The Chris Voss Show

The Chris Voss Show


The Chris Voss Show Podcast – Marla Bace: Mastering Emotional Intelligence for Effective Leadership and Self-Awareness

April 21, 2025



Marla Bace: Mastering Emotional Intelligence for Effective Leadership and Self-Awareness



Marlabace.com





About the Guest(s):


Marla Bace is a certified business and leadership coach with over three decades of experience in driving real results. As a former award-winning Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Chief Experience Officer (CXO), Marla is renowned for providing real-world coaching and proven growth strategies. Her expertise lies in guiding accomplished professionals and business owners through practical and values-aligned decisions. Her coaching methods blend emotional intelligence and executive strategy, aiming to enhance influence and measurable results in a business context. Marla is dedicated to putting humanity at the heart of business success, empowering others through clarity and accountability.


Episode Summary:

In this engaging episode of The Chris Voss Show, host Chris Voss welcomes Marla Bace, a distinguished leadership and business coach, to discuss the principles of emotional intelligence and self-awareness in leadership. As the world of business evolves, so does the importance of aligning personal authenticity with leadership influence. Marla stresses that emotional intelligence isn’t just a buzzword but a vital tool for creating impactful, trust-based business environments. This episode dives into these essential skills, exploring how leaders can harness self-awareness, social awareness, and self-management to foster stronger, more effective teams.


Through robust conversations, Chris and Marla uncover the nuances of leadership presence and the imperative roles emotional intelligence plays in modern business. They delve into how self-awareness and self-management are the bedrocks of competent leadership, influencing everything from decision-making to team dynamics. With insights on navigating professional diversity and enhancing team collaboration, the conversation emphasizes developing leadership traits that resonate with today’s workforce. By weaving in engaging anecdotes and practical advice, Marla provides a blueprint for listeners interested in advancing their leadership capabilities and fostering meaningful workplace relationships.


Key Takeaways:

Emotional Intelligence is Crucial: Leaders with high emotional intelligence can effectively manage their teams, foster motivation, and build trust.


Self-Awareness Cultivation: Understanding one’s strengths and weaknesses can enhance leadership effectiveness and improve team collaboration.


Leadership Presence: True leadership is about authenticity and influence, not performance and perfection.


Constructive Feedback: Leaders should be open to critique, using feedback to grow and support their teams more effectively.


Transformational Force: Emotionally intelligent leadership transforms organizations, aligning business objectives with collective team efforts.


Notable Quotes:

“Presence isn’t about performance, it’s about alignment.”

“Success without self-awareness is like driving blind. Sooner or later, you’re going to crash.”

“Higher smarter and more diverse around me so I’m a better leader and fall on my sword.”

“Your greatest asset is self-awareness, giving you the clarity and adaptability to lead with impact.”

“Being authentic and actually insulating them and showing that you’re willing to not be perfect actually goes so much further.”