Jeny Wood: Wild Courage Over an 18 year career at Google, Jenny Wood grew from entry-level to executive, most recently leading a large operations team that helped drive billions of revenue per year. In 2021, she started a passion project within Google called Own Your Career, which grew to one of the largest career development programs in Google’s history. Her work has since been featured in Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, and Forbes and she’s now the author of Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It*. Leadership is about serving others – and it’s also ensuring that we take care of ourselves along the way. Sometimes leaders over-index on helping their organizations and teams, to their own detriment. In this conversation, Jenny and I explore where being a little more selfish might actually be better for everyone. Key Points Selfish redefined means having the courage to stand up for what you want. People want to join a winning team, even if they don’t say that out loud. Guilt is natural, but always caving to it is self-defeating. Don’t do work that’s not actually promotable. There’s no prize for an empty inbox. A belief like “I owe it to them,” may signal an over-commitment to the organization. They will not love you back. Appreciate truth when you get it, but don’t sign up for a burned-out boss. It’s inefficient to always be in the lead. Draft in another leader’s wake. Resources Mentioned Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It* by Jenny Wood Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes Align Your Calendar to What Matters, with Nir Eyal (episode 431) The Ways Leadership Can Derail Us, with Bill George (episode 596) The Path to More Joy in Work and Life, with Judith Joseph (episode 734) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Roger Kneebone: Expert Roger Kneebone directs the Imperial College Centre for Engagement and Simulation Science and the Royal College of Music–Imperial College Centre for Performance Science. He researches what experts from different fields can learn from one another, including a creative team of clinicians, computer scientists, musicians, magicians, potters, puppeteers, tailors, and fighter pilots. He is the author of Expert: Understanding the Path to Mastery*. Many leaders get into the roles they have because they are the experts in their work. But once you’re leading, the work is less about being the expert and more about teaching your expertise to others. In this conversation, Roger and I explore how to get better at doing this well. Key Points Experts don’t often recognize that they are experts. A characteristic of many experts is a dissatisfaction with where they are and an awareness that they could do better. Experts should notice what’s missing and what would be most helpful to the less experienced person. Effective teachers zero in on one thing at a time, even if they notice many areas for improvement. Passing along expertise is not just the skills themselves but the perspective of why each skill matters. Land in the zone of proximal development. The skill should neither be too easy or too difficult. Resources Mentioned Expert: Understanding the Path to Mastery* by Roger Kneebone Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes Help People Learn Through Powerful Teaching, with Pooja Agarwal (episode 421) The Art of Mentoring Well, with Robert Lefkowitz (episode 599) How to Handle High-Pressure Situations, with Dan Dworkis (episode 701) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Sabina Nawaz: You’re the Boss Sabina Nawaz is an executive coach who advises C-level executives and teams at Fortune 500 corporations, government agencies, nonprofits, and academic institutions. During her 14-year tenure at Microsoft, she went from managing software development teams to leading the company’s executive development and succession planning efforts for over 11,000 managers and nearly a thousand executives, advising Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer directly. She’s the author of You're the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be (and Others Need)*. Every leader I know intends to be authentic. Unfortunately, we sometimes use authenticity as an excuse not to do the critical work of calibrating our actions. In this conversation, Sabina and I discuss how to avoid that trap so we can show up more genuinely for others. Key Points “Yeah, but…” signals justification and holds us back from what we most need to learn. Your success comes despite unhelpful traits, not because of them. Pure authenticity is a complete fallacy. Authenticity is not singular. We sometimes use authenticity as an excuse not to do the important work of calibrating our actions. Don’t let the smokescreen of past “authenticity” get in the way of growth. Authenticity is not static. Reading your old past social media posts will remind you of this. When shifting, start with small experiments to nudge you in a new direction. Language that may be warning signs of the authenticity trap: “That’s just how I am.” “I’m not the kind of person who…” “I’m not being true to myself if…” “That’s the way I’ve always done things, and it’s worked for me.” Resources Mentioned You're the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be (and Others Need)* by Sabina Nawaz Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes How to Change Your Behavior, with BJ Fogg (episode 507) How to Start a Big Leadership Role, with Carol Kauffman (episode 617) The Habits That Hold Leaders Back, with Marshall Goldsmith (episode 696) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Minda Harts: Talk to Me Nice Minda Harts is a bestselling author, workplace consultant, and sought-after keynote speaker who is redefining what it means to build trust in the workplace. As the bestselling author of The Memo, Right Within, and You Are More Than Magic, Minda has empowered thousands to be their own best advocates and navigate workplace challenges with confidence. She has just released her newest book, Talk to Me Nice: The Seven Trust Languages for a Better Workplace. Sometimes we assume that we’re helping by shielding people from difficult news. But as we all know, virtually everyone wants transparency from leaders. In this conversation, Minda shows us how to get better at it. Key Points You’re not helping by shielding people from difficult conversations. Most everyone assumes baseline behaviors of employees. Employees expect reciprocity through transparency. We often think about transparency with information that’s known. Just as important is clarity about what’s not known. Even when you can’t share news, you can put time and resources into what will help people handle a new reality when it arrives. Transparency provides clear, honest, and timely information. Promote transparency in roles. A job description is a helpful starting point for this. Good intentions do not mean good impact. When changes happen, communicate them as quickly as practical. Resources Mentioned Talk to Me Nice: The Seven Trust Languages for a Better Workplace* by Minda Harts Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes The Path Towards Trusting Relationships, with Edgar Schein and Peter Schein (episode 539) How to Help Difficult Conversations Go Better, with Sheila Heen (episode 655) Preparing for a Conversation with Someone You Don’t Trust, with Charles Feltman (episode 708) Expert Partner Are you a talent development or human resources leader seeking a coach for an internal client? Coaching for Leaders has partnered with some of the top coaches in the world, including a number of past podcast guests. Help us make an introduction by visiting our Expert Partners Page and telling us what you’re seeking in a coach. Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Nancy Duarte: DataStory Nancy Duarte is a communication expert who has been featured in Fortune, Time Magazine, Forbes, Fast Company, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and many others. Her firm, Duarte, Inc., is the global leader behind some of the most influential visual messages in business and culture. Nancy has written many best-selling books, including Slide:ology, Resonate, and Illuminate. She is the author of the new book DataStory: Explain Data and Inspire Action Through Story*. In this conversation, Nancy and I discuss the realities of executive life, how executives are measured, and why you should expect to be grilled when briefing them. With intentional preparation, you’ll be prepared to more successfully influence executives both inside the organization — and with your customers. Key Points “The higher their level of authority, the more structured and brief your approach should be.” -Nancy Duarte Time is an essential asset for executives. Appreciating how much they work to maximize efficiency can help you align better with their world. Craft a recommendation that’s brief and easily skimmable. Leave time for questions and expect to be grilled. Executives are measured on money (revenue/profit and costs), market (market share and time to market), and exposure (retention and risk). Know how executives plan to consume information. Tailor your message and medium to align with these preferences. Resources Mentioned DataStory: Explain Data and Inspire Action Through Story* by Nancy Duarte Duarte DataStory Interview Notes Download my highlights from DataStory in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes Success on Presentation Day, with David Sparks (episode 159) Ignite Change Through Storytelling, with Nancy Duarte and Patti Sanchez(episode 268) Executive Presence with Your Elevator Speech, with Tom Henschel (episode 316) Get Your Emails Read (Dave’s Journal) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Patrick Lencioni: The 6 Types of Working Genius Patrick Lencioni is founder and president of The Table Group, a firm dedicated to protecting human dignity in the world of work, personal development, and faith. Pat is the author of twelve best-selling books with over seven million copies sold. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team remains a national best-seller and he’s also the author of The 6 Types of Working Genius: A Better Way to Understand Your Gifts, Your Frustrations, and Your Team. Many of us have heard the invitation from Jim Collin’s book _Good to Great_ to get the right people on the bus. But once the right people are on the bus, how to do you find the right seat for each person? On this episode, Pat and I discuss how to utilize the Working Genius model to find the right work for the right team members. Key Points When addressing burnout, the type of work someone does is more significant than the volume of work. Three stages of work are present for almost every team: ideation, activation, and implementation. A cup of coffee in an excellent thermos can stay hot an entire day — that’s true of us when we’re aligned with our working geniuses. Finding the right work for a team member is far easier than finding the right person culturally. Before you look elsewhere, be sure they are in the right seat. To fill gaps in your team’s geniuses, you can hire, borrow, or find people where competence will suffice for now. Resist the temptation to immediately jump to hiring. Resources Mentioned The 6 Types of Working Genius assessment The 6 Types of Working Genius: A Better Way to Understand Your Gifts, Your Frustrations, and Your Team by Patrick Lencioni Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes How to Get the Ideal Team Player, with Patrick Lencioni (episode 301) How to Lead an Offsite, with Tom Henschel (episode 377) The Mindset Leaders Need to Address Burnout, with Christina Maslach(episode 609) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. At an inflection point? Request an invitation to apply for the Coaching for Leaders Academy in September.

Michael Bungay Stanier: Change Signal Michael Bungay Stanier is best known for The Coaching Habit, the best-selling coaching book of the century and recognized as a classic. He was a Rhodes Scholar, and was recently awarded the coaching prize by Thinkers50. He's now the host of the new Change Signal podcast. If you’re doing change right, it’s going to be messy. In this conversation, Michael Bungay Stanier returns to show us where to start, the key mindsets to have, and the first steps for getting traction. Key Points If you’re doing change right, it’s going to be messy. Before you remove a fence, figure out why it’s there. Take inspiration from Emily Dickinson: “Tell all the truth but tell it slant.” Beware giving lip service to the emotional realities of change and then moving forward without really addressing them. Strategy is a living conversation. Run experiments. Fire bullets before cannonballs. Motivation is a critical factor in change. Better to be less efficient and have people with you than to force compliance with a “perfect” plan. Emily Dickinson: Tell all the truth but tell it slant — Success in Circuit lies Too bright for our infirm Delight The Truth's superb surprise As Lightning to the Children eased With explanation kind The Truth must dazzle gradually Or every man be blind — Resources Mentioned Change Signal podcast hosted by Michael Bungay Stanier The Coaching Habit* by Michael Bungay Stanier Related Episodes Engaging People Through Change, with Cassandra Worthy (episode 571) How to Approach a Reorg, with Claire Hughes Johnson (episode 621) How to Prevent a Team From Repeating Mistakes, with Robert “Cujo” Teschner (episode 660) Expert Partner Are you a talent development or human resources leader seeking a coach for an internal client? Coaching for Leaders has partnered with some of the top coaches in the world, including a number of past podcast guests. Help us make an introduction by visiting our Expert Partners Page and telling us what you’re seeking in a coach. Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Kevin Evers: There’s Nothing Like This Kevin Evers is a Senior Editor at Harvard Business Review. Passionate about shaping groundbreaking research and amplifying pioneering ideas, he has edited bestselling and award-winning books on high performance, creativity, innovation, digital disruption, marketing, and strategy. He is the author of There’s Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift*. You may love her music. You may not. You may think she’s a business genius…or perhaps no. But one thing is for sure, you cannot ignore Taylor Swift. In this conversation, Kevin and I explore Swift’s strategic approach and what every leader can learn from her success. Key Points Swift knows exactly her “job to be done” and delivers on it consistently. Swift treats her fans’ emotions and experiences with respect and they respond in kind. Andy Grove famously said that only the paranoid survive. It’s one of many traits that helps Swift stay successful. Swift’s transition to pop was promotion-focused rather than prevention-focused to a promotion-focused. She led the story of her transformation. Not only is Swift clear on her vision, but she regularly reflects on the difficult steps to get there. Swift is a remarkable example of antifragility. Not only does she withstand stress and shocks, they make her stronger. Resources Mentioned There’s Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift* by Kevin Evers Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes Doing Better Than Zero Sum-Thinking, with Renée Mauborgne (episode 641) The Reason People Make Buying Decisions, with Marcus Collins (episode 664) How to Keep Improving, with Maurice Ashley (episode 697) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Faisal Hoque: Transcend Faisal Hoque is an award-winning entrepreneur and innovator and founder of SHADOKA and NextChapter. He is a three-time Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the books: Reinvent, Everything Connects, and Lift. He has just released his newest book: Transcend: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI*. The most compelling use cases for AI aren’t people OR AI – it’s both. Leaders who learn how to partner with AI will almost certainly open doors that many others don’t. In this episode, Faisal and I explore (a few steps on) how to get started. Key Points While we think about working with AI as very different than working with people, similar mindsets and skillsets help us with both. Partnering will with AI means asking better questions and being genuinely interested in the answers. Experts are limited by their perspective. Beginners are open to possibilities. We should approach AI with a beginner’s mindset. Using AI well means getting more comfortable with uncertainty. We need to own our ignorance. Playful discovery helps with our intrinsic motivation to keep going. When using AI, find the fun that keeps you engaged. This technology will do the logical work far better than any human. To partner well, work to increase your emotional intelligence. Resources Mentioned Transcend: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI by Faisal Hoque Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes The Way to Be More Self-Aware, with Tasha Eurich (episode 442) Principles for Using AI at Work, with Ethan Mollick (episode 674) Becoming an AI-Savvy Leader, with David De Cremer (episode 710) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Alice Ferris: GoalBusters Alice Ferris is the Founding Partner of GoalBusters, a firm working to help small and mighty fundraising teams achieve big impact by planning practical strategies, teaching essential fundraising skills, and doing the hands-on work to turn vision into reality. She has more than 30 years of professional fundraising experience, specializing in strategic and development planning, campaign readiness and development program assessments, board and organizational training, executive leadership coaching, individual giving, and grant proposal evaluation. She’s also a graduate of the Coaching for Leaders Academy. Fundraising is not a word that sparks joy for most leaders. In fact, many people who do fundraising never planned to have that be part of their career. And yet, almost every leader has an aspect of fundraising in their professional or personal lives. In this conversation, Alice and I explore how to get better at it. Key Points Almost every leader is involved with fundraising in some capacity, either personally or professionally. It’s a myth that fundraising is just asking for money. Most fundraising activities happen outside of the ask. Consider fundraising goals options for must do activities, maintaining the current state, and aspirational growth. Most people share health issues with their immediate family and close friends. When your organization is facing headwinds, tell your donors how they can help. Dedicated attention to fundraising is key for both prioritization and relationship continuity. Connectors, experts, and closers are all essential roles in the fundraising process. Play to the strengths of both staff and volunteers to fill these roles well. Resources Mentioned Connect with Alice on LinkedIn GoalBusters Related Episodes How to Lead Top-Line Growth, with Tim Sanders (episode 299) How an Executive Aligns with a Board, with Joan Garry (episode 662) The Reason People Make Buying Decisions, with Marcus Collins (episode 664) Expert Partner Beginning a career transition? Feeling stagnant in your current role? Scott Barlow and his team may be able to help as official partners of Coaching for Leaders. To discover more about how his team can support you, get in touch on our expert partners page. Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.