One of the most underrated skillsets to have as a Leader: Staying Calm.

Everyday, Managers/Leaders are faced with problems. Something’s gone wrong. Someone made a massive mistake.

Chaos.

It’s non-stop and it’s your job as the Leader to fix it.

Every employee says they want more…until they get more.

What am I talking about?

I am referring to the employees who have been in their current role for less than three years who come to you (their Manager/Leader) and ask you for a bigger opportunity. The team member who says, ‘I’m bored’ or, ‘I’m ready for a challenge’, or they highlight how ‘I have extra time in my day and I feel I can take on more.’

I’m here to prepare you on how to navigate this request. I want you to take a moment to recognize that when a team member is asking for ‘more,’ it’s not as simple as, ‘ok, let me add a few more things to your plate,’ There’s more to it.

True high-performers are not simply defined by typical "good worker" traits, but by a combination of authenticity, directness, focus, reliability, and strategic relationship building. These individuals are driven by a relentless pursuit of goals and a commitment to delivering on promises, setting them apart from others. Find out how to truly identify the high-performers on your team.

Escape the guilt of checking emails on vacation! This article reveals the secret to truly disconnecting and enjoying your time off by strategically preparing your team to handle things in your absence. Learn how empowering your team benefits everyone and ensures a worry-free holiday. Discover the key to finally achieving a work-life balance that lets you relax and recharge.

My story won’t get you to the next phase in your career. It’s the learnings from my journey that will. I prefer to cut to the chase and highlight what I’ve learned, share them with you, so you can make the best decisions for yourself.

Welcome back and Happy New Year!

It’s that time of year again. Get out your annual planners, your vision boards, and your goal setting sheets. Let the New Years Resolutions begin!

Hm…

I can see how a new year can drive us to wanting a fresh start, and fabricating multiple to-do lists, but is that approach really sustainable? Can you get all the things you’re looking to accomplish done in a 12 month timeframe? Let’s take a step back. I’d like to shed a different perspective on goal setting to help set you up for real success.

Are your one-to-one’s with your team members moving the needle forward, or just a waste of time?

Effective one-to-one’s can be a game changer and is one of the best tools in the Leadership toolkit if you leverage them correctly. It all comes down to the manager mindset. What are you trying to get out of your one-to-one meetings? We dive into how to get the best from your one-to-one meeting.

As humans, we come to work and leave work, because of the people. The same holds true for Leaders. They key to having consistent energizing days, lies within the team you choose to sponsor. We dive into how and who you choose to sponsor.

The Will vs Skill framework. This framework is primarily leveraged to help identify performance gaps and development needs amongst your team member. It also helps assess a team members overall engagement.

How do I know if I am the reason for the toxic environment within my team? In this blog, we walk you through the importance of self-awareness and understanding whether you're the reason for the toxic environment within your team.

Our Leadership is defined by how we act when faced with adversity. Our Character, our Behavior, is what truly defines who we are. In Leadership, we’re faced with adversity almost every day. For emerging Leaders, this is something they struggle with immensely as they start their leadership journey.

What is a safe work environment? If we’re talking about a construction site or a manufacturing plant, the response may be more obvious. But what about those working in an office setting where there are no obvious dangers or hazards? Teams are looking for a sense of community with leadership that, not only they can trust, but will protect the team from pressures above.

Some of us dread presenting and wish it wasn’t something we had to do in our roles. Even some of the best presenters get nervous before they present and dread getting up on the big stage. Learn how to turn boring subjects into powerful messages.

Work smarter, not harder. We hear this far too often. But what does it actually mean? The trick to knowing how to work smarter doesn’t come from a magical tool that will automate your work and life for you. Although I would love something like that, there’s really nothing out there that can ‘do’ my work for me (yet…insert AI comments).

Why is leading a team so hard? There seems to be very few strong managers, and more managers who don’t seem to know what they’re doing. What’s the reason and how do we fix it?

As you transition from an individual contributor to a manager, the importance of a mentor becomes evident, offering real-world wisdom, serving as a navigational beacon in uncharted leadership territory, providing an external perspective for innovation, and ensuring a continuous learning curve, making mentorship a strategic imperative for unparalleled success in your managerial role

Interviews are a critical yet often unprepared-for aspect of being a new manager. The process can be daunting, involving candidate sourcing, resume screening, interviewing, and hiring, all without formal training. Key considerations include identifying desired candidate qualities, understanding resume evaluation, structuring interviews, and making final decisions. The process should ideally be concise to maintain candidate interest and expedite hiring. Managers should avoid viewing highly skilled candidates as threats and instead focus on building a high-performing team. Hiring individuals who can potentially surpass the manager’s own skills fosters team success and provides long-term career benefits for the manager.

Toxic behavior in the workplace, stemming from employee disengagement, is a prevalent issue impacting team dynamics and productivity. Despite its detrimental effects, addressing it proves challenging, especially when the team member is a high-performing contributor.

As a manager, your influence extends beyond the office; it permeates into the personal lives of your team members. Your words, actions, and attitude echo in their homes, shaping their thoughts and behaviors. Leadership isn't just about hitting targets; it's about being a role model, guiding through chaos, nurturing future leaders, and above all, embodying humanity by fostering respect and collaboration.

Explore the synergy between management and leadership, challenging the mindset that one must choose between them. Through relatable and practical advice, we emphasizes the importance of embracing both roles as an emerging leader. Readers are encouraged to cultivate a balanced approach, leveraging management skills for day-to-day challenges while harnessing leadership qualities to inspire and guide their teams towards future success.