During this episode of the Coaching Through Stories podcast, host Dr. Eric Bean speaks with Miguel Gallego, President and CEO of Precision Diagnostics. Miguel shares with listeners how he took risks financially and career wise to start his success at Precision Diagnostics. Miguel has the ability to go all in because he has a high level of trust in himself coupled with humility because he is secure enough to admit when he doesn’t know. Miguel shares how his career path shifted from one direction to another after receiving some advice from a mentor. Miguel discusses his perceptions on how companies must shift through periods of growth. This episode will help you think about how companies balance their priorities as they grow and innovate.  

Episode Highlights:  

• Learn how Miguel got started at Precision Diagnostics. 

• From 2005-2011 Miguel was in a Ph.D. program doing stem cell research. He started doing genetic testing on the side. In his thesis defense, he was told that he had presented a sales pitch. This ultimately encouraged him to shift his perspective. 
• Miguel shares how he shifted career paths and initially approached sales and business. 
• They discuss the initial pain points Precision Diagnostics faced. 
• Miguel offers his perspective on how growing companies need to shift from a builder mindset to an innovation mindset. 
• When you consistently stress the system it can force innovation. 

• Hear Miguel’s thoughts on culture and why aiming for a “family feel” may not be helpful. 
• In athletics, they talk about task cohesion and social cohesion. For performance, social cohesion is not as necessary as task cohesion. 
• It's still possible to have high levels of support and care while challenging each other to innovate. 
• Miguel shares how the company’s culture has shifted with changing priorities. 
• To foster a culture that sees challenges as opportunities, demonstrate your track record of achievement. 

• Balancing task completion and relationships is a moving target for Miguel. 
• Learn what happened when Precision Diagnostics adopted the OKR (Objectives and Key Results) approach and how that shift altered team cohesion. 
• Miguel describes his shift from working in operations to becoming the CEO. 
• Hear about Precision’s purpose. 
• Miguel shares his core values: growth and improvement.  

• Miguel provides recommendations for other CEOs who may feel insulated from feedback. 
• They discuss recovery, being in the moment, and the satisfaction of deep work.  

3 Key Points: 

1. At a certain point, growing companies must shift their mindset from a focus on building to a focus on innovation.  
2. In a culture that prioritizes innovation, social cohesion may not be as essential as task cohesion.  
3. When the focus is on numbers, culture may erode. The balance between social and task cohesion is a moving target.

Resources Mentioned: 

• Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip Heath 
• Miguel Gallego LinkedIn 

• To learn more about how to become a resilient and adaptable leader please visit https://www.higherechelon.com/  

Help us grow by leaving a rating or review on Apple Podcast 

To learn more on how you can take your leadership to the next level, check out our service offerings: Resilient and Adaptable Leadership, Executive Coaching, and Change Management. 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn 

COL. Katherine Graef is the current  Logistics Director of Special Operations Command Africa. Graef  has also served as the Director of Logistics in  Qatar, she commanded the  Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, and  taught as a  Military Professor at  the  Nava l War College in Newport, RI.  In this episode, Graef discusses how leading a group of high performers can  sometimes  be more challenging than leading  a group of mixed ability level.  Graef also presents how authenticity  became an explicit value for overcoming  her own adversity and through her experiences of  working with other leaders that lacked integrity and consistency.  She even admits how there were even parts of her career where she felt like a hypocrite. Listen to this Coaching Through Stories episode and learn how  Graef found her way to  authenticity  and how you can discover your own authentic path  and be your true self in the workplace.  

NOTE: This podcast was recorded in January 2020, shortly after an attack on US forces in Kenya. Kathy mentions this attack contemporaneously as a current event in January. This attack did not occur in April when this podcast airs. Views presented in the podcast as reflective of COL. Katherine Graef’s personal opinions and are not those of the Department of Defense or any of its components.  

Episode Highlights:   

• Graef’s current role as Logistics Director of Special Operations Command Africa has been the most challenging but the most reward role so far in her career  

•  “It takes moral courage to look somebody in the eye and say, ‘Hey, you’re not meeting the standard.”  
• When leaders are faced with an employee who does not meet expectations, focus on the outcome you seek.  
• Reflect as a leader and ask yourself: 1. Are you providing the right instruction for your subordinates to be successful? 2. Are you as a leader giving an underperforming subordinate the tools needed to be successful? 3. Is your training or leadership style working for all of your subordinates?  
• Humans in general tend to gravitate toward problem-focused solutions to resolve issues rather than solution-focused. High performers approach problems with a solution-focused mindset.  
• Graef will test people if she feels integrity in compromised in someone and discusses how a lack of integrity is a deal breaker for her.  

• Leadership authenticity shows up in a leader’s ability to be consistent in the treatment of their superiors, peers, and subordinates. “You have to model and reward the behavior you seek.” A lack of consistency in leadership reduces credibility in the organization and the organization’s values.  
• A lack of alignment of authenticity creates stress, Graef discusses her journey of being fully authentic and how it empowered her to fully enjoy life  
• As a leader, you must understand what an organization needs from you and under what competencies are required to prioritize, perform, and thrive.  
• Understand what your followers need from you as a leader.  
• A leader must set the pace to avoid burnout and live a balanced life.   

• A high performing leader has the ability to balance humility and confidence.  
• Self-awareness is critical, a leader much learn the physical symptoms that come with self-doubt and lack of confidence.  
• Sometimes it takes a situation or some kind of adversity to occur in order to provide the opportunity for a leader to be great instead of just average

Resources Mentioned:  

• How We Decide  by Jonah Lehrer  
• Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do  by Claude Steele  
• To learn more about how to become a resilient and adaptable leader please visit https://www.higherechelon.com/  

Help us grow by leaving a rating or review on Apple Podcast 

To learn more on how you can take your leadership to the next level, check out our service offerings: Resilient and Adaptable Leadership, Executive Coaching, and Change Management. 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn 

During the  third  episode of the  Coaching Through Stories  podcast, host Eric Bean coaches us on the importance of mission using the 1980s Tylenol crisis as a case study. Learn about the power of having a mission, especially during a crisis. This episode will help you consider why missions are meaningful and why they should be used when you encounter non-routine situations.  

NOTE: This episode was recorded prior to the COVID-19 pandemic  

Episode Highlights:   

• Learn the story of the 1980s Tylenol crisis that proved the value of Johnson & Johnson’s mission.  
• Learn how Johnson & Johnson managed the crisis using their mission statement to filter their decision-making.   
• Missions matter and need to be used.  

• Eric defines vision, mission, and philosophy.  
• Your behavior is a good indication of your values.  
• Organizations need to leverage their mission.  
• If you’re a leader, review your mission with your employees regularly.  
• 11,000 senior managers were asked their company's top 3-5 priorities and only about 1/3 could name their company's top three goals.  

• Get to know your priorities and reflect on them.  
• Mission improves strategic alignment.  
• Leaders must consider if they are rewarding behaviors that are aligned with company values.  
• Employees can align their work with the company’s values.  
• We want to have purpose and meaning in our lives.  

• Why we’re working matters.  
• Meaning attracts talent.  
• A strong mission fosters customer engagement.  
• You have control over your mission, value, purpose, and philosophy.  
• Gallup found that margin and mission are not at odds with each other.  

• The why matters because the why will get others to buy into your ideas and initiatives.  
• Finding purpose as an employee will give you opportunities to lead.  
• Challenge your mission from time to time.  
• Your mission can serve as a guide to make decisions during challenging and non-routine situations.  
• Eric recommends The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle for additional reading.  

3 Key Points:  

1.  Mission matters and needs to be known to help employees align their work.  

2.  There are major benefits to showing up to work with a purpose.  

3.  Your mission can serve as a guide to make decisions during challenging and non-routine situations.  

Resources Mentioned:  

• Simon Sinek’s “Start With Why” TED talk 
• The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle 

• HigherEchelon 

Help us grow by leaving a rating or review on Apple Podcast 

To learn more on how you can take your leadership to the next level, check out our service offerings: Resilient and Adaptable Leadership, Executive Coaching, and Change Management. 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn 

Today’s episode features Ret. Lt. Gen. Robert (Bob) Caslen. Caslen is the current University of South Carolina President, he served 43 years in the U.S. Army, and is the former Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Rarely leaders' step into a position with unanimous support, Caslen will discuss how he overcame strong opposition during the hiring process to become the President for University of South Carolina. Our host, Dr. Eric Bean brings out tips and stories from Caslen on how a leader can be resilient, improve buy-in, and create a strong collaborative culture even in an unsupportive environment. To learn more about building your winning work culture, reach out to higherechelon.com. 

NOTE: This episode was recorded prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic 

Episode Highlights: 

• Caslen faced strong opposition during the hiring process for University of South Carolina President 

• Character is a set of values that you embrace and define you 

• Selflessness is critical for effective leadership 

• Honor is to embrace the integrity to do the right thing when no one is looking in both your personal and professional life 

• Make the case why winning is important, create a culture of winning, live a life of excellence 

• Perform to the upper level of your potential in everything that you do; perform well, consistently 

• Strive for excellence and success will naturally happen 

• Build a culture of winning by rewarding excellence 

• The opposite of average or mediocrity is excellence 

• A leader needs to lead change by articulating a purpose and vision, put the plan in place, assess and make changes to move in the direction you want 

• How to work through oppositions and face critics that you have regular contact with, in order to do your job 

• Be transparent and collaborate to unify the group and secure buy-in 

• Transparency, engagement, and communication 

• You’re always part of someone else’s team, leaders need to earn their bosses trust and be able to understand when the boss wants the subordinate's subject matter expertise and when your boss has made a decision and wants the subordinate to understand the decision and execute it 

• Culture needs to align and support strategy in order to achieve excellence 

Resources Mentioned: 

• From Good to Great Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't by Jim Collins 

• The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey 

Caslen’s Upcoming Book: 

Help us grow by leaving a rating or review on Apple Podcast 

To learn more on how you can take your leadership to the next level, check out our service offerings: Resilient and Adaptable Leadership, Executive Coaching, and Change Management. 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn 

Today’s podcast features guest Gary Denham, who was a Navy SEAL for 21 years, and more recently was the Director of Instructor Development for the Naval Special Warfare Center. Currently, Gary helps others improve their performance with his business, Gary Denham Consulting. Gary also teaches leadership through public speaking and effective presentations. In today’s podcast, Gary talks about how he got into public speaking and how he leveraged his core values and principles to shift away from the identity that previously defined him. 

NOTE: This episode was recorded prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic  

Episode Highlights:   

• Denham speaks to his most impactful experiences in his career. 

• Denham discusses about his progression from serving in the Navy SEALs to public speaking and giving presentations.  
• Denham talks about how he has re-written his identity to align with his values.   
• As a Navy SEAL, there is a mentality of mission, team, and me, in that order. As a SEAL, what did you learn about leadership in a team?  
• Where does leadership and your mentality of leadership come into play?  
• If the focus is on the mission, then everything else will fall into line.  

• Leadership is taking responsibility for the solution.  
• Denham talks about what it means to say, “you can’t give away what you don’t own.”  
• Denham talks about his coaching role in the Navy SEALs, and how it evolved into the “better person” course.  
• How does ethos (credibility, trust) play a role in the Navy SEALs and creating a strong culture?  
• What makes the culture for a company or team?  

• Can you talk more about your role now as a public speaking coach? How do you “be you” louder?  
• Know your material, the audience is the main consideration, have a conversation, and be a good listener.  
• What kind of attitude shows up when you “have to” do something versus when you “get to” do something?  
• Regarding the MLK principle of “Head, Heart, Mouth,” how do you know it went through the heart?  

3 Key Points:  

1. Aligning your identity with your values may take you through major shifts in life.  

1. What leadership means and how Denham’s past as a Navy SEAL shaped his view of leadership.  

1. Always tailor your message to the people you are talking to, but you always need to be “being you.” Audience first.  

Help us grow by leaving a rating or review on Apple Podcast 

To learn more on how you can take your leadership to the next level, check out our service offerings: Resilient and Adaptable Leadership, Executive Coaching, and Change Management. 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn 

Introducing the Coaching Through Stories podcast! The goal of this podcast is to explore stories from leaders and high performers in a variety of fields in order to inspire, spark insights, and help you step up! This season we're going to explore stories from a retired Navy SEAL, a CEO, a University President, and other high performing leaders. We'll also share stories from history, mythology, or popular literature to explore lessons on resilience, adaptability, and leadership. Coaching Through Stories is hosted by Dr. Eric Bean who is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant and a high-performance coach who helps people push through internal and external barriers in order to perform at their best when it matters the most.