The unCorporate Leader | Leadership, Communication, Teamwork, Productivity, Strategy

Hey un-Corporate Leader, Welcome to Episode 14 of the un-Corporate Leader Podcast — where this week, we're tackling one of the most frustrating realities of leadership right now: what do you do when your budget gets slashed, part of your team gets laid off, and you're left to pick up the pieces? Globally, we're in a period of contraction. And one of the most damaging patterns that comes with it is decision-makers without context making sweeping changes — changes that create more work, more uncertainty, and more pressure for the leaders left behind. So, if you're a Director, VP, or middle manager staring down that reality right now, this episode is for you. In this week's episode, we'll cover: How to recover when your budget was cut without you ever being invited to the conversation How to build your own strategic planning and budgeting process — so you're never caught off guard again Why having the facts and figures at your fingertips is non-negotiable When and how to plant the seed now to ensure you have a seat at the table next budget cycle Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode. 🎙️ Additional Resources Based on This Episode: Podcast Episodes: https://theuncorporateleader.com/podcast/ EP2: 4 Behaviors to implement for strategic leadership EP3: The 5 questions that help create a best-in-class strategic plan Blog: How to Tell a Crisp Story About Your Work in Under Two Minutes Join the Community If you haven't already, join the un-Corporate Leader Community at https://theuncorporateleader.com Want more clarity? If you're navigating a culture fit situation and not sure how to handle it, apply for a Clarity Call with Silvia — limited spots are available now: https://forms.gle/LFL6m7LkR4qwaUhu5

Hey un-Corporate Leader, Welcome to Episode 13 — where we talk about staying composed under pressure, even when the chaos around you feels relentless. Times are uncertain. Leaders are being tested. And while it's completely human to feel the instability, this is also your moment. The leaders who rise right now aren't the ones who have all the answers — they're the ones who can be the calm in the storm. In this episode, we cover: Why executives are people too — and how understanding that changes your leadership approach entirely How to leapfrog your career during uncertain times by leading with clarity and confidence What your team needs from you right now to feel energized, supported, and ready to follow your lead These are the leadership skills that separate the good from the great — and the good news is, they're learnable. Referenced in Today's Episode: EP 1: Top 3 Leadership Strategies to Minimize Burnout How to Lead Through Big Emotions Without Losing Your Edge Want more clarity? Apply for a Clarity Call with Silvia — limited spots available: https://forms.gle/LFL6m7LkR4qwaUhu5 Got questions? Send them to silvia@heysilvia.com and yours might be answered in a future episode.

before you assume it's a talent problem, there are really only 2 categories to explore: Priorities or Employee Performance. And knowing which one you're dealing with makes all the difference. I'll walk you through a simple framework that will help you diagnose what's really going on — so you can stop guessing and start leading with clarity. In this week's episode, we'll cover: How to tell if it's a Priorities problem — and why clear Communication Strategies matter more than you think How to identify a Performance Management gap — whether it's a skill, capability, or desire issue Why Change Management is key when expectations shift but no one got the memo How to have the tough, transparent conversations that actually move things forward around Employee Development Why clarity is king — and how great Leadership Coaching creates space for your team to feel seen and supported Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode. 🎙️ Best, Silvia Referenced in Today's Episode: Join the Community If you haven't already, join the un-Corporate Leader Community at https://theuncorporateleader.com Podcast Episodes: https://theuncorporateleader.com/podcast/ EP8: You don't have a talent problem (yet) EP9: "Culture Fit" is not a gut feeling Your team is not your family (blog) Want more clarity? If you're navigating a culture fit situation and not sure how to handle it, apply for a Clarity Call with Silvia — limited spots are available now: https://forms.gle/LFL6m7LkR4qwaUhu5 Got questions? I have answers! Send them to silvia@heysilvia.com and I may answer yours on a future episode.

Hey un-Corporate Leader, Welcome to Episode 11 of the un-Corporate Leader Podcast — where this week we're diving into a 3-step audit for ensuring an effective Strategic Plan. Whether your Strategic Plan is brand new or has been in place for a while without gaining traction, this episode will help you figure out what's working — and where you might need to change your approach. In this week's episode, we'll cover: Why your Strategic Plan isn't gaining traction The one area you need to focus on to make the biggest impact Whether you are unintentionally creating more work for your team Have you accidentally left people in the dark on key constraints or parameters Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode. 🎙️ Referenced in Today's Episode: EP3: The 5 Questions That Help Create a Best-in-Class Strategic Plan Join the un-Corporate Leader Community at theuncorporateleader.com Got questions? I have answers! Send them to silvia@heysilvia.com and I may answer yours on a future episode.

Hey un-Corporate Leader, Welcome to Episode 10 of the un-Corporate Leader Podcast — where this week, we're talking about showing up and maintaining Executive Presence in meetings. Whether we like it or not, people will judge you on a first impression. When you have limited time, you need to take control. Even if this is something you already do well, use these steps to teach others on your team how to do the same — and take control of your team brand. The better you and your team is thought of, the easier it will be to influence for success! In this week's episode, we cover: Being prepared in the context of meetings, especially difficult ones. This is a key leadership skill every leader needs to master. How to Elevate Your Talking Points — Using effective communication to succinctly share why what you're presenting matters at the right level for the room. Practicing your pitch — Practice yes, but how you do this and WHY it impacts your leadership style to help your brand. Taking in the Feedback – Listening deeply is leadership gold and essential to help you influence further, driving better impact for your organization. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode. 🎙️ Referenced in Today's Episode: Join the Community If you haven't already, join the un-Corporate Leader Community at theuncorporateleader.com EP6: 3 Steps to Influence and Executive Want more clarity? If you're navigating a culture fit situation and not sure how to handle it, apply for a Clarity Call with Silvia — limited spots are available now: https://forms.gle/LFL6m7LkR4qwaUhu5 Got questions? I have answers! Send them to silvia@heysilvia.com and I may answer yours on a future episode.

Hey un-Corporate Leader, Welcome to Episode 9 of the un-Corporate Leader Podcast — where this week we tackle one of the most misused phrases in leadership: culture fit. You know what it's like — something feels off with a team member, and you can't quite put your finger on it. So you call it a culture fit issue. But if that's all you've got, that's a problem — and a legal and bias risk you don't want to ignore. Handled correctly though, culture fit is one of the most powerful tools you have as a leader. The key? You have to actually define it. In this week's episode, we'll cover: Why "culture fit" without definition is a slippery slope full of bias and legal risk What culture fit actually means — and why it's about the HOW, not just the WHAT How to define your culture in behavioral terms so you can hire, manage, and have real conversations with confidence Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode. 🎙️ Referenced in Today's Episode: Join the Community If you haven't already, join the un-Corporate Leader Community at theuncorporateleader.com Podcast Episodes: https://theuncorporateleader.com/podcast/ EP8: You Don't Have a Talent Problem (Yet) EP3: The 5 questions that help create a best-in-class strategic plan Want more clarity? If you're navigating a culture fit situation and not sure how to handle it, apply for a Clarity Call with Silvia — limited spots are available now: https://forms.gle/LFL6m7LkR4qwaUhu5 Got questions? I have answers! Send them to silvia@heysilvia.com and I may answer yours on a future episode.

Hey un-Corporate Leader,podc Welcome to Episode 8 of the un-Corporate Leader Podcast — where this week we tackle one of the most common frustrations I hear from leaders: What do I do when I have a talent problem? You know what it's like — someone on your team isn't delivering, and you're already mentally drafting the corrective action plan. But what if the issue isn't them? What if the real gap is clarity — and it starts with you? In this week's episode, we'll cover: Why focusing on talent too soon can actually slow you down How to audit whether the real problem is expectations, not performance The simple conversation framework that helps employees rise to the occasion — or self-select out Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode. 🎙️ Referenced in Today's Episode: Join the Community If you haven't already, join the un-Corporate Leader Community at theuncorporateleader.com Podcast Episodes: https://theuncorporateleader.com/podcast/ EP7: The 3 steps to see why your organization isn’t delivering EP2: 4 Behaviors to implement for Strategic Leadership Want more clarity? If you're stuck on a people situation and not sure whether it's them or the system around them, apply for a Clarity Call with Silvia — limited spots are available now: https://forms.gle/LFL6m7LkR4qwaUhu5 Got questions? I have answers! Send them to silvia@heysilvia.com and I may answer yours on a future episode.

Hey un-Corporate Leader, Welcome to Episode 7 of the un-Corporate Leader Podcast — where this week we take a moment, as Leaders, to diagnose our organization when it isn't quite working. You know what it's like — you think you have all the pieces in place, and yet it still seems really hard to get things done. You assume you have the right talent, communication, and resources, but something is still off. In my capacity as HR Business Partner, I was often sent in when organizations weren't delivering. It seemed like it might be a talent issue, but leadership was unsure. Every time, I would use this 3-step audit to see where the dysfunction was within the org — and now you can do the same. In this week's episode, we'll cover: Why the talent isn't always the problem How to step-by-step audit your org to better understand what truly needs to change Check in to see if you need a little help to better see what's wrong in your org Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode. 🎙️ Referenced in Today’s Episode: Join the Community If you haven't already, join the un-Corporate Leader Community at theuncorporateleader.com Podcast Episodes: https://theuncorporateleader.com/podcast/ Episode 3 – The 5 questions that help create a best-in-class strategic plan Episode 2 – The 4 Behaviors You Need to Implement to Become a Strategic Leader – including the almighty 80/20 rule Want more clarity? If something's not working and you suspect burnout might be creeping in, apply for a Clarity Conversation with Silvia — limited spots are available now: https://forms.gle/LFL6m7LkR4qwaUhu5 Got questions? I have answers! Send them to silvia@heysilvia.com and I may answer yours on a future episode.

Hey un-Corporate Leader, Welcome to Episode 6 of the un-Corporate Leader Podcast — where this week we're diving into 3 Steps to Influence Any Executive. You know the moment. You've laid out the perfect rollout plan for your project, program, or strategy — and then you're asked to have just one more conversation with that exec. You happily schedule a quick 30-minute chat, fully expecting it to wrap in 15. But you're barely two slides in when the whole thing goes sideways. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you. In this week's episode, we'll cover: How to pivot when your "easy" meeting gets hijacked by someone else's triggers — and the leadership skills to get it back on track How to identify your allies before you need them — a critical part of leadership development The key to effective communication with senior executives — even the difficult ones How to spot potential detractors and navigate around them before it's too late Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode. 🎙️ Referenced in Today’s Episode: Join the Community If you haven't already, join the un-Corporate Leader Community at theuncorporateleader.com Triggered by Triggers: Blog post with the neuroscience behind being triggered https://theuncorporateleader.com/blog/ Episode 5 - The 3 Leadership Skills that Create Executive Presence: https://theuncorporateleader.com/podcast/ Want more clarity? If something's not working and you suspect burnout might be creeping in, apply for a Clarity Conversation with Silvia — limited spots are available now: https://forms.gle/LFL6m7LkR4qwaUhu5 Got questions? I have answers! Send them to silvia@heysilvia.com and I may answer yours on a future episode.

Hey un-Corporate Leader, Welcome to Episode 5 of the un-Corporate Leader Podcast — where we focus on Executive Presence. In a world where it is hard to determine what the "right" Leadership Qualities are, we explore the amorphous world of Executive Presence, what it is, and the 3 Leadership Strategies you need to execute against to be seen as a true leader. You can be the best at your job, but if you aren't seen as having Executive Presence there will be a limit to how far you can go. Don't just focus on dressing the part and having a good PowerPoint — focus on: Ensuring you and your team are highly thought of — a cornerstone of strong Leadership Traits Practicing Effective Communication by listening and asking clarifying questions before moving forward on new endeavors Spending time understanding the larger landscape and articulating your Strategy for what's next There are many layers and nuggets here, so grab your drink of choice and enjoy this week's episode! Best, Silvia Join the Community! If you haven't already, join the un-Corporate Leader Community at theuncorporateleader.com Got questions? I have answers! Send them to silvia@heysilvia.com and I may answer yours on a future episode. Want more clarity? If something's not working and you suspect burnout might be creeping in, apply for a Clarity Conversation with Silvia — limited spots are available now: https://forms.gle/LFL6m7LkR4qwaUhu5

Hey un-Corporate Leader, Welcome to Episode 4 of the un-Corporate Leader Podcast — where we focus on your number 1 Leadership Skill as a Leader. Even if you have done all the work to create the best Strategic Plan, it doesn't guarantee that your team will execute against the plan. Because of this you must focus on one thing and one thing only to ensure success. That said, this is something that is simple, but it isn't always easy. So, grab your drink of choice to listen to this week’s episode. Best, Silvia Join the Community! If you haven't already, join the un-Corporate Leader Community at https://theuncorporateleader.com/ Got questions? I have answers! Send them to silvia@heysilvia.com and I may answer yours on a future episode. Want more clarity? If something's not working and you suspect burnout might be creeping in, apply for a Clarity Conversation with Silvia — limited spots are available now: https://forms.gle/LFL6m7LkR4qwaUhu5

Hey un-Corporate Leader, Welcome to Episode 3 of the un-Corporate Leader Podcast — where we focus on the 5 questions that help create a best-in-class Strategic Plan. Here is the thing, if you are feeling pulled in all directions, asked to do more with less, while constantly putting out other people's fires, then you may have a problem with your Strategic Plan Process. There have been moments when I've inherited a team, gone into an interim gig and found that the team had no idea what to focus on. Instead of being able to focus on the critical few, they have to deal with the trivial many. This leads to overwhelm, stress, confusion and A LOT of re-work. If you are ready to begin pairing down your and your team's workload — let's tackle it with this simple Strategy framework. By the way, I've been there — and I've helped hundreds of leaders just like you not only survive but thrive through best-in-class Strategic Planning, and I know this will help you too. What are we covering? What it means to be a "Lazy Overachiever" and why it matters to your Strategic Plan What a Strategic Plan really is and why its set-up is essential to ensuring you aren't overtaxed at work The 5 questions that will help you create a best-in-class Strategic Plan Process Why a good Strategy helps you say "no" so you can get time back Bonus: An example of creating a best-in-class culture by using the 5 questions of a best-in-class Strategic Plan Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode. Best, Silvia Join the Community! If you haven't already, join the un-Corporate Leader Community at www.uncorporateleader.com Got questions? I have answers! Send them to silvia@heysilvia.com and I may answer yours on a future episode. Want more clarity? If something's not working and you suspect burnout might be creeping in, apply for a Clarity Conversation with Silvia — limited spots are available now: https://forms.gle/LFL6m7LkR4qwaUhu5

Hey un-Corporate Leader, Welcome to Episode 2 of the un-Corporate Leader Podcast — where we focus on the 4 Behaviors to Implement for Strategic Leadership. I get it. You feel pulled in all directions, asked to do more with less, while constantly putting out other people's fires. I've been there — and I've helped hundreds of leaders just like you not only survive but thrive through Leadership Development. In this week's episode, we'll cover: Why climbing the corporate ladder without Leadership Coaching won't actually make things easier Why understanding and staying grounded in your Strategy is the superpower that will make the difference for you Why focusing on just 4 behaviors will help you develop your Leadership Qualities Why becoming a "Lazy Overachiever" is something to aspire to for your sanity And bonus, learn a quick Leadership Coaching tip on how to pause and protect your priorities. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode. Best, Silvia Join the Community! If you haven't already, join the un-Corporate Leader Community at theuncorporateleader.com Got questions? I have answers! Send them to silvia@heysilvia.com and I may answer yours on a future episode. Want more clarity? If something's not working and you suspect burnout might be creeping in, apply for a Clarity Conversation with Silvia — limited spots are available now: https://forms.gle/LFL6m7LkR4qwaUhu5

Hey un-Corporate Leader, Welcome to Episode 1 of the un-Corporate Leader Podcast — where we focus on the key strategies you need to lead well and avoid burnout. I get it. You feel pulled in all directions, asked to do more with less, while constantly putting out other people's fires. I've been there — and I've helped hundreds of leaders just like you not only survive but thrive. In this week's episode, we'll cover: Why good leadership practices are essential (and why this podcast exists) Why people remain essential — even in the age of AI and robotics Why "Systems Thinking" is the key to avoiding burnout, and what it means The 3 strategies you need to achieve next-level results without next-level burnout Why you can't escape the judgment of others as you grow as a leader — and how to reframe it so it doesn't consume you Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode. ================= Join the Community If you haven't already, join the un-Corporate Leader Community at theuncorporateleader.com Got questions? I have answers! Send them to silvia@heysilvia.com and I may answer yours on a future episode. Want more clarity? If something's not working and you suspect burnout might be creeping in, apply for a Clarity Conversation with Silvia — limited spots are available now: https://forms.gle/LFL6m7LkR4qwaUhu5

Have you realized being promoted and being closer to the C-suite isn't actually easier, but you still want to be successful without the headaches? Then join me, Silvia Johnson as we explore all things leadership in the un-Corporate Leader podcast. You can achieve those next level results without the next level burnout. I know because I’ve been there. From Director level to C-Suite exec and Board member. You have questions, I have answers. So, if you are ready to think more strategically, run your team more effectively and lead with executive presence, grab your drink of choice and cozy up to hear what it takes to navigate the changing corporate world while maintaining your sanity.