113 - Powerful Female Leadership with Kim Skouras

Today’s episode is all about an important topic that we haven’t talked about enough yet on She Sells Radio. That is female leadership. The fact of the matter is that no matter who you are, leadership can be challenging. And it can take many different forms. Maybe you are being called to a leadership role. Maybe you’ve recently been promoted to leadership and just aren’t feeling confident. Or maybe you own your own business and although it might be a small team, you are still not sure how to lead yourself and others. And let’s not forget that leading a household is also a true leadership role. When I thought about this topic, I knew I needed Kim Skouras on the show. Kim Skouras is the Chief Operations Officer at The Impact Partnership located in Kennesaw, GA. Over the last 25 years, Kim has spent her career focusing on leading people and the building process. She spent 15 years working in the banking industry and in 2011, joined the Impact Partnership to build out the operations of what is today, a top financial marketing organization. Impact helps independent financial advisors become household names in their communities through strategic marketing and innovative products. Kim truly believes that the success of every organization includes a positive and talented team directed by sound process. She serves as a business coach to top financial advisors across the country. She builds plans and works alongside them to successfully scale their business and take their team, process and most importantly, profitability, to the next level. In what has turned out to be one of my all-time favorite interviews, Kim shares her journey and all the ups and downs she has faced. She opens up honestly and with such appreciated candor and her unique perspective is certainly one that needs to be emulated: that leaders are learners. Show Notes: [3:43] - Kim shares the beginning of her journey into leadership and how she found herself in her current position. [5:05] - Before digging into leadership development, Kim explains what her job entails. [6:15] - Show up curious. Leaders come alongside people and lift them up. [7:12] - Elyse comments on this new perspective of leadership that Kim presents. [9:03] - The mindset of furthering relationships with team members will make all types of conversations more comfortable. [9:34] - Women have a sixth gear: intuition. This is what sets a female leader apart. [11:18] - Elyse admits her current challenge in a leadership role and Kim agrees that avoiding hard conversations is certainly a struggle. [13:46] - When we give someone a “soft place to land,” we take away the discomfort that may actually cause change. [15:32] - Kim walks through her approach to starting difficult conversations to remain understanding and relatable. [17:11] - When your values and beliefs are out of alignment with a team member’s, it is important to follow your intuition and make changes. [18:44] - Kim shares the lessons she has learned as a woman in a male dominated industry. [20:40] - Kim recommends a powerful book called How Women Rise. [21:43] - Kim notices that her male counterparts never apologize for taking up space. [23:41] - Elyse appreciates Kim’s candor and different perspective on women in leadership. [25:43] - Kim went through cancer and shares the biggest lesson she learned through that journey: do not procrastinate. [28:50] - Every one of us has something in our hand. That is your gift to turn around and give back. [30:25] - Kim and Elyse compare leadership to giving. [31:53] - Personal change and leading yourself all starts with gratitude. [34:02] - Part of growth is surrender. [34:54] - Leaders are learners. You have to continue to grow and find mentors and coaches. There’s no end point to your learning. Connect with Kim Skouras: LinkedIn | Instagram Links and Resources: Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube She Sells with Elyse Archer Home Page