About Impression MGMT

 

At Impression MGMT, we believe that achieving meaningful goals requires mastering the art of working with people. Whether you're influencing peers, leading a team, or delivering exceptional service to clients, success hinges on the impressions you create and the relationships you build. In every industry, our mission is to equip leaders with the knowledge and insight needed to shape those interactions and foster lasting, productive relationships. Whether you're a seasoned manager or an entrepreneur just starting out, our unique system provides practical tools to drive sustainable results aligned with your goals.

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Impression MGMT was founded by Steven Cochran, drawing on years of real-world leadership experience and deep expertise in psychological principles of influence and social intelligence. Our coaching services—ranging from one-on-one coaching to team workshops—are grounded in the proprietary Impression MGMT System, a leadership framework designed to foster personal growth, adaptability, and balance. This system is the foundation of everything we do, empowering each client to lead with confidence, clarity, and authenticity.

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Meet Steven Cochran

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My fascination with people started early. I’ve always been driven by a need to understand how those around me thought, acted, and connected with one another. That curiosity grew into a lifelong pursuit, shaping both my personal and professional life in ways I couldn’t have imagined.

 

I began my career in the high-pressure, fast-paced hospitality industry in the French Quarter of New Orleans. There, I moved quickly into leadership roles, eventually overseeing a multi-million-dollar portfolio within a nine-figure organization. My focus was always on building high-performance teams and developing strong, adaptable leaders. Over my 12 years in that environment, I learned the intricacies of leadership—how to motivate people from diverse backgrounds, manage through high-stress situations, and build teams that thrived. The teams I trained continue to manage that portfolio successfully today, which left a lasting impression on me and inspired me to pursue my true passion: helping professionals become better leaders.

 

Throughout my career, I’ve seen people struggle with interpersonal challenges without addressing their root causes. Either due to lack of knowledge, directionless guidance, or a belief that the skills of leadership & management are innate: we must make due with what we were born with. I’ve watched as so many people have sold themselves short. It shouldn't be that way. The Impression MGMT System is designed to help people overcome the barriers to great leadership.

 

At the core of this system is the belief that great leadership comes from knowledge and authenticity. With those as a foundation, adaptability follows naturally. No two leaders are the same, and my work is about helping clients understand their unique strengths, adjust their approach, and leave lasting, authentic impressions.

 

The Impression MGMT System

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The Ratio Mindset serves as the guiding approach to the entire system. It recognizes that leadership traits exist on a spectrum and that no one is fixed in their ways. Whether balancing creativity and analysis or ambition and contentment, the Ratio Mindset helps leaders adapt their traits to fit the context, allowing for greater flexibility and self-efficacy. This dynamic approach ensures leaders can adjust and thrive in any situation.

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The system is built around three additional pillars: Learning People & Humans, Making Promises & Taking Risks, and Goals & Directions. Each pillar emphasizes understanding oneself and others, building trust through consistent and meaningful action (including taking responsibility for the team), and maintaining a clear vision while staying adaptable to the needs of a team.

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