Win 1 of 5 Confidence Coaching Sessions to celebrate the podcast's 100th episode! If you are ready to overcome self-doubt and master the art of leading with confidence, then submit your application ASAP to win 1 of these 5 sessions! >APPLY HERE<

Hurry, applications close 23 February 2025! Winners will be announced on 24 February 2025 when the 100th episode airs!!

What Is Imposter Syndrome?

It’s the feeling that you don’t belong, that you’re not really qualified, and that at any moment, others will realize you’re a fraud—even though you do have the skills and experience.

How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome as a Leader

1. Stop Trusting Your Feelings—Start Trusting God’s Truth

• Feelings of self-doubt don’t mean you aren’t capable.
• 2 Corinthians 12:9 – "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
• Action Step: Write down 3 biblical truths about who you are in Christ and declare them over yourself daily.

2. Reframe Your Thinking: You’re Not an Imposter—You’re a Steward

• You’re not “faking it”—you’re faithfully stewarding the leadership role God has given you.
• Colossians 3:23 – “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.
• Action Step: Shift your focus from proving yourself to serving well.

3. Take Bold Action Before You Feel Ready

• Confidence comes from doing—not waiting until you feel 100% capable.
• Joshua 1:9 – “Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
• Action Step: Identify one leadership action you’ve been avoiding due to self-doubt and commit to doing it this week.

Final Thought: "If you’re waiting to feel confident before stepping into your leadership role, you’ll be waiting forever. Confidence comes from trusting that God has called you, equipped you, and is walking with you.

Lead boldly—not because you’re perfect, but because He is.

Win 1 of 5 Confidence Coaching Sessions to celebrate the podcast's 100th episode! If you are ready to overcome self-doubt and master the art of leading with confidence, then submit your application ASAP to win 1 of these 5 sessions!>APPLY HERE<

Next steps: 

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

Have you ever found yourself questioning if you’re the right person for the job? Wondering if you’re really equipped to lead?

You’re not alone!

Self-doubt is one of the biggest struggles for leaders—especially women of faith.

But here’s the good news: God hasn’t called you to lead without equipping you.

Today, we’re talking about why leaders struggle with self-doubt and, more importantly, how to overcome it!

1. Comparison Trap It’s easy to look at other leaders and think, ‘She’s more experienced, more confident, more capable than me.’ But comparison is the enemy of confidence. God didn’t call you to be her—He called you to be you.

• Biblical example: Think about Moses. He doubted his ability to lead and even tried to push the responsibility onto Aaron (Exodus 4:10-13). But God assured him, “I will be with you.”

2. Fear of Failure What if I mess up? What if I let people down? What if I’m not enough? Fear of failure paralyzes so many leaders. But failure isn’t final—God redeems every mistake.

• Biblical example: Peter denied Jesus three times, yet Jesus still chose him to lead the early church.

3. Imposter Syndrome—Feeling Unqualified Many leaders feel like they don’t belong in the role they’re in. Maybe you’ve thought, ‘Who am I to lead others?’ But remember, God doesn’t call the qualified—He qualifies the called.

• Biblical example: Esther was an orphan girl turned queen, and she likely felt unqualified to stand before the king. Yet she boldly stepped into her purpose.

💡 1. Shift Your Focus from Yourself to God Confidence in leadership doesn’t come from your skills or experience alone—it comes from knowing who called you. When Moses doubted, God didn’t give him a pep talk about his abilities. Instead, He said, ‘I will be with you.’ (Exodus 3:12)

• Action Step: Start each day reminding yourself that you are called and equipped by God.

💡 2. Speak Truth Over Yourself What voices are you listening to? The enemy loves to whisper, ‘You’re not good enough.’ But what does God say? ‘You are fearfully and wonderfully made.’ (Psalm 139:14)

• Action Step: Write down 3 truths about your leadership and declare them daily. Example:

1. I am called to lead with purpose.
2. God has given me everything I need for this season.
3. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

💡 3. Take Small, Bold Steps Self-doubt fades when you take action in faith. Confidence isn’t the absence of fear—it’s trusting God in spite of fear.

• Action Step: Identify one bold leadership move you can make this week, even if it feels small—speaking up in a meeting, mentoring someone, or simply saying ‘yes’ to an opportunity.

Submit it at https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

Why Review SOPs, Policies, and Procedures?

• • Ensure relevance and effectiveness
  • Identify outdated or unnecessary processes
  • Enhance efficiency and productivity
  • Reduce errors and inconsistencies
  • Improve compliance and risk management

The Review Process

1. Form a Review Team:

• Identify key stakeholders
• Consider diverse perspectives
• Assign specific roles and responsibilities

Assess Current Documentation:

• Review existing SOPs, policies, and procedures
• Identify gaps, inconsistencies, and redundancies
• Evaluate clarity and understandability

Conduct a Gap Analysis:

• Compare current practices to industry best practices
• Identify areas for improvement
• Assess compliance with relevant regulations and standards

Update and Revise:

• Simplify language and eliminate jargon
• Add visuals or flowcharts for clarity
• Update references and links
• Ensure consistency with organizational goals and values

Train and Communicate:

• Develop training materials and conduct training sessions
• Communicate changes effectively to all stakeholders
• Provide ongoing support and answer questions

Tips for Effective Reviews

• Involve the Right People: Seek input from employees at all levels.
• Set Clear Objectives: Define the goals of the review process.
• Prioritize Reviews: Focus on high-impact areas first.
• Use Technology: Employ tools to streamline the review process.
• Continuous Improvement: Make regular reviews a part of your organizational culture.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Rushing the Process: Take the time to do it right.
• Overcomplicating Procedures: Keep it simple and straightforward.
• Neglecting Employee Input: Listen to the people who do the work.
• Failing to Follow Up: Ensure changes are implemented and maintained.

Want to contribute to my planning for the podcast for 2025? Email me at support@rikawhelan.com and let me know! I have 4 simple questions to ask you that will contribute to my planning. I would really appreciate it!

Submit it at https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

Welcome to the Women of Faith in Leadership podcast

Are you passionate about leadership but often feel inadequate to deal with the difficult situations you face on a day-to-day basis?

Do you battle with balancing faith-based leadership principles and the worldly perspectives of your colleagues and team members?

Do you constantly have to address workplace culture issues like gossip, a lack of communication, conflict, a toxic environment, workplace bullying or bad attitudes?

Are you sick of the relentless fighting with your team, leaving you feeling like a failure?

Are you desperate to implement change but don’t know what to do?

Should you just quit your job and take the easy way out?

Hey, I’m Rika Whelan and I understand all too well the challenges leadership brings, especially as a woman of faith.

I had so many aspirations as a leader. What a wonderful opportunity to coach, and mentor and lead a team…

But then… humanity happened, the human factor. My idyllic idea of leadership quickly turned into an everyday battle with toxic people who couldn’t care less about others.

I didn’t realise how unpredictable people could be and it truly hurt that people could be so cruel and mean to each other.

I knew I had to take action and put the necessary boundaries in place to stop gossip in its tracks and to change that toxic environment into an environment where people could thrive and grow.

But I didn’t know how. It felt like I was in a deep dark pit and no one could help me get out. Except God!

I began to pray and went into battle, fumbling as I went, making many mistakes along the way… but I went… and today I am so proud to stand here and say I did it and, friend… so can you!

God showed me the way and gave me the wisdom I needed to put the necessary steps in place and by His grace alone, I experienced a beautifully peaceful and thriving workplace where my team actually enjoyed coming to work.

I finally had the opportunity to coach, mentor and lead a wonderful team.

I was equipped back then and now I am called to help Christian women like yourself who are desperate for a map, a navigation system to show them the way.

The good news is that there is a way that you can successfully navigate workplace culture without selling your soul.

There is a way that you can happily lead your team, set clear boundaries and finally enjoy coming to work.

In this podcast, you’ll learn practical steps to navigate all things leadership, workplace culture, faith and boundaries.

So grab your coffee or water, keep that notebook and pen handy, and let’s jumpstart your leadership… with God at the Centre of it all.

Next steps:

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a coaching call, simply email me at support@rikawhelan.com

 I look forward to chatting with you in the next episode. Make sure you don't miss it!

Hi all

There will be no regular episode this week as I focus on completing my Master of Business Administration. I am in the last stretch of finalising my research paper to hand in on 5 December 2024!

Please pray that God will provide me with the energy I need to complete it, as well as wisdom and knowledge to do so. 

Thank you!

Why don't you come and join the Facebook community and join other women of faith in leadership. 

Have a listener question?

Submit it at https://womenoffaithinleadership.com/podcast

Next steps: 

1. Navigate to https://womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. Book your Confidence Coaching session: https://tidycal.com/rikawhelan/coachingcall

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

As leaders, we can feel drained by our workload and the fires we have to fight daily.

But have you ever considered how your actions might affect your team?

Let's discuss 5 mistakes that leaders make that push their team to burnout

1. Overloading Workloads

2. Neglecting Work-Life Balance

3. Poor Communication

4. Micromanagement

5. Ignoring Employee Well-being

Tune in to the episode as I share my own experience with these 5 mistakes and the solutions you can implement to avoid them. 

Have a listener question?

Submit it at https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com

Next steps: 

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

Is your organisation experiencing high staff turnover with no explanation? Or maybe you suspect you know why there is high staff turnover, but you’d like to be sure.

Well, in this episode, I’m going to give you 5 things to review asap and give you some retention strategies to implement.

Conducting Effective Exit Interviews:

• The Importance of Exit Interviews:
  • Why exit interviews are crucial for understanding turnover
  • How to create a safe and confidential space for employees
• Key Questions to Ask:
  • What are the reasons for leaving?
  • What did they like most about their job?
  • What did they dislike most about their job?
  • What could have been done to prevent them from leaving?

Understanding the Causes of high staff turnover:

1. Company Culture:

• Is the company culture positive, supportive, and inclusive?
• Are employees feeling valued and appreciated?
• Are there opportunities for growth and development?

Leadership:

• Are leaders effective and supportive?
• Do leaders communicate clearly and often?
• Do leaders provide constructive feedback and recognition?

Compensation and Benefits:

• Are salaries and benefits competitive?
• Are there opportunities for bonuses, promotions, and raises?

Work-Life Balance:

• Are employees able to maintain a healthy work-life balance?
• Are there flexible work arrangements available?

Job Satisfaction:

• Are employees satisfied with their roles and responsibilities?
• Are there opportunities for challenging and meaningful work?

Implementing Retention Strategies:

• Employee Recognition and Rewards:
  • Public recognition programs
  • Private thank-you notes
  • Performance-based bonuses
• Professional Development Opportunities:
  • Training and development programs
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Mentorship programs
• Flexible Work Arrangements:
  • Remote work options
  • Flexible hours
  • Compressed workweeks
• Employee Engagement Initiatives:
  • Team-building activities
  • Social events
  • Employee surveys
• Regular Check-ins and Feedback:
  • One-on-one meetings
  • Performance reviews
  • Open-door policy

Have a listener question?

Submit it at https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com

Next steps: 

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

“I never thought that the teachers would gossip more than the teenage students”

Meet Mike McQuillan:

Mike McQuillan moved from New York, USA to Lima, Peru to teach English as a foreign language.

Mike describes the last institute where he taught as a golden palace built on top of a toxic swamp. The systems worked, and the people were great, but the undercurrent of academic elitism and water cooler gossip undermined the teaching experience. He resigned in protest and now works full-time as a freelance public speaking coach.

We discuss:

• When Mike noticed that gossip is such an issue in the education sector
• Why is the educator sector the worst in terms of gossip?
• Do you think there are enough expectations to guide teacher’s behaviour? What can schools do about it?
• Has Mike ever worked in an environment that has been gossip-free?
• What should leaders do if they have people constantly coming to gossip about their teammates to the leader?
• The difference between ratting someone out and reporting misconduct.
• The biggest source of gossip these days
• And much more.

Connect with Mike

https://fit-presenter.com/about/

Submit it at https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

So, you’ve got a new employee, and you want to onboard them asap so that they can jump in and start working.

But wait! Have you ever considered the importance of the onboarding program?

In this episode, we'll discuss the mistakes leaders make when it comes to onboarding, the risks of not onboarding an employee well and the benefits of a good onboarding program.

1. Not taking onboarding seriously
2. Underestimating the value of the onboarding
3. No written SOP’s

1. Increased training cost
2. Time efficiency problems
3. Reputational damage
4. Employees with low morale

1. Set them up for success
2. Understanding the ins/outs of company
3. Get what’s in your brain, onto paper
4. Run your department the way you want to
5. No unexpected twists
6. Stress that mistakes are allowable
7. Employee retention and job satisfaction
8. Increased productivity
9. Good first impression

I'm curious, what does your onboarding program look like? Come and join the conversation over on the Facebook Group. 

Submit it at https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

It’s one of the most exhilarating feelings to get your first leadership role. But at the same time, it’s absolutely petrifying!

What scared me was, what if they don’t like me? What if I don’t get on well with them? What if they reject me? 

Over the years, I've learnt a couple of valuable things about being a new leader that I'd like to share with you today. Make sure you listen to the full episode to learn more about each item on the list:

1. Start with self-reflection
2. Connect with your team before you do anything
3. Don’t make changes straight away
4. Filling in the hypothetical “shoes” of the other leader
5. Support the team to do their job
6. Vision - Bring and drive the vision
7. Lead yourself well
8. Get a mentor
9. Own your mistakes
10. Confidentiality

Have a listener question?

Submit it at https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com

Next steps: 

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

Have you ever been in a meeting and thought, “This should have been in an email!”

Or, you’ve attended a meeting and had to participate in an icebreaker that completely embarrassed you?

You’re not alone!

In today’s episode, I’ll share with you some of the tips and tricks I’ve learnt over the years to run effective meetings, and I’d like to invite you to try them, you don’t necessarily have to implement them, but try them, get feedback from your team and see how you go. You'll need to listen to the full episode to hear what I discuss about the following:

1. Everyone sits in a shape format
2. Don't always share the agenda (the opposite of what everyone says you should do)
3. Ice breakers, yay or nay?!

4. Presentations/slide shows/handouts

5. Involve the team.

6. Minutes of the meeting

Do you have any expert team meeting tips you’d like to share?

Come join us in the Facebook community ‘Women of Faith in leadership’ or go to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com

AND

Can you take 30 seconds and leave me a review on Apple Podcasts?

Have a listener question?

Submit it at https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com

Next steps: 

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

Welcome to another conversation about gossip!

In today's episode, I have Dr Marie Gasper-Hulvat a History of Art professor, who has overcome workplace bullying and has experienced workplace gossiping. She shares with us how this has impacted her at work and how she used it for the good!

Connect with Marie: Email: marie@soulstarattunement.com

Website: http://www.soulstarattunement.com/

Have a listener question?

Submit it at https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com

Next steps: 

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

According to Mental Health America: “Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the ability to manage both your own emotions and understand the emotions of people around you.

There are five key elements to EI:

1. self-awareness,
2. self-regulation,
3. motivation,
4. empathy, and
5. social skills.

People with high EI can identify how they are feeling, what those feelings mean, and how those emotions impact their behaviour and, in turn, other people.”

As leaders, we get super involved in everything that happens with our team, projects, and work. And in a sense, if we don’t set the correct boundaries, we can get emotionally involved. That’s just human nature.

However, the biggest challenges for our emotions are when someone pushes our buttons, does the wrong thing, or has an emotional outburst of their own.

The dilemma with leadership that I personally found is that you’re expected to be perfect—the perfect role model.

So, let’s go through a couple of strategies:

The first couple of strategies have to do with your daily emotions and how you can use these to gain emotional intelligence:

1. Self-awareness
2. Social awareness
3. Empathy
4. Develop active listening skills

What to do when you’re in a heated/emotional moment at work.

1. Take a deep breath
2. Use "I" statements
3. Focus on the issue
4. Find common ground
5. Seek mediation

Finally, if things did get heated and you reacted emotionally, apologise and learn from the situation. Reflect afterwards on why you reacted like that and identify the trigger. Now, devise a plan for how you will deal with that next time

Have a listener question?

Submit it at https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com

Next steps: 

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

Join other Female Christian Leaders!

I’d like to invite you to come and join a community of female Christian leaders who are all seeking to glorify God in their leadership roles. Women like you are also dealing with difficult people who might be in their very first leadership role, seeking others to connect with. Come over, and let’s discuss things like team dynamics, Christian leadership, and so many more topics.

Once a fortnight, I’ll be going live in the FB group and provide a short training that I won’t be featuring on the podcast, so you don’t want to miss out!

Simply navigate to womenoffaithinleadership.com

confidence ≠ being loud or extroverted.

It's trust in one’s abilities and God-given purpose.

A perfect example of this is ESTHER. 

• Bold leadership comes from aligning with God’s will, not from trying to be someone you’re not.
• Stop trying to please others, only aim to please GOD.
• Practical strategies:
  • Listening more than speaking.
  • Leaning into strengths instead of comparing weaknesses.
  • Seeking wisdom and courage through prayer and scripture.

• Explore root causes of self-doubt (comparison, fear of failure, perfectionism).
• Strategies to combat self-doubt:
  • Daily affirmations grounded in scripture (e.g., "I can do all things through Christ").
  • Remembering past wins as evidence of God’s faithfulness.
  • Surrounding yourself with supportive and honest accountability partners.
  • Remember making mistakes is okay!

Confidence grows with practice and trust in God.

Your Challenge:  take one bold step this week (e.g., speak up in a meeting, pray aloud in a group).

Joshua 1:9

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Have a listener question?

Submit it at https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com

Next steps: 

1. Navigate to https://womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

In part 2 of the high-performance team series, I discuss with you how you can maintain your high-performance team. 

It is crucial that you build that team first; therefore, listen to episode 1 of this series (episode 79). 

Here are 5 ways that you can maintain your high-performance team. Listen to the episode to learn more about each one. 

1. Team Dynamics
2. Team Building Activities
3. Performance Management
4. Diversity and Inclusion
5. Continuous Learning and Development

Submit it at https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

High-Performance Teams were quite the buzzword at some point in time. But what does it "actually" mean, and how can you ensure that your team is a high-performance team?

In this 2-part series, I’ll be sharing with you how you can build a high-performance team and then, in part 2, how you can maintain that high-performance team.

Listen to the episode as I run you through these 5 ways that you can build a high-performance team:

1. Set clear goals and objectives
2. Effective Communication
3. Strong Leadership
4. Shared Values and Culture
5. Trust and Respect

Have a listener question?

Submit it at https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com

Next steps: 

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

Grab a coffee and join me in this insightful conversation with Jim Salvucci regarding leadership, workplace culture and workplace gossip!

Guest Bio:

Dr. Jim Salvucci is an author, keynote speaker, coach, and consultant. He served higher education for 30 years as an English professor, dean, and vice president before founding Guidance for Greatness to guide young bosses to become the next generation of great leaders. He is a certified Tiny Habits coach as well as a certified Thrive Global coach and life coach and holds leadership certificates from Harvard University and the Council of Independent Colleges. Central to Jim’s leadership philosophy is that all great leaders are decent humans as well as great teachers, guiding their people and their organizations through values toward success.

Discussion points:

• How did you get into leadership consulting?
• Is there anyone who played a pivotal role in your leadership journey?
• What’s your experience with workplace gossip?
• What systems did your work have that allowed the gossip to fester?
• Discussing bosses that support or listen to gossip.
• What advice would you give to a leader who feels that gossip is out of control, who wants to be a good leader, and who doesn’t want to get roped in by gossip?
• Dismissals and protections for employees/Tenure
• Having difficult/tough conversations - what advice would you give to someone who is scared of having them?

Connect with Dr Jim Salvucci

• Website: https://www.guidanceforgreatness.com 
• Newsletter/podcast: https://jimsalvucci.substack.com
• Free Resource: https://www.thegreatleadershiptoolkit.com

Have a listener question?

Submit it at https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com

Next steps: 

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

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Showing appreciation to your team is an essential part of being a leader.

Everyone on this planet wants to feel valued and as if their life has meaning.

It starts with you as their line manager and boss. You can also show appreciation to your colleagues using the 5 suggestions listed in the episode. 

Get a notebook and pen handy, because this episode is jam packed with ideas and strategies to show appreciation to your team at work. 

Submit it at https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

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Happy 1st birthday to the show!

What do you give a show for its first birthday?

A review, of course!

Please leave a 5-star review on Apple podcast!

Then share your review on the Facebook group and stand a chance to win a coaching session with me. 

Have a listener question?

Submit it at https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com

Next steps: 

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

Today's episode is a follow-up from episode 73, where I discussed the 10 red flags indicating you have a toxic workplace culture.

Listen, as I unpack the following roadmap for you to implement to fix a toxic workplace culture:

1. Recognition
2. Discussion
3. Expectations
4. Communication
5. Accountability
6. Role Modelling
7. Promote a positive workplace culture
8. Regular check-ins

I also take a moment to answer a listener question:

"How we do one on one meetings with team members that is holding on the past?"

Submit it at https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

In this episode, we discuss how the use of alcohol, even just low-level use, can affect your behaviour at work and can be the cause of gossip in the workplace.

Sarah is the author of the best-selling book “Beyond Booze, how to create a life you love Alcohol Free’, a multi-award-winning Health and Wellbeing Coach, an accredited Grey Area Drinking Coach, a menopause coach and a Key-Note speaker sharing her journey to Sobriety and impact of alcohol on mental health to global audiences. Sarah works tirelessly to support women all over the world to create and live their best lives as they age.

In this episode we discuss:

• Sarah’s expertise in grey-area drinking
• Sarah’s journey with grey-area drinking
• Is it very common to go out drinking with your colleagues in Australia?
• Drinking on mine sites/FIFO (Fly In Fly Out) workers
• What advice would you give to someone who struggles with grey-area drinking? Where can they get started?
• Sobriety as a superpower
• A study about alcohol use in women (Alcohol Use Disorder)
• Normalising alcohol use in society
• Peer pressure and alcohol use
• What strategies/excuses do you give to people not to drink at a work function/business meeting?
• Does social drinking fall into the category of grey-area drinking?

Beyond Booze Book

sarahrusbatch.com

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

Do you suspect that you might have a toxic workplace culture? Here are 10 red flags alerting you to your toxic workplace culture. Listen as I unpack each of these. Then in an upcoming episode, I will share strategies on how you can improve this and turn those red flags into green flags. 

1. Lack of Respect
2. Poor Communication
3. Unrealistic Workload
4. Lack of Work-Life Balance
5. Favouritism and Cliques
6. Gaslighting
7. Lack of Recognition and Appreciation
8. Negative and Pessimistic Atmosphere
9. Unhealthy Competition
10. Lack of Ethical Behaviour

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

Listen in as I share strategies for having successful 1:1 conversations/meetings with your team and why they are important.

Do you have to have tough conversations?

Yes, you absolutely do. As a leader, this is non-negotiable. 

Why should you have them?

• Accountability,
• Connection,
• Support,
• Performance management
• Annual Performance Reviews

When should you have them?

As soon as possible after an incident or something happened. Once every 3-6 months, annual reviews once a year.

Otherwise, after onboarding:

• 3, 6 weeks
• 3, 6 months

For Performance Management related information, listen to episode 36!

How to prepare

Remember, when we're in a stressful situation, we either fight, flight or freeze. So, preparation is key!

What if things go pear-shaped?

Stop the meeting. Say I can see you are getting frustrated, I can see that we won’t agree today, before someone gets upset, let’s reconvene in 24 hours.

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

Listener question: Help! My Boss Wants Me to Agree with his/her Lies in Front of Others, what should I do?

What would you do if you were constantly placed in a difficult situation by your boos/line manager where you are expected to agree with their lies in front of others?

Would you agree with it, so that you can save your job, save face or avoid bullying or even worse, being fired?

Or would you stand up against it and say something?

What would you do?

In this episode, I'm going to look at:

1. lying from a biblical perspective and how God feels about lying and yourself agreeing with people who lie. 

2. practical tips and strategies that you can implement to NOT agree with the lies. 

Proverbs 12:17 - An honest witness tells the truth, a false witness tells lies.

Exodus 20:16 - You must not testify falsely against your neighbour.

Psalm 24:4-5 - Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God, their saviour.

Proverbs 2:7 - He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. This section here is titled: “The benefits of wisdom”. Now, remember, Solomon was the wisest man that ever lived. God told him that he could ask for anything, and he asked for wisdom, and that’s what God gave him.

Proverbs 6:16-19 - There are six things the LORD hates— no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.

Proverbs 12:22-24 - The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth. The wise don’t make a show of their knowledge, but fools broadcast their foolishness. Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.

Proverbs 10:9 - People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall

Psalm 25:19-21 - See how many enemies I have and how viciously they hate me! Protect me! Rescue my life from them! Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge. May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you!

Lying

Proverbs 26:28 - A lying tongue hates its victims, and flattering words cause ruin.

Proverbs 17:22 - The crooked heart will not prosper; the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.

Proverbs 21:6 - Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.

Proverbs 25:18 - Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.

Exodus 23:1 - You must not pass along false rumours. You must not cooperate with evil people by lying on the witness stand.

Matthew 15:19 - For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.

Bearing false witness

Proverbs 14:5 - An honest witness does not lie; a false witness breathes lies.

Proverbs 14:25 - A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is a traitor.

Proverbs 19:5 - A false witness will not go unpunished, nor will a liar escape.

Proverbs 21:28 - A false witness will be cut off, but a credible witness will be allowed to speak.

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

You are in for a leadership treat!

With no previous leadership experience or formal training, God called Lisa. God often calls the unqualified and inexperienced, so listen in!

Lisa Steven began working with teen moms in 1997 through Teen MOPS and in 2003, she co-founded Hope House Colorado and has served as the founder and executive director ever since. Lisa is also a co-founder of the Colorado Teen Parent Collaborative. A former teen mom, Lisa is committed to empowering teen moms in her community and across the world.

Listen as we discuss Lisa's journey and the leadership lessons she learnt as a teen mom, through mentorship and on the job training!

Connect with Lisa

• Hope House Colorado: https://hopehousecolorado.org/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-steven-54b48a10/

Have a listener question?

Submit it at https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com

Next steps: 

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

In this first instalment of our new series, Conversations About Gossip, I speak with Brandon Gano. We cover many topics and questions, which are listed below.

Brandon's bio: Brandon is a visionary entrepreneur who turned frustration into a successful business, which he built, franchised, and later sold for a significant profit. Now, with his business partner and friend Sean Delaney, he's pioneering an unprecedented approach to educate and empower small business owners to achieve business growth like never before.

Topics/Questions discussed in this podcast episode:

• In what ways have you seen can gossip be detrimental to an organisation, a business or to a team
• In what ways have you seen can gossip be detrimental to an organisation, a business or to a team
• What processes are or are not in place to cause gossip
• What was the reason why you didn’t take gossip sooner?
• The process of tackling gossip
• The frustration that gossip causes leaders
• Battling the perceptions of gossip
• The importance of leadership

Podcast: Harmonious at Lunch

• On Apple
• On Spotify

Website

Free Assessment to get Clarity into your business and Confidence in what you need to do next to grow.

CLICK HERE to access the website

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

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*Celebrating becoming a Top 3% ranked podcast globally!* Thank you for your support!

In today's podcast update, I share some upcoming episodes as well as about a new series called 'Conversations about Gossip'. This series will tackle real-world examples of how gossip can hurt people, confuse people and cause big BIG problems in businesses, organisations and working environments. 

In the next couple of weeks, I will also be answering a listener question regarding what to do where your boss expects you to lie for them or do the wrong thing.

I'll also be sharing my testimony of the work that the Lord is doing in my life to focus more on this podcast and to serve YOU ALL as women of faith in leadership!

I can't wait!

Have a listener question?

Submit it at https://womenoffaithinleadership.com/podcast

Next steps: 

1. Navigate to https://womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. Book your Confidence Coaching session: https://tidycal.com/rikawhelan/coachingcall

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

In today's episode, I share a free diagnostic tool that you can use to improve your organisation and your leadership skills.

The organisational gap analysis focuses on identifying gaps regarding psychological safety in the workplace and workplace relationships. 

As leaders, it's our responsibility to reflect, identify the gaps and make the necessary changes.

This might include an action plan with steps to follow, strategies to implement or training to attend.

But it all starts with that gap analysis!

If you are someone who shies away from reflection or analysing what is missing, then this gap analysis is perfect for you! The questions have been meticulously thought-out to stimulate your thinking and get you moving so that you don't have to shy away from reflection, but rather take action.

CLICK HERE to access the free organisational gap analysis. 

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

Last week, we discussed the first 3; go and listen to episode 66.

1. Systems
2. Expectations
3. Staff performance

Let’s jump into the next 3:

This truly is a huge topic, but I’m going to break some green and red flags down for you here.

7 Green flags

1. People care about each other
2. People feel safe
3. People know where they stand, their role, their expectations, there is no uncertainty
4. Low to zero stress levels - there will be some form of stress for deadlines, projects ect. But it shouldn’t be about the everyday, it should be healthy
5. Your voice matters, you’re able to have a say without fear of retaliation, discrimination
6. You can be yourself (within professional boundaries of course ;-) )
7. Organisation is driven by values and everybody actually sticks to these values

7 Red flags

1. High staff turnover
2. People feel constant frustration with one another and with management
3. People feel as if management are to blame for everything and don’t take personal responsibility
4. There is absolutely no accountability towards anyone
5. Performance isn’t measured or rewarded
6. People are doing the absolutely bare minimum and others constantly feel that they are carrying the weight of that person
7. No clear expectations, policies and procedures (SOP’s) or communication

The Free organisational gap analysis will analyse it for you and give you some tips

What does accountability look like in your workplace?

Is there any?

Are people held accountable for their actions, behaviour, tardiness, lack of respect, gossiping etc.

The best places to work are those that keep people accountable.

I had the wonderful opportunity to speak to so many HR managers and so many of them agree, the best places are the ones who keep people accountable. These are people who have worked across multiple different sectors, big, medium and small businesses who know.

No accountability = a huge gap and opportunity for organisational failure

This does not only include professional development. That’s important, for sure, but think about all the other missed opportunities.

It starts with onboarding, what does that look like, are you seizing the opportunity to set that person up for success during onboarding?

Then what happens after, are they just left to the wolves? Or to fend for themselves when it comes to learning and training.

Or what does this look like in your organisation?

• Personal goals
• Annual goals
• Annual training
• Training days
• Professional development and training days

Have a listener question?

Submit it at https://womenoffaithinleadership.com/podcast

Next steps: 

1. Navigate to https://womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. Book your Confidence Coaching session: https://tidycal.com/rikawhelan/coachingcall

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

Let’s discuss a healthy workplace environment. Let’s flip the coin and look at the positive today.

These 6 characteristics were developed through lived experience and my conversations with others.

If even one of these areas is out of whack, you’ll notice something isn’t quite right.

What systems do you have in place to ensure a healthy work environment?

Having a healthy work environment is not all about how people feel. It’s about the structures you put in place to support them to do their jobs properly.

Think about your:

• Interviews
• Onboarding
• Job descriptions
• Probation periods
• Policies and Procedures (SOP’s)
• Performance management
• Resignation process and period (how are people treated during these periods)
• Communication methods
• Client management
• Staff management (HR)

Are these updated regularly or are they old and outdated, so no one uses them?

Systems form the foundation of any business, no matter how big or how small. Without effective and efficient systems, you are setting yourself and your employees up for failure.

Activity: Audit your systems, decide what needs updating! The free diagnostic tool will also give you suggestions on what you can do to make improvements.

What are the expectations of employees, leadership team, heads of departments, the CEO, etc? Are there any?

How is this communicated? When is it communicated? How often is it communicated?

Are staff expected to stay up to date with expectations with no communication from anyone?

How are staff expected to give their best, if they don’t know what is expected of them?

Again, you are setting your employees up for failure if you fail to communicate.

Suggestions:

• Verbal and in writing, why because of various learning styles. Some people learn or understand better with verbal, some with writing, some need both.
• If you’ve had a conversation with someone, follow it up with an email, always! Get them to reply back to say they acknowledge it.

How are staff performance measured? Is it measured at all?

Are there annual performance reviews and what is this measured against?

Are staff given the opportunity to work towards an annual goal that they have chosen, something that will be motivating to them to want to achieve.

Are they rewarded for exceptional performance?

Here we’re looking at the positive and the constructive or even the negative.

What happens to a staff member if they stay performing poorly, or even have a behavioural problem?

What the processes (they systems!) that you have in place to manage this.

Or, will you also fall into the category where there is no process and the employee, gets away with their behaviour and makes it into a toxic workplace for everyone else

If staff performance isn’t managed, then the performance, will essentially manage the business.

You are only as strong as your weakest link! So, what are you doing about that weakest link?

Have a listener question?

Submit it at https://womenoffaithinleadership.com/podcast

Next steps: 

1. Navigate to https://womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. Book your Confidence Coaching session: https://tidycal.com/rikawhelan/coachingcall

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

Today, I’ll tackle a tricky topic: gossip in the church.

The one thing that I love about going to church is the fellowship. Talking freely with other Christians while enjoying a coffee or tea while the kids play. It’s nice.

And then, if you’re lucky, you get to attend a weekly small group meeting where 5-10 people usually come together to either unpack the sermon of the week or to learn about and unpack a new topic.

However, it’s in this fellowship that gossip can become an issue.

Satan will try and find a way to interject himself into Godly conversations and one way he does this is through gossip.

…………………..…………………..

One way that gossip masks itself is through concern.

Let’s use Sue as an example (fictional of course)

Sue might know someone who is going through a tough time and then share her concern with others, causing people to talk about that person.

Or Sue might know a piece of confidential information that someone might have shared with her and then share that with others by asking them to pray for that person.

Inadvertently, Sue is creating a gossip culture, where no one in the church can feel safe anymore because they can’t share any concerns with people they trust, for fear that it would be shared with others “out of concern” or because that person asked others to pray for them.

…………………..…………………..

Another way that gossip can mask itself is through the judgement and/or so called “empathy” towards others.

I’ve always found it super interesting that Christians, in general, are so super judgemental of others when Jesus himself came and broke all thought patterns about judging others.

And I’m 1000% including myself in this discussion, because I have found myself very guilty of this.

When someone does something that we know is sinful or specifically mentioned in the bible as a no-go-zone, then we are quick to judge them, and it becomes a topic of discussion with others.

"Oh, have you heard that Sue’s teenage daughter is pregnant? Isn’t it just such a shame? Sue must be so embarrassed."

Or "/have you heard the sad news that Sue and Jo are getting a divorce? It’s such a shame, isn’t it? I feel so sorry for Sue, because rumour has it that Jo cheated on her."

So, we’re talking about others, seemingly feeling sorry for them, but in actual fact we’re gossiping.

…………………..…………………..

Church communities can be small communities and the thing we know about communities is that there will always be people who love to know what is going on in the community with other people.

So what can we as leaders in the church do about this? Is it even your duty to do something about this?

Or should it just be the main leader, the pastor who as a duty of care?

No, I don’t believe it should be.

I believe that God gave all of us the ability to speak up, to say no to gossip and to not stand for it.

…………………..…………………..

What does the bible say about gossip?

Go and listen to episode 4 where I discuss in full what the bible says about gossip.

Proverbs 18:21 reads: “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences”

The Bible, both the Old and the New Testament, warns strongly against gossip and the effect that your words and your tongue can have.

God, however, doesn’t leave us in the lurch and say, “Figure it out by yourself”.

No, in true God-style, He gives us the tools, “the antidote” if you will, for dealing with gossip and for dealing with the gossipers.

…………………..…………………..

Ephesians 4:32 “Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God through Christ has forgiven you.

This verse requests that we be kind to each other, and tender-hearted (which according to Webster dictionary means compassionate)

Forgive the person, just like Christ has forgiven you.

…………………..…………………..

Proverbs 17:9 says, “He who covers over an offence promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.”

Basically, stop the gossip with you, don’t spread it any further. You can make the choice to not gossip anymore if this is an issue for you.

…………………………….

Proverbs 20:19 tells us, “A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much

As a leader, it is crucial that we do not betray someone’s trust. Whatever is said to you should remain confidential, unless it’s life-threatening and you are compelled to speak up to another leader, but do not utter a word to anyone else. Do not fall in that trap.

…………………………….

Lastly 1 Timothy 18:15-18 reads: “If another believer sins against, you, go privately and point out the offence. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you may say be confirmed by two or three witnesses.

In a church environment, this would translate to going directly to that person and asking them to stop spreading rumours and gossiping

…………………..…………………..

The main things that I would like you to take away from today’s podcast is:

1. Take gossip seriously, it can have long-term effects on you and the church
2. Speak up against gossip, address it directly with the person/person’s involved
3. If you are struggling with gossip yourself, pray that the Lord will guide you and help you to stop, so that you can show integrity at church and not only talk the talk, but walk the walk.

Have a listener question?

Submit it at https://womenoffaithinleadership.com/podcast

Next steps: 

1. Navigate to https://womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. Book your Confidence Coaching session: https://tidycal.com/rikawhelan/coachingcall

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

This is the final episode of the 4-part series, let’s have a chat about the importance of community.

Surrounding yourself with “your” people, people who get you, accept you, love you, just the way you are, is very important for a healthy self-image and building your self-confidence.

When you’re in your comfort zone, doing what you love, with the people you love, you tend to loosen up and just be yourself. No judgement!

It means that you can gain in your self-confidence because you don’t even have to try! You just do.

But that’s not the only community that can support you. Depending on your working environment and the workplace culture, you’ll hopefully be surrounding by people who are cheering for you to do well.

Unfortunately, it is a reality that not all workplaces are like this.

Yesterday, I saw a shocking post on LinkedIn encouraging people to not share anything about their personal lives with their colleagues because they’ll only hold it against them. I immediately responded and said that I disagreed, it’s not about your colleagues, it’s about your workplace culture. That’s what needs fixing.

So, if you’re stuck in a place where you can’t be yourself, share about yourself at your workplace out of fear of the consequences, or you’re in a workplace where they’re not cheering you on, it is vital that you seek community elsewhere.

It could be at home, yes, but at

• Sports club
• Art club
• Music lessons
• Karate lessons

Whatever you like to do but participating in a sport or in anything in your community, is another vital part of building your own self-confidence and believing in yourself and that you are an amazing human being.

My final reminder is this: Remember that the Almighty God in Heaven made you!

Luke 12:7: And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of Sparrows.

1 O Lord, you have examined my heart     and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit down or stand up.     You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. 3 You see me when I travel     and when I rest at home.     You know everything I do. 4 You know what I am going to say     even before I say it, Lord. 5 You go before me and follow me.     You place your hand of blessing on my head. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,     too great for me to understand!

7 I can never escape from your Spirit!     I can never get away from your presence! 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;     if I go down to the grave,[a] you are there. 9 If I ride the wings of the morning,     if I dwell by the farthest oceans, 10 even there your hand will guide me,     and your strength will support me. 11 I could ask the darkness to hide me     and the light around me to become night— 12     but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day.     Darkness and light are the same to you.

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body     and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!     Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,     as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 16 You saw me before I was born.     Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out     before a single day had passed.

17 How precious are your thoughts about me,[b] O God.     They cannot be numbered! 18 I can’t even count them;     they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up,     you are still with me!

19 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!     Get out of my life, you murderers! 20 They blaspheme you;     your enemies misuse your name. 21 O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you?     Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you? 22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred,     for your enemies are my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;     test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends you,     and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

1. 139:8 Hebrew to Sheol.
2. 139:17 Or How precious to me are your thoughts.

Have a listener question?

Submit it at https://womenoffaithinleadership.com/podcast

Next steps: 

1. Navigate to https://womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. Book your Confidence Coaching session: https://tidycal.com/rikawhelan/coachingcall

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

We’re in the middle of a series, gaining confidence in your own abilities. In the previous 2 episodes, we discussed spiritual growth and personal development and how this can help you gain confidence.

This episode will discuss how professional development can help you gain confidence.

It’s no secret that when you want to learn a new skill, you’re highly likely to Google the ‘how to’ or if it’s a skill you need for work, you’ll attend a course or training program to learn that new skill. YouTube is a common one for us as well.

But does it really have merit?

Can you really gain confidence by attending professional training or development?

I think this one is debatable and depends how you want to look at it.

If you don’t have confidence in your own abilities because you lack a certain skill set, then yes, you can absolutely go and gain the book knowledge for it. Hence the reason why some companies/careers also require certain qualifications. They hold merit for sure.

However, if you lack confidence, because of a lack of experience, then I say embrace it! Find ways to gain experience, seek them out. Don’t wait for them to just miraculously happen. Seek them out. Ask your line manager to keep you in mind for the next project or volunteer somewhere during your time off. The only way to gain experience, is to do the thing that you want to gain experience in.

An example of this for me was project management.

I was leading a department and I had to run multiple projects. I knew absolutely nothing about successful project management.

I had 2 options:

• Go and study about it - get the book knowledge (which would have helped a lot! Now that I’ve done project management my MBA, I see the real value in in)
• Learn from others and gain the experience.

I chose the latter. I asked my line manager to include me in any future projects, or at least to keep me abreast so that I can learn from the best.

Professional development doesn’t always have to be a course or a training or something that you can prove on paper you did. This is how we have been made to believe it is.

Professional development can happen by learning from your peers, your line managers, other departments.

The most important thing is that you continue developing, professionally.

As soon as you become stagnant and think “I’ve made it”. Then be worried, be very worried.

So, continue your learning, continue your professional development and continue gaining confidence in your own abilities.

You are amazing because our one true God made you, formed you in your mother’s womb, he knows you by name, he knows how many hairs there are on your head.

He loves you.

I hope you are blessed by this.

I will chat with you all again next week.

Have a listener question?

Submit it at https://womenoffaithinleadership.com/podcast

Next steps: 

1. Navigate to https://womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. Book your Confidence Coaching session: https://tidycal.com/rikawhelan/coachingcall

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

This is part 2 of our series: Gaining confidence in your own abilities. 

Today, we are discussing personal development. 

Personal development will look different for each and every one of us out there. Because we're all unique and different. 

In this episode, I discuss with you the steps you need to follow to gain confidence in your own abilities through personal development.

1. Reflection - reflect on why you have a lack of confidence in a certain area. If it's related to an historic event for example where someone said something about you, then ask yourself, is it true? If it's true, then do you need to do something about it to change that, like further study, speak to someone or practice those skills. If it's not true, then you need to let it go!

2. Learning - What learning do you have to do or engage in to learn more so that you can gain confidence is the thing that's holding you back?

3. Practice - Practice your new skill. You won't gain confidence by only participating in learning or listening to this podcast for example, you need to go and do the thing.

4. Feedback - Gain feedback from others so that you can improve where you still need to. 

5. Get out of your comfort zone!

Have a listener question?

Submit it at https://womenoffaithinleadership.com/podcast

Next steps: 

1. Navigate to https://womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. Book your Confidence Coaching session: https://tidycal.com/rikawhelan/coachingcall

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

The world can make us feel like failures… people can make us feel like failures, but we are capable of anything in Christ!

In this 4-part series, I’ll discuss with you how you can gain confidence in your abilities and stop feeling like a failure, stop feeling like you’re not good enough and start believing that through Christ, you can do anything you set your mind to.

We all have a story of how we came to God, whether it was a long time ago or recent. But just like any relationship, you can’t grow in that relationship if:

• It’s only one-sided
• You don’t spend time together
• You don’t listen to one another
• You fight all the time

So too, in our relationship with God, we can’t grow, if we don’t treat the relationship, like a relationship.

1. Spend time in the word with God. If you don’t know where to start, choose a bible reading plan on the YouVersion Bible App. Or Get a study bible that will take you through the passages and explain them to you.
2. Spend time talking to God - praying, talking to Him and listening to sermons are some ways in which you can spend time with Him
3. Fellowship - growing with others by your side is a really amazing way to grow spiritually and you experience and feel different things in your relationship with God, when you are with others.
4. Standing up for your faith - a tough one, but the more you stand up for your faith, the more confident you grow as well. 
5. Sharing/living your faith - with your children, with others around you and sharing when people ask, invite people to church with you, give people bibles
6. Praise and worship - there is something about praise and worship that just connects my soul directly with the Lord. Taking the time to praise him and worship him and thanking him for what he has done, for who He is and for what is to come, grows you spiritually with the Lord.

Stay tuned, in the next couple of episodes, I’ll be chatting with you about:

• Episode 62: Personal growth
• Episode 63: Professional development 
• Episode 64: Community Support

and how you can use these to gain confidence in your own abilities. 

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

Everyone has doubted themselves at some point in time.

The most infamous doubter of all time (in the bible) was Thomas - You can read this section in John 20:24-29.

Peter climbed out of the boat and walked on the water until reality set in, and he started to doubt. You can read this in Matthew 14:29-31.

We want to believe so badly that we can be good leaders, and that we can do the right thing, which includes dealing with difficult people, speaking up in certain circumstances, and handling those battles we often just avoid because we’d rather just confrontations altogether.

But as soon as a situation arises, we doubt ourselves, our abilities, our knowledge, our experience and we believe we’re just not good enough, or I can’t do this!

Sometimes we forget just how unqualified ALL the disciples were. But Jesus chose them anyway, because HE knew, he knew their potential, he knew that he wanted imperfect people to lead. He is NOT looking for you to be perfect! Not by any means!

All he wants is for you to trust him, have confidence that HE put you in that position, have confidence every day that He loves you and all that He wants is just for you to be an instrument.

So, when self-doubt kicks in, why not memorise a verse that will give you courage, that will remind you that God is with you right now and that YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS because He is with you!

Matthew 19:26 reads: "Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

Here are 5 bible verses that will help and encourage you to overcome your self-doubt with the knowledge that God knew that you were going to doubt one day, he already knew and therefore he already made provision, and He already overcame it for YOU!

1. Joshua 1:9

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

2. Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

3. Isaiah 41:10

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

4. Isaiah 41:13

"For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you."

5. Romans 8:28

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

BONUS: Philippians 4:6

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

I pray that this encourages you today!

Know that HE is Lord and that HE’s got you!

Have a listener question?

Submit it at https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com

Next steps: 

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

When I stepped into one of the biggest leadership roles I’d ever held, I wanted to be assertive.

I wanted to walk into a room, be confident (not timid because that’s how I felt) and have everybody listen to me.

That’s not what being assertive means at all… but honestly, I didn’t quite know what it meant to be assertive.

Assertiveness can often be confused with aggressiveness.

People who are assertive are often labelled as being too aggressive with their approach.

So, hence the question… should female Christian leaders be assertive?

Let’s get that question answered!

Let’s have a look first at what it actually means to be assertive…

According to Risely.me, assertiveness refers to the ability to express one’s thoughts, feelings, and needs in a clear, direct, and respectful manner while also considering the rights and opinions of others.

It is a communication and behavioural style that promotes open and honest expression, confidence, and self-assuredness without infringing upon the rights and boundaries of others.

Now, assertiveness is often confused with aggressiveness as I mentioned before.

And aggressiveness refers to the behaviour or communication style that is characterised by forcefulness, hostility, and the disregard for the rights and feelings of others.

Aggressiveness involves a proactive approach to achieving one’s own goals or asserting one’s dominance, often at the expense of others. It can manifest in the form of verbal, physical or passive-aggressive actions.

Consider the definition of assertiveness, where you express your thoughts, feelings, and needs in a clear, direct, and respectful manner while also considering the rights and opinions of others.

So in my humble opinion, yes, female Christian leaders can and should be assertive.

You might wonder how can I learn to express my thoughts, feelings, and needs in a clear, direct, and respectful manner while also considering the rights and opinions of others.

1. Role-playing - seems silly, but by practising with someone else, you make it fun and less intimidating
2. Workshops and training - there are some workshops and that you can attend on this very topic, there is also usually a fair bit of role-playing involved to practice what you learn
3. Putting your skills into practice! Practice makes perfect. Very few people just learn something and then get it right the first time, so practice practice, practice.

In an upcoming episode, I’ll be talking to you about how you can gain self-confidence in your abilities. I believe this to be a good follow on, because self-confidence is extremely important. If you don’t believe in yourself, other people might also not. Stay tuned for the next episode. 

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

Now it would only be befitting to end this series with one of the bravest women in the bible, and that’s Esther. I love the story of Ester. 

There are 7 leadership lessons that we can learn from Esther.

1. 1. Courageous Initiative - Leadership often requires confronting uncomfortable situations to effect positive change.
   2. Strategic Timing - Effective leaders discern opportune moments and act decisively. Timing matters.
   3. Selflessness and Sacrifice - Leadership involves sacrifice. Putting others’ needs first is a mark of true leadership.
   4. Prayer and Fasting - Leaders should cultivate a strong spiritual foundation. Prayer and seeking God’s wisdom are essential.
   5. Using Influence for Good - Leadership is about using our influence to make a positive impact on others and advance noble causes.
   6. Silent Strength - Leaders don’t always need to be vocal, silent strength and discernment matter.
   7. Faith in Providence - Leaders trust that God works behind the scenes, even when His name isn’t explicitly invoked.

Next steps: 

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

This is part 2 of the series Leadership Lessons from Women in the bible. 

Let’s now discuss a much bigger topic, something that I know you, as the listeners have spoken about often when either joining the FB group or in the group itself during discussions, and that is being a woman in a man’s world!

There was one such woman in the bible, and her name was Deborah. 

There are 4 leadership lessons we can learn from her:

1. Trailblazing Leadership:
   • Deborah was the first female judge in the book of Judges, breaking barriers in a male-dominated role.
   • Her courage and determination led her to step into a position previously held only by men. She defied societal norms and paved the way for other women.
2. Guided by Faith:
   • Deborah had a direct connection with God. She understood that true leadership involves seeking divine guidance.
   • When Israel faced oppression from the Canaanites, Deborah recognised the need for action. She called upon Barak to lead the battle, demonstrating her strategic insight.
3. Fearless Action:
   • Deborah didn’t merely offer advice; she actively participated in the fight for freedom. She accompanied Barak into battle, showing her commitment to the cause.
4. Celebrating Victory:
5. • After the battle, Deborah and Barak celebrated their triumph through song. Her leadership not only secured freedom for Israel but also inspired others.

Next steps:

1. Book a free 15-minute initial consultation with me: https://tidycal.com/rikawhelan/initialconsultation 

2. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

3. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching call, email me at support@rikawhelan.com

4. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

I look forward to chatting with you in the next episode. Make sure you don't miss it!

Long gone are the days when there are only men in authority positions. Even in the bible, God used women to lead others, teach others and care for others.

In this 3-part series, I’ll discuss leadership lessons from 3 amazing women in the bible. 

One of my absolute favourite stories in the bible is the story of Ruth and Boaz. I’ve always loved it because it’s just a nice, beautiful love story. You can go read it in the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament.

Now, although Ruth wasn’t a "leader", there is one valuable leadership lesson we can learn from her… she didn’t give up on her people. People in this context being her mother-in-law.

Let’s recap the story briefly: Naomi has two sons, and both of them married. One was married to Orpah and the other to Ruth.

Naomi’s husband and two sons died, and her two daughters-in-laws were with her. Naomi wanted to return to her homeland with her two daughters-in-laws but on the way, she said to them to return to their mother’s house so that they may remarry.

Orpah departed but Ruth decided to stay. She was determined to remain by Naomi’s side.

Human Nature

So often, as human beings, we tend to give up on people, especially if they hurt us or break up the friendship for whatever reason. It’s easy for us to give up on a friendship or loved one. I’ve been there, unfortunately.

What should we do as leaders?

However, as leaders, we need to rise above our human nature to give up on people. Sometimes people just need us to believe in them, have faith in them, encourage them and give them a little nudge (or push!). So never give up on your team, get to know them on a personal level (without crossing the boundaries), so that you know when they just need that extra bit of belief in you that they can do it!

1. Book a free 15-minute initial consultation with me: https://tidycal.com/rikawhelan/initialconsultation 

2. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

3. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching call, email me at support@rikawhelan.com

4. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

This is our listener's 3rd favourite episode of all time! Enjoy!

Welcome to the first episode of the new Gossip Series. In this first episode, I'll be answering the question... Is it really gossip?

I've often been asked what is the difference between Office Chatter and Gossip. 

Let's define each of the terms:

Office Chatter: Office chatter refers to casual and often light conversations that take place in the workplace. It includes discussions about work-related matters, general news, and even personal topics that aren't meant to be harmful or damaging. Office chatter can help build camaraderie, create a sense of belonging, and foster a positive work environment. It's typically harmless and contributes to a healthy workplace culture.

Gossip: Gossip, on the other hand, involves discussing personal or private matters about others, often without their knowledge or consent, and frequently with a negative or judgmental tone. Gossip can be damaging as it spreads unverified information, harms relationships, erodes trust and creates a toxic work environment. It often focuses on personal aspects of someone's life that have no bearing on their work performance or job responsibilities.

Distinguishing Factors between Office Chatter and Gossip:

1. Intent: Office chatter aims to connect, share experiences, and create a friendly atmosphere. Gossip, however, often involves spreading information with the intention of causing harm, stirring drama, or undermining someone's reputation.

2. Content: Office chatter encompasses a wide range of topics, including work-related matters, shared experiences, hobbies, and interests. Gossip tends to focus on personal details, rumours, judgments, and negative assessments of individuals.

3. Effect: Office chatter contributes positively to workplace culture by building relationships and fostering a sense of community. Gossip has a negative impact, eroding trust, creating tension, and damaging morale.

4. Consequences: Office chatter can strengthen bonds and improve team dynamics. Gossip can lead to misunderstandings, conflicts, and a decline in productivity.

Listen as I also share what you can start doing immediately, regarding gossip in your workplace. 

Next steps:

1. Book a free 15-minute initial consultation with me: https://tidycal.com/rikawhelan/initialconsultation 

2. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

3. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching call, email me at support@rikawhelan.com

4. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

I look forward to chatting with you in the next episode. Make sure you don't miss it!

What should you do if you constantly have to deal with a difficult person at work?

Would you declare war and be difficult to them as well, or would you just let it go?

In this episode, I am going to give you some tips on how to deal with difficult people.

We’ve all worked with someone who is extremely difficult.

They don’t agree with anyone, they always ark up when people make new suggestions or suggest changes and they’ve gained a reputation for being difficult.

So much so that people saying “Oh I wonder what XX will say about that?”

First of all, as leaders, we have a duty of care towards the people in our team. If someone is being difficult, we should try and understand why.

Similar to your high school bully (or workplace bully), they usually are covering up their own hurt and trying to make up for it by being mean to others.

It doesn’t excuse the behaviour, it just explains it.

So when it comes to dealing with difficult people, here are a couple of tips:

1. Don’t take it personally, it usually isn’t you or the team, it’s usually something personal that has happened to them
2. Do not react to their difficult behaviour - stay calm at all times and remain respectful 
3. Call them into your office and speak with them - lay it on the table. “I have noticed that you have been acting a bit troubled lately. I am worried about you, is there anything I can support you with? If they deny it, then give them some examples. If they say they didn’t mean it or it was taken the wrong way, then point out that their current behaviour and reaction is exactly the same and as someone whose job it is to look from the outside in, you can see that something might potentially bother them. Let them know that you are there for them and to support them and that you would appreciate it if they would be a bit more cooperative towards you and the team.
4. If the difficult behaviour continues, call them back in again and speak to them about examples of where their performance was affected by their behaviour and how their behaviour is starting to affect the team.
5. Check-in with them daily, and show them that you care. Invite them for coffee to your office for a chat and hopefully by now, you have started breaking down the barriers so that they will talk to you.

You can also suggest that if they don’t want to talk to you, they speak to someone else like HR or another line manager.

Some people with certain personalities unfortunately are just difficult and it will do you well, to not take it personally. However, you also have to protect your team and if the person’s behaviour is affecting the team, you need to do something about it.

I’m all for accountability in the workplace. Leaders need to keep their people accountable.

I hope this was helpful. Join me again on Friday as we end the week strong.

God bless.

Next steps:

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching call, simply email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

I look forward to chatting with you in the next episode. Make sure you don't miss it!

In the next 3 weeks, I'll be resharing 3 of your favourite episodes.

In today's rerun, I'm sharing one of the very first and most favourite episodes: "What is workplace culture and why should you care about it?"

In this episode, I discuss what workplace culture 'really' is, why it is so important and why you should care about it... a lot!

Workplace culture consists of 2 things:

1. The relationships between people
2. The things that people do

1. The relationships between people

Ask yourself the following reflective questions:

• What are the relationships like at your workplace?
• Do people show respect to each other, or do they disrespect each other?
• Do people have healthy debates or constantly engage in unhealthy conflict that has no resolve?
• Do people have fixed or growth mindsets?
• How do people cope with change in the organisation?
• What is communication like in your workplace?

The relationships we have with one another at work affect our workplace culture. If there is a lack of respect for each other, a lack of trust, a lack of compassion and a lack of caring for each other, workplace culture will suffer. However, on the other hand, if people respect each other, trust each other, have compassion towards each other and truly care for each other, workplace culture will thrive.

2. The things that people do

What are the unwritten rules at your workplace or organisation? What are unwritten rules? Unwritten rules in the workplace, often referred to as workplace norms or informal codes of conduct, are a set of expectations and behaviours that employees follow, even though they are not explicitly documented in company policies or formal guidelines. These unwritten rules shape the work culture and influence how employees interact with each other and perform their job duties.

So, think about what the unwritten rules in your workplace are. What things do people do, that are potentially unacceptable, but because everyone does it, no one cares and there are no consequences? For example, lunch breaks. Does everyone return to work on time after their lunch break, or do they simply take their time? After all, no one cares, and their line managers never speak to them about returning late. This mindset can quickly spill over into other job tasks and therefore productivity and ultimately the company's bottom line will suffer. 

In this episode, I discuss 4 steps that you can follow to commence changing workplace culture in your workplace. 

Next steps:

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

Let's Connect

• On LinkedIn
• On Facebook

Hi amazing ladies of God!

In this episode I share a bit of my personal struggle with boundaries and why I have felt it important to take a short break from the podcast. 

However... I'll be re-running 3 of your favourite episodes over the next 3 weeks, while I take a break (it's school holidays here and my hubby will have time off as well). 

In the meantime, I'd absolutely love to stay connected with you. There are 2 options:

1. The Facebook Community - Click here to join

2. The brand-new WhatsApp Community - Click here to join

Alternatively fill out this survey and let me know where you'd prefer to hang out together - Click here to fill out the survey

• RESPECT Framework
• Workplace Gossip Risk Assessment
• Workplace Culture Survey - For your team 
• The Tuckman Model - 5 stages every team will navigate, over and over again
• Does your team have a gossip problem? Take the quiz and find out!

As leaders, we have to be so mindful about our words, what we say and get involved in.

The NLT Study bible calls the following behaviour 'death-dealing':

• lies
• arguments
• insults
• slander
• gossip
• rumours
• flattery
• bragging
• belittling

As leaders, we also have influence over our team and our peers. We have to be extremely mindful of what we say and be so careful not to get involved in things that can cause others to mistrust us. 

I hope you enjoy today's episode. 

• Workplace Gossip Risk Assessment
• Workplace Culture Survey
• 7 Steps to eradicate workplace gossip
• 5 Phases every team will navigate

• On LinkedIn
• On Facebook

Today, I have with me a very special guest, Anita Anello. Anita has spent many years in the corporate world and reached the top of the ladder and asked herself, "Is this it?". 

Anita had more in mind for her life and with the support of her husband, they prepared for her to leave her corporate job and move into entrepreneurship. 

Anita shares valuable insights on dealing with toxic workplace culture, advice from previous leaders and so much more!

You definitely want to grab your favourite beverage, a notebook and pen and sit back and listen. 

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Be a guest on the show - Email support@rikawhelan.com
• The Gap and the Gain Book - The Gap and the Gain: The High Achievers Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success : Sullivan, Dan: Amazon.com.au: Books

Connect with Anita:

• https://www.therippleaffect.net/
• Anita Anello | LinkedIn

Free Resources:

Free Resources (therippleaffect.net)

Connect with Rika

• On Facebook
• On LinkedIn

As leaders, it’s not only imperative that you create a vision for yourself as a leader, but also to work with your team to create a vision for the year.

In doing so, you have one holistic goal you are working towards and can reflect on this at the end of the year.

In this episode, I’ll be sharing the steps you can take to create your leadership vision for 2025, and I’ll be sharing my vision for the podcast for 2025.

If you didn’t listen to last week’s episode, episode 92, I’d highly recommend that you do. In this episode, we did a reflection of the year.

We reflected on your individual growth, your team’s performance and your leadership effectiveness.

We’ll use this today in creating your vision.

Listen to the episode now!

Have a listener question?

Submit it at https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com

Next steps: 

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

Celebrating 50 episodes! Thank you for listening!

Today I'm celebrating 50 episodes on the podcast and it wouldn't be possible without all the amazing women of faith who and listen and support me weekly. 

To celebrate, I have a surprise for you in the episode, can you spot what's new?

_________________

In today's episode, we're talking heart-to-heart about leading through tough times.

As leaders we're role models and it can be tough to lead through tough times and still be a role-model to others. 

Jesus was the perfect role-model to us when he led through the toughest times of his life.

But... the beauty is... He never did it alone! He gathered the troops, and they were with him. 

You are not alone in this!

Listen in as God speaks through me a message for you today.

_________________

Join the Community

Click here to join the community on Facebook

SURVEY

Where do you hang out (on which platform?). Click here to let me know. 

Kindness is not a weakness!

In another Godly download, I share with you how you can lead with kindness in your workplace. Jesus was a great example to us as a leader and He led with kindness at all times.

As women of faith in leadership, we have the most amazing opportunity to: 

• mentor our coach and our team
• change the trajectories of our team's lives
• change our team's perspective of leadership
• be remembered as the leader who cared. 

I cannot wait for you to listen to this episode and share your thoughts with me.

LET'S CONNECT

• On Facebook: Women of Faith in Leadership Community
• On LinkedIn: Rika Whelan

1 QUESTION SURVEY

• Fill it out now

In this episode, we talk about praying for your team.

Should we pray for our team members as leaders? And what should we pray? Should we pray for them to change? Should you pray for their souls to be saved? 

In this episode, the Lord shows us that we are more like Jesus than we know or think. 

Jesus was a leader to His disciples and although there were so many things that the disciples did that Jesus could have been really disappointed with or He could have scolded them... He didn't. He loved them, he was kind and most of all, He prayed for them. 

Pray that the Lord will use you as an instrument to lead your team.

Pray that the Lord will show you and guide you to lead your team like Jesus did.

Lean back and trust in the Lord, ask Him today for your daily bread and trust Him for today. 

As women we often suffer from imposter syndrome, and we believe that we are not worthy and that we are not good enough.

God has a message for you today... you are good enough! You are worthy! You are not an imposter, because He chose you! You are His daughter. And He has chosen you for a time like this.

Lean back, trust Him. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and all your spirit and all your mind. 

I trust that this episode will bless you as much as it blessed me. 

LET'S CONNECT

On Facebook: Women of Faith in Leadership Community

CONNECTION SURVEY - Where would you like to connect?

Vote in this 1 question poll here