The CEO Sage (Formerly Leadership is Feminine)

Accountability - making a commitment and then following through on it. You wouldn't think it's that hard to do, right? Yet every day, we are surrounded by people who think they're above accountability. And many leaders, in order to avoid difficult conversations, let it go. They don't address it, and therein lies the quagmire. We leaders are negatively reinforcing the very behaviors we say we don't...

Being firm and serious when you need to be is important, but if overused, it can lose its authority and make you unapproachable. Real laughter is a form of connection. I think that leaders who laugh and have fun create better cultures. They create a connection that's based on authenticity and truth - and that is one of the most potent forms of engagement. What you'll learn from this episode: Why l...

In today's interview, Kris talks with Meha Agrawal, South Asian American CEO and founder of Silk + Sonder. Silk + Sonder is a community-driven program which is rooted in principles of positive psychology whose mission is to solve the emotional health epidemic for their customers. At its core, Silk + Sonder is a space for mindfulness, journaling, planning, tracking, and creative expression — all in...

Vulnerability is not just about making yourself susceptible to physical or emotional harm – it can also be a mechanism for growth and connection with others. Tune in to find out how being vulnerable can help make you, as a female entrepreneur, an exceptionally powerful leader. What you'll learn from this episode: What you are blocking yourself from when you prevent yourself from being vulnerable....

Today we're talking about some warning signs to watch out for when you're hiring a new employee. You've probably experienced some, or all, of these. And out of desperation, you may have found yourself making excuses for them or overlooking them. So I'm here to validate that these really are warning signs that an employee isn't going to work out. What you'll learn from this episode: Why someone who...

I have noticed that many of my clients seem to fall into two polarizing positions. They either end up in a feeling of total helplessness or a place of arrogance. Ironically, the results are the same. Your confidence is priceless, but it's not something you can just compensate for by hiding or abdicating. Here's my suggestion … What you'll learn from this episode: About "I can't" and the feeling of...

We all deal with the emotion of anger every now and then. There's nothing wrong with that. But we don't have to work out our anger with other people. As leaders, sometimes we forget that we already command authority just because of our role - our title. We automatically carry the biggest stick, and arguing for us, is not a good look. It doesn't create a constructive culture, and I believe as leade...

Today I'm sharing an important observation I've made from numerous clients over the years. It's a phrase that we most likely all use. It's insidious, and it's ineffective. And the chances are extremely good that eliminating it from your vocabulary will have a positive impact on your team and your ability to get the results you want. What you'll learn from this episode: What the insidious phrase is...

Today we're talking about how you can intentionally lean into the person you are and become even more, unabashedly, you. Then, by developing and possessing great leadership skills, you can go out into the world and attract the perfect person to work for you. What you'll learn from this episode: Thinking about who your perfect boss is and how you can align more with that. How to look at your areas...

When women business owners don't think of themselves as CEOs, but as healers, they are often blocking their own success. Today, we are going to talk about how you can be both a healer and a CEO by blending empathic skills with leadership skills. What you'll learn from this episode: How and why being a healer and a CEO are not mutually exclusive. People who acknowledge themselves as healers and emp...

When faced with a management challenge, those who don't have a lot of development or support struggle with which way to go. Today, we are going to talk about how to develop a management map that includes the pathways that will lead you out of that challenge. What you'll learn from this episode: How to use this management map to figure out where you are and where you want to go. How to find the sho...

Core competencies are benchmark skills that are needed in particular leadership roles. They are the price of entry, and you can't function well without them. Today, we're going to talk about the three most important competencies you need to have as a leader. What you'll learn from this episode: What the 3 core competencies are. How to build a healthy organization by developing these skills. The se...

When a team member makes a mistake or doesn't perform well, it has a direct impact on you and others in your business. As an empath, you probably tend to focus on how the team member feels about making the mistake, and you may accommodate that failure. Today, let's talk about how to acknowledge the mistake, hold the person accountable, and discuss what happened. What you'll learn from this episode...

There is magic in being an entrepreneur. Having an idea that you create and build is magical. As your business grows, don't lose that magic just because it gets a little harder. You were touched to do this for a reason, so here are some suggestions for keeping that magic alive while doing what it is that you were called to do. What you'll learn from this episode: How to recognize and keep the magi...

Managing human emotions is often labelled as a "soft skill" for leaders, but in reality, it is anything but. Today we will talk about how feeling other people's feelings can interfere with what you need to get done as a leader, and we'll discuss some things you can do to develop those skills. What you'll learn from this episode: How to know if you are an empath. How to manage your emotions and not...

Circumstances have very little to do with your results - it's how you think about them and respond. It is easy to lose sight of what you're trying to do, so asking yourself and your team what your end goal is helps keep you focused and allows your business to continue growing. What you'll learn from this episode: How to see results even under tough circumstances An important question to ask yourse...

In today's interview, Kris talks with Natalie Bacon, a life coach helping women live more purposefully and passionately. Natalie shares her story and the lessons about money and team structure she has learned as her company grows. What you'll learn from this episode: Natalie's strategies for handling money The importance of company structure and organization How to view your role as a CEO Setting...

People often feel trapped by their commitments and feel that everything will come crumbling down if they slip up. One cause of this is rescuer's exhaustion resulting from a person's desire to solve other people's problems for them. Letting others learn on their own benefits them and allows us to grow as people and as leaders! What you'll learn from this episode: One common mistake people make that...

As we reflect back on the monumental year that was 2020, we can learn lessons that help us grow and move forward. While we could fixate on what we wish hadn't happened, this keeps us stuck in the past. It is important to work within our realm of control and accept "what is." This leads to empowerment and strength! What you'll learn from this episode: Kris shares her current sources of intellectual...

I know the frustration you feel when you're trying to hire for positions in your business. You're totally normal if you compromise because you're desperate. But today, I'm going to give you the secret to avoiding hiring those people that you know you shouldn't hire. What you'll learn from this episode: Kris' latest experience at trying to hire for a VA-type assistant. "If they don't work out in th...

I believe that our toughest moments are our greatest teachers. What did you learn about yourself during this monumental year that was 2020? When we take time to sit and reflect, it helps build clarity. Clarity of thinking leads to knowing yourself – and THAT is a major leadership superpower. What you'll learn from this episode: Instead of setting New Year resolutions, Kris will be doing this inste...

As a founder, you were never really on the "manager career path." You never made a conscious decision to be a manager. It's not that you're not good at managing people. The truth is you never wanted to manage people and you don't enjoy managing people. So let me help you sit in that management seat and find a voice in it that you can feel good about. What you'll learn from this episode: The five a...

Team meetings are absolutely essential. But are you using them as the grounding stone that they are intended to be, or are you using them as a work group? Are they debilitating or are they relationship building? Let's talk about the what, when and how long of team meetings. What you'll learn from this episode: What a meeting is for. When you should or shouldn't be having meetings. The frequency of...

Today Kris discusses how an unexpected personal issue recently required her to step away from her business for a short period of time. The beauty? She can do this comfortably because she has built a team that she knows has her back. What you'll learn from this episode: The amazing year that was 2019. The brilliant group of women that Kris has the privilege of coaching in her How to CEO program. Ho...

If you sometimes feel that dealing with difficult employees is like a game of whack-a-mole, you're in the right place. Here are some basics for how to deal with a difficult employee. What you'll learn from this episode: Defining the word "difficult." How the Thought Model comes into play. How to make a T chart that will change the way you think about your difficult employee. Why you'll fail if you...