Christian Woman Leadership Podcast with Esther Littlefield & Holly Cain

Do you feel like you can’t take a break from work? Like if you left the whole place would stop altogether? Do you have high turnover in your volunteers or employees? Do you have a hard time meeting metrics or feeling successful? Or do only one or two people pull their weight? If this is you then you could be “leading solo”. “Leading solo” is when a leader has a team but doesn’t trust them to carry out their jobs, so they end up doing everything themselves or they micromanage people. You often feel like you are the only one who “gets it” or even makes any progress to your goals. In todays episode we talk about symptoms of leading solo and how probelms with your mission might be the reason you are not getting your team to engage with you in meeting your goals. Other Ways to Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast: Esther’s Instagram Website

How does a wife, mom of 3, and entrepreneur maintain a healthy family life plus run a thriving business? In this Leadership Rewind episode, I talk with Barbara Carneiro about how to set goals from a mindset of doing less not more. Barbara shares some of her best tips, such as creating manageable routines instead of chasing the elusive idea of balance, doing less instead of more, and getting outside help instead of trying to do everything herself. This episode originally aired in December 2018 as episode 25, and I’m excited to share this with you as one of our deep cuts that you are sure to benefit from. Access the full show notes here: https://estherlittlefield.com/episode25-reach-your-goals-by-doing-less-with-barbara-carneiro/ To hear more from our Goal-Setting Series, check out all of the episodes here: https://estherlittlefield.com/tag/goal-setting-series/ Connect with Esther: https://estherlittlefield.comhttps://www.instagram.com/estherdlittlefield/

Do you have a message you want to share? Is there something on your heart you feel people need to hear? Or do you manage a team and need to make sure your initiatives are communicated well and efficiently put into motion? You may even have a new idea you want to present to your leaders. In this episode, I provide practical tips that help you think through your message and how to convey it more successfully. Using the acronym CARS, we will give you some questions to ask yourself as you craft your message to share with the world. We want to help you intentionally think through how you are conveying your message for the best outcome possible. Clarity What do I want to say? What is my goal for this communication? What do I want someone to do as a result of receiving this information? Audience Who am I speaking to? What is their level of understanding of this topic? What kind of context do I need to provide to them for this information to make sense? Relevance Why does this matter to the person reading or hearing this info? So what? Simplify Can you take what you want to communicate and simplify it? What can you edit down to make it clearer, to speak to your intended audience more effectively? Have you made sure there’s a ‘so what’ to the information? Your Next Steps: Getting your message across effectively is key for any leader. By using this CARS acronym, you'll see a big difference in how your communication is received. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep these tips in mind and watch your impact grow. Connect with Esther: Esther’s Website Instagram

As a leader, you communicate constantly. But are you communicating in the most effective way? What are some best communication practices when there’s conflict? What are some practical strategies you can implement today to better your public speaking? In this leadership rewind episode, I chat with Carrie Sharpe, a homeschooling mom of five, wife, and business owner. We dive into the topics of effective communication, including the best way to talk through conflict and practices to become a better public speaker. Carrie shares how she manages her different responsibilities + roles, and how she takes a rest from all the noise and busyness. This conversation originally aired in Oct. 2018 as part of our relationship series, and we’re bringing it back into our podcast feed as one of the deep cuts that you may have missed. We think you will love hearing (or re-listening to) Carrie's story. For the full show notes on the episode, check out https://estherlittlefield.com/episode16 Check out all the epsiodes in the Relationship Series here. Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast: Website Esther’s Instagram

Have you ever wanted to convince others to go along with an idea or get your team to be on board with a new project you’re planning? Or maybe you’ve wanted to get your leader to agree to a new idea you have that you think will make a big impact in the long run. Or, perhaps you’re wanting to raise funds for a ministry or missions trip. In all of these cases, you are needing one thing: persuasive communication. You are trying to get someone else to go along with what you want them to think or do. In today's episode we cover 4 steps to sharing your message persuasively. I explore the lessons I've learned from marketing and apologetics and how we can apply these lessons to our communication as Christian leaders. Connect with Esther: Esther’s Website Instagram

Have you ever thought you knew what your calling in life was, only to have God redirect you to another path? Your current role may define your present situation but it doesn’t define your purpose. How can being intentional about self-leadership impact your journey as you lead teams or organizations? In this leadership rewind episode, I chat with Jenni Catron, a leadership coach, author, speaker, and founder of The 4Sight Group. This conversation originally aired in Sept. 2018 as part of our purpose series, and we’re bringing it back into our podcast feed as one of the deep cuts that you may have missed. We think you will love hearing (or re-listening to) Jenni’s story of how she went from having her dream career to recognizing that her gifts and skills could be used in any context God called her to. Jenni shares valuable insights based on her experiences in leadership in the corporate world, in churches, and in running her own business. She provides tips for building a healthy culture within your team and how to understand yourself better so you can lead effectively. We even talk about her advice for you if you’re the only woman in your workplace, as well as what it’s like to be the one with the leading career in your marriage. For the full show notes on the episode, check out https://estherlittlefield.com/episode11 Other episodes you might like: https://estherlittlefield.com/tag/purpose-series/ Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast: Website Esther’s Instagram

Today we want to talk about something that we ALL do, and that is hard to stop especially if you’re not aware that you are doing it. And it’s causing problems in your communication and your leadership. Can you guess what it is? This has the potential to cause breakdowns in your relationships, misunderstandings in your communication, and can even lead to major leadership problems. If you guessed assumptions, you guessed right. In this conversation, Holly and I are sharing 2 truths about assumptions and the dangers that assumptions have for us as Christian leaders. But we're not just leaving you with the bad news. We're also sharing 3 specific practices you can develop that will lessen the impact that assumptions have on your communication and your leadership. If you want to become a better leader, have better relationships, or improve your communication with others, this is a must listen. Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast: Website Esther’s Instagram

Have you ever felt like you are juggling so many balls at once, and at any moment, they could all come tumbling down? Kayla Cornish found herself here, and she actually experienced the balls crashing down. She had been living the life of hustle and seeing success–but it came at a price. It wasn’t until she and her family began accepting the gift of Sabbath rest that things started to change. As a leader, you may have wondered: is practicing the Sabbath something that modern day Christians need to do? And if so, how on earth can you practice it while still managing all the rest of your responsibilities–especially if you are involved in church ministry on Sundays? In this conversation, Holly and I talk with Kayla Cornish of Legacy Roots Co. Kayla believes there are 2 important aspects of our purpose as believers, and when we neglect the gift of Sabbath rest, we are missing out on some beautiful things God wants for us, such as healing, peace, love and a deeper relationship with Him. Listen in to discover more about what it means to practice Sabbath rest and why it’s so important, especially for Christian leaders. Key Points Discussed: Kayla’s life & leadership journey Why Kayla became passionate about the importance of Sabbath Why mission, vision, and values (or roots) are important for families Why Sabbath rest is non-negotiable & what it looks like The benefits of shifting away from a hustle mindset The church’s role in leading Christians to cultivate the practice of Sabbath Tips for getting started with the practice of Sabbath Why leaders need to model honoring the Sabbath and rest What to do when your leader or your spouse isn’t on board with the idea of rest Leaders are Learners recommendations: Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer John Mark Comer Teachings Podcast The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan Connect with Kayla Legacy Roots Co Website Sabbath Ideas Kayla’s Instagram Legacy Roots Co Instagram Ultimate Sabbath Guide Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast: Website Esther’s Instagram

Is it possible to lead when you don’t have a leadership title or role? Is there a difference for someone who does have an official title vs. someone who is a team member? In this conversation, Holly and I talk through how leadership looks different for us now than it did when we started the podcast. And we discuss how we feel about leading without a role or title. Finally, we give some practical tips for things you can do when you are wanting to grow as a leader, whether you have a title or not! And, for our fun question of the day, you’ll hear as Holly and I share about whether we got into trouble in high school (and if so, what for). Links mentioned: Episode 2: What is Leadership? Episode 6: The Importance of Leading with Confidence Connect with me: Website: https://estherlittlefield.com/ Instagram: @estherdlittlefield

When life changes, does our leadership change? How do we navigate seasons of loss or change as leaders? And what does it look like to endure the pain of healing even when we'd rather avoid it? In this episode, Holly and I are chatting through some life updates and sharing some reflections about the past year of our lives. We discuss what our goals are looking like this year as well as how they are different from past years. We also dive into the idea of healing and how it's often painful to go through healing and growth. We hope you enjoy this conversation and gain some new insights and ideas on how to approach your goals for the year or walk through a season of healing from loss. To get our FREE Reflection Guide, go here: https://go.estherlittlefield.com/reflect-optin Connect with me: Website: https://estherlittlefield.com/ Instagram: @estherdlittlefield

Have you ever set goals and then a few weeks later completely abandoned them? Or perhaps you even forgot what goals you were supposed to be working on? You're not alone. And the reason so many goals are abandoned is because we forget to create a plan for how we're actually going to accomplish them. In this final episode in our Purposeful Goal Setting Mini-Series, Holly's going to talk you through creating an action plan for your goals. She's giving you real-life examples and some helpfup tips and tricks to make sure your goals don't just become something collecting dust in the back of your closet. Tools & resources for creating an action plan: Episode 31: The Key to accomplishing your goals Books (affiliate links) The Twevle Week Year Atomic Habits The Power of Habit Calendar - iCal, Google Calendar, paper planner, goal sheets PowerSheets [affiliate link] Connect with me: Website: https://estherlittlefield.com/ Instagram: @estherdlittlefield

If you’ve done the first 2 steps of reflection and dreaming, you’re ready to start setting some goals. But how? What if you're not sure where to start? In this episode, I'll walk you through some key principles of goal setting and some helpful tips that have worked for me. We'll also look at the differences between project goals and habit goals so you can determine which type of goals make sense for you. Finally, I'll share with you the PEACE Goal Framework that my friend Christa Hutchins originally shared with us on Episode 181. And we'll talk about what to do next! Tools & resources for goal setting: Episode 28: Three Approaches to Goal Setting Episode 30: How Your Personality Affects Your Goal Setting Episode 181: Peace Goals PowerSheets (Affiliate Link) Blank Pads of Paper (Affiliate Link) Connect with me: Website: https://estherlittlefield.com/ Instagram: @estherdlittlefield

After reflection, are you excited and ready to jump into setting your goals for the next year or season? Before you do, there's one more thing you need to do: take time for dreaming and casting a vision. In this episode of our mini-series, Holly will walk you through what it looks like to dream and create a vision for your year. This is a chance to allow God to inspire you and lead you into something different or better than you could come up with on your own. Tools and resources for dreaming: Episode 26 of the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast - The Importance of Dreaming PowerSheets [affiliate link] Bucket List Tutorial from Polly Payne Connect with Esther: Website: https://estherlittlefield.com/ Instagram: @estherdlittlefield

Is it really necessary to reflect before setting your goals for the year or the next season or phase of your life? Why does it matter, and does it impact whether your goals are effective? John Dewey says: "We do not learn from experience... we learn from reflecting on experience.” And while you can go straight to goal setting, I have found immense value in first reflecting on the past before creating goals for the future. In this episode, I'll share with you why reflection is important, what you should reflect on, and how to do it. Plus I'll give you some of my favorite resources for reflecting. Links mentioned: Episode 128: Processing 2020Episode 130: Processing Your CircumstancesEpisode 131: Processing Your RelationshipsEpisode 24: What You Should Do Before the New Year BeginsPowerSheetsMy favorite pensBig Post-ItsFREE Processing & Reflection Guide Connect with me: Website: https://estherlittlefield.com/ Instagram: @estherdlittlefield

Yes we are in January - but perhaps, like me, you’ve struggled a bit to get your 2024 goals on paper. Maybe your 2023 dished out more than you could handle. Or perhaps life hasn’t slowed down enough for you to think through your goals. It could be that goal setting really isn’t your thing, and that’s okay. This week on the podcast, Holly & I are coming to you with a mini series about goal setting. But what it’s really about is choosing to live with intention. And as leaders, being intentional is key. So we want to help you do that by walking you through our 4 step framework for Purposeful Goal Setting. Reflection Dreaming & Vision Casting Goal Setting Create an Action Plan Get ready and make sure you’re subscribed, because we’ll be dropping a new episode over the next 4 days. Connect with me: Website: https://estherlittlefield.com/ Instagram: @estherdlittlefield

Have you ever heard a word or phrase that made an impact and stuck with you for days or weeks to come? Perhaps someone said something directly to you or maybe you heard it in a podcast, read it in Scripture, or it came up in a conversation with a friend. Words have power, and over the past year, I've been collecting phrases and words that have helped me immensely. Today, I'm sharing some of those with you. Plus, I'm sharing 3 things you can do with your words, regardless of your leadership role or title. Connect with me: Website: https://estherlittlefield.com/ Instagram: @estherdlittlefield

What does it look like to disagree in a healthy way as Christians? Can we consume content from people who hold different views from us, or should we try to limit our exposure to varying beliefs? What exactly is deconstruction, and is there such a thing as a healthy or good version of it? In this replay of episode 194 of the podcast, our guest Joel Muddamalle, Director of Theology and research at Proverbs 31 Ministries, shares about the importance of humble theology and much more. For the full show notes, visit https://estherlittlefield.com/episode194 Connect with Esther: WebsiteInstagram

Do you ever feel like you need to stuff your emotions down in order to be an effective leader? Or maybe you prefer not to talk about emotions and you'd rather just get stuff done. What if there was a way to deal with your emotions in a healthy way, rather than stuffing them, letting them take over, or ignoring them? In this replay of episode 180, Jessica Hottle shares about a 5-step process to manage your emotions as a leader. This will help you no matter where you find yourself on the spectrum of emotions! For the full show notes, visit the original post for episode 180 here. Connect with me: WebsiteInstagram

The difference between who we say we are and how we actually live impacts not just us personally, but also everyone we lead. But how can we learn to identify this gap and begin shrinking it? In this replay of episode 121 of the CWLP, Holly and I talk with our guest Terra Mattson, about this issue, which she calls an integrity gap. We dive into what this means, common symptoms of an integrity gap, and how to start closing this gap. In addition, Terra sheds light on why unresolved trauma is common in leaders and what leaders need to do about it. We also discuss with Terra whether we should address integrity gaps when we see them in other people. Finally, we explore why speaking up is so important, even when it’s risky and what it means to become a wholehearted leader. This is an important conversation for every leader, whether you are just getting started or whether you’ve been in leadership for years. As Terra reminds us in the conversation, this is an ongoing process and none of us are immune to integrity gaps. For the full show notes for this episode head to estherlittlefield.com/episode121

In the past few weeks, our country has been reminded of the reality of racism. As Christian leaders, how should we as the church respond? And what can we do on an individual basis? While some of us may not be affected by or see racism on a regular basis, the issue was brought to light in a significant way in recent weeks due to the death of George Floyd (among other incidents). As I considered this issue, I knew this was something I wanted to address on this podcast. Yet I knew that I needed to invite someone who has the expertise to speak to this topic. In this episode, I’m talking with my friend Dr. Shannon Polk. Shannon shares her leadership journey and how she ended up as a lawyer, associate pastor, wife, and mother. Despite being encouraged in her leadership gifts for most of her childhood and young adult years, she still faced doubts about her gifts and leadership ability later in adulthood. For the full show notes for this episode, head to estherlittlefield.com/episode103 STAY CONNECTED: Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Click here to find all the options where you can find the podcast. Join our Purposeful Leadership Facebook group! In the Facebook group, we can chat about what you need as a leader, what your challenges are, as well as celebrate the wins. This is a great community to learn and grow together. We want to get to know YOU. Other Ways to Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast: Esther’s InstagramHolly’s InstagramHolly’s WebsiteFacebook Page