The H2 Leadership Podcast

Halfway through summer and already feeling the rush of back-to-school and end-of-year deadlines? In this episode of the H₂ Leader Summer Series, Alan Briggs and Jonathan Collier challenge the “grind-only” mentality by uncovering the power of relational leadership over mere transactions. You’ll learn:

• The difference between transactional (BNI-style) and relational (Coharbor-style) approaches

• How a high-trust culture drives better engagement, retention, and results

• The 3 Cs every leader needs—Curiosity, Care, and Consistency—and how to practice them

• Real-world signs your organization is drifting into “just manage” mode

• Reflection questions to help you shift from “What can they do for me?” to “How can I serve them?”

Whether you lead a small team or a global enterprise, you’ll come away equipped to strengthen trust, spark engagement, and multiply your impact—one authentic connection at a time.

Show Notes

1. Welcome & Summer Check-in

   • Mid-summer realities: schools shopping in July, transactional everywhere

   • Why relational leadership matters now

2. Two Networking Models

   • Transactional: “Get leads, hit quotas” (BNI-style)

   • Relational: “Get to know the person first” (Coharbor-style)

3. Why Trust Trumps Transactions

   • As goes the leader, so goes the culture

   • Real-life boardroom example: cold, closed vs. warm, open

4. Signals of Low-Trust vs. High-Trust Cultures

   • Do people feel safe to speak up?

   • Are values just on the wall, or lived daily?

   • Celebration vs. checkbox mentality

5. The 3 Cs of Relational Leadership

   1. Curiosity: Ask what’s really on people’s minds

   2. Care: Show genuine concern for the human, not just the role

   3. Consistency: Do your values and words match your actions—every day

6. Practical Steps to Shift

   • Check your own inbox: person or task?

   • Communicate context + clarity + candor

   • Use “three strikes” principle: when a tool or process fails repeatedly, pick up the phone

7. Reflection Questions

   • How relational is my current leadership?

   • Where am I defaulting to transactions over relationships?

   • Who needs more of my presence (not just my direction)?

Resources & Links

• Anti-Burnout ⇒ https://a.co/d/89z1Vrr

• The Sabbatical Journey ⇒ https://a.co/d/i5dXSLS

How to Subscribe & Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please:

1. Subscribe to “Stay Forth Leadership” on Apple Podcasts

2. Rate & Review—your five stars help others find the show!

3. Share with a friend or colleague who’s ready to lead from relationship, not just transaction

 

We’re living through a hurricane of distraction—constant pings, endless opportunities, and FOMO-fueled comparison. In Episode 5 of our H2 Leader Summer Series, Alan and Jonathan unpack why today’s leaders feel overwhelmed yet under-productive, and share a simple but counter-intuitive answer: do fewer things—better.

Press play to learn how to develop “healthy tunnel vision” in a scattered world, why prioritization and elimination go hand-in-hand, and how to stay accessible (not available) so you can protect your best work. If you find yourself grasping at tasks like kids in a wind-tunnel booth grabbing dollar bills, this episode will give you a clearer, calmer path forward.

Key Takeaways

We’re halfway through summer—and if you’re like most leaders, you’re both craving a break and wrestling with guilt, unfinished to-dos, and screen addiction. In Episode 6 of our H2 Leader Summer Series, Alan and Jonathan go deep on rest as a strategic, creative, and spiritual practice—not just “doing nothing.” Learn why resting well actually multiplies your impact, how to design your unique rest rhythm, and why trust (in God, yourself, your team) is the secret ingredient.

You’ll discover:

• Why rest requires trust—and how to build it in real time

• The 7 types of rest (creative, sensory, spiritual, and more) that recharge you

• Real stories from their June adventures (Grand Canyon epiphanies, half-day schedules, family trips)

• How to move from negative-one burnout mode to a place of abundance

• The power of “accessible vs. available” boundaries for sustainable rest

Press play, clear your mental clutter, and unlock the productive power of true rest.

Key Topics Covered

• Rest ≠ Inaction: Rest as a powerful, generative action—an investment, not waste

• Trust & Rest: Why letting go (half-day schedules, family getaways) is the first step

• 7 Types of Rest: Creative, sensory, spiritual, and more (from Sacred Rest by Sandra Dalton-Smith)

• Negative-One vs. Abundance: How to tell if you’re operating from a deficit—and how to climb back to zero

• Accessible vs. Available: Setting rest boundaries while remaining dependable

Reflect & Apply

Grab a journal or open your notes app. Spend 10–15 minutes exploring:

1. When was the last time I felt truly rested? (Six months ago? A year? More?)

2. Which form of rest does my mind/body/spirit need most right now? (Creative, sensory, physical, spiritual, social, etc.)

3. What’s my next single step to develop a healthy, repeatable rhythm of rest?

Links & Resources

The Sabbatical Journey Field Guide
→ https://a.co/d/haM9rSR

Right Side Up Journal (Weekly & Quarterly Audit)
→ https://a.co/d/fUaXcFh

Sacred Rest by Dr. Sandra Dalton-Smith (on the 7 Types of Rest)
→ [Search “Sacred Rest Dalton-Smith” on your favorite bookstore]

In this powerful—and at times convicting—fourth episode of our H2 Leader Summer Series, Jonathan and Alan tackle emotional presence in leadership. Far too often we slip into “performance mode,” juggling screens, tasks, and to-do lists at the expense of our families, teams, and even our own well-being.

Discover how a simple weekly audit in the Right Side Up Journal helps Alan pull back from the whirlwind, process his emotions, and plan ahead so he can truly be with the people he leads and loves. You’ll learn why:

• Leadership is about service, not performance.

• Emotional contagion means your mood sets the tone for every room you enter.

• Scheduled margin—micro-pauses, meeting buffers, and Sabbath—keeps you grounded.

• Non-transactional relationships (“friends who aren’t impressed by your title”) are vital.

• Private reflection unlocks public presence.

Press play and prepare to be challenged—but also to find freedom in leading from a place of presence, not pressure.

Key Topics Covered

• Performance vs. Presence: Why striving to “wow” hurts your authenticity

• The 3-Page Weekly Audit:

  1. Look Back: Wins, unfinished business, tough conversations, healthy choices, blessings

  2. Look Within: Emotional check-in—where you performed vs. where you were present

  3. Look Ahead: Intentional planning—block evening margin, “to-don’t” list, relational commitments

• Emotional Contagion: How the most anxious person wields the greatest influence

• Micro-Practices for Presence: 5–10 minute breathing breaks, buffer time between meetings

• Macro-Practices: A true Sabbath—one full day off to reset

Reflect & Apply

Set aside 10–15 minutes and journal through these prompts:

1. Emotional Presence Audit: How present am I, emotionally, with those I lead and love?

2. Avoidance Check: What emotions (fear, grief, frustration, etc.) have I been sidestepping?

3. Next-Right Step: What one boundary or buffer will I schedule this week to protect my presence?

Links & Resources

Right Side Up Journal (Alan’s weekly–and–quarterly personal audit tool)
→ https://a.co/d/fUaXcFh

In Episode 4 of our H2 Leader Summer Series, Alan and Jonathan hit on one of the most liberating leadership truths: “Who you are matters more than what you do.” In a world that obsessively equates titles, achievements, and performance metrics with worth, it’s easy to lose sight of the unshakeable identity and purpose beneath the surface.

Join them as they unpack:

• The difference between your role (what shows up on your org chart) and your identity (your character, values, and calling)

• Why chasing “praise, promotions, and posts” leaves you vulnerable to burnout and emptiness

• How to begin leading from who you are, not just from what you produce

• Practical first steps—daily rhythms, margin, and non­transactional relationships—that reinforce your true identity

If you’ve ever felt like you woke up and realized your career had swallowed your self-worth, this episode is for you. Press play, and start rooting your leadership in purpose, not performance.

Key Topics Covered

• Role vs. Identity: Why a job description can never define your lasting worth

• Performance Traps: How external accolades both feed and betray your soul

• Identity Anchors: The character traits, values, and deep “why” that outlast any project or title

• Practical Shifts:

  • Small daily practices to remind yourself of your true self

  • Building non-transactional friendships who “aren’t impressed” but love you anyway

  • Creating margin (walks, lunches, buffer time) to reconnect with your purpose

Reflect & Apply

Set aside 10–15 minutes with a journal or blank page, and explore these two questions:

1. Who am I becoming as a leader?

2. What core truths do I need to return to regularly?

Don’t rush—let these questions guide you toward leading from your identity, not just from your job description.

Originally released on Johnny Levy’s Workplace Delight podcast, this episode was too good not to share with our Stay Forth audience! Alan Briggs—leadership & sabbatical coach, “mountain guide for the leadership journey,” and co-host of the Stay Forth Leadership Podcast—joins Johnny to explore why intentional sabbaticals are the next frontier in workplace culture.

Whether you’re in HR, the C-suite, or you’ve built a startup from scratch, you’ll learn:

• How a sabbatical can release outdated mindsets and reset your priorities

• Why “get-tos” vs. “have-tos” reignite creativity, trust, and long-term retention

• The Harvard Business Review research proving sabbaticals drive innovation

• Practical “stress-test” pilots to evolve your policy without upheaval

• The two phases every leader experiences after sabbatical: Release & Reset

Press play for a healthy dose of adventure, abundance mindset, and people-first strategy—then return tomorrow for Episode 3 of our H2 Leader Summer Series!

Key Topics Covered

• Defining Sabbatical: From academic “research leave” to genuine life-giving renewal

• Personal Story: Alan’s first 10-week gift sabbatical—what he released & how he reset

• Abundance Mindset: “Get-tos” vs. “Have-tos,” and why rest is a human right

• Business Case: HBR findings, Big Tech sabbaticals, and the real ROI on renewal

• Implementation: Evolving vs. revolutionizing your policy—stress tests, pilots & partnerships

• Outcomes: Release old habits → Reset priorities → Reinvigorate individual & organizational performance

Reflect & Apply

1. Inventory Your “Get-Tos”: What creative or restorative activities have you shelved for “someday”?

2. Identify Roadblocks: Which of Fear, Pride, or Permission is blocking sabbatical at your company?

3. Pilot a Pilot: What small “stress-test” could you run this quarter—for example, extend someone’s vacation by one week?

Links & Resources

Watch the Full Interview on YouTube
https://youtu.be/EfHh61p0hPE?si=J3FHcHJR5wE5Opdp

Workplace Delight Substack (Johnny’s full show notes & takeaways)
https://workplacedelight.substack.com/

Alan and Jonathan expose the dark side of hustle culture and introduce a far better alternative: rhythms. We all know the story—“push harder, grind longer, you’ll get your big payday.” It glitters until you crash. Instead, learn why top performers thrive on repeatable, sustainable habits and how you can wage war on burnout with simple, life-giving routines.

You’ll walk away with:

• A clear definition of hustle vs. sustainable push

• How “humble hustle” can keep you moving without flaming out

• The science behind rhythms—and why everything from tides to seasons obey them

• The 4 P’s of building lasting habits: Permission, Process, Perseverance … and People

• Real-world examples of how small daily actions compound into massive gains

Whether you’re launching a new initiative or just trying to make it through your week, this episode arms you with the tools to step off the treadmill of constant go-go-go and design a leadership cadence that fuels your best work—for years to come.

Key Topics Covered

• The Glamour & the Grind: Why hustle culture hooks us—and when “go-go-go” becomes toxic

• Humble Hustle: How to lean in intensely and know when to pull back

• Rhythms Over Ruts: Why setting predictable patterns beats random sprints every time

• The 4 P’s of Habit Design:

  1. Permission—Give yourself the green light to start

  2. Process—Map out the simple steps that make it automatic

  3. Perseverance—Keep showing up, even when it’s not fun

  4. People—Invite accountability partners to multiply your momentum

• Leader as Model: How your personal cadence shapes team culture—whether you mean to or not

Reflect & Apply

Grab your journal (or the Right Side Up Journal ) and spend 10–15 minutes with these prompts. Then, take one concrete step this week to weave a new rhythm into your life:

1. Zoom Out: Where are you currently running on fumes—in work or life?

2. Rhythm Check: What small habit (10 min/day or 1 hr/week) would shift you off autopilot?

3. Barrier Busters: Which of the “P’s” (Permission, Process, Perseverance, People) is tripping you up?

4. Next Right Step: What one change will you make in the next 24 hours to protect that new rhythm?

Links & Resources

📘 The Sabbatical Journey Field Guide
→ https://a.co/d/haM9rSR

📝 Right Side Up Journal (Stay Forth)
→ https://a.co/d/fUaXcFh
A coach-designed, undated leadership journal—10 min/day to align your daily actions with long-term vision. Available in paperback, hardcover “Adventure Edition,” or digital.

Welcome to Year 3 of our Summer Series—and this time, we're going all in on what it means to become an H2 Leader: someone who is both healthy and high impact.

In this kickoff episode, Jonathan and Alan introduce the theme for the summer, reflect on past unhealthy and high-impact seasons of their own leadership, and share why this H2 tension is so important in today's fast-paced world.

You’ll get a clear picture of what this series will cover—and how you can follow along to grow in your leadership without burning out.

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🔑 Key Topics Covered:

• What is an H2 Leader—and why is it so hard to be both healthy and high impact?

• How success creates more options—and why options without boundaries are dangerous

• Why burnout and overachievement often masquerade as productivity

• Why designing your leadership around your unique wiring is essential

• The power of seasons, filters, and healthy teams to sustain long-term leadership

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✍️ Reflect + Apply:

This episode includes 3 powerful questions to help you activate what you’re learning:

1. What does health look like for you this summer?

2. What does high impact mean in your current season?

3. What would it look like to commit to this journey over the summer?

Grab a journal, take 10 quiet minutes, and start answering these. These aren’t just questions—they’re the map for becoming an H2 Leader.

Links + Resources:

The Sabbatical Journey Field Guide (on Amazon)
→ https://a.co/d/haM9rSR

The Sabbatical Journey Learning Experience (Self-Paced Course)
→ https://www.sabbaticalcoachinggroup.com/sabbaticaljourney

FREE Whitepaper: Sabbaticals & Leadership (Harvard-backed research)
→ https://www.sabbaticalcoachinggroup.com/why-leaders-need-sabbaticals-harvard-research

The Right Side Up Journal (Stay Forth)
→ https://a.co/d/fUaXcFh
A purpose-driven journal created from hundreds of hours of coaching to help leaders align daily actions with long-term goals. Designed for just 10 minutes a day, this tool blends intentional planning, personal development, and reflection to build sustainable momentum. Available in paperback, hardcover “Adventure Edition,” and digital format.

What’s Next:

This summer series will explore the core characteristics of an H2 Leader in short, practical episodes you can apply immediately. Topics include:

• How to build healthy rhythms

• Leadership boundaries

• Personal sustainability

• Strategic rest (and yes, sabbatical!)

Each episode is built for reflection, activation, and longevity in your leadership.

Welcome to the H2 Leader Summer Series. Let’s get after it.