Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet

Mogul skiers keep their head and upper body locked on where they're going while their legs absorb every bump and twist in the terrain. That's the move for leaders too—maintain vision and focus while managing the chaos that tries to knock you off course. The moguls you're facing?  Back-to-back meetings. Team members who need constant direction.  Shifting priorities from leadership. ...

In curling, when the skip calls out a command, every team member knows exactly what it means and what they need to do.  No confusion. No hesitation. Just immediate, coordinated action. Compare that to your team meetings.  When you delegate, does everyone know exactly what's expected?  Or are people nodding along but interpreting things completely differently? The uncomfortable conversations y...

Olympic athletes review their highlight reels—not to brag, but to remember what they're capable of when things get hard. Leaders need this too. But here's what you're probably doing instead: Judging yourself for the project that ran late. Replaying the meeting where you didn't have all the answers. Focusing on the team member who's still struggling instead of the three who...

Figure skaters know their strengths. If your triple axel is shaky, you feature your lutz. You build your program around what you do best. Leaders need that same clarity. But here's what most leaders miss:  - The very strengths that got you promoted can sabotage your leadership when they run on autopilot. - Your perfectionism delivered flawless work as an individual contributor. Now you'r...

Do you wonder if your team genuinely loves working for you... or if they're secretly planning their exit?  Even well-intentioned leaders can unknowingly become the boss people want to escape from. In this episode of Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet, host Kris Liebau interviews Joel Hilchey, author of "The Six and a Half Habits of Highly Defective Bosses." Joel reveals the surprising d...

Stop treating well-being as dessert after you've eaten your performance vegetables. Learn why integration, not sacrifice, is the key to sustainable high performance. In this episode of Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet, leadership coach Kris Liebau reveals why the most successful leaders don't choose between performance and wellbeing—they master both. Perfect for leaders who: Feel guilty ta...

Are you frustrated that your team isn't buying into new initiatives despite having all the facts and data to support your decisions? You're not alone.  Most analytical leaders make the mistake of thinking more PowerPoint slides and detailed explanations will overcome resistance. In this episode of Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet, leadership coach Kris Liebau reveals the real reasons teams...

Are your factual data-driven presentations falling flat? Getting endless clarifying questions instead of action?  If you're an analytical leader struggling to build buy-in despite having solid data and compelling spreadsheets, this episode is for you. Leadership coach Kris Liebau interviews communication expert Barbara Boldt to reveal why technical professionals often fail to persuade—and how...

Do you cringe at the word "networking"?  In this episode of Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet, host Kris Liebau and guest Greg Peters (The Reluctant Networker) reveal why most analytical leaders hate networking—and how to completely redefine it. Forget awkward small talk and business card exchanges. Discover a practical approach to building genuine professional relationships that actually d...

In this episode of Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet, host Kris Liebau and executive coach Aaron Fields explore the hidden psychology of procrastination for high-achieving professionals.  Discover: why procrastination isn't about laziness but about avoiding uncomfortable feelings,  how perfectionism masquerades as productivity, and  practical strategies to shift from analysis paralysis to meanin...

When you've invested heavily in processes but aren't seeing the expected returns, the problem might not be in your systems—it's in your and your team's thinking patterns. In this episode of Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet, coach Kris Liebau reveals how high-achieving leaders sabotage results through overplayed strengths like perfectionism, achievement addiction, and hypervigilan...

Discover how improv techniques can transform your leadership style from task-focused to truly present and engaging. In this Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet episode, improv experts and coaches Betsy Salkind and Amy Warshawsky reveal how structured improvisation techniques can help analytical leaders build stronger teams and clearer communication. Gain insights on why: Structure and rules actually en...

Engineering leader Jim Mason shares powerful insights on managing scope creep, making effective course corrections, and maintaining project momentum. Join Kris Liebau, host of Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet, and Jim as they explore how sailing's "Velocity Made Good" principle transforms project management and team leadership.  In this episode, Kris and Jim unpack strategies for: ⛵...

Transform your leadership effectiveness with a data-driven approach to time management. Join Kris Liebau as she breaks down the four essential pillars of productivity: volume management, focused execution, mental energy optimization, and strategic perspective. 🎯 Perfect for engineering managers, technical directors, and data-driven leaders looking to maximize their impact while minimizing overwhe...

Struggling with endless tasks and competing priorities? Join Kris Liebau on Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet as she reveals proven strategies for busy professionals to conquer work overload in Part 1 of this 2-part series on time management. Learn how to implement the Eisenhower Matrix, master task triage, and lead with emotional intelligence. Discover practical techniques to: ✓ Transform your appro...

Join Kris Liebau, our host, and Heidi Ettlinger, global snowsports leader, as they explore how expert bias impacts communication effectiveness by experts in their respective fields. Discover why your expertise might be hindering your ability to connect with your team and learn practical strategies for overcoming the 'curse of knowledge.' This episode reveals how humble curiosity and acti...

Struggling to find satisfaction and purpose in your leadership role? In this episode of Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet, coach Kris Liebau reveals how to establish and reconnect with your purpose as a leader. Learn why getting things done isn't enough anymore, and discover how to measure success beyond spreadsheets and tasks. Perfect for technical managers, directors, and executives who miss t...

Transform your leadership by mastering the art of celebration! In this powerful episode of Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet, Kris Liebau reveals why celebrating success - both visible and invisible - is crucial for sustainable growth and team motivation. In this episode, discover: How to identify and celebrate "invisible" wins Practical strategies for building celebration into your daily r...

Expressing gratitude may feel unnecessary when expectations are simply being met. Yet 81% of employees say they would work harder if their leaders showed appreciation, and 74% of workers say they rarely receive it. In this episode of Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet, Kris Liebau breaks down the tangible impact of strategic gratitude and provides a framework for analytical leaders to implement it eff...

In this thought-provoking episode of Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet, host Kris Liebau explores the intricate relationship between abundant choices and our desires to map outcomes spur on overthinking. Discover how the sheer number of options in today's workplace can compound decision-making challenges, leading to analysis paralysis.  Join us as we delve into the mental complexities of contemp...

Are you engaged in a battle with your calendar and you mind on how to maximize each hour of the day to get it "ALL" done?  Feeling like those Tetris skills you honed in your youth are helping you squeeze every little time block into place? Discover how to optimize your personal operational capacity with Kris Liebau on "Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet." In this eye-opening episod...

In this debut episode of “Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet,” Kris Liebau, an engineer turned engineering leadership coach, reveals the pivotal role of emotional intelligence in driving successful projects and processes. Kris shares her personal journey from technical problem-solving to understanding the crucial importance of people management. Learn why emotional intelligence and difficult conversat...

Discover the power of self-awareness in leadership coaching with Kris Liebau on Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet. In this eye-opening episode, Kris shares her journey founding Action and Ease Leadership Coaching and reveals how personal growth drives positive workplace change. Key takeaways: - Boost leadership effectiveness through self-awareness - Identify and overcome limiting patterns and habits...

Learn how data-driven professionals can enhance their leadership effectiveness by developing crucial interpersonal abilities.  Join Kris Liebau in this enlightening episode of Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet as she explores the essential skills analytical leaders need to complement their technical strengths.  Key takeaways: Defining analytical leadership Harmonizing data-driven decisions with team...

Reconnect and ignite the power of your one-on-one meetings to build stronger teams and boost productivity. In this episode of "Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet," host Kris Liebau reveals how to turn these often-overlooked sessions into valuable opportunities for relationship-building and empowerment. Key takeaways: Balance your roles as manager, mentor, and coach Create energizing and prod...