Meet Casey Cole | Leadership Coach & Performance Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Casey Cole and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Casey, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I like to use the term “work-life health” instead of “work-life balance”. For so many of us, “balance” suggests an unattainable, magical state where we’re spending exactly equal time on our work and the rest of our lives, every single day. That is a wildly unrealistic goal and can make us feel like we’re failing at work, life, or both!

Instead, I think about the health of my work and my life. This gives me perspective, allows me to make wise choices about how I’m investing my time, and lets me forgive myself if the balance is temporarily off. If I’m working long days right now to finish a project, but I’m loving every minute of it, that’s a healthy relationship with work. If I’m taking a break from my ambitious professional goals to host a dinner party for my friends or go on a hike with my dog, I think that’s healthy, too.

It’s important to realize that there is no “one size fits all” version of work-life balance, and what worked for us at one stage of our lives may not work now. I check in with myself at least once a month to take stock of my work, my life, and my relationships. Am I spending most of my professional time doing my most valuable work – the work that I am uniquely qualified to do? Am I making space for rest, reflection, and fun? Am I making connections with the people that matter to me most? If I’m investing in each of those areas, I feel like a success.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a certified leadership coach and performance consultant on a mission to create a healthier future of work. I founded Casey Cole Coaching to help leaders and companies discover healthy productivity, and to help individuals make intentional choices about their careers so they can lead with purpose.

My focus is on identifying patterns and changing behavior. I’m a psychology and neuroscience geek, and I love to dig in with clients to figure out why they work they way they do, what patterns may be holding them back, and how they can create achievable, positive habits that compound over time into massive behavior and organizational shifts.

Before founding my own company, I worked in HR and operations roles for about 20 years. In those roles, I learned a ton about employee engagement, performance, and leadership. It was scary to take the leap into entrepreneurship, but I’m so grateful that the professional relationships I’d built over decades were there to catch me! I feel incredibly fortunate to have a healthy business that balances 1:1 coaching to help leaders mindfully excel with organizational consulting to help companies grow and scale while keeping their best people engaged.

The main thing I want people to know is that you always have choices and the power to create the professional life you want. Sometimes you just need a little help to identify your behavior patterns and create new healthy habits. This is where a coach can be a great partner in bringing intention and mindfulness to your career. Working with a coach can help you find a deeply meaningful career path, help you be more productive without burning out, or inspire your team to perform at their best

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love Scottsdale for the architecture, amazing restaurants, and spas. I’d definitely recommend a stay at the Hotel Valley Ho – it was designed by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright and has such a cool 1950’s vibe. Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home and a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a must-see. The guided tours are incredible – you can learn a ton about architecture and the local landscape, and the views are indescribably beautiful. After all the art and architecture, I know I’d be ready for a great cocktail and a delicious meal! Sumomaya has a fun vibe and a delicious Mexican-Asian fusion menu – try the mezcal cocktails! If you’re looking for a more intimate dining experience, FnB is amazing – all ingredients are sourced locally and seasonally and the wines are local. It’s truly a celebration of the best Arizona has to offer. For a little luxury, I love getting a facial at MDSkin They take a really scientific approach to skin care and the staff there always makes me feel amazing!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mom deserves a shout-out, for sure! She not only supported and believed in me through multiple career shifts, but reinvented herself in her 50’s, moving to Flagstaff to work as a successful landscape artist. She was living proof that you can pursue and achieve your dreams later in life.

Shoutout to Dr. Nayla Bahri – my mentor, my coach, and my role model. She is a highly educated and expertly trained coach, but still brings curiosity and empathy to her work every day. She also co-hosts a fantastic podcast called Inside Job that is my go-to for career and leadership advice.

Another shoutout to Angela Gillespie, CEO of the Gawley Companies (based right here in Scottsdale). I’ve had the great opportunity to work on her teams as a employee and as a consultant. Angela is a leader who expertly balances strategic acumen with a deep belief in lifting others up. She never hesitates to create opportunity for others or to help them see what they’re capable of (even when they don’t immediately see it themselves). She has a particular passion for empowering young women, and it’s an inspiration to see her do so every day.

Website: https://caseycolecoaching.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caseycolecoaching/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casey-cole/