Episode one of Karen Norheim’s, American Crane’s CEO, new podcast, Always Lifting, opens with a guest who embodies the podcast’s mission to elevate others. Executive coach, longtime Vistage chair and someone who has shaped Karen’s own leadership journey, Joni Naugle has earned a reputation as the “CEO Whisperer”, a mentor whose approach transcends business strategy and touches human development.
The Power of Questions and Silence
Joni’s coaching style is rooted in thoughtful questions and intentional pauses. Instead of providing answers, she invites leaders to sit in their own thinking. A question, followed by silence, becomes a tool for clarity. Leaders discover what they already know but haven’t yet articulated. In her world, progress isn’t a matter of clever solutions—it’s the ability to examine assumptions, speak them aloud, and move forward with purpose.
We have embraced this philosophy within our own leadership team at American Crane. Inspired by Joni’s approach, we take the time to ask deeper questions, create space for reflection and encourage leaders and their teams to articulate their thinking before jumping to solutions. This practice helps us challenge old patterns, strengthen communication and make decisions with intention rather than urgency. By integrating Joni’s principles into our leadership style, we continue to build a culture rooted in clarity, curiosity and strategic growth.
Peer Groups That Accelerate Thinking
That idea becomes powerful inside the peer environment of Vistage. Joni has spent years facilitating groups where CEOs and executives learn from each other. The model brings leaders from different industries together, eliminating competition while preserving candor. What happens in those rooms is not theory. It’s shared experience: decisions made, mistakes survived, blind spots exposed. A manufacturing executive listens to a tech founder. A service provider recognizes themselves in a healthcare CEO. The issues vary, but the common ground is unmistakable: hiring, accountability, clarity, pressure, burnout, and the responsibility of carrying other people’s livelihoods.
ACECO sees tremendous value in this kind of peer learning. Our leadership team understands that the challenges we face are not unique to manufacturing. The same pressures that leaders work through in Vistage are the pressures we navigate as we grow, support our teams and strengthen our culture. Joni reminds leaders that we often believe our problems are unique, yet when someone speaks openly about a difficult situation, others immediately recognize themselves. In that confidential environment, the pressure to perform disappears and speaking an issue aloud becomes a turning point. We take this insight into our own leadership conversations at ACECO. When we share openly, listen closely and learn from one another’s experiences, our thinking expands in ways solitary decision making cannot. This approach helps us lead with clarity, humility and a deeper understanding of what it means to lift our people.
The Cost of Waiting on Talent
One of the most consistent blind spots Joni encounters is indecision around talent. Leaders linger too long. They hope one more warning or one more plan will change a person who is not in the right role. But delays have consequences. High performers shoulder the weight. Momentum slows. When a leader finally acts, the reaction is nearly universal: What took you so long? Great leaders don’t just deliver outcomes, they protect the people who are delivering alongside them. Great leaders create environments where others can thrive.
At ACECO, we apply this lesson by focusing on empowerment and clarity. Our goal is to put people in roles where they can thrive and feel confident in their work. We set clear expectations, communicate openly and make timely decisions that support both the individual and the team. When someone is in the right seat, they bring energy and pride to the work.
Presence Is a Leadership Skill
Equally important is presence. How a leader shows up matters long before a meeting begins. Your energy, your tone, even your pace influences how others engage. Self-awareness isn’t a soft trait, it’s the difference between a team that avoids conflict and a team that is confident enough to tell you the truth. Leadership today requires emotional intelligence, restraint, and the ability to slow down so others can keep up.
We take this responsibility very seriously. Our leadership team is intentional about the way we show up for our employees, our customers and each other. We understand that our presence sets the tone for trust, communication and collaboration. By leading with awareness and purpose, we create an environment where people feel safe to speak honestly, solve problems together and bring their best to the work.
Curiosity as a Discipline
Despite coaching executives for decades, Joni continues to invest in her own growth. She is learning guitar, practicing Spanish, swimming in the summer, taking golf lessons, and traveling – she has so far visited 54 countries. Curiosity isn’t a phase. It’s how she refuels. It’s how she stays engaged, energized, and ready to help others think more clearly.
We are lucky to share the same commitment to continuous growth at ACECO. We are continually investing in our people through AI training, high performing teams training and opportunities that help employees expand their skills and confidence. This mindset ensures that our teams stay prepared for the future, stay connected to one another and stay energized in the work we do. Curiosity keeps us moving forward and it keeps ACECO lifting strong.
What It Means to Lift Others
When asked what it means to lift, Joni’s answer is simple: improve yourself and improve the people around you. Awards, titles, and accomplishments come and go, but the true measure of leadership is the lasting impact you leave on those who crossed your path. A leader who lifts doesn’t just succeed, they elevate everyone they touch.
Subscribe to the Always Lifting podcast, watch episode one on YouTube or stream it on your favorite podcast platform, and stay committed to lifting—yourself and others.