A Conscious Way Forward

Mrs. Johnson shared her stories about Atlanta, teaching in California and raising two sons in the last episode. She joins us again to share her wisdom on intuitive leadership. The transition from being a teacher to a principal, and from being colleagues and peers to the boss was as challenging as it was rewarding. Audria has created a heart-centered, intuitive and supportive space at Growth Public Schools. This conversation is rich, critical and vulnerable. 

Highlights:

• Audria’s leadership is relationship based and people focused. “People need to know that you care about them.” 
• Audria shares her experience as a Black leader in a white dominant world. She had to call on her courage to trust her gut and advocate for herself.
• We are all leaders. Sometimes you just need support and you need to believe in yourself.
• Love all the parts of yourself because there will be all this outside noise and the collective other. But at some point, you’ll realize all these things are strengths.

David welcomes A Conscious Way Forward’s first guest, the wonderful intuitive warrior, Mrs. Audria Johnson. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Mrs. Johnson describes herself as a “chill, humble, Southern girl!” While she had thoughts of becoming a pediatrician, she found her calling in education, earned a BA in Early Childhood Education, and never looked back. She taught in a district school in Atlanta for a few years until she and her husband’s family made the move to California. Mrs. Johnson landed a job with St. Hope at the PS7 Elementary School. She was an instructional coach, taught first grade, and then became the principal. In 2017, Mrs. Johnson joined Growth Public Schools (GPS), a K-8 charter school in Sacramento, California, founded by David K. Richards. She has been the principal since 2017 and currently wears the hat as GPS’ Intuitive Leader/Executive Director/Principal. Mrs. Johnson shares her journey in education as an African American female teacher, which ultimately led her to GPS. David and she discuss systemic issues within current education and their vision for heart-centered, emotional education.

Highlights:

• Mrs. Johnson always had a desire to be part of something bigger and she realized what better way to make an impact than to work with kids in their process of learning.
• Mrs. Johnson followed her intuitive tug to take a chance.
• When we discuss “changing the education system,” we need to talk about how the system was designed and who it was meant to elevate and hold back. Originally, the education system was built in a two-track mode for the “haves” and the “have nots.”
• The world is changing and beyond learning how to solve math equations and read, which are important, we want our kids to be able to express how they feel and handle conflict.
• GPS is beautiful because emotions and vulnerability are accepted and embraced.  “I get to show up at work, 100% truly my authentic self. And I don’t get to do that everywhere” – Mrs. Audria Johnson

The person you have been waiting for is you. What a simple concept. And yet it becomes so complicated because we have been taught that the answers are on the outside. How many times have we been told to go find a leader to follow or to listen to what the teacher says? I am here to reassure you that there is no right or wrong way. Life just happens. But the person you have been waiting for is you. I am taking the motivational leader rhetoric much deeper. Your truth, deepest truth and source is within you. When you tap into that, it is very hard to listen to what people on the outside are telling you. It takes courage and time to trust yourself. However, act on some of the messages you are receiving. Take the risk; be the warrior. Let’s see what happens.

Highlights:

• The person you have been waiting for is you. I am taking the motivational leader rhetoric much deeper. Your truth, deepest truth and source is within you.
• You can listen authentically, consciously, but until you check within for your own guidance, you are not following a path that is going to get you to your truth. 
• The next time an idea presents, check within yourself, and then be the warrior and find the courage to act.
• • What happens when you wait for the moments when you know it’s time?
• Take care of yourself so that you can serve others.
• At some point when you are scrolling, take a deep breath and count to five. Check within and ask yourself why you are doing this right now. If you feel that you’re in flow, then keep going. But if you are doing this to distract, numb, or avoid, try to recenter and listen to your truth.

For more information, including show notes, check out our website at www.heartofthematter.io.

I have been in the education field for over 20 years wearing the hat as a teacher, principal, executive director, assistant superintendent in private, public, traditional and charter schools, but today I want to talk about the future of education as a Dad. At this time, when schools across the country and globe are closed, my children, my daughter (6) and my son (9), have helped me see what the future of education could look like. When everything shifted, my children wanted to follow the schedule -- put in place by their teachers at the school I created-- but soon a new routine began to unfold. My daughter got into baking with my wife which sparked conversations about math and science. And now, our school days include a self-created schedule --within boundaries that have been set-- where the kids get to do what is interesting to them. Let me tell you, they are fully alive! We built a system that we don’t need anymore. Our kids are creative, curious, full of love, intuitive and we need an education system that is project-based and autonomous, where kids have the ability to trust their inner guidance. To you parents, approach learning as every second of everyday, and think of how learning can be a part of every conversation. Let’s co-create this beautiful future. 

Highlights:

• I have over 20 years of experience in the education field, but today I am talking mainly as a Dad. I have two kids, a daughter (6) and a son (9), and as we have shifted to this combination of online-at home learning, they have shown me what we need in the future of education.
• Routines may be a thing of the past. The current system we use is over 100 years old and worked back then. But our kids are creative, curious, intuitive, and full of love, and they need project-based learning where they have some autonomy.
• To the parents, being a parent is tough. It is riding the line between joy and pain. Take a moment for yourself. Release the fear your child will get “behind” during this time. Start observing your child and approach learning as every second of everyday. I want you to think of how learning can be a part of every conversation: while you’re making dinner, exploring the backyard, out on a walk.
• We are in a different space. My deepest passion and hope is to reinvent the school system, one school, program and person at a time.

For more information, including show notes, check out our website at www.heartofthematter.io.

We are at a monumental shift. The world has slowed down; we’re in a human rights movement and it is time to let go of the old hierarchical, linear way to lead. The world needs conscious leadership now. It is time to get to the heart of the matter, heart, not the mind of the matter. We can do this with adaptability and surrendered action. Let’s take this moment to connect, trust and act. I understand the fear, trust me, but there is no time to wait. Life takes off on the other side of fear. The world needs conscious leadership now and this is our moment. I am pumped for the people I’m attracting into my space right now and let’s act together to show up and be our best selves.

Highlights:

• Conscious leadership includes adaptability, trust and creativity.
• We need surrendered action.
• • Take this moment to connect with yourself, your children, your community, your essence.
  • Stay out of resistance. Acknowledge your fear and trust yourself. How can you show up?
  • Put together a vision, manifest it, and let things fall into place.
• Your airplane may feel like it’s going down, but it is doing nose dives and spins. It is having fun and telling you to wake up! Take this time to slow down, connect and think of the opportunities presented to you.
• The world needs conscious leadership now. This is our moment.

Resources: 

• Facebook Group: Heart of the Matter

For more information, including show notes, check out our website at www.heartofthematter.io.

As the world comes to a pause, I keep hearing the phrase, “I can’t wait to get back to normal.” Before we wish to return to the days of outsourcing our kids for 8 hours a day, rushing from place to place, and feeling disconnected and exhausted, let’s think about how we can create a new normal moving forward. I recognize that this is a time of fear and distress but let’s transmute our fear into love and begin to serve. What are you going to create and how are you going to serve in this new world we now inhabit? I am creating Heart of the Matter, Leading a Conscious Way Forward to reform the archaic education system and to help bring forward a new wave of conscious leaders. I am grateful I have the opportunity to be me and to serve; let’s create visions out of abundance and opportunity and leave our fear behind.

Highlights:

• We may find ourselves wishing for life to return to “normal” right now. But David reminds us that normal used to be filled with:
• • Exhaustion, rushing, disconnection, lack of family time and anxiety
• As our world is paused, let us take this opportunity to define the new normal. 
• • What can you create and how will you serve?
  • What will entrepreneurs create?
• What is happening is real and people are in pain. Pain is the portal to growth. Let’s reconnect with our world and figure out how to support each other.
• David is serving by creating Heart of the Matter, Leading a Conscious Way Forward to reform the archaic education system. He is bringing forward a new wave of conscious leaders. 
• Join the Heart of the Matter Facebook group to begin solving how you are going to create and serve in this new way forward.

For more information, including show notes, check out our website at www.heartofthematter.io.

We are all born with a strong intuition. But at around 7 years old, we begin to lose this and start becoming conditioned to the outside world telling us what is right or wrong, good or bad. Today, I discuss the basics of following your intuition as a leader. Launching this podcast brings me right back to being 8 years old and knowing I wanted to be some sort of host. At that time, I wanted to be a gameshow host, but as people around me said to choose something realistic, my dreams faded. I dug into my intuition and I am back, not as a gameshow host, but as a podcast host, to help leaders find their intuition. Listening to your intuition is like growing a muscle, all it takes is practice and determination. This week I ask you to think about a time you had an intuitive feeling and deconstruct what happened. Did you follow it? Why or why not? You already have intuition within you and if you slow things down, you can find the answers and the way to be.

Highlights:

• We are all born with strong intuition. Your intuition may have faded as you got older, but we can relearn how to follow our intuition. Think about a time when you had an intuitive feeling. Did you act on it? Why or why not? Deconstruct what happened.
• To intentionally act and follow our intuition, we need to slow down. Life is busy. Begin by taking 1 minute of silence for yourself each day. Begin thinking about the messages you are missing by rushing from A to B.
• Create BE goals for yourself. What are you going to do that is a BE goal this week?
• Find the small ways to listen to your intuition. Try to listen to areas where you know the Truth and follow it. Trust yourself! 
• Fear comes from the head, but intuition comes from the heart.

Resources:

• Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck

For more information, including show notes, check out our website at www.heartofthematter.io.

It is time to deconstruct the leadership systems that we have all been taught. We need to dismantle hierarchical leadership models and incorporate self-management into our new systems and structures. In this episode, I explain 3 old leadership beliefs – 1. Good leadership shows no weakness. 2 Leadership must be designed as a hierarchy. 3. Profits or results are more important than people. – and discuss how to deconstruct our own beliefs to become the leaders we need for the future.  

Highlights:

• Perpetuated leadership myths:
• 1. Good leadership shows no weakness. This concept is directly tied to white dominant culture and white toxic masculinity. We need to dismantle this belief and move towards a system with personal leadership which is verbal, collaborative and includes more “feminine” tones. 
  2. Leadership must be designed as a hierarchy. This is the belief in superiority, command and control. Once you climb the corporate ladder, you’re a leader. In reality, the best leaders have no leadership titles.
  3. Profits or results are more important than people. Data is important, but it does not tell the whole story. You need to also focus on your intuition. The new leadership requires a people-centered approach.
• This episode is accompanied by a worksheet that reviews leadership belief systems. It challenges you to dig deep into your own beliefs. Lean in, and get ready to debunk your thoughts about leadership belief systems. Questions include:
  • Do you see that style in yourself? In leaders you have worked with?
  • Why?
  • What would you like to change?
• • Which leadership style resonates the most with you?
  • Why does it resonate the most? 
  • Has something in your past conditioned you to believe a leadership myth? 

Resources: 

• Book: Reinventing Organizations by Frederic Laloux
• Facebook Group: Heart of the Matter

For more information, including show notes, check out our website at www.heartofthematter.io

Today we are throwing the old leader stereotypes - masculine, fierce, strong - out the window and shifting our mindset to the types of leaders our world needs now- teachers, coaches, empaths, you! Right now you are the natural leader our future needs. And yes, you are a leader. We all are leaders. I have prepared a worksheet for you to fill out as you listen along. You are going to focus on your superpower, silence your inner critic and hone in on how to leverage your skill so that it is effective in all aspects of your life.

Highlights:

• We have been fed misconceptions about what leaders look like. But we’re at a shift where we get to redefine what leaders look like and how to move forward.
• Worksheet questions:
• • What is your superpower? (This is one of your most powerful skills.)
  • How do you use your superpower? For the next week, observe how you use this skill. How does this skill give you power?
  • Can you leverage this skill to be effective in every part of your life?
  • As you think about your superpower, think about the leadership characteristics you already have.
• Right now, we need people with high emotional intelligence. We need people leaning on empathy.  Empaths, we need you! We need to heal so deeply.
• This moment requires us to be adaptable, creative, and collaborative. It is time to live in the world of infinite possibilities.
• As you find your superpower this week, watch your inner critic. Take a deep breath. Say “I don’t believe that” and watch yourself soar. Stay in your essence.

Resources: 

• Blog: Davidkrichards.com

To join the movement or for more information, including show notes, check out the podcast website at www.heartofthematter.io