Why Unburdened

People often ask me where the name “Unburdened” came from; our lawyer wanted us to have something like “Weston Consulting Group,” but that didn’t seem like us. We had one name and only one name from the beginning: Unburdened.

The name is one my husband, Derrick, has had for years. It started as a name for a support group on self-care for clergy people. It has morphed into our coaching, consulting, and communications business that supports my work as a leadership coach and trainer and his work as a writer, speaker, and teacher.

When you look up Unburdened in a dictionary. Wait, do we have dictionaries anymore? Does anyone still “look something up in a dictionary?” Let me rephrase: when you Google the definition of Unburdened, you get synonyms like Divested, Freed, and Released.

Unburdened doesn’t just imply; it exclaims that the weight you were carrying is laid down. Anxiety and stress are taken away. Or at least shared.

Maybe we should have called it “Unburdening” because I’m not sure it’s realistic to think it will never be taken away, but the declarative sounds better.

Our logo image is just as powerful for me. I’ve always been drawn to the image of dandelion seeds blowing in the wind. It feels like the definition of freedom. Unabandoned. Unburdened. It is so easily weighed down yet flies so freely through the air.

Dandelions are some of the first food for bees in the spring; they are edible and beautiful. They have also been declared weeds by makers of lawn chemicals and my next-door neighbor, who hates that our lawn is full of them. Therefore, they have become a symbol of rebellion and resilience.

Fun fact: if you google unburdened and dandelion, you get a quote from a romance novel, and I must admit, it makes me even more proud of the name and logo.

Divested, Freed, Released, Rebellion, Resilience. These are the “why” behind our name. As leaders, you should have these qualities and promote them. And quite frankly, Derrick and I know how important it is to have people around you to get you there.

Because none of this would have happened without a community of people guiding and lifting us along the way.

Derrick and I have worked big jobs in helping professions since we were young. We understand the Burden of Leadership no matter what age, but we also understand that those of us in helping professions, especially women and people of color, have additional burdens that weigh us down.

So we’re here to help. You’re not alone. That’s why Unburdened exists.

Questions to get you started:

So, what’s weighing you down today? What barriers must be removed to help you feel free, released, and resilient? Who can accompany you on that journey and help hold you accountable?

Ready to get started? Contact us below:

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CAST Partnership Announcement!

Exciting news from CAST!

Chris Holmes and George Howard, Co-Founders of the Coach Approach Skill Training, LLC (CAST), are overjoyed to announce the expansion of the CAST Team to include three new partners: Rev. Dr. Barbara A. Wilson, Rev. Shannon Weston, and Rev. Dr. Brian Brown. This is an exciting time of expansion for CAST.

Chris Holmes says, “CAST just took a giant step forward in breadth and depth and is now better equipped to meet the growing need for coach training at multiple levels.”

George Howard adds his excitement to this new partnership, “Enhancing leaders’ skills and developing cultures of coaching in a variety of denominations and organizations has taken another step forward for CAST as we live into our value of diversity.”

Wilson, Weston, and Brown bring years of experience coaching leadership on every level. Their collective passion and shared vision for CAST expand three denominations and multiple areas of expertise, such as intercultural competence, community organizing, and creating cultures of coaching.

In the coming months, we are excited to share in-depth looks at each of these new partners, but for now, join us in celebrating this new and exciting vision of CAST!

To learn more about this new partnership, visit https://coachapproachskilltraining.com/who-we-are/

Process Consulting

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. I don’t have all the answers for you. I mean, it’d be nice, wouldn’t it? But I don’t. And I wouldn’t trust anyone who said they did. 

Process matters. We will work together to develop what’s right for your leadership style and organization. I wonder, when you’ve made plans in the past, did everyone have confidence in the process? Did you know why you needed a plan? Were the right people in the room? The people who were really having to do the work involved? 

This is the beginning of the process we will work on together when creating a vision and strategic plan. And I want to admit something here: I’ve tried to do this as a leader from within the organization, but it was hard. With a capital H.A.R.D. Why? Because we are limited even as a team leader, even when we are at our best and self-differentiated, we are limited. 

Having an outside perspective allows us all to observe ourselves differently. It allows us to hear each other in new ways and learn the culture of your organization. In other words, it deepens your understanding and allows everyone to get on the same page. Hopefully, you will get some help from your team while you push that bolder uphill.

Last, because I combine Leadership Coaching with Process Consulting, your team will not just walk away with a plan but action items and an accountability system to achieve your goals. I have a gift of being able to see the big picture while working on practical details. If you’re ready to get unstuck in your progress, set up an appointment below. I’d love to help. 

Organizational Assessments & Evaluations

Organizational assessments and evaluations help bring clarity, focus, and direction by aligning your internal resources (people, programs, stated priorities) with your current resources and external marketplace realities.

What is the ethos of your organization? 

This question raises my heart rate; I get excited, and I get curious in anticipation of your answer. 

However, many organizations cannot answer this question. I often hear elevator pitches or a recitation of a mission statement, but often these answers do not get to the character of your organization, your guiding beliefs, or your ideals. 

To get to a concrete answer, we will spend time together listening to everyone within the organization, asking the right questions, and being able to do evaluations from an honest place, looking at all angles. This isn’t just a process of ideals but of reality as well. 

Once we answer these questions, we can begin to ask if these are the characteristics we want to live with. Is this who we want to be? If the answer is no, we can develop a plan to live more authentically into who you want to be. 

If you come to learn that your ethos is aligned with who you want to be, then how do you communicate that message more effectively? How can our organization grow in this learning?

Being able to fully articulate your organization’s ethos brings clarity to the organization and its leadership. Everything you do, every decision you make, is seen through that filter. Does this align with our values and character? Will this decision allow our organization to fully understand our mission and purpose? 

Think about all the possibilities for you as a leader and the other leaders of your organization if you had this clarity. Lean into that excitement and set up a time to talk using the link below. 

Public Speaking & Retreats

Utilizing the power of getting out of our familiar environment or a familiar speaker is essential to use our imaginations for a vibrant and sustainable future. 

Can’t I just send my team a Ted Talk? 

I love podcasts and online content. It has helped leaders grow in ways we didn’t know were possible. Honestly, I’m grateful. 

But…

We are isolated now more than ever. With constant Zoom meetings and the world pulling us in a thousand different directions, taking time to retreat from the world’s demands can be a priceless investment for your team. 

Together we can work to create content tailored to your organization, then your team can work together to implement the solutions that are best for them. Sometimes our creative and more generative processes get shoved aside for the daily tasks and shiny objects that demand our attention. 

Setting aside an afternoon or a few days allows your team to interact differently, get to know each other, and share best practices and their authentic selves. 

Years ago I was the director for a retreat for leaders who thought they were alone. Those three days twice a year allowed them to come together to rest, build relationships, and dream bigger than they thought imaginable. Sometimes you need content, and sometimes, you just need to give yourself and your team space to dream of a vibrant future. 

If this sounds like something your organization needs, let me help, we can also combine it with some skills training while we’re at it. Feel free to schedule an appointment below. 

Coach Training

Teaching coaching skills to leaders using CAST, a proprietary, highly interactive, four-module program designed to equip individuals to coach others and lead with a “coach-approach.” Approved by the International Coaching Federation, CAST is the first step to becoming an ICF-credentialed coach. 

Why are you so passionate about Training? 

In 2016 I was struggling. The current environment of the board I was leading was distrustful and hostile at times. In the previous four years, I used every method of organizational development I knew. I had taken them through the Appreciative Inquiry model and done development on authentic and vulnerable leadership and what it means to be a non-anxious presence. None of it was working. I needed more tools in my toolbox. 

So in January 2017, I invested in an intensive course in coach training. What happened during that week changed everything about the way I led. Coach Training gave me not only the tools I needed to turn this organization around but allowed me to authentically live into being a self-differentiated leader in the process. 

Coaching gave me a framework to slow the process down, hold the board accountable, and move the conversation forward instead of simply spinning our wheels. Through deep listening and powerful questions, new possibilities were everywhere. Within the year, the board was functioning on a completely different level. Decisions were made through a process agreed upon by everyone, building trust and confidence. 

When the pandemic hit and tough decisions needed to be made, the board had a process of making room for complex discussions, trusting each other, and communicating vital information to the congregation. The process mattered, and coaching got us there. 

Coach training makes better leaders. But it doesn’t have to be all or nothing? Trainings can be as small as teaching your leaders to listen deeper or ask better questions. If you or your organization are interested in training, schedule a time below to talk. You won’t regret it. 

Individual & Team Coaching

Leadership coaching and executive advising require listening to what is emerging for you as a leader. As your guide, my role is to help co-create a clear path forward with you toward your leadership goals and objectives. 

That sounds great, but what is it again?

I have to admit; I’m a bit of a cluttery person. Years ago, I would watch shows and read blogs that would help people organize their homes, and I would follow those techniques. About once a month, everything in my house would be put away. These solutions worked well for a single woman in a studio apartment or as a newlywed before kids. 

Now that I have four children, a cat and a dog, this doesn’t happen anymore. The techniques didn’t change; the volume and the factors did. 

The world we live in no longer has easy solutions. There aren’t five simple steps to anything anymore; in fact, there are so many factors that leaders everywhere are overwhelmed and exhausted. Motivation is at an all-time low, and decision fatigue is at an all-time high. What used to work no longer does. 

What I do as a leadership coach is to be your eyes and ears when you are overwhelmed. In coaching, we will face your most significant challenges together. We will dig into the complex issues by asking questions and looking at the problem from all sides. Ultimately, we will have actionable steps and a solid accountability process to ensure progress. 

You don’t have to do this alone. Think of me as your best friend from High School who would come over and talk to you while you cleaned your room. What seems like an impossible task is always better with a friend. Feel free to get on my calendar so we can talk through your specific needs.