Take Back Your Calendar

Leading Through the Forced Bell Curve

Performance reviews can be one of the hardest parts of leadership, especially when you're asked to rate your team in a forced bell curve. In this episode, I explore why these systems exist, where they often break down, and how great leaders navigate them without sacrificing trust or development.  What You'll Learn From This Episode: * Why companies use forced performance ratings. * The biggest mistakes managers make during performance reviews. * Why "I was forced to give you this rating" is one of the worst things you can say. * A practical exercise for evaluating your team more objectively.  * How to use performance reviews to create growth, not discourage it. Whether you're leading a team or receiving a performance rating yourself, I hope this episode gives you a new perspective on one of the most challenging parts of leadership. Resources: * Start Here: Free Leadership Playbook [https://cherigregov.com/playbook] for career-critical moments  * Read: Weekly Leadership Insights [https://cherigregov.com/blog] and join 1,000 subscribers * Watch: Take Charge Of Your Career Masterclass [https://cherigregov.com/careerstrategy] In 3 Vital Steps * Meet: Schedule a complimentary Career Strategy Consultation [https://cherigregov.com/work-with-me] * Learn More: How 100+ Leaders Have Benefited from my Executive Coaching [https://cherigregov.com/] Recommended Related Episodes: * Episode 28 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2399820/episodes/16746373-managing-underperformers-up-or-out] - Managing Underperformers Up or Out * Episode 47 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2399820/episodes/17517590-get-your-team-member-promoted-and-when-not-to] - Getting Your Team Member Promoted (And When Not To) * Episode 90 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2399820/episodes/19172157-eliminating-the-people-manager-tax] - Eliminating The People Manager Tax * Episode 79 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2399820/episodes/18740832-stay-coachable] - Stay Coachable * Episode 76 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2399820/episodes/18619121-tame-corporate-rage] - Tame Corporate Rage Message me your thoughts on this topic / episode here [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2399820/fan_mail/new]

Use Your Next Vacation to Redesign Your Role

Vacations are usually seen as time to rest and recharge. But they can also be one of the best opportunities you'll have to improve how you work, develop your team, and create space for higher-value responsibilities. In this episode, I share practical ways to use vacations, parental leaves, medical leaves, sabbaticals, or even a long weekend, as a catalyst to rethink your role instead of simply returning to business as usual. What You'll Learn From This Episode: * Why becoming indispensable may be limiting your leadership growth. * How time away reveals opportunities to delegate, simplify, and improve your work. * A practical four-step process to redesign your role and create more capacity for strategic work. * How vacations can accelerate the development of your team while improving your own work-life balance. Recommended Related Episodes: * Episode 56 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2399820/episodes/17867886-life-is-short-make-it-count-and-make-it-sweet] - Life Is Short, Make It Count And Make It Sweet * Episode 61 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2399820/episodes/18055860-your-personal-sick-day-policy] - Your Personal Sick Day Policy * Episode 77 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2399820/episodes/18660467-setting-boundaries] - Setting Boundaries * Episode 91 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2399820/episodes/19206748-ai-is-here-keep-calm-innovate-on] - AI Is Here, Keep Calm & Innovate On * Episode 6 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2399820/episodes/15857420-leaving-work-at-the-office] - Leaving Work At The Office Let's Connect: * Schedule your free consultation [https://cherigregov.com/apply] with me to share your goals and challenges, learn the solutions for more success and satisfaction, and discover how coaching together would work.  * Join my email list [https://cherigregov.com/blog] for weekly content to help you on your journey to Peak Performance & Peak Satisfaction and be the first to receive invitations to my live events.  * Connect with me on social for daily inspiration: * Follow me on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheri-gregov/] * Follow me on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/cherigregov] * Follow me on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/cherigregov] * Follow me on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@cheri.gregov?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] * Subscribe to me on YouTube [https://youtube.com/@cherigregov?si=TZAvhE3ctkPznSt4] For More Information: * Instantly access your free download, the Leadership Playbook [https://cherigregov.com/playbook], to help you apply what was discussed in today's episode. * Check out my clients' wins [https://cherigregov.com/testimonials] as evidence of what is possible for businesspeople everywhere. Choose which of their wins you will claim for your own.  * Read or listen to my book [https://cherigregov.com/book] explaining how to choose your mindset and actions to create the exact results you want, available in hardcopy, e-book, and audiobook. * Read my blog [https://cherigregov.com/blog] for weekly articles to inform your career journey. Message me your thoughts on this topic / episode here [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2399820/fan_mail/new]

When Success No Longer Feels Like Success

This episode is a little different. Instead of teaching one leadership strategy or career tool, I'm sharing the story behind why I do this work. For years, I believed stress was simply the price of having a meaningful career. From the outside, everything looked successful. But behind the scenes, work had quietly become the center of everything. A series of wake-up calls led me to rethink my priorities, hire my first coach, and ultimately discover a better way to do work and life. If you've ever felt successful on paper but unsatisfied in reality, I hope my story reminds you that you don't have to choose between success and enjoying your life. If any part of my story feels familiar, know this: the work and life you've built don't have to be the work and life you keep living. What You'll Learn From This Episode * Why I stopped believing that success requires sacrificing your health, relationships, or peace of mind.  * The wake-up calls that changed the direction of my career and ultimately led me to executive coaching.  * How changing the way you think about work can help you lead with more confidence, enjoy your work more, and have more energy for the people you love. Recommended Related Episodes: * Episode 50 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2399820/episodes/17613487-second-acts-and-shifting-career-goals] - Second Acts and Shifting Career Goals * Episode 86 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2399820/episodes/19010338-success-redefined] - Success Redefined * Episode 49 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2399820/episodes/17583775-increase-the-roi-on-your-work-for-more-impact-in-less-hours-and-finally-stop-overworking] - Increase The ROI In Your Work For More Impact In Less Hours and Stop Overworking * Episode 56 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2399820/episodes/17867886-life-is-short-make-it-count-and-make-it-sweet] - Life Is Short, Make It Count And Make It Sweet * Episode 70 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2399820/episodes/18412970-deciding-to-be-ready-for-positive-change] - Deciding To Be Ready For Positive Change Let's Connect: * Schedule your free consultation [https://cherigregov.com/apply] with me to share your goals and challenges, learn the solutions for more success and satisfaction, and discover how coaching together would work.  * Instantly access your free download, my Leadership Playbook, [https://cherigregov.com/playbook] to help you enjoy more success and satisfaction. * Join my email list [https://cherigregov.com/blog] for weekly content to help you on your journey to Peak Performance & Peak Satisfaction and be the first to receive invitations to my live events.  * Connect with me on social for daily inspiration: * Follow me on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheri-gregov/] * Follow me on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/cherigregov] * Follow me on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/cherigregov] * Follow me on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@cheri.gregov?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] * Subscribe to me on YouTube [https://youtube.com/@cherigregov?si=TZAvhE3ctkPznSt4] For More Information: * Check out my clients' wins [https://cherigregov.com/testimonials] as evidence of what is possible for businesspeople everywhere. Choose which of their wins you will claim for your own.  * Read or listen to my book [https://cherigregov.com/book] explaining how to choose your mindset and actions to create the exact results you want, available in hardcopy, e-book, and audiobook. * Read my blog [https://cherigregov.com/blog] for weekly articles to inform your career journey. Message me your thoughts on this topic / episode here [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2399820/fan_mail/new]

Waiting Is Not a Career Strategy

Many successful professionals spend years focused on delivering results while giving very little thought to where their career is actually headed. We work hard, keep our heads down, and trust that the next opportunity will appear. Waiting is not a career strategy. In this episode, I explore why waiting is one of the biggest career traps professionals fall into and how to shift from passively hoping for opportunities to actively creating them. You'll learn what keeps people stuck, the hidden costs of inaction, and practical ways to take ownership of your career direction. What You'll Learn From This Episode: • Why waiting for recognition, confidence, permission, or better circumstances keeps businesspeople stuck • The hidden costs of career autopilot and why inaction is riskier than change • How to shift from hoping opportunities appear to intentionally creating them As Referenced In This Episode: * Register here for my upcoming Masterclass, Take Charge Of Your Career [https://cherigregov.com/careerstrategy]: Create Opportunities Instead Of Waiting For Them. Recommended Related Episodes: * Episode 35 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2399820/episodes/17038617-vision-casting-for-your-business-career] - Vision Casting For Your Business & Career * Episode 80 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2399820/episodes/18762090-make-powerful-decisions] - Make Powerful Decisions * Episode 86 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2399820/episodes/19010338-success-redefined] - Success Redefined * Episode 41 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2399820/episodes/17289913-landing-your-next-opportunity] - Landing Your Next Opportunity * Episode 81 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2399820/episodes/18802127-your-dream-career-realized] - Your Dream Career: Realized Let's Connect: * Instantly access your free download, my Leadership Playbook [https://cherigregov.com/playbook], to help you apply what is discussed in this podcast. * Join my email list [https://cherigregov.com/blog] for weekly content to help you on your journey to Peak Performance & Peak Satisfaction and be the first to receive invitations to my live events.  * Connect with me on social for daily inspiration: * Follow me on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheri-gregov/] * Follow me on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/cherigregov] * Follow me on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/cherigregov] * Follow me on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@cheri.gregov?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] * Subscribe to me on YouTube [https://youtube.com/@cherigregov?si=TZAvhE3ctkPznSt4] For More Information: * Check out my clients' wins [https://cherigregov.com/testimonials] as evidence of what is possible for businesspeople everywhere. Choose which of their wins you will claim for your own.  * Read or listen to my book [https://cherigregov.com/book] explaining how to choose your mindset and actions to create the exact results you want, available in hardcopy, e-book, and audiobook. * Read my blog [https://cherigregov.com/blog] for weekly articles to inform your career journey. Message me your thoughts on this topic / episode here [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2399820/fan_mail/new]

Sustaining The Job Search

Searching for your next opportunity can feel like an emotional roller coaster. Whether you're navigating a layoff, seeking advancement, or pursuing a better fit, it's easy to become discouraged when the results you want don't arrive as quickly as expected. The problem is that many professionals measure success by outcomes they cannot directly control. In this episode, I share a framework that helps sustain momentum, confidence, and motivation throughout the search process. You'll learn how to focus on the actions that increase your probability of success, avoid common mindset traps, and manage your search like the strategic business project it truly is. What You'll Learn From This Episode: * Why measuring outcomes instead of inputs makes job searches far more frustrating than they need to be * How to create an upward spiral of confidence, action, and momentum during periods of uncertainty * Practical ways to define success, track progress, and sustain your search until you land the right opportunity As Referenced In This Episode: * Register here for my upcoming Masterclass, Take Charge Of Your Career [https://cherigregov.com/careerstrategy]: Create Opportunities Instead Of Waiting For Them. * Schedule your free consultation [https://cherigregov.com/apply] with me to share your goals and challenges, learn the solutions for more success and satisfaction, and discover how coaching together would work.  Recommended Related Episodes: * Episode 59 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2399820/episodes/17968227-master-networking-and-enjoy-it] - Master Networking And Enjoy It * Episode 10 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2399820/episodes/16015515-maximizing-every-opportunity] - Maximizing Every Opportunity * Episode 11 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2399820/episodes/16061520-self-sabotage] - Self Sabotage * Episode 41 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2399820/episodes/17289913-landing-your-next-opportunity] - Landing Your Next Opportunity * Episode 87 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2399820/episodes/19059035-feeling-behind-is-slowing-you-down] - Feeling Behind Is Slowing You Down Let's Connect: * Instantly access your free download, my Leadership Playbook [https://cherigregov.com/playbook], to help you apply what is discussed in this podcast. * Join my email list [https://cherigregov.com/blog] for weekly content to help you on your journey to Peak Performance & Peak Satisfaction and be the first to receive invitations to my live events.  * Connect with me on social for daily inspiration: * Follow me on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheri-gregov/] * Follow me on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/cherigregov] * Follow me on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/cherigregov] * Follow me on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@cheri.gregov?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] * Subscribe to me on YouTube [https://youtube.com/@cherigregov?si=TZAvhE3ctkPznSt4] For More Information: * Check out my clients' wins [https://cherigregov.com/testimonials] as evidence of what is possible for businesspeople everywhere. Choose which of their wins you will claim for your own.  * Read or listen to my book [https://cherigregov.com/book] explaining how to choose your mindset and actions to create the exact results you want, available in hardcopy, e-book, and audiobook. * Read my blog [https://cherigregov.com/blog] for weekly articles to inform your career journey. Message me your thoughts on this topic / episode here [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2399820/fan_mail/new]