PODCAST · business
The Leadership Shot
by Leila Bulling Towne
Wouldn’t it be nice if someone cut the bs & told you the dos & don’ts of being a great leader? Books are great, but you’re busy! Have 15 minutes? Well, you’re in the right spot: The Leadership Shot is a new podcast from executive coach, Leila Bulling Towne. Leila’s clients are startup founders & C-suite leaders. In this podcast, first-time managers, team leads, & experienced leaders get the practical advice she shares with people who aim to (& have rung) that NYSE bell. Each week Leila shares tangible advice with little to no fluff. Subscribe for your 15-minute shot towards awesome leadership.
Episodes
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#64. Everyone Wants Leadership Skills. Nobody Wants to Do Leadership.
You know what good leadership looks like. The question is whether you're actually doing it. I want to ask you something, and I want you to answer it honestly. When was the last time you did something as a leader that genuinely made you uncomfortable? Not slightly awkward. Actually uncomfortable —...
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#63. How to Lead When "De-Escalation" Isn't Enough: 5 Things to Say in a Crisis
"De-escalation" is the word of the day. But what does it mean? Should you use this word to reply to the tension your team is feeling? Is it a good way to address the activities of ICE in the US if you're working in the US? As someone who's half German with a father who lived through Nazi Germany,...
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#62. Stretch Goals Are a Lie: How to Actually Develop Your Team
Stretch goals came out of Jack Welch's GE in the 1990s. Corporate America has been obsessed with them ever since. And they don't work. Here's what actually happens: You dump work on someone, disappear, and call it development. That's not a stretch goal. That's abandonment. In this episode, I'm...
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#61. The Development Reckoning: A 90-Day Plan
You need an easy plan to begin to level up your team members. In this episode, I share ideas on how to create a simple 90-day plan to change the capabilities of a team member. This is episode 2 in a 3-part series about The Development Reckoning. Hiring is frozen, you never really paid attention…
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#60. The Development Reckoning: What to Do When Your Team Can't Leave
Hiring is slowing way down as we start 2026. For years, you've been chasing the next hire, the better candidate, the person who's finally going to solve all your problems. And the people who actually showed up? You gave them onboarding and then . . . nothing! But 66% of CEOs recently said they're...
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#60. Silence isn't neutral
When you don't say anything, you send a message to your team. The message says, This is OK. Or, I'm OK. with this. So, while you think you're being neutral, you're not at all. Silence isn't neutral. I want you to consider starting more conversations--they're almost always ones about struggling...
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#59 The Hero Manager
You’re overcommitted, overwhelmed, and always the one who gets it done. Sound familiar? Then you might be a hero manager—someone who rescues projects, solves problems, and unintentionally teaches their team to step back instead of stepping up. In this episode of The Leadership Shot, Leila breaks...
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#58 The "I Don't Have Time" Excuse
We all know the go-to excuse: "I just don’t have time." But what if the problem isn’t your calendar—it’s your priorities, fear, or lack of clarity? In this episode of The Leadership Shot, Leila breaks down what’s really behind the time excuse, how it shows up in leadership, and how to shift from...
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#57 The Myth of High Standards: Are You Creating Excellence or Just Burnout?
Every leader says they have high standards—but are they building excellence or exhausting their team? In this episode of The Leadership Shot, Leila unpacks the line between intentional excellence and unrealistic expectations. You’ll learn why some leaders use "high standards" as a shield for...
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#56 Self-Compassion Is a Power Skill. Use It.
In this episode of the Leadership Shop Podcast, we're talking about the often misunderstood topic of self-compassion. Self-compassion isn’t weakness. It’s what keeps you sharp, steady, and clear when things go sideways. Let's talk about how it can make you a better leader.
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#55 AI Isn’t the Threat. Poor Leadership Is
Right now, way too many leaders are introducing AI with a tone that basically says: ‘Learn this or get left behind.’ But what’s actually driving that message isn’t innovation—it’s panic. And panic is a terrible place to lead from. If you want your team to grow, evolve, and embrace AI, you need to...
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# 54 Talking About Accountablity: 5 Tips
You know someone on your team isn’t meeting the mark. And you’re avoiding the conversation. You’re not alone—but you are paying a price. This episode is about how to stop dancing around accountability—and how to say what needs to be said without damaging the relationship.
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#53 Building Tomorrow's Leaders: Strategies to Get Started
Are you struggling to develop leaders in your organization? You’re not alone! Today, we’ll discuss the common pitfalls to avoid and the best practices to implement when it comes to leadership development. Let’s ensure that your future leaders are equipped to face the challenges ahead.
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#52 Resilience Unpacked: Strategies for Leaders to Bounce Back
Ever wondered why some leaders seem to thrive under pressure while others crumble? The secret lies in resilience. In this episode, we'll dive deep into what resilience really means, why it's essential for long-term success, and how you can cultivate it in yourself and your team. From developing a...
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#51 From Chaos to Clarity: Mastering the Art of Offsites
Executive offsites can be a game-changer, but only if done right. In this episode, we’ll dive into the essential steps for planning impactful offsites that foster collaboration and innovation, while also highlighting the common pitfalls to avoid. Let’s make your next offsite one for the books!
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#50 When Your Star Player is a Negative Nancy: Tackling Persistent Negativity
Dealing with a high-performing employee who constantly brings negativity to the table can feel like walking a tightrope. You need their expertise, but their attitude is dragging the team down. In this episode, I’ll share strategies for tackling this delicate situation, ensuring you not only…
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# 49 Keeping the Peace: Managing Election-Related Conflict Among Employees
As the 2024 elections draw near, political discussions are bound to heat up in the workplace. How do you, as a leader, navigate these conversations while maintaining a positive and productive environment? Today, I’ll explore how to create a culture of open communication, set boundaries around...
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#48 When Coaching Doesn't Work
I recently had a potential client ask me for an example of when coaching isn’t the right step for a leader. I had several examples to share, and I thought it would be a helpful podcast episode. Partnering with an executive coach can make a significant difference in your life as a leader. It’s a…
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#47 What To Look For In An Executive Coach
You've been offered an opportunity to work with an executive coach, but you're not quite what that entails or what you should be looking for to make sure it's a good fit for you. In this episode I'm sharing an inside look at what to expect and what you should be looking for to get the most of an...
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#46 What Do Executive Coaches Do?
In this episode I'm sharing the 20 top things that executives coaches do. If you've ever wondered what working with an executive coach looks like, then today's podcast will give you an inside look at the most common benefits and outcomes you can expect.
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#45 Buddy To Boss
Transitioning from being a peer to becoming a manager of your former friends can be a delicate process, a bit like navigating a minefield of inside jokes and shared memories. I’m going to highlight the common pitfalls as you navigate this transformation because let's face it, you don't want to be...
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#44 Listen Up! Time to Be a Better Listener!
As a leader, you spend a good amount of time talking. But likely (or should) spend even more time listening. And being a good listener doesn’t come naturally to many of us. We think well if we can physically hear--we have the ability to hear--then listening is pretty darn easy. I bet you’ve been…
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#43 Balancing Optimism
Optimism fuels motivation, fosters resilience, and inspires innovation. On the other hand, realism encourages prudent decision-making and helps you and your team manage expectations. Can you be enthusiastic and realistic at the same time? And be yourself? Yes, you can, and I’ll help you prepare…
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#42 The Art of Venting in the Workplace: Navigating Productivity and Pitfalls
Does venting have a place at work? Is it productive? As a leader, should you encourage or discourage it? In this episode I'm talking about the positives and negatives of venting in the workplace, what to watch out for, and how it can be done productively. As a leader, you can strike a good…
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#41 Afraid of AI? Start with the Basics?
It can be really easy (tempting) to dismiss AI as something you don't need to worry about or something that won't impact you or something that can't help you in your role as a leader. In this episode, I ask my friend and collaborator Rick Crisci to start us off on a journey of learning about AI....
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#40 5 Mistakes Leaders Make in 1:1 Meetings
I’m not going to convince you 1:1 meetings are important. You know that. Instead, I want to share with you 5 mistakes leaders commonly make when they arrange or hold 1:1 meetings. Changing your approach after learning these mistakes will help you hold more impactful meetings. You’ll save time and...
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#39 Master Self-Talk. Talk to Yourself!
Have you ever left a meeting--walked out the conference room door or clicked “End Meeting”--and groaned to yourself about something you said or did? “I can’t believe I said that!” or “Oh my gosh, why do I do that?” or “Wow, I looked so stupid.” This is self-talk. You talking to yourself. And…
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#38 Heart-To-Heart Conversations
Do you have an employee or a peer who is in pain and needs some very honest advice? You want to have a talk with them, a heart-to-heart. But having an effective heart-to-heart conversation is not something most companies provide on-the-job training for. Knowing when and how to have a…
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#37 Back to Leadership School: Final Lessons
Each workday in September 2023, I shared a short video lesson. And I’ve been summarizing lessons in podcasts. So, here’s a chance—a choice—for you to lead by listening. I want you to move willingly towards and into leadership on the outside and the inside. It's Back to Leadership) School. This is...
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#36 Back to Leadership School: 5 MORE Lessons
Each workday in September 2023, I'm sharing a short video lesson. And I’ve been summarizing lessons in podcasts. So, here’s a chance—a choice—for you to lead by listening. I want you to move willingly towards and into leadership on the outside and the inside. It's Back to Leadership School. Join me!
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#35 Back to Leadership School: 5 Lessons
Growing up, I always dreaded this time of year, as school started the first Tuesday of September. On the outside, I went back willingly (new school supplies!). But on the inside, I was kicking and screaming, "NOOOO!!!" Kids don't have a choice. They have to go back to school. Leaders have a…
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#34 Ten Signs Of Low EQ
Wouldn't it be nice if you had some examples of low EQ of low emotional intelligence, things you could look for in yourself and others that would tell you know what? “That's not good. That's not effective. That's not how I want to operate or have somebody on my team operating.” Well, I've got you...
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#33 Ten Signs Of High EQ
To raise your EQ you need examples of what to do. What to focus on. In this episode, I share a list of 10 signs of high emotional intelligence. These are behaviors, actions, things to do that show high emotional intelligence. Can you see yourself in this list? Can you see your team, your peers,...
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# 32 Re-Thinking Managing Up
I’m sure you’ve heard this before: people join companies, and they leave managers. Here’s another way to think about it: people don't quit jobs; they quit bosses. The primary ingredient in your job satisfaction isn’t the office and how fancy it is, the workload, salary, or benefits. It's the...
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# 31 Misconceptions About Managing Up
I feel your relationship with your manager is the most important one you’ll have in any role at any company. Yes, you’ll have great peers to work with you, and you’ll likely hire and collaborate with amazing team members. But your relationship with your manager is one that will impact you the…
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#30 Ten Things Crappy Leaders Do
Last week I shared ten top things that awesome leaders do. This week, let's look at the flip side and talk about 10 things that CRAPPY leaders do!
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#29 Ten Things Awesome Leaders Do
In this episode I'm sharing ten things awesome leaders do. Think about whether or not you can implement some of these ten actions or characteristics to be a better leader.
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#28 5 Tips For More Effective Apologies
Apologizing doesn't always come easy, but it's an important skill for leaders at all levels. In this episode, I'm sharing five top tips to help you apologize more effectively.
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#27 Talking About Your Goals
You've set your SMART goals, and now you need to talk about them! In this episode I'm diving into why you need to share your goals, who you should be sharing them with, and how to do it in the most effective way possible.
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#26 SMART Goals
Unless you’ve lived under a rock and in a cave and been there for a long time, you’ve heard of SMART goals. It sounds so simple, right? Using the acronym SMART to write great goals. But I think you know that an easy-to-remember acronym doesn’t write the goals for you. I think it can be easier to...
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#25 Common Goal Setting Myths
In this episode, I’m going to bust some common myths on goal setting. There are 5 common myths about goals I want to discuss. These are things I feel many leaders believe in falsely, and it holds them and their teams back.
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#24: Qualities of Strong Post-Pandemic Leaders
If you led a team or function during the pandemic, you used some skills new to you, and you had to double down on other skills you had been using for a while. As I coached leaders during the pandemic, I noted the behaviors strong leaders were falling back on—and those they were developing anew....
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#23: Easy Ways to Use Psychological Safety as a Leader
Let's admit it: the term psychological safety can make you groan or roll your eyes. Leaders know they have to learn about it, but it seems too hard to understand what it is and how to implement it--without reading a long book or taking a class. I'm making it easy for you! In this episode, I...
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#22: Post-Pandemic Leadership Lessons
Has it been three years since the pandemic started? It's crazy but true. What's changed for you during the last three years? How have you grown as a leader? I've continued to coach executives and teams during the last three crazy years, and in this episode, I share post-pandemic leadership…
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#21: 5 Tough Love Conversations Leaders Need to Have
In my 25 years of coaching executives, I've learned there are some common tough love conversations they don't want to have. I wonder if you might also struggle with these discussions. You know you need to have them, but they are awkward and difficult. Primarily because you love some element of…
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#20: Interview with Amy Porterfield: Author, Entrepreneur, & Leader
This episode is bit different than my usual ones, and that's a GREAT thing because for my first interview on this podcast, I spoke with Amy Porterfield. Amy Porterfield is the host of the top-ranked podcast "Online Marketing Made Easy." She's also the author of the new book, Two Weeks Notice…
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#19: Three Exercises to Assess Your Leadership in Under 15 Minutes
Do you want an easy way to assess your leadership? Or to plan your leadership to look back at a certain time period--such as a quarter or a whole year? Well, I've got you covered because in this episode, I'm going to walk you through three exercises to help you plan to be a better leader. We're...
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#18: Using Your Calendar to Develop Self-Awareness As A Leader
Do you ever look at your calendar and sigh as you see the same weekly status meeting that could be an email instead? Or maybe you look at it and smile, thinking about the meeting with a high performer and how you love coaching them. Well, your calendar not only helps you plan your work and tells...
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#17: 5 New Myths Leaders Need to Ignore
I love and hate the idea of New Year’s Resolution. I bet you feel the same way. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the energy of the new year and then get frustrated. Whether you write resolutions or not, there are some common myths out there--statements that can put pressure on you as you start a...
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#16: 4 Reasons Why Giving Praise is Key for Leaders
Think about the last time you got praise—especially when you received it from someone you respect. It felt so good, right? It makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. This feeling is what your team wants and needs. They want your praise. Yet many leaders think that giving positive feedback or praise...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Wouldn’t it be nice if someone cut the bs & told you the dos & don’ts of being a great leader? Books are great, but you’re busy! Have 15 minutes? Well, you’re in the right spot: The Leadership Shot is a new podcast from executive coach, Leila Bulling Towne.
Leila’s clients are startup founders & C-suite leaders. In this podcast, first-time managers, team leads, & experienced leaders get the practical advice she shares with people who aim to (& have rung) that NYSE bell. Each week Leila shares tangible advice with little to no fluff. Subscribe for your 15-minute shot towards awesome leadership.
HOSTED BY
Leila Bulling Towne
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Leadership Shot have?
The Leadership Shot currently has 65 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Leadership Shot about?
Wouldn’t it be nice if someone cut the bs & told you the dos & don’ts of being a great leader? Books are great, but you’re busy! Have 15 minutes? Well, you’re in the right spot: The Leadership Shot is a new podcast from executive coach, Leila Bulling Towne. Leila’s clients are startup founders &...
How often does The Leadership Shot release new episodes?
The Leadership Shot has 65 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Leadership Shot?
You can listen to The Leadership Shot on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Leadership Shot?
The Leadership Shot is created and hosted by Leila Bulling Towne.
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