Most leaders think self-awareness means understanding their patterns. Cam Yenokida sees where that falls short. The executive coach and founder of Achieve Excellence explains why intellectual self-awareness alone never changes anything, and what it takes to turn insight into new behavior.
Cam and Brandon get into the quiet reality of senior leadership, where the higher you climb, the less room you have to think out loud. They talk about what actually makes a leader coachable, why assessments are a starting point and not an answer, and how a simple look at your calendar can reveal where your attention is really going.
Cam spent 20 years in corporate leadership before starting his own practice. He shares the turnover problem that became a defining moment, the two-year onboarding approach behind it, and what separates leaders who are good from those who become excellent.
About our guest
Cam Yenokida is an executive coach and the founder of Achieve Excellence, based in Lake Oswego, Oregon. He spent more than 20 years in corporate leadership before starting his own practice, and he has facilitated over 200 leadership and team development workshops. Cam coaches leaders at every level, from solo entrepreneurs to senior executives, using a systematic approach built around diagnostics, planning, implementation, and follow-up. His focus is on helping leaders move from understanding their patterns to actually changing how they show up.
TIMESTAMPS
- 00:00 Welcome and why pay is a quiet driver of turnover
- 01:00 Meet Cam Yenokida
- 02:00 The patterns that pulled Cam toward developing leaders
- 04:00 The turnover problem that became a defining moment
- 05:00 Why onboarding should last two years, not 90 days
- 09:00 Leaving a 20 year career to start Achieve Excellence
- 11:00 The identity shift of becoming the brand
- 14:00 The blind spot of self-awareness that stays intellectual
- 16:00 Turning awareness into real behavior change
- 18:00 Why senior leaders lose room to think out loud
- 20:00 Helping teams say what usually goes unsaid
- 22:00 Assessments as a starting point, not an answer
- 24:00 The three signs of a coachable leader
- 27:00 Leading with clarity and auditing your calendar
- 31:00 What moves a leader from great to excellent
A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST
Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR
Host: Brandon Laws
In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders."
About Xenium HR
Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace:
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