Synopsis
Tools for Every Day Leaders and Managers is a podcast for people who lead and manage people. Your host, Kris Plachy, a seasoned leadership coach, has created this show for managers, leaders, human resources and learning professionals to offer ideas that challenge your mind as well as equip you with useful tools that you can use right away for dealing with difficult decisions and people. After every episode you will walk away feeling more empowered, more in control and another step closer to the best leader and manager you can be! If you want to learn more about Kris Plachy's work and how you can partner with her, visit leadershipcoachllc.com.
Episodes
-
Live Coaching Conversation: When the Mask Comes Off—and You Finally Say What You Want
23/06/2025 Duration: 40minThis one’s raw. Tender. And so incredibly real. My client came into this conversation thinking she needed clarity. She was looking for the right answers—about her role, her goals, her business. But what came out was something much more vulnerable: the pressure to perform, the fear of letting people down, and the quiet ache of not being fully seen. This episode is a front-row seat to what happens when a powerful woman stops performing and starts telling the truth. Here’s what we explore: The invisible cost of always being ‘the capable one’ What it really feels like to outgrow your own success How to let your soul lead—especially when your head says, “Just keep going” This is the unfiltered, Beyond the CEO moment so many women never get to speak out loud—but you’ll hear it here. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Join me in Sonoma in August so we can meet in person! Go to www.thevisionary.ceo/beyondceo to register your interest. Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest
-
Live Coaching Conversation: You Can’t Pivot Until You Admit You’re Done
16/06/2025 Duration: 37minThis one hit deep. I’m talking to a founder who’s done everything “right.” Built the business. Achieved success. Carried the weight. But now… she’s just tired. Tired of running, of holding it all together, of pretending she still wants what she once did. She thought we’d be talking about planning and priorities. Instead, we had one of the most honest conversations I’ve ever had with a woman who’s quietly—and bravely—acknowledging that her current chapter is over. In this episode, we talk about: The invisible weight of being everyone’s go-to What it means when your ambition fades—but your worth hasn’t Why admitting you’re done is the first brave step toward your next beautiful beginning This is Beyond the CEO work in real time. And if you’ve been secretly wondering if you’re allowed to want something new, this episode is your permission slip. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Join me in Sonoma in August so we can meet in person! Go to www.thevisionary.ceo/beyondceo to register your interest. Lin
-
Live Coaching Conversation: When You’re Ready to Let Go, But Don’t Know What Comes Next
09/06/2025 Duration: 38minThis episode is for the woman who’s built a thriving business—and still hears a quiet voice inside asking, “Is this really it?” My client came to this session frustrated with herself for not trusting her team or delegating enough. But what we uncovered wasn’t about delegation at all. It was about the fear of stepping away. The pressure to keep going. And the guilt that creeps in when you consider wanting more for yourself… or maybe something entirely different. In this deeply moving conversation, you’ll hear: What’s really behind the resistance to let go (hint: it’s not about your team) The hidden grief and identity loss so many women feel as they evolve beyond the CEO role Why wanting more space, more freedom, or a different life doesn’t make you ungrateful—it makes you ready This is the kind of conversation most women are having only in their heads. But here, we say it out loud. And that’s where the real shift begins. Listen now—and if it speaks to you, leave a review and share it with a woman you admire
-
Live Coaching Coversation: Spotting the Right Hire in 5 Minutes
02/06/2025 Duration: 52minEver hired someone because they “seemed great”... and then spent months wondering what the hell happened? This week on Leadership is Feminine starts the series where I am letting you listen in on actual coaching conversations with female founders. I coach a founder who’s been there. She’s rebuilding her team—and this time, she’s determined to do it differently. No more hiring based on a hunch. No more hoping a great personality will magically turn into aligned performance. Instead? She’s learning to ask better questions, speak her expectations out loud (not just assume them), and trust herself in the interview process—not just the person sitting across the table. You’ll hear us: Workshop real interview questions (and rewrite the fluff into clarity) Role-play what it sounds like to actually vet for values Talk through the emotional aftermath of a few painful mis-hires—and how to give yourself grace and move forward with more strength Whether you’re hiring right now or just thinking about the next addition to
-
The Question Every Successful Woman Eventually Asks
26/05/2025 Duration: 21minWhat if the next step in your evolution has nothing to do with scaling, systems, or solving that one nagging employee issue—and everything to do with who you’re becoming? In this very personal episode, Kris Plachy sets the stage for a powerful shift. If you've been a long-time listener—or a longtime leader—you’ll want to hear where we’re going next. Because truthfully? You’re probably already feeling it. The tension. The boredom. The subtle restlessness that success didn’t solve. This episode isn’t tactical. It’s transformational. It’s for the woman who has checked every box... and still wonders: What now? Who am I beyond the CEO? Kris shares why she’s retiring her signature leadership programs, what inspired her to pivot her entire body of work, and how she’s now guiding high-level women through the most important work of their lives—not in their business, but in themselves. Key Takeaways From This Episode Why “dealing with Rhonda in accounting” was never really the work—and what actually is. The moment Kri
-
Team Member Episode: Accountability Isn’t a Toxic Workplace
19/05/2025 Duration: 23minThis week on Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy offers a candid exploration of the employee-employer dynamic—and the personal responsibility that comes with being part of any team. With her trademark clarity and insight, Kris challenges listeners to rethink what it truly means to be employed: It’s not just about time—it’s about delivering results. Through thoughtful reflection and real-world examples, Kris unpacks why understanding basic business principles is essential for anyone who wants to thrive at work. She reminds us that employment is a two-way agreement, one that requires alignment, accountability, and honest communication. “Employers pay employees for results, not time,” she explains, inviting us to reconsider how we show up in our roles and what we expect in return. Kris also takes a closer look at the emotional experience of work—highlighting the toll of staying in roles that no longer serve us. Rather than settling for misalignment, she encourages listeners to explore new paths with courage an
-
Team Member Episode: It's Your Life. Don't Wait for the Business to Save You.
12/05/2025 Duration: 12minThis week’s episode of Leadership is Feminine is a little different. Kris Plachy offers a compelling call to action for team members everywhere to take ownership of their well-being and personal power in the workplace. Rather than placing full trust in employers to manage our financial, mental, or emotional health, Kris invites listeners to reexamine what it means to be self-led, informed, and intentional about their lives and careers. This episode is a powerful reminder that relying solely on an employer for your sense of security can be a risky trade. Kris shares her own journey—from getting her first job at 14—to explore the historical and cultural shifts that shaped the modern workplace. She breaks down why the system evolved the way it did and challenges the long-standing belief that employers should be the primary caretakers of their people’s lives outside of work. Kris advocates for reclaiming agency and reminds us, “You were born as this capable human who is infinitely more powerful than she or he m
-
A Well-Resourced Woman & Leadership
05/05/2025 Duration: 12minIn this week’s episode of Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy explores the transformational power of leadership and what it really means to lead as a well-resourced woman. Kris invites listeners to rethink leadership not as a title or destination, but as a lived experience. Leadership is about taking up space, having a voice, and guiding others toward something greater. “A well-resourced woman knows her leadership voice. She knows what her values are, she knows what her expectations are, she knows what her vision is... She doesn't settle, she doesn't tolerate.” When women understand that leading people is a superpower—not a burden—it opens up a whole new way of being. For the women who find themselves questioning their worth or waiting for permission, this episode is a gentle but firm reminder: you already have what it takes. Leadership lives within you. It's time to trust your inner knowing, own your voice, and lead with intention. If you’re ready to claim your space, amplify your influence, and walk boldl
-
A Well-Resourced Woman and Personal Agency
28/04/2025 Duration: 08minIn this week’s episode of Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy unpacks the powerful connection between personal agency and what it truly means to be a well-resourced woman. She invites listeners to consider how much of their lives they’re actually claiming—and how much they’ve unintentionally handed over. Kris speaks directly to the millions of women who, despite having the means to choose freely, still find themselves living by someone else’s rules. Whether it’s from fear, conditioning, or cultural expectations, too many women wait for permission to live fully. Kris challenges listeners to stop giving their energy to toxic relationships or unworthy environments. Your attention is gold—and it’s time to treat it that way. At its core, this conversation is about collective empowerment. When more women claim their voice and their power, the ripple effect can’t be denied. As Kris puts it, “We change the world. And I want to change it for her over there, who can’t do it by herself. She can’t. But we can.” If you
-
A Well-Resourced Woman and Money
21/04/2025 Duration: 12minIn this week's episode of Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy discusses the ever-important topic of money and how it influences the concept of being a "well-resourced woman." Kris doesn’t just scratch the surface; she opens up about her personal experience and tackles the complex relationship many women have with money. Kris argues for seeing money as an entity we have a relationship with, rather than just a tool. How does your money view its relationship with you? Is it feeling loved and cared for, or neglected and misunderstood? A strong relationship with money, she suggests, is crucial for women, especially those running multimillion-dollar businesses. She also candidly shares her own journey of financial missteps and lessons learned. The heart of the episode is a call for women to take charge of their money’s narrative in their lives. She emphasizes the need for women to build financial acumen, handling their own assets rather than handing them off to husbands or other advisors who may not have their best
-
A Well-Resourced Woman and Health & Energy
14/04/2025 Duration: 16minIn this episode of Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy shares a powerful reminder: your body is the vessel for your leadership, your dreams, and your impact—and it deserves your full attention. Kris explores what it means to be physically well-resourced as a woman in leadership, especially as we navigate the transitions of our 40s and 50s. Health and energy aren’t luxuries—they’re the foundation. “Your body is the thing to take care of so that all of these visions that you have… all of the things that you want to achieve… you need your body to be able to do that.” A key practice Kris shares—originally introduced in the book Co-Active Coaching by Thomas Leonard—is what she calls the “clean sweep.” This exercise invites you to take an intentional walk-through of your home, using a detailed punch list to identify and remove sources of energetic drain. By consciously clearing your physical space, you also create more room for clarity, ease, and inspiration. It’s a simple practice that reveals just how much we’ve
-
A Well-Resourced Woman & Time
07/04/2025 Duration: 22minDo you ever feel like your time and energy are stretched too thin? In this episode of Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy kicks off a limited series on what it truly means to be a well-resourced woman. She explores the unique challenges women in leadership face—especially the pressure to juggle it all. From running a business to managing personal responsibilities, cultural expectations often lead women to overcommit, leaving them drained and overwhelmed. But what if there were a better way? Kris introduces a powerful exercise to help listeners assess how they spend their time. By categorizing tasks into love and loathe, women can gain clarity on where their energy goes—and, more importantly, where it should go. She challenges listeners to delegate tasks that don’t align with their strengths and invest in support that allows them to focus on high-impact activities. Kris gets real about the importance of time management: "A woman who is abundant in her time as a resource is a cycle breaker." Stepping into a wel
-
Call-in Coaching w/Kris Request
01/04/2025 Duration: 02minHey! Let's do some call-in coaching! To submit your name and coaching topic request go to https://thevisionary.ceo/callin. We'll respond with the details. Yay! Let's do this!
-
Confronting Difficult People: The Leadership Skill You Need to Master
31/03/2025 Duration: 18minIn this episode of Leadership is Feminine, host Kris Plachy dives into a topic we all know too well—difficult people. We’ve all worked with someone who’s frustrating, quirky, or just hard to get along with. And rather than facing the issue head-on, we tend to tuck these individuals away, hoping they’ll just disappear. If you’re someone who avoids difficult conversations, in this episode you’ll learn the strategies to embrace the difficult people and become the leader you’re capable of being. As a business owner, it's your responsibility to deal with the people who challenge you. Whether it’s employees who push back, disagree, or simply don’t fit the mold you envisioned, avoiding these difficult situations only hinders your business and personal growth. Kris emphasizes that by avoiding tough conversations, you're holding yourself back from fulfilling your vision and advancing your mission. “We are shrinking in the face of difficult when we should be standing and firmly growing who we are,” Kris reminds us. Fac
-
How to Make Hiring Easy
24/03/2025 Duration: 08minIn this episode of Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy simplifies the hiring process with a tactical, no-nonsense approach. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by recruiting, this episode will change the way you hire—fast. Kris walks through a step-by-step system to define the role you need, create clear objectives, and attract the right candidates. She highlights the importance of clarity—knowing exactly what success looks like for a position before you even post a job. And the best part? You don’t have to do it alone. Kris shares how AI tools like ChatGPT can help craft job descriptions, job postings, interview questions, and even onboarding plans—saving you time and energy. But hiring isn’t just about filling a role. The real work is in assessing talent, setting expectations, and ensuring alignment with your business. Kris reminds us that the hardest part of hiring is the human part—connecting with candidates, reading their energy, and making sure they fit your culture. If you’ve been stuck overthinking hir
-
Creating a Legacy: The Essential Resources for Women in Leadership
17/03/2025 Duration: 25minIn this episode of Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy introduces a profound and necessary conversation: What does it mean to be a well-resourced woman? Kris explores the essential resources women need—not just financially, but in energy, time, self-trust, and personal agency. She challenges listeners to examine how they advocate for themselves, manage their businesses, and take ownership of their decisions. Too often, women downplay their needs, defer their power, or operate on empty, believing they must do it all alone. But what if the key to unstoppable leadership lies in becoming truly well-resourced? Kris shares personal stories and reflections that have shaped her belief in the power of self-trust and financial agency. She urges women to ask themselves: Do I truly understand my finances? Am I managing my energy effectively? Do I trust myself in decision-making, even when others don’t? Through this discussion, she highlights the necessity of prioritizing your own growth, support, and well-being in orde
-
Transforming Uncertainty into Action
10/03/2025 Duration: 11minGet ready for another compelling episode of Leadership is Feminine with your host, Kris Plachy! This week, we're diving into the intriguing concept of being "at the ready." Inspired by a thought-provoking chat with one of her clients, Kris explores what it means for leaders and their teams to be prepared for unexpected challenges. With a landscape full of uncertainty, akin to the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, the discussion couldn’t be more timely. In a world where change is the only constant, Kris encourages us to assess our ‘at the ready’ status in areas critical to both personal and professional survival. She breaks it down into categories to focus on—finances, team dynamics, and personal schedules. Ask yourself, are you financially secure, or is there room to streamline those unnecessary expenses? When it comes to your team, Kris asks the tough questions: Are you nurturing a capable crew, or is it time to reassess? Readiness is not just a strategic necessity but a mindset to cultivate. Tune in for
-
Developing Leaders Through Energy Awareness and Emotional Intelligence
03/03/2025 Duration: 16minWelcome to another engaging episode of the Leadership is Feminine podcast with your host, Kris Plachy. In today’s episode titled “Developing Leaders Through Energy Awareness and Emotional Intelligence,” Kris takes a deep dive into leadership from an esoteric perspective. Moving beyond the typical tactical approaches, she explores the significance of energy exchange in leadership development. Leadership is more than a series of tactics; it’s about the relationship you cultivate with yourself and others. Kris delves into how energy plays a pivotal role in these interactions, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and understanding energy exchanges between leaders and their teams. Whether you’re an empath or simply keen on enhancing your leadership skills, this episode sheds light on navigating the unspoken communication of energy to foster thriving work relationships. Tune in as Kris shares valuable insights and practical advice on how to harness this often overlooked dimension of leadership. Key Takeaways F
-
Do You Have a Leadership Problem? | E202
24/02/2025 Duration: 14minIn this episode of Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy challenges leaders to take a hard look at their role—not just as decision-makers, but as the driving force behind the alignment, clarity, and culture of their organizations. As the person at the helm, your leadership defines everything. Kris emphasizes that self-awareness isn’t optional—it’s the foundation of effective leadership. Leaders set the tone, and because so many people naturally defer to authority, it’s critical to understand the impact of your behavior, emotions, and decisions. Without that awareness, misalignment seeps in, leading to confusion, frustration, and blame. She also asks a powerful question: Do the people who work for you know what it means to be a leader according to you? If leadership expectations aren’t clear, how can you expect your team to operate in alignment? A lack of clarity in leadership inevitably shows up in employee performance. Too often, leaders blame their teams for underperformance when the real issue lies in inco
-
Developing Leaders Who Can Lead Without You | E201
17/02/2025 Duration: 20minHave you ever felt like your business depends too much on you? Do you wonder how to step back without everything falling apart? In this episode of Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy unpacks the path from being the one in charge to developing leaders who can run the business without you. She introduces the three key questions that shape an entrepreneur’s journey: How do I do this? How are we going to do this? And finally, how are they going to do this? These questions reveal the natural progression from doing everything yourself to building a team and ultimately empowering others to take full ownership. Kris explores what it takes to move through these stages and why so many women get stuck in the transition. As she explains, “If you are still thinking like a doer, if you are still thinking like the chief operator of your business and not the CEO or executive leader… then you don’t ever get out of it, right? You stay stuck there.” She also announces The Sage’s Pathway, a live two-day event, designed for women