Most leaders are hired to have the answers. Ryan Charland — CEO of Manulife Japan — learned that speaking last is a more powerful leadership tool than speaking first.

In this episode, Ryan shares how coaching shaped his approach to leadership across three cultures — Canada, Indonesia, and Japan — and why alignment, listening, and psychological safety aren't soft skills. They're the hard work of leadership.

What you'll take away:

→ Why leaders who speak first quietly bias every decision their team makes

→ The 30 priorities trap and how to escape it

→ How to choose between internal and external coaching

→ How to build a values-driven team that holds itself accountable

→ What coaching across cultures taught a CEO about directness, face, and respect

"I tried to be the last one to speak. If I spoke first, it would just naturally — human nature — bias the conversation in that direction." — Ryan Charland

Connect with Ryan Charland:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ryan-charland-b884b741

Connect with Joerg Sauer:

Instagram: @joergsauer_coach

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joergsauer-coach