Author Kelly Roach On Five Things You Need To Be A Highly Effective Leader During Uncertain & Turbulent Times
Innovate: You cannot successfully navigate turbulent times without innovation. Assess what needs to change in your strategy to maintain strong performance in challenging environments.
As part of our series about the “Five Things You Need To Be A Highly Effective Leader During Turbulent Times”, we had the pleasure of interviewing Kelly Roach.
Kelly Roach is one of the only female founders in the online space to build her company from 0 to 8 figures with 0 debt, investors, or outside funding. Kelly is a former NFL cheerleader and Fortune 500 executive turned 8-figure+ entrepreneur empowering thousands around the globe to achieve financial and lifestyle freedom through entrepreneurship.
Kelly is a multi-international best-selling author, Top 20 podcast host, and philanthropist who has been featured in major media such as ABC, NBC, Fox, and Forbes — as well as the recipient of prestigious awards such as #287 on the Inc. 5000 list, The Stevie® Awards Woman of the Year, TITAN CEO of the Year, and Inc.’s Best in Business.
Thank you so much for your time! I know that you are a very busy person. Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you got started?
I spent several years working in a Fortune 500 company, where I was promoted seven times in eight years and became the youngest senior vice president in the organization, managing a team of 100 people across 17 locations. I absolutely loved the work — I thrived on teaching, coaching, and training others, as well as the sales, growth, and business management aspects. However, I realized that the work itself didn’t truly fulfill my desire to make a meaningful impact in the world. I yearned for more hands-on, direct engagement with people and wanted to leverage my business knowledge for a greater good.
This realization prompted me to take the expertise I gained in corporate settings and teach it to others. My goal was to help them blend billion-dollar corporate strategies with innovative internet marketing techniques, enabling them to scale their businesses. I wanted to share my story of overcoming challenges during my own journey, illustrating how these combined strategies could create transformative opportunities for others.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
One of the mistakes I made when starting was investing heavily in a business coaching program that used a webinar model. After running the webinar and inviting everyone to a follow-up call, I took multiple days off work, expecting to fill my calendar with calls. However, I ended up with zero calls and zero sales, which was both devastating and a great learning experience. I realized that, despite having great content, a compelling offer, and being a strong presenter, I faced two key issues:
1. I hadn’t built a strong enough relationship with my audience yet.
2. An hour wasn’t sufficient to establish that relationship and drive conversions.
I learned that I needed more time for in-depth relationship building and rapport with my audience to achieve better results.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
My mentor, Dave, played a crucial role in shaping my understanding of business leadership and sales management. His strategies not only helped me excel in my corporate career but also enabled me to transition those skills into the online world, allowing me to start and grow my own business while teaching others to do the same.
One pivotal moment for me was when I was asked to move from sales into a leadership position. I was initially hesitant because I was achieving significant success as an independent performer — getting the results I wanted and making good money. I didn’t see the value in stepping into a leadership role at that time. That’s when Dave told me, “Even if you’re the best salesperson in the world, it’s just a fraction of the level of success you could achieve by learning to get results through others.”
This conversation was a turning point for me, as it opened my eyes to the “X factor” that comes with leading teams. It helped me realize the potential for greater impact and success by empowering others, and that insight has shaped my leadership journey ever since.
Extensive research suggests that “purpose-driven businesses” are more successful in many areas. When your organization started, what was its vision, what was its purpose?
The purpose of all of my companies is to transform lives through the vehicle of entrepreneurship and to make a difference in the world by empowering people to make their dreams come true.
Thank you for all that. Let’s now turn to the main focus of our discussion. Can you share with our readers a story from your own experience about how you lead your team during uncertain or difficult times?
Early in my career, I had the opportunity to lead a team as the youngest Senior Vice President in my Fortune 500 company. During my time there, I earned seven promotions in just eight years and led my team across the Eastern U.S. to achieve record-breaking sales, even amid the 2008 recession.
While many companies were laying off employees by the hundreds, I knew I had to take a different approach. I pivoted my team and identified new revenue streams that we could tap into during those challenging times. It was important to me to ensure that my team felt secure and supported, so I focused on creating innovative solutions that not only retained every single team member but also positioned us for success despite the uncertainty in the market.
This experience taught me the importance of adaptability and the power of a committed team. By fostering a collaborative environment and staying focused on our goals, we not only survived the tough times but thrived in them.
Did you ever consider giving up? Where did you get the motivation to continue through your challenges? What sustains your drive?
No, I never considered giving up, but I did think about playing smaller. One of the key drivers that kept me going through hard times was my focus on purpose and my mission to positively impact others by empowering them with the skill set, mindset, and tools they need to build successful companies. I think relying heavily on purpose is really important for sustaining long-term success, especially because there will definitely be hard times.
I’m an author and I believe that books have the power to change lives. Do you have a book in your life that impacted you and inspired you to be an effective leader? Can you share a story?
One book I revisit every year is Think and Grow Rich. Each time I read it, I gain new insights that resonate with my journey. It truly helps me understand the immense opportunities that arise when you take ownership of your life. The lessons within the pages inspire me to embrace my potential and seize the possibilities that come with personal responsibility.
What would you say is the most critical role of a leader during challenging times?
The most critical role of a leader during challenging times is to build confidence in the team that you will ultimately succeed.
I think also being transparent and acknowledging the challenges, acknowledging that it’s going to be a hard season and being clear and open and honest about what it’s going to take to be successful during those times.
When the future seems so uncertain, what is the best way to boost morale? What can a leader do to inspire, motivate and engage their team?
Be visible, be inspiring, and commit to working on yourself. Show up as a leader by putting yourself in the shoes of those you lead, understanding their mindset, and guiding them toward the future. It’s important to create a calm yet focused environment filled with high energy and inspiration, centered around a big mission and purpose that everyone is working toward. When your team can see a compelling future for themselves within that vision, it motivates them to strive for greatness together.
What is the best way to communicate difficult news to one’s team and customers?
I think honesty is the policy, but I think it’s not just dropping bad news on them. It’s giving context to what’s going on and most importantly, coming up with a plan about how you’re going to navigate through it.
How can a leader make plans when the future is so unpredictable?
Well, the future around us is unpredictable, but we can predict the future by what we do. So I think taking accountability for our own circumstances and just having zero sense of entitlement and realizing that you can create success in any environment, but it’s up to you to focus your action and your behavior so that you can ultimately achieve success.
Is there a “number one principle” that can help guide a company through the ups and downs of turbulent times?
Remember your why. When a company is mission- and values-driven, there is a central purpose behind everything you do, allowing you to operate with a clear focus on the outcomes your customers will achieve and the transformations you’re leading them through. This clarity makes it much easier to stay focused and persevere through hard times, because you have a “no matter what” commitment to your purpose.
Can you share 3 or 4 of the most common mistakes you have seen other businesses make during difficult times? What should one keep in mind to avoid that?
I believe that making big cuts out of fear can be detrimental. When a leader displays significant outward stress, it negatively impacts the team’s ability to perform at a high level. It’s essential to continue investing, even during tough times. The tone and energy you bring as a leader will significantly influence your team’s performance. Assuming that difficult circumstances will automatically lead to poor results is a big mistake; instead, it’s crucial to maintain a positive outlook and commitment to growth.
Here is the primary question of our discussion. Based on your experience and success, what are the five most important things a business leader should do to lead effectively during uncertain and turbulent times? Please share a story or an example for each.
1. Be more visible: Increase your presence by being on camera more often and seizing opportunities to share your message with the market.
2. Be more persistent and consistent: Commit to your sales and marketing processes, understanding that it will take more effort to achieve the same results.
3. Invest in your team: Significantly invest in helping your team develop the skills they need to navigate challenging times effectively.
4. Invest in growth: Focus on initiatives that will allow you to sell more, ensuring you’re continuously working to expand the volume of people you reach every day.
5. Innovate: You cannot successfully navigate turbulent times without innovation. Assess what needs to change in your strategy to maintain strong performance in challenging environments.
How can our readers further follow your work?
Website: https://kellyroachinternational.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyroachofficial/?hl=en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyroachint/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.roach.520
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/kellyroach
Twitter: https://x.com/kellyroachlive?s=20
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kelly-roach-show/id1052353755
Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!
Author Kelly Roach On Five Things You Need To Be A Highly Effective Leader During Uncertain &… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.