Anchoring Self in 2026: The Art of Intentional Agreements
In this grounding episode of Leadership with a Twist, hosts Heather McGonigal and Barbara Schindler invite you to pause and check in with yourself as New Year's intentions begin to slip. You are likely feeling the pull of external momentum — the pace of work, performance reviews, new goals, and the relentless rhythm of daily life — and you may notice that you have been swept into the tide rather than steering your own course.
Heather and Barbara walk you through the distinction between living from the outside in versus the inside out, helping you recognize when you are reacting to external pressure versus responding from a place of intentional choice. You discover how unconscious agreements — the unspoken rules you operate by without realizing it — may be quietly running your day, your meetings, and your energy.
Through relatable coaching stories and practical examples, you learn how to surface those agreements and replace them with three conscious, measurable commitments designed specifically for your current reality. You are guided to identify your natural rhythms, design your day around how your brain works best, and build simple check-in rituals that anchor you to your intentions. By the end, you walk away with a clear, bite-sized action plan to reclaim your pace, your presence, and your power in 2026.
00:00 New Year Check In
01:09 Swept By The Tide
02:53 Inside Out Leadership
04:34 Meeting Prep Habits
08:13 Agreements Explained
10:12 Pace And Brain Wiring
14:27 Three Agreements Homework
16:24 Checkpoints Calm And Clear
20:40 Why And Closing
About the Hosts:
Coach Heather and Coach Barbara are the lead Executive Coaches of Empowering Leadership Teams. They specialize in helping entrepreneurial businesses and their teams meet the moment and become the most empowered they can be to work together and achieve optimal results. With deep expertise in leadership development, team dynamics, and navigating organizational transition, they bring practical, actionable wisdom to leaders facing the challenges of today's rapidly changing business environment.
Book a Coffee Chat:
https://www.empoweringleadershipteams.com/coffeechat
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Cheering You On!
