The Manager Track
The Manager Track is a podcast for new managers who want to become confident and competent leaders. Hosted by leadership expert Ramona Shaw, each episode offers practical tips and fresh perspectives to help listeners successfully transition into their first leadership role and communicate effectively.
Episodes
Stop Doing Your Team's Work: The Over-Functioning Manager Trap (Ep 319)
It usually shows up disguised as one of your strengths. You are the manager who notices the gap before anyone else does and quietly fills it. The deck gets polished, the deadline gets saved, the client never sees the mess. From the outside, you look reliable. What no one sees is that you are carrying two or three people's work on top of your own and falling behind on the things only you can do.In
The Great Flattening: How to Lead a Team That Doubled Overnight (Ep 318)
You used to manage six people. Then a reorg, a hiring freeze, or a quiet round of cuts took out the layer above you, and now you are managing twelve. Same hours in the day, but double the team. Maybe a few dotted-line reports nobody else is covering, too.This is the Great Flattening, and the data is not subtle. Manager engagement has dropped to its lowest point in years, burnout among managers now
Leading an Inherited Team: The First 90 Days (Ep 317)
You walk in on day one and the team is already a fully formed thing. They have inside jokes you don't get, a process you didn't design, and a read on you that started forming before you said a word. You didn't choose them. They didn't choose you. And every one of them is quietly deciding whether you are about to make their work life better or worse.Here is the trap almost every new manager falls i
AI in the Workplace: The Problem No One Names - With David Dean (Ep 316)
In this episode, Ramona sits down with David Dean, a technologist with close to two decades inside complex organizations and the author of a new book, An Inbox Between Us. David calls himself a business AI realist. His core idea is that every company runs on two versions of itself: the official version in your job descriptions, SOPs, and leadership decks, and the unwritten contract, the side conve
The 5 Mental Models New Managers Should Borrow from Charlie Munger (Ep 315)
Most leadership advice tells you what to think. Be more decisive, be more empathetic, give better feedback, and so on. Charlie Munger spent his life paying attention to the layer underneath all of that, which is how to think.He never wrote a leadership book. He never gave a TED Talk on management. And yet his thinking tools hold up better in a real team meeting than most material on the leadership
Letting Go of Control: Why Your Best Intentions Are Stifling Your Team (with Glen Galaich) (E 314)
Here is something most managers do not realize about themselves.The way you respond when someone gives you feedback is the clearest signal of how much control you are quietly exerting on your team.If you find yourself explaining, defending, or clarifying what you really meant the next time a direct report or peer pushes back on something, that defensiveness is not a personality quirk. It is contro
Why Your One-on-Ones Turned Into Status Meetings (And How to Fix It) (Ep 313)
You schedule the one-on-ones. You show up. You take notes. You walk out feeling like a good manager, and your direct report walks out without having mentioned the thing they actually came to talk about.Most managers do not have a "I am not doing one-on-ones" problem. They have a "my one-on-ones quietly turned into status meetings and I do not like it" problem. The meeting that should be the most i
Why Team-Level AI Integration Should Be Your #1 Job Right Now (Ep 312)
You might think your team is using AI well. Everyone has access to the tools. People are experimenting. The meeting notes get cleaned up faster. The emails go out a little quicker. On the surface, progress.But there's a pattern most teams don't notice until someone names it: all of that activity is still individual. One person's calculator on one person's desk. The AI is making individual tasks fa
Delegating: When Stepping In Becomes Stepping On (E 311)
There is a specific kind of manager who reads everything about delegation, agrees with all of it, and still ends up working late on Tuesday redoing a deck someone else was supposed to own. The intentions are right but the math is what's broken.If you got promoted because you were fast and reliable and you figured things out, that exact skill set is now the thing capping your team. Every time you a
The First 6 Months in a New Leadership Role: 3 Shifts You Need to Make (Ep 310)
Most managers know the first 90 days matter. There are books about it, frameworks for it, and a built-in understanding that you are allowed to ask questions and make mistakes early on. What almost nobody talks about is what happens after that window closes.Somewhere around the six-month mark, something shifts. Your boss is no longer evaluating your potential. They are evaluating your patterns. You
From Executor to Strategist: How to Talk About Your Work at the Right Altitude (Ep.309)
Here is a test that comes up in almost every senior leadership conversation. Someone asks a manager, “What are you building?” And the answer goes straight into a to-do list: “We are migrating to a new platform. We are rolling out a new process. We are updating the tech stack.”It sounds productive. It sounds like proof of effort.What actually happens in that moment is that you shrink yourself in th
When You Regret Hiring Someone: What to Do Before It Gets Worse (Ep.308)
Do you know that moment when you realize that a new hire is not working out? Maybe it is a performance observation you made yourself over the past few weeks, or maybe someone pulls you aside (a senior leader, a peer) and shares their impression. Either way, a thought crosses your mind: Darn, maybe I should not have hired them.What happens next is where things go sideways. Most managers either
The ‘AI vs Human Skills’ Managers Must Pay Attention to (Ep.307)
Most managers adopted the AI tools their company rolled out. They've played around with a few prompts. They think that's enough.Meanwhile, a split is forming. On one side, AI is handling tasks, workflows, research, briefs, data synthesis, meeting prep, drafted communications, and reports at a speed and quality that keeps accelerating. On the other side, there is an increasing premium on genui
How to Tell If Your Boss Is Blocking Your Career (And What to Do) (Ep.306)
You’ve been told to work harder, be more patient, and wait your turn. So you did. You kept delivering strong results, volunteered for extra projects, asked for feedback, and acted on it.And nothing moved.The positive performance reviews kept coming, but so did the invisible wall. No meaningful scope change. No sponsorship. No advancement conversations that actually went anywhere. At some point, th
How to Give Your Manager Feedback (Without Damaging the Relationship) (Ep.305)
Most people calculate the risk of giving their boss feedback and decide that silence is safer. The math seems obvious: speak up and you might damage the relationship; stay quiet and nothing changes.So they keep their mouth shut when the meetings drag, when morale takes a hit, when a decision lands sideways.The thing nobody talks about is that the people who shape their boss's behavior most ef
The 3 Identity Barriers Holding High-Performers Back (Ep. 304)
You work hard, you care about your team, and you’re good at your job, yet somehow you keep running into the same limits.Feedback repeats, your calendar is packed, and small changes in behavior never seem to stick for long.In this week’s episode of The Manager Track, we dig into a quiet but powerful reason this happens: your leadership identity. Not your personality, but the story you tell you
Exec Communication: How to Speak So Senior Leaders Actually Listen (Ep. 303)
Ramona opens this episode with a pattern she has observed across years of coaching leaders at every level: the most technically sharp person in the room often isn't the most influential one. She argues that communication problems are almost never vocabulary problems. They are frame problems. And she walks through a practical system for owning the architecture of any high-stakes conversation before
Creating Leadership Alignment When Priorities Are Unclear - With Betsy Kauffman (Ep. 302)
How much of your week is spent "firefighting"?If you’re like most managers, you start the week with a strategy, but by Tuesday afternoon, a "drop everything" request from senior leadership has derailed your entire team.The result? Change Fatigue. Your best people are drained, silos are hardening, and "alignment" feels like a corporate buzzword rather than a reality.In this week’s episode
Why Good Managers Still Lose Great People (Ep. 301)
You’ve heard it a thousand times. It’s practically gospel in leadership circles:“People don’t leave jobs, they leave managers.”It’s a catchy phrase. It makes for a great headline. But there’s one major problem: The data doesn't fully back it up.When a high performer hands in their resignation, most good managers immediately spiral into self-doubt. They ask, “What did I do wrong? How did
From IC to Manager: Hard Truths About First-Time Leadership (Ep. 300)
Most people think moving into leadership is about a title, a pay raise, and reaching that next career step of finally "leading a team."But as anyone who has actually done it knows... it’s usually a rude awakening.To celebrate our 300th episode of The Manager Track, we brought together 3 incredible leaders who recently took on their first official leadership roles. They represent completely differe
How to Rebuild a Bad Work Reputation (Ep. 299)
Once a reputation sticks at work, it can feel impossible to change.You’re trying to do better and you’re showing up differently.But people still see the old you:The "difficult" oneThe "not a team player"The "abrasive" managerThe person who "messed up that one time" and never lived it downYou can’t outwork a bad story that’s still circulating about you in rooms you’re not in.What you need
How to Build Trust Fast as a New Leader (Ep. 298)
Here's what they told you: "Trust takes time. Keep your head down, prove yourself, and eventually they'll trust you."Wrong.Research shows that a good part of your perceived effectiveness as a leader is locked in within the first 90 days and most of that perception forms in the first two weeks.While you're busy "listening and learning," here's what's actually happening behind your back:Your team is
Skip Level Meetings: Best Practices for Managers and Leaders (Ep. 297)
You know that sinking feeling when you find out your boss grabbed coffee with one of your team members and you had no idea it was happening?Yeah. Not great.Or maybe you've been on the other side: invited to meet with your skip-level leader and wondering, "Wait... what am I supposed to talk about?"Skip-level meetings are one of those leadership practices that can be incredibly powerful or spec
AI for Managers in 2026 (Ep.296)
If you’re a manager, you’ve probably seen this play out. One person on your team is trying every new tool. Another hasn’t touched it. Meanwhile, you’re too busy to figure out how to actually boost team productivity with AI in a coordinated and effective way.In this week’s episode of The Manager Track, Ramona talks about what AI adoption actually looks like for managers in non-technical r
Why Leaders Must Build Their Own Frameworks to Scale Impact (Ep.295)
Many capable leaders hit a ceiling not because they lack skill or experience, but because their thinking lives only in their heads.In this episode of The Manager Track, Ramona breaks down one of the most overlooked strategies for leaders who want to increase their impact, improve how they’re perceived, and position themselves for a promotion. This is all about building your own framework.You’
Want to Achieve Big Goals? The Two Critical Factors Most People Miss
Setting big goals feels productive. It gives you a hit of clarity and a sense of control.But most goals don’t fail because you lacked clarity or motivation. They fail because you built them on the wrong foundation.This week on The Manager Track, we’re unpacking two practices that change the entire goal-setting game: identity-driven goal setting and the pre-mortem. One helps you stop rely
The Self-Sacrificing Manager: Breaking the Cycle of Doing Everyone's Work
This episode is a re-release of Ep 274, one of the most popular episodes of The Manager Track podcast. We'll be back with a new episode on January 6, 2025.But when you’re the one staying late, fixing mistakes, and picking up the slack, that “helpfulness” becomes a leadership trap.And if you don’t catch it early, it’ll quietly sabotage your team’s growth.In this episode of The Manager Track podcast
Build a Team Culture You’re Proud Of - Even When the Company’s Isn’t
This episode is a re-release of Ep 264, one of the most popular episodes of The Manager Track podcast. We'll be back with a new episode.Ever feel like you’re doing everything right as a manager, but the broader company culture is off and it impacts your team. Maybe leadership talks about values, but what actually gets rewarded tells a different story. Or your team is caught in the middle of c
What Leaders Can Learn From NASA’s Culture - With Brady Pyle.mp3
This week, I sat down with Brady Pyle, former HR leader at NASA and now CHRO at Space Center Houston. Brady spent nearly thirty years building teams, leading major organizational shifts, and shaping how one of the most high-stakes institutions in the world develops its people.He has lived through large-scale transformation, resistance to change, cultural resets, and the pressure of maintaining exc
Performance vs. Potential: A Better Approach to Assessing Your People
Review season can feel like another task on the calendar, but it’s actually one of the most valuable leadership moments of the year. When done well, it gives your team clarity, strengthens alignment, and it sets the tone for the next year.The real opportunity lies in how you approach it. Most leaders focus on the conversation itself, but the real impact comes from:How well you distinguish per
Promoted But Not Prepared: What You're Underestimating (And How to Prepare)
The promotion feels like a win, and it certainly is. It means people see your potential. But it also kicks off one of the hardest transitions of your career.We often assume that because we were great individual contributors, leadership will come naturally. But being promoted doesn't mean you are prepared.In fact, statistics show that 60% of new managers underperform in their first two years.W
Beyond High Performance : What Are You Really Capable Of With Jason Jaggard
Many leaders still treat high performance as the destination. They double down on output, visibility, and achievement, convinced that hitting those marks means they have arrived.The reality is different. And maybe you can relate. Maybe you, too, ask yourself what the achievement is really all about when you still don't seem satisfied despite all the success.. That's because for most
5 Steps to Prepare for Your Year-End Review
Too many managers walk into their year-end review hoping their work speaks for itself.But it rarely does. The meeting moves fast, details get lost, and much is about the past, not the future.When that happens, the conversation stays tactical instead of helping your manager understand the value you created this year and the direction you want to take next.This week’s episode of The Manager Track
The Business Mindset Managers Need But Rarely Learn
This week on The Manager Track podcast, we're talking about one of the biggest role misunderstandings in management. Most managers think their job is to organize, divide, and execute the work. It feels productive and responsible, but it also keeps them stuck operating way below the level where real leadership value is created.Because the true job of a manager is not just delivering output. It is d
Walking on Eggshells What to Do When Your Boss Has a Fragile Ego
If you've ever tiptoed around a leader's ego, reworded feedback ten different ways, or held back a good idea just to avoid a blow-up, this episode is for you.We're pulling back the curtain on executive ego fragility: what causes it, how to spot it, and how to deal with it without losing your mind (or your voice).Here's what you'll take away:The root causes behind fragile egos in leadership (hint:
The End of “Nice Leadership”: How to Be Direct, Kind, and Respected
We all want to be seen as kind leaders. But too often, we confuse kindness with niceness.In this week's episode of The Manager Track, I talk with leadership strategist and executive coach Andrea Wanerstrand, founder of A3 Culture Lab. Andrea spent more than 25 years inside Microsoft, Meta, and T-Mobile studying what helps leaders earn trust and build strong teams and what quietly erodes it.We unpa
Received Though Feedback? Now What?
This week on the Manager Track podcast, we're tackling a moment nearly every leader will face: receiving hard-to-hear feedback. Not the kind you can brush off or fix with a quick tweak, but the kind that hits a nerve, stirs up emotion, and sticks in your head.What you do next matters more than you think. In this episode, Ramona walks through what happens in your brain when criticism lands, and why
9 Counterintuitive Habits of Effective Managers
Most of us enter leadership with a quiet script already playing in our heads.Be calm. Be confident. Be likable. Never micromanage. Always have the answer. We carry those ideals with us until reality shows us that they don't always work.And in some cases, they do more harm than good.In episode 284 of The Manager Track, Ramona Shaw challenges the assumptions many first-time managers carry into
What's Happening to Leadership Public vs. Private Sector Leadership
Have you noticed the widening gap between how we expect leaders to behave in the public sphere versus in corporate organizations?In episode 283, Ramona Shaw tackles two timely and important questions: What is happening to leadership and how do we keep our standards intact?From headlines of public leaders dodging accountability to viral social media figures equating leadership with dominance,
Leadership Lessons from a CEO Who Built a Culture by Design - With Lawrence R. Armstrong
You want to grow as a leader, but your team can’t function without you.You’re stuck in the weeds because delegating feels risky.You know you should make space for creativity, but the urgent stuff always comes first. Sound familiar? This week’s episode is all about deliberate leadership and why it’s the non-negotiable factor in company success. Larry R. Armstrong, former CE
Are You Overexplaining When Leaders Should (and Shouldn't) Justify Themselves.mp3
You reschedule a meeting and feel the need to explain exactly what happened.You set a boundary, then wrap it in 3 paragraphs of justification.You say no to a project and immediately start listing all the reasons why. Sound familiar? This week’s episode is all about overexplaining, including why we do it, how it shows up in subtle ways, and how it chips away at our leadership presence ove
The 5 Gaps Undermining Your Executive Presence
When two equally capable managers get very different outcomes… We’ve all seen it (maybe lived it, too). Two people with:Similar skillsSimilar résumésSimilar resultsYet one gets tapped for the big meeting, lands the promotion, and becomes the go-to voice in high-stakes moments while the other gets a pat on the back and stays in the same position. This week's episode is about the invisible
The Behaviors That Make or Break Team Performance
When the “real meeting” happens after the meeting… We've all been there (likely on all sides of this story): People nod along in the team meeting.No one pushes back.A decision gets made. Then, moments later, Slack lights up with doubts, hallway chats surface all the real concerns, and suddenly progress slows. This week’s episode is about those team patterns we all know are hurt
Lonely at the Top: Why Leadership Feels Isolating
We don't talk about it much, but most leaders eventually feel it: That shift in team dynamics after your promotion.The conversations that stop the second you walk into the room.The heavy pressure from above that you can't share with your team. It's not about needing more friends. It's the unique isolation that comes with leadership. In this week's episode of The Manager Track, we co
Frustrated at Work? How to Lead Without Blowing Up or Bottling Up
We don't like to admit it, but every leader has been there: That Friday afternoon email from your boss.The team member who “forgets” a deadline.The rising heat in your chest right before you snap. As much as we wish frustration and anger weren't part of leadership, they are.The real question is: What do you do with it? In this week’s episode of The Manager Track, we share:- The “pre
Biohacking Executive Presence: Signals That Shape Perception - With Scott Hutcheson
Executive presence isn’t about faking confidence; it’s about sending the right signals.And no, that doesn’t mean standing like a superhero before your big meeting. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Scott Hutcheson about how biology, not bravado, drives leadership impact. His argument? Leadership isn’t about personality or charisma. It’s about biology. And the good news is, biology can be infl
From Engineer to Manager: The 4 Changes That Blindside Most New Engineering Managers
You were confident in your role as an engineer solving problems, writing code, and being the go-to person when things broke. Then the promotion came, and the work changed. More meetings. More people decisions. Less hands-on time with the code you know so well. In this episode of The Manager Track, Ramona Shaw shares the four shifts that often make the move into management feel harder than exp
The Self-Sacrificing Manager : Breaking the Cycle of Doing Everyone's Work.mp3
But when you’re the one staying late, fixing mistakes, and picking up the slack, that “helpfulness” becomes a leadership trap.And if you don’t catch it early, it’ll quietly sabotage your team’s growth.In this episode of The Manager Track podcast, Ramona dives into the sneaky habit of self-sacrificing managers who end up doing everyone’s work under the disguise of being “helpful” or “collaborative.
Behind the Scenes of Growth: Coaching Insights for Leaders on the Rise
You’re succeeding on paper... rising through the ranks, trusted by leadership, seen as reliable and driven. But under the surface, there’s fatigue, maybe even frustration. Why does it feel like the more you give, the more is expected? In this episode, we peel back the layers behind high-achieving discontent. In this episode of The Manager Track, Ramona unpacks a quiet leadership dilemma: what
Behind the Mask : The Hidden Drivers of Workplace Behavior
You nod in meetings even if you'd like to call BS. You say “no problem” when your plate’s already full. You follow along while wondering what on earth is actually going on here? Welcome to the workplace, where everyone’s wearing a mask (and not the kind you pick up at Walgreens). In this episode of The Manager Track podcast, Ramona goes beyond the surface of human behavior at w
When Time Management Is a Culture Problem, Not a Calendar One
You block your calendar.You try to stay focused.You tell yourself today’s the day you’ll finally catch up.But then the messages roll in. Someone needs help. A fire pops up. And suddenly, the work that actually matters gets pushed... again. In this episode of The Manager Track podcast, Ramona gets real about why time management feels so hard, especially for managers who genuinely want to suppo
What it was like to be a new manager with Lisa, Susan and Dave
Stepping into leadership is a big shift. You go from being great at your job and knowing how to succeed to being asked to do a whole new job with different skill requirements, while still maintaining that same high performance.In this episode (a replay of episode #100), Ramona and three former students from the Leadership Accelerator, who know that feeling all too well, talk about the messy, often
The Problem with Being Right How Certainty Limits Your Growth
Ever notice how being certain about something can feel really good? You've got the answer. You're confident in your decision. You know exactly what’s going on. But here’s the catch: when we’re sure we’re right, we stop thinking. We stop questioning. And without realizing it, we stop seeing all the other options we could be considering. In this episode, Ramona unpacks the sneaky way
Striking the Balance Between Empathy and Accountability - With Elise Boggs Morales
If you’ve ever held back from giving feedback because someone already seemed on edge…Or struggled to say no because you didn’t want to disappoint anyone…Or felt annoyed but didn’t say anything because you didn’t want to stir the pot…Then this episode is for you!Ramona sits down with Elise Boggs Morales, leadership coach and author of Lead Anyone, to unpack what emotional intelligence really looks
Caught in the Middle: Leading When You Disagree
Ever been told to roll out a new initiative or share a message that felt... off?Not illegal. Not dramatic. Just something that didn’t sit right with you. Like telling your team “everything’s fine” when you know layoffs are coming. Or backing a tool you’re not confident in. Or pushing out a company message that feels disconnected from your own values.If that’s ever been you - or might be one day -
Horizontal Leadership Creating Teams That Own Their Work
What changes when you stop seeing your team as "below" you and start seeing everyone as equals working beside you? In this episode, Ramona explores the concept of vertical vs. horizontal relationships and how this simple shift can transform your leadership entirely. If you've ever felt that tension between authority and connection, or wondered why some feedback lands while other feedback
When Innovation Requires Disappointment AI Strategies and Leadership - With Kate O Neill
Does this sound familiar? You're in a leadership meeting and someone asks, "What's our AI strategy?" or "How should we be using ChatGPT?" If you've been in one of these conversations lately, you've probably felt the pressure to have an answer. But here's the thing, you might be asking the wrong question entirely. This week, we're diving into insights from tech humanist Kate O'Neill
What Kind of Leader Are You, Really The 7 Manager Archetypes.mp3
Some parts of leadership come easily. Others? Not so much. Maybe you’re the one who keeps everything moving but you find it hard to delegate. Or you’re known to be super supportive but you avoid tough conversations. In this episode, Ramona shares the 7 Manager Archetypes, the real, relatable patterns that show up in how we lead. Once you know your archetype, you'll have a better understa
Build a Team Culture You’re Proud Of - Even When the Company’s Isn’t
This episode is a re-release of Ep 264, one of the most popular episodes of The Manager Track podcast. We'llbe back on January 6, 2025 with a fresh new episode!Ever feel like you’re doing everything right as a manager, but the broader company culture is off and it impacts your team. Maybe leadership talks about values, but what actually gets rewarded tells a different story. Or your team is c
Decision Fog When Impostor Syndrome Clouds Your Judgement
You know that moment when it’s time to act, but something holds you back? Telling you that you need to think about it more or that you ned to collect more data? But actually, it’s not a lack of data or skills. It’s the quiet voice of self-doubt that leads to second-guessing. In this episode of The Manager Track Podcast, Ramona breaks down how imposter syndrome can sneak into your decisio
The First-Time Manager Experience
Becoming a first-time manager is a big deal, and honestly, it can feel like a lot. One day, you're the go-to person getting things done, and the next you're expected to lead a team, set direction, and delegate your work.In this episode of The Manager Track Podcast, Ramona shares (with the help of NorebookLM) honest insights and down-to-earth advice to help new managers navigate those early steps w
How Leaders Are Actually Using AI Today
Let's be honest... keeping up with AI can be a bit of a pain. New modules dropping left and right, your inbox flooded with "groundbreaking" updates, and somehow you're supposed to figure out how to actually use this stuff when your calendar is already packed back-to-back. We hear this all the time from leaders like you who are just trying to keep their heads above water. In th
Going from Corporate to Startup: Challenges, Mindset Shifts, and Strategies
Making the switch from a large corporation to a startup sounds exciting until you realize how different everything feels. No more departments to lean on, no clear hierarchy, and definitely no one doing your onboarding for you. In this episode of The Manager Track Podcast, Ramona unpacks the real challenges leaders face when they leave the structure of big companies and step into the often mor
Resilience at Work: The Leadership Skill You Can’t Ignore
Workplace stress isn’t going anywhere and neither is the pressure that comes with leadership.This week on The Manager Track Podcast, Ramona Shaw zooms in on one often overlooked skill that quietly shapes how leaders show up: emotional resilience. She explores what it really means to stay grounded through conflict, setbacks, and change - not by toughing it out or pushing feelings aside, but by
Team Leadership with Alison Coward
Remember that last team workshop maybe it was a strategy session or a team-building activity during an offsite where everything just clicked?The energy was high, ideas flowed, and collaboration felt effortless. And then you thought, How do we keep this momentum going once we’re back to business as usual?In this episode of The Manager Track podcast, Ramona Shaw speaks with Alison Coward, author of
Networking Without the "Ugh!": Relationship-Building for Leaders
If the word “networking” makes you want to disappear into the nearest houseplant - you’re not alone.Whether you’re introverted, short on time, or just not into small talk, networking can feel like one more exhausting, awkward thing to add to your list.But here’s the truth: your great work won’t always speak for itself.In this week’s episode of The Manager Track Podcast, Ramona dives into what it r
The Leadership Identity Shift: From Executor to Influencer
Stepping into a leadership role means shifting your focus from completing tasks to creating results with and through others.It’s normal to feel uneasy about leaving behind the responsibilities that once defined and even created your success. You're supposed to stop doing what you enjoyed and what helped you achieve your current position.Intuitively, that may just feel wrong. It may actually even s
The Perfectionist Leadership Trap
While often praised as a strength and justified as "having high standards," holding onto perfectionism as you advance and your job gets bigger, could stall your progress, keep you from advancing, or ultimately result in burnout.In this episode, Ramona Shaw breaks down how that happens and why it's so hard for many to reconcile and change course.Ramona explores:- The difference between healthy high
The Conflict Playbook: Strategies Every Manager Should Know
Most of us don't wake up in the morning looking to get into conflict at work, yet it happens all the time - from small irritations to full-blown disagreements.In this episode of The Manager Track, Ramona breaks down why workplace conflicts happen and shares practical ways to handle them before they spiral out of control.Ramona explores:- The crucial difference between healthy opposition and destru
Managing Up with Melody Wilding
Managing up isn't about being the office suck-up. It's about creating conditions for your success at work. In this episode, executive coach and best-selling author Melody Wilding joins Ramona Shaw and reveals practical skills for navigating relationships with those in positions of power.Melody shares:- Why emotional intelligence is your biggest advantage when influencing others- How to say "no" di
Understanding Different Communication Styles
Some people tune in. Others check out. Same message, different reactions. There's a reason for that, and it’s not about who cares more.In this episode, Ramona Shaw breaks down why the same message clicks for some but misses the mark for others. Through concrete examples, she reveals how small shifts in communication can significantly change how well your message lands.Here’s what you’ll learn:✅ Wh
Decision-Making for Managers: The Fallacy of Consensus
Many leaders believe that it's important for them to get agreement from others before making a decision. Yet this consensus-focused approach often results in delayed projects, diluted ideas, and teams that only appear aligned on the surface.In this episode, Ramona Shaw examines how the pursuit of consensus, while well-intentioned, can actually hinder team performance and decision-making. She share
Why “Figure It Out” Doesn’t Work: The Cost of Untrained Managers
Remember your first time leading a team? That mix of excitement and uncertainty, wondering if you're making the right calls. For most of us, it meant long hours, unclear expectations, and a whole lot of trial and error.In this episode, Ramona Shaw shares how this common "figure it out" approach to leadership development creates ripple effects that impact entire organizations.Ramona explores:- What
From Director to VP: How to Build an Executive Mindset for a Promotion
Leadership promotions don’t reward competence - they demand reinvention.In this Manager Track episode, Ramona Shaw reveals why about two-thirds of technically skilled directors plateau before reaching VP level… and how to beat the odds.She discusses:- The “Better Director” Fallacy- The DJ’s Secret Power- From Expert to Influencer- Silent Promotion KillersPlus, by the end of the episode, you'll kno
Mental Traps That Keep Leaders Stuck
Sometimes, the hardest barriers to growth aren’t the challenges we face on the outside - they’re the silent battles in our own minds.In this episode, Ramona Shaw unpacks five thought patterns that can quietly sabotage leaders. These traps aren’t always easy to spot because they often masquerade as wisdom or practicality.Understanding these traps is the first step to overcoming them. Let’s dig into
Beyond Values - Creating Explicit Leadership Expectations
For all our coffee lovers, imagine your organization’s leadership culture as a finely brewed cup of coffee. When done right, it tastes rich, distinct, and pure. But when you mix in different types of beans or even a splash of almond milk and half and half, that delicious cup starts to quickly turn into an off-putting drink.Similarly, as your team grows and new leaders join your organization, each
Reading The Room
Have you ever been in a meeting where something felt off, but you couldn't quite put your finger on it, and everyone else seemed to ignore it too? Or watched a leader completely miss the signs of their team's growing anxiety?In this episode of The Manager Track podcast, Ramona Shaw dives into the often-discussed but rarely explained skill of "reading the room" - breaking down what it really means
Working With People You Don't Like
Let's be honest – working with people we don’t click with can be draining. Day in and day out, we have to chat with them, get things done with them, and manage our emotions around them.It’s easy to get frustrated or stuck in a negative cycle. But what if we stopped waiting and hoping for them to change and focused on what we can control instead?In this episode of The Manager Track podcast, Ramona
Changing Behaviors and Achieving Goals
This episode is a re-release of Ep 196, one of the most popular episodes of The Manager Track podcast. We'll be back next week, January 7th with a fresh new episode!"Quitter's Day."No, it's not the day that a person quits their job. It's the second Friday in January, designated as the day when most people are likely to give up on their New Year's resolution (unofficially, of course).Change, no mat
Difficult People at Work
This episode is a re-release of Ep 187, one of the most popular episodes of The Manager Track podcast. We'll be back Tuesday, January 7th with a new episode.If you've ever been captivated by the challenges and dynamics of competitive reality shows like "Survivor," "Squid Game," or "Hell's Kitchen," you'll find this week's podcast episode particularly intriguing.In the world of leadership, much lik
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