Christian Woman Leadership Podcast with Esther Littlefield & Holly Cain

Have you ever felt like you are juggling so many balls at once, and at any moment, they could all come tumbling down? Kayla Cornish found herself here, and she actually experienced the balls crashing down. She had been living the life of hustle and seeing success–but it came at a price. It wasn’t until she and her family began accepting the gift of Sabbath rest that things started to change. As a leader, you may have wondered: is practicing the Sabbath something that modern day Christians need to do? And if so, how on earth can you practice it while still managing all the rest of your responsibilities–especially if you are involved in church ministry on Sundays? In this conversation, Holly and I talk with Kayla Cornish of Legacy Roots Co. Kayla believes there are 2 important aspects of our purpose as believers, and when we neglect the gift of Sabbath rest, we are missing out on some beautiful things God wants for us, such as healing, peace, love and a deeper relationship with Him. Listen in to discover more about what it means to practice Sabbath rest and why it’s so important, especially for Christian leaders. Key Points Discussed: Kayla’s life & leadership journey Why Kayla became passionate about the importance of Sabbath Why mission, vision, and values (or roots) are important for families Why Sabbath rest is non-negotiable & what it looks like The benefits of shifting away from a hustle mindset  The church’s role in leading Christians to cultivate the practice of Sabbath Tips for getting started with the practice of Sabbath Why leaders need to model honoring the Sabbath and rest What to do when your leader or your spouse isn’t on board with the idea of rest  Leaders are Learners recommendations: Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer John Mark Comer Teachings Podcast The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan Connect with Kayla Legacy Roots Co Website Sabbath Ideas Kayla’s Instagram Legacy Roots Co Instagram Ultimate Sabbath Guide   Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast: Website Esther’s Instagram

Is it possible to lead when you don’t have a leadership title or role? Is there a difference for someone who does have an official title vs. someone who is a team member?  In this conversation, Holly and I talk through how leadership looks different for us now than it did when we started the podcast. And we discuss how we feel about leading without a role or title.  Finally, we give some practical tips for things you can do when you are wanting to grow as a leader, whether you have a title or not! And, for our fun question of the day, you’ll hear as Holly and I share about whether we got into trouble in high school (and if so, what for).    Links mentioned: Episode 2: What is Leadership? Episode 6: The Importance of Leading with Confidence   Connect with me: Website: https://estherlittlefield.com/ Instagram: @estherdlittlefield

When life changes, does our leadership change? How do we navigate seasons of loss or change as leaders? And what does it look like to endure the pain of healing even when we'd rather avoid it? In this episode, Holly and I are chatting through some life updates and sharing some reflections about the past year of our lives. We discuss what our goals are looking like this year as well as how they are different from past years. We also dive into the idea of healing and how it's often painful to go through healing and growth.  We hope you enjoy this conversation and gain some new insights and ideas on how to approach your goals for the year or walk through a season of healing from loss.   To get our FREE Reflection Guide, go here: https://go.estherlittlefield.com/reflect-optin   Connect with me: Website: https://estherlittlefield.com/ Instagram: @estherdlittlefield

Have you ever set goals and then a few weeks later completely abandoned them? Or perhaps you even forgot what goals you were supposed to be working on? You're not alone. And the reason so many goals are abandoned is because we forget to create a plan for how we're actually going to accomplish them. In this final episode in our Purposeful Goal Setting Mini-Series, Holly's going to talk you through creating an action plan for your goals. She's giving you real-life examples and some helpfup tips and tricks to make sure your goals don't just become something collecting dust in the back of your closet.   Tools & resources for creating an action plan: Episode 31: The Key to accomplishing your goals  Books (affiliate links) The Twevle Week Year Atomic Habits The Power of Habit Calendar - iCal, Google Calendar, paper planner, goal sheets PowerSheets [affiliate link]   Connect with me: Website: https://estherlittlefield.com/ Instagram: @estherdlittlefield

If you’ve done the first 2 steps of reflection and dreaming, you’re ready to start setting some goals. But how? What if you're not sure where to start? In this episode, I'll walk you through some key principles of goal setting and some helpful tips that have worked for me. We'll also look at the differences between project goals and habit goals so you can determine which type of goals make sense for you. Finally, I'll share with you the PEACE Goal Framework that my friend Christa Hutchins originally shared with us on Episode 181. And we'll talk about what to do next!   Tools & resources for goal setting: Episode 28: Three Approaches to Goal Setting Episode 30: How Your Personality Affects Your Goal Setting Episode 181: Peace Goals PowerSheets (Affiliate Link) Blank Pads of Paper (Affiliate Link)   Connect with me: Website: https://estherlittlefield.com/ Instagram: @estherdlittlefield

After reflection, are you excited and ready to jump into setting your goals for the next year or season? Before you do, there's one more thing you need to do: take time for dreaming and casting a vision. In this episode of our mini-series, Holly will walk you through what it looks like to dream and create a vision for your year. This is a chance to allow God to inspire you and lead you into something different or better than you could come up with on your own. Tools and resources for dreaming: Episode 26 of the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast - The Importance of Dreaming PowerSheets [affiliate link] Bucket List Tutorial from Polly Payne   Connect with Esther: Website: https://estherlittlefield.com/ Instagram: @estherdlittlefield

Is it really necessary to reflect before setting your goals for the year or the next season or phase of your life? Why does it matter, and does it impact whether your goals are effective? John Dewey says: "We do not learn from experience... we learn from reflecting on experience.” And while you can go straight to goal setting, I have found immense value in first reflecting on the past before creating goals for the future. In this episode, I'll share with you why reflection is important, what you should reflect on, and how to do it. Plus I'll give you some of my favorite resources for reflecting. Links mentioned: Episode 128: Processing 2020 Episode 130: Processing Your Circumstances Episode 131: Processing Your Relationships Episode 24: What You Should Do Before the New Year Begins PowerSheets (affiliate link) - Get 10% off your order with code "ESTHERLITTLEFIELD" My favorite pens (Amazon affiliate link) Big Post-Its (Amazon affiliate link) FREE Processing & Reflection Guide Connect with me: Website: https://estherlittlefield.com/ Instagram: @estherdlittlefield

Yes we are in January - but perhaps, like me, you’ve struggled a bit to get your 2024 goals on paper. Maybe your 2023 dished out more than you could handle. Or perhaps life hasn’t slowed down enough for you to think through your goals. It could be that goal setting really isn’t your thing, and that’s okay. This week on the podcast, Holly & I are coming to you with a mini series about goal setting. But what it’s really about is choosing to live with intention. And as leaders, being intentional is key.  So we want to help you do that by walking you through our 4 step framework for Purposeful Goal Setting. Reflection Dreaming & Vision Casting Goal Setting Create an Action Plan Get ready and make sure you’re subscribed, because we’ll be dropping a new episode over the next 4 days. Connect with me: Website: https://estherlittlefield.com/ Instagram: @estherdlittlefield  

Have you ever heard a word or phrase that made an impact and stuck with you for days or weeks to come? Perhaps someone said something directly to you or maybe you heard it in a podcast, read it in Scripture, or it came up in a conversation with a friend. Words have power, and over the past year, I've been collecting phrases and words that have helped me immensely. Today, I'm sharing some of those with you.  Plus, I'm sharing 3 things you can do with your words, regardless of your leadership role or title. Connect with me: Website: https://estherlittlefield.com/ Instagram: @estherdlittlefield

What does it look like to disagree in a healthy way as Christians? Can we consume content from people who hold different views from us, or should we try to limit our exposure to varying beliefs? What exactly is deconstruction, and is there such a thing as a healthy or good version of it? In this replay of episode 194 of the podcast, our guest Joel Muddamalle, Director of Theology and research at Proverbs 31 Ministries, shares about the importance of humble theology and much more. For the full show notes, visit https://estherlittlefield.com/episode194 Connect with Esther: Website Instagram

Do you ever feel like you need to stuff your emotions down in order to be an effective leader? Or maybe you prefer not to talk about emotions and you'd rather just get stuff done.  What if there was a way to deal with your emotions in a healthy way, rather than stuffing them, letting them take over, or ignoring them? In this replay of episode 180, Jessica Hottle shares about a 5-step process to manage your emotions as a leader. This will help you no matter where you find yourself on the spectrum of emotions! For the full show notes, visit the original post for episode 180 here. Connect with me: Website Instagram

The difference between who we say we are and how we actually live impacts not just us personally, but also everyone we lead. But how can we learn to identify this gap and begin shrinking it? In this replay of episode 121 of the CWLP, Holly and I talk with our guest Terra Mattson, about this issue, which she calls an integrity gap. We dive into what this means, common symptoms of an integrity gap, and how to start closing this gap. In addition, Terra sheds light on why unresolved trauma is common in leaders and what leaders need to do about it. We also discuss with Terra whether we should address integrity gaps when we see them in other people. Finally, we explore why speaking up is so important, even when it’s risky and what it means to become a wholehearted leader. This is an important conversation for every leader, whether you are just getting started or whether you’ve been in leadership for years. As Terra reminds us in the conversation, this is an ongoing process and none of us are immune to integrity gaps. For the full show notes for this episode head to estherlittlefield.com/episode121

In the past few weeks, our country has been reminded of the reality of racism. As Christian leaders, how should we as the church respond? And what can we do on an individual basis? While some of us may not be affected by or see racism on a regular basis, the issue was brought to light in a significant way in recent weeks due to the death of George Floyd (among other incidents). As I considered this issue, I knew this was something I wanted to address on this podcast. Yet I knew that I needed to invite someone who has the expertise to speak to this topic. In this episode, I’m talking with my friend Dr. Shannon Polk. Shannon shares her leadership journey and how she ended up as a lawyer, associate pastor, wife, and mother. Despite being encouraged in her leadership gifts for most of her childhood and young adult years, she still faced doubts about her gifts and leadership ability later in adulthood. For the full show notes for this episode, head to estherlittlefield.com/episode103 STAY CONNECTED: Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Click here to find all the options where you can find the podcast. Join our Purposeful Leadership Facebook group! In the Facebook group, we can chat about what you need as a leader, what your challenges are, as well as celebrate the wins. This is a great community to learn and grow together. We want to get to know YOU. Other Ways to Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast: Esther’s Instagram Holly’s Instagram Holly’s Website Facebook Page

How can the church develop women in leadership? How can male pastors support women in ministry? What are the main challenges female leaders face in ministry? And how should you handle an insecure leader? In this episode Holly and I speak with female leader, consultant, entrepreneur, and author Kadi Cole about women in leadership. Regardless of where you stand theologically on the idea of women in leadership within the church, this is a must-listen episode for those curious about how women can grow God’s kingdom in a biblical way.  We talk through how to understand where your church stands on the issue of female leadership, what to do when you don’t agree with its stance, and why this issue is coming to the forefront now.  This episode is a replay of episode 60, and is one of my favorite conversations we’ve had on the show over the past 5 years. In choosing this episode, I was sure to choose something that I felt personally challenged by, as well as a conversation that I believe will inspire and encourage you in your leadership journey. For the full show notes to this episode, please head to estherlittlefield.com/episode220   Connect with Kadi: Website Free Download: Theological Cheat Sheet Facebook Instagram Ministry Chick Facebook Group Other Ways to Connect with Esther & Holly and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast: Esther’s Instagram Holly’s Instagram Podcast Instagram Facebook Page    

In this episode, I talk with Jenny Randle, wife, mom, business owner, entrepreneur, and author about how God created each of us to create, how to fight for our creative nature, and how she handles being multi-passionate. Whether or not you believe you’re creative, this is an episode you will not want to miss. This episode is a replay of episode 43, and is one of my favorite conversations we’ve had on the show over the past 5 years. In choosing this episode, I was sure to choose something that I felt personally challenged by, as well as a conversation that I believe will inspire and encourage you in your leadership journey. For the full show notes to this episode, please head to estherlittlefield.com/episode219 Connect with Jenny: Website Instagram Facebook  Other Ways to Connect with Esther & Holly and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast: Esther’s Instagram Holly’s Instagram Podcast Instagram Facebook Page  

Have you ever wondered what the people you lead need from you? We often talk about what we as leaders need to be doing and how we can be developing, but today I want to talk with  you about what your followers or team members need from you. And it starts with a teenager. I didn't expect to get a powerful leadership insight from listening to a teenager give a speech. But that's what happened this past weekend. Take a listen to this short solo episode where I share what I believe to be the most importnat thing you can give to those you lead. Related listening: Communication Series Podcast update: For the next few months, I'll be re-sharing some older episodes here on the podcast. This is a great chance to catch up on episodes you may have missed, or re-listen to ones that could bring new insights the 2nd time around. Stay Connected: Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Click here to find all the options where you can find the podcast. Join our Purposeful Leadership Facebook group! In the Facebook group, we can chat about what you need as a leader, what your challenges are, as well as celebrate the wins. This is a great community to learn and grow together. We want to get to know YOU. Other Ways to Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast: Esther’s Instagram Holly’s Instagram Holly’s Website Facebook Page

Five years ago, we had a mission: we wanted to create a resource for Christian women leaders who are looking to grow in their leadership and hear from other women just like them. We never imagined this podcast would last this long or reach as many women as it has.  Holly and I are grateful to each and every listener, and in this episode, we are celebrating our five year milestone! In this conversation, we are sharing the top episodes from the past year, our favorite conversations, and we’re getting personal with some lessons God is teaching us through our lives right now. Past Anniversary Episodes: 1 year Anniversary: Episode 57: One Year Anniversary - Top 5 Episodes & Our Favorite Conversations  2 year Anniversary: Episode 109: Lessons Learned from 2 Years Podcasting & Answering Your Questions 3 year Anniversary: Episode 162: All Things Podcasting with Holly and Esther [3 Year Podcast Celebration] 4 Year Anniversary: Episode 197: Celebrating 4 Years - Top Episodes & Fave Conversations of the Past Year   Top 5 Episodes from the past year: These are the top 5 most downloaded episodes from the past year. If you haven’t taken a listen, be sure to check them out. Number 5:  199: How to Increase Focus & Decrease Stress as a Leader with Sonita Reese Number 4: 197: Celebrating 4 Years - Top Episodes & Fave Conversations of the Past Year Number 3: 198: When Your Voice Isn’t Heard, Dealing with Toxic Leadership, and Stepping Out Without a Plan with Rachael Groll Number 2:  195: What Confident Leaders Look Like [Revisiting Leading with Confidence] Number 1:  196: Fulfilling Your God-Given Purpose: What's Money Got to Do With It? with Portia Jackson Esther’s Favorite Conversations from the Past Year: Episode 205: Sharing the Truth in a Post-Christian Culture with Phylicia Masonheimer  Episode 203: Leading in Higher Education & Why We Must Prioritize Relationships with Heather Thompson Day   Holly’s Favorite Conversations from the Past Year: Episode 216: Owning Your Voice and Using Your Gifts as a Female Leader with Jo Saxton How To Series How to Effectively Network & Build Relationships How to Get the Most Out of Live Events How Leaders Can Support Someone Through Crisis How to Deal with the Pressures of Leading as a Female Share with us in our Facebook Group what your favorite episodes from the last year have been! Leaders are Learners: What have you been learning lately? Podcasts Esther has been listening to: A Little Bit Culty Get Your Hopes Up - Christy Wright EntreLeadership Raw, Real, Redeemed Books Esther has read recently: All My Knotted-Up Life by Beth Moore Forgiving What You Can’t Forget by Lysa Terkeurst   Podcasts Holly has been listening to: Scamanda Counterclock Crime Junkie   Books Holly has read recently: Anne of Green Gables  Becoming Free Indeed by Jinger Vuolo Still Here and Still Struggling to Serve by Gena McCown Life Updates, Lessons, and What’s Working Well Right Now: Holly: Family and friends visiting; challenges with parenting; big changes for her son in recent weeks. God is teaching her patience through gardening. Esther: Husband transitioned out of ministry; recent move to Tennessee; taking a full-time job at Ramsey Solutions. God is teaching her about letting go through her move. Connect with us: Esther's website Esther’s Instagram  

Do you ever struggle to own your gifts and voice and feel like you have to hide them in the name of humility? Do you wish you could really put your expertise and knowledge forward in order to make the jump into that next big dream? In episode 216, our guest Jo Saxton shares her views on women in leadership, the unique gifts women bring to those roles, and the ways their gifts enhance any space. Jo goes on to teach the truths of our identity as women as the Bible teaches and encourages us to live in the light of the truth of that identity. Jo’s message is one of empowerment and confidence. She speaks on how to know when and how to really put our voice out there, and how to own your expertise rather than hiding it in the name of humility. She also speaks into what female leaders are struggling with right now in her opinion, and offers wisdom and hope for how to combat it. For the full show notes for this episode, head to estherlittlefield.com/episode216 Connect with Jo: Jo Saxton is a speaker, podcaster, author, and leadership coach. She hosts a digital coaching community and is the founder of Ezer Collective – an initiative dedicated to investing in women leaders around the world, equipping them to own their voice and boldly step into their calling. Born to Nigerian parents and raised in London, England, Jo now lives in Minneapolis with her husband and two daughters. She loves the every-day stuff like good music, good food, and good friends.  And Target. She really, really loves Target.  Website Instagram Lead Stories Podcast   Stay Connected: Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Click here to find all the options where you can find the podcast. Join our Purposeful Leadership Facebook group! In the Facebook group, we can chat about what you need as a leader, what your challenges are, as well as celebrate the wins. This is a great community to learn and grow together. We want to get to know YOU. Other Ways to Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast: Esther’s Instagram Holly’s Instagram Holly’s Website Facebook Page  

When was the last time you found yourself in some sort of networking event? Do you find it easy to engage with others and build relationships at either in-person or virtual events, or does it feel like your worst nightmare? No matter what kind of leadership role you have, you will likely find yourself in situations where networking is essential. The good news is that networking is truly just about building relationships, which is a huge part of being a leader. In this episode, you’ll hear Holly and I break down networking into categories. We’re going to start by shifting our perspective about networking and move into what to do at an event (or virtual room)! We’ll also coach you on what to say when someone asks you about yourself because that can be such a hard question to answer.  Stay Connected: Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Click here to find all the options where you can find the podcast. Join our Purposeful Leadership Facebook group! In the Facebook group, we can chat about what you need as a leader, what your challenges are, as well as celebrate the wins. This is a great community to learn and grow together. We want to get to know YOU. Other Ways to Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast:   Esther’s Instagram Holly’s Instagram Holly’s Website Facebook Page

Have you ever wondered when it was time to really buckle down on a project, or when it was time to lay it down? Do you struggle to know how to discern between the two, or feel the freedom to move on from something you once felt passionate about? In episode 214 of the podcast, you’ll hear from Rebecca George. Rebecca is an author, speaker and host of the podcast, Radical Radiance. She also recently wrote a book called Do the Thing: Gospel-Centered Goals, Gumption and Grace for the Go-Getter Girl.  In this episode, Rebecca is going to dive deep into the topics of going after our goals, knowing when to pick up projects, and discerning when it’s time to lay those same projects down. She’ll also share with us a very practical way to silence our inner critic by walking through Philippians 4 step by step. Rebecca offers such wisdom and truth as we all learn how to be leaders in our own ways, and as we navigate the ins and outs of our daily walk with The Lord. For the full show notes for this episode, head to estherlittlefield.com/episode214   Connect with Rebecca: Rebecca George is an author, speaker, and host of the popular podcast Radical Radiance. Her greatest joy is helping women pursue their passions in a way that builds God’s kingdom. In her free time, she loves running outside or trying a new recipe with Garth Brooks playing in the background. Website Instagram Tiktok Radical Radiance Podcast Episode 261. The Freedom of a Blank Canvas with Esther Littlefield Free: Shine Bright Journal Do the Thing: Gospel Centered Goals, Gumption and Grace for the Go-Getter Girl Book Stay Connected: Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Click here to find all the options where you can find the podcast. Join our Purposeful Leadership Facebook group! In the Facebook group, we can chat about what you need as a leader, what your challenges are, as well as celebrate the wins. This is a great community to learn and grow together. We want to get to know YOU. Other Ways to Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast: Esther’s Instagram Holly’s Instagram Holly’s Website Facebook Page