The funny thing about delegating is that it isn't just about handing over a bunch of work - it's about handing over the RIGHT set of work.  In episode 115 of Managing Made Simple, I talk about how to figure out what that right set of work is, saving you time and making it so much easier to hand the task off. By asking this ONE question, you will save yourself countless hours of time, and someone else up for success in taking it on. What is that one question? Tune in to find out! -- Grab...

 When we're running a business or managing a team, every minute of productivity counts. And in a moment where we're all having to do more with less, getting a handle on the areas costing you the most money is game changing for your business.  In episode 114 of Managing Made Simple, I talk about three things that cost your business money every single day - why they cost money, and how to avoid them. Best part: resolving these things will also be a huge morale booster for the team.  -- Grab...

Ever been up at night stressing about a team member who isn’t delivering? Today on Managing Made Simple, we dive into how to tackle this situation so you can get back to your beauty rest. And it’s not to just jump to hiring a new team member! Begin by setting crystal-clear expectations, then lean into an open conversation to suss out the hiccups. Often, that nudge nudges them right back on track. Invite them to share challenges - sometimes they just need a little support to shine. But hey,...

Hiring new team members can feel like a gamble - and it's true, you can never really know if someone is the right fit until you start working with them. But we can get a hell of a lot closer to finding the right fit when we are intentional about the process.  In this episode I talk about ONE thing you can do to dramatically improve the likelihood a team member will work out, saving you countless hours and dollars on having to rehire.  -- Grab your copy of THE UNSTOPPABLE TEAM, your...

What do you get when you combine crystal clear expectations, fostering a culture where vulnerability is strength, and igniting the brilliance within each team member? A NASCAR pit crew that can jack up a car, change 4 tires, and refuel it in 8 seconds. On episode 111 of Managing Made Simple, I’m joined by Shaun Peet, NASCAR Pit Crew Coach & Chief Culture Officer for Trackhouse Racing who shares his leadership secrets around building strong team cultures and creating a high-performing...

Every day I hear the same concern from business owners and leaders - I want to give feedback and set expectations, but I don't want to come across as a micromanager. If you've shared this same concern, you're not alone. But today I'm going to let you in on a little secret: micromanaging is not about WHAT, it's about WHEN. In today's episode, I talk about how the timing of corrective feedback tends to a bigger issue than the feedback itself, and how establishing expectations up front is...

What if I told you that it's likely that there's something you're doing that might be making it harder for your middle managers or team members to delegate?  In this episode I share the MOST important thing managers can do to support their managers in delegating effectively - it's the thing you have to do first to set them up for success, then you can watch the benefits of delegating roll in.  -- Grab your copy of THE UNSTOPPABLE TEAM, your playbook for communicating better with your team,...

Are conflicting motivations creating friction in your team? In this episode of Managing Made Simple, we delve into the keys to aligning your team's values and priorities, breaking down barriers between departments, and fostering collaboration. Learn how to transform "us versus them" mindsets into a cohesive, productive environment. Tune in and take your team to the next level. -- Grab your copy of THE UNSTOPPABLE TEAM, your playbook for communicating better with your team, managing with...

Today I'm answering a question I get at least once a week: how do I create a strong culture on my team? Culture can feel abstract, ethereal even. But there are specific things you can do on your team or in your business to foster and fuel a culture that will lead not only to higher retention, but better results.  In this episode, I talk about things to consider when developing team values, and dive into three ways to create a stronger culture on your team.  -- Grab your copy of THE...

I'm going to tell you something you might not want to hear... Being a "well-liked" manager doesn't make you a GOOD manager. Many managers think that being someone who loves people, loves mentoring, and loves developing their team members makes them a good manager all by itself, and while that's a huge portion of the job...that's not enough. Luckily, the other pieces of the puzzle CAN be learned! Not everything a good manager does makes us feel great. Things like giving difficult feedback...

This week on the pod, I'm thrilled to announce the launch of my new book, The Unstoppable Team. In this episode, we dive into the inspiration behind the book and how it offers practical solutions for business owners, managers, and team leaders. Drawing from my experience working with business owners and leading team operations in big tech, I share insights on simplifying team management and driving business growth. The Unstoppable Team serves as a go-to guide to streamline team operations,...

Do you have an emergency plan in place that your team can "break the glass" on when you are absent from the office? If not, then you need a coverage plan! If you aren't familiar, a coverage plan is something you put together to make sure that if you can't make it into work for any reason and for any amount of time, your team will be able to function as normally as possible. Coverage plans include which of your tasks need to continue to get done on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis; who on...

If you've ever wondered, "why can't I get through to my team?" - the issue might not be you, and it might not be your team - there's just a disconnect in the message where things are getting lost in translation. But there are ways to bridge this gap so you can get back on the same page, AND people who specialize in just that.  If you've been following along for a while, you've probably heard me call myself a Team Whisperer before. But what exactly does a Team Whisperer DO...and how can...

"How do I make my team members respect me as a manager?" Spoiler alert...you can't. Respect isn't automatic, and it can't be forced. Your team isn't going to respect you just because you're "in charge"...but there are things you can do to earn that respect! We want to show our team members that we aren't out of reach or out of touch. We want to show we understand their jobs and want to support them... And all it takes is a willingness to get our hands dirty...and a bit of...

What if I told you that one of the people costing you the most money in your business...is you? What are you doing to cost yourself all that cash? Are you not doing enough? Do you need to work harder? Do you need to be more involved with the team’s work? Actually, it’s exactly the opposite: you need to be less involved. Because when you’re too hands-on with your team’s projects, you might find yourself becoming the dreaded "B" word: a bottleneck. When you have a bottleneck in business, it...

I've got an exciting announcement... This episode marks the accomplishment of a truly mind-blowing milestone: today, we're celebrating 100 EPISODES of Managing Made Simple! WOOHOO! We're going to kick this celebration off by revisiting some of our "top plays" of the podcast, featuring advice on leadership from six of our favorite interviews from MMS. These incredible mentors, experts, and coaches—all leaders in their own right—brought some nuggets of wisdom that even blew MY mind. And...

Have you ever looked at all the projects your team is working on and realized that you have absolutely no clue how any of them are going...but you're afraid to reach out and ask for an update? You're not alone. Many managers struggle with the fear of becoming a micromanager, or being perceived as one, because they've had a micromanager themselves. I know I've been micromanaged before...and I know how demoralizing it can be. However, we can't let this fear keep us in the dark on the status...

It's a new year. That means a new quarter, new goals, new ideas... And, for many people, it may mean a new job. When a team member leaves abruptly, it can throw us all for a loop. And as much as we want to support that team member in their transition and celebrate them flourishing in their career...we also have to immediately begin working on damage control. Our other team members will be looking to us to see how to respond to this departure. So the first thing to do? DON'T...

One of the most difficult parts of managing a team is trying to implement a change to team operations. When you want to make a shift in how work gets done, no matter how beneficial it may be for the team, people are going to resist it. No one likes change. But if we can simplify the process of implementing changes and finally get our operations shifted the way they need to be...getting work done suddenly becomes SO FREAKING EASY. Once you actually complete the change, everyone will quickly...

There's one question I get from business owners and managers that absolutely breaks my heart: "Is it too late for my team?" First of all, the answer is NO—it is not too late for your team, no matter how hopeless or stuck you might feel, no matter how unmotivated they seem, no matter how unwilling they are to change. Even if you think you've tried everything, there's always something else out there... In fact, I have THREE somethings for you to try right here, right now. If you're feeling...

Eager to set meaningful goals for the new year, but not quite sure where to start? In this episode of Managing Made Simple, I share a simple two-part framework for setting goals around what you want to ACHIEVE and how you want to FEEL by the end of the year, so you can accomplish whatever you set out to in your business or career without burning out.  Best part is this is a great framework to share with your team to support them in setting goals that allow them to feel fulfilled in their...

There is a phrase that I have been hearing over the last few weeks that has left me a bit mind-boggled… “Process for process’s sake.” This phrase actually came up in a workshop I was leading for a corporate client around optimizing time. I heard teams saying, “I don’t want there to be process for process’s sake,” or, “It feels like this is just us thinking of new processes for process’s sake.” I was sitting in this workshop like, “What the actual beep do people mean by this?” And after...

Let me see if this story sounds familiar... We hire great people. We pay them well. We inspire them to do great work... And yet, more often than not, they come in and do the bare minimum expected of them. This isn’t the same as neglecting their responsibilities—they’re accomplishing their tasks, kind of—but we often know that they have more potential than that. So how do we get them from just showing up to showing up at their absolute best? Today, I want to talk about three ways to turn...

Spoiler alert, my beloved business owner friends...   If you're a business owner with people working under your supervision...guess what? You're a manager. Congratulations on your new (well, new-ISH) title! In all seriousness...this is actually something I see a lot of business owners run into. They don't realize that when they have a team, they're not just a business owner who happens to have a team...they're a business owner who is MANAGING a team. And that means that oftentimes, the...