Coaching for Leaders

Jess Britt, an experienced executive and nonprofit board chair, shares insights on transforming meetings from dreaded events into engaging collaborations. She emphasizes the importance of clear objectives to enhance participant engagement. Techniques such as warm-up questions, role-playing, and feedback methods like emoji polls are discussed to foster interaction. Britt also highlights the benefits of virtual meetings while stressing the need for open dialogue and respectful time management. Listeners are encouraged to implement simple strategies that lead to productive and enjoyable gatherings.

Margie Warrell, a best-selling author and leadership coach, dives into the essential nature of courage for leaders. She discusses how our intelligence can amplify fears, hindering growth, and warns against valuing the present at the expense of the future. Margie emphasizes confronting irrational fears and avoiding the pitfalls of overthinking. She encourages action despite uncertainty and shares personal stories highlighting that embracing vulnerability is key to true leadership. Her insights aim to inspire a courageous mindset in all aspects of life.

Ethan Kross, an award-winning professor at the University of Michigan and author of *Chatter* and *Shift*, dives into the nuances of managing emotions in leadership. He discusses how our responses to emotional triggers can shape our outcomes. Discover how music can help modulate feelings and the power of distancing language to gain perspective. Kross introduces strategies like time shifting, encouraging listeners to consider how they might feel about situations in the future, and emphasizes the importance of experimenting with tools tailored to individual needs.

Sandra Matz, a Columbia Business School professor and expert in psychological targeting, shares her insights on the power of algorithms in leadership. She discusses how psychological targeting can identify traits like personality and income while urging leaders to use this knowledge for good. Matz highlights the importance of ethical data practices, transparency, and innovative approaches to protect privacy. She also explores the role of AI in early mental health interventions, showing how technology can improve lives when used responsibly.

Join Alison Wood Brooks, a Harvard Business School professor and conversation expert, as she shares insights from her book, *Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves*. Discover how preparing conversation topics can transform small talk into meaningful exchanges. Alison advocates for curiosity in social interactions and explains that the skillful management of topics is crucial for engaging dialogues. Learn how even the simplest conversations can lead to deeper connections, making you a more effective communicator.

Adam Galinsky, Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Columbia Business School, dives into the art of inspiring leadership. He argues that every leader has the potential to inspire and shares how a simple, vivid vision can captivate an audience. Galinsky emphasizes that recurring, strong imagery coupled with clear communication reinforces a leader's message. With insights from his TED Talk and his book 'Inspire,' he reveals that repetition is crucial in making a vision resonate, especially during challenging times.

Sunita Sah, an award-winning professor at Cornell and author of *Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes*, shares her insights on defiance and compliance. She discusses how defiance is a nuanced process rather than a snap judgement. Sunita explains the five stages of defiance and highlights the concept of ‘insinuation anxiety,’ which leads people to prioritize social harmony over personal values. Through personal anecdotes, she emphasizes the importance of standing firm in healthcare choices and asserts that true defiance aligns with one’s core values.

Explore the evolution of team communication from traditional methods to digital platforms, focusing on clear expectations. Discover strategies for enhancing remote collaboration with tools like Zendesk, alongside tips for effective engagement in higher education. The discussion highlights the importance of purposeful gatherings and maintaining boundaries in donor relationships. Finally, learn how leveraging team strengths can boost collaboration and overall effectiveness, promoting a balanced leadership style.

Jennifer Garvey Berger, co-founder and CEO of Cultivating Leadership, dives into the transformative power of feedback in this engaging discussion. She emphasizes that feedback is not just a one-way street but a valuable opportunity for shared learning. By dissecting our reactions and inviting others' perspectives, leaders can unlock deeper insights and growth. Berger also shares strategies for effective feedback conversations, promoting collaboration and curiosity to enhance team dynamics and personal development. A must-listen for aspiring leaders!

Anne Chow, the first woman of color CEO at AT&T Business, discusses the transformative power of inclusion and values in the workplace. She emphasizes the distinction between core and aspirational values, advocating for aligning them with actual behaviors. Anne shares strategies for engaging teams in values discussions and stresses the importance of accountability and regular assessments to build trust. The conversation also touches on evolving perspectives around generational diversity and the need for leaders to understand the unique motivations of younger employees.