The Smart Thinking Podcast
Ted Neitzke brings you the ”The Smart Thinking Podcast.” Smart Thinking is for anyone and everyone -- because we are all leaders. Join us weekly for reflective activities and strategies to grow yourself and others. Ted shares his leadership expertise with simple to apply tools. You will grow in your ability to step into the storm’s life presents with energy and optimism. Just like the 🦬!
Episodes

Sunday Apr 29, 2018
Episode 42: Image of a Leader
Sunday Apr 29, 2018
Sunday Apr 29, 2018
Everywhere you go and everything you do -- people are watching, people are paying attention, and people are formulating judgments. So what do you do with that type of knowledge and how do you lead knowing that the world is watching?
What is your leadership reputation amongst your friends and colleagues?
If you were to put your reactions to situations in the mirror, what would your image reflect?
Who are your role models and would they be proud of how you lead?
Finally, do you practice reflection in an effort to grow as a leader for those you serve?
Follow me on Twitter: @tneitzke
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Contact me: ted@cesa6.org

Sunday Apr 22, 2018
Episode 41: Compliment your way to success.
Sunday Apr 22, 2018
Sunday Apr 22, 2018
This episode explores the need for leaders to reinforce the energy and effort of others. Take a listen as we discuss the real way to get people to be their best.
What is the last compliment you paid to someone between the ages of 13 and 100?
If you serve adolescents and young adults – how do you make certain they know that you are proud of them?
If you serve older adults—how do you make certain they know that you know that they positively contribute to the team?
Can you practice seeing simple successes in others?

Sunday Apr 15, 2018
Episode 40: The stories in our head
Sunday Apr 15, 2018
Sunday Apr 15, 2018
Too often we do not confront the ideas and stories swirling around in our heads. This episode describes two strategies that can be employed to support your ability to make informed decisions and grow your ability to coach yourself and others.
What are the stories in your head and will you confront those stories by sharing them?
When you get to a point of frustration or anxiety can you demonstrate the courage to expel the new narrative and get to the heart of the matter?
Will you take the time to put your eyes on the entire situation so that you see the reasons you are getting the results you are?
Lastly, what will you do as you start to feel a story emerging in your head – will you immediately confront it or allow it to grow into a chapter book?

Sunday Apr 08, 2018
Episode 38: Committing to lead
Sunday Apr 08, 2018
Sunday Apr 08, 2018
Leading others is never easy. Leadership is: rewarding, difficult, engaging, stressful, heart swelling and heartbreaking. However, there is one trait that takes leaders from one level to the next – commitment.
Describe how you can coach others to committing to leadership?
How committed are you to growing personally and professionally?
How do you practice putting others before self?
When you commit to serving others and leading -- how do you keep yourself accountable?

Thursday Mar 22, 2018
Episode 39: Parents of a rock star
Thursday Mar 22, 2018
Thursday Mar 22, 2018
This episode is a conversation with two parents whose daughter grew up to co-found The Well Pennies. Join me for a conversation with two ordinary parents who have an extraordinary mindset. Hear how a 90-cent tip leads to a parenting philosophy around gardening and acceptance. This episode is filled with wisdom and explores how two parents approached raising a talented and confident woman.

Sunday Mar 18, 2018
Episode 37: Two types of patience
Sunday Mar 18, 2018
Sunday Mar 18, 2018
This episode is going to explore the need to be patient in both actions and decision-making. We will discuss the two extremes of people around patience and look at strategies to support you and them on the journey of excellence.
Can you shift your mindset to see people you believe to be procrastinators or lazy to people who have high levels of patience?
What behaviors need to be adjusted in order to be more supportive of people with varying levels of patience?
If you work around impatient people who are rockets, what behaviors do you need to adjust in order to guide those people to success?
On the patience scale where do you fall? Overly patient or no patience? How do you explain that to others so that you are not misunderstood?

Sunday Mar 11, 2018
Episode 36: The Power of coaching
Sunday Mar 11, 2018
Sunday Mar 11, 2018
This episode is about the power of having a coach to support you in your leadership. We will explore self-coaching as well as having a coach. Never underestimate the power of having someone else in your life to support your leadership in a candid and honest way.
Do you have the courage to coach yourself?
Can you practice the self-coaching techniques of writing out a process map?
Can you reflect using self-talk?
Do you have the ability to challenge the stories in your head so that you can be clear moving forward?

Sunday Mar 04, 2018
Episode 35: Rebounding as a leader
Sunday Mar 04, 2018
Sunday Mar 04, 2018
Everyone has bad moments or days. But what you choose to do once this occurs makes a difference. Listen this week as we discuss the importance of being able to rebound. Rebounders have three core behaviors -- they persevere, use instinct, and have courage.
Note: sound quality is not as good as normal - -this was recorded at a Holiday Inn in Indianapolis and I had to buffer a lot of noises from the neighboring interstate.
This week if you get knocked down in the figurative sense - -can you rebound?
How good are you at following your gut? Do you trust your instincts?
Who in your life can guide you or coach you to courage?
When faced with difficulty this week – will you succumb or overcome?
ted@cesa6.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/smrtthnkng

Sunday Feb 25, 2018
Episode 34: The skill of listening
Sunday Feb 25, 2018
Sunday Feb 25, 2018
Why is it so hard to listen to other people? Join me this week as we explore the science behind our inability to always pay attention and be attentive with intention.
No reflections -- just a challenge this week!

Wednesday Feb 21, 2018
Episode 33: An interview with an optimist – Supt. Aaron Sadoff
Wednesday Feb 21, 2018
Wednesday Feb 21, 2018
What happens when you get two obnoxiously optimistic people together for a conversation about being positive? Join me and find out as I have a great discussion with Aaron Sadoff one of the most positive people I’ve ever met.