Dr. Chris Johnson says we need new ways of working with each other, in our businesses, and with our own stresses. And she maintains that can be built on intentional, deliberate practice which … starts with a Pause.

Chris grew up on a farm in a small town in central Illinois. Both her parents built successful small businesses and were actively engaged in their community. Yet conflict was a daily staple in their home. While Chris felt completely loved by her parents, their relationship was filled with tensions that often turned into yelling. From a very young age onward, Chris wondered how she could help people get along better with one another.

Chris studied psychology in college. She went on to earn a master’s in social work and worked in community mental health with children and families for eight years. During that time, Chris’ sister was sexually assaulted by an intruder in her home. That event changed Chris’ life. She devoted the next twenty-plus years to helping people heal from severe trauma. 

At thirty, Chris wanted to deepen her clinical skills, so she enrolled in a Psy.D. program in clinical psychology. In this five-year program, she was able to expand her facility with trauma treatment and mindfulness techniques. She also had an interest in business and wanted to apply her clinical skills in professional settings to help leaders thrive.

Today, Chris is the founder of Q4 consulting, where she partners with individuals and organizations to design and implement training programs that access intuition, surface internalized patterns and mindsets, and address roadblocks inherent in change. Chris and her team support professionals at all levels to build the capacity, compassion, and resilience needed to thrive as leaders. Chris challenges and supports leaders ready to embark on integrating life and work in sustainable, fulfilling ways. 

In this week’s Work From The Inside Out podcast, learn more about Chris’ journey:

• Chris is the author of the new book, The Leadership Pause: Sharpen Your Attention, Deepen Your Presence, and Navigate the Future.
• When she isn't working, you'll find Chris in her garden, making art, hiking or skiing the slopes, listening to jazz or at the aikido dojo practicing the art of peace.

Learn more and connect with Chris here: 

• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Website

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