Magic in the Room #158: A Mindset Introduction with Special Guest Bob Schooley
July 23, 2023
In this replay episode of Magic in the Room we revisit some our first thoughts on Mindset which have turned into a key part of all our work at Purpose and Performance Group.
What is mindset, and how does it show up? If our behaviors are informed or even driven by our mindset, it seems crucial to be intentional about the mindset with which we approach our lives. In this episode, Chris, Luke, and recurring guest, Dr. Bob Schooley, explore central questions about mindset and how it affects the way we show up in the world.
Listen now on your favorite platform!
Find Bob Schooley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbobschooley/
Credits:
- This episode of Magic in the Room was recorded remotely.
- Music by Evan Grim. Find his music on
Apple Music
In this episode of Magic in the Room, Chris Province, Hannah Bratterud, and Luke Freeman reflect on six years of conversations and explore a foundational leadership question: why leadership is ultimately an inside game. Drawing on personal growth, facilitation experiences, and organizational leadership lessons, they argue that effective leadership cannot be reduced to frameworks, checklists, or techniques alone, but instead depends on the ongoing work of self-awareness, discernment, courage, and wisdom. They explore the relationship between courage and conviction, the importance of responding rather than reacting, and the role of personal development in creating positive impact for teams, organizations, and communities. The episode presents leadership as a lifelong practice of leading oneself first, emphasizing that meaningful change begins not with external systems, but with the internal work of becoming more intentional, hopeful, and aligned with one’s values.
In this episode of Magic in the Room, Luke and Hannah explore the concept of polarities. Tensions like purpose and performance, stability and change, or accountability and grace that are often mistaken for problems to solve rather than dynamics to manage. Drawing on insights from Barry Johnson’s work, they explain how these opposing forces are interdependent and must be balanced over time to achieve sustained success. Through practical examples and personal reflections, they show how over-relying on one side of a polarity leads to predictable “shadow sides” such as stagnation, chaos, inefficiency, or burnout, while effective leadership requires recognizing where you are on the cycle and intentionally recalibrating. The episode emphasizes that many recurring organizational frustrations are not failures, but signals of imbalance, and offers a more nuanced approach to leadership. One that replaces rigid either/or thinking with flexible both/and awareness to improve decision-making, team dynamics, and long-term performance.