Empowered Team Podcast

What if your confidence is higher than your actual competence—and you have no idea? That’s an uncomfortable question. It’s also one of the most important questions you can ask if you care about leadership, growth and mastery. In this episode of The Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider explores the surprising gap between being paid like a professional and actually practicing at a professional standard. It starts with the infamous story of a bank robber who covered his face in lemon juice because he believed it would make him invisible to security cameras—a story connected to the research behind what became known as the Dunning-Kruger effect. But this isn’t an episode about incompetent people thinking they’re brilliant. It’s about all of us. Kari explores how expertise in one area can create dangerous assumptions in another, why AI may amplify our tendency to overestimate our abilities, and why the people committed to the highest standards remain willing to discover what they don’t know. Kari also shares a story from her years working in high-performance sport. Despite having the education, certifications, experience and role of a professional, one encounter with Canada’s national volleyball program revealed an unexpected gap—and demonstrated why being willing to think like an amateur can sometimes be the most professional move you make. In this episode, you’ll discover why: Getting paid may make you a professional on paper—but not necessarily in practice Expertise in one lane doesn’t automatically transfer to another Confidence can hide gaps in your competence AI can improve performance while simultaneously distorting your perception of that performance Professionals actively seek feedback rather than protect their image Mastery requires an ongoing commitment to the fundamentals Measurement can expose gaps confidence alone cannot see The mindset of an amateur may be one of the greatest assets of a true professional And Kari leaves you with a provocative reframe: Amateur doesn’t mean incompetent. At its roots, it means doing something for the love of it. Perhaps becoming more professional isn’t about leaving the amateur behind. Perhaps it’s about bringing the curiosity, humility, learning and love of the amateur with you as your standards rise. 🎧 Listen to “AMATEUR HOUR: The Gap to Become Pro” on The Empowered Team Podcast with Kari Schneider. Topics: leadership development, Dunning-Kruger effect, professional standards, confidence vs competence, AI and leadership, self-mastery, high performance, feedback, continuous learning, leadership blind spots, fundamentals, measurement, professional development, growth mindset. References: “Professional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/professional (free) Kruger, J. & Dunning, D. (1999). Unskilled and Unaware of It. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77(6), 1121–1134. APA, paywalled. Free copy: https://holub.com/goodies/incompetence.pdf Fernandes, D., Welsch, R. et al. Performance and Metacognition Disconnect when Reasoning in Human-AI Interaction. Free preprint: https://arxiv.org/html/2409.16708v2 (confirm the final journal citation before show notes) Aalto University news release: https://www.aalto.fi/en/news/ai-use-makes-us-overestimate-our-cognitive-performance Ericsson, K. A. & Pool, R. (2016). Peak. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

You started the habit. You implemented the new system. You changed the meeting structure. You made the commitment. It was working. And then…it wasn’t. Before you decide you’ve failed, there’s something important you need to know: Starting a change and actually changing are not the same thing. In this episode of The Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider explores the research-backed Stages of Change model from Prochaska and DiClemente—and the part of change most of us dramatically underestimate: maintenance. Because maintenance isn’t coasting. It’s not the reward you get after doing the hard work. Maintenance is an action. Kari explores why people can make meaningful progress and still slip, why a setback doesn’t necessarily send you back to the beginning, and why expecting perfection may actually make sustainable change harder. You’ll discover a different way to think about the changes you’re making in your leadership, business, health, habits and personal life—one that can replace frustration with clarity and help you recognize what progress actually looks like. In this episode, you’ll explore: The stages every meaningful change moves through Why taking action doesn’t mean the change has stuck Why slipping can be a normal part of successful change The maintenance mistake high achievers frequently make Why readiness matters when you're trying to help someone else change How to recognize when a new behaviour or system is truly becoming part of who you are or how your team operates Why support can make an enormous difference when change gets difficult The big question: What change are you working on right now—and what stage are you actually in? You may discover you’re much further along than you thought. Or you may realize you haven’t actually started yet. Either way, knowing the difference changes what comes next. 🎧 Listen to “The Maintenance Myth: You Didn’t Change—You Started” on The Empowered Team Podcast with Kari Schneider. Topics: behaviour change, stages of change, maintenance, leadership development, self-mastery, sustainable habits, high performance, behaviour change psychology, personal growth, team leadership, business systems, habit formation, Prochaska and DiClemente. Sources Prochaska JO, Velicer WF. The Transtheoretical Model of Health Behavior Change. American Journal of Health Promotion, 1997. Free PDF: https://sdlab.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum5291/files/sdlab/files/prochaska_1997_transtheoretical_model_of_health_behaviour_change.pdf Publisher (paywalled): https://doi.org/10.4278/0890-1171-12.1.38 Velicer WF, Fava JL, Prochaska JO et al. Distribution of smokers by stage in three representative samples. Preventive Medicine, 1995. Source for 40/40/20. Abstract (free): https://pure.johnshopkins.edu/en/publications/distribution-of-smokers-by-stage-in-three-representative-samples-3/ Full text is paywalled (Elsevier). Norcross JC, Krebs PM, Prochaska JO. Stages of Change. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2011. Source for the cardiac 22/43/76% story, now verified in the authors' own paper. Publisher (paywalled): https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jclp.20758 Free PDF (third-party host): https://transformationsllc.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/stages_of_change.pdf Free summary: StatPearls, Stages of Change Theory: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556005/ Prochaska JO, DiClemente CC, Norcross JC. In search of how people change: Applications to addictive behaviors. American Psychologist, 1992. Source for the spiral model. Publisher (paywalled, APA): https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.47.9.1102 University of Rhode Island Cancer Prevention Research Center, Transtheoretical Model overview. Source for the 15% regression figure. Free. https://web.uri.edu/cprc/transtheoretical-model/detailed-overview/ Norcross JC, Vangarelli DJ. The resolution solution: Longitudinal examination of New Year's change attempts. Journal of Substance Abuse, 1989. Source for 77% / 40% / 19%. PubMed abstract (free): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2980864/ Free secondary summary of the figures: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7725288/ Free secondary summary including the slip data: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326885-2 Full text is paywalled (Elsevier). Lally P, van Jaarsveld CHM, Potts HWW, Wardle J. How are habits formed: Modelling habit formation in the real world. European Journal of Social Psychology, 2010. Source for the 66-day median and 18–254 day range. Publisher: https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.674 (may require a login) Free summary (BPS Research Digest): https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/how-form-habit

Ever reach the end of the day and feel like your brain has simply stopped cooperating? You’ve spent the day making decisions, solving problems, managing people, juggling priorities—and suddenly even the smallest choice feels unnecessarily difficult. In this episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider shares a simple way to reduce decision fatigue and create greater clarity when the situation itself is anything but simple. The approach? Use binary questions as filters for complex decisions. Not to reduce life to black and white. In fact, Kari explains why all-or-nothing thinking can work against us. Instead, these questions provide a simple filter that helps us navigate all the context, nuance and competing priorities without exhausting our brains in the process. Kari explores three areas where these filters can make an immediate difference: WORDS: Will this contribute or contaminate? Before you speak, send the email, respond in the meeting or have the difficult conversation, this filter can help you communicate in a way that supports the outcome you actually want. ACTIONS: Will this build or erode? Every action takes resources—time, money, attention and energy. This question helps you step out of autopilot and get clearer about whether an action is moving you toward what matters or quietly taking you away from it. BODY: Will this energize or drain me? High performers often focus on managing time. Kari challenges you to look at something else: managing your energy. The same action can energize you one day and drain you another, depending on the context. Throughout the episode, Kari shares examples from leadership, relationships, business, parenting, exercise and her own decision-making while running two businesses and managing a full personal life. You’ll come away with a practical framework to help you: Reduce decision fatigue and mental overload Find clarity faster in complicated situations Communicate more intentionally Make decisions that support your goals instead of eroding them Protect and optimize your energy Break out of autopilot and endless scenario-running Create more mental space for the decisions that really matter Because knowledge alone isn’t power—and endlessly executing isn’t necessarily power either. Clarity is power. 🎧 Listen now, then take one decision you’re wrestling with and run it through the three filters. REFERENCES: Tseng, J., & Poppenk, J. (2020). Brain meta-state transitions demarcate thoughts across task contexts exposing the mental noise of trait neuroticism. Nature Communications, 11, 3480. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-17255-9 Free full text: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7359033 Setup: Trap Beck, A. T. (1976). Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. International Universities Press. (No reliable free link.) Burns, D. D. (1980). Feeling good: The new mood therapy. William Morrow. https://feelinggood.com Martin, R. L. (2007). The opposable mind. Harvard Business School Press. (Link to your preferred retailer.) Setup: Weapon Danziger, S., Levav, J., & Avnaim-Pesso, L. (2011). Extraneous factors in judicial decisions. PNAS, 108(17), 6889–6892. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1018033108 Weinshall-Margel, K., & Shapard, J. (2011). Overlooked factors in the analysis of parole decisions. PNAS, 108(42), E833. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1110910108 Free full text: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3198355 Optional (ego depletion is debated): Baumeister, R. F., Bratslavsky, E., Muraven, M., & Tice, D. M. (1998). Ego depletion: Is the active self a limited resource? JPSP, 74(5), 1252–1265. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.74.5.1252 Hagger, M. S., et al. (2016). A multilab preregistered replication of the ego-depletion effect. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 11(4), 546–573. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691616652873 Contribute or Contaminate Gottman, J. (1994). Why marriages succeed or fail. Simon & Schuster. https://www.gottman.com Build or Erode Clear, J. (2018). Atomic habits. Avery. https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits Amabile, T., & Kramer, S. (2011). The progress principle. Harvard Business Review Press. http://progressprinciple.com Energize or Drain Loehr, J., & Schwartz, T. (2003). The power of full engagement. Free Press. (Link to your preferred retailer.) Cross, R., Baker, W., & Parker, A. (2003). What creates energy in organizations? MIT Sloan Management Review, 44(4), 51–56. https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/what-creates-energy-in-organizations

What do you really need to build a life worth living? It’s probably not the car, the job title, the retirement account, or another milestone you can check off a list. In this episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider explores three things she believes you want by 40—but absolutely need by 50: an accomplice, a fight worth losing, and a clock you can hear. This is a conversation about what begins to matter differently as we move through life: deep relationships where we are fully known, meaningful pursuits worth risking failure for, and an awareness of time that brings us back to what matters now. Kari shares personal stories from working with Olympic and national-level athletes, recovering her health after autoimmune disease, and taking on the six-year restoration and launch of Wick Cliff Lodge. Through each experience runs the same question: What is worth giving yourself fully to—even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed? You’ll come away thinking differently about: Why being deeply known matters more than simply being liked The relationships that can shape the quality of an entire life Why some battles are worth fighting even when you might lose How meaningful challenges create growth, fulfillment and fewer regrets The difference between merely existing and living an empowered life Why awareness of time can change the way you experience ordinary moments The power of presence, silence, connection and acting before “someday” becomes too late Whether you’re 25, 45, 50 or 75, this episode is an invitation to look at your life and ask: Do I have an accomplice? Do I have a fight worth losing? And can I hear the clock? Because an empowered life isn’t simply about what you accomplish. It’s about who you love, what you’re willing to fight for, and whether you’re present enough to experience the life you’re building. 🎧 Listen now—and share this episode with someone who needs the reminder.

Why do entrepreneurs love what they do... and sometimes want to burn it all down? In this solo episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider explores the hidden tension behind entrepreneurship—the paradox that the greatest strengths of entrepreneurs often become their greatest sources of stress. Drawing from her experience coaching leaders and business owners, Kari unpacks the three biggest areas of entrepreneurial friction and the practical shifts that help you thrive instead of simply survive. In this episode you'll discover: Why endless ideas are both your superpower and your greatest distraction—and how discipline unlocks creativity. How autonomy creates freedom while isolation quietly drains even the strongest leaders. Why tying your identity to your business can become emotionally exhausting—and how values create stability regardless of business performance. The ripple effects entrepreneurs have on their teams, spouses, families, and friends. Practical tools like idea capture systems, accountability, and values-based leadership that reduce friction without sacrificing ambition. Whether you're an entrepreneur, lead alongside one, or support someone building a business, this episode offers a fresh perspective on navigating the emotional realities of entrepreneurship with greater clarity, resilience, and purpose. Key Takeaway: The goal isn't to eliminate friction—it's to understand it. When you recognize the tension between ideas and discipline, autonomy and accountability, identity and values, you can build a business that serves your purpose without consuming who you are.

Have you ever hit the deadline, met the standard, and still felt like the project wasn't actually finished? In this episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider explores "The Completion Trap"—the frustrating cycle where goals, projects, and dreams remain perpetually 90% complete. Drawing from the six-year restoration and launch of Wick Cliff Lodge, Kari shares why unfinished work silently steals our energy and how leaders can break free from the "almost done" mindset. You'll discover: Why timelines, quality, and completion are constantly competing with one another The hidden warning signs that a project is slipping off course How perfectionism and shifting priorities keep teams stuck The invisible cost of unfinished work on your focus, energy, and leadership Three practical strategies to finally move projects across the finish line This episode will help you recognize where you're caught in the completion trap and give you the tools to create clarity, strengthen leadership, and reclaim momentum. Key takeaway: Completion doesn't happen by accident. Leaders must intentionally define what "done" means, decide what trade-offs they're willing to make, and create ownership around the finish line. If you've been carrying something that's always "almost done," this conversation will help you finally let it go—and move on to what matters most.

What if the biggest opportunities in your career don't come from being the most qualified—but from being willing to step forward before you feel completely ready? Barry Moline spent 29 years as a CEO leading two organizations, but his leadership journey didn't begin in the boardroom. It began as a 16-year-old hockey referee who unexpectedly found himself responsible for a high-stakes game he never planned to officiate. That single decision to step up became a pattern that shaped an extraordinary career. In this conversation, Barry shares why leadership is less about confidence and more about responsibility, why the people around you often recognize your leadership potential before you do, and how mentors can transform someone's future with just a few words of belief. We also pull back the curtain on what leadership really feels like behind the scenes—the invisible emotional labor, the constant decision-making, and why even CEOs need trusted advisors they can speak honestly with. Whether you're leading a team, building a business, or simply wondering if you're ready for the next opportunity, this episode will challenge the way you think about growth, courage, and influence. In this episode you'll discover: Why waiting until you're "ready" may be holding you back The leadership habit that opened every major career opportunity Barry received How great leaders help others see strengths they can't yet recognize in themselves Why responsibility—not confidence—is the foundation of leadership The hidden emotional load every leader carries Why coaching and trusted mentors become more valuable as your responsibility grows Barry's perspective on AI, leadership, and the human skills that will matter even more in the future Sometimes the opportunity that changes your life doesn't arrive when you're prepared. It arrives when you're willing to raise your hand. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-moline/  Website: https://barrymoline.com/  Email: [email protected]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrymoline6530  

We've all heard the advice: Never quit. But what if that's exactly what's keeping you from the life and leadership you want? In this episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider challenges one of the most deeply held beliefs about success. Drawing from leadership psychology, decision-making research, and personal experiences navigating entrepreneurship, caregiving, illness, and major life transitions, Kari explores why the real danger isn't quitting—it's quitting for the wrong reasons or refusing to walk away when wisdom is calling you forward. You'll discover: The two hidden reasons people quit too early. The two psychological traps that keep us committed long after we should let go. How top leaders make better decisions by pre-defining success before emotions take over. Annie Duke's powerful concept of "kill criteria" and why every leader needs one. Why surrender is not weakness—it's earned clarity. Whether you're leading a business, navigating a relationship, making a career decision, or pursuing a personal goal, this episode will give you a completely different framework for evaluating success, failure, and courage. If you've ever wondered whether to keep going or let go, this conversation may provide the clarity you've been searching for. Key Topics Leadership decision-making Self-mastery Quitting vs. perseverance The sunk cost fallacy Identity and failure Annie Duke's "Thinking in Bets" and "Quit" Defining success before you begin Radical acceptance Leadership mindset Personal growth Resource List — Researchers Cited Geert Hofstede — organizational psychologist; originated uncertainty avoidance. → Overview: https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/sociology/uncertainty-avoidance  Hal Arkes & Catherine Blumer — "The Psychology of Sunk Cost," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 1985. → ScienceDirect: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0749597885900494  Barry Staw — "Knee-Deep in the Big Muddy: A Study of Escalating Commitment to a Chosen Course of Action," Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 1976. → ScienceDirect: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0030507376900052 → Free full PDF: https://strategy.sjsu.edu/www.stable/B290/reading/Staw,%20B%20M,%201976,%20Organizational%20Behavior%20and%20Human%20Performance.%2016%20pp%2027-44.pdf  Annie Duke — Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away, 2022. → Publisher page: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/692752/quit-by-annie-duke/  Marsha Linehan — DBT Skills Training Manual, 2nd ed., Guilford Press, 2014. → Publisher page: https://www.guilford.com/books/DBT-Skills-Training-Manual/Marsha-Linehan/9781462515793 

In this powerful short episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider explores what may be the most important skill for leadership, emotional intelligence, and self-mastery: learning to separate facts from thoughts. Most people unknowingly treat their thoughts as truth. But thoughts are often interpretations, assumptions, and predictions—not objective reality. When leaders fail to recognize this distinction, they make decisions based on stories rather than facts, creating unnecessary stress, conflict, and emotional reactivity. Kari breaks down the neuroscience behind why this happens, drawing from thought leaders like Daniel Kahneman, Eckhart Tolle, Byron Katie, Tony Robbins, Brooke Castillo, and Dan Siegel. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why the brain operates as a prediction machine The critical difference between a fact and a thought How unchecked thoughts shape your emotions, behaviors, and leadership The 3 types of thinking: Automatic Thoughts — fast, reactive, and often fear-driven Habitual Thoughts — deeply wired mental patterns and beliefs Deliberate Thoughts — intentional thinking that creates new possibilities The practice of “Name it to tame it” for reducing emotional reactivity How to stop believing every thought your mind offers Key Takeaway You are not your thoughts. You are the one observing them. The moment you stop treating every thought as truth, you gain access to greater clarity, stronger leadership, better communication, and deeper emotional freedom. Challenge for This Week Catch one automatic thought and ask yourself: Is this a fact… or just a thought? That single question can change everything. Keywords Leadership mindset, emotional intelligence, thought awareness, self-mastery, neuroscience, mindset coaching, cognitive defusion, leadership development, intentional thinking, empowered leadership Learn more at: theempowered.ca

In this powerful episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider sits down with Kelsey Aida—best-selling author, energetic alignment coach, and co-host of the top 1% podcast High Vibin’ It. Kelsey helps people uncover the hidden resistance keeping them stuck so they can align with the life they truly want. From the outside, high achievers often look successful—but internally many are battling fear, self-doubt, identity loss, and subconscious resistance. Kelsey shares her own journey from elite ballerina to a devastating career-ending injury that triggered a deep identity crisis and depression. That dark season became the catalyst for her healing work and ultimately led her to teaching manifestation, emotional healing, and energetic alignment. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why your goals may feel impossible even when you deeply want them How subconscious “I want it, but…” patterns sabotage success Why safety is often more important than motivation The hidden connection between trauma, emotions, and self-sabotage How to identify and release resistance Why feeling your emotions is essential for growth The difference between masculine and feminine energy in goal pursuit How to reconnect with yourself after identity loss Powerful Quotes: “The safety piece is the ultimate cure.” “You are not what you do.” “The only difference between you and the people you admire is that they got better at handling resistance.” Key Takeaway Success isn’t only about strategy or discipline. Often, the greatest breakthrough comes from recognizing the inner resistance that keeps you playing small. When you learn to create safety in your mind and body, feel your emotions, and stop fighting yourself—you unlock a new level of leadership, performance, and self-mastery. Connect with Kelsey: Instagram: @kelseyaida Book: The Manifesting Fix Pre-order The Manifesting Fix: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250432674/themanifestingfix/  Listen now and discover how to stop getting in your own way.