--- title: Leadership, Culture, Impact | Active Choices, Inc. | Anese Cavanaugh | The IEP Method® | from Anese (6) description: from Anese | Featuring articles and resources from the founder of the IEP Method®, Anese Cavanaugh, and the team at Active Choices, Inc. Subscribe today and tap into thought leadership, culture optimization tips, and best practices for organizations dedicated to creating authentically Positive Energy Workplaces and maximizing performance and impact. (6) --- [![Active_choices_horiz_wh (1)](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/hubfs/Active_choices_horiz_wh%20(1).png "Active_choices_horiz_wh (1)")](http://www.activechoices.com/) - [ABOUT ACI](https://activechoices.com/about/) - [OUR COMPANY](https://activechoices.com/about/) - [THOUGHT LEADERSHIP](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/) - [CULTURE & ENERGY INSIGHTS](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/) - [ACI IN THE MEDIA](https://activechoices.com/media/) - [CLIENTS & TESTIMONIALS](https://activechoices.com/about/clients/) - [THE IEP METHOD®](https://activechoices.com/iepmethod/) - [IEP METHODOLOGY](https://activechoices.com/iepmethod/) - [IEP METHOD® TRAINING](https://activechoices.com/work-with-us/#training) - [INTRO TO THE IEP METHOD®](https://activechoices.com/introtoiep/) - [IEP METHOD® FOR TEAMS](https://activechoices.com/team-iep/) - [IEP METHOD® IMMERSION](https://activechoices.com/iep-performance-immersion/) - [SPEAKING](https://activechoices.com/speaking/) - [KEYNOTE SPEAKING](https://activechoices.com/speaking/) - [BOOKS & GUIDES](https://activechoices.com/writing/) - [CONTAGIOUS YOU](https://activechoices.com/contagious-you/) - [CONTAGIOUS CULTURE](https://activechoices.com/contagious-culture/) - [THE LEADER YOU WILL BE](https://activechoices.com/lywb) - [IEP SURVIVAL GUIDE](https://activechoices.com/writing/#survivalguide) - [PRESS KIT](https://activechoices.com/contact/press-kit/) - [WORK WITH US](https://activechoices.com/work-with-us/) - [PRIVATE WORK WITH ANESE](https://activechoices.com/consulting/) - [KEYNOTES & WORKSHOPS](https://activechoices.com/speaking/) - [IEP METHOD® TRAINING](https://activechoices.com/work-with-us/#training) - [MEMBERSHIPS](https://activechoices.com/memberships/) - [PRESENCE & IMPACT COMMUNITY](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/presence-subscription) - [PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP](https://community.activechoices.com/plans/1963254?bundle_token=08fde9318f4afab26ea82a9cb1ad6534&utm_source=manual) - [SHOP](https://activechoices.com/store) - [CONTACT US](https://activechoices.com/contact/) - [MEMBER LOGIN](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/from-anese/page/community.activechoices.com) Search - [![Follow Anese on YouTube](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/hubfs/Images/youtube_2.png)](http://www.youtube.com/anesecavanaugh) - [![Follow IEP Method on Facebook](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/hubfs/Images/facebook.png)](https://www.facebook.com/IEPMethod) - [![Follow Anese on Twitter](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/hubfs/Images/twitter.png)](https://twitter.com/anesecavanaugh) # The Positive Energy Workplace November 20, 2012  by [Anese Cavanaugh](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/author/anese-cavanaugh) ## [The Art of External Processing for High-Performing Leaders Who Think Out Loud](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/from-anese/the-art-of-external-processing-in-leadership) I have a client who's everything you'd want in a leader. Heart of gold. Fierce commitment to transparency. Deep desire to make people feel valued. A hunger to lead well that's almost palpable. All admirable qualities. Essential, even. They're at the core of the kind of intentional, energetically present leadership that creates cultures where people thrive. But like every strength, there's a shadow side. And hers? She's an external processor. She thinks out loud. A lot. And while external processing itself isn't inherently problematic, when done unconsciously, it creates unintended impact: confused teams, deflated morale, misdirected energy, and conversations that suck the oxygen out of the room. None of this is intentional. It's the last thing she'd want. But it happens. And it's completely fixable. If you're an external processor — or if you lead alongside one — this post is for you. [Read More ›](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/from-anese/the-art-of-external-processing-in-leadership) In [Collaboration](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/collaboration)/ [Self-Awareness](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/self-awareness)/ [from Anese](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/from-anese)/ [Leadership Tips](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/leadership-tips)/ [Authenticity](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/authenticity) October 25, 2012  by [Anese Cavanaugh](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/author/anese-cavanaugh) ## ["Show up" for vulnerability...and let yourself be changed.](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/from-anese/show-up-for-vulnerability-and-let-yourself-be-changed) [![](http://www.anesecavanaugh.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Chicago-Run-300x224.jpg "Chicago Run")](http://www.anesecavanaugh.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Chicago-Run.jpg)Random things surprise me in the most random of places. This morning it was the power of a 4 minute conversation and some vulnerability with a perfect stranger... [Read More ›](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/from-anese/show-up-for-vulnerability-and-let-yourself-be-changed) In [Self-Awareness](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/self-awareness)/ [from Anese](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/from-anese)/ [Authenticity](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/authenticity) October 8, 2012  by [Anese Cavanaugh](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/author/anese-cavanaugh) ## [The "number 1" most important quality in leadership - Part 2.](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/from-anese/the-number-1-most-important-quality-in-leadership-part-2) A couple of weeks ago I shared a word cloud that represented responses from a group of senior and executive leaders in one of my LinkedIn groups - **"The Design & Innovation Leaders Network: A Private Community Building Creative & Authentic Cultures"**. The actual query was *"What do you consider to be the #1 most important quality in leadership?"* [Read More ›](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/from-anese/the-number-1-most-important-quality-in-leadership-part-2) In [Collaboration](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/collaboration)/ [Creativity](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/creativity)/ [from Anese](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/from-anese)/ [Leadership Tips](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/leadership-tips)/ [Organizational Culture](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/organizational-culture)/ [Authenticity](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/authenticity) September 13, 2012  by [Anese Cavanaugh](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/author/anese-cavanaugh) ## [The "number 1" most important quality in leadership...](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/from-anese/the-number-1-most-important-quality-in-leadership) What do you consider to be the number 1, most important quality in leadership? If you could have only one quality, take only one quality "with you", what would it be? No right or wrong answers here, just curiosity. Whatever is true for you is what makes you...you. [Read More ›](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/from-anese/the-number-1-most-important-quality-in-leadership) In [Collaboration](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/collaboration)/ [Creativity](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/creativity)/ [from Anese](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/from-anese)/ [Organizational Culture](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/organizational-culture) September 12, 2012  by [Anese Cavanaugh](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/author/anese-cavanaugh) ## [Environmental Success: What closets & CEOs have in common.](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/from-anese/does-your-environment-set-you-up-for-success-what-closets-ceos-have-in-common) [![](http://anesecavanaugh.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/table-top-fun-and-creativity-300x225.jpg "Stuff")](http://anesecavanaugh.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/table-top-fun-and-creativity.jpg) Stifling or thriving? **Does your environment set you up for success?** On a call with a client last week we worked to "unpack" some issues that were "stalling" her energy, impacting her influence with her team, and hindering their results. This "problem" honoring the rule of "ripple effects of a CEO's energy", was in fact creating ripple effects beyond her immediate team. Shift was in order, for sure. But...what shift? At first glance, we figured it'd be a big complex problem that would need all sorts of strategy, wisdom, and tricks to fix. I put on my best thinking cap to address leadership and team dynamics. It wasn't necessary. The problem, as it so often is for so many of us, was actually...her. Hallelujah! (After all, much easier to "shift" outcomes when we "shift" ourselves first.) What a relief! **After going through several issues we found that she had 3 immediately leverage-able actions - all starting with her:** 1. Clean out her closet & pantry. (Yes, her home closet and home pantry.) 2. Organize and re-boundary her calendar - creating a new system to help her "get in front of" the priorities of the week and the team. 3. Prioritize priorities using the "4D's" for every thing on her "to do" list. (Decide. Ditch. Do. Delegate.) Doing these three things would actually give her back her "grounding", her energetic presence and awareness, a solid place to stand from to create clearer decisions, and a more powerful and authentic voice to craft clearer and more impactful communication. No need for a big overhaul. Just a "reboot". Her energy was kiddywampus, she was not "in front of things", she was constantly running to "catch up". No matter how GOOD she was at everything she did, if the energy underneath the action was not right, if she was not aligned, and if she didn't feel good, impact would be "off". **From the energy of "kiddy-wampus"; clarity, presence, and power...suffer. Her team, and their results were reflecting this back to her.** Numbers 2 and 3 maybe fairly self-explanatory...but number 1, which was actually her NEXT step, is the one I thought I'd put in your bonnet. Why would a CEO of an organization need to spend time on her closet and her pantry? **Two words: Energy = Impact.** [Read More ›](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/from-anese/does-your-environment-set-you-up-for-success-what-closets-ceos-have-in-common) In [Self-Awareness](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/self-awareness)/ [from Anese](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/from-anese)/ [Energy Leadership](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/energy-leadership)/ [Leadership Tips](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/leadership-tips)/ [Authenticity](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/authenticity) [Previous](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/from-anese/page/5) [All posts](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/all) [Next](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/from-anese/page/7) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 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