In this first episode of the "Directions Series," leadership coach Alan Briggs invites us to reflect on the past and its impact on our leadership journey. Through personal stories and thought-provoking insights, Alan explores how our memories—both beautiful and painful—can shape us as leaders.
Key Topics Covered:
The Balance of Past, Present, and Future: Learn how the healthiest leaders embrace all three timeframes, without overemphasizing one, to live and lead with impact.
The Power and Pain of Memories: Alan shares a deeply personal story about a memorable road trip with his sons, reflecting on how cherished moments can bring both joy and sadness.
Selective Memory in Leadership: Discover the danger of romanticizing the past and how it can prevent you from embracing new opportunities.
Turning Pain into Purpose: Hear inspiring examples of how deep pain can become a catalyst for meaningful work that impacts others.
Letting Go and Moving Forward: Alan discusses the challenge many leaders face in letting go of past successes, particularly in the post-pandemic world, and why mature leadership requires looking ahead.
Alan also offers reflective questions to help you process the most formative memories from your leadership, friendships, and family over the past decade.
Reflection Questions:
What are the three most formative memories from the last decade of your leadership?
What’s one beautiful and one painful memory from your friendships over the last decade?
What’s one beautiful and one painful memory from your family?
If we can appreciate how the past has shaped us through both beautiful and broken moments, we can leverage it to influence our present and future. Tune in next week as we explore the power of living in the present.

This conversation explores the nuances of effective leadership, emphasizing the importance of creating a positive organizational culture, the balance between efficiency and effectiveness, and the role of communication in leadership. The speakers discuss the internal and external fulfillment that comes from effective leadership and provide insights into recognizing scattered versus grounded leadership. They conclude with reflections on personal experiences and actionable steps for leaders to enhance their effectiveness.
takeaways
Ineffective leaders create a dysfunctional culture around them.
Effective leaders create life and vitality around them.
Work should bring dignity and meaning to us and those we serve.
Effective leaders prioritize and eliminate unnecessary tasks.
Being effective with people is more important than being efficient with tasks.
Leaders need to create and innovate to solve problems.
Clarity in leadership reduces feelings of overwhelm.
Trusting your team allows for better focus on important tasks.
Under promising and over delivering creates a positive impact.
Reflection and assessment are key to personal and organizational growth.
Sound Bites
"Ineffective leaders create a dysfunctional culture."
"Effective leaders create life and vitality around them."
"Work is meant to bring dignity and meaning."
Chapters
00:00The Impact of Leadership on Organizational Culture
03:05Defining Effective Leadership
06:12The Balance of Efficiency and Effectiveness
09:13The Importance of Communication in Leadership
12:06Internal vs External Fulfillment in Leadership
14:59Markers of Grounded vs Scattered Leadership
17:58Lessons from Leadership Experiences
20:58Closing Reflections and Next Steps

In this conversation, Alan Briggs and Jonathan Collier discuss the difference between activity and action, and the importance of being effective rather than just efficient. They emphasize the need for leaders to prioritize and eliminate tasks that are not the most helpful or important. They also highlight the dangers of rushing and the benefits of slow, well-crafted work. The conversation concludes with reflection questions for listeners to consider in their own lives and leadership.
 
Notes
Activity is not the same as action; leaders should focus on effectiveness rather than just efficiency.
Elimination and prioritization are key to being effective; leaders should eliminate tasks that are not the most helpful and prioritize those that are.
Deep work, which requires concentration and focus on a difficult task for a prolonged period of time, is essential for effectiveness.
Clarity and courage are important qualities for effective leadership; leaders should understand and communicate the truth, identify next steps, and have the courage to take action.
Slow, well-crafted work is valuable and rare in a world of cheap and fast; leaders should strive for quality over quantity.
Rushing is detrimental to effectiveness; leaders should avoid rushing and instead focus on thoughtful and intentional work.
Sound Bites
"Activity is not the same as action"
"Slow can be good, fast can be good, rushed is bad"
"People are seeking things that are rare and valuable right now"
Chapters
00:00The Challenge of Delivering on Book Contracts
03:00Activity vs. Action: The Difference and Importance
08:30Elimination and Prioritization: Keys to Effectiveness
12:56The Benefits of Deep Work and the Dangers of Rushing
17:38Clarity and Courage: Essential Qualities for Effective Leadership
22:02The Value of Slow, Well-Crafted Work
25:09Avoiding Rush and Focusing on Thoughtful Work

In this conversation, Alan Briggs and Jonathan Collier discuss the difference between efficiency and effectiveness in leadership. They explore the negative consequences of leading with a hyper-efficient mindset and the importance of shifting towards effectiveness. They highlight the fear, habits, and desire for control that drive people towards efficiency. They also provide a definition of an effective leader, which includes comprehending influence, living healthy, practicing self-awareness, working with the grain of gifting, and moving at a sustainable pace. The conversation ends with reflection questions for listeners to consider.
keywordsefficiency, effectiveness, leadership, fear, habits, control, influence, health, self-awareness, gifting, pace
takeaways
Efficiency is the ability to accomplish a job with minimum time and effort, while effectiveness is doing the right things well.
Fear, habits, and the desire for control often drive people towards efficiency.
An effective leader comprehends their influence, lives healthy, practices self-awareness, works with the grain of their gifting, and moves at a sustainable pace.
Reflect on areas of leadership that need to shift from efficiency to effectiveness and identify areas that require attention in terms of influence, health, self-awareness, gifting, or pace.

In this episode, we dive deep into a conversation that’s more important than ever: manhood. My guest, Jon Tyson, is a pastor, author, and thought leader. His latest book, Fighting Shadows, co-authored with Jefferson Bethke, takes a fresh look at the challenges men face today. Whether you’re a man or love one, this episode is for you.
We discuss the pressure on modern manhood, the influence of faith, and the guidance older generations need to offer Gen Z. John brings in perspectives from popular culture, his personal experiences, and a clear, actionable message of what it looks like to be a man in the way of Jesus.
Plus, we talk about the Primal Path—Jon’s framework for guiding young men through a meaningful rite of passage. If you’re a dad, you’ll want to check this out.
Key Topics Discussed:– The challenges modern culture poses to manhood– How faith plays a role in shaping men today– The struggles Gen Z men face and how older men can support them– Ambition, purpose, and what it means to be a man in the way of Jesus– Jon’s Primal Path program and how it’s helped me guide my own son through a rite of passage
 

In this episode, Alan and Jonathan dive into the fall season, a crucial time for leaders to gain momentum and prepare for the challenges ahead. They explore how to maximize this season's potential through key questions every leader should ask themselves. Whether you're leading a team, a family, or a community, this episode will provide you with actionable insights to help you navigate the busyness of fall without burning out.
Key Takeaways:
Momentum in Fall:
Fall is a season of high momentum, with both opportunities and challenges. Alan and Jonathan discuss how leaders can harness this momentum to drive their teams and organizations forward.
Critical Questions for Leaders:
Alan outlines essential questions to ask yourself as a leader:
How can I schedule for what I really care about?
How can our team raise our level of impact?
How can I guard against burnout before it’s too late?
How do I get out of the weeds?
How can I raise the leadership capacity of my team members?
How can I be a unifying force in a disunified world?
Importance of Prioritization:
The hosts emphasize setting clear 90-day goals and the value of identifying and focusing on your top priorities. This ensures that leaders are not overwhelmed but are instead intentional about what truly matters.
Guarding Against Burnout:
With the increased pace of fall, it's crucial to be proactive in preventing burnout. Alan shares strategies for maintaining physical and mental health, highlighting the importance of keystone habits that anchor your well-being.
Raising Team Leadership Capacity:
Alan and Jonathan discuss the importance of developing your team members' leadership skills. They provide practical advice on how to help your team grow by focusing on a few key areas, rather than overwhelming them with too many expectations.
Being a Unifying Force:
In a divided world, leaders have a unique opportunity to be a voice of unity and hope. The hosts encourage leaders to stay grounded, remain hopeful, and avoid getting distracted by the chaos around them.
Resources Mentioned:
Right Side Up Journal: A tool for leaders to set and track their 90-day goals, manage priorities, and maintain a balanced life.
Declutter Quadrant: A framework to help leaders identify and eliminate low-value tasks to focus on what truly matters.
Annual Energy Map: A tool to plan and allocate energy throughout the year, especially during high-intensity seasons like fall.
Cohort Opportunities:
Effective Leader Cohort: Led by Chad, this cohort focuses on eight core leadership skills essential for any leader looking to grow.
Anti-Burnout Cohort: Led by Alan, this cohort is based on his book, Anti-Burnout, and is designed to help leaders overcome obstacles and find opportunities amidst challenges.
Call to Action: If you're ready to grow as a leader and not be left behind this fall, consider joining one of the Stay Forth cohorts. They offer a community experience at a fraction of the cost of traditional leadership coaching, providing you with the tools and support needed to take your leadership to the next level.
Connect with Us:
Visit Stayforth.com for more information on coaching and cohorts.
Follow us on social media to stay updated on upcoming episodes and announcements.
Subscribe and Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review on your favorite platform. Your feedback helps us improve and reach more leaders like you!
Upcoming Episodes: Stay tuned for big announcements coming in the next few weeks. You won’t want to miss what we have in store!

In the final episode of the Anti-Burnout summer series, Jonathan Collier and Alan Briggs discuss the topics of cynicism and curiosity. They explore the difference between being critical and being cynical, and the dangers of cynicism in leadership. They emphasize the importance of curiosity in overcoming cynicism and finding new possibilities. The conversation also touches on areas where cynicism is prevalent, such as politics, economics, and even preseason football. The hosts encourage leaders to cultivate curiosity and hope, and to believe in the possibility of change.
 
Takeaways
Cynicism is a mindset marked by deep skepticism and distrust, while curiosity is the opposite of anxiety and opens up new possibilities.
Cynicism keeps leaders stuck and prevents them from shaping the future, while curiosity invites exploration and growth.
Cynicism can show up in various areas of life and leadership, such as politics, economics, and personal relationships.
Being critical is different from being cynical, as critical thinking involves asking questions and seeking understanding.
Leaders need to cultivate curiosity and hope, and believe in the possibility of change in order to make a positive impact.
Sound Bites
"There's a difference between being critical and being cynical."
"Cynicism is a dead end, curiosity is an on-ramp."
"If we don't believe that it's possible for leaders to change, then we need to get out."
 

In this episode, Alan Briggs discusses the topic of resistance and how it can hold us back from taking action and pursuing our goals. He emphasizes the importance of normalizing and demystifying resistance, as well as the need to move forward despite it. Briggs encourages listeners to identify areas in their lives where they are experiencing resistance and take small steps to push against it. He also introduces the concept of an annual energy map and offers a tool to help listeners navigate the challenges and opportunities of the fall season.
Resistance is a common experience in life and leadership, and it can hold us back from pursuing our goals.
Normalizing and demystifying resistance can help us overcome it and take action.
Identifying areas of resistance and taking small steps forward can help us make progress and overcome fear.
An annual energy map can be a helpful tool for navigating the challenges and opportunities of different seasons.
 
Sound Bites
"The obstacle is resistance. The opportunity is movement."
"When we bravely take steps forward, we are whispering to ourselves, this is worth it."
"Resistance cannot be seen, touched, heard or smelled, but it can be felt."
Chapters
00:00Introduction and Setting the Context
03:19The Obstacle: Resistance and the Opportunity: Movement
06:38Normalizing and Demystifying Resistance
09:09Identifying Areas of Resistance and Taking Small Steps Forward
13:02Navigating the Challenges and Opportunities of the Fall Season
14:26Conclusion and Next Steps