Coaching for Leaders

ZACH MERCURIO: THE POWER OF MATTERING Zach Mercurio is an author, researcher, and speaker specializing in purposeful leadership, mattering, meaningful work, and positive organizational psychology. He teaches a course with past guest Simon Sinek on how leaders can show everyone how they matter. He is the author of The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance [https://bookshop.org/a/90226/9798892790123]*. When you ask people what mattered in their careers, few cite the bonus, or the stock options, or the employee of the month award. What they do talk about are the times they were remembered, supported, thanked, and seen. In this conversation, Zach and I discuss how to do that better. KEY POINTS * When people are asked about when they mattered, they recall small moments of being remembered, helped, thanked, or seen. * The behavior of a leader accounts for half of the increased feelings of mattering and meaningfulness at work. * Rather than identifying with a person’s behavior, identify first with the person. * Look for the positive traits in a person or identify something that you love. * Music is the space between the notes. In our informal interactions, we have the choice to turn against, turn away, or turn towards. * Leaders who notice people well consistently follow three steps: observe, note, and share. RESOURCES MENTIONED * The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance [https://bookshop.org/a/90226/9798892790123]* by Zach Mercurio INTERVIEW NOTES Download my interview notes [https://coachingforleaders.com/mp-files/zach-mercurio-the-way-to-notice-people-better.pdf/] in PDF format (free membership required). RELATED EPISODES * Start With Why, with Simon Sinek [https://coachingforleaders.com/podcast/223/] (episode 223) * How to Shift Behavior for Better Results, with Mitch Warner [https://coachingforleaders.com/podcast/shift-behavior-for-better-results-mitch-warner/] (episode 690) * How to Bring Out the Best in People, with Donna Hicks [https://coachingforleaders.com/podcast/bring-out-the-best-in-people-donna-hicks/] (episode 724) EXPERT PARTNER Are you noticing people communicating in a such a way that feels boring or robotic to stakeholders – or perhaps just losing them in the data? David Hutchens, one our our expert partners, helps leaders and organizations develop a more human, engaging voice through the power of storytelling. To discover more about how his work may support your organization, get in touch on our expert partners page [https://coachingforleaders.com/partners/]. DISCOVER MORE Activate your free membership [https://coachingforleaders.com/free] 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 [https://coachingforleaders.com/plus].

JEFF WETZLER: ASK Jeff Wetzler is co-Founder of Transcend, a nationally recognized innovation organization, and an expert in learning and human potential. His experience spans 25+ years in business and education, as a management consultant to top corporations, a learning facilitator for leaders, and as Chief Learning Officer at Teach For America. He’s the author of Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs in Leadership and Life [https://bookshop.org/a/90226/9780306832697]*. We place our organizations at risk when we miss stuff. Often, the things we miss aren’t what we don’t know. Instead, they are the assumptions we don’t even question. In this conversation, Jeff and I explore the practices that work to find what’s missing. KEY POINTS Hidden feedback cues: * Repeated questions or suggestions about seemingly small details. * Increased involvement in tactical decisions. * Unexpected decreases in engagement. Benefits of curiosity: 1. When We’re Curious About People, They Like Us More 2. Curiosity begets curiosity. 3. Curiosity creates empathy. 4. Curiosity makes us more resilient. Curiosity sparks: * What might I be missing? * How else might someone interpret the situation? * How might I be impacting them? * What can I learn from this person? RESOURCES MENTIONED * Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs in Leadership and Life [https://bookshop.org/a/90226/9780306832697]* by Jeff Wetzler * Ask Approach [https://www.askapproach.com] * How to Recognize “Hidden Feedback” [https://hbr.org/2025/04/how-to-recognize-hidden-feedback] (Harvard Business Review) by Jeff Wetzler * The Curiosity Coach In Your Pocket [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/unexpected-breakthroughs/202408/the-curiosity-coach-in-your-pocket] (Psychology Today) by Jeff Wetzler RELATED EPISODES * How to Inspire More Curiosity, with Shannon Minifie [https://coachingforleaders.com/podcast/inspire-more-curiosity-shannon-minifie/] (episode 520) * How to Help Others Be Seen and Heard, with Scott Shigeoka [https://coachingforleaders.com/podcast/help-others-be-seen-and-heard-scott-shigeoka/] (episode 654) * Make it Easier to Discuss Hard Things, with Jeff Wetzler [https://coachingforleaders.com/podcast/easier-to-discuss-hard-things-jeff-wetzler/] (episode 679) DISCOVER MORE Activate your free membership [https://coachingforleaders.com/free] 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 [https://coachingforleaders.com/plus].

SCOTT ANTHONY BARLOW: HAPPEN TO YOUR CAREER Scott Anthony Barlow is CEO of Happen To Your Career and host of the Happen to Your Career podcast. His team and him are focused on helping people find the work they love. He’s also the author of the book, Happen to Your Career: An Unconventional Approach to Career Change and Meaningful Work [https://bookshop.org/a/90226/9798985491203]*. You’ve been laid off, or someone close to you is navigating that reality right now. A lot of the first things we think to do after a layoff are wrong. In this episode, Scott and I explore what to avoid…and more importantly, where to begin anew. KEY POINTS * Most people underestimate the time it takes to make a transition to the next, right position. * Submitting tons of applications, networking everywhere, and telling everyone that you’re looking feels productive, but is often either incomplete or a waste of time. * Give yourself the space to grieve. Spend time with the people who care about you. * This didn’t happen to you, it happened for you. Whether objectively true or not, this mindset will help you be intentional about next actions. * Hyperfocus your targeting by creating a master resume and also considering backdoors to opportunities. * Decide when to hire help by using math – how much will expertise help speed up the process and/or help you land a higher salary? RESOURCES MENTIONED * Happen to Your Career: An Unconventional Approach to Career Change and Meaningful Work [https://bookshop.org/a/90226/9798985491203]* by Scott Anthony Barlow INTERVIEW NOTES Download my interview notes [https://coachingforleaders.com/mp-files/scott-anthony-barlow-what-to-do-after-a-layoff.pdf/] in PDF format (free membership required). RELATED EPISODES * Craft a Career to Fit Your Strengths, with Scott Anthony Barlow [https://coachingforleaders.com/podcast/career-fit-strengths-scott-anthony-barlow/] (episode 424) * How to Nail a Job Transition, with Sukhinder Singh Cassidy [https://coachingforleaders.com/podcast/nail-job-transition-sukhinder-singh-cassidy/] (episode 555) * How to Respond When You Get Triggered, with Sally Helgesen [https://coachingforleaders.com/podcast/when-you-get-triggered-sally-helgesen/] (episode 620) EXPERT PARTNER In this midst of a layoff? 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 [https://coachingforleaders.com/partners/]. DISCOVER MORE Activate your free membership [https://coachingforleaders.com/free] 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 [https://coachingforleaders.com/plus].

TOM HENSCHEL: THE LOOK & SOUND OF LEADERSHIP Tom Henschel of Essential Communications [https://essentialcomm.com] supports senior leaders and executive teams. An internationally recognized expert in the field of workplace communications and self-presentation, he has helped thousands of leaders achieve excellence through his work as an executive coach and his top-rated podcast, The Look & Sound of Leadership. Have you been told you should take more initiative? Or, perhaps you’ve been telling that to someone else? Either way, this conversation with Tom Henschel will outline three key steps to help you get started. KEY POINTS Three steps to taking more initiative: 1. Think and talk about your work. Ideas come through conversation. 2. Execute on your idea. Feel the fear and do it anyway. 3. Communicate what you’ve done. * Initiative is often in the eye of the beholder. * Imagine a scale that goes from bold to cautious. There’s probably room for you to be at least 5% bolder. * Feeling like you are waiting on others may be an indicator to take initiative. * To calibrate where you land, ask yourself: “What’s my typical pattern?” * In correspondence, consider asking fewer questions and making more statements. * Place yourself in situations where you’ll need to show initiative. RESOURCES MENTIONED * The Look & Sound of Leadership [https://essentialcomm.com/podcast] podcast by Tom Henschel * Feel the Fear…and Do It Anyway [https://bookshop.org/a/90226/9780063291294]* by Susan Jeffers RELATED EPISODES * Leadership vs. Management [https://essentialcomm.com/podcast/leadership-versus-management/] (The Look & Sound of Leadership, episode 166) * 5 Strategies for Dealing with Narcissists [https://essentialcomm.com/podcast/5-strategies-for-dealing-with-narcissists/] (The Look & Sound of Leadership, episode 239) * How to Answer “Tell Us About Yourself” [https://essentialcomm.com/podcast/how-to-answer-tell-us-about-yourself/] (The Look & Sound of Leadership, episode 250) * How to Talk So People Understand You [https://essentialcomm.com/podcast/how-to-talk-so-people-understand-you/] (The Look & Sound of Leadership, episode 254) DISCOVER MORE Activate your free membership [https://coachingforleaders.com/free] 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 [https://coachingforleaders.com/plus].

JON FOGEL: PUNISHMENT-­FREE PARENTING Jon Fogel is a husband, a father of four, and a parenting educator. His goal is to teach how to parent more effectively, with less stress and more success by combining modern neuroscience, developmental psychology, counseling, and positive, gentle parenting wisdom. He is the author of Punishment-­Free Parenting: The Brain-Based Way to Raise Kids Without Raising Your Voice [https://bookshop.org/a/90226/9780593735466]*. Most of us aspire to lead well in every area of our lives, not just in the workplace. A key place for leadership with many of us is with our kids and the other young people in our lives. In this conversation, Jon and I discuss how to raise kids without raising your voice. KEY POINTS * Consequences and punishment are not the same thing, even if the words are used interchangeably. * Our kids want us to like them. They are not giving you a hard time; they’re having a hard time. * Punishment doesn’t “teach kids a lesson.” More often, it crowds out higher-level thinking, and children are unable to remember what they were being punished for. * Rather than imposing retribution, help children surface the natural and logistical consequences of their behaviors. * Get curious, not furious. Often, there’s a perfectly rational reason that children are acting the way they are. * Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate. RESOURCES MENTIONED * Punishment-­Free Parenting: The Brain-Based Way to Raise Kids Without Raising Your Voice [https://bookshop.org/a/90226/9780593735466]* by Jon Fogel * Jon Fogel on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wholeparent] INTERVIEW NOTES Download my interview notes [https://coachingforleaders.com/mp-files/jon-fogel-how-to-raise-kids-without-raising-your-voice.pdf/] in PDF format (free membership required). RELATED EPISODES * How to Reduce Drama With Kids, with Tina Payne Bryson [https://coachingforleaders.com/podcast/310/] (episode 310) * The Way Into Better Conversations About Wealth, with Kristin Keffeler [https://coachingforleaders.com/podcast/better-conversations-about-wealth-kristin-keffeler/] (episode 606) * Supporting Return to Work After Maternity Leave, with Danna Greenberg [https://coachingforleaders.com/podcast/return-to-work-after-maternity-leave-danna-greenberg/] (episode 639) DISCOVER MORE Activate your free membership [https://coachingforleaders.com/free] 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 [https://coachingforleaders.com/plus].