[Ep 24] The Fortune 500 CEOs' Executive Coach: Peggy Klaus

In this episode of Master Your Mistakes, I’m joined by Peggy Klaus, one of the world’s most sought-after executive coaches for Fortune 500 CEOs.Peggy is the author of two best-selling books, BRAG! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It and The Hard Truth About Soft Skills, and her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, and Harvard Business Review.0:00 - Welcome and Guest IntroductionIntro to Master Your Mistakes and Peggy Klaus as the guest.0:33 - Peggy Klaus: Background and BooksPeggy’s credentials and two books: Bragg and The Hard Truth About Soft Skills.0:47 - The Biggest Career Mistake: Resisting Social MediaPeggy explains the one mistake she sees many executives make: avoiding social media.1:17 - Realisation and Embrace of Online PresenceShe discusses dabbling online and the initial resistance to short-form content.2:14 - Transition to Online: From Stage to CameraHow Peggy moved from in-person/high-stakes settings to being online and on camera.3:30 - Career Arc: From Entertainment to Wall Street CoachingPeggy’s background in entertainment and how that informs coaching for executives.3:59 - COVID Pivot: Going Virtual and Embracing New PlatformsThe shift to virtual work and openness to YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, etc.4:38 - What Peggy Helps Executives With: Soft Skills and PresenceThe core mission: elevate leadership, communication, and soft skills to match expertise.6:24 - Focusing on Women Leaders and Navigating NormsSpecial emphasis on helping women leaders navigate cultural and organisational constraints.9:05 - Authenticity: Nuance and Audience ContextThe idea that authenticity isn’t one-size-fits-all; audience and context matter.10:39 - “I Am Who I Am” vs ContextDiscussion around defining authenticity beyond a fixed self.11:46 - Adapting Authenticity for Different AudiencesHow expressions of authenticity shift with different audiences (family, board, king, etc.).14:11 - Two Guiding Coaching TenantsPeggy’s two rules for her practice (e.g., not working with people she doesn’t believe in or who won’t work as hard).15:32 - Direct Feedback Style: “I’m Not Going to Bullshit You”Peggy’s candid, no-nonsense approach to feedback.18:06 - Phrases and Approaches for Tough FeedbackExamples of language to use when delivering challenging feedback.19:34 - Theater Director Anecdotes: Learning from Tough FeedbackA personal story about receiving brutal but valuable feedback in theater.22:31 - Theatre vs. Corporate Worlds: Volatility and FearComparison of personalities, fear of judgment, and managing ego.25:39 - Preparation vs. Winging ItWhy preparation matters and the risks of winging presentations.28:26 - Origin of Bragg and Soft SkillsHow Bragg came about on a plane; backstory to her approach to soft skills.30:29 - Quick Practical Tips: Know Yourself; Plus DeltaStart with self-knowledge and a plus/delta (strengths and areas to improve) framework.33:54 - Feedback Should Be Specific: “How Does That Appear?”The importance of concrete, beheavior-focused feedback.34:51 - Advice to Your Younger SelfPlus-delta, scripting, and reflection as you look back.37:28 - Future-Self Guidance: Stay CuriousAdvice Peggy would give her future self: stay curious and keep learning.38:25 - “Go Big or Go Home” MindsetEmbracing growth and expansion of her work.