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The Modern Manager

Mamie Kanfer Stewart

Host Mamie Kanfer Stewart shares practical approaches to help you be a great manager. Learn more at: https://themodernmanager.com/

Solo episodes are like mini-courses, providing actionable tips based on experience and research. Guest episodes are engaging conversations that elicit insights and suggestions for how to apply the ideas.

Learn more about effective meeting practices, communication skills, managing conflict, team building, time management, group dynamics, goal setting and accountability, team competencies, productivity and collaboration technologies, organizational culture, and more.

Be sure to follow the podcast on your favorite platform so you never miss a new episode!

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27 episodes
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Avg 21 min
English

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Tuesday · 31 min
426: How Tiny Habits Rewire Your Identity with BJ Fogg
Most of what happens in a workday, from how you open a meeting to how you respond to bad news, runs on autopilot. Habits, not decisions, are doing the heavy lifting. Behavior scientist BJ Fogg explains why willpower fails, why "bad habits" aren't really the enemy, and how one tiny action, done consistently, can quietly reshape how you see yourself as a leader, teammate, and person. Guest Bio BJ Fogg, PhD, is a behavior scientist at Stanford University, where he founded the Behavior Design Lab. In addition to his research, Fogg teaches industry innovators how human behavior really works. He created the Tiny Habits Academy to help people around the world. He is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything. Find out more at BJFogg.com and TinyHabits.com. Conversation Topics (00:00) Introduction: Meet BJ Fogg, Habit Design Expert (01:06) How Habits Quietly Run Your Workday (04:15) Building New Habits vs. Breaking Old Ones (07:40) A Gratitude Habit in Action: BJ's Own Example (11:23) How Small Habits Reshape Your Identity (18:43) The Power of "Shine": Celebrating Small Wins to Make Habits Stick (24:15) Coaching Your Team's Habits Through Specific Praise (28:43) Closing Thoughts: Lessons from a Great Manager Additional Resources ✨ Read the full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_f7ADen1bpZN0FM21os0kTtb5GgQ_aSDAegwKCkNGA4/edit?usp=sharing ✨ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipwithmamie/ ✨ Visit my website for more: https://www.themodernmanager.com/ ✨ Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 Keep Up with BJ Fogg Website: https://www.bjfogg.com Tiny Habits: https://www.tinyhabits.com Behavior Model: https://www.behaviormodel.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjfogg/ Social: @bjfogg on most social platforms Training: Learn Fogg Behavior Design directly from BJ at bjfogg.com/training Join my newsletter to get episodes and the one page takeaways delivered directly to your inbox: https://www.themoddernmanager.com The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast that helps you close the gap between knowing what good management is and actually doing it. Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode! #Leadership #TinyHabits #BehaviorChange #ManagementTips #WorkplaceCulture #HabitFormation #TeamLeadership #PersonalDevelopment #ManagerLife #EmployeeEngagement
September 15 · 8 min
425: 4 AI Tools I Use Every Single Day (And the Friction They Remove)
Most AI tools promise to make you more productive, but few actually remove the friction hiding in your daily grind. This episode breaks down four AI tools used every single day, not for the novelty, but for the real bottlenecks they eliminate: typing, email triage, meeting notes, and building the small tool you always wished existed. If you want less busywork and more bandwidth for the parts of management that actually matter, this one's for you. Conversation Topics (00:00) Introduction: Becoming Obsessed with AI Tools (00:44) The Core Idea: Removing Friction, Not Just Adding Features (01:59) Wispr Flow: Ditching Typing for Dictation (02:53) Shortwave: Taming Email Overload with AI Sorting (04:18) Granola: Meeting Notes That Write Themselves (05:30) Replit: Building Custom Apps Without Coding (07:12) What These Four Tools Have in Common (07:33) Your Challenge This Week & Closing Thoughts Additional Resources ✨ Read the full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u3xuVepkPpSSdju0--Kgu4M8U4qetYczr1h7MmCKGrY/edit?usp=sharing ✨ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipwithmamie/ ✨ Visit my website for more: https://www.themodernmanager.com/ ✨ Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 ✨ Check out Wispr Flow: https://wisprflow.ai/r?MAMIE12 ✨ Check out Granola: https://join.granola.ai/t/e74nryr4pc ✨ Check out Shortwave: https://www.shortwave.com/ ✨ Check out Replit: https://replit.com/refer/mamieks Join my newsletter to get episodes delivered directly to your inbox: https://www.themoddernmanager.com The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast that helps you close the gap between knowing what good management is and actually doing it. Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode! #Leadership #ManagementTips #AIforManagers #Productivity #ArtificialIntelligence #WorkSmarter #ManagementSkills #FutureOfWork #TechTools #TimeManagement
September 8 · 34 min
424: How to Manage Up, Down, and Across with Kristen Harcourt
Most leaders pour all their energy into managing the people who report to them and forget the other two-thirds of the job: managing up to their boss and across to the peers who can make or break a project. Skip those relationships and you end up stuck in silos, guessing what your boss actually wants, and wondering why cross-functional projects keep stalling. Here's the mindset shift and the exact moves that fix all three. Guest Bio For almost 20 years, Kristen Harcourt has been a trusted partner to executives and emerging leaders across hundreds of organizations around the globe, helping them unlock extraordinary, sustainable results through the power of self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and conscious leadership. A sought-after speaker and facilitator, she's a professionally accredited coach who empowers leaders to uncover their strengths, challenge their blind spots, and lead with purpose and impact. She hosts the Inspirational Leadership Podcast. Conversation Topics (00:00) Introduction: The Art of Managing Up, Down, and Across (01:28) Defining the Three Directions of Management (05:53) How to Open Up the Conversation When Managing Up (10:11) A Prioritization Tool — and Protecting Your Work-Life Balance (14:22) Managing Across: Why Curiosity Beats Assumptions (21:39) Building Trust With Cross-Functional Teams You Don't Manage (27:52) When (and How) to Advocate for an Overloaded Teammate (31:07) What Makes a Great Boss — Closing Thoughts Additional Resources ✨ Read the full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ynqnot4_ewNELrzpTs6bCT1Kq7qa0jSDdfp68rBF1PI/edit?usp=sharing ✨ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipwithmamie/ ✨ Visit my website for more: https://www.themodernmanager.com/ ✨ Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 Guest Links Website: https://kristenharcourt.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenharcourt/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristenharcourt/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristenharcourt/ Email: kristen@kristenharcourt.com Join my newsletter to get episodes and the key takeaways guides delivered directly to your inbox: https://www.themoddernmanager.com The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast that helps you close the gap between knowing what good management is and actually doing it. Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode! #Leadership #ManagingUp #EmotionalIntelligence #TeamCommunication #WorkplaceCulture #Management #EQinLeadership #CrossFunctionalTeams #LeadershipDevelopment #TrustAtWork
September 1 · 6 min
423: How AI Can Help Us Show Meaningful Appreciation (And Be More Human at Work)
Most of us have an instinctual positive response to great work.“This is amazing, thank you so much.” It feels warm and authentic, but could have been said about anyone or any work. The lack of specificity means those words are cheap and the positive impact they make is short-lived. Here's how to show authentic appreciation, using AI as a thinking partner (not a ghost writer) to pinpoint exactly what you appreciate so you can convey a truly meaningful message of thanks. Conversation Topics (00:00) Introduction: A Team Member's Effort and My Weak “Great Job” (00:34) Welcome to the Show, Plus a Confession (01:23) The Real Cost of Vague Appreciation (02:21) Turning to Claude to Find the Specific Words (03:17) Own It, Then Say It: Turning the Draft Into Real Appreciation (04:21) The Right Way to Use AI: Thinking Partner, Not Ghostwriter (05:31) This Week's Exercise and Free Resources Additional Resources ✨ Read the full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ft_fJZsu_cNReD1sjjPuSVaOo-u8hxu7G6fa2wp0yiU/edit?usp=sharing ✨ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipwithmamie/ ✨ Visit my website for more: https://www.themodernmanager.com/ ✨ Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 Join my newsletter to get episodes delivered directly to your inbox: https://www.themoddernmanager.com The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast that helps you close the gap between knowing what good management is and actually doing it. Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode! #Leadership #ManagementTips #EmployeeAppreciation #AIforManagers #TeamLeadership #FeedbackMatters #WorkplaceCulture #EmployeeRecognition #ManagerLife
August 25 · 31 min
422: Turn Uncomfortable Conversations into Just Conversations with Amy Jacobson
That stomach-drop feeling before a hard conversation? It's not weakness. It's your brain doing exactly what it was designed to do. Emotional intelligence expert Amy Jacobson breaks down the neuroscience of avoidance, the exact questions to ask before you say anything difficult, and why the conversation you've been dreading might be the most important one you ever have. Guest Bio Amy Jacobson is an emotional intelligence and human behavior specialist delivering programs, keynotes, and workshops across Australia and internationally. She is a twice Wiley-published author of Emotional Intelligence: A Simple and Actionable Guide to Increasing Performance, Engagement and Ownership and The Emotional Intelligence Advantage: Mastering Change and Difficult Conversations. Conversation Topics (00:00) Why humans are wired to avoid difficult conversations (02:32) The role of the amygdala and fear of the unknown (06:00) How our brain deprioritizes hard conversations to protect us (07:12) What actually counts as a "difficult conversation" (08:18) The difference between a difficult conversation and a difficult delivery (09:38) Why curiosity is the most important tool in a first conversation (10:21) Why you should never over-prepare for a first conversation (15:16) The Ask, Ask, Tell framework (16:41) How to remove emotion and get factual when someone won't own it (19:29) Separating the person from the role (21:27) Real-world story: a leader in the wrong role (27:45) What a follow-up conversation must include: the consequence (29:42) Great manager shoutout: Tina Fisher Additional Resources ✨ Read the full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AK1zgeJoKYqMWkNmGM-p-QkWz27Sd_p8_QxFqoRTf8U/edit?usp=sharing ✨ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipwithmamie/ ✨ Visit my website for more: https://www.themodernmanager.com/ ✨ Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 Keep up with Amy Jacobson Website: https://amyjacobson.com.au/ Book: The Emotional Intelligence Advantage — https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Intelligence-Advantage-Mastering-Conversations/dp/1394337949 Free eBook: https://app.box.com/s/0yjaellmagoc8dyceu5bdyndk4uoku6x LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-jacobson-emotional-intelligence/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyjacobson_ei Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/findingyoury/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3tV1e6qV8EHqmA7_RFnPTw Join my newsletter to get episodes and my one page episode guides with the key takeaways delivered directly to your inbox: https://www.themodernmanager.com The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast that helps you close the gap between knowing what good management is and actually doing it. Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode! #Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence #DifficultConversations #ManagementTips #WorkplaceConflict #TeamLeadership #PeopleManagement #ManagerSkills #EQ
August 18 · 7 min
421: The Difference Between Consensus and Agreement That's Costing You Decisions
Picture a room stuck for three weeks on one sentence for a new policy. Half the team wants a rule tight enough to enforce, the other half wants it loose enough to survive real life. Nobody's wrong, and nobody's moving. This episode breaks down why chasing full agreement kills decisions, why forcing a vote kills them slowly in the background, and the three questions that get a group to something everyone can actually stand behind. Conversation Topics (00:00) Introduction (01:39) Redefining Consensus: It's Not About Full Agreement (02:27) The Two Traps: Endless Debate vs. Forced Votes (03:57) The Three Questions That Break the Deadlock (05:19) Why Silence Isn't the Same as Consent (06:13) How to Apply This in Your Next Tough Decision Additional Resources ✨ Read the full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1khG9LS-iuWW5Re14TuclvVFKzx8FSdo7xlFiWGsf_JI/edit?usp=sharing ✨ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipwithmamie/ ✨ Visit my website for more: https://www.themodernmanager.com/ ✨ Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 Join my newsletter to get episodes and key takeaways delivered directly to your inbox: https://www.themoddernmanager.com The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast that helps you close the gap between knowing what good management is and actually doing it. Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode! #Leadership #TeamCommunication #Consensus #DecisionMaking #ManagementTips #WorkplaceCulture #TeamLeadership #ConflictResolution
August 11 · 30 min
420: The Hidden Force Pulling Your Team Apart (and How to Reverse It) with Matt Poepsel
Your team isn't falling apart because something went wrong. It's falling apart because that's what teams do by default, drifting toward disconnection unless someone actively counteracts it. Lucky for us, there are four forces that pull people back together. Discover the fast, free actions any manager can take this week to stop the drift before it costs you your best people. Guest Bio Matt Poepsel, PhD is the author of Expand the Circle: Enlightened Leadership for Our New World of Work and host of the Lead the People podcast. He serves as Vice President & Godfather of Talent Optimization at The Predictive Index. He holds a PhD in Psychology, an MBA, and a Harvard Business School Certificate of Management Excellence. Matt is a part-time faculty member at Boston College where he teaches in the areas of leadership, human resources, and business spirituality. Conversation Topics (00:00) Introduction: Why Teams Naturally Drift Apart (01:19) Team Entropy: Why Cohesion Doesn't Happen by Accident (09:46) Counterforce #1 — Creating Hope Through a Shared Future (12:46) Counterforce #2 — Building Mutuality Through Fairness and Transparency (17:17) Counterforce #3 — Strengthening Commitment by Investing in Team Identity (24:43) Counterforce #4 — Creating Synchrony So Teams Work Together Smoothly (27:55) The Manager Who Got It Right & Final Leadership Takeaways Additional Resources ✨ Read the full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qGzsoaFZ-5Dz7a8-X8AQEmYHxFrfqAj6q-pziO5kksg/edit?usp=sharing ✨ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipwithmamie/ ✨ Visit my website for more: https://www.themodernmanager.com/ ✨ Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 Keep Up with Matt Poepsel Website: http://mattpoepsel.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattpoepsel/ Book: Expand the Circle: Enlightened Leadership for Our New World of Work: https://a.co/d/08N6iDTp Podcast: Lead the People: https://www.mattpoepsel.com/podcasts/lead-the-people Join my newsletter to get episodes and free guides delivered directly to your inbox: https://www.themoddernmanager.com The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast that helps you close the gap between knowing what good management is and actually doing it. Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode! #Leadership #TeamCohesion #ManagementTips #WorkplaceCulture #TeamBuilding #EmployeeEngagement #ModernManager #FutureOfWork
August 4 · 8 min
419: What It Really Means to Have Integrity
You say yes to the small stuff: the draft review, the book recommendation, the shampoo run. Then Thursday comes and none of it has happened. No one complains, but something quietly cracks. Every broken commitment, even the tiny ones, adds up to a trust tax you’re paying without realizing it. This episode breaks down the three-part structure that turns a yes into something people can actually count on. Conversation Topics (00:00) Introduction: The Three Small Promises I Broke (01:31) Redefining Integrity: It’s About Keeping Commitments (02:37) Why Good People Still Break Their Word (03:04) The Hidden Cost: How Broken Commitments Erode Trust (04:21) The Three-Part Structure of a Real Commitment (06:08) How to Renegotiate and Repair a Broken Commitment (07:11) Your 3-Step Challenge for This Week Additional Resources ✨ Read the full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10EkeUUQhCQ9ltwuunRuglPyNMBmQz8KTHkYC5MnYD7U/edit?usp=sharing ✨ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipwithmamie/ ✨ Visit my website for more: https://www.themodernmanager.com/ ✨ Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 ✨ Get the book: The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership by Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman, and Kaley Klemp - https://a.co/d/0hP0FUJr Join my newsletter to get episodes delivered directly to your inbox: https://www.themodernmanager.com The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast that helps you close the gap between knowing what good management is and actually doing it. Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode! #Leadership #Integrity #TrustAtWork #Commitment #ManagementTips #ConsciousLeadership #WorkplaceCulture #PersonalAccountability #TeamTrust
July 28 · 33 min
418: Insights on Effective Leadership from the LGBTQ+ Community with Dr. Joel A. Davis Brown
Some of the best leadership lessons don't come from business books. Throughout history, different cultures have developed wisdom for how we can interact with and lead others. By exploring what different cultures value, we can identify insights into what might help us be better managers today. Dr. Joel A. Davis Brown is an attorney, executive leadership consultant, and author of The Souls of Queer Folk. Drawing on lessons from LGBTQ+ cultural values and decades of leadership consulting, he helps organizations build more inclusive, perceptive, and human-centered leadership practices. In this episode, we explore how the unique values of the LGBTQ+ community offer a powerful blueprint for transformational leadership. We’ll discuss how you can integrate these human-centered insights into your own team culture to create a more inclusive and effective workplace. Conversation Topics (00:00) Introduction (02:34) Why Joel started researching LGBTQ+ culture and leadership (06:19) How the research worked: 15 values sorted into 9 meta-themes (09:45) Overview of the meta-themes: justice, authenticity, verve, interconnectedness, creativity, fluidity, resilience, somatic awareness, perceptiveness (12:52) Authenticity: internal alignment before external behavior (14:57) Verve: internal exuberance versus charisma (18:12) Non-binary thinking: rejecting either/or decisions (22:55) Somatic awareness: what your body tells you about your work (26:57 Two great managers Joel’s worked for (33:06) [EXTENDED EPISODE] Building these values into team culture, not just individual leadership (39:28) [EXTENDED EPISODE] Perceptiveness: situational awareness and reading the room 📚 Additional Resources: ✨ Read the full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z2kdQnqMCcz92rq31pnfzOMH4O9df6rqYddUXwlvtg0/edit?usp=drive_link ✨Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipwithmamie/ ✨Visit my website for more: https://www.mamieks.com/ ✨ Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 Keep up with Dr. Joel A. Davis-Brown. - Connect with Joel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelanthonybrown/ - Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joelabrown/ - Visit the Pneumos website: https://www.pneumos.com/ Join my newsletter to get episodes delivered directly to your inbox: https://www.themoddernmanager.com The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive and great work gets done. Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode! #Leadership #TeamCommunication #WorkplaceCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #InclusiveLeadership #Teamwork #WorkStyles #ManagerSkills #PsychologicalSafety #EmotionalIntelligence #LeadershipTips #Collaboration #WorkplaceCommunication #FutureOfLeadership #TheModernManager
July 21 · 6 min
417: Why Hitting Your Goal Doesn't Always Mean You Were Successful
Hitting the goal doesn’t always mean the project was a success. A project can finish on time, hit every target, and look like a clear win on the dashboard while quietly burning out the team, damaging trust, or leaving the same problems waiting to happen again. In this episode, I explain why outcomes alone don’t tell the full story of project success and introduce three measures every manager should consider: the outcome, how the work got done, and what the team learned. You'll discover how to distinguish between a win you can repeat and one that may be costing you future success. You'll also learn why the way your team achieves a goal matters, how learning can change the value of both wins and failures, and how to evaluate whether your team is better positioned to succeed next time. By the end of this episode, you'll have a practical framework for measuring success beyond the dashboard and building a team that can deliver strong results again and again. Conversation Topics (00:00) Why hitting the goal doesn't always mean the project was successful (01:00) The problem with measuring success by outcomes alone (02:00) Why a win today can quietly cost you the next one (03:00) The three components of project success (04:00) Measure #1: Did you achieve the outcome you set? (04:00) Measure #2: How effectively did the team get the work done? (05:00) Measure #3: What did the team learn that can improve future performance? (06:00) [Extended Only] How to explain an unsustainable win to a boss who only cares about results (07:00) [Extended Only] How to own a missed goal without losing the value of what you learned 📚 Additional Resources ✨ Read the transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Sp9sEhxynY8oS_glRYpJhV0UmMU5HTQ4z3RVStGBoD0/edit?usp=sharing ✨ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipwithmamie/ ✨ Visit my website for more: https://www.mamieks.com/ ✨ Level up your skills: https://themodernmanager.com/replaybundle ✨ Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 Join my newsletter to get episodes delivered directly to your inbox: https://www.themoddernmanager.com The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive and great work gets done. Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode! #Leadership #Management #ProjectManagement #TeamPerformance #GoalSetting #LeadershipDevelopment #PeopleManagement #ManagementSkills #TeamSuccess #TheModernManager
July 14 · 29 min
416: Stop Difficult Conversations From Going Wrong (Before They Even Start)
Difficult conversations are rarely difficult because we don't know what to say. More often, they fall apart because we have the conversation at the wrong time, in the wrong way, or without realizing that the other person is experiencing the situation very differently than we are. Fortunately, this week's guest shares a practical framework for navigating challenging conversations without creating more conflict. Instead of focusing on "winning" the discussion, you'll learn how to create the conditions for people to listen, collaborate, and move forward together. Victoria Rennoldson is a global leadership expert, executive coach, and author of Become a Global Leader. She helps leaders communicate across cultures, build stronger relationships, and handle difficult conversations with greater confidence and empathy. In this conversation, we explore why difficult conversations so often break down, how culture and communication styles shape conflict, and a simple framework that helps leaders replace defensiveness with genuine dialogue and better decisions. Conversation Topics (00:00) Introduction (01:56) Why most difficult conversations fail before they even begin (05:18) Preparing yourself before addressing conflict (09:41) The hidden emotional baggage that shapes difficult conversations (13:27) How culture influences communication, conflict, and feedback (17:42) Three communication differences every manager should recognize (22:06) How to avoid misreading what someone is really communicating (26:11) Practical ways to create safer, more productive conversations (28:09) [Extended Episode Only] The BRIDGE framework for difficult conversations (35:02) [Extended Episode Only] How to avoid misunderstandings across different communication styles (37:13) [Extended Episode Only] Why simple check-ins uncover what meetings often miss 📚 Additional Resources: ✨ Read the full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GJRsTpWGQWe-Bq0caozgV3uDo-0hkyeXyhy58Jim6NY/edit?usp=drive_link ✨Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipwithmamie/ ✨Visit my website for more: https://www.mamieks.com/ ✨ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 Keep up with Victoria Rennoldson - Connect with Victoria on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/victoria-rennoldson - Listen to the Cultural Communication Confidence podcast: https://culturecuppa.com/podcast - Check out her book Become a Global Leader: https://culturecuppa.com/book - Visit the Culture Cuppa website: https://culturecuppa.com/ Join my newsletter to get episodes delivered directly to your inbox: https://www.themoddernmanager.com The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive and great work gets done. Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode! #DifficultConversations #LeadershipCommunication #ConflictResolution #ManagerSkills #WorkplaceCommunication #LeadershipDevelopment #CommunicationSkills #EmotionalIntelligence #CrossCulturalCommunication #ManagementSkills #PsychologicalSafety #LeadershipTips
July 7 · 11 min
415: The 30-Day Onboarding Plan Isn't a Welcome Packet
Most onboarding plans focus on helping new hires feel welcome and settled in their role. But the real purpose of onboarding isn't orientation; it's creating clarity before misunderstandings become habits and before small mistakes turn into difficult performance conversations. In this episode, I explain why the success or struggles you see three months after someone joins your team are often determined before they even start. You'll learn the difference between orientation and onboarding, why unclear expectations quietly undermine great hires, and the three things every manager should define during the first 30 days. You'll also discover how AI can help you build a practical onboarding plan in less time, why documenting your team's unwritten rules matters more than you think, and how to reset expectations if someone has already been in the role for weeks or even months. By the end of this episode, you'll have a simple framework for creating onboarding plans that build confidence, prevent unnecessary feedback conversations, and help new employees succeed from day one. Conversation Topics (00:00) Why the real onboarding work begins after a candidate accepts the offer (01:56) Orientation vs. onboarding: the difference most managers miss (03:45) Why unclear expectations create future performance problems (06:13) Step #1: Define what success looks like at 30, 60, and 90 days (07:18) Step #2: Teach the unwritten rules that every team follows (08:49) Step #3: Explain how to work effectively with you as a manager (09:41) How AI can help you build a stronger onboarding plan in minutes (10:18) [Extended Only] How to re-onboard an employee when things aren't going as planned (11:44) [Extended Only] A simple conversation that resets expectations without creating defensiveness (13:00) [Extended Only] Why a "fresh start" can rebuild confidence and improve performance 📚 Additional Resources ✨ Read the transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1it3sq2F1DMg7SaFcJY68HAbo9Kxgi2Pz_nvEYLBNwKg/edit?usp=sharing ✨ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipwithmamie/ ✨ Visit my website for more: https://www.mamieks.com/ ✨ Level up your skills: https://themodernmanager.com/replaybundle ✨ Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 Join my newsletter to get episodes delivered directly to your inbox: https://www.themoddernmanager.com The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done. Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode! #Leadership #Management #Onboarding #NewManager #PeopleManagement #EmployeeOnboarding #LeadershipDevelopment #ManagementSkills #FutureOfWork #TheModernManager
June 30 · 29 min
414: How to Create Space for Strategic Thinking with Howard Tiebel
Most managers know they should spend more time thinking strategically. The problem is that strategy often gets crowded out by urgent tasks, endless decisions, and the pressure to solve today's problems. But strategic thinking isn't just about setting long-term goals. It's about creating the space to explore possibilities, challenge assumptions, and help your team think beyond what's immediately in front of them. Fortunately, this week's guest shares a practical approach to developing strategic thinking, creating compelling visions of the future, and leading conversations that generate better ideas rather than rushing to premature solutions. Howard Teibel is the founder of Teibel Education and an expert in leadership development, organizational strategy, and team effectiveness. For decades, he has helped leaders and organizations build cultures where people communicate more effectively, think more strategically, and navigate change with greater confidence. In this conversation, we discuss why strategic thinking is often misunderstood, how leaders can create a compelling vision that inspires action, and why slowing down conversations is often the key to generating better ideas. We also explore how moods influence team performance and what managers can do to help teams stay productive when emotions threaten to derail progress. Conversation Topics (00:00) Introduction (02:12) Why strategic thinking is more than long-term planning (05:41) Creating a compelling vision of the future (10:06) How vision shapes what organizations believe is possible (16:38) Helping teams think strategically together (18:47) Why strategic conversations often collapse into action planning (22:14) The difference between debating ideas and exploring them (25:06) What great leaders and partners do differently (28:31) [Extended] Why knowing what to do isn't enough to change behavior (29:30) [Extended] The hidden role moods play in team performance (32:44) [Extended] How to recognize and shift unproductive moods in meetings (35:40) [Extended] A simple exercise to create more intentional team conversations 📚 Additional Resources: ✨ Read the full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UiIcgN4YcpNc0fAHakdjK_DZBCmb4N2io6xjX_2ZQso/edit?usp=sharing ✨Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipwithmamie/ ✨Visit my website for more: https://www.mamieks.com/ ✨ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 Keep up with Howard Teibel - Connect with Howard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardteibel/ - Visit Teibel education here: https://teibelinc.com/ Get episodes and key takeaways delivered to your inbox when you join my newsletter at www.themodernmanager.com --------------------- The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done. Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode! #StrategicThinking #LeadershipDevelopment #TeamLeadership #LeadershipSkills #DecisionMaking #OrganizationalLeadership #ExecutiveLeadership #BusinessStrategy #LeadershipCommunication #ManagementSkills #TeamEffectiveness #FutureThinking #LeadershipMindset #OrganizationalDevelopment #TheModernManager
June 23 · 9 min
413: What to Do When a Meeting Gets Heated
When a meeting becomes tense, your natural instinct might be to calm things down. But when emotions start rising, the real problem usually isn’t the conflict itself. It’s that something important is at stake, and the conversation has shifted from solving a problem to defending positions, competence, or credibility. In this episode, I explain why trying to smooth things over or bypass the hard stuff by “taking it offline” often makes things worse. You'll learn how to recognize what's really happening when discussions become emotional, why tension can be a useful signal rather than a threat, and how to help a group move from arguing with each other to working on the problem together. I also share a real example from a meeting where I wasn't the leader in the room but still had an opportunity to intervene. You'll learn three practical steps for slowing down heated conversations, uncovering the real issue beneath the disagreement, and helping teams make productive progress without shutting conflict down. By the end of this episode, you'll have a simple framework for navigating difficult moments in meetings and the confidence to step in when everyone else is waiting for someone else to act. Conversation Topics (00:00) A meeting that became more heated than anyone expected (01:06) Why most people freeze when conflict escalates in a meeting (02:05) The hidden issue underneath emotional disagreements (02:52) Why "let's take this offline" often makes things worse (03:32) Emotions are information, not a problem to solve (04:25) Why don't you need authority to help with a difficult conversation (05:40) Step #1: Slow the conversation down without shutting it down (06:00) Step #2: Identify the real concern underneath the disagreement (06:43) How to redirect emotional energy toward solving the problem (07:11) Step #3: Decide what happens next so the issue moves forward (08:00) The difference between burying a problem and intentionally parking it (08:50) [Extended] How to repair trust after an emotional reaction at work (09:20) [Extended] Why apologizing alone often isn't enough to rebuild credibility 📚 Additional Resources ✨ Read the transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hFBOi5jIA5I3TCv9h-BJDu7bmN0Yp8T2zhc9wDglGsM/edit?usp=sharing ✨ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipwithmamie/ ✨ Visit my website for more: https://www.mamieks.com/ ✨ Level up your skills: https://themodernmanager.com/replaybundle ✨ Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive and great work gets done. Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode! #Leadership #Management #CommunicationSkills #ConflictResolution #MeetingManagement #LeadershipDevelopment #PeopleManagement #TeamCommunication #ManagerTraining #TheModernManager
June 16 · 32 min
412: How Great Managers Create Accountability Without Micromanaging with Molly Rodau
Managers often say they want more accountability on their teams. But accountability often feels like micromanaging people, chasing updates, or constantly correcting mistakes. In fact, many accountability problems begin long before performance issues show up. They start with unclear expectations, missing resources, and assumptions that everyone interprets requests the same way. Fortunately, this week’s guest offers a practical framework for creating accountability that actually works, without damaging trust, morale, or autonomy. Molly Rodau helps organizations navigate periods of growth and complexity by strengthening leadership, communication, and management practices. She specializes in helping leaders make difficult decisions while creating environments where people can do great work and feel supported. In this conversation, we explore why accountability is often misunderstood, how managers can set clearer expectations, the importance of providing the right resources, and how to have productive accountability conversations that strengthen performance instead of creating resentment. Conversation Topics (00:00) Introduction (01:52) Why accountability is not the same as blame (03:44) The biggest mistakes managers make when setting expectations (09:31) When documenting expectations helps prevent confusion (11:55) How to balance clarity without becoming overly controlling (16:35) The difference between relational and tactical resources (20:03) Practical ways to support employees so they can succeed (21:03) Why accountability requires getting comfortable with authority (21:48) Avoiding “ruinous empathy” and “obnoxious aggression” (26:14) How positive accountability reinforces great performance (28:43) A great manager Molly worked for (31:46) [Extended] What to do when accountability conversations stop working (33:36) [Extended] The REAL framework for advocating upward and getting support (39:09) [Extended] Moving from complaints to productive action 📚 Additional Resources: ✨ Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month ✨ Read the full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D_1whtmbUFjdCik2Sre61M6tXpWw8KdevvfWunir4x0/edit?usp=sharing ✨Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipwithmamie/ ✨Visit my website for more: https://www.mamieks.com/ ✨ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 ✨ Episode 236: Say What Needs To Be Said with Kim Scott: https://themodernmanager.transistor.fm/236 Keep up with Molly Rodau at Collectively - Follow Collectively on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/__collectively/ - Follow Collectively on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/be-collectively/ - Visit their website: https://www.becollectively.com/ Guest Bonus: ERA and REAL Advocacy Frameworks Download the The Expectations - Resources - Accountability Framework and The REAL Advocacy Framework cheatsheets to help you apply them to your work. To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community. --------------------- The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done. Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode! #Accountabilit #LeadershipDevelopment #PeopleManagement #ManagementSkills #LeadershipSkills #ManagerTraining #WorkplaceLeadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #ManagementTips #LeadershipGrowth #CommunicationSkills #ProfessionalDevelopment #TeamLeadership #TheModernManager
June 9 · 12 min
411: 3 Types of Team Conflict and How to Resolve Each One
Some team conflicts seem to get resolved quickly. Others keep resurfacing in meeting after meeting, leaving everyone frustrated and no closer to a solution. In this episode, I explain why certain disagreements are so difficult to resolve and introduce a simple framework for identifying the three types of conflict that show up on nearly every team: process conflict, perspective conflict, and personality conflict. You'll learn how to recognize which type of conflict you're dealing with, why different conflicts require different responses, and the practical steps managers can take to help conversations move forward instead of going in circles. By the end of this episode, you'll have a clearer way to diagnose team disagreements, reduce unnecessary friction, and help your team navigate conflict more productively. Conversation Topics (00:00) Why smart teams get stuck in unresolved disagreements (00:54) The three types of conflict hiding inside one conversation (03:06) Type #1: Process conflict and clarity on how work gets done (04:23) Type #2: Perspective conflict driven by values, experience, and expertise (05:19) Type #3: Personality conflict and clashing work styles (06:20) Move #1: Identify the type of conflict before solving it (06:49) Move #2: Resolve process conflict by clarifying decision rights and expectations (08:29) Move #3: Resolve perspective conflict by naming trade-offs and decision criteria (10:30) Move #4: Manage personality conflict through translation, reframing, and team norms (12:03) [Extended] Why managers often misdiagnose conflict when they are part of it (13:19) [Extended] How to recognize when you're acting like a player instead of a referee. (14:22) [Extended] A simple technique for reducing bias during difficult team disagreements. 📚 Additional Resources ✨ Read the transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15h40eVFr8x2Mk9kW9gn53rbZQQpxjBmkxkE19BmLTxM/edit?usp=sharing ✨ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipwithmamie/ ✨ Visit my website for more: https://www.mamieks.com/ ✨ Level up your skills: https://themodernmanager.com/replaybundle ✨ Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive and great work gets done. Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode! #Leadership #Management #PeopleManagement #TeamConflict #ConflictResolution #LeadershipDevelopment #ManagerTips #TeamLeadership #WorkplaceCommunication #TheModernManager
June 2 · 31 min
410: The Simple Coaching Habit That Changes How Teams Think with Laura and Dominic Ashley-Timms
Most managers think their job is to have the answers. But the managers who create the strongest teams often do the opposite: they ask better questions. The challenge is that under pressure, most of us default to fixing, advising, and jumping in with solutions. And while that may feel efficient in the moment, it can unintentionally shut down ownership, confidence, and independent thinking on our teams. Fortunately, this week’s guests explain why coaching doesn’t have to mean hour-long development conversations or formal mentoring sessions. Instead, they share how small “coachable moments” in everyday work conversations can transform the way people think, learn, and perform. Laura Ashley-Timms and Dominic Ashley-Timms are leadership experts, executive coaches, and authors of The Answer Is A Question. Their work focuses on helping managers use operational coaching techniques to develop more confident, capable, and engaged teams through the power of purposeful inquiry. In this conversation, we explore how to identify coachable moments, the kinds of questions that build confidence and critical thinking, and why managers who stop rushing to provide answers often unlock far greater performance from their teams. Conversation Topics (00:00) Introduction (02:14) Why managers default to giving answers instead of coaching (05:27) What makes a moment “coachable” (08:43) How operational coaching builds confidence and ownership (12:08) The difference between helpful questions and advice disguised as questions (14:31) The Ques-Gen framework for asking better questions (18:21) How purposeful inquiry creates new insights and learning (19:27) Questions that unintentionally shut people down (22:20) How to share your ideas without dominating the conversation (24:38) The leadership shift from problem-solver to talent developer (30:10) [Extended Episode Only] How to decide if a situation is truly coachable (33:36) [Extended Episode Only] Why small coaching moments create long-term team growth (35:17) [Extended Episode Only] The growing pressure managers face today (37:24) [Extended Episode Only] Why “accidental managers” are burning out (38:56) [Extended Episode Only] Reframing management as enabling others to succeed 📚 Additional Resources: ✨ Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month ✨ Read the full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nDydcM3ozLY1UtVNN7O0AqMJr1rs5JkuWe8KDq6EdQE/edit?usp=sharing ✨Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipwithmamie/ ✨Visit my website for more: https://www.mamieks.com/ ✨Upskill your team: https://themodernmanager.com/replaybundle ✨ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 Keep up with Laura Ashley-Timms and Dominic Ashley-Timms - Connect with Laura on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/laura-ashley-timms - Connect with Dominic on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dominic-ashley-timms - Listen to the STAR® Manager Podcast: https://STARmanager.global/podcast - Check out their book The Answer Is A Question: https://www.amazon.com/Answer-Question-Superpower-Everything-Transform/dp/0117093912 Guest Bonus: 10 Free Audiobooks of The Answer is A Question This book provides a step-by-step walk-through of their ground-breaking STAR® model. Packed with invaluable insights, examples, and mini-missions, you’ll learn precisely how to make some immediate changes that will yield fast and exciting results and revolutionise how you manage forever. The first 10 members to sign up will receive the audiobook. To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community. --------------------- The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done. Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode! #LeadershipDevelopment #ManagementSkills #CoachingSkills #PeopleManagement #LeadershipCommunication #ManagerTips #WorkplaceLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #TeamLeadership #CoachingConversations #ManagerTraining #FutureOfWork #LeadershipGrowth #EmployeeDevelopment #OperationalCoaching
May 26 · 8 min
409: The Feedback Conversation Managers Avoid (And How to Finally Have It)
Most managers think difficult feedback conversations are hard because they don’t know what to say. But often the real problem is that the conversation they’re preparing for is the wrong one. In this episode, I break down why feedback conversations become so emotionally exhausting, why managers keep delaying them, and how unclear expectations quietly damage trust long before feedback is ever delivered. You’ll learn why feedback only works when there’s a shared understanding of standards first, how to shift from a “feedback conversation” to a “clarity conversation,” and four practical moves that make difficult conversations more productive and less emotionally charged. In the extended version, I also explore what to do when the conversation still doesn’t work, how to identify whether the real issue is clarity, capability, motivation, or systems constraints, and why repeating the same conversation louder rarely fixes the problem. By the end of this episode, you’ll have a practical framework for approaching difficult conversations with more clarity, less avoidance, and a much better chance of creating real change. Conversation Topics (00:00) The parking garage moment managers know too well (01:32) Why feedback conversations feel so difficult (02:28) The hidden problem: unclear standards and assumptions (03:39) Why feedback is really a clarity conversation (04:54) Move #1: Name the conversation before it starts (05:50) Move #2: Lead with the observable gap, not emotions (07:00) Move #3: Make the conversation collaborative, not a verdict (07:00) Move #4: End with recommitment and accountability (07:00) [EXTENDED ONLY] Why discomfort doesn’t always mean the conversation failed (08:02) [EXTENDED ONLY] The difference between capability, will, and systems gaps (09:22) [EXTENDED ONLY] Why repeating the same feedback conversation louder rarely works (10:17) [EXTENDED ONLY] Reframing feedback as alignment instead of judgment 📚 Additional Resources ✨ Read the transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iw4Ci7hYzU-1kSC8biwCp7opAjCuXcJJSRH7oP69PGk/edit?usp=sharing ✨ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipwithmamie/ ✨ Visit my website for more: https://www.mamieks.com/ ✨ Level up your skills: https://themodernmanager.com/replaybundle ✨ Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done. Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode! #Leadership #Management #Feedback #CommunicationSkills #ManagerTools #WorkplaceCommunication #LeadershipDevelopment #TheModernManager
May 19 · 34 min
408: Why AI Makes Human Thinking More Valuable, Not Less with Dr. Vivienne Ming
AI can now answer questions faster, cheaper, and sometimes better than humans. So where does that leave managers and teams? For many leaders, the instinct is to use AI to speed up execution and automate tasks. But the bigger challenge isn’t getting faster answers. It’s learning how to ask better questions, navigate uncertainty, and create environments where people are encouraged to think critically, experiment, and complement AI. Fortunately, this week’s guest explains why the future of work won’t belong to the people who always have the right answers but to the teams that know how to explore problems with AI as their partner. Dr. Vivienne Ming is a neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and author of Robot-Proof: When Machines Have All the Answers, Build Better People. Her work focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence, human potential, and innovation, helping organizations understand which uniquely human skills become even more valuable in an AI-driven world. In this conversation, we explore the difference between well-posed and ill-posed problems, why curiosity and intellectual humility matter more than expertise, and how managers can build teams that think more creatively alongside AI instead of becoming dependent on it. Conversation Topics (00:00) Introduction (03:42) Why AI excels at “well-posed” problems (07:00) The kinds of problems humans still solve best (10:41) Why uncertainty makes managers uncomfortable (13:20) How AI can create the illusion of understanding (15:13) The human skills that become more valuable in an AI-driven world (19:37) What “hybrid intelligence” between humans and AI looks like (23:18) Why curiosity and intellectual humility outperform expertise alone (27:12) How productive disagreement improves team thinking (32:19) [Extended Episode Only] Building resilience, curiosity, and learning through failure (35:48) [Extended Episode Only] Why rewarding “productive mistakes” matters (40:56) [Extended Episode Only] Using constructive criticism to generate better ideas 📚 Additional Resources: ✨ Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month ✨ Read the full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jDqGUcP6zMtset2bPAkMNxaa40MQc4yuhK8kcgY-8KU/edit?usp=sharing ✨Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipwithmamie/ ✨Visit my website for more: https://www.mamieks.com/ ✨Upskill your team: https://themodernmanager.com/replaybundle ✨ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 Keep up with Dr. Vivienne Ming and SOCoS - Visit SOCoS here: https://socos.org/ - Check out the book Robot-Proof: When Machines Have All the Answers, Build Better People: https://socos.org/robot-proof Guest Bonus: Book Giveaway: Robot-Proof: When Machines Have All the Answers, Build Better People Dr. Vivienne Ming helps readers grasp the ugly and the amazing of how individuals, companies, and societies will respond to the changes that are already taking hold due to the advent of AI. With poignant insight and delicate care to keep us grounded in the human perspective, Robot-Proof is an entertaining and thought-provoking read for all individuals seeking to understand the next steps in a new and completely unprecedented world. To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community. --------------------- The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive and great work gets done. Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode! #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfWork #LeadershipDevelopment #AIatWork #CriticalThinking #InnovationCulture #Curiosity #WorkplaceLearning #LeadershipSkills #DigitalTransformation #CreativeThinking #ProblemSolving #HumanSkills #Management #AILeadership
May 12 · 10 min
407: Hidden Causes of Burnout (And How to Fix Them Before It’s Too Late) – Part 2
Most managers assume burnout is caused by one thing: workload. But in reality, burnout is rarely that simple. It’s usually the result of multiple hidden workplace dynamics that quietly drain energy over time, long before anyone officially burns out. In this episode, I break down six overlooked causes of burnout that show up in everyday leadership decisions, from lack of work-life balance and micromanagement to toxic culture, lack of support, recognition gaps, and monotonous work. You’ll also hear how these patterns show up in real teams, how they quietly erode engagement, and what you can do as a manager to start shifting them in practical, sustainable ways. By the end of this episode, you’ll have a clearer understanding of how burnout actually builds over time and what small leadership shifts can prevent it from taking hold in your team. Conversation Topics (00:00) Why burnout often goes unnoticed until disengagement becomes visible (01:19) Why burnout is more than just workload. (02:55) Cause #1: Lack of work-life balance and always being “on.” (04:14) Cause #2: Micromanagement and lack of trust. (05:04) Cause #3: Toxic workplace culture and psychological safety. (06:06) Cause #4: Lack of support from leadership and unclear communication. (07:31) Cause #5: Lack of recognition and its emotional impact. (08:58) Cause #6: Monotonous work and loss of engagement. (10:45) Why burnout prevention is about small, consistent changes, not big overhauls. (08:58) [EXTENDED ONLY] Personal burnout recovery strategies. (10:45) [EXTENDED ONLY] How to recognize your own overload patterns as a leader. (10:45) [EXTENDED ONLY] Deeper reflection on sustainable leadership habits. 📚 Additional Resources ✨ Read the transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zaYWIxLEy6HrcMOgFBKRwyMMyV9JmZo15b6gcxr3Y-0/edit?usp=sharing ✨ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipwithmamie/ ✨ Visit my website for more: https://www.mamieks.com/ ✨ Level up your skills: https://themodernmanager.com/replaybundle ✨ Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 ✨ Check out Part 1 here: https://youtu.be/KLXNolHCz_0 The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive and great work gets done. Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode! #LeadershipDevelopment #BurnoutPrevention #ManagementSkills #WorkplaceCulture #TeamLeadership #EmployeeEngagement #PeopleManagement #LeadershipTips #PsychologicalSafety #WorkLifeBalance #HighPerformanceTeams #ModernLeadership #TheModernManager

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