418 Mindful Presence

418 Mindful Presence

Title card for episode 418 titled Mindful Presence, featuring Renée Smith

Being mindful of our presence in the lives around us is an integral part of the human experience, whether it be for our own personal comfort and growth or to ease the lives of those around us. Though we all have our own unique reasoning and paths to walk, it is important to remember we don’t have to travel alone and by working together we can all get to the finish line.

In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Renée Smith discuss the importance of community in becoming the best version of yourself as well as the importance of developing our problem solving skills to always be able to take action.


Highlights

  • There is no linear path, take your time and find your own.

  • Connecting with strangers through lived experience.

  • Teaching others your toolset and learning others toolset so that everyone succeeds.  


Quotes

“Being able to be present with them in a trusting way.”

“A problem is a gap between where you are now and where you want to be.”

“Maybe you don’t have what you need to take action.”


Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

I’m really curious to hear what was sticky for you in today’s conversation. Whether you’re thinking now about your presence, about how you demonstrate love and support and care for people especially those that are strangers, those that you might disagree with. I know how hard it can be, how challenging it is to feel love for people that have different perspectives than us right now, more than ever before. And I’m here to say that if you can allow that open moment where you express your own experience and they hear it and that you are sharing this to connect with them and not to change their mind, this leaves the door open for them to carry that forward.        

And, as always, thank you for listening. 


About Renée

Quote card featuring a photo of Renée Smith in black shirt, the quote reads "A problem is a gap between where you are now and where you want to be."

Renée Smith, MSOD (she/her) is the strategist leaders turn to when they want to make their workplace more loving and human. As the creator of Love-Centered Leadership




and the Human Workplace EX Roadmap, she helps people and results rise together. The founder and CEO of the consultancy, A Human Workplace, and the non-profit Center for a Loving Workplace, Renée promotes loving workplace cultures, primarily through research, education, impact projects. She led award-winning culture work as a state executive and served in the Governor’s Office as Director of Workplace Transformation for the State of Washington. Smith is a researcher, writer, and speaker who’s reached hundreds of audiences in eleven countries, making the business case for love. She earned a Master of Science in Organization Development from Pepperdine University and a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from the University of Washington. She lives in Tacoma with her husband Jim in a multi-generational household with her son and his family. When she is not traveling, she enjoys sculling on the Puget Sound, watercolor painting, and hosting dinner parties.

Be sure to check out Renée’s LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram! As well as Loving Workplace, Renée Smith Speaks, and A Human Workplace!


About Sarah

"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."

In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.

My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.

The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!

Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.

Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!