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It's All About the QuestionsAuthor: Laura Steward
My guests are leaders from varied businesses and perspectives from around the world. They generously share their business, health and life expertise and stories to help my listeners grow their business, improve their health, and shift their perspectives. Did you get that means free coaching just by listening? Yes, this is a business podcast, but listeners say it is more like sitting in my living room listening to a chat with friends. Incredibly accomplished friends but friends! The show is not about perfection but rather how you can embrace all of you to have the business and life you want. Language: en Genres: Business, Education, Entrepreneurship, Self-Improvement Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Why Professional Reinvention Is So Terrifying with Marlene Chism
Episode 403
Wednesday, 28 October, 2026
Are you struggling with workplace drama or avoiding those tough conversations that keep you up at night? In this episode of It's All About the Questions, host Laura Steward sits down with award winning author and leadership expert Marlene Chism to dive deep into the lessons from her book, Spilling the Beans. Together, they explore how clarity, accountability, and conflict management can transform your professional life. Marlene shares her unique insights on how to navigate the modern workplace, from the shifting tectonic plates of AI reinvention to the delicate art of accountability. We explore why many traditional management techniques, like the feedback sandwich, actually do more harm than good and how you can replace them with a clear architecture for difficult conversations. Marlene explains that every big problem in an organization can be traced back to a conversation that should have happened but did not. Whether you are an entrepreneur leading a small team or an executive at a large corporation, this discussion reveals how to identify bottlenecks, set healthy boundaries, and move from reaction to conscious creation. Marlene also explains the connection between leadership and presence, using her experience in ballroom dancing to illustrate the power of knowing when to lead and when to follow. Chapters ⏳ 0:00 Intro and Welcoming Marlene Chism 4:20 The Story Behind Spilling the Beans 8:15 AI Reinvention and Managing Workplace Fear 13:40 The Paradox of Choice and Time Management 18:10 Balancing Accountability and Responsibility 22:50 Identifying Bottlenecks in Leadership 27:15 Why Leaders Avoid Difficult Conversations 32:30 The Failure of the Feedback Sandwich 37:45 Moving Chess Pieces and Avoidance Tactics 42:10 The Architecture of a Productive Conversation 48:20 Managing Emotions and Staying Regulated 54:15 Lessons in Leadership from Ballroom Dancing 59:30 Setting Boundaries and Knowing When to Part Ways 1:02:40 Final Thoughts and How to Connect If you found these leadership insights helpful, please like this podcast and subscribe for more conversations on how to ask the right questions for lifelong success. You can find more of Marlene's work at her website, performancecoachingmodel.com, marlenechism.com, or connect with her on LinkedIn to continue the conversation. #leadership #workplacedrama #accountability #businessstrategy #difficultconversations For more episodes and insights, checkout https://www.laurasteward.com where you can download a free workbook to start asking better questions today.
