June 10, 2024 • 22 mins
Discover the transformative power of authenticity and leadership with our incredible guest, Brandy Mills. Through her inspiring journey from nursing professional to award-winning advocate and founder of Woman Strong, Brandy reveals profound lessons on self-reflection, faith-driven decisions, and serving others by addressing their deepest needs. This episode promises to add depth to your understanding of creating non-judgmental spaces, where people can truly be themselves, based on Brandy’s extensive leadership experience.
Embrace your true self and elevate your leadership game as we discuss the critical aspects of bringing your whole self to work. Learn about the profound impact of personal challenges on professional success and why authenticity is non-negotiable. We touch on the often-overlooked dangers of promoting unprepared individuals and the ego-driven reluctance to admit hiring missteps. Brandy's strategic insights into understanding motivations behind leadership aspirations and aligning personal growth with professional duties are not to be missed. Join us for a conversation that underscores the necessity of introspection and genuine representation in achieving effective leadership.
Website: https://www.brandymillsconsulting.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1982062341940242
Instagram Business: https://www.instagram.com/brandymillsconsulting/
Instagram Group: https://www.instagram.com/bm.womanstrong/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandy-robbs-mills-msn-rn-5235b43a/
Calendar: calendly.com/brandymillsconsulting/30min
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Laura (00:06):
Good morning.
I'm your host, lauraVodden-Knecht, ceo of Mosaic
Business Consulting, and you arelistening to the Mosaic Life
with Laura W.
A mosaic is a bunch of piecesthat, when put together, make up
the whole in a really beautifulway, and this show plans to
discuss the various pieces of abusiness throughout different
industries and how these pieces,when put together, can help
(00:27):
develop a better, more efficientand effective running of your
business.
To reach me, contact bizradious.
Our special guest today is noneother than brandy mills, and
you're going to have a blasttoday, let me tell you.
Brandy is an award-winningadvocate of women, founder of
Woman Strong, a women'sempowerment movement,
(00:50):
entrepreneur, nursingprofessional motivational
speaker, author and executivecoach of Brandy Mills Consulting
.
Brandy completed herundergraduate studies at
Winston-Salem State University,one of the nation's historically
black colleges and universities, where she graduated with
honors in the field of nursing,she progressed in her academic
(01:13):
preparation with a master's innursing degree with a
concentration in nurse educationfrom Western Carolina
University, also graduating withhonors You're starting to see a
theme here and additionally,she has a postgraduate
certificate in healthcareinnovations from Western
Carolina University, with focuson entrepreneurial and business
(01:36):
principles, and through hercoaching and consulting, she's
dedicated to helping people toget the business of leading
themselves through their nextlevel of growth.
Her aim is to partner with themto reach their highest
potential in business leadershipand professional growth.
With 15 years of leadership andorganizational operations
(01:59):
experience in health care,combined with nearly a decade of
personal business leadershipoperational experience, she has
a keen understanding of thehighs and lows that come with
all those levels of leadership.
So welcome to the show, brandy.
It is great to have you here.
Thank you, laura.
So nice to be here.
Yeah, yeah, I'm looking forwardto this, but I am kind of
(02:21):
wondering, with all this nursingbackground, you'd think you'd
just go into some kind ofnursing thing, you know, and so
I'm just wondering what made youdecide to shift into coaching
and consulting?
Brandy (02:34):
That's an interesting question and you know it's
awesome.
It would be awesome if we had alooking glass where we would
land beyond where we start.
And originally, you know, youcouldn't have told me that I
wasn't going to be a nurse and Iwould be a nurse forever.
I'm on my 23rd year of nursingWow.
(02:58):
But as you go deep into life andI'm a person that does a lot of
self-reflection and lets myfaith drive just about every
decision that I make I find thatwho I am as a person is a
person who likes to serve inwhatever capacity that I feel
called to.
(03:18):
So in the years that I cheeredthrough college and high school
I guess I should have said thatopposite high school and college
, and I was in leadershippositions in those sports arenas
, and also in high school andmiddle school and elementary
school I did some studentgovernment work.
(03:39):
But truthfully, I found that Iam drawn to situations and
people where I feel like I canbest serve, and oftentimes that
lens is revealed by a need thatI had myself and I was able to
analyze what I wish I would havehad in that moment or applaud
(04:01):
the type of assistance andguidance that I received in
those moments and from thecollective approach of life
lived experiences, I found thatI love to be able to provide for
others in spaces and fill gapsof the messy middle that we're
(04:21):
not always consciously aware ofand also don't really have the
time to reflect enough to dothat.
So in health care leadership,I've been in manager positions,
I've been in lead positions,I've been in director positions,
and the one common theme thatfollowed me from childhood to
(04:44):
college life friendships and inthose leadership positions is
that I tend to be a person thatpeople seek out and also I'm
able to see what's not beingsaid and partner with people to
find their way forward.
Laura (04:59):
I love what you said there, when you say finding
things that people don't say,what you said there, when you
say finding things that peopledon't say because a true
listener and is not notlistening to say the next thing
or listening sort of kind of,but is really recognizing, hmm,
(05:19):
that's the third time theyhaven't mentioned dot dot dot
right or topic right, so that'salways a good opportunity to say
I don't't know if you noticedthis, but dot dot dot Right,
Right.
Brandy (05:30):
A couple that I feel like I've been given the gift to
read body language and facesand the courage to just say this
is exactly.
Your face is saying this, butyour mouth is saying that face
is saying this, but your mouthis saying that.
Let's find out, let's figure outwhat it is that we're trying to
convey Because, laura, you knowin your experience and really
(05:50):
in the human experience ofpeople, we want to show up as
our best selves, even in ourmost vulnerable spaces and
therefore, even when we thinkwe're in a relaxed space and
people aren't judging, we stilltry to put our best foot forward
and I like to create anatmosphere.
Create an atmosphere when I'mworking with clients and friends
(06:14):
in general.
Just be yourself, like.
It is way too hard to keep upwith who you're not yeah, and I
really think that was what wasthe kicker for me to say I love
doing this kind of work.
Laura (06:28):
Well, and you bring something up with two in that
comment which I reallyappreciated was talking about,
you know, without judgment, andit is so hard these days to go
anywhere and talk to anyonewithout judgment of some sort,
right, right, and so how, how doyou find yourself, um, being
(06:51):
able to convey that lack ofjudgment that you know, that
provide that safe space sopeople feel free to, to share?
Brandy (07:02):
well, one thing I try to show up as my natural self and
I'm so imperfect and I don'thave a problem letting people
know, like the reason why I canget it and relate so well is
because I've been there or Ifought not to fall into that
same place, and I'm not quitesure who coined this phrase.
(07:23):
But I truly believe whatsomeone thinks of you is none of
your business.
So if you're concerned aboutwhat I think in your time and
space with me, you're wastingtime because what I really think
is none of your business.
I'm here for you.
So I believe that I do my bestpart to help people feel safe
and show up as themselves byshowing up as myself.
(07:46):
I don't try to be extra academic, or so put together or saying
that I dot every I and crossevery T in the work that I do
with my clients and coaching andconsulting, or just in life.
Honestly, I keep saying in lifebecause I believe this is a
part of me.
I am not Brandy that's saying,oh, I want to try my hand at
(08:10):
consulting or coaching and Ibelieve I have all the answers.
So people need to work with me.
I am Brandy, the person thathas lived life, and I feel like
I've been called to be able topartner with others to reach
their next level of potential orgrowth, in whatever arena, in
an organic way, yeah, and evenhere.
Laura (08:32):
Even when you're talking about that you're saying you
know you're talking about how wereally need to open our, our
space for people to share.
But but throughout your, yourconsulting, what I keep hearing
from you is that you work withboth the personal and the
(08:53):
professional.
It's not just the professionalright.
Brandy (08:58):
Right Because true.
Laura (09:00):
Oh, go ahead, finish no go ahead.
Brandy (09:03):
Well, the reality of it is, we tend to believe that we
can compartmentalize who we are.
We like to say when I'm a mom,I'm a mom over here.
When I'm at work, I'm over here.
When I'm doing my business.
I'm a business owner, but thecommon denominator in all of
those spaces are you.
So if you are not whole or intune with what you're going
(09:29):
through or what you're trying toachieve, it's really hard for
you to say, hey, I would like towork with you for my next
career transition or to become abetter leader, but let's not
focus on how I am currently sobefore you can really get to the
business of doing any kind ofbusiness.
I hope to partner with you toget to the business of leading
(09:51):
yourself.
What are you standing for?
What are you trying to go?
Where are you trying to go withthat?
Because you can't leave the youin the background while you're
trying to go forward, likeyou're moving with that and
where you're trying to go.
Laura (10:06):
Exactly, and we do bring ourselves the whole self to work
, this assumption that we leavepersonal life at home.
If there's some something, somechaos that occurred at home,
that chaos is going to join youAbsolutely.
Brandy (10:23):
No matter how hard you work to think you've hidden it,
it will tell on you, and itnever fails that someone walks
up like are you okay?
I'm like what I thought I washiding.
Laura (10:36):
I'm doing fine and dandy Tee, hee, tee, hee, tee, hee.
And it is interesting.
I like how you're talking aboutthis, because I think so many
leaders, even entrepreneurs,think, you know, entrepreneurs
don't think of themselves asleaders, but also that even
leaders don't recognize thattheir whole self is coming with
(10:59):
them.
Right, and I love how you'retalking about how we need to
stay as authentic and genuine aswe are, because the more we're
that way that you knowthroughout all parts, parts, the
more it comes across in ourbranding too.
Brandy (11:18):
Right, right right and, as you know, um in in doing the
coaching and development andthings that you've done, people
define you by your brand, likeit's not.
Oh, this product I want.
I want to go coach and I wantto coach with brandy.
I want to invite Brandy into myorganization because I like her
(11:39):
smile when I see her picture.
It's about how you representyourself in all things and how
you show up, and it's really,really important to me.
I kind of call myself thedisruptor of traditional
leadership because if we were tohave a pandemic part due, I
think we have a pandemic andpoor leadership in a lot of
(12:02):
organizations and I believe it'sbecause we've either
organizations have done a greatjob of allowing people to fail
up meaning you are not reallyexecuting well on this level and
our way to address it is togive you a higher level with
more responsibility, or they'rerecognizing hey, this was a bad
(12:24):
hire, but if I say that thenit's a poor reflection on me.
In the meantime, there'sdisaster happening down below,
and I think it's because peoplewant to put on these airs and
these fronts that we have it alltogether or that our first
decision may not have been ourbest decision, and there's some
type of apprehension or fear tocircle back and say, oh, I
(12:47):
screwed that up, so don't youthink that's about ego, though,
too, that I mean the poor hireright.
Laura (12:54):
Oh, bad reflection on me.
Let me ask you this, though,because let's say, this person
is going into that leadershipposition unprepared, and it
seems like you tend to work withwomen the most.
Am I incorrect in that?
Brandy (13:11):
That's the majority, but I have male clients as well.
Laura (13:14):
Yeah, we all do.
It's kind of funny, our targetis over here.
But hey, you know, I am kind ofwondering.
You know, when a person is newto that leadership and you are
working with both the personaland professional, what is?
What are some of the thingsthat you do with that client
initially to you know, learnabout where they're at and at
(13:37):
and help with their growth?
Brandy (13:41):
That's a great question Because, as you know, each
individual is unique.
I mean, they're unique and youtailor things to what they're
bringing to you and, as I I'm, Ido a really good job of reading
people, but the things that Ilike to do, um, is get them to
explain to me who they would saythat they are and.
(14:05):
I have a few assessments that Iuse to help identify, like their
personalities and how they leadand things like that.
You know, the traditionalthings that come with coaching,
but I also asked them to sharewith me examples of great
leaders that they would want toemulate and leaders that they
would not want to replicate, andum determine where they feel
(14:28):
that they are currently on thatspectrum and then we go into
what do you feel like you wouldneed to not only arrive where
entry level is, because you knowthe leader you are today, laura
, is not the leader.
You were back when you firststarted.
Laura (14:45):
Thank God.
Brandy (14:46):
Right, right that evolution is necessary and
powerful.
So I try to keep my clients intheir current reality while
trying to navigate through whattheir future ideal would be,
because you can't bypass who youare now without focusing on
(15:07):
some things where they are and Iget to see where they believe
they are and where they actuallyare.
I go back to.
Well, I actually start with thewhy and then circle with the
why.
I'm not sure of your experience, but typically leaders or
(15:29):
people who are chasingleadership positions are not the
best ones in those positions.
So when people say, oh, I wantto be there because I want to be
a VP, I want to be a CEO, Iwant to be a CNO, I want to be a
manager and I'm like well, comeback and tell me why.
Is it about status?
Is it about growth opportunity?
(15:50):
Or do you really have a heartto serve, or a skill set that
can impact on a different level,to go down to the worker bees
or increase the productivity andquality and outcomes of the
companies that you're workingfor?
Laura (16:05):
Well, you know even the current leadership might not
have that in mind, right?
So I think it really is one ofthose tough things, though, too.
Imagine a person who's workingin a position and wants the role
or the title, but doesn'tunderstand the functions
required.
Right, and so I think right.
(16:29):
And so they go there thinkingit's going to look like X and
anything like that, and thenthey're.
Then they're hit with what theyreally need to do, and I think
that's when they come to therealization oh, I'm in over my
head or I'm not doing a good jobbecause of this, that and the
other.
And I know I found myself inthat same scenario when I was
(16:53):
the head of an organization.
Brandy (16:55):
It is very hard of the hiring agencies or that
particular person's directreport, as well as the person
who said yes to the position,because two things happen
Oftentimes when you're hiringfor a position it's because
(17:16):
there is a need in theorganization or a gap that's
being filled, and, depending onhow large of a gap there was or
how long there's been a need,you hire someone in.
Have them focus on the greatestpain point but forget the
foundation of their onboardingand development for the role.
(17:38):
And then, when that lack startsexposing themselves, instead of
giving them the opportunity tobe developed further, now it
becomes punitive orperformance-based when really
they came in at a disadvantageand so their leader.
That's where that level ofleadership development is
important, on how you look backat your team and get them caught
(18:01):
up to where they need to be.
That is a big gap, but then theperson who took the position has
to have a clearer mind, andthat's kind of where I partner
with people in careertransitions.
What are the questions you needto ask in the interviews?
What?
What is the job descriptionactually saying, and how do you
I actually have them doactivities using their current
(18:25):
skill set and resume to the rolethat they're trying to apply to
and see how they feel like theyfit and list examples of why
they came to that conclusion, sothat you're not just saying, oh
, I like this title or thissounds good, but how does your
skill set currently apply tothat job, knowing that there's
(18:45):
some growth opportunities, somedevelopment that's going to
happen, but you're not going inthere completely green, because
training and development in thesea of shortage that we have in
our economic fields right now isvery very broad, yeah, and
you're talking about, you know,just think about an owner,
(19:07):
though, that doesn't haveanybody ahead of them or in
front of them, right, and theamount of learning they have to
do just to get a recognition ofthe different functions that
they have to have in their owncompany.
Laura (19:23):
And but with everything you're saying, I really love
that you're talking aboutleaders, who are current leaders
, hiring for the level down.
Right, they're trying to hirefor that person, for that
position, and they don't havetheir own expectations prepared,
right, and that's true, true,true.
(19:44):
But more importantly, they alsoare not mentoring or, you know,
preparing that person fordevelopment.
Brandy (19:52):
And I want to circle back to what you said about
business owners andentrepreneurs without that lens,
yeah.
And recognizing that was a bigwhy for me doing the business
development with my coachingbusiness is we are really good
at doing the job and running abusiness, but of what it takes
(20:13):
like the skill set, the craft,but the behind the scenes
operations of doing the businessis actually running, the
business isn't there.
So my love and my passion is tohelp bridge that gap between
yes, you know how to do theskill in your business, but how
do you keep your business goingand how do you have a
(20:35):
conversation with people?
How do you manage your emailsystem?
What do you do with yourfinances?
What does making sounddecisions in your business as a,
as the only voice of decision,look like so that you can
continue to grow and thrive inthe element that you're in?
Laura (20:54):
Yeah, and, brandy, I really appreciate everything
you're saying.
Sadly, we're already out oftime.
I mean, I can just talk to you.
This is wonderful, wonderful.
I could just talk to you.
This is wonderful, wonderful.
But I did want to let peopleknow if they want to reach you
they can contact you throughbrandymillsconsultingcom and
then in through that you havelinks of how to schedule an
(21:18):
appointment etc.
But thank you so much for yourtime and your expertise.
Yeah, it is such a joy to haveyou here.
Brandy (21:24):
So thank you so much for your time and your expertise.
Laura (21:25):
Yeah, it is such a joy to have you here.
So thank you so much and I wantto thank you, the audience, for
listening to the Mosaic Lifewith Laura W.
You can listen to this episodeagain and get this great content
, or listen to other great hostsand their shows by going to
bizradious and click on shows.
Thanks so much for listening.
Have a great rest of your day.
Good morning.
I'm your host, lauraVodden-Knecht, ceo of Mosaic
Business Consulting, and you arelistening to the Mosaic Life
with Laura W.
A mosaic is a bunch of piecesthat, when put together, make up
the whole in a really beautifulway, and this show plans to
discuss the various pieces of abusiness throughout different
industries and how these pieces,when put together, can help
(00:27):
develop a better, more efficientand effective running of your
business.
To reach me, contact bizradious.
Our special guest today is noneother than brandy mills, and
you're going to have a blasttoday, let me tell you.
Brandy is an award-winningadvocate of women, founder of
Woman Strong, a women'sempowerment movement,
(00:50):
entrepreneur, nursingprofessional motivational
speaker, author and executivecoach of Brandy Mills Consulting
.
Brandy completed herundergraduate studies at
Winston-Salem State University,one of the nation's historically
black colleges and universities, where she graduated with
honors in the field of nursing,she progressed in her academic
(01:13):
preparation with a master's innursing degree with a
concentration in nurse educationfrom Western Carolina
University, also graduating withhonors You're starting to see a
theme here and additionally,she has a postgraduate
certificate in healthcareinnovations from Western
Carolina University, with focuson entrepreneurial and business
(01:36):
principles, and through hercoaching and consulting, she's
dedicated to helping people toget the business of leading
themselves through their nextlevel of growth.
Her aim is to partner with themto reach their highest
potential in business leadershipand professional growth.
With 15 years of leadership andorganizational operations
(01:59):
experience in health care,combined with nearly a decade of
personal business leadershipoperational experience, she has
a keen understanding of thehighs and lows that come with
all those levels of leadership.
So welcome to the show, brandy.
It is great to have you here.
Thank you, laura.
So nice to be here.
Yeah, yeah, I'm looking forwardto this, but I am kind of
(02:21):
wondering, with all this nursingbackground, you'd think you'd
just go into some kind ofnursing thing, you know, and so
I'm just wondering what made youdecide to shift into coaching
and consulting?
Brandy (02:34):
That's an interesting question and you know it's
awesome.
It would be awesome if we had alooking glass where we would
land beyond where we start.
And originally, you know, youcouldn't have told me that I
wasn't going to be a nurse and Iwould be a nurse forever.
I'm on my 23rd year of nursingWow.
(02:58):
But as you go deep into life andI'm a person that does a lot of
self-reflection and lets myfaith drive just about every
decision that I make I find thatwho I am as a person is a
person who likes to serve inwhatever capacity that I feel
called to.
(03:18):
So in the years that I cheeredthrough college and high school
I guess I should have said thatopposite high school and college
, and I was in leadershippositions in those sports arenas
, and also in high school andmiddle school and elementary
school I did some studentgovernment work.
(03:39):
But truthfully, I found that Iam drawn to situations and
people where I feel like I canbest serve, and oftentimes that
lens is revealed by a need thatI had myself and I was able to
analyze what I wish I would havehad in that moment or applaud
(04:01):
the type of assistance andguidance that I received in
those moments and from thecollective approach of life
lived experiences, I found thatI love to be able to provide for
others in spaces and fill gapsof the messy middle that we're
(04:21):
not always consciously aware ofand also don't really have the
time to reflect enough to dothat.
So in health care leadership,I've been in manager positions,
I've been in lead positions,I've been in director positions,
and the one common theme thatfollowed me from childhood to
(04:44):
college life friendships and inthose leadership positions is
that I tend to be a person thatpeople seek out and also I'm
able to see what's not beingsaid and partner with people to
find their way forward.
Laura (04:59):
I love what you said there, when you say finding
things that people don't say,what you said there, when you
say finding things that peopledon't say because a true
listener and is not notlistening to say the next thing
or listening sort of kind of,but is really recognizing, hmm,
(05:19):
that's the third time theyhaven't mentioned dot dot dot
right or topic right, so that'salways a good opportunity to say
I don't't know if you noticedthis, but dot dot dot Right,
Right.
Brandy (05:30):
A couple that I feel like I've been given the gift to
read body language and facesand the courage to just say this
is exactly.
Your face is saying this, butyour mouth is saying that face
is saying this, but your mouthis saying that.
Let's find out, let's figure outwhat it is that we're trying to
convey Because, laura, you knowin your experience and really
(05:50):
in the human experience ofpeople, we want to show up as
our best selves, even in ourmost vulnerable spaces and
therefore, even when we thinkwe're in a relaxed space and
people aren't judging, we stilltry to put our best foot forward
and I like to create anatmosphere.
Create an atmosphere when I'mworking with clients and friends
(06:14):
in general.
Just be yourself, like.
It is way too hard to keep upwith who you're not yeah, and I
really think that was what wasthe kicker for me to say I love
doing this kind of work.
Laura (06:28):
Well, and you bring something up with two in that
comment which I reallyappreciated was talking about,
you know, without judgment, andit is so hard these days to go
anywhere and talk to anyonewithout judgment of some sort,
right, right, and so how, how doyou find yourself, um, being
(06:51):
able to convey that lack ofjudgment that you know, that
provide that safe space sopeople feel free to, to share?
Brandy (07:02):
well, one thing I try to show up as my natural self and
I'm so imperfect and I don'thave a problem letting people
know, like the reason why I canget it and relate so well is
because I've been there or Ifought not to fall into that
same place, and I'm not quitesure who coined this phrase.
(07:23):
But I truly believe whatsomeone thinks of you is none of
your business.
So if you're concerned aboutwhat I think in your time and
space with me, you're wastingtime because what I really think
is none of your business.
I'm here for you.
So I believe that I do my bestpart to help people feel safe
and show up as themselves byshowing up as myself.
(07:46):
I don't try to be extra academic, or so put together or saying
that I dot every I and crossevery T in the work that I do
with my clients and coaching andconsulting, or just in life.
Honestly, I keep saying in lifebecause I believe this is a
part of me.
I am not Brandy that's saying,oh, I want to try my hand at
(08:10):
consulting or coaching and Ibelieve I have all the answers.
So people need to work with me.
I am Brandy, the person thathas lived life, and I feel like
I've been called to be able topartner with others to reach
their next level of potential orgrowth, in whatever arena, in
an organic way, yeah, and evenhere.
Laura (08:32):
Even when you're talking about that you're saying you
know you're talking about how wereally need to open our, our
space for people to share.
But but throughout your, yourconsulting, what I keep hearing
from you is that you work withboth the personal and the
(08:53):
professional.
It's not just the professionalright.
Brandy (08:58):
Right Because true.
Laura (09:00):
Oh, go ahead, finish no go ahead.
Brandy (09:03):
Well, the reality of it is, we tend to believe that we
can compartmentalize who we are.
We like to say when I'm a mom,I'm a mom over here.
When I'm at work, I'm over here.
When I'm doing my business.
I'm a business owner, but thecommon denominator in all of
those spaces are you.
So if you are not whole or intune with what you're going
(09:29):
through or what you're trying toachieve, it's really hard for
you to say, hey, I would like towork with you for my next
career transition or to become abetter leader, but let's not
focus on how I am currently sobefore you can really get to the
business of doing any kind ofbusiness.
I hope to partner with you toget to the business of leading
(09:51):
yourself.
What are you standing for?
What are you trying to go?
Where are you trying to go withthat?
Because you can't leave the youin the background while you're
trying to go forward, likeyou're moving with that and
where you're trying to go.
Laura (10:06):
Exactly, and we do bring ourselves the whole self to work
, this assumption that we leavepersonal life at home.
If there's some something, somechaos that occurred at home,
that chaos is going to join youAbsolutely.
Brandy (10:23):
No matter how hard you work to think you've hidden it,
it will tell on you, and itnever fails that someone walks
up like are you okay?
I'm like what I thought I washiding.
Laura (10:36):
I'm doing fine and dandy Tee, hee, tee, hee, tee, hee.
And it is interesting.
I like how you're talking aboutthis, because I think so many
leaders, even entrepreneurs,think, you know, entrepreneurs
don't think of themselves asleaders, but also that even
leaders don't recognize thattheir whole self is coming with
(10:59):
them.
Right, and I love how you'retalking about how we need to
stay as authentic and genuine aswe are, because the more we're
that way that you knowthroughout all parts, parts, the
more it comes across in ourbranding too.
Brandy (11:18):
Right, right right and, as you know, um in in doing the
coaching and development andthings that you've done, people
define you by your brand, likeit's not.
Oh, this product I want.
I want to go coach and I wantto coach with brandy.
I want to invite Brandy into myorganization because I like her
(11:39):
smile when I see her picture.
It's about how you representyourself in all things and how
you show up, and it's really,really important to me.
I kind of call myself thedisruptor of traditional
leadership because if we were tohave a pandemic part due, I
think we have a pandemic andpoor leadership in a lot of
(12:02):
organizations and I believe it'sbecause we've either
organizations have done a greatjob of allowing people to fail
up meaning you are not reallyexecuting well on this level and
our way to address it is togive you a higher level with
more responsibility, or they'rerecognizing hey, this was a bad
(12:24):
hire, but if I say that thenit's a poor reflection on me.
In the meantime, there'sdisaster happening down below,
and I think it's because peoplewant to put on these airs and
these fronts that we have it alltogether or that our first
decision may not have been ourbest decision, and there's some
type of apprehension or fear tocircle back and say, oh, I
(12:47):
screwed that up, so don't youthink that's about ego, though,
too, that I mean the poor hireright.
Laura (12:54):
Oh, bad reflection on me.
Let me ask you this, though,because let's say, this person
is going into that leadershipposition unprepared, and it
seems like you tend to work withwomen the most.
Am I incorrect in that?
Brandy (13:11):
That's the majority, but I have male clients as well.
Laura (13:14):
Yeah, we all do.
It's kind of funny, our targetis over here.
But hey, you know, I am kind ofwondering.
You know, when a person is newto that leadership and you are
working with both the personaland professional, what is?
What are some of the thingsthat you do with that client
initially to you know, learnabout where they're at and at
(13:37):
and help with their growth?
Brandy (13:41):
That's a great question Because, as you know, each
individual is unique.
I mean, they're unique and youtailor things to what they're
bringing to you and, as I I'm, Ido a really good job of reading
people, but the things that Ilike to do, um, is get them to
explain to me who they would saythat they are and.
(14:05):
I have a few assessments that Iuse to help identify, like their
personalities and how they leadand things like that.
You know, the traditionalthings that come with coaching,
but I also asked them to sharewith me examples of great
leaders that they would want toemulate and leaders that they
would not want to replicate, andum determine where they feel
(14:28):
that they are currently on thatspectrum and then we go into
what do you feel like you wouldneed to not only arrive where
entry level is, because you knowthe leader you are today, laura
, is not the leader.
You were back when you firststarted.
Laura (14:45):
Thank God.
Brandy (14:46):
Right, right that evolution is necessary and
powerful.
So I try to keep my clients intheir current reality while
trying to navigate through whattheir future ideal would be,
because you can't bypass who youare now without focusing on
(15:07):
some things where they are and Iget to see where they believe
they are and where they actuallyare.
I go back to.
Well, I actually start with thewhy and then circle with the
why.
I'm not sure of your experience, but typically leaders or
(15:29):
people who are chasingleadership positions are not the
best ones in those positions.
So when people say, oh, I wantto be there because I want to be
a VP, I want to be a CEO, Iwant to be a CNO, I want to be a
manager and I'm like well, comeback and tell me why.
Is it about status?
Is it about growth opportunity?
(15:50):
Or do you really have a heartto serve, or a skill set that
can impact on a different level,to go down to the worker bees
or increase the productivity andquality and outcomes of the
companies that you're workingfor?
Laura (16:05):
Well, you know even the current leadership might not
have that in mind, right?
So I think it really is one ofthose tough things, though, too.
Imagine a person who's workingin a position and wants the role
or the title, but doesn'tunderstand the functions
required.
Right, and so I think right.
(16:29):
And so they go there thinkingit's going to look like X and
anything like that, and thenthey're.
Then they're hit with what theyreally need to do, and I think
that's when they come to therealization oh, I'm in over my
head or I'm not doing a good jobbecause of this, that and the
other.
And I know I found myself inthat same scenario when I was
(16:53):
the head of an organization.
Brandy (16:55):
It is very hard of the hiring agencies or that
particular person's directreport, as well as the person
who said yes to the position,because two things happen
Oftentimes when you're hiringfor a position it's because
(17:16):
there is a need in theorganization or a gap that's
being filled, and, depending onhow large of a gap there was or
how long there's been a need,you hire someone in.
Have them focus on the greatestpain point but forget the
foundation of their onboardingand development for the role.
(17:38):
And then, when that lack startsexposing themselves, instead of
giving them the opportunity tobe developed further, now it
becomes punitive orperformance-based when really
they came in at a disadvantageand so their leader.
That's where that level ofleadership development is
important, on how you look backat your team and get them caught
(18:01):
up to where they need to be.
That is a big gap, but then theperson who took the position has
to have a clearer mind, andthat's kind of where I partner
with people in careertransitions.
What are the questions you needto ask in the interviews?
What?
What is the job descriptionactually saying, and how do you
I actually have them doactivities using their current
(18:25):
skill set and resume to the rolethat they're trying to apply to
and see how they feel like theyfit and list examples of why
they came to that conclusion, sothat you're not just saying, oh
, I like this title or thissounds good, but how does your
skill set currently apply tothat job, knowing that there's
(18:45):
some growth opportunities, somedevelopment that's going to
happen, but you're not going inthere completely green, because
training and development in thesea of shortage that we have in
our economic fields right now isvery very broad, yeah, and
you're talking about, you know,just think about an owner,
(19:07):
though, that doesn't haveanybody ahead of them or in
front of them, right, and theamount of learning they have to
do just to get a recognition ofthe different functions that
they have to have in their owncompany.
Laura (19:23):
And but with everything you're saying, I really love
that you're talking aboutleaders, who are current leaders
, hiring for the level down.
Right, they're trying to hirefor that person, for that
position, and they don't havetheir own expectations prepared,
right, and that's true, true,true.
(19:44):
But more importantly, they alsoare not mentoring or, you know,
preparing that person fordevelopment.
Brandy (19:52):
And I want to circle back to what you said about
business owners andentrepreneurs without that lens,
yeah.
And recognizing that was a bigwhy for me doing the business
development with my coachingbusiness is we are really good
at doing the job and running abusiness, but of what it takes
(20:13):
like the skill set, the craft,but the behind the scenes
operations of doing the businessis actually running, the
business isn't there.
So my love and my passion is tohelp bridge that gap between
yes, you know how to do theskill in your business, but how
do you keep your business goingand how do you have a
(20:35):
conversation with people?
How do you manage your emailsystem?
What do you do with yourfinances?
What does making sounddecisions in your business as a,
as the only voice of decision,look like so that you can
continue to grow and thrive inthe element that you're in?
Laura (20:54):
Yeah, and, brandy, I really appreciate everything
you're saying.
Sadly, we're already out oftime.
I mean, I can just talk to you.
This is wonderful, wonderful.
I could just talk to you.
This is wonderful, wonderful.
But I did want to let peopleknow if they want to reach you
they can contact you throughbrandymillsconsultingcom and
then in through that you havelinks of how to schedule an
(21:18):
appointment etc.
But thank you so much for yourtime and your expertise.
Yeah, it is such a joy to haveyou here.
Brandy (21:24):
So thank you so much for your time and your expertise.
Laura (21:25):
Yeah, it is such a joy to have you here.
So thank you so much and I wantto thank you, the audience, for
listening to the Mosaic Lifewith Laura W.
You can listen to this episodeagain and get this great content
, or listen to other great hostsand their shows by going to
bizradious and click on shows.
Thanks so much for listening.
Have a great rest of your day.
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