Jennifer McClure`

Empowering Organizations and People Leaders to thrive in the ever-evolving world of work

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Written by Jennifer McClure

6 Resources to Create a Leadership Development Plan to Fuel Continuous Personal Growth and Career Success

If you’re serious about creating positive change in the lives of those that you lead and serve, it’s critical for you to be intentional about continuing your own personal development as a leader, and never become complacent or satisfied that you’ve finally “made it”.

How can you be intentional about your continuous leadership learning journey?

Start with identifying several sources that challenge and inspire you and can provide you with consistent and reliable information and encouragement, so that you can explore and implement several to facilitate your personal growth and development.

Thankfully, there are plenty of great resources out there – many free or low cost to access – that can become part of your own Leadership Development Plan. For example, below are 6 resources that I’ve incorporated into my life that consistently provide leadership learning and growth opportunities for me:

1. Books

This category is low hanging fruit to grasp, because there are so many great books – both old and new – out there on the topic of leadership! Some of my consistent favorite authors include  Adam Grant, Brené Brown, Brendon Burchard, and John C. Maxwell.

2. Blogs

While the glory days of blogging seem to have come and gone, there are still plenty of blogs or websites that share the latest research and trends related to my areas of interest. I’m a regular reader of several blogs by bloggers who write about leadership, people strategies, and professional speaking.

A few of my consistent favorites include: Steve Browne (Everyday People), Tim Sackett (The Tim Sackett Project), Josh Bersin, the LinkedIn Talent blog, The Speaker Lab, and Jane Atkinson (The Wealthy Speaker).

3. Newsletters

Newsletters have unfortunately gotten a bad rap, because so many people/organizations abuse the privilege of dropping into our inboxes by signing us up to receive their newsletters without permission. (BTW, I can click unsubscribe faster than it took them to enter my email address without my permission into their email service provider.) However, please don’t let the bad actors discourage you from signing up to receive regular updates from thought leaders and content creators who do provide value.

I receive and enjoy reading regular updates from Hung Lee (Recruiting Brainfood), Ann Handley (Total Annarchy), Mike Kim, James Clear, DisruptHR LLC, HR Executive.com, McKinsey & Company, and DDI (Leadership Development Resources).

4. Online Courses

The world of online learning has exploded since 2020, and there are more opportunities to learn online – both free and paid – than ever before. I recommend checking out my friend Laurie Ruettimann’s popular LinkedIn Learning courses – which have been viewed by millions – as well as some of the leadership and personal development courses options from Dana Brownlee, Todd Dewett, and Dorie Clark.

5. Conferences & Events

With so many options to choose from, sometimes it can be a challenge to find a conference or event near you that is focused on the area you’d specifically like to learn more about.

If you’re in the people and talent space, check out this great open-source list, curated by Hung Lee of Recruiting Brainfood -> “Recruiting Brainfood Big List of Recruiting & HR Events to attend in 2023.” The Academy to Innovate HR has also shared “40 HR Conferences to Attend in 2023” and Recruiting Daily has curated “Your 2023 Recruiting & HR Events List.”

It’s also likely that a DisruptHR event is coming soon near you wherever you are in the world. [View a listing of upcoming DisruptHR events HERE.]

6. Podcasts

Podcasts are my go-to learning resource these days. I subscribe to dozens, and enjoy listening / learning while driving, cooking, working out, spending time with my horses, etc. (I recently shared some of my favorites, here on the blog.)

More favorites include several from Zachary Nunn and the Living Corporate team, All Hands with Katelin Holloway, Punk Rock HR with Laurie Ruettimann, Redefining Work with Lars Schmidt, Digital HR Leaders with David Green, the Maxwell Leadership Podcast, and Re:Thinking with Adam Grant.

Speaking of my favorite leadership podcasts, if you’re not already subscribed, I’ll put in a shameless plug for the Impact Makers Podcast with Jennifer McClure, as another resource I recommend adding to your weekly intentional learning opportunities. 😊

As you can see, there are plenty of ways for each of us to take ownership of our own personal development, and to craft a customized resource library, full of endless learning opportunities.

If your areas of interest overlap with mine, I encourage you to check out some of the resources that I’ve shared above and be sure to intentionally set aside time on your calendar for learning — then continue to seek out new resources / new voices to add to your lists.

—-

As a keynote speaker and leadership coach, Jennifer McClure helps leaders to embrace the future of work, and to develop the skills necessary to lead their organizations and the people on their teams to take bold actions that positively impact business results.

Want more leadership and future of work insights from me?

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Categories: Blog, Career Development, Leadership, Personal Development
Posted on August 8, 2023

Written by Jennifer McClure

The Power of Self-Care: Prioritizing Your Well-Being to Create Greater Impact

 

In our fast-paced and demanding world, self-care is often neglected, leading to negative consequences for our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. However, prioritizing self-care is crucial for enhancing leadership abilities and talent development. If you want to function at your best, and make the most impact at work and in life, it’s critical to develop and implement practical strategies to prioritize your well-being, in order to enable you to become the best version of yourself.

The Impact of Neglecting Self-Care

I learned the hard way about the consequences of neglecting self-care. Back in 2011, I was balancing the demands of starting a business, parenting, and dealing with my both of my parents being diagnosed with serious health issues within a couple of weeks of each other. After several months of dealing with all this stress, I began experiencing severe tingling in my legs that prevented me from sleeping – or even being still comfortably. As a result, I ended up in the emergency room for the first time in my life. This was a real wake-up call for me, and highlighted the significant impact that stress and anxiety was having on my health and well-being. Recognizing the importance of self-care, I made a commitment to implement strategies to manage everyday stress better, in order to improve my physical and mental health.

Put Yourself First

Just as safety presentations on airplanes remind us to put on our own oxygen masks before assisting others, prioritizing self-care is crucial. Leadership expert Michael Hyatt emphasizes that taking care of ourselves is essential for effectively serving others, and I love this quote that I came across from self-care and mindfulness expert Shelly Tygielski:

“Self-Care is a radical act of love that increases your capacity for impact. A better world starts with the best version of you.”

Physical Self-Care: Embrace the Outdoors and Movement

Spending time outdoors and engaging in physical activities can have a profound impact on our well-being. Research shows that being in nature and participating in exercise can boost our mood and overall health. Find a physical activity or hobby that motivates you to get outside and move. Whether it’s playing a sport, going for a walk, or participating in races, embracing an active lifestyle is a vital aspect of self-care.

Emotional Self-Care: Happiness Exercises for Emotional Well-Being

Managing emotional stress is essential for personal and professional growth. Renowned happiness researcher and best-selling author Shawn Achor suggests six daily happiness exercises to cultivate emotional resilience. These exercises include gratitude exercises, reflecting on positive experiences, engaging in fun cardio activities, practicing daily meditation, performing conscious acts of kindness, and deepening social connections. By incorporating these practices, you can enhance your emotional well-being.

Relational Self-Care: Nurturing Meaningful Connections

Building and nurturing relationships is essential for a fulfilling life. Intentionally investing in meaningful connections can significantly impact your personal and professional growth. Engage in activities that allow you to connect with others, such as volunteering or participating in community initiatives. By supporting others, you contribute to their well-being and experience joy and fulfillment in return.

Temporal Self-Care: Reclaiming and Utilizing Your Time Wisely

Effective time management is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance and maximizing productivity. Design your ideal day and week, allocating dedicated time for essential activities. Techniques like calendar blocking can help you prioritize tasks, prevent overwhelm, and foster a sense of accomplishment. Additionally, incorporate daily unstructured or creative time to promote innovation and reflection for personal and professional growth.

Occupational Self-Care: Creating an Organized and Inspiring Workspace

Your workspace plays a significant role in your overall well-being and productivity. Take the time to declutter and organize your environment, as research suggests that clutter contributes to stress and anxiety. An organized workspace enhances productivity, provides mental clarity, and facilitates creative thinking. Embrace the power of a clean and inspiring workspace to unlock your full potential.

Embrace Self-Care for Personal Growth and Success

Prioritizing self-care is not selfish; it’s an act of self-love that empowers you to show up as your best self in all aspects of life.

By attending to your physical, emotional, relational, temporal, and occupational well-being, you create a solid foundation for personal growth and success. Remember, taking care of yourself enables you to care for others and make a more significant impact on those around you. Embrace these self-care practices and take action today to prioritize your well-being and unlock your full potential as a leader.

Categories: Blog, Personal Development
Posted on July 18, 2023

Written by Jennifer McClure

5 Things I Plan to Start, Stop, and Continue Doing in 2023

Impact Makers Podcast Episode 072

Start? Stop? Continue?

When I was in human resources, as part of review processes, I learned to look at things to start, stop, and continue rather than just talking about traditional goal setting.

With 2023 right around the corner, I thought I’d share five things I plan to start doing, five things I plan to stop doing, and five things I plan to continue doing next year.

Hopefully, this will encourage you to do the same as part of your goal-setting process as well.

Start

  1. Goal setting and tracking
  2. Daily planning/time blocking/using Trello
  3. Prioritizing learning/professional development
  4. Investing in my relationships
  5. Scheduling time for content creation

Stop

  1. Starting my morning with my phone
  2. Allowing busy work to fill my day vs activities focused on achieving my goals
  3. Not prioritizing my email list community
  4. Putting off writing a book
  5. Taking my friends and family for granted

Continue

  1. Using Profit First in both of my businesses
  2. Participating on the Defense Business Board
  3. Listening to podcasts for professional development
  4. Outsourcing what I’m not best at/working with a team
  5. Podcasting ?

IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 72

People & Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

Workplace from Meta

Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals by Michael Hyatt

Full Focus Planner

Trello

Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine by Mike Michalowicz

Defense Business Board

Impact Makers Podcast Episode #70: My Favorite Podcasts Related to the Future of Work, Speaking, and Entrepreneurship

Emerald City Productions – Making Your Podcast Sound Great

Show Sponsor:

This episode of the Impact Makers Podcast is sponsored by Workplace from Meta.

Everybody’s talking about the metaverse these days, but Workplace from Meta is different – I mean, the clue’s in the name, right?

Workplace is a business communication tool that uses features like instant messaging and video calls to help people share information. Think Facebook, but for your company.

It’s part of Meta’s vision for the future of work – a future in which your job isn’t just something you do, but something you EXPERIENCE. A future in which we’ll all feel more present, connected, and productive.

Start your journey into the future of work at workplace.com/future.

Connect with Jennifer:

Send her a message [https://jennifermcclure.net/contact/]

On LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermcclure

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenniferMcClure

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer_mcclure/

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JenniferMcClureSpeaker

Categories: Blog, Personal Development, Podcast
Posted on December 14, 2022

Written by Jennifer McClure

Prioritizing Self-Care to Ensure Your Best Performance and Highest Impact

Impact Makers Podcast Episode 068

Self-care isn’t selfish. It is necessary.

We truly can’t pour from an empty cup and we can’t help others if we’re emotionally worn, completely stressed out, or too sick to help.

As my travel calendar eases up and the end of the year approaches, I settle into closing out current year projects, and planning for success in the new year.

I also tend to think more about my health during this time of the year, as I’m typically a bit exhausted – in a good way, but still tired – from being on the road several days each month.

So, because I’m starting my time of reflection and preparation, and also because there are quite a few new listeners to the Impact Makers podcast, I thought I’d share an episode from the archives on the importance of self-care (originally shared as episode 32: “Why Self-Care Isn’t Selfish – and How to Make It a Strategic Priority”).

This episode contains a lot of great tips and advice on how to take time out to focus on our own well-being and self-care, in order to avoid health issues or burnout as a result of what we’ve all been through over the last couple of years.

I’m talking about self-care and the five areas I’ve been trying to improve for the sake of myself, my family, and my business.

My goal is to help you understand the importance of self-care and how to practice it, proactively, without feeling guilty.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

  • What is self-care? I’ll give you my favorite definition and share a great quote to help you remember why it’s so important.
  • I share the five key areas of self-care and give you tips for each area.
  • Our bodies speak to us, sometimes loud and clear. If we don’t listen, the consequences can be devastating.
  • We’re talking about self-care, but I believe that caring for others is also a form of self-care.
  • Self-care has a physical, mental and emotional impact on our lives, our bodies and on those around us.

IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 69

Key Quotes From This Episode:

“It’s important to take care of yourself so you can show up every day- and be your best self every day – in order to take care of your company and your family.” ~ @Jennifer McClure

“Self care is a radical act of love that increases your capacity for impact.” ~ @Shelly Tygielski

“If you don’t have a hobby or a trigger that causes you to want to get outdoors, to move to play, it’s never too late. You can play a sport, you can go for a walk, you can start running, even if you walk in the races. What is it that can help you get outdoors?” ~ @Jennifer McClure

People & Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

Workplace from Meta

Paycor, Inc. Self-Care for the HR Pro web summit presentation by Jennifer McClure

The Five Rules for Self-Care by Shelly Tygielski

Michael Hyatt

Ideal Week Excel Spreadsheet by Michael Hyatt

Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want by Michael Hyatt and Daniel Harkavy

Full Focus Planner

Oprah Super Soul Conversations: Tom Brady on Life After Football: “I Think About It More Now”

National Sleep Foundation Recommends New Sleep Times

 6 Daily Happiness Exercises from Shawn Achor

The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life by Shawn Achor

Before Happiness: The 5 Hidden Keys to Achieving Success, Spreading Happiness, and Sustaining Positive Change by Shawn Achor

Oprah Super Soul Conversations: Oprah & Shawn Achor on the Secret of Happy People

Get More Done With Calendar Blocking – Amy Landino YouTube

The Importance of Scheduling Nothing by Jeff Weiner

Oprah Super Soul Conversations: The 5 Keys to Happiness That LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner Lives By

Show Sponsor:

This episode of the Impact Makers Podcast is sponsored by Workplace from Meta.

Everybody’s talking about the metaverse these days, but Workplace from Meta is different – I mean, the clue’s in the name, right?

Workplace is a business communication tool that uses features like instant messaging and video calls to help people share information. Think Facebook, but for your company.

It’s part of Meta’s vision for the future of work – a future in which your job isn’t just something you do, but something you EXPERIENCE. A future in which we’ll all feel more present, connected, and productive.

Start your journey into the future of work at workplace.com/future.

Connect with Jennifer:

Send her a message [https://jennifermcclure.net/contact/]

On LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermcclure

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenniferMcClure

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer_mcclure/

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JenniferMcClureSpeaker

Categories: Blog, Personal Development
Posted on November 3, 2022

Written by Jennifer McClure

My Best Career Advice to Position Yourself for the Job You Want

How do you position yourself for the job that you want?

A career change is not easy, whether you feel stuck in you current job or just want to do something different that you enjoy.

As an employee, you’ve got to figure out how to get noticed to move your career ahead.

However, leaders also need to figure out how to provide a safe space and environment for their people to connect, even remotely.

I recently connected with Chris Villanueva, CEO & Co-Founder of Let’s Eat, Grandma, an online resume service that helps professionals rebrand themselves to land interviews for their dream jobs.

He invited me to be a guest on the Career Warrior Podcast, which he hosts, and we had a great chat about networking, relationship building, and how the changing world of work impacts both job seekers, and people leaders.

Chris and his team have graciously allowed me to share it so, sit back, and get ready for the best advice I’ve got for you to position yourself for the job you want – at least in 2022!

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

  • My thoughts on the future of work, and what both job seekers and HR leaders should be paying attention to.
  • The skills that will be most in-demand in the workplace of the future.
  • How to properly build relationships and network when many people are working remotely and networking less.
  • How to position yourself for new opportunities when you’re interested in making a career change.
  • The worst things job seekers do with their resumes that annoy HR and hiring managers.

IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 66

Key Quotes From This Episode:

“It’s really hard to establish connections when we are online behind a screen and connecting with people.” ~ @Chris Villanueva

“Just because it isn’t paid experience doesn’t mean it’s not valid experience that can end up pushing you to get more interviews.” ~ @Chris Villanueva

“You can always do something different.” ~ @Jennifer McClure

People & Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

Meta from Workplace

Let’s Eat Grandma Career Warrior Podcast

Career Warrior Podcast #274 – The Future of Work for Job Seekers with Jennifer McClure

Let’s Eat Grandma | Best Resume Writing Service

Chris Villanueva LinkedIn

The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Tim Ferriss

Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World by Gary Vaynerchuk

Julie Turney / HR@Heart Consulting Inc.

Personal Brand Workbook

Steve Browne

Show Sponsor:

This episode of the Impact Makers Podcast is sponsored by Workplace from Meta.

Everybody’s talking about the metaverse these days, but Workplace from Meta is different – I mean, the clue’s in the name, right?

Workplace is a business communication tool that uses features like instant messaging and video calls to help people share information. Think Facebook, but for your company.

It’s part of Meta’s vision for the future of work – a future in which your job isn’t just something you do, but something you EXPERIENCE. A future in which we’ll all feel more present, connected, and productive.

Start your journey into the future of work at workplace.com/future.

Connect with Jennifer:

Send her a message [https://jennifermcclure.net/contact/]

On LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermcclure

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenniferMcClure

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer_mcclure/

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JenniferMcClureSpeaker

Categories: Career Development, Personal Branding, Personal Development, Podcast
Posted on October 13, 2022

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