Connect the Dots - Lead the Way
Are you trying to be a better leader, change industries, reset after a layoff, or looking for ways to bring your whole self to work? Connect the Dots - Lead the Way is focused on helping you through these situations and more by sharing real life stories and practical tips. Heather is here to support you through coaching and mentorship, along with some amazing guests along the way.
thepolkadotdesk.substack.com
thepolkadotdesk.substack.com
Episodes
172 episodes
Goal Setting Reloaded: Working Smarter, Not Harder, with SMART Goals
Are you ready to harness the power of SMART goals? Join me, Heather Balcerek, as I take you on a refreshing journey, dispelling the complexities of goal setting and transforming it into an exciting, rewarding endeavor. I guarantee that by the e...
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Season 4
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Episode 10
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37:05
Words for the Workplace: A Deep Dive into Emotional Communication at Work - Day 5 - Gratitude
Ever wondered how you can bring more gratitude into your workplace? As we wrap up our enlightening mini-series on words for the workplace, we shed light on the importance and methods of expressing appreciation to colleagues. From casual verbal ...
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9:58
Words for the Workplace: A Deep Dive into Emotional Communication at Work - Day 4 - Connection
Get ready to revolutionize the way you navigate the digital communication landscape in your workplace. We promise you an insightful conversation about the power of clear language, the underestimated value of punctuation, and yes, even the strat...
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12:47
Words for the Workplace: A Deep Dive into Emotional Communication at Work - Day 3 - Burnout
Ever felt that choking burnout at work? That desolate feeling of exhaustion that seems to suck away all your energy, making the simplest tasks feel like a mountain? This is the episode you need. We've taken a deep dive into understanding burnou...
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33:26
Words for the Workplace: A Deep Dive into Emotional Communication at Work - Day 2 - Creativity
Want to supercharge your creativity at work? This episode promises to take you on an enlightening journey packed with fresh insights. We delve into the world of emotions, exploring how they ignite and fuel creativity in our professional lives. ...
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8:12
Words for the Workplace: A Deep Dive into Emotional Communication at Work - Day 1- Happy
What if there was a more profound way of expressing your emotions at work beyond just being "happy"? Let's get into a stimulating chat about harnessing and articulating emotions more accurately within the workplace. Drawing valuable insights fr...
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7:41
S4E9: Unlocking the Value of Learning and Development in Business - Part 3
In this episode, we continued exploring the world of learning and development in the business realm. Here are some key takeaways from the discussion:Understanding how change impacts where our focus lands. Importance of...
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Season 4
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Episode 9
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25:20
S4E8_Unlocking the Value of Learning and Development in Business_Part 2
Hello Connect the Dots community!Welcome back to our 3 Part series, titled "Unlocking the Value of Learning and Development in Business," previously we dove deep into the importance of individual and collective efforts in impacting learn...
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30:02
S4E7: Unlocking the Value of Learning and Development in Business - Part 1
Hello Connect the Dots community!In our latest episode, titled "Unlocking the Value of Learning and Development in Business," we dive deep into the importance of individual and collective efforts in impacting learning and development wit...
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38:58
S4 E6: Creating Purposeful Connections in Virtual Environments w/Dave Stachowiak
This episode is a really exciting one because we are welcoming in a guest that has made more of an impact on Heather’s journey than he probably knows or will ever know. Today we are talking to
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51:05
S4 E5: Embracing Resilience: Conquering Layoffs, Coping with Loss, and Celebrating Life's Blessings
*****I do want to start with a quick disclaimer today. This episode may touch on mental health topics. I am not a doctor or certified mental health professional. If you are or someone you know is in crisis, please call 988 if you are in the US...
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19:07
S4E4: The Importance of Recognition in and out of the workplace
Over the past week, I have seen such an outpouring of recognition, both personally and across the posts on LinkedIn. It has made me think about the importance of showing recognition in the moment in and out of the workplace. Today I’m diving in...
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26:43
S4E3: Three Questions
No man really becomes a fool until he stops asking questions.- Charles P. SteinmetzWhen I met with my mentor yesterday, she had me answer 3 questions about the lay off situation. These questions really mad...
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20:04
S4E2: No Regrets
It’s Day 1 of this new world where my job is to job hunt. Oh the life of a layoffee... Since I left Apple for Amazon in November 2021, I have been asked if I regret the move more times than I can count. So sitting here now, the day af...
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17:51
S4E1: Open to Work
Well now...here we are... together again. It's Season 4 of the podcast and this season is all about bringing all of you to work. I will say I had a different plan to start this season but it seems I have more time on my hands now. Today I was l...
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22:30
Just Checking In
Hey All! I just wanted to check in and let you know what’s been going on since I haven’t released a podcast in the past month. All is well. I’m just working through some things that I committed to. I’ll be back soon. I promise.--- <...
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5:14
S3E17: Wine with Me: Talking Student Loan Forgiveness
Disclaimer: This video/podcast contains explicit language and covers topics that might cause you to use explicit language too. I might hurt some feelings and make folks mad. These are my own thoughts and opinions and do not reflect the view...
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2:36:33
S3E16: Do a New Thing w/Christa Hutchins
After almost 3 years, Christa and I finally got to sit down for a conversation. We met at Blissdom in late 2019 and I was instantly drawn to her passion for helping others. She is a project manager by trade, then was called by God to help His g...
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46:58
S3E15: Book Review - How to keep house while drowning by KC Davis, LPC
After seeing so many people online recommend the book, “How to keep house while drowning” by KC Davis, LPC, I decided to pick it up and read it. I really enjoyed her approach to cleaning and organizing. I had a lot of things marked in the book ...
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59:33
S3E14: Unscripted Fun - Deep Thoughts on Nothing
Today’s episode is all about nothing. I mean it’s not dead air, but I just had some fun talking about the random things going on in my life. It’s just some unscripted fun catch up from the last few weeks. I cover mocktails, sunscreen, the accou...
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49:43
S3E13: Talking Creativity w/Martha Arrington
On today’s podcast, I welcome Martha Arrington. She is a painter, a certified zentangle instructor, educator, and amazing human. I met Martha on Instagram awhile back and instantly became a fan of her work. It’s truly beautiful and unique, just...
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1:09:21
S3E12: Masking & ADHD
Masking. When I started to research ADHD, this was a term that came up quite a bit. Masking “involves hiding symptoms or overcompensating for them. When you mask ADHD, you try to act like you do not have the condition” (PsychCentral). I knew th...
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1:00:28
S3E11: Reversing the Rachel Hollis effect (Deconstructing Toxic Positivity - Part 2)
This is part 2 of the “Reversing the Rachel Hollis effect - Deconstructing Toxic Positivity” podcast set. I am sharing a few YouTube videos that help explain the concept more and offer insight on how to overcome it. When it comes to things like...
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26:36
S3E10: Reversing the Rachel Hollis Effect (Deconstructing Toxic Positivity Part 1)
Toxic positivity is something that I had not really heard of until the last year or two. But it’s something I am extremely familiar with. For me, Rachel Hollis was the influencer that pulled me into this way of thinking and being. Positivity on...
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1:05:46
