The Transformation: From Leading in the Middle to Influencing with Authority

Описание: Navigating leadership transitions often feels like being "stuck in the middle"—balancing the demands of senior executives with the needs of your team while trying to maintain your own professional trajectory. Without a clear roadmap, even high-achieving leaders can feel invisible or experience career stagnation.

In this episode, Dr. Whitney Newcomb joins Dr. Rudy Jackson and Dorian Cunion to discuss the transformative power of certified coaching in bridging the gap between academic expertise and organizational influence. We explore how a strengths-based approach allows leaders to lead with authenticity and courage, even in complex "middle-management" roles.

You will learn:
• The "Thought Partner" Advantage: Why moving away from traditional mentoring toward a certified coaching partnership empowers you to find your own expert solutions.
• Leading from the Middle: Strategies for building trust and transparency when you lack formal decision-making power but are held accountable for results.
• AI as an Equity Tool: How technology can bridge the financial gap in leadership development and serve as an accountability partner between coaching sessions.
• The Power6 Diagnostic: How moving beyond personality tests to behavioral assessments identifies the specific skills needed to scale your impact.

Timestamp Highlights
• 03:56 – Coaching in higher education.
• 07:49 – The unique challenges of "leading from the middle" and the feeling of invisibility.
• 13:09 – Navigating accountability from all directions: Up, down, and horizontal.
• 19:25 – The future of AI in coaching: Empathy vs. Efficiency.
• 35:02 – Using the Power6 Diagnostic Leadership Evaluation to find your point of entry.
• 40:48 – Finding joy and alignment in the leadership journey.

About Our Guest: Dr. Whitney Sherman Newcomb, Ph.D., is the founder of Rooted to Rise Coaching & Consulting. A tenured professor and Chair of Educational Leadership at VCU, she brings over 30 years of experience to her practice, focusing on inclusive leadership, conflict resolution, and organizational influence.

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• Connect with Dr. Whitney Newcomb at www.rootedtoriseconsulting.com to explore executive, team, or health and wellness coaching packages.

To learn more about the Power6 Leader Program and how it can transform your executive presence, reach out to Dorian Cunion at www.yourpathexecutivesolutions.com to schedule a discovery session