The Manager Track

You might think your team is using AI well. Everyone has access to the tools. People are experimenting. The meeting notes get cleaned up faster. The emails go out a little quicker. On the surface, progress.But there's a pattern most teams don't notice until someone names it: all of that activity is still individual. One person's calculator on one person's desk. The AI is making individual tasks faster, but the underlying workflows, processes, and the way the team actually operates together have not changed.That's the gap. And if your team stays in Stage 1 much longer, the cost starts to compound.In this episode, Ramona walks through the difference between Stage 1 and Stage 2 AI adoption and why the shift is a leadership responsibility, not an IT one. She uses meetings as the clearest illustration of what Stage 2 actually looks like in practice, and then breaks down five concrete moves leaders can make right now.What you'll hear in this episode:Why the "everyone has AI tools" moment is actually just the starting line, not the finishWhat McKinsey and MIT Sloan research say about the productivity gap between Stage 1 and Stage 2How to redesign a meeting end to end as an AI-integrated system -- without changing the meeting itselfWhy shared standards matter more than who has the best individual promptIf your team is using AI in a dozen different ways with no coordination, no shared standards, and no one asking whether the process itself still makes sense, then this episode is for you.-> The Manager Track on YouTube-- RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE --* McKinsey Global Institute - 60-70% of today's work tasks are automatable with existing technology: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/tech-and-ai/our-insights/the-economic-potential-of-generative-ai-the-next-productivity-frontier* MIT Sloan Management Review and Deloitte - workflow-level AI produces 2.5x higher productivity gains vs. individual use: https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/topics/talent/human-capital-trends/2026/human-ai-interaction-design.html* Episode 311: Delegating - It's Actually About Managing Yourself: https://themanagertrackpodcast.com/delegation-for-managers/* Team Workflow Audit Framework: https://bit.ly/42ixUWr* Free Masterclass: archova.org/masterclass* The Confident and Competent New Manager (book): archova.org/books -- LINKS --* Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE.* Grab the free New Manager Toolkit: archova.org/freetoolkits* 1-on-1 meeting course: http://archova.org/1on1-course* Book: amzn.to/3TuOdcP-- OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE --* Episode 210 - Your Future Role With AI: https://www.ramonashaw.com/210-artificial-intelligence* Episode 218 - GenAI for Managers: https://www.ramonashaw.com/218-genai-for-managers* Episode 296 - AI For Managers in 2026: https://www.ramonashaw.com/ai-for-managers-in-2026* Episode 307 - The ‘AI vs Human Skills’ Managers Must Pay Attention to: https://www.ramonashaw.com/ai-human-leadership-management-- WHAT'S NEXT? --Learn more at archova.org.Book: amzn.to/3TuOdcPManager Archetype Quiz: archova.org/quizFree Masterclass: archova.org/masterclassLeave a review: ramonashaw.com/itunes and SpotifyTag us: @ramona.shaw.leadership on Instagram or linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

There is a specific kind of manager who reads everything about delegation, agrees with all of it, and still ends up working late on Tuesday redoing a deck someone else was supposed to own. The intentions are right but the math is what's broken.If you got promoted because you were fast and reliable and you figured things out, that exact skill set is now the thing capping your team. Every time you absorb a problem, edit a draft, or quietly redo something, the short-term math feels like it works. The long-term math is building you a ceiling you cannot see yet.This is not a control problem. It is a calculation problem dressed up as helpfulness.In Episode 311, we cover:The Efficiency Calculus Trap and why "I can do it in 10 minutes" is the wrong measure of costThe Delegation Scale (Levels 1, 2, and 3) and the exact language for each oneThree responses to use instead of taking work back when someone brings a problem to youThe 4-question checklist to run before any meaningful delegationIf you are working late while your team logs off on time, getting work routed back to you that you already handed off, or starting to wonder why your team needs you for everything, this episode gives you the language and the structure to change the pattern this week.— Resources Mentioned in This Episode —The Leadership Accelerator: Archova's 12-week cohort program for new and early-stage managers. Goes deep on delegation, accountability, and breaking over-functioning patterns. archova.org/leadership-acceleratorMartin Seligman's research on learned helplessness and its application to teams : https://ppc.sas.upenn.edu/sites/default/files/learnedhelplessness.pdf— Links —Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE.Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: archova.org/1on1-courseGrab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP— Other Episodes You Might Like —Sourced from the Podcast Publication Schedule spreadsheet in Google Drive. Both episodes thematically extend Episode 311's territory: the over-functioning trap and the leadership identity shift.Episode 274 — The Self-Sacrificing Manager: Breaking the Cycle of Doing Everyone's Work  /  ramonashaw.com/274-leadership-boundariesEpisode 256 — The Leadership Identity Shift: From Executor to Influencer  /  ramonashaw.com/256-leadership-shift— What's Next? —Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcPWant to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quizAre you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclassLove the podcast and haven't left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

Most managers know the first 90 days matter. There are books about it, frameworks for it, and a built-in understanding that you are allowed to ask questions and make mistakes early on. What almost nobody talks about is what happens after that window closes.Somewhere around the six-month mark, something shifts. Your boss is no longer evaluating your potential. They are evaluating your patterns. Your team has stopped wondering who you are and started noticing how you operate. Your peers are making decisions about whether you are someone who owns things or someone who needs approval before moving. And most managers are still running the playbook from month two.In working with hundreds of leaders through their first year and beyond, Ramona has noticed three specific shifts that get overlooked or delayed past the six-month mark. These are the behaviors that separate leaders who are growing from leaders who are stalling, and none of them involve working harder.In Episode 310 of The Manager Track, Ramona breaks down:How checking in with your boss can quietly erode your authority, and how to tell the difference between collaboration and needing permission to move.What strategic thinking actually looks like in daily practice during the first six months, and why waiting for someone to tell you to think bigger is a mistake.Why being vague about how you lead costs you credibility, and a 4-question framework to make your expectations explicit.YThe behind-the-scenes version of validation seeking that looks like smart stakeholder management but functions as a safety net.If you have been in your role for a few months and you can feel the expectations shifting around you but you are not sure what to do differently, this episode gives you the moves.Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.RESOURCES MENTIONEDSchedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona https://calendly.com/ramonashaw/leadership-strategy-sessionThe Leadership Accelerator – 12-week cohort program for new and early-stage managers: archova.org/leadership-acceleratorGrab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseGrab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcPOTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKEEpisode 298 - How to Build Trust Fast as a New Leader https://www.ramonashaw.com/new-managers-build-trustEpisode 106 - What Is Your Leadership Philosophy? https://www.ramonashaw.com/106-what-is-your-leadership-philosophy/— WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

Here is a test that comes up in almost every senior leadership conversation. Someone asks a manager, “What are you building?” And the answer goes straight into a to-do list: “We are migrating to a new platform. We are rolling out a new process. We are updating the tech stack.”It sounds productive. It sounds like proof of effort.What actually happens in that moment is that you shrink yourself in the room. The CEO, the cross-functional peer, the senior leader on the other side of the table was not asking for your task list. They were asking where you are taking this. And the longer you stay in the tactical lane, the more they file you as an executor, not a strategic leader.This gap between what you are doing and what you are building is one of the biggest reasons capable managers get passed over for the next level, especially right now when everything inside the organization is in motion.In Episode 309 of The Manager Track, we cover:The Route vs. Destination framingThe “Continue” TrapThe 3-Step Destination StatementIf you have ever walked out of a senior leadership meeting wondering why your work did not land the way it should have, or if you know you are thinking strategically but your communication keeps landing tactically, this episode gives you the exact language to close that gap starting this week.Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE —Executive Presence Intensive: 8-week cohort program for mid- and senior-level leaders. Next cohort kicks off May 4th. Learn more at https://archova.org/executive-presence-program— LINKS —Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona https://calendly.com/ramonashaw/leadership-strategy-sessionGrab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseGrab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcPOTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKEEpisode 256 — The Leadership Identity Shift: From Executor to InfluencerEpisode 228 — How to Actually Connect & Build Relationships at Work - With Moe Carrick— WHAT’S NEXT? —Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

Do you know that moment when you realize that a new hire is not working out? Maybe it is a performance observation you made yourself over the past few weeks, or maybe someone pulls you aside (a senior leader, a peer) and shares their impression. Either way, a thought crosses your mind: Darn, maybe I should not have hired them.What happens next is where things go sideways. Most managers either go quiet such as privately deciding something is off but not saying anything while slowly pulling back their coaching, their attention, their investment. Or they move too fast, making a call before they have enough information to make it well.Both of those responses erode your leadership credibility. 'Maybe I should not have hired them' is not a conclusion. It is a signal and this episode is about what to do with it.In Episode 308 of The Manager Track, we cover: The 4 Diagnostic Questions: the framework to run before doing anythingThe 3 Categories: how to distinguish a skill gap (coachable), a behavioral pattern (addressable with specificity), and a role-strength misalignment (the most underdiagnosed category)The 2 Key Conversations: what those are, including how to open each and what to listen forWhether you are three weeks in and already second-guessing a new hire, navigating feedback from above, or simply trying to get better at turning difficult situations into clearer decisions, this episode gives you a repeatable process to use every time.Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE —Leadership Accelerator: Archova's 12-week manager readiness program for new and early-stage leaders: archova.org/leadership-accelerator— LINKS —Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona https://calendly.com/ramonashaw/leadership-strategy-sessionGrab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseGrab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcPOTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKEEpisode 292 — Performance vs. Potential: A Better Approach to Assessing Your PeopleEpisode 301 — Why Good Managers Still Lose Great People— WHAT’S NEXT? —Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

Most managers adopted the AI tools their company rolled out. They've played around with a few prompts. They think that's enough.Meanwhile, a split is forming. On one side, AI is handling tasks, workflows, research, briefs, data synthesis, meeting prep, drafted communications, and reports at a speed and quality that keeps accelerating. On the other side, there is an increasing premium on genuinely skilled human leadership: trust, coaching, real feedback, empathy, navigating conflict, creating alignment, and helping people grow through change.The managers who stay in the middle, the ones who outsource their leadership halfway to AI without leaning deeper into either side, will find it harder and harder to justify their value. If all you do is relay what the tool produced, the organization will eventually ask why it needs you at all.In Episode 307 of The Manager Track, Ramona walks through both sides of this divide and introduces five specific skills (built as Claude Skills) that help managers lean into their human leadership while leveraging AI as a training and preparation tool.If you've been leaning into AI but haven't asked yourself what your team actually needs from you as a human leader, this episode will help you figure out both sides.Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE —Claude AI (Anthropic): Claude Skills for manager development -> claude.aiHorizontal Leadership: Archova's 60-minute organizational presentation on horizontal leadership: https://bit.ly/4dApTTy90-Day Manager Readiness Program, the Leadership Accelerator: archova.org/leadership-acceleratorAccess the 5 Claude Skills (including instruction guide and Zip file for easy upload into your Claude account: https://bit.ly/3Q4BKQ0— LINKS —Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona https://calendly.com/ramonashaw/leadership-strategy-sessionThe Leadership Accelerator – 12-week cohort program for new and early-stage managers: archova.org/leadership-acceleratorGrab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseGrab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcPOTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKEEpisode 256 – The Leadership Identity Shift: From Executor to InfluencerEpisode 267 – Horizontal Leadership: Creating Teams That Own Their Work— WHAT’S NEXT? —Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

You’ve been told to work harder, be more patient, and wait your turn. So you did. You kept delivering strong results, volunteered for extra projects, asked for feedback, and acted on it.And nothing moved.The positive performance reviews kept coming, but so did the invisible wall. No meaningful scope change. No sponsorship. No advancement conversations that actually went anywhere. At some point, the quiet frustration sets in: if the problem isn’t my performance, then what is it?The answer, in many cases, is that your boss has quietly become the ceiling. Not always because of their character, but sometimes because of their psychology, their capability level, or the organizational system around them. In this episode of The Manager Track, Ramona walks through a diagnostic framework called TAPS to help you identify exactly which ceiling you’re dealing with and what to do about it:Ramona also shares specific scripts for each type, the research behind why these patterns are so hard to see from inside them (including the halo and horn effect), and the mindset shift that keeps you from becoming collateral damage in someone else’s limitations.If you’ve been stuck despite doing strong work and you can’t figure out why, this episode will give you a much clearer lens on what’s actually happening and what moves to make next.Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.RESOURCES MENTIONEDSchedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona https://calendly.com/ramonashaw/leadership-strategy-sessionThe Leadership Accelerator – 12-week cohort program for new and early-stage managers: archova.org/leadership-acceleratorGrab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseGrab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcPOTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKEEpisode 212 – Tricky Relationships at WorkEpisode 187 - Difficult People at Work— WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

Most people calculate the risk of giving their boss feedback and decide that silence is safer. The math seems obvious: speak up and you might damage the relationship; stay quiet and nothing changes.So they keep their mouth shut when the meetings drag, when morale takes a hit, when a decision lands sideways.The thing nobody talks about is that the people who shape their boss's behavior most effectively are the ones who give the most feedback. Not because they are bolder. Because they understand the mechanics of how to frame a message when the power dynamic is uneven.In this episode of The Manager Track, Ramona walks through why upward feedback feels loaded, how trust changes the range of directness available to you, and the four communication principles that make feedback land when you are talking to someone above you in the hierarchy.Here is what you will take away from the episode:The Trust Calibration Principle: how to assess whether your relationship has earned the level of directness you are about to use, and what happens when people skip this step.Low-stake and mid-stake testing: specific language for surfacing observations and patterns without triggering defensiveness, so you can gauge your boss's openness before going further.The 4 Principles of upward feedback: The dos and don’ts that determine whether your feedback lands and earns more respect from your boss, or does the exact opposite.If you have ever had feedback for your manager sitting in your head for weeks because you could not figure out how to say it without it going sideways, this episode gives you the structure to actually get it out and do it well.Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.RESOURCES MENTIONEDSchedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona https://calendly.com/ramonashaw/leadership-strategy-sessionGrab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseGrab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcPOTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKEEpisode 298 – How to Build Trust Fast as a New LeaderEpisode 303 - Exec Communication: How to Speak So Senior Leaders Actually Listen— WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

You work hard, you care about your team, and you’re good at your job, yet somehow you keep running into the same limits.Feedback repeats, your calendar is packed, and small changes in behavior never seem to stick for long.In this week’s episode of The Manager Track, we dig into a quiet but powerful reason this happens: your leadership identity. Not your personality, but the story you tell yourself about who you need to be at work. I break down three common identity “ceilings” that keep high performers stuck, share what the research says about why they are so persistent, and walk you through how to start shifting them in real life, even if you are busy and under pressure.Here is what you will take away from the episode:How to spot whether you are operating from the “hardworker,” “survivor,” or “expert” identity and what that looks like in day-to-day leadership.Why the very traits that got you promoted now quietly create bottlenecks, burnout, reactivity, or defensiveness on your team.Practical coaching questions you can use with yourself or your team to notice identity patterns in the moment and create a different “next move.”If you have ever felt stuck in a role despite doing everything right, this episode gives you a clearer explanation on what might be going on that’s holding you back.Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.RESOURCES MENTIONEDSchedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona https://calendly.com/ramonashaw/leadership-strategy-sessionGrab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseGrab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcPOTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKEEpisode 294 – Want to Achieve Big Goals? The Two Critical Factors Most People MissEpisode 290 – Beyond High Performance: What Are You Really Capable Of? — With Jason JaggardEpisode 274 – The Self-Sacrificing Manager: Breaking the Cycle of Doing Everyone's Work— WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

Ramona opens this episode with a pattern she has observed across years of coaching leaders at every level: the most technically sharp person in the room often isn't the most influential one. She argues that communication problems are almost never vocabulary problems. They are frame problems. And she walks through a practical system for owning the architecture of any high-stakes conversation before it starts.Ramona introduces the CLAR Clarity Signal System, a four-part mental model covering certainty in delivery, leading with impact, anchoring to specifics, and redirecting under pressure without retreating. She also addresses one of the quieter traps in difficult conversations: the need for closure and why chasing it tends to make things worse.Key TakeawaysConfidence in delivery signals competence more reliably than content alone. Research on manager presentations confirms this directly.Every conversation has an invisible architecture. Strong communicators don't accept the frame they're handed. They reset it early and hold it.Hedging phrases like "I could be totally wrong, but..." pre-discount your own point before anyone else has a chance to engage with itClosure is a feeling. Clarity is a decision. You don't need the other person to agree in order to move forward.Try this this week: Before your next meeting where you expect to be put on the defensive, prepare two ways to reset the frame. Practice the line: "Happy to shed some light on this. Can I give you the two-sentence context that makes this a lot easier to follow?"Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.RESOURCES MENTIONEDSchedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona https://calendly.com/ramonashaw/leadership-strategy-sessionGrab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseGrab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcPOTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKEEpisode 280 | The 5 Gaps Undermining Your Executive PresenceEpisode 281 | Are You Overexplaining? When Leaders Should (and Shouldn't) Justify Themselves— WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

How much of your week is spent "firefighting"?If you’re like most managers, you start the week with a strategy, but by Tuesday afternoon, a "drop everything" request from senior leadership has derailed your entire team.The result? Change Fatigue. Your best people are drained, silos are hardening, and "alignment" feels like a corporate buzzword rather than a reality.In this week’s episode of the Manager Track Podcast, I sit down with executive coach and organizational strategist Betsy Kauffman. Betsy has spent decades in the C-suite helping leaders cut through the noise to build what she calls an "Execution Rhythm."We dive deep into:The 3-Priority Rule: Why having 5+ priorities is the same as having zero.The "First Team" Mindset: Why your peers are actually more important than your direct reports.The Tiny Book of Questions: Why you need to stop asking "How can I help?" and start asking the 3 questions that actually unblock your team.The Negotiation of "Urgent": How to push back on senior leaders without sounding like a bottleneck.If you’re tired of the "reorg of the month" and want to get your team rowing in the same direction, this conversation is a must-listen.Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED — Betsy Kauffman's website: https://crossimpact.co/ Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsykauffman/ Check out her TedTalk: https://www.ted.com/talks/betsy_kauffman_4_tips_to_kickstart_honest_conversations_at_work Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseGrab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcPLink to video by Patrick Lencioni: https://youtu.be/BjE_mPoZPSg?si=Z-I_T8ETpqNUTnYTMore about team building based on Patrick Lencioni's work: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ou9nrWEMwQc6Y7wX6p41ZwbmuZT2uPju/view?usp=drive_link — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —Episode 282 - Leadership Lessons from a CEO Who Built Cultures by Design - With Lawrence R. ArmstrongEpisode 132 - How to Increase Employee Engagement & Team Alignment - With Steve Curtin— WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

You’ve heard it a thousand times. It’s practically gospel in leadership circles:“People don’t leave jobs, they leave managers.”It’s a catchy phrase. It makes for a great headline. But there’s one major problem: The data doesn't fully back it up.When a high performer hands in their resignation, most good managers immediately spiral into self-doubt. They ask, “What did I do wrong? How did I fail them?”But according to the latest research, you might be taking the blame for things entirely out of your control, like company-wide toxic culture, stagnant compensation, or the simple "pull" of a better opportunity.In this week's episode of The Manager Track podcast, we’re flipping the script. I’m sharing the raw data on why people actually quit in 2024 and 2025, and how you can use these departures as fuel for your growth instead of fuel for your insecurity.We’re breaking down:Push vs. Pull Factors: Understanding why employees actually leave jobsThe "Shadow Job Description": A Harvard-backed concept to ensure your next hire actually fits the reality of the role.Stay Interviews: The proactive tool you need to use before the two-week notice lands on your desk.Post-Mortem: How to run a real postmortem when someone leaves, including the timing, questions, and mindset that turn an exit into actionable insight instead of noise.If you’ve recently lost a team member and felt like it was a personal failure, you need to hear this. It’s time to stop the guilt and start leading with a more accurate map.Listen or watch now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED — Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseGrab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —Episode 241 - Why Leaders Should Rethink Employee Departures - With Robert GlazerEpisode 120 - When a Direct Resigns, What's Your Responsibility? — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

Most people think moving into leadership is about a title, a pay raise, and reaching that next career step of finally "leading a team."But as anyone who has actually done it knows... it’s usually a rude awakening.To celebrate our 300th episode of The Manager Track, we brought together 3 incredible leaders who recently took on their first official leadership roles. They represent completely different worlds: running a team of nurses, building up a marketing agency, and leading an engineering team.We talked about the stuff no one likes to admit: the jealousy of seeing others shine in what you used to do, the fear of making a mistake, and the moment you realize you don't have to know everything.They didn't give me the "corporate" answers. They gave me the truth.In this special 300th episode roundtable, we dive into:The "Knowledge Trap": Why being the technical expert is actually your biggest hurdle to becoming a great leader.Managing Up: The "aha" moment when you realize your most important relationship is the one with your manager.The Jealousy Factor: How to handle the internal "niggle" when someone else gets the credit for your idea.Redefining "Good": How their definition of a manager shifted from "organized and knowledgable" to "open and self-aware."Whether you’re a new manager, a seasoned leader, or someone eyeing that next promotion, this conversation is relatable and inspiring!Listen or watch now on our Website, Spotify,Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.To the next 300 episodes 🎊— RESOURCES MENTIONED — Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseGrab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —Episode 262 - The First-Time Manager ExperienceEpisode 61 - From IC to Manager - 4 Main Shifts — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

Once a reputation sticks at work, it can feel impossible to change.You’re trying to do better and you’re showing up differently.But people still see the old you:The "difficult" oneThe "not a team player"The "abrasive" managerThe person who "messed up that one time" and never lived it downYou can’t outwork a bad story that’s still circulating about you in rooms you’re not in.What you need is a strategy, not just more effort.In this episode, Ramona breaks down a clear, practical framework to rebuild a damaged work reputation and actually make your growth visible to others.You’ll learn:Why quietly "doing better" isn’t enough to change how people see youThe psychology behind how reputations form and get stuck at workScripts to use when you need to own past mistakes without over‑apologizingHow to redirect gossip and old narratives without sounding defensiveIf you feel like your past at work keeps dragging your present (and future) down, this episode will show you how to take back control of the narrative.Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED — Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseGrab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —Episode 248 - Mental Traps That Keep Leaders StuckEpisode 203 - Current-Day Lessons From Historical Leaders - with Moshik Temkin — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

Here's what they told you: "Trust takes time. Keep your head down, prove yourself, and eventually they'll trust you."Wrong.Research shows that a good part of your perceived effectiveness as a leader is locked in within the first 90 days and most of that perception forms in the first two weeks.While you're busy "listening and learning," here's what's actually happening behind your back:Your team is deciding if you're weak or strongThe old guard is calculating how to box you inYour boss is trying to figure out whether they made the right hireThe clock is ticking. And the game isn't about earning trust over time. It's about trust velocity: How fast can you establish credibility, predictability, and authority before that window closes?In Episode 298 of The Manager Track, we break down:The 2 Asymmetries that explain why new leaders struggle when trust isn't thereThe Frame Control Rule that flips power dynamics in your first conversationsThe 4-Level Trust Response Ladder to foster an environment for mutual trust to form without people pleasing or defensivenessThe Trust Investor Strategy: How giving trust before it's earned triggers a powerful reciprocity reflexThis isn't theory. This is what actually works behind closed doors at high-performing companies backed by behavioral science and real leadership wins.If you've ever walked into a new role and felt like you were on trial, this episode is for you.Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED — Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseGrab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —Episode 234 - Trusting Your Team & Your Team Trusting You - With Charles FeltmanEpisode 19 - The Importance of Trust in Leadership - With Brian Harman — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

You know that sinking feeling when you find out your boss grabbed coffee with one of your team members and you had no idea it was happening?Yeah. Not great.Or maybe you've been on the other side: invited to meet with your skip-level leader and wondering, "Wait... what am I supposed to talk about?"Skip-level meetings are one of those leadership practices that can be incredibly powerful or spectacularly messy. And honestly? Most organizations and leaders are underestimating the cost and downside of ineffective skip-level meetings.When done right, skip levels give senior leaders unfiltered insight into what's actually happening on the ground. They help spot patterns early, make leadership feel accessible, and surface hidden talent that might otherwise go unnoticed.But when done poorly? They destroy trust, create political chaos, and teach people that the fastest way to get something done is to go around their manager.So in this week's episode of The Managed Track Podcast, we're breaking down everything you need to know about skip-level meetings:Why they exist (and what problem they're actually solving)The five biggest ways they go wrong (triangulation, anyone?)Practical playbooks for all three roles: the senior leader running them, the manager whose team is involved, and the employee being invitedI also reached out to 14 HR leaders to get their take on best practices, and I'm sharing all of that consolidated wisdom with you.Whether you're a senior leader trying to stay connected to the work, a manager navigating these conversations with your team, or an individual contributor preparing for your first skip-level meeting, this episode will help you make the most of them while avoiding the common pitfalls.Listen now on Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED — Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseGrab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —Episode 183 - Creating Effective, Engaging, and Enjoyable Meetings - Interview with Mamie Kanfer StewartEpisode 42 - How to Run 1-on-1 Meetings Your Direct Reports Actually Enjoy — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

If you’re a manager, you’ve probably seen this play out. One person on your team is trying every new tool. Another hasn’t touched it. Meanwhile, you’re too busy to figure out how to actually boost team productivity with AI in a coordinated and effective way.In this week’s episode of The Manager Track, Ramona talks about what AI adoption actually looks like for managers in non-technical roles, where it’s easy to delay and even easier to get left behind.She shares a clear and practical approach to integrating AI into your team’s work without creating overwhelm or eroding your team’s thinking skills.Key takeaways from the episode:Run small, low-risk experiments tied to real work. Measure the result and share learnings.Shift from task-based thinking to workflows so automation can scale and repeat.Build team-wide learning loops to avoid knowledge silos and uneven adoption.Don’t outsource your judgment. Prompt AI in ways that sharpen, not replace, your thinking.This isn’t theory. It’s a hands-on approach for managers who want to learn how to work with AI and lead a team through technological change. Listen now on Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED — Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseGrab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —Episode 240 - AI-Powered People LeadershipEpisode 218 - GenAI for Managers — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

Many capable leaders hit a ceiling not because they lack skill or experience, but because their thinking lives only in their heads.In this episode of The Manager Track, Ramona breaks down one of the most overlooked strategies for leaders who want to increase their impact, improve how they’re perceived, and position themselves for a promotion. This is all about building your own framework.You’ll learn why relying on individual examples, opinions, or ad hoc explanations limits your influence, and how frameworks turn experience into something scalable, teachable, and repeatable. Ramona explains what a framework really is, how it’s different from opinions or corporate jargon, and why the ability to simplify complex thinking is often what separates competent managers from leaders who advance.The episode walks through:real examples, common mistakes leaders make when trying to codify their thinking, and a practical step-by-step approach to creating a framework that others can actually use. This isn’t about personal branding or LinkedIn thought leadership. It’s about translating discernment, pattern recognition, and experience into clarity that helps others make better decisions, even when you’re not in the room. If you want to stop over-explaining, scale your expertise, and be seen as a leader who defines problems rather than just reacts to them, this episode is for you.Listen now on Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED — - Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. - Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits- Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course- Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —- Episode 259 - Resilience at Work: The Leadership Skill You Can’t Ignore- Episode 247 - Beyond Values - Creating Explicit Leadership Expectations — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

Setting big goals feels productive. It gives you a hit of clarity and a sense of control.But most goals don’t fail because you lacked clarity or motivation. They fail because you built them on the wrong foundation.This week on The Manager Track, we’re unpacking two practices that change the entire goal-setting game: identity-driven goal setting and the pre-mortem. One helps you stop relying on mood and willpower by anchoring your goals to who you are becoming. The other helps you get ahead of predictable derailers before they cost you the year.In this episode, we cover:Identity-Driven Goal Setting: Why “who you want to be” is more powerful than “what you want to do”Proof Goals: How to set goals that build evidence and momentum, not just outcomes you hope forThe Pre-Mortem Method: how to assume the plan fails and map the most likely reasonsIf you want to pursue goals this year that actually survive busy weeks, shifting priorities, and imperfect energy, this episode will give you a practical system to do so. Listen now on Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED — - Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits- Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. - Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —- Episode 235 - How to Set Growth Goals That Actually Drive Results- Episode 196 - Changing Behaviors & Achieving Goals — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

This episode is a re-release of Ep 274, one of the most popular episodes of The Manager Track podcast. We'll be back with a new episode on January 6, 2025.But when you’re the one staying late, fixing mistakes, and picking up the slack, that “helpfulness” becomes a leadership trap.And if you don’t catch it early, it’ll quietly sabotage your team’s growth.In this episode of The Manager Track podcast, Ramona dives into the sneaky habit of self-sacrificing managers who end up doing everyone’s work under the disguise of being “helpful” or “collaborative.” It might feel like you’re being a servant leader, but really, you’re becoming an overused safety net for everyone else.What we’ll unpack:- Why doing your team’s work isn’t helping them (or you)- The real reason you cave when people push back - How to stop trading respect for temporary approval- Why being seen as “nice” isn’t the same as being an effective leader- The four habits to break the self-sacrificing cycle for goodIf you’re tired of staying late, fixing things that shouldn’t be yours, and wondering why you’re the only one drowning, this episode will hit home. You’ll learn how to lead without over-functioning, set better boundaries, and actually develop your team.  — RESOURCES MENTIONED — - Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits- Executive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program - Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. - Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —- Episode 250 - Why “Figure It Out” Doesn’t Work: The Cost of Untrained Managers- Episode 225- Optimizing Work Dynamics - With Lotus Buckner — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

This episode is a re-release of Ep 264, one of the most popular episodes of The Manager Track podcast. We'll be back with a new episode.Ever feel like you’re doing everything right as a manager, but the broader company culture is off and it impacts your team. Maybe leadership talks about values, but what actually gets rewarded tells a different story. Or your team is caught in the middle of constant change and chaos. This week, we're diving into a challenge so many leaders face but rarely talk about, how to create a strong, healthy team culture even when your company’s culture isn’t ideal. ✅ You’ll learn how to build a “culture bubble”✅ We’ll explore the key ingredients of strong cultures✅ We’ll share practical team exercises you can start using right away If you’re leading a team and care about engagement, performance, and people actually wanting to stay, this one’s for you. — RESOURCES MENTIONED — - Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits- Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: https://archova.org/1on1-course- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. - Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —- Episode 137- How to Create a Strong Team Culture - with Gustavo Razetti- Episode 129 - Creating a Feedback Culture - With Harrison Kim — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: www.archova.org/masterclass  Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

This week, I sat down with Brady Pyle, former HR leader at NASA and now CHRO at Space Center Houston. Brady spent nearly thirty years building teams, leading major organizational shifts, and shaping how one of the most high-stakes institutions in the world develops its people.He has lived through large-scale transformation, resistance to change, cultural resets, and the pressure of maintaining excellence in an environment where failure carries real consequences. What makes this episode stand out is how directly Brady speaks about what worked, what did not, and what leaders consistently underestimate about growth.In our conversation, we dig into one theme that runs through every successful organizational shift: the ability to stay aligned, learn fast, and adapt even when the change does not personally benefit you.We unpack:How large-scale change at NASA exposed the hidden cost of misalignmentWhy technical experts often struggle when moving into people leadershipWhat a true learning culture looks like when experimentation and failure are actually encouragedHow reverse mentoring strengthens communication and connection across generationsIf you want a grounded look at how leadership is developed in a complex environment, this episode will be well worth your time.Listen or watch now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED —- Brady Pyle's website: https://bradypyle.com- Brady Pyle's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradyapyle- Brady Pyle's Book: Out of This World Leadership: https://www.outofthisworldleader.com- Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits- Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course- Let us know what you think by sending an email to [email protected] Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona: HERE- Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': https://amzn.to/3TuOdcP— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —- Episode 282 - Leadership Lessons from a CEO Who Built Cultures by Design - With Lawrence R. Armstrong- Episode 264 - Build a Team Culture You’re Proud Of Even When the Company’s Isn’t— WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

Review season can feel like another task on the calendar, but it’s actually one of the most valuable leadership moments of the year. When done well, it gives your team clarity, strengthens alignment, and it sets the tone for the next year.The real opportunity lies in how you approach it. Most leaders focus on the conversation itself, but the real impact comes from:How well you distinguish performance from potential, How clearly you anchor your decisions in evidence, and How thoughtfully you shape what comes next for each person.This sets a tone for fairness, raises the bar for your team, and gives people a sense of direction they can trust and act on. When it isn’t, the noise around ratings grows louder, development plans become vague, and calibration turns into a negotiation instead of objective decision-making.This week on The Manager Track, we’re digging into what a well-run review season actually makes possible and why this moment deserves more rigor and attention than it typically gets. In this episode, you'll hear both my take and the perspective of several HR leaders who added their point of view. With that, we cover:The distinction between performance and potential and why separating them changes everythingWhere common frameworks work, where they break, and what to watch forWhat it looks like to prepare for calibration with clarity and confidenceHow strong leaders use review season as a genuine reset for the year aheadListen or watch now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.If you want to create more consistency and fairness across your team, or you’re supporting leaders who are heading into reviews, this is an episode worth sharing.— RESOURCES MENTIONED —Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseLet us know what you think by sending an email to [email protected] a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona: HEREGrab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': https://amzn.to/3TuOdcP— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —Episode 279 - The Behaviors That Make or Break Team PerformanceEpisode 67 - How Do You Measure Your Own Performance?— WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

The promotion feels like a win, and it certainly is. It means people see your potential. But it also kicks off one of the hardest transitions of your career.We often assume that because we were great individual contributors, leadership will come naturally. But being promoted doesn't mean you are prepared.In fact, statistics show that 60% of new managers underperform in their first two years.Why? Because most new leaders fall into one of two traps: they are either held back by insecurity ("I have no clue what I'm doing") or they charge forward with overconfidence ("I'm great at my job, this will be fine"). Both approaches can erode trust and slow down your team.This week on The Manager Track, we are breaking down what you might be underestimating about this transition-and why "trial and error" is the most expensive way to learn.In this episode, we cover:The Structure of Competence: How a training framework acts as an anchor when your work week feels chaotic.The Power of Shared Struggle: Why isolation is the enemy of growth and how peer learning accelerates confidence.The Ripple Effect: How your personal growth as a leader directly dictates the ceiling of your team's performance.You wouldn't tell an engineer to just "figure out coding" on the job. Leadership requires the same level of intentional study.If you want to lead well (or support someone who is just starting out), this is the episode to share.Listen or watch now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED —Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseLet us know what you think by sending an email to [email protected] a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona: HEREGrab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': https://amzn.to/3TuOdcP— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —Episode 289 - 5 Steps to Prepare for Your Year End ReviewEpisode 157 - Retain Employees Who Didn't Get Promoted— WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

Many leaders still treat high performance as the destination. They double down on output, visibility, and achievement, convinced that hitting those marks means they have arrived.The reality is different. And maybe you can relate. Maybe you, too, ask yourself what the achievement is really all about when you still don't seem satisfied despite all the success.. That's because for most of us, meaningful success today comes from shifting the focus inward, examining old habits, and being willing to reinvent the way we operate.This week on The Manager Track podcast, I'm joined by Jason Jaggard, CEO of Novus Global and USA Today bestselling author of Beyond High Performance.Jason explains why the real bottleneck is rarely skill. It is identity. Leaders cling to roles, habits, and assumptions that once helped them succeed, but now hold them back. When you focus on looking like a high performer, you miss the deeper work that creates reinvention and bigger contribution.You'll learn how to:- Use the Meta Performance question to unlock endless growth- Find the hidden "kernel" of value inside your judgments about peers and bosses- Apply the Athlete Mindset to your career and development- Understand the shift from paradoxical thinking to multiaxial thinking and why senior leaders rely on itThis episode helps you look closely at how you show up in your role and what mindset shifts could help you reach the next level.Listen or watch now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED —- Jason Jaggard's website: https://novus.global/- Jason Jaggard's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonjaggard/- Jason Jaggard's Book: Beyond High Performance: https://book.novus.global/- Beyond High Performance Assessment by Novus Global: HERE- Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits- Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course- Let us know what you think by sending an email to [email protected] Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona: HERE- Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': https://amzn.to/3TuOdcP— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —- Episode 67 - How Do You Measure Your Own Performance?- Episode 279 - The Behaviors That Make or Break Team Performance— WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

​Too many managers walk into their year-end review hoping their work speaks for itself.But it rarely does. The meeting moves fast, details get lost, and ​much is about the past, not the future.When that happens, the conversation stays tactical instead of helping your manager understand the value you created this year and the direction you want to take next.This week’s episode of The Manager Track podcast breaks down how to prepare in a way that gives you a stronger footing in that conversation.A little structure can make the difference between a routine check-in and a discussion that actually moves your career forward.You’ll learn how to:- Present your impact with concrete examples- Link your work to themes your manager cares about- Ask for what you need to grow next yearListen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED —Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseLet us know what you think by sending an email to [email protected] a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —- Episode 136 - Becoming the Boss & How to Lead in a Multigenerational Workplace - With Lindsey Pollak- Episode 121 - 5 Often Overlooked Steps When Onboarding a New Employee— WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

This week on The Manager Track podcast, we're talking about one of the biggest role misunderstandings in management. Most managers think their job is to organize, divide, and execute the work. It feels productive and responsible, but it also keeps them stuck operating way below the level where real leadership value is created.Because the true job of a manager is not just delivering output. It is deciding which work is worth doing, why it matters, and when to change direction entirely based on evolving context and capability. This is the shift that separates managers who stay busy from managers who become strategic value creators.In this episode, you'll learn how to:See your team as a portfolio of bets instead of a backlog of tasksThink in time horizons, value multipliers, and capability creationAvoid defaulting back to IC execution mode when pressure shows upListen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED — Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseLet us know what you think by sending an email to [email protected] a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —Episode 185 - Ownership MindsetEpisode 221 - How to Spot and Overcome a Victim Mindset — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

If you've ever tiptoed around a leader's ego, reworded feedback ten different ways, or held back a good idea just to avoid a blow-up, this episode is for you.We're pulling back the curtain on executive ego fragility: what causes it, how to spot it, and how to deal with it without losing your mind (or your voice).Here's what you'll take away:The root causes behind fragile egos in leadership (hint: it often starts long before the corner office)The subtle and not-so-subtle signals you should watch forTactical ways to work with someone whose ego might be getting in the way of good decisions, feedback, or, you know... basic human interactionAnd if you're thinking, "Why do I have to adapt to their fragile ego? Why isn't it on them?"... yep, we cover that too.If you've ever said, "I can't say that, they'll take it the wrong way," this one's for you. And if you haven't and don't expect to ever run into ego-driven leaders, then just send it to a friend who has. They'll thank you. Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED — Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseLet us know what you think by sending an email to [email protected] a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —Episode 231 - When The Ego Dictates Your PrioritiesEpisode 73 - How Great Leaders Control Their Egos — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

We all want to be seen as kind leaders. But too often, we confuse kindness with niceness.In this week's episode of The Manager Track, I talk with leadership strategist and executive coach Andrea Wanerstrand, founder of A3 Culture Lab. Andrea spent more than 25 years inside Microsoft, Meta, and T-Mobile studying what helps leaders earn trust and build strong teams and what quietly erodes it.We unpack why niceness often comes from our own need to be liked, how that habit shows up in feedback conversations, and what it takes to replace "people-pleasing" with courage, clarity, and care. Andrea also shares her A3 framework that helps teams grow without the manager becoming a bottleneck.If you've ever softened feedback to keep the peace or avoided a hard conversation to protect a relationship, this one's worth your time.Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED — Andrea Wanerstrand's website: https://a3culturelab.comAndrea Wanerstand's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreawanerstrandGrab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseLet us know what you think by sending an email to [email protected] a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —Episode 215 - How to Transform Good Teams Into Excellent Ones - With Rusty KomoriEpisode 127 - How to Lead a Thriving Team with Kirstin Moorefield — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

This week on the Manager Track podcast, we're tackling a moment nearly every leader will face: receiving hard-to-hear feedback. Not the kind you can brush off or fix with a quick tweak, but the kind that hits a nerve, stirs up emotion, and sticks in your head.What you do next matters more than you think. In this episode, Ramona walks through what happens in your brain when criticism lands, and why your reaction in the moment-and afterward-can shape how others see you as a leader, sometimes more than the behavior that led to the feedback in the first place.You'll hear practical tools, exact phrases to use, and a clear framework to help you:Stay grounded in the moment, even when the feedback stingsTurn a tough conversation into a growth opportunityAvoid common traps that quietly damage your reputation over timeListen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED — Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseLet us know what you think by sending an email to [email protected] a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —Episode 214 - 3 Feedback Models Every Leadership Should MasterEpisode 129 - Creating a Feedback Culture - With Harrison Kim — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

Most of us enter leadership with a quiet script already playing in our heads.Be calm. Be confident. Be likable. Never micromanage. Always have the answer. We carry those ideals with us until reality shows us that they don't always work.And in some cases, they do more harm than good.In episode 284 of The Manager Track, Ramona Shaw challenges the assumptions many first-time managers carry into leadership roles. The truth is, some of the most effective leaders don't match the textbook version of what a great manager should be.This episode invites you to rethink your version of "good management" and replace it with something far more effective. Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED — Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsExecutive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseLet us know what you think by sending an email to [email protected] a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —Episode 278 - Lonely at the Top: Why Leadership Feels IsolatingEpisode 248 - Mental Traps That Keep Leaders Stuck — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

Have you noticed the widening gap between how we expect leaders to behave in the public sphere versus in corporate organizations?In episode 283, Ramona Shaw tackles two timely and important questions: What is happening to leadership and how do we keep our standards intact?From headlines of public leaders dodging accountability to viral social media figures equating leadership with dominance, we’re seeing a shift in what some people perceive as “strong leadership.” But in our companies, those signals don’t fly. And they shouldn’t.Inside this episode, we unpack:Why public and corporate leadership are governed by two different sets of standardsThe seven shared expectations we have of leadersWhat happens when we don’t, with real-world cautionary tales from WeWork, Wells Fargo, and KrogerWhy leaders today need to be more explicit than ever about the values they uphold and the behavior they expectWhen organizational standards get fuzzy, cracks form; slowly at first, then suddenly. Misalignment, disengagement, and broken trust are often symptoms of leaders failing to walk the talk. This episode unpacks what’s at stake and why now is the time to reestablish what good leadership looks like before external norms start seeping in.🎧 Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple podcasts, and YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED — Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsExecutive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseLet us know what you think by sending an email to [email protected] a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —Episode 277 - Frustrated at Work? How to Lead Without Blowing Up or Bottling UpEpisode 256 - The Leadership Identity Shift: From Executor to Influencer — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

You want to grow as a leader, but your team can’t function without you.You’re stuck in the weeds because delegating feels risky.You know you should make space for creativity, but the urgent stuff always comes first. Sound familiar? This week’s episode is all about deliberate leadership and why it’s the non-negotiable factor in company success. Larry R. Armstrong, former CEO and Chairman of Ware Malcomb, shares what he learned leading an international firm for nearly three decades, and why he believes leadership should be built as intentionally as architecture. Inside, we dig into: Why training your replacement is the only way to move upDelegation vs. abdication, and how to strike the right balanceHow vulnerability and trust at the top ripple through the whole organizationThe role of creativity in solving problems and fueling long-term growth Tune in and hear directly from a CEO who’s been in the trenches and shares what worked, what didn’t, and how he built leaders by design.🎧 Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED — Connect to Lawrence on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencearmstrong/Get Lawrence's Layered Leadership Book: https://layeredleadershipbook.com/Learn more about Lawrence here: https://waremalcomb.com/our-team/lawrence-r-armstrong/Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsExecutive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseSchedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —Episode 211- Navigating Perfectionism in LeadershipEpisode 93 - The Importance of Trust in Leadership - With Brian Harman — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

You reschedule a meeting and feel the need to explain exactly what happened.You set a boundary, then wrap it in 3 paragraphs of justification.You say no to a project and immediately start listing all the reasons why. Sound familiar? This week’s episode is all about overexplaining, including why we do it, how it shows up in subtle ways, and how it chips away at our leadership presence over time.Ramona breaks down a real story from an executive who thought she was communicating clearly… but left her team confused and uncertain. Inside, we dive into:- The real reason so many capable leaders feel the need to justify themselves- How to know if you’re overexplaining or just communicating well → the red flags to watch out for- The 4 steps to break the overexplaining habit🎧 Tune in, reflect on your own habits and start rewriting your default responses, whether that's in your emails or meetings. Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.  — RESOURCES MENTIONED — Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsExecutive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseSchedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —Episode 276- Biohacking Executive Presence: Signals That Shape Perception - With Scott HutchesonEpisode 273- Behind the Scenes of Growth: Coaching Insights for Leaders on the Rise  — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

When two equally capable managers get very different outcomes… We’ve all seen it (maybe lived it, too). Two people with:Similar skillsSimilar résumésSimilar resultsYet one gets tapped for the big meeting, lands the promotion, and becomes the go-to voice in high-stakes moments while the other gets a pat on the back and stays in the same position. This week's episode is about the invisibles that drive careers. More specifically, we're talking about Executive Presence. How you show up when it counts, how others experience you, and why that perception accelerates (or stalls) your career. This isn't about office politics or putting on a show. It’s about specific, learnable signals you send in interviews, in rooms with decision-makers, and under pressure. You’ll hear a tale of “Sarah vs. Mike” and a real interview debrief that reveals what leaders actually look for beyond your résumé. Then we break down the fixable gaps that can erode credibility. If you’re smart, capable, and still not being fully seen and rewarded for the level you operate at, this one’s for you. What we’ll talk about:The self-awareness gap: when your intent and others’ experience don’t match and what to do about itThe problem with hedging and over-explaining, and how to project conviction without pretendingHow to evolve your style for bigger scope without becoming someone you’re notEmotional steadiness and non-verbals: the signals you're sending without meaning to Check it out on our Webpage, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. 👉 Ready to level up? Learn more about our Executive Presence Intensive starting in October.  — RESOURCES MENTIONED — Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsExecutive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseSchedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —Episode 219 - Executive CommunicationEpisode 213 - Executive Mindset — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

When the “real meeting” happens after the meeting… We've all been there (likely on all sides of this story): People nod along in the team meeting.No one pushes back.A decision gets made. Then, moments later, Slack lights up with doubts, hallway chats surface all the real concerns, and suddenly progress slows. This week’s episode is about those team patterns we all know are hurting us and why still so many teams get stuck in them. Spoiler: it’s not about bad people (yes, that co-worker is not actually the problem!). It’s about predictable dysfunctions most teams naturally fall into. Ramona walks you through the 5 core dysfunctions that get in the way of a team's performance and shows you how to shift your team from artificial consensus and siloed execution to real trust, fierce conversations, shared accountability, and actual collective results. If your team is smart, capable, but somehow still… not quite at its best, then this is the episode you’ve been looking for. What we’ll talk about:- Why “being nice” in meetings might be killing creativity and clarity- The true cost of avoiding conflict (and how to mine it productively)- How peer-to-peer accountability beats top-down micromanagement- What high-performing teams actually do differently and how to get started She also shares how the Five Behaviors® assessment and workshop help teams identify what’s holding them back and provides a structured, practical path toward higher performance. Listen now on Webpage, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.  — RESOURCES MENTIONED — - Learn more about our Five Behaviors Program: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ou9nrWEMwQc6Y7wX6p41ZwbmuZT2uPju/view?usp=sharing- Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits- Executive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program - Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable - meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona: https://calendly.com/ramonashaw/leadership-strategy-session- Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —- Episode 223 - Chess-Inspired Strategies for Better Strategic Thinking - With Shawn Stewart- Episode 127 - How to Lead a Thriving Team with Kirstin Moorefield — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

We don't talk about it much, but most leaders eventually feel it: That shift in team dynamics after your promotion.The conversations that stop the second you walk into the room.The heavy pressure from above that you can't share with your team. It's not about needing more friends. It's the unique isolation that comes with leadership. In this week's episode of The Manager Track, we cover: - Why leadership creates distance, even with people who like and respect you - How to recognize when loneliness is becoming unhealthy - The mindset shift that turns isolation into a sign of growth - Specific ways to connect with peers, mentors, and yourself If you've ever felt like you're carrying the weight alone, this episode will help you see it differently and give you tools to manage it. Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. — RESOURCES MENTIONED — - Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits- Executive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program - Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. - Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —- Episode 267 - Horizontal Leadership: Creating Teams That Own Their Work- Episode 160 - What if I don't like to lead?- Episode 40 - Three Ways to Learn From Mistakes and Failure (and Not Get Knocked Down) — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

We don't like to admit it, but every leader has been there: That Friday afternoon email from your boss.The team member who “forgets” a deadline.The rising heat in your chest right before you snap. As much as we wish frustration and anger weren't part of leadership, they are.The real question is: What do you do with it? In this week’s episode of The Manager Track, we share:- The “pressure cooker” effect that builds up frustration until leaders explode- The difference between losing control and controlled intensity- How anger can actually help you be a stronger leader (if you know how to use it)- Practical steps to cool down in the moment and turn frustration into action If you've ever worried about losing your cool (or bottling it up until you burn out), this episode is for you. Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. — RESOURCES MENTIONED — - Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits- Executive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program - Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. - Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —- Episode 226 - When Innovation Requires Disappointment: AI Strategies and Leadership - With Kate O'Neill- Episode 73 - How Great Leaders Control Their Egos  — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

Executive presence isn’t about faking confidence; it’s about sending the right signals.And no, that doesn’t mean standing like a superhero before your big meeting. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Scott Hutcheson about how biology, not bravado, drives leadership impact. His argument? Leadership isn’t about personality or charisma. It’s about biology. And the good news is, biology can be influenced. We’re talking:- Small behavioral tweaks that signal warmth, competence, and gravitas- What actually builds trust and credibility on Zoom - How to be deliberate with your behavior without being robotic  If you’ve ever wondered why some people just own the room (even the virtual ones), this episode breaks down the signals they’re sending and how you can do it too, without pretending to be someone you’re not. Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts​ ​and YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED — - Dr. Scott Hutcheson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scotthutcheson/- Dr. Scott Hutcheson Website: https://scotthutcheson.com/- Dr. Scott Hutcheson Book: Biohacking Leadership: Leveraging the Biology of Behavior to Maximize Your Impact - Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits- Executive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program - Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. - Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —- Episode 252 - Understanding Different Communication Styles- Episode 198- Executive Communication — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

You were confident in your role as an engineer solving problems, writing code, and being the go-to person when things broke. Then the promotion came, and the work changed. More meetings. More people decisions. Less hands-on time with the code you know so well. In this episode of The Manager Track, Ramona Shaw shares the four shifts that often make the move into management feel harder than expected: letting go of your old role, improving how you communicate, delegating without over-controlling, and working through imposter syndrome. Here’s what we’ll cover: - Why stepping back from hands-on work can feel like losing part of your identity- How to make your message land with both your team and leadership- Ways to delegate that build trust and capability- What to do when you question if you should be leadingIf you’re moving from technical work into leadership, this conversation will help you see the changes ahead and adjust with more clarity. Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts​ ​and YouTube. — RESOURCES MENTIONED — Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsExecutive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseSchedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —Episode 64 - New Managers: Being "Productive" Means Something Different NowEpisode 61 - From IC to Manager - 4 Main Shifts — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

But when you’re the one staying late, fixing mistakes, and picking up the slack, that “helpfulness” becomes a leadership trap.And if you don’t catch it early, it’ll quietly sabotage your team’s growth.In this episode of The Manager Track podcast, Ramona dives into the sneaky habit of self-sacrificing managers who end up doing everyone’s work under the disguise of being “helpful” or “collaborative.” It might feel like you’re being a servant leader, but really, you’re becoming an overused safety net for everyone else.What we’ll unpack:- Why doing your team’s work isn’t helping them (or you)- The real reason you cave when people push back - How to stop trading respect for temporary approval- Why being seen as “nice” isn’t the same as being an effective leader- The four habits to break the self-sacrificing cycle for goodIf you’re tired of staying late, fixing things that shouldn’t be yours, and wondering why you’re the only one drowning, this episode will hit home. You’ll learn how to lead without over-functioning, set better boundaries, and actually develop your team. Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. — RESOURCES MENTIONED — - Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits- Executive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program - Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. - Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —- Episode 250 - Why “Figure It Out” Doesn’t Work: The Cost of Untrained Managers- Episode 225- Optimizing Work Dynamics - With Lotus Buckner — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

You’re succeeding on paper... rising through the ranks, trusted by leadership, seen as reliable and driven. But under the surface, there’s fatigue, maybe even frustration. Why does it feel like the more you give, the more is expected? In this episode, we peel back the layers behind high-achieving discontent. In this episode of The Manager Track, Ramona unpacks a quiet leadership dilemma: what happens when your success is built on outdated beliefs, people-pleasing habits, and an over-reliance on external validation. Drawing from real coaching conversations (and a few personal confessions), she explores why high performers often feel stuck, exhausted, or resentful as they climb the ranks even when they’re technically “crushing it.” Here’s what we’ll get into:- The sneaky ways your success metrics get hijacked by other people’s expectations- Why burnout and over-functioning aren’t just about time, they’re about belief systems- How leadership habits don’t shift until your software (aka mindset) gets upgraded- What to do when your brain resists change like it’s fighting for survival (because it is) Whether you’re leading your first team or eyeing the next big leap, this episode will help you pause, recalibrate, and make sure you’re not succeeding at the wrong things. Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. — RESOURCES MENTIONED — - Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits- Executive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program - Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. - Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —- Episode 155- 4 Insights from Running a New Manager Training Program- Episode 65- Why Coach When Giving Advice Is So Much Easier?  — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

You nod in meetings even if you'd like to call BS. You say “no problem” when your plate’s already full. You follow along while wondering what on earth is actually going on here? Welcome to the workplace, where everyone’s wearing a mask (and not the kind you pick up at Walgreens). In this episode of The Manager Track podcast, Ramona goes beyond the surface of human behavior at work. This isn’t another chat about skills or competencies. It’s about the psychological truths most of us feel but rarely talk about: the survival instincts, the childhood patterns, the tension behind fake “I’m fine” answers. What we’ll get into:- The subtle difference between confidence and the performance of confidence- What that overly critical teammate might really be trying to hide- What to do when someone insists everything’s fine… but their voice says otherwise- How projection shapes what we notice, criticize, and obsess over at workIf you’ve ever walked out of a conversation thinking, What just happened?, this episode’s for you. We’ll help you understand what’s really going on under the surface, behind the performance, and under that calm, competent exterior. Tune in for some perspective-shifting insights. Listen now on our Website, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. — RESOURCES MENTIONED — - Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits- Executive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program - Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. - Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —- Episode 187 Difficult People at Work- Episode 164 Being Assertive at Work- Episode 144 Emotions at Work — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

You block your calendar.You try to stay focused.You tell yourself today’s the day you’ll finally catch up.But then the messages roll in. Someone needs help. A fire pops up. And suddenly, the work that actually matters gets pushed... again. In this episode of The Manager Track podcast, Ramona gets real about why time management feels so hard, especially for managers who genuinely want to support their teams and be seen as collaborative. It’s not about you doing it wrong. It’s about the unspoken expectations in teams or organizations that make it tough to say no, push back, or slow down. What we’ll talk about:- The quiet pressure to always be available - Why collaboration culture can make focused work feel “selfish”- How to say no (without sounding like you're not a team player)- What it really means when we say time management is pain managementIf you’re constantly juggling, second-guessing, or running on fumes, this one’s for you. You’re not alone, and there’s a better way.If this resonates, check it out on our Website, ​Spotify, ​Apple Podcasts and Youtube.  — RESOURCES MENTIONED — - Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits- Executive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program - Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. - Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —- Episode 113 Time Management is Pain Management- Episode 1 How to Best Support Your Team During a Time of Uncertainty & Change — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

Stepping into leadership is a big shift. You go from being great at your job and knowing how to succeed to being asked to do a whole new job with different skill requirements, while still maintaining that same high performance.In this episode (a replay of episode #100), Ramona and three former students from the Leadership Accelerator, who know that feeling all too well, talk about the messy, often unspoken parts of becoming a first-time manager, the stuff that doesn’t show up in training manuals or onboarding decks.Lisa opened up about the parts she found hardest to learn, not just in terms of skill, but also emotionally.Dave shares what he wishes he knew from the start, and how not knowing left him second-guessing himself.Susan talks about what caught her off guard and how she found her own way through it.What we love about this conversation is how honest it is. There’s no pretending. Just real people figuring it out, one decision at a time.If you’re in your first leadership role or even a few years in and still feeling the weight of it, this episode will remind you that you're not alone, and you're not supposed to have it all figured out.If this resonates, check it out on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts.— RESOURCES MENTIONED — Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: https://archova.org/free-toolkits/Executive Presence Intensive: https://archova.org/executive-presence-program/Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseSchedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona: https://calendly.com/ramonashaw/leadership-strategy-sessionGrab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': https://amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —Episode 151 - 4 Insights from Running a New Manager Training ProgramEpisode 54 - 3 Big Mistakes New Managers Make & How to Avoid Them — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at https://www.archova.org/ Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': https://amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots:http://archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: http://www.archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes https://www.ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me instagram.com/ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

Ever notice how being certain about something can feel really good? You've got the answer. You're confident in your decision. You know exactly what’s going on. But here’s the catch: when we’re sure we’re right, we stop thinking. We stop questioning. And without realizing it, we stop seeing all the other options we could be considering. In this episode, Ramona unpacks the sneaky way certainty can box in our thinking and why it’s often the very thing holding smart, capable leaders back from their next level of growth. What we'll talk about:- Why the moment you feel most certain is often the moment you stop seeing clearly- How invisible assumptions shape your decisions (and limit your leadership)- Simple questions to re-open your thinking- Why real growth doesn’t come from trying to be right, but from trying to remain curiousIf this resonates, check it out on our YouTube. — RESOURCES MENTIONED — - Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits- Executive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program/- Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: archova.org/1on1-course- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona: https://calendly.com/ramonashaw/leadership-strategy-session- Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —- Episode 181 - Smart People Problems- Episode 70 - How to Deal With "Toxic" People at Work — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Don’t forget to invest time each week to increase your self-awareness, celebrate your wins, and learn from your mistakes. Your career grows only to the extent that you grow. Grab your Career Journal with leadership exercises and weekly reflections here: ramonashaw.com/shop Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

If you’ve ever held back from giving feedback because someone already seemed on edge…Or struggled to say no because you didn’t want to disappoint anyone…Or felt annoyed but didn’t say anything because you didn’t want to stir the pot…Then this episode is for you!Ramona sits down with Elise Boggs Morales, leadership coach and author of Lead Anyone, to unpack what emotional intelligence really looks like in practice. Not theory. Not fluff. Real tools for navigating the messy, emotional moments that come with leading people.What we cover:The two extremes leaders often default to and how to find the healthy middleHow to lead with empathy and accountabilitySigns that emotional intelligence might be holding you back (and how to fix it)Why investing in EQ boosts performance, engagement, and retentionThis conversation is packed with insights for anyone who wants to lead more effectively without burning out or losing their edge. Listen now on our YouTube. — RESOURCES MENTIONED — Elise's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elise-boggs-morales-92b1967/Elise's Website: https://www.eliseboggs.com/Elise's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Lead-Anyone-Transform-Emotional-Intelligence/dp/B0F4HVRNTVGrab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: https://archova.org/1on1-courseSchedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona: https://calendly.com/ramonashaw/leadership-strategy-sessionGrab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —Episode 177- Emotional LaborEpisode 144- Emotions at Work  — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Don’t forget to invest time each week to increase your self-awareness, celebrate your wins, and learn from your mistakes. Your career grows only to the extent that you grow. Grab your Career Journal with leadership exercises and weekly reflections here: ramonashaw.com/shop Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

Ever been told to roll out a new initiative or share a message that felt... off?Not illegal. Not dramatic. Just something that didn’t sit right with you. Like telling your team “everything’s fine” when you know layoffs are coming. Or backing a tool you’re not confident in. Or pushing out a company message that feels disconnected from your own values.If that’s ever been you - or might be one day - this episode’s for you.Ramona shares what happens when your role as a manager puts you in the middle of decisions that don’t feel great. She names the tension a lot of us feel but don’t always talk about, and walks through a simple way to think through what to do next, without losing yourself in the process.What we’ll talk about:✅ The kinds of value clashes that come up more than we admit✅ What not to do when things feel off✅ A clear way to figure out how to respond - and where to draw the lineYou don’t have to choose between doing your job and staying true to yourself. But you do need a way to think it through.You can also find this episode on YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED —- Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits- Executive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program - Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more: http://archova.org/1on1-course- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. - Grab your copy of Ramona’s best-selling book ‘The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role’: amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —- Episode 264 - Build a Team Culture You’re Proud Of — Even When the Company’s Isn’t- Episode 129 - Creating a Feedback Culture - With Harrison Kim— WHAT’S NEXT? —Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Don’t forget to invest time each week to increase your self-awareness, celebrate your wins, and learn from your mistakes. Your career grows only to the extent that you grow. Grab your Career Journal with leadership exercises and weekly reflections here: ramonashaw.com/shop Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

What changes when you stop seeing your team as "below" you and start seeing everyone as equals working beside you? In this episode, Ramona explores the concept of vertical vs. horizontal relationships and how this simple shift can transform your leadership entirely. If you've ever felt that tension between authority and connection, or wondered why some feedback lands while other feedback creates defensiveness, this episode might change how you think about leadership. You'll walk away... - Understanding the difference between “vertical” and “horizontal” relationships and why it matters- Knowing how to give feedback without triggering defensiveness- Noticing what recognition sounds like when it's based on contribution instead of approval-seeking- Knowing the real reason horizontal leadership boosts motivation and trustThe more you respect your team as equals, the more they'll respect you. And honestly? It makes leadership a lot less heavy when you're not carrying everyone's performance and outcomes on your shoulders. Check it out here: on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.— RESOURCES MENTIONED — - Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits- Executive Presence Intensive: https://archova.org/executive-presence-program/- Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. - Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE — - Episode 222- Tricky Relationships at Work- Episode 118 - Your Relationship with Your Job- Episode 77 - Curiosity: Your Doorway to Positive Relationships and Collaborative Leadership with Dr. Alison Horstmeyer — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcPWant to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass Don’t forget to invest time each week to increase your self-awareness, celebrate your wins, and learn from your mistakes. Your career grows only to the extent that you grow. Grab your Career Journal with leadership exercises and weekly reflections here: ramonashaw.com/shopLove the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

Does this sound familiar? You're in a leadership meeting and someone asks, "What's our AI strategy?" or "How should we be using ChatGPT?" If you've been in one of these conversations lately, you've probably felt the pressure to have an answer. But here's the thing, you might be asking the wrong question entirely. This week, we're diving into insights from tech humanist Kate O'Neill on why chasing technology trends is letting the tail wag the dog, and what successful leaders do instead. The core insight? You don't need an "AI strategy." You need to understand how AI helps you achieve the strategic objectives you've already identified. ✅ You'll learn why starting with purpose (not technology) transforms decision-making✅ We'll explore the Disney example that makes organizational alignment crystal clear✅ We'll share how to have productive AI conversations at three different levels Kate shares real insights from her work with companies like Netflix, Google, and the United Nations, plus simple ways managers and teams can rethink how they approach change, technology, and decision-making. If you're tired of scattered (AI) initiatives that don't seem to connect to anything meaningful, then this episode will help you have a clear strategy and a team that's aligned. Check it out on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. — RESOURCES MENTIONED — - Get Kate’s book "What Matters Next": HERE- Kate O'Neill on LinkedIn: HERE- KO Insights: HERE- Kate's Fast Company Contribution: Strategic Disappointment- Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits- Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: ArchovaVideo Course: Effective 1-on-1 Meetings - Archova- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. - Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —- Episode 261 - How Leaders Are Actually Using AI Today- Episode 218 - GenAI for Managers- Episode 219 - Executive Communication — WHAT’S NEXT? — Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org. Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: www.archova.org/masterclass Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.