The Operator's Playbook

Ken Gavranovic
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Ken Gavranovic's weekly podcast. One guide from his desk per episode, cut down to what you can use this week, with the guide, the links and the transcript.

Episodes

  1. 3d ago

    Price the Job You're Doing Before You Ask for a Raise

    After this episode, you can price the job you're doing now, put the case on one page, and ask for the raise in a way your company can decide on. The guide this episode is built from: How to Ask for a Raise When the Job Grew First Related guides: Evaluating an Executive Job Offer: Cash First, Then Equity How to Prepare for an Executive Interview: Answer the Real Question Executive Presence and Stakeholder Management: Product Leaders Executive Coaching Cost 2026: Rates, Who Pays, How I Price For a friend in a search, start here: The STAR Method Interview, and When It Fails Senior Candidates. The STAR method for interview answers, with examples, how STAR compares with CAR, PAR and SOAR, and why senior candidates need more than a tidy story. Passed Over for Promotion: Test This Before Working Harder. If you've been passed over, don't just work harder. Ask if you can do the next job, if the people who choose know it, and if a real path exists here. Questions this guide answers: How can I ask for a raise when my job has grown but my pay hasn't? How do I figure out the salary range for the new responsibilities? What should I put on the one-page scope-and-pay summary? How can I tell if my employer's salary bands or level assignments apply to my situation? What should I do if my manager says the budget can't move for a raise? How should I handle bonus and equity when negotiating a raise? What steps should I take if my raise request is declined? Talk to Ken Chapters 0:00 Welcome 1:13 Find out how your company decides pay 2:03 Put the changed job on a single page 3:12 Learn what comparable work pays 4:48 Know what your package actually pays 5:33 Make a single coordinated request 6:08 When the answer is no, get the reason 7:49 Close and the one ask

  2. Nov 2

    Why B2B Deals Stall After the Yes, and What to Fix First

    You can figure out which decision in your stalled deal is actually blocked and fix that first, instead of reaching for a discount or more pipeline. You can also give your champion something they can defend in the rooms you're not in, and answer the price request without guessing. The guide this episode is built from: Why B2B Deals Stall After the Yes, and What to Fix First Related guides: How to Find the Best B2B SaaS Coach: Seven Tests for CEOs Executive Presence and Stakeholder Management: Product Leaders Customer Referrals Are Leads, Not a Growth Plan Product-led Growth: Is it right for your company? For a friend in a search, start here: The STAR Method Interview, and When It Fails Senior Candidates. The STAR method for interview answers, with examples, how STAR compares with CAR, PAR and SOAR, and why senior candidates need more than a tidy story. Passed Over for Promotion: Test This Before Working Harder. If you've been passed over, don't just work harder. Ask if you can do the next job, if the people who choose know it, and if a real path exists here. Questions this guide answers: Why do B2B deals stall after the buyer says yes, and what should I fix first? How do I find out which approval is actually holding up the deal? What should I give my champion so they can defend the purchase internally? Is a late request for a better price really about the price? Should I ever give a discount, or look at the billing terms first? Who should own the paperwork and administrative work in our deals? What should I do if the deal is tied to the next budget cycle or my champion goes quiet? How should I forecast and measure deals after the buyer says yes? Talk to Ken Chapters 0:00 Welcome 1:14 Winning the champion is not winning the deal 2:29 Give your champion a case they can defend 3:57 Diagnose the risk behind the price request 4:51 A discount can be a legitimate choice 5:31 Administrative obstacles need an owner 6:54 Let the buyer's timing set your forecast 8:15 Close and the one ask

  3. Oct 31

    Understanding Executive Coaching Costs and How to Get Approval

    After this episode you will be able to see why executive coaching fees vary so widely and match the price to the specific kind of work you need. You will also be able to build a request that a finance or HR leader can approve quickly. The guide this episode is built from: Executive Coaching Cost 2026: Rates, Who Pays, How I Price Related guides: How to Choose an Executive Coach: The Six Questions to Ask Executive coaching About Ken When Leadership Development Programs Fail Back at Work How to Ask for a Raise When the Job Grew First For a friend in a search, start here: The STAR Method Interview, and When It Fails Senior Candidates. The STAR method for interview answers, with examples, how STAR compares with CAR, PAR and SOAR, and why senior candidates need more than a tidy story. Passed Over for Promotion: Test This Before Working Harder. If you've been passed over, don't just work harder. Ask if you can do the next job, if the people who choose know it, and if a real path exists here. Questions this guide answers: How much does a leadership coach cost? How much should an executive coach cost? How much does it cost to hire a leadership coach? Is an executive coach worth it? How much does a leadership development program cost? Do companies pay for executive coaching? Is executive coaching tax deductible? How long does an engagement run? Talk to Ken Chapters 0:00 Welcome 0:36 How much executive coaching costs 2:12 Understanding market segments 5:54 Engagement models and pricing factors 7:21 Who pays for coaching and tax notes 8:56 Assessing ROI and when it isn’t worth it 12:13 My coaching terms and how to get approved 13:14 Close and the one ask

  4. Oct 31

    When to Coach and When to Direct Your Team

    You will know when to ask questions and when to give a decision, and you will be able to run a four-step coaching conversation that ends with a clear commitment and a follow-up. The guide this episode is built from: Coaching as a Leader: How to Coach Your Team and When Not To Related guides: Executive Team Coaching: When Your Leadership Team Needs It Does Accountability Improve Performance? What Research Says Are You a Manager or a Leader? Who Did the Thinking? Two Questions Before You Approve Managing a High Performer Your Standards Don't Reach For a friend in a search, start here: The STAR Method Interview, and When It Fails Senior Candidates. The STAR method for interview answers, with examples, how STAR compares with CAR, PAR and SOAR, and why senior candidates need more than a tidy story. Passed Over for Promotion: Test This Before Working Harder. If you've been passed over, don't just work harder. Ask if you can do the next job, if the people who choose know it, and if a real path exists here. Questions this guide answers: What does coaching as a leader mean? What is the difference between coaching and managing? Is coaching the same as mentoring? What is the coaching leadership style? What are good coaching questions for managers? Can a manager be a coach to their own team? What is the GROW model? When should a leader not coach? What are the benefits of the coaching leadership style? What are the core coaching skills for a leader? How do you become a good coach at work? How often should a leader coach? Talk to Ken Chapters 0:00 Welcome 0:36 What coaching as a leader means 1:14 Why coaching matters for engagement 1:53 Three habits of effective coaching 2:29 Coaching versus managing and limits 4:21 Coaching conversation steps 6:21 Coaching impact and practical tips 11:34 Close and the one ask

  5. Oct 30

    Mastering the STAR Method for Senior Interviews

    In this episode you’ll learn why the classic STAR answer often falls flat for senior roles and how to reshape it so interview panels hear your judgment first. I walk you through the guide’s examples, variations, and the exact steps to turn a tidy story into a decision-driven answer that lands a senior seat. The guide this episode is built from: The STAR Method Interview, and When It Fails Senior Candidates Related guides: How to Prepare for an Executive Interview: Answer the Real Question IT Director Interview Questions and How to Answer Them First 90 Days as a New Executive: What to Do and What Not To For a friend in a search, start here: The STAR Method Interview, and When It Fails Senior Candidates. The STAR method for interview answers, with examples, how STAR compares with CAR, PAR and SOAR, and why senior candidates need more than a tidy story. Passed Over for Promotion: Test This Before Working Harder. If you've been passed over, don't just work harder. Ask if you can do the next job, if the people who choose know it, and if a real path exists here. Questions this guide answers: What is the STAR method? What are examples of STAR questions? What is the difference between the STAR and CAR methods? What is the SOAR method? What is the STARL method? How long should a STAR answer be? Should executives use the STAR method? Talk to Ken Chapters 0:00 Welcome 0:48 Core STAR takeaways 1:51 STAR variations overview 2:22 How to craft a STAR answer 3:01 Senior level STAR examples 5:17 Prepare questions and follow ups 8:19 Close and the one ask

  • 5 Episodes

About

Ken Gavranovic's weekly podcast. One guide from his desk per episode, cut down to what you can use this week, with the guide, the links and the transcript.

Information

  • Creator
    Ken Gavranovic
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Ken Gavranovic
  • Show Website
    The Operator's Playbook