In this enlightening episode of the Developing the Leader Within Podcast, we sit down with Sheila R. Carmichael, a neuroscience-based leadership development coach and author of "Presence." Sheila shares her extensive experience working with directors and VPs, revealing the leadership blind spots that often hold them back from reaching their full potential. She emphasizes that these blind spots are not deficits to fix, but rather untapped potential waiting to be unlocked.

Sheila identifies three common blind spots: an over-reliance on technical expertise, underestimating the impact of their presence, and confusing being liked with being respected. She explains how these blind spots can hinder leaders during critical transitions and why external support is essential for uncovering them. Sheila also discusses the importance of strategic listening and her Echo Listening Intelligence framework, which helps leaders better understand their communication habits and improve their decision-making.

You will learn the following:

1. The most common leadership blind spots for directors and VPs and how to recognize them. 03:41

2. The significance of presence and how it affects team dynamics and perceptions. 10:24

3. How to shift from being a technical expert to a strategic leader. 16:04

4. The role of feedback in uncovering blind spots and enhancing leadership effectiveness. 22:04

5. Strategies for implementing the Echo Listening Intelligence framework in your leadership practice. 28:33

To get in contact with Sheila:

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheilacarmichael⁠

Website: ⁠https://www.sheilacarmichael.com⁠

This episode is sponsored by

Triad Leadership Solutions

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://triadleadershipsolutions.my.canva.site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our podcast is sponsored by

The Global Trends Magazine

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gc-bl.org/global-trends⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Outlier Project

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://theoutlierproject.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ascend Meditations

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ascendmeditations.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chop Ai

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chopai.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Castle and Compass Adventures

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://castle-and-compass-adventures.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Bonefrog Coffee Company

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bonefrogcoffee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Coupon code: DTLW

Boomcaster

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.boomcaster.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Make sure to Catch us streaming on Roku and Amazon Fire TV on the Purpose Place Network.

Also catch our Exclusive Members only content “Going Deeper Within” on the Lions Guide Academy.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.lionsguide.com/gdw⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this insightful episode of the Developing the Leader Within Podcast, we are joined by Raquel García, a seasoned senior policy developer with a wealth of experience in cyber policy and defense. Raquel discusses the crucial diplomatic skills that leaders need in 2026 to influence outcomes without formal authority, emphasizing the importance of shifting from a command mindset to one of influence and negotiation.

Raquel shares her unique perspective on how personal experiences and cultural backgrounds shape leadership approaches, highlighting the need for leaders to build coalitions and foster relationships across various sectors. She dives into the art of effective communication, explaining how to translate complex policies into actionable strategies while maintaining trust and strategic intent.

Throughout the conversation, Raquel emphasizes the significance of ethical decision-making and values-based leadership in policy development, especially in an era of information warfare. She advocates for creating a culture of open feedback and ethical dissent, allowing leaders to harness the insights of their teams to prevent tactical disasters.

You will learn the following:

1. The essential diplomatic skills leaders need to influence without authority. 04:27

2. How to translate complex policies into decisive action while maintaining strategic intent. 09:01

3. The importance of building coalitions and fostering relationships within organizations. 16:03

4. Strategies for embedding ethics into policy design and execution. 21:55

5. The mindset shift required to view policy as a roadmap rather than a constraint. 27:45

To get in contact with Raquel:

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/raquelgarciateran

This episode is sponsored by

Triad Leadership Solutions

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://triadleadershipsolutions.my.canva.site⁠⁠⁠

Our podcast is sponsored by

The Global Trends Magazine

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gc-bl.org/global-trends⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Outlier Project

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://theoutlierproject.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ascend Meditations

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ascendmeditations.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chop Ai

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chopai.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Castle and Compass Adventures

Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://castle-and-compass-adventures.com⁠⁠⁠

Bonefrog Coffee Company

Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://bonefrogcoffee.com⁠⁠⁠

Coupon code: DTLW

Boomcaster

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.boomcaster.com/⁠⁠

Make sure to Catch us streaming on Roku and Amazon Fire TV on the Purpose Place Network.

Also catch our Exclusive Members only content “Going Deeper Within” on the Lions Guide Academy.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.lionsguide.com/gdw⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this thought-provoking episode of the Developing the Leader Within Podcast, we welcome back Sylvia Lafair, CEO and co-founder of Creative Energy Options, and a multi-award-winning leadership expert. Sylvia dives into the often-overlooked dynamics that can undermine leadership effectiveness and workplace relationships, emphasizing the critical need to address what remains invisible in organizational settings.

Drawing from her unique background as a family therapist, Sylvia shares insights on how personal experiences shape leadership behaviors and the importance of recognizing and transforming these patterns to foster a healthier workplace culture. She introduces her upcoming book, "Glimmers at Work," which explores integrating head, heart, and gut intelligence in leadership.

You will learn the following:

1. The hidden dynamics that often derail leadership effectiveness and how to identify them. 03:32

2. The concept of the "hero trap" and how it impacts decision-making in teams. 07:36

3. Strategies for cultivating empathy and active listening in high-stress environments. 10:55

4. The significance of asking uncomfortable questions to drive organizational change. 14:25

5. How awareness of emotional and behavioral patterns can empower leaders to unlock their full potential. 26:47

To get in contact with Sylvia:

Website: http://www.ceoptions.com

Books: Best-Sellers ⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylvialafair

This episode is sponsored by

Triad Leadership Solutions

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://triadleadershipsolutions.my.canva.site⁠⁠

Our podcast is sponsored by

The Global Trends Magazine

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gc-bl.org/global-trends⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Outlier Project

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://theoutlierproject.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ascend Meditations

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ascendmeditations.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chop Ai

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chopai.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Castle and Compass Adventures

Website: ⁠⁠https://castle-and-compass-adventures.com⁠⁠

Bonefrog Coffee Company

Website: ⁠⁠https://bonefrogcoffee.com⁠⁠

Coupon code: DTLW

Boomcaster

Website: ⁠https://www.boomcaster.com/⁠

Make sure to Catch us streaming on Roku and Amazon Fire TV on the Purpose Place Network.

Also catch our Exclusive Members only content “Going Deeper Within” on the Lions Guide Academy.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.lionsguide.com/gdw⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠