339: Transforming Your Stress into a Strength

339: Transforming Your Stress into a Strength

339: Transforming Your Stress into a Strength

How can you effectively manage stress and stay composed in high-pressure situations? In this episode, Dr. Susan Bernstein dives into the power of somatic leadership, offering insights on how you can use body signals to transform your responses to time pressures and unexpected changes. Drawing from her extensive experience working with top companies like Cisco and Google, Susan shares practical techniques that foster self-awareness, reduce stress, and enable you to create a sense of calm in chaotic environments.

By learning to tune into your body’s signals, you can improve decision-making and enhance team dynamics. Susan discusses six common nervous system response patterns—fight, flight, freeze, fawn, fade, and fix—and shows how leaders can shift from a reactive, “fight” mode into a more grounded, mindful approach. This shift not only alleviates stress but also boosts resilience and fosters a healthier workplace culture.

Susan is the CEO of a boutique consulting firm called Powerful Under Pressure. As the name implies, she helps leaders and teams at companies like Cisco, Google, and Uber excel under the most demanding conditions.

Susan combines her past experiences in leadership roles at Intel and Accenture with an MBA from UC Berkeley and a PhD in Somatic Psychology in her work with clients. Susan developed the Powerful Under Pressure framework to help organizations strengthen operational capacity by increasing the resilience and clarity of the people leading them. This emphasis equips teams to navigate complexity with sound judgment and sustained performance.

You’ll discover:

  • The concept of “somatic smarts” and how small shifts in body awareness can lead to greater leadership effectiveness
  • The six nervous system response patterns and how they impact your decisions
  • Simple somatic techniques you can use to enhance self-awareness and relaxation
  • How self-awareness can help you navigate high-pressure situations with calmness and clarity
  • Strategies for supporting your team in managing stress and building resilience

Watch the episode:

Connect with Dr. Susan Bernstein

Dr. Susan Bernstein’s Website

Powerful Under Pressure

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Leader-team communication and character skills

Grow Strong Character

Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.

Connect with Your Team Book - Grow Strong Leaders

Connect with Your Team

Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.,
and Meredith M. Bell
Connect with Your Team Book - Grow Strong Leaders

Peer Coaching Made Simple

Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.,
and Meredith M. Bell

338: The Inner Shift That Changes Everything

338: The Inner Shift That Changes Everything

338: The Inner Shift That Changes Everything

What if everything you experience—stress, conflict, even judgment—is not about what’s happening out there, but what’s going on within you? That’s the powerful lens Townsend Wardlaw offers as he guides us into a deeper understanding of consciousness and how it shapes every aspect of our lives. Through personal stories, vivid metaphors, and hard-won lessons, he shares how shifting your perspective can completely transform how you lead and live.

You’ll walk away with a new awareness of how unconscious scripts and internal projections influence your decisions, relationships, and company culture. Townsend draws a clear distinction between traditional consulting and true coaching, where the goal is not to give answers, but to help others access their own wisdom. His insights offer practical ways to release control, lead from higher consciousness, and move from judgment to curiosity. This is a conversation that has the power to change how you see the world—and yourself.

Townsend began his professional journey at 27, rapidly rising from outbound cold-calling for a small, long-distance reseller to the role of vice president of a Fortune 500 technology company in under six years. In 2002, he ventured into entrepreneurship, founding a sales consulting and outsourcing company that grew to $3 million in revenue.

After closing the company in 2009, Townsend dedicated himself to serving founders on their journey to growth and exit. He has coached 100s of leaders, and his efforts have generated over $1.5 billion in revenue and created more than $1 billion in generational wealth for their founders. What Townsend holds in the highest regard is his role in mobilizing over $7.5 billion in capital and contributions towards social and environmental organizations.

Currently, Townsend serves as the trusted advisor to a select group of founders and the world’s top coaches. In his spare time, he leads The Coach’s Operating System, a community that serves the top 5% of coaches in the world.

You’ll discover:

  • Why stress often comes from your perspective, not your circumstances
  • How unconscious scripts quietly shape your choices and relationships
  • The difference between giving answers and creating transformation
  • How leaders can release control and build more resilient cultures
  • A fresh way to see challenges as invitations for growth

Watch the episode:

Connect with Townsend

    

Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Apple Podcasts
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Spotify
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Amazon
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Pandora
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on YouTube
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on iheartradio
Leader-team communication and character skills

Grow Strong Character

Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.

Connect with Your Team Book - Grow Strong Leaders

Connect with Your Team

Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.,
and Meredith M. Bell
Connect with Your Team Book - Grow Strong Leaders

Peer Coaching Made Simple

Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.,
and Meredith M. Bell

337: Never Delegate Again—Unless You’re Doing It Like This

337: Never Delegate Again—Unless You’re Doing It Like This

337: Never Delegate Again—Unless You’re Doing It Like This

What if delegation wasn’t about getting tasks off your plate, but about helping your people grow? This episode explores a powerful reframe of delegation as a leadership tool for development. Brad Federman shares insights from his book Never Delegate Again, challenging outdated models like the Eisenhower Matrix and offering a modern, growth-oriented approach that builds both people and performance. He introduces the Growth Matrix, a practical framework for assigning tasks in ways that stretch capabilities while avoiding overload or misalignment.

You’ll hear real-life stories that bring Brad’s strategies to life, including how he helped a burned-out employee reclaim her career path and why feedback needs to be treated like a long-term investment.

We discuss the mindset shifts required for effective leadership today, such as prioritizing coaching over control and seeing possibility in others. This conversation is a must-listen for leaders who want to empower their teams, build emotional intelligence, and lead with purpose in a fast-changing world.

Brad is the founder of PerformancePoint, a firm dedicated to helping organizations engage employees, strengthen customer relationships, and cultivate resilient, collaborative cultures through effective leadership.

You’ll discover:

  • Why traditional delegation models are no longer effective
  • The critical role of mindset in leadership success
  • How to use the Growth Matrix to assign tasks for development
  • How to coach your team for confidence, not just compliance
  • What “investment feedback” looks like in practice

Watch the episode:

Connect with Brad

Brad’s Resources

Websites

PerformancePoint

Brad Federman

Books

Never Delegate Again: Uncover the Secret to Growing Your Company, Your People, and Yourself  – Coming soon!

Cultivating Culture: 101 Ways to Foster Engagement in 15 Minutes or Less

Related Podcast Episodes

319: Cultivating a Culture That Lasts

 

Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Apple Podcasts
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Spotify
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Amazon
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Pandora
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on YouTube
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on iheartradio
Leader-team communication and character skills

Grow Strong Character

Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.

Connect with Your Team Book - Grow Strong Leaders

Connect with Your Team

Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.,
and Meredith M. Bell
Connect with Your Team Book - Grow Strong Leaders

Peer Coaching Made Simple

Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.,
and Meredith M. Bell

336: Tools to Tackle Tough Conversations

336: Tools to Tackle Tough Conversations

336: Tools to Tackle Tough Conversations

What if you could navigate even the most challenging conversations with calmness, clarity, and confidence? This in-depth conversation with David Wood explores just that, diving into how to communicate more effectively in high-stakes moments, whether at work or in life. David shares his unique approach to coaching and communication, combining emotional awareness with practical tools. His latest innovation, WhisperLead AI, helps leaders role-play difficult conversations, receive coaching prompts, and even get real-time support during live interactions.

Our discussion goes beyond mechanics to emphasize authenticity and vulnerability as leadership strengths. David unpacks common pitfalls in conflict—like poor framing, making assumptions, or avoiding others’ perspectives—and offers techniques for building trust and achieving shared outcomes. Whether you’re leading a team or seeking better communication in your personal life, this conversation delivers practical wisdom and fresh ideas you can start using immediately.

David left behind a high-powered career as a Consulting Actuary for Ford, Sony Music, and Chanel—trading Park Avenue boardrooms for a mission to transform lives and businesses. He didn’t just start a coaching business; he built the world’s largest coaching business at the time, ranking #1 on Google for “life coaching”, serving 150,000 coaches globally.

But David’s story is about more than success—it’s about resilience. He’s survived a paraglider collapse and a fractured spine, battled anxiety and depression, and most recently, took on acting in Hollywood! Today, he helps leaders 4X their clarity AND productivity, and to love their life.

You’ll discover:

  • A powerful method for framing difficult conversations with positive intent
  • Why asking for the other person’s perspective first can shift everything
  • How AI tools like WhisperLead can coach you in real-time
  • The link between vulnerability and stronger leadership
  • A practical model for brainstorming solutions collaboratively

Watch the episode:

Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Apple Podcasts
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Spotify
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Amazon
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Pandora
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on YouTube
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on iheartradio
Leader-team communication and character skills

Grow Strong Character

Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.

Connect with Your Team Book - Grow Strong Leaders

Connect with Your Team

Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.,
and Meredith M. Bell
Connect with Your Team Book - Grow Strong Leaders

Peer Coaching Made Simple

Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.,
and Meredith M. Bell

334: My Mother: The Life of a Quiet Leader

334: My Mother: The Life of a Quiet Leader

334: My Mother: The Life of a Quiet Leader

What does it mean to lead without fanfare or recognition? In this solo episode, I reflect on the life and legacy of my beloved mother, Doris Melancon—a woman whose quiet strength, unwavering love, and deep wisdom shaped generations. Though Doris never saw herself as a leader, her influence was undeniable and profound.

I honor my mother’s legacy by highlighting the qualities that defined her: humility, generosity, patience, and a steadfast faith that guided her every action. Through personal stories and reflections, you’ll come to understand how true leadership can radiate from a calm, gentle presence—and how one person’s values can ripple out to impact the lives of many.

I’m the co-founder and president of Grow Strong Leaders. We’ve created online resources that help leaders strengthen their character and communication skills to build strong relationships and inspire others to perform at the highest level.

You’ll discover:

  • Why quiet leadership can have the most lasting impact
  • How humility and love become a powerful guiding force
  • What makes a person truly wise and deeply respected
  • The strength behind patience and emotional steadiness
  • How one life of service can shape an entire family legacy

Watch the episode:

Connect with Meredith

        

Related Podcast Episodes

315: The Lens You Choose Shapes Your Life

 

Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on YouTube
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Apple Podcasts
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Pandora
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Spotify
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Amazon
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on iheartradio

Connect with Your Team

Mastering the Top 10 Communication Skills

Peer Coaching Made Simple

How to Do the 6 Things That Matter Most When Helping Someone Improve a Skill