Are your members solving the same business problems on repeat? Michele Barry calls that Whack-a-Mole leadership—and she’s got a better way.
Hosted by Francine Lasky, Vistage Chair and creator of Chair-isma, this episode goes beyond surface-level fixes to explore what it really takes to lead with intention, offense, and emotional intelligence.
From locker room stories to leadership icebergs, Venn diagrams to soccer strategies. Here's the best quote: "Every single problem in your business is a reflection of who you are as a leader."
Subscribe for more real-talk on leadership, coaching, and building groups that transform.
If you’re a CEO, Chair, or facilitator tired of polite conversations and ready for deeper leadership work—this one’s for you.
Learn more: https://francinelasky.com/chairisma/
🎧 Available wherever you listen to podcasts.
Takeaways
- Why most business problems are actually leader problems
- How to move from reactive to offensive leadership
- Why execution isn’t enough if the inner game is off
- What it means to facilitate judgment-free growth
Chapters
00:00 Welcome & the Purpose Behind the Work
03:15 Superpowers in Leadership
04:20 Leadership Development with Great Grabber Questions for Waking Up the Brain
07:18 Understanding Subtext in Leadership
08:59 The Importance of Technical Execution in Sports and Business
09:49 Your "Sweet-spot" in Chair-ing a Meaningful Experience
11:50 Watch for the Icebergs, They are the Key to Solving Problems
13:00 The intersection between Maslow and Whack-a-mole
16:46 Balancing Depth and Practicality in Meetings
18:34 Measuring Success in Group Dynamics
19:56 Curated Learning Resources for Growth
21:52 Sports Analogies in Business Strategy
24:02 Wrap-up
Associated Files
Nothing this time.
Links
Michele's amazing video from Chairworld
Mindshift, Melissa Mitchell Blitch
Heather Cox Richardson - Letters from an American
Books that Michele recommends that didn't make it on to the podcast:
CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest
Start to Scale: Secrets to Starting and Scaling Any Size Organization