In this episode, Janessa Storlie wraps up her series on the Five Pillars of Everyday Leadership, focusing on the final three pillars: acceptance, responsibility, and communication. She emphasizes that these pillars, built upon the foundation of self and social awareness, are tangible skills you can practice every day to become a more authentic and impactful leader.

First, Janessa tackles acceptance, which she admits is one of the most difficult pillars for her. She explains that acceptance is not about being a doormat, but about giving others the gift of being seen and appreciated for who they are, without judgment. This non-judgmental approach develops trust and deeper collaboration. Just as importantly, acceptance is also about acknowledging and accepting your own current reality, which is the starting point for making positive changes in your life.

Next, she discusses responsibility, defining it not as blame, but as taking ownership of your power and how you respond to circumstances. This mindset frees you from being a victim and allows you to be the author of your own story. Janessa uses a basketball analogy, comparing responsibility to practicing daily fundamentals to be better for your team6666. She provides a practical exercise: writing down what you can and cannot control to focus your energy on what you can change.

Finally, Janessa talks about communication, where all the pillars come together. It's not about being perfect, but about being authentic, honest, and real. She argues that in a "trust recession," vulnerability is key to building genuine connection. Janessa offers several tips, including using "I" statements, practicing active listening, and mirroring to clarify what others are saying.

By integrating all five pillars—self-awareness, social awareness, acceptance, responsibility, and communication—you can become a more confident and effective leader who serves your community in an authentic way.

Key Takeaways from this episode:

• Acceptance is crucial. It's about accepting yourself and others without judgment to foster trust and deep relationships.
• Responsibility is about ownership. It's not about blame, but about taking accountability for your actions and focusing on what you can control14141414.
• Communication builds authentic connection. It’s more important to be real and vulnerable than to be perfect with your words.
• The five pillars work together. When you combine self-awareness and social awareness with acceptance, responsibility, and communication, you can lead in a way that is true to yourself.

Connect with Janessa!

What small action are you taking to practice acceptance, responsibility, or communication today? Let me know!

• DM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janessastorlie/
• Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janessajstorlie/

In this episode, Janessa Storlie introduces a new series on the Five Pillars of Everyday Leadership. She explains that leadership isn't just about a title; it's a skill that anyone can build through practice and intention. These five pillars—social awareness, self-awareness, acceptance, responsibility, and communication—serve as a practical roadmap for anyone looking to become a more impactful leader in their community. This episode focuses on the first two foundational pillars: self-awareness and social awareness.

Janessa explains that self-awareness is the conscious knowledge of one's own character, feelings, motives, and desires. It's about leading yourself first by understanding your values, strengths, weaknesses, and triggers. She provides several practical tools to build this skill, including journaling, talk therapy, somatic practices, meditation, and reading. By developing self-awareness, you gain the clarity and confidence to advocate for yourself and become the person you aspire to be.

She then dives into social awareness, which is defined as the ability to understand, empathize with, and interpret the emotions, needs, and perspectives of others. This pillar is about building trust and creating a safe space for others by listening without judgment. Janessa shares tactical skills for improving social awareness, such as being observant of body language, practicing active listening, and asking open-ended questions that encourage deeper conversation. She emphasizes that the more you understand others' motives and dreams, the easier it is to show up with kindness and empathy as an authentic leader.

These twin pillars of self-awareness and social awareness are the foundation of emotional intelligence and are crucial for building meaningful connections with both yourself and the world around you.

Key Takeaways from this episode:

• Leadership is a skill, not a title. It can be developed through intentional habits and practices.
• Self-awareness is leading yourself first. It's about gaining a deep understanding of your own character, values, and emotions.
• Social awareness is understanding others. It is the ability to empathize with and interpret the emotions, needs, and perspectives of those around you.
• The two pillars are interconnected. The more you understand yourself, the easier it becomes to understand others and become an everyday leader.
• Practical tools can help. Journaling, meditation, reading, active listening, and asking open-ended questions are all ways to build self and social awareness.

Connect with Janessa!

What's one thing you're doing to build your self or social awareness? Share with me!

DM on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/janessastorlie/

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janessajstorlie/

In this special birthday episode, Janessa Storlie offers an honest and vulnerable reflection as she turns 33 on September 3rd. As a self-proclaimed Virgo who loves to have everything planned out, she shares that her past year was filled with a lot of change, transition, and disappointment. She dives into what she calls the "messy middle"—a challenging transition period where you are shedding a previous version of yourself to move on to a new one. Janessa hopes to bring more peace and forward momentum into this new year of life.

Despite the difficulties, Janessa has a lot to celebrate from the past year. She graduated with her Master's in Organizational Leadership, a big milestone for someone who grew up in a rural community. She also relaunched the podcast. She's grateful for the change and growth in her marriage and for becoming more in tune with her emotions.

The episode's core is a raw discussion about the pain and isolation of the messy middle. Janessa shares her struggles with high expectations and the desire to blame external circumstances when things don't go as planned. She's learning difficult but crucial lessons about acceptance, forgiveness, and trust, particularly the need to release control to a higher power.

For anyone else going through a messy middle, Janessa offers a powerful message of encouragement. She reminds listeners that they are not alone and that they still have the ability to learn, grow, and take small steps forward. She emphasizes the importance of using this introspective time to set healthy boundaries and prioritize self-care to protect your peace.

Key Takeaways from this episode:

• Birthdays are a time for reflection and celebration. Take the time to look at what you’ve experienced and what you want to see moving forward.

• The "messy middle" is a natural part of growth. It is the difficult, in-between time where you shed a previous version of yourself to move into a new one.

• Releasing control is essential. Letting go of the need for an exact plan and trusting that you are being guided can provide a sense of freedom.

• Pain can be a catalyst. You have the power to move forward in your desires, even while experiencing pain and emotional exhaustion.

• Practice self-care and set boundaries. The messy middle is a time to become introspective and protect your peace by giving yourself the space you need to grow.

Connect with Janessa!

If this episode resonated with you and you're also navigating your own messy middle, Janessa would love to hear from you. You don't have to do this alone.

• DM on Instagram: [@JanessaStorlie]

• Connect on LinkedIn: [Janessa J Storlie]