The Seismic Shift with Michelle K. Johnston

As leaders, it’s essential that we master the art of the delicate conversation to foster connection among the people we lead. But delicate conversations are just that … delicate, and it’s tempting to put them off. Today on The Seismic Shift, Michelle sits down with the world’s no. 1 startup coach, Alisa Cohn, to dive into how to have those delicate conversations we all dread, and how to have them well. 

To open the episode, Michelle invites Alisa to share her incredible story of reinventing her career at 27 years-old and becoming one of the world’s most sought-after startup coaches. Michelle then pulls from the scripts Alisa outlines in her bestselling book, and together the two illustrate for us how to have some of the delicate conversations many leaders face. From delivering bad news to your staff to walking an employee through why you don’t believe they’re ready for a promotion right now, Alisa shows us how to have these delicate conversations in a way that builds trust and connection. Michelle and Alisa’s conversation concludes with Alisa sharing her insights into how managers can better connect with their employees, even in an increasingly remote work space. 

Don’t miss this incredible episode of The Seismic Shift! 

Check out Alisa’s book, From Start-Up to Grown-Up here: https://www.alisacohn.com/start-up/. 

Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Vulnerability in Connection
02:09 Alisa Cohn's Journey to Coaching
04:51 Seismic Shifts in the Workplace
07:32 Building Connection in a Hybrid World
10:24 Navigating Delicate Conversations
20:07 Communicating Bad News Effectively
23:26 Creating a Culture of Connection

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Hearts On Fire 

What is The Seismic Shift with Michelle K. Johnston?

Welcome to Seismic Shift - a leadership podcast that focuses on connection. I’m your host, Michelle K. Johnston: management professor, executive coach, and leadership expert. I believe that today’s leaders need more than power and control to get the best from their teams; they need connection. Through interviews with some of today’s top business leaders, we are going to explore how leaders' ability to connect with themselves, their teams, and their organizations defines their ultimate success or failure. This podcast runs in close parallel to my new book, The Seismic Shift in Leadership, where you can find even more insights from me and the brilliant leaders I interviewed this season. So let's set our sights on connection and get ready to take on the daunting, yet exciting, challenge of this Seismic Shift.