In this special cross-podcast episode, Alan Briggs, host of the Stay Forth Leadership Podcast, joins Roger and Amanda Joy on the Come to Listen Podcast. Together, they dive into Alan’s journey in leadership, coaching, and entrepreneurship, discussing his passion for empowering others, tackling burnout, and building sustainable impact. They also explore Alan’s new book, Anti-Burnout: A Lighter Way to Live and Lead in a Heavy World, packed with actionable insights for leaders committed to making a meaningful difference.
Listeners will hear about:
The importance of community in combating burnout
Alan’s “mountain guide” approach to leadership coaching
His unique take on balancing health, growth, and impact
How leaders can reframe success for sustainable influence
About Alan Briggs
Alan Briggs is the founder of Stay Forth Designs, a leadership coaching organization focused on supporting leaders and teams to thrive without burnout. A former pastor turned entrepreneur, Alan brings a deep understanding of meaningful leadership and personal sustainability. His latest book, Anti-Burnout, introduces practical tools and frameworks to help leaders find the right rhythm between work and rest, so they can experience greater purpose and health in their leadership journey.
Alan is also the co-founder of Co Harbor, a coworking space designed to foster community and collaboration among entrepreneurs in Colorado Springs. With a life mission rooted in living well and empowering others, Alan remains dedicated to coaching leaders and cultivating spaces where people can thrive authentically.
Connect with Alan:
Website: Stay Forth
Book: Anti-Burnout on Amazon
Follow Stay Forth for Upcoming Webinars and Resources
Upcoming Webinar Alert:
Join us on November 13, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. MST for the next installment of the Demistifying Sabbatical series, focusing on “Rest for Renewed Leadership and Organizational Growth.” This free webinar, hosted by Sabbatical Coaching Group, is ideal for leaders looking to deepen their approach to rest and rejuvenation.
Register here: https://www.sabbaticalcoachinggroup.com/webinars-and-trainings/event-one-b58ml-2can2

In this insightful episode, Alan sits down with Dan Rockwell, acclaimed author of The Vagrant, seasoned leadership coach, and consultant. Together, they dive into the ways we often stand in our own way, the personal growth practices that can elevate us, and the essential qualities leaders need to embody now more than ever. Packed with practical wisdom, this conversation hits close to home for us at Stay Forth and speaks directly to the heart of meaningful leadership.
About Dan Rockwell
Dan Rockwell delivered his first presentation at sixteen and has been captivating audiences with his insights and workshops ever since. In 2010, his passion for leadership inspired him to start the Leadership Freak blog, now read in nearly every country and followed by almost 500,000 people across social media.
Named among Inc. Magazine’s "Top Fifty Leadership and Management Experts" and one of the “Top 100 Great Leadership Speakers,” Dan’s work has been widely recognized. The Center for Management and Organization Effectiveness has called Leadership Freak the “most socially shared leadership blog on the Internet.”
Dan’s reach extends beyond the digital sphere through his keynotes and workshops with an impressive range of clients, including the National Institutes of Health, Home Depot, Ascension Health, Geisinger Health System, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Holding an MBA and degrees in Theology, Pastoral Ministry, and Construction & Design, Dan’s diverse background includes owning two businesses and working as a Workforce Development Consultant for Penn State. In this role, he designed courses, mentored instructors, and gave hundreds of presentations to audiences worldwide. Today, he continues his work as a leadership coach and consultant while actively serving in his local community.
Dan lives in central Pennsylvania with his wife, his high school sweetheart of over 40 years.
Connect with Dan
Website: Leadership Freak
Book: The Vagrant: Inner Journey of Leadership Parable

Alan Briggs discusses the significance of sabbaticals for leaders, sharing his personal experiences and insights gained from previous sabbaticals. He emphasizes the importance of planning, renewal, and recalibration during this time away from work. The discussion also touches on the challenges of stepping away from work, the need for engagement in everyday life, and the activities he looks forward to during his upcoming sabbatical. Ultimately, the conversation highlights the transformative power of sabbaticals in fostering personal growth and well-being.
 
Takeaways
Sabbaticals help leaders renew their energy and recalibrate their vision.
Personal experiences during sabbaticals can be both delightful and challenging.
Planning for a sabbatical is crucial to ensure a smooth transition.
Engagement in everyday life is more fulfilling than seeking escape through travel.
Rest can take many forms, including physical activity and mental space.
Sabbaticals are an opportunity to reconnect with family and friends.
The importance of modeling healthy rhythms for others as a leader.
Sabbaticals can lead to new insights and creative ideas for the future.
It's essential to prioritize what truly matters during a sabbatical.
Sabbaticals require faith and trust in the process of stepping away from work.
Reclaim your brain with Magic Mind. Use Code BRIGGS at checkout for 20% off your order. 
visit https://magicmind.com/

In this conversation, Alan Briggs shares his journey of self-discovery and leadership, emphasizing the importance of balancing future aspirations with present engagement. He discusses the psychological aspects of leadership, particularly the tension between hope and fear when planning for the future. Through practical tools like the Right Side Up Journal and the Innovation Triangle, he encourages leaders to reflect on their past, assess their current state, and strategically plan for the future. The conversation culminates in a call for self-reflection and the importance of maintaining health and sustainability in leadership roles.
takeaways
Leaders often focus on the future, which can lead to anxiety.
It's essential to balance future planning with present engagement.
Small practices can help leaders stay grounded in the present.
A weekly review can highlight victories often overlooked.
Quarterly audits provide a deeper reflection on goals and achievements.
The Innovation Triangle helps leaders assess their focus areas.
Self-reflection is crucial for personal and professional growth.
Healthy leaders create healthy cultures around them.
Understanding fears about the future can lead to better planning.
Leaders are wired for impact, but must prioritize their well-being.
 
 

In part two of our directions series, Alan shares his transformative experience during a bucket list trip to Scotland, emphasizing the importance of being present in both extraordinary and everyday moments. He discusses the challenges leaders face in maintaining presence amidst distractions and the need for intentional habits to foster engagement with family, friends, and teams. Alan wraps up this episode with practical questions for leaders to enhance their mindfulness and reflection, ultimately aiming for sustainable impact in their lives and communities.
 
takeaways
The trip to Scotland was a bucket list experience.
Staying present is crucial for leaders.
Distractions can steal our attention from loved ones.
Intentional habits help maintain presence.
Reflection is vital for personal growth.
Leaders shape the future but must stay grounded.
The attention economy challenges our focus.
Small disciplines can lead to significant changes.
Engaging in the moment enriches relationships.
Creating healthy cultures starts with being present.

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