Leaders carry the weight of more than their current roles.

We receive messages from the generations before us about our worth, work, and belonging that shape how we show up–for better or worse. This is just as true in our working lives as it is in our families.

If we want to change the narratives, we have to become aware of the legacy burdens–personal, familial, cultural, systemic–that have been passed down to us and choose to transform those burdens into opportunities for healing, growth, and leadership that alters the course of our teams and organizations for the better.

When we can name what we’ve absorbed–what doesn’t belong to our personal story but to those who came before us–we create space for healing and release. And from that place, we can hold onto our hope, lead with integrity, and stay grounded in what truly matters.

My guest today is a dear colleague and friend who is here to talk with me about the impact of generational messaging on our leadership, and how we can begin to dismantle these narratives for ourselves and in our organizations.

Crystal R. Jones is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Lead IFS-I Trainer who passionately spreads the healing essence of the IFS model worldwide. Known for her embodied compassion, relatability, and heart-led approach to her work, Crystal has personally experienced the transformative power of the IFS model in her own healing journey. This profound experience fuels Crystal’s dedication to creating safe spaces for marginalized communities, particularly Black women and women of color, to feel connected, seen, heard, and valued as they embark on their healing journeys individually and collectively. Crystal is fervently committed to teaching the model in a way that illuminates and speaks to BIPOC communities, ensuring its adaptability, accessibility, and relevance to diverse populations.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• How legacy burdens are passed through families and cultures as messages of survival
• How Crystal reckons with cultural burdens by choosing to show up imperfectly and with vulnerability
• Self-reflection questions to help you identify and consider legacy burdens
• How belonging and shame show up when working with legacy burdens
• How Crystal is shifting workplace narratives for her teams and in her trainings

Learn more about Crystal Jones:

• Life Source Counseling Center

Learn more about Rebecca:

• rebeccaching.com
• Work With Rebecca
• The Unburdened Leader on Substack
• Sign up for the weekly Unburdened Leader Email

Resources:

• EP 139: Bad Bosses Aren’t Born, They’re Made: Breaking Toxic Leadership Cycles with Mita Mallick
• EP 102: Toxic Leadership: The True Cost of Workplace Trauma with Mita Mallick
• Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human, Cole Arthur Riley
• Alex Isley
• Orange Is the New Black