Growing Through It: Recent Episodes
Jen Arnold
Tune in to Growing Through It, where every other week, Jen Arnold talks with leaders who've been there. They'll tell you about the twists and turns, and what they learned to become better at leading.
Our guests aren't just talking theory; they're managers and team leaders sharing real stories and the lessons that helped them improve. You'll get practical tips and honest advice that you can use to lead your team more effectively.
No jargon, just good advice that works. Subscribe for the stories, stay for the breakthroughs, and lead better starting today.
If you're a new manager and your feedback isn't landing, the problem isn't the conversation — it's the diagnosis. Most new managers give the wrong fix for the wrong problem. This episode walks you through the framework that changes that.
What you'll learn:
✅ Why feedback fails even when it's delivered correctly
✅ The root causes of underperformance — and how to identify the right one
✅ How to give feedback that leads to real, lasting behavior change
✅ What first time managers miss before every hard conversation
If your team keeps agreeing in the moment and then doing nothing differently, this is for you.
Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Are you a new leader looking for support? Check out Made to Lead, our 12-week cohort for first time people leaders.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themadeleader
If your company just announced a change and you're dreading telling your team — this episode is for you.
As a first time manager, you have a disadvantage no one talks about: the processing gap. By the time you tell your team about a change, you've already had days or weeks to process it. Your team is hearing it for the first time. And that gap is where trust gets burned.
In this episode, Jen breaks down the 4 things every new manager needs to do when leading a team through change.
Whether you're 3 months in or a year into your first management role, you haven't built the trust reserve yet. How you handle change is where that reserve gets built — or destroyed.
Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Are you a new leader looking for support? Check out Made to Lead, our 12-week cohort for first time people leaders.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themadeleader
Every new manager has the potential to hit the same wall: burnout.
The workload is real — but the thing that tips you over is a boundary problem you probably don't even see.
In this episode, Jen breaks down the 3 boundaries new managers need to prevent burnout:
↳ Upward boundaries — When your boss keeps adding scope and after-hours demands ↳ Downward boundaries — When you absorb your team's problems and underperformance ↳ Lateral boundaries — When you volunteer for peer requests and committee work
Overfunctioning isn't dedication. It's a boundary failure — and on top of an already heavy workload, it leads straight to burnout.
If you're noticing early burnout symptoms like chronic exhaustion, resentment toward your team, or the feeling that everything depends on you, this is the episode to listen to before it gets worse.
Whether you're a first-time manager, a newly promoted team lead, or someone stepping into leadership development for the first time, these boundary strategies will help you protect your energy and actually lead instead of just surviving.
Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Are you a new leader looking for support? Check out Made to Lead, our 12-week cohort for first time people leaders.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themadeleader
Most leaders are told the same lie: more collaboration = better results.
Ron Friedman's research says otherwise — and the data will change how you run your team.
Ron Friedman is an award-winning social psychologist, bestselling author of Superteams and The Best Place to Work, and founder of Superteams Inc. His research on high-performing teams revealed something surprising: only 8% of teams qualify as superteams — and it has nothing to do with where they work.
In this episode, we break down exactly what separates superteams from everyone else.
Connect with Ron: https://superteamsinc.com/
Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Are you a new leader looking for support? Check out Made to Lead, our 12-week cohort for first time people leaders.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themadeleader
If you just got promoted and your first instinct is to prove you deserve it — stop.
In this episode, I share the 3 things I now tell every new manager to focus on instead.
You'll learn:
✅ Why "proving energy" is the biggest trap for new leaders
✅ The exact 3 questions to ask in your first team 1-on-1s
✅ How to set expectations that are clear without being controlling
✅ What to compile at the end of your first month to build your real plan
Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Are you a new leader looking for support? Check out Made to Lead, our 12-week cohort for first time people leaders.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themadeleader
Nobody warns you about the emotional rollercoaster that comes with your first management role — but every new manager goes through it.
If you've recently stepped into a leadership role and it's already harder than you expected, you're not failing — you're going through a predictable emotional progression that no one talks about.
In this episode, I break down each stage, what's really happening, and the specific moves that help you get through it faster.
Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Are you a new leader looking for support? Check out Made to Lead, our 12-week cohort for first time people leaders.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themadeleader
Most managers aren't asking for feedback. They're waiting. And nobody's coming.
If you finish a project, wrap a presentation, or get through a tough quarter and assume someone will tell you if something went wrong — they won't.
Your manager is busy. Your team doesn't feel safe. And the silence you're reading as "everything's fine" is just everyone keeping their head down.
In this episode, I'm walking you through the 4-step framework we teach at Growth Signals to ask for feedback in a way that actually gets you honest, useful answers.
Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Are you a new leader looking for support? Check out Made to Lead, our 12-week cohort for first time people leaders.
Take the free GUIDE New Leader Assessment: https://guide.scoreapp.com/
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themadeleader
Got feedback that felt vague, unfair, or just plain useless? You're not alone — and you don't have to spiral or dismiss it.
In this episode, I walk you through a 4-step system for processing hard feedback as a new manager, including the TALC framework — four questions that help you separate what's real from what's noise.
✅ Ride it out
✅ Ask for clarity
✅ Run TALC (Truth, Agree, Learn, Control)
✅ Release what isn't yours to carry
Because feedback without direction isn't a development plan. It's a hunch. And you're allowed to throw away what isn't helpful to your growth and development.
Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Are you a new leader looking for support? Check out Made to Lead, our 12-week cohort for first time people leaders.
New to management? Subscribe for no-BS leadership advice twice a month: https://growth-signals-2.kit.com/22c1e16738
No one warns new managers about the real cost of leadership — until now.
You got promoted. Great. But nobody sat you down and told you what was actually coming. The identity shift. The humbling reality that you'll suck at first. The impossible squeeze. The grey areas with no handbook. The grief nobody names.
In this episode of The Made Leader, I'm walking through the 7 harsh truths that blindside almost every new manager — and why most organizations hand you a title and walk away.
Mentioned: https://youtu.be/bRKnZUx0dLE
Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Are you a new leader looking for support? Check out Made to Lead, our 12-week cohort for first time people leaders.
Before you put an employee on a performance improvement plan, there are a few leadership steps most managers skip.
In this episode, I break down how to tell the difference between real support and over-functioning, what to do before formal corrective action, and when poor performance becomes an accountability issue instead of just a coaching issue.
If you're a new manager dealing with defensiveness, repeated underperformance, or hard feedback conversations, this is the framework for what should happen first.
Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Are you a new leader looking for support? Check out Made to Lead, our 12-week cohort for first time people leaders.
Most managers avoid giving feedback to employees not because they don't care, but because nobody taught them how to have difficult conversations that also preserve the relationship. So they let it slide. And slide. Until it's a real problem.
This episode gives you a 4 step framework for how to give feedback that's clear, direct, and actually lands — without softening it so much it stops meaning anything. This isn't a one-time tool for when things go wrong. It's your everyday coaching framework — the thing that makes feedback normal before it becomes a crisis.
If you've ever avoided a feedback conversation because you don't know what to say, this one's for you.
Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Are you a new leader looking for support? Check out Made to Lead, our 12-week cohort for first time people leaders.
You know you need to say something. But every time you get close to having that conversation, you find a reason to wait. Sound familiar? Avoiding feedback doesn't protect the relationship—it quietly erodes it until the problem is 10 times harder to fix.
In this episode, host Jen Arnold breaks down the 7 most common feedback mistakes new managers make, what each one is costing you, and what to do instead.
You'll learn why the compliment sandwich backfires, what makes feedback actually stick, and how to deliver hard messages clearly and kindly—without damaging the relationship.
If giving constructive feedback is the part of leadership that keeps you up at night, this episode will change how you approach it.
Watch The Made Leader @https://www.youtube.com/@themadeleader for more leadership insights and strategies.
Connect with Jen —
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Website: https://growthsignals.co/
You're not being kind by staying silent. You're avoiding a critical part of your job as a leader.
If you've been watching someone on your team struggle, missing deadlines, having a bad attitude, not showing up, and you haven't said a word, this episode is for you.
Most new managers avoid hard conversations because it feels like the compassionate thing to do. Give them another chance. Wait and see. But here's the truth: silence doesn't protect your employee.
It just delays the damage — and makes you responsible for it.
In this episode, Jen shares a personal story of being blindsided by feedback her boss had been sitting on for months. She breaks down exactly why new leaders avoid these conversations (hint: it's not kindness — it's fear wearing a disguise).
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themadeleader
Connect with Jen:
https://growthsignals.co/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
New leaders often struggle with delegation, because being the solo superstar is far more familar (and comfortable) than being the coach.
In this episode, Jen breaks down the three common delegation mistakes – hoarding, mind-reading, and hovering/vanishing – and how to avoid them using the DEAL framework to improve team performance and avoid frustration.
Watch on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@themadeleader
Find out how you're doing with delegating and 4 other leadership skills through our free GUIDE new leader assessment: https://guide.scoreapp.com/
Connect with Jen:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
https://growthsignals.co/
If you feel like you're constantly fixing your team's work or "just doing it yourself" because it's faster, you have fallen into the "Doer Trap."
It is a big reason top performers fail when they get promoted to management.
In this episode, I talk about why your "helpful" interventions are actually destroying your team's growth—and your own sanity.
Plus, I'll teach you the "Two-Way Door" framework—a decision-making tool used by Amazon—so you know exactly when to let your team fail and when you actually need to step in.
Watch on YouTube @themadeleader
You can take the free GUIDE assessment for new leaders here: https://guide.scoreapp.com/
Think being good at your job is enough to make you a great leader? That's what most new managers think — until the first real challenge hits and emotions take over.
The truth is, what got you promoted won't be what makes you successful in leadership. Emotional intelligence matters more than technical skills — and most of us were never taught how to manage our emotions under pressure.
In this episode, I'm sharing 4 strategies to help you stop letting your emotions run the show:
- How to pause before you blow it - Why venting is making things worse (and who you should actually talk to) - The mindset shift that gives you your power back - Why your mood is setting the temperature for your whole team — whether you realize it or not
This isn't soft stuff — it matters for your career.
Not sure where you stand as a new leader? Take the free 2-minute GUIDE Assessment to see where you're strong and where your emotions might be getting in your own way. 👉 https://guide.scoreapp.com/
Want support as a new leader? Join our next Made to Lead cohort: https://growthsignals.co/leadership-training/
Are you a new leader struggling with your transition from peer to manager?
In this episode, I break down the 3 things you're probably still doing that are quietly destroying your credibility as a leader – and what to do instead.
If you just got promoted to lead your old team, your role changed overnight. But your identity didn't. And that gap is costing you.
In this episode, you'll learn:
✅ Why venting to your team feels like bonding but actually destroys trust
✅ How inconsistency (in decisions AND how you treat people) kills your credibility
✅ Why doing the work yourself is keeping you stuck as an IC instead of growing as a leader
This is the first principle in my GUIDE framework: Get clear on your leadership identity.
Because the best leaders don't stumble into who they are – they decide who they want to be, and they lead from there.
Want to see where you're strong and where you might be getting in your own way?
Take the free 2-minute GUIDE Assessment: https://guide.scoreapp.com/
CONNECT with Jen:
Website: www.growthsignals.co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
90% of us aren't natural-born leaders—we have to develop those skills. Unfortunately, most companies promote great individual contributors and then leave them to figure out leadership on their own.
In this episode, I break down the three most common mistakes I see new leaders make in their first few years of managing people—and more importantly, how to avoid them.
If you're navigating that awkward transition from peer to manager, struggling with micromanagement tendencies, or avoiding hard conversations, this episode will give you a practical approach to leadership and help you become the leader your team actually needs.
Watch on YouTube@themadeleader
Take the New Leader Guide Assessment to discover where you're strong and where you need support: https://guide.scoreapp.com
THE GUIDE FRAMEWORK
G - Get Clear on Your Leadership Identity U - Understand and Manage Your Emotions I - Invest in the Development of Your Team D - Delegate with Intention E - Expect and Prepare for Hard Conversations
CONNECT WITH JEN
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/ Website: https://growthsignals.co/
After years of hosting an interview show, a few things weren't sitting right with host, Jen Arnold. In this episode, she walks through what's changing with The Made Leader, why it came to be, and what's coming next for new leaders.
Going forward, the show will be primarily solo episodes focused specifically on helping new leaders navigate those first few years of managing people. Guests will still appear occasionally, but solo content will be the backbone of the show.
It's a little uncomfortable. She's already making rookie mistakes. She's doing it anyway.
Follow The Made Leader on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMadeLeader
Made to Lead (12-week program for new leaders): https://growthsignals.co/leadership-training/
Are your meetings actually moving work forward or just filling your calendar? It's natural for new managers to lean on meetings as a go-to leadership tool. But more meetings don't mean better leadership. The fix isn't running better agendas; it's redesigning which meetings should exist in the first place.
In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hinds, Stanford PhD, founder of Asana's Work Innovation Lab, and author of Your Best Meeting Ever, shares her seven product design principles for fixing broken meetings.
You'll learn the 4D-CEO test that tells you whether a meeting even deserves to exist, why brainstorming sessions are probably backfiring, and how a full calendar cleanse (aka "Meeting Doomsday") can reclaim massive amounts of time for your team. Plus, practical strategies for new managers who feel trapped in back-to-back meetings they didn't create.
Whether you're leading a team of two or twenty, this episode will transform how you think about meetings—from a necessary evil to a well-designed product that actually moves work forward.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co
Connect with Dr. Rebecca Hinds:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rebecca-hinds
Website: rebeccahinds.com
Connect with Jen:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jenparnold
Website: growthsignals.co
The way we've been approaching workplace fairness might be fundamentally broken. After years of performative diversity initiatives and corporate virtue signaling, many organizations are abandoning DEI altogether—but that doesn't mean the work isn't still needed. The real challenge isn't whether fairness matters, it's how we actually create it.
Lily Zheng joins the Made Leader podcast to discuss their new book, Fixing Fairness: Four Tenets to Transform Diversity Backlash into Progress for All. complaining with people like you, and what early leaders can do to create change even without organizational power.
Lily breaks down the biggest misconceptions about equity work, reveals why post-2020 DEI initiatives were destined to fail, and provides practical strategies for removing barriers and creating workplaces where everyone can thrive.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co
Connect with Lily: https://www.lilyzheng.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilyzheng308/
Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
In this conversation, Harper breaks down why some people thrive in collaborative environments while others resist—and it's not what you think. He explains the collaborative operating system he teaches, why ownership and alignment matter more than motivation, and how your emotional state as a leader impacts everyone around you. You'll learn practical techniques from the HeartMath Institute for regulating your emotions in real time, why resistance often shows up as disengagement, and how to create psychological safety through simple processes like council questions.
This episode goes beyond surface-level collaboration tips. Harper shares the science behind why depleting emotions like anger and frustration literally vibrate outward and create incoherence in your team—and what to do about it. Whether you're struggling to get buy-in from your team, feeling burnt out from carrying everyone's stress, or wondering why collaboration initiatives keep failing, this conversation will shift how you think about leadership entirely.
If you're ready to move beyond traditional leadership advice and tap into the energetic and emotional foundations that make teams work, this episode is for you. Harper reminds us that leadership starts with self-awareness—and that you're already doing your best, even when it doesn't feel like enough.
Think collaboration is just about communication? Harper Ray Wagner explains why individual coherence—the sync between your heart and brain—is the missing piece in building teams that actually work together. Learn the ownership-alignment framework that drives buy-in, HeartMath techniques to regulate emotions in real time, and why your emotional state as a leader is literally contagious.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
Connect with Harper:
The Coherence Initiative: https://thecoherenceinitiative.com
What if everything you've been told about success is wrong? Alli Murphy breaks down the dangerous myth that you must sacrifice yourself to lead well—and shares exactly how to reclaim your time without sacrificing performance.
As the founder of Work & Thrive HQ and a former Managing Director who took 5+ weeks of work-free PTO while scaling 7-figure programs, Alli knows that ambition and balance can work together.
You'll discover what happens when you stop checking email first thing in the morning, how internal pressure fuels overworking, and practical strategies for building high-performing teams that don't need you plugged in 24/7. Perfect for leaders caught between proving themselves and burning out.
Connect with Alli Murphy on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisonmurphy541
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co
What does executive presence actually mean, and how do you develop it when you're stuck in the middle?
Today's guest, Jennifer Jensen, author of "Developing Authentic Leaders", breaks down the specific mindset shifts that separate directors from VPs—and why most middle managers stay focused on the wrong things. You'll discover why strategic thinking isn't a natural talent but a learnable skill, the mistakes that keep talented people invisible, and how to influence without formal authority.
Jennifer also shares the truth about advancing when your organization won't invest in you, and practical steps you can take starting today. Whether you're wondering why some people rise effortlessly or feeling stuck despite doing great work, this episode gives you a clear roadmap for building executive presence and getting promoted.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co
Connect with Jennifer: info@authenticleader.ca
Connect with Jen:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Website: https://growthsignals.co/
Building rapport with your team shouldn't feel like another task on your to-do list, but many new leaders treat it that way—or skip it entirely.
In this episode, Andrew Stoute explains why relationship-building is the foundation of effective leadership and how to do it without burning yourself out. You'll discover how to start small (even a quick "good morning" counts), read the room to adjust your approach, and stay consistent without forcing interactions.
Andrew shares practical strategies for introverts, tips for handling awkward moments, and advice on where to focus your limited energy. Whether rapport building comes naturally to you or drains your battery, this episode gives you actionable ways to build stronger connections with your team, stakeholders, and organization.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co
Connect with Andrew:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-stoute/
Connect with Jen:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Website: https://growthsignals.co/
New leaders struggle with confidence every single day - second-guessing decisions, staying silent in meetings, and saying yes to everything because they can't set boundaries. But here's the truth: confidence isn't something you're born with. It's a skill you build through taking action.
In this episode, Simone Knego, keynote speaker, author, and podcast host breaks down her REAL method for building unshakable confidence and shares practical strategies like the Control-Alt-Delete mindset hack, why you need to drop the word "just" from your vocabulary, and why "fake it till you make it" is terrible advice.
Whether you're dealing with imposter syndrome or struggling to use your voice, this conversation gives you real tools to show up as the leader you're meant to be.
Are you a new leader who wants to build your confidence managing people? Made to Lead starts January 21st. Find out more here: https://growthsignals.co/leadership-training/
Connect with Simone:
www.simoneknego.com
www.realconfidencebook.com
Podcast: Her Unshakable Confidence
Connect with Jen:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Website: https://growthsignals.co/
Desperate to fill an open role? That's exactly when you make your worst hiring decisions. In this episode, Mitch McDermott, Founder of Talent Ascension Group, reveals the hiring traps that sink new leaders and how to avoid them.
You'll discover why you're probably interviewing resumes instead of people, the three types of candidates (and which one you actually need), and why learning from a candidate's questions matters more than their perfectly rehearsed answers.
Mitch also tackles the tough stuff: handling job hoppers, dealing with senior leaders who overrule your decisions, and why you'll never have certainty in hiring (and that's okay). Whether you're making your first hire or trying to fix past mistakes, this episode gives you practical strategies to hire smarter.
Watch this conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themadeleader
Connect with Mitch:
- Mitch's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-mcdermott-ba409387/
- Talent Ascension Group website: https://www.talentascension.com/
Are women really playing on a level field at work? Spoiler: they're not. And that lie is costing talented women their careers.
In this episode, tech executive Kae Kronthaler-Williams reveals how bias shows up in promotions, networking, and leadership definitions - and what to do about it. With over 30 years in the industry, Kae shares the hard-won lessons from her new book "Not Made for You."
You'll discover why "reading the room" is essential for women leaders, how to stop waiting for permission to advance your career, and practical strategies to build visibility without compromising who you are.
Whether you're navigating bias yourself or leading women on your team, this conversation will help you recognize the systems at play and take action to create change.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co
Connect with Kae on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaekronthalerwilliams/
Most leadership advice is based on opinion, not science. So how do you know what actually works versus what just sounds good?
In this episode, Sebastian Page, Chief Investment Officer at T. Rowe Price and author of The Psychology of Leadership, shares research-backed strategies that will change how you think about leading.
You'll discover why listening matters more than talking, how goal-induced blindness can derail your career, and the weekly communication habit that takes 30 minutes but transforms your effectiveness.
Whether you're a new leader or thinking about stepping into leadership, Sebastian delivers practical tools you can use immediately, backed by science, not just opinion.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
Connect with Sebastian:
- LinkedIn: Sebastian Page
Connect with Jen:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
- Website: https://growthsignals.co/
For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co
Can you be a great leader AND a great parent? Jessica Toussaint, Director of Product Management and mom of three, proves you absolutely can—but not in the way you think.
In this real-talk episode, Jessica shares how parenting made her a better leader (hello, patience!), practical strategies for setting boundaries without killing your career, and why balance doesn't mean 50/50 all the time.
You'll learn the outcome test for deciding what's actually urgent, how to use your phone's focus mode to protect family time, and why curiosity beats having all the answers.
If you're juggling leadership and parenting—or wondering if you can handle both—this conversation will change how you think about success.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
Connect with Jessica: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j2saint12/
Connect with Jen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Website: https://growthsignals.co/
Starting a new leadership role in a different company? Here's what nobody tells you: even when you're excited about the change, the grief will surprise you.
In this episode, Andrea Herron, Chief Human Resources Officer at AAA of Oregon and Idaho, gets real about her recent career transition. Six months ago, she jumped industries after eight years with her previous team, and what followed was a crash course in starting over as a leader.
You'll discover why the first 30 days are the hardest, how to build trust when you're the new person in the room, practical strategies for establishing team norms, and why following a beloved previous leader is actually a gift.
Whether you're about to make a career move or still figuring out your current role, this honest conversation will help you navigate transitions with less overwhelm and more confidence.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co
The transition from sales rep to sales manager is one of the toughest career moves you can make. What got you promoted suddenly doesn't matter as much as your ability to develop others.
Keith Willis, founder of Core Management Training, shares what he's learned from working with hundreds of managers in pharmaceutical and life sciences companies. In this episode, Keith explains why your management title won't automatically earn you respect and how to avoid the "super rep" trap that hurts team performance.
Whether you're considering the move to management or already leading a sales team, Keith's insights will help you develop others while driving results.
Sign up for “The 3 Shifts that Make-or-Break New Leaders” on October 2: https://bit.ly/4nirz5W
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
Core Management Training: https://coremanagementtraining.com/
Connect with Keith Willis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithawillis/
Connect with Jen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Website: https://growthsignals.co/
Think your greatest strengths can't become your biggest problems? Think again. Clinical psychologist turned executive advisor Dr. Martin Dubin reveals why the very traits that got you promoted might be sabotaging your leadership - and what to do about it.
Martin Dubin is the author of, "BLINDSPOTTING: How to See What’s Holding You Back as a Leader” is here to help leaders understand that self-awareness isn't just nice-to-have - it's essential for leadership growth.
Discover why adding "too" to your strengths reveals hidden blind spots, how identity shifts create leadership challenges, and why small behavioral tweaks beat transformation every time. Whether you're a new manager struggling with the expert-to-leader transition or a senior executive looking to level up, this conversation offers honest insights into what it really takes to grow as a leader.
Sign up for “The 3 Shifts that Make-or-Break New Leaders” on October 2: https://bit.ly/4nirz5W
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co
Connect with Guest:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-dubin/
- https://www.blindspotting.com/ - website with book, assessment, and additional resources
- MartinDubin.com - author website
Connect with Jen:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
- Website: https://growthsignals.co/
What if the biggest barrier to your leadership growth isn't your team, your boss, or your company but your own self-awareness? Harvard professor Margaret Andrews reveals why understanding yourself is the foundation of all effective leadership.
In this episode, you'll discover the six essential questions that build self-awareness, why 85% of what we admire in great bosses are interpersonal skills, and how to bridge the knowing-doing gap that keeps smart people stuck. Margaret also shares practical strategies for getting feedback, creating team charters that actually work, and developing leadership skills when fewer people are watching.
Whether you're a new manager or trying to advance, this conversation will transform how you think about leadership development from the inside out.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
Connect with Margaret:
- Margaret’s website: https://www.margaretandrews.com/
- Margaret’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaretcandrews/
Connect with Jen:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
- Website: https://growthsignals.co/
For links mentioned, visit: https://growthsignals.co/
What if the biggest barrier to great leadership isn't lack of training, but trying to fit into someone else's mold? Executive coach Rita Ramakrishnan reveals why the "one right way" to lead is actually holding back your team's potential.
Rita shares her journey from struggling in rigid consulting environments to thriving as a C-suite leader by embracing her neurodivergence. You'll discover practical strategies for creating psychological safety, turning "performance problems" into communication solutions, and helping every team member - neurotypical or neurodivergent - bring their best work.
Whether you're trying to figure out your own leadership style or unlock hidden potential in your team, this conversation will change how you think about what makes leadership truly effective.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
Connect with Rita: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaram/ or her website: www.iksana.com
For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co
Your stress isn't as hidden as you think. In this episode, Deb Smolensky, author of "Brain On," reveals why most leaders operate in survival mode and how their brain-off energy spreads through teams like wildfire.
In this conversation, Deb breaks down the difference between "brain on" and "brain off" leadership, revealing why the inside-out approach to leadership development is critical. She shares practical strategies for recognizing your triggers, creating purposeful pauses, and building the kind of team culture where people actually want to bring their best selves to work.
Whether you're struggling with boundaries or trying to stop the cycle of reactive leadership, this conversation provides actionable strategies you can implement immediately.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
Connect with Deb:
• Website: https://debsmolensky.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbiesmolensky/
Connect with Jen:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
• Website: https://growthsignals.co/
For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co
Most managers think they're giving feedback constantly, while employees say they don’t get enough – if any. In this episode, researcher and positive interventionist Lisa Sansom reveals why most feedback fails and shares practical strategies for making it effective.
You'll discover why trust matters more than technique, how to avoid the biggest feedback mistakes (like addressing individual issues in team meetings), and why "good job" isn't enough for high performers. Lisa also explains when to give positive versus constructive feedback and how new leaders can start building a feedback culture.
Whether you're avoiding these conversations or wondering why your team doesn't seem to hear you, this episode transforms feedback from a dreaded task into a powerful growth tool.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
Connect with Lisa:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisasansom/
- Website: https://www.lvsconsulting.com/
Connect with Jen:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
- Website: https://growthsignals.co/
For links mentioned, visit https://growthsignals.co/
Want to become a better manager but don't know where to start? Darnell Billups has led teams across military, government, and Fortune 500 manufacturing – and he's sharing the practical strategies that can help you become a better manager.
In this episode, you'll discover why leadership skills don't just come with experience, the feedback moment that transformed Darnell's management style, and his simple system for stopping micromanagement. Plus, a framework for diagnosing why some managers advance while others stay stuck.
Whether you're leading former peers, developing your own management skills, or trying to advance your career, this conversation is packed with actionable strategies you can implement immediately. No theory – just real-world management advice that gets results.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co
Connect with Darnell: linkedin.com/in/darnellbillups
Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Your boss isn't going to change those annoying habits. So, here's what you can do about it.
In this coaching episode, host Jen Arnold and leadership coach Julie Binter reveals why managing up isn't office politics—it's a critical skill for career success. You'll discover how to decode your boss's communication style, ask questions that reveal what really matters to them, and turn workplace frustrations into strategic advantages.
Learn why every leader has traits that will drive you crazy (and how to work with them anyway), plus practical strategies for managing up more effectively—even when your boss seems to be completely different from you.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies. For full show notes, visit https://growthsignals.co/.
Connect with Julie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliebinter/
Website: https://www.clearthewaycoach.com/
Connect with Jen:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Website: https://growthsignals.co/
What if the biggest performance management mistake isn't failing to document but failing to ask the right questions? When layoffs are disguised as performance reviews and employees are blindsided by "underperformance" labels, effective performance management practices have clearly gotten off-track.
In this episode, Kamaria Scott and Jen Arnold tackle one of leadership's toughest challenges: managing underperformance fairly and effectively.
In this honest conversation, we dig into the real friction points that prevent managers from addressing performance issues head-on. From budget constraints that make firing impossible to the energy drain of managing inconsistent performers, we share practical frameworks for diagnosing what's really happening when someone isn't meeting expectations.
Whether you're dealing with a misfit situation or someone who just needs better support, this conversation gives you practical tools for handling performance challenges with both clarity and compassion.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
For full show notes, visit www.growthsignals.co
Connect with Kamaria Scott: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamariascott/
Connect with Jen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Think your boss is just having a bad day? There's a big difference between a difficult manager and a truly toxic one—and knowing which you're dealing with could save your career and your health.
In this episode from the archives, leadership expert Mary Abbajay breaks down the real difference between bad bosses and toxic ones, plus the surprising traps that keep people stuck in harmful work situations longer than they should be.
Mary reveals why people actually stay longer with toxic bosses (hint: it's not what you think), the serious health impacts of working in toxic environments, and most importantly, how to get out without torching your professional reputation.
You'll discover the five major traps that keep smart people stuck, why trying to "fix" a toxic boss almost never works, and the exact steps to take when you're ready to make your escape—including what to say (and not say) in interviews and exit conversations.
If you've ever wondered whether your work situation is just challenging or actually damaging, this conversation will give you the clarity and courage to make the right call for your career and well-being.
Have suggestions for future guests?
Let us know at https://growthsignals.co/contact/ or contact Jen through LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Here's the leadership truth nobody talks about: you don't have to like everyone on your team. But you do have to lead them.
Karen Suchsland joins Jen to tackle the taboo topic of managing team members you don't click with. From unconscious avoidance behaviors to the crucial difference between liking and respecting, this conversation gives you practical strategies for leading effectively even when personal chemistry is lacking.
You'll discover why personality differences often mask performance issues, how to set boundaries without damaging relationships, and the simple inventory exercise that reveals if you're unconsciously playing favorites.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
Connect with Jen:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
- Website: https://growthsignals.co/
Connect with Karen:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-suchsland/
What happens when the leadership style that made you successful in your last role just doesn't click with your new organization? In this monthly coaching episode, host, Jen Arnold and leadership coach Julie Binter tackle what to do when your leadership style clashes with your organization's culture.
You'll discover how to ask the right interview questions to avoid mismatches, why your first six months might not tell the whole story, and practical strategies for deciding whether to adapt or move on. Plus, they share why hiring people just like you might backfire when you're already struggling with culture fit.
Whether you're dealing with this challenge now or want to be prepared for your next role, this conversation gives you the tools to navigate organizational fit with confidence.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
For full show notes, visit www.growthsignals.co
Connect with Julie –
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliebinter/
Website: https://www.clearthewaycoach.com/
Connect with Jen-
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Website: https://growthsignals.co/
Think trauma-capable leadership is only for first responders? Think again. Layoffs, organizational changes, and workplace crises require the same leadership skills that help teams thrive in high-stress environments.
Podcast guest, Dr. Gretchen Schmelzer, is a licensed psychologist, executive coach and consultant who has worked for 25 years with the complex issues of trauma, integration, and behavior change across every level of system from individuals.
In this episode, Gretchen breaks down her ARTS framework and shares why good leadership is the best predictor of team resilience. You'll learn how to have difficult conversations without taking on your team's emotions, why empathizing "up" the system matters just as much as supporting your people, and concrete steps to build your trauma-capable leadership skills.
Whether you're managing through a crisis or just want to be better prepared for a future one, this episode gives you practical strategies you can use starting tomorrow.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co
Think being a manager today is just about getting work done? Think again. In this LinkedIn Live conversation, Kamaria and I break down how the manager role has exploded into counselor, coach, strategist, and enforcer – often without any training or support.
We get real about why managers are caught in the middle of competing demands, why most people want to become managers for the wrong reasons, and the loneliness that comes with the territory.
Plus, we tackle the uncomfortable truth about why organizations invest in senior leaders but leave front-line managers to figure it out alone.
If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the expectations placed on managers today, this conversation will validate your experience and give you perspective on what needs to change.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co
What if the secret to a high-performance team isn't working harder as the leader, but getting your team to actually care? Laura Martin, co-founder and CEO of The Glinda Group, shares the foundational steps every leader should take when joining a new team, plus the crucial mistake that taught her when to stop seeking consensus and start making decisions.
You'll discover practical strategies for creating team accountability, establishing norms that stick, and addressing behavioral issues most leaders avoid. Laura explains how to delegate ownership (not just tasks) and why "clear is kind" when building team performance.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
For links mentioned, visit growthsignals.co
Connect with Laura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraemartin1/
Connect with Jen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
You’re already a leader but your career feels stalled. In this episode, Jen Arnold and Karen Suchsland unpack the real reasons you might not be getting promoted. From misaligned roles and unclear visibility to lack of strategic impact, they break down what holds leaders back after they’ve landed their first role - and how to move forward.
If you’re doing the work but not getting ahead, this conversation will help you assess your current state, take meaningful action, and regain control of your leadership growth.
Download the Promotion Troubleshooting Guide referenced in this podcast at: https://bit.ly/MadeLeaderGuide
For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
Think hospitality leadership is just about customer service? Think again. In this episode, HR leader Junid Sanchez reveals why hospitality is like boot camp for leadership skills - and what every middle manager can learn from an industry that forces you to think fast, connect authentically, and lead when everything keeps moving.
In this episode, you'll discover why "marinating" on decisions beats rushing to judgment, how one piece of direct feedback transformed Junid's leadership approach, and why sometimes missing out on a promotion is exactly what your career needs.
Plus, hear the ice cream cart story that perfectly captures what happens when leaders have autonomy to show employee appreciation.
Whether you're in hospitality or any other industry, Junid's insights will help you build the kind of leadership presence that makes people actually want to work for you.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co
Join The Made Leader Community by May 30th at https://bit.ly/MadeLeaderCommunity
Are you and your team ready for AI, or are you still hoping it's just another business fad that will fade away? While executives debate high-level AI strategies, middle managers are caught in the trenches, needing practical approaches that balance real-world implementation with their team's day-to-day responsibilities.
In this episode, AI-HR strategist Theresa Fesinstine cuts through the noise with practical advice on leading teams through the AI revolution. You'll discover how to move beyond just polishing emails, have tough conversations about automation, and implement AI tools your team will actually use.
No technical jargon or unrealistic strategies—just straightforward guidance on balancing people and technology in your leadership approach. Whether you're AI-curious or AI-anxious, you'll walk away with action steps you can start tomorrow.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co
Join The Made Leader Community by May 30th at https://bit.ly/MadeLeaderCommunity
Are your employees just collecting paychecks, or are they giving you their best work? In this episode, authors Tamara Myles and Wes Adams reveal the science behind meaningful work through their powerful "Three C's" framework: Community, Contribution, and Challenge.
You'll discover why purpose alone isn't enough, how one simple thank-you per week can cut employee burnout in half, and practical strategies any middle manager can implement—even without organizational support.
Whether you're leading a team of two or twenty, the strategies in this episode will help you create an environment where employees bring their best selves to work. By focusing on community, contribution, and challenge, you'll not only boost performance metrics but transform your leadership impact.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co
Frustrated by endless status updates and feeling stuck in the details? Project management expert Paul Koetke reveals practical strategies for middle managers drowning in deliverables.
With the right project management approach, you can transform chaos into clarity and make better decisions with less effort. Paul's down-to-earth strategies will help you master practical project management techniques to streamline your workload, boost team communication, and transform your leadership approach.
Learn how to create systems that actually reduce your workload, transform boring update meetings into action sessions, and communicate effectively up and down the organization. Stop wasting time collecting data nobody uses and start leading instead of just managing.
Links Mentioned:
Website: koetkeconsulting.com
Connect with Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulkoetke/
The Made Leader Community: https://growthsignals.co/leadership-training/
The conversation every manager dreads: "I want to move into leadership." How do you know if they truly understand what they're asking for? After all, the skills that make someone excel at their job are often completely different from what makes them effective at leading others.
In this coaching episode, host, Jen Arnold is joined by leadership coach Julie Binter,
Founder of Clear The Way Coaching & Consulting, to break down why identifying leadership potential goes far deeper than performance metrics, and how to know whether someone is truly ready to lead.
Learn the subtle signs of leadership potential, the red flags to watch for, and why someone's motivation for wanting to lead reveals more than any performance review. Whether you're considering promoting someone or already have, this conversation delivers practical insights on identifying who's truly ready for the challenge.
In your first 3 years of management? Join The Made Leader Community for continuous support for 3 months. Learn more here: https://growthsignals.co/leadership-training/
Connect with Julie –
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliebinter/
Website: https://www.clearthewaycoach.com/
Connect with Jen-
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Website: https://growthsignals.co/
Is showing empathy a leadership weakness? Podcast guest, Chrystal Morris Harry shatters this myth by revealing how the most effective leaders balance compassion with accountability. Drawing from her 20+ years of HR expertise and current role as Organizational Development Manager at the City of Las Vegas, Chrystal shares practical wisdom that middle managers can implement immediately.
You'll discover how authenticity creates psychological safety, why admitting mistakes strengthens your leadership, and strategies for encouraging reluctant team members to grow. Chrystal's refreshing candor about her own leadership journey—from hourly employee to award-winning manager—offers a roadmap for anyone looking to lead with both heart and effectiveness.
If you're tired of leadership advice that feels disconnected from real-world challenges, Chrystal's down-to-earth wisdom and willingness to share her own missteps offer the perfect antidote. Her practical insights will help you unlock your team's potential while staying true to yourself.
Connect with Chrystal –
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrystal-morris-harry-mba-sphr-jctc-jcdc-63350a13/
Business LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbm-strategic-partners/
Connect with Jen-
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Website: https://growthsignals.co/
The Made Leader Community is kicking off in June to help transform early managers into confident leaders: https://growthsignals.co/leadership-training/
Ever feel like your leadership failures are holding you back? Think again.
In this episode, Anne Turchi reveals how the best leaders don't avoid mistakes—they transform them into growth opportunities.
Anne Turchi, Director of Organizational Effectiveness and Transformation at Columbia Sportswear, shares her leadership journey from managing a tennis camp to leading a team of internal consultants in a large corporation.
With over 20 years of experience driving organizational change across for-profit, higher education, and non-profit institutions, Anne brings a wealth of insights about creating cultures where growth and learning thrive.
In this episode, Anne reveals how her biggest leadership lessons came from everyday challenges and failures. She explores the critical importance of having safe spaces to process mistakes and reflects on how her approach to leadership has evolved over time.
Discover practical strategies to create environments where both you and your team can fail forward, learn continuously, and develop stronger leadership skills through honest reflection. Stop dreading missteps and start leveraging them for your leadership journey.
Connect with Anne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anneturchi/
That feeling when someone calls your workplace a "family"? It doesn’t feel right for a reason. Real workplace community is something entirely different—and much more valuable for your team's success.
In this episode, community expert DeMario Bell reveals what actually creates belonging at work (hint: it's not happy hours or pizza parties). Learn the trust equation that builds genuine connections, simple ways to foster psychological safety on your team, and why those little moments in one-on-ones matter more than grand team-building events.
Whether you're leading a small team or an entire department, this conversation offers practical steps to build workplace communities that support both personal growth and business results—no forced "family" dynamics required.
Connect with DeMario –
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/demario-bell-7a510994/
Website: https://www.gatherfulconsulting.com/
Connect with Jen-
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Website: https://growthsignals.co/
Ever find yourself frustrated that your team just isn't "getting it"? You're not alone.
In this coaching episode, Jen and Julie tackle the invisible barrier that keeps teams underperforming - unclear expectations. Discover why stating something once isn't enough, how to define behaviors that actually get results, and when to stand firm on your non-negotiables.
Jen and Julie share real-world examples of leadership struggles, practical tips for communicating standards without being rigid, and strategies for building a team culture that extends beyond your meetings.
Whether you're leading seasoned pros or new hires, this conversation delivers bite-sized actions to transform how your team shows up—starting tomorrow morning.
Connect with Julie –
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliebinter/
Website: https://www.clearthewaycoach.com/
Connect with Jen-
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Website: https://growthsignals.co/
The future of work demands both technical expertise and human-centered skills that appeal to the five generations in today’s workforce. Podcast guest, Michelle Westfort, Chief Product Officer at InStride, reveals how the smartest organizations are weaving education into their cultural fabric rather than offering it as just another benefit.
In this episode, Michelle busts the myth that older workers resist learning, sharing what skills they’re actively pursuing and how middle managers can prioritize development regardless of age.
She offers a way for middle managers to prioritize continuous learning among their team, regardless of generation, and shares how a reverse mentorship programs was a hit with one of their clients.
The business impact is clear: when managers prioritize development, people feel valued, teams perform better, and companies retain their institutional knowledge. Listen in for simple strategies any middle manager can implement tomorrow to start building a team that’s continuously learning.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
Connect with Michelle –
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-westfort/
Website: https://www.instride.com/
Connect with Jen-
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Website: https://growthsignals.co/
Your boss returns from a conference with the "next big thing." A team member pitches an exciting idea when you're already swamped. Sound familiar?
In this episode, Dr. Rob Lion reveals why so many leadership ideas crash and burn—and how to know which ones are worth your time.
Rob unpacks why context must come before content in any successful implementation, and offers practical strategies for middle managers caught in the leadership sandwich.
You’ll learn the "Five I" framework that transforms how you introduce new initiatives to your team, and discover the two questions that instantly cut through the noise when your boss drops their latest bright idea on your desk.
Stop wasting time on initiatives that won't stick and start creating the buy-in that drives real results.
Connect with Rob –
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertlion/
Website: Black River Performance Management
Connect with Jen-
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Website: https://growthsignals.co/
Ever wondered how bad leadership experiences transform someone into an exceptional leader? Listen in as tech industry powerhouse Lexi B shares her journey from being powerless to becoming the protective leader she never had.
Discover why she believes leadership requires militant service and protection, how she builds genuine connections in remote environments, and why she values "home training" above technical skills.
Lexi reveals the career advice that took her years to appreciate: "titles make short-term money, but knowledge makes long-term money."
Whether you're managing a team or aspiring to lead, this conversation offers practical wisdom on creating safe spaces where people can be honest about their needs, navigating tech workplaces with emotional intelligence, and why the best leaders don't need to be the smartest people in the room.
Connect with Lexi –
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexib/
Website: https://www.lexib.com/
Connect with Jen-
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Website: https://growthsignals.co/
Want to lead better meetings? Take our 2-minute assessment & get your free toolkit at https://bit.ly/TeamMeetingCheck
"What do I do if I'm not doing the work anymore?"
Join Jen and leadership coach Julie Binter as they tackle the identity crisis every new manager faces – moving from player to coach.
Discover how to shift from star player to coach while still finding meaning in your role. Learn practical strategies for taking the 30,000-foot view of your team's purpose, coaching rather than solving problems, and creating systems that work without you (so you can actually take vacation!).
Whether you're feeling lost in your new leadership position or struggling to let go of the hands-on work you excelled at, this conversation offers the roadmap you've been looking for to become the leader your team needs.
Connect with Julie –
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliebinter/
Website: https://www.clearthewaycoach.com/
Connect with Jen-
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Website: https://growthsignals.co/
As a middle manager, handling workplace conflict might be your biggest daily challenge. But what if the secret isn't about finding one approach to conflict, but adapting to different conflict styles?
Dr. John Eliot, who's advised NASA and Fortune 500 companies, reveals why some of your team members clash despite their best intentions—and what you can actually do about it.
Learn how to spot the five conflict styles, when to step in (and when not to), and how to adapt your approach whether you're dealing with your direct reports or senior leadership. Get practical tools for turning workplace tension into productive relationships, including a game-changing technique for handling emotional emails.
What if the key to team harmony isn't avoiding conflict but instead understanding how to navigate it effectively?
Connect with Guest –
Book: How to Get Along with Anyone
Website: theconflictdocs.com
Connect with Jen-
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Website: https://growthsignals.co/
Feel like your every move is under a microscope? You're not imagining it.
Leadership comes with a spotlight, and executive coach Sabina Nawaz reveals how to handle it effectively.
Drawing from 12,000 pages of real feedback about bosses, Sabina shares the hidden power traps that can derail even the best leaders. You'll learn why trying to be "just one of the team" might be your biggest mistake, how to use the "delegation dial" for better results, and what to do when your team starts treating you differently.
Whether you're struggling with team dynamics or wanting to level up your leadership game, this episode gives you practical tools to step confidently into your power – without losing yourself in the process.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
Connect with Sabina –
Website: https://sabinanawaz.com/
Connect with Jen-
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Website: https://growthsignals.co/
Looking to boost team engagement but tired of the same old recognition tactics? Discover why status - not titles or corner offices - might be your most powerful motivational tool.
Behavioral Scientist Jordan Birnbaum reveals how status is really about belonging and future value, not hierarchy. Learn practical ways to position your team members for success, including the simple yet powerful phrase that transforms ordinary recognition into status-building moments.
Plus, explore an innovative solution for overwhelmed middle managers that could help organizations rethink leadership roles.
Whether you're struggling with team motivation or simply want to enhance your leadership toolkit, this episode offers fresh insights and tomorrow-ready action items to help you create lasting engagement through the often misunderstood power of status.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
Learn more about Jordan –
The Glinda Group: www.glindagroup.com
Psychology Today articles: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/the-uncertainty-principal
Connect with Jen -
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Website: https://growthsignals.co/
Feel pressured to talk more in meetings to advance your career?
In this monthly coaching episode, Jen and guest coach, Julie Binter, tackle a common leadership challenge: how to maintain presence in meetings when you're naturally more reserved. We explore the case of a successful senior manager who's concerned that her thoughtful, processing style might be limiting her leadership presence compared to more vocal colleagues.
This episode offers valuable strategies for leaders wrestling with similar challenges in their organizations. Whether you're questioning your meeting presence or looking to advance, this episode provides practical strategies for making meaningful contributions.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
Connect with Julie –
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliebinter/
Website: https://www.clearthewaycoach.com/
Connect with Jen-
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Website: https://growthsignals.co/
Think disagreement is bad for business?
Think again. Inclusion expert Justin Gomez reveals how constructive dissension can be your secret weapon for innovation and better decision-making.
Learn practical ways to encourage healthy disagreement, create psychological safety, and get the honest feedback your team needs to succeed.
Stop waiting for anonymous surveys – start building a culture where different perspectives drive results.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
Connect with Justin –
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justintgomez/
Website: KolchaCollaborative.com
Connect with Jen -
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Website: https://growthsignals.co/
Ever wonder what it really takes to break into the C-suite? Join Nicole Fallowfield, Chief People Officer at Gibson, as she shares her honest journey from Director to executive leader.
Discover why being right all the time might actually be holding you back, how to build genuine influence with peers, and what happens when you finally stop trying to have all the answers. Perfect for leaders ready to level up their impact while staying true to themselves.
Plus, find out why Nicole's promotion sparked an unexpected reaction from female employees that even surprised her.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
Connect with Nicole –
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolefallowfield/
Website: https://www.thegibsonedge.com/
Connect with Jen -
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Website: https://growthsignals.co/
New research reveals managers are facing unprecedented levels of stress and burnout. MeQ co-founder Jan Bruce joins us to unpack data about manager wellbeing and shares practical strategies for building resilience in leadership roles. Discover why supporting your managers might be the most important investment your organization isn't making.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
For the links mentioned, visit: https://growthsignals.co/
Hey there! Big news – it's time to preview an exciting change. Growing Through It is becoming The Made Leader podcast.
Why the change? Because here's the thing: great leaders aren't born; they're made.
Here's a surprising stat: only 1 in 10 people naturally have what it takes to be an exceptional manager. It turns out that leadership is a skill like any other. You can develop into a good leader with effort and practice.
So, if you're in a leadership position and feel like you're swimming upstream - you're not alone.
Here’s what to expect from weekly episodes of The Made Leader:
- Expert Deep Dives: Twice a month, there will be interview leadership experts, authors, and researchers who break down crucial leadership skills and challenges - from difficult conversations to building high-performing teams. We’ll go beyond the surface to give you actionable insights you can use right away.
- Real Stories from the Trenches: Ever wonder how other managers figure this stuff out? We'll talk with leaders who are willing to share their path to leadership, along with their successes and challenges along the way.
- Monthly "Ask Us Anything": Got a leadership challenge keeping you up at night? We'll tackle your real-world management questions. Think of it as no-nonsense guidance for your real leadership challenges.
If you're a middle manager looking to level up your leadership game, this show is for you. The first episode drops on January 15th right here.
Make sure you hit that follow button to get notified of new episodes!
In this episode, host Jen Arnold shares what she learned from season 2 of the podcast. She explains why her vision didn't match reality. Jen describes the broad range of topics in this season and what she's doing now that this podcast season is coming to an end. Listen in to see what's next for the Growing Through It podcast.
Attracting top talent is just the first step for organizations. What truly sets successful organizations apart is how they nurture their new hires during those pivotal first days on the job. Building a strong relationship with new hires from the outset increases their engagement and also sets them up for long-term success.
Yet, with the demands of day-to-day responsibilities, leaders may find it challenging to provide the attention new hires need. So, how can leaders help new employees feel productive by the end of week one? Today’s guest, Carolyn Sorgenfrei, shares her expert advice on how to get new hires up and running.
Carolyn Sorgenfrei is an accomplished employee experience professional with over a decade of experience in driving culture and engagement across various industries. With a proven track record in developing and implementing impactful employee programs, she has successfully led initiatives that enhance workplace culture, boost employee engagement, and foster a sense of belonging.
In this episode, Carolyn shares why positive employee onboarding matters, not only for the new hire but for the organization. She recounts a terrible onboarding experience when she ignored blatant red flags and compares that experience with one that fostered clarity, connection, and a sense of belonging.
Carolyn describes what a good onboarding process looks like and how leaders can set their new hires up for success. She explains when leaders should check in with new hires and how to leverage their existing team to help. Carolyn leaves us with the one thing that matters most when leaders onboard new hires.
Listen in for insights on transforming your onboarding experience and nurturing lasting relationships with your team!
For full show notes, visit https://growthsignals.co/
Connect with Carolyn on LinkedIn
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Performance reviews—dreaded by many, effective for few.
According to Gallup, only 2% of CHROs from Fortune 500 companies strongly believe that their performance management systems inspire employees to improve. Even more concerning, just 20% of employees feel that their reviews are transparent, fair, or motivational.
Despite these discouraging statistics, the annual performance review persists in many organizations. Fortunately, there are forward-thinking exceptions—like today’s guest, Robert Neiuber.
Robert Neiuber, Senior Human Resources Director for the City of Rancho Cucamonga, has been with the City for a decade. He led a progressive shift from traditional performance reviews to a dynamic performance development approach during his tenure. This new system prioritizes future growth over past performance, equipping employees with the tools they need for managing their careers.
In this episode, Robert details the City’s journey to eliminate performance reviews. He shares the motivations behind the change, the implementation process, and how they successfully rolled out the initiative, including navigating union considerations.
Robert also dives into the specifics of their current performance development system, known as MAPs, and discusses their ongoing plans for improvement.
As organizations continue to grapple with the limitations of traditional performance reviews, Robert’s insights offer a powerful blueprint for those ready to make the shift.
Tune in to learn how you can start moving towards a more dynamic and growth-focused approach to performance management in your own organization.
For full show notes, visit https://growthsignals.co/
Connect with Robert on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertneiuber/
Ever want to put your head down, work hard, and advance at work? Unfortunately, hard work isn’t enough to get you ahead in most organizations.
Navigating the unspoken rules of the workplace is crucial for career success, especially for those from nondominant identities who face additional challenges. If you want to succeed in the business world without sacrificing your authenticity, this episode is for you!
Podcast guest and author of Unspoken, Dr. Ella F. Washington, shares why these hidden dynamics exist, how they can impact your professional journey, and how to navigate the unspoken.
In this episode, Ella explains the concept of code switching, and how to use it in a way that’s strategic and not soul-crushing. She underscores the value of “reading the room” and observing social dynamics before asserting your competence. Ella defines personal standards of excellence and why they’re critical to career success. She highlights the necessity of networking and showcasing unique skills and contributions.
We discuss Ella’s love of negotiation and how it doesn’t need to stop once you’ve been hired. Finally, she shares why we need to speak the unspoken, giving voice to uncomfortable conversations that can make the workplace a better place.
Join us as we dive into strategies for excelling in spaces where what's left unsaid often holds the most power.
Connect with Jen on LinkedIn
Connect with Ella on LinkedIn
When it comes to employee wellbeing, many organizations treat it as a program to add or an exercise class to offer. However, with research pointing to leadership as a key factor in employee wellbeing, isn’t it time we’ve taken a closer look?
In this episode, we welcome Bridgette McCullough, a wellbeing practitioner turned Leadership Development Advisor at OhioHealth Leadership Academy.
Bridgette's unique role involves creating solutions that foster a culture of well-being through leader support and development. Bridgette spent the last decade advising employers on how to redesign work for well-being by creating environments and experiences where employees can thrive.
In this episode, Bridgette shares her career journey from public health to workplace leadership. We delve into the crucial link between wellbeing and leadership and explore why many organizations fail to connect the two. Bridgette sheds light on OhioHealth’s balanced scorecard approach, which incorporates cultural metrics for evaluating leadership performance.
We also discuss the various leadership opportunities available at OhioHealth, including training sessions, spot coaching, and an emerging leader program. Bridgette shares what excites her most about her work and leaves us with a practical tip to enhance our own leadership practices.
If you’re a leader aiming to make a meaningful impact on your team's wellbeing, this episode is for you. Join us as we explore how to create workplaces that not only enhance employee well-being but also drive organizational success.
For full show notes, visit https://growthsignals.co/
Connect with Bridgette on LinkedIn
In a world constantly evolving, our ability to adapt to change often defines our personal and professional growth. But when change is happening to us and not for us, how can we prepare both ourselves and others for transitions?
Podcast guest, Kamaria Scott, has been on both sides of change and is here to help us reframe change from a threat into an opportunity for growth. Kamaria is the Founder and CEO of Enetic, a boutique consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations improve manager performance and enabling them to lead engaged, healthy and high achieving teams. An accomplished industrial-organizational psychologist, she has shaped her expertise over two decades, influencing both innovative startups and corporations such as BNY Mellon, FIS, and Accenture.
In this episode, we discuss how Kamaria was laid off not once, not twice, but three times over her career. She shares her reactions to those life changing events and how she mastered the art of graceful exits by the 3rd layoff. Kamaria offers advice to organizations and leaders on better ways to handle layoffs and how to lead after select team members are gone.
Kamaria explains how to get your team change ready, which includes helping people move on for their growth and development. She describes how leaders can approach change-resistant team members and what to do when they’re handed an unfavorable change. Kamaria leaves leaders with advice on how they can get in touch with their own change readiness.
If you find yourself grappling with organizational changes or seeking guidance on leading through transitions, listen in for how to get your team change ready.
For full show notes and links mentioned, visit https://growthsignals.co/
Going back to work after having a baby can be tough, especially if you’re returning to a leadership role. You’re expected to and may want to pick up where you left off. But what happens when you are over-functioning at work and running your team on high octane?
Podcast guest, Beth Finkle, candidly shares her post-maternity leave reentry, battling postpartum anxiety and overwhelming emotions. Beth is a loving mom to four wonderful kids and is an experienced worksite wellbeing practitioner with 16 years of expertise. Throughout her career, she’s left her mark in various employer settings, including hospitals, health insurance companies, national sports teams, and higher education.
In this episode, Beth shares how she led her team in the first few months after returning from maternity leave. She shares how she was holding it all together at work, only to come home and feel enraged. It wasn’t until her husband noticed she wasn’t herself that she got some help.
Beth reveals how she got herself back on track with her wellbeing and leading her team. She shares how her experience made her a better leader and offers her advice to others returning from maternity leave.
Beth’s experience underscores the significance of supporting mothers returning back from maternity leave. Her story sheds light on how high-functioning anxiety can be masked as being a “good” employee.
Connect with Beth on LinkedIn.
Listen to her podcast, Trust Me, at https://www.trustmebk.com/
Watch her Tedx talk here
Is saying yes to too many opportunities getting in the way of being the leader you need to be?
In a world full of opportunities and endless demands, knowing when to say “no” can be a transformative skill for a leader. But finding the balance between seizing opportunities and protecting our limits is a delicate dance many of us struggle with.
With over 25 years in leadership, podcast guest, LeeAnn Garrick, has been on a journey of learning to set boundaries throughout her career. LeeAnn is the Chief Operating Officer of the Cook Inlet Tribal Council where she manages operational units and large-scale programs. As a recovering “yes” person, she’s learned to say no among a slew of work commitments and personal responsibilities to safeguard her well-being.
In this episode, LeeAnn recounts a time when she turned down a prestigious fellowship to which she initially said yes. She describes going back to her boss to turn down the opportunity and shares what she learned from that experience. LeeAnn explores where her “yes” attitude comes from and how it’s shifted throughout her career.
We also unpack how difficult it can be to say no and how the first step is self-awareness. Even though she still trips up from time to time, she’s learned that every opportunity is not worth her energy. Finally, she ends by offering advice on how you can decide what opportunities are right for you in your career.
Meetings are often seen as necessary but dreaded events that everyone complains about. But do they have to be?
As a leader, you can transform these gatherings from mundane to meaningful. The answer lies in creating a safe environment that nurtures idea-sharing, collaboration, and innovation.
Podcast guest, Gary Ware shares essential strategies to make your meetings more engaging, productive, and enjoyable. Gary is the Founder of Breakthrough Play and is a sought-after Corporate Facilitator and Keynote Speaker with nearly a decade of experience as a performer in improv theatre. He assists teams with unlocking creativity, confidence, and sparks collaboration with experiential methods proven to drive peak performance.
In this episode, we start with some questions to ask before you pull people together and how to set your meeting up for success. Gary shares some connection activities to use at the start of meetings and describes how to create group agreements.
We discuss how to get a meeting back on track, the best ways to brainstorm, and code words you can use. Finally, Gary shares how to get feedback after the meeting to ensure the meetings are valuable for everyone.
Join us as we uncover practical strategies and valuable tips to transform your meetings, foster creativity, and cultivate a positive atmosphere that inspires collaboration within your team.
For full show notes visit www.growthsignals.co.
Connect with Gary on LinkedIn.
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Imagine taking on your first role as a new leader, excited at the opportunity, only to uncover one leadership challenge after another. Not only are you leading your former peers, who are more experienced than you, but two members of your three-person team go out on medical leave and eventually quit.
This leaves you with one highly motivated but inexperienced team member to do the work of four people. Oh yeah, and when you ask for support, you’re told “You’ve been through worse”.
How well would you do in that first-time leadership role? Podcast guest, Stacy Vega, is here to recount how her first leadership experience made her feel like a complete failure.
Stacy Vega is the Director of Strategic Planning and Governance for Government Marketing at Elevance Health, where she leads the practice and forum to orchestrate communications to the Medicare population. Stacy is passionate about bridging brands and audiences through compelling storytelling. Outside work, Stacy is a mother to two sons, Ciani and Chancellor, and a dog mom to Nugget.
For the full show notes and links mention, visit https://growthsignals.co/
Everyone has a personal brand – including leaders within organizations. Your personal brand is not just a logo or a slogan—it’s what people say about you when you’re not in the room.
And in a world where perception can be as influential as performance, personal branding has become a crucial tool for leaders aiming to shape how they are perceived both inside their organizations and beyond.
How can you leverage platforms like LinkedIn to elevate your leadership brand? Today’s podcast guest, Jessica D. Winder, is here to share how you can stand out on LinkedIn in a way that feels authentic to you.
If you’ve been thinking of posting on LinkedIn but haven’t been able to, this episode is for you!
For full show notes visit www.growthsignals.co.
Imagine being fresh out of college and being hired in your first leadership role. You fly across the country for a three-month training stint, excited about your new job and ready for the challenge. Four weeks in, you get some upsetting news – you’ve been replaced by someone more experienced.
What would you do? Today’s podcast guest, Karen Suchsland, tells us how she reacted to that exact situation and how it influenced the rest of her 20-year leadership career.
In this episode, Karen recounts her bumpy entrance into the world of corporate leadership, when she was taken out of the role she was hired for and reslotted into a special projects role. She shares how that felt, who she leaned on for some honest feedback, and how she recovered.
For full show notes, visit growthsignals.co.
In the constant hustle and bustle of work, it’s easy to lose sight of the importance of genuine connections.
In this solo episode, host Jen Arnold reflects on a recent incident when a prior coach missed the mark on relationship building. This incident prompted her to stress the value of fostering genuine relationships in the professional world.
Jen shares instances where she felt a lack of personal connection at work, advocating for a deeper understanding of team members by learning about their backgrounds and interests.
In this episode, Jen also shares a few upcoming podcasts that you don’t want to miss.
In the wake of COVID-19, leaders found themselves cast as impromptu mental health counselors, navigating uncharted waters overnight. Now, as discussions surrounding mental wellness continue to gain momentum, particularly with Gen Z placing it at the forefront, the need to address these issues within your team is vital.
Yet, the question persists: How does a leader approach such a sensitive topic without overstepping? Also, is it even the responsibility of leadership to initiate these conversations?
Today’s podcast guest, Andrea Herron, believes it is. Andrea, Vice President of HR at Web MD, is the host of the award-winning HR Scoop podcast and author of “There’s an Elephant in Your Office”, co-written with her sister.
Most importantly, she’s been leading for the past 10 years and is doing her best to address the mental health of her team. Andrea’s here to share her mistakes and how we can all learn from them.
Listen in for practical ways to support your team's mental health.
For full show notes and links mentioned, visit https://growthsignals.co/
Is there feedback you’re putting off because you’re not sure how to say it? If so, this episode is for you.
In this solo episode, host Jen Arnold delves into the essential leadership skill of giving meaningful feedback. It turns out that delivering meaningful feedback in a way that’s both accepted and applied is both an art and a science.
Feedback isn’t just about words – it’s about how you show up to and through the conversation. But since both giving and receiving feedback can create anxiety in both parties, it can impact how we listen, and if we stay open-minded and judgment-free.
In a world where feedback is often feared, this episode serves as a guide for effectively delivering feedback. Tune in, learn, and lead with confidence.
For full show notes and key highlights, visit https://growthsignals.co
Imagine getting a call that someone on your team made a mistake on a 100-million-dollar client project. Would you fire them or ask them to lead the project recovery? This is the “gift of failure” that podcast guest, Josh Durham, tells us about in this episode.
With almost two decades as a leader in the construction industry, Josh has overseen more than $1 billion in large scale construction. As the owner of Gamut Project Solutions, Josh guides his clients to positive outcomes - from proposal development and risk management to field strategies, dispute resolution, and more.
In this episode, Josh tells the story of the 100-million-dollar project where a mistake was made by one of his team members and how he decided on the next steps. He walks us through the unexpected path he chose and how he rallied his team to get the project back on track.
Josh shares how his many “gifts of failure” have shaped the leader he is today - one who's purpose-driven, reflective, and builds people up. If you’ve ever been in charge of a really expensive mistake that tested your leadership, this episode is for you!
In the dynamic realm of team management, one fundamental element stands out as a cornerstone for fostering growth and retaining talent: engaging in meaningful career conversations.
As managers, it is not just about overseeing tasks and projects but also about nurturing the professional development and aspirations of our team members.
In this episode, your host, Jen Arnold, walks you through her Guiding Principles for leaders to have career conversations with their teams and five essential steps to get started.
You can download the Leader's Guide to Navigating Employee Development Conversations mentioned HERE.
Lex was in her mid-20’s and one week into her new role when she got promoted into a leadership role. The catch – she only had two weeks to prep for her new hires! How did this self-proclaimed perfectionist handle not having all of the answers? She tells all of her lessons learned on this episode.
Lex Moschakis is the founder of Live Big, an organization dedicated to helping teens build confidence, resilience, and self-leadership skills in schools across the US. Her path has zigzagged from corporate law, to sales, to teaching at the Kellogg School of Management, and training Fortune 100 executive teams on high-impact habits. During her time in sales leadership Lex ran teams regionally and nationally, responsible for recruiting, onboarding, coaching, and career pathing dozens of early-career professionals.
In this episode, Lex walks us through the considerable lessons she learned as a new leader. She highlights the difficulties that come with organizational changes, the hiring and firing that are part of a leader’s job, and how to interview for fit and not education. Lex offers questions she asked of job candidates to put them at ease so she could get to know them as people.
Lex offers a ton of practical advice, including how to give an underperforming team member autonomy, how to reframe your role as manager, and what to do when someone leaves your team. Tune in to delve deeper into the nuances of being a new leader and learning on the go with Lex Moschakis.
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In this “in between the interviews” episode of Growing Through It, host Jen Arnold tells the story of her first few years in leadership. She reveals a vulnerable time in her leadership career when she was unaware of her shortcomings and had the rude awakening of a demotion.
Jen walks through her leadership mistakes, as well as where the organization missed the boat in supporting her as a new leader. She also shares what she did after the demotion to learn from her mistakes and regain her confidence to lead again.
This episode is designed to celebrate the courage to confront challenges, the power of vulnerability, and the resilience to grow through adversity.
In this episode, we delve into the story of Michaelangelo Aranda, a seasoned people leader, who was promoted into a Director role.
Initially filled with honor and excitement after the promotion, Michaelangelo ’s ascent was accompanied by a wave of challenges, primarily stemming from his unsupportive leader.
Struggling with a lack of backing and encouragement, Michaelangelo ’s confidence wavered, leading to self-doubt and emotional exhaustion.
The crux of the story unfolds as Michaelangelo makes the courageous decision to resign. His departure was a pivotal moment, teaching him to advocate for himself and ultimately prioritize a better work environment, even if it meant less pay.
Michaelangelo’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the complex dynamics within the workplace and the importance of advocating for oneself in the face of adversity.
For the full show notes, visit https://growthsignals.co
Trust is like the air we breathe – when it’s present, nobody really notices; when it’s absent, everybody notices. – Warren Buffet
Jen Arnold, seasoned trainer and facilitator, guides us through the profound impact of trust on various aspects of leadership and employee dynamics.
In this episode, we delve into the often underestimated yet critical role of trust in leadership, the profound influence of trust on employee retention, productivity, energy, engagement, and burnout, and examine the indicators of trust issues within workplaces.
Jen introduces the “layers of trust” model, delineating three pivotal layers: credibility and competence, dependability and consistency, and compassionate candor.
Listen in as Jen uncovers the layers of trust, gaining a deeper understanding of its profound impact on leadership, and learn how to cultivate and preserve trust as a leader.
Let me know what you thought of this episode HERE.
Until recently, Dr. Karyn Mathura felt like she had to hide her ADHD from her co-workers. Now, she’ll openly disclose her diagnosis, leading with vulnerability about her challenges. In this episode, Karyn candidly shares how she navigates leading in Corporate America while having ADHD.
We explore how ADHD is both a challenge and a superpower for her. Karyn openly shares her challenges - she can be direct, interrupt colleagues, has discomfort in social situations, and gets nervous presenting to senior leadership. She also walks us through how she overcomes these situations.
Karyn also thinks of ADHD as her superpower - adapting well to change, handling multiple projects at a time, and being an empathetic leader. She’s become an asset to her company and the many people she works with.
This conversation underscores the hurdles neurodivergent leaders face and the importance of creating an accommodating environment. You’ll gain valuable insights into the complexities of ADHD in the workplace, offering practical advice, and fostering a deeper understanding of neurodiversity.
Think neurodivergent leaders can’t be successful? Listen to Karyn’s story to hear how she has forged her leadership path in Corporate America.
For full show notes, visit https://growthsignals.co
In this “in between the interviews” episode of Growing Through It, host Jen Arnold delves into three insights from her interview with Rucker Taylor, who shared his leadership frustrations and how he got through them.
Key Themes:
- Reflecting on frustration: It’s normal to have frustration in leadership roles but extended frustration indicates an underlying issue. Jen shares her own leadership frustration story, expressing regret for not examining her approach when a team member faced challenges. It’s a reminder that self-reflection is crucial in leadership.
- Paint a clear picture: No one can read your mind, so don’t expect them to. Instead, paint a crystal-clear picture of the outcome you want to see. You don’t need to tell them how to get there. Empower your team members and provide the necessary support for their success. Recognizing and nurturing individual strengths can lead to powerful outcomes.
- Discover your leadership style: Each of us has a natural way we lead but sometimes we question if it’s the “right” way. Pay attention to the script in your head and check your outcomes – are you happy with how your team is functioning?
Leadership is a journey, and each insight brings us closer to becoming the best version of ourselves. Be patient in finding an effective leadership approach and embrace your unique leadership journey.
For the links mentioned, visit us HERE.
Think about leading a college baseball team. You’re working with 18- to 22-year-olds who also go to school and must keep up their grades. Team members are constantly in flux - graduating, getting drafted, freshman getting acclimated, transfers from other schools, etc. Plus, you’re under pressure to win games.
You may not be leading a sports team but there are lessons we can take from sports and apply them leadership in a traditional work environment. After all, there’s one thread that runs through any strong team – good leadership.
In this episode, Rucker Taylor, Head Baseball Coach at Davidson College, shares his journey of getting comfortable with his authentic leadership style. Rucker unpacks his recent leadership frustration – what were the signs, what caused it, and how he ended up tweaking his approach to give his team what they really needed – more guidance and structure.
Connect with Jen on LinkedIn
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In this "in between the interviews" episode of Growing Through It, host Jen Arnold delves into three insights from her interview with Rhonda Okurowski, who shared her journey leading in her first Fortune 500 company.
Whether you’re a seasoned leader or an aspiring one, this episode offers valuable wisdom and practical guidance for navigating the complex terrain of organizational fit and change.
Connect with Jen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Sign up to get exclusive podcast content that’ll give you an edge on your leadership journey.
Rhonda Okurowski, a leader with over 20 years of experience, recounts a challenging period in her leadership when she started at her first Fortune 500 organization.
Upon starting her new role, Rhonda began meeting with each one of her 14 team members one on one. When her team raised concerns about inadequate compensation despite increased responsibilities, Rhonda brought these issues to her director, realizing the limitations of middle management in addressing pay-related matters.
Her director recommended Rhonda look into it and present him the findings. That’s where the miscommunication began. Listen in to hear what happened when Rhonda followed through on her director’s advice. Spoiler alert – it didn’t end well!
In this episode, you’ll hear Rhonda’s candid story of navigating middle management in her first Fortune 500 company, what actions she regrets and what she doesn’t, along with her advice for fellow managers.
Connect with Rhonda on LinkedIn
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Jen Arnold, the host of the “Growing Through It” podcast, returns with a new season. In Season two, she shifts focus back to her roots - exploring the impact of work on wellbeing.
This time the spotlight is on how leaders recover when things don’t go their way. Unlike typical leadership podcasts, Jen will showcase real leaders sharing their stories of mistakes, mishaps, and missteps, and how they recovered and grew from them.
The goal of this season is to provide listeners with insights into the challenges of leadership and offer actionable leadership tips. Stay tuned for bi-weekly episodes, all with a fresh story to share.
Each episode comes with a nugget of wisdom that we expand on in our newsletter. If you’re eager to put these insights into action, you can sign up here and get exclusive content that’ll give you an edge in your leadership journey.
And it’s a wrap! What started as a seasonal podcast went longer than originally planned.
Join your host, Jen Arnold to hear the podcast origin story, her realizations over the past 40 episodes, and what’s in store for a next season. She’ll also provide some updates on some life challenges she mentioned in prior episodes.
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that affects about 10-30% of adults worldwide. It’s defined as a difficulty getting to sleep and/or staying asleep and persists over a period of time.
Insomnia can be caused by a variety of factors, including the genes you’re born with, stress, changes in sleep schedules and health issues. Luckily, it’s very treatable and there are available tools that can effectively change your relationship with sleep and improve your sleep quality.
Podcast guest, Spencer Richards, Ph.D., is back to offer ways to overcome insomnia. Spencer works as a full-time clinical health psychologist and specializes in the treatment of concerns that arise in the space where our mental and physical health meet.
He holds specialty training that includes insomnia, chronic pain, weight management and emotional eating, chronic illness management, and improving overall well-being.
In this episode, Spencer defines insomnia and explains how good sleep hygiene is necessary but insufficient for this condition. He walks us through how to get out of your body’s way of receiving sleep signals, what causes insomnia, and how using a sleep diary is an important tool to examine patterns of sleep.
Spencer describes sleep consolidation, offers his view on naps, and gives advice on how to decrease the length of time you spend in bed awake.
With more than one-third of U.S. adults sleeping less than seven hours per night, it’s common to have a strained relationship with sleep.
Not getting enough quality sleep can not only leave us feeling moody, foggy, and hungry but it also negatively impacts our immune system, memory, and overall brain health. But sleep problems don’t start at nighttime. What we do all day has a lot to do with how we sleep at night.
Podcast guest, Spencer Richards, Ph.D., is here to offer ways for a better sleep. Spencer works as a full-time clinical health psychologist and specializes in the treatment of concerns that arise in the space where our mental and physical health meet.
He holds specialty training that includes insomnia, chronic pain, weight management and emotional eating, chronic illness management, and improving overall well-being.
In this episode, Spencer explains what “good enough” sleep means and how our sleep needs change as we age. He offers guidance for those working night shift and helps us understand how to get out of our body’s way to sleep better.
Spencer debunks some sleep myths and sets us straight on what’s fact versus fiction. He leaves us with his top sleep tips so we can all get a better night’s sleep.
With headlines of raging quitting, quiet quitting, and just regular old quitting, is leaving your job the way to go if you’re unhappy with your career?
Podcast guest, Lindsay Gordon, says that quitting isn’t always the answer. In fact, all of her clients think they need to quit but only half of them actually do.
Lindsay Gordon is a Forbes award-winning career coach, author, and speaker on a mission to help people stop doing what they think is "right" in their career and start doing what's right for them.
Through her work, she assists leaders in making clear and confident decisions so they can move forward in their careers (and lives) with purpose.
In this episode, Lindsay walks us through when she was unsatisfied with her job and the steps she took to make herself happier.
She describes the most common career situations her clients find themselves in, why we should all look for “deeply unsexy results”, and why it’s important to understand the job pressures we may be facing.
Finally, Lindsay emphasizes the importance making a decision, knowing you can change your mind at any point.
If you’re daydreaming about a more fulfilling job, this episode is for you!
Ever been in a lopsided relationship where you were giving and giving, and lost track of who you are and what you want out of life? If so, you may be caught in a codependent relationship.
Codependency is a spectrum of behaviors that can exist in any type of relationship. It happens when one person is overly focused on another person's feelings, needs and problems, and even taking responsibility for things they have no control over.
If this sounds like you, how can you untangle yourself from this pattern of behavior?
Dr. Sharon Martin, a licensed psychotherapist specializing in codependency for 25 years, and helps people pleasers and perfectionists overcome self-doubt, shame, embrace their imperfections, and learn to set boundaries.
Dr. Martin is the author of two books and writes the popular blog Conquering Codependency for Psychology Today.
In this episode, Dr. Martin defines codependency, where it comes from, and how it can be normalized in women. She walks us through what happens when we try to people please and lack boundaries.
Finally, she discusses how to recognize warning signs that you may be codependent and the first steps to changing your behavior.
Roadblocks are part of life, but that doesn’t mean they are easy to get through. In this episode, I (host, Jen Arnold), tell you a story about some roadblocks I’ve faced recently.
I’ll walk you through what to do when you experience a roadblock and what you can learn from them.
When Nicole Bell’s husband, Russ, became moody, argumentative, and depressed, she shook it off as the difficulties of being married with two small kids. But a short time later, Russ started forgetting basic things, like the code to their house alarm.
When a doctor’s visit and all lab results came back clean, Russ was sent to a neurologist. It was then that he was diagnosed with late-stage Alzheimer's disease. But in Nicole’s engineering brain, his diagnosis never made sense, so she set out to get to the root cause of Russ’s illness.
Podcast guest, Nicole Bell, is an author, entrepreneur, and advocate for tick-borne and neurodegenerative diseases.
She advanced her professional career as an engineer and program manager and spent the past 15 years in medical devices and medical technology. But when her husband became chronically ill, she left that position to take on her most challenging roles yet: caregiver and medical proxy.
In this episode, Nicole takes us through her harrowing journey of getting Russ the proper medical diagnosis, after doctor after doctor told her it was Alzheimer’s.
She explains her difficult decision to step away from her job as an executive and become a full-time caregiver, while having two young children (aged 5 and 8 at the time).
Nicole shares the progression of Russ’s disease, how she coped, and how she found the courage to write a book about the experience. Throughout her long journey, Nicole has become passionate about finding the root cause of illness and encourages us to do the same.
Have you ever felt like you were on edge, feeling extra emotional or finding it hard to focus? That’s been me for the past few weeks. In this episode, I (host, Jen Arnold), walk you through one thing that if you don’t get enough of it, will make it much harder for you to be resilient.
One in eight couples (6.7 million) struggle with infertility. Although this feels like a high number, infertility can feel isolating and shameful. Infertility carries with it the same psychological or implications as a cancer diagnosis, HIV diagnosis or chronic illness diagnosis. But it’s taboo to talk about, so many women suffer silently.
Podcast guest, Cathie Quillet, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Published Author, & Speaker who specializes in infertility and pregnancy loss, along with the treatment of those in the seasons of pregnancy, postpartum and adoption. She is also the host of the Thrive (In)Fertility Podcast.
In this episode, Cathie shares her story of having a series of miscarriages and gynecological conditions that required her to have a hysterectomy at 32 years old. She shares how she coped during the time and after healing, how she wanted to help others with infertility.
Cathie discusses the trauma of infertility - emotionally, psychologically, and physically. She describes its effects on relationships, the medical costs associated with fertility treatments, the impact on self-worth. Cathie leaves us with advice on what to say, and not say when someone you know is living through infertility.
For show notes and links mentioned, visit: https://bit.ly/GTIPodcastNotes
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2 Tip Tuesday is a weekly email that break down podcast episodes into practical resilience tips you can put into action straight away.
You spend 18+ years raising your children, then all of a sudden, they’re out of the house living their adult lives. This major transition can create a broad range of emotions, a newfound freedom, and potentially an identity crisis.
How can parents successfully navigate this transition and even embrace new opportunities?
Podcast guest, Celia Dodd, is here to help us navigate through. Celia is a journalist and author of ‘The Empty Nest: Your changing family, your new direction’, which was inspired by her own experiences when her three children left home. She set out to discover whether other parents – fathers as well as mothers – felt as sad and confused as she did.
In this episode, Celia shares her experience when her children left home and how it caused her to write a book on how the empty nest syndrome.
She shares what the parents who most successfully dealt with the transition had in common and how parents can turn this emotional time into an opportunity. Celia also offers advice for how to update the parent-child relationship, as the child becomes an adult.
Even if you don’t have a child leaving home for years, this podcast will get you prepared for the empty nest when it comes.
For show notes and links mentioned, visit: https://bit.ly/GTIPodcastNotes
To sign up for 2 Tip Tuesday, visit: https://bit.ly/2TipTuesday
2 Tip Tuesday is a weekly email that break down podcast episodes into practical resilience tips you can put into action straight away.
Losing a loved one is an unavoidable cost of having close relationships. When loss happens, there’s a period of grieving that’s experienced differently from person to person.
But one thing happens to all of us – our brains try to solve the problem of where that person went. This deeply rooted neurobiology leads to a grieving process where our brains are trying to update with our new reality.
Podcast guest, Mary-Frances O’Connor, PhD, says you haven’t failed because you’re feeling grief. Dr. O’Connor is an associate professor of psychology at the University of Arizona, where she directs the Grief, Loss and Social Stress (GLASS) Lab, which investigates the effects of grief on the brain and the body.
Her book, The Grieving Brain, brings together accessible science and practical knowledge that provides a more nuanced understanding of what happens when we grieve and how to navigate loss with more ease and grace.
In this episode, Mary-Francis describes what happens in our brains when we lose a loved one. She explains the difference between grief and grieving, and how it looks different for everyone.
Mary-Francis debunks the five stages of grief, and we discuss how it’s not a linear journey. Finally, she leaves us with some ways we may get stuck in grief and how to be a friend to someone grieving.
For show notes and links mentioned, visit: https://bit.ly/GTIPodcastNotes
To sign up for 2 Tip Tuesday, visit: https://bit.ly/2TipTuesday
2 Tip Tuesday is a weekly email that break down podcast episodes into practical resilience tips you can put into action straight away.
Do you ever feel stressed but not sure why? Or do you just feel “off” and want to get back to feeling “normal”? If so, this episode is for you. Listen in as I (host, Jen Arnold), walk you through a step-by-step process to move through the stress and get yourself to a better place.
It seems that every day, there’s a headline about a prominent company laying off hundreds to thousands of workers. Losing your job is a life-changing event that can negatively impact your mental and physical health.
Job loss can shake your identity, security, and trust. So, what can you do to recover from losing your job?
Podcast guest, Dr. Brett Blair, explored this very topic and is here to discuss the five themes he found from his research of the job loss journey.
Brett is the founder and president of Best Life Global, LLC, a high-performance coaching and organizational consulting company.
In this episode, Brett shares how his research started and why he picked the topic of job loss. He then reveals the five key themes he discovered from the lived experience of mid-career executives losing their jobs.
Brett draws parallels between these five themes and the journey he took grieving the loss of his wife. Finally, he offers some additional coaching advice for anyone on the job search.
Ever since COVID, the word “resilience” has been overused and often misunderstood. It doesn’t help that there’s a popular social media post that inaccurately defines it.
Listen in as I (host, Jen Arnold), walk you through what people often get wrong about resilience and offer a different take.
Ikigai is a 1,000-year-old Japanese concept interpreted as “your reason for being” or purpose.
Finding purpose in life can feel intimidating, as if you had to look all over for one grand reason for being. But what if it’s much simpler than that? According to guest Sam Ushio, ikigai starts with understanding your values.
Sam Ushio is the Chief Ikigai Officer at Connect3x, a people platform that embeds well-being into the rhythm of business. Sam fuses a powerful blend of Ikigai philosophy, strengths-based psychology, and change management to lead Connect3x’s mission to “capitalize the Human experience.”
In our conversation, Sam shares his journey into entrepreneurship after he realized he was compromising personal growth for financial growth.
He explains the Japanese concept of Ikigai and how it’s different than the Western version you’ll find with a Google search. Sam then describes how he approaches Ikigai and how you can get started exploring purpose for yourself.
For show notes and links mentioned, visit: https://bit.ly/GTIPodcastNotes
To sign up for 2 Tip Tuesday, visit: https://bit.ly/2TipTuesday
2 Tip Tuesday is a weekly email that break down podcast episodes into practical resilience tips you can put into action straight away.
There’s a resilience concept that has so greatly helped me in my life that I want to share it with you. It’s the concept of acceptance.
Listen in as I (host, Jen Arnold), walk you through what acceptance is, how it’s helped me, and how it can also help you. Plus, I’ll share three questions you can ask yourself to determine if you are struggling with acceptance.
In 2020, Brett Blair’s life was tragically upended when his wife, Kim, was diagnosed with ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
Brett turned into a 100% caregiver as Kim’s disease progressed at a rate neither of them anticipated. When she passed in 2021, Brett spent time grieving and doing the things he knew were good for him to process the death of his loving spouse.
In this episode, Brett shares his story of caregiving for Kim once she was diagnosed with ALS. He walks us through the day Kim was diagnosed and how they dealt with the prognosis.
Brett explains the different stages of Kim’s disease and the ways he took care of himself as her caregiver. He reflects on what he learned during that trying period of life and how anyone facing an awful diagnosis can face it by living fully.
Today’s episode is about the power of having a personal mission statement. A personal mission is a guiding statement that directs your energy and choices. It encapsulates what is important to you in all facets of your life.
Listen in as host Jen Arnold, walks through how it’s helped her in her life, the research behind it, and a free challenge she’s hosting for you to create yours.
When someone wrongs, hurts, or violates us, we get angry. If we hold on to that anger and resentment it can fester, leading to increased stress, negative emotions, poorer mental health, a weakened immune system, and higher blood pressure.
But how can you get past the anger so you can get on with your life? According to podcast guest, Dr. Robert Enright, the answer is forgiveness.
Dr. Enright is a licensed psychologist, and founder of the International Forgiveness Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to disseminating knowledge about forgiveness and community renewal through forgiveness. Through his decades of research, he’s found that forgiveness is a literal cure for trauma to the heart.
For show notes and links mentioned, visit: https://bit.ly/GTIPodcastNotes
To sign up for 2 Tip Tuesday, visit: https://bit.ly/2TipTuesday
2 Tip Tuesday is a weekly email that break down podcast episodes into practical resilience tips you can put into action straight away.
Have you ever beat yourself up because things didn’t work out as planned? Or have you let yourself off the hook for something you really need to do?
If you err too much on one side of the spectrum, listen in as host Jen Arnold, walks through how to be self-compassionate and still challenge yourself to reach your goals.
Unlike family, we get to pick our friends. These relationships of choice are vital to our overall wellbeing and resilience. But as we become adults, there are many challenges to keeping those friendships and making new ones.
So, how do we overcome the challenges? That’s what podcast guest, Kat Vellos, is here to discuss.
Kat Vellos is a trusted expert on the power of cultivating meaningful friendships. She’s a speaker and author of the book, We Should Get Together: The Secret to Cultivating Better Friendships.
For show notes and links mentioned, visit: https://bit.ly/GTIPodcastNotes
To sign up for 2 Tip Tuesday, visit: https://bit.ly/2TipTuesday
2 Tip Tuesday is a weekly email that break down podcast episodes into practical resilience tips you can put into action straight away.
If you are setting goals for yourself in the new year, then this real talk episode is for you!
In this episode, Jen offers two perspectives on goal setting for you to consider – setting goals from a place of knowing you are a worthy, valuable human and drilling down on what it would actually take to reach your goals (sacrifices and all).
These Friday episodes are dedicated to casual conversations about real life. Your host, Jen Arnold, aims to share what she does to get through hard times and how she’s putting her podcast guests’ advice into practice.
These Friday episodes are dedicated to casual conversations about real life. Your host, Jen Arnold, aims to share what she does to get through hard times but also wants to put podcast guests’ advice into practice.
In this real talk episode, Jen talks about the importance of career wellbeing, the research behind it, and ways to take inventory of your own career wellbeing.
When we find ourselves giving everything to someone or something, it may be time to take a deeper look at what’s going on within ourselves.
Podcast guest, Stephanie Granger, had to take an extensive look at her life to understand what was driving the discontent in her marriage. Once she realized she was constantly trying to fix something, Stephanie then had to do the challenging work of setting boundaries.
Stephanie describes how she “put a sledgehammer” to her life in a short amount of time. She shares the story of when she realized her marriage wasn’t healthy and the process she took to leave it.
She then describes how setting boundaries in her marriage carried over to her job. Best of all, she walks us through the fallout from it all.
Setting boundaries isn’t easy but when we start setting them in one area of our life, there’s no turning back!
For show notes and links mentioned, visit: https://bit.ly/GTIPodcastNotes
These Friday episodes are dedicated to casual conversations about real life. Your host, Jen Arnold, aims to share what she does to get through hard times but also wants to put podcast guests’ advice into practice.
In this real talk episode, Jen pulls out a helpful strategy from this week’s podcast interview and shares 7 questions you can use to reflect on 2022.
During the pandemic nearly 2.5 million women left the workforce and 1 in 3 mothers were considering leaving or downshifting their career. Being a working mom comes with penalties and biases, many subtle and easy to present as “concern” for the woman.
With working moms making up 32% of all employed women in 2018, we need to take a closer look at the bias they experience in the workforce.
Podcast guest, Erica Ballard, Life Coach for Women Who Work, walks us through the horrific stats of the uphill battle working moms face, including motherhood penalties and biases.
Not only are working moms 100% less likely to be promoted but they earn $11,000 less than their childless peers and fathers.
Erica offers a strategy to tease out bias and provides ways to be your own advocate at work. She also reveals the mental shift she made and how she decided she’s playing a different game where she writes the rules.
Key Highlights:
- 1 in 3 women are considering leaving or downshifting their career and 2 in 5 new moms will leave the workforce
- Losing a mom within the first year of motherhood will cost a company $92,000.
- 75% of expectant mothers are excited to return to work but 43% of them end up leaving.
- Examples of “motherhood penalties” – 79% less likely to be hired, 100% less likely to be promoted, and make on average $11,000 less than their childless peers or fathers.
- Maternal wall bias: people believe you are less committed and as a result, less competent at work.
- Bias can be subtle such as assuming new mothers will check out when they come back to work or not offering them new projects (none of which is discussed directly with the woman).
- Maybe you don’t want the promotion. What do you want your life to look like?
- Ask for some reviews (even if it’s off-cycle) to understand what your employer needs and/or expects from you. This can also help you understand where there is some bias.
- How women can be their own champions – determine what you want your like to look like, who do you have to be to be and show up as that person. You may have to switch jobs or careers (but do the internal work first).
- Do it your way and go have fun as you do it. Everything is made up.
For show notes and links mentioned, visit: https://bit.ly/GTIPodcastNotes
To sign up for 2 Tip Tuesday, visit: https://bit.ly/2TipTuesday
2 Tip Tuesday is a weekly email that break down podcast episodes into practical resilience tips you can put into action straight away.
These Friday episodes are dedicated to casual conversations about real life. Your host, Jen Arnold, aims to share what she does to get through hard times but also wants to put podcast guests’ advice into practice.
In this real talk episode, Jen pulls out a helpful strategy from this week’s podcast interview and shares a way she reframes challenging situations.
When we think of abusive relationships, our minds often jump to physical violence. But a more subtle form of abuse that’s harder to recognize is emotional abuse.
Emotional abuse occurs in toxic relationships and includes non-physical behaviors that are meant to control, isolate, or frighten you. This type of abuse may not get recognized at the start of a relationship and can leave you feeling confused, frustrated, or even like you’re in the wrong.
Toxic relationships, whether it’s with a partner, parent, friend, or co-worker, can be tricky to identify. How do you know if you are in a toxic relationship?
Podcast guest, Stephanie Sarkis is a psychotherapist specializing in anxiety, gaslighting, narcissistic abuse, and ADHD, who helps us sort out this question and much more.
In this episode, Stephanie walks us through the different stages of toxic behavior, where it originates, and who’s most vulnerable. She offers red flags of toxic workplaces, actions toxic people take to manipulate others, and how to deal with them.
Finally, Stephanie gives advice on how to handle the holidays with toxic family members.
To sign up for 2 Tip Tuesday, visit: https://bit.ly/2TipTuesday
Exhaustion is one of the leading causes of performance decline and eventual burnout among people today. Most people don’t realize how many facets of rest they’re missing out on and it’s keeping them depleted.
Podcast guest, Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, says that rest is not about the cessation of activity, but about doing restorative activities – things that help fill you up and make you able to do your best work.
Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith is a physician, speaker, and author of her book Sacred Rest. She is an international resource on wellness expertise and has been featured in media outlets such as MSNBC, Prevention, and the Dr. Oz Show to name a few.
In this episode, Saundra shares her personal experience with burnout and what made her start researching the 7 stages of rest. She explores each type in depth, and shares ideas of how to restore them.
Lastly, Saundra discusses how important boundaries are in staying rested and the necessity of getting comfortable saying no.
These Friday episodes are dedicated to casual conversations about real life. Your host, Jen Arnold, aims to share what she does to get through hard times but also wants to put podcast guests’ advice into practice.
In this real talk episode, Jen talks about her own relationship with alcohol and the steps she’s taken to get more mindful when she does partake.
When things get stressful, painful, or just hard, it’s easy to lean on alcohol to get us through. Recent statistics revealed that 25% of US adults increased their drinking during COVID.
So, how do you know what’s an acceptable level of drinking versus a problem? That’s what guest, Dr. George Koob, Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is here to discuss.
In our conversation, George walks us through what happens in the brain when we numb emotional pain with alcohol, both the immediate benefits and the many downsides. He defines what’s acceptable vs. problematic drinking and how you can evaluate your relationship with alcohol.
George offers steps on how to cut back on drinking and ways to still fit in socially without a drink in your hand. Finally, he shares the story of his mother’s alcohol use disorder and offers ways to help those you love who may struggle with alcohol.
For show notes and links mentioned, visit: https://bit.ly/GTIPodcastNotes
To sign up for 2 Tip Tuesday, visit: https://bit.ly/2TipTuesday
2 Tip Tuesday is a weekly email that break down podcast episodes into practical resilience tips you can put into action straight away.
These Friday episodes are dedicated to casual conversations about real life. Your host, Jen Arnold, aims to share what she does to get through hard times but also wants to put podcast guests’ advice into practice.
In this real talk episode, Jen walks through five things to consider when you are dealing with a boss that doesn’t quite live up to your expectations.
Work can be stressful enough but what happens when your boss is not just a poor leader but toxic? A toxic boss is not only a bad boss but also a bad human being who thrives on humiliating their employees.
It’s easy to get trapped working for a toxic boss but chances are, they’re there for the long term. How do you know you’re working for a toxic boss, and more importantly, how do you leave one?
Mary Abbajay, president of Careerstone Group, LLC, a full service organizational and leadership development consultancy, is here to explain what happens when you work for a toxic boss. Mary explains the difference between a bad boss and a toxic one, how these bosses survive in organizations, and what happens when you work for one.
She walks through how you can get stuck working for a toxic boss, the toll on your health, and how to quit one. Mary also tells us her story of working for a toxic boss and what happened when she quit.
For show notes and links mentioned, visit: https://bit.ly/GTIPodcastNotes
To sign up for 2 Tip Tuesday, visit: https://bit.ly/2TipTuesday
2 Tip Tuesday is a weekly email that break down podcast episodes into practical resilience tips you can put into action straight away.
These Friday episodes are dedicated to casual conversations about real life. Your host, Jen Arnold, aims to share what she does to get through hard times but also wants to put podcast guests’ advice into practice.
In this real talk episode, Jen walks through four questions to help you reframe your failure.
Nobody likes to fail. But since messing up is part of the human condition, failure is a part of life. How can we turn the pain of failure into helpful life lessons?
That’s what podcast guest, Deya Smith-Taylor (aka Deya Direct), is here to guide us through. Deya is an Author, Producer, Media Personality and Certified Life Coach who has been through her fair share of setbacks and is here to share them with us.
In this conversation, Deya walks us through a particularly difficult time in her life and the pivotal moment when she reclaimed her power. She educates us on how to make our pain pay us back and how we can shift fear into something more powerful and productive.
Deya offers tools and strategies for us acknowledge our truth, get back up from failure, and drop the pain, shame, and disappointment we may be carrying around.
For show notes and links mentioned, visit: https://bit.ly/GTIPodcastNotes
To sign up for 2 Tip Tuesday, visit: https://bit.ly/2TipTuesday
2 Tip Tuesday is a weekly email that break down podcast episodes into practical resilience tips you can put into action straight away.
These Friday episodes are dedicated to casual conversations about real life. Your host, Jen Arnold, aims to share what she does to get through hard times but also wants to put podcast guests’ advice into practice.
In this real talk episode, Jen walks through her own parenting struggles, where she’s had to do some of her own work, and her advice to other struggling parents.
Parenting is one of the toughest jobs we take on, even in the best of times. Throw in a pandemic with isolation from peers and 24/7 social media, we have a recipe for mental health challenges.
According to the CDC, youths aged 10 to 24 years account for around 14% of all suicides. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for ages 15-24 years and the second leading cause of death among ages 10-14 years. Between 2010 and 2020, suicide attempts among children 10-to 12-years old have increased fivefold.
Faceless statistics are one thing but what happens when your child becomes part of the stats? Podcast guest, Justin Kruger, shares the story of his daughter’s suicide attempts. He looks back at the signs, the actions, and the aftermath of both attempts.
Justin describes what it was like as a parent and the long journey to healing as a family. He talks about the lessons learned that came from it, a quote him and his daughter always come back to, and his advice for other parents going through something similar.
For show notes and links mentioned, visit: https://bit.ly/GTIPodcastNotes
To sign up for 2 Tip Tuesday, visit: https://bit.ly/2TipTuesday
2 Tip Tuesday is a weekly email that break down podcast episodes into practical resilience tips you can put into action straight away.
These Friday episodes are dedicated to casual conversations about real life. Your host, Jen Arnold, aims to share what she does to get through hard times but also wants to put podcast guests’ advice into practice.
In this real talk episode, Jen walks through what she learned from podcast guest, Jill Griffin, where she struggles with setting boundaries, and the steps she’s taking to align her actions with what she wants out of life.
Are you overwhelmed at work? Do you have a never-ending pile of work you can’t seem to accomplish? You’re not alone. With the constant chatter of quiet and quick quitting, people are rallying against overwork and jobs where they don’t feel valued. But many are grinding through the day to day feeling exhausted, draining our wellbeing along with it.
But what if work doesn’t have to be that way? Career Strategist, Jill Griffin, shares her steps to boundary setting for the career success you want (however you define it for yourself).
She walks us through what boundary setting is and what it’s not, what it can look like, and how she recommends understanding what you need before you start. Jill also shares her story of traumatic brain injury (TBI), how she recovered, and became the hero of her own journey.
For show notes and links mentioned, visit: https://bit.ly/GTIPodcastNotes
To sign up for 2 Tip Tuesday, visit: https://bit.ly/2TipTuesday
2 Tip Tuesday is a weekly email that break down podcast episodes into practical resilience tips you can put into action straight away.
These Friday episodes are dedicated to casual conversations about real life. Your host, Jen Arnold aims to share what she does to get through hard times but also wants to put podcast guests’ advice into practice. In this real talk episode, Jen walks through the fear inoculation experiment suggested by podcast guest, Corey Wilks, Psy.D.
We all have value to give to the world but most of us spend our entire lives unable to give that value. A large reason for that is fear standing in our way. It’s human to have fear pop up, especially when we are trying something new or putting ourselves or our work out into the universe. But what happens when we experience fear in the absence of real danger? It can lead us to live small lives where we don’t experience our fullest potential.
So, how do we tackle our fears? Podcast guest, Corey Wilks, Psy.D, is here to help us. Corey walks us through the four horsemen of fear - failure, ridicule, uncertainty, and success. He explains how these fears may show up in us, and how to protect ourselves from them.
Corey also shares a time when he faced a big career setback - losing his job abruptly with 30 days notice and three paychecks left. He describes how he reacted, the process he went through, and how he got to where he is today.
For show notes and links mentioned, visit: https://bit.ly/GTIPodcastNotes
To sign up for 2 Tip Tuesday, visit: https://bit.ly/2TipTuesday
2 Tip Tuesday is a weekly email that break down podcast episodes into practical resilience tips you can put into action straight away.
“Everyone is screwed up, broken, clingy and scared.Everyone, even the people who seem to have it most together.”
Anne Lamott
We all have broken bits from being a human making our way through life. Our challenges are what make us human. By sharing our challenges, it connects us to a commonality among us – we all struggle at times.
Whether it’s a professional setback or a personal one – we’ll tackle them all. Through experts guiding us in getting through the challenges to sharing personal stories of struggle, we’ll talk about the hurt, pain, and resilience of the human spirit.
In season 1, we’ll cover facing fear, setting boundaries, relationships, failure, and much more!
I’d love you to join me on this journey!
Subscribe to Growing Through It to get the first and future episodes.
Don’t just go through it, grow through it!