167: The Difference Between Coaching & Managing Your Team | Kerry Rockers

If you want to be a successful leader in today’s fast paced world, stop focusing on just hitting your targets in business. Instead, you need to focus on understanding your team, so that they can help you achieve more than you could on your own. But how do you do that? 

In today’s episode, Damon is joined by Kerry Rockers, an executive coach, HR veteran, and passionate advocate for helping leaders build more human-centered workplaces. 

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• Why great coaching isn’t about fixing people, but about helping them hear their inner voice again 
• How to navigate career pivots with clarity and confidence 
• The difference between leading and managing—and why it matters now more than ever 
• Why HR is more strategic than it’s ever been 
• Simple shifts to help your team find meaning in their work 

Timestamps: 

00:20 – The true goal of coaching: helping people remember what they already know 

02:14 – Coaching the ambitious vs. the stuck: what’s different? 

03:34 – What makes someone “coachable”? 

04:26 – Kerry’s journey from HR executive to full-time coach 

06:47 – How HR has evolved in the past 20 years 

07:50 – Making the leap to entrepreneurship (even if it’s unexpected) 

09:26 – How to approach a career pivot with intention 

12:19 – Why experimenting and networking is key to a successful transition 

13:58 – Tools for gaining clarity on what you want next 

15:44 – How to learn in a way that works for you 

16:40 – Why more people are searching for meaning in work 

18:07 – How Kerry helps clients discover their values 

19:52 – The calendar and checkbook audit: aligning time and values 

20:20 – How managers can help their team feel more connected to their work 

22:21 – Listening for values in everyday conversations 

23:52 – One simple way to become a better listener 

24:52 – A powerful 1:1 question Kerry uses to surface meaning 

26:36 – What to do if you’re not good at receiving feedback 

28:03 – The trust cost of canceling 1:1s 

30:02 – What a “stay interview” is and why every manager should use it 

33:12 – How to keep top talent even when change isn’t possible 

33:44 – One mindset shift middle managers need to build trust 

35:50 – The story of the leader who helped Kerry make a pivotal leap 

39:23 – Tools for increasing self-awareness (and why it matters) 

42:08 – Can self-awareness be taught? 

43:18 – How StrengthsFinder helped one client reframe chaos into purpose 

45:46 – How to work better with different strengths on your team 

47:07 – Final thoughts on intentionality, curiosity, and leadership 

About the Guest: 

Kerry Rockers is a certified executive coach and former global HR executive with over two decades of experience. Kerry has consulted and coached leaders across multiple business lines and functions (Technology, Digital Channels, Wholesale Banking, Corporate Support teams etc.) with significant experience working internationally.  Her business acumen and broad experience working with teams and leaders during times of change help her quickly understand her coaching client's challenges.   

Resources Mentioned: 

• Kerry Rockers' Website 
• Connect with Kerry on LinkedIn