Coaching Through Stories

What comes to mind when you think of some of your favorite leaders—those who’ve truly inspired you? Purpose, presence, self-awareness, and care. Leaders who see you as more than your competency but for your character. That description fits today’s guest perfectly.  In the first episode of Season 7 of the Coaching Through Stories podcast, Dr. Eric Bean sits down with Certified Mental Performance Consultant, Alex Hodgins. Alex works with elite athletes in the NHL, Olympic sports, and corporate leadership. Known for his humility, curiosity, and commitment to human excellence, Alex pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to perform—and lead—at the highest level.  Drawing from his experiences with the Vancouver Canucks, Canadian Ski Cross, and the  Canadian Women’s National Soccer Team, Alex shares a defining story of how a mentor once told him, “I hired you for your character, not your competence.” That moment set the tone for a career built on authenticity, service, and continuous learning.  This conversation explores how we can create the psychological space for growth, balance high performance with vulnerability, and help people become the best version of themselves—not just the best performers.  Key Takeaways:   * Lead with character: Why who you are matters more than what you know.  * Permission to grow: How authenticity and curiosity fuel long-term excellence.  * Why showing up imperfectly can be a catalyst for real progress.  * How to build safe environments for learning and exploration.  Highlights:  [03:41] What does excellence mean to Alex  [07:28] His origin story that shaped his values and philosophy  [15:20] Creating a space to explore and grow  [29:39] The importance of leadership support in any field  [32:08] What is at the core of Alex's high-performance philosophy?  [37:20] Finding the balance between time pressure, understanding, and supporting people  [43:44] Transforming "dirty fuel" (like anger) into focused, clean energy for high performance  [54:38] Having a growth mindset and delivering team dynamics  [01:01:45] Finding the balance of cohesion and competition within the team  [01:10:17] The parallels between the business environment and leaders and coaches  [01:20:47] Real art and science of knowledge, coaching, and leadership [01:13:07] The BEAR necessities: Breathe, Eating, Activation, and Reflection    Looking to grow in your leadership? Schedule a complimentary consultation with our Professional Certified Coaches and Certified Mental Performance Consultants at HigherEchelon.com  * HigherEchelon.com - https://www.higherechelon.com/human-capital-solutions/executivecoaching/  Connect with Alex:  * LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhodgins [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhodgins]

When you think of some of your favorite leaders, leaders who've inspired you, what characteristics come to mind? Typically, people want leaders who are purposeful, curious, self-aware, present, engaged, and caring. Your favorite leaders tend to care about you as a person, not just a number. Our guest today – is all of those and more.  In this last episode of season 6 in Coaching Through Stories, Dr. Eric Bean speaks with PharmaPoint’s CEO, Mike Plaia about navigating leadership challenges through bold decisions and resilient mindset shifts.  Mike Plaia, is a seasoned leader with over 30 years of experience in business and leadership. As the CEO of PharmaPoint, a technology-driven, pharmacy management company, Mike has overseen its recognition as one of the fastest-growing private companies and an industry leader in healthcare innovation. Previously, he co-founded Source Medical, the largest provider of IT solutions for ambulatory surgery centers, and Industriaplex, an Inc. 500-ranked company. Mike also spent time at General Electric, leading initiatives in acquisition integration and Six Sigma.   A graduate of West Point, Mike served in the U.S. Army as a Field Artillery Officer, earning multiple commendations. Outside of business, he’s passionate about mentoring youth through sports and serves on several community boards, including Rise Above and gotURback, both focused on supporting local initiatives.  In today’s episode, Mike shares his experiences from West Point, the military, and leading high-growth companies, emphasizing the importance of taking risks and stepping out of comfort zones. He reflects on how failure is a necessary part of success and the critical role of trust and compassion in leadership.  You will gain practical insights into managing fear, building resilient teams, and fostering a culture where both success and failure are embraced as part of growth. Listeners will leave this episode feeling motivated to be bold and take on new challenges.  Key Takeaways:  * The importance of boldness and embracing discomfort to achieve growth  * How to build trust and compassion as a leader  * Why failure is essential to long-term success and development  * The value of journaling leadership lessons and learning from both good and bad examples  * Strategies for balancing mental toughness with support and empathy in leadership roles  Highlights:  * [6:00] Mike's journey from West Point to leading high-growth companies  * [10:24] The significance of bold decisions and taking risks  * [14:40] Embracing failure and building resilience in leadership  * [16:46] Trust, compassion, and accountability in leadership  * [23:19] Key leadership lessons from journaling and reflection  * [43:56] Why you need the “keep going” mentality  * [51:16] How Mike evolved as a leader  Resources:  The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt - https://www.amazon.com/Anxious-Generation-Rewiring-Childhood-Epidemic/dp/0593655036 [https://www.amazon.com/Anxious-Generation-Rewiring-Childhood-Epidemic/dp/0593655036]  PharmaPoint - www.pharmapoint.com [http://www.pharmapoint.com/]   Connect with Mike Plaia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-plaia-676b71/

Whether you’re a new or seasoned leader, it’s universal to experience the challenges that come with balancing competing demands and priorities of an organization. In this episode of Coaching Through Stories, Dr. Eric Bean takes listeners through the art of balancing support and challenge as a leader. He explores the importance of adaptability, focusing on the mental flexibility required to navigate leadership’s paradoxes like stability or innovation and be nurturing or drive results. Dr. Bean helps leaders understand paradoxical leadership, addresses the challenges that arise, and offers practical strategies to develop both supportive and challenging leadership styles.   Listeners will gain valuable tools for building adaptive leadership frameworks, incorporating active listening, and finding creative ways to blend structure with flexibility in their teams.  Key Takeaways:  * How to embrace both supportive and challenge to create a more dynamic and responsive leadership approach  * The three key components of adaptability in leadership  * Instead of “or” use “and” thinking  * How to develop mental flexibility and respond to paradoxes in leadership  * Active listening as the foundation for understanding and supporting your team  * Balancing short-term goals and long-term vision thinking in leadership decisions  Highlights:  * [0:06] The balance between being supportive and challenging    * [1:36] Three main components of adaptability    * [2:10] Developing mental flexibility    * [3:04] The paradox of leadership    * [3:31] Causes of paradoxical challenges in leadership    * [5:56] Active listening as a core leadership skill    * [9:35] Finding creative ways to balance structure and flexibility    * [12:16] Balancing short-term and long-term thinking   Resources:   Episode #49: Unlocking the Power of Adaptability with Ross Thornley - https://open.spotify.com/episode/6unpfrEdrFHTM2XCB66vFJ?si=EmPWsD2CSfmKZA1XNQF8xg [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6unpfrEdrFHTM2XCB66vFJ?si=EmPWsD2CSfmKZA1XNQF8xg]

In this special episode of Coaching Through Stories, Siana Sylvester steps in as co-host alongside Dr. Eric Bean to welcome guest Nicole Bean.  Together, they dive into Nicole’s impressive career journey from pharmaceutical sales to becoming Head of Oncology Marketing. Nicole shares her experiences of personal and professional growth, revealing how she transitioned from a road warrior to a corporate leader while constantly striving to make a bigger impact in healthcare. The episode highlights her leadership philosophy, the challenges of imposter syndrome, and how she fosters a psychologically safe environment for her team.  Key Points: 1. Nicole’s journey from pharmaceutical sales to oncology marketing 2. Leadership insights: empowering teams, fostering collaboration, and creating psychological safety 3. Overcoming imposter syndrome and external criticisms 4. The value of retrospectives for continuous team improvement Episode Highlights: •[6:20] Nicole’s background and transition into healthcare •[9:35] The challenges of moving from a field role to a corporate setting •[13:35] Leadership lessons: creating a safe space for teams •[6:44] The value of listening and connecting to your team •[5:40] Delegating leadership while maintaining individual contributions •[6:00] DISC assessment: Navigating different leadership styles in the workplace •[4:25] Cross-departmental collaboration and building coalitions •[1:02:29] Managing workplace criticism and personal growth through retrospectives Resources: •How Women Rise by Sally Helgesen-https://www.amazon.com/How-Women-Rise-Holding-Promotion/dp/0316440124 [https://www.amazon.com/How-Women-Rise-Holding-Promotion/dp/0316440124]

In this episode, host Dr. Eric Bean sits down with Andy Riise, Director of Mental Performance and Leadership for the Chicago Bears, to dive into the mental and emotional strategies that separate elite performers from the rest. With years of experience as a mental performance coach in professional sports and the military, Andy shares how training the mind is as crucial as training the body. He unpacks the intangible qualities of leadership and explores the intersection of high performance and joy.  Listen in as Andy reveals how to navigate ego interference, practice courageous conflict, and build resilience in high-pressure environments.  Key Takeaways:   - Developing the intangible attributes of leadership  - The critical elements of mental and emotional performance  - Navigating ego and staying grounded  - The art of courageous conflict in leadership  - Being intentional in everything that you do   Highlights:  •[12:07] How can leaders develop these intangible attributes of leadership?  •[20:34] Training your mind like training your body  •[23:52] The critical elements of high performance when it comes to mental and emotional stance  •[27:32] The ego interference and how to navigate it  •[34:33] The art of courageous conflict  •[35:39] Can high performance and joy co-exist?  •[42:57] What’s Andy’s role in supporting his team and players?  •[1:02:51] Goal setting and how to drive consistency?    For More of Andy:   •Check out Andy on: https://linktr.ee/coachriise [https://linktr.ee/coachriise]