Episode 134

Hello Reader,

Who sent the elevator down for you?

Somewhere along the way, someone held the door open for you: a charge nurse, a mentor, an attending physician, a practice manager who walked you through how to make sure the books made sense. They didn’t have to spend the extra time, and sometimes it wasn’t even during their shift. They chose to. This week on the podcast I spoke with Dr. Deepak Bhootra, an ICF-credentialed coach who has led sales teams on four continents for 30 years, about why that choice matters.

1. It starts with remembering what it felt like. When you see someone rushing for an elevator, you put your hand out, because it has happened to you. Early in Deepak’s career, his boss Christo spent so much time building him up, bit by bit, without breaking him down first. When Deepak asked why, Christo gave three reasons: you’re worth it, I see you doing bigger things in this organization, and I see myself in you. From his corner office on the 50th floor, he wanted to go back to the elevator and press the down button for the next person.
2. It holds in the hardest conversations. Many leaders do have to let people go. Seventeen years after Deepak fired someone, that person wrote to thank him. Deepak had let him go with dignity, told him why, and given him three things to fix. He fixed them, and he had just been promoted to director.
3. Coaching gives you the cuts that AI skips. Deepak compares feedback between doctors to a cut. You don’t like it in the moment, but after ten years you have a workman’s hand that can hold on tight. A chatbot is going to agree with you on everything. A good coach listens and asks, “I hear what you’re saying, but have you considered this?” That question is how judgment gets built. It starts with self-compassion: show yourself the same grace you would show a friend who is down.

With more speed, more tech and a lot less loyalty, our younger colleagues have a harder world to navigate. Each of us can be the advisor, sponsor, mentor or coach they need at the right moment. Who held the door for you, and who are you holding it for now? Hit reply and tell me.

You can find Deepak on LinkedIn and his new company, Rise Up at Work, at riseupatwork.com.

Who Sent the Elevator Down for You? with Dr. Deepak Bhootra

🎧 Listen to the podcast sneak peek episode below and listen to the full episode on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, Podbean, or Amazon Music.

Stay mindful and keep leading,
Lillian
Founder & CEO

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