We were lucky to catch up with Melisa Grey recently and have shared our conversation below.

Melisa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Along with taking care of clients, taking care of our team is one of the most important things we can do as leaders. Looking back on your journey, did you have a boss that was really great? Maybe you can tell us about that boss and what made them a wonderful person to work for?

I remember like it was Yesterday, every time I have to share about my best boss. I remember always looking forward to our 1:1 sessions as this was a time she would pour into me. She didn’t only talk about KPIs but want me to save, balance my family life and dream big. She also held me accountable too…lol. She changed my life the day she shared the book “The Secret ” by Rhonda Byrne with me. This book changed my mindset and have me start the journey of speaking more positively and also passing this same mindset to those I lead. To this day, my team looks to me for support with not only professional but personal issues as well. I am able to have genuine conversations that shows I care about them as a person and this was birthed by the relationship I had with my boss. I get goosebumps even now, more so an overall sense of gratitude. My Leadership today was impacted by my boss. I have grown so much but that was the root and today my team is benefitting from the fruits.

Melisa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I believe I am a driven person who doesn’t want to not find and live in her purpose. I remember when I decided to show up online, I had no clue what I was doing. I would pay for different courses and never finished because I got distracted comparing myself to someone who was in a different chapter of their journey. I thought I was an imposter and even though I had over a decade of successful coaching experience offline, I still felt like an imposter. I never gave up, i kept showing up even when I deep down felt as though I was failing but I believed I could help someone and if I give up now then I won’t do what I was born to do; and that’s helping others through coaching. While I am far from where I want to be,I am able to use my almost 2 decades of leadership experience to help clients on and offline. Today I am happy to be able to help mid-level managers who are leading teams. I am so passionate about this level because leading people is challenging and so many leaders struggle to find or ask for the help they need to succeed. When clients share how I have helped them strengthen their leadership mindset thats success for me. Even leaders with Senior before their title are mid-level managers. I serve these leaders too because I am able to help them navigate managing up,down and across. This is what my clients appreciate, they get to see themselves as more than a title and as a person. They get to develop strategies from a people oriented perspective, not sacrificing themselves but still getting results.
I believe I am able to stand out because I have literally lived the life of my clients but also I work with them to evolve, as best practices are not the only practice.

Leaders struggling with what I call FEO syndrome, that’s the Frustration, Exhaustion and Overwhelm of leading from the middle are who I serve. I am super proud when my leaders shift their leadership mindset or develop one. This is key as this is where the real work starts. Its not easy, requires alot but delivers so much benefit once they get this breakthrough.

Building online as a Leadership Coach is challenging but I know that my ideal clients are looking for me. Leaders struggle to ask for help and so many are not sure what help they need, they just know they are struggling now leading their team to deliver in different areas. I remember being there and thats why I keep showing up.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

There is a popular saying that states “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care”. This is so true. To effectively manage a team, show people you genuinely care and this is more than words but its through your actions and words. Be intentional with your team meetings and 1:1 sessions. These sessions need to have a “people” element. This is how you build trust ,engagement and keep morale high.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Yes, reading has transformed my life. The first book is the Secret, Leading from the middle by Scott Mautz, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, Mindset by Carol Dweck and The Magic of thinking Big by David Schwartz are a few of the books that has impacted me.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://linktr.ee/MelisaGrey
• Instagram: Coachmelisagrey