Coaching for Leaders

Scott Keller, a senior partner at McKinsey and co-founder of Digital Divide Data, shares invaluable insights from his extensive experience in leadership and teamwork. He emphasizes the importance of staffing for both aptitude and attitude, advocating for a 'first team' mindset among leaders. The conversation reveals how top CEOs navigate personnel changes and establish a team-first culture through effective communication. Scott also discusses the delicate balance of personal connections in leadership, offering fresh perspectives on fostering collaboration and enhancing overall team performance.

Susan MacKenty Brady, CEO of the Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership and an authority on leadership wellbeing, shares her insights on fostering inclusivity. She emphasizes the shift from being an ally to an upstander, advocating for proactive action in addressing inequalities. The conversation highlights the need for self-awareness through implicit bias assessments and the importance of relationship-building in leadership. With a focus on personal responsibility, Susan encourages leaders to engage in meaningful actions that create lasting change.

In this engaging discussion, Russ Laraway, Chief People Officer at Goodwater Capital and author of *When They Win, You Win*, shares his expertise on delivering effective feedback. He emphasizes the importance of having direct conversations and using the Situation-Behavior-Impact model to organize feedback. Russ challenges the tendency to overprepare, advocating for authenticity and inviting dialogue. Listeners learn practical strategies to enhance communication and foster growth within their teams, highlighting the critical role of truth in leadership.

Mollie West Duffy, an expert in organizational design and co-author of "Big Feelings," discusses the complexities of self-comparison. She reveals that comparing ourselves to others can actually foster growth and happiness, challenging the common belief that we should avoid it. Mollie advocates for curating social media to promote positive comparisons and emphasizes the power of community in personal development. She also explores envy, suggesting we reframe it as motivation while highlighting the importance of emotional support through life’s challenges.

Nick Timiraos, Chief Economics Correspondent at The Wall Street Journal, shares valuable insights on navigating difficult stakeholder dynamics. He highlights Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell’s emotional intelligence and clear communication as key traits for managing tough political relationships. Timiraos outlines four unwritten rules for dealing with challenging figures like Donald Trump, emphasizing restraint and focus on the economy over politics. Listeners will appreciate the lessons on teamwork and the importance of maintaining professionalism in high-pressure environments.

Frederic Laloux, the author of the bestselling book 'Reinventing Organizations,' discusses how leaders can help employees show up as their authentic selves. He emphasizes the importance of creating a culture of wholeness where vulnerability and openness thrive. Storytelling plays a key role in fostering connection and authenticity. Laloux shares practical strategies for leaders, urging them to model wholeness themselves. He highlights how personal histories can enrich organizational culture and promote teamwork. By embracing these principles, leaders can catalyze meaningful change.

In this insightful discussion, Tom Henschel, an internationally recognized expert in workplace communication, shares his expertise on pitching ideas to managers. He emphasizes the importance of understanding your manager’s preferences and framing your pitch with a clear purpose. Tom introduces a three-step storytelling framework and highlights key tactics like building a strong business case and adapting communication styles for remote work. This engaging conversation reveals how to navigate the complexities of workplace dynamics effectively.

Explore how to lead effectively when your team members know more than you. Discover the shift from traditional management to a collaborative leadership style that values skill development and team empowerment. Navigate communication challenges in hiring, especially when accents complicate understanding, and rethink hiring practices to focus on skills over interviews. Delve into the importance of intrinsic motivation versus short-term incentives, and learn about fostering a collaborative culture that celebrates teamwork and engagement.

David Novak, co-founder and former CEO of Yum! Brands, shares insights on cultivating joy in your career. He delves into the significance of self-coaching and the need to identify personal joy blockers. David emphasizes using joy as a guiding principle for career decisions and encourages self-reflection to align passions with professional journeys. He also discusses the evolution of personal and professional goals, highlighting adaptability and focused objectives as keys to career advancement.

Whitney Johnson, CEO of Disruption Advisors and a top business thinker, shares her expertise on smart growth leadership. She explains that growth often starts slowly, likening it to learning to ride a bike. Whitney highlights the importance of self-reflection and storytelling, as well as using imagery to foster personal development. She also emphasizes the need for genuine feedback from others to identify areas for improvement. Ultimately, Whitney inspires leaders to help their teams connect past experiences with today’s goals for transformative growth.