The Leadership Shot

You know someone on your team isn't meeting the mark.And you're avoiding the conversation.You're not alone—but you are paying a price.This episode is about how to stop dancing around accountability—and how to say what needs to be said without damaging the relationship.

Are you struggling to develop leaders in your organization? You're not alone! Today, we'll discuss the common pitfalls to avoid and the best practices to implement when it comes to leadership development. Let's ensure that your future leaders are equipped to face the challenges ahead.

Ever wondered why some leaders seem to thrive under pressure while others crumble? The secret lies in resilience. In this episode, we'll dive deep into what resilience really means, why it's essential for long-term success, and how you can cultivate it in yourself and your team. From developing a growth mindset to practicing self-care, we've got you covered.

Executive offsites can be a game-changer, but only if done right. In this episode, we'll dive into the essential steps for planning impactful offsites that foster collaboration and innovation, while also highlighting the common pitfalls to avoid. Let's make your next offsite one for the books!

Dealing with a high-performing employee who constantly brings negativity to the table can feel like walking a tightrope. You need their expertise, but their attitude is dragging the team down. In this episode, I'll share strategies for tackling this delicate situation, ensuring you not only address the negativity but also foster a more positive and collaborative environment.

As the 2024 elections draw near, political discussions are bound to heat up in the workplace. How do you, as a leader, navigate these conversations while maintaining a positive and productive environment? Today, I'll explore how to create a culture of open communication, set boundaries around political discussions, and maintain a productive work environment amid the chaos of election fever.

I recently had a potential client ask me for an example of when coaching isn't the right step for a leader. I had several examples to share, and I thought it would be a helpful podcast episode. Partnering with an executive coach can make a significant difference in your life as a leader. It's a big investment of time and money, and you need to be in the right place for coaching--and also know what to watch out for--be wary of--when looking for a coach.  Listen now to learn more.

You've been offered an opportunity to work with an executive coach, but you're not quite what that entails or what you should be looking for to make sure it's a good fit for you. In this episode I'm sharing an inside look at what to expect and what you should be looking for to get the most of an executive coaching experience.

In this episode I'm sharing the 20 top things that executives coaches do.If you've ever wondered what working with an executive coach looks like, then today's podcast will give you an inside look at the most common benefits and outcomes you can expect. 

Transitioning from being a peer to becoming a manager of your former friends can be a delicate process, a bit like navigating a minefield of inside jokes and shared memories. I'm going to highlight the common pitfalls as you navigate this transformation because let's face it, you don't want to be the manager who's known for the wrong reasons. 

As a leader, you spend a good amount of time talking. But likely (or should) spend even more time listening. And being a good listener doesn't come naturally to many of us. We think well if we can physically hear--we have the ability to hear--then listening is pretty darn easy. I bet you've been in situations where you've been passionately speaking, and the person opposite you is there, but you get the sense they're not listening at all. Let's talk about how to become a better listener. Better listener--better leader!

Optimism fuels motivation, fosters resilience, and inspires innovation. On the other hand, realism encourages prudent decision-making and helps you and your team manage expectations.Can you be enthusiastic and realistic at the same time? And be yourself? Yes, you can, and I'll help you prepare to be optimistic when coaching your team. I'm not going to tell you to fake it until you make it, either. I'll be realistic about what you can say to cheer on your team and yet remain true to yourself, to your personality and conscience. 

Does venting have a place at work? Is it productive? As a leader, should you encourage or discourage it?In this episode I'm talking about the positives and negatives of venting in the workplace, what to watch out for, and how it can be done productively.As a leader, you can strike a good balance when it comes to venting. You want to set boundaries. You want to encourage open communication and expression of feelings and also establish clear guidelines to prevent venting from spiraling into negativity or becoming personal.

It can be really easy (tempting) to dismiss AI as something you don't need to worry about or something that won't impact you or something that can't help you in your role as a leader. In this episode, I ask my friend and collaborator Rick Crisci to start us off on a journey of learning about AI. Rick defines key terms and puts AI in perspective for those of us who aren't technical experts. Rick is an expert in cloud computing and AI and has trained over 300,000 students and is the owner of TrainerTests.com. 

I'm not going to convince you 1:1 meetings are important. You know that.Instead, I want to share with you 5 mistakes leaders commonly make when they arrange or hold 1:1 meetings. Changing your approach after learning these mistakes will help you hold more impactful meetings. You'll save time and you'll feel better about your leadership and work. While there's a lot you can probably change with your 1:1s, I want you to start by learning about these mistakes. 

Have you ever left a meeting--walked out the conference room door or clicked “End Meeting”--and groaned to yourself about something you said or did? “I can't believe I said that!” or “Oh my gosh, why do I do that?” or “Wow, I looked so stupid.”This is self-talk. You talking to yourself. And while we ca tell ourselves anything, the vast majority of us have negative self-talk. We harp on ourselves. We beat ourselves up but expressing what we did wrong or what we don't like about our behavior, experience, even appearance.When you learn to recognize your self-talk and understand why it's there, you'll be a better leader. So, let's talk about your self-talk.

Do you have an employee or a peer who is in pain and needs some very honest advice? You want to have a talk with them, a heart-to-heart. But having an effective heart-to-heart conversation is not something most companies provide on-the-job training for. Knowing when and how to have a heart-to-heart talk is critical to your success as a leader and to helping your employees stay focused and engaged. Don't wing these conversations! You need to prepare. And I'm going to help you do that. 

Each workday in September 2023, I shared a short video lesson. And I've been summarizing lessons in podcasts. So, here's a chance—a choice—for you to lead by listening.I want you to move willingly towards and into leadership on the outside and the inside.It's Back to Leadership) School. This is the final episode in a series of three, sharing quick insights on how to get you back into your leadership Instead of going back to school as you did many years ago and maybe your kids in September, I want to take you back to thinking more consciouslu about being a leader leader.

Each workday in September 2023, I'm sharing a short video lesson. And I've been summarizing lessons in podcasts. So, here's a chance—a choice—for you to lead by listening.I want you to move willingly towards and into leadership on the outside and the inside.It's Back to Leadership School. Join me!

Growing up, I always dreaded this time of year, as school started the first Tuesday of September.  On the outside, I went back willingly (new school supplies!). But on the inside, I was kicking and screaming, "NOOOO!!!" Kids don't have a choice. They have to go back to school. Leaders have a choice. You have a choice. You can choose to lead. Or not.I want you to move willingly towards and into leadership on the outside and the inside. No tantrums. I want you to join Back to (Leadership) School.There are 19 work days in September 2023, and I'm sharing a short video lesson each day. And this podcast episode summarizes the first 5 lessons.

Wouldn't it be nice if you had some examples of low EQ of low emotional intelligence, things you could look for in yourself and others that would tell you know what? “That's not good. That's not effective. That's not how I want to operate or have somebody on my team operating.”Well, I've got you covered. Because in this episode of the Leadership Shot, I'm going to share with you 10 examples 10 signs of low emotional intelligence.You may see yourself in some of these; that's okay. The difference is when you decide to do something differently.Let's get to it. 

To raise your EQ you need examples of what to do. What to focus on. In this episode, I share a list of 10 signs of high emotional intelligence. These are behaviors, actions, things to do that show high emotional intelligence. Can you see yourself in this list? Can you see your team, your peers, your friends, your family in what I share?Use this list to focus on how to raise your emotional intelligence. Even trying just one thing will help you.

I'm sure you've heard this before: people join companies, and they leave managers. Here's another way to think about it: people don't quit jobs; they quit bosses. The primary ingredient in your job satisfaction isn't the office and how fancy it is, the workload, salary, or benefits. It's the relationship with your boss. With your manager.In this episode of The Leadership Shot, I share 5 quick ideas you can implement fast to rethink and redefine your relationship with your manager. 

I feel your relationship with your manager is the most important one you'll have in any role at any company. Yes, you'll have great peers to work with you, and you'll likely hire and collaborate with amazing team members. But your relationship with your manager is one that will impact you the most. And calling how to work with your manager “managing up” isn't accurate. It's much more than that. And that's what we're discussing in this episode of The Leadership Shot. 

Last week I shared ten top things that awesome leaders do. This week, let's look at the flip side and talk about 10 things that CRAPPY leaders do!

In this episode I'm sharing ten things awesome leaders do. Think about whether or not you can implement some of these  ten actions or characteristics to be a better leader.

Apologizing doesn't always come easy, but it's an important skill for leaders at all levels. In this episode, I'm sharing  five top tips to help you apologize more effectively.

You've set your SMART goals, and now you need to talk about them! In this episode I'm diving into why you need to share your goals, who you should be sharing them with, and how to do it in the most effective way possible.

Unless you've lived under a rock and in a cave and been there for a long time, you've heard of SMART goals.It sounds so simple, right? Using the acronym SMART to write great goals. But I think you know that an easy-to-remember acronym doesn't write the goals for you. I think it can be easier to write SMART goals, and if you're like most of the leaders I know, you need some help with this. So, join me as we dive into SMART goals. You need just 15 minutes to get started.

In this episode, I'm going to bust some common myths on goal setting. There are 5 common myths about goals I want to discuss. These are things I feel many leaders believe in falsely, and it holds them and their teams back. 

If you led a team or function during the pandemic, you used some skills new to you, and you had to double down on other skills you had been using for a while.As I coached leaders during the pandemic, I noted the behaviors strong leaders were falling back on—and those they were developing anew. These leaders juggled remote work, masking on and masking off, and being resilient, and they managed their fears and struggles during the pandemic. There are some things that strong post-pandemic leaders do—and other leaders fail to master.In this episode, I share how you need to behave as a post-pandemic leader. This information will help you as you move forward in 2023 and beyond. 

Let's admit it: the term psychological safety can make you groan or roll your eyes. Leaders know they have to learn about it, but it seems too hard to understand what it is and how to implement it--without reading a long book or taking a class.I'm making it easy for you! In this episode, I interview Minette Norman, one of the authors of the new book, The Psychological Safety Playbook. Minette shares quick ideas for leaders, teams, and those without a formal title: ideas on how to use psychological safety.This episode is longer than usual, and it's worth 20 minutes of your time. 

Has it been three years since the pandemic started? It's crazy but true. What's changed for you during the last three years? How have you grown as a leader?I've continued to coach executives and teams during the last three crazy years, and in this episode, I share post-pandemic leadership lessons. I've collected a list of what I feel leaders have done differently: the best practices you need to know about. I also discuss the mistakes leaders are still making, pandemic or not. You'll want to hear that, so you can avoid these mistakes, ones that cost you time and money and lower employee engagement.

In my 25 years of coaching executives, I've learned there are some common tough love conversations they don't want to have. I wonder if you might also struggle with these discussions. You know you need to have them, but they are awkward and difficult. Primarily because you love some element of what you're talking about: the topic, the project, the person, the company, etc. You love what you do, and you don't want to disappoint anyone. But leaders often find themselves in situations where they need to speak straight about something, and it hurts them to do so. I'll help you figure this out!

This episode is bit different than my usual ones, and that's a GREAT thing because for my first interview on this podcast, I spoke with Amy Porterfield.Amy Porterfield is the host of the top-ranked podcast "Online Marketing Made Easy." She's also the author of the new book, Two Weeks Notice: Find the Courage to Quit Your Job, Make More Money, Work Where You Want, and Change the World.Her book was released on February 21, 2023, and you can learn more and order a copy at https://twoweeksnoticebook.com. Amy and I talked about leadership, emotional intelligence, and her journey as an entrepreneur. Amy's built a seven-figure business and in her book, she says how she gave . . . you guessed it: Two weeks notice! Her story will inspire you. I'm thrilled to share this interview with you. 

Do you want an easy way to assess your leadership? Or to plan your leadership to look back at a certain time period--such as a quarter or a whole year?Well, I've got you covered because in this episode, I'm going to walk you through three exercises to help you plan to be a better leader.We're going to talk about your skills, your hard and soft skills. We're going to talk about stakeholders, and we're going to talk about your strategic and behavioral accomplishments. It's going to be under 15 minutes. Take the time now to plan to be an awesome leader.

Do you ever look at your calendar and sigh as you see the same weekly status meeting that could be an email instead? Or maybe you look at it and smile, thinking about the meeting with a high performer and how you love coaching them. Well, your calendar not only helps you plan your work and tells you which conference room or the Zoom link, but it can also be a tool to help you grow your self-awareness as a leader.Self-awareness is a vital part of emotional intelligence, otherwise known as EQ. Developing your EQ can make your life and work easier. Really.And your calendar is a great way to help you learn how to become more self-aware.So, get out your calendar and green, yellow, and red markers, as I'm going to guide you through how to raise your self-awareness fast!

I love and hate the idea of New Year's Resolution. I bet you feel the same way.It's so easy to get wrapped up in the energy of the new year and then get frustrated.Whether you write resolutions or not, there are some common myths out there--statements that can put pressure on you as you start a new calendar year.When you think about creating resolutions, I want to help you avoid falling into some traps about what the new year means for you as a leader.So, let's bust 5 typical new year's resolutions myths.

Think about the last time you got praise—especially when you received it from someone you respect.It felt so good, right? It makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside.This feeling is what your team wants and needs. They want your praise.Yet many leaders think that giving positive feedback or praise isn't necessary.I have four reasons why you need to give your team members consistent positive feedback when they deserve it.In flush and lean times, giving praise verbally should be one of the top behaviors you use as a leader.In this episode, I'll share four reasons why giving praise is something you need to do more of.

I want to turn upside down your thinking about the phrase "WTF" or "What the f***."This phrase can be a helpful way for you to center yourself when frustrated.You'll need to swap out the “F” in this phrase, though. I'll show you how. WTF--what am talking about, right? ;) I'll share ideas to make this phrase one you'll rely on other than expressing how pissed off you feel.

I think employee engagement is important at any time of any organization's lifecycle and in any economy.Yet with the looming recession--sorry to be a downer--I think some leaders feel that they get a pass on employee engagement. They think, I have less to worry about, or I don't have to worry about employee engagement. People will be happy to simply have a job.It's tempting to consider that you can take the idea of understanding the engagement of your team members off your plate. But it's wrong.Let's define what engagement is and then you can consider why it's key to your success as a leader all the time.

So, you know you have bad managers at your company. Maybe even on your team.What can do you? What's an easy way to approach the situation and start coaching them?I've got you covered. In this episode, I'll share a simple coaching model to help you coach those struggling managers.

Let's say you've learned about some bad managers on your team or at your company. While you may want to know some of the next steps to take--the best practices--understanding what to NOT do--the mistakes--is just as important.I'm going to share with you the top 5 mistakes I've seen companies make again and again when they face the challenge of bad managers.These are the things you avoid.  And should avoid when managing terrible leaders on your team.

Have you ever worked for a bad manager? It's awful, right? Not only does this situation make it hard for you to do your job, it makes it hard for you to want to do your job.It's deflating. It's depressing. You end up avoiding interactions—in person, email, slack, anything from this terrible manager. And before you know it, you start looking around—looking around to find a better place to be. A new job.Why do some managers act like jerks? Are they born that way?No, they're not. Just as great leaders are built vs. born, bad managers develop and grow.I want you to identify the bad managers at your company. And to do that, you need to know the 3 types of bad managers. That's what I'm sharing in today's episode.

I want you to think of the situations that drive you nuts. The meetings that start late. The unexpected traffic, The people who rush in front of you to get on the train and never seem to look around them at all.The people who look at their phones the whole time you're with them--instead of looking at your face or eyes.These are your buttons. They are the things or people that drive you nuts.Once you identify them and learn why they bother you, you can make big strides in developing your EQ. Join me as we dive into learning about your EQ buttons.

Can it be easy to break down the concept of EQ or emotional intelligence?   Yes. In this episode, I will walk you through the 4 parts of a common model around EQ. Self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. Could this be more complicated? Totally. But why?! It doesn't have to be. You simply need to learn what these concepts mean and pick one to focus on. One at a time. Let's do it.To learn more about micro-learning to make your role as a leader easier, visit AwesomeLeader.com/podcast.

Why do you want to learn about emotional intelligence? How do you think it will help you? When you have reasons why EQ can help you, you'll grow your emotional intelligence skills as a leader much faster. So, what's your why? I share some examples to help you think about connecting what is interesting to what makes a difference in your life as a leader.To learn more about micro-learning to make your role as a leader easier, visit AwesomeLeader.com/podcast.

Do you ever feel as if you're bubbling over with frustration or anger at work? And then it just blows up. You blow up. You just said what you felt and thought. And then, pretty soon after, you regret it. Let's discuss what an emotional hijacking is and what's going on in your brain. You can change this behavior. And you need to. Learning how and why your body and brain can control your words and actions is key to your growth as a leader.To learn more about micro-learning to make your role as a leader easier, visit AwesomeLeader.com/podcast.

Emotional baggage refers to the symbolic “rocks” or “weight” we carry around. us: the feelings about ourselves, our work, and the experiences that negatively affect us. What you worry about = your emotional baggage. These things take up space in your mind and drag you down, in many ways. What you carry with you to work can impact your ability to be productive and engaged. Learn what's in your bag so you can get rid of some baggage!To learn more about micro-learning to make your role as a leader easier, visit AwesomeLeader.com/podcast.

Wouldn't it be nice if someone just cut the bs and told you the dos and don'ts--when it comes to being a great leader? Books are great and all, but you're busy! You might have . . . 15 minutes? Well, you're in the right spot: The Leadership Shot is a new podcast from executive coach, Leila Bulling Towne. Leila's coaching clients are startup founders and C-suite leaders. In this podcast, first-time managers, team leads, and experienced leaders get the practical advice she shares with people who aim to (and have rung) that NYSE bell. Each week Leila shares tangible advice with little to no fluff. Each episode is under 15 minutes. Subscribe for your 15-minute shot towards awesome leadership.

Managing up is a mystery for many people. Is it all about boosting your boss's ego? Is it about saying “yes” to every project you get assigned? What about spending time together? Should I try to be with them as much as possible--and what about if I'm no longer working in the office?In this episode, I break down managing up for you. It's mis-understood and mis-named. You'll also learn what your manager wants you to know about working with them. In under 15 minutes, you'll finally know the truth, lies, and facts about managing up.To learn more about micro-learning to make your role as a leader easier, visit AwesomeLeader.com/podcast.