Welcome to the Arete Coach Podcast hosted by Severin Sorensen with an episode titled "Leading with Kindness: On Executive Coaching and Cultural Intelligence." In this episode, Severin engages with Dr. Krista Crawford, a distinguished Vistage Chair, speaker, consultant, professor, and leadership strategist. Krista holds a PhD in Organizational Management and is a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). With over 30 years of experience spanning human resources, organizational development, and executive leadership, she has significantly impacted leaders across corporate and nonprofit sectors. This episode was recorded on March 26th, 2025, via Zoom.

Krista's journey into executive coaching and Vistage Chairing is as unique as it is inspiring. After decades in HR, where she led organizations with up to 8,000 employees, Krista transitioned into leadership coaching serendipitously during the COVID-19 pandemic. A neighbor introduced her to Vistage, leading to her eventual certification and the establishment of multiple peer advisory groups.

Her career is deeply rooted in observing and addressing the human dynamics within organizations. Krista identified early the gaps in leadership development, particularly how some employees flourish while others feel disconnected. Her doctoral research focused on "social monitoring" and "cultural intelligence," exploring how individuals adapt and integrate into diverse cultural settings. Conducted in Belize with service-learning students, her research revealed that active engagement with local cultures significantly enhances cultural intelligence.

Beyond her coaching, Krista serves as an adjunct professor at Virginia Tech and Champlain College, teaching leadership, ethics, and organizational development. She brings a rich blend of academic rigor and practical experience, leveraging her HR expertise, research acumen, and passion for continuous learning to guide executives and emerging leaders.

Key Insights

1. The Art of Listening and Pausing

Krista emphasizes the importance of listening to hear rather than listening to respond. In coaching, silence is a powerful tool, allowing clients to reflect deeply. She practices intentional breathing to create space for reflection and meaningful dialogue.

2. The Power of Vulnerability and Group Dynamics

She highlights how vulnerability within peer groups fosters deeper trust and growth. Krista shared a pivotal moment when a group conflict tested cohesion; addressing it transparently strengthened the group's unity and resilience.

3. Job Crafting for Engagement

Krista advocates for job crafting, encouraging leaders to engage employees in designing roles that align with their strengths and passions, thus enhancing satisfaction and retention.

4. Measuring Success Through Joy

Joy serves as Krista's personal metric for professional fulfillment. She believes that work should bring joy and that leaders should reassess their roles when joy diminishes.

5. Use of Psychometrics and AI in Coaching

Krista integrates tools like Wiley DiSC and various psychometric assessments to deepen understanding of team dynamics. She also creatively employs AI for ideation, content creation, and meeting preparation, demonstrating adaptability to emerging technologies.

6. Kindness and Continuous Learning as Guiding Values

Krista's mantras of "kindness is underrated" and lifelong learning reflect her approach to leadership and coaching. She stresses the importance of being both kind and courageous in providing candid, constructive feedback.

The Arete Coach Podcast explores the art and science of executive coaching. You can find more about this podcast at aretecoach.io.

This episode was recorded on March 26, 2025

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