The Momentum Life Project

In this episode The Momentum Architects’ Kerry D and Dr M tackle the topic of negative self-talk. Our thoughts impact our feelings which impact our actions or behaviour which in turn reinforce our thoughts. So if our thoughts are full of negative self talk we can create a feedback loop that can reinforce this negativity. As humans, we are the only species who are able to think about our thoughts! But are we setting ourselves up for success? Think about some of the things either you or people around you may say… I will never… They always do… I don’t deserve to… And if that’s what is coming out of our mouths - it’s often far worse in our heads! If that is our starting point, how can we expect our behaviour to create positive momentum? Kerry D talks about the impact having an awareness of her language has had. Often cultural norms mean that we default to the negative. If we can begin to be mindful of what we’re thinking and therefore the impact these thoughts and self-talk is having on our feelings and on our

In the latest episode of the Momentum Life Project, The Momentum Architects Kerry D and Dr M talk about your circle of influence and how to approach things that you can and cannot control. Whether situations at work at home or when out and about there are really only 3 outcomes to an issue or challenge: It’s something you can control It’s something you can’t control It’s something that you need more information about in order to know whether you can or can’t control. Most of us spend too much time worrying about things that we can’t change when our energy and focus may be better served elsewhere. If it can’t be changed then often it is best to come to the acceptance that we can’t change it and move on (note: that is not to say that we can’t or don’t have a negative charge around the issue or situation but it does mean that we can look at our level of acceptance around it) - sometimes the ultimate control is letting go of control. And if it IS in your control and you can change the situation or scenario we c

Often people think that all stress must be bad. But can stress be good? In this episode The Momentum Architects unpack the key types of stress and how to recognise the difference between good and bad stress.  We all have stressors placed on us every single day - these can be in the form of emotional stress, chemical stress or physical stress. The key is having an awareness of what stressors we are placing on our system and being able to identify when we’ve created a toxic load vs a healthy balance. Remember diamonds are only created under pressure and to create momentum there must be some force present so a certain amount of stress is actually good! E.g. when we need to get something done, the deadline creates a certain amount of stress for us to react and achieve what we need to - the danger is if we are constantly in the state of ‘alarm’ to the point that it’s getting backed up and backed up and we become overwhelmed. Nowadays being busy and being stressed are often used interchangeably - they are very diff

In this episode the Momentum Architects talk about the importance of aligning the ‘heart and head’. If your heart and head are not aligned it can cause much internal wrangling and stress and impact how you show up in the workplace. When we talk about heart and head, the head is really the process and the heart is the ‘what’s the point’ piece. This then also feeds into the values and values mismatching discussed in Episode 2. You can hear a misalignment when people start talking about being bored with what they’re doing and looking for the next challenge. Or when their personal values are no longer aligning with the organisation they’re working for. Kerry D has had a number of conversations recently with people who on paper are at the top of their game but are feeling that the company culture and values are not aligned with their personal values and it’s causing a lot of discomfort and a lot of questions about whether they are in the right place. Ultimately it all comes back to self-awareness and knowing that

In the last episode (S3E1) The Momentum Architects delved into purpose, meaning and why you get out of bed in the morning. There is a lot of talk about this nowadays - finding your ‘why’ and often people get frustrated when they don’t have an exact answer. In this episode Dr M and Kerry D take a step back and look at values alignment and more importantly values mismatching - understanding this can be a key first step in uncovering purpose. Often what we value most in life whether that is family, vocation, learning, health etc. has been ‘handed’ to us by parents, leaders and others in authority positions. The issue is that how they prioritise and what they hold in highest value may not be congruent with us. For example, often women are taught to put family first. This is absolutely okay but where conflict can arise is if e.g. vocation is actually your highest value but you are being told you must put your family first - instead of allowing you to be happy and focused at work which in turn will actually make yo

Back for another season the Momentum Architects are going to be talking all things stress, productivity, mindset and general ‘life’ over the next 13 episodes. To kick it all off Dr M and Kerry D will be revisiting the age old question of ‘why’. It’s something that flows through everything they do both from their own perspective and also in what they teach in organisations. A key element of momentum and achievement is alignment in work, life and play. To achieve alignment, knowing your ‘why’ or your personal mission, what lights you up, what gets you out of bed in the morning really sets you on the right track and helps you keep on the right direction. It might end up sounding like a tagline but it can provide massive momentum by tapping into your true motivators.   Want to create massive momentum in yourself and your team? Check out www.themomentumarchitects.com and find out how we can help.

In this episode, the Momentum Architects wrap up the latest season of the Momentum Life Project. This season, the focus was all about the strengths set - one of the key pillars used by The Momentum Architects in their work with organisations to enhance team performance, culture and motivation (with the other key pillars being what they like to call ‘life set’ and stress set’). When talking about strengths and about building a strengths-based approach, Dr M and Kerry D are talking about an underlying philosophy of really focusing on potential and a growth mindset to build momentum. The key to this is knowing yourself and having a really keen awareness of how you operate and how others around you operate and one of the best ways to open the conversation and build the initial foundation for this is through behavioural assessments.  Our favourite is by far the CliftonStrengths assessment as it’s in-depth but practical at the same time (find out more about this in episodes 6 and 12) and can provide great and immed

In this episode, the Momentum Architects revisit their favourite topic - the CliftonStrengths assessment. In previous episodes they’ve discussed the value of this from an individual perspective and now they’re delving into why it is so great for organisational teams. The research is showing that there is an ever increasing disengagement and a lack of motivation from employees as the pressure to perform and drive results keeps growing. However, if you embrace a strengths based approach this has been shown not only to positively impact the individual, but also have great results in terms of productivity, performance and profit. There’s a reason why 90% of the top Fortune 500 companies are using CliftonStrengths. It gives a common language to the team and enables team members to explore not only their talents but also those of their colleagues. This greater awareness not only reduces frustration but in turn drives greater performance.  …because remember, positive global change starts with individual momentum  

In today’s episode the Momentum Architects talk through the pros and cons of the Enneagram assessment. A little different from some of the other assessments we’ve been delving into this season - this particular test is a modern synthesis of ancient traditions and takes its philosophies from places such as greek mythology, Buddhism and Judaism. This one has much more of a spiritual outlook and starts to examine the human soul. As with all of the tests, the results tend to be quite accurate and this one is particularly valuable once you have already done a lot of self development and are already quite self-aware to be able to really start taking things to the next level. Is it useful to be able to drive organisational change? Maybe, maybe not. As a practical tool, again we feel the CliftonStrengths assessment wins because it’s something that can be used every single day to set intention around what you’re doing and how you want to behave. As with so many of the tools, the Enneagram is great retroactively in det

In today’s episode of the Momentum Life Project the Momentum Architects continue their look at come of the key behaviour and personality testing tools out there on the market. Next up is the fun, quirky test - 16 personalities. With a similarity to Myers Briggs but a leaning towards the Big 5 Personality Traits, this one is fun, free and gives you a cool insight into who you are and why you do what you do. If you’d like to do the test yourself - check out this link (note: Dr M was really taken by this one as she got back a picture of a wizard!) The more of these tests you do, the more you will get to the point where there is no new information but there’s a reinforcement of what you already know. This is itself is valuable as it all builds to allow you to grow exponentially rather than in a linear fashion The downside of this one, it does use your results to start suggesting good and bad career choices for you. Kerry D in particular is quite anti-this as she doesn’t like to add labels to people which can mani

In today’s episode of the Momentum Life Project, The Momentum Architects delve into an assessment tool called Strengths Profile - NOT to be confused with the CliftonStrengths Assessment and for the purpose of easing any confusion, from now its going to be called by its former name - the R2 Strengths Profiler. The premise of this one is something that both Kerry D and Dr M love - that is that it was created from the basis of positive psychology and works on building better aligned and more motivated workplaces - which is EXACTLY what The Momentum Architects are all about. However - the reason they don’t use this one to build foundations in teams is purely the level of complexity built in. Kerry D completed this assessment and had an amazing coaching session around 3 or 4 years ago but despite being a super detailed person ‘IRL’ (in real life!) she doesn’t tend to use it purely because it’s difficult to know where to start. With 60 different strengths, 4 key areas which cover realised strengths, unrealised stre

Myers Briggs, or the Myers Briggs Type Indicator to give it its proper name is probably the most popular and widely known of all the tools we’re talking about this season. Many listeners who have worked in any corporate setting over the last decade or so will have completed this assessment and at one time or another known their 4 letter profile.  This assessment was created by a mother and daughter team who wanted to create a practical application of the work completed by Carl Jung the Swiss Psychiatrist in the 1920’s. Measuring personality preferences across 4 scales, the end result puts you into one of 16 personality types. Some of the downsides of this particular tool is the fact that it actively labels us into one of these categories. Doing so can then create limiting beliefs or excuses about why we do, or do not do something. E.g. ‘oh I’m an introvert so I can’t possibly do that’. What do you think? Have you completed Myers Briggs and love it? Let us know!  

Continuing their ‘season of strengths’ and in particular looking at a number of different personality and behaviour assessment tools, The Momentum Architects this week are talking about HBDI (Herrmann Brain Dominance Indicator). This one is a fascinating cognitive style model that measures and describes thinking preferences in people and is based on some of the learnings around functions of the limbic brain and the cerebral cortex. The assessment describes 4 key modes of thinking: analytical / sequential / interpersonal / imaginative but where it really comes into its own when used is by actually encouraging whole brain thinking. Often used to build a common language amongst teams when looking for cultural change, the downside is that thinking preferences may or may not influence behaviour. (Which is why Dr M and Kerry D’s favourite child remains CliftonStrengths!) Have you used this in your organisation? Did you find it useful? Has it provided lasting change? Check out the episode and let us know! Because re

The CliftonStrengths assessment from Gallup is by far the favourite child of the Momentum Architects’ Dr M and Kerry D. In this episode find out why it was such a game changer for them in both personal and professional lives. This tool provides a profile of your 34 themes highlighting what you’re uniquely talented at and how you naturally think, feel and behave. The premise behind the tool is that if we focus on what’s right with people instead of what’s wrong, great things can happen! To put this all in context, the chance of you having the same top 5 strengths in the same order as someone else is 1 in 33 million. Knowing your profile (and especially if you understand the profile of those around you too!) can quickly turn points of frustration into points of productivity. You may have experienced a situation where you’ll be working on the same outcome or result as someone else but the way you will approach it is very different. That’s your strengths coming into play. And the more we can recognise and embrace

In this episode of the Momentum Life Project, The Momentum Architects Kerry D and Dr M discuss learning styles i.e. VAK. Depending on whether you’re a Visual, Auditory or Kinaesthetic learner will impact on how you absorb information, learn new things and communicate with others. Knowing which your dominant style is can help you appreciate not only yourself and why you lean towards a certain approach but also why if you’re communicating with team members sometimes it may feel like you’re speaking a foreign language. It’s another great way you can appreciate individual differences and become a better communicator and more likely to be understood. Want to do the test to find out what you are? Check out an online version HERE.  …because remember, global change starts with individual momentum

In this weeks’ episode The Momentum Architects Dr M and Kerry D delve into 360 reporting and why it can be a fabulous concept but only when used with the right intentions. Have you faced the ‘annual appraisal’ - you know that once a year meeting with your manager where you pretty much get handed your ‘school report’ based on some arbitrary paperwork that you completed a few weeks earlier. Kerry D has and once a year was rated on things like ‘did she wear the right colour stockings the majority of the time’ (yes seriously - and no this is probably not legal nowadays). In the corporate world, reviews and feedback may be structured annually, quarterly, monthly, even weekly. In small business, reviews may not even be conducted or formally structured with feedback simply given based on a particular task or situation in hand. 360 reporting - as the name suggests takes the feedback process away from simply team member and line manager and brings in peers, reports and in some cases clients, suppliers or other stakeho

Do you ever get offended by other people? Knowing your ‘DISC’ profile can possibly help you out and reduce some of the frustration! A lot of the criticism around psychometric tools etc. is that they put people into buckets. For Kerry D though, this is actually one of the elements that she loves about this particular tool. This is because you can use it from a ‘quick snapshot’ perspective to identify what type of person you’re communicating with and amend your style to ensure that the communication is more effective. E.g. do you send long, detailed emails to only get a 1-word answer back? How do you react to that? It’s obviously not perfect, you won’t have someone’s profile in front of you when you meet them but you can often ‘guess’ their dominant trait from the 4: D (dominance) / I (influence) / S (steadiness) / C (cautiousness)  (note: sometimes these 4 domains are called different things but the same underlying behaviours apply!) Want to see what DISC profile you have? Click here to take the test! ...and c

As The Momentum Architects’ discussed in the last episode of the Momentum Life Project (which just happened to be the first episode of the brand new look format and name!) moving to a season style means they are going to focus in more on the key pillars they talk about through their work with organisations. To kick off, this season is going to be all about strengths - and within that why it’s important to know who we are as individuals and how we operate with others and the benefits of operating from a strengths based approach. Businesses use a lot of tools and techniques when trying to get the most out of their people from psychometric testing to 360 reporting to team building sessions etc. Positively impacting performance and productivity can give a massive completive edge. But… with so many tools out there, which work? Which are simply a ‘nice exercise’ and what can give actionable, long-term results? Dr M and Kerry D will unpack some of the key tools and techniques on the market over the course of this se

The Momentum Life Project is here! The revamped, rebranded and relaunched podcast brought to you by The Momentum Architects. The Momentum Life Project is designed to help you enhance your personal and professional development and gain maximum momentum in work, life and play. Setting the scene for the rest of the season this episode revisits where the concept for the Momentum Architects came from - and how an idea sprouted from a weekend in the Barossa, South Australia has developed into a mission to create global impact through individual momentum. This season is all about the ‘strengths set’. What’s a ‘strength set’? Well, that’s the terminology the Momentum Architects Dr M and Kerry D use to describe one of the key pillars they use in their work with organisations and individuals. Want to know how to get the same result as someone else but using the approach that suits your natural way of thinking, feeling and behaving better? Check out this season. What to know why you work really well with some people and

This is the final of a 3 part series on where the Momentum Architects has come from and where it’s going. The last 12 months have been an incredible journey of discovery, of testing, of planning, of alignment and of making sure the vision, the mission and the movement was big enough (it wasn’t - we had to keep thinking bigger!) Both Dr M and Kerry D are super excited about the future and about 2019 as the way to make the global impact they want and to really change people’s lives is getting clear. The Momentum Architects began as a side hustle to the businesses they were both running. Aimed at adding some additional tools and techniques to small business owners. Whilst this is still very valuable and something they are still passionate about - this wasn’t going to impact enough people without really focusing on how to take the business to the next level and to new audiences. In the future, the podcast will have a new home, a new look, a new format and a new name! And a massive thanks to YOU for coming on the