Dora Nagy

Many books have been written about difficult conversations with one thing in common: preparation is key. When the stakes are high, it’s best if you don’t try to just swing it. Here are the 6 questions to ask yourself before the conversation: 1. What is the issue I am trying to resolve? Often, it is not what you first think. Keep asking yourself ‘And why does this matter?’ until you get to the core of the issue. 2. What is the other person’s view of the issue? Roleplay can be

Most businesses fail not because of a business problem, but because of a leadership problem. ‘Treating the soft stuff as the hard stuff’ is often overlooked or deemed too fluffy. A self-centered leader ‘being bold’ is about protecting their ego. Even if the ‘why’ is clear at the beginning, it is not reinforced by the strategy. Controlling leaders end up doing everything, and empowering no one. Decisions happen in siloes, so there is no chance for a high-performing team. And a

The small things are the big things. In life and I would also argue, at work. Correction, the small things done consistently are the big things. It’s that simple. And it’s that hard. The people in my life I will always remember are the ones who showed up for me consistently. Who checked in on me, took the time to teach me something, gave feedback that was actually useful, didn’t take credit for my work, and understood I am a human being, not just a human resource. How would

If you are a successful family-run restaurant that wants to get a Michelin star, you need to step it up. Likewise, if you want to become...

There is a wrong way to delegate. How do you know? If you ever think ‘Gosh, if I want something to be done right, I’d better do it myself.’ Then you know 😀 I am sure you are familiar with the saying ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.’ Delegating the wrong way is like expecting someone to know how to fish just because: They have seen you doing it They have received fish from you They ate the fish you brought Th

I get this question often from founders, especially in Europe where the role is less known compared to the US and Silicon Valley in particular, where I spent most of my career. While there is a whole spectrum from being a ‘glorified PA’ and effectively a COO/Head of Ops & Strategy, there are similarities in the scope that a Chief Of Staff is most likely to cover. The 5P framework: Plans & Priorities: A great CoS helps you connect your vision to strategy (1 year+) to executio

If I asked you, who was Batman’s right-hand person, what would you say? If you said Alfred, you got it, so you can stop reading. :) ‘Wait.. who is Alfred?’ Most of the time we have no clue who is the person behind a superhero, or a fouder (same thing as a superhero?) or a CEO. Or pretty much anyone wildly successful. What seems to be certain though, is that you need one. When bringing on a right-hand person, whether it is a Chief of Staff, COO, or GM, probably the most import

And first of all, what is the difference between the two? In short, think of your Chief of Staff as your right-hand guy or gal, a strategic thinking partner who can help you make your vision happen. You can discuss topics that you wouldn’t with your senior staff or even co-founder. They can help you grow as a leader, while also helping you grow your business. Your CoS is your go-to person for the most difficult challenges, and the secret weapon behind a well-oiled machine (yo