Renee Giarrusso's Blog, page 12
February 17, 2022
33: 5 Things I wish I had implemented sooner to become a Limitless Leader
In Australia, we’re now working in a full hybrid working environment. A number of my clients have people in the office and a few from home, others with a staggered roster, and I know some companies who have employees who are all walking from home.
So, quite a mixture of what workplaces are experiencing – and while there has been a somewhat shaky start to the year, I do feel there is a little more normality coming and people beginning to accept this new working world we live in.
I’ve been frequently interviewed on tv and podcasts and have been sharing key insights that I wish I had implemented more when I was in a pure leadership role – to become a Limitless Leader.
So, on today’s podcast I’m going to share these with you as they tie in to a lot of the problems and challenges that a lot of our clients and leadership teams are having of late.
Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:
Learn the 5 things I wish I had implemented sooner to become a Limitless Leader. Reframing your understanding of delegation when it comes to becoming a Limitless Leader. Why sharing your vulnerabilities and asking for help is key to becoming a Limitless Leader, and more. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:www.ReneeGiarusso.com/programs Limitless Leaders
90-Day Program www.GiftMindset.com EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
[0.41] In Australia, we’re now working in a full hybrid working environment.
[1.17] Here are the insights I wish I had implemented more when I was in a pure leadership role, which are relevant to the problems and challenges that a lot of leadership teams are experiencing.
INSIGHT 1: DELEGATE MORE OF THE TASKS I LIKED DOING
[2.03] Too often we hold on to the things that we like to do at work.
[2.23] If we can let go of something, we like something that we're good at, even temporarily, and give that to someone else, we're going to be empowering and growing them.
[3.07] So, delegate what you like doing, not saying throw everything to everything you love at work to someone else, it could be a particular part of your role, it could be running a brainstorming meeting, it could be going to an association event, let someone else go and share that with the team.
INSIGHT 2: BE AWARE OF TIME VAMPIRES
[3.09] What I mean by that is the situations and the people that can drain our energy and drain our time. I think especially if you're an early leader, or you've taken on a new leadership role.
[3.35] It's easy to want to please everybody. But that's at the expense of your headspace, your energy and your time
[3.42] So, do a little bit of a tally on what situations and what particular people sort of drain your time and how you can leverage those relationships and situations better to serve you
INSIGHT 3: ASK FOR HELP
[4.01] I still find this challenging because in what I doing work and in life. And I think my purpose is, is to help grow others and be there for others. So I sometimes forget to ask for help.
[4.19] The more we ask for help, the more we're actually giving other people a chance to share their skills or share their expertise, or feel good about helping us. So ask for help.
[4.34] I know a client I was with only this morning is literally running on a treadmill almost on the edge of burnout. I said to him who could help you. And the word ‘help’ just didn't fit in with his vocabulary. I said, who could you get support from? So it's a bit the same as having a good support network. Go to who could give you some help, that if you're in a leadership position, create a bit of a master plan.
INSIGHT 4: CREATE A COACH CENTRIC CULTURE – ASK DON’T TELL
[5.15] Early on in a lot of leadership roles, I was telling more than coaching. A lot of us do that. And it's pretty self-explanatory. It feels easier, a lot of the time to just give people the answer.
[5.29] But the issue with that is, they're going to come to you for everything. So give people the answer if they're really stuck. I think it's really about just saying to people, who else could you speak to about this? What have you thought about? What would you do if this was your business?
[6.12] So just some really good questions, get other people to think for themselves, pause, and then input or respond if necessary.
INSIGHT 5: SHARE YOUR VULNERABILITIES
[6.27] Those of you that are following me and look at a lot of the contributions I make across my work. I wish now when I look back, I'd had more of what I call a gift mindset.
[6.40] So try not to be the perfect leader and make sure everything's okay. That actually sharing frustrations, getting people more involved. Even sharing some personal things.
[6.52] I lost my dad very early on in my couple literally the week, I started my first real job. And I didn't tell anyone for weeks, I look back now and go, Well, why didn't I do that I was young, maybe a bit naive, maybe just felt a bit indulgent sharing. But I think failing to share our mistakes and challenges and successes with our team and those around us is actually selfish.
INSIGHT 6: TAKE THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT LIGHTS YOU UP
[8.08] In my heart of hearts, I know to be true. Don't just do what you're good at, do what you're good at that you enjoy.
[8.09] Even when I look back was a certain role I had, that was great from a brand profile. And it was a promotion. But it wasn't a role that really fitted my skills or fitted my motivation or energy and the culture of that role wasn't me.
[8.31] I didn't know that at the time. And I did the job well, that I look back now. And I go, did I love it. I didn't, I didn't.
Quotes:[2.03] Too often we hold on to the things that we like to do at work. If we can let go of something, we like something that we're good at, even temporarily, and give that to someone else, we're going to be empowering and growing them.
[7.17] What other are calling The Great Resignation – I'm calling The Great Rejuvination – people want to be appreciated. They want to be heard. And this is a great way to really connect people to you and to each other by just sharing, hey, what was the biggest challenge this week? What happened? How did you work through it? And how can you use those learnings moving forward?
Enjoy This Podcast?
Post a review and share it! If you learned something by tuning into this podcast, do not hesitate to write a review and share it with your friends! The world needs more people with the drive and leadership qualities to make the world a better place.
For more updates and episodes, visit and subscribe on the Limitless Leaders podcast page!
Have any questions? You can contact me through these platforms:
To leading the future,
Renée
January 30, 2022
What are you saying NO to in 2022?
I think it’s pretty exciting that we have the choice to make this year whatever we want it to be.
Some things are not in our control, but the good news is we all have the choice to choose and influence how this year looks both personally and professionally. Like writing a new chapter in a book, you choose the settings, the themes and the characters. The choices are all yours.
As we head into March, it is a great opportunity to set goals, review and renew our habits and create new boundaries.
We need to set boundaries and know what we stand for and don’t. Brené Brown says, “Boundaries are simply what’s ok and what’s not ok”. Nothing complicated, but we often make it so.
A challenge many leaders and executives we work with is saying NO to certain people and situations. I am as guilty as charged as I love being in service to others and love to be involved in everything. This can have a downside to your energy, focus, headspace and time.
This is where the “NO LIST” comes in.
I created a concept a few years ago when everyone was banging on about saying YES to everything. I’m pretty sure it was when Jim Carey’s movie “Yes Man” hit the big screen. I’m a huge fan of giving everything a go, probably too much at times, but not to the detriment of your focus, energy and time. I saw a flaw in this and decided to create and share a “NO LIST DIARY” with my clients, which has been extremely well received and embedded in many organisations. It forces us to create boundaries by being consciously aware of who and what we are saying no to.
The concept is easy and an activity you implement monthly or quarterly, both individually and as a team in your personal and professional life.
A helpful tip in saying no to something or someone is to remember you are saying ‘no’ to the event, not the person – this will make the process easier and remove the guilt.
Articulate this verbally “Tiana; I’d love to be part of that meeting; I love working with you, but as you know, we both don’t need to be there, and I can start on our other project. I’m saying no to the meeting, not you.”
Create your “No List”:
Think about who and what you need to say no to?
ProfessionallyIndividually: Journal this
As a team: Flipchart/Whiteboard this
An example could be that person delegating work to you at the expense of you not achieving your own KPI’sWhat situations/events will you say no to?
This could be unnecessary meetings, lunches, workload, certain tasks, projects, etc.PersonallyWho will you say no to?
An example could be saying no to a friend who has asked you out for dinner, and you feel guilty saying no. Simply articulate it’s not them, and you need some time to rest up.What situations/events will you say no to?
This could be saying no to having to organise a family or social gathering, especially if you are always the one doing this.
The word NO is easy to say but not always simple; learning to say ‘no’ without guilt can be empowering and enable you to spend the right time on the right things and people. We need to serve ourselves in order to better contribute to and serve others in and out of the workplace.
Trying to be everything to everyone is not sustainable long term. Remember you are saying ‘no’ to the event, not the person – this will make the process easier.
Who and what are you saying NO to in 2022 to set clear boundaries and direction for your best year yet?
We would love to hear your thoughts on how this works for you.
Lead to be limitless…
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Find out where you sit on the Leadership Ladder. Your responses are anonymous, and the results summarised to help us better understand where our market sits so that we can continue to provide insights, tools and solutions to assist you in moving up to be LIMITLESS, co-creative and stand out.
Renée is a mentor, coach, expert facilitator and keynote speaker; She is the author of ‘Gift Mindset®’, ‘Limitless Leadership’, and co-author of ‘Leaders of Influence’.
PS: Want to skyrocket your success from working anywhere? We’ve launched our online program, and you can read more about that here.
Have you received your copy of Renée’s latest book, Gift Mindset®? It is available on Amazon, Booktopia and in all good book stores.
If this article resonates with you somehow, I’d love to hear your thoughts – get in touch.
Being in service to my clients is why I do what I do, and your feedback, insight, and suggestions are always embraced.
Follow Renée on Facebook, Instagram, IGTV or Twitter, or subscribe to her blog or new podcast here.
January 26, 2022
5 Questions to kick off 2022 with intention
Last year was a big year and one I’m sure all of us will never forget. We’ve been pulled up and down, left and right with so much uncertainty, it’s become the next normal of the way we live and work.
January is a great time to stop and reflect on a few thought-provoking questions that will help you kick start the new year with intention and set both you and your team up, ready and re-energised for 2022.
There are a million questions we could ask ourselves; however, I’ve found these 5 questions are simple, impactive and help you get out of your own head. I’ve been using these during mentoring and coaching programs to regularly check-in, and help leaders and their teams recalibrate.
Make the space to reflect and respond on the 5 questions below:What are you most proud of this year?What is one goal that must be achieved by the end of the year?What is one change you need to make by the end of 2020?What is one relationship you feel you need to forge, strengthen or grow?What is one habit you need to let go of, and what is one new habit you need to create?When you have answered these questions, it’s a great idea to share them with a peer or run this as a team exercise. Like anything, knowing is one thing, but the action is where the magic is. Make sure you commit and take ownership of whatever you decide to do.
Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Accountability has many parts. A bit like ingredients in a recipe, only when combined with true ownership can the cake rise and be a success. In any role, especially as a leader, it all starts with self-accountability, and I reckon these questions need to be answered, owned and ideally actioned.
Accountability and ownership are two different things. When fused together, I call it ‘Ownerbility’. It’s the ability to take full responsibility and ownership. Accountability is external and is usually the means to an end. Accountability is something that is assigned to you or something you have been asked to do. When this happens, whoever assigned the accountability is still the owner of it—a reason delegation has to be thoroughly considered.
Some of the guiding principles of accountability include:
How we make a commitment to each otherHow we measure and monitor progressHow we respond when things don't go as plannedHow much ownership we actually take to get things doneOwnership is more around possessing or the state of being an owner―taking ownership of something. Ownership cannot be taught, but, as a leader, you can portray ownership that will cascade, and in essence, become part of your team’s culture. When compared to accountability, ownership is not given to you or assigned to you; it is, in most cases, taken. When your manager gives you something, he or she cannot assign ownership. In the same way, you cannot assign ownership to those in your team.
The guiding principles of ownership include:How we are going to make something happenThe success measures that can be put in placeEnsure full internal commitment and attachment to completingEmbrace a feeling of care and responsibility.Accountability and ownership are intertwined and ensuring both are ignited, will provide clarity, focus and results. Answering these questions is one dimensional unless you take ownership and action your plan, nothing will change.
Take some time to reflect and reset, you deserve it!
As always, I’d love to hear your feedback and ideas for future articles.
Lead to be Limitless…
eSpeakersSeal(32459, "8d24", 'virtual', "md", "1");
Find out where you sit on the Leadership Ladder. Your responses are anonymous, and the results summarised to help us better understand where our market sits so that we can continue to provide insights, tools and solutions to assist you in moving up to be LIMITLESS, co-creative and stand out.
Renée is a mentor, coach, expert facilitator and keynote speaker; She is the author of ‘Gift Mindset®‘, ‘Limitless Leadership’, and co-author of ‘Leaders of Influence’.
PS: Want to skyrocket your success from working anywhere? We've launched our online program, and you can read more about that here.
Have you received your copy of Renée’s latest book, Gift Mindset®? It is available on Amazon, Booktopia and in all good book stores.
If this article resonates with you somehow, I’d love to hear your thoughts – get in touch.
Being in service to my clients is why I do what I do, and your feedback, insight, and suggestions are always embraced.
Follow Renée on Facebook, Instagram, IGTV or Twitter, or subscribe to her blog or new podcast here.
January 24, 2022
32: The Science of Wellness to achieve Limitless Leadership™
The Science of Wellness to achieve Limitless Leadership
When was the last time you prioritised your health?
As leaders, we often wear many hats to cater to the different responsibilities and commitments in our lives. To regain our drive and energy to ensure we become Limitless Leaders, we need something to make up for the overwhelming demands of life — and it all begins with practising self-care.
We assume that prioritising our well-being involves tricky routines and may affect our daily productivity. Luckily, Susan Hunter is here to debunk the myths and misconceptions about self-care.
In this episode, Susan Hunter joins us to talk about the foundations to a happier and healthier life. She also explains how simple steps backed by science can energise our physical and emotional well-being.
Finally, as an entrepreneur herself, Susan talks about her struggles and victories, and shares her lessons from building her own clinic.
If you are an entrepreneur and/or leader who wants to start the year by taking care of your health, stay tuned to this episode!
Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode: Discover the three foundations to a healthy life;Learn what comprises a high-performing team;Uncover the secrets to staying focused and energised Resources Visit Radius Health Connect with Susan: Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn Episode Highlights
[03:46] On Fatigue
Most leaders experience fatigue during the pandemic because they are too busy looking after the needs of their team. Everyone should take some time to rest and recover.[05:36] How to Maintain Good Energy
Examining our lifestyle and daily routine helps improve our well-being. We can only reap the benefits of healthy habits once we practice them.[06:28] Three Foundations of Health
Consuming protein for every meal manages our blood sugar levels and sustains our energy. Be strategic on your caffeine intake. Drink your coffee two to three hours after waking up to maximize your energy. Going to bed at 10 pm for at least four nights a week makes a difference. Proper sleep helps with one’s physical and emotional health. People can explore their biochemistry to explore the potential issues of their well-being.[13:10] The Science Behind Health
Determining one’s genetic predisposition helps prevent future diseases. Regular check-ups can help assess one’s health and help one become better.[15:09] Susan’s Story
Susan was inspired to live a successful life because of her immigrant parents. She was inspired to become an entrepreneur by witnessing her family grow their business. Due to her passion for natural medicine and human behaviour, Susan pursued a health science degree.[18:22] The Meaning of Leadership
Leadership means taking people on a journey to the best possible outcome. Everyone needs to learn and grow. Leaders should effectively address the strengths and weaknesses of their subordinates.[19:48] The Challenge to Leading a Team
It’s challenging to attune yourself to the needs of your team members. A leader needs to be assertive and knowledgeable while incorporating compassion in engaging in difficult conversations. Leadership is a choice; it’s an energy that comes from your heart.[23:01] The Greatest Gift Received
The pandemic gave Susan the gift of rethinking her purpose. She learned about patience when the launch of her start-up was postponed. It’s essential to be agile and adjust to the times.[25:50] When Failure Leads to Innovation
For Susan, it was a challenge to implement new forms of technology when her business began. Being adaptive and innovative leads to collaboration.[28:50] Susan’s Most Admired Leader
As a woman of colour, Barack Obama was Susan’s source of inspiration in becoming a leader. Obama had people’s best interests in mind when he made the healthcare system more accessible.[29:48] The Traits of a High-Performing Team
A team must consist of different skill sets that complement one another. Team members must be attentive to detail, think critically, and take the initiative. Being invested and present is key to performing well. A leader must know the strengths and motivations of each team member.[32:28] On Hiring
Recruit people who can fill the weaknesses of your company. Employers need to evaluate themselves when they are in an endless cycle of hiring and firing employees. Leaders should measure their KPI through staff retention. When companies take care of their people, employees comply with what is expected of them.[33:34] How to Stay Focused
Susan recently came out from a parenting burnout after realising the value of stopping the cycle of adrenalising. Resting during weekends is essential to keeping yourself energised. Tweak your environment to create a balanced lifestyle. Creating a morning routine prepares us for a great day ahead. Listen to the full episode to hear how Susan starts her day![39:55] Trivia About Susan
Susan’s favourite word is awareness; it helps people be more mindful of their surroundings. She also loves the sound of her dog yawning. She’ll have the entire entree menu at Chichelina as her last meal on Earth. If Susan could practice another profession, she would consult for other start-ups. For her, the key to re-energizing 2022 is to make yourself your main project.5 Powerful Quotes
[07:18] ‘Protein satiates us — keeps us more energized, more stable, mood wise for longer.’
[17:27] ‘I think when you go through those challenging times, that fuels you forward.’
[21:46] ‘Leadership is something that is so transparent. It's a choice. And there has to be an energy that comes from your heart, not just your head.’
[29:50] ‘The one thing I learned really quickly… is that need for a team where we have different skill sets where we complement one another.’
[33:34] ‘If you know you've got to keep people, retain them, grow them, help create future leaders…people do what's inspected, not expected.’
About Susan
Susan is a health expert with 15 years of clinical experience. Her life mission is to help people live their healthiest and happiest life.
She makes her vision come to life through the aid of biochemistry, genetics, and lifestyle habits. To help her clients, she develops a personalised healthcare plan that is clear
and simple to follow.
Apart from being a health science expert, Susan is an entrepreneur and the founder and director of the Melbourne-based wellness clinic: Radius Health. She hopes that her company can help thousands of people live longer, healthier, and more energised lives.
When she is not busy helping out people, Susan enjoys spending quality time with her supportive husband, two beautiful kids and amusing dog, Star.
You can reach Susan through her website or social media accounts: Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Enjoy This Podcast?It’s important to start the year 2022 right by living a healthier and happier life. Following the three foundations to better well-being can be a challenge, but once you’ve put in the necessary work, you’ll see great results!
Post a review and share it! If you learned something by tuning into this podcast, do not hesitate to write a review and share it with your friends! The world needs more people with the drive and leadership qualities to make the world a better place.
For more updates and episodes, visit and subscribe on the Limitless Leaders podcast page!
Have any questions? You can contact me through these platforms:
To leading the future,
Renee
January 8, 2022
New Year New Boundaries
Happy New Year!
With 2021 now in the rearview mirror and 2022 is in front of us, it’s a great time to reflect and refocus.
2021 has been a challenging year and one of growth, opportunities, and new learnings that we can take to progress forward.
Many of us worldwide were challenged with lockdowns; our constant uncertainty was driven by the pandemic, logistical business challenges, publishing my 3rd book, Gift Mindset® and working and delivering all of our services remotely.
Although last year was a challenging year and not without significant ups and downs, I’m proud to say the team and I at RG Dynamics have made it through to the other side. We have remained true to our purpose and intent, and that is to make workplaces better places to work. We do this by accelerating limitless leaders and teams, equipping them with key communication, and enabling leaders to lift performance, motivation and collaboration.
We have passionately stayed in service to our amazing clients, existing and new, and we thank you for your support and commitment to learning and growth. We have shifted most of our programs online, and I published my 3rd book the International Award-Winning Gift Mindset® that has been the conduit to sharing a powerful message needed more than ever in the workplace. The audiobook will be available as you read this, which is exciting.
It’s been a huge year and one that has reinforced the importance of having a strong purpose. Ensuring we do the things that light us up and motivate us with the right support network has helped us stay on track and achieve what we set out to do.
2021 offered us many gifts, not always visible at the time, but when we adopt a Gift Mindset, we can unwrap the lessons we have learnt to progress ourselves and others forward. We hope there has been a Gift or two you have unwrapped this year. For me, it was the Gift of Growth, Resilience, Gratitude and Connection.
So here we are, heading into a new year – I thought I’d share some insight and thought provokers on setting BOUNDARIES to ensure you get the most out of 2022!
What are you choosing?How exciting that we have the choice to make this year whatever we want it to be. Like writing a new chapter in a book, you choose the settings, the themes and the characters. The choices are all yours.
Hopefully, you have had some time to recharge and reset for the year ahead. It’s amazing what even a quick break can do as far as reflecting on what was and contemplating what will be.
Setting the scene for 2022Brene Brown says, “Boundaries are simply what’s ok and what’s not ok”.
To me, boundaries are like speed humps in the road; without them, we can lose control and could end up anywhere.
To have 20/20 vision, a term most commonly used to express normal visual acuity measured at a distance of 20 feet, means you can see clearly at 20 feet what should normally be seen at that distance.
Not setting boundaries and adhering to them can set us off course; it can cause unnecessary pain, distort our path, and influence others, especially if you are leading, to follow suit. Having boundaries both personally and professionally helps you bring your whole self to whatever you do; it paves the way for success, helps you measure where things are and keeps things real and relevant.
Take the time to:Set boundaries Know your limits and what you don’t stand for:emotional/physical/digital/personal/professionalBuild self-awareness of these boundariesConsider what has worked and what hasn’t in the past and presentMeasure them ongoingGet support to live by theseFriends, work colleagues and familyClearly communicate what these areLet people know
A boundary that has become blurred for me, especially in the last two years, is my work-life balance or what I call a work-life blend (more integrated and achievable). This is an area many of our clients also find challenging, and this is usually due to not setting clear guidelines of what you will and won’t accept.
A boundary I have set is that I won’t (unless absolutely necessary) work on a Sunday, and I won’t take early Monday morning flights anymore (although in a weird way, I’ve missed them). This will ensure I make the time to recharge on weekends without anticipating work travel from midday on a Sunday. By flying at night instead of the early morning, my energy is up, and I’m more prepared to be in service to my clients the next day.
According to Gallup’s State of the American Workplace 2017, 53 per cent of employees said that a role that allows them to have greater work-life balance is “very important” to them. Workplace boundaries help you achieve and safeguard balance in their area. This is a great example of a need to set boundaries both in and out of work as one supports the other.
Boundaries come in many forms, and I’ve outlined 3 of the more obvious ones below:
Physical This is all about your personal space and touch considerations.The rules you apply will define this for you and include things such as handshakes vs hugs at work, where you work from (office or remotely) and how and what you set up as your surroundings. Mental Your thoughts, opinions and values are what will determine your mental boundaries.Be clear and adhere to the rules you set and avoid (when applicable) others ideas on influencing or changing this. Setting boundaries around your routine and how certain things may operate at work is an example of this. Emotional This is all about getting in touch with your feelings and emotions. Setting boundaries around these can help you see the differences between those you have that are different to those around you at work.Knowing both who and when to say yes or no concerning tasks can help you ensure you don’t allow feelings and attitudes towards things to influence your attitudes and motivations.Take the time to reset your boundaries as you head into the new year, let go of the ones that no longer serve you and create new rules of what you do and don’t accept.
What do you need to:Let go of?Let in?Let Be?As always, I would love to hear your thoughts.
Lead to be limitless this year and make it your best year yet!
eSpeakersSeal(32459, "8d24", 'virtual', "md", "1");
Find out where you sit on the Leadership Ladder. Your responses are anonymous, and the results summarised to help us better understand where our market sits so that we can continue to provide insights, tools and solutions to assist you in moving up to be LIMITLESS, co-creative and stand out.
Renée is a mentor, coach, expert facilitator and keynote speaker; She is the author of ‘Gift Mindset®’, ‘Limitless Leadership’, and co-author of ‘Leaders of Influence’.
PS: Want to skyrocket your success from working anywhere? We’ve launched our online program, and you can read more about that here.
Have you received your copy of Renée’s latest book, Gift Mindset®? It is available on Amazon, Booktopia and in all good book stores.
If this article resonates with you somehow, I’d love to hear your thoughts – get in touch.
Being in service to my clients is why I do what I do, and your feedback, insight, and suggestions are always embraced.
Follow Renée on Facebook, Instagram, IGTV or Twitter, or subscribe to her blog or new podcast here.
January 1, 2022
31: Unwrapping the Gift Mindset in 2022
Welcome to the New Year. I hope you’ve been able to take some time out to reflect, recharge and reset for the year ahead.
In this episode of Limitless Leaders Podcast I want to talk about:
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
www.ReneeGiarusso.com/resources www.GiftMindset.com Limitless Leaders 90-Day Program
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
[1.43] The Great Resignation
A term that has come from WEF In 2021, 41% of employees were planning to leave their job (Europe and USA) Gartner’s Innovation Expert, Aaron McEwen believes there is data that shows it’s going to impact Australia in March 2022.What’s behind the Great Resignation?
Companies who have their values aligned with their employees, are growing their employees, and are purpose led – will be fine. Companies who will be most impacted will be because of a lack of career opportunities, no pay rises, lack of appreciation and recognition Post pandemic values misalignment – no longer congruent with employee values Poor company culture Lack of work/life balance and flexibility Overseas work[5.25] Embracing The Gift Mindset
Tapping into the gifts Looking at the lessons from challenges or successes Did we learn the Gift of Growth or Optimism or Curiousity? Did we learn the Gift of Empathy?[6.23] The Importance of Gratitude
There’s a lack of appreciation and recognition in many organisations Many organisations are performance based; focused on bottom line and progress Some executives feel showing gratitude can be a weakness Other executives don’t feel they have the time Expressing gratitude needs to be part of your leadership[9.19] The Happiness Project
People who were sent ‘thank you’ letters their happiness went from 2% to 4% When people were phoned directly their happiness increased from 4% to 19%[10.00] Tips to showing gratitude
Question to ask: “Who or what are you grateful for?” For every negative that comes up in a meeting, ask for three positive aspects that has come about from that negative challenge Have a Gratitude Jar Don’t make it complicated Start to ingrain the showing of gratitude as commonplace Know what makes you feel appreciated and share that with others Find out what makes others feel appreciated and show appreciation to them that wayQuote:
Think about what can you do to foster a workplace of gratitude and make people feel truly appreciated?
Enjoy This Podcast?
Post a review and share it! If you learned something by tuning into this podcast, do not hesitate to write a review and share it with your friends! The world needs more people with the drive and leadership qualities to make the world a better place.
For more updates and episodes, visit and subscribe on the Limitless Leaders podcast page!
Have any questions? You can contact me through these platforms:
To leading the future,
Renée
December 13, 2021
The Great Resignation or the Great Rejuvenation?
It has been called by many names. The Great Resignation is sparking a very different response depending on how you look at it.
The actual term comes from the World Economic Forum who are saying that 41% of employees plan to leave their job this year. In the US and Europe, this is already in play. Innovation expert at Gartner, Aaron McEwan, suggests that we have about six months to prepare for the mass movement. Many say Australia has a delayed response, expected to impact March 2022.
There are many factors contributing to the great resignation, including:No pay risesLack of career opportunitiesLack of appreciation and recognitionPost pandemic values misalignmentPoor company cultureLack of work-life balanceOverseas work opportunities (Employment Hero research says 2 in 5 people would consider taking a job overseas)The Great Rejuvenation?In October this year (2021) data from LinkedIn has shown a 26% jump in workers changing employers in comparison to the same time last year.
I believe the great resignation is a gift, as challenging and complex as it is going to be in organisations and in industries, I think it should be called the great rejuvenation. I believe many of the contributing factors have been underlying, and many people have experienced some sort of awakening during and post-pandemic.
When we are challenged, and let’s face it, the pandemic has been the war of our lifetime; it’s natural and healthy to question things such as your purpose, values, career path, priorities, life balance and ultimately your life. I believe many people have “hung in there” during the lockdowns and are now emerging with a stronger conviction of what they want.
It was only last week I had a senior sales manager say that he now wants to work in a company with a bigger purpose than just profit. Another client said she no longer feels aligned with the values of a company she has worked for for over 13 years.
None of this is new, things are just rising to the surface, and I believe we all need to look at and address the factors that we can control as leaders, organisations, or business owners.
One of these factors is creating a workplace culture of gratitudeRecognition, praise, gratitude, whatever you want to call it, is free and so underestimated.
Lack of appreciation & recognition is common, many organisations are performance-based and may look at gratitude and self-reflective time as indulgent, or they may practice what we call “grey gratitude” where there is recognition, but it is not regular intentional, or specific.
The practise of gratitude is vital in all areas of life. It can take place as a feeling, a mindset, or an action.
Cultural normsThe collective workplace culture can drive whether the organisation is one that shares and shows gratitude. Not all companies embrace gratitude, and many are transaction and performance-focused. Many people feel awkward showing gratitude and see it as a sign of weakness. Others believe it is time-consuming or fear that they might not receive gratitude in return.
In our home lives, different backgrounds, experiences, and ethnicity can play a massive role in the priority level that gratitude is given. The good news is you have the choice in and out of work to make gratitude part of your life in a way that works for you.
Gratitude at workIf you are a leader who wants to encourage your employees to go beyond the contractual obligation of their roles, expressing gratitude should be part of your leadership. Gratefully acknowledging the thoughts and efforts of your people shows them that they matter, which can also build a strong culture around gratitude.
In any workplace role, we should practise gratitude – this is the best way to ingrain it in your organisational culture. Research led by Lea Waters at the University of Melbourne found a positive relationship between expressing gratitude and increased productivity and job satisfaction. Gratitude can lower stress and reduce absenteeism.
Finding out how your people like to express and receive gratitude works best.
Expressing gratitude to others could be in the form of a thank you note, a phone call, an email, a passing comment, deeply listening to someone or even taking someone out for a coffee or lunch. In a study, the Happiness Project found that when thank you letters were sent in the post, the ‘happiness level’ went from 2% to 4%. When people were phoned directly, this increased by 4% to 19%.
Here are a few ideas for expressing gratitude in the workplace: During team meetings, share what each of you has learnt and enjoyed from working with each otherWho and what are you grateful for?Send surprise emails to others expressing appreciationAdopt the 3:1 ratio- for every negative share three positivesCreate a forum to share internal updates and encourage people to share.Finding out how your people like to express and receive gratitude works best.
It is important to think of subtle ways of sharing gratitude every day within the workplace. Ideally, there will be structured forums to share as well as spontaneous recognition and ways to show appreciation. Be mindful not to do ‘gratitude’ in overdrive – this can seem false and dilute the effects of authentically being grateful.
Lack of recognition is only one of the key factors contributing to this “next normal”, but it is one I know we can address and foster as part of a connected and collaborative workplace culture.
What can you do to foster a workplace or gratitude and make people feel truly appreciated?
Lead to be Limitless…
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Find out where you sit on the Leadership Ladder. Your responses are anonymous, and the results summarised to help us better understand where our market sits so that we can continue to provide insights, tools and solutions to assist you in moving up to be LIMITLESS, co-creative and stand out.
Renée is a mentor, coach, expert facilitator and keynote speaker; She is the author of ‘Gift Mindset®’, ‘Limitless Leadership’, and co-author of ‘Leaders of Influence’.
PS: Want to skyrocket your success from working anywhere? We’ve launched our online program, and you can read more about that here.
Have you received your copy of Renée’s latest book, Gift Mindset®? It is available on Amazon, Booktopia and in all good book stores.
If this article resonates with you somehow, I’d love to hear your thoughts – get in touch.
Being in service to my clients is why I do what I do, and your feedback, insight, and suggestions are always embraced.
Follow Renée on Facebook, Instagram, IGTV or Twitter, or subscribe to her blog or new podcast here.
December 12, 2021
30: Podcasting Unwrapped for Businesses and CEO’s
We can’t deny that podcasting is one of the biggest platforms today for producing content. Once an obscure medium, we now see no end in its popularity’s rise among different industries. It’s no surprise why — podcasts offer an endless selection of topics in any thinkable field of interest.
But do you know what goes behind the production of your favourite podcasts? The audio you hear on your podcast app is only the tip of a massive iceberg. Layer upon layer of work goes into producing a show, and we unwrap all that today.
In this episode, The Podcasting Queen Annemarie Cross takes us through the wonders of podcasting. She shares the challenge that led her to start and thrive in podcasting. Annemarie also lays down key tips on starting a podcast and nurturing an audience. She delves deep into the technicalities involved in running a podcast, including technologies, frequency of release, episode length, and more!
If you’re looking to jumpstart your podcasting journey, then tune in to the full episode.
Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:
Discover key tips in starting a podcast from The Podcasting Queen herself. Find out the best podcasting technologies and platforms you can use. Learn how often you should release a podcast and the perfect episode length.Resources
Ambitious Entrepreneur Show Connect with Annemarie: Website | Podcasting with Purpose| LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Industry Thought Leader by Annemarie Cross Edelman Trust Barometer StreamYard Audacity Humility: An important quality to becoming a Limitless Leader – Part 1 with Maria Palazzolo Humility: An important quality to becoming a Limitless Leader – Part 2 with Maria Palazzolo Connect with Renee: Renee’s website │ Gift Mindset website Connect, contribute, collaborate, and join the Limitless Leaders Group Mentoring – 90-Day Connection Program! Watch the episode:
Episode Highlights
[02:40] How Annemarie Became the Podcasting Queen
Annemarie started her first podcast in 2008, the same year the global financial crisis hit. Annemarie was then working as a personal brand strategist for executives and professionals. Many people recently lost their jobs from the financial crisis. Annemarie started her first podcast with a colleague to serve as a voice of hope for those people. They did the show for two years, creating an impact on people all over the world. Annemarie continued with podcasting after the show and helped people create their own. She loves the connection and community built from podcasting.[05:16] The Key Challenge Annemarie Overcame and Turned into a Gift
About six years ago, Annemarie established a partnership and built it into a seven-figure pipeline. The partnership ended up not working and left Annemarie burned out and unable to create content. She realised she could still ask questions even though she couldn’t write or create that time. Her grief and loss kick-started the Women and Leadership Podcast. Three episodes in, she accidentally generated two four-figure clients. She started thinking about how she could repeat that. The lessons from her worst business failure have become the core principles of what she teaches today.[09:52] Gift of Curiosity and Growth
Annemarie knew that circumstance could make or break her. She knew that not addressing it appropriately could change her core values, including integrity and trust. Annemarie trusts people to trust in people. Thus, she hired the most expensive coach to support her through that challenge. Hiring a coach allowed her to go through the process of forgiveness, healing and dealing with negative emotional triggers.[12:29] Key Tips in Starting a Podcast
Look into the misconceptions about podcasting first. For instance, many businesses now compare it to mainstream radio. The audience you create in podcasting is a community of your ideal clients. You don’t want to diminish that relationship by ad stacking like mainstream radio. Always imagine that your ideal client is sitting across the table every time you create an episode. That way, you’re nurturing them along the customer journey. The outcome you want to achieve from your podcast will determine its specific content, platform and frequency of posting. Look at a podcast as a relationship-building tool, not merely as a broadcasting tool.[16:03] Future Podcasting Trends
Thought leaders don’t follow trends — they create trends. There are no other rules to podcasting other than the rules you set yourself. Annemarie thinks the trend is heading towards businesses getting clear on leveraging their podcast from a business standpoint. She says that many CEOs will realise they can build a deeper connection with their audience through podcasting. People who understand podcasting’s value can use it as a vehicle to champion their brand message, thought leadership and industry authority.[19:36] Building a Podcast: Where Do I Start?
First, focus on your message and its purpose. You cannot create compelling content that converts and nurtures relationships from fluff and banter. Don’t worry too much about the microphone. However, you want to have technology that doesn’t sound too distracting. You do not have to put on a persona. The Edelman Trust Barometer found that being too media-focused, precise and produced doesn’t fuel conversations. Start with a three-part podcast series first. It is an excellent option to kick-start the next audience relationship. Podcasting takes a lot of time, money and commitment. Only when you have a strategy in place can you generate the best results for every single episode.[23:12] Repurposing Content
Always searching for new guests and new topics is a common mistake. Snapshots refer to smaller segments of an audio or video. These sound or video bites can hone in core quotable quotes. You can always direct people back to the main episode from featured snapshots. Figure out how to make a piece of content more consumable. Hearing from someone that you keep sharing something is a good problem to have. We’re all often guilty of hearing the same thing over and over and not taking action.[24:42] Annemarie’s Recommended Podcasting Technologies
StreamYard would be a technology that could leverage the podcast and live streaming space. She has used Zoom for many years. Find a platform that you already use and are comfortable with. You don’t need to try everything. Audacity is also great for audio-exclusive podcasts. Create content that will allow you to tap into different communication preferences.[27:15] How Often You Should Release a Podcast Episode
Identify what works best for you. You want to be top of mind with high-quality content, depending on your podcast’s purpose. Annemarie suggests releasing an episode fortnightly every second week. The podcast can be as short as five minutes. She had some podcasts that have gone from daily to weekly to every fortnight. They all worked because the outcome they wanted fit in those time frames.[25:56] The Right Episode Length
Get feedback from your audience. There has been a change in consumer behaviour because few people commute to work now. 20 minutes is an excellent episode length. Some prefer 40 minute-long podcasts. Focus on the quality. The length of an episode rarely matters as long as it’s good and engaging.[31:07] Annemarie’s Favorite Things
Word: Adventure Meal: Fish and chips Sound: Silence Annemarie is a multi-passionate person. A field she would’ve taken more notice of had she known what was happening now is politics.About Annemarie
Annemarie Cross is the CEO of the Ambitious Entrepreneur Podcast Network and Industry Thought Leader Academy. She is a business coach, podcast and personal branding strategist, speaker,
and author. Also known as ‘The Podcasting Queen', Annemarie hosts the award-winning podcast, The Ambitious Entrepreneur Podcast. She has also been cited as one of Melbourne, Australia's Top 20 Business Coaches.
Annemarie is a pioneer in the podcasting space. She started her first co-hosted podcast in 2008 and has interviewed thousands of guests over the past 13 years. Along the way, her podcasts have been syndicated on local and international radio. They have also joined the top podcast show lists for entrepreneurs and small businesses globally.
If you wish to connect with Annemarie, you may reach out to him on her website, Podcasting with Purpose, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Enjoy This Podcast?
We can’t deny that podcasting is one of the biggest platforms today for producing content. How can you leverage podcasting to champion your brand message, thought leadership and industry authority? Kickstart your podcasting journey and take your business and leadership skills to newer heights!
Post a review and share it! If you learned something by tuning into this podcast, do not hesitate to write a review and share it with your friends! The world needs more people with the drive and leadership qualities to make the world a better place.
For more updates and episodes, visit and subscribe on the Limitless Leaders podcast page!
Have any questions? You can contact me through these platforms:
To leading the future and staying limitless,
Renée
November 28, 2021
Unwrap and share your gifts
2021 has been a huge year of learning and growth and also one of opportunity.
At this time of year, it's a great time to reflect and adopt what I call a Gift Mindset®.
To do this, we need to deepen our self-awareness and unwrap the gifts that have helped us grow through either the challenges or successes we have faced.
Every positive or negative experience remains a one-dimensional “event” until we explore and accept what has happened and apply and share what we have learnt. There is a gift in every situation if we take the time to explore it, not worry about judgement from others and be open to the learnings.
Our lessons can fall into “The 12 Gifts” including soft skills such as resilience, empathy, connection and gratitude.
When we know what our lessons are, we can deepen and develop the skills that helped us through, both in and out of the workplace.
Our gifts could be a survival guide for someone else!
Sometimes, and I can vouch for this, the less than great people or situations in our life or the hard slog to success are the things that teach us the most. It may take a while to see the gift but there is always something there if you make reflective time a priority and peel back the layers.
What gift could you unwrap and share?
Looking for a 2021 gift for your team?
We have some amazing bulk offers available for teams and conferences including your company logo and foreword included in the book!
Pre-order the International Award-winning Gift Mindset here: https://www.giftmindset.com or contact Nia at admin@reneegiarrusso.com for more details.
Lead to be Limitless…
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Find out where you sit on the Leadership Ladder. Your responses are anonymous, and the results summarised to help us better understand where our market sits so that we can continue to provide insights, tools and solutions to assist you in moving up to be LIMITLESS, co-creative and stand out.
Renée is a mentor, coach, expert facilitator and keynote speaker; She is the author of ‘Gift Mindset®‘, ‘Limitless Leadership’, and co-author of ‘Leaders of Influence’.
PS: Want to skyrocket your success from working anywhere? We've launched our online program, and you can read more about that here.
Have you received your copy of Renée’s latest book, Gift Mindset®? It is available on Amazon, Booktopia and in all good book stores.
If this article resonates with you somehow, I’d love to hear your thoughts – get in touch.
Being in service to my clients is why I do what I do, and your feedback, insight, and suggestions are always embraced.
Follow Renée on Facebook, Instagram, IGTV or Twitter, or subscribe to her blog or new podcast here.
November 21, 2021
29: Reconnecting with yourself and your team
With only 4 weeks left until the end of 2021, in this episode of Limitless Leaders Podcast, I wanted to give you some tips on how to reconnect with yourself and your team, as you begin to stagger your workforce back into your office.
Additional Resources:www.ReneeGiarusso.com/resources www.GiftMindset.com
Episode Highlights:
[1.11] People are emerging and approaching going back into the office and into the world, in one of three ways.
Those who are exhausted – and I can vouch for this. Those who are rejuvenated – and I have come across a few of these people Those who are indifferent – their roles were remote prior to the pandemic and they worked fairly autonomously.
[2.59] The key is to remember that not everyone is feeling how you are feeling. It’s really important to bring in that emotional intelligence and awareness at this time.
TIP ONE: DON’T DEFAULT INTO OLD WAYS OF DOING THINGS
[3.31] Now more than ever we need to be adaptive and innovative as leaders and as teams. A by-product of that is collaboration.
[4.11] Make an effort to focus on people before process, before progress. Don’t default back to the old ways of how things have been done. The pandemic has given us an opportunity to lead in new ways, new ways of thinking, new ways of working.
[4.33] Let go of the things that didn’t work before.
[4.46] Be really conscious about what you want to let in that’s new, that you want to keep doing, thinking, feeling and what would you like to let go of? What no longer suits you or your team? What do you want to let in? What do you need to let go of?
TIP TWO: THE IMPORTANCE OF ONE-TO-ONE TIME WITH EACH TEAM MEMBER
[5.37] Don’t underestimate the value of just spending one on one time with each person in your team.
[6.09] Connection, connection. Connection is a core human need.
[6.13] Don’t just talk about work. Talk about your passions, what you’ve learned over the last two years.
TIP THREE: UNWRAP YOUR GIFT MINDSET INDIVIDUALLY AND AS A TEAM
[6.22] Unwrap your gifts as a team. It’s never been a better time to adopt the Gift Mindset.
[6.47] Acknowledge what’s happened, good or bad. Bring those lessons into your life and into your workplace and into your team moving forward.
[7.03] A really good tip: Get your team together and get everyone to share their biggest gifts over the last few years. What did they learn? What were the drivers or the soft skills like resilience, gratitude, all these sorts of things that have supported and helped them through.
2 Powerful Quotes:
[2.18] A lot of people I'm seeing in this space, are a part of what they're calling ‘the great resignation’. They're reflecting on what they want to do for a career, they want more purpose, they want a company that aligns with their values.
[7.20] When we adopt a Gift Mindset we can us the lessons from challenges to progress ourselves and other forward.
Enjoy This Podcast?
Post a review and share it! If you learned something by tuning into this podcast, do not hesitate to write a review and share it with your friends! The world needs more people with the drive and leadership qualities to make the world a better place.
For more updates and episodes, visit and subscribe on the Limitless Leaders podcast page!
Have any questions? You can contact me through these platforms:
To leading the future,
Renée
