges that prevent effective delegation in leadership. They share stories from their own experiences struggling to delegate tasks and identify issues like lack of trust, pride, and not having systems in place. The team also provides strategies for overcoming these barriers, such as embracing mistakes, building relationships, and communicating expectations. They emphasize the importance of delegation for career development and empowering teams. The hosts encourage listeners to recognize excuses and delegate tasks with a growth mindset.Key Takeaways: Delegation is a process that r...
2024-03-2220 minThe Alley Church PodcastThe One Thing - WOW ladies event!!! - Shandel SutherlandThe One Thing: One Thing You Need, One Thing You Lack, One Thing I DoEXERCISE…Take out the lyrics in front of youHOW SATISFIED / HAPPY? On the piece of paper write down on a scale of 1-10 10 being can’t name one thing that would make me more satisfied than I am today. 1 - being I have really nothing satisfying about my life. Quickly just name a few things that would make it a ten or your score hgher
2024-03-1738 minLead For ClarityTaking Back Control: How Delegation Empowers Leaders and TeamsShandel and Melanie discuss the importance of delegation for leaders and teams. They explore how to build trust and confidence through communication to build a foundation to delegate effectively. Learn how to avoid frustration when others do tasks differently and build a growth mindset. The team shares tips on understanding team members' strengths and weaknesses to set them up for success. Listen in to discover how delegation can help prioritize values, avoid burnout, and create room for visionary work!Click HERE to register for our FREE live webinar, Transformative Delegation: Unleashing Potential in Your...
2024-03-0619 minLead For ClarityFrom Fear to Fulfillment: Overcoming Obstacles to Reach Your PotentialThis episode features a conversation with Scott Sutherland about his experience going through Shandel Group's 12-week coaching program and achieving success in the "profit" stage of the Process of Sustainable Growth. Scott shares how he overcame his lifelong fear of failure by setting clear goals with Melanie and challenging himself to step outside his comfort zone. Through the accountability of the program, Scott was able to accomplish his goals of improving his leadership skills.As a result of facing his challenges, Scott has found fulfillment in his daily work running a bowling business. He enjoys embracing new...
2024-02-1523 minLead For ClarityGetting Back on Track: Listening to Your Internal Dialogue and Recognizing the Signs of DisconnectShandel and Melanie discuss the signs and dangers of falling into an "unhealthy cycle of misery" as a leader. They explore how fear, insecurity, and a lack of humility can disconnect leaders from their values and damage relationships with their team. However, they emphasize that recognizing when you've gone off track is the first step to getting back to purposeful, values-aligned growth.Key Takeaways:Pay attention to your internal dialogue, as it can provide insights into where you are in your leadership growth and when you may have fallen into a "Cycle of Misery."Don't be...
2024-01-3120 minLead For ClarityPruning for Sustainable Growth: A Nonprofit's Guide to Healthy ChangeThis podcast episode features Nancy Bacon discussing the important process of "pruning" for nonprofit organizations to experience sustainable growth. The team provided helpful framing and strategies for nonprofits to thoughtfully prune in a way that supports their long-term health, impact, and sustainable growth while staying aligned with their core reasons for existing. Both organizations and individuals should reflect on how to "prune" themselves to better support others in taking action.It's important to periodically "prune" programs and practices through a lens of what still aligns with an organization's mission and purpose is important for sustainable growth. Honoring...
2024-01-2321 minLead For ClarityThe Importance of Employee Experience in the Progress Stage of Sustainable GrowthAs companies hit the progress stage of growth, it's important not to get complacent and assume the hard work is over. In this episode, Melanie, Shandel and guest, HR consultant Skye Mercer, discuss strategies for acknowledging success, getting employee feedback, and pruning back to set yourself up for continued growth. Skye shares insights on navigating the progress stage of growth. The team discusses the importance of employee experience and having strong HR foundations in place. Skye offers tips for celebrating accomplishments, conducting annual planning, checking in with teams, and letting go of old habits to prepare for...
2024-01-1721 minLead For ClarityOvercoming Obstacles and Evolving Your Leadership: Lessons of Accountability, Communication, and ProgressShandel and Melanie interview Aliza Brown about her experience navigating the Plant stage of growth. Aliza discusses shedding old mindsets of overcommitting and multitasking in favor of consistency, accountability, and communicating clearly. She shares obstacles faced like not asking enough questions, and strategies used like finding trusted advisors. Aliza emphasizes the importance of evolving one's leadership approach through self-reflection on values.Key Takeaways:The importance of shedding old mindsets like multitasking and short-term gratification in favor of consistency, accountability, and focusing on long-term impact.The importance of communication, both written and in-person, and finding the right...
2024-01-0921 minThe Alley Church PodcastLoving InclusivelyToday is a topic from one of you. If you have something you’d like us to talk about, please let us know and if you could put it in writing and give it to Sandy, or John that would be great.So today’s topic is answering the question about what is Progressive Christianity and how we in our church be lovingly “inclusive” of everyone.This is a very important topic because it’s very relevant to our culture today. Shandel and I sat in churches our...
2024-01-0749 minLead For ClarityBuilding Trust and Connecting with Your Team: An Executive's Perspective on Shifting from Boss to CoachShandel and Melanie welcome a special guest, Ed Wickman, to discuss his experiences with the Purposefully Connect stage of the Process of Sustainable Growth. The team explores the concepts of the healthy cycle of growth versus the unhealthy cycle of misery. Ed reflects on how early in his career he lacked leadership tools and fell into a "boss mentality." He contrasts this with his current approach of aligning teams around shared values and purpose. Ed shares his insights, favorite tools and leadership approaches! Key Takeaways: Focus on building trust and authentic connections with employees. Get to kn...
2024-01-0219 minLead For ClarityFocusing Your Fire: Using SMART Goals to Achieve What Matters Most in 2024In this episode, hosts Shandel and Melanie provide listeners with strategies and tips for effectively setting goals for the new year 2024. The team talks through digging into the "why" behind goals and drivers, what success specifically looks like numerically, creating attainable action plans, planning for life obstacles, and making goals connect to one's deepest values and purpose. They discuss the importance of having both a strategic plan as well as flexibility to adapt goals over time. Distinguishing between surface level "symptoms" like customer service issues, versus deeper underlying "causes" such as low morale or lack of tools t...
2023-12-1919 minLead For ClarityHow Navigating Discomfort Leads to Trust and Connection: A Naval Officer's Journey of Self-Reflection and Team DevelopmentThis episode of Lead for Clarity focused on the "pain stage" of the Process of Sustainable Growth. Shandel and Melanie interviewed their guest, Rob Shipp, about his experiences in the Navy and how he has worked to develop trust with his team. Rob discussed how he realized the Navy hadn't been focusing enough on developing leadership skills. He worked with Melanie to provide a 9-week leadership training program for his team. The discussion explored how acknowledging pain and being uncomfortable can help drive growth. Rob also shared personal stories about improving communication with his children and looking inward at...
2023-12-1221 minLead For ClarityJames 5: 19-20 - Loving The Wandererthe truth and is brought back, (20) you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.Review:Confess your sins to each other, and pray for each other so that you may be healed. This was last week's message. This week is when someone is not confessing and they should be. :) ASK: Why would someone wander from the truth?They do NO...
2023-12-1038 minLead For ClarityClarity, Confidence and Opportunity: What Happens When You Focus on Your ValuesShandel Sutherland and Melanie Montgomery welcome back guest Lydia Faitalia. Lydia shares how centering her values helped bring balance and opportunities in her life as a working mom. She shared her story of centering her life around her values, having hard conversations, digging deep within herself, and building a fulfilling career. Having the courage to confront difficult issues and go through hard situations, even if it meant disappointing others, allowed her to thrive.Focusing on and centering your life and decisions around your core values can lead to positive growth, shifts, and opportunities. It's important to take...
2023-12-0519 minLead For ClarityTruth, Trust, and Humility: Keys to Escaping the Cycle of Misery and Reconnecting to Values-Based GrowthIn this episode, Shandel Sutherland and Melanie Montgomery discuss the dangers of "off ramping" from sustainable growth and entering an "unhealthy cycle of misery." They provide frameworks to identify unhealthy vs. healthy leadership cycles and steps to get back on track.Off ramping occurs when leaders stop investing in growth and instead focus only on short-term wins and survival. This leads to an "unhealthy cycle of misery" characterized by negative mindsets, culture, and lack of positive change. The cycle of misery centers around having a "victor" mindset of only caring about winning rather than values. B...
2023-11-2820 minLead For ClarityReaching Profit: Celebrating Success and Tackling New ChallengesThis episode of Lead for Clarity focuses on the final stage of the Process of Sustainable Growth - Profit. Shandel and Melanie discuss what profit means beyond just monetary gains, emphasizing things like team morale, effectiveness, and clarity of vision. ACTions to take in the profit stage are accomplishing the mission, conveying appreciation and celebration, and tackling the next pain point or challenge.Properly reflecting on accomplishments and celebrating as a team builds stronger relationships and confidence to tackle what's next in the continuous process of sustainable growth. Leaders should give themselves and their teams permission to...
2023-11-1419 minThe Alley Church PodcastJames 5: 9-12 Stop It!This one might be hard to hear... Shandel lost her voice, so it is a quiet one - enjoy.James 5: 9-12 Stop It!James has been talking to us about what it looks like when you are living a life dependent on Jesus. We have talked about worry, asking for wisdom, resisting sin, the self-indulgence of money, and a host of other things… last week we started on the subject of patience by discussing the end times and the patience of waiting for the coming of the Lord.Th...
2023-11-1442 minLead For ClarityPruning for Progress: How to Thoughtfully Trim the Excess to Focus on Long-Term GrowthIn this podcast episode, Shandel and Melanie the important but often overlooked "prune" stage of the growth process. They explain why pruning is necessary for long-term sustainable growth and share tools and strategies for effectively pruning at both the individual and organizational levels. Listeners will learn a framework for effectively navigating this stage of growth through asking questions, collaborating with others, and carefully trimming areas that are no longer serving long-term goals.The episode provides a framework for thoughtfully navigating the prune stage through collaboration and trimming non-essential things to focus on long-term sustainable growth. Pruning involves...
2023-11-0819 minLead For ClarityCelebrating Milestones: A Key to Sustainable GrowthIn this episode, Shandel and Melanie discuss the key stages of the growth process model, with a focus on navigating the Progress stage. The team stresses the importance of celebrating milestones to maintain motivation as changes start to take shape. Checking in on morale and buy-in, simplifying processes, and clear communication are also highlighted as important factors for success during this phase. The discussion provides actionable tips leaders and individuals can apply to stay on track during periods of progress.The Progress stage of the Cycle for Sustainable Growth is where changes start to be seen. The...
2023-10-3119 minLead For ClarityLeading Through the Plant Stage: Investing in Training and Development for Lasting ChangeIn this episode, Shandel and Melanie discuss the third stage of the Process for Sustainable Growth - the Plant Stage. This stage is all about doing the hard work of implementing changes after an initial period of excitement. Lasting change requires continuing the hard work of implementation even after the initial excitement fades. Sticking with training, accountability practices and skill-building leads to profound results.It's important to have patience during the Plant Stage as new habits and behaviors take hold over time. Sticking with the process of implementation and not giving up prematurely is critical for success...
2023-10-2419 minLead For ClarityLiving Your Values: Commit to It & Do ItShandel shares the "Commit to It and Do It" framework she presented in Germany for living according to one's core values. She outlines the six steps using the acronym COMMIT: Clarify values, Organize life around them, acknowledge Misery as a sign you've strayed, Make hard decisions, Invest in your values, Trust yourself by not compromising.The COMMIT Framework: C - Clarify your top 5 values. Getting crystal clear on the values that are most important to you is essential for the next steps. Clarity provides focus.O - Organize your life around those values. O...
2023-10-1719 minLead For ClarityNavigating the "Purposely Connect" Stage of Growth through Effective Alignment, Communication and Trust-BuildingShandel and Melanie discuss the "Purposely Connect" stage of the business growth process. They explore how teams can effectively align around purpose, mission and values through communication. They share tools like DISC assessments, Enneagram and Lencioni's working genius that provide insights into communication styles and working preferences. They emphasize the importance of developing trust within the team and resolving conflicts in a healthy manner. The discussion also covers mindset shifts, accountability and understanding different perspectives. The team shares guidance for teams on navigating the "Purposely Connect" stage through alignment, communication and trust-building.Introduction:- Overview of...
2023-10-1019 minLead For ClarityEmbracing Discomfort, Assessing Pain & Uncovering Opportunities for GrowthEmbracing discomfort and assessing pain points is necessary for growth as an individual, team and organization. In this episode, Shandel and Melanie discuss the first stage in the Process for Sustainable Growth, which is Pain. The ACTion steps in this stage is: Assess the Gaps, Character, Competencies & Capacity and Trailblaze through the pain.It’s important to dig into root causes rather than just symptoms is important to create effective and sustainable change. Character, competencies, and capacities should be assessed to understand where development is needed. Tools like 360 reviews, SWOT analysis and feedback surveys can hel...
2023-10-0319 minLead For ClarityDiscovering Your Values: The Key to Sustainable GrowthShandel and Melanie dig into what's at the center of the Process for Sustainable Growth - Values. Living our values (even when it's hard) keeps us in the healthy cycle of growth and moving in the right direction. Values evolve when we do hard work on ourselves and lean into personal growth. As we grow, we start to uncover parts of ourselves that we weren’t able to lean into before, or find things that we didn’t realize were so important to us. Finding our values is so important and digging into what really drives us? W...
2023-09-2819 minThe Alley Church PodcastWhy Do We Tolerate This Sin? James 4: 11-12Sins We TolerateJames 4: 11-12(11) Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. (12) God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor? NLTWe have talked quite a bit about our words and how difficult it is to cont...
2023-09-2640 minLead For ClarityThe Process for Sustainable GrowthThe Shandel Group team is back for Season 5 to discuss the Process for Sustainable Growth, a framework developed to support sustainable growth of organizations, teams and individuals. It's important to remember that growth is uncomfortable and we have to push ourselves into that discomfort, otherwise we will end up moving forward in an unhealthy way. The Process guides us to consciously think through how we grow to make sure we are growing in the right direction. The Process outlines the 6 stages you can anticipate going through any time you grow. The stages are - Pain, Purposefully C...
2023-09-1919 minThe Alley Church PodcastJames 4: 4-10 - Submit yourself to God - Part 2Submit yourself to God Part 2James 4: 4-10 - PART 2The solution - We must HUMBLE ourselves - Draw near to God, and resist the devil by RESISTing the World.READ: 4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that th...
2023-09-1743 minThe Alley Church PodcastJames 4: 4-10 Submit yourself to God - pt 1This morning is part 1 of 2 on You Are the Bride of ChristThere are 3 things we are going to talk about today:The RebukeThe ProblemThe Solution(4) You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. (5) Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to...
2023-09-1148 minThe Alley Church PodcastJames 4:1-3 - War, Pleasure, and JesusJames 4:1-3(1) What cuses fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? (2) You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. (3) When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.Recap: The “good life” is life with Jesus. This is the Jesus...
2023-09-0442 minThe Alley Church PodcastThe Good Life James 3:13-18(13) Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. (14) But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. (15) Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. (16) For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.(17) But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and...
2023-08-2346 minThe Alley Church PodcastWords - James 3: 1-2James 3: 1-2Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. (2) We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.NLT (2) If we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. Why do you think James has returned to this topic about the t...
2023-08-1936 minLead For ClarityHarness Your Meetings to Increase Efficiency and EffectivenessIn this season's final episode, Shandel and Melanie describe meetings that bring efficiency and effectiveness, instead of wasted time and frustration. The team discusses the difference between strategic meetings and tactical meetings and the importance of keeping them separate. They also dig into successful 1-on-1 meetings, which create a space for relationship building as well as a place for coaching and teaching. As we prepare for Season 5, we would love your feedback, questions & topics to help us create content that helps YOU! Thanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or...
2023-08-0119 minLead For ClaritySustainable Practices to Avoid BurnoutShandel and Melanie answer a listener's question about sustainable practices to prevent burnout. The team digs into this question from a business standpoint, personal growth and leadership tools. It's important to build strong relationships so you can recognize when someone is struggling as well as taking ownership of the things that we can control, such as sleep and eating healthy. We need to think about how to build sustainable growth within our organizations, our teams and ourselves. Shandel and Melanie discuss their own experiences and how they have invested in things that help them avoid burnout. ...
2023-07-2519 minThe Alley Church Podcast12 Proof of Faith - Part 2 - James 2: 18-26Proof of FaithJames 2: 18-26(18) But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” (19) Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that —and shudder.(20) You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? (21) Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? (22) You see that his faith and his action...
2023-07-2447 minLead For ClaritySetting & Communicating Healthy Boundaries, Part 2Shandel and Melanie dig deeper into communicating boundaries in Part 2 of this segment. The team talks through tips and advice of how to say no to someone as well as how to share that you don't appreciate someone's behavior. Learning how to effectively manage up helps keep a reasonable workload while also saying yes as much as possible and maintaining positive relationships. One way to do this is by asking your boss what to prioritize when they ask you to add something new to your plate and communicating timelines for getting things accomplished...
2023-07-1819 minThe Alley Church Podcast11. Proof of Faith - Part 1 - James 2:14-17Today we are talking about Whether you’ve ever thought about it or not there’s Proof of our Faith. There is a way to know for sure you are a believer in Jesus and have faith in Him?James 2:14-17(14) What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? (15) Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. (16) If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does not...
2023-07-1842 minThe Alley Church Podcast10. Freedom in Jesus James 2: 12-13James 2:12-1312 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.Today we will dig deep into the Law that gives freedom. We are building upon the differentiations of LAW that James is helping us understand now that we are followers of Jesus. James 1:21 the perfect law, 2:8 the Royal law and now 2:12 the law that gives Freedom
2023-07-1641 minThe Alley Church Podcast7. Distinguishing Evidence - James 1: 26-27James 1: 26-2726 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
2023-07-1645 minThe Alley Church Podcast8. Favoritism and Prejudice - James 2: 1-4James 2: 1-4My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
2023-07-1644 minThe Alley Church Podcast9. Love your neighbor as yourself - James 2: 5-11James 2: 5-11 Love your neighbor as yourself(5) Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? (6) But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? (7) Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
2023-07-1644 minLead For ClaritySetting & Communicating Healthy Boundaries, Part 1Shandel & Melanie tackle another listener question about setting and communicating healthy boundaries in the workplace. Boundaries and values go hand-in-hand, so understanding your needs and the values you are protecting is key. The team shares their own experiences with setting boundaries and different approaches in communicating them to others. More to come, there will be a Part 2 as Shandel and Melanie dig deeper into this important topic!Thanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website
2023-07-1115 minLead For ClarityCommunication Tips & Tools for Healthy ConflictA lot of stress comes from poor conflict management and not being able to have hard conversations in effective and respectful way. Shandel and Melanie answer a listener's question about how to better engage in difficult conversations and turn them into positive experiences. Listen for lots of tools and tips to help you lean into conflict!Shandel and Melanie covered A LOT of different things. Let us know if you'd like us to go more in depth into any of these. Hard conversations can be scary, so a good place to start is shifting your m...
2023-06-2719 minLead For ClarityPromoting High Performers & How to Help Them ThriveShandel & Melanie talk through a listener's question of how to help new leaders thrive after being promoted from within the organization. It's great to promote high performers but it's really common to see them struggle in their new roles. Setting new leaders up for success often requires a mindset shift – just because someone is amazing at doing their job, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to be amazing at supervising others (at first). They don’t always have the tools and skillset to lead others, and we need to invest time, money and energy into training them! ...
2023-06-2019 minLead For ClarityDevelop & Train for Long-Term SuccessShandel and Melanie dig into training and development of team members, a conversation sparked by a listener's question about struggles to effectively teach customer service. So often, we move quickly through training and in doing so, don't set our team up for success...and create future obstacles for ourselves. When training others, it can be easy to assume what's easy for you will be easy for others. In doing this, we can leave gaps in teaching which lead to confusion, frustration and unmet expectations. The Shandel Group team talks through the importance of creating detailed scripts (or S...
2023-06-1319 min2023-06-1348 min2023-06-1339 min2023-06-1342 minLead For ClarityExploring Your Unmet NeedsShandel and Melanie explore a common barrier to effectively achieving goals - unmet needs. All goals should be focused on values, which means that we need to understand our values BEFORE setting goals. And digging into values is a great time to start distinguishing between needs and values. Try asking yourself, what charges me up versus what drains me? This is a good place to start in discovering your needs and looking for needs that are getting met in unhealthy ways. Unmet needs will always get met, and they can get in the way of living your v...
2023-06-0620 minLead For ClarityTirelessly Growing in LeadershipCody Coles joins Shandel and Melanie this week to talk about his journey of leadership development. Cody shares his experience transitioning from a more tactical role to leading, coaching and teaching others and the challenges along the way. He learned the importance of modeling the vulnerability and behaviors that he wanted to develop within his team and showing them the impact that these changes can have. Leadership development and Emotional Intelligence are like exercise - you need to continuously build the muscle in order to build long-lasting success. Investing in your up-and-coming leaders creates an ROI for t...
2023-05-3119 minLead For ClarityDialogue vs. DiscussionShandel and Melanie sit down to talk about the distinction between dialogue and discussion, a communication tool to help deepen understanding of others. Leaders that are intentional with their conversations create an environment where everyone has a voice and everyone feels heard, valued and respected. They see things more objectively and make better decisions. They listen to understand instead of listening to reply. Join us to dig into dialogue and how to intentionally create these kinds of conversations! Thanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment &
2023-05-2319 minLead For ClarityThe Key is Asking Better QuestionsShandel and Melanie sit down with special guest, Shelley Newham and talk about her journey in mentoring, coaching and personal growth. Shelley shares the power she's found in asking better questions of her team, her family and herself. Leaning into vulnerability and finding others to learn and grow from is instrumental in growth! The team digs into the importance of finding a balance between showing up authentically while also adapting to meet others where they are, recognizing that they are not mutually exclusive. Thanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, ra...
2023-05-1618 minLead For ClarityA Journey of Exploring Our Wants, Needs and EmotionsShandel and Melanie speak with Sabeth about her journey towards self-awareness and embracing her wants and needs. After growing up in a more reactive household, Sabeth spent much of her life in a reactive state until realizing that she has a choice in her reaction if she understands the impacts of her emotions. She reflected on her struggle of taking things personally that have nothing to do with her and learning to be courageous enough to break the silence and ask for clarity when she's making assumptions. Shandel, Melanie and Sabeth dig into self-awareness and discuss their o...
2023-05-0219 minLead For ClarityLeader Making LeadersAlan Andersen returns to the podcast to talk leadership development with Shandel and Melanie. In today's world, success as a leader is being defined differently. You're not only expected to perform your job well, you're also expected to elevate those around you - being a leader making leader is an important component of leadership success today and in the future. Being a leader making leader starts with looking inward and leaning into growth and development of yourself. Leadership is not a position, it's a reflection of people wanting to follow you, and that takes a desire to c...
2023-04-2520 minLead For ClarityThe Freedom in Being Allowed to Make MistakesShandel and Melanie sit down with Shandel Group team member Ericka Slaten to discuss her journey of growth and development. Ericka shares her experience combating perfectionism by giving herself the freedom to ask for help and make mistakes. When we feel like we have to be perfect, any mistake hurts our confidence and when we step away from our perfectionism, we actually become more confident, happier and more authentic people. Ericka shares how her growth has impacted her role as a mother and a wife and how she is able to empower her daughters by leaning into a...
2023-04-1818 minLead For ClarityMotivation in Tough TimesWhen you encounter an obstacle within a task that you don't particularly enjoy, how motivated are you to push through and keep going? At what point do you give up? Shandel and Melanie discuss an often misunderstood aspect of Emotional Intelligence - Motivation. This dimension indicates how able we are to move through barriers, even when we are not intrinsically or extrinsically motivated to do so and when our emotions are high. Some may call this grit. The team digs into motivation and provides some tools and ideas to develop this aspect of our EQ. Ou...
2023-04-1119 minLead For ClarityA Behind The Scenes Look at Conflict & CommunicationOn this behind the scenes episode, Melanie and Alan discuss their journey together building effective communication and teamwork. Developing strong relationships requires self-awareness, communicating differences, showing up authentically, awareness of others and feedback! Alan and Melanie give an inside look of how they navigated these areas and worked through Shandel Group teachings to strengthen their communication, as they learned how to adapt to one another to best listen and be heard. As a team, we believe in the importance of practicing what you preach! Leaning into vulnerability, conflict and accountability are keys to our success as a team.
2023-04-0427 minLead For ClarityAlways GrowingSo often we sacrifice creativity, patience, connection and joy to busyness and trying to keep up with everything. Shandel and Melanie reflect on their own growth and discuss how they've overcome some of their biggest hurdles - including, understanding our own needs, shifting our mindset to embrace vulnerability and slowing down to intentionally be present. As leaders, its important to remember that we are always growing and always learning! Sharing our challenges and paths forward help us all move forward in positive ways. What tools & tips have you implemented to help yourself develop your leadership skills? ...
2023-03-3021 minLead For ClarityThe Path to Leadership is Through Serving OthersMelanie and Shandel sit down with special guest, Lydia Faitalia, and discuss self-awareness and self-regulation. Lydia opens up about her growth in these areas and its impact on her communication, setting boundaries, connecting with others and much more. Lydia shares that the path to leadership is through service - but that doesn't mean we need to say yes to everything. Great leaders understand the importance of pouring into themselves so they can effectively pour into the next generation. Listen in for some powerful insights! Thanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, r...
2023-03-2119 minLead For ClarityWhy Does EQ Matter in the Workplace?Life is moving fast and we have to make fast decisions. Change is everywhere, which makes Emotional Intelligence more important in today's world. Can you tell when someone is upset? Do you pick up on changes in behavior in others? And do you understand your own emotions and harness them to make better decisions? Shandel and Melanie discuss why EQ matters in the workplace and why leaders NEED to develop (or continue developing) in this area. Thanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), com...
2023-03-1415 minLead For ClarityIntro to Emotional IntelligenceDig into Emotional Intelligence with Shandel Group this season on the Lead For Clarity podcast!Shandel and Melanie introduce and discuss the 5 dimensions of emotional intelligence: self-awareness, self regulation, motivation, social awareness and social regulation.Do you want to actively develop your emotional intelligence? Let's grow together! Thanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website and follow us on social media - Facebook, Instagram & LinkedInW...
2023-03-0717 minLead For ClarityWhat Will People Crave For 2023?Shandel and Scott talk about "What will people crave for 2023? Simply connection!There is nothing more fundamental and essential than connection.What are you most proud of as you look back on 2022?What do you desire for 2023?Many people desire for the new year to spend more time with their family. That's great, but are you desiring that goal because you feel guilty, or is it because you WANT it? When you want something you usually do it. If you, like so many of us, crave, yearn...
2023-01-0313 min
Lead For ClarityGreat Meetings & Relationships Using the Working Genius ? Pt. 2This is part 2 of one of our favorite topics these days, The 6 Types of Working Genius. In the last episode, we talked in detail about the model and in this episode, we talk about how to use it with team meetings and also how the WIDGET model has truly helped Shandel and Scott understand each other with more clarity. We recommend ALL of our clients from 1 to 92 take this assessment to see how they can fulfill their purpose in life. We at the Shandel Group have a company crush on The Table Group and specifically P...
2022-09-1718 minLead For ClarityDo You Know Your Working Genius? - Pt. 1Shandel and Scott discuss the remarkable and beneficial tool- The Working GeniusThe Working Genius is designed by The Table Group. It's an assessment for anyone who desires to know their Working Genius and their Working Frustrations.!Everyone has at least two Working Genius'. Therefore consequently everyone has two Working Competencies and two Working Frustrations. The key is to work in the arena that correlates with your Working Genius.There are 6 types of Working Genius with the acronym WIDGETWonder-The natural gift of pondering the possibility...
2022-08-2519 minLead For ClarityOptimize Your Team For FallIt's back to school time, Summer vacations are wrapping up and now is the time to get your team on the same page to finish strong in the last quarter. In this episode Shandel and Alan Andersen talk Organizational Optimization. What we mean by that is? How healthy is your team and are they all sharing the same vision, vigor, and vitality? Shandel Group performs Optimization Diagnostics for any and all businesses, teams and organizations. This Diagnostic tool allows you the Leader and the your team to quickly pinpoint areas that need special focus and attention so...
2022-08-1812 minLead For ClarityLeaders Go FirstThis episode is all about "YOUR LEADERSHIP FIRST". You as the Leader set the tone in the organization by modeling the values which establish the culture. Therefore walk the talk. Be authentic. Be humble, and confidently lead your team. Grow your Emotional Intelligence by focusing more than ever on your Self-Awareness. Do the coaching work to grow your own leadership first and then demand it from your team. Personal GROWTH is not optional.Lead by serving. Recall the last series we did on the S.E.R.V.E. model of le...
2022-08-0920 minLead For ClarityCulture is Everything...How Recession Proof is Yours?6 Ways to Recession Proof your business. We use the acronym STEADY to drive home the point that the best way to recession proof your business is to master the basics in order to weather any storm that may come.Our motto: "Stay Steady and Thrive." Emphasis on the Thrive part!STEADY:Simplify EverythingTrain, Teach & Invest in Your TalentElevate StructureAttitude is Everything Double Down on Culture ...
2022-08-0323 minLead For ClarityAttitude Is EverythingIn this episode Shandel and Melanie Montgomery discuss, why Attitude is so important.This podcast is about why you should have a growth mindset. How to reframe your attitude to handle difficult situations. The key to having a good attitude is through proactively taking ownership of whatever situation you are in. You have to power to influence others based on your behavior and your ability to be personally accountable no matter what seems to be "happening to you". The sooner you recognize you have the power and the "say" as to what may be...
2022-07-2718 minLead For ClarityMake Sure the Structure of Your Business is Recession ProofWhy is structure so important to Recession Proofing Your Business? Structure is not only important for how we do what we do, but why we do what we do!When people understand the why behind the how they are even more engaged and productive. Melanie and Shandel discuss the importance of Structure: systems, processes, standard operating procedures, and target analysis to zero in on the right things now.Check out our newsletter: 6 Ways to Recession Proof Your Businesshttps://satchel.works/@shandel/6-ways-to-recession-proof-your-businessCheck out shandelgroup.com/CAVU for w...
2022-07-2019 minLead For ClarityTrain, Teach, and Invest In Your TalentThis episode focuses on your organizations talent- meaning your people.Shandel Group operates to help companies invest in their people, through training and teaching (coaching) so that the people in the organization are equipped to perform optimally and teach others to do the same. Organizations that pour into their talent, not only keep their talent but raise future leaders and increase their productivity. No matter if we are in an economic downturn or we are soaring through an economic boom, investing in the talent you have will always reap great rewards....
2022-07-1220 minLead For ClaritySimplify Everything (Recession Proof Your Business)We are talking about Recession Proofing Your Business. Shandel and Melanie introduced last episode an acronym STEADY to help you, and your business, to thrive even in an economic downturn. This episode they talk about the first letter of the acronym STEADY- "Simplify Everything". To Simplify Everything begins with your business' core values and the "WHY" of your organization. These two form the foundational bedrock of your company. Analyze every part of your structure through the values and the why you are in business in the first place. Your values will help you p...
2022-07-0519 minLead For ClarityIntro to Recession Proof Your BusinessShandel Group has weathered three of these recessions alongside our clients.We narrowed it down to 6 main points that fit nicely into an appropriate acronym STEADY and motto of “Stay STEADY and Thrive."STEADY:Simplify Everything- “Simplify everything so you can have clarity for the journey.” - Shandel Sutherland Run an Organizational Optimization Diagnostic - a fast track to identifying any looming issues in regards to: People, Priorities and Performance. Optimizing is the key outcome of simplifying. Make sure your company is optimized and healthy to weathe...
2022-06-2819 minLead For ClarityWhat Is The ROI In Rest?What comes to mind when you think of REST? How do you REST? Shandel talks about how pertinent rest is for all of us who burn the candle at both ends and it seems we never let up. Since we are so diligent and we run successful businesses we may feel we don't have the luxury of slowing down to rest because we're so sure we should or if the payoff is worth while. The investment in taking some time to REST will reaps rewards and you'll get even more done and have a greater...
2022-06-2020 minLead For ClarityMaximization MythMaximization is only effective when preceded with optimization, and multiplication.Alan Andersen discuses Optimization first. This means asking yourself "what" and "how" questions, applying Personal Accountability. It is walking through what is effective. Most of the time effectiveness takes planning and preparation.Multiplication is all about efficiency and producing results. In order to achieve efficiency we must be persistent with a mindset that the more I work this out, like a muscle with continued repetition gets stronger and more efficient with use. Then Maximization takes over, because of the execution of everything that...
2022-05-1619 minLead For ClarityGetting The Right Things DoneAlan Andersen joins the Podcast and talks about, getting the right things done. This involves understanding what is important now, both professionally and personally.Putting out fires is busy and may produce good results but also leads to burnout. Being proactive regarding organizing, prioritizing, and executing are the keys to getting the right things done. Alan goes over the three steps to getting the right things done.1. Organization- this involves identifying what needs to be done2. Prioritization- do the difficult tasks first 3. Execution- follow throughhttps://www.linkedin.com/i...
2022-05-1119 minLead For ClarityWomen Making An ImpactMelanie Montgomery returns to the Podcast.Melanie talks about the non-profit organization Native Action Network of which she is a board member and the impact the recent Bootcamp had on Leadership Development to continue the process of Native women finding their seat at the table.https://nativeactionnetwork.org/Each participant in the Bootcamp received the Clarity Report which is DISC and Driving Forces. The participants were each given a debrief and coaching session based on their assessment so they could come to the Bootcamp understanding their communication style, Behavior style, and Driving forces.
2022-05-0319 minLead For ClarityDeveloping Leaders Within Our Sphere Of InfluenceThis episode introduces Melanie Montgomery. Melanie has a Master's degree in Organizational Leadership. She is a Shandel Group consultant. Shandel and Scott ask Melanie how she went from hospitality to leadership consulting.Melanie shares her most recent involvement with Native Action Network. She is on the Board of this amazing nonprofit to raise up leaders within the Native Community. Melanie shares what it was like to grow up with a mindset of "give back" as a member of the Quinalt Indian Nation. She developed a strong compulsion to give back by being a leader in...
2022-04-2217 minLead For ClarityWhat Top Executives Are Asking!This episode Shandel shares what top executives are mainly dealing with today, how to keep and train up their talent. Today leaders have the very difficult task to keep their team together, work harder, and enjoy what they do. Engaged teams stay together and find success in the relevance of their organizations mission.Please email us your questions and give us feedback to: podcast@shandelgroup.comSubscribe for our free 66 Seconds with Shandel Group at shandel.comVisit our website
2022-04-1015 minLead For ClarityHow To Have Hard ConversationsHard conversations are not easy and those of us who don’t like confrontation do everything we can to avoid it. Why do we fear or avoid confrontation? Perhaps it’s because past experiences involving hard conversations did not go so well. A likely reason for that may be the inability to regulate our emotions. Hard confrontive conversations said with the right tone of voice, and supportive body language will help engage the listener and enable that person to regulate their emotions. Hard conversations can evoke strong emotions which then can le...
2022-04-1020 minLead For ClarityHow To Keep Your Top Talent!Empowering Others To Shine is the 5th and final driver in our S.E.R.V.E. leadership series. If you are implementing the other 4 Drivers of Leadership, you know your people. You are aware of their strengths and weaknesses, where they need to grow, and you know their personal goals and ambitions. Now, you must proactively invest in their development toward not only what they want, but also what you see as their next step in the organization. We have quite a few clients who, gloriously, have lo...
2022-04-0118 minLead For ClarityAre You Ever Misunderstood? Part 2This episode is a continuation on the subject of communicating to be understood.Part 1 focused on how communication is 93% non verbal. And yet we seem to be mostly focused on our words while missing the greater elements of speech, body language and tone of voice. Shandel opens this Podcast on how to best communicate with introverts. In DISC these are the "S" for Steady, and the "C" for Compliant. Previously Scott and Shandel talked about extroverts the "D" for Dominant, and the "I" for Influence. DISC is observable normal behavior, otherwise...
2022-03-1616 minLead For ClarityAre You Ever Misunderstood?Remember, we can change the way we communicate by first owning our “story” and then adapting our body language and tone of voice to the listener’s style. The listener is bound to hear it one way –“their way”. This is part 1 of 2 on maximizing communication effectiveness. If we are communicating effectively our message is being received in the most beneficial way possible for our listener.Understanding our behaviors and the behaviors of others is the key component to being a clear communicator and/or receiver of others' messages. Communication is both articulating language as we...
2022-03-1019 minLead For ClarityRe-engage Your TeamShandel begins the Podcast talking about a new client engagement and how she walks them through the process toward Engaging their Team.First she starts with Leadership development through the 5 Drivers of Leadership using the SERVE model: Self AwarenessExtent TrustReal ConnectionVision FocusedEmpower Others to Shine Next, Shandel will take the client through STORY:The "STORY" involves this concept of how our brain processes facts to create meaning. When an event happens, our brain needs to establish meaning. Your STORY p...
2022-02-2517 minLead For ClarityDon't Give Away Your Personal PowerPersonal Accountability is eliminating blame, complaining, and procrastination. When we blame, complain and procrastinate and therefore make excuses for our behavior, we give our power away.Negative questions filter through our brain when we get triggered, and that starts the downward spiral of who, why, and when statements that erode responsibility. In relationships such as marriage we give up our personal power by not owning what is ours to do. By making excuses for "why" we didn't do, what we said we would do. To take back your personal power, take ownership. Say, "I...
2022-02-1818 minLead For ClarityThe Why For Personal AccountabilityShandel Group begins most trainings with Personal Accountability because personally accountable people are open minded, take ownership and think outside the box. Shandel goes over the difference between reactive and proactive questions.Reactive questions involve the words: who, why and when. These questions abdicate your responsibility and essentially leave you powerless. Proactive questions and or responses involve: what or how, "I", and an action that can be taken. "What can I do...? Personally Accountable people take responsibility for their actions and do what needs to be done without blaming or making excu...
2022-02-1117 minLead For ClarityGet To Your Next LevelShandel talks about how she got her start. She loves helping her clients find Clarity in the way they lead their organizations. Organizational Clarity involves understanding your why. Your why, is your purpose. It’s the reason you began this Venture. Once you are clear on your why, you must then establish your core values, mission, and vision for the future. When these guiding principles are in place and followed, this will help you guide and build the team and culture that will enable you to fulfill your vision.Shandel believes in getting her clients to their ne...
2022-01-2614 minLead For ClarityIntroduction to Lead With ClarityWelcome to Lead With Clarity! This Podcast is for anyone who wants to FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS.This episode Shandel tells her story as to how she got into coaching. 20 years later in the coaching business, Shandel shares her wisdom and why having Clarity for your business is so important.Thanks for joining us - don't forget to subscribe, rate (or like), comment & share!Visit our website and follow us on social media - F...
2022-01-1818 minLead For ClarityPriorities, Goals and What’s Most Important Now!Leadership is a joy when you have clarity and know where you are going in the next 3-5 years. Once you know where you’re going and you have your strategy to get there, it is time to determine the factors that are most important in the next short season. Getting the one thing that is most important and establish goals to set your GPS in that desired direction. As a leader, it is your job to prioritize what matters most through thoughtful collaboration with your leadership team. You want their full participation and buy-in since they wi...
2021-04-2117 minLead For ClarityHow Do You Achieve Your Vision? Strategic Planning!So, what is a strategic plan? It’s the approach you take to accomplish your vision. If your target is synonymous with your vision, and you want to hit that target, you must decide on a strategy that will enable you to be successful in hitting that target. One of the main reasons most businesses don’t reach their potential is either a lack of clear vision or a lack of strategic planning in order to successfully reach that vision. Some organizations vision may be a Big Hairy Audacious Goal the BHAG. These goals may seem extreme, but t...
2021-04-1511 minLead For ClarityThe best business ROI: Investing in your peopleThe previous Podcast dealt with vision and where you want to take your organization. The best strategic decision to realize your vision is investing in the right people. Some business metaphors makes sense and Scott and Shandel use Jim Collins example of “the bus” to describe getting the right people into your company. The bus is heading somewhere. The future destination for your organization is what you envision. It takes vision to remain relevant in this fast-changing market. The bus ride to your future will be realized by the quality of the people you’ve invited o...
2021-04-0818 minLead For ClarityBusiness owners and leaders need visionVision is the number one key accountability for any top leader. The job of the CEO, and business owner, and that includes you, the leader is to get everyone in the organization aligned with the vision for the future of your business. In this episode, you will hear what you need to know about why the vision for your business is so essential and vital to the health and relevancy of your future. "What is vision?" You will learn in this episode that Vision involves a picture of what you see for your company’s futu...
2021-04-0115 minLead For ClarityWhy your business should have a Mission StatementThe mission statement is your organizations GPS. The mission statement says this is where we’re going. Without clear direction, I couldn’t lead my team into the future. Part of having clarity is knowing your mission. When the entire team knows their mission and everyone is moving in the same direction, great things happen. A mission statement will help narrow your focus and:Establish your desired culture Help hire the right people Set appropriate goals for the business Help establish your purpose Help guide where you want your business to goCreate clarity for the entire teamIf you...
2021-03-1318 minLead For ClarityHow running a business by your values can be challengingWhy living by our core values can be challenging. Shandel and Scott continue on the topic of values. When you present your values to your team you must be ready to live by them. Scott shares how in the early days of his dental career he passively accepted the wrong values into his practice. And once they crept in, he felt opposition and resentment when he rooted them out. After Scott discovered the core values for his dental practice he had clarity as to how he would manage and lead his team. If you’re a lea...
2021-02-1618 min