Coaching for Leaders

Anne-Laure Le Cunff: Tiny Experiments Anne-Laure Le Cunff is an award-winning neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and writer. She is the founder of Ness Labs and author of its widely read newsletter, a researcher at the ADHD Research Lab, and an advisor for the Applied Neuroscience Association. She is the author of Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World*. We all get into a rut sometimes. Once we notice we’re in one, our tendency is to work really hard to get out of it. In this conversation, Anne-Laure and I explore how starting with something tiny is often the better bet. Key Points SMART goals assume we know exactly where we’re heading. Most of the time, that’s not clear. A tiny experiment focuses on outputs instead of outcomes. To build more comfort with uncertainty, find one small place to experiment. Our brain uses growth loops to constantly adjust our trajectory. We don’t go in circles; we grow in circles. Improving growth isn’t about knowledge or skill; it’s thinking about your thinking, questioning your responses, and knowing your mind. A simple, 5-minute tool is Plus Minus Next. It surfaces what’s working, what’s not, and your next steps. Resources Mentioned Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World* by Anne-Laure Le Cunff Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes How to Become the Person You Want to Be, with James Clear (episode 376) How to Change Your Behavior, with BJ Fogg (episode 507) How to Create Space, with Juliet Funt (episode 540) 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.

Dave speaks with Anna Bellini, an alum of the Coaching for Leaders Academy, on how to stop a behavior in order to move forward. Apply to the Coaching for Leaders Academy by Friday, September 12th.

Lorraine K. Lee: Unforgettable Presence Lorraine K. Lee is passionate about helping ambitious professionals go from invisible to unforgettable in the modern workplace. She is recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice in workplace communication and presence and spent over a decade as a founding editor at top tech firms like LinkedIn and Prezi, where she worked on core products including the LinkedIn Daily News module and LinkedIn Newsletters. She is the author of Unforgettable Presence: Get Seen, Gain Influence, and Catapult Your Career. Small talk. We all love to hate it – and we also know that most of us will end up in small talk with someone who’s got a lot of influence. It may be an executive or an external stakeholder. Either way, handling it well can open up doors. In this conversation, Lorraine and I detail how to make small talk go better. Key Points Small talk is the starting point before a deeper relationship. Most opportunities for executive small talk are predictable. Preparation will help you speak well. Set the tone with positive energy. Rather than dominating the interaction or passively reacting to it, thread your conversations so each party shares equally. At the office, be ready with a sentence or two about who you work with and what you’re working on. Relationships and outcomes are more memorable than titles. At social events, share a hobby or interest and ask about theirs. Keep questions open-ended as you would with a friend. Have a topic ready to go for quick interactions. Sharing a thought about a book or podcast that relates to your organization is a useful resource to have at the ready. Review your go-to topics regularly so that you always have a relevant conversation topic. Resources Mentioned Unforgettable Presence: Get Seen, Gain Influence, and Catapult Your Career by Lorraine K. Lee Lorraine's weekly newsletter Lorraine's career tips on LinkedIn Learning Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes Executive Presence with Your Elevator Speech, with Tom Henschel (episode 316) How to Talk to People Who Intimidate You, with Shandy Welch (episode 706) A Key Tactic for Way Better Conversations, with Alison Wood Brooks (episode 717) 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.

Dave speaks with Mel Rivera, an alum of the Coaching for Leaders Academy, on how she built visibility for her team. Apply to the Coaching for Leaders Academy by Friday, September 12th.

Mort Sherman: Resonant Minds Mort Sherman is the retired Senior Associate Executive Director of the American Association of School Administrators, known for his visionary leadership as a superintendent dedicated to elevating academic standards and promoting equitable education. Throughout his career, he championed initiatives that addressed achievement gaps and empowered communities to foster inclusive, impactful learning environments. He is the author, along with his daughter Sara Leila Sherman, of Resonant Minds: The Transformative Power of Music, One Note at a Time. So many of us love music, and it’s often at the core of a lot of our personal lives, celebrations, and emotions. But we don’t often think about how we can leverage its power at work. In this conversation, Mort and I explore how music can help us set the tone for better leadership. Key Points One way to nurture our teams and ourselves is a continual call for leaders, and music is an avenue we don’t often consider. Using music as mindful action, coupled with executive function skills, supports the habits of successful leadership. Start meetings with music or mindfulness exercises for collective focus, productive discussions, and creative outcomes. Create team playlists to build community. Combine playlists with meetings to help support trust and respect. Use music to reinforce a message or theme, tied to the needs of the moment. Resources Mentioned Why Cooks Cook from The Bear Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes The Power of Leadership Through Hospitality, with Will Guidara (episode 688) How to Better Manage Your Emotions, with Ethan Kross (episode 719) What Leaders Should Learn from Taylor Swift, with Kevin Evers (episode 739) 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

Dave speaks with Erann Lincoln, an alum of the Coaching for Leaders Academy, on how she started small to build stronger relationships with her team. Apply to the Coaching for Leaders Academy by Friday, September 12th.

Jenny 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 nor 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.

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. 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, but 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 skill sets help us with both. Partnering well 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 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.

Matt Dixon: The Activator Advantage Matt Dixon is Founding Partner of DCM Insights, a global training and advisory firm, and a leading expert in business development and client experience. His first book The Challenger Sale was a #1 Amazon and Wall Street Journal bestseller, and translated in a dozen languages. His newest book with colleagues Rory Channer, Karen Freeman, and Ted McKenna is The Activator Advantage: What Today’s Rainmakers Do Differently*. At lot of us know the traits of the kind of person who’s successful at attracting new business. What many of us don’t know, is that what’s working today is actually different than what we traditionally think. In this conversation, Matt and I a take a detailed look at the professionals who are landing the most new business – and what they’re doing that works. Key Points The loyalty that once existed between professionals and their clients has changed substantially in recent years. A type of professional called an activator represents the highest performance in business development. Activators assume their best clients will leave at some point and are consistently working to build a pipeline of opportunities. Many professionals tend to protect client relationships. In contrast, activators actively bring colleagues into these relationships. Activators don’t wait for inquiries. They make opportunities happen by building relationships before paid work begins. Activators go way past birthdays and factual knowledge about others. They discover what’s important to their clients as individuals. Activators go way past “as is” content and work hard to thoughtfully connect it to a prospect or client’s situation. Resources Mentioned The Activator Advantage: What Today’s Rainmakers Do Differently* by Matt Dixon, Rory Channer, Karen Freeman, and Ted McKenna Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes The Surprising Truth About Influencing Others, with Daniel Pink (episode 84) How to Become the Person You Want to Be, with James Clear (episode 376) The Way to Earn Attention, with Raja Rajamannar (episode 521) Expert Partner Finding it hard to make an impression in a noisy marketplace? Many listeners have reached out to David Hutchens to help their organizations get traction through the power of story. If you’re planning an offsite or training to get better, get in touch with us to start the conversation with David or any of our other expert partners. 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.