Empathy Is the Strategy: Leadership That Actually Works With Lisa Foster

The Social Impact Solutions Podcast

• 55 min

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🔗 Connect with Lisa Foster ✅ Take the EQ Quiz and explore leadership resources: lisadfostercoach.com ✅ Read Lisa’s latest articles: • LinkedIn Articles • Forbes Contributor Page (https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbescoachescouncil/people/lisadfoster/) ✅ Want help with culture, silos, or team leadership? Reach out to Lisa directly for a conversation—no pressure, just support. (https://lisadfostercoach.com/) What happens when a mission-driven entrepreneur scales a company to hundreds of employees—and then dedicates her life to helping others do the same? In this episode, we sit down with Lisa Foster, a seasoned social entrepreneur turned leadership coach, who shares her powerful journey from building a global business to empowering purpose-driven teams through emotional intelligence and culture-first leadership. We dive into the unique leadership challenges in the nonprofit space, why mission-blindness can derail even the most passionate teams, and how one-on-one meetings (done right) can transform your organization. Lisa breaks down practical, research-backed strategies for building cohesive, high-performing teams—without burning yourself out or micromanaging. Whether you're a nonprofit leader, social entrepreneur, or people-first CEO, this conversation is packed with actionable insights to help you build a culture worth bragging about. Takeaways - Lisa Foster started her journey as a high school English teacher before becoming a social entrepreneur. - Emotional intelligence is crucial for successful leadership and organizational growth. - Nonprofits often prioritize mission over the well-being of their team members, leading to burnout. - One-on-one meetings are essential for building trust and understanding within teams. - Effective management training should focus on listening and empowering employees to solve their own problems. - Creating a positive team culture can significantly enhance productivity and morale. - Leaders should be aware of their organizational culture and how it impacts employee performance. - Regular feedback and open communication are key to maintaining a healthy work environment. - Empathy and ethics in leadership can lead to better outcomes for organizations. - Continuous learning and adaptation are vital for personal and organizational success. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Lisa Foster's Journey 02:01 The Birth of a Social Enterprise 05:10 The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership 08:03 Common Pitfalls in Nonprofit Leadership 10:53 Individualized Coaching for Nonprofit Leaders 14:06 The Difference Between Coaching and Counseling 17:12 Building Collaborative Teams 19:56 Defining Purpose and Values in Organizations 23:33 Navigating Political Disruption with Core Values 27:13 Breaking Down Silos for Team Empowerment 28:12 The Importance of Organizational Culture 31:31 Mastering One-on-One Meetings 38:14 Empowering Teams Through Problem Solving 45:03 Building a Culture of Trust and Growth 51:38 sportsRecreation-transition-high.wav Keywords social entrepreneurship, leadership development, emotional intelligence, nonprofit management, team culture, coaching, mission-driven organizations, effective communication, problem-solving, organizational growth