Leadership With a Twist

What does it actually mean to lead the whole person — and why does it matter more than ever right now? In this episode of Leadership with a Twist, Heather McGonigal and Barbara Schindler dive deep into one of the most important — and most overlooked — principles of effective leadership: caring for the whole human being in your organization, not just the role they fill. You will hear why the outdated model of 'leave your personal life at the door' is quietly destroying team performance, killing creativity, and tanking company culture. Heather and Barbara share real examples from years of coaching leaders and teams in entrepreneurial companies and larger organizations, revealing the telltale signs that care is flowing only one direction in a workplace — and what to do about it. In this episode, you will learn: Why whole-person leadership is directly tied to financial performance and business success How to advocate for your own needs without sacrificing professionalism What progressive companies do differently to attract and retain top talent Why your company's Glassdoor reputation is shaped by whether employees feel seen and valued How to build a team culture where creativity, psychological safety, and innovation naturally thrive Whether you are a founder, a people manager, an HR leader, or someone building your career inside a team, this episode gives you practical tools and a mindset shift that will change how you show up for the people around you. 00:00 Welcome and Weather 01:10 Whole Person Leadership 02:06 Old School Professionalism 05:23 Care Imbalance at the Top 07:44 Advocate for Your Needs 10:15 Culture and Reputation 12:05 People and Profit Balance 15:37 Safety and Creativity 17:44 Benefits Cuts Warning 20:20 Wrap Up and Next Time About the Hosts: Coach Heather and Coach Barbara are the lead Executive Coaches of Empowering Leadership Teams. They specialize in helping entrepreneurial businesses and their teams meet the moment and become the most empowered they can be to work together and achieve optimal results. With deep expertise in leadership development, team dynamics, and navigating organizational transition, they bring practical, actionable wisdom to leaders facing the challenges of today's rapidly changing business environment. Free E-Guide: Authentic Leadership Unleashed Need support implementing these ideas? Book a Coffee Chat: https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/coffeechat Subscribe & Review: If you found value in this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and leave us a review. Your feedback helps us create content that serves entrepreneurial leaders like you, and it helps other leaders discover these conversations. Questions or topics you'd like us to address in future episodes? Send us a message at or leave a comment on our latest post. Cheering You On!

What kind of leader are you — really? Not in the vision statement, not in the company all-hands, but in the moment when the pressure is on, the numbers are off, and your team is watching closely. In this episode of Leadership With a Twist, hosts Heather McGonigal and Barbara Schindler dig into one of the most important — and most overlooked — dimensions of leadership development: what are your actions actually demonstrating every single day? In this episode you will learn: Why leadership reputation is built or broken in everyday micro-moments How to use an intentional leadership anchor statement to guide your behavior under pressure The role of compassion and psychological safety in high-performance cultures Why visible self-care is a leadership skill, not a luxury How to apply a growth mindset to mistakes — your own and your team's Practical questions to help you notice and shift what you are demonstrating Whether you are a seasoned executive, a first-time manager, or an aspiring leader, this episode gives you a clear framework for closing the gap between the leader you say you want to be and the leader your team experiences every day. 00:00 Welcome Back01:14 Leadership In Action04:36 Intentional Leadership06:21 Compassion Through Curiosity07:52 Mistakes And Growth Mindset10:59 Leading Under Pressure12:16 Self Care That Shows16:23 Remote Work Reality18:05 Recenter And Wrap Up19:19 How To Connect About the Hosts: Coach Heather and Coach Barbara are the lead Executive Coaches of Empowering Leadership Teams. They specialize in helping entrepreneurial businesses and their teams meet the moment and become the most empowered they can be to work together and achieve optimal results. With deep expertise in leadership development, team dynamics, and navigating organizational transition, they bring practical, actionable wisdom to leaders facing the challenges of today's rapidly changing business environment. Free E-Guide: Authentic Leadership Unleashed Book a Coffee Chat: https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/coffeechat Subscribe & Review: If you found value in this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and leave us a review. Your feedback helps us create content that serves entrepreneurial leaders like you, and it helps other leaders discover these conversations. Questions or topics you'd like us to address in future episodes? Send us a message at or leave a comment on our latest post. Cheering You On!

What keeps great leaders steady when everything around them is in flux? Leadership With a Twist hosts Heather McGonigal and Barbara Schindler dive deep into the concept of leadership reputation — not as something defined by others, but as a conscious, personal anchor you return to again and again. In today's fast-changing business landscape, where mass layoffs happen over email and industry norms shift overnight, your leadership reputation becomes your most powerful stabilizing tool. Heather and Barbara explore how crafting one clear, values-driven sentence about who you are as a leader can transform how you navigate stress, conflict, and uncertainty. In this episode, you'll learn: What leadership reputation really means (and what it doesn't) How to define your personal leadership anchor sentence Why demonstrating your values matters more than stating them How self-care is a visible act of leadership How conscious leadership reputation builds team culture and retains top talent Perfect for business leaders, entrepreneurs, managers, and coaches who want to lead with greater intention, impact, and integrity. Subscribe to Leadership With a Twist on your favorite podcast platform and join the community on Substack. About the Hosts: Coach Heather and Coach Barbara are the lead Executive Coaches of Empowering Leadership Teams. They specialize in helping entrepreneurial businesses and their teams meet the moment and become the most empowered they can be to work together and achieve optimal results. With deep expertise in leadership development, team dynamics, and navigating organizational transition, they bring practical, actionable wisdom to leaders facing the challenges of today's rapidly changing business environment. Free E-Guide: Authentic Leadership Unleashed Book a Coffee Chat: https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/coffeechat Subscribe & Review: If you found value in this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and leave us a review. Your feedback helps us create content that serves entrepreneurial leaders like you, and it helps other leaders discover these conversations. Questions or topics you'd like us to address in future episodes? Send us a message at or leave a comment on our latest post. Cheering You On!

Are external pressures — economic uncertainty, industry disruption, and rapid change — bumping your business around? You are not alone, and more importantly, you are not starting from scratch. In Episode 12 of Leadership With a Twist, hosts Heather McGonigal and Barbara Schindler explore how creative leaders can navigate chaos with clarity, confidence, and innovation. Whether you lead a small entrepreneurial team or a growing company, this episode gives you the practical tools to steady your business, engage your team, and make smart decisions even when the world outside feels unpredictable. In this episode you will learn: Why your existing business infrastructure is your greatest strategic asset in chaotic times How to identify and strengthen the weak spots that turbulence naturally reveals Why customer service is your most underutilized source of real-time business intelligence How to lead with creativity and curiosity — and why messy brainstorming is a sign of innovation, not failure Practical ways to support your team's well-being and model healthy self-care as a leader The difference between reactive, emotion-driven decisions and thoughtful, strategic action Featuring the powerful Julia Cameron quote — "Creativity is messy. The creative process is a process of surrender, not control" — this episode reframes chaos as the soil where creativity and business growth take root. If you are a small business owner, entrepreneur, or team leader looking for creative leadership strategies, this is your episode. 📌 Book a Coaching Call with Heather or Barbara: https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/discovery 📎 Article on Delegation: The Art of Effective Delegation: A Personal Perspective https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/blog/The-Art-of-Effective-Delegation 📎 Article on Leadership Reputation: Business Is Complex—Listen For Nuances To Improve Your Leadership Reputation https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/blog/improve-your-leadership-reputatio 📎 Article on Discernment: The Power of Discernment: Transforming Your Leadership Journey https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/blog/The-Power-of-Discernment  

How much context is too much? How little is too little? In this episode of the Leadership With a Twist Podcast, hosts Heather McGonigal and Barbara Schindler tackle one of the most nuanced challenges in leadership communication: sharing the right context, with the right people, at the right time. Whether you’re delegating a project, presenting a new idea, or navigating cross-functional collaboration, the context you provide (or withhold) directly shapes your team’s ability to prioritize, perform, and align. Heather and Barbara explore real coaching scenarios, including a leader whose delegation breakdowns with IT staff were costing time and trust, and unpack the psychological reasons leaders either overshare or go silent. You’ll learn how to: Use context in delegation to close the gap between intention and execution • Lead meetings more effectively by starting with the outcome first Identify whether your communication style is a natural strength or a learned survival behavior Apply discernment as a leadership tool in today’s fast-changing business environment Shift from self-protection into self-leadership before every important conversation If you’re a leader looking to strengthen your communication, build more aligned teams, and show up with intention and clarity, this episode is for you. 📌 Take the Leadership Style Quiz: https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/leadership-assessment-quiz 📌 Book a Coaching Call with Heather or Barbara: https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/discovery 📎 Article on Delegation: The Art of Effective Delegation: A Personal Perspective https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/blog/The-Art-of-Effective-Delegation 📎 Article on Leadership Reputation: Business Is Complex—Listen For Nuances To Improve Your Leadership Reputation https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/blog/improve-your-leadership-reputatio 📎 Article on Discernment: The Power of Discernment: Transforming Your Leadership Journey https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/blog/The-Power-of-Discernment  

What does it actually take to build a team that stays engaged, motivated, and committed — even when the work gets hard? In this week's episode of Leadership With a Twist, Heather McGonigal and Barbara Schindler unpack the power of authentic appreciation as the foundation of healthy workplace culture. Most leaders know they should recognize their team — but few do it in a way that actually lands. In this conversation, Heather and Barbara break down why vague praise creates disengagement and how specific, intentional acknowledgment transforms team dynamics from the inside out. In this episode you'll learn: Why 'great job' is not enough — and what to say instead A simple formula for specific, authentic recognition that employees actually feel How appreciation connects to employee engagement and reduced quiet quitting The concept of humble authority and how the best leaders shine alongside their teams How to build appreciation into your daily leadership habits — not just after big wins Whether you're a team leader, manager, business owner, or HR professional, this episode delivers practical insights you can start using today. Plus, Heather and Barbara share how you can schedule a free Coffee Chat to apply these strategies to your specific workplace situation. About the Hosts: Coach Heather and Coach Barbara are the lead Executive Coaches of Empowering Leadership Teams. They specialize in helping entrepreneurial businesses and their teams meet the moment and become the most empowered they can be to work together and achieve optimal results. With deep expertise in leadership development, team dynamics, and navigating organizational transition, they bring practical, actionable wisdom to leaders facing the challenges of today's rapidly changing business environment. Download the Appreciation Script: https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/effective-apology-appreciation-script  Book a Coffee Chat: https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/coffeechat Subscribe & Review: If you found value in this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and leave us a review. Your feedback helps us create content that serves entrepreneurial leaders like you, and it helps other leaders discover these conversations. Questions or topics you'd like us to address in future episodes? Send us a message at or leave a comment on our latest post. Cheering You On!

In this episode of Leadership With a Twist, Heather McGonigle and Barbara Schindler break down one of the most common leadership communication challenges: what do you do when a team member brings a big, exciting idea at exactly the wrong time? They emphasize treating yourself and your team as limited resources and making wise choices about focus, time, and talent. Heather introduces the “Impact Script” (the Everyday Leadership Script) to navigate situations where a new, exciting idea could strain capacity or jeopardize results, using a “yes, and” approach instead of pushback. The script focuses on uniting around the desired outcome, mapping the impact on that outcome, exploring mitigations, asking for others’ input, creating a new agreement, and confirming the plan. They stress “solve the impact, not the gap,” and filtering outside advice to fit current team capacity. 00:00 Welcome and Topic Setup 00:57 Three Layers of Teamwork 02:34 People as Resources 06:26 Everyday Impact Script 07:32 Launch Idea Scenario 08:50 Yes And Not Pushback13:22 Impact Script Steps 18:23 Coaching Example Metrics 20:14 Solve Impact Not Gap 21:26 Outside Influences Filter 25:21 Wrap Up and Next Steps 📥 Download the Impact Script (From our SubStack): https://open.substack.com/pub/leadershipwithatwist/p/the-power-of-yes-and-enhancing-leadership About the Hosts: Coach Heather and Coach Barbara are the lead Executive Coaches of Empowering Leadership Teams. They specialize in helping entrepreneurial businesses and their teams meet the moment and become the most empowered they can be to work together and achieve optimal results. With deep expertise in leadership development, team dynamics, and navigating organizational transition, they bring practical, actionable wisdom to leaders facing the challenges of today's rapidly changing business environment. Book a Coffee Chat: https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/coffeechat Subscribe & Review: If you found value in this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and leave us a review. Your feedback helps us create content that serves entrepreneurial leaders like you, and it helps other leaders discover these conversations. Questions or topics you'd like us to address in future episodes? Send us a message at or leave a comment on our latest post. Cheering You On!

In this grounding episode of Leadership with a Twist, hosts Heather McGonigal and Barbara Schindler invite you to pause and check in with yourself as New Year's intentions begin to slip. You are likely feeling the pull of external momentum — the pace of work, performance reviews, new goals, and the relentless rhythm of daily life — and you may notice that you have been swept into the tide rather than steering your own course. Heather and Barbara walk you through the distinction between living from the outside in versus the inside out, helping you recognize when you are reacting to external pressure versus responding from a place of intentional choice. You discover how unconscious agreements — the unspoken rules you operate by without realizing it — may be quietly running your day, your meetings, and your energy. Through relatable coaching stories and practical examples, you learn how to surface those agreements and replace them with three conscious, measurable commitments designed specifically for your current reality. You are guided to identify your natural rhythms, design your day around how your brain works best, and build simple check-in rituals that anchor you to your intentions. By the end, you walk away with a clear, bite-sized action plan to reclaim your pace, your presence, and your power in 2026. 00:00 New Year Check In 01:09 Swept By The Tide 02:53 Inside Out Leadership 04:34 Meeting Prep Habits 08:13 Agreements Explained 10:12 Pace And Brain Wiring 14:27 Three Agreements Homework 16:24 Checkpoints Calm And Clear 20:40 Why And Closing     About the Hosts: Coach Heather and Coach Barbara are the lead Executive Coaches of Empowering Leadership Teams. They specialize in helping entrepreneurial businesses and their teams meet the moment and become the most empowered they can be to work together and achieve optimal results. With deep expertise in leadership development, team dynamics, and navigating organizational transition, they bring practical, actionable wisdom to leaders facing the challenges of today's rapidly changing business environment. Book a Coffee Chat: https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/coffeechat  Subscribe & Review: If you found value in this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and leave us a review. Your feedback helps us create content that serves entrepreneurial leaders like you, and it helps other leaders discover these conversations. Questions or topics you'd like us to address in future episodes? Send us a message at  or leave a comment on our latest post. Cheering You On!      

Build Your Self-Care Action Plan to Prevent Burnout in Busy Seasons Heather McGonigal and co-host Barbara Schindler discuss why self-care is essential for entrepreneurial leaders and teams who often push themselves with limited resources and risk burnout. They introduce a proactive self-care action plan designed to be created before high-demand periods (like launches or returning after the holidays) so you can protect your energy, thinking, collaboration, and wellbeing as a whole person at work. You’re encouraged to plan specific replenishing actions based on how depleted you feel—quick refreshes when you have minutes, options for when your battery is running low, steps for the danger zone, and what to do when you’re super depleted—matching activities to the actual time you have in a day (5 minutes, 30 minutes, lunch break). Barbara shares her five-minute chai tea latte routine as a quick reset, and they discuss preparing for triggers like distracting emails before meetings by building habits such as silencing notifications and creating transition rituals. They also address the strain of back-to-back meetings on the nervous system and suggest planning pauses, as well as practical supports during intense work periods (like keeping protein bars and water at your desk). Heather and Barbara offer a document to guide the exercise and invite listeners to schedule a free consultation call for help applying the plan. A downloadable Action Plan Template is available at https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/self-care-action-guide 00:00 Welcome Back + Why Self-Care Matters More Than Ever 00:56 Entrepreneurial Burnout: You’re a Human, Not a Machine 04:18 The Self-Care Action Plan: Plan Ahead for Busy Seasons 05:31 Build Your Menu: Quick Refresh vs. Running Low vs. Danger Zone 07:03 Barbara’s 5-Minute Reset: The Chai Tea Latte Ritual 07:50 Triggered Before a Meeting? Resetting Your Brain & Focus 08:57 Protect Your Attention: Notifications, Boundaries, and Habits 10:08 Back-to-Back Days & Nervous System Recovery (15–30 Minute Recharges) 12:07 Launch Mode Survival Kit: Snacks, Water, and Realistic Supports 13:19 Whole Person Reminder + Next Steps, Free Call, and Wrap-Up About the Hosts: Coach Heather and Coach Barbara are the lead Executive Coaches of Empowering Leadership Teams. They specialize in helping entrepreneurial businesses and their teams meet the moment and become the most empowered they can be to work together and achieve optimal results. With deep expertise in leadership development, team dynamics, and navigating organizational transition, they bring practical, actionable wisdom to leaders facing the challenges of today's rapidly changing business environment. Book a Coffee Chat: https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/coffeechat  Subscribe & Review: If you found value in this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and leave us a review. Your feedback helps us create content that serves entrepreneurial leaders like you, and it helps other leaders discover these conversations. Questions or topics you'd like us to address in future episodes? Send us a message at  or leave a comment on our latest post. Cheering You On!

In this episode of The Leadership With a Twist Podcast, hosts Heather McGonigal and Barbara Schindler dive into the importance of owning your part within a business. They discuss how role clarity, defined by organizational structures, leads to more effective collaboration and prevents the overextension of responsibilities. The co-hosts emphasize that understanding and respecting each team member's role can create a healthier work environment, foster better teamwork, and ultimately lead to greater organizational success. Listeners are invited to take advantage of this concept to improve their leadership skills and are offered complimentary coaching sessions for personalized support (see below). 00:00 Introduction to Leadership With a Twist 00:23 Understanding Role Responsibility 01:50 Defining Organizational Structure 04:00 Empowering Through Role Clarity 05:17 Balancing Responsibility and Empowerment 07:12 Encouraging Team Collaboration 11:47 The Importance of Role Clarity 17:42 Fostering Confidence in Team Roles 22:04 Conclusion and Next Steps About the Hosts: Coach Heather and Coach Barbara are the lead Executive Coaches of Empowering Leadership Teams. They specialize in helping entrepreneurial businesses and their teams meet the moment and become the most empowered they can be to work together and achieve optimal results. With deep expertise in leadership development, team dynamics, and navigating organizational transition, they bring practical, actionable wisdom to leaders facing the challenges of today's rapidly changing business environment. Book a Coffee Chat: https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/coffeechat Subscribe & Review: If you found value in this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and leave us a review. Your feedback helps us create content that serves entrepreneurial leaders like you, and it helps other leaders discover these conversations. Questions or topics you'd like us to address in future episodes? Send us a message at  or leave a comment on our latest post. Cheering You On!

In this episode of Leadership Today, hosts Heather McGonigal and Barbara Schindler discuss the importance of preparing for performance reviews with a proactive and empowered mindset. They emphasize the need for team members to actively participate in the conversation, highlight their contributions, and align their career goals with the company's strategic vision. The conversation also touches on the evolving nature of performance reviews, the importance of self-advocacy, and how to effectively communicate your growth and future aspirations within the organization. Tune in to learn how to turn performance reviews into valuable opportunities for career development. In This Episode, You'll Discover: 00:11 The Importance of Performance Reviews 01:20 Empowering Team Members for Reviews 01:51 Shifting Perspectives in Performance Reviews 02:26 Business Leaders and Talent Investment 03:03 Opportunities for Growth Within a Company 04:24 Aligning Personal and Company Goals 11:17 Advocating for Yourself in Reviews 16:07 Conclusion and Support Offers About the Hosts: Coach Heather and Coach Barbara are the lead Executive Coaches of Empowering Leadership Teams. They specialize in helping entrepreneurial businesses and their teams meet the moment and become the most empowered they can be to work together and achieve optimal results. With deep expertise in leadership development, team dynamics, and navigating organizational transition, they bring practical, actionable wisdom to leaders facing the challenges of today's rapidly changing business environment. Book a Coffee Chat:https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/coffeechat Subscribe & Review: If you found value in this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and leave us a review. Your feedback helps us create content that serves entrepreneurial leaders like you, and it helps other leaders discover these conversations. Questions or topics you'd like us to address in future episodes? Send us a message at [email protected] or leave a comment on our latest post. Cheering You On!

Navigating Noise: Strengthening Intuition and Authenticity in Leadership In this episode of 'Leadership With a Twist,' hosts Heather McGonigal and Barbara Schindler discuss the importance of navigating through the noisy and chaotic business world by developing one's intuition and inner guidance. They emphasize the role of authenticity and self-awareness in making better decisions, both personally and professionally. The episode offers practical advice, including a 30-day habit-building practice, to help listeners strengthen their relationship with their intuition. Heather and Barbara also share personal anecdotes and coaching experiences to illustrate how inner wisdom can transform one’s approach to challenges in life and work. In This Episode, You'll Discover: 00:00 Introduction and Today's Topic 00:16 Understanding the Noise 02:44 The Importance of Intuition 07:39 Developing Intuition: Practical Steps 15:06 Applying Intuition in Daily Life 25:41 Conclusion and Invitation   About the Hosts: Coach Heather and Coach Barbara are the lead Executive Coaches of Empowering Leadership Teams. They specialize in helping entrepreneurial businesses and their teams meet the moment and become the most empowered they can be to work together and achieve optimal results. With deep expertise in leadership development, team dynamics, and navigating organizational transition, they bring practical, actionable wisdom to leaders facing the challenges of today's rapidly changing business environment. Book a Coffee Chat: https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/coffeechat Subscribe & Review: If you found value in this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and leave us a review. Your feedback helps us create content that serves entrepreneurial leaders like you, and it helps other leaders discover these conversations. Questions or topics you'd like us to address in future episodes? Send us a message at [email protected] or leave a comment on our latest post. Cheering You On!

Discover how to lead authentically by bringing your whole self to work in this transformative episode of Leadership With a Twist. Coaches Heather and Barbara explore the essential practice of whole person leadership, teaching you how to balance professional excellence with self-awareness and human limitations. Learn practical strategies for self-assessment, calendar renegotiation, and creating psychological safety on your team. This episode addresses common leadership challenges including managing low energy days, delegating effectively, and maintaining work-life balance during high-stress periods. Key topics include: Understanding yourself as a finite resource in leadership Self-honesty and professional transparency techniques Pacing your day for optimal performance Building team psychological safety through vulnerability The connection between self-care and leadership effectiveness Practical delegation strategies for overwhelmed leaders Perfect for business leaders, entrepreneurs, managers, and anyone navigating workplace transitions while maintaining their wellbeing. Whether you're managing team dynamics or building your own leadership capacity, this episode provides actionable insights for integrating professionalism with authentic human experience. Tune in to transform how you approach leadership, productivity, and team collaboration through the lens of whole person awareness. About the Hosts: Coach Heather and Coach Barbara are the lead Executive Coaches of Empowering Leadership Teams. They specialize in helping entrepreneurial businesses and their teams meet the moment and become the most empowered they can be to work together and achieve optimal results. With deep expertise in leadership development, team dynamics, and navigating organizational transition, they bring practical, actionable wisdom to leaders facing the challenges of today's rapidly changing business environment. Book a Coffee Chat: https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/coffeechat Subscribe & Review: If you found value in this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and leave us a review. Your feedback helps us create content that serves entrepreneurial leaders like you, and it helps other leaders discover these conversations. Questions or topics you'd like us to address in future episodes? Send us a message at [email protected] or leave a comment on our latest post. Cheering You On!

In this powerful conversation, Coach Heather and Coach Barbara from Empowering Leadership Teams reveal a game-changing concept for entrepreneurial leaders: homegrown wisdom. While most leaders instinctively look outside their organizations for guidance during times of change—to consultants, courses, and industry experts—they're often overlooking their most valuable resource: the collective intelligence already living inside their teams. Discover why pressing pause isn't wasted time but essential intelligence gathering, how to transform your team from task executors into strategic thinking partners, and why your competitive advantage might be hiding in the nuances only your long-term team members can see. This episode is perfect for business owners, entrepreneurs, and leaders who want to navigate transition more effectively by tapping into the wisdom their team has been accumulating through daily experience in their business. In This Episode, You'll Discover: By tapping into the nuanced understanding and rhythms gained over time within your organization, businesses can make more informed decisions that drive optimal performance and innovative success. 00:00 Introduction to Empowering Leadership 00:27 Navigating Times of Change 01:46 The Role of Technology and AI 02:47 Facing Business Transitions 04:35 The Value of Team Collaboration 06:10 Harnessing Homegrown Wisdom 07:57 Embracing Nuances for Innovation 08:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts About the Hosts: Coach Heather and Coach Barbara are the lead Executive Coaches of Empowering Leadership Teams. They specialize in helping entrepreneurial businesses and their teams meet the moment and become the most empowered they can be to work together and achieve optimal results. With deep expertise in leadership development, team dynamics, and navigating organizational transition, they bring practical, actionable wisdom to leaders facing the challenges of today's rapidly changing business environment. Book a Coffee Chat: https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/coffeechat Subscribe & Review: If you found value in this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and leave us a review. Your feedback helps us create content that serves entrepreneurial leaders like you, and it helps other leaders discover these conversations. Questions or topics you'd like us to address in future episodes? Send us a message at [email protected] or leave a comment on our latest post. Cheering You On!

You're invited to discover a fresh approach to leadership that moves beyond traditional top-down authority. In this premier episode, you explore what it means to lead with a twist—bringing authenticity, heart, and the full human element into your leadership practice. Empowering Leadership Teams' Executive Coaches, Barbara Schindler and Heather McGonigal discuss why collaboration and active listening create high-performing teams that can innovate in real time, and how centering yourself before making decisions transforms your impact. You discover that leadership isn't reserved for those at the top of organizations—it lives within you and everyone around you. The episode introduces you to key themes you'll explore in future conversations: self-leadership through Astro Vibes, mindfulness practices, navigating life transitions through Your Next Chapter, and elevating your human skills in an AI-driven business world. You hear why authentic connection, trust-building, and communication skills matter now more than ever, and how you can show up more empowered in every moment. This conversation invites you to embrace the inner leader within you and join a movement toward more conscious, collaborative leadership.   About the Hosts: Coach Heather and Coach Barbara are the lead Executive Coaches of Empowering Leadership Teams. They specialize in helping entrepreneurial businesses and their teams meet the moment and become the most empowered they can be to work together and achieve optimal results. With deep expertise in leadership development, team dynamics, and navigating organizational transition, they bring practical, actionable wisdom to leaders facing the challenges of today's rapidly changing business environment. 00:00 Welcome to Leadership With a Twist00:23 Defining Leadership With a Twist02:22 The Importance of Collaboration03:51 Leading With Heart and Mindfulness07:09 Astro Vibes: Self-Understanding Through Astrology09:34 Mindfulness and Life Transitions10:38 The Human Element in Business13:25 Conclusion and Call to Action   Book a Coffee Chat: https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/coffeechat Subscribe & Review: If you found value in this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and leave us a review. Your feedback helps us create content that serves entrepreneurial leaders like you, and it helps other leaders discover these conversations. Questions or topics you'd like us to address in future episodes? Send us a message at [email protected] or leave a comment on our latest post. Cheering You On!    Thank you to listenersInvitation to join the leadership evolutionSubscribe, share, and stay connected Episode Resources: Visit the Leadership With a Twist Substack for additional content and resources https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com Connect with Coach Heather and Coach Barbara at Empowering Leadership TeamsSubmit your questions and topic suggestions [email protected] Book a complimentary consultation to explore coaching support https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/discovery