• Spotting Small Wins: Celebrate Consistency and Growth - Keys to Stronger Teams
    Jun 18 2025

    Chief of Staffs are reminded to celebrate both team and individual wins, especially during hectic times. Emily shares examples like acknowledging milestones in developing life-saving medical devices and recognizing a team member who overcame personal challenges. She suggests celebrating with small gestures, public recognition, or private notes, and emphasizes not to overlook consistent high performance.


    Links Mentioned:

    • Clarity Call with Emily

    Free Resources:

    • Strategic Planning Checklist
    • Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
    • A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
    • Chief of Staff Toolkit

    Get in Touch With Emily:

    • Connect on LinkedIn
    • Follow on YouTube
    • Learn more about coaching
    • Sign up for the newsletter
    • Clarity Call with Emily

    Who Am I?

    If we haven’t yet 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:

    01:21 The Importance of Reminding the Team of Their Purpose
    03:39 Recognizing Individual Achievements
    04:30 Consistent Performance and Final Thoughts

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    7 mins
  • The Secret to Great Teams: Understanding Core Human Drives (Learn, Acquire, Defend, Bond)
    Jun 16 2025

    Jay Johnson, a global speaker and consultant, explains his Behavioral Elements Assessment, which is based on four biological drives: learn (air), acquire (fire), defend (earth), and bond (water). Jay and Emily discuss her unusually balanced results across all four elements, the strengths and challenges of each drive, and how Chiefs of Staff and executives can use these insights to improve team communication and put people in the right roles. Jay also shares real examples, like adapting messages to fit high “bond” teachers versus results-driven CFOs, and offers free assessments for Chiefs of Staff.

    Links Mentioned:

    • Jay Johnson’s Podcast: Talent Forge
    • Chiefs of Staff interested in the free behavioral assessment can email Emily at: emily@nextlevel.coach

    Promo code: "J" or just put "J" in the subject line.

    • Connect with Jay Johnson on LinkedIn
    • Email Jay Johnson at: jay@behavioralelements.com


    Free Resources:

    • Strategic Planning Checklist
    • Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
    • A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
    • Chief of Staff Toolkit

    Get in Touch With Emily:

    • Connect on LinkedIn
    • Follow on YouTube
    • Learn more about coaching
    • Sign up for the newsletter
    • Clarity Call with Emily

    Who Am I?

    If we haven’t yet 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:

    01:40 Emily's Unique Behavioral Assessment
    03:19 Understanding Behavioral Intelligence
    04:12 The Four Core Drives
    06:05 Balancing the Drives
    14:54 Applying Behavioral Insights in Organizations
    21:34 Handling Difficult People with Behavioral Assessments
    24:41 The Thumbtack Rule: Managing Team Dynamics
    27:44 Balancing Strengths and Weaknesses
    37:10 Understanding Drives in Different Roles
    40:18 Special Offer and Closing Remarks

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    42 mins
  • How Chiefs of Staff Can Revive Leadership Team Meetings
    Jun 11 2025

    This episode shares two practical tips for Chiefs of Staff looking to revamp their executive team's meeting routine: delete the old meeting series and start a new one as the organizer, then give the meeting a fresh name to set a new tone. Examples include replacing a dull weekly meeting where team members air grievances or read KPIs with a more energized and purposeful leadership session. These simple moves help signal change and boost engagement.


    Links Mentioned:

    • Clarity Call with Emily

    Free Resources:

    • Strategic Planning Checklist
    • Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
    • A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
    • Chief of Staff Toolkit

    Get in Touch With Emily:

    • Connect on LinkedIn
    • Follow on YouTube
    • Learn more about coaching
    • Sign up for the newsletter
    • Clarity Call with Emily

    Who Am I?

    If we haven’t yet 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:

    01:05 Identifying Issues in Current Meetings
    02:00 Implementing New Meeting Strategies
    03:25 Final Tips and Conclusion

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    4 mins
  • From the Admissions Desk to Chief of Staff: 36 Years of Campus Stories
    Jun 9 2025

    Julie Barefoot shares her 36-year journey at Emory University, explains how she became Chief of Staff at the Goizueta Business School, and describes her daily work, including organizing a regional deans conference and coordinating keynote speakers like the CEO of Truist Bank. She talks about managing alumni events, working with faculty, and the importance of building relationships across the university. Julie also offers advice for those considering a Chief of Staff role in higher education.


    Free Resources:

    • Strategic Planning Checklist
    • Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
    • A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
    • Chief of Staff Toolkit

    Get in Touch With Emily:

    • Connect on LinkedIn
    • Follow on YouTube
    • Learn more about coaching
    • Sign up for the newsletter
    • Clarity Call with Emily

    Who Am I?

    If we haven’t yet 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 Julie's Journey at Emory University
    02:45 Understanding University Leadership
    07:56 Role and Responsibilities of a Chief of Staff
    12:56 Coordinating Distinguished Speaker Series
    18:08 Navigating University Bureaucracy
    19:19 Building and Maintaining Relationships
    21:23 Engaging with Alumni and International Travel
    23:32 Role of Chief of Staff
    25:56 Advice for Aspiring University Staff
    31:45 Reflections and Retirement Plans

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    34 mins
  • Listener Question: How to Help Your Boss Listen Up in Meetings
    Jun 4 2025

    A Chief of Staff named Angela asks how to stop her boss from dominating high-stakes planning meetings, despite her boss’s goal to empower others. The episode offers practical tips, like giving the boss a “What did you learn?” prompt before and during the meeting, using breakout groups where the boss can’t take over, and having other team members lead parts of the meeting so everyone is heard.


    Links Mentioned:

    • Clarity Call with Emily

    Free Resources:

    • Strategic Planning Checklist
    • Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
    • A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
    • Chief of Staff Toolkit

    Get in Touch With Emily:

    • Connect on LinkedIn
    • Follow on YouTube
    • Learn more about coaching
    • Sign up for the newsletter
    • Clarity Call with Emily

    Who Am I?

    If we haven’t yet 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 Understanding the Leadership Challenge
    01:37 Setting the Tone for Effective Meetings
    02:50 During the Event: Keeping the Focus
    04:02 Post-Event Recap and Coaching
    05:24 Tactical Tips for Structuring Meetings
    09:54 Conclusion and Listener Engagement

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    11 mins
  • Breaking the Money Myths That Hold You Back
    Jun 2 2025

    Money mindset expert Pericles Rellas explains why money can’t buy happiness and talks about the concept of a “financial thermostat”—the internal setting that influences how we earn, keep, and relate to money. He shares practical ways to check your current money mindset, challenges common beliefs like “money is the root of all evil,” and uses relatable analogies, such as treating money like a relationship. He also gives guidance on how to form healthier habits and thinking patterns around money.

    Links Mentioned:

    • Pericles Rellas’ Website
    • Pericles Rellas’ Masterclass


    Free Resources:

    • Strategic Planning Checklist
    • Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
    • A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
    • Chief of Staff Toolkit

    Get in Touch With Emily:

    • Connect on LinkedIn
    • Follow on YouTube
    • Learn more about coaching
    • Sign up for the newsletter
    • Clarity Call with Emily

    Who Am I?

    If we haven’t yet 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:

    00:54 Does Money Make People Happy?
    02:41 Money and Identity
    06:22 Generational Money Mindsets
    09:01 Understanding Financial Thermostats
    13:45 Relationship with Money vs. Significant Other
    17:14 Healthy Money Mindset
    21:13 Proper Use of Money
    24:27 Breaking Free from Societal Expectations
    26:38 Rewiring Money Mindsets
    30:47 Building a Healthy Relationship with Money
    32:01 Aligning Money with Personal Values
    34:20 Finding Personal Empowerment
    37:54 Resources for Financial Growth

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    41 mins
  • Just Say It: How Using Your Own Words Makes Presentations Clearer and More Impactful
    May 28 2025

    This episode shares a simple tip for presentation prep: say exactly what you mean in your own words instead of trying to sound overly formal. Emily gives examples like replacing “after extensive cross functional collaboration and deep analysis” with “we looked at a bunch of options and this is the clearest path forward,” and suggests that a Chief of Staff can just say, “I make sure really important stuff doesn’t fall through the cracks.”


    Links Mentioned:

    • Clarity Call with Emily

    Free Resources:

    • Strategic Planning Checklist
    • Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
    • A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
    • Chief of Staff Toolkit

    Get in Touch With Emily:

    • Connect on LinkedIn
    • Follow on YouTube
    • Learn more about coaching
    • Sign up for the newsletter
    • Clarity Call with Emily

    Who Am I?

    If we haven’t yet 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:

    00:45 Common Pitfalls in Presentation Language
    01:26 Real-Life Examples and Solutions
    02:45 Final Tips and Conclusion

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    4 mins
  • Preventing and Managing Corporate Crises with FBI Negotiator and PR Comms Expert
    May 26 2025

    Adele Gambardella and Chip Massey share lessons from handling high-stakes PR crises and FBI negotiations, like responding quickly during a company scandal or the early hours of 9/11. They explain why companies need crisis plans ready before disaster hits, how to keep leaders calm when their reputations are on the line, and why apologizing the right way matters. They also talk about building trust fast, having clear personal and company values, and why waiting for trouble to blow over almost never works.

    Links Mentioned:

    • Adele and Chip’s Book: Convince Me
    • Convincing Company Website


    Free Resources:

    • Strategic Planning Checklist
    • Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
    • A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
    • Chief of Staff Toolkit

    Get in Touch With Emily:

    • Connect on LinkedIn
    • Follow on YouTube
    • Learn more about coaching
    • Sign up for the newsletter
    • Clarity Call with Emily

    Who Am I?

    If we haven’t yet 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:

    01:06 Adele's Crisis Management Journey
    03:53 Founding the Convincing Company
    07:42 The First 48 Hours of a Crisis
    13:08 De-escalation Techniques in Crisis Management
    23:31 Crisis Communications and Personal Branding
    28:47 The Art of Apologizing
    30:34 Practical Tips for Crisis Communication
    32:07 Understanding Public Perception
    34:38 Navigating Political Stands as Executives
    37:31 The Role of CEOs in Crisis Situations
    38:50 Common Misconceptions in Crisis Management
    39:30 Why We Love Crisis Management
    43:28 How to Reach Out for Help

    Show more Show less
    44 mins
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