Overcoming Reluctance to Change with Emily & Bernie

Summary:

In this episode of the Coworking Values Podcast, Emily Breeder and Bernie Mitchell explore the challenges of adopting new systems and overcoming the inertia that often keeps us clinging to ineffective methods.

Emily shares valuable insights from their current community builder cohort, touching on the hesitation many feel when faced with change and the importance of finding the simplest tools that actually work.

Bernie adds a personal story about his resistance to shifting his video content format despite knowing it would yield better results—an experience many of us can relate to.

The conversation then dives into the significance of having a reliable “system of capture” for organizing tasks, the emotional barriers that prevent us from completing essential yet daunting tasks, and how maintaining consistent “staying speed” can keep us moving forward without burnout.

Whether you’re a community manager, freelancer, or someone simply looking to improve your workflow, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you streamline your processes and tackle challenges head-on.

Overcoming Reluctance to Change with Emily & Bernie by Bernie J Mitchell

Renegades of Flow Episode #4

Read on Substack

Timeline Summary:

  • [00:00] – Emily introduces a next three-month cohort for community builders, designed to help build and strengthen your workflow and community skills.
  • [00:35] – Discussion about resistance to change, with Bernie sharing his experience of finally switching his video format from landscape to vertical.
  • [02:37] – Bernie reflects on overcoming perfectionism and the importance of doing rather than over-preparing.
  • [04:42] – Emily discusses the impact of perfectionism on participation and how rationalizing excuses can hold people back.
  • [09:12] – A deep dive into finding the right tools for task management, with Emily emphasizing simplicity and practicality.
  • [14:24] – Emily outlines a method for dealing with overwhelm by dumping all tasks into a backlog and then prioritizing them using the urgent/important matrix.
  • [17:33] – Strategies for managing emotions when faced with difficult tasks, and the benefits of collaborative work.
  • [21:02] – The importance of documenting processes for regular tasks to save time and mental energy, especially on challenging days.

Detailed Episode Breakdown:

  • Introduction to the New Cohort [00:00 – 00:26]:
    Emily kicks off the episode by introducing a new offering for community builders—a three-month cohort designed to provide personalized guidance, practical strategies, and motivation to help participants build and manage their communities effectively.
  • The Challenge of Changing Habits [00:26 – 02:32]:
    Bernie and Emily discuss how difficult it is to let go of old habits and embrace new systems, even when we know the change will be beneficial.Bernie shares his struggle with switching from landscape to vertical video format and how making the change drastically improved his engagement.
  • Perfectionism and Its Pitfalls [02:32 – 04:42]:
    The conversation shifts to the common trap of perfectionism, where Bernie and Emily explore how our desire for everything to be “just right” can often prevent us from taking action.Emily points out how perfectionism can manifest in various forms, from delaying projects to avoiding participation in events due to trivial concerns.
  • The Role of Simple Tools [09:12 – 11:05]:
    Emily emphasizes the importance of using simple tools that you and your clients can easily adopt.She argues against the need for feature-rich, complex systems, advocating instead for tools that are straightforward and effective.
  • Managing Overwhelm with a System of Capture [14:24 – 15:35]:
    Emily introduces the concept of a “system of capture” as a way to manage overwhelm.By dumping all tasks into a backlog and prioritizing them based on urgency and importance, she explains how this method can help clarify what needs to be done without feeling overloaded.
  • Collaborative Work as a Solution [17:33 – 19:23]:
    Bernie and Emily discuss the value of collaboration, especially for those working alone or in small teams.Sharing ideas and tasks with others can help alleviate the burden of decision-making and increase productivity.

Documenting Processes for Efficiency [21:02 – 22:02]:
The episode wraps up with a discussion on the importance of documenting processes for routine tasks.

Bernie shares his own experience of how creating a checklist for publishing podcast episodes has streamlined his workflow, making the process faster and more efficient.


Links & Resources

One More Thing

Remember, the strength of our communities lies in our collective efforts and shared values.

Please rate, follow, share, and leave a review for the Coworking Values Podcast; it helps our show have an even greater impact.

It also helps people in the general public and your neighbourhood understand coworking, how it can benefit their local community, and how it can benefit them in building their careers, projects, and work.

Scroll to Top