076: Lee Caraher's Cautionary Tale on Pushing Too Hard

Lee Caraher started Double Forte in 2002 as a new kind of communications firm designed to provide the best service in the business. Previously EVP at Weber Shandwick, president and founder of Red Whistle, and VP of SEGA, Caraher has managed multiple offices and hundreds of people of all ages, and was named in the 40 under 40 by industry publication PRWEEK. She serves on the boards of KQED Public Media and Grace Cathedral, and is a member of Entrepreneurs Only. Caraher holds a BA in medieval history from Carleton College, which she finds useful every day. She lives with her husband and two sons on the San Francisco Peninsula.    Playing Small Moment When Lee worked and lived in LA, she didn’t know anyone. She worked in a place that was demeaning. Though she won many awards through them, the people she worked for diminished a lot of her work. Lee saw a lot of opportunities but everything was being second guessed. The Wake Up Call Her most recent wake up call was when Lee as sick a few years ago and kept working through it to the point she needed surgery.  During her time off, she trusted her team to handle everything.  After 3 weeks, she was feeling better but when she saw herself in the mirror, it became evident that she was a mess!  She realized then that she had to rearrange her life. Style of Leadership Lee would describe her leadership style as enthusiastically encouraging. She doesn’t feel the need to check everyone’s work; she trusts the people she hires. Her purpose is to help good people do great things. What Are You Excited About? Lee is excited about her book, Millennials in Management. Leadership Practice Taking care of herself makes her a better leader.  Lee makes sure to move around, stay hydrated and get enough sleep. Book to Develop Leadership Leadership and the Art of Conversation by Kim H. Krisco Primal Leadership by Daniel Goleman The Advantage by Patrick M. Lencioni What Would You Change? Don’t pay attention to what people say about you. Inspirational Quote “And will you succeed? Yes, you will indeed.” –Dr. Seuss Interview Links www.leecaraher.com  https://www.twitter.com/leecaraher  https://www.linkedIn.com/in/leecaraher