Excellent Executive Coaching: Growing Your Business and Enhancing Your Craft.

EEC 379: Understanding Leadership By Embracing Fearlessness, with John Sigmon

6 snips

Apr 29, 2025

In this insightful discussion, John Sigmon, an executive coach and two-time C-Suite executive, dives into the link between leadership and nature. He shares how the dynamics of natural ecosystems can guide leaders in embracing resilience and adaptability. Sigmon emphasizes the importance of curiosity and connection among leaders for effective collaboration. His book, 'Wild Leadership,' offers innovative tools inspired by nature, urging executives to adopt wild approaches while maintaining strategic focus for impactful results.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Leadership as Ecosystem Connection

Leadership exists primarily in relationships between leaders, not isolated individuals.
Organizations function like ecosystems where connectedness is essential for growth and learning.

INSIGHT

Leadership Lessons From Nature

Organizations are living ecosystems favoring adaptability over rigid control.
Resilience means thriving amid adversity, not just 'gritting it out.'

ANECDOTE

Using Nature to Spark Creativity

John uses nature observations, like looking at trees or snow outside his window, to help leaders gain fresh perspectives.
This approach aids creative thinking and helps leaders get unstuck by connecting current experiences to natural metaphors.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

John W. Sigmon is an esteemed executive coach, speaker, and organizational transformation expert, boasting a vast range of expertise that spans across all sectors of the economy.

How has your experience as a 2-time C-Suite executive shaped your understanding of leadership?
How do you see parallels between natural ecosystems, observation and getting leaders unstuck?
What are your book, Wild Leadership, key message?
Many leaders struggle with resilience and adaptability in volatile environments. What can leaders learn from ecosystems about navigating uncertainty?
Your book explores leadership through the lens of nature. How can executives adopt a more “wild” approach to leadership while maintaining the strategic rigor needed to drive measurable business outcomes?

John W. Sigmon

John W. Sigmon is an esteemed executive coach, speaker, and organizational transformation expert, boasting a vast range of expertise that spans across all sectors of the economy. With a remarkable career as a people leader and two-time C-Suite executive (CFO and CHRO), he brings unparalleled insights to create impactful experiences for individuals and organizations through coaching, organizational transformation, and personalized consulting.

John's client base is diverse, encompassing not-for-profit, global for-profit, healthcare, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations. He guides his clients towards their desired goals, employing methods of inquiry, awareness, reflection, and action. Certified as a Master Certified Coach through the International Coach Federation (ICF) and a Master Corporate Executive Coach, John received his coach training from the prestigious Coaches Training Institute. He also holds the distinction of being a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach and a Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder-Centered Coach.

John focuses on working with leaders who aspire to transcend traditional leadership approaches. He empowers them to embrace fearlessness, present their authentic selves, cultivate a devoted following, and wholeheartedly engage in all aspects of their lives.

Excellent Executive Coaching Podcast

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching that helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching a company that specializes in leadership development.