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What topics are you interested in?

Inspire future blogs! Suggest topics that are of interest to you and send me questions that you would like to explore further.

There are two ways to get in touch, by completing the form on this page or by emailing me at boicarpenter@inquisitiveleader.com.

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@inquisitiveleader

🌿Burnout isn’t a badge of honor. Rest is a le 🌿Burnout isn’t a badge of honor. Rest is a leadership strategy.

Too many of us push through fatigue, thinking that rest is something we earn after the work is done. But what if that mindset is costing us clarity, creativity, and connection?

🎙️ In the latest episode of the Inquisitive Leader podcast, I open up about something we don’t talk about enough in leadership: rest and renewal.

I share stories from my own journey, including the self-guided retreats that saved me from burnout and lessons from the book "Time Off" that reframed how I view productivity. We explore what it means to develop a rest ethic, how to design meaningful time away, and why doing “nothing” is often the space where your best ideas are born.

This episode is a gentle nudge and a loving challenge:

✨ To pause.
✨ To breathe.
✨ To remember that leading well starts with leading yourself well.

🔗Listen now and consider: 🎯What would it look like to give yourself permission to pause?

The link is in the first comment below.

#InquisitiveLeader #Wellbeing
Here’s the truth: Resilient leaders don’t just Here’s the truth: Resilient leaders don’t just endure the storm ⛈️; they adapt their rhythm to it. They work towards finding presence in chaos. They focus on staying grounded when things shake, and they help others find their way.

Learning to dance in the rain means:🌈 

💪 Resilience: Bouncing back from setbacks and staying focused on the bigger picture.

🌟 Optimism: Seeing possibilities where others see obstacles.

🌱 Growth Mindset: Using every challenge as a chance to learn, innovate, and grow.

🤝 Emotional Intelligence: Understanding and managing our own emotions, and empathizing with others, to foster trust and support through turbulent times.

🎯 Coaching Question:
How might you shift your mindset from bracing against the storm to moving with it?

#InquisitiveLeader #Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence
🧠💪 Leadership isn’t just a mental game; it 🧠💪 Leadership isn’t just a mental game; it’s a full-body experience.

🎯Coaching Question: How does your body speak to you in leadership moments?

Have you ever walked into a high-stakes meeting and felt your shoulders tense up? Or noticed your heart racing before a tough conversation? These aren't just random sensations; they’re signals from your body. 

During my training as a leadership coach, I was introduced to somatic awareness, the conscious perception of your body’s internal signals. Somatic awareness is data, real-time feedback from your body that can help you lead much more effectively.

By becoming more attuned to your body, you can notice:
 ✨ Tension during moments of conflict
 ✨ Calm during alignment
 ✨ Energy shifts in the room—and within yourself

Being somatically aware can help you:
 💡 Make better decisions
 🤝 Build emotional intelligence
 🧘🏽‍♀️ Stay grounded in high-pressure moments
 🎯 Lead with authenticity and presence

🔥Want to explore this more? Listen to the podcast in the comment below or read the blog linked in the bio above. 

#InquisitiveLeader #MindBodyConnection #EmotionalIntelligence #ExecutiveCoaching
Are you curious about the complexities of your beh Are you curious about the complexities of your behavior and your opportunities for growth?

If the answer is yes, this summer you should purchase the book, “Leaving the Ghost Light Burning” by Valerie Livesay, Ph.D. I had the privilege of meeting Valerie at a coaching workshop in 2024, connecting with her more personally, and subsequently reading her book. 

Drawing on adult development theory and using the metaphor of theater and story, Valerie invites readers to recognize, understand, and compassionately engage with the full cast of characters in their inner selves, including the shadowy or less desirable characters that emerge during what she calls “fallback.” 

Here are some sentences that I highlighted in “Leaving the Ghost Light Burning:”

💠 “Fallback is an integral piece of what makes you whole.” Pg. 48

💠 “…the recognition of fallback is the move.” Pg. 33 

💠 “When we experience fallback, something feels threatened that is incredibly important to us…when we reject fallback…we shut down the possibility of being in inquiry with fallback.” Pg. 17

💠 “…attempting to keep our unwanted parts of self locked in a darkened alley off the stage door only invites them to wreak havoc.” Pg. 29 

💠 “Instead of rejecting these parts of self that feel smaller, shameful, and unworthy, we can approach them with curiosity and willingness to receive the lesson they are there to teach us.” Pg. 56

💠 “My shadowy characters hold the key to my being able to write the script that allows me to live in alignment with my purpose and values.” Pg. 150

💠 “Understanding fallback allows us to find empathy for ourselves. We can begin to release the shame and self-judgment, and in so doing, we are able to also relinquish our judgment of others.” Pg. 151

When reading “Leaving the Ghost Light Burning,” you will engage in exercises that help you identify and become familiar with your cast of fallback characters. You will also gain a deeper understanding of your triggers and learn how to take steps toward recovery and growth. This is a book that I have read more than once and will keep on my bookshelf forever. Self-development is an evolutionary journey! 

#InquisitiveLeader

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