Claim OwnershipLeveraging Leadership
Subscribed: 4Played: 43
Subscribe
© 2026 Leveraging Leadership
Description
Are you ready to up your leadership game? Tune in to Leveraging Leadership, where Chiefs of Staff, executives, and business professionals find the tools, strategies, and insights they need to excel. Hosted by Emily Sander, a C-suite executive turned leadership coach, this podcast delivers practical and tactical takeaways every week.
Whether you're tackling tough conversations, fine-tuning your KPIs, or mastering delegation, this show offers new perspectives and actionable advice to help you feel confident and thrive in your role.
Each Monday, enjoy interviews with leaders from diverse fields—primarily business, but also from military, politics, and higher education. Every Wednesday, catch a solo episode where Emily shares concise, actionable insights on a specific topic you can apply immediately.
If you appreciate relatable, informal conversations that pack a punch with no fluff, you’re in the right place. While especially valuable for Chiefs of Staff and their Principals, the insights are useful for any leader aiming to grow.
Don’t miss your chance to advance as a leader.
263 Episodes
Reverse
Rachael Goldfarb shares real-life stories from her time supporting the Chief of Staff to President Clinton and leading at the Gates Foundation. She breaks down what a Chief of Staff is and isn’t, highlights why the role is senior and not administrative, and talks about challenges women face in these positions. The episode includes examples of advocating for staff, building relationships, and navigating tough boundaries with principals. Links Mentioned: Connect with Rachael Goldfarb on Linked...
Emily Sander shares stories about a former coaching client worried his current job stress might cause health issues like it did ten years ago, and a military veteran adjusting to planning her first personal vacation after years of work travel. The episode focuses on recognizing your own growth, not judging yourself by your past reactions, and giving yourself credit for changes you’ve made over the years. Get in touch with Emily: Need support reframing stress and honoring your growth? Book a ...
Brian Miller, president of Coach Approach Ministries, explains the difference between coaching, consulting, and therapy, and why a "coach approach" helps people solve problems by seeing new perspectives. The discussion includes practical examples for Chief of Staff roles, like asking thought-provoking questions, giving feedback based on observations, and understanding team strengths using tools like Working Genius. The episode shares tips on creating a safe space for honest thinking, growing ...
A listener asks how to handle frustration when work on a project is dropped because directions change. Emily Sander shares that this happens often to Chiefs of Staff and explains the value of understanding the reason behind changes, reframing “wasted” work, and managing your emotional response. Helpful strategies include asking why priorities shifted, recognizing that work might be reused later, and focusing on what’s best for the team. Get in touch with Emily: Need help handling changing di...
Philip Atkinson shares how being a Chief of Staff inspired his work as a beekeeper and his book, "Be Wise." He explains leadership lessons from bees, like avoiding busywork, practicing servant leadership, and making decisions through consensus. Philip also talks about bees keeping their hive clean, the importance of closing out projects at work, and supports the Bees for Development charity with book proceeds. Links Mentioned: Philip Atkinson's Leadership and Coaching Consultancy Connect wit...
A Chief of Staff shared how her boss thought a high-talent sales team wasn’t meeting expectations, but no one could clearly say what those expectations were. Emily Sander highlights the importance of clearly defining what success looks like for a team, asking questions like “What is the output we want?” and making sure the team knows and has what they need to deliver. She suggests backing up gut feelings with clear measures, and openly communicating targets with the team. Get in touch with ...
Matthew Person explains his Square Management System, a framework for building high trust, high performance organizations by aligning employees and processes. He discusses culture as an output, shares the importance of having a "complete square," and gives examples - like how some people prefer structured office environments while others thrive in casual settings. The episode covers using assessments to find company-employee alignment and gives practical advice for Chiefs of Staff to diagnose...
Emily Sander explains how to change a workplace narrative by running an internal campaign, using catchy phrases, visuals, and repeated communication across multiple channels. She shares examples like NFL coach Mike MacDonald’s slogans “chase the edges” and calling backup players the “ready team,” and describes a Chief of Staff who made a teen mentoring program more visible by mentioning it in meetings and materials. The advice is to communicate the message so often that people can finish your...
Bill Shander explains how understanding what stakeholders really need leads to better results at work, especially for roles like Chief of Staff. He shares stories about clients asking for things like blue buttons or “ballets of data,” and how asking smart questions gets everyone on the same page. The episode covers common mistakes people make when jumping too quickly into requests and why techniques like the Socratic method work for clarifying goals. Links Mentioned: Bill Shander’s Website C...
Emily Sander explains why bringing “half baked” work to your boss - especially when you're new in a Chief of Staff role - can save time, spark valuable conversations, and help you calibrate quickly to your boss’s preferences. She gives real examples, like saving hours by checking in early, learning what your boss fixates on, and understanding the order they want detailed information presented. The episode encourages trying iterative updates instead of holding out for perfection. Get in touc...
Chris Blauvelt shares his journey as a multi-time entrepreneur, how he hired his first Chief of Staff after learning about the role from House of Cards and leadership books, and why setting top three priorities every quarter changed his effectiveness as a CEO. He explains how his Chief of Staff tackled big challenges like product innovation, people operations, and compliance, even without previous experience in those areas. Chris also discusses bringing on a second Chief of Staff with a more ...
This episode lays out the difference between judgment and assessment at work, especially for leaders like the Chief of Staff. Emily shares real examples, from firing and hiring decisions to handling challenging team meeting behavior, showing how you can assess actions without judging someone's character. She explains how focusing on observable facts and assessments helps avoid negative assumptions, makes decisions easier, and benefits the whole team. Get in touch with Emily: Need help turnin...
Andrew Davies shares how his theater and improv background helps teams run better meetings and build trust. He explains practical improv games like “Breaking News” and “Speech” that boost listening and support. Andrew also talks about tailoring these activities for different teams and making meetings more engaging, interactive, and productive. Links Mentioned: Andrew Davies’ Organization Reach out to Andrew via email Get in touch with Emily: Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity ca...
Emily Sander explains how to set up systems that make it easier to stick to New Year's goals, like laying out workout clothes by the door or using food tracking apps with preloaded meals. She shares personal examples, including her efforts to improve sleep by using an OURA ring and building an evening routine, and gives tips on matching goal-setting approaches to your personality and the type of goal. The focus is on making the process work for you, so healthy habits and results come naturall...
Jared Stein shares his unconventional path from running CrossFit and Orange Theory gyms to becoming a Chief of Staff at a virtual investment firm. He talks about managing operations, streamlining team roles, and implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). Jared also discusses how his firm helps clients with a deep financial “X-ray” to spot hidden overlaps in their investment portfolios. Links Mentioned: Company Website Email Jared Stein Get in touch with Emily: Want to chat...
Emily Sander explains the "wheel of life" exercise, a tool to review different areas like career, relationships, community, hobbies, and physical or spiritual life. She gives examples of focusing on being a better parent, manager, or entrepreneur, and suggests honestly assessing where you're doing well and where you could improve. The episode encourages setting practical New Year's goals based on current priorities and where your energy is best spent. Get in touch with Emily: Want help asses...
Nicholas Richard-Thompson shares his journey from creative intern to Deputy Chief of Staff for Aurora, Illinois, discussing the importance of building relationships, working with nonprofits, and navigating local government. He gives examples like coordinating lead line water replacement and partnering with organizations during COVID. The episode covers team structure, community advocacy, and practical tips for getting involved in local government. Links Mentioned: Here are several nonprofit ...
This episode talks about how to set New Year's goals by comparing specific targets like losing 15 pounds by June 1st with broader intentions such as choosing a word for the year like "hello" or "lightness." Emily Sander shares how different people stick with goals and emphasizes picking what actually works for you, whether that's a SMART goal or a flexible intention. She also mentions using reminders, like putting a sales commission number on your mirror, and encourages everyone to be open to...
Emily Sander talks with John Knowlton about what real success means, why it's an ongoing process, and how to use your natural talents at work. They share practical ideas for Chiefs of Staff, like focusing on tasks that give you energy, trimming your to-do list, and using clear company values to make decisions. John Knowlton also shares advice on morning routines and his book "Thinking for Success." Links Mentioned: John Knowlton’s Book: Thinking for Success John Knowlton’s Website Get in to...
This episode breaks down practical ways to diagnose burnout beyond just heavy workloads, like checking if team members actually have the right training or system access, clarifying real versus perceived expectations, and considering outside-of-work stressors. Emily shares examples, such as a team member struggling because they didn’t have a login to a key system, and gives advice on addressing mental clutter and having open conversations. Chief of Staff listeners get tips on spotting the true...
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States