In this episode of the Impact Ripple Podcast, I’m thrilled to bring you our very first guest expert!

I invited my dear friend, certified psychological health and safety advisor and expert in hope, Lindsay Recknell, to join me for a powerful conversation around the science of positive psychology and how it can be used to empower leaders and strengthen teams.

Lindsay shares her journey of discovering the science of positive psychology, which helped her regain her hope, and do the work she does today.

Together, we explore the differences between hope and optimism, whether hope is something we’re born with or not, and how to develop greater hope as a leader.

She offers up suggestions for taking action and implementing strategies to build hope, rather than passively waiting for things to happen.

But you don’t have to be an expert in hope to get started!

On this episode of The Impact Ripple podcast, I’m talking about something a lot of new leaders struggle with – the fear of delegating! I share what delegating means, as well as why it can feel SO scary when delegating for the first time in your small business.

If you've had a bad experience in the past with delegation, you might be hesitant to do it again. We dive into how this fear, and the act of delegating or letting go, can be made worse by something called confirmation bias.

If you think it's impossible to find good help, that no one wants to work these days, or that you’re going to have to do a superhuman amount of oversight with your employees, this is the episode for you!

I share some helpful insights and great advice on how to overcome this fear and build trust in yourself and the process of hiring new team members, so you can get the help you truly need and deserve in your business.

Growing your team is, without a doubt, one of the most rewarding experiences you can have in your business.

It can also be one of the most overwhelming, stressful, and expensive experiences…if you don’t get it right.

But how do you actually, you know, get it right?

It all starts with getting super intentional!

Something I tell our clients at SproutHR all the time (which I forgot to mention in this episode ) is to, “Keep your eyes on your own paper!” when it comes to hiring.

While it’s tempting to look around at what others are doing – like whether they’re hiring contractors or employees, have a small team or a large one, etc. – I don’t recommend it.

That’s because what they’re doing suits their business plan and model.

And you need to do what suits your business plan and model, which may be something entirely different!

In this episode of The Impact Ripple, I talk about growing your business and team with intention and purpose, so you can hire right!

If I had a dime for every time someone said they were afraid of hiring because they don’t want to mess up, I could have already retired!

All kidding aside, this is one of the most common concerns I hear from folks who are just getting started growing their team.

Some of the worry stems from not wanting to destroy something you’ve built from scratch and poured your heart and soul into (which is 1000% relatable).

And some of it comes from being really good at a lot of things in your business, because you’ve had to figure a lot of stuff out along the way. And it’s hard to be new again.

Have you ever felt like you needed to become someone completely different in order to be an effective leader?

If so, I recorded this episode just for you. <3

While more and more women are finally stepping into leadership roles, one thing continues to plague us on this journey – our self-concept.

How we think about and see ourselves as leaders.

Do you have any unfulfilled ideas or projects in your business?

Something that you dreamed up months or even years ago during an exciting year-end planning session that you were never able to bring to life?

If you’re like most business owners, the answer to this question is a big ol’ YES.

But it’s not a happy yes, right? Because the dreams and ideas we have are potential life-changing.

If you want to learn how to get those dusty ideas off the shelf, so you can create the kind of impact you want to have in this world, then you’re going to want to tune into this exciting episode of The Impact Ripple podcast!

You’re probably familiar with the terms “Employee” and “Independent Contractor.” But what do they actually mean? And does it really matter who you hire for your small business?

The short answer to that second question is YES!

It absolutely does matter. Even for small businesses.

You’ve poured your blood, sweat, and tears into building your business from the ground up. Now, it’s time to hire some help, but you’re a little nervous about the financial side of things.

How can you make sure that hiring a team is going to add value to your business, rather than drain all of your time, money, and resources?

Have you been wondering whether or not you can actually AFFORD to hire an employee?

This common concern can lead to sweaty palms, a racing heart, and sleepless nights. And it often holds business owners back from hiring the help they need and deserve.

I believe that leaders can and should come with a variety of skills and traits. It’s what makes each of us unique and able to create impact in the world in different and powerful ways.

But there is ONE quality that I believe ALL leaders absolutely must have and that’s self-awareness.

Do I really need core values as a small business owner?

The answer is YES. You absolutely do.

Especially if you’re planning on hiring employees.

Have you considered hiring an employee, but the thought alone makes your palms sweat and your heart race?

Have you felt overwhelmed trying to figure out where to start and how to make sure you don’t screw the whole thing up?

If so, you’re not alone! These are very common feelings we hear all the time from business owners who are hiring for the first time.

Have you ever felt like you’re supposed to “have it all together” before hiring your first employee?

If so, you’re not alone.

Have you ever thought, “Who am I to be a leader?” If so, today’s episode is for you!

I believe we are all leaders in one way or another…even if we don’t feel like a leader.

We’re kicking off the first episode of The Impact Ripple podcast with this important message, because too often, we are the ones holding ourselves back with toxic stories.