Coaching for Leaders

David Hutchens: Story Dash David Hutchens helps leaders find and tell their stories. He works with leaders around the world to find, craft, and tell their most urgent stories for the purpose of creating shared meaning, preserving culture, disseminating learning, and speeding change in organizations. He has taught the Storytelling Leader program at some of the most influential organizations — and he’s written many books, including the Circle of the 9 Muses* and The Leadership Story Deck*. He is the co-creator with longtime friend of the show Susan Gerke of the GO Team program. He's also the author of the new book, Story Dash: Find, Develop, and Activate Your Most Valuable Business Stories...In Just a Few Hours*. In this conversation, David and I revisit the power of storytelling and highlight where many leaders go wrong. We explore the common mistakes that David sees in his work all over the world. Plus, we invite listeners into a few practical actions that will help stories land with better impact. Key Points Four mistakes that leaders make: They are not storytelling, sometimes because they don’t see themselves as storytellers or feel like they are performing. They don’t connect the story to the strategic intent but never clearly answering the “why am I telling this story?” question. They avoid emotional content of stories because they either don’t want to be emotional or are presenting to a “numbers person.” They expect it to just happen, instead of making intentional effort to make it happen. Resources Mentioned To receive David Hutchen’s Story Canvas, reach out to him at david@davidhutchens.com and tell him one valuable tip you gained from this episode. Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes The Four Critical Stories Leaders Need For Influence, with David Hutchens (episode 148) The Way to Influence Executives, with Nancy Duarte (episode 450) The Way to Earn Attention, with Raja Rajamannar (episode 521) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Minda Harts: Right Within Minda Harts is the founder and CEO of The Memo and an advocate for women of color in the workplace. She is a sought-after speaker and thought-leader, frequently speaking on topics of advancing women of color, leadership, diversity, and entrepreneurship. She was named a LinkedIn Top Voice for Equity in the Workplace and was honored as one of BET’s Future 40. She has been a featured speaker at TEDx Harlem, Nike, Levi's, Bloomberg, Google, SXSW, and many other places. She is an adjunct assistant professor of public service at NYU. She also hosts Secure the Seat, a career podcast for women of color. Minda is the author of the bestselling book The Memo* and now her new book Right Within: How to Heal From Racial Trauma in the Workplace*. In this conversation, Minda and I discuss the daily actions that managers can do to support inclusion in the workplace, especially for women of color. We explore the unfortunate realities of systemic racism that still show up in many workplaces and how we can all do better. Plus, Minda invites us to consider the Manager’s Pledge and six key ways we can bring more equity into our organizations. Key Points The State of Black Women in Corporate America report finds that in 2020, Black women held 1.6 percent of vice president roles and 1.4 percent of executive suite positions. When someone says something racially charged, one of two things tend to happen: laugher or silence. We can do better. You don’t need to be the hero, but you do have a responsibility to start. All of us will mess up. Take inspiration from the Japanese art of Kintsugi, where the broken pieces reassembled become more beautiful than the original. We often miss the opportunities that are right in front of us. Starting there is how each of us bring justice into the world. Resources Mentioned Right Within: How to Heal From Racial Trauma in the Workplace* by Minda Harts Minda’s website Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes How to Build Psychological Safety, with Amy Edmondson (episode 404) How to Support Women of Color, with Minda Harts (episode 506) How to Reduce Bias in Feedback, with Therese Huston (episode 510) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Vanessa Bohns: You Have More Influence Than You Think Vanessa Bohns is a social psychologist, an award-winning researcher and teacher, and a professor of organizational behavior at Cornell University. Her writing and research has been published in top academic journals in psychology, management, and law and has also been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, and NPR's Hidden Brain. Her book is titled You Have More Influence Than You Think: How We Underestimate Our Power of Persuasion, and Why It Matters*. In this conversation, Vanessa and I explore the conclusions of research: we often don’t recognize our own power. We detail some of the common patterns that leaders should watch for in their work. Most importantly, we discuss the practical steps that almost anybody can take to use power more responsibly. Key Points Power can lead people to underestimate their words and actions. A powerful person's whisper can sound more like a shout to the person they have power over. Power tends to lead people to ignore the perspective of others and to feel freer to do whatever they want. The effects of power are not inevitable. You can do better for others by thinking about power as responsibility. Adopt the lens of a third party in order to see the impact of your actions on others. To feel your impact better, ask people what they aren thinking of feeling, rather than simply imagining or assuming. One way to experience your influence by taking action to give positive recognition and feedback. Resources Mentioned You Have More Influence Than You Think: How We Underestimate Our Power of Persuasion, and Why It Matters* by Vanessa Bohns Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes Use Power for Good and Not Evil, with Dacher Keltner (episode 254) How to Create Meaningful Gatherings, with Priya Parker (episode 395) How to Negotiate When Others Have Power, with Kwame Christian (episode 416) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Dorie Clark: The Long Game Dorie Clark has been named one of the Top 50 business thinkers in the world by Thinkers50, and was recognized as the #1 Communication Coach in the world by the Marshall Goldsmith Leading Global Coaches Awards. She is a consultant and keynote speaker and teaches executive education at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and Columbia Business School. Dorie is the author of the bestselling books Entrepreneurial You, Reinventing You, and Stand Out which was named the #1 Leadership Book of the Year by Inc. Magazine. She has been described by the New York Times as an “expert at self-reinvention and helping others make changes in their lives.” She is a frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review and is now the author of her latest book, The Long Game: How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World*. In this conversation, Dorie and I discuss how to win the long game, even when things look bleak today. We examine the typical timelines that most professionals should expect in order to get traction on their work. Plus, we highlight three key questions to ask yourself during the toughest times. Key Points It’s often 2-3 years of sustained work before you see noticeable progress. To become a recognized expert, you should expect at least five years of consistent effort. People revisit strategy too often when instead they should often continue to follow their action plan. Even if you end up “losing,” strategize up front how the time and effort you put in is still a win. When times are toughest, ask three questions: Why am I doing this? How has it worked for others? What do my trusted advisors say? Resources Mentioned The Long Game: How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World* by Dorie Clark Long Game Strategic Thinking Self-Assessment Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes The Value of Being Uncomfortable, with Neil Pasricha (episode 448) How to Find Helpful Advisors, with Ethan Kross (episode 516) Making the Case for Your Promotion, with May Busch (episode 526) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Nicol Verheem: Teradek Nicol Verheem is a globally recognized leader and innovator, senior business executive, serial entrepreneur, and prolific angel investor. He has been recognized for his impact in the film industry with a lifetime achievement award from the Society of Camera Operators and an Academy Award for Sciences and Engineering, also known as a Technical Oscar. He was also recently recognized with the Innovator of the Year Award from the leading business journal in Orange County, California. Nicol currently serves on the Executive Management Board of The Vitec Group, as the Divisional CEO of Creative Solutions, and as the CEO of Teradek. As a technology leader, his is responsible for the strategy, roadmap, and execution of Teradek’s highly recognized high tech video products driving more than $100M annual revenue -- with dominant market share across the globe. He is also a member of the Coaching for Leaders Academy. In this conversation, Nicol and I discuss how to take the ideas you hear in books, presentations, and podcasts — and make them your own. Nicol shares many examples of how he has done this in his organization in order grow a team that was ultimately recognized with an Academy Award. Plus, we discuss some of his mindsets that have helped drive the success of Teradek over the years. Key Points Leadership models aren’t always molded to your organization or situation. Adapt the idea to make it a better fit for you. Well intended language by an expert might not match the culture of your organization. Don’t hesitate to change a word or phrase to make sense to your team. Build relationships today with the people who will grow with you throughout your career. That’s “networking for commoners.” When interviewing, ask people about their hobbies or interests in order to discover if you can lead them to live out their passions. Resources Mentioned We'd Like to Thank the Academy by Teradek Coaching for Leaders Academy Related Episodes How to Know What You Don’t Know, with Art Markman (episode 437) How to Build an Invincible Company, with Alex Osterwalder (episode 470) Start Finding Overlooked Talent, with Johnny Taylor, Jr. (episode 544) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Ashley Brundage: Empowering Differences Ashley Brundage is the Founder and President of Empowering Differences. She's overcame homelessness, harassment, and discrimination and then, while seeking employment at a major financial institution, she self-identified during the interview process as a male to female transgender woman and subsequently was hired. She was offered a position and started as a part time bank teller and worked in various lines of business before moving to VP of Diversity & Inclusion in less than 5 years. Since beginning transitioning in 2008, she has worked tirelessly to promote awareness and acceptance of gender identity and expression. She serves on the Corporate Advisory Council for the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. In 2019, she was voted on the National Board of Directors for GLAAD and has also been named one of Florida’s Most Powerful and Influential Women from the National Diversity Council. She is the author of Empowering Differences: Leveraging Differences to Impact Change*. In this conversation, Ashley and I discuss her experience in the working world as a transgender woman. We highlight key language that every leader should be aware of to support the differences of others. Plus, we discuss the initial steps that leaders can take in the workplace, especially related to gender identity. Key Points The harassment and discrimination that transgender people experience also finds its way into the workplace. Respect people’s pronouns — and leaders can highlight their own in order to create a safe space for others. Comfort and ability to use the restroom is something that organizations should address. A helpful starting point is dialogue and conversation. Beware of binary thinking in relation to gender — and many other ways we identify ourselves. Expand your horizon on the gender continuum. Resources Mentioned Empowering Differences: Leveraging Differences to Impact Change* by Ashley Brundage Empowering Differences Self Assessment Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes What You Gain By Sponsoring People, with Julia Taylor Kennedy (episode 398) How to Reduce Bias in Feedback, with Therese Huston (episode 510) Start Finding Overlooked Talent, with Johnny Taylor, Jr. (episode 544) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Carey Nieuwhof: At Your Best Carey Nieuwhof is a former lawyer, a bestselling leadership author, a podcaster, and the CEO of Carey Nieuwhof Communications. He speaks to leaders around the world about leadership, change, and personal growth. He writes a widely read leadership blog at CareyNieuwhof.com and also hosts the top-rated Carey Nieuwhof Leadership podcast. He’s the author of At Your Best: How to Get Time, Energy, and Priorities Working in Your Favor*. In this conversation, Carey and I explore the reality that so many of us face in both our personal and professional lives: spending time with the wrong kind of people. We discuss how to notice we’re not helping, how to limit time, and what to do when a conversation needs to happen. Plus, we make the invitation to proactively do what often gets missed: spending time with the right people more consistently. Key Points The people who want your time are rarely the people who should have your time. Many leaders give too much time and attention away to people who aren’t helped by the interaction. Having a frank conversation with a person who you’re not helping is usually good for both of you. If you’re not able to limit interactions with the wrong kind of person, line up those interactions outside of your key energy times. A key way to do better at limiting time with the wrong people is to affirmatively decide to spend time with the right people. Resources Mentioned Burnout Quiz At Your Best Today At Your Best: How to Get Time, Energy, and Priorities Working in Your Favor* by Carey Nieuwhof Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes How to Make Deep Work Happen, with Cal Newport (episode 233) The Scientific Secrets of Daily Scheduling, with Daniel Pink (episode 332) How to Prepare for Conflict, with Amy Gallo (episode 530) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Connson Locke: Making Your Voice Heard Connson Locke is Professor (Education) of Management at the London School of Economics, where she teaches Leadership, Organizational Behaviour, and Negotiation and Decision Making. She has over 30 years experience as an educator, coach, and consultant working all around the world. Her highly popular Guardian Masterclass Developing Your Presence, Power and Influence regularly sells out. Connson is the recipient of a number of teaching awards from the London School of Economics. She's also the author of Making Your Voice Heard: How to Own Your Space, Access Your Inner Power, and Become Influential*. In this conversation, Connson and I explore the challenging situation that many professionals experience: speaking up. We discuss several key tactics that she has surfaced in her research to do this more effectively. Plus, we highlight several of the lessons Connson has discovered in her own experience that will help us (and others) do this with more success. Key Points Managing your negative emotions can help create movement for you. Reflecting or journaling is a key starting point. Change your attitude about failure by framing a growth mindset. Move away from repetition and towards deliberate practice. Instead of focusing on power difference, zero in on the other person’s role in helping you achieve a greater good. Plan free time around learning a new skill or helping others instead of watching Netflix or sitting on the beach. Resources Mentioned Making Your Voice Heard: How to Own Your Space, Access Your Inner Power, and Become Influential* by Connson Locke Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes Use Power for Good and Not Evil, with Dacher Keltner (episode 254) Get Noticed Without Selling Out, with Laura Huang (episode 480) The Way to Make Sense to Others, with Tom Henschel (episode 518) Jumping In (Dave’s Journal) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Christy Wright: Take Back Your Time Christy Wright is a #1 bestselling author, personal growth expert, and host of The Christy Wright Show. She’s also the founder of Business Boutique, which equips women to make money doing what they love. She loves helping women chase their version of success. She's the author of Take Back Your Time: The Guilt-Free Guide to Life Balance*. In this conversation, Christy and I explore how to get practical about what’s important, each day. We discuss effectives ways to use timeframes to establish priorities for ourselves — and how those same timeframes can help us turn off work. Key Points Establishing priorities moves you from a place of feeling like a failure to a place of feeling real success. Most of us are clear on our fixed priorities, but we’re less intentional about the flexible priorities that tend to be more practical in daily life. Consider establishing priorities through the timeframes of seasons, weeks, and days. Having clear priorities helps you not only be productive — but makes it easier to turn it off when it’s time to stop. Resources Mentioned Take Back Your Time: The Guilt-Free Guide to Life Balance* by Christy Wright Related Episodes The Way to Stop Spinning Your Wheels on Planning (episode 319) Align Your Calendar to What Matters, with Nir Eyal (episode 431) How to Be Present, with Dave Crenshaw (episode 511) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Johnny Taylor, Jr.: Reset Johnny Taylor, Jr. is President and CEO of SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management. Johnny is frequently asked to testify before Congress on critical workforce issues and authors a weekly column, "Ask HR," in USA Today. Johnny was chairman of the President's Advisory Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and served as a member of the White House American Workforce Policy Advisory Board during the Trump Administration. He is the author of the new book Reset: A Leader’s Guide to Work in an Age of Upheaval*. In this conversation, Johnny and I highlight the current challenges in discovering talent and the populations that have been historically overlooked. We discuss what SHRM’s research and experience are showing to help leaders make better decisions on finding talent. Plus, we explore how to best handle incentives, so that we create the kind of culture that we will value inside our organizations. Key Points Both line managers in organizations and human resource professionals agree: finding a deep enough talent pool is a big problem. Historically, attracting overlooked talent felt right, but may not have been essential to be competitive. Those times are ending for most organizations. Studies show that organizations who discover talent in older workers, differently abled workers, veterans, the formerly incarcerated, people of color, and LGBTQ populations see positive, long-term results. The incentives for finding overlooked talent often are transactional. To ensure sustainability, leaders must establish this as a value in their organizations. Resources Mentioned Reset: A Leader’s Guide to Work in an Age of Upheaval* by Johnny Taylor, Jr. Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes How to Get the Ideal Team Player, with Patrick Lencioni (episode 301) Hire the Formerly Incarcerated, with Shelley Winner (episode 447) How to Support Women of Color, with Minda Harts (episode 506) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Dave Williams: Leadership Moments from NASA Dave is an astronaut, aquanaut, jet pilot, emergency physician, scientist, CEO, and bestselling author. He is the former Director of Space & Life Sciences at NASA’s Johnson Space Center and has flown in space twice on Space Shuttles Columbia and Endeavour. Dave holds the Canadian spacewalking record and was the first Canadian to live on the world’s only undersea research habitat. He is the recipient of six honorary degrees, the Order of Canada, and the Order of Ontario. Along with Elizabeth Howell, he is the author of Leadership Moments from NASA: Achieving the Impossible*. In this conversation, Dave and I discuss some of the key events from NASA’s history since its inception. We highlight three principles that Dave has uncovered in his research of interviews with NASA leaders over the years. Plus, a few practical tips that can help all of us lead teams more effectively. Key Points Introspection is a key and necessary practice for all leaders to hold — and often pays off in unexpected ways. Speaking up and listening up are critical values that helped support many of the NASA successes over the years. Cultural norms, such as senior leaders showing up regularly at all levels of the organization, can help ensure that communication is actually happening. NASA is an example of the movement away from a single, heroic leader and towards leadership, followership, and teamwork. Resources Mentioned Leadership Moments from NASA: Achieving the Impossible* by Dave Williams and Elizabeth Howell Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes An Astronaut’s Guide To Life On Earth, with Chris Hadfield (episode 149) Find Courage to Speak When It Matters Most, with Allan McDonald (episode 229) The Path Towards Trusting Relationships, with Edgar Schein and Peter Schein (episode 539) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Kwame Marfo Kwame Marfo is a director at Genentech in the San Francisco area. He is a graduate of the Coaching for Leaders Academy. He joins me in this episode to share how personal values can align intentionally with career choices. Key Points Kwame’s dad inspires the work he does today for others. An effective way to connect with others is to ask what books and podcasts they are listening to. This value of curiosity also came from Kwame’s dad. Getting diversity of leadership experience is useful to expand beyond an industry perspective. Establishing a vision gives clarity to what’s most important. Journaling has helped Kwame reflect on his life and illuminate gaps that lead to action. Don’t trust the summary. Resources Mentioned UnCommon Law Related Episodes Start With Why, with Simon Sinek (episode 223) Craft a Career to Fit Your Strengths, with Scott Anthony Barlow (episode 424) How to Create Your Personal Vision (free membership required) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Dave Stachowiak: Coaching for Leaders In August of 2011, I started Coaching for Leaders as a small, side project. Ten years later, the show — and the community around it — have grown beyond my wildest expectations. In this conversation, my friend Scott Anthony Barlow of Happen to Your Career celebrates the 10-year anniversary of Coaching for Leaders by interviewing me about my journey. Key Points I originally started the podcast as a side project to support a future transition into academia. Three things that I focused on at the start that are still central today: useful conversations, audio quality, and consistency. Focusing on quality and depth of conversations is more valuable than trying to hit everything. I realized at some point that I needed to make an affirmative choice to grow the side project into a business. Although I had considered a transition away from Dale Carnegie for years, my actual departure was (ironically) a non-event. Behavior change is a painful but necessary step in the learning process. There are two ways to bring light into the world. One is to be the light — the other is to reflect it. Bonus Audio What I've Learned About Learning Resources Mentioned Happen to Your Career Related Episodes How to Transform Your Limitations Into Advantages, with Mark Barden (episode 207) Tom Henschel Interviews Dave (episode 300) What High Performers Aren’t Telling You, with Scott Anthony Barlow (episode 466) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Juliet Funt: A Minute to Think Juliet Funt is a renowned keynote speaker and tough-love advisor to the Fortune 500 who is regularly featured in top global media outlets, including Forbes and Fast Company. She is the founder and CEO of The Juliet Funt Group, helping business leaders and organizations to unleash their full potential by unburdening talent from busywork. She has earned one of the highest ratings in the largest leadership event in the world, and she has worked with brands such as Spotify, National Geographic, Costco, Pepsi, Nike, and many more. Her new book is titled, A Minute to Think: Reclaim Creativity, Conquer Busyness, and Do Your Best Work. In this conversation, Juliet and I explore the four assets that many leaders bring to the workplace — and when taken too far, how these assets become risks. Juliet shares four questions we can ask of ourselves (and perhaps of others) that will surface where to start with finding space. Plus, we discuss some of the practical steps leaders can take to influence a culture of margin with their teams. Key Points The science is showing what many of us have experienced intuitively: space itself helps us to explore and expand possibility. Key assets can, if overused, become risks. These risks manifest in four ways: overdrive, perfectionism, overload, and frenzy. Four questions are useful starting points for controlling risk: When the risk is overdrive, the question is: Is there anything I can let go of?  When the risk is perfectionism, the question is: Where is ‘good enough’, good enough? When the risk is overload, the question is: What do I truly need to know? When the risk is frenzy, the question is: What deserves my attention? Resources Mentioned The Busyness Test A Minute to Think: Reclaim Creativity, Conquer Busyness, and Do Your Best Work* by Juliet Funt Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes The Power of Solitude, with Mike Erwin (episode 308) How to Change Your Behavior, with BJ Fogg (episode 507) How High Achievers Begin to Find Balance, with Michael Hyatt (episode 522) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Edgar Schein and Peter Schein: Humble Inquiry Edgar Schein is Professor Emeritus of MIT's Sloan School of Management. He is the recipient of the Distinguished Scholar Practitioner Award from the Academy of Management, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Leadership Association, and the Lifetime Achievement Award in Organization Development from the International OD Network. Peter Schein is COO of the Organizational Culture and Leadership Institute. He provides counsel to senior management on organizational development challenges facing private and public sector entities worldwide. He is a contributing author to the 5th edition of Organizational Culture and Leadership and co-author of Humble Leadership and The Corporate Culture Survival Guide. The pair co-founded the Organizational Culture and Leadership Institute and have written several books together, including two in the Humble Leadership series. They’ve recently released the second edition of Humble Inquiry: The Gentle Art of Asking Instead of Telling*. In this conversation, Edgar, Peter, and I explore the four relationship levels and invite leaders to move professional relationships from level 1 to level 2. A key entry point for this is to artfully reveal some of the things we tend to conceal. We discuss some practical steps to take — and the benefit for leaders and organizations. Key Points The four relationship levels: Level –1: Domination/exploitation Level 1: Transactional (professional distance) Level 2: Personal (openness and trust) Level 3: Intimacy We all conceal things. A useful way to build a relationship is for people to open up more of their concealed selves. A relationship is dance — improv if you will. We need to be willing to share the mic with the other party. Open-ended questions like, “What’s different today?” can help people to show up in the way they want to. Traditionally, we expected the person with more status to take the first step. That doesn’t necessarily need to be the case. Notice your own motivations, interventions, and contributions to the relationship. Resources Mentioned Humble Inquiry: The Gentle Art of Asking Instead of Telling* by Edgar Schein and Peter Schein The Organizational Culture and Leadership Institute Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes The Path of Humble Leadership, with Edgar Schein and Peter Schein (episode 363) How to Ask Better Questions, with David Marquet (episode 454) Your Leadership Motive, with Patrick Lencioni (episode 505) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.