As women, we like to collaborate. It’s part of our makeup. However, it’s essential to know how to collaborate as an entrepreneurial leader because not all collaboration is beneficial. So in this next installment of the Leadership is Feminine Formula, we’re talking about the pluses and minuses of collaboration. When we first start a business, most of us start out as solopreneurs. It isn’t until later that we add a team and add elements of collaboration. And as we work through this new jungle of business growth, it can be way too easy to tumble into the pitfalls. One pitfall is believing that you need others to direct your business. Another is avoiding discomfort. Another is developing an environment where everything has to pass through your hands or approval first. All of these can hinder the growth you desire and deserve. But positive, beneficial collaboration is achievable. Let’s talk about it.  “We collaborate out of scarcity. We collaborate out of believing our ideas aren’t good enough… No. It’s still yours. You always drive the result… and you are totally competent.” – Kris Plachy  What You’ll Learn  Journey into collaboration Staying strategic Embracing discomfort Retaining and teaching ownership Banishing Problem-Solver-in-Chief status  Contact Info and Recommended Resources Podcast episodes that pair well with this one:   Leadership Is Feminine Formula: Day 1 podcast episode  How to Hold People Accountable   The Founders Curse  Connect with Kris Plachy  Website: How to CEO Email: hello@krisplachy.com Work with Kris: How to CEO How to CEO DIGITAL: Available for entrepreneurs looking to increase their business mastery. Access includes weekly Q&A; calls for additional help. Get on the email list for valuable content: krisplachy.com, drop your name in the signup box! Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest Medium 

How to Collaborate as an Entrepreneurial Leader | S05E08

For most women, when we are invited to study leadership the teachers, scholars, authorities and models are primarily… men. We are indoctrinated from the time we are born that men are the leaders and that natural male characteristics are the strengths you must also possess to be a good leader.

Powerful.
Strong.
Authoritative.
Direct.
Assertive.
Decisive.

These and so many more are attributes that are typically associated with the male model of a leader.

And so, for the better part of the last one hundred years as women have made their way into the fold, in a variety of leadership roles, we have learned and studied to walk the way of a men to achieve success.

Women dismiss their own knowing because we’ve been so indoctrinated in male leadership models.

We dismiss what we know for what others tell us to be and how to be seen.

There is another way to lead.

To be in alignment.

To not feel like an imposter.

It’s time for the reimagining of leadership. That’s not to disparage any of the progress that has come before us. Progress is progress. For those of us who stand in the footsteps of the women who came before us we are here because of their courage, bravery and resilience.

I wonder instead if women equally looked to the characteristics they learned from their mothers for leadership. I wonder if we were taught to lean on different qualities to drive success. I wonder what might happen then?

The traditional qualities of mothering are communication, nurturing, listening, strength, support, grace, and yes… love.

What if to be the best leader you can be as a woman, you integrated the best of both?

This is how women will stand with integrity in their role as leaders.

As women, we can be assertive, direct, powerful, and authoritative but we need not only rely on those attributes for success.

After 25 years of watching and studying leaders, I can tell you that for sure many traditional male attributes are effective in the short run, but they typically only serve a few. Whereas, when leadership is feminine. When the leader possesses the strengths of femininity and grace the results are for all.

This podcast is my like my gentle request and invitation to my fellow female leaders that we reclaim the world leadership as one that is a feminine definition. That we continue to work with all of our allies to build organizations and systems that include more support, collaboration, grace and communication. And that we do so not because we are uncomfortable with the more traditional male-dominating models, but because we truly do know that leadership is a feminine strength and attribute.

And the world needs more of us leading. Now more than ever.

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In this episode of Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy invites you to ponder a compelling question: What would your thoughts be if they weren't constantly shaped by external stimuli? She challenges you to reflect on the nature of your thinking—how much of it is truly original, and how much is reactive to your daily interactions, from conversations to the media you consume. Kris encourages you to embark on a journey of self-awareness and self-exploration, emphasizing the importance of understanding and reflecting on your own thought processes. This exploration isn't just about identifying what you think, but why and how your environment influences those thoughts. She suggests that true leadership requires a keen self-awareness that allows you to critically assess and navigate your thoughts, which in turn shapes your actions and leadership style. Kris's conversation is a call to action for you to cultivate a more mindful approach to your thoughts and leadership, freeing yourself from automatic responses to create space for genuine self-discovery and growth. “I think our lives are better if we're willing to invest in them and investigate them and seek out ideas and insight and explore all that we already have within us to know.”  Key Takeaways From This Episode  Exploring Self-Introspection: Reflecting on personal behaviors and thoughts  What might you think without external stimuli? The concept of living in an "algorithm": Disrupting the algorithm to think differently Importance of self-discovery in leadership: The idea of openness to transformation and exploration  Contact Information and Recommended Resources Join Kris to help impact 20 Million Women across the Globe! Become a Visionary.CEO/catalyst and spread the word! Kris explains all the details on the podcast this week. Essential, go to www.theVisionary.CEO/catalyst, Register, Grab the Visionary.CEO/Podcast link from your dashboard and SHARE IT with all the women you know in your friend, colleague and network circles. We'll be tracking links by Catalyst and awarding each Catalyst who shares her link to at least 20 women with a free digital course from Kris's Boutique.  Connect with Kris Plachy Private Subscriber List: Get on the list today! TheVisionary.ceo Work with Kris and Her Team:  TheVisionary.ceo CEO Boutique   Email: hello@thevisionary.ceo Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest 

Who Are You Without Distractions: The Value of Original Thinking for Female Entrepreneurs | E161

In this thought-provoking episode of Leadership is Feminine, host Kris Plachy dives deep into how we view and face leadership challenges within ourselves. Instead of assigning blame to external influences or people, Kris encourages us to turn inward and explore how our own behaviors, attitudes, and thoughts inform the way we lead. She shares from her list of 30 truths, derived from years of working closely with female entrepreneurs. As she goes through each statement, Kris urges listeners to reflect and ponder on their truthfulness and examine the parallels between personal habits and management styles, handling 'difficult' people, the importance of understanding your business's numbers, and so on. Wherever you find yourself, Kris assures that it's okay to feel uncomfortable, upset or even disagree with some of her insights. In fact, it may just be the signal indicating there's something to explore further. As leaders, the ability to objectively assess oneself, one's team, and the business needs is invaluable. This episode is a deep-dive into what makes us tick as leaders and how we can change our thought patterns to achieve better results. This discussion is perfect for those in leadership roles that are willing to delve deeper into understanding the fundamentals of their leadership style and how it affects their business operations.  “Leadership means the ability to objectively assess yourself, people on the team, the needs of the business, all of it. Anything that feels off, it's just interesting to explore, be curious. Curiosity is always available."   Key Takeaways From This Episode   The connection between personal life traits and leadership capabilities: The importance of maintaining boundaries in both personal and professional life   The dangers of people-pleasing for leaders   Impact of Emotional Understanding on Leadership: The importance of managing emotions for creating high-performing teams   Importance of Effective Communication: The importance of transparency and clarity in leading   Fear and Risk in Leadership roles: The implications of fear and evasion in making decisions in business and in life   Becoming a better leader by working through difficulties: Difficult people are only difficult due to our perceptions   Importance of Business Acumen: The significance of financial awareness and avoiding blind spots   Making a distinction between "having a job" and "leading a business"   Contact Information and Recommended Resources Join Kris to help impact 20 Million Women across the Globe! Become a Visionary.CEO/catalyst and spread the word! Kris explains all the details on the podcast this week. Essential, go to www.theVisionary.CEO/catalyst, Register, Grab the Visionary.CEO/Podcast link from your dashboard and SHARE IT with all the women you know in your friend, colleague and network circles. We'll be tracking links by Catalyst and awarding each Catalyst who shares her link to at least 20 women with a free digital course from Kris. thevisionary.ceo/store Connect with Kris Plachy ONE HOUR LEADER Transform your current team into the million dollar self-directed team you wish you had in as little as one hour per week. Private Subscriber List: Get on the list today! TheVisionary.ceo Work with Kris and Her Team:  TheVisionary.ceo CEO Boutique   Email: hello@thevisionary.ceo Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest 

Overcoming Internal Obstacles for Effective Leadership | E160

In today's episode, we dive deep into the realm of people-pleasing, a topic that many of us can relate to. Host, Kris Plachy, self-proclaimed people-pleaser, shares personal insights and experiences, detailing the good, the bad, and the complexities that come with constant people-pleasing. As leaders, we may often find ourselves bending over backwards to accommodate everyone's needs and avoid conflict. Kris asserts that while this can be a nurturing trait, it often also means ignoring the core needs of our business and, more importantly, ourselves. She warns of the perils of slipping into the people-pleasing vortex and the challenges that come with emerging from it. But it isn't all doom and gloom. Kris also discusses the hidden strength in being a people-pleaser. The ability to empathize deeply, foresee potential conflicts, and manage tricky situations are all part of this power. But, as we know, even superpowers require balance and our host dives into ways we can harness our people-pleasing tactfully without compromising integrity. We don't shy away from the tough stuff either. Kris talks about confronting underperformance without blame, the impact of psychological safety in an environment, and the concept of feeling unsafe in certain relationships. Leaders, Kris insists, need to employ grace while holding people accountable, creating a win-win for all. Tune in to this thoughtful episode of Leadership is Feminine with Kris Plachy, and discover how to transform your people-pleasing into stratospheric leadership skills.  "The world doesn't end when we say no, and ironically, it might just start."  Key Takeaways From This Episode   People Pleasing in Leadership: Acknowledgment of the prevalence of people-pleasing in leadership roles   The Strengths and Weaknesses of People Pleasing: The concept of people-pleasing as both a superpower and a poison   The Impact of People Pleasing on Decision Making: The necessity of prioritizing business needs over individual desires   The Fear of Addressing Poor Performance Due to Potential Negative Reactions: The art of giving feedback gracefully without blame or anger   The Importance of Acknowledging and Addressing One's Feelings: The necessity of learning to say no   Contact Information and Recommended Resources Join Kris to help impact 20 Million Women across the Globe! Become a Visionary.CEO/catalyst and spread the word! Kris explains all the details on the podcast this week. Essential, go to www.theVisionary.CEO/catalyst, Register, Grab the Visionary.CEO/Podcast link from your dashboard and SHARE IT with all the women you know in your friend, colleague and network circles. We'll be tracking links by Catalyst and awarding each Catalyst who shares her link to at least 20 women with a free digital course from Kris. thevisionary.ceo/store Connect with Kris Plachy ONE HOUR LEADER Transform your current team into the million dollar self-directed team you wish you had in as little as one hour per week. Private Subscriber List: Get on the list today! TheVisionary.ceo Work with Kris and Her Team:  TheVisionary.ceo CEO Boutique   Email: hello@thevisionary.ceo Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest 

People Pleasing Leaders | E159

This week on Leadership is Feminine, we're diving deep into a subject matter that isn't often discussed - the emotional toll of pet bereavement, and how that affects our businesses. Our guest, Erika Sinner, shares her personal journey of dealing with the loss of her beloved pets and how this sparked her to author a book, Pets Are Family. This episode unravels the societal discomfort around discussing pet grief and the need for empathy-driven leadership to manage such situations. Erika talks about moving beyond traditional norms and choosing to be a dog parent with her husband to four beloved shar pei dogs. She shares her journey of health issues and loss she has experienced with her dogs. And it is through these experiences that she saw the need for pet bereavement leave and which also gave her a new perspective to see the emotional dynamics prevalent in our work cultures. Kris Plachy emphasizes the importance of clear agreements and expectations within organizations, alongside acknowledging and validating employees' emotions. They touch on the significant productivity cost of unmanaged grief and stress the need for larger corporations to understand and accommodate employees' emotional needs. Channeling their experiences into thought-provoking discussions on empathy, authenticity and feminine leadership, both Kris and Erika agree that nurturing emotional intelligence in the workplace can result in a healthier work environment. This episode is a call to action for anyone in a leadership role to foster a more understanding, compassionate and emotionally intelligent workspace. It's a candid conversation you won't want to miss!  "When we allow our inner wisdom to guide us and dare to pursue our dreams, we embody the power of living an authentically empathetic life, which in turn, inspires others,” – Erika Sinner.  Key Takeaways From This Episode   Introduction to Erika Sinner: CEO of Directorie and author of Pets Are Family   Advocacy for pet bereavement leave in the U.S: Emphasis on validating feelings and understanding the impact of pet loss   Need for clarity regarding values and expectations: The balance between understanding and business requirements   Employee Appreciation and Performance: Showing appreciation for employees, while also holding them accountable   Impact of Pet Grief: Advocacy for understanding and supporting those experiencing pet grief   Emphasizing the Unique Leadership Qualities of Women: The unique leadership attributes that women bring   Guest Bio Erika Sinner is a CEO, a compassionate advocate, and the guiding force behind Directorie™, a company dedicated to propelling life science organizations forward in bringing vital products to market. With a career spanning nearly two decades, Erika's innovative spirit has fostered successful teams and elevated brands within the pharmaceutical industry. Erika's unwavering commitment to reimagining possibilities extends far beyond the boardroom; she's a woman of action, unafraid to confront societal gaps head-on. Her determination to foster empathetic solutions shines in both her professional and personal life. Erika stands not only as an exceptional CEO but also a devoted wife, a passionate lover of animals, and leading organizations with compassion. Learn More at PetsAreFamily.info Contact Information and Recommended Resources Join Kris to help impact 20 Million Women across the Globe! Become a Visionary.CEO/catalyst and spread the word! Kris explains all the details on the podcast this week. Essential, go to www.theVisionary.CEO/catalyst, Register, Grab the Visionary.CEO/Podcast link from your dashboard and SHARE IT with all the women you know in your friend, colleague and network circles. We'll be tracking links by Catalyst and awarding each Catalyst who shares her link to at least 20 women with a free digital course from Kris. thevisionary.ceo/store Contact Information and Recommended Resources Connect with Kris Plachy ONE HOUR LEADER Transform your current team into the million dollar self-directed team you wish you had in as little as one hour per week. Private Subscriber List: Get on the list today! TheVisionary.ceo Work with Kris and Her Team:  TheVisionary.ceo CEO Boutique   Email: hello@thevisionary.ceo Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest 

The Power of Empathetic Leadership with Pets Are Family Author, Erika Sinner | E158

In this episode of Leadership is Feminine, host Kris Plachy dives into the essential topic of expressing assertiveness and setting boundaries in professional settings. Kris illuminates the difference between what people say when they don't feel the need to guard what they say, versus what they convey in less clear ways when they feel protective. Kris emphasizes that the majority of women she coaches need guidance to articulate what needs to be said fearlessly and in clear terms. She candidly explores her own journey of setting stronger expectations during her info sessions, transforming them into active, participative experiences rather than passive webinars. A significant theme that emerges is how essential it is to set clear expectations, whether that's in team interactions, client meetings, or personal relationships. Kris candidly discusses her own experiences navigating this and shares how she boldly updated her expectations for those attending her sessions. This episode is an eye-opener for leaders who shy away from clarity over fear of losing people; it’s time to embrace transparency and enforce consequences for unmet expectations.  “You run a company. If you're not clear about the agreements and the expectations for what it means to come work for you, they get to make the rules be whatever they want. And who could blame them?”  Key Takeaways From This Episode   Importance of Clear Communication in Leadership: Challenges faced by female leaders   The Impact of Not Speaking Up on Relationships and Teamwork: Addressing the fear of retribution when being honest and clear   Kris’ Example Setting and Communicating Expectations: Reflection on need for setting and enforcing clear expectations for attendees   Leaders Managing Expectations in Business Settings: Parallels drawn from the info session example to managing a team/business   Handling Unmet Expectations   Contact Information and Recommended Resources Join Kris to help impact 20 Million Women across the Globe! Become a Visionary.CEO/catalyst and spread the word! Kris explains all the details on the podcast this week. Essential, go to www.theVisionary.CEO/catalyst, Register, Grab the Visionary.CEO/Podcast link from your dashboard and SHARE IT with all the women you know in your friend, colleague and network circles. We'll be tracking links by Catalyst and awarding each Catalyst who shares her link to at least 20 women with a free digital course from Kris. thevisionary.ceo/store Contact Information and Recommended Resources Connect with Kris Plachy ONE HOUR LEADER Transform your current team into the million dollar self-directed team you wish you had in as little as one hour per week. Private Subscriber List: Get on the list today! TheVisionary.ceo Work with Kris and Her Team:  TheVisionary.ceo CEO Boutique   Email: hello@thevisionary.ceo Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest 

How to Collaborate as an Entrepreneurial Leader | S05E08

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