97% Effective

Hosted by Michael Wenderoth

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Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.com. 97% Effective is dedicated to helping great people get ahead at work and increase their impact – without selling their souls in the process. Season #1 focuses on Power and Influence, two widely acknowledged (but poorly understood) forces that can help you rise, lead more effectively and get big things done. Each week we have candid conversations with an academic, coach, or executive, helping you gain new insights to better navigate your work and career.

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18 min

The Career Shortcut Most People Never Use

Over the summer, I'm revisiting nine of the most important ideas from the first 140 episodes of 97% Effective—from career strategy and leadership to power, promotion, and influence.In this first 97% EFFECTIVE ESSENTIALS episode, I call out the immense power in getting others to share their insight with you. Discover the surprisingly simple habit that has helped my clients build influence, gain visibility, and accelerate their careers.Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.comSHOW NOTES:Two reasons why you need to open doors and build relationships with people at workWhy seeking advice feels counterintuitive – but is powerful and highly beneficialFour situations where seeking advice pays huge dividendsSituation #1: When Sam sought a mentor or sponsorWhat’s wrong with “Let’s catch up for coffee” and “Can I pick your brain”Situation #2: When Dave sought clarity on the path to promotionThe important of getting your boss’s perspectiveSituation #3: When Jack sought support for his proposalThe “meeting before the meeting” to build allies and avoid surprisesSituation #4: When Alex turned an adversary into an allyWays to seek advice from someone you probably detestThree mistakes to avoid when asking advice BIO AND LINKS:Michael Wenderoth is an Executive Coach that helps executives re-examine their assumptions about power, politics, and authenticity to get promoted, become more effective at work, and break glass ceilings holding them back. Having served 20 years in senior roles with companies across the globe, and then 7 years as a professional coach, he has helped accelerated the careers of clients from diverse industries, backgrounds, and levels of seniority, helping them get ahead – without having to sell their souls in the process. Michael is the award-winning author of Get Promoted, host of the 97% Effective career acceleration podcast, and a frequent speaker and media contributor on career advancement, leadership and navigating power and politics. His work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Stanford Business School Executive Education and IE Business School, where he collaborates with renowned professors, coaches, executives and experts. Michael holds an MBA from Stanford and trained as an executive coach at Columbia University (3CP). Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.comMichael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelchangwenderoth/Harvard Business Review: How to get your first promotion: https://hbr.org/2022/10/how-to-get-your-first-promotionResearch: Why Seeking Advice Boosts Perceptions of Confidence https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=47824Research: Why Seeking Advice Rather Than Feedback Yields More Developmental, Critical and Actionable Input https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=56638Michael’s Award-Winning Book, Get Promoted: https://changwenderoth.com/#tve-jump-180481ecea397% Effective, now on Youtube! https://tinyurl.com/bdz53mc5Get Promoted, also available on Audiobook: https://tinyurl.com/mwf2s28yAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

47 min

EP144 – Chris Fenning, Award-Winning Author: Bad Meetings Cost More Than Time — Here’s How to Fix Them

Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.comEvery meeting you lead is also a reputation event—and a leadership audition: people leave judging not only the meeting, but you. This episode of 97% Effective takes aim at the mother of all time sinks at work: meetings. Host Michael Wenderoth speaks with Chris Fenning about his latest book, Effective Meetings: Great Results, Less Pain, Every Time. They cover the practical essentials — how to open a meeting, keep it on track, and manage people who derail it — but also the issues most leaders avoid: the silent reputational hit you take when you run a bad meeting, why AI can summarize meetings but cannot fix the human judgment behind them, and when the best meeting is no meeting at all. If people quietly complain about meetings in your company — or, let’s be honest, the ones you run — this episode will give you practical ways to make them sharper, shorter, and more useful.SHOW NOTESMichael and Chris demoTPO in real time (Topic-Purpose-Output)The forgotten second step: checking that everyone is aligned The real reason he wrote his latest bookWhy meetings were the next workplace problem Chris had to tackleThe hidden “meeting tax”: how bad meetings drain time, money, attention, morale, and credibilityCalculating the tangible dollar cost of a bad meetingCalculating the intangible cost -- to your reputation – from running a bad meetingCompanies have spending controls, but no controls over calling people into meetings that don’t produce anythingThe shocking MIT stats: online shopping, mobile games, and proof that many people shouldn’t be in the meeting at allBefore the meeting: Keys to preparationThe single biggest impact you can makeWhy AI can take notes and see patterns– but cannot decide why your meeting existsWhy Chris thinks agendas are not the “quick fix” solution to improving your meetingsDon’t schedule a meeting unless you can first answer three pointsHow everything – who you invite, how you invite them and how you run the meeting -- all starts with TPO (Topic-Purpose-Output)Three questions to ask to determine if you even need a meetingPreparation is valuable – and doesn’t have to be a time suck During the meeting: How to keep it from going off the railsTop tip about running a virtual meetingWays to improve how you show up on camera onlineManaging the person who disrupts and derails your meetingWhat to do when a meeting feels good, but it is not advancingHow to cut someone off without becoming the office Darth Vader Practical gems“Finding your sweet spot” – the healthy middle ground between Micromanager and Lord of ChaosTop tip on making meetings better if you don’t lead themThe 97% Effective way to nudge a bad meeting leader: leave Chris’s book on their deskThe next exciting project for Chris BIO AND LINKSChris Fenning helps professionals master their communication at work. Whether it is helping experts talk to non-experts, teams talk to executives, or simply being able to start a message clearly. Chris's practical methods are used in organisations like Google, JP Morgan, and NATO, and have appeared in the Harvard Business Review. He is also the author of four award-winning books on communication and training that have sold more than 100,000 copies worldwide. Find out how Chris can help you at www.chrisfenning.com Connect with ChrisWebsite: https://chrisfenning.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-fenning/His book, Effective Meetings: https://mybook.to/effective-meetingsHis Online courses: https://chris-fenning.thinkific.com/ Organizations, People and Resources ReferencedMIT findings--To meet or not to meet: https://tinyurl.com/p8kmev7eChris on 97% Effective discussing his blockbuster book (100,000 copies sold), The First Minute: https://tinyurl.com/2934nc7fChris on 97% Effective: How to Write Effective Emails: https://tinyurl.com/yw3uxbfhFlowtrace: https://www.flowtrace.coHow to Read the Room When You’re Not in the Room: https://changwenderoth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/zoom-lives-how-to-read-the-room-when-youre-not-in-the-room-ie-insights.pdfVinh Giang, referenced by Chris for his demo on virtual camera framing: https://www.vinhgiang.com More from 97% EffectiveMichael’s Award-winning Book: Get Promoted: What You’re Really Missing at Work That’s Holding You Back: https://tinyurl.com/453txk74Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@97PercentEffectiveAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

53 min

EP143 – Dr. Ruohao Chen, Researcher & Adjunct Assistant Professor at Columbia University: China, AI, and the Future of Coaching and Leadership

Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.comWhat happens when China, AI, and Western coaching collide? Dr. Ruohao Chen, leadership researcher at Columbia University, believes we have an unprecedented opportunity before us. In this episode of 97% Effective, host Michael Wenderoth speaks with Dr. Chen what Americans and Chinese can learn from each other— and why the future of coaching and leadership may depend on blending ancient wisdom, human presence, and AI-enabled scale. Drawing on Dr. Chen’s research and work with 300 Chinese coaches, this conversation goes beyond the U.S.-China rivalry to ask a better question: what if the next leadership edge comes from learning across the divide?SHOW NOTESDr. Chen’s pathHow a high school teacher in China rose to start an edtech company and become professor at Columbia UniversityGloom? Two reasons why Dr. Chen is optimistic about the the US and China relationshipOn American vs Chinese thinking: “In terms of culture we’re quite different, but in terms of nature we’re actually quite close to each other” Dr. Chen’s early researchWhat China’s education entrepreneurs do different: reserving money--and tapping into ancient philosophy and relational learning.How his research makes him a cross-cultural bridge, and offers valuable insight from China and the US in the era of AI The growth of coaching in ChinaInner creativity, giving space, and deep reflection to come up with the “aha moment”: How Buddhist and Confucian teaching mirror the core tenets of Co-active coachingThe “coaching club” that provides weekly seminars and workshops to 300 coaches in China“The care for human dignity” – what most surprises Chinese about Western coachesWhat China’s coaches find most valuable from their US peers: “the care for human dignity,” a systematic approach to coaching, and how to commercialize one’s practice Insights from his current research“Not skill improvement, but a change in perspective”: The surprising insight from what most helped unemployed Chinese return to the workforceWill AI replace human beings and be more effective coaches?Situations where people prefer human coaches – and where AI has the biggest advantageWhere his latest research on AI entrepreneurs is leading himBIO AND LINKSDr. Ruohao Chen, is a leadership researcher and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Adult Learning & Leadership program at Teachers College, Columbia University. He holds an Ed.D. in Adult Learning & Leadership, and his work focuses on strategic thinking, transformative learning, and leadership development that integrates Eastern and Western wisdom. Dr. Chen designs and leads leadership development programs through the Huber Institute for Organizational Learning at Columbia University, attracting talented and experienced leaders from China and across Asia. He is a certified coach through the Columbia Coaching Program and served as the Paper Track Chair for the International Columbia Coaching Conference 2025. He previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Center on Chinese Education at Teachers College, consulted with Harvard Business Publishing, and founded Education for Growth, a global learning community of over 10,000 educators and practitioners. In 2023, he completed his doctorate and was selected as Teachers College’s commencement speaker, becoming the first Chinese graduate to deliver the address in the institution’s 136-year history. Outside of work, Dr. Chen is also a certified fitness trainer and an amateur cello player. Connect with Dr. Ruohao ChenReach out directly on -mail: rc3035 [at] tc.columbia.eduLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chenruohao/Academic profile: https://tc.academia.edu/LancerChan Organizations, People and Resources ReferencedThe Columbia Adult Learning & Leadership Program: https://www.tc.columbia.edu/organization-and-leadership/adult-learning-and-leadership/IShowSpeed, American influencer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IShowSpeedResources on US vs China and cross-cultural thinking: Hofstede (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geert_Hofstede ), Gelfland (https://www.michelegelfand.com ), Meyer (https://erinmeyer.com ), Dan Wong’s book Breakneck (https://amzn.eu/d/09Wr3Adj)Chen, R. (2024). How Chinese business leaders in the tutoring industry learned to think strategically in a time of crisis. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 2024, 53–65. https://tc.academia.edu/LancerChanChen, R. Pathways Toward Transformative Learning: Middle-aged Adults' Job Loss and Re-employment in Urban China. Adult Education Quarterly. https://journals.sagepub.com/home/aeqChen, R. Transformative Learning in Isolation: A Phenomenological Study of Chinese Adults Navigating Uncertainty https://tc.academia.edu/LancerChanChen, R. Could AI Coaching Platforms Really Work? A Systemic Analysis of Services, Design Patterns, and Effectiveness of AI Coaching Platforms https://tc.academia.edu/LancerChan More from 97% EffectiveMichael’s Award-winning Book: Get Promoted: What You’re Really Missing at Work That’s Holding You Back: https://tinyurl.com/453txk74Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@97PercentEffectiveAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

43 min

EP142 – Rebecca Zucker, Partner at Next Step Partners – It’s Not a Checklist: Why High Performers Fail at Relationships—and Stall Their Rise

Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.comTo rise to the leadership ranks, you need to work with critical stakeholders. And the key to doing that effectively, says leadership expert Rebecca Zucker, is to form deeper relationships.How do most high performers get relationships wrong – and stall their rise? In this episode of 97% Effective, host Michael Wenderoth and Rebecca Zucker go deep on how to deepen relationships, so you not only get to the leadership ranks, but thrive there. They discuss tasks vs relationship balance —and the connection between trauma, trust and overturning our immunity to change. Rebecca draws from decades coaching senior leaders and her training as a trauma informed coach. If you approach building relationships as a checklist, this episode will help you see the more important layer you’ve been missing.SHOW NOTESWhy deepening relationships is criticalHow we are hurt by a myopic focus on tasks and “getting shit done”Thinking about relationships as “the channel through which things happen”The importance of being attuned to your task vs relationship balance Helping leaders deepen relationshipsManaging the trap of being in the weeds and the limiting belief that “I have to do it”Doing vs being: how do you see and view relationships?The bamboo finger cuff challenge: why you need to let go and just be present and attuned Trauma, distrust and overcoming deeply held beliefs and behaviors“Moving fast is a trauma response: we move fast so we don’t feel… which results in people not feeling connected”The dynamic you create when you walk in the room with distrust“The antidote to distrust is not trust – it’s being conscious of the distrust”How our beliefs and assumptions that served us in the past -- become our downfallHow Rebecca creates space for clients to open up and exploreThe big block for Type 3 Achievers: “When we can’t feel our own feelings, we can’t feel other people’s feelings, which gets in the way of connection” Realizing changeDeveloping the skill to “slow the f down” and expand your container“If you’re approaching building a relationship with a checklist, that’s not going to work”How to control yourself and slow down – when everything in your company is whirling fast?The importance of not taking on other people’s anxietiesCoping strategies vs healingEmotional boundaries and staying on your side of the net Noticing and FeedbackThe skills of “continuous double-clicking” to notice, getting real-time feedback, paying attention to self-protective reactionsInner vs outward defensivenessTips on getting real feedback from your reportsHow feedback can improve a relationship – when it is done wellHaving hard conversations but not making someone feel like a fool Lightning round: Hard truths, biggest influences, and 25 years of Next Step PartnersBIO AND LINKSRebecca Zucker is founding parter at Next Step Partners, which serves global clients based out of San Francisco, USA. An expert in executive coaching as well as leadership and career development, Rebecca coaches C-level executives and other senior leaders across the globe. She is a regular contributor to Harvard Business Review and Forbes.com and is frequently quoted in the press on career and leadership issues. Rebecca graduated as valedictorian from the Leonard N. Stern School of business at NYU and later received her MBA from Stanford. She then worked as an investment banker for Goldman Sachs in New York and held leadership positions at Disney EMEA in Paris and at Robertson Stephens. She received her coaching training and certification from the Coaches Training Institute and from Minds at Work. Rebecca is certified as a trauma-informed coach.Connect with RebeccaNext Step Partners: https://nextsteppartners.com/partner/rebecca-zucker/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-zucker-nsp/Organizations, People and Resources ReferencedWhat is a Mensch? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MenschTrauma-Informed Coaching with Thomas Hubl and Amy Fox: https://traumainformedcertificateprogram.comThe Enneagram Type 3: Achiever https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-3/Ron Carucci interview on “Fixing Our Trust Recession” https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/97-effective/id1646325886?i=1000602244842Immunity to Change (Lisa Lahey and Bob Keegan): https://www.gse.harvard.edu/hgse100/story/changing-betterRebecca’s article in HBR: Facing the Fears Holding You Back https://rebeccazucker.com/thoughts/facing-the-fears-that-hold-you-back-at-workRebecca’s article in HBR: Eliminating Fears and Limiting Beliefs: https://hbr.org/2019/10/how-to-deal-with-constantly-feeling-overwhelmedRebecca’s article in HBR: Asking for Help at Work: https://hbr.org/2022/12/how-to-get-better-at-asking-for-help-at-workMore from 97% EffectiveMichael’s Award-winning Book: Get Promoted: What You’re Really Missing at Work That’s Holding You Back: https://tinyurl.com/453txk74Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@97PercentEffectiveAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

48 min

EP141 – Dr. Michael Brenner, Founder and CEO, Right Chord Leadership – Strike the Right Chord: What Leaders Can Learn from Musicians

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Michael Senturia.Ever feel like your leadership team isn’t in tune, or that you hit the wrong note with people at work? Today’s guest says the world of jazz has the answers. In this episode of 97% Effective, host Michael Wenderoth explores what leaders can learn from jazz musicians with Dr. Michael Y. Brenner, CEO of Right Chord Leadership. They discuss Dr. Brenner’s new book, Strike the Right Chord, and the connection he makes between musical harmony and effective leadership. If you are tired of the same old leadership cliches, transport yourself in this episode to the world of jazz, where you’ll see your leadership challenges through a refreshingly different and powerful new lense.SHOW NOTESMike’s pathThe record that changed his trajectory: “They’re making that up as they go? I gotta learn how to do that!”Copy writing, working at QVC, and his hard truth about leadership Lessons for leadersHow jazz musicians approach their craftKeys to collaboration: “Jazz attitude” and walking the line between structure and chaosA novel new framework: Mike’s CHORD model for leadershipWhat jazz teaches us about different profiles working in harmony – and how Mike uses DISC to help teams do that in practiceLessons from Mike’s doctoral research in Canada: what leaders learn from artists“When you hit the wrong note, it's the next note that makes it good or bad.” Dealing with the messy part of leadershipIs the goal of leadership to achieve harmony?Respect, support – and the need for tough loveThe key to managing egos and managing up: “Serve the music”Why we still get crappy leaders who don’t embody the qualities Mike describesA novel way to think about authenticity: Having a “foundation of voice” but being able to adapt to the situation BIO AND LINKSAs founder and CEO of Right Chord Leadership, Dr. Michael Brenner collaborates with leaders and teams to strengthen the essential skills needed for peak performance. He achieves this by drawing on more than 25 years of experience as an international leadership consultant, executive coach, keynote speaker, and educator, and more than 40 years as a professional musician. Michael holds a doctorate in Adult Learning and Leadership from Columbia University and a master’s degree in Adult and Organizational Development from Temple University. He plays in two bands based in Philadelphia, PA, USA. Strike the Right Chord is his first book. Connect with Dr. Michael Y. BrennerLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelybrenner/Right Chord Leadership: https://rightchordleadership.comGet Mike’s Book, Strike the Right Chord: https://rightchordleadership.com/resources/Speaker Reel: https://rightchordleadership.com/speaking/Email: michael [at] rightchordleadership.comOrganizations, People and Resources ReferencedEpisode dedicated to the memory of Michael Senturia: https://music.berkeley.edu/news/department-mourns-passing-emeritus-professor-michael-senturiaAl Jarreau: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_JarreauThe Columbia Coaching Conference: https://www.columbiacoachingconference.orgBanff Institute: https://www.banffcentre.caWhiplash, the movie: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2582802/Christian McBride: https://www.christianmcbride.comDr. John Schaffner interview on 97% Effective: https://redcircle.com/shows/97-effective/ep/4fae4e9f-bdbf-4cab-8aa5-298544b3651cPat Metheny: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3t58jfUhoMLYVO14XaUFLA?si=H-meVhdFQlqWxQSvjf7O1g More from 97% EffectiveMichael’s Award-winning Book: Get Promoted: What You’re Really Missing at Work That’s Holding You Back: https://tinyurl.com/453txk74Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@97PercentEffectiveAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

55 min

EP140 – Jon Wortmann, Executive Coach and Author “The Nine Tendencies”: Why You’re Not Being Heard (And How to Fix It)

Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.comEvery misunderstanding contains a small “miss” in how we communicate—and Jon Wortmann, today’s guest, can show you how to fix that. Jon’s work helps you make the small adjustments to connect better with everyone in your life, and elevate your leadership. In this episode of 97% Effective, host Michael Wenderoth speaks with Jon Wortmann, executive coach and sports performance coach, about his latest book “The Nine Tendencies.” They walk through practical ways to understand our tendencies, adjust your communication style, and deal with the most challenging people. Jon also discusses his work as a minister and sports performance coach, which will get you thinking more deeply about your spiritual life and the habits of peak performers.SHOW NOTESJon’s path from minister to peak performance coachThe mental health challenges that led him to the ministryHow “learn how to calm my brain” gave him first-hand experience in his fieldThe decision to go from minister to full-time coachOn where Americans are increasingly spiritual: “I have more conversations about spiritual life, ironically, as an executive coach than I did some weeks in a spiritual community.”The Chaplain at Carleton College that helped Jon the most: “To not know where you have options is where the problem was.”Insights from his book, The Nine TendenciesHard truth about communication: People need to get really good at getting to the pointDoes your audience want the details first, or the bottom line first?How Jon’s communication got him fired by his CEO clientIs awareness of your communication tendencies enough for you to make a switch?“Personality lives on a spectrum, tendencies are binary”The Nine Tendencies: The way we think, how we add color, the way we share ideasDoes Jon overlook body language?How Jon’s book is different and the main message he wants readers to take awayWhat to do if someone else’s communication pattern drives you nuts Practical Communication TipsHow to assess our tendencies, those of others—and the ultimate metric of communication successPeople value you more when you adjust to their communication styleThree ways to handle someone is difficult to communicate withHow remote work impacts our Nine Tendencies Insights from his work as a chaplain and sports performance coachLessons from his spiritual teaching: Everybody is great, but nobody has helped most people find those things“Every brain is different”Does Jon miss his spiritual work? BIO AND LINKSJon Wortmann is an executive coach and trainer, author, and sports performance coach. A graduate of Carleton College and Harvard University, his books, Mastering Communication at Work and Hijacked by Your Brain, were #1 best-sellers in 22 categories on Amazon. He has delivered over 3500 trainings in 13 verticals with global clients on 46 topics including communication, resilience, and trust. His professional golfers play on every professional tour, and he was voted a coach of the year in Big East conference with UCONN Golf in 2021. His new book, The Nine Tendencies, systematically defines the critical communication adjustments which transform relationships and teams.Connect with JonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-wortmann-81a9471/His new book, free download -- The Nine Tendencies: The Little Adjustments that Build Trust in Every Communication https://www.ninetendencies.comJon’s other bestselling books: https://tinyurl.com/ye23f2z3 Organizations, People and Resources ReferencedAdam Sandler’s movie Grownups: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e01NVCveGkgChaplain Jewelnel Davis: https://provost.columbia.edu/people/jewelnel-davisHow Mehrabian’s famous study on body language gets misinterpreted: https://tinyurl.com/mr2j5mzhQuick Switching: https://quickswitching.comJon’s talk: “Frenzied: How to Step Back from the Short Loop” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiOQHnI_ztE More from 97% EffectiveMichael’s Award-winning Book: Get Promoted: What You’re Really Missing at Work That’s Holding You Back: https://tinyurl.com/453txk74Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@97PercentEffectiveAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

47 min

EP139 - David Matthew Prior, Founder at Getacoach.com —Team Coaching: The Science of Effective Leadership Teams

Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.comMost leaders work 1-1 with executive coaches – but few use them to coach their entire leadership team. In this episode, 97% Effective host Michael Wenderoth explores the emerging field of leadership team coaching with David Matthew Prior, who has been at the forefront of organizational coaching for more than two decades. Michael and David discuss the science of effective teams—and how team coaches help leaders turn a collection of executives into a true team. David also shares his own path into the coaching world–and where traditional executive coaches must shift their approach to effectively serve leaders and their teams. If you are a leader or team member—or a coach or consultant who supports leadership teams—you’ll gain practical insights on how to assess and increase a team’s effectiveness.SHOW NOTESThe Rise of Leadership Team CoachingDavid’s path from banker to actor to coach—and the surprising way his professional training as an actor has helped him coach teamsRecent trends driving the need for team coachingHow team coaching and group coaching differ: “All teams are groups, but not all groups are teams”The importance of designing and structuring teams: “You can’t just show up and hope that the magic is going to occur.” The Science of Effective TeamsHard truth: there’s little evidence that simply coaching team behaviors improves team performance.The 3 core elements of an effective team—and the 6 conditions that influence its effectivenessThe multiple roles a team coach must play: facilitator, educator, consultant, and coachThe 60:30:10 rule: where team coaches actually spend their time Lessons from “crashing and burning” in David’s early coaching engagementsThe one condition where David spends most of his team coaching effortWhat effective teams and geese have in commonThe two signals David hones in on at the outset, to best assess a team’s dynamicsHow a team coach handles internal team politicsThe importance of speaking truth to leaders, and why team coaches need to have their own external support team David on Teaching Coaches and AI“Coaches want a playbook--how to execute it—but it’s more complex than that.”Why David is seeking to bring more human capabilities into the team coaching spaceBIO AND LINKSDavid Matthew Prior, MCC, BCC, ACTC, brings 25 years of organizational coaching experience as a Master Certified Coach (ICF credentialed) based in the New York City Metropolitan area. His work in coaching executive and senior leadership spans internationally and across dozens of industries. Leveraging experience in coaching, finance, ethics training, and theater performance, David has had the honor to structure and teach in the organizational coaching program at Columbia University, guide and coach more than 1,000 senior leaders in more than 30 countries, train 5,000+ executive coaches and create results for more than 100 organizations. He is the founder of Getacoach.com, where he can be reached. Connect with DavidLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmatthewprior/His website: www.GetaCoach.com Organizations, People and Resources ReferencedColumbia 3CP: https://www.tc.columbia.edu/coachingcertification/David’s teaching at University of Texas at Dallas: https://obcc.utdallas.edu/news/team-coaching-practitioner-program/Christine Thornton’s book: Group and Team Coaching (3rd ed): https://tinyurl.com/3bs873vxPeter Hawkins, the “five disciplines” model of team coaching. Editor of: Leadership Team Coaching in Practice (2nd ed): https://a.co/d/0cWsgxZlRichard Hackman, pioneer on the science of teams: https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/leading-teams/9781633691216/The Six Conditions for Team Effectiveness (Hackman’s framework): https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-63546-5_19Mary Beth O’Neill. Her book: Executive Coaching with Backbone and Heart (2nd ed): https://a.co/d/00CAdCfeJohn Whittington, Henley Business School: https://www.henley.ac.uk/people/john-whittingtonThe Columbia Coaching Conference: https://www.columbiacoachingconference.orgDr. Michael Jabbour: https://www.columbiacoachingconference.org/speaker/dr.-michael-j.-jabbourRuth Wageman’s book: Senior Leadership Teams: What it Takes to Make Them Great https://a.co/d/0cOBISxw More from 97% EffectiveMichael’s Award-winning Book: Get Promoted: What You’re Really Missing at Work That’s Holding You Back: https://tinyurl.com/453txk74Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@97PercentEffectiveAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

45 min

EP138 – Ruby Au, Search Fund Entrepreneur – The Little-Known Career Path to Entrepreneurship: Inside Search Funds

Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.comIn the past year, host Michael Wenderoth saw a huge jump in Stanford MBAs pursuing an alternative career path. When he sought to learn more, everyone pointed him to today’s guest, Ruby Au, a 2025 Stanford Business School graduate who chose the search fund path. In this episode of 97% Effective, Michael and Ruby discuss search funds, the hot alternative path to entrepreneurship, and why it is experiencing a surge in interest among MBAs, top talent—and investors looking for strong returns. Most people are familiar with private equity and venture capital, but far fewer understand search funds, so Michael and Ruby break down the nuts and bolts of the model, where entrepreneurs raise capital to search for, acquire, and operate an existing small business. Ruby also shares insights she gained from hundreds of coffee chats with industry insiders. If you feel constrained by working in big companies—but don’t have the stomach for a risky start-up, you’ll want to listen to this episode. Search—and Ruby’s insights—may open your eyes to the growth and impact that can come from the small, unsexy businesses that quietly power our economy. SHOW NOTESWhat Search Funds Are – and How They WorkHow Ruby discovered search, and why it felt like a best-fitWhat search fund investors are looking for in the entrepreneurs and companies they backThe “search phase” and the “acquisition/operating” phaseWhy “boring” companies that don’t make headlines can be great businessesWhy many business sellers see search as a unique succession plan Why Search Funds Are Taking Off – and Where They Are Going“An asset class that started to post 35% IRRs”The most successful search outcome of all time: from roadside rescue to that little purple logo at your Amazon checkoutAs money pours in, does mentorship and the traditional model scale? Ruby’s Insights – What You Won’t Find in ReportsHow Ruby was taken off guard by the close-knit search ecosystemWhy she started her blog Succession StoryRuby’s sector focus and what she wants to get out of her search process3 insider insights: How new investors are challenging the traditional search model; how to find the right business for you; and how search can reshape how you view social impact BIO AND LINKSRuby Au is a search fund entrepreneur and Principal at Succession Story LLC. Her career began in Nairobi, Kenya, where she founded an edtech venture acquired in 2020. She later launched the African office for San Francisco-based Endless Computers and served as Head of North America for the green search engine, Ecosia. Ruby graduated summa cum laude with dual degrees in Business Administration and Environmental Studies from the University of Southern California and holds an MBA from Stanford, where she served on the leadership of Stanford's Search Fund Club. Ruby enjoys SCUBA diving, salsa dancing, boxing, and traveling, having visited over 35 countries across five continents. Connect with RubyHer search fund: https://www.successionstory.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruby-au/Substack: Succession Story: Becoming a Search Fund Entrepreneur: https://successionstory.substack.comPeople and Things referencedH. Irv Grousbeck: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/faculty/h-irving-grousbeckAsurion – The Greatest Search Fund Deal of all time: https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/12/business/smallbusiness/12hunt.htmlRuby’s list of search fund investors: https://successionstory.substack.com/p/the-wonderful-world-of-search-fundSo Good They Can’t Ignore You (Cal Newport): https://a.co/d/0cefCIkuStanford Business School’s Search Fund Center: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/experience/about/centers-institutes/ces/research/search-fundsIESE’s International Search Fund Center: https://www.iese.edu/entrepreneurship/search-funds/ More from 97% EffectiveMichael’s Award-winning Book: Get Promoted: What You’re Really Missing at Work That’s Holding You Back: https://tinyurl.com/453txk74Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@97PercentEffectiveAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

39 min

EP137 – Deborah Grayson Riegel, Founder of TheMeMenu.com: What Happens When a Leadership Coach Teams up with a Celebrity Chef

Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.comMost women have lived as the side dish – supporting everyone else while putting themselves last. When I shared that line with my wife, she didn’t hesitate: “That’s me.” In this episode of 97% Effective, I speak with Deborah Grayson Riegel — executive coach, leadership communications expert, and co‑creator of TheMeMenu, a new personal growth platform designed for women over 50 who are ready to reclaim agency, imagination, and momentum in their lives. Deb shares how she teamed up with celebrity chef Carla Hall to build something that blends coaching, creativity, and AI — all through the metaphor of cooking and their Six Flavor framework. We discuss what’s different for women 50+, how AI can democratize coaching (and where humans still matter most), and what partners can actually do — practically — to support the women they love. I also share what surprised me most in this conversation — including what I learned after asking my own wife what actually helps (hint: “How can I help?” isn’t always it). By the end of this episode, you’ll see cooking as a powerful lens for work and life. While The ME Menu is designed for women over 50, the key message — navigating obligation and agency — applies to anyone ready to write their next chapter.SHOW NOTESTheMeMenu storyWhy so many women spend decades as the “side dish,” what it means to reclaim main-dish energy – and why that mattersHow Deb connected with Carla Hall, celebrity chef, and why the collaboration clicked so wellWhat TheMeMenu actually is: A way of thinking and being + 6-week self-paced coaching program + An AI-powered “Sous Chef” for spot-coachingWhat makes TheMeMenu unique: Built by women over 50 for women over 50, Carla Hall’s “secret sauce”, and a mission to democratize access to coachingWhy Deb sees AI as a complement to human coaching, not a replacementInside the CollaborationDeb, Carla, and Kirsten: three women, three strengthsTheir creative process: cooking vs bakingWhy “nothing works if the raw ingredients aren’t good”The importance of creating their “mise en place”Over 100 iterations – and why “there’s no such thing as done”Building a product while the technology was still emerging Practical TakeawaysWhat partners, spouses, kids, and friends can most do to support the women in their livesTwo powerful questions to ask – and 1 micro-behavior that mattersWhy “How can I help?’ can be taxing – and why it’s often better to just make offersThinking in terms of a lifelong conversation, not a one-time check-inLightning Round laser insights: Deb on the hard truth about personal change, the key to collaboration, the power of her summer in Spain, and the focus of her new book, Aim High and Bounce Back: A Successful Woman’s Guide to Rethinking and Rising Up from Failure BIO AND LINKSDeborah Grayson Riegel, MSW, PCC is a keynote speaker, leadership communications expert, executive coach, and author. She is the co-creator of TheMeMenu.com, a self-paced coaching platform designed to help women reclaim purpose and momentum in midlife and beyond. Deb is a regular contributor for Harvard Business Review, Inc., Psychology Today, Forbes, and Fast Company – and author of multiple books include Go to Help, Overcoming Overthinking, and her newest book, Aim High and Bounce Back (2026), which explores how women experience failure differently — and how to rise after setbacks. She is a certified executive coach (ICF PCC) and holds a BA from University of Michigan and MSW from Columbia University. Connect with DebTheMeMenu: https://www.thememenu.com/aboutDeb’s website: https://deborahgraysonriegel.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahgraysonriegel/Deb’s new book, with Fiona Macaulay – Aim High and Bounce Back: A Successful Woman’s Guide to Rethinking and Rising Up from Failure https://a.co/d/05NJJNcn People and Things referencedCarla Hall, celebrity chef: https://carlahall.comStanford Business School WIM groups: https://tinyurl.com/yc6zssc2Halle Barry at the DealBook Summit: https://tinyurl.com/ymmcuk54What exclaiming “poo-poo-poo” means (Jewish expression): https://tinyurl.com/yn6ny9t3Hybrid Intelligence: 2025 Columbia University Coaching Conference https://tinyurl.com/4ss3s2cr“Mise en place” (French culinary phrase for “putting in place”): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mise_en_place More from 97% EffectiveMichael’s Award-winning Book: Get Promoted: What You’re Really Missing at Work That’s Holding You Back: https://tinyurl.com/453txk74Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@97PercentEffectiveAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

46 min

EP136 – Dina Denham Smith, Executive Coach and Author of Emotionally Charged – Emotions Are Money: The Leadership Skill Nobody Trained You For

Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.comMost leaders were taught to leave their emotions at the door. Today’s guest says that advice isn’t just outdated — it’s costly. In this episode of 97% Effective, host Michael Wenderoth sits down with Dina Denham Smith, executive coach and bestselling author of Emotionally Charged, to unpack why emotional skill is now a core leadership capability, not a “soft” add-on. Drawing on behavioral science and her work as an executive coach and strategic advisor, Dina explains why emotions are data, how leaders unknowingly perform massive emotional labor, and what it really takes to manage triggers, prevent burnout, and unlock performance. As Dina puts it: “Emotions are money.” By the end of this conversation, you’ll see why ignoring emotions is bad for you and bad for business – and what to do instead.SHOW NOTESDina’s story — and why this work mattersOne surprising thing about Dina you won’t find on the internetHow Emotionally Charged would have helped Dina earlier in her own careerWhat sparked Dina’s interest in the science of emotionsHow the pandemic and technology shifts dramatically increased the emotional demands placed on leadersCore ideas from Emotionally ChargedThe key takeaway: Emotions are information“Emotions are money”: how feelings directly translate into performance, retention, and resultsThe biggest myth Dina wants to retire: that emotions get in the way of good business decisionsWhat “emotional labor” really means — and why research shows leaders perform as much of it as customer service professionals (and in more complex ways)The three layers of every emotion: physiology, cognition, and behaviorWhy suppressing emotions is like trying to hold beach balls underwater Practical tools you can use immediatelyBeach balls, masks, and “letting it all hang out”: finding the right balance at workWhy expanding your emotional vocabulary dramatically improves self-regulationDina’s BRAVE framework for managing triggers in real time: Breathe, Refocus, Accept, Verbalize, Engage Restoration (not “self-care”): four evidence-based ways leaders recover from emotional strain: Detachment, Relaxation, Mastery, Control Power, leadership, and team cultureWhy leaders consistently underestimate their emotional impactHow power amplifies everything you feel and showWhy everyone cues off their leader’s emotional signals (often unconsciously)How leaders can normalize emotional expression on their teams — without turning meetings into complaint sessionsSimple ways managers can reset emotional culture inside their own sphere of influenceDina’s reminder: emotional skills are learnable — and improvable at any stage of your career. BIO AND LINKSDina Denham Smith is an executive coach and strategic advisor who helps senior leaders build their capacity, scale their impact, and thrive in complexity. For more than a decade, she has partnered with executives at some of the world’s most successful companies, helping them navigate the demands of operating at the highest levels. Dina holds an MS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and an MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, and she is credentialed by both the ICF and EMCC as an executive and team coach. A prolific thought leader, Dina has published more than 60 articles on leadership for Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Forbes, and other premium outlets. She is the lead author of Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work (Oxford University Press, 2025).Connect with DinaWebsite: https://dinadsmith.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dina-denham-smith/Her book: https://dinadsmith.com/book/ People and Books ReferencedDr. Alicia Grandey — Dina’s co-author https://psych.la.psu.edu/people/aag6/Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker https://a.co/d/07CbSJAYMore from 97% EffectiveMichael’s Award-winning Book: Get Promoted: What You’re Really Missing at Work That’s Holding You Back: https://tinyurl.com/453txk74Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@97PercentEffectiveAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy