NORTHBOUND: Executive Leadership Coaching

🎙️ Episode Description Leadership isn't built in comfort — it's built in the hard miles. In this episode of the Northbound Podcast , Chris shares lessons drawn from walking over 1,500 miles alone on backcountry trails. From fear and injury to loneliness and exhaustion, those experiences didn't weaken him — they built resilience. And that same kind of resilience is exactly what leadership requires....

🎙️ Episode Description Too many leaders wait until performance scores drop before investing in their people. It sounds efficient — but it's reactive, passive, and ultimately misguided. In this episode of the Northbound Podcast , Chris challenges a common leadership mindset: tying development to decline. Drawing from real leadership experience and what he's seeing across today's leadership noise, C...

Anonymous surveys are often sold as safe, honest, and necessary — but are they really helping your organization? In this episode of the Northbound Podcast , Chris dives into the hidden dangers of anonymous feedback and why these surveys can quietly erode trust, silence courage, and undermine accountability. Learn how to move from forms to face-to-face conversations, cultivate a culture of openness...

Contact me personally: Chris@Go-Northbound.com   When we think about investing, we usually think about money—stocks, real estate, returns, and risk. But the greatest investment leaders can make isn't found in a portfolio. It's found in people. In this episode of the Northbound Podcast , Chris explores the powerful connection between financial investing and leadership investing. Drawing from person...

Email me at Chris@Go-Northbound.com Join Community at  www. Go-Northbound.com Episode Description You've probably heard it before: "We're like family here." At first, it sounds warm, inviting—maybe even inspiring. But what if that phrase is quietly creating burnout, resentment, and unhealthy leadership dynamics? In this episode of Northbound , Chris unpacks why treating your workplace like a famil...

Go North in 2026!       www. Go-Northbound.com   2026 is here, and leadership is moving faster than ever before. AI is reshaping how we work—streamlining tasks, improving processes, and accelerating decision-making. But while technology continues to advance, it can never replace the most transformative elements of leadership: human connection, wise counsel, and decisive action. In this episode of...

Hi, I'm your host Chris. Thank you for listening. Email me directly at chris@Go-Northbound.com   Present Leadership, Northbound Culture - People Are Worth Your Attention What does your phone, your laptop, or your inbox say about how much you value your people? In this episode of Northbound , Chris opens with an uncomfortable—but familiar—moment: starting a conversation distracted, busy, half-prese...

Email me direct at chris@go-northbound.com   Leadership Into The Unknown In this episode of the Northbound Podcast , Chris takes listeners deep into the Grand Canyon—literally and figuratively. Drawing from a seven-day rafting expedition with his family and the historic journey of explorer John Wesley Powell, this conversation unpacks what leadership looks like when the map is incomplete and the s...

Email me directly at chris@Go-Northbound.com Join the community at www. Go-Northbound.com and get access to a simple 360 degree tool for leaders.  Trust Before Feedback - 360° Leadership In this episode of Northbound, Christopher Miser dives into 360° feedback and the role trust plays in leadership. Feedback only works where trust exists—without it, feedback becomes filtered, delayed, or silent. C...

Email the host direct at chris@go-northbound.com   Lessons From The Back Room - Organizational Leadership In this episode of  Northbound , Chris shares a powerful story from his early days as an Air Force lieutenant about the importance of valuing back-office employees and listening to voices often overlooked. He recounts how a young enlisted member—quiet and unnoticed by many—knew the squadron's...

Schedule leadership coaching with your host, Chris at chris@go-northbound.com   What's Keeping Your Wheels Northbound? - Organizational Leadership In this episode of Northbound , Chris highlights the critical role of office assistants as organizational linchpins. He explores how assistants often run the culture, operations, and communication hubs of an organization—even more than some executives r...

Schedule a free consultation. Email me at Chris@Go-Northbound.com   The Emperor Has No Clothes -  Leading So People Feel Safe to Disagree Episode Topic: Encouraging healthy disagreement to strengthen leadership and team performance Episode Description: In this episode of Northbound, Chris explores how leaders can foster an environment where team members feel safe to disagree. Through personal stor...

Northbound Approach Community -- https://northbound-approach.circle.so/c/posts/   Empowerment Over "Face-Time" - How To Showcase Your People Naturally  Episode Description: In this episode of Northbound, Chris dives into the misguided workplace concept of "FaceTime"—the idea that employees need to spend artificial time with higher-ups to get noticed. Chris shares personal experiences from his care...

Email your host directly at Chris@Go-Northbound.com   From Inbox to Outbox - How Efficient Leaders Give Time Back Episode Description: In this episode of Northbound, Chris reflects on lessons learned from his grandfather and a particularly disciplined boss. From perfectly packed camping trips to an office inbox meticulously managed by priority, Chris explores how structure, efficiency, and clear e...

Email your host directly at Chris@Go-Northbound.com   How to Get Promoted - The Right Way In this episode, Chris dives into the overwhelming noise of modern leadership advice—especially the kind that circulates on social media. Using a popular LinkedIn article about "how to get promoted" as a springboard, he breaks down 11 common pieces of promotion advice, evaluates their strengths and pitfalls,...

Follow along and join our team at:  www. Go-Northbound.com   Episode Title: The Greater Shackleton -  In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris contrasts two legendary Antarctic explorers—Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton—to reveal a timeless leadership lesson. While Scott's obsession with being first to the South Pole led to tragedy and loss, Shackleton's leadership focused on the...

Join and follow the Northbound Team at: www. Go-Northbound.com Great Scott - A Case Study in Poor Priorities  In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris unpacks the tragic Antarctic expedition of Robert Falcon Scott and reveals how a leader's obsession with reaching the summit or South Pole in this case—literally and figuratively—can destroy the very people they're called to guide. Through S...

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris unpacks a powerful leadership lesson inspired by an Eagle Scout whose life embodied humility, vigilance, focus, and decisive action—Neil Armstrong. As the Apollo 11 lunar module descended toward its marked landing zone, Armstrong recognized that the planned site was covered with dangerous boulders and debris. With fuel running l...

Episode Title: From Wilderness to Summit: Finding Growth in Leadership Leadership can be grueling, invisible, and exhausting — but it doesn't have to break you. In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris reflects on his journey from the most challenging moments of his military career to a 68-day solo hike on the Pacific Crest Trail, a period of deep reflection and personal growth. Through th...

Episode Title: The Weight You Carry Leadership isn't just about making decisions or guiding a team — it's about carrying the unseen weight of the people you lead. In this deeply personal and raw episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris shares one of the most challenging moments of his leadership journey: a close call with a team member contemplating suicide. Through this story, he explores the hea...

Episode Title: The Miles No-One Sees Leadership is hard, messy, and often invisible — just like the long, lonely miles on a backpacking trail. In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris explores the unseen struggles that leaders carry every day: the emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual weight that doesn't show up on anyone else's radar. Using personal stories, historical examples like...

Podcast Summary: The Leadership Legacy of Air Force Pilot Edgar Lewis In this episode of the Northbound Podcast , Chris shares the powerful and inspiring story of Edgar Lewis , the first African American B-47 and B-52 pilot in the United States Air Force. His journey is a testament to perseverance, emotional control, and courageous leadership in the face of racism and relentless adversity. Chris r...

Episode Description – "They're Gonna Get Called" In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris unpacks a powerful leadership lesson inspired by a recent press conference with Nebraska Huskers head coach Matt Rhule. When asked whether he worries about other teams trying to recruit his top players, Rhule responded with confidence: "They're gonna get called"—and that's a good thing. Chris uses thi...

Episode Description – Northbound Podcast: Intentional Relationships and Time Management In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris dives into the critical role time management plays not just in business, but in family and personal relationships. Drawing from his experience in the Air Force and leadership discussions, Chris shares practical insights on how intentional relationships and daily...

Episode Title: The Power of Being Present   Description: In this deeply impactful episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris discusses the critical role of presence in leadership, especially when lives are at stake. Drawing from his time in the military, he shares a story of an airman struggling with suicidal thoughts and how the simple act of showing up—being present—can make a life-changing differ...