The OOPS Factor

Dr. Shelta Richardson

The OOPS Factor with Dr. Shelta Richardson is where leadership, business, and faith intersect. The OOPS framework: Own it, Observe the Patterns, Pivot, and Steward the Scars. This page helps leaders turn failure into purpose and setbacks into strengths

  1. 12h ago

    Women in the Room

    What happens when success no longer feels fulfilling? How do you navigate burnout, rebuild after loss, establish boundaries, or forgive someone who has hurt you? In this special episode of The OOPS Factor Podcast, Dr. Shelta Richardson answers real-life questions women face in leadership, business, ministry, and personal relationships. Through practical wisdom, personal experiences, and biblical truth, she reminds us that our identity is not defined by our titles, accomplishments, or circumstances. Sometimes God doesn't reveal the entire journey. He simply gives us enough light for the next step. 📖 FREE GUIDED JOURNAL: Download your complimentary OOPS Factor Guided Journal at https://www.theoopsfactor.com 📚 GET THE BOOK: Purchase The OOPS Factor: From Failure to God-Given Purpose on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HHQP34ZQ 🤝 LET'S CONNECT: Looking for coaching, mentoring, or leadership guidance? Schedule a conversation with Dr. Shelta Richardson at https://www.theoopsfactor.com/contact Own it. Observe the pattern. Pivot when necessary. Steward the scars. Scripture ReferencesExodus 18:17–18; Exodus 13:21–22; Psalm 121; Isaiah 43:18–19; Ecclesiastes 3:1; Mark 6:31; Mark 8:36; Ephesians 4:31–32 (World English Bible).

  2. Oct 26

    Knowing When It’s Time to Change Direction

    Have you ever stayed in a job, relationship, business, or leadership role simply because walking away felt like failure? In this episode, Dr. Shelta Richardson explores the difference between perseverance and knowing when it’s time to pivot. Through practical leadership insights, real-world research, and biblical wisdom, discover why changing direction doesn’t mean you’ve wasted the journey. Sometimes, it’s exactly what prepares you for what’s next! Remember: The mission can stay the same even when the method changes. 📖 FREE RESOURCE: Download your complimentary OOPS Factor Guided Journal at https://www.theoopsfactor.com 📚 GET THE BOOK: The OOPS Factor: From Failure to God-Given Purpose is available on Amazon in eBook and print formats. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HHQP34ZQ 🤝 LET’S CONNECT: Looking for coaching or mentoring as you navigate your next season of leadership, life, or purpose? Schedule a conversation at https://www.theoopsfactor.com/contact Own it. Observe the pattern. Pivot when necessary. Steward the scars. #TheOOPSFactor #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #FaithAndLeadership #Purpose #PivotWithPurpose

  3. Oct 20

    Never Despise the Small Assignment

    What if the assignment that feels too small for you is actually preparing you for what comes next? In this episode of The OOPS Factor Podcast, Dr. Shelta Richardson challenges us to stop confusing size with significance. Sometimes the smaller role, organization, audience, or opportunity becomes the very place where we develop the skills, humility, faith, and experience we’ll need for a much bigger assignment.  Through leadership lessons, personal experience, and the biblical story of David, this episode is a reminder to stay present, do the work, serve the people in front of you, and faithfully steward what is already in your hands.  📓 Get your FREE OOPS Factor Guided Journal: https://www.theoopsfactor.com 📘 Purchase your copy of The OOPS Factor: From Failure to God-Given Purpose: https://www.amazon.com/OOPS-Factor-Failure-God-Given-Purpose/dp/B0HHQP34ZQ/

  4. Oct 12

    The Courage to Tell a Powerful Person "No".

    What happens when doing the right thing could cost you something? In Episode 10 of The OOPS Factor Podcast, Dr. Shelta Richardson explores the courage it takes to respectfully say “no” when a powerful person asks you to cross a line. Through personal experience, leadership research, and biblical examples, she discusses why respecting authority does not require surrendering your integrity—and why sometimes the most important leadership decision you make is the thing you refuse to do.  Ready to go deeper? 📓 Download your FREE OOPS Factor Guided Journal at www.theoopsfactor.com 📘 Get your copy of The OOPS Factor: From Failure to God-Given Purpose on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/OOPS-Factor-Failure-God-Given-Purpose/dp/B0HHQP34ZQ/ 📞 Looking for a coach or mentor for your next season of leadership, life, or purpose? Book a call with Dr. Shelta Richardson: https://www.theoopsfactor.com/contact

  5. Oct 6

    People Are Not Interruptions to the Work...They ARE the Work

    You can hit the goal, meet the deadline, solve the problem, and still miss one of the most important parts of leadership: the people. In Episode 9 of The OOPS Factor Podcast, Dr. Shelta Richardson shares a leadership lesson she had to learn personally. Being task driven can be a tremendous strength, but when accomplishing the task becomes more important than the people around us, that strength can become a weakness.  We explore the balance between results and relationships, psychological safety, developing people instead of simply using people to accomplish tasks, and the example Jesus gave us of leadership that never allowed the assignment to make people invisible.  Free Guided Journal Ready to work through the OOPS Factor in your own life and leadership? Download your FREE OOPS Factor Guided Journal at: www.oopsfactor.com Get the Book: Ready to go deeper? Get your copy of The OOPS Factor: From Failure to God-Given Purpose in eBook or hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/OOPS-Factor-Failure-God-Given-Purpose/dp/B0HHQP34ZQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2SMO25L3SPYIS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.V3wUXG7l1uH7ZsdyYa8bUyiuFQBMmJotav2Mw3VeElK43x0wLvaqAi84ppF6RsIX.AZ4kDbcwcwZGs6099DHzsPPe3ibfLp83TAYHYxlqM3I&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+oops+factor&qid=1791302105&sprefix=%2Caps%2C138&sr=8-1 Sources & Show Notes Research referenced in this episode includes Gallup’s employee engagement research and the American Psychological Association’s 2024 Work in America study on psychological safety. Scripture references include Mark 10:14–16, Mark 10:42–45, and Philippians 2:3–4.

  6. Sep 29

    Wear Your Own Shoes

    Leading Without Becoming a Copy of the Person Who Came Before You Have you ever stepped into a new leadership role only to hear, “Well, that’s not how the person before you did it”? In Episode 8 of The OOPS Factor Podcast, Dr. Shelta Richardson tackles a challenge many leaders face: How do you learn from the people who came before you without becoming a copy of them? Drawing from her own experience stepping into leadership behind another director, Shelta shares the lesson that eventually changed the way she thought about leadership transitions: You have to let new leaders wear their own shoes. In this episode, Shelta explores: The difference between leadership standards and leadership styleWhy new leaders need both responsibility and appropriate authorityHow comparison can cause leaders to lose their own voiceHow to Own It and Observe the Pattern when developing your leadership styleWhat Scripture teaches us about different gifts, different assignments, and the same GodFree Guided Journal Ready to put what you’re learning into practice? Download your FREE OOPS Factor Guided Journal at: www.theoopsfactor.com Get Your Copy of The OOPS Factor Want to go deeper? The OOPS Factor: From Failure to God-Given Purpose is available in eBook and hardcover on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/OOPS-Factor-Failure-God-Given-Purpose/dp/B0HHQP34ZQ/ Sources & Show Notes Research and sources referenced in this episode include the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025 Annual Averages, for workforce and leadership representation statistics; Catalyst’s research on the Double-Bind Dilemma for Women in Leadership; Dr. Shelta Richardson’s doctoral dissertation, Corruption and Fraud: Experiences of College Professors and Career Professionals; and Dr. Richardson’s book, The OOPS Factor. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), including 1 Corinthians 12:4–6, Judges 4:4–5, and Romans 12:6.

  7. Sep 22

    You Don't Have to Feel Ready to Lead

    Episode 7: You Don’t Have to Feel Ready to Lead What to Do When the Opportunity Comes Before You Feel Qualified Have you ever been given an opportunity—and immediately wondered, “Am I really ready for this?” In Episode 7 of The OOPS Factor Podcast, Dr. Shelta Richardson explores what happens when the opportunity to lead shows up before you feel completely qualified to step into it. Drawing from her own unexpected journey into leadership, Shelta shares how she found herself in rooms she didn’t feel prepared for—and what she learned about the difference between pretending you have no gaps and becoming the kind of leader who is willing to identify those gaps, learn, grow, and close them. And, as always, faith enters the conversation. Through the story of Moses, Shelta explores a different kind of confidence—one that isn’t rooted in believing we are already capable of everything, but in trusting God enough to obey, grow, and learn along the way. Have you ordered your copy of "The OOPS Factor"? Click link below to order your copy today! https://www.amazon.com/OOPS-Factor-Failure-God-Given-Purpose/dp/B0HHQP34ZQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1W2D94P4EJ3FW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.V3wUXG7l1uH7ZsdyYa8bUyiuFQBMmJotav2Mw3VeElK43x0wLvaqAi84ppF6RsIX.AZ4kDbcwcwZGs6099DHzsPPe3ibfLp83TAYHYxlqM3I&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+oops+factor&qid=1790042425&sprefix=the+oops+facto%2Caps%2C530&sr=8-1 Want a free copy of the OOPS Factor Journal? Click below! https://www.theoopsfactor.com Sources & Show NotesResearch and statistics referenced in this episode include: Tara Sophia Mohr, “Why Women Don’t Apply for Jobs Unless They’re 100% Qualified,” Harvard Business Review, August 25, 2014.Bravata et al., research on the prevalence and characteristics of impostor syndrome, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.Dr. Shelta Richardson, doctoral dissertation, Corruption and Fraud: Experiences of College Professors and Career Professionals, referenced in the discussion of ethical leadership.Dr. Shelta Richardson, The OOPS Factor, referenced for personal narrative and leadership lessons.Scripture quotations: World English Bible (WEB), public-domain translation. Scripture discussed includes Exodus 4:10–12 and 1 Corinthians 1:26–29.

  8. Sep 15

    Steward the Scars

    What happens after you’ve owned your story, recognized the patterns, and made the pivot? What do you do with the scars that remain? In Episode 6 of The OOPS Factor Podcast, Kaitlyn Hood sits down with Dr. Shelta Richardson to explore the final “S” in the OOPS Factor framework: Steward the Scars. This is an authentic and deeply personal conversation. Dr. Richardson opens up about tender and challenging moments from her own story—experiences that were difficult to walk through and even harder to heal from. She shares what healing looked like for her, what she learned along the way, and how some of the places that once caused the greatest pain eventually became places from which she could give back to others. This isn’t about pretending everything happens for a reason or wrapping painful experiences in an overly pious bow. It’s about learning to steward what you’ve survived. At the heart of this episode is a simple belief: people need safe places to tell the truth about the roads they have traveled. Dr. Richardson’s desire is to love people right where they are, build genuine relationships, and create conversations where we can talk honestly about our scars without shame—and then use what we’ve learned to help someone else along the way. Visit www.theOOPSFactor.com to learn more and download your FREE guided OOPS Factor Journal. And if this conversation speaks to you, subscribe to The OOPS Factor Podcast and share this episode with someone who may need to hear it. Sometimes helping another person begins simply by letting them know they aren’t traveling the road alone.

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About

The OOPS Factor with Dr. Shelta Richardson is where leadership, business, and faith intersect. The OOPS framework: Own it, Observe the Patterns, Pivot, and Steward the Scars. This page helps leaders turn failure into purpose and setbacks into strengths

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Shelta Richardson
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Dr. Shelta Richardson
  • Show Website
    The OOPS Factor