Kate Michaels is the Syracuse District Director for Northwestern Mutual and completed her leadership program in June 2019. Kate's goal is to be at the center of her clients financial lives. She inspires success through comprehensive financial planning and empowering people to spend life living. In leading the Syracuse office, she attracts and develops top talent to lead themselves, lead their business, and lead others.
What is Empathic Leadership?
“An empathic leader is one that can identify what those they lead are going through and adjust their style appropriately to meet the needs of the individuals.”
What skills or competencies did you enhance through the coaching process?
“Ability to identity quickly the needs and desires of others and adjust my style accordingly. Learned the competency that regardless of what I might want or feel, I will need to first be mindful of the other individual...if their needs are met mine will be met.”
Share an example of a goal that you have realized as a result of coaching.
“A goal I have achieved as a result of coaching would be a better relationship with a ‘C’ style personality in my organization. I was often frustrated or anxious about working with this person however after understanding that person better through DISC and unlocking the right tools to adjust, our relationship has been much improved and helped business results.”
What do professionals need to start anticipating as the change needed to be a strong leader?
“With almost hinge in life, change begins with you and more leaders need to be introspective and identity their blind spots to best serve others.”
Describe Michael Sgro as a professional coach.
“Michael approaches his work with professionalism and passion. Not only will you grow when working with him—you will have fun doing it.”
Our mission is to coach extraordinary leaders and to develop empathy as a core competency. We work with business owners, nonprofit organizations, professionals, universities and community members who are facing challenges in their personal and professional effectiveness or want to reach their full capacity as a leader.