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About this Episode:

In this episode of the Transformative Leader Podcast, I’m happy to bring you a conversation with speaker, author, and master coach, Dr. Katrina Burrus, about the psychology of “brilliant jerks,“ how to effectively work with them, and how to support them in making the leap to become inspiring, transformative leaders. Dr. Burrus is the CEO and founder of MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, a Master Certified Coach, and is known for fast-tracking leaders to the C-Suite and beyond, and for transforming “brilliant jerks” into inspiring leaders. Her most recent English-language book is Managing Brilliant Jerks.

Dr. Burrus and MKB Excellent Executive Coaching are affiliated with a network of international experts and scholar-practitioners. They specialize in coaching international and highly mobile leaders, high potentials, and brilliant and abrasive leaders. They research and are passionate about reducing suffering and ineffectiveness in the workplace. In particular, Dr. Burrus is an expert when it comes to working with and coaching what we would call “brilliant jerks,“ those who are technically and functionally skilled by lack the necessary interpersonal skills to truly succeed and excel.

This is such an important topic, both relative to leadership and just general workplace culture, and so it was an honor to speak with a guest so experienced in this area. So-called brilliant jerks are something I constantly touch on in my own practice, as they represent one of the biggest stumbling blocks on the way to becoming a Transformative Leader, as well as a significant obstacle to successful culture transformation. This is why understanding why they act the way they do, how we might encourage or discourage such behavior as leaders, and how to support them in becoming inspiring leaders in their own right is such an essential topic to discuss.

This episode goes a little longer than our usual ones, but that’s for good reason! I really enjoyed my conversation with Dr. Burrus, and there is just such a wealth of insight in this episode relevant to so many different situations. So, be sure not to miss this one!

Some topics discussed in this episode include:

• How Katrina early life experiences shaped her interest in working with and coaching “brilliant jerks“

• Distinguishing between a brilliant jerk and a demanding leader.

• The underlying psychology that motivates the behavior of so-called brilliant jerks, and why it is important not to assume malicious intent.

• How leaders can help create an environment in which “brilliant jerks“ are open to coaching and improvement.

• Tips for working with or working for someone who is a “brilliant jerk,“ and what to do if you suspect that might be you.

• And much more…

Katrina Burrus, PhD, MCC, is the founder and CEO of MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, as well as the host of the Excellent Executive Coaching Podcast. She is a keynote speaker and published, Managing Brilliant Jerks and Global Leadership, a body of work used by Nestle, Novartis, the World Health Organization, the International Labor Organization, the United Nations, and many more. She was most recently featured in Mexico, India, the U.S., Kazakhstan, and Russia. She is the first ICF (International Coach Federation) Master Certified Coach in Switzerland, founder and Board Member of ICF Switzerland and on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Coaching in Organization. She has a PhD in Human and Organizational Development, and an MA in Global Studies.

Guest Links:

To learn more about Dr. Burrus and her work, you can visit her website. You can connect with Dr. Burrus on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and by emailing DrKatrina@ExcellentExecutiveCoaching.com.

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