Blog | Kelli Thompson - Women's Leadership Coach & Speaker

Ted Talk Reflections Part 2: Deliver A Compelling Message

Dec 166 min read

Ted Talk Reflections Part 2: Deliver A Compelling Message

As it became clear that my Tedx Talk would be about what I call the “pedestal problem," I had to figure out how to tell the compelling story

Ted Talk Reflections Part 1: Finding Your Big Idea

Kelli Thompson

Dec 97 min read

Ted Talk Reflections Part 1: Finding Your Big Idea

Why do we we put others on a pedestal and assume they are smarter than us, and therefore, we silence our ideas?

How to make hard feedback easier to give

Kelli Thompson

Aug 134 min read

How to make hard feedback easier to give

Early in my career as a leader, I knew in my head that I would have to learn to give critical feedback, but my heart just couldn't take...

Kelli Thompson

Aug 63 min read

How to Break the Overwhelm Cycle

As we approach back-to-school time, I always feel like this is the season of overwhelm for me and my clients, even if they don't have...

3 Ways Leaders Can Improve Coaching Skills

Kelli Thompson

Jul 304 min read

3 Ways Leaders Can Improve Coaching Skills

A client recently began her session with me saying that she wanted to talk about onboarding her newly hired employee. This new employee...

Kelli Thompson

Jul 223 min read

How do you know when it's time to quit?

Full transparency, this topic wasn't on plan for my newsletter today. However, given the news on the political sphere that erupted over...

What are you willing to be criticized for?

Kelli Thompson

Jul 153 min read

What are you willing to be criticized for?

One of my clients recently had to make a hard employee hiring decision. She was faced with managing the politics of interviewing a...

Kelli Thompson

Jul 83 min read

How to be a leader who changes policy

Learn how to be a leader who changes policy.

Kelli Thompson

Jul 12 min read

My favorite mid-year planning & goal setting activity

We are officially halfway through the year! It's the time of year where most people begin to panic that they only have six months left to...

Rest v Recovery: Why it matters for you as a leader

Kelli Thompson

Jun 233 min read

Rest v Recovery: Why it matters for you as a leader

One of my clients had recently come off a streak of intense work projects - ones that consumed her mind, heart and energy for far too...

Kelli Thompson

Jun 103 min read

Are you talking? Or truly contributing?

Okay be honest, how comfortable are you with silence? That uncomfortable, awkward silence that just hangs in the room (live or virtual)...

Counterintuitive approach to lead change & results

Kelli Thompson

Jun 33 min read

Counterintuitive approach to lead change & results

How do you hardwire new behaviors into your team to support a thriving culture? That was the question we worked to answer in an afternoon...

Kelli Thompson

May 273 min read

5 money conversations every woman needs to have

Don't talk about your salary. I'm not sure where the origins of the don't talk about your salary rule started, but it has fostered a...

What 3 female CEOs say is key to success

Kelli Thompson

May 203 min read

What 3 female CEOs say is key to success

Last week I had the opportunity to moderate a panel of powerhouse CEOs in my hometown (Omaha, NE). In preparation for this panel, I met...

Kelli Thompson

May 143 min read

Real Talk About "Imposter Syndrome"

I was recently interviewed for Chief Executive Magazine, and thought the editor, Emily DeNitto, did a wonderful write up. So, I wanted to...

Gender norms hurt men, too (why this matters for women)

Kelli Thompson

Apr 293 min read

Gender norms hurt men, too (why this matters for women)

While I am a women's leadership and executive coach on a mission to help women advance to the rooms where decisions are made, in specific...

Closing the leadership development gap for women

Kelli Thompson

Apr 223 min read

Closing the leadership development gap for women

When I left corporate for entrepreneurship, my father in law asked me, So what do you do? In the simplest terms, I explained to him that...

Kelli Thompson

Apr 153 min read

What is the Enneagram and Why Care?

This week, the women in my Clarity & Confidence Women's Leadership program are diving deep into their Enneagram types and it's always so...

Get out of your head with this simple tip

Kelli Thompson

Apr 83 min read

Get out of your head with this simple tip

A quick note:) I am geeking out today because I am a guest on my favorite podcast, Hello Monday. Hello Monday is (in my opinion) the...

How simplifying can make you a more impactful leader

Kelli Thompson

Mar 183 min read

How simplifying can make you a more impactful leader

This Women's History Month, I am committed to sharing stories of women leaders who don't “fit the mold” in their industries, but because...

How To Find Your Unique Leadership Talents

Kelli Thompson

Mar 113 min read

How To Find Your Unique Leadership Talents

How can you find that unique leadership skill is that only YOU can offer your team and your organization? Ask yourself these questions.

10 Questions To Build Your Leadership Legacy

Kelli Thompson

Mar 54 min read

10 Questions To Build Your Leadership Legacy

All of us have the power to break a barrier and create a legacy with our leadership. You don't have to “fit the mold” to break a barrier.

Kelli Thompson

Feb 263 min read

Five Leadership Lessons In Five Years

I never set out to be an entrepreneur. In fact, I frequently remember telling people when I worked in my banking and healthcare tech...

Why Your "Flaws" Are Your Best Leadership Gifts

Kelli Thompson

Feb 203 min read

Why Your "Flaws" Are Your Best Leadership Gifts

What if all the qualities you’ve been scared to demonstrate are exactly what you need to be successful? Try this reframe.

Kelli Thompson

Feb 123 min read

Rust Out Boredom is Burn Out

A client told me recently that she couldn't figure out why she was starting to feel exhausted and restless at work. In her mind, she...

5 Types of Support Networks for Women Leaders

Kelli Thompson

Jan 293 min read

5 Types of Support Networks for Women Leaders

In the months leading up to my book launch, I experienced some of the worst imposter feelings I've ever felt in my life. I couldn't stop...

Kelli Thompson

Jan 224 min read

How to Define Your Leadership Style

A few weeks ago I was working on a business communication idea and I shared it in an online community I belong to comprised of fellow...

My Most Popular Confidence Coaching Tool

Kelli Thompson

Jan 154 min read

My Most Popular Confidence Coaching Tool

I recently met with a client who received a well-earned promotion. She was a couple of months into a new, more strategic role and she'd...

Kelli Thompson

Jan 83 min read

New Year, New... Quits!

Happy New Year! I hope you and your family enjoyed the holidays. Our holidays were celebrated a bit late as we just held our family...

My Favorite Things (+ a year-end reflection tool)

Kelli Thompson

Dec 18, 20234 min read

My Favorite Things (+ a year-end reflection tool)

This is my final newsletter of 2023 before I go into reflection and planning mode for the remainder of the year. Well, that along with...

Kelli Thompson

Dec 11, 20233 min read

How to Handle Discomfort as a Leader

Earlier this year, I spent the day with a group of women leaders in an all-day workshop. We talked about many leadership topics: Shifting...

Kelli Thompson

Dec 4, 20233 min read

Are You Selling Yourself Short?

Is it performance review time in your company right now? If not, I bet it will be coming up soon for you in the next few months....

Kelli Thompson

Jul 24, 20233 min read

How to Find Your Genius Zone

In honor of the women's World Cup soccer tournament, I'm sharing a shortened book excerpt this week about Jill Ellis, the former U.S....

Kelli Thompson

Jul 13, 20233 min read

How To Advance From Doer to Leader

When we promote people from doer to leader, we assume a magic transformation will happen in their comfort and skill to coach others.

Kelli Thompson

Jun 30, 20233 min read

How To Stop Procrastinating

When I first launched my coaching business, I planned out all of my projected revenue and expenses, but I missed a big one. It's one that...

Making A Clear Impact Through Subtraction, Not Addition

Kelli Thompson

Jun 28, 20232 min read

Making A Clear Impact Through Subtraction, Not Addition

The key to making an impact with your project or message is through subtraction, not addition.

Kelli Thompson

Jun 27, 20233 min read

Could Doubt Be a GOOD Thing?

Even successful leaders feel doubt. They take actions aligned to their values while also feeling doubt. Courage & doubt can coexist.

The Best Leadership Advice I've Received

Kelli Thompson

Jun 23, 20233 min read

The Best Leadership Advice I've Received

When we're in conflict, it's tempting to think it's us vs. them. But every person values being seen, heard and communicated with.

Rest V Recovery: Why knowing the difference prevents burnout

Kelli Thompson

Jun 5, 20233 min read

Rest V Recovery: Why knowing the difference prevents burnout

As a former corporate leader and a leadership coach, I see major health consequences from leaders who refuse to give themselves a break

Kelli Thompson

May 15, 20233 min read

How To Decide With Confidence

2016 was a year of hard choices for me. Within a period of four months, I called off a wedding and quit a job I loved to take an even...

Advancing women in the workplace: 3 tools to boost your peace, potential & paycheck

Kelli Thompson

Mar 17, 20233 min read

Advancing women in the workplace: 3 tools to boost your peace, potential & paycheck

March 8 is International Women's Day and the entire month of March is reserved to honor Women's History Month. There is good news - more...

3 Questions To Help You Level Up At Work

Kelli Thompson

Feb 21, 20232 min read

3 Questions To Help You Level Up At Work

You cannot be a $500 million dollar leader with $200 million dollar habits. If you want to level up at work, you create the new results you

Kelli Thompson

Feb 14, 20232 min read

5 Tips For Managing Up At Work

A key mindset shift we all must learn as we advance in our career is this: You won't always have the leader you want, but many times you're

Leading Through Uncomfortable Situations

Kelli Thompson

Feb 14, 20233 min read

Leading Through Uncomfortable Situations

In times of discomfort, it's tempting to use short-term strategies like taking over a task, shying away from the risk, staying silent or pro

Kelli Thompson

Feb 14, 20233 min read

Why "Rust Out" leads To Burnout

Something to consider is this: Burnout isn't always caused by overwork, there is a type of burnout called “rust out" - and it's caused by us

Kelli Thompson

Feb 14, 20233 min read

Are You Leading As a Hero or a Coach?

Several years ago when I was still in the corporate ranks, I told my leader that I wanted more practice in developing my executive...

How To Advocate For Yourself (in a way you won't regret)

Kelli Thompson

Oct 20, 20222 min read

How To Advocate For Yourself (in a way you won't regret)

I had an impromptu call with a client because she felt stuck. A few weeks prior, she learned that her peer would be leaving. Instead of...

Why Saying No Builds Confidence (and how to do it)

Kelli Thompson

Oct 13, 20222 min read

Why Saying No Builds Confidence (and how to do it)

This week I was talking with a friend about an opportunity that was presented to her. While on paper the opportunity looked good in terms...

Kelli Thompson

Sep 22, 20223 min read

Make The Shift from Doer to Leader

As leaders, we have to make the shift from doer and fixer to leader and coach. We can’t have it both ways. We can choose be the one who does

Leading With Confidence: Lessons From Indra Nooyi and Padmasree Warrior

Kelli Thompson

Sep 15, 20222 min read

Leading With Confidence: Lessons From Indra Nooyi and Padmasree Warrior

In honor of Women's Equality Day, I had the privilege of a lifetime to moderate a conversation with Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of Pepsi,...

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