Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet

Kris Liebau
  • 5.0 (2)
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  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Welcome to "Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet" hosted by Kris Liebau, the podcast where analytical leaders come to transform their technical expertise into embracing and excelling with the people part of work. Each episode, we will bring you insights, stories, practical ideas, and perspectives to so you can lead your team effectively with confidence.

  1. 09/23/2025

    Are You the Boss People Love or the One They Leave?

    Do you wonder if your team genuinely loves working for you... or if they're secretly planning their exit?  Even well-intentioned leaders can unknowingly become the boss people want to escape from. In this episode of Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet, host Kris Liebau interviews Joel Hilchey, author of "The Six and a Half Habits of Highly Defective Bosses." Joel reveals the surprising differences between bosses people love and bosses people leave - and how to make sure you're the former. Kris and Joel dive into: ✅ The 4-quadrant leadership framework that separates great bosses from forgettable ones ✅ The hidden mistakes that make your top performers want to quit ✅ The 5-minute reflection exercise that transforms how your team sees you ✅ Simple ways to show employees you care about more than just their output Watch if you want to: 💡Know for certain that your team loves working for you 💡Understand why good intentions aren't enough in leadership 💡Learn what your best employees really want from their boss Take the bad boss self-assessment now! - https://www.joelhilchey.com/bosses.html #Leadership #Management #TeamRetention #EmployeeEngagement #LeadershipSkills #ManagementTips #TeamCulture #PeopleLeadership #WorkplaceCulture #LeadershipDevelopment Transform your one-on-ones from mundane check-ins to powerful performance drivers! Grab our free "One-on-One Upgrade Toolkit" and start unlocking your team's true potential today. Download your guide at https://www.actionandeasecoaching.com/toolkit

    26 min

  2. 07/29/2025

    Stop Choosing: Why Leaders Need Performance AND Wellbeing

    Stop treating well-being as dessert after you've eaten your performance vegetables. Learn why integration, not sacrifice, is the key to sustainable high performance. In this episode of Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet, leadership coach Kris Liebau reveals why the most successful leaders don't choose between performance and wellbeing—they master both. Perfect for leaders who: Feel guilty taking breaks while their team is working hardCan't turn off their racing minds, even during downtimeBelieve wellbeing is "selfish" or takes away from resultsNotice their high-performing teams slowing downStruggle with the "I'll rest when..." mentality  Key Takeaways: How culture of performance and results hurts vs helpsMyths of performance and well-beingMindsets that impact positive shifts in integrating well-beingReady to optimize both performance and well-being? Book a Strategic Mindset Consult: https://www.actionandeasecoaching.com/mindset-consult #LeadershipDevelopment #PerformanceOptimization #Wellbeing #ExecutiveCoaching #SustainableLeadership #TeamPerformance #LeadershipMindset #WorkLifeIntegration Transform your one-on-ones from mundane check-ins to powerful performance drivers! Grab our free "One-on-One Upgrade Toolkit" and start unlocking your team's true potential today. Download your guide at https://www.actionandeasecoaching.com/toolkit

    15 min

  3. 07/01/2025

    Why Your Team Resists Change (Even With Perfect Data & Logic)

    Are you frustrated that your team isn't buying into new initiatives despite having all the facts and data to support your decisions? You're not alone.  Most analytical leaders make the mistake of thinking more PowerPoint slides and detailed explanations will overcome resistance. In this episode of Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet, leadership coach Kris Liebau reveals the real reasons teams drag their feet on change - and it's not what you think. 🔑 What You'll Learn: The 2 communication channels every leader MUST use (most only use one)Maher's 3-level resistance model that explains why logic alone failsWhy your 47-slide presentation is actually making resistance worseHow to identify if resistance is about understanding, emotions, or trustPractical strategies to turn resistance into buy-in⚡ Key Takeaway: Change resistance isn't about your data quality - it's about meeting people where they are emotionally and building the trust needed to move forward together. Perfect for engineering managers, project leaders, and analytical professionals who need their teams to adapt quickly in dynamic environments. 📥 Free Resource: Download the One-on-One Upgrade Toolkit with leadership cheat sheets and conversation starters at www.actionandeasecoaching.com/toolkit #LeadershipDevelopment #ChangeManagement #TeamMotivation #AnalyticalLeaders #ManagementSkills #LeadershipCoaching #TeamBuilding #WorkplaceChange Transform your one-on-ones from mundane check-ins to powerful performance drivers! Grab our free "One-on-One Upgrade Toolkit" and start unlocking your team's true potential today. Download your guide at https://www.actionandeasecoaching.com/toolkit

    15 min

  4. 06/10/2025

    Why Smart Leaders Fail at Buy-In (And How to Fix It)

    Are your factual data-driven presentations falling flat? Getting endless clarifying questions instead of action?  If you're an analytical leader struggling to build buy-in despite having solid data and compelling spreadsheets, this episode is for you. Leadership coach Kris Liebau interviews communication expert Barbara Boldt to reveal why technical professionals often fail to persuade—and how to fix it. Key Takeaways: 🔑Why informing ≠ persuading (and when you're actually "pitching" without knowing it) 🔑The PSTA Formula: Problem → Solution → Transformation → Ask 🔑Why most technical presentations fail at the "Ask" stage Perfect for: Engineering managers, data analysts, technical directors, project managers, and any analytical professional who needs to influence stakeholders, secure resources, or motivate their teams. Stop assuming your data speaks for itself. Learn the proven formula that transforms technical experts into persuasive communicators who get results. Guest: Barbara Boldt - Executive coach specializing in helping introverted professionals communicate confidently Learn more about Barbara and resources at https://boldtglobal.com/toolkits Host: Kris Liebau - Leadership coach for analytically-minded leaders;  Learn more https://www.actionandeasecoaching.com and  Connect at https://www.linkedin.com/in/krisliebau/ #AnalyticalLeadership #TechnicalCommunication #DataDrivenLeadership #ExecutivePresence #EngineeringManagement #PersuasivePresentation Transform your one-on-ones from mundane check-ins to powerful performance drivers! Grab our free "One-on-One Upgrade Toolkit" and start unlocking your team's true potential today. Download your guide at https://www.actionandeasecoaching.com/toolkit

    26 min

  5. 05/13/2025

    Beyond Business Cards: Networking for People Who Hate "Networking

    Do you cringe at the word "networking"?  In this episode of Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet, host Kris Liebau and guest Greg Peters (The Reluctant Networker) reveal why most analytical leaders hate networking—and how to completely redefine it. Forget awkward small talk and business card exchanges. Discover a practical approach to building genuine professional relationships that actually deliver value. Learn why networking isn't about putting on your "funeral suit" but about strategically making "friends on purpose" who can help you succeed. Key insights include: Why true networking has nothing to do with business card exchangesHow to build relationships without the uncomfortable "networking event" approachThe power of consistency over intensity in relationship buildingMaking specific, strategic asks without damaging relationshipsHow to nurture connections before you need themPerfect for directors, executives, and analytical professionals who want powerful connections without the discomfort of traditional networking. Transform networking from something you avoid into a strategic advantage you embrace. Connect with Kris Liebau: https://www.actionandeasecoaching.com Connect with Greg Peters: https://thereluctantnetworker.com/ #LeadingBeyondTheSpreadsheet #NetworkingForAnalyticalLeaders #RelationshipBuilding #ReluctantNetworker #LeadershipDevelopment #StrategicNetworking Transform your one-on-ones from mundane check-ins to powerful performance drivers! Grab our free "One-on-One Upgrade Toolkit" and start unlocking your team's true potential today. Download your guide at https://www.actionandeasecoaching.com/toolkit

    27 min

  6. 04/22/2025

    Why We Procrastinate: Breaking the Cycle for High-Performing Leaders

    In this episode of Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet, host Kris Liebau and executive coach Aaron Fields explore the hidden psychology of procrastination for high-achieving professionals.  Discover: why procrastination isn't about laziness but about avoiding uncomfortable feelings, how perfectionism masquerades as productivity, and practical strategies to shift from analysis paralysis to meaningful actionhow to recognize when you're procrastinating (even when you're busy), create accountability structures that work, and develop a mindset that eliminates procrastination guilt while enhancing team performance. Perfect for analytical leaders who hold high expectations of themselves and their teams. Connect with Aaron Fields at aaronfieldscoaching.com Connect with Kris Liebau at actionandeasecoaching.com Transform your one-on-ones from mundane check-ins to powerful performance drivers! Grab our free "One-on-One Upgrade Toolkit" and start unlocking your team's true potential today. Download your guide at https://www.actionandeasecoaching.com/toolkit

    33 min

  7. 04/01/2025

    The Achievement Trap: How Success Can Be Self-Sabotaging

    When you've invested heavily in processes but aren't seeing the expected returns, the problem might not be in your systems—it's in your and your team's thinking patterns. In this episode of Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet, coach Kris Liebau reveals how high-achieving leaders sabotage results through overplayed strengths like perfectionism, achievement addiction, and hypervigilance. Discover: Why we struggle to see when our greatest strengths become limiting weaknessesThe hidden costs of achievement addiction, perfectionism, and people-pleasingWhy awareness alone isn't enough—the critical steps to transform insight into changePerfect for directors and executives who've implemented process improvements and culture change initiatives but still face roadblocks.  #ExecutiveLeadership #ProcessOptimization #PerformanceImprovement #LeadershipDevelopment #StrategicThinking #BusinessEfficiency #ManagementConsulting Transform your one-on-ones from mundane check-ins to powerful performance drivers! Grab our free "One-on-One Upgrade Toolkit" and start unlocking your team's true potential today. Download your guide at https://www.actionandeasecoaching.com/toolkit

    18 min

  8. 03/18/2025

    Master Leadership Presence: Building Curiosity Through Improv

    Discover how improv techniques can transform your leadership style from task-focused to truly present and engaging. In this Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet episode, improv experts and coaches Betsy Salkind and Amy Warshawsky reveal how structured improvisation techniques can help analytical leaders build stronger teams and clearer communication. Gain insights on why: Structure and rules actually enhance creativitySimple communication often yields better resultsBeing present unlocks genuine curiosity Perfect for directors, managers, and leaders ready to move beyond spreadsheets to create meaningful team connections while maintaining their analytical edge.  Connect with Kris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krisliebau/ Learn more about BNA Mentor Coaching: https://www.BNAMentorCoaching.com/corporate-team-coaching #LeadershipDevelopment #ManagementSkills #TeamBuilding #ImprovSkills #BusinessCommunication #ExecutivePresence #CorporateTraining Transform your one-on-ones from mundane check-ins to powerful performance drivers! Grab our free "One-on-One Upgrade Toolkit" and start unlocking your team's true potential today. Download your guide at https://www.actionandeasecoaching.com/toolkit

    35 min
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About

Welcome to "Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet" hosted by Kris Liebau, the podcast where analytical leaders come to transform their technical expertise into embracing and excelling with the people part of work. Each episode, we will bring you insights, stories, practical ideas, and perspectives to so you can lead your team effectively with confidence.

Information

  • Creator
    Kris Liebau
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet
  • Show Website
    Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet