Q: Tell us about the moment you knew you wanted to be a leadership coach:

A: My boss shared this about me in an "all hands" meeting:  "You have always been the heart of our culture."  When I heard these words, I knew that my unique leadership contribution was understood and seen.  I became a leadership coach because I wanted other leaders to experience the sense of purpose and connection I felt in that moment.  Along the way I have discovered that I have a gift for supporting leaders in consciously knowing who they are, "really, really" so that together we can discover how they can have their most powerful impact and yes, get out of their own way in the process.

Q: What is one of the most memorable moments in your coaching career?

A: Attending the memorial service for one of my long term clients and seeing the effect of her life; more importantly the influence of how she had been as she achieved her mission.  I knew that our work together supported that ripple of goodness. I remembered the pivotal coaching conversations that had led her toward courageous authenticity and values-driven boldness.  I knew that her coaching had provided a scaffolding for all she had become and I was so proud of our "behind the scenes" partnership.

 Q: What's your favorite thing about working at Henley Leadership Group?

A: Being part of a team that creates leading edge innovation in the practice of leadership from the inside out.  The fact that we take a stand for the radical idea of conscious leaders consistently inspired to do the right thing.  Knowing that together we are moving that radical idea forward at a pivotal time for humanity is rewarding, period.  I guess that is three favorite things.

 Q: How are you developing yourself as a leader?

A: Right now I'm leading two groups of advanced coaches and they definitely call me forth in my leadership.  I'm also exploring my reactive patterns and have been focusing instead on clarity, decisiveness and GRIT.  Inspiring "grit" in myself and others in the face of obstacles is my current growth edge as a leader.

 Q: What are you reading right now?

A: Barking Up the Wrong Tree: The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Success Is (Mostly) Wrong by Eric Barker.  I respect that all his ideas are based on scientific study!  The thing that surprised me the most was the idea that self- confidence can have a downside, which can come off as arrogance. Although our self-confident delusions can help us achieve, they can make it difficult for us to change. The big idea is that self-compassion succeeds where self esteem fails.  Being self compassionate lets us see issues and do something about them!  Forgiving yourself is also easier than maintaining self-confidence.  You don't need to constantly revise the inflated stories you tell yourself and you don't need to slay a dragon every day to prove your worth something.  I love this. 

Q: What’s making you happy this week?

A: Recently,  I got to sing publicly in a small ensemble.  The joy I felt as our voices blended and created "one voice" has me smiling from ear to ear.

You can learn more about Jeaneen here . . .