Episodios

  • 069 | Introducing new 'Conversations about Gossip' series and upcoming podcast episodes

    069 | Introducing new 'Conversations about Gossip' series and upcoming podcast episodes
    Jul 15 2024

    *Celebrating becoming a Top 3% ranked podcast globally!* Thank you for your support!

    In today's podcast update, I share some upcoming episodes as well as about a new series called 'Conversations about Gossip'. This series will tackle real-world examples of how gossip can hurt people, confuse people and cause big BIG problems in businesses, organisations and working environments.

    In the next couple of weeks, I will also be answering a listener question regarding what to do where your boss expects you to lie for them or do the wrong thing.

    I'll also be sharing my testimony of the work that the Lord is doing in my life to focus more on this podcast and to serve YOU ALL as women of faith in leadership!

    I can't wait!

    Next steps

    1. Book a free 15-minute initial consultation with me: https://tidycal.com/rikawhelan/initialconsultation

    2. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

    • Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here.
    • Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

    3. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching call, email me at support@rikawhelan.com

    4. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

    I look forward to chatting with you in the next episode. Make sure you don't miss it!
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    8 m
  • 068 | Use THIS gap analysis to improve your leadership skills absolutely free!

    068 | Use THIS gap analysis to improve your leadership skills absolutely free!
    Jul 8 2024

    In today's episode, I share a free diagnostic tool that you can use to improve your organisation and your leadership skills.

    The organisational gap analysis focuses on identifying gaps regarding psychological safety in the workplace and workplace relationships.

    As leaders, it's our responsibility to reflect, identify the gaps and make the necessary changes.

    This might include an action plan with steps to follow, strategies to implement or training to attend.

    But it all starts with that gap analysis!

    If you are someone who shies away from reflection or analysing what is missing, then this gap analysis is perfect for you! The questions have been meticulously thought-out to stimulate your thinking and get you moving so that you don't have to shy away from reflection, but rather take action.

    CLICK HERE to access the free organisational gap analysis.

    Next steps:

    1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

    • Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here.
    • Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

    2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

    3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan
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    11 m
  • 067 | The 6 characteristics of a healthy work environment - Part 2 - take the free organisational gap analysis, see how you score.

    067 | The 6 characteristics of a healthy work environment - Part 2 - take the free organisational gap analysis, see how you score.
    Jul 1 2024

    Last week, we discussed the first 3; go and listen to episode 66.

    1. Systems
    2. Expectations
    3. Staff performance

    Let’s jump into the next 3:

    4. Workplace Culture

    This truly is a huge topic, but I’m going to break some green and red flags down for you here.

    7 Green flags

    1. People care about each other
    2. People feel safe
    3. People know where they stand, their role, their expectations, there is no uncertainty
    4. Low to zero stress levels - there will be some form of stress for deadlines, projects ect. But it shouldn’t be about the everyday, it should be healthy
    5. Your voice matters, you’re able to have a say without fear of retaliation, discrimination
    6. You can be yourself (within professional boundaries of course ;-) )
    7. Organisation is driven by values and everybody actually sticks to these values

    7 Red flags

    1. High staff turnover
    2. People feel constant frustration with one another and with management
    3. People feel as if management are to blame for everything and don’t take personal responsibility
    4. There is absolutely no accountability towards anyone
    5. Performance isn’t measured or rewarded
    6. People are doing the absolutely bare minimum and others constantly feel that they are carrying the weight of that person
    7. No clear expectations, policies and procedures (SOP’s) or communication

    The Free organisational gap analysis will analyse it for you and give you some tips

    5. Accountability

    What does accountability look like in your workplace?

    Is there any?

    Are people held accountable for their actions, behaviour, tardiness, lack of respect, gossiping etc.

    The best places to work are those that keep people accountable.

    I had the wonderful opportunity to speak to so many HR managers and so many of them agree, the best places are the ones who keep people accountable. These are people who have worked across multiple different sectors, big, medium and small businesses who know.

    No accountability = a huge gap and opportunity for organisational failure

    6. Staff Training & Development

    This does not only include professional development. That’s important, for sure, but think about all the other missed opportunities.

    It starts with onboarding, what does that look like, are you seizing the opportunity to set that person up for success during onboarding?

    Then what happens after, are they just left to the wolves? Or to fend for themselves when it comes to learning and training.

    Or what does this look like in your organisation?

    • Personal goals
    • Annual goals
    • Annual training
    • Training days
    • Professional development and training days

    Take the organisational gap analysis, diagnostic tool and work through the questions, because the questions are meant to make you think, and already give you clues as to where you can make some improvements.

    It will end with a recommendation and a Free PDF download. In the download, you’ll find a special link to a free 30-minutes strategy session with me to discuss your results and your way forward.

    Next steps:

    1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

    • Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here.
    • Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

    2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

    3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan
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    24 m
  • 066 | The 6 Characteristics of a Healthy Work Environment - Part 1 - Take the Free Organisational Gap Analysis, See How You Score

    066 | The 6 Characteristics of a Healthy Work Environment - Part 1 - Take the Free Organisational Gap Analysis, See How You Score
    Jun 24 2024
    Free Diagnostic Tool Take our free Organisational Gap Analysis today and identify the gaps in your organisation and leadership regarding healthy work environments. ______________________ Let’s discuss a healthy workplace environment. Let’s flip the coin and look at the positive today. These 6 characteristics were developed through lived experience and my conversations with others. If even one of these areas is out of whack, you’ll notice something isn’t quite right. 1. Systems What systems do you have in place to ensure a healthy work environment? Having a healthy work environment is not all about how people feel. It’s about the structures you put in place to support them to do their jobs properly. Think about your: InterviewsOnboardingJob descriptionsProbation periodsPolicies and Procedures (SOP’s)Performance managementResignation process and period (how are people treated during these periods)Communication methodsClient managementStaff management (HR) Are these updated regularly or are they old and outdated, so no one uses them? Systems form the foundation of any business, no matter how big or how small. Without effective and efficient systems, you are setting yourself and your employees up for failure. Activity: Audit your systems, decide what needs updating! The free diagnostic tool will also give you suggestions on what you can do to make improvements. 2. Expectations What are the expectations of employees, leadership team, heads of departments, the CEO, etc? Are there any? How is this communicated? When is it communicated? How often is it communicated? Are staff expected to stay up to date with expectations with no communication from anyone? How are staff expected to give their best, if they don’t know what is expected of them? Again, you are setting your employees up for failure if you fail to communicate. Suggestions: Verbal and in writing, why because of various learning styles. Some people learn or understand better with verbal, some with writing, some need both.If you’ve had a conversation with someone, follow it up with an email, always! Get them to reply back to say they acknowledge it. Activity: Audit the expectations in your workplace. Take the free organisational gap analysis (diagnostic tool) and find out how you score. 3. Staff Performance How are staff performance measured? Is it measured at all? Are there annual performance reviews and what is this measured against? Are staff given the opportunity to work towards an annual goal that they have chosen, something that will be motivating to them to want to achieve. Are they rewarded for exceptional performance? Here we’re looking at the positive and the constructive or even the negative. What happens to a staff member if they stay performing poorly, or even have a behavioural problem? What the processes (they systems!) that you have in place to manage this. Or, will you also fall into the category where there is no process and the employee, gets away with their behaviour and makes it into a toxic workplace for everyone else If staff performance isn’t managed, then the performance, will essentially manage the business. You are only as strong as your weakest link! So, what are you doing about that weakest link? Activity: Audit your current performance evaluation practices. Score yourself using the organisational gap analysis. Free Diagnostic Tool Take our free Organisational Gap Analysis today and identify the gaps in your organisation and leadership when it comes to healthy work environments. Next steps: 1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can: Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers. 2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com 3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan
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    25 m
  • 065 | Managing Gossip as a Church Leader (Small Group Leader, Women’s Ministry Leader, Children's Church Leader etc.)

    065 | Managing Gossip as a Church Leader (Small Group Leader, Women’s Ministry Leader, Children's Church Leader etc.)
    Jun 17 2024
    Today, I’ll tackle a tricky topic: gossip in the church. The one thing that I love about going to church is the fellowship. Talking freely with other Christians while enjoying a coffee or tea while the kids play. It’s nice. And then, if you’re lucky, you get to attend a weekly small group meeting where 5-10 people usually come together to either unpack the sermon of the week or to learn about and unpack a new topic. However, it’s in this fellowship that gossip can become an issue. Satan will try and find a way to interject himself into Godly conversations and one way he does this is through gossip. …………………..………………….. One way that gossip masks itself is through concern. Let’s use Sue as an example (fictional of course) Sue might know someone who is going through a tough time and then share her concern with others, causing people to talk about that person. Or Sue might know a piece of confidential information that someone might have shared with her and then share that with others by asking them to pray for that person. Inadvertently, Sue is creating a gossip culture, where no one in the church can feel safe anymore because they can’t share any concerns with people they trust, for fear that it would be shared with others “out of concern” or because that person asked others to pray for them. …………………..………………….. Another way that gossip can mask itself is through the judgement and/or so called “empathy” towards others. I’ve always found it super interesting that Christians, in general, are so super judgemental of others when Jesus himself came and broke all thought patterns about judging others. And I’m 1000% including myself in this discussion, because I have found myself very guilty of this. When someone does something that we know is sinful or specifically mentioned in the bible as a no-go-zone, then we are quick to judge them, and it becomes a topic of discussion with others. "Oh, have you heard that Sue’s teenage daughter is pregnant? Isn’t it just such a shame? Sue must be so embarrassed." Or "/have you heard the sad news that Sue and Jo are getting a divorce? It’s such a shame, isn’t it? I feel so sorry for Sue, because rumour has it that Jo cheated on her." So, we’re talking about others, seemingly feeling sorry for them, but in actual fact we’re gossiping. …………………..………………….. Church communities can be small communities and the thing we know about communities is that there will always be people who love to know what is going on in the community with other people. So what can we as leaders in the church do about this? Is it even your duty to do something about this? Or should it just be the main leader, the pastor who as a duty of care? No, I don’t believe it should be. I believe that God gave all of us the ability to speak up, to say no to gossip and to not stand for it. …………………..………………….. What does the bible say about gossip? Go and listen to episode 4 where I discuss in full what the bible says about gossip. Proverbs 18:21 reads: “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences” The Bible, both the Old and the New Testament, warns strongly against gossip and the effect that your words and your tongue can have. God, however, doesn’t leave us in the lurch and say, “Figure it out by yourself”. No, in true God-style, He gives us the tools, “the antidote” if you will, for dealing with gossip and for dealing with the gossipers. …………………..………………….. Ephesians 4:32 “Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God through Christ has forgiven you. This verse requests that we be kind to each other, and tender-hearted (which according to Webster dictionary means compassionate) Forgive the person, just like Christ has forgiven you. …………………..………………….. Proverbs 17:9 says, “He who covers over an offence promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.” Basically, stop the gossip with you, don’t spread it any further. You can make the choice to not gossip anymore if this is an issue for you. ……………………………. Proverbs 20:19 tells us, “A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much As a leader, it is crucial that we do not betray someone’s trust. Whatever is said to you should remain confidential, unless it’s life-threatening and you are compelled to speak up to another leader, but do not utter a word to anyone else. Do not fall in that trap. ……………………………. Lastly 1 Timothy 18:15-18 reads: “If another believer sins against, you, go privately and point out the offence. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that ...
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    37 m
  • 064 | Gaining Confidence in Your Own Abilities - Part 4: Community Support

    064 | Gaining Confidence in Your Own Abilities - Part 4: Community Support
    Jun 10 2024
    This is the final episode of the 4-part series, let’s have a chat about the importance of community. Surrounding yourself with “your” people, people who get you, accept you, love you, just the way you are, is very important for a healthy self-image and building your self-confidence. When you’re in your comfort zone, doing what you love, with the people you love, you tend to loosen up and just be yourself. No judgement! It means that you can gain in your self-confidence because you don’t even have to try! You just do. But that’s not the only community that can support you. Depending on your working environment and the workplace culture, you’ll hopefully be surrounding by people who are cheering for you to do well. Unfortunately, it is a reality that not all workplaces are like this. Yesterday, I saw a shocking post on LinkedIn encouraging people to not share anything about their personal lives with their colleagues because they’ll only hold it against them. I immediately responded and said that I disagreed, it’s not about your colleagues, it’s about your workplace culture. That’s what needs fixing. So, if you’re stuck in a place where you can’t be yourself, share about yourself at your workplace out of fear of the consequences, or you’re in a workplace where they’re not cheering you on, it is vital that you seek community elsewhere. It could be at home, yes, but at Sports clubArt clubMusic lessonsKarate lessons Whatever you like to do but participating in a sport or in anything in your community, is another vital part of building your own self-confidence and believing in yourself and that you are an amazing human being. My final reminder is this: Remember that the Almighty God in Heaven made you! Luke 12:7: And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of Sparrows. Psalm 139 For the choir director: A psalm of David. 1 O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. 3 You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. 4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. 5 You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! 7 I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave,[a] you are there. 9 If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, 10 even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. 11 I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— 12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. 13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. 17 How precious are your thoughts about me,[b] O God. They cannot be numbered! 18 I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! 19 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked! Get out of my life, you murderers! 20 They blaspheme you; your enemies misuse your name. 21 O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you? Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you? 22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred, for your enemies are my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. 139:8 Hebrew to Sheol.139:17 Or How precious to me are your thoughts.Next steps: 1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can: Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers. 2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com 3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan
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    16 m
  • 063 | Gaining Confidence in Your Own Abilities - Part 3: Professional Development

    063 | Gaining Confidence in Your Own Abilities - Part 3: Professional Development
    Jun 3 2024

    We’re in the middle of a series, gaining confidence in your own abilities. In the previous 2 episodes, we discussed spiritual growth and personal development and how this can help you gain confidence.

    This episode will discuss how professional development can help you gain confidence.

    It’s no secret that when you want to learn a new skill, you’re highly likely to Google the ‘how to’ or if it’s a skill you need for work, you’ll attend a course or training program to learn that new skill. YouTube is a common one for us as well.

    But does it really have merit?

    Can you really gain confidence by attending professional training or development?

    I think this one is debatable and depends how you want to look at it.

    If you don’t have confidence in your own abilities because you lack a certain skill set, then yes, you can absolutely go and gain the book knowledge for it. Hence the reason why some companies/careers also require certain qualifications. They hold merit for sure.

    However, if you lack confidence, because of a lack of experience, then I say embrace it! Find ways to gain experience, seek them out. Don’t wait for them to just miraculously happen. Seek them out. Ask your line manager to keep you in mind for the next project or volunteer somewhere during your time off. The only way to gain experience, is to do the thing that you want to gain experience in.

    An example of this for me was project management.

    I was leading a department and I had to run multiple projects. I knew absolutely nothing about successful project management.

    I had 2 options:

    • Go and study about it - get the book knowledge (which would have helped a lot! Now that I’ve done project management my MBA, I see the real value in in)
    • Learn from others and gain the experience.

    I chose the latter. I asked my line manager to include me in any future projects, or at least to keep me abreast so that I can learn from the best.

    Professional development doesn’t always have to be a course or a training or something that you can prove on paper you did. This is how we have been made to believe it is.

    Professional development can happen by learning from your peers, your line managers, other departments.

    The most important thing is that you continue developing, professionally.

    As soon as you become stagnant and think “I’ve made it”. Then be worried, be very worried.

    So, continue your learning, continue your professional development and continue gaining confidence in your own abilities.

    You are amazing because our one true God made you, formed you in your mother’s womb, he knows you by name, he knows how many hairs there are on your head.

    He loves you.

    I hope you are blessed by this.

    I will chat with you all again next week.

    Next steps:

    1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

    • Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here.
    • Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

    2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

    3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan
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    10 m
  • 062 | Gaining confidence in your own abilities - Part 2: Personal Development

    062 | Gaining confidence in your own abilities - Part 2: Personal Development
    May 28 2024

    This is part 2 of our series: Gaining confidence in your own abilities.

    Today, we are discussing personal development.

    Personal development will look different for each and every one of us out there. Because we're all unique and different.

    In this episode, I discuss with you the steps you need to follow to gain confidence in your own abilities through personal development.

    1. Reflection - reflect on why you have a lack of confidence in a certain area. If it's related to an historic event for example where someone said something about you, then ask yourself, is it true? If it's true, then do you need to do something about it to change that, like further study, speak to someone or practice those skills. If it's not true, then you need to let it go!

    2. Learning - What learning do you have to do or engage in to learn more so that you can gain confidence is the thing that's holding you back?

    3. Practice - Practice your new skill. You won't gain confidence by only participating in learning or listening to this podcast for example, you need to go and do the thing.

    4. Feedback - Gain feedback from others so that you can improve where you still need to.

    5. Get out of your comfort zone!

    Next steps:

    1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

    • Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here.
    • Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

    2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

    3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan
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    24 m