More & Forever Interview Series — Episode 4

latonya wilkins

For Episode 4, we are joined by LaTonya Wilkins, CEO and Founder of The Change Coaches and author of Leading Below the Surface. LaTonya shares her experience and insight about what it means and what it takes to become a below the surface leader. Trish met LaTonya two years ago at a professional event and has been a fan ever since. As soon as Trish read Leading Below the Surface, she saw the immediate connection to More and Forever and is honored to have LaTonya on our show.

 

THEMES

  • Psychological safety is an essential component of leadership and culture. 

  • Empathy, and belonging are important for below the surface leaders, but they are just as important to building client relationships. 

  • Connecting with people who are different from you and having openness and curiosity toward them will help move change forward. 

KEY MOMENTS

[5:18] LaTonya shares part of her Grandma Ruthie’s story and the lessons she learned from her 

[8:46] The beginning of LaTonya’s leadership journey: “How do some people build real relationships with people who are different from them and others really struggle with it?” 

[11:28] Navigating loss through life 

[13:30] “For all of you that are going through loss, I hear you, I see you. I think we’re misunderstood a lot. All of us are going to go through it”

[14:36] What does it mean to be a “below the surface leader”?

[15:15] The loss of LaTonya’s sister clarified some things for her about leadership and her workplace 

[17:10] What is surface leadership? 

[19:09] What does it mean to be a below the surface leader? 

[20:34] What does it feel like to be in a below the surface environment?

[23:29] How to get below the surface with your clients? 

[24:30] The number 1 way to sell 

[26:00] Ways to create psychologically safe spaces 

[29:54] What is a KPE--maybe Trish’s favorite acronym now! 

[39:00] How you go about bringing different KPEs to your own leadership

[40:40] As a leader and entrepreneur, what do you do to create a healthy life?

BOOKS, LINKS, + RESOURCES