We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Phil Chun a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Phil, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a time you helped a customer really get an amazing result through their work with you.
Recently, I partnered with a newly promoted Director – let’s call her Sarah – to help her navigate the challenges of leadership and drive meaningful results for her organization. Sarah reached out to me shortly after her promotion, struggling with imposter syndrome and the weight of her new responsibilities. Over six months, we embarked on a transformative journey, meeting bi-weekly for focused, one-hour sessions. My approach was both empathetic to Sarah’s struggles and practical in its application, ensuring that each meeting resulted in actionable steps for her growth. Sarah and I focused on three key areas: Strategic Focus: We clarified Sarah’s priorities, aligning her daily and weekly activities with the company’s overarching goals. This helped her cut through the noise and concentrate on high-impact tasks. Leadership Identity: We explored Sarah’s natural leadership style, identifying growth areas and developing strategies to enhance her effectiveness. A crucial aspect was helping Sarah communicate with both confidence and empathy – a balance many new leaders struggle to achieve. Time Management: We tackled the perennial challenge of time management, helping Sarah find the sweet spot between being a present, engaged leader and avoiding the pitfalls of micromanagement or absenteeism. The results were transformative. Sarah not only felt more empowered and confident in her role, but she also received positive feedback from her team about her leadership. More importantly, she fostered a culture of trust and productivity, getting her team to work more effectively together. What set our collaboration apart was its practical nature. Each session concluded with tangible, manageable steps Sarah could immediately implement. This approach was particularly effective in addressing her key challenges: imposter syndrome, lack of clarity from upper management, and the perpetual time crunch many leaders face. By the end of our engagement, Sarah had not just adapted to her new role – she was thriving in it. She had developed the tools and confidence to continue growing as a leader, tackling new challenges with resilience and clarity. This success story illustrates the profound impact that targeted, empathetic, and practical leadership coaching can have. It’s not just about individual growth; it’s about creating leaders who can drive their teams and organizations toward greater success.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
As a Leadership Consultant, I often encounter leaders who feel they’ve been thrust into a challenging situation without proper preparation. This reminds me of skydiving without training—you know theoretically what you’re supposed to do, but it feels chaotic and out of control. This is especially true for those new to leadership roles. My journey into leadership development stemmed from my own experiences as a manager. I’ve been there – made mistakes, had to make tough decisions, and even embarrassed myself during team presentations. These experiences shaped my approach to coaching and training. Leadership is so hard. I understand these challenges. I’ve been in my clients’ shoes, and I’m here to support their growth as leaders. My approach is grounded in empathy and practicality, always focusing on what will truly help them in their day-to-day roles. Today, I work with leaders at various levels, providing one-on-one coaching and team-building workshops. My focus is on practical, actionable strategies that leaders can implement immediately. I believe in the power of hands-on experience, which is why every consultant on my team has a background in management or leadership. I’m driven by a desire to make a real difference. I’ve sat through too many consulting sessions that were unfocused and unhelpful. I’m committed to ensuring that the time I spend with clients is valuable to them and is directly applicable to their needs. My best marks for success are when I see the tangible results of our work together. Whether it’s a new director finding their confidence or a team learning to collaborate more effectively, these outcomes remind me why I do this work. Leadership can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. My goal is to help you navigate these challenges with increased competence that leads to confidence, turning the chaos of leadership into an opportunity for growth and success.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
Growing my clientele has been an organic process rooted in curiosity and a genuine goal of connecting on a human level with my ideal fit client. This approach has taught me that growing a clientele isn’t just about selling services; it’s about building relationships and becoming a part of a community. It’s a slower process than aggressive marketing tactics may be, but it leads to more genuine connections and, ultimately, more satisfying professional relationships. I start with truly immersing myself in the world of my potential clients, asking some simple yet crucial questions: Who are my ideal clients? Where do they spend their time? What are their interests and habits? Where do they spend their off-hours? Once I had a clear picture, I made a conscious effort to be present in their spaces – attending events they might frequent, joining organizations they’re part of, and participating in activities they enjoy. When I meet people in these spaces, I approach conversations with genuine curiosity. I’m not there to pitch my services; I’m there to learn about them! What drives them? What challenges do they face in their roles? These conversations often reveal insights that not only help me understand their needs better but also allow me to refine my services. If the conversation naturally leads to it, I’ll share about my work and explore if there might be an opportunity to work together. But that’s not the primary goal. The benefit of this approach is that even when these interactions don’t lead directly to new clients, they often result in meaningful connections. It isn’t transactional. Many of the people I’ve met through this process have become friends and valuable colleagues.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
While there are a lot of resources and tools that have strongly influenced my work, I’ve found that the most impactful resource isn’t a book, video, or essay – it’s the community of fellow entrepreneurs I’ve connected with over the years. Entrepreneurship can be an incredibly lonely path. The challenges we face are unique and often difficult to explain to those who haven’t experienced them firsthand. So for me, finding a group of like-minded individuals to share experiences with has been transformative. These communities provide a safe space where we can be vulnerable about our struggles, get some kind learning, and celebrate our successes. We’re not just putting on a facade of the ‘successful entrepreneur’ – we’re sharing the reality of the entrepreneurial journey, with all its ups and downs. It’s a challenging journey and not for the faint of heart. In this, the connection to people who are honest and open has been crucial in helping me navigate the rollercoaster of running a business. I credit much of my business success and personal growth to the groups I’m part of and the individuals who have shared their experiences, helped me gain new perspectives, and provided support through challenges. For those who might not be aware, there are numerous entrepreneurial communities out there. One example is the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), an international group with local chapters where entrepreneurs regularly meet to network and build connections. But there are many others – from local meetups to industry-specific groups. I encourage every entrepreneur to seek out these communities. They’re not just networking opportunities; they’re lifelines that can provide support, inspiration, and practical advice when you need it most. In my experience, the relationships formed in these groups often become some of the most rewarding aspects of the entrepreneurial journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.withpolaris.com/
- Instagram: polarisleadershipconsulting
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philchunconsultant/
Image Credits
GMS Media