Celebrating Counseling Awareness Month: Empowering Thriving Leaders

Erica Kesse

As we celebrate Counseling Awareness Month, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the incredible work you do every day. As a therapist and author of "Honey, You Need Counseling Skills," I understand the unique challenges you face, particularly when it comes to imposter syndrome and burnout. This blog is dedicated to empowering you with the tools and insights you need to not only survive but thrive in your roles.


Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome can be a silent saboteur, making you question your abilities and second-guess your decisions. Here are a few strategies to help you overcome these feelings:


  • Practice Self-Compassion: Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you offer to others. Acknowledge that everyone makes mistakes and that it's okay not to have all the answers.
  • Reframe Negative Thoughts: Challenge those pesky inner voices by reframing negative self-talk into positive affirmations. You are capable and deserving of your success.
  • Celebrate Your Wins: Take time to reflect on your accomplishments and celebrate your successes, no matter how small they may seem.



Managing Burnout


Burnout is a real and pressing issue for many leaders. Here are some tips to help you manage your time and energy more effectively:


  • Prioritize Self-Care: Make time for activities that nourish your mind, body, and soul. This includes exercise, meditation, and spending time with loved ones.
  • Set Boundaries: Learn to say "no" without guilt or apology. Your well-being is crucial to your success.
  • Delegate Effectively: Identify tasks that can be delegated to others, freeing up your time and energy for more strategic and high-impact activities.



Counseling Skills for Thriving Leaders


In my book, "Honey, You Need Counseling Skills," I share five imperative counseling skills that can help you thrive as a leader. These skills include:


  • Vision Casting: Clearly define your vision and goals, and communicate them effectively to your team.
  • Mission Creation: Develop a mission statement that aligns with your values and inspires your team.
  • Time and Energy Management: Prioritize tasks, manage your time effectively, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
  • Communication Skills: Develop active listening skills, ask open-ended questions, and communicate clearly and empathetically.
  • Thrive Planning: Create a plan that focuses on growth, development, and sustainability.



Resources and Support


  • Book Giveaway: To celebrate Counseling Awareness Month, I'm giving away a few copies of "Honey, You Need Counseling Skills." Simply reply to this email with your name and a brief message on how you're working to overcome imposter syndrome or burnout.
  • Free Consultation: Schedule a free consultation with me to discuss your specific challenges and receive personalized guidance.
  • Community Support: Join our community of thriving leaders in the Thrive Oasis: www.thriveoasis.life/thrive-community 



As a thriving leader, you have the power to create positive change in your organization and beyond. Remember, you are not alone in your struggles, and seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Keep pushing forward, and know that you have the support of this community.



Wishing you continued success and well-being,



Erica Kesse, LPC, CPQC


P.S. Don't forget to take care of yourself this month. You are worth it.

By Erica Kesse July 21, 2025
In today's rapidly evolving global environment, the relevance and effectiveness of your mission and vision statements are not static. They are living documents that must evolve in response to internal shifts and external pressures. Failing to adapt can lead to misaligned teams, confused branding, and missed opportunities. Why Evolution is Imperative Updating your mission, vision, and values is an ongoing process essential for keeping them effective and relevant. These statements must continuously align with your company's goals and market positioning, reflecting emerging trends and shifts in customer expectations. This dynamic relevance is critical for maintaining a competitive advantage in a volatile world. Key Triggers for Review and Revision: Several external factors necessitate regular review and potential revision of your foundational statements:  Technological Advancements: Rapid developments, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), can fundamentally reshape business operations and customer interactions, requiring a re-evaluation of your purpose and future aspirations. Shifting Consumer Behaviors: Changes in how consumers purchase, interact with brands, and what they value can significantly impact your company's relevance and market approach. Societal Changes: Broader societal shifts, including the rise of remote work, increased focus on sustainability, and greater emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), influence both employee expectations and customer needs. Internal Performance/Growth: Significant growth or decline, the introduction of new product lines, or mergers and acquisitions can necessitate a re-evaluation of your core purpose and strategic direction. Market/Competitive Landscape: The emergence of new competitors, industry disruption, or changes in regulations demand strategic adaptation for sustained competitive advantage. The Renewal Process: A Step-by-Step Guide A structured and inclusive process is essential for effectively reviewing and updating your statements: Analyze Your Current Position: Conduct a thorough situational analysis, including a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats), gathering input from stakeholders, customer feedback, and market performance reports.[8] Ask: Do these statements reflect who we are today and where we want to go? Design and Communicate the Revision Plan: Establish an intentional and inclusive review process, determining which components are open for adaptation and clearly defining the timeline and resources needed. Inform your team about the process, who will be involved, and how decisions will be made. Re-envision and Refine: Begin with an open conversation about what should be true for your organization's mission, vision, and values. Clarify your core purpose, define your long-term value proposition, and set an aspirational vision, avoiding jargon and focusing on clarity and emotional impact. Implement and Align: Integrate the updated statements throughout the organization. Review strategic goals, align departmental objectives (e.g., marketing, HR, operations), and use frameworks like OKRs to track progress.[8] Proactively communicate any significant changes and their intentionality. Monitor and Review Regularly: This is an ongoing commitment. Regularly evaluate the impact of the updated statements by monitoring key metrics like customer satisfaction, employee engagement, and market performance to ensure continued effectiveness and relevance. By proactively adapting your mission and vision, your organization can remain agile, relevant, and well-positioned for sustained growth and success in an ever-changing world.
By Erica Kesse July 14, 2025
Having a beautifully crafted mission and vision statement is only the first step. Their true value emerges when they are seamlessly woven into the very fabric of your organization, transforming from abstract concepts into tangible drivers of strategy, culture, and daily operations. Driving Strategy and Daily Operations Your mission statement sets the tone for strategic decisions and daily operations, defining your primary objectives and outlining precisely how they will be fulfilled. It acts as a clear guide for strategic planning, focusing efforts on core competencies and differentiating your business from competitors.This clarity ensures that every project, hire, and budget decision aligns with your core purpose. Similarly, your vision statement provides a clear destination for strategic planning, ensuring that all short-term actions and strategies are aligned with your broader, long-term objectives. It empowers leaders to make strategic choices that align with the desired future, fostering ambitious goal-setting and driving innovation. Together, these statements ensure consistent decision-making across all levels, aligning employee efforts towards common objectives and reducing ambiguity. Cultivating Culture and Employee Engagement Beyond strategy, mission and vision statements play a pivotal role in shaping your company's identity and motivating your workforce. A compelling vision, by presenting an exciting and attainable future, significantly boosts employee morale and fosters a deep sense of purpose. When employees understand why their work matters and where the organization is headed, they feel valued, leading to increased engagement, motivation, and job satisfaction.This clarity reduces ambiguity regarding roles and responsibilities, ensuring everyone works towards shared objectives. Strategies for Effective Dissemination For these statements to truly resonate, they must be effectively communicated and deeply embedded. Here's how: Use Multiple Channels: Employ internal newsletters, company meetings, social media, and marketing materials to reach diverse audiences. Embed into Organizational Culture: Integrate them into onboarding processes, performance reviews, and regular team meetings. Provide Context and Examples: Share success stories, case studies, or specific initiatives that demonstrate how the statements guide actions and decisions in practice. Encourage Feedback and Dialogue: Create opportunities for stakeholders to provide input and discuss the statements through surveys, focus groups, or open forums. Reinforce Consistently: Regularly update and communicate the mission and vision, ensuring messaging is aligned across all touchpoints.[5] Identify and involve team members as "ambassadors" to champion the statements.Utilize visual reminders like posters or digital dashboards. By actively integrating your mission and vision into daily operations and culture, you transform them from mere words into living principles that drive success and inspire your entire team.
By Erica Kesse July 7, 2025
In the dynamic world of business and personal development, two terms often come up: mission and vision statements. While frequently used together, they serve distinct yet complementary purposes, acting as guiding stars for any purposeful endeavor. Understanding their core differences is crucial for strategic clarity and effective direction. What is a Mission Statement? A mission statement is your organization's anchor, firmly grounding it in its current purpose and daily operations. It articulates the fundamental reason for your existence, detailing what you offer, who you serve, and what makes you unique. Think of it as answering the question: "Why do we exist now ?". It defines your business, its objectives, and the methods by which it achieves them in the present moment. A strong mission statement is typically concise, often between one and three sentences, and uses clear, action-oriented language to powerfully state your purpose. It focuses on current objectives and describes how these objectives are achieved. What is a Vision Statement? In contrast, a vision statement is inherently forward-looking, propelling your organization towards its desired future state. It details where you aspire to go, outlining what you hope to accomplish over the coming years. This aspirational declaration is designed to inspire and motivate, presenting an exciting and attainable future that fosters a collective sense of purpose. It answers the question: "What do we want to achieve in the future?". An effective vision statement is future-oriented, aspirational, and while ambitious, also realistic and achievable through concerted effort. Why Both Are Essential The true power of these statements lies in their dynamic interplay. Your mission, representing what you are doing, provides the practical foundation and resources necessary to pursue your vision, which represents what you will become . Both are indispensable for effective strategic planning, guiding crucial decisions, and inspiring all stakeholders, from employees to investors. They provide essential direction, helping organizations chart their course and remain aligned with their overarching goals. By clearly defining both your mission and vision, you create a powerful framework that not only clarifies your present purpose but also illuminates your path to a desired future.
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