Leadership coach · chief of staff · team organizer
Leading people.
It's complicated.
We can help.
LDR is a coach that knows your people and your week. It helps you see what matters, hand off what you shouldn't hold, and grow into the leader your team needs, one honest next step at a time.
The foundation
Eight essential practices of an empowering leader
- 01
Set the pace for innovation, creativity, failure and productivity.
Your team takes its cue from you, including how you handle a miss.
- 02
See their potential long before they see it.
Belief comes before evidence. Name it, then make room for it.
- 03
Set the depth relational, authentic and personal.
A team only goes as deep as its leader is willing to go.
- 04
Say encouraging, appreciative and helpful things, daily.
Unspoken appreciation doesn't count.
- 05
Set the tone of collaboration, feedback and hope for the future.
Culture is how you react to ideas, bad news and the future.
- 06
Share your role, authority, influence and opportunity.
Hand over the decision, not only the work.
- 07
Set the thermostat daily.
A thermometer reports the temperature. A leader sets it.
- 08
Show others your confidence in your team.
People rise to the confidence you show in them.
Honest about the hard parts
Ten things that will hold you back
Every leader carries at least one. Your coach will notice the patterns, gently and with evidence, and help you name yours.
- 1A smoldering fireThe conflict you haven't faced is still burning.
- 2An empty wellYou can't keep giving what you never take in.
- 3Unprocessed insecurityIt shows up as needing credit, or needing control.
- 4Undervaluing detailDetails tell people what you value.
- 5Hidden compromiseWhat you hide grows.
- 6Busyness for effectivenessA full calendar can hide an empty impact.
- 7Role for purposeYour role is what you do. Your purpose is why.
- 8Leading one directionInfluence runs up, beside and down.
- 9Undervaluing proactivityWaiting guarantees you'll always be reacting.
- 10Entitlement“I've earned the right not to…” ends growth.
On vision
A vision-driven leader is stubborn about potential when everyone else is distracted or discouraged.
Vision is a picture that takes work. Without it, people lose their way, and good people get hurt, worn out and lost. To lead with vision, cultivate five things:
- IntelligenceIf we aren't learning, we aren't leading.
- Emotional intelligenceRead others well, and respond well.
- Technical abilityCompetence is where trust starts.
- DiscernmentSee what matters beneath the surface.
- EnduranceDon't give up too soon.
Feedback culture
Smart to give it. Hungry to receive it.
SMART
When you give feedback
- SSpecific Clear, every time.
- MMotive Wanting them to win.
- AActionable A next step, not a verdict.
- RRespectful Tone is everything.
- TTimely Soon, and in private.
HUNGRY
When you receive it
- HHumble Don't make it personal.
- UUnderstanding Understand before being understood.
- NNon-defensive Don't defend. Listen.
- GGrateful “Thank you for that.”
- RResponsive Engage. Don't leave them hanging.
- YYearning Ask for it. That's how leaders grow.
What LDR is
Three things every leader wishes they had
A coach
Knows your people, your week and your vision. Tells you the truth, warmly, with evidence, and leaves you with a next step.
A chief of staff
Tasks, meetings, email and time in one calm place, so what matters today rises and the rest waits.
A team organizer
Vision, ownership, projects and conversations your whole team can see and build on together.
You stay in charge: nothing is sent, deleted or decided without your yes. Your notes and messages are encrypted. Anonymous feedback stays anonymous.
Lead the way you'd want to be led.
Start with a few minutes. Your coach takes it from there.