Time to Reset

We’re more connected than ever. We have followers, downloads, views, emails, messages, and endless ways to reach one another.But are those connections actually meaningful?In this solo episode of Take Back Time: Time to Reset, Penny Zenker reflects on a question she’s been asking herself about the podcast: Is it still creating the kind of connection and value she wants it to create?It’s a question that goes far beyond podcasting.Sometimes we get so focused on doing the work, producing the content, checking the boxes, and watching the numbers that we lose sight of the people on the other side. We forget to ask: Who am I doing this for? Is it creating value? And does it still feel meaningful?Penny explores why connection matters, how easily we can lose sight of the bigger picture, and why sometimes the reset isn’t about stopping what we’re doing. It’s about stepping back and reconsidering how we’re doing it.And this episode comes with an invitation: reach out.If Time to Reset has sparked an aha, helped you see something differently, or given you a reset when you needed one, Penny wants to hear from you. What do you value? What do you want more of? What keeps you listening?Because meaningful connection isn’t measured by a download. It happens when we actually engage with one another.Maybe it’s time for all of us to ask: Where could I reach out, reconnect, and make the work I’m doing more meaningful?Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

Your team can be productive, efficient, and incredibly busy—and still be focused on the wrong things.In this episode of Time to Reset, Penny Zenker sits down with John J. Murphy, global authority on change mastery, operational excellence, and leadership, to explore why leadership alignment is essential for sustainable business performance.John explains why many organizations mistake symptoms for root causes, how individual departments can become highly efficient while the overall business remains inefficient, and why leaders need to stop measuring activity and start examining the entire value stream. As John puts it, a leadership team is like an orchestra: everyone may know how to play their own instrument, but that doesn’t mean they know how to play together.Penny and John unpack lean leadership principles, operational excellence, root cause analysis, customer value, organizational alignment, and the hidden “white space” where time and resources are often wasted. They also explore why standardization can actually create greater flexibility and how the same principle of controlling your inputs applies to today’s use of AI.You’ll discover:Why executive alignment has to come before organizational changeHow to distinguish symptoms from the real root cause of a problemWhy being busy doesn’t necessarily mean you’re creating valueHow departmental efficiency can actually hurt overall performanceWhy leaders need humility to recognize what isn’t workingHow lean thinking helps organizations eliminate waste and improve flowWhy controlling inputs can produce better outputs in business and AIHow to refocus your organization on what creates real value for the customerJohn also shares a striking real-world example of executives discovering that a process taking 184 days contained surprisingly little actual value-added activity—revealing just how much opportunity can exist in the space between the work.If your organization is working harder but not necessarily moving faster, this conversation will challenge you to rethink focus, efficiency, alignment, and what “productive” really means.It may be time to stop asking, “How can we do this faster?” and start asking, “Should we be doing this at all?”Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

Why is it so hard to simply accept a compliment?Someone tells you that you did a great job, that you look great, or that they appreciate you, and suddenly you're explaining it away, minimizing it, or deflecting the attention.In this short episode of Time to Reset, Penny Zenker explores why learning to receive can be just as important as learning to give.A compliment is a gift. When we immediately deflect it, we may be missing an opportunity to receive appreciation, recognition, support, and connection. And as leaders, parents, colleagues, and partners, the way we receive also sets an example for the people around us.Penny shares a simple story about accepting compliments that recently came full circle with her own mother, along with a powerful reminder: sometimes the best response really is just “thank you.”In this episode, you'll discover:Why we instinctively deflect or minimize complimentsHow receiving appreciation can strengthen connectionWhy the way leaders receive mattersHow accepting support, recognition, and even difficult emotions can shift your mindsetA simple reset to help you become a better receiverThe next time someone offers you a compliment, recognition, gratitude, or support, notice what happens. Instead of explaining it away, practice receiving the gift.Just say thank you.It might be a much bigger reset than you think.#TimeToReset #PennyZenker #ResetMindset #LeadershipMindset #SelfAwareness #PersonalGrowth #LeadershipDevelopmentLove the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

What separates exceptional leaders from everyone else?It's not talent.It's not intelligence.And it's not working harder.In this episode of Time to Reset, Penny Zenker sits down with Sébastien Page, Chief Investment Officer at T. Rowe Price and author of The Psychology of Leadership, to explore the mental habits that help leaders thrive under pressure.Together they unpack why the most successful leaders focus on mastery over ego, why resilience is built through setbacks—not avoiding them—and how a psychology-first approach creates stronger teams, better decisions, and long-term success.You'll also discover why leaders need more than measurable goals, how AI changes what leaders should prioritize, and why meaning—not metrics alone—is the key to engagement.In this episode:The difference between mastery goals and performance goalsWhy resilience starts with your mindset—not your circumstancesHow positive psychology differs from toxic positivityThe leadership psychology behind high-performing teamsWhy focusing on process leads to better resultsHow AI is changing effective leadershipThe hidden danger of goal-induced blindnessWhy meaning drives motivation more than metricsWhether you're leading a business, managing a team, or simply trying to become a better decision-maker, this conversation will help you build the mindset needed to succeed in today's rapidly changing world.If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Time to Reset for more conversations on leadership, focus, productivity, communication, and navigating change with clarity.Connect with Sébastien Page📘 The Psychology of LeadershipLove the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

Scripts can help you prepare for a presentation, sales conversation, negotiation, or difficult conversation. But when you become too dependent on getting every word right, you can lose the one thing that matters most: connection.In this solo episode of Time to Reset Penny Zenker explores how to prepare for important conversations without sounding rehearsed or losing your ability to listen and respond in the moment.Penny breaks down why scripts should be used as a framework rather than something you have to follow word for word, how over-preparing can interfere with authentic communication, and why presence matters in leadership, sales, presentations, and difficult conversations.She also shares how to use AI as a role-play partner to practice conversations, anticipate objections, switch perspectives, and test how your message might be received before a high-stakes interaction.In this episode, you'll learn:How to prepare for difficult conversations without sounding scriptedWhy relying too heavily on a script can hurt connectionHow to stay present and listen during high-stakes conversationsHow leaders can prepare for objections and unexpected responsesHow to use AI to role-play conversations and improve communicationWhy your objective matters more than finding the perfect wordsPreparation gives you confidence. Presence gives you connection. The reset is knowing when you've prepared enough to let go of the script and engage with the person in front of you.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/