Confronting Difficult People: The Leadership Skill You Need to Master

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In this episode of Leadership is Feminine, host Kris Plachy dives into a topic we all know too well—difficult people. We’ve all worked with someone who’s frustrating, quirky, or just hard to get along with. And rather than facing the issue head-on, we tend to tuck these individuals away, hoping they’ll just disappear. If you’re someone who avoids difficult conversations, in this episode you’ll learn the strategies to embrace the difficult people and become the leader you’re capable of being. As a business owner, it's your responsibility to deal with the people who challenge you. Whether it’s employees who push back, disagree, or simply don’t fit the mold you envisioned, avoiding these difficult situations only hinders your business and personal growth. Kris emphasizes that by avoiding tough conversations, you're holding yourself back from fulfilling your vision and advancing your mission. “We are shrinking in the face of difficult when we should be standing and firmly growing who we are,” Kris reminds us. Facing difficulty head-on requires us to change the way we think and behave, and it’s essential for growth. No one teaches you how to deal with difficult people, but when you step into being a leader, it is essential to learn and refine this skill. Kris teaches how to turn these situations into opportunities for both you and your team to grow. Kris guides us through the art of navigating these tough moments with honesty, courage, and a commitment to fostering growth. If you're ready to stop avoiding conflict and start growing, grab your pen and take notes—this episode will transform how you lead your business and your life. Key Takeaways From This Episode Embrace Difficulty as a Path to Growth: Avoiding challenges may feel easier in the short term, but overcoming them leads to the next level of success and fulfillment. Resistance Stalls Progress: Accepting reality allows you to move forward with clarity and purpose. Leadership Requires Facing Hard Conversations: Addressing challenges directly and honestly is key to maintaining a strong, functional team. Difficult People Are an Opportunity, Not a Roadblock: Mastering these interactions builds confidence, resilience, and stronger leadership skills. Avoiding Conversations Hurts Everyone: Honest feedback helps both individuals and organizations grow. Developing Conflict Resolution Skills is a Game-Changer: This skill is critical for maintaining peace of mind and achieving your long-term goals. Contact Information and Recommended Resources 1. If you want to become a well-resourced woman, subscribe to the FREE Well-Resourced Woman Limited Series Private Podcast. Visit www.thevisionary.ceo/asagewoman to learn more. The first episode is waiting for you! 2. Join Kris's live Be Better classes at www.thevisionary.ceo/bebetter. 3. Dealing with a Difficult Person in your business or need to have a Difficult Conversation? Join Kris' class HERE! (https://www.thevisionary.ceo/offers/4XYGiuSv)  Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

In this episode of Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy simplifies the hiring process with a tactical, no-nonsense approach. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by recruiting, this episode will change the way you hire—fast. Kris walks through a step-by-step system to define the role you need, create clear objectives, and attract the right candidates. She highlights the importance of clarity—knowing exactly what success looks like for a position before you even post a job. And the best part? You don’t have to do it alone. Kris shares how AI tools like ChatGPT can help craft job descriptions, job postings, interview questions, and even onboarding plans—saving you time and energy. But hiring isn’t just about filling a role. The real work is in assessing talent, setting expectations, and ensuring alignment with your business. Kris reminds us that the hardest part of hiring is the human part—connecting with candidates, reading their energy, and making sure they fit your culture. If you’ve been stuck overthinking hiring, this episode is your fast-track to getting it done. Grab a pen and paper (or just hit replay), because Kris is laying out everything you need to make hiring easy. Key Takeaways From This Episode Define the Role Before Hiring: Clearly outline what the position needs to achieve, and set measurable objectives for success. Use AI to Streamline the Hiring Process The Hardest Part of Hiring is the Human Element: Assessing talent, setting expectations, and ensuring a cultural fit require human judgment and intuition. Onboarding Should Be Intentional and Goal-Oriented: A structured 30-60-90 day plan helps new hires integrate effectively and ensures they meet key milestones. Know When to Move On: Identifying red flags in the first 90 days prevents keeping the wrong hire too long and ensures your team stays aligned with business goals. Hiring Doesn’t Have to Be Overwhelming: Leveraging available tools allows leaders to focus on what truly matters—building a strong team. Contact Information and Recommended Resources If you want to become a well-resourced woman, subscribe to the Well-Resourced Woman Limited Series Private Podcast. Visit www.thevisionary.ceo/asagewoman to learn more. The first episode is waiting for you! Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

In this episode of Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy introduces a profound and necessary conversation: What does it mean to be a well-resourced woman? Kris explores the essential resources women need—not just financially, but in energy, time, self-trust, and personal agency. She challenges listeners to examine how they advocate for themselves, manage their businesses, and take ownership of their decisions. Too often, women downplay their needs, defer their power, or operate on empty, believing they must do it all alone. But what if the key to unstoppable leadership lies in becoming truly well-resourced? Kris shares personal stories and reflections that have shaped her belief in the power of self-trust and financial agency. She urges women to ask themselves: Do I truly understand my finances? Am I managing my energy effectively? Do I trust myself in decision-making, even when others don’t? Through this discussion, she highlights the necessity of prioritizing your own growth, support, and well-being in order to lead with clarity and strength. This episode is a call to rethink how you resource yourself—as a leader, a business owner, and a woman. Kris challenges you to take ownership of your energy, time, and financial agency, so you can lead with confidence and impact. Key Takeaways From This Episode What It Means to Be a Well-Resourced Woman: True leadership starts with how you invest in yourself. Financial Agency is Non-Negotiable: Understanding your money is a critical component of leadership and independence. Energy is a Vital Resource: Prioritizing well-being is key to maintaining influence and effectiveness. Self-Trust is the Core of Confidence: Believing in your ability to figure things out and make the right decisions. Owning Your Time and Boundaries: Time is one of the most valuable resources, and how you manage it determines your ability to lead effectively. Personal Advocacy and Ownership: Leadership isn’t about waiting for permission—it’s about making decisions that serve your best interests. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Access the Upcoming Private Podcast Mini-Series To access the upcoming private podcast episodes, visit www.thevisionary.ceo/asagewoman.   Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

Get ready for another compelling episode of Leadership is Feminine with your host, Kris Plachy! This week, we're diving into the intriguing concept of being "at the ready." Inspired by a thought-provoking chat with one of her clients, Kris explores what it means for leaders and their teams to be prepared for unexpected challenges. With a landscape full of uncertainty, akin to the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, the discussion couldn’t be more timely. In a world where change is the only constant, Kris encourages us to assess our ‘at the ready’ status in areas critical to both personal and professional survival. She breaks it down into categories to focus on—finances, team dynamics, and personal schedules. Ask yourself, are you financially secure, or is there room to streamline those unnecessary expenses? When it comes to your team, Kris asks the tough questions: Are you nurturing a capable crew, or is it time to reassess? Readiness is not just a strategic necessity but a mindset to cultivate. Tune in for more insights on finding the balance between planning for tomorrow while handling today’s unpredictabilities. Key Takeaways From This Episode The Meaning of Being "At the Ready": How staying prepared and adaptable can help leaders navigate economic and business uncertainties with confidence. Financial Readiness as a Stability Check: Why regularly evaluating cash flow, savings, and expenses ensures your business can weather unexpected challenges. Team Readiness and Alignment: The importance of assessing your team’s strength, performance, and adaptability to maintain momentum and efficiency. Planning and Scheduling with Agility: How modifying plans based on shifting circumstances keeps your business responsive and resilient. Leadership in Uncertain Times: Why proactive preparation, rather than reactive decision-making, is key to leading effectively through economic and market fluctuations. Contact Information and Recommended Resources To learn more and register for Believe! One Month to Believe, One Year to Achieve, please CLICK HERE    Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

Welcome to another engaging episode of the Leadership is Feminine podcast with your host, Kris Plachy. In today’s episode titled “Developing Leaders Through Energy Awareness and Emotional Intelligence,” Kris takes a deep dive into leadership from an esoteric perspective. Moving beyond the typical tactical approaches, she explores the significance of energy exchange in leadership development. Leadership is more than a series of tactics; it’s about the relationship you cultivate with yourself and others. Kris delves into how energy plays a pivotal role in these interactions, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and understanding energy exchanges between leaders and their teams. Whether you’re an empath or simply keen on enhancing your leadership skills, this episode sheds light on navigating the unspoken communication of energy to foster thriving work relationships. Tune in as Kris shares valuable insights and practical advice on how to harness this often overlooked dimension of leadership. Key Takeaways From This Episode Leadership as an Energetic Exchange – It’s not just about tactics; the energy you bring shapes team dynamics. The Unspoken Impact of Energy – We constantly exchange energy, influencing interactions beyond words and tone. Recognizing Awkward or Draining Energy – Some conversations flow effortlessly, while others feel off due to unseen dynamics. Empaths and Leadership – Empathic leaders sense energy deeply; understanding this helps them lead without self-doubt. You Don’t Have to Fix It – Awkward energy isn’t a problem to solve; focus on maintaining your leadership presence. Avoiding Blame and Misinterpretation – Instead of assigning blame, acknowledge the energy at play for a better approach. Optimizing Your Energy for Leadership – Schedule key conversations when your energy is strongest for better outcomes Contact Information and Recommended Resources To get all the details and register for Sage's Pathway, visit www.thevisionary.ceo/sagepathway. Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

In this episode of Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy challenges leaders to take a hard look at their role—not just as decision-makers, but as the driving force behind the alignment, clarity, and culture of their organizations. As the person at the helm, your leadership defines everything. Kris emphasizes that self-awareness isn’t optional—it’s the foundation of effective leadership. Leaders set the tone, and because so many people naturally defer to authority, it’s critical to understand the impact of your behavior, emotions, and decisions. Without that awareness, misalignment seeps in, leading to confusion, frustration, and blame. She also asks a powerful question: Do the people who work for you know what it means to be a leader according to you? If leadership expectations aren’t clear, how can you expect your team to operate in alignment? A lack of clarity in leadership inevitably shows up in employee performance. Too often, leaders blame their teams for underperformance when the real issue lies in inconsistent direction and expectations. This episode is a call to redefine leadership within your business. Kris invites you to get crystal clear on what leadership means—to you, to your managers, and to your entire organization. Because at the end of the day, everything comes back to leadership. And don’t forget—Sage’s Pathway training kicks off March 20th. For more information, visit www.thevisionary.ceo/sagepathway. Key Takeaways From This Episode The Leader’s Role in Setting the Tone: Why leadership isn’t just about being in charge, but about influencing and shaping the culture of your organization. Self-Awareness as the Foundation of Leadership: How understanding your own impact, emotions, and behaviors is essential for leading effectively. The Power of Clarity in Leadership: Why clearly defining leadership expectations is critical for team alignment and success. The Consequences of Misalignment: How a lack of leadership consistency shows up in employee performance and overall business outcomes. Leadership vs. Followership: Recognizing that many employees naturally defer to leaders, making self-awareness and accountability even more crucial. Blame vs. Accountability: Why unclear expectations often lead to blaming employees for underperformance instead of addressing leadership gaps. Defining Leadership for Your Team: The importance of explicitly communicating what leadership means in your business and ensuring your managers understand and embody it. Contact Information and Recommended Resources To get all the details and register for Sage's Pathway, visit www.thevisionary.ceo/sagepathway. Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

Have you ever felt like your business depends too much on you? Do you wonder how to step back without everything falling apart? In this episode of Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy unpacks the path from being the one in charge to developing leaders who can run the business without you. She introduces the three key questions that shape an entrepreneur’s journey: How do I do this? How are we going to do this? And finally, how are they going to do this? These questions reveal the natural progression from doing everything yourself to building a team and ultimately empowering others to take full ownership. Kris explores what it takes to move through these stages and why so many women get stuck in the transition. As she explains, “If you are still thinking like a doer, if you are still thinking like the chief operator of your business and not the CEO or executive leader… then you don’t ever get out of it, right? You stay stuck there.” She also announces The Sage’s Pathway, a live two-day event, designed for women who are ready to develop their team of managers into true leaders. This event is the next level of growth—helping you step away from the daily operations so you can experience not just more freedom, but the full impact of your years of investment in your business. To join the waitlist and learn more, click here. If you're ready to shift from being the one who does it all to leading a team that thrives without your constant involvement, this episode is for you. Key Takeaways From This Episode The Entrepreneur’s Journey: Moving from bootstrapping to developing leaders to lead in your place. Important Relationships that Need to Change for Leadership Growth The Role of Self-Awareness in Leadership Transition to the Next Level of Leadership: Overcoming resistance and fear The Need for Women's Leadership: The significance of women’s accomplishments in business, and the encouragement to keep going. Introduction to The Sage's Pathway Contact Information and Recommended Resources Get Access to the One Hour Leader To download the One Hour Leader digital book and take advantage of the special savings for the Lead Self-Study, go to www.thevisionary.ceo/onehourleader. Get On the Waitlist for The Sage’s Pathway Get your name on the Sage's Pathway Waitlist so you'll learn all the details when we open for registration, CLICK HERE Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

In today’s episode of Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy explores the profound responsibility that comes with leadership and the undeniable influence leaders have—whether they realize it or not. Leadership isn’t just about making choices; it’s about understanding the weight of those choices and the impact they have on the people who follow. Kris challenges both leaders and followers to reflect: When was the last time you revisited your values? Are you making decisions based on your own beliefs, or simply following someone else’s lead? She urges listeners to take a step back, dig into their core values, and ensure they’re aligned with the people and organizations they choose to follow. But leadership doesn’t exist without followership. Kris dives into the often-overlooked responsibility of followers, emphasizing that it’s just as crucial for them to understand their own values. “It is as incumbent upon followers to know what their values are, as it is for leaders,” she says. Too often, people look to leaders for direction without first identifying what truly matters to them. “If you assume a role of leadership, you have a tremendous amount of responsibility,” Kris reminds us. People naturally seek guidance, and as a leader, you set the course—whether for a team, a business, or a community. This episode is a call to step into leadership and followership with clarity, intention, and a strong foundation of personal values. Key Takeaways From This Episode Understanding the Responsibility That Comes with a Leadership Role: Discussion of how easy it is for people to be placed in leadership roles based on the followers around them. Leaders Can Influence and Shape People’s Actions and Decisions The Importance of Clear Values for Both Leaders and Followers: Self-awareness and clarity about one’s values. The Challenge of Different Interpretations of Shared Values Values in the Workplace: Understanding the values of your organization and your leaders. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Join the Waitlist for SAGE PATHWAY CLICK HERE to join the Sage Pathway waitlist to learn how to develop and lead your management team so the business thrives without relying solely on you. Get Access to HIRING & DEVELOPING LEADERS Want the free guide that answers your most asked questions about developing your next level management team? CLICK HERE to get it.   Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

In this episode of Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy explores the transformative power of in-person connection in business and leadership. Fresh from her retreat in Hawaii, Kris shares a fundamental truth that nothing replaces the value of in-person connection. While the business world leans heavily on virtual interactions and digital spaces, she challenges leaders to prioritize face-to-face gatherings—because the impact goes far beyond logistics or agendas. Kris emphasizes that in-person meetings don’t just strengthen relationships; they deepen commitment to the business’s mission and vision. She believes that when people have the chance to connect in real life, it changes them—it changes how they see their work, their team, and their purpose. Many talented and driven individuals are working in isolation, and that separation is limiting their ability to perform at their best. Human beings thrive on connection, and creating opportunities for in-person interaction is essential for unlocking true potential. Looking ahead, Kris introduces her new program, The Sage’s Pathway, designed to bring leaders together for immersive, in-person coaching. She acknowledges that making time for in-person connection requires effort, planning, and sacrifice, but she stands firm in her belief that the benefits far outweigh the challenges. At a time when loneliness is considered a public health crisis, Kris urges us to rethink how we build and maintain meaningful professional relationships. Are you ready to harness the magic of human connection in your leadership journey? Tune in to this episode of Leadership is Feminine and discover why in-person connection is an investment you can’t afford to overlook. “You cannot just hire people to get tasks done. You are hiring and engaging and inviting people's hearts, people's minds, people's energy, and people's hands to a vision.” Key Takeaways From This Episode The Impact of Human Connection in Leadership: The irreplaceable value of in-person compared to remote connection. The Importance of Bringing People Together: Building a thriving team culture through time spent face to face. Realization of the Need for More In-person Interactions: In-person interaction alters the connection among team members and adds value to their work. Challenging the Digital Dominance in Work Culture: Addressing some potential objections to shifting to in-person modes from digital ones Evaluating the Need to Reset Expectations and Attract Committed Employees Contact Information and Recommended Resources Join the Waitlist for SAGE PATHWAY CLICK HERE to join the Sage Pathway waitlist to learn how to develop and lead your management team so the business thrives without relying solely on you. Get Access to HIRING & DEVELOPING LEADERS Want the free guide that answers your most asked questions about developing your next level management team? CLICK HERE to get it.   Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest