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Leveraging Leadership

Emily Sander

200 episodes

2 days ago

A Chief of Staff asks how to handle a team member who never submits their flash report, despite lots of reminders and training. Emily suggests letting the slacking team member feel the peer pressure in meetings, such as by leaving their section blank in the board report or calling on them in front of the group and holding an awkward silence. The episode covers practical escalation steps and emphasizes that, after fair attempts to help, it's okay to let someone face the consequences of not doi...

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A Chief of Staff asks how to handle a team member who never submits their flash report, despite lots of reminders and training. Emily suggests letting the slacking team member feel the peer pressure in meetings, such as by leaving their section blank in the board report or calling on them in front of the group and holding an awkward silence. The episode covers practical escalation steps and emphasizes that, after fair attempts to help, it's okay to let someone face the consequences of not doi...

Show more...

Episodes (20/200)

Leveraging Leadership

Nailing Curveball Interview Questions for Chief of Staff Jobs

A listener preparing for final Chief of Staff interviews asks how to handle unexpected or tricky questions. Eric shares strategies like expecting curveballs, using them as a way to show problem-solving skills, and shifting interview conversations to a more natural tone. He gives examples such as reframing the question or asking for more details, and reminds listeners that not every question has a simple, right answer. Links Mentioned: Clarity Call with Emily Free Resources: Strategic ...

5 days ago

9 minutes

Leveraging Leadership

What It’s Really Like Being a Fractional COO or Chief of Staff

Scott Adams shares how he went from working in pro sports and leading teams at Exos and Mayo Clinic to offering fractional COO and Chief of Staff services. He explains the difference between COO and Chief of Staff roles, how he helps companies realign strategy and improve efficiency, and why real listening is key to building trust. Scott also talks through how he approaches discovery calls, setting bold goals with clients, and why leaders should focus on small improvements that add up over ti...

1 week ago

42 minutes

Leveraging Leadership

Stop the Bottleneck: Keep Things Moving By Spreading Decisions Around

This episode covers how bottlenecks form when every decision goes through the CEO and shows how a Chief of Staff can help move decision-making power to the leadership team and even frontline managers. Emily explains how shifting decisions after a reorg, giving authority to those closer to the information, and using a process of transitioning decisions from the CEO to others can speed things up. She also shares a real-life example about cruise ship captains making rerouting calls during a hurr...

1 week ago

8 minutes

Leveraging Leadership

Wearing All the Hats: The Reality of Gaps in Startup Teams

Sabrina Dhaliwal shares her unique career path from a Financial Analyst at the Canadian Coast Guard to Chief of Staff and Product Marketing Manager at a tech startup. She talks about landing her current job through a networking coffee chat, jumping into unexpected roles like head of marketing, and why learning quickly is key for Chiefs of Staff in fast-paced environments. The episode also covers work-life balance, building an 18-month roadmap, and the importance of community engagement for st...

2 weeks ago

30 minutes

Leveraging Leadership

Spotting Small Wins: Celebrate Consistency and Growth - Keys to Stronger Teams

Chief of Staffs are reminded to celebrate both team and individual wins, especially during hectic times. Emily shares examples like acknowledging milestones in developing life-saving medical devices and recognizing a team member who overcame personal challenges. She suggests celebrating with small gestures, public recognition, or private notes, and emphasizes not to overlook consistent high performance. Links Mentioned: Clarity Call with Emily Free Resources: Strategic Planning Checkl...

2 weeks ago

6 minutes

Leveraging Leadership

The Secret to Great Teams: Understanding Core Human Drives (Learn, Acquire, Defend, Bond)

Jay Johnson, a global speaker and consultant, explains his Behavioral Elements Assessment, which is based on four biological drives: learn (air), acquire (fire), defend (earth), and bond (water). Jay and Emily discuss her unusually balanced results across all four elements, the strengths and challenges of each drive, and how Chiefs of Staff and executives can use these insights to improve team communication and put people in the right roles. Jay also shares real examples, like adapting messag...

3 weeks ago

42 minutes

Leveraging Leadership

How Chiefs of Staff Can Revive Leadership Team Meetings

This episode shares two practical tips for Chiefs of Staff looking to revamp their executive team's meeting routine: delete the old meeting series and start a new one as the organizer, then give the meeting a fresh name to set a new tone. Examples include replacing a dull weekly meeting where team members air grievances or read KPIs with a more energized and purposeful leadership session. These simple moves help signal change and boost engagement. Links Mentioned: Clarity Call with Emily&nb...

3 weeks ago

4 minutes

Leveraging Leadership

From the Admissions Desk to Chief of Staff: 36 Years of Campus Stories

Julie Barefoot shares her 36-year journey at Emory University, explains how she became Chief of Staff at the Goizueta Business School, and describes her daily work, including organizing a regional deans conference and coordinating keynote speakers like the CEO of Truist Bank. She talks about managing alumni events, working with faculty, and the importance of building relationships across the university. Julie also offers advice for those considering a Chief of Staff role in higher education. ...

4 weeks ago

33 minutes

Leveraging Leadership

Listener Question: How to Help Your Boss Listen Up in Meetings

A Chief of Staff named Angela asks how to stop her boss from dominating high-stakes planning meetings, despite her boss’s goal to empower others. The episode offers practical tips, like giving the boss a “What did you learn?” prompt before and during the meeting, using breakout groups where the boss can’t take over, and having other team members lead parts of the meeting so everyone is heard. Links Mentioned: Clarity Call with Emily Free Resources: Strategic Planning Checklist Ch...

1 month ago

10 minutes

Leveraging Leadership

Breaking the Money Myths That Hold You Back

Money mindset expert Pericles Rellas explains why money can’t buy happiness and talks about the concept of a “financial thermostat”—the internal setting that influences how we earn, keep, and relate to money. He shares practical ways to check your current money mindset, challenges common beliefs like “money is the root of all evil,” and uses relatable analogies, such as treating money like a relationship. He also gives guidance on how to form healthier habits and thinking patterns around mone...

1 month ago

41 minutes

Leveraging Leadership

Just Say It: How Using Your Own Words Makes Presentations Clearer and More Impactful

This episode shares a simple tip for presentation prep: say exactly what you mean in your own words instead of trying to sound overly formal. Emily gives examples like replacing “after extensive cross functional collaboration and deep analysis” with “we looked at a bunch of options and this is the clearest path forward,” and suggests that a Chief of Staff can just say, “I make sure really important stuff doesn’t fall through the cracks.” Links Mentioned: Clarity Call with Emily Free R...

1 month ago

4 minutes

Leveraging Leadership

Preventing and Managing Corporate Crises with FBI Negotiator and PR Comms Expert

Adele Gambardella and Chip Massey share lessons from handling high-stakes PR crises and FBI negotiations, like responding quickly during a company scandal or the early hours of 9/11. They explain why companies need crisis plans ready before disaster hits, how to keep leaders calm when their reputations are on the line, and why apologizing the right way matters. They also talk about building trust fast, having clear personal and company values, and why waiting for trouble to blow over almost n...

1 month ago

44 minutes

Leveraging Leadership

Shifting the Mindset: When Chiefs of Staff Move from Asking to Informing

This episode breaks down how a Chief of Staff should shift from always asking permission to confidently informing others about next steps. Emily shares real examples, like updating a principal before or after launching a new workflow, and explains why this approach helps the executive team and boosts the Chief of Staff’s own confidence. The episode ends with the reminder that it’s all about finding the right balance between asking and informing. Links Mentioned: Clarity Call with Emily ...

1 month ago

11 minutes

Leveraging Leadership

The Realities of Wearing a Million Hats at Work

Martin Dowling shares his journey from studying engineering and psychology in Germany and the US to becoming Chief of Staff at a manufacturing company in Munich. He talks about building trust as the new Chief of Staff, the value of tackling small wins like improving office cleanliness and streamlining software tasks, and why being a generalist helps him solve problems across different industries. Martin also explains the difference between the German executive assistant role and the Chief of ...

1 month ago

48 minutes

Leveraging Leadership

Listener Question: How to Handle a Boss Who Won’t Listen

Emily answers a question from someone struggling to work with a new boss at a family-owned business who ignores process, oversells services, and doesn't value their input. She shares practical advice on "increment training"—giving the boss positive feedback for following the right process and building small wins over time. Emily tells her own story about working with a difficult, charismatic sales leader and highlights the importance of meeting halfway, using patience, and looking for ways to...

1 month ago

17 minutes

Leveraging Leadership

From Office Escalations, Cybersecurity Attacks, to Surviving Mergers Without Losing Your Mind

Emily catches up with her old boss! Amy Martin talks about her journey from 30 years in HR technology and customer-facing SaaS roles to becoming a career ownership coach. She shares stories about staying calm during high-pressure moments like client escalations and cybersecurity incidents, her empowering leadership style, and advice for those dealing with big changes, difficult personalities, or considering a career transition. Amy also explains how she helps clients gain clarity using tools...

1 month ago

37 minutes

Leveraging Leadership

How Smart Leaders Prioritize Minimum Effort for Maximum Impact

This episode talks about how leaders can get the best results with the least amount of effort, instead of just working harder by default. Emily uses real examples like organizing a high-profile leadership retreat as a Chief of Staff and handling daily emails, showing how to focus only on what matters most and avoid burning out on unnecessary work. She encourages listeners to look for chances to do just enough to succeed, so they can use their time and energy wisely. Links Mentioned: Clarity...

2 months ago

9 minutes

Leveraging Leadership

Improving Executive Search: Essentials for Selecting, Vetting, and Onboarding C-Suite Leaders

Jordan Burton talks about his work as an executive assessor and trainer, helping companies and investors improve their hiring process from defining roles to interviewing candidates. He explains why it's important to clarify what a business really needs in a new hire, how to run effective interviews, and why panels aren't always the best approach. Real examples include deciding if you need a CFO or just a controller, getting input from different stakeholders, and tips for reaching out to passi...

2 months ago

39 minutes

Leveraging Leadership

How Non-Action Conversations Enhance Business Relationships

Emily Sander talks about the importance of conversations focused on understanding, not always on doing. As a Chief of Staff, you're often in "go mode," but sometimes it's essential to just listen and understand a team member's perspective. She gives tips like changing the conversation's setting or tone to foster better understanding and notes that this skill is key for mediating disagreements and improving team performance. Links Mentioned: Clarity Call with Emily Free Resources: Stra...

2 months ago

8 minutes

Leveraging Leadership

Switching Lanes: Finding Your Stride as a Chief of Staff

Melissa Yap shares her journey to becoming Chief of Staff at Deloitte, highlighting the shift from client-facing roles to internal strategic leadership. She discusses the challenges of embracing a less visible role and the unique perspective it offers, such as connecting diverse teams and driving strategic initiatives. Melissa explains how her experience in consulting and her proactive approach to connecting with other Chiefs of Staff globally enrich her current role. Links Mentioned: Mel Ya...

2 months ago

37 minutes