Joyosity

Leaders, you running on empty? Exhaustion, overcommitment, and urgency culture are driving burnout (and you’re like tell me something new!). On this episode, Jenn Whitmer and Shelby Merryweather reflect on podcasts with Jo Saxton about why leaders keep pushing past their limits and how we can break the cycle.

Here’s the goods:

- How do you lead like a human? Use the HALT method

- The tyranny of urgency derails focus

- Overworking isn’t leading

- Diagnosing overwhelm is the key

- The Enneagram’s role in how leaders manage stress

- How to reset before burnout takes over

If you’ve ever skipped lunch (like all the time), sacrificed sleep, or felt pressure to “just keep going,” this episode is for you. 

Listen now and take back control of your leadership.

Links/ Resources:

Connect with Jo Saxton: joesaxton.com https://joesaxton.com/ Highly recommend “Cup of Jo!” Podcast: *Lead Stories Podcast* https://www.leadstoriespodcast.com/

The Free 99 Step:

Joyosity Explorer Map http://jennwhitmer.com/joyosity-explorer  will guide you to understanding the deeper purpose and story you tell yourself about your work. Joy is linked to purpose and productivity increases by 20% or more when you directly link your purpose to your work.

Ready to Make a Plan:

Joyosity Jumpstart https://jennwhitmer.com/jumpstart 

If you’re ready to stop leading from survival mode and lead with connection and joy, the Joyosity™ Jumpstart Session https://jennwhitmer.acemlnb.com/lt.php?x=3TxtmrUFUqPUT55qA3P3hOdr~a-jjAT0w-xlk5HEIFnKDXV8y_xGh.ae3HVViwBfx1K2Z5UWKXOd954KzNLKUr  is for you. Clarify what you want, where you are, and what’s getting in the way so you can make a real plan. Only one spot remains.

Ready to Dive In:

1:1 Joyosity Leadership Intensive http://jennwhitmer.com/intensive  Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn 1:1 when it fits your schedule. These are on hold. But you can join the waitlist.

Joy isn’t light and fluffy. Joy has deep roots. And you desperately need that kind of leadership right now: for yourself.

How do leaders sustain joy, avoid burnout, and make strategic decisions in an overwhelming world?

In this episode of The Joyosity Podcast, leadership expert Jo Saxton returns to explore the long-term chess moves leaders need to make in their lives and organizations.

We discuss:

If you’re feeling stretched thin, this conversation will give you tangible ways to refocus and lead from a place of strength. And just know the feeling of feeling seen in the difficulty. You are not alone.

Here’s what we talked about:

Our present leadership moment

When leading is hard you need joy, rooted joy.

Leadership starts by leading yourself first

The five areas to start with as a leader

How to manage distractions and drains

Links/ Resources:

Connect with Jo Saxton: joesaxton.com Highly recommend “Cup of Jo!”

Podcast: Lead Stories Podcast https://www.leadstoriespodcast.com/

The Free 99 Step:

Joyosity Explorer Map will guide you to understanding the deeper purpose and story you tell yourself about your work. Joy is linked to purpose and productivity increases by 20% or more when you directly link your purpose to your work.

Ready to Make a Plan:

Joyosity Jumpstart

If you’re ready to stop leading from survival mode and lead with connection and joy, the Joyosity™ Jumpstart Session is for you. Clarify what you want, where you are, and what’s getting in the way so you can make a real plan. Only three spots remain.

Ready to Dive In:

1:1 Joyosity Leadership Intensive

http://jennwhitmer.com/intensive

Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn 1:1 when it fits your schedule. These are on hold. But you can join the waitlist.

Are you leading or just surviving?

My Enneagram Seven self desperately wants to reframe and excuse and brush (shove) it all under a nice area rug. But that plunges us all deeper into barely hanging on.

In this episode of The Joyosity™ Podcast, leadership expert, and my mentor-from-afar, Jo Saxton joins me to unpack the overwhelming reality facing leaders today. Layoffs, rapid change, impossible demands? All if it means leadership as we knew it isn’t working anymore.

We’re not just in a cultural crisis—we’re in a leadership crisis.

And if you’ve been feeling stuck, scattered, or stretched beyond your limits, this episode will help you:

Key questions we explore:

Don’t miss minute 25—it’s a gut check moment every leader needs.

Next Steps:

If you're feeling stuck, I’ve opened a limited number of Joyosity™ Jumpstart sessions this month. I only have four spots because I am finishing my book this month (coming out in October 2025). In this one-on-one coaching session, we’ll:

Because leading well shouldn’t mean losing yourself.

Let’s get you unstuck. Book your session now.

Here’s what we talked about:

Are we really in a leadership crisis?

Why what you did before as a leader isn’t working anymore

What living in the tyranny of the urgent costs you

How to set boundaries for yourself

Play chess as a leader

Links/ Resources:

Jo Saxton and all her goodness: https://www.josaxton.com/

The Free 99 Step:

Joyosity Explorer Map will guide you to understanding the deeper purpose and story you tell yourself about your work. Joy is linked to purpose and productivity increases by 20% or more when you directly link your purpose to your work.

Ready to Make a Plan:

Joyosity Jumpstart

If you’re ready to stop leading from survival mode and lead with connection and joy, the Joyosity™ Jumpstart Session is for you. Clarify what you want, where you are, and what’s getting in the way so you can make a real plan.

Ready to Dive In:

1:1 Joyosity Leadership Intensive

http://jennwhitmer.com/intensive

Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn 1:1 when it fits your schedule. These are on hold. But you can join the waitlist.

Are we in a leadership crisis? The statistics scream yes. Burnout, turnover, and the weight of constant change are overwhelming leaders everywhere. But you already knew that…because you feel it too.

In this episode, Jenn Whitmer dives into the two biggest myths holding leaders back and how you can shift from exhaustion and overwhelm to effectiveness and joy.

Myth 1: Leading means doing it all alone.

Myth 2: Someone else makes you a leader.

Jenn breaks down why leadership is always a team sport and why self-leadership is the foundation of effective leadership.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

Upcoming Guest: Leadership expert Jo Saxton joins us in upcoming episodes to dive deeper into navigating today’s leadership challenges.

Take Action:

Connect with Jenn:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jennwhitmer

Instagram: @jenn_whitmer

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Your support helps more leaders find us and create positive culture with complex people.

Here’s what we talked about:

00:57 What it feels like in a toxic work environment

04:01 The proof of the leadership crisis

08: 32 Leadership Myth No. 1

10:40 You need these people to be a great leader

15:23 Leadership Myth No. 2

18:00 How to lead yourself first

20:58 Leading in crisis

22:45 What you can do right now to lead positive culture

Links/ Resources:

Joyosity Jumpstart

If you’re ready to stop leading from survival mode and lead with connection and joy, the Joyosity™ Jumpstart Session is for you. Clarify what you want, where you are, and what’s getting in the way so you can make a real plan.

You don’t get to decide what feels like play for someone else. I see this all the time in team building exercises or team happy hours, the leaders walk away from it thinking, “Yes, we rocked that!” only to later find out others on the team felt drained or annoyed by the whole event. That’s where knowing your team members’ play styles really helps.

In this conversation, Shelby and I discussed how play shows up at work (and home) and how being able to fully engage boosts productivity and joy. We talked about those “forced fun” events, how employers can make their everyday work more playful and how allowing toxic behavior can ruin the whole thing.

This months focus on play was timely. With never ending snow days, lots of tense feelings on social media, and even some shift in my personal life and business… reminding me that play and boundaries go hand in hand helped me navigate forward. Tune in and let me know what stood out to you. I’d love to hear what your play style is and how it shows up at work.

Here’s what we talked about:

02:50 Half play vs full play

07:22 Play should be a choice

08:50 Making mistakes exciting and invited into work

15:30 Why respecting other play styles boosts productivity

20:35 How rules and roles influence success

26:00 Our culture is only as good as the worst behavior we tolerate

29:10 Setting boundaries and rules for ourselves and our team

Links/ Resources:

The Free 99 Step:

Play Personality Quiz https://jennwhitmer.com/play-quiz There are eight play personalities. Find your main play style and discover how to use your style to be a better leader, collaborate more efficiently, and have more joy at work.

Ready to Make a Plan:

Joyosity Jumpstart

If you’re ready to stop leading from survival mode and lead with connection and joy, the Joyosity™ Jumpstart Session is for you. Clarify what you want, where you are, and what’s getting in the way so you can make a real plan.

Starting the Journey:

Enneagram Navigator

Walk through the process to identify your Enneagram type — accurately! But then also know what does that mean in your every day life.

Ready to Dive In:

1:1 Joyosity Leadership Intensive

http://jennwhitmer.com/intensive

Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn 1:1 when it fits your schedule.

We didn’t leave bullies behind in the 7th grade. That person will appear in any group of people where the leader allows it.  

 And it’s the worst. Especially when the bully is the manager. 

A Workforce Institute study showed that your direct manager impacts your mental health more than your spouse, doctor, or therapist! So we need to deal with the bullies and unsafe (and even toxic) behavior. And play can be part of that solution.  

Jeff Harry has made it his mission to prove that play can make workplaces more enjoyable and productive. He’s seen firsthand how workplaces struggle when they leave out joy. In this episode, Jeff and I recounted how Ted Lasso uses play to align with his team (of course we had to talk about him!). We spoke about what defines play and how being in flow can increase productivity by a significant amount. And we also dove into what to do about toxic behavior in the workplace.   

Jeff and I both shared some questions to ask yourself so you can uncover what your play personality and values are and how to incorporate them in your work. We also nerd out a bit on how every innovative workplace product has its roots in curiosity and a willingness to embrace mistakes.   

If you’re curious about unlocking your team’s zone of genius or simply tired of the dreaded Sunday scaries, this episode is here to help you find joy and innovation at work. When you’re at play you’re truly you and we need more people in this world who come alive with the work that they do.   

Here’s what we talked about:

03:11 Why addressing toxic behavior is crucial for creating a safe work environment  

05:15 How psychological safety impacts creativity and innovation  

06:34 What defines play and why is it productive  

12:52 Tips for reducing time-wasting activities at work  

16:40 How to start creating a fun work enviornment  

17:41 How to identify your play values to boost job satisfaction  

20:43 Questions to ask friends to discover your most playful side  

Links/ Resources:

The Free 99 Step:

Play Personality Quiz https://jennwhitmer.com/play-quiz There are eight play personalities. Find your main play style and discover how to use your style to be a better leader, collaborate more efficiently, and have more joy at work.  

Ready to Make a Plan: 

Joyosity Jumpstart https://jennwhitmer.com/jumpstart   If you’re ready to stop leading from survival mode and lead with connection and joy, the Joyosity™ Jumpstart Session https://jennwhitmer.acemlnb.com/lt.php?x=3TxtmrUFUqPUT55qA3P3hOdr~a-jjAT0w-xlk5HEIFnKDXV8y_xGh.ae3HVViwBfx1K2Z5UWKXOd954KzNLKUr  is for you. Clarify what you want, where you are, and what’s getting in the way so you can make a real plan.  

Starting the Journey:

Enneagram Navigator http://jennwhitmer.com/enneagram-typing  Walk through the process to identify your Enneagram type — accurately! But then also know what does that mean in your every day life. 

Ready to Dive In: 

1:1 Joyosity Leadership Intensive  http://jennwhitmer.com/intensive  Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn 1:1 when it fits your schedule. 

Big with Tom Hanks thrilled me. But Jeff Harry loved it so much, he wanted that to be his job! After he made that happen, he quickly realized the toy industry had no joy, no creativity and the most shocking of all… no play!

In this episode Jeff shared his story about following the fun and how he’s built a career around the concept of play at work. We spoke about the difference between forced fun and play at work, how to help your team feel seen and appreciated, and the real science behind how joy and play can benefit your productivity.

We shared stories about large organizations that have gone under because of the lack of play and and how you can build a business with more joy at the center. If you’re thinking something along the lines of “well that must be nice” I invite you to listen. Remember that joy can be one of the most vulnerable emotions and what brings you joy at work is really your secret to success.

Here’s what we talked about:

03:22 Who is Jeff Harry and how did Rediscover Your Play start?

08:17 How do we capitalize on strengths and good things at work

11:20 The big question Jeff asks all leaders

14:30 The story of blockbuster and Netflix and what we can learn

18:30 What to learn from the Wright brother’s

26:33 The connection between joy and vulnerability

Links/ Resources:

The Free 99 Step:

Play Personality Quiz https://jennwhitmer.com/play-quiz There are eight play personalities. Find your main play style and discover how to use your style to be a better leader, collaborate more efficiently, and have more joy at work.

Ready to Make a Plan:

Joyosity Jumpstart

If you’re ready to stop leading from survival mode and lead with connection and joy, the Joyosity™ Jumpstart Session is for you. Clarify what you want, where you are, and what’s getting in the way so you can make a real plan.

Starting the Journey:

Enneagram Navigator

Walk through the process to identify your Enneagram type — accurately! But then also know what does that mean in your every day life.

Ready to Dive In:

1:1 Joyosity Leadership Intensive

http://jennwhitmer.com/intensive

Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn 1:1 when it fits your schedule. Five spots available in November and December 2024.

Burnout rates among leaders range from 40% to a staggering 83%. So it's likely that you are feeling that crispy edge of overwhelm, exhaustion, or cycle of stuck, too.

Nobody wants it, and yet we're all living like this. The truth is we don't have to, but the solution isn't work harder or even maximize your time. One surprising part of the solution? Play.

In this episode of The Joyosity™ Podcast, we’re unpacking the surprising AND science-backed solution that will boost your productivity, creativity, and resilience. Listen for the real-life stories from leaders struggling, my own moment of brain fog before a keynote, and why play isn’t just for kids. I'm telling you, it’s your secret leadership advantage.

Plus, I introduce the eight Play Personalities, what they look like as expertise in your work, and how to discover yours so you can transform the way you work.

Grab the quiz and the cheat codes for all the types: https://jennwhitmer.com/play-quiz

Dr. Stuart Brown reminds us all, "The opposite of play isn't work. It's depression." So let's play and create more productivity and joy at work.

Listen now, and don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe!

Here’s what we talked about:

2:40 Why working harder won’t fix burnout

4:43 How much of a problem is burnout for leaders and how to stop feeling overwhelmed

7:38 What neuroscience tells us about play and productivity

12:14 Forced fun doesn’t work

15:30 How play styles help you understand your hidden expertise

16:10 The Eight Play Personalities and their leadership strengths

26:22 How to Find Your Play Personality that Powers Productivity for you and your team Take the Quiz https://jennwhitmer.com/play-quiz!

Links/ Resources:

The Free 99 Step: Play Personality Quiz https://jennwhitmer.com/play-quiz There are eight play personalities. Find your main play style and discover how to use your style to be a better leader, collaborate more efficiently, and have more joy at work.

Ready to Make a Plan:

Joyosity Jumpstart https://jennwhitmer.com/jumpstart  If you’re ready to stop leading from survival mode and lead with connection and joy, the Joyosity™ Jumpstart Session https://jennwhitmer.acemlnb.com/lt.php?x=3TxtmrUFUqPUT55qA3P3hOdr~a-jjAT0w-xlk5HEIFnKDXV8y_xGh.ae3HVViwBfx1K2Z5UWKXOd954KzNLKUr is for you. Clarify what you want, where you are, and what’s getting in the way so you can make a real plan.

Starting the Journey:

Enneagram Navigator http://jennwhitmer.com/enneagram-typing Walk through the process to identify your Enneagram type — accurately! But then also know what does that mean in your every day life.

Ready to Dive In:

1:1 Joyosity Leadership Intensive https://jennwhitmer.com/intensive Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn 1:1 when it fits your schedule. Five spots available in November and December 2024.

Book Jenn to Speak - Check Availability and Topics https://jennwhitmer.com/speaking 

Let’s bring this to help your team collaborate and engage (and bring the joy!) Let’s talk about a customized event for your organization.

Stop breaking yourself into tiny pieces. You know what I mean; when you’re one way at work, one at home, one at church. It feels safer, it feels more acceptable, but often times you’re depriving yourself and others of your full magic.

In this episode, Shelby and I recap the beautiful Jade Simmons’ wisdom and what we learned over the month. A few things that stood out to both of us was this idea of boldness and how being bold doesn’t come from trying to be bold — it comes from being who you are.

We talked about the idea of “let purpose be your picker” and “passion be your fuel source.” I also shared questions I ask my clients to help them really narrow down that through line of purpose in their careers. I shared a funny story about a speaking engagement fail I had recently and how the idea of perfect always kills connection.

If you’re ready to show up as your whole self at work in 2025 (as complex as you might be) listen to the episode and download the Joyosity explorer map. Let me know what you think!

Here’s what we talked about:

05:02 The power of the Jade Simmons Experience

07:04 Wasted energy on trying to be something you’re not

13:00 Passion is not the picker, it’s the fuel source

14:50 Questions to ask when you’re finding your purpose

16:34 Yes you can do a lot of things

18:42 What to know when you change industries

23:54 Stop the break up of yourself

Links/ Resources:

The Free 99 Step:

Joyosity Explorer Map will guide you to understanding the deeper purpose and story you tell yourself about your work. Joy is linked to purpose and productivity increases by 20% or more when you directly link your purpose to your work.

Ready to Make a Plan:

Joyosity Jumpstart

If you’re ready to stop leading from survival mode and lead with connection and joy, the Joyosity™ Jumpstart Session is for you. Clarify what you want, where you are, and what’s getting in the way so you can make a real plan.

Starting the Journey:

Enneagram Navigator

Walk through the process to identify your Enneagram type — accurately! But then also know what does that mean in your every day life.

Ready to Dive In:

1:1 Joyosity Leadership Intensive

http://jennwhitmer.com/intensive

Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn 1:1 when it fits your schedule. Two spots available in February.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” I wince a little when I hear adults ask kids that question because I know it’s laying a sandy foundation for their understanding of work and life.

This week, I continued our conversation with the incredible Jade Simmons who knows a thing or two about living with purpose and a few more things about thinking outside the box in her career.

Jade shared mic drops galore on the importance of self-discovery, staying true to yourself, and living in your purpose. She shared her own journey of breaking free from the expectations of others in classical piano performance and keynote speaking. We also dove into the power of looking for the “golden thread” that has followed you through every role and job you’ve had.

Understanding that your purpose is all about the impact you have on others creates a shift. And that changes the way you show up at work (ahem, and the rest of your life). It's beyond the task list and meeting schedule; it’s the way you share your gifts that make a difference in people's lives. When you tap into that purpose, you transform the way you lead (and live).

If you're ready to be “more yourself” this year while still being a wildly effective leader, this conversation is for you. Get ready to be inspired and challenged. It’s time to embrace what makes us complex humans so we create real joy and meaningful impact at work and in the world.

Here’s what we talked about:

02:39 What is purpose?

08:27 Discover yourself instead of waiting for discovery

12:31 The question to ask instead of “what do you want to be when you grow up”?

16:19 What I learned in my career transition

18:12 How you can be both bold and introverted

21:50 Bringing your whole self to work and why

26:22 There’s space for everyone’s purpose

Links/ Resources:

Jade’s Book: Purpose the Remix: A Mind-Blowing Reunderstanding of Purpose and How It Works https://amzn.to/4fSXHsH

The Free 99 Step:

Joyosity Explorer Map will guide you to understanding the deeper purpose and story you tell yourself about your work. Joy is linked to purpose and productivity increases by 20% or more when you directly link your purpose to your work.

Clarity Over Chaos Workshop is on your time, but only available for through January 2025. Get access now to debunk leadership myths that keep you in chaos, assess your situation with the Joyosity™ Compass, and create one clear next step to enhance your effectiveness.

Ready to Make a Plan:

Joyosity Jumpstart

If you’re ready to stop leading from survival mode and lead with connection and joy, the Joyosity™ Jumpstart Session is for you. Clarify what you want, where you are, and what’s getting in the way so you can make a real plan.

Ready to Dive In:

1:1 Joyosity Leadership Intensive

http://jennwhitmer.com/intensive

Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn 1:1 when it fits your schedule.