From Engineer to Executive: Learning People Skills the Hard Way

What happens when your technical brilliance gets you promoted — and then becomes your biggest liability? Frank Sherwood spent his early career as a high-performing engineer who needed "finishing school" to survive leadership. In this conversation, Frank traces his career from aerospace engineering at Rosemount to managing a 500-site global real estate portfolio to joining CBRE — and what each transition demanded of him as a leader.Guest: Frank Sherwood is First Vice President at CBRE, with a 20+ year career in corporate real estate spanning leadership roles at JLL, Staubach, Cushman & Wakefield, and CRESA, including managing real estate portfolios across 75 countries.In this episode:0:00 — Cold open: Frank's mentor on delivering hard messages with grace3:25 — How Frank went from entry-level engineer to engineering manager almost overnight at Rosemount Aerospace4:31 — The performance review that sent him to "finishing school" — and why people skills became the priority6:30 — Crossing to the service provider side: why Frank called his old vendor to apologize10:27 — Why hiring to your weak side (not your strength) leads to better leadership12:35 — Building cross-functional alliances: lessons from Roger Staubach on client service and peer relationships16:27 — Practical advice for leaders new to a role: ask questions before making decisions25:17 — How to position yourself for promotion: anticipate your boss's needs before they ask27:11 — Frank's core leadership belief: dignity, fairness, and respect for everyoneResources mentioned:What Got You Here Won't Get You There — Marshall Goldsmith (referenced by Kent) — amazon.com searchHow to Win Friends and Influence People — Dale Carnegie (Frank references the Carnegie principle on helping others get what they want) — amazon.com searchHarvard Business Review — hbr.orgThe Economist — economist.comRoger Staubach / The Staubach Company — now part of JLL (search "Roger Staubach commercial real estate")Vern Heath, founder of Rosemount Aerospace (historical reference)CBRE — cbre.comLinks for today's show:Frank Sherwood on LinkedInKent Kniebel on LinkedInThe Promoted Leader ToolkitMusic for this podcast comes from a live recording of the song Needle & Thread and is provided with permission by Pert' Near Sandstone. Check them out on pertnearsandstone.com and on all major streaming platforms.Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review wherever you listen — it helps more leaders find the show.