Welcome to Day 5 of our special '7 Days of Sanity' series, where we navigate the emotional landscape of election season with practical strategies for maintaining peace and connection.

Today’s episode focuses on finding common ground to build bridges rather than walls. Building on yesterday’s lesson about deep listening, Shawna Corden discusses how to identify and emphasize shared values and interests, even in the most challenging conversations.

Highlights:

1. Connect on Shared Values: Identify common interests, such as family, community, or shared experiences, to create a foundation for conversation.

2. Approach with Intention: Seek to connect, not win. Express the value you place on the relationship.

3. Use Collaborative Language: To foster connection, use phrases like “I agree” or “I also find this important.”

Engage in one conversation where you consciously seek and build on shared values. Notice the shift this approach brings to the interaction.

Join us tomorrow for Day 6 as we continue our journey to stay grounded during this intense time. Until then, take care of yourself and those around you.

Shawna’s book, on sale this week, offers deeper insights and practical discussion tips to foster psychological safety and effective communication. It is available on Audible and other platforms.

👉 Link to the book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/e4jCJ1W

This episode explores the importance of listening and seeking to understand, especially during divisive times.

Key Points:

1. Listen Without Agenda: Approach conversations with curiosity, not judgment, to foster understanding.

2. Psychological Safety: Everyone deserves to express their opinions without fear of retribution or humiliation.

3. Find Common Ground: Even if perspectives differ, shared values may be expressed uniquely.

4. Deep Listening Tips:

- Paraphrase what you hear to show understanding.

- Use silence to encourage deeper expression.

- Practice by observing conversations, even with the TV muted.

Join us tomorrow for Day 5 of this series! Explore deep listening in Shawna’s book Meet Me in the Middle, which is on sale this week and now available on Audible.

👉 Link to the book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/e4jCJ1W

Today’s episode of the "7 Days of Sanity" series focuses on the importance of setting healthy boundaries, especially during stressful times like election season. Protecting your energy is essential to maintaining peace and well-being.

Key Points:

1. Understanding Boundaries: Boundaries are not about excluding others but about choosing what you allow into your space, like a fence or gate.

2. Practical Examples: Limit your exposure to potentially draining content (e.g., opt for movies instead of cable TV or restrict phone use).

3. Scripts for Communication: Inform others of your choices without criticizing them (e.g., “I won’t watch the news until after the election to protect my sanity”).

4. Protecting Your Space: Fill your personal space with activities that recharge you, such as cooking or reading.

5. Try This: Set a timer for social media or news consumption and leave the environment when the time is up.

Homework: Set a new boundary today and observe how it impacts your peace. Repeat it if it works for you.

Join us tomorrow for Day 4 of this series! Explore more about boundaries in Shawna’s book Meet Me in the Middle, which is on sale this week and now available on Audible.

👉 Link to the book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/e4jCJ1W

In today’s episode of Seven Days of Sanity, we explore managing emotional triggers and the power of responding thoughtfully rather than reacting impulsively. Shawna shares practical strategies to stay grounded during emotionally charged moments—especially in the lead-up to the election.

Key takeaways:

1. Understand the difference between responding vs. reacting.

2. Use breathing techniques and tactile objects (like keys or coins) to discharge emotional energy.

3. Anticipate triggers—prepare responses to maintain your peace in challenging conversations.

4. Align your responses with your personal values and the brand you want to project.

Homework: Identify your common triggers and plan how to respond next time they arise. Take deep breaths, walk away if needed, and maintain your inner calm.

Join us tomorrow for Day 3 of this series! If you'd like to dive deeper into managing emotions, check out Shawna’s book, Meet Me in the Middle, which is on sale this week and is now available on Audible.

👉 Link to the book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/e4jCJ1W

In today’s episode of Seven Days of Sanity, we focus on values as the key to staying grounded amidst the chaos of the upcoming U.S. election. Drawing from tools in my book Meet Me in the Middle, we explore how values serve as your personal compass, helping you make decisions and behave in alignment with what matters most.

Tune in to discover practical ways to identify your values:

1. What do you do with unexpected free time?

2. How would you spend money found in an old coat?

3. How do your actions align with your personal rules for behavior?

Daily Homework: List your top three values and reflect on what makes you feel alive and authentic. This exercise will help you navigate the next seven days—and beyond—with clarity and purpose.

The book Meet Me in the Middle is on sale this week and available on Audible. Join us tomorrow for the next step in this sanity-saving series!

👉 Link to the book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/e4jCJ1W

In this episode, we explore the different ways people make decisions and the pros and cons of each style. Whether you make decisions quickly, seek input from others, prioritize harmony, or rely on detailed research, it’s essential to recognize your tendencies and how they affect your outcomes.

We also dive into the concept of the sunk cost fallacy—when investments of time, money, or effort keep us stuck in situations we should leave behind. Using examples from the business world, such as Jeff Bezos’s pivot from Amazon’s failed phone project to Alexa, we discuss how to let go and open up new opportunities.

Key takeaways:

1. The four decision-making styles: Quick Deciders, Socializers, People Pleasers, and Evidence Weighers.

2. How to avoid "analysis paralysis" by setting boundaries.

3. Understanding the sunk cost fallacy and its impact on personal and professional decisions.

4. Creative ways to explore new paths, like trial runs and decision criteria tools.

If you're struggling with a tough choice or want help navigating change, we’re here to support you! Tune in next time for a discussion on remote team management best practices.

Connect with Shawna:

• Website: shawnacorden.com

• https://www.youtube.com/@shawnacorden

• Email: podcast@shawnacorden.com

• Instagram: @playbookforperformance

DON'T FORGET: If you found this episode helpful, leave a 5-star review or give us a thumbs-up on YouTube to help others find us!

In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked topic of strengths and how they can shape our personal and professional lives. We discuss the importance of recognizing and leveraging your natural abilities rather than striving for perfection. We also explore practical ways to identify your strengths using tools like Gallup's StrengthsFinder and learn how to maximize them to enhance individual and team performance.

Key takeaways:

1. Understanding what constitutes a true strength and why it’s crucial to focus on what comes naturally to you.

2. Tips for leaders to encourage and develop their team's strengths.

3. How to delegate tasks that drain your energy and focus on those that put you in a state of flow.

4. Building a personal "board of directors" to support your growth in various areas of life.

5. Strategies for expanding your strengths and reducing tasks that don’t align with them.

Tune in to discover how to make strengths the majority of your "life pie" and foster a more engaged, productive, and fulfilled team or personal life.

Connect with Shawna:

• Website: shawnacorden.com

• https://www.youtube.com/@shawnacorden

• Email: podcast@shawnacorden.com

• Instagram: @playbookforperformance

Next Episode Preview:

Remote Team Management – Tips and strategies for leading teams in a hybrid or fully remote work environment.

Want More?

Share your thoughts and feedback in the comments or reach out via www.shawnacorden.com. We'd love to hear what topics you'd like to explore next!

In this episode, we dive into the often-overlooked but crucial topic of team building. Shawna discusses the various aspects of team building, including communication, trust, problem-solving, and decision-making. She outlines the benefits of team building, such as improved collaboration, innovation, and trust within teams. Shawna also shares practical tips on how to incorporate team-building activities into your routine, the importance of psychological safety, and how to measure the effectiveness of these activities.

Key takeaways:

1. Types of Team Building: Understanding different communication styles, trust-building exercises, problem-solving challenges, and decision-making activities.

2. Benefits of Team Building: Enhanced team communication, collaboration, innovation, and trust.

3. Implementation Tips: Start small with regular, brief activities before investing in larger events. Ensure psychological safety and consider using a facilitator to maximize the effectiveness of team-building efforts.

4. Measuring Success: Look for signs of increased trust, better role understanding, and more efficient task handoffs among team members.

Connect with Shawna:

• Website: shawnacorden.com

• https://www.youtube.com/@shawnacorden

• Email: podcast@shawnacorden.com

• Instagram: @playbookforperformance

Next Episode Preview:

Shawna will explore leveraging individual strengths within a team to create a group of all-stars rather than a homogenous unit.

Call to action:

Interested in testing our new Resilience app? Email us at podcast@shawnacorden.com with "Beta Tester" in the subject line. If you need coaching support for your team, don’t hesitate to reach out!