The Confident Podcast
The Confident Podcast, presented by Lead and hosted by certified coach and Lead President Lisa Tarkington, is your go-to resource for mastering confidence and leadership. Whether you're battling self-doubt, imposter syndrome, or just looking for a space to feel understood, this podcast offers real conversations, practical tools, and expert insights to support your growth. You’re not alone in your journey—no matter where you are in life, you'll find motivation, connection, and strategies to step into your full potential with confidence.
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The Confident Podcast
EP 193 | Why Every Big-Picture Thinker Needs a Strategic Right-Hand with Kelsey Snyder
Trying to do it all isn’t always the best strategy. Lisa Tarkington opens up about the challenges of stepping back from day-to-day operations and embracing her role as a visionary. She’s joined by Kelsey Schneider, the integrator who keeps things running behind the scenes, to talk about the push and pull of leadership, the struggles of letting go, and the importance of having the right partner to bring ideas to life. It’s an honest look at what happens when vision meets execution—and why finding that balance can change everything.
0:00 Visionary and Integrator
7:55 Evolving Roles of Visionary and Integrator
14:55 Navigating the Visionary-Integrator Dynamic
27:19 Transitioning Roles
37:35 Embracing the Visionary-Integrator Dynamic
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I can do it all right, like whatever mindset I have, you can.
Speaker 2:You can, you technically can right, and that's the hard part yes.
Speaker 1:Welcome to the Confident Podcast. I am Lisa Tarkington, your guide to mastering confidence and leadership. As the business and life coach, keynote speaker and the driving force behind LEAD, I am here to help you break free from self-doubt, silence the imposter syndrome and step into your power as the person you're meant to be. If you press play today, it's because you're ready for something bigger. Each week, I'll bring you real, raw conversations and actionable insights that will empower you to redefine your leadership, reclaim your confidence and transform into the unstoppable force you've always known that you could be. This isn't just another podcast. It's a journey we're on together, so buckle up and let's dive into this transformation. Your next level awaits. Hi everybody, welcome back for another episode of the Confident Podcast. I am your host, lisa Tarkington, and we're going to have a great conversation today. I'm going to be really open about some changes that we're making over at my organization. We're going to be bringing on a guest that you guys have seen a few times on this podcast already, kelsey Schneider, who is the director of lead for my nonprofit that I run, as now I am president of that nonprofit and we have gone through some changes. So 2024, if I had to sum it up. For us it was challenges, it was changes, it was implementing a lot of new things. We're hoping 2025 is the year of just kind of like a steady uphill growth and really, really working on all the things that we've built in 2024.
Speaker 1:So with that, you know one of the things that people see me as is I'm known as a visionary. I'm an entrepreneur, I have a lot of ideas, and running the day-to-day is not always the easiest thing for me. It's something that, like I, just I can do. I can do it well. But you know, I've talked a lot to you guys about the zone of genius. It is not my zone of genius, and so today we're gonna be really talking about how a visionary needs an integrator and how an integrator needs a visionary to make things come true. So Kelsey is the integrator for us. She runs our operation. She's made things a lot better than where we started, and then it allows me to step into the zone of being our visionary, to be more strategic with our time, and so I wanted to share some notes with you guys.
Speaker 1:So visionaries are typically the big picture thinker, the one who generates ideas, sets long-term goals and inspires the team. That's the stuff I love. They thrive on innovation, strategy and creativity, but may struggle with executing the day-to-day operations. That's me. That's where I really fumble a lot of times. And so, since I'm the creative one, I needed an integrator who can bring my visionary to life. And that's really, kelsey for me.
Speaker 1:And so there's this book called Rocket Fuel. It's by Gino Wickman and he said without an integrator, a visionary is far less likely to succeed long term and realize the company's unlimited goal. Likewise, with no visionary, an integrator can't rise to his or her full potential. When these two people come together to share their natural talents and skill sets, it's like rocket fuel. They have the power to reach new heights for virtually any company or organization.
Speaker 1:When I read that in that book, I instantly thought about how a visionary and an integrator complements each other's skills, and their success lies in understanding each other's strengths and then finding the rhythm to collaborate.
Speaker 1:So today we know that as a visionary and integrator, you're going to have your trials, you're going to have your resistance to things, you're going to have your challenges. There's a lot of great harmonies that can come with it. So today we are going to take you into the internal life of lead. Kelsey and I will be discussing how we work together, challenges that we've had and how we've overcome them, and I'm just going to be very real and honest and vulnerable through this whole thing, and so is Kelsey, so that you guys can really see, like, what it's like and how important it is and how big of a game changer it is to find your integrator, if you're a visionary, or how an integrator needs to find their visionary. So let's dive into today's topic. Well, welcome, kelsey, back to the Confident Podcast. Like, let's be honest, like you're just kind of a regular for us now.
Speaker 2:So I'm not mad about it.
Speaker 1:I know the audience knows who you are, and so I've already set the tone today about what a visionary is, what an integrator is, and so you're the integrator of LEAD. You know, you really have been that way, I would say, since day one. So when you first heard the term integrator, did it resonate with you? What kind of came to mind when, you like, thought about yourself as an integrator?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was actually thinking back to I was listening to a podcast in 2020. I had to go back and see when the podcast came out, because I remember listening to it and I was still working in my corporate job and I remember kind of having a tug towards I think everybody did in 2020 of like, well, what do I want to do? Is this what I want to keep doing? Is there something different? And I just started kind of thinking about that a little bit more and so I listened to this podcast and it was the first time I was like, oh, that's what I want to do more of. It's the part of my job that I do right now that I really like, but it's not the full part of it and I didn't know who my visionary counterpart would be or what industry that would be in or how, but it just kind of planted that seed that, oh, I want to look for this and I'll know that the next thing is right when I find that that's awesome.
Speaker 1:So like, how are you feeling like now that you are an integrator? I?
Speaker 2:love being able to focus on. It was always the parts of my day that I liked the most. It was the organizing, project planning, management, it's working cross-functionally across teams, partners, and it's kind of just bringing things to life. I feel like I've always kind of had a knack for bringing the kind of understanding if you make the what's the downstream impacts of decisions, and not only what are the impacts of it, but how do the people that you're working with in those other teams think about that and how does it impact what their goals are or what their strategy might be existing. So it's been really fun to work in that space.
Speaker 1:Awesome, awesome, so yeah, so like, how do you think your role has evolved today from like where you started, so like when you started with us?
Speaker 1:we knew you were going to be our integrator, but you didn't start fully as that right Like you were our program director, we pulled you in to at least like learn a lot of things, right Like we were just talking before the podcast about how, like, Kelsey's been with us for a year right, Like fully a year, and just like embracing that. So when do you think it's been like your turning point of like okay, like I'm getting like how to be more of the integrator for us?
Speaker 2:I think for me it takes. Since I am coming up on a year, I feel like no matter what role I bet in, it's taken a year before, whether it's like a volunteer position, board position, you know, a new job title, whatnot, new team, I think it takes a year. It takes seeing everything once, understanding the seasonality of things. So I feel like I'm just kind of getting the handle on it. Obviously, there's like little tweaks and like process improvements and things like that we can make along the way, but as far as really being able to see the full picture all the way through and then start plus, this year was a little different because we had a lot of change that we talked about, so it was kind of a mixture of the two. Yeah, ok, awesome. Got a couple questions for you as a visionary. What was your, when did you first realize that you needed an integrator and what was that change? How did that change happen?
Speaker 1:Yeah. So it's funny that you asked me that, because I was like thinking. I was thinking about like life changes over the last three years, right, and I would say it was March of 2020, or 2023. And I was like I can't do both of these things anymore be the integrator and be the visionary but I didn't know what that meant. All I knew is I have to do this part of my job because I know that it runs my operations. But, like, if you really want me to rock it, this is where I should be. And so I think in March, I was like really planting the seed inside my heart of like, okay, okay, god, like whatever spirits people believe in, like this is like I know I need this. And then I actually don't think I knew what that meant until we grabbed coffee. It would have been April.
Speaker 2:Was it April? It was April. I had to go back and look. It was like a month later Shut up.
Speaker 1:I had no idea, okay so.
Speaker 2:I didn't know the March part, but yeah, yeah, so and then?
Speaker 1:I remember you sitting there like saying some things and I was like, okay, this is going to be it, right. And I think we just kind of formatted in that way. I think. For me, I think I'm still learning how to like, like, because when you had to do both like you just don't know any different, you just kind of like that was your like, like your action plan. So I think it was like the year prior to you starting, I would say, really wanting it, and then finding that person that actually wanted that role. Because I know what it's like to work with a visionary Like they're all over the place, they have an entrepreneur mind, they have a vision, but you have to take all those like ideas and like, say, like, okay, let's hum it down Right. And I had to do both and it wasn't working really well with my brain.
Speaker 2:So I think it started with that To task. Switch like that to different parts of your brain that would be very challenging. Yes, it was yes. So how did your role evolve into what it is today? You kind of touched on it a little bit, but when did you feel that shift into being able to lean into that visionary part?
Speaker 1:I think it was when I probably Kelsey said to me one day on the phone just let me do this.
Speaker 1:Right, like I really think it's like, as a visionary, you need someone that will, like really be honest with you about things vice versa, right.
Speaker 1:But I think, like for me, I needed to know, like you don't need me to be doing all of these things Now. I think this year was a transition of like you were still in your role as a program lead, we were transitioning you, but also like you had to do that job, so like we were finding this like balance a little bit. And then I think it was just this continuous reminder of like that's not my job, that's Kelsey's job, right, and I think the evolving really came down to me like having a lot of self-talk and then allowing and trusting and letting go because I would never. I think like it's interesting, it's like it's never that I never did not trust. It was that it I had to do both yeah, and so like giving up that when you just kind of went through the rhythm because you just knew it all so well, yeah doesn't mean I didn't want it you know what I mean.
Speaker 2:Like yeah, definitely. I remember a light bulb going off in my head one day when you said, um, oh, I thought I was helping yes, right, you know. And because part of it was like you were just kind of doing it out of habit or whatnot or to like be helpful, but it was like, no, no, I've got this like because me trying to form my brain into your way, versus I just kind of sometimes had to step back and go. Okay, like if the slate was clear, how would I approach this? You know, knowing nothing, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2:And then we usually found somewhere in the middle right. It was somewhere like between what you've been doing, what was new that we could streamline and yeah, kind of yeah.
Speaker 1:And I think, like when you were saying all of that, I think it was funny to think, like when you're a visionary, just like set the tone for everybody, like your brain just doesn't work like everybody else's, like you want it to, but like you can put something out on paper and it can make complete sense to you, but like the integrator really takes it and makes it make sense to people. And I think that that's one of the things that we found a balance on is you've been able to take like this is Lisa's brain now, like how do I take it?
Speaker 1:so it makes sense to everybody, not just Lisa, because I I never thought I was like weird, like that, but like I'm okay with it now, right because I think, now that I know that I have someone that can, like I can talk here and they can take it to the next level, has helped me evolve. And so I think, as like we look into the new year, I'm excited and I even feel like we found our rhythm a little bit better than what we had in the past of just like me, just like passing things off, which, again like when I say like I'm helping, I felt the guilt for a while of doing that because it's like okay, but I don't wanna overwhelm but it's like well, at the same time, like we're shifting, like I have to do that or I'm never going to shift into what I need to do A hundred percent.
Speaker 2:I had heard it referred to as the wow and then the how. I really liked that. Yes, the wow and the how, and so, yeah, what are the details that it takes? And I think that it's super important because I can get too wrapped up in the details that it makes it hard for me to see that wow, to see that end. Or I need you to prioritize some things for me so that we can decide which of them.
Speaker 1:Yes, and I think it's also like a good point for everybody to know. Like a visionary, like it's really hard in the beginning when you have an integrator, because I was the person that wanted to put out something new. All the time I had this idea and like, okay, let's implement this in three months, let's implement this in three months, and like, having an integrator, they make you stop doing that.
Speaker 2:Well, I would say it even took me what I would say at least six months before I even said stop Right. Because, like I also got caught up in the excitement of it, it's like, oh, I love this idea, I know how to make that happen. Like we can do that, and we did.
Speaker 1:We chased a little bit right and it was fun and we, I mean you test things, you learn and then you decide, like, what you're going to spend your time on.
Speaker 2:But no, it did take a little bit, I would even say for me to go wait a minute.
Speaker 1:And then for me to be okay with the wait a minute, right.
Speaker 1:And be like oh, okay, but then also, under, have someone be able to explain like yeah, but like your brain, like you have the ideas, but we also have to all implement it right and implement it well. I think that's the difference, though, too, is like we can implement things, but like having to implement them well is another thing. And then having that confidence right Back to like what this podcast is all about, like having that confidence in everything that we're doing doing, and so, when you think about strengths like, what do you think is the one strength that an integrator does? To like really set that, set it up for a visionary, to like focus on what they're good at?
Speaker 2:I think making them feel safe, that their ideas aren't just like gone, if you say no right or not?
Speaker 1:no, but no, not right now.
Speaker 2:Yes, like having that safe. You know, people call it a parking lot, people call it whatever. Having that place like, oh, love that. Yes, is it more important than X, y, z? Maybe it is. And sometimes, so, being able to kind of like be that because you're a verbal processor, yes, I think that can be pretty common with the integrator visionary relationship. So I also have to ask, like, are we playing this out, just like talking it out, or like, do you want me to figure out what it would take to make this happen? And then, where do we prioritize it? So I'd say that's kind of a couple of them. But, yeah, being able to like keep the idea safe, prioritize it, and then sometimes you're just a sounding board and that's OK, you don't have to act on. And I think in the beginning, when we talked about you get it's easy to get carried away. Yes, with the ideas, like let them take you up and up and up, and it's fun. Yes, but it can kind of like lead to a little bit of chaos.
Speaker 1:And like reality sets in Right, Like of like okay, but like how are we going to get all of this done? And I think, as someone who's a visionary and built the company up, like I worked the crazy hours, like I worked the hundred more than I want to admit right, but I think that that was like a reality, that like as an integrator, it helps you be like okay, but like that's what you did, Like we don't have to do that way anymore, Right, and like that takes a long time for a visionary and an entrepreneur to like process not in a bad way Right, but it's like those strengths are very powerful.
Speaker 2:It's kind of a habit too, right? Exactly. You almost have to challenge yourself Do I have? Does this really have to be done right now? Right, and I think both of us have that role.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's a really good one. It's funny because right before we came to do this, I wanted to do something really cool in the new year and I was like, no, you don't need to do that, but like I had to do my process of. Okay, if I bring this up, what are the questions that my integrators going to ask.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like what are you going to ask me? And like that's been helpful too, because then I'm not wasting time and my idea like it doesn't mean that was a bad idea, but like I can put that in my parking lot now, knowing like, oh, my integrator is going to ask me these questions if I don't have these answers. Like it's okay if I don't, it's not that you wouldn't, wouldn't take it, but it's also like well, if I don't have it vetted out at least enough, like you're gonna look at me like when are we doing that? Because I got you told me all these other things you know.
Speaker 2:Yeah yeah, yeah, For sure it gives you pause right and a filter, yes, yes, so would you say that's kind of the strength that the visionary brings in? Is this the idea part, or is there anything else that you want to add kind of to the idea generation?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think the. I think it's definitely like the vision, the year goals and where you want to see it. I think that I think that that's a really great strength to have, I think, because you can just see things differently. And that's why I think it's back to like having an integrator that has those strengths is because, like for me, I can get so like caught up in the five year plan, the 20 year plan, versus like, ok, what do we have to do tomorrow? Like, if that's the goal, lisa, in a year, how are you going to meet that? And then, how are you going to slow down to actually do a good job of that? And I think that that was so I think it's a really cool strength.
Speaker 1:I love that strength about me and I also love then knowing, like, from your perspective, now I can use my strengths in a different way, where it's like we have some keynotes coming up where, like I now can have dedicated time to like really rock those, versus running the operations doing the keynote and then having to do X, y, z too. So I think it's like also a strength that, like now I get to just do my zone of genius. Yes, definitely so, like with everything. Like I think that, when it comes to having an integrator and visionary, like we also have strong minds we're both very strong women and opinions, right, like, and so like, awesome when you have a visionary and you have an integrator, and how we can work together. But like, honestly, let's be honest like we're going to clash, yeah, we're going to have differences, and so how do you think, like we've started to work through those moments and like, like, work together on that? I would say Definitely.
Speaker 2:I think what comes up for me is I've noticed we clash more when we don't have the time to just kind of like, dream and play out. That's good perspective, um, because I think that the idea is like they haven't been able to come out anywhere and so they hold stronger to it, versus like if we have kind of a coffee date or I call you on a walk, and it's not, we don't have an agenda, it's just kind of like what's been going through your mind, what are these different ideas? Um, you have a place to like kind of let them bounce around. Then I feel like you don't hold so tightly to like when, how?
Speaker 2:Also, sometimes it's just I need processing time, and so I think that was another area where, not that we've clashed, but we just realized I'm like let me sit with that for a minute, or like let me come back to you, or I knew something to me too. I don't hate that, it's not that, just like you know. Yeah, so those are the couple of different tactics I feel like we found on how we clash, and then you just have to be willing to communicate too and have the hard conversations, like we've had, the ones where it's like I don't want to hurt your feelings. Yeah, I'm not trying to hurt your feelings, I'm not trying to, like, you know, whatever preface you have to say and yes, in a year we probably won't even have to do that, right? Because?
Speaker 1:exactly.
Speaker 2:It'll have been that much further in our relationship.
Speaker 1:Well, and that's the other thing too is like the transition year is tough, like it doesn't matter, like I don't know if it's the word tough, it's just like awkward, it's like weird. You don't know like you're stepping, and so I think, like when you look at the first year as like people are actually in their roles, it makes a big difference. But you're learning personality. You're learning like does she want my help? Yep, right, like my help, in my mind, is like way different than actual helping, right, I actually cause more chaos, not not that I mean to.
Speaker 2:But is it a um? Is it one where you're processing versus like need to take action or need to play devil's advocate? You know, like you start to pick up um and just like moods right, you know I think that's a huge part of it. Or like we're learning to read each other, I think as well. So yeah, yeah, yeah for sure.
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Speaker 2:As a visionary. How do you stay open to feedback, even when it means modifying those ideas? So we've talked about some of the different tactics. This is something that you are very strong at. I have to give you total props. You don't hold tight to these. You're probably more flexible than I am. I would definitely.
Speaker 1:I would definitely give you credit for sure.
Speaker 2:I would say maybe more flexible, totally more flexible.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I. I think one of the things that a visionary has to do like I know I can't do it all, I don't want to do it all, right, and like, cause I did it all and I burnt myself out, like I went through, like I can't do this anymore, and like when you're in those systems, like you're like I do, I just quit, right, and like I didn't want to go to that. So it's like if I'm not open to the feedback, then I'm not creating the culture that I want to create. Do I always love the feedback? It's not that I hate it, like what you said earlier, it's just like different. I think that that's the biggest thing. That's been hard for me in the last year was things were just different, not bad, but like OK, ok, I'm going to sit this one out.
Speaker 2:Right and being.
Speaker 1:OK with that. And I remember someone saying to me to, like you know, as you get feedback from your team and as you grow, like, you have to give the feedback too. So I think I'm still trying to find that balance a little bit, because I want people to feel seen and heard and, like know that their ideas are important. But I also know that, like, if I'm choosing to hire an integrator, I have to let them run the things right. And it might be different than how I do it. It's funny because I literally this morning was looking at an Excel sheet that, like Kelsey had cleaned up and I was like, oh, her brain works so different than mine, but like I don't hate this, like that's way better, like mine just didn't make sense to anybody else but me. And so it's just funny how, like you see things, but it didn't make sense in the beginning when I was working on it. But yeah, I've gotten a lot better at feedback.
Speaker 1:Had you met me 10 years ago we've talked about this on the podcast like that wouldn't have been a thing, like that wouldn't have been a thing. But I think I know where I want to go with us and I know that if I don't be open, like I'm never, I'm never going to allow you guys to do what you're good at. So, yeah, so, like OK, so feeling out things, finding this rhythm. Yes, you know, we kind of already like discussed this a little bit, so I'm not going to like go too crazy with it, but, like, as an integrator and visionary, you're finding this rhythm. You're finding like we've kind of like talked about those things but like where did it start for us, do you think? And then, like like six months later, like where were we? And then where do you think we are now in, like the beginning of 2025?
Speaker 2:um, do you mean in our relationship? Are you thinking more so? Or kind of. How did we phase in the transition.
Speaker 1:I would say transition because I think I had to let go a lot in the first, like few months and like there was probably some resistance there there was also the learning curve for me too, so it kind of worked out in like giving time as well, yeah.
Speaker 2:I think that we kind of leaned into what are the processes kind of just first that we could kind of hand off. Or I've always kind of said to my team I like to look at problems where you look at it and you're going, there's got to be a better way.
Speaker 1:But you know, when you find yourself doing something and you're like there's got to be a better way, like let's figure out a way to automate it.
Speaker 2:Is it a tool? Is it a new process? What does that look like? So I feel like we kind of phased in first, like where's some of the low hanging fruit? We kind of did that. Those are also things that you didn't feel like. You wanted to hold tight because you're like there's got to be a better way and I don't want to figure it out, so like go. So I think that that can be kind of a nice way to kind of warm up to it. I'd say, from there then we started handing off some of the team responsibilities. Yeah, from there then we started handing off some of the team responsibilities or coordination. But again, I came from corporate world so I had to learn kind of the nonprofit space. You could substitute this for any other industry.
Speaker 2:Maybe you switch industries, maybe it's a similar job, but it's a new industry, small business versus corporate, yeah, so there's lots of different kind of spaces in there that I started to learn the team and kind of do that and then a year later you know we're just kind of getting into the like day to day handoff. Yeah, yeah, so that's kind of how I think about the phases from my standpoint, but I'm curious.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Well, it's funny because I will never forget June of 2024 saying to my husband gosh, can't we just like move this process along, because I was ready but we weren't ready. Like that's when the one thing that I think the rhythm piece I had to learn is to be patient. Not because we didn't both want it, it was because if I don't do this right and hand this off the right way we're, I'm never going to be able to actually be the visionary and you're never going to be fully the integrator right Like we'll never have that.
Speaker 1:And so that took a lot for me, probably since June. I'm not going to lie of like every month being like okay, we're getting a little bit closer, and I think that end of the year was the time where I was just like really at peace with it, where I was just like the rhythm's down. Yeah, there's going to be some things in 2025 we're going to have to figure out, but like nothing dramatic. We made enough connections and we did it all organically. I think that that was the other difference, too, is we did a lot organically where, by the time, like we were ready to actually make the big transition, the rhythm was a lot cleaner for all of the external folks. Yeah, because internally I think everybody already knew like this is what we're doing, so they knew the choppiness would get fixed eventually, even though it got frustrating sometimes. And then I think the external people were like oh yeah, cool.
Speaker 2:That makes sense.
Speaker 1:It was never like. It wasn't like oh, shocking, right, and I love that rhythm. But I think I learned patience, not with you, but the process. Yes, right, like. That was one thing, that, because once you're ready as the visionary to like, make the shift.
Speaker 1:Yeah, You've decided OK, I'm willing to hand this off Now, you're like OK, here, here, here, it is Like go fly, but like there's a lot to any business and I don't even think I realize how much little things there were like, or how much it goes into finance or how much it goes into operations, because I just did it all until you're training the next person to take it over.
Speaker 2:I think it would be helpful to maybe talk a little bit about. So. You had that feeling right and you knew it's going to take the next six months and so you had made kind of a month by month. Here's how we're going to hand things off, right. I don't know if you want to kind of talk a bit about that, yeah so I think every month we had like a few things that. I was like less than three. Yeah, yeah, it was very, very short.
Speaker 1:And then I think what I just did was like prompt people, or I'd copy Kelsey, like Kelsey went to a lot of meetings with me and like I don't think like this year, like we'll have to go to, like it will be very different, but like we just kind of primed it that way where I'd be like okay, like you can work with Kelsey on this, and like I think I just like did every month we had our big pieces, and then I just like organically, would do things.
Speaker 1:I mean, even this morning, like I think, oh yeah, I was working with a partner and instead of me doing it, I was like I'm going to pass you off to Kelsey, she's running the show on this. And like in the past I would have probably held on tight because my ego would have been like but like they don't want to work with me anymore, right. And I think, like I had another entrepreneur go through. She's a visionary, hired an integrator, and she said it's going to be weird when you're not invited to things and she goes. But I will promise you like, once you work through that you will be happier on the other end because you're going to be so busy getting in other meetings and other things. And I feel like that now, where, like, you'll tell me certain things like oh, that's cool. Like I don't feel like when was an eye invited? Like you're missing, out.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm not missing out, like the.
Speaker 1:FOMO has, as I probably would have back then.
Speaker 2:Yes, Kind of going into the dynamic work here, because we covered a lot, lot of grounds in terms of the strengths and pitfalls that can come up that transition period. What advice do you have to give other teams that are looking to build on this relationship?
Speaker 1:Yeah. So I would say to any visionary out there, having an integrator is a game changer because you have to stop thinking you can do it. All Hands down best advice that I think I was given, which took me about three years to actually believe because my ego was really playing hard into like I can do it all right, like whatever mindset.
Speaker 2:I had you can.
Speaker 1:You technically can right, and that's the hard part.
Speaker 1:Yes, I think, that's actually a very valid point. Like I did it all right and so I think, like knowing that, like that was like a big transition. But I think, like I had to do a lot of personal and professional like reflection moments. It took me about six months, I would say, to be like you feel that nagging piece. And so any visionary out there that feels this nagging piece of like I know I need to make a change. I don't know what that looks like.
Speaker 1:It's probably that you are still running both as a visionary entrepreneur and you're also very integrated into the day-to-day. And then you see all these successful people and I'm like, how do you do it? And they're like I'm not in the day-to-day all day. I'm like, oh okay. So like, how do you make that shift? So any advice year is going to be tough, but like it's worth it. You just can't give up on it, right. Like it's funny, because I don't think like looking back it doesn't feel tough.
Speaker 1:But I think in the moments there was just the moments of like working through a lot internally, that like I had to do. It wasn't anybody's fault, it was all me, right. And then I think, as a person that has the skill set that you have. If you're finding that you're not getting that skill set being used, I would really recommend, if you're working already with a visionary and you might not even be like you might be the program person or you might be in a different role as like speaking up about like hey, I'm noticing these things, like can I take that off your plate? Because I think the more that, as a visionary, someone just like gives you permission to take something off your plate, it makes it a lot easier for you to actually let it go. And it's little by little, and I think we did a good like little by little, where it wasn't like you were hired and you took over. I don't know if I would have done well.
Speaker 2:I don't think I would have yeah that's true.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I don't know if I would have done. Well, I don't think I would have. Yeah, that's true, yeah, yeah, that's very valid Very valid Because I think I would have still been in it because I'd have been like you're doing it wrong but you never were. It was just or you wouldn't have been. It would have just been different.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, too much of that, it's hard.
Speaker 1:It's so kind of with all of those dynamics and things, so like I would say like to kind of just like end all of this. Like when you think about an integrator's position and like what, like in dealing with a visionary who has a lot of ideas, like how do they stand firm in, like what they want? Like they've got it, like what are some key things that you think that an integrator should know from advice from you to really help in their role?
Speaker 2:I think the biggest thing is making sure that you understand that five and 20, because that's what you're going to root in. When you have any pushback, it's your filter to say you know, does this project, that's this year project, is it a stepping stone to five to 20? Or is it a detour? And so I think that the more you can understand that and it's going to change, and that's why I say, like just having those conversations whether it's like a monthly coffee or a catch up, like, like I said, whenever we felt out of sync, it's because our, our conversations have been to all business, they hadn't been enough, like there hadn't been enough space in the creativity the creativity side of it, because I think integrators can get kind of put in the box of like process oriented data driven.
Speaker 2:I'm like you can make data say whatever you want.
Speaker 2:I'm a little bit on the outside of that one, but maybe not the traditional sense of it. But I think you have to have that balance idea dreaming together, yeah, otherwise it's going to be really hard to be on the same page in the same team. Because if I bring you, if you bring an idea, and I say, oh, I love that. What if we tweaked it so that it is that stepping stone, like now we're brainstorming, now we're on the same team, now we're like growing, whereas if you bring it to me and I'm like nope, this is the priority list, we're what do you want off of it? Like that's a very different conversation.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I think both have to happen sometimes Because you have had to bring me priorities and be like, okay, so what? And I'm like, oh, I was just going to add it. Right, Like I was just going to add it to your list, right, and so kind of like, and sometimes you don't have space for it.
Speaker 1:And that's the do, and it's like, oh well, let's squeeze it in here, it probably took us an hour, versus like when we sometimes we talk we're like, oh, that will take us like six hours, but like it's really just yeah, I'm doing something, you know. So, okay. So 2025, your year as the integrator for lead. What excites you the most?
Speaker 2:I think continuing to build our team and external partnerships I feel like that's something that in my career thus far I've really excelled at and I'm excited to get back into that again. I like being on a team, but like running a team is my one of my favorite parts of my job, and so I think doing more of that and then being able to pull in the external partners into that when I say team, it's beyond the lead team, it's our ambassadors, it's our board, it's our sponsors and donors, like the wider team how do you keep them informed? Share our impact, show how they can get more involved that whole piece I think we know we've done a lot of good the last year. Want to keep sharing that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I love that, I love that. And it's funny, as you were saying that, I'm like oh yeah, that used to be my job, right, and it's like really cool to know like that doesn't mean that that goes away. There still will be, but like it doesn't mean it goes away from the company just because I've moved on to something. It just means like there's a new voice in town and companies have that all the time right.
Speaker 1:And so any visionary and entrepreneur out there like, every change is good change when it comes to these things, because then it frees up your time to be like, oh yeah, I actually like we've talked like when I really had time one week to like really rock out a workshop. It was one of the best workshops I've ever had all year because I had the space I loved the call yeah, like I got to call Kelsey afterwards and be like I felt that, but also I had space.
Speaker 1:I didn't feel like, oh, I did a half ass or half half job, you know because of it, Right, and so yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I think that that's the fun part I think that's where we're kind of finding our rhythm is, how much space do we need there? Yeah, right, you know, like I think that we've still been kind of playing around with that like what feels really good, what's enough priorities, that we get that. We are goal oriented, so we get that. That we are goal oriented, so we get that.
Speaker 1:You know, achievement, goal boost, but there's still enough room for the magic and the ideas and the different things, because we are pretty agile in that way, yeah, yeah, which I like, think I love right, Because it still allows my creative mindset to play into things which I think any visionary like you have to remind yourself, like you have to play like and your ideas are the things that usually come to life. So like, if you're not in a creative space like everybody else is going to feel it, you know Absolutely.
Speaker 2:So anything else to kind of end today Um, I guess what are you looking forward to most for 2025?
Speaker 1:Girl, I am so excited to really really be the expert in what I've wanted to be the expert in, so I think I've been the expert a lot when we talk about confidence and leadership.
Speaker 1:But I think the one thing that, like I really just wanted time to do is like feel so powerful on a stage. Like I feel it sometimes, but I feel like I wanted to take it to the next level. But you need space to do that. Like you need time to practice. Like I'm not one of those people that like can go up on stage and not have it prepared, right. Like that's just not how I work and so I'm excited to not have to do that on Sunday or Saturday, right. Like I'm excited to have space in the week to do that. Or like we're working on a project right now. We launched something in 2024 and I'm going back through it to vet it and clean it up. I never would have had time to do that, or I would have done it on a Saturday, so I'm excited to like have the time in the week to do those things and you're talking about going deeper and not wider.
Speaker 2:I think is the one piece and you hear a lot of people talk about that, but those are really good examples of how you can take something that's already existed and make it better instead of launching something new. Yes, and then how does that satisfy that creative itch for a visionary? In a way that kind of still keeps their integrator happy totally, totally and like that's like what I think.
Speaker 1:For a while there I was like nervous, like am I not going to be able to be creative? Because if we say no to my ideas, not in a you, you know what I mean Like not have room for it, like then I'm losing that juice. And I think what I've had to shift in my mind and that's why I'm excited is like okay, like I actually have time to prospect more for certain things. I get to do that thing because I'm not prospecting a donor, a sponsor, and I'm not. I switched my brain so much in the last six years that it's like really cool to now be like oh, lisa will take this meeting because that's her skill set right, versus like having to take all the other ones. So I think I'm excited for that.
Speaker 1:Um, I think I'm still gonna like it's gonna be also weird in like a good way to just be like oh, yeah, okay, maybe I haven't talked to the team today because I was doing such deep work, but like I miss that a little bit of just like being in my zone a little bit as well. So, so, yeah, so kind of to like wrap up today, I would say like thank you, kelsey, for just coming back on, and like I really like think it's just such a powerful conversation for people in the workplace, like if you're the integrator, if you're the visionary, you're probably laughing.
Speaker 2:Maybe you didn't even know that. That's what they were called.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you didn't even know what those were and like maybe you're also listening to me, like I'm neither right now but dang, like Kelsey didn't know she was an integrator or wanted to be more of that right.
Speaker 1:I didn't realize that, like I always knew I was the visionary, but like I wanted to do it all right, I had an ego there, I wanted to prove something, I guess. And so, like now, it's like once you start to feel these things, it like kind of flows better, like doesn't come without challenges, doesn't come without tough times. But I think, when you stay the course and I think that that's something that you said even a couple of weeks ago to me of like I know that we're feeling this stress, but like Lisa in my gut, yes, in your gut and I was like, ok, trust your integrators.
Speaker 1:Got like right, like, and I was like. And I was like, ok, trust your integrator's gut, like, right, like, and I was like, ok, we'll stay the course. Took a deep breath and, like we didn't look back Right. So so yes to everybody listening in, like I hope that you took away some really really great tools to really support you and, you know, I hope that this advice can really help you understand, like, where do you want to sit and have the confidence to grow as well. Thank you Well, thank you all for tuning in to another episode of the Confident Podcast.
Speaker 1:I hope that you took away so many tools and resources to not only help you be more confident and maybe the role that you have, but also maybe having a little bit of reflection of where do you stand. Are you an integrator, are you a visionary and where do you want to be in the organization that you work? Now, it's so great to have both. I think it's so important for all companies and if you're needing a little bit more assistance with this, I ask you to reach out to me. Just DM me on Instagram at theconfidentpodcast. I would be more than happy to coach you, to talk you through it and also give you resources to really help you through your journey. I think it's so important that we come together in 2025 and really support one another on this journey to rock out how we want to use our zone of geniuses. So, as I say on every podcast, continue to spread love and kindness to everybody that you meet, including yourself, and have a great day.
Speaker 1:Thank you for joining me on this episode of the Confident Podcast. If today's episode resonated with you, head over to leadconfidentlyorg for today's show notes, along with discounts to our services. Don't forget to hit the subscribe button, leave a review and follow us on Instagram and YouTube at the Confident Podcast. Your feedback means the world to me and it helps more people discover the show. And hey, if you're feeling inspired to dive deeper, let's connect. You can find me on Instagram at LisaTarkingtonOfficial. Drop me a message and let's explore how I can support your journey to confidence and leadership. Remember you have the power to choose confidence every single day. Keep showing up, keep striving and keep believing in your potential. I'm cheering you on and I'll see you next time.
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