
Coaching for Leaders
Leaders aren’t born, they’re made. This Monday show helps you discover leadership wisdom through insightful conversations. Independently produced weekly since 2011, Dr. Dave Stachowiak brings perspective from a thriving, global leadership academy, plus more than 15 years of leadership at Dale Carnegie. Bestselling authors, expert researchers, deep conversation, and regular dialogue with listeners have attracted 40 million downloads and over 250K followers on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Activate your FREE membership to access the entire leadership and management library at CoachingforLeaders.com
Latest episodes

Nov 27, 2017 • 36min
325: Three Anchor Stories You Need, with Ryan Williams
Ryan Williams: The Influencer Economy
Ryan Williams is a media strategist, international speaker, and author of The Influencer Economy*. His work has been featured in Inc. Magazine, Huffington Post, Success Magazine, Social Media Examiner and USA Today.
Key Points
The Three Anchor Stories:
The Tearjerker story
The Authority Story
The Pay my Bills Story
Leadership comes from storytelling
The majority of us have great stories that we undervalue.
Authenticity is having your actions match your words.
Make your stories a conversation.
In your stories, don’t discount your past successes.
Resources Mentioned
Making Ideas Happen* by Scott Belsky
How to Win Friends and Influence People* by Dale Carnegie
Made to Stick* by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
The Brand Gap* by Marty Neumeier
The Influencer Economy* by Ryan Williams
Related Episodes
The Four Critical Stories Leaders Need for Influence, with David Hutchens (episode 148)
Practical Storytelling That Isn’t Awkward, with David Hutchens (episode 228)
Ignite Change Through Storytelling, with Nancy Duarte (episode 268)
Executive Presence with Your Elevator Speech, with Tom Henschel (episode 316)
Discover More
Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Nov 20, 2017 • 38min
324: Holiday Gifts for Leaders, with Bonni Stachowiak
Bonni Stachowiak: Teaching in Higher Ed
Bonni Stachowiak is the host of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast, a professor of business and management at Vanguard University, and my life partner. Prior to her academic career, Bonni was a human resources consultant and executive officer for a publicly traded company. She joins me monthly to respond to listener questions.
Resources Mentioned
Greetabl* (15% off link)
Blinkist* (free trial)
Power Your Podcast with Storytelling
Kindle*
Audible* (2 free books + 30 days free)
Amazon Fresh* (free trial)
Blue Apron*
Acuity Scheduling* (free trial)
Sanebox* (free trial and $15 off)
Apple Watch
Apple AirPods
Best Year Ever course*
Related Episodes
How To Create A Personal Knowledge Management System, with Bonni Stachowiak (episode 129)
Tools for Saving Time and Learning More, with Bonni Stachowiak (episode 298)
The Way to Stop Spinning Your Wheels on Planning (episode 319)
Discover More
Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Nov 13, 2017 • 39min
323: How to Leverage People Analytics, with Jenny Dearborn
Jenny Dearborn: The Data Driven Leader
Jenny Dearborn is Senior Vice President and Chief Learning Officer at SAP. She is the author, with David Swanson, of the new book, The Data Driven Leader: A Powerful Approach to Delivering Measurable Business Impact Through People Analytics.
Key Points
There is data in everything.
It’s not just about customer data, it can be used internally to improve the organization.
HR professionals should try to be more in tune with the C-Suite and the company’s big picture strategy.
A lot of organizations think they’re doing analytics but what they’re really doing is reporting.
The best way to do analysis is to start mapping information against each other.
Organizations often have enough data but they haven’t thought about ways to utilize it.
Resources Mentioned
The Data Driven Leader: A Powerful Approach to Delivering Measurable Business Impact Through People Analytics* by Jenny Dearborn and David Swanson
Book Notes
Download my highlights from The Data Driven Leader in PDF format (free membership required).
Related Episodes
Three Steps to Take After You Conduct a Survey, with Bonni Stachowiak (episode 150)
How to Lead Through Uncertainty and Change, with Jacqueline Farrington (episode 224)
How to Succeed with Leadership and Management, with John Kotter (episode 249)
Discover More
Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Nov 6, 2017 • 40min
322: How to Manage Your Money, with Jill Schlesinger
Jill Schlesigner: Jill on Money
Jill Schlesinger is the Emmy-nominated Business Analyst for CBS News, the host of the Jill on Money podcast and of the nationally syndicated radio show, Jill on Money, which won the 2018 Gracie Award for Best National Talk Show. She has been recognized as a Top 10 LinkedIn Influencer and a Top 10 LinkedIn Voice. She’s the author of The Dumb Things Smart People Do with Their Money: Thirteen Ways to Right Your Financial Wrongs*.
Key Points
First Three Financial Steps:
Pay off consumer debt
Create emergency fund of 6-12 months of living expenses
Maximize retirement contributions
You only need a financial advisor once you’ve achieved the first three financial steps.
Life insurance is a cornerstone of a family’s financial security.
Think about if your death would result in financial hardship for someone else.
90% of people should buy term life insurance.
Make sure your advisor is held to the fiduciary standard.
Put a freeze on your credit file for each of the credit bureaus.
Resources Mentioned
Marilyn Pittman
letsmakeaplan.org
napfa.org - National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
lifehappens.org
Haven Life
equifaxsecurity2017.com
annualcreditreport.com
The Little Book of Common Sense Investing: The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair Share of Stock Market Returns by John Bogle*
Betterment
Jill on Money
Related Episodes
Improve Your Writing With Practical Typography, with Matthew Butterick (episode 145)
How to Engage With Humor, with David Nihill (episode 245)
How to Reduce Drama With Kids, with Tina Payne Bryson (episode 310)
Discover More
Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Oct 30, 2017 • 27min
321: How to Get Engagement Online, with Bonni Stachowiak
Bonni Stachowiak: Teaching in Higher Ed
Bonni Stachowiak is the host of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast, a professor of business and management at Vanguard University, and my life partner. Prior to her academic career, Bonni was a human resources consultant and executive officer for a publicly traded company. She joins me monthly to respond to listener questions.
Listener Questions
Elmer asked about how to use Twitter to help people in his organization stay in touch.
Andrew asked how he can get coaching and/or leadership development when his organization doesn’t have the funding.
Anders asked about technology tools that will help leaders influence the hearts and minds of people.
Roger asked for advice on how to give his manager feedback.
Jen asked about managing former peers.
Resources Mentioned
The Empowered Manager: Positive Political Skills at Work* by Peter Block
Zoom*
FeedForward by Marshall Goldsmith
Related Episodes
How Twitter Can Help You Lead, with Joel Comm (episode 242)
How to Manage Former Peers, with Tom Henschel (episode 257)
How to Challenge Directly and Care Personally, with Kim Scott (episode 302)
Discover More
Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Oct 23, 2017 • 0sec
320: Better Leadership Through StrengthsFinder, with Lisa Cummings
Explore how leveraging individual strengths can drive impactful results in leadership. Recognize and enhance natural abilities for success and fulfillment. Embrace cognitive diversity in teams for improved collaboration. Align StrengthsFinder with leadership demands for goal achievement. Utilize strengths awareness for enhanced business performance. Empower leadership through strengths finder and coaching resources.

21 snips
Oct 16, 2017 • 29min
319: The Way to Stop Spinning Your Wheels on Planning
Dave Stachowiak: Coaching for Leaders
I am often asked how I produce this show, facilitate the Coaching for Leaders Academy, and still manage to keep work-life balance in check. Like most people, it is a daily struggle and that I error on often. However, I have found a few systems that work well for me.
In this episode, I share why I've found quarterly planning to work well for me. In addition, I walk though my planning process in detail, so you can replicate the areas that align best with the context of your work.
Key Points
Leaders need to both lead and plan.
Planning takes discipline.
Plan out quarterly in addition to, or even instead of, planning annually.
Take the most important areas of your life and try to find an objective for each one that you can focus on during the quarter.
Lagging indicators are the results, and leading indicators are the action steps you take to get the results.
Your life will mostly fill up with day-to-day tasks, but the key is what you do with the remaining time.
We tend to think we can do it all.
Have a “next quarter list” easily accessible so you can get things out of your head and clear up mental space.
Having a quarterly plan will help you make better decisions because you’ve already done the critical thinking about what’s important to you.
Resources Mentioned
The 12-Week Year* by Brian Moran and Michael Lennington
The Four Disciplines of Execution* by Chris McChesney and Sean Covey
Related Episodes
Do This for a Productive Week (episode 180)
How to Actually Move Numbers, with Chris McChesney (episode 294)
How to Turn Goals Into Results (MemberCast 1)
Discover More
Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

10 snips
Oct 9, 2017 • 40min
318: Ideas Worth Stealing From Top Entrepreneurs, with Dorie Clark
Dorie Clark: Entrepreneurial You
Dorie Clark is a marketing strategy consultant, professional speaker, and frequent contributor to the Harvard Business Review. Recognized as a branding expert by the Associated Press, Fortune, and Inc. magazine, she is the author of the new book, Entrepreneurial You* — and her prior books, Reinventing You* and Stand Out*.
Key Points
Even things that seem solid can change at any moment.
Anybody, in any career, needs to emphasize flexibility and adaptability.
35% of Americans are self-employed, projected to be 40% by 2020.
Entrepreneurial side projects expand your skills for your main career.
Side projects often create new career opportunities.
If something is not being done, ask why is it not being done. Because it’s impossible? Or just hard?
Check for metrics that you’re heading in the right direction.
Progress might not always come in the form you’re expecting.
How do you diversify but do it in a way that doesn’t pull you in a million directions?
Resources Mentioned
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion* by Robert B. Cialdini
Entrepreneurial You Self-assessment
Entrepreneurial You: Monetize Your Expertise, Create Multiple Income Streams, and Thrive* by Dorie Clark
Related Episodes
How to Stand Out, with Dorie Clark (episode 189)
How to Be a Non-Conformist, with Adam Grant (episode 238)
How to Solve a Really Big Problem, with Teresa Chahine (episode 292)
Discover More
Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Oct 2, 2017 • 39min
317: We Are All Heroes in Our Own Movies, with Bonni Stachowiak
Bonni Stachowiak: Teaching in Higher Ed
Bonni Stachowiak is the host of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast, a professor of business and management at Vanguard University, and my life partner. Prior to her academic career, Bonni was a human resources consultant and executive officer for a publicly traded company. She joins me monthly to respond to listener questions.
Listener Questions
Melvin asked about how to handle a layoff he’s been asked to do.
Melissa asked about what she should do differently before letting people go.
Carlos asked about how to change the dynamics on a dysfunctional team.
Krystal asked about good reading resources for better customer service.
Jun asked about what he could do to improve his executive presence.
Resources Mentioned
The Automatic Customer* by John Warrillow
Good Authority* by Jonathan Raymond
Radical Candor* by Kim Scott
The Power of Vulnerability by Brené Brown
Why Good Leaders Make You Feel Safe by Simon Sinek
Raving Fans: A Revolutionary Approach To Customer Service* by Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles
How to Win Friends and Influence People* by Dale Carnegie
Related Episodes
The Power Of Servant Leadership, with John Dickson (episode 137)
How to Create Team Guidelines, with Susan Gerke (episode 192)
How to Challenge Directly and Care Personally, with Kim Scott (episode 302)
Five Steps to Hold People Accountable, with Jonathan Raymond (episode 306)
Membercast 4: How to Create a Team Vision
Discover More
Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Sep 25, 2017 • 39min
316: Executive Presence with Your Elevator Speech, with Tom Henschel
Tom Henschel: The Look & Sound of Leadership
Tom Henschel of Essential Communications grooms senior leaders and executive teams. An internationally recognized expert in the field of workplace communications and self-presentation, he has helped thousands of leaders achieve excellence through his work as an executive coach and his top-rated podcast, The Look & Sound of Leadership.
Key Points
An elevator speech is a crisp, concise, high-level summary of a complex, multi-layered topic.
It can be about whatever you do as a profession, but it can also be about anything else, like your recent vacation.
Elevator speeches get crafted … it doesn’t happen in the spur of the moment.
Creating an elevator speech doesn’t take long, but you have to choose to reflect.
An elevator speech is actually a conversation tailored to the other person.
Say a little bit, and then test the other person’s level of interest.
The longer you talk, the less effective you are.
The Three Qualities of a Great Elevator Speech
Keep it short
Be memorable
Tailor it to the listener
Resources Mentioned
Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office* by Lois P. Frankel
Related Episodes
Enhance Your Executive Presence, with Tom Henschel (episode 272)
How to Grow Your Professional Network, with Tom Henschel (episode 279)
Tom Henschel Interviews Dave (episode 300)
Discover More
Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.