In this first ever episode of Empowered Leadership, host Alexandra Reese is joined by Mike Reese, Retired Sheriff of Multnomah County, to discuss how leaders can inspire a shared vision and lead a thriving organization during times of crisis. Join them as they consider: - The key attributes of exceptional leadership - How leaders can inspire a shared vision in a large, diverse organization - How to strengthen communicate and a culture of feedback in large organizations - What it takes to create safety, trust, and belonging during times of crisis - How the pandemic continues to impact mental health and performance—and what leaders must do in response - The power of purpose in building credibility as a leader - How to set-up systems that drive your focus to the right things at the right times - How to handle the loneliness and isolation of being at the top - Why great leaders are students of history Mike recently retired from a 33-year career in law enforcement. Most recently, he was the Sheriff of Multnomah County. Prior to that, he was Chief of Police in the City of Portland. And he also happens to be Alexandra’s dad. Episode Highlights: [02:11 - 03:00] A Sheriff’s Definition of Exceptional Leadership – Mike defines exceptional leadership as creating a shared vision that inspires people to follow you; setting measurable outcomes that define success; and personally and professionally committing to the organization and the people in it. With respect to your commitment, you have a responsibility to develop and mentor the next generation of leaders. [04:05 - 10:27] To Communicate Effectively, Be Present – Effective communication is the most important part of great leadership. And it’s also the hardest in complex organizations like the Sheriff’s Department, which have employees working in many different configurations (remote, in offices, in institutional settings, on patrol). The key to being an effective communicator is being present. You need to go to where your people are. Use all the channels you have available. And if you have on-site teams, you need to be present in person with them. This is how you build trust and show that you’re in it together. [14:39 - 21:12] The Importance of Safety, Trust and Belonging at Work - The sense of uncertainty we all experienced has damaged our psyche. We now have many people working for us who may have PTSD. And others have opted out of the workforce entirely. As we bring people back, we need to focus on safety, trust, and belonging. It starts with acknowledging that trauma exists and providing meaningful support to work through it. It also involves celebrating people for who they are as individuals both in and out of work. [21:00 - 24:30] You Need to Care About What You Do – In order to be a credible, outstanding leader, you need to actually care about what you do. If your heart isn’t in it, if you’re not interested in the work, then how can you expect yourself to lead with heart, commitment, and enthusiasm? It would drastically affect not only your work, but their ability to work as well. [24:56 - 26:16] How to Build Your Leadership Support Network – It can be lonely and isolating at the top. You need a community to help you gain perspective, navigate challenges, and grow. That community should include mentors who’ve walked in your shoes, peers who are navigating similar situations, and advisors and coaches to empower your growth.

In this episode of Empowered Leadership, host Alexandra Reese is joined by Tracy Hooper, Founder of The Confidence Project, to discuss the power of authentic, confident leadership. Join them as they discuss: - The power of carrying yourself with confidence - How introverts can demonstrate confidence, especially in large group settings - Body language for confidence and approachability - Tips and tricks for building personal connection in a virtual environment quickly - The power of breath, and how you can transform a room just by changing your breathing - Words to lose and words to use - Science-backed tools to mitigate stress in the moment, so you can remain calm and confident even in the most stressful situations Tracy is the Founder of The Confidence Project, an organization that works with leaders to practice skills and feel confident in any situation. She is also the Best-Selling Author of “The NOW Hello, What to Say, What to Do in the World of Work”. She has also been described as a “wonderful and skilled presenter” by people she’s worked with! Episode Highlights: [03:46 - 04:58] The Five Magic Words to Spark Conversation - Many of the best leaders are introverts. If you’re an introvert who struggles to show-up in public spaces with authentic confidence, here’s the key: remember that everyone’s favorite subject is themselves. So the best way to spark conversation with confidence and ease is to ask open-ended questions that start with, “what,” “how,” and “tell me more.” For example: What brought you here? How did you learn about that? Tell me more about your experience. [9:55 - 15:20] How to Build Authentic Connections in a Virtual Environment - Although many leaders and teams have been working virtually since 2020, many still struggle to build and maintain deep connections in a virtual environment. Tracy and Alexandra discuss delve into four key strategies to doing so: look into the camera when you speak, watch for changes in non-verbal communication when you listen (these are yellow flags!), demonstrate active listening (no multi-tasking!), and prioritize one-on-one connection and availability. [17:44 - 21:12] The Power of Breath – Breathing is a surprisingly powerful leadership tool. The way you breathe affects everyone else’s breathing in the room. Not only can you calm yourself by adopting specific breathing techniques, but you can also calm those you’re with. [27:19 - 30:35] How Hedge Language Diminishes Your Power – Hedges are words that we use to sound humble or modest, like “just” or “pretty.” For example: “I’m just wondering,” or “I’m pretty strategic.” We often use them to avoid coming on too strong or to appear demanding. But they diminish the power of our message and the impact of our communication. Instead, practice the power of pause. Where you would insert a hedge, insert a pause.

Welcome to Empowered Leadership with Alexandra Reese. Join me as I meet icons in the world of thought leadership, who understand the importance of shaping your impact to take things to the next level for you and your organization with confidence, ease, and joy. We will follow high-performance journeys with in-depth experiences on how to accomplish success and propel forward. It’s your future. Let us help you carve a legacy of which you can be proud.