Say It Skillfully® – Admiral Sandy Stosz, “Always Swing the Bat”

Say It Skillfully® is a show that helps you to benefit from Molly Tschang’s expert guidance on the best possible ways to speak your mind at work in a positive and productive manner. In Episode 135, Molly is joined by U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Sandy Stosz, who shares 40 years of navigating more than her fair share of firsts. In times of crisis and complexity she puts action to the words “leading with integrity.” (And for those dealing with a “bad boss,” don’t miss how to handle this!) “Shy and unconfident” is how Sandy started. Parents who instilled “you are your core values” and her tomboy youth with 3 younger brothers prepared her well to hold her own and work with men. Her disarming honesty is in abundance as she’s forthright about continually being “rendered humble” by not being the smartest, fastest or best looking... “very average!” Athletics and coaches were gamechangers in Sandy’s limitless hard work and perseverance. “No silver platters… it was always, always hard.” She talks of not realizing she was even “breaking glass”— Title IX was just starting to support women in sport, as she was in the 3rd USGG class to have women (60% attrition). In the Coast Guard, role changes were every 2-3 years, never letting one find their stride for long: adapt, adjust, be agile were the only options. As the first woman to command an icebreaker on the Great Lakes and lead a US armed forces service academy, she shares numerous “aha” (some painful) learnings with men who didn’t believe she belonged (and how women weren’t exactly super supportive of one another). Resignation letter in hand, she came sooo close to giving it all up. A must hear for those who need to amp up their “competence—confidence” in the eyes of others… Sandy’s mantra: “always swing the bat.” And all the “poor leadership” taught her: #1) Somehow get along w/ that leader – humble yourself to understand this boss #2) Learn what you don’t want to do… This fueled her quest to be the very best leader she could be. Numerous leadership and life lessons abound in this open-hearted account of how Sandy persevered to take the burden of being the first and turn it into an opportunity of a lifetime. And don’t miss 40 decades of leadership gems in Sandy’s book, “Breaking Ice & Breaking Glass”—inspiring us to help all be safe, seen and heard, and be our true and best selves. Molly’s thought for the week (anonymous): What consumes your mind controls your life. More on Sandy here: https://sandrastosz.com More ways to help you #sayitskillfully! Feel suffocated by your boss’s micro-management habit? http://bit.ly/3sY8Gtq All Molly’s resources here: https://sayitskillfully.com