The Strategic Pause

Welcome to The Strategic Pause- Mildly Unhinged Learning and Development pros Katrina Kennedy and Jill Parish press pause on the endless to-do list to have the conversations that actually matter. In aviation and healthcare, a strategic pause can save lives. In business? We skip right past it. But not here. We're taking that pause to dig into what it really means to be in L&D—the work we do, the work people think we do, and why half the organization assumes we're the ones "who do all those trainings everyone hates." Katrina brings 26+ years training tens of thousands of learners and a recent book on making learning stick. Jill brings her experience as CEO/Founder of ThinkDev an organizational development consulting firm. Together, we're exploring everything from building real community in a virtual world to why we're all so bad at PowerPoint to what we actually do on "no real pants" days. Expect thoughtful conversations that veer into delightful ta

The Strategic Pause is a business podcast hosted by Katrina Kennedy and Jill Parish, with 14 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Katrina Kennedy and Jill Parish hosts The Strategic Pause, a business show with 14 episodes published.

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  Episode #2

  What Are You Reading?

  Sep 22, 202637 minS2

  In this episode, Jill and Katrina explore their reading habits, favorite books, and how reading intersects with life experiences. They share insights on book organization, finishing books, audiobooks, and the importance of reading for leadership and personal growth. Takeaways The importance of finishing books How reading influences leadership and personal development The impact of travel experiences on reading choices Strategies for choosing what to read and when to give up The role of books in building community and connection Insights from specific books like Anne Frank's diary and art history The mental models around consensus and decision-making in leadership Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Favorite Books and Organization Styles 01:55 The Significance of Book Organization and Aesthetics 03:53 Favorite Books and Personal Connections 06:06 Travel, History, and Personal Growth Through Reading 07:53 Reading in Different Life Stages and Contexts 10:01 Reading About Art and Travel Experiences 12:04 The Role of Connection and Community in Well-Being 14:07 Insights from Books on Leadership and Climate Change 16:06 The Science of Human Connection and Extroversion 18:03 Decision-Making, Consensus, and Leadership Insights 20:00 Reading Parameters, Habits, and Nighttime Reading 22:04 Audiobooks, Narration, and Listening Habits 23:53 Book Completion, Giving Up, and Personal Preferences 26:02 The Impact of Parenthood on Reading Habits 28:01 Strategies for Choosing and Finishing Books 29:58 Favorite Recent Reads and Recommendations 31:50 The Art of Audiobook Selection and Narrator Preferences 34:06 Emotional Impact of Books and Personal Reflection 35:50 Final Thoughts: The Importance of Reading for Leaders ️ Hosted by Katrina Kennedy & Jill Parish Connect with Katrina & Jill ThinkDev Katrina Kennedy Training Linkedin: Katrina | Jill #TheStrategicPause #ThinkDev #LearningAndDevelopment The Strategic Pause releases new episodes the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays wherever you get podcasts. Resources: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank You're A Leader: Now What? By Dr. Winters What if We Get It Right? By Ayana Elizabeth Johnson A little More Social by Nicholas Epley Winter Dance by Gary Paulsen 100 Years of Lenny and Margot 100 Minutes Minus Your age The Libby App: Libby - Welcome

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  Episode #1

  What’s for dinner? (Rituals and responsibilities)

  Sep 8, 202635 minS2

  In this episode, Katrina and Jill explore the concepts of habits, routines, and rituals, and how they shape our personal and professional lives. They share personal stories, discuss how to create meaningful rituals, and connect these ideas to leadership and organizational culture. Takeaways Difference between habits, routines, and rituals How rituals impact engagement and social cohesion Examples of rituals in families and workplaces How to create effective rituals in teams The concept of anti-rituals and toxic behaviors in meetings Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the episode and topic of rituals 00:06 Personal stories about dinner rituals and system differences ️ Hosted by Katrina Kennedy & Jill Parish Connect with Katrina & Jill ThinkDev Katrina Kennedy Training Linkedin: Katrina | Jill #TheStrategicPause #ThinkDev #LearningAndDevelopment The Strategic Pause releases new episodes the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays wherever you get podcasts. Resources: Atomic Habits by James Clear The Power of Using Rituals in Company Culture (article) The Surprising Power of Team Rituals (HBR article) The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Actions by Dr. Michael Norton (book) “We may do both routinely, even unconsciously, but we ascribe more meaning to the latter.” Ritual Examples (blog post)

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  Episode #11

  What Makes a Great Consulting Partnership?

  May 26, 202632 minS1

  <p>In this episode, Katrina Kennedy and Jill Parish explore the ins and outs of partnering with consultants, sharing their diverse backgrounds, experiences, and insights on how organizations can maximize these relationships for success.</p><p></p><p></p><p><b>Keywords</b></p><p>consulting, organizational development, leadership training, organizational change, consulting relationships</p><p></p><p></p><p><b>Key topics</b></p><p>When to partner with a consultant and why</p><p>Building trust and transparency in consulting relationships</p><p>The importance of upfront discovery and clear communication</p><p>Balancing internal and external resources...

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  Episode #10

  What Do Organizations Get Right With Leadership?

  May 12, 202631 minS1

  <p>In this episode, Jill Parish and Katrina Kennedy explore what organizations are doing right in leadership development, emphasizing the importance of external expertise, strategic investment, and reflection in cultivating effective leaders.</p><p> </p><p><b>Keywords</b></p><p>leadership development, organizational growth, external expertise, reflection, leadership programs, team building, conflict resolution, organizational change</p><p></p><p><b>Key Takeaways</b></p>Investing in leadership skills before crisesExternal expertise enhances internal programsThe role of self-awareness and reflectionOptimal program length and structureBuilding trust and managing conflict<p></p><p><b>Chapters</b></p><p>00:00 Introduction to Leadership Development<...

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  The Strategic Pause

  What's It Like to Write A Book?

  Apr 28, 202642 minS0

  <p>Join Jill Parish and Katrina Kennedy as they explore the journey of writing a book, from childhood dreams to the realities of publishing. Discover practical insights on proposal writing, deadlines, editing, and marketing, along with inspiring stories of perseverance and passion.</p><p></p><p><b>keywords</b></p><p>book writing, publishing, author journey, editing process, book marketing, reflection activities, nonfiction books, writing tips, ATD Press, author advice</p><p></p><p></p><p><b>Chapters</b></p><p>00:00 The Journey to Authorship</p><p>02:56 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome</p><p>05:58 The Writing Process Begins</p><p>09:00 Finding Focus...

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