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When chaos erupts, the difference between catastrophe and manageable challenge often comes down to preparation. Crisis management expert Stephanie Craig brings a lifetime of experience navigating high-pressure situations to this illuminating conversation about organizational resilience.

Growing up as the daughter of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police hostage negotiator, Stephanie developed an unusual comfort with chaos from an early age. This natural affinity, combined with formative experiences in politics and business, positioned her perfectly to guide organizations through their darkest moments. Now, as president of Kith Consulting, she shares the formula that drives her approach: "clarity plus trust equals strategic speed."

This episode delivers actionable wisdom for leaders at all levels. Stephanie reveals the critical distinction between brand and reputation—"Brand is what you own. Your reputation is what people say about you"—and explains why reputation accounts for approximately 35% of organizational value. She dismantles the dangerous "it won't happen to me" mentality that leaves many organizations vulnerable and provides a blueprint for building a core crisis team that can respond effectively when disaster strikes.

Perhaps most valuable is Stephanie's insight into how values serve as an essential touchstone during crises. Whether responding to data breaches, navigating political tensions, or engaging with social movements, organizations with clear, consistently applied values make better decisions faster. Through compelling examples from Silicon Valley's COVID response to high-profile corporate missteps, she illustrates how preparation transforms potential disasters into manageable challenges.

Don't wait until crisis hits to develop your response strategy. Listen now to build the communication infrastructure, team dynamics, and leadership mindset that will protect your organization when—not if—challenges arise.

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Jimmy Cannon shares his transformative approach to voice work by merging vocal techniques with anxiety management strategies to help leaders communicate with confidence and authenticity. His Canon Method focuses on three key elements—voice, confidence, and presence—to help individuals overcome communication barriers and develop their authentic leadership voice.

• Exploring how the voice connects to our nervous system through the vagus nerve and diaphragm
• Using elongated vowels and longer phrases to reduce anxiety when speaking
• Practicing proper diaphragmatic breathing to improve vocal control and presence
• Understanding the importance of pausing strategically to create space for impact
• Identifying common vocal pitfalls like monotone delivery and limited pitch range
• Learning to use different vocal registers to match your communication intent
• Expanding beyond your comfort zone through consistent practice in real situations
• Embracing authenticity by aligning your voice with your core values and purpose
• Using your voice as a leadership tool to command attention and respect

If you're interested in working on your voice, confidence, and presence, try incorporating strategic pauses in your communication and explore different tones of voice for different situations. Remember that your voice is an instrument that can accentuate your personality and help you achieve your goals.

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Hey leader! Thanks for listening. For more leadership communication tips, check out https://www.thecommunicativeleader.com/

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What happens when you strip emotion from complex business challenges? For Chris Davenport, it became the foundation of a reputation so powerful that competitors nicknamed him "The Wolf" and "The Cleaner" before eventually becoming his friends and clients.

Chris takes us on his remarkable journey from college entrepreneur to the visionary leader who drove 3i International to a staggering 1000% revenue growth. The transformation began with a simple laptop gift that sparked his passion for technology during the dot-com boom, leading him to trade college parties for 80-hour work weeks solving technical problems that left others stumped.

His problem-solving methodology is refreshingly straightforward yet profound: break issues down to their most basic elements and remove emotion from the equation. "Most of us are led by our emotions," Chris explains, "and emotional responses elicit emotional responses." This insight became central to his leadership approach as he implemented the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) at 3i, shifting from "Chris's way" to "3i's way" and enabling sustainable growth through structure, accountability, and clear communication.

The conversation doesn't shy away from failures and challenges—from discovering embezzlement to navigating the complexities of finding culturally aligned talent during rapid expansion. Chris's vulnerability extends to his personal growth, sharing his decade-long relationship with a coach/therapist who helps him maintain emotional intelligence and self-awareness as a leader.

Whether you're managing a startup or leading an established organization, Chris's parting wisdom resonates powerfully: "You're not managing a product line or service—you're managing people." His emphasis on quarterly strategic planning, transparent communication, and meeting people where they are emotionally offers a blueprint for leadership that drives both business results and human connection. Ready to transform your approach to problem-solving and leadership? This episode is your master class.

And if you're in the market for some quick takeaways:

• Chris learned problem-solving by working with various businesses.
• Emotional intelligence is crucial for effective leadership.
• Accountability should be approached positively, not negatively.
• Regular communication is key to team success.
• Every problem has a similar structure that can be dissected.
• Sustaining success requires regular strategic meetings.
• Leaders must provide clear direction to their teams.
• Finding the right people for the right roles is essential.
• Open and honest communication benefits both leaders and employees.

Support the show

Hey leader! Thanks for listening. For more leadership communication tips, check out https://www.thecommunicativeleader.com/