The Leadership Skill No One Talks About (But Everyone Needs) with Margaret Andrews

Most leaders get promoted because they're great at their job. But being great at your job and being a great leader are two very different things. In this episode, Brandon sits down with Margaret Andrews, leadership educator and author of Manage Yourself to Lead Others, to explore why self-understanding is the real foundation of effective leadership. Margaret shares stories from decades of working with executives, including the moment a high-achieving engineer stood up in front of his peers and admitted he'd been a terrible manager. They dig into why 85% of the reasons people choose their best boss come down to interpersonal skills, what happens when your intentions don't match your behaviors, and how to build the muscle of pausing before you react. Whether you're a new manager trying to find your footing or a seasoned leader who's hit a wall, this conversation will challenge you to look inward before you try to lead outward. Timestamps 0:00 Welcome and Xenium HR sponsor message 2:30 Intro to Margaret Andrews and episode preview 3:00 The Dr. Ventura story and why high achievers see themselves in it 6:30 Why talent, hard work, and good intentions aren't enough 7:00 There's no single right way to lead. So how do you find yours? 9:30 The Best Boss Exercise and what 85% of people say 14:14 The gap between intentions and behaviors 15:45 What happens when leaders stop growing 17:30 Phil's story and finding your own definition of leadership 20:30 Bad Mood Beth and why self-awareness without self-management falls short 22:30 Using the pause between stimulus and response 25:45 Sharon's approach to getting the best out of her team 27:00 Culture makers vs. culture takers 31:30 The John Reed story and why small ethical lapses matter 33:00 Why people fear their potential more than their limitations A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon About: https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws Connect with Xenium HR: Website: https://xeniumhr.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR Twitter: https://twitter.com/XeniumHR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR #Leadership #SelfAwareness #ManageYourself #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #EmotionalIntelligence #TransformYourWorkplace #HRLeadership #NewManagers #InterpersonalSkills