Name: Elise Krentzel

Title: CEO

Organisation: EK Editorial & Coaching

Elise Krentzel is the CEO of EK Editorial & Coaching and EKPR, two communication companies providing dynamic business and creative writing and direction for various platforms, including books, executive bios, and external communications. With over 35 years of international entrepreneurial wisdom in media, publishing, non-profit, and consumer industries, Elise has a keen eye for crafting compelling stories that resonate with diverse audiences to enhance brand identity. Elise's mission is to empower and transform business leaders with a moral and social conscience to share their stories for posterity and impact. As a book coach, ghostwriter, and editor, she applies deft EQ skills and domain expertise to provide enthusiastic editorial guidance and tools to build personal and corporate brands. Elise loves working with people with disruptive ideas to help them craft their authentic and memorable stories.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

We’ve gone through the interviews and asked the best of the best to come back and answer 7 MORE Questions on Leadership.

I hope Elise's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. As a leader, how do you build trust with employees, customers and other stakeholders?

By first assessing their skills and emotional intelligence. Then listening carefully to their hopes and wishes to establish personal trust.

2. What do 'VISION' and 'MISSION' mean to you? And what does it actually look like to use them in real-world business?

Vision is inspiration and mission is implementing the vision on a daily basis.

3. How can a leader empower the people they're leading?

Stepping aside and allowing the people they lead to teach them. Encouraging them to think freely to innovate.

4. Who are some of the coaches or mentors in your life who have had a positive influence on your leadership? Can you please tell a meaningful story about one of them?

The coaches and mentors I have are not known people. They have people that have come across my path that I have met and trusted and I must say that reading the poetry of Rumi as well as listening to Rabbi Simon Jacobsen of a Meaningful Life has inspired me.

5. Leadership is often more about what you DON'T do. How do you maintain focus in your role?

First off every morning I take about two hours just for me to set my intention and then because I have several clients I work on a daily basis dividing my time by clients or client projects so there’s no overlap. Every 45 minutes I get up I stretch or I go for a walk And I have Light meals throughout the day.

6. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Everyone plans differently. How do you plan for the week, month and years ahead in your role?

I don’t need to plan really because once projects come in the plans are within the project scope so I know exactly how long a project will take. It’s all rather intuitive.

7. What advice would you give to a young leader who is struggling to delegate effectively?

Stop with capital letters micromanaging the more control you think you’re wielding the further you are pushing your employees or colleagues away