Practicing Connection

OneOp

4.3 (3)
EDUCATION
UPDATED WEEKLY

Improve your resilience and readiness in a rapidly changing world.Jessica Beckendorf and Bob Bertsch host this exploration of personal and collective practices that empower us to work together to help each other, our families, and our communities improve our resilience and readiness.

1D AGO

Reframing Feedback: A Practice for Receiving Criticism Well

Send us a text Negative feedback can feel like a punch in the gut - but what if you could shift your mindset to see it as useful data instead of personal failure? Most of us cringe when we hear “I have some feedback for you.” But learning to receive feedback well is one of the most powerful skills you can build for collaboration and growth. In this episode of Practicing Connection, Jessica and Erin talk about how to prepare your mindset, identify which feedback deserves your attention, and turn even tough conversations into moments of learning. Erin also shares a practical approach you can use the next time feedback catches you off guard - helping you respond with curiosity instead of defensiveness. Listen in to find new ways to make feedback feel less threatening, and more like an investment in your growth. We have a special handout that goes with this episode, to help you put these mindshifts and methods into practice. You can find it here: Reframing Feedback: Receiving Criticism Well handout LinkedIn Practice: Think back to the last time you received negative feedback. What helped you respond productively—or what would you do differently next time? Can you reframe one piece of criticism you’ve received lately as useful “notes” instead of judgment? Share your reflection in the comments. Links and resources from this episode: Join our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ Send us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org

22 min
JAN 29

From One Season to the Next: A New Chapter for Practicing Connection

Send us a text Change is part of every journey - even the ones we love most. In this episode, Jessica Beckendorf welcomes new co-host Erin Carlson Rivera, and shares parting reflections from longtime co-host Coral Owen. Together, they explore how slowing down, creating space, and staying curious can help us stay connected through seasons of change. Change is both inevitable and deeply human - and this special episode is all about how we navigate it together. Join us for an episode that honors the past, embraces the next chapter, and reminds us that connection is something we can keep practicing - no matter where we are in the journey. Community Challenge: This week, take a moment to name the space you’re in right now - not just what you’re doing, but what you’re experiencing. Maybe it’s a transition, a settling-in, or a building phase. Then ask yourself: What am I ready to release to make space for what’s next? Share one insight or small practice that’s helping you stay grounded in your work or community using #PracticingConnection. Let’s normalize the in-between - together. Links and resources from this episode: Join our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ Send us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org

22 min
JAN 22

Meaningful Growth: How to Make the Most Out of Every Learning Opportunity

Send us a text Are you tired of leaving conferences or trainings feeling overloaded - like you missed what mattered most? This was one of our most popular episodes of 2025, and it's as relevant as ever as we dig into the new year, with more conferences and events on the horizon. Coral and Jessica reveal a simple, powerful practice that can turn every professional development opportunity into meaningful, actionable growth. Get ready to take charge of your learning with intention! Jessica shares a practical reflection exercise designed to help you filter the noise, focus on what matters to you, and connect your learning to your real-world goals. Whether you’re attending a conference, a webinar, or any PD event, discover how a two-minute pause can make your growth more personalized, empowering, and connected. Tune in for step-by-step guidance, insightful questions, and actionable strategies to transform the way you learn. Links and resources from this episode: Join our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ Send us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org

11 min
JAN 15

Do You Ever Struggle to Stick to Your Goals?

Send us a text Do you ever struggle to stick to your goals? Discover the WOOP method, a powerful tool that uses obstacles as stepping stones to success. In this replay episode, one of our most popular from 2025, discover WOOP: a science-backed goal-setting practice that helps you overcome obstacles and achieve your goals. Learn how to apply this simple yet powerful tool to transform your habits and improve your well-being. Practical links from this episode: https://woopmylife.org/https://woopmylife.org/en/practice We’d love to hear what’s inspiring you! Share your thoughts using the “Send us a text message” feature or email us at practicingconnection@oneop.org.

8 min
JAN 8

2026 Reset: Creating Space, Choosing Direction

Send us a text Before you set new goals for 2026, take a pause. This episode guides you through a gentle two‑part reset - honoring what you’re completing and choosing one honest intention for how you want to move through the year, without pressure or over‑planning. The new year often comes with pressure to have a clear plan, big goals, and a “new you.” In this episode of Practicing Connection, Jessica and Coral offer a different kind of reset: a simple, integrated practice in two parts - “Completion Creates Space” and “Intention Gives Direction.” You’ll be guided to notice how you’re arriving, name what you’re closing or completing, release expectations that no longer fit, and then choose a single word to orient how you want to be in this next season. This reflection is less about productivity and more about alignment, making room for what matters without rushing who you’re becoming. Further links and resources from this episode: Subscribe to our newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletterJoin our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ Send us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org

13 min
JAN 1

Beyond Sleep: Four Kinds of Rest We All Need

Send us a text If you’re exhausted but time off hasn’t really helped, the problem might not be how much you rest, but what kind of rest you’re getting. This episode explores four different kinds of rest - physical, mental, emotional, and creative - and offers simple ways to notice what you actually need right now. “Get more rest” is common advice, but it can feel discouraging when sleep or a day off doesn’t make a dent in your exhaustion. In this episode of Practicing Connection, Coral and Jessica unpack four different kinds of rest: physical rest for your body, mental rest from constant thinking and decision‑making, emotional rest from hosting and holding others’ feelings, and creative rest that gives you space to play and explore without being productive. Through real‑life examples and practical ideas, they invite you to notice which type of rest you might be craving and experiment with small, accessible ways to restore yourself in this season. Further links and resources from this episode: Subscribe to our newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletterJoin our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ Send us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org

17 min
12/25/2025

Flamingos and Focus Days: One Simple Practice for a More Intentional Year

Send us a text Before rushing into big resolutions, what if you paused to ask: "What needs to stop, what deserves to stay, and what small experiment could actually support the life and work I want?" In this reflections episode, Coral and Jessica get honest about boundaries, comparison, joy, and work rhythms - and invite you to do the same, in three simple prompts. In this special reflections episode, Coral and Jessica step away from resolutions and dig into something more honest: what they’re stopping, keeping, and starting in the new year. They talk about protecting a true no‑meetings day, letting go of comparison with past versions of themselves, and keeping small practices like tiny Post‑it to‑do lists, buffer time between meetings, and spontaneous phone calls that make work feel more human. You’ll also hear how “getting your pink back” through joy outside of work can change how you show up to your roles. The episode closes with a simple reflection you can do in just a few minutes: name one thing to stop, one to keep, and one to start this year. Further links and resources from this episode: Subscribe to our newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletterJoin our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ Send us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org

17 min
12/18/2025

Leading Through Uncertainty: Navigating Ambiguity as an Adaptive Practice

Send us a text Leading in uncertainty is not about having all the answers; it’s about how you show up when you don’t. In this episode, explore two simple practices that help you anchor in what matters and keep moving, even when the path ahead is anything but clear. Ambiguity is not just a strategy or org‑chart issue; it is a human constant in modern work. In this conversation, Jessica and Coral reframe uncertainty as an adaptive practice rather than a problem to “fix fast,” especially for leaders who feel pressure to hold it all together. You’ll learn two grounded tools: a Values‑Based Decision Filter to choose direction when information is incomplete, and The Next Small Step to move the work one inch forward without needing the full plan. Together, they offer “handrails, not heroics” for navigating uncertainty with steadiness, honesty, and care for yourself and your team. Further links and resources from this episode: Subscribe to our newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletterJoin our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ Send us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org

12 min

4.3

out of 5

3 Ratings

Improve your resilience and readiness in a rapidly changing world.Jessica Beckendorf and Bob Bertsch host this exploration of personal and collective practices that empower us to work together to help each other, our families, and our communities improve our resilience and readiness.

Creator

OneOp
Years Active

2020 - 2026
Episodes

104
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2026 Practicing Connection
Show Website

Practicing Connection