Yesterday I was in a two and a half hour deep dive with a new client, walking through every aspect of her business for the Ops Playbook. And she said something I haven’t been able to stop thinking about. We were talking about how she handles underperformance, and she told

I was on a call with a client recently, a smart and driven business owner, running an incredibly successful business. She was frustrated with a team member, and as she was telling me about it, she said it: “I just shouldn’t have to deal with this.” I hear this ALL.

If you’re reading this, you already know the truth: most manager training programs don’t work. Managers sit through a long workshop or wade through a mind-numbing e-learning program. They nod along. They check the box. They “complete” the task. Two weeks later? They’re right back where they started. As someone

If you’ve ever stared at your calendar and thought, “There’s no way I’ll get through all of this,” this one’s for you. And it’s not just you… everyone I work with right now is maxed out. But here’s the thing: when leaders are stretched too thin, it doesn’t just affect

Here’s the thing about flexible roles: everyone wants them until they actually have them. In this week’s Ask Me Anything-style episode of The New Manager Playbook podcast, I tackled a listener question from Stephanie about keeping roles fresh and flexible without losing momentum. And honestly? This hits on one of

There’s a dangerous disconnect happening in workplaces everywhere. Consulting with teams within companies large and small, I’ve been consistently hearing two contradictory narratives: Leaders say: “No one seems to be working hard anymore.” Team members say: “I’m working harder than ever and getting zero recognition for it.” This perception gap

Most advice around navigating imposter syndrome focuses on overcoming it. But what if that’s the wrong approach? In this week’s episode of The New Manager Playbook podcast, I explore why imposter feelings persist even at the highest levels of leadership- and why managing them, not eliminating them, is the true

“Can I give you some feedback?” Six words that when uttered, send our stomachs turning like we’re on the Drop Zone ride at Great America. But when it comes to becoming the best in our work, besides the need to demystify feedback by sharing recognition and appreciation… it’s also ok

There’s a particular type of insomnia that only leaders experience. It’s that bolt-upright-at-3am moment when you suddenly wonder: “Wait… did that project get done?” “Is that team member even coming to work tomorrow?” “Did my instructions reach the right person?” In this week’s episode of The New Manager Playbook podcast,

“We can’t afford team development right now—costs are rising everywhere.” It’s the most expensive sentence in business, and I hear it almost daily. In this week’s episode of The New Manager Playbook podcast, I tackle the seemingly counterintuitive truth that’s costing organizations millions: cutting team development to “save money” is