Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business 1236: Are You a Leader? This Simple Definition Will Change Everything w/ Kelly Kienzle
Tired of feeling like you're constantly fighting fires in your business? This episode is your guide to shifting from a reactive founder to a strategic and confident CEO. Leadership expert Kelly Kienzle joins the show to break down her research on the top three challenges every leader faces today: confusion, reactivity, and burnout. More importantly, she provides a clear, data-backed roadmap to move toward clarity, proactivity, and renewed energy. This episode is packed with tangible tools and mindset shifts that will help you reclaim control, inspire your team, and build a more resilient and fulfilling business.
💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business
- 🚀 The simple, two-step definition of leadership that proves ANYONE can be a leader (and why you already are).
- 🧠 How to shift from a reactive "firefighter" to a strategic CEO using the "Go Up on the Balcony" mindset to gain crucial perspective.
- ⚙️ The "Magic Delegation Question" to identify your highest-value tasks and empower your team with growth opportunities.
- 🌪️ How to identify your "Chaos Values" to stay grounded and make confident decisions, even when your business feels uncertain.
- ⚡️ A framework to move from confusion and burnout to a desired state of clarity, confidence, and strategic leadership.
- 📈 The concept of the "Growth Edge" and how to continuously develop your leadership skills without overwhelming yourself.
- 🤖 A practical approach for using AI as a leadership support tool without losing the essential human element.
📝 About Kelly Kienzle
Kelly Kienzle is a leadership development specialist who uses data-backed assessments and research-proven coaching methods to help leaders unlock their full potential. With a Master's in Organizational Development, a coaching certification from Georgetown University, and nearly two decades of experience at firms like McKinsey & Co., Kelly has a deep understanding of what makes leaders effective. She has coached over 400 leaders across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, bringing a unique blend of academic rigor and real-world application to her work.
🎯 Kelly’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
"Every one of us can and should be a leader. A leader is simply the person who notices that something needs to happen and takes the first step to make it happen."
📢 Memorable Quotes
- “A leader is simply the person who notices that something needs to happen and takes the first step to make it happen.”
- “Build your agility to move back and forth from the stage to the balcony so that you can live both perspectives and have both sets of data from those two different perspectives.”
- “If we push ourselves to that growth edge, then we will always be learning something new. We will always be pushing ourselves to our potential, but not so far that we are burning ourselves out.”
💡 Actionable Takeaways
- ✅ Identify your "Chaos Values." This week, write down the 3 core values that guide you during times of uncertainty. Keep them visible as a reminder.
- ✅ Practice "Going Up on the Balcony." Once a day, schedule 5 minutes to step away from your tasks, zoom out, and ask, "What is the bigger picture here? What patterns do I see?"
- ✅ Ask the "Magic Delegation Question." Look at your to-do list and ask, "What on this list am I uniquely qualified to do?" Delegate at least one task that doesn't fit your answer.
🔗 Links & Resources