This episode explains why Chiefs of Staff should avoid asking "How can I help you?" and instead focus on what will move the needle for their principal and team. Emily Sander shares real pitfalls, like getting stuck with small admin tasks, and suggests specific strategies such as spotting communication breakdowns or coaching leaders through challenges. The advice includes leading with strategic proposals rather than just picking up tasks others want to hand off.

Get in touch with Emily:
Want help shifting from task-taker to strategic partner? Book a clarity call w/ Emily here.

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Who Am I?
If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
00:25 The Help Question Trap
02:08 Ask Needle Moving Questions
02:45 High Impact Examples
03:59 Know Your Best Service
04:32 Avoid Getting Pigeonholed
05:26 Lead With a Proposal
07:04 Takeaways and Closing

Nick McDonough talks about his path from manufacturing and M&A to becoming Chief of Staff and later Chief Administrative Officer at the healthcare startup QuikMedic. He shares how his role expanded as the company tripled in size, taking on HR, data, and operations responsibilities. Nick also gives practical insights into prioritizing work, building trust with the CEO, and why he prefers working at a small, fast-moving company over a large organization.

Links Mentioned:
QuikMedic’s Website

Connect with Nick McDonough on LinkedIn

Get in touch with Emily:
Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call here.

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Who Am I?
If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
01:02 Nick’s career path: manufacturing → healthcare → corp dev & partnerships

03:11 What QuikMedic Clinic does: mobile urgent care to keep patients out of the ER

04:36 Defining the initial role: Chief of Staff to CEO + Head of Growth & Strategy

05:40 How the role expanded into CAO: scaling pains, HR/data/vendor rigor

09:17 Day-to-day execution: small team, key projects, prioritization cadence & partner work

20:08 Big Company vs. Small Company: What Changes Day-to-Day

22:56 Why Going Smaller Was Intentional (and the Vet Practice Influence)

25:09 Chief of Staff Lessons: Trust, Candor, and Challenging the CEO

31:43 Favorite Parts of the Role: Full Visibility & Seeing Decisions Up Close

34:43 Advice for Aspiring Chiefs of Staff + Relationship ‘Thread the Needle’

The episode tackles what to do when you feel a case of the "blahs" at work, making sure to distinguish it from burnout. Chief of Staff tips include taking a walk, stretching (like the doorway stretch), listening to motivational music or interviews (such as Kobe Bryant), and giving 100% of whatever energy you have that day. Emily Sander encourages self-awareness and having go-to strategies ready for those off days.

Get in touch with Emily:
Feeling the “blahs” at work? Get clear on your next move. Book a clarity call w/ Emily here.

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Who Am I?
If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
01:01 Blahs vs. Burnout: Make the Right Diagnosis First

02:01 Quick Reset Tactics: Walks, Stretching, and Movement

03:51 Give 100% of Your 70%: Showing Up Without the Guilt

04:32 Name It to Tame It: Remember the Blahs Are Temporary

05:12 Use External Energy: Music, Motivation, and a “Pump-Up” Playlist

06:31 Build Your Personal Playbook: Patterns, Experiments, and Leadership Self-Awareness

07:49 Wrap-Up + Sponsor Message

Rachael Goldfarb shares real-life stories from her time supporting the Chief of Staff to President Clinton and leading at the Gates Foundation. She breaks down what a Chief of Staff is and isn’t, highlights why the role is senior and not administrative, and talks about challenges women face in these positions. The episode includes examples of advocating for staff, building relationships, and navigating tough boundaries with principals.

Links Mentioned:
Connect with Rachael Goldfarb on LinkedIn
Email Rachael Goldfarb

Get in touch with Emily:
Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call here.

Free Leadership Resources

LinkedIn
Website
Newsletter

Who Am I?
If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
01:25 Experiences in the White House
05:55 Defining the Chief of Staff Role
12:15 The Importance of Relationship Building
20:58 Women in Leadership and Chief of Staff Roles
25:43 The Thrill of Helping Others
27:53 Challenges and Misunderstandings
32:09 Elevating the Chief of Staff Role
42:33 Demonstrating Value as a Chief of Staff
46:10 Final Thoughts and Advice

Emily Sander shares stories about a former coaching client worried his current job stress might cause health issues like it did ten years ago, and a military veteran adjusting to planning her first personal vacation after years of work travel. The episode focuses on recognizing your own growth, not judging yourself by your past reactions, and giving yourself credit for changes you’ve made over the years.

Get in touch with Emily:
Need support reframing stress and honoring your growth? Book a clarity call w/ Emily here.

Free Leadership Resources

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Website

Newsletter

Who Am I?
If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
00:41 Story #1: Corporate Stress, Anxiety, and Fear of Repeating the Past

03:06 You’re Not the Same Person: Tools, Support Systems, and New Ways to Handle Pressure

04:00 Zoom Out: Stop Assuming Old Triggers Mean the Same Outcome Today

06:16 Story #2: Learning to Vacation After a Career of Work Travel

07:44 Reframing the Pressure: New Season, New Skills (and Some Transferable Ones)

08:44 Key Takeaway + Closing Thoughts: Grace for Growth and Life Phases

Brian Miller, president of Coach Approach Ministries, explains the difference between coaching, consulting, and therapy, and why a "coach approach" helps people solve problems by seeing new perspectives. The discussion includes practical examples for Chief of Staff roles, like asking thought-provoking questions, giving feedback based on observations, and understanding team strengths using tools like Working Genius. The episode shares tips on creating a safe space for honest thinking, growing through coaching, and building complementary teams.

Links Mentioned:
Coach Approach Ministries Website

Get in touch with Emily:
Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call here.

Free Leadership Resources

LinkedIn

Website

Newsletter

Who Am I?
If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
00:40 Defining Coaching and Its Importance

05:50 Coaching vs. Consulting

16:54 The Evolution of Coaching in Industry

23:34 Thought Provoking Coaching

25:33 Effective Coaching Techniques

28:27 Feedback and Radical Candor

31:28 Levels of Learning in Coaching

34:02 Identity and Leadership

39:28 The Value of Assessments in Coaching

A listener asks how to handle frustration when work on a project is dropped because directions change. Emily Sander shares that this happens often to Chiefs of Staff and explains the value of understanding the reason behind changes, reframing “wasted” work, and managing your emotional response. Helpful strategies include asking why priorities shifted, recognizing that work might be reused later, and focusing on what’s best for the team.

Get in touch with Emily:
Need help handling changing directions at work? Book a clarity call w/ Emily here.

Free Leadership Resources

LinkedIn

Website

Newsletter

Who Am I?
If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
00:25 Listener Question: When Work Gets Derailed by Changing Priorities

01:17 Step 1: Ask ‘Why Are We Changing Direction?’ (and When to Push Back)

03:07 Explaining the ‘Why’ to the Team Without Needing to Agree

04:08 Reframing ‘Wasted Work’: What Still Carries Forward

05:13 When ‘Unused’ Work Becomes Valuable Later

06:57 Managing the Emotional Whiplash + Refocus on What the Team Needs Next

08:59 Wrap-Up + Next Week + Sponsor Message

Philip Atkinson shares how being a Chief of Staff inspired his work as a beekeeper and his book, "Be Wise." He explains leadership lessons from bees, like avoiding busywork, practicing servant leadership, and making decisions through consensus. Philip also talks about bees keeping their hive clean, the importance of closing out projects at work, and supports the Bees for Development charity with book proceeds.

Links Mentioned:
Philip Atkinson's Leadership and Coaching Consultancy

Connect with Philip Atkinson on LinkedIn

Follow Be Wise Book on Facebook

Follow Be Wise Book on Instagram

Philip Atkinson’s Book

All proceeds from the book go directly to this charity supporting beekeeping in developing countries: Bees for Development

Learn more about the Bee Wise project and the charity fundraising here.

Get in touch with Emily:
Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call here.

Free Leadership Resources

LinkedIn

Website

Newsletter

Who Am I?
If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
03:07 Lessons from the Hive: Productivity and Leadership

04:53 The Role of the Queen and Servant Leadership

09:57 Decision Making in the Hive

16:06 The Lifecycle and Roles of Bees

21:32 Beehive Cleanliness and Bird Predators

22:35 Seasons of Life and Career

24:45 Comparing Beehives to Organizational Roles

25:44 Fascinating Bee Facts

27:10 Sensing the System: Lessons from Beekeeping

31:06 Challenges of Beekeeping

35:41 Supporting Bees and Beekeepers Worldwide