Leveraging Leadership

Ever wonder why you “click” with some people and “clank” with others?

DISC is a behavioral assessment tool, kind of like Myers-Briggs Clifton Strengths, but I like it because it only has four Styles.

In this deep dive episode, I’ll take you through the DISC methodology, how to identify your DISC Profile Style and what to look for in others to identify their Style. You’ll get some tactical and practical takeaways for how to communicate more effectively for each Style. We’ll also go through how to tell your “natural style” and “adapted style” and what to do if they are too far apart.

I facilitated running DISC reports for my CEO and leadership team as Chief of Staff. It was a great way to get to know each other better, communicate and collaborate more effectively, streamlined and accelerated us “gelling,” and was also fun guessing everyone’s Style.

Resources:

Taking Flight

Assessments 24x7 

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Timestamps

00:34 The Power of DISC Report in Leadership

01:58 Understanding DISC Assessment and Its Importance

02:41 The Platinum Rule in DISC

03:18 The Three-Part Framework of DISC

13:08 The Four DISC Styles: Dominant, Influential, Steady, Conscientious

16:09 Strengths and Challenges of Each DISC Style

16:43 The Dominant

18:42 The Influencer

20:37 The Steadies

23:22 The Conscientious Style

26:08 Importance of Diverse Styles in High Performing Teams

27:22 Identifying the Best Style for Different Scenarios

30:00 Understanding Natural and Adapted Styles

32:52 Adapting Communication Styles for Effective Interactions

39:32 Understanding Commonalities and Differences in DISC Styles

41:07 Practical Takeaways and Recommendations

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Emily Sander is a C-suite executive turned leadership coach. Her corporate career spanned Fortune 500 companies and scrappy start-ups. She is an ICF-certified leadership coach and the author of two books, An Insider’s Perspective on the Chief of Staff and Hacking Executive Leadership. Emily works with early to senior executives to step into effective leadership with one-on-one coaching. Go here to read her story from seasoned executive to knowledgeable coach.

Get your free Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist here.

Download your free Chief of Staff Toolkit here.

To learn more about Emily and Next Level Coaching, click here.

Follow Emily on LinkedIn | YouTube

You’ve heard the analogy used to describe a COS, but is it true? Jim Terheyden was a real-life air traffic controller in the Marines. Hear his take!

Jim and I also talked about the theme of humility in the role, managing team dynamics, spearheading an overseas initiative, and knowing which balls to drop when you get overwhelmed.

Jim on LinkedIn

Smartcar

Jim Terheyden is a seasoned leadership expert with a rich background as a former Marine air traffic controller, bringing military precision to strategic business guidance. His adeptness at navigating complex team dynamics and steering projects through uncertainty has made him a venerated Chief of Staff in the business world. Jim champions the cultivation of resilience, adaptability, and emotional detachment in decision-making, ensuring organizations thrive even amidst unpredictability. His experience highlights the importance of humility and collaboration, making him a guiding force for companies looking to foster a culture of dynamic leadership and team synergy.

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Timestamps

00:55 The Analogy of Air Traffic Controller and Chief of Staff

01:41 The Invisible Impact of a Chief of Staff

02:13 The Challenges of Interdepartmental Clashes

03:48 The Role of a Chief of Staff in a Startup

06:01 The Importance of Humility and Flexibility in Leadership

10:48 The Role of a Chief of Staff in Facilitating Team Dynamics

13:38 The Challenge of Managing a Remote Team

14:12 The Importance of Trust in a Team

21:19 The Role of a Chief of Staff in Project Management

31:16 The Importance of Investing in Your Team

36:50 Key Takeaways

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Emily Sander is a C-suite executive turned leadership coach. Her corporate career spanned Fortune 500 companies and scrappy start-ups. She is an ICF-certified leadership coach and the author of two books, An Insider’s Perspective on the Chief of Staff and Hacking Executive Leadership. Emily works with early to senior executives to step into effective leadership with one-on-one coaching. Go here to read her story from seasoned executive to knowledgeable coach.

Get your free Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist here.

Download your free Chief of Staff Toolkit here.

To learn more about Emily and Next Level Coaching, click here.

Follow Emily on LinkedIn | YouTube

Learn how the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee overcame panic attacks and severe physical pain.

Emily has a special connection to this Congressman as she served as their intern right after university!

Hear about the special connection the Congressman had with his Chief of Staff throughout the process.

Read Lost and Broken

Resources listed in the back of the book:

American Psychological Association

Anxiety & Depression Association of America

Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies

Find Treatment

National Institute of Mental Health

Muscle Activation Techniques

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Timestamps

00:09 Book Club: 'Lost and Broken' by Congressman Adam Smith 
00:21 Emily's Special Connection to the Congressman 
01:16 The Role of a Chief of Staff in a Congressman's Journey 
02:03 The Journey of Congressman Adam Smith 
05:47 The Struggles of Imposter Syndrome 
07:26 The Physical and Mental Challenges Faced 
09:40 The Importance of Seeking Help 
11:17 The Role of a Chief of Staff in Crisis Management 
16:39 The Human Side of Leadership 20:07 Quote from the book

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Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist 
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in touch with Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching 
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

WHO AM I?

If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

It’s not every day you get to talk to someone who has lifted a car, helps people tap into their inner and outer strength, and is an NLP and CBT practitioner!

But that’s what happened in this episode of Leveraging Leadership. Zoe Thompon stopped by and we had a great conversation around building resilience personally and professionally, balancing health and productivity, making choices and saying “yes”, reframing thoughts and acting “as if.”

Zoe Thompson on LinkedIn

Phoenix Coaching Website

Zoe Thompson is a former international strongwoman competitor and a 20-year UK Police Service veteran. Now a transformative strength coach, she leverages her expertise in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to empower individuals in their personal and professional lives. With a deep understanding of resilience and self-discovery, Zoe guides her clients to unlock their full potential, fostering growth through reframing thoughts and actions. Her coaching methods are enriched by her own experiences, where she mastered the art of balancing rigorous competition with single parenthood and a demanding career.

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Timestamps

01:32 Zoe Thompson's Background and Journey to Strong Woman Competition

05:53 The Impact of Physical Challenges on Personal Growth

10:07 Exploring Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP)

13:40 The Power of Perspective and Choice in Personal Development

20:42 Understanding Emotions and Their Importance

22:56 The Power of Body Language

24:22 How Our Physical State Impacts Our Mental State

25:09 Asserting Presence in Meetings

31:06 The Importance of Rest and Downtime

34:42 The Art of Balancing Productivity and Rest

36:58 Cultural Differences in Expressing Appreciation

39:03 Connecting with Zoe and Learning More

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Emily Sander is a C-suite executive turned leadership coach. Her corporate career spanned Fortune 500 companies and scrappy start-ups. She is an ICF-certified leadership coach and the author of two books, An Insider’s Perspective on the Chief of Staff and Hacking Executive Leadership. Emily works with early to senior executives to step into effective leadership with one-on-one coaching. Go here to read her story from seasoned executive to knowledgeable coach.

Get your free Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist here.

Download your free Chief of Staff Toolkit here.

To learn more about Emily and Next Level Coaching, click here.

Follow Emily on LinkedIn | YouTube

This episode is about being a good situational leader when a team member is driving you nuts

First, make sure you’re using the right word to describe them. Are they truly incompetent (i.e. unable to perform a task, are incapable of it) or is this a training or communication issue - is it a “YOU thing”?

Are you “bracketing” them correctly? Teams will be made up of three groups, over performers, average (this is not a bad thing, you need these folks), and underperformers.

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Timestamps

00:09 Understanding Incompetence in a Team

00:59 Differentiating Between Incompetence and Different Work Styles

01:44 Recognizing the Reality of Team Performance

03:38 The Importance of Diverse Work Styles and Ambitions

04:28 Addressing True Incompetence

05:08 Evaluating and Assessing Team Members

05:59 Conclusion

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Emily Sander is a C-suite executive turned leadership coach. Her corporate career spanned Fortune 500 companies and scrappy start-ups. She is an ICF-certified leadership coach and the author of two books, An Insider’s Perspective on the Chief of Staff and Hacking Executive Leadership. Emily works with early to senior executives to step into effective leadership with one-on-one coaching. Go here to read her story from seasoned executive to knowledgeable coach.

Get your free Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist here.

Download your free Chief of Staff Toolkit here.

To learn more about Emily and Next Level Coaching, click here.

Follow Emily on LinkedIn | YouTube

Nathan Lian went from working at JP Morgan, to startups, and is our first guest who works as a part-time Chief of Staff. Learn the differences and similarities between a full-time Chief of Staff role. 

We chat about:

-       How he selects which companies to work with

-       How many companies he works with at one time

-       What kind of projects he works on within companies

-       Which team members he interacts with

-       How he keeps himself organized being COS for multiple companies.

Nathan on LinkedIn

Nathan is a strategic leadership expert who has seamlessly transitioned from the high-pressure environment of investment banking at JPMorgan to mastering the Chief of Staff role in the fintech startup sphere. As a fractional Chief of Staff, he specializes in navigating companies through critical phases of growth and transformation, leveraging his experience in scaling marketing efforts, strategic finance, and executive team dynamics. Nathan is known for his ability to influence without direct authority and for his dedication to aligning his professional endeavors with his personal values and passion for innovative fintech solutions.

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Timestamps

00:43 Nathan's Journey to Chief of Staff

02:53 The First 90 Days as a Chief of Staff

06:06 The Challenges of Being a Chief of Staff

17:38 The Role of a Fractional Chief of Staff

21:03 Balancing Multiple Projects as a Fractional Chief of Staff

27:26 Choosing the Right Projects as a Fractional Chief of Staff

40:23 Advice for Aspiring Chiefs of Staff

43:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Emily Sander is a C-suite executive turned leadership coach. Her corporate career spanned Fortune 500 companies and scrappy start-ups. She is an ICF-certified leadership coach and the author of two books, An Insider’s Perspective on the Chief of Staff and Hacking Executive Leadership. Emily works with early to senior executives to step into effective leadership with one-on-one coaching. Go here to read her story from seasoned executive to knowledgeable coach.

Get your free Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist here.

Download your free Chief of Staff Toolkit here.

To learn more about Emily and Next Level Coaching, click here.

Follow Emily on LinkedIn | YouTube

Need to get something done and don’t have time to do the “fully baked” version? Here’s a real-life example of how to break something down into the Minimally Viable Product version. 

Listen to this example and see how you might apply the equivalent solution in projects you’re working on now. 

Timestamps

00:22 Example New Hire Training Program

01:34 Recording Existing Calls for Video Bank

02:57 Enhancing Training with Transcripts

04:28 Incorporating Practical Learning Experiences

06:19 Establishing Feedback Loops

08:31 Applying the MVP Approach to Other Tasks

In this episode, Emily sits down with her former CFO (and one of her all time favorite people), Rory Liebhart!

They explore the multifaceted role of the Chief Financial Officer (CF) in today’s business landscape.

●     Rory’s journey from selling t-shirts on a doc to a multi-time CFO, President and Director of PE-backed companies

●     Collaborating with other executives to drive organizational success (while not avoiding productive tension)

●     Navigating financial challenges including budgeting, forecasting, and managing cash flow

●     Strategic decision making - balancing financial considerations with broader business objectives

●     Adapting to change - how the CFO role has evolved over time

●     Providing context and teaching - the importance of providing rationale for decisions

●     Internal and external focus - a strong CFO operates both internally and externally (including engagement with investors board members)

Rory Liebhart on LinkedIn

Rory Liebhart is an accomplished Chief Financial Officer and private investor known for his exceptional ability to navigate the complexities of executive finance. With a diverse background that includes transforming from a streetwear entrepreneur to a financial maestro, Rory brings a wealth of experience in leading companies through strategic financial planning and analysis. His career, mentored by industry leaders like Ed Barton, has spanned private equity settings and public companies, emphasizing the importance of clear communication and trust in financial leadership. Rory's insights offer invaluable guidance for aspiring business leaders seeking to enhance their acumen.

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Timestamps

01:05 Rory's Journey to Leadership

02:31 The Transition from Selling T-Shirts to CFO

04:55 The Role of a CFO

05:14 The Path to Becoming a CFO

08:45 The Importance of Teamwork in Leadership Roles

13:03 The Role of a CFO in a Business

16:19 The Importance of Complementarity in Leadership Roles

19:33 Interviewing for a CFO Role

23:08 The Importance of Trust and Open Conversations in a Team

25:01 Balancing the CFO Role: Being the 'Dr. No' and the Team Player

27:35 The Importance of Providing Context and Understanding Perspectives

30:48 Key Qualities of a Good CFO: Context, Understanding, Teaching, and Hiring

31:40 The Role of a CFO in Internal and External Communication

41:50 The CFO's Role in a Private Equity Backed Company

45:59 The Importance of Complementary Skill Sets in an Executive Team

48:27 Final Thoughts

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Emily Sander is a C-suite executive turned leadership coach. Her corporate career spanned Fortune 500 companies and scrappy start-ups. She is an ICF-certified leadership coach 

Here’s a common scenario when I’m coaching Chiefs of Staff: They describe a situation that’s happening at work and with a shake of the head and furrowed brow they ask, “Is this…normal?”

Great question, camper! Yes, it’s “normal” in the sense that it’s probably happening to more Chiefs of Staff than you. No, it’s not “normal” in the sense that it might not be the best way to optimize the COS role.

I run through some quick examples in this episode.

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Emily Sander is a C-suite executive turned leadership coach. Her corporate career spanned Fortune 500 companies and scrappy start-ups. She is an ICF-certified leadership coach and the author of two books, An Insider’s Perspective on the Chief of Staff and Hacking Executive Leadership. Emily works with early to senior executives to step into effective leadership with one-on-one coaching. Go here to read her story from seasoned executive to knowledgeable coach.

Get your free Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist here.

Download your free Chief of Staff Toolkit here.

To learn more about Emily and Next Level Coaching, click here.

Follow Emily on LinkedIn | YouTube

Erin Lebacqz is an accomplished educator and author of, “High Value Writing.”  

Upgrade your business communication with the insights of Erin: 

-       Crafting messages with audience needs in mind

-       How to communicate with CLARITY

-       Active voice vs. passive voice, deciding when to use each

-       What level of directness to use in different scenarios 

-       Nuances of global communication and cultural sensitivities

-       Rephrasing from a directive to a question

-       Unspoken rules on emojis

-       How to build and maintain trust through all channels of communication!

 Examples:

-       “Do you still need information?” (Is that sentence snarky or helpful?)

-       “The committee requires/requests your input” (verbs carry tone)

-       “You need more evidence in the report” / “Page 3 needs more evidence” (who or what is the focus of your sentence?)

Erin Lebacqz on LinkedIn

High Value Writing Website

Erin’s book High Value Writing

 Guest Bio

Erin empowers professionals to craft impactful messages, with a passion for teaching clear, empathetic dialogue, she assists executive teams in refining their messaging strategies, from boardroom briefs to company-wide announcements. Her transformative book, "High Value Writing," has become an essential guide for business leaders seeking to communicate with clarity and confidence in a globalized workplace.

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Timestamps

00:58 Discussing Effective Business Communication