
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

Sep 18, 2017 • 40min
315: How to Transcend Work-Life Balance, with Scott Anthony Barlow
Scott Anthony Barlow: Happen to Your Career
Scott Anthony Barlow is the Founder of Happen to Your Career. He’s been featured on CNBC, Yahoo, CareerBuilder, Fast Company and Huffington Post and various colleges and universities as a top expert on career happiness. He's held roles executive roles in human resources, business development, and career coaching.
Scott is the host of the Happen to Your Career podcast, featuring the career stories of many successful professionals. His team and him have worked with over 25,000 people to help them stop settling, find their signature strengths, and start doing meaningful work they are enamored with.
In this conversation, Scott and I explore the myth of work-life balance and discuss how we should instead be aiming for work-life integration.
Key Points
Life doesn’t stop when you’re at work.
The goal is to build a career that fully integrates with what you want most out of life.
If you’re around the people you want to be around then you become a happier person.
When people say they want work-life balance, what they’re really saying is that they want to experience happiness in how they’re spending their time.
When you do things that other people are not willing to do, you get results that other people don’t get.
Resources Mentioned
8-Day Video Course to Figuring Out What You Love*
The Ultimate Guide to Using Your Strengths to Get Hired*
Mike Vardy on time theming
StrengthsFinder training for individuals and teams* (use code CFL10 for a 10% tuition discount)
The ONE Thing* by Jay Papasan
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People* by Stephen Covey
The Dip* by Seth Godin
Related Episodes
How to Know When to Move On (episode 175)
How to Hire a Coach, with Marc Mawhinney (episode 179)
How to Figure Out Your Career, with Scott Anthony Barlow (episode 259)
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Sep 11, 2017 • 40min
314: Three Steps to Establish Your Leadership Brand, with Emily Soccorsy and Justin Foster
Emily Soccorsy and Justin Foster: Your Leadership Brand
Emily Soccorsy and Justin Foster are from Root + River. They are brand strategists and marketers who believe that your brand is how other people experience what you believe. In this episode, Emily and Justin show us the key steps to create a framework for your leadership brand.
Key Points
Branding is something that begins inside of you.
Much of branding is just uncovering what’s inside of you, articulating it, and then reflecting it outward.
We’re living in a world where we can no longer get away with pretending to be something we’re not, so we have no alternative but to be ourselves.
If you reverse engineer a brand failure, it’s usually because of a poor leadership decision, not a marketing problem.
Whenever there is an outward branding problem, look inward.
The most successful brands are the ones that have a minuscule chasm between their public brand and how they operate internally.
Most missions come from suffering.
What problem does the organization solve in the world?
When there’s a connection to a belief, it becomes the message that then permeates every aspect of an organization.
Branding becomes an invitation to believe what you believe.
Our obsession with branding and marketing being finished is part of the problem.
It’s always good for your brand to take a stand.
Three questions to ask when building a brand:
What do you believe in?
What’s your mission?
How do you create value in the world?
Resources Mentioned
Root + River
An Open Letter on Branding
Oatmeal v Bacon: Oatmeal is Boring, Bacon is Not - The Branding Book for People that Care* by Justin Foster
Related Episodes
The Five Elements Of Your Personal Brand, with Heather Backstrom (episode 133)
The Four Stories Leaders Need For Influence, with David Hutchens (episode 148)
How to Stand Out, with Dorie Clark (episode 189)
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Sep 4, 2017 • 39min
313: The Way to Start Leading, 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
Chris asked for advice on how to begin his leadership development journey, in spite of a lot of current frustrations.
Warren asked for our perspective on how to handle a problematic situation with two employees he has inherited.
Malcolm asked about our philosophy of leadership and how much we need to stay true to ourselves.
Resources Mentioned
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People* by Stephen Covey
How to Win Friends and Influence People* by Dale Carnegie
11 Crucial Books That Every Leader Should Know
American Management Association
Dale Carnegie courses
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking* by Susan Cain
Podcast episodes for new leaders
Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body* by Roxane Gay
The Power of Vulnerability* by Brené Brown
Related Episodes
The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, with Susan Cain (episode 44)
The Way to Turn Followers Into Leaders, with David Marquet (episode 241)
Five Steps to Hold People Accountable, with Jonathan Raymond (episode 306)
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Aug 28, 2017 • 38min
312: Where Technical People Begin on Leadership, with Jon Lokhorst
Jon Lokhorst: Technical Leaders
Jon Lokhorst is a leadership coach and consultant who partners with CPAs, CFOs, and other leaders who face massive change in their industry and recognize the need for a new model of leadership to navigate those challenges.
Key Points
Leadership development is often neglected in technical fields.
We have a tendency to focus more on our clients’ businesses than our own.
Take a step back and ask yourself, “What are the things that are really important to focus on that aren’t necessarily urgent?”
Resources Mentioned
Jon’s white paper and e-course on professional development
Related Episodes
How to Influence Numerous Stakeholders, with Andy Kaufman (episode 240)
How to Figure Out Your Career, with Scott Anthony Barlow (episode 259)
How to Get Into Leadership Flow, with Croft Edwards (episode 264)
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Aug 21, 2017 • 45min
311: Negotiation Tactics for Results, with Kwame Christian
Kwame Christian: Negotiate Anything
Kwame Christian is a business lawyer and the Director of the American Negotiation Institute. His TEDx Talk, Finding Confidence in Conflict, was the most popular TED Talk on the topic of conflict of 2017.
Today, he’s working extensively with procurement departments within companies to help them make better deals. Kwame hosts the top negotiation podcast, Negotiate Anything and is the author of the book Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life*.
Questions
Margaret asked about how to respond to people when they are asking for a pay raise.
Kim asked about how to encourage an employee to leave the company.
Vivian asked about how to handle a situation where an employee isn’t performing but who has a close relationship with a more senior leader.
Roger asked what wisdom we’d give to leaders on handling tough negotiation situations.
Resources Mentioned
Download Kwame’s Free Guide
Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life* by Kwame Christian
Getting to Yes* by Roger Fisher and William L. Ury
Five Steps to Hold People Accountable with Jonathan Raymond (episode 306)
How to Win Friends and Influence People* by Dale Carnegie
Related Episodes
How to Listen When Someone Is Venting, with Mark Goulston (episode 91)
Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It, with Chris Voss (episode 262)
How to Benefit From Conflict, with Susan Gerke (episode 263)
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Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Aug 14, 2017 • 41min
310: How to Reduce Drama With Kids, with Tina Payne Bryson
Tina Payne Bryson: No Drama Discipline
Tina Payne Bryson is the co-author, with Dan Siegel, of two New York Times bestsellers, The Whole Brain Child* and No Drama Discipline* — each of which has been translated into over twenty languages. She is a psychotherapist and the Executive Director of The Center for Connection in Pasadena, California, where she offers parenting consultations and provides therapy to children and adolescents.
Key Points
Much of what we do in the name of discipline is counter-productive.
The original meaning of the word “discipline” is to teach.
To effectively discipline (to teach kids skills to do better in the future), children have to be in a state of mind in which they can learn.
Consequences can be counter-productive.
If you’re being an effective disciplinarian, you should be disciplining less over time.
“Time-outs” don’t teach kids anything, but taking the time to step away from the situation to talk to your kids does teach.
Resources Mentioned
No-Drama Discipline: The Whole-Brain Way to Calm the Chaos and Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind* by Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind* by Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
The Yes Brain: How to Cultivate Courage, Curiosity, and Resilience in Your Child* by Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
Tina Payne Bryson's website
Book Notes
Download my highlights from No Drama Discipline in PDF format (free membership required).
Related Episodes
Five Leadership Lessons Learned from Luke (episode 50)
How to Improve Your Coaching Skills with Tom Henschel (episode 190)
The Way to Stop Rescuing People From Their Problems, with Michael Bungay Stanier (episode 284)
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Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Aug 7, 2017 • 38min
309: How to Help Followers Lead, 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 is the author of The Productive Online and Offline Professor: A Practical Guide.
Listener Questions
Michael asked about what you do when you have a follower who has leadership potential but is reluctant to step into leadership shoes.
Steve asked for suggestions on how to get communication out to a team when email isn’t an option.
Michal asked about transitioning military leadership experience to a position in the private sector.
Ricard asked about the discomfort of feeling like you don’t know it all when you’re new in a role.
Resources Mentioned
Radical Candor* by Kim Scott
The Servant as Leader* by by Robert Greenleaf
Scaling Up : How a Few Companies Make It … and Why the Rest Don't* by Verne Harnish
The 4 Disciplines of Execution* by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, and Jim Huling
Past Coaching for Leaders episodes on feedback
Turn the Ship Around!* by David Marquet
How to Write a KILLER LinkedIn Profile … And 18 Mistakes to Avoid* by Brenda Bernstein
Related Episodes
The Power Of Servant Leadership, with John Dickson (episode 137)
Where To Start With Succession Planning, with Bill Bliss (episode 153)
The Way to Turn Followers Into Leaders, with David Marquet (episode 241)
How to Support Veterans in Your Workplace, with Eugenia Weiss (episode 280)
How to Write a Killer LinkedIn Profile, with Brenda Bernstein (episode 285)
Discover More
Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Jul 31, 2017 • 43min
308: The Power of Solitude, with Mike Erwin
Mike Erwin: Lead Yourself First
Mike Erwin is the CEO of the Character & Leadership Center and the Founder and President of The Positivity Project, a non-profit organization with the mission to help America’s youth build stronger relationships by recognizing the character strengths in themselves and others. He is the co-author of the book Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude*.
Key Points
Solitude helps both in intense thinking and also in giving the brain a chance to quiet down.
It’s hard to think intensively with a lot going on around you.
Even extroverts can benefit from solitude.
Start small. Just find a few minutes throughout the day to build a habit of solitude.
Social media and solitude can coexist.
The four ways solitude benefits leaders:
Clarity
Creativity
Moral Courage
Emotional Balance
Resources Mentioned
Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude* by Raymond M. Kethledge and Mike Erwin
The Character & Leadership Center
Team Red, White, & Blue
The Positivity Project
Activate Your Free Coaching for Leaders Membership
Get immediate access to my free, 10-day audio course, 10 Ways to Empower the People You Lead. Give me 10 minutes a day for 10 days to get the most immediate, practical actions to become a better leader. Join at CoachingforLeaders.com.
Related Episodes
CFL184: Getting Things Done with David Allen
CFL196: Marshall Goldsmith on Triggers: Creating Behavior That Lasts
CFL211: How to Be Present and Productive
CFL214: Stop Worrying and Start Living
Next Episode
Bonni and I return for the monthly question and answer show. Submit your question for consideration next week or for the first question and answer show the first Monday of every month at http://coachingforleaders.com/feedback

Jul 24, 2017 • 44min
307: How to Make Inclusion Happen, with Deepa Purushothaman
Deepa Purushothaman: Inclusion at Deloitte
Deepa Purushothaman is a National Managing Principal of Inclusion at Deloitte. She speaks extensively about Deloitte’s focus on women and has been featured at national conferences and in publications like Bloomberg and Harvard Business Review.
Key Points
You don’t have to always do things they way they’ve been done before — you can find a new way that is authentic to you.
As society evolves, companies need to think about how they provide inclusion for their employees.
People are less worried about seeing a diverse leadership team than they are about feeling like they belong.
Individuals need to feel a sense of belonging and connection.
Inclusion is starting to play an important role in talent acquisition and retention.
One of the biggest mistakes is not knowing where to start and then doing nothing.
Employees join and leave companies based on whether or not there is an inclusive culture.
Resources Mentioned
Responding When Your Expertise Is Challenged
Deepa Purushothaman on Twitter
Related Episodes
How to Handle Workplace Bullying, with Jill Morgenthaler (episode 172)
How Women Make Stronger, Smarter Choices, with Therese Huston (episode 255)
How to Help the Underdog Thrive, with Terry Lipovski (episode 275)
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Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

27 snips
Jul 17, 2017 • 43min
306: Five Steps to Hold People Accountable, with Jonathan Raymond
Jonathan Raymond, founder of Refound, shares the 5 steps of the 'Accountability Dial' - from 'The Mention' to 'The Limit'. He emphasizes the importance of personal caring for effective accountability. Micromanagement focuses on tasks, but accountability focuses on relationships and growth through productive discomfort. He teaches a common language around accountability that works for almost everyone.