How to Build a Resilient Mindset in High-Stakes Roles

In this episode of Hire Learning, Oz sits down with Chris Knight—founder of Chris Knight Coaching and a former nonprofit executive turned executive coach—to talk about building better teams, smarter hiring, and how to lead with curiosity.Chris brings 15+ years of leadership experience to the conversation and shares why mental fitness is the key to unlocking high-performance leadership. From his nonprofit days to launching his coaching practice, Chris has worked with leaders through inflection points, burnout, and everything in between.You’ll learn: Why the best interviews don’t feel like interviewsThe one question Chris always asks to test manager fitHow to spot coachability early in the hiring processWhat he looks for (and avoids) when building high-growth teamsA powerful story of a leader who turned failure into her biggest opportunityWhether you’re a founder, hiring manager, or someone building your own career with intention—this episode is filled with wisdom, heart, and practical tools.Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro 01:42 – How Chris fell into coaching (and knew it was his calling) 05:10 – Why entrepreneurship is more about the stomach than the heart 08:04 – What “mental fitness” really means (and why leaders need it) 11:25 – A powerful coaching turnaround story 15:40 – The #1 reason coaching doesn’t work 18:25 – Why executive coaching should hurt your wallet a little 20:45 – Life in Buffalo and the startup scene there 24:18 – Chris’ hiring philosophy: adaptability over perfection 27:10 – The interview question every manager should ask 30:42 – When hiring goes wrong (and how to recover with grace) 36:55 – The case for treating hiring like a team sport 42:30 – Chris’ favorite books + advice for his 20-year-old self 45:00 – Buffalo vs. Boston vs. SF (and where to get the best wings) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.