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 unpack why niceness often comes from our own need to be liked, how that habit shows up in feedback conversations, and what it takes to replace "people-pleasing" with courage, clarity, and care. Andrea also shares her A3 framework that helps teams grow without the manager becoming a bottleneck.
If you've ever softened feedback to keep the peace or avoided a hard conversation to protect a relationship, this one's worth your time.
Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
— RESOURCES MENTIONED —
— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —
— WHAT’S NEXT? —
Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.
Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz
Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass
Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!
If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw
* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.
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 your reaction in the moment-and afterward-can shape how others see you as a leader, sometimes more than the behavior that led to the feedback in the first place.
You'll hear practical tools, exact phrases to use, and a clear framework to help you:
Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
— RESOURCES MENTIONED —
— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —
— WHAT’S NEXT? —
Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.
Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz
Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass
Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!
If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw
* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.
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 leadership roles. The truth is, some of the most effective leaders don't match the textbook version of what a great manager should be.
This episode invites you to rethink your version of "good management" and replace it with something far more effective.
Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
— RESOURCES MENTIONED —
— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —
— WHAT’S NEXT? —
Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.
Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz
Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass
Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!
If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw
* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.
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, we’re seeing a shift in what some people perceive as “strong leadership.” But in our companies, those signals don’t fly. And they shouldn’t.
Inside this episode, we unpack:
When organizational standards get fuzzy, cracks form; slowly at first, then suddenly. Misalignment, disengagement, and broken trust are often symptoms of leaders failing to walk the talk.
This episode unpacks what’s at stake and why now is the time to reestablish what good leadership looks like before external norms start seeping in.
🎧 Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple podcasts, and YouTube.
— RESOURCES MENTIONED —
— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —
— WHAT’S NEXT? —
Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.
Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz
Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass
Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!
If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw
* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.
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 CEO and Chairman of Ware Malcomb, shares what he learned leading an international firm for nearly three decades, and why he believes leadership should be built as intentionally as architecture.
Inside, we dig into:
Tune in and hear directly from a CEO who’s been in the trenches and shares what worked, what didn’t, and how he built leaders by design.
🎧 Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
— RESOURCES MENTIONED —
— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —
— WHAT’S NEXT? —
Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.
Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz
Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass
Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!
If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw
* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.
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 over time.
Ramona breaks down a real story from an executive who thought she was communicating clearly… but left her team confused and uncertain.
Inside, we dive into:
- The real reason so many capable leaders feel the need to justify themselves
- How to know if you’re overexplaining or just communicating well → the red flags to watch out for
- The 4 steps to break the overexplaining habit
🎧 Tune in, reflect on your own habits and start rewriting your default responses, whether that's in your emails or meetings.
Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
— RESOURCES MENTIONED —
— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —
— WHAT’S NEXT? —
Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.
Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz
Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass
Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!
If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw
* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.
When two equally capable managers get very different outcomes…
We’ve all seen it (maybe lived it, too). Two people with:
Yet 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 invisibles that drive careers. More specifically, we're talking about Executive Presence. How you show up when it counts, how others experience you, and why that perception accelerates (or stalls) your career.
This isn't about office politics or putting on a show. It’s about specific, learnable signals you send in interviews, in rooms with decision-makers, and under pressure.
You’ll hear a tale of “Sarah vs. Mike” and a real interview debrief that reveals what leaders actually look for beyond your résumé. Then we break down the fixable gaps that can erode credibility.
If you’re smart, capable, and still not being fully seen and rewarded for the level you operate at, this one’s for you.
What we’ll talk about:
Check it out on our Webpage, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.
👉 Ready to level up? Learn more about our Executive Presence Intensive starting in October.
— RESOURCES MENTIONED —
— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —
— WHAT’S NEXT? —
Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.
Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz
Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass
Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!
If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw
* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.
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 hurting us and why still so many teams get stuck in them.
Spoiler: it’s not about bad people (yes, that co-worker is not actually the problem!). It’s about predictable dysfunctions most teams naturally fall into.
Ramona walks you through the 5 core dysfunctions that get in the way of a team's performance and shows you how to shift your team from artificial consensus and siloed execution to real trust, fierce conversations, shared accountability, and actual collective results.
If your team is smart, capable, but somehow still… not quite at its best, then this is the episode you’ve been looking for.
What we’ll talk about:
- Why “being nice” in meetings might be killing creativity and clarity
- The true cost of avoiding conflict (and how to mine it productively)
- How peer-to-peer accountability beats top-down micromanagement
- What high-performing teams actually do differently and how to get started
She also shares how the Five Behaviors® assessment and workshop help teams identify what’s holding them back and provides a structured, practical path toward higher performance.
Listen now on Webpage, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.
— RESOURCES MENTIONED —
- Learn more about our Five Behaviors Program: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ou9nrWEMwQc6Y7wX6p41ZwbmuZT2uPju/view?usp=sharing
- Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits
- Executive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program
- Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable - meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course
- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona: https://calendly.com/ramonashaw/leadership-strategy-session
- Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —
- Episode 223 - Chess-Inspired Strategies for Better Strategic Thinking - With Shawn Stewart
- Episode 127 - How to Lead a Thriving Team with Kirstin Moorefield
— WHAT’S NEXT? —
Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.
Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz
Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass
Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!
If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw
* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.
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 cover:
- Why leadership creates distance, even with people who like and respect you
- How to recognize when loneliness is becoming unhealthy
- The mindset shift that turns isolation into a sign of growth
- Specific ways to connect with peers, mentors, and yourself
If you've ever felt like you're carrying the weight alone, this episode will help you see it differently and give you tools to manage it.
Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
— RESOURCES MENTIONED —
- Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits
- Executive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program
- Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course
- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE.
- Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —
- Episode 267 - Horizontal Leadership: Creating Teams That Own Their Work
- Episode 160 - What if I don't like to lead?
- Episode 40 - Three Ways to Learn From Mistakes and Failure (and Not Get Knocked Down)
— WHAT’S NEXT? —
Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.
Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz
Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass
Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!
If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw
* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.
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 “pressure cooker” effect that builds up frustration until leaders explode
- The difference between losing control and controlled intensity
- How anger can actually help you be a stronger leader (if you know how to use it)
- Practical steps to cool down in the moment and turn frustration into action
If you've ever worried about losing your cool (or bottling it up until you burn out), this episode is for you.
Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
— RESOURCES MENTIONED —
- Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits
- Executive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program
- Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course
- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE.
- Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —
- Episode 226 - When Innovation Requires Disappointment: AI Strategies and Leadership - With Kate O'Neill
- Episode 73 - How Great Leaders Control Their Egos
— WHAT’S NEXT? —
Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.
Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz
Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass
Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!
If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw
* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.
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 influenced.
We’re talking:
- Small behavioral tweaks that signal warmth, competence, and gravitas
- What actually builds trust and credibility on Zoom
- How to be deliberate with your behavior without being robotic
If you’ve ever wondered why some people just own the room (even the virtual ones), this episode breaks down the signals they’re sending and how you can do it too, without pretending to be someone you’re not.
Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
— RESOURCES MENTIONED —
- Dr. Scott Hutcheson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scotthutcheson/
- Dr. Scott Hutcheson Website: https://scotthutcheson.com/
- Dr. Scott Hutcheson Book: Biohacking Leadership: Leveraging the Biology of Behavior to Maximize Your Impact
- Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits
- Executive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program
- Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course
- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE.
- Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —
- Episode 252 - Understanding Different Communication Styles
- Episode 198- Executive Communication
— WHAT’S NEXT? —
Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.
Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz
Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass
Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!
If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw
* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.
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 expected: letting go of your old role, improving how you communicate, delegating without over-controlling, and working through imposter syndrome.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- Why stepping back from hands-on work can feel like losing part of your identity
- How to make your message land with both your team and leadership
- Ways to delegate that build trust and capability
- What to do when you question if you should be leading
If you’re moving from technical work into leadership, this conversation will help you see the changes ahead and adjust with more clarity.
Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
— RESOURCES MENTIONED —
— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —
— WHAT’S NEXT? —
Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.
Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz
Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass
Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!
If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw
* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.
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.”
It might feel like you’re being a servant leader, but really, you’re becoming an overused safety net for everyone else.
What we’ll unpack:
- Why doing your team’s work isn’t helping them (or you)
- The real reason you cave when people push back
- How to stop trading respect for temporary approval
- Why being seen as “nice” isn’t the same as being an effective leader
- The four habits to break the self-sacrificing cycle for good
If you’re tired of staying late, fixing things that shouldn’t be yours, and wondering why you’re the only one drowning, this episode will hit home. You’ll learn how to lead without over-functioning, set better boundaries, and actually develop your team.
Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
— RESOURCES MENTIONED —
- Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits
- Executive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program
- Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course
- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE.
- Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —
- Episode 250 - Why “Figure It Out” Doesn’t Work: The Cost of Untrained Managers
- Episode 225- Optimizing Work Dynamics - With Lotus Buckner
— WHAT’S NEXT? —
Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.
Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz
Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass
Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!
If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw
* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.
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 happens when your success is built on outdated beliefs, people-pleasing habits, and an over-reliance on external validation. Drawing from real coaching conversations (and a few personal confessions), she explores why high performers often feel stuck, exhausted, or resentful as they climb the ranks even when they’re technically “crushing it.”
Here’s what we’ll get into:
- The sneaky ways your success metrics get hijacked by other people’s expectations
- Why burnout and over-functioning aren’t just about time, they’re about belief systems
- How leadership habits don’t shift until your software (aka mindset) gets upgraded
- What to do when your brain resists change like it’s fighting for survival (because it is)
Whether you’re leading your first team or eyeing the next big leap, this episode will help you pause, recalibrate, and make sure you’re not succeeding at the wrong things.
Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
— RESOURCES MENTIONED —
- Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits
- Executive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program
- Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course
- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE.
- Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —
- Episode 155- 4 Insights from Running a New Manager Training Program
- Episode 65- Why Coach When Giving Advice Is So Much Easier?
— WHAT’S NEXT? —
Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.
Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz
Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass
Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!
If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw
* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.
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 work. This isn’t another chat about skills or competencies. It’s about the psychological truths most of us feel but rarely talk about: the survival instincts, the childhood patterns, the tension behind fake “I’m fine” answers.
What we’ll get into:
- The subtle difference between confidence and the performance of confidence
- What that overly critical teammate might really be trying to hide
- What to do when someone insists everything’s fine… but their voice says otherwise
- How projection shapes what we notice, criticize, and obsess over at work
If you’ve ever walked out of a conversation thinking, What just happened?, this episode’s for you. We’ll help you understand what’s really going on under the surface, behind the performance, and under that calm, competent exterior.
Tune in for some perspective-shifting insights.
Listen now on our Website, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
— RESOURCES MENTIONED —
- Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits
- Executive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program
- Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course
- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE.
- Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —
- Episode 187 Difficult People at Work
- Episode 164 Being Assertive at Work
- Episode 144 Emotions at Work
— WHAT’S NEXT? —
Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.
Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz
Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass
Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!
If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw
* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.
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 support their teams and be seen as collaborative. It’s not about you doing it wrong. It’s about the unspoken expectations in teams or organizations that make it tough to say no, push back, or slow down.
What we’ll talk about:
- The quiet pressure to always be available
- Why collaboration culture can make focused work feel “selfish”
- How to say no (without sounding like you're not a team player)
- What it really means when we say time management is pain management
If you’re constantly juggling, second-guessing, or running on fumes, this one’s for you. You’re not alone, and there’s a better way.
If this resonates, check it out on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Youtube.
— RESOURCES MENTIONED —
- Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits
- Executive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program
- Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course
- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE.
- Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —
- Episode 113 Time Management is Pain Management
- Episode 1 How to Best Support Your Team During a Time of Uncertainty & Change
— WHAT’S NEXT? —
Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.
Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz
Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass
Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!
If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw
* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.
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 unspoken parts of becoming a first-time manager, the stuff that doesn’t show up in training manuals or onboarding decks.
What we love about this conversation is how honest it is. There’s no pretending. Just real people figuring it out, one decision at a time.
If you’re in your first leadership role or even a few years in and still feeling the weight of it, this episode will remind you that you're not alone, and you're not supposed to have it all figured out.
If this resonates, check it out on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts.
— RESOURCES MENTIONED —
— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —
— WHAT’S NEXT? —
Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at https://www.archova.org/
Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': https://amzn.to/3TuOdcP
Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots:
Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: http://www.archova.org/masterclass
Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes https://www.ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!
If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me instagram.com/ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw
* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.
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 certainty can box in our thinking and why it’s often the very thing holding smart, capable leaders back from their next level of growth.
What we'll talk about:
- Why the moment you feel most certain is often the moment you stop seeing clearly
- How invisible assumptions shape your decisions (and limit your leadership)
- Simple questions to re-open your thinking
- Why real growth doesn’t come from trying to be right, but from trying to remain curious
If this resonates, check it out on our YouTube.
— RESOURCES MENTIONED —
- Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits
- Executive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program/
- Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: archova.org/1on1-course
- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona: https://calendly.com/ramonashaw/leadership-strategy-session
- Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —
- Episode 181 - Smart People Problems
- Episode 70 - How to Deal With "Toxic" People at Work
— WHAT’S NEXT? —
Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.
Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz
Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass
Don’t forget to invest time each week to increase your self-awareness, celebrate your wins, and learn from your mistakes. Your career grows only to the extent that you grow. Grab your Career Journal with leadership exercises and weekly reflections here: ramonashaw.com/shop
Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!
If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw
* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.
* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.
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 like in practice. Not theory. Not fluff. Real tools for navigating the messy, emotional moments that come with leading people.
What we cover:
This conversation is packed with insights for anyone who wants to lead more effectively without burning out or losing their edge.
Listen now on our YouTube.
— RESOURCES MENTIONED —
— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —
— WHAT’S NEXT? —
Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.
Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz
Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass
Don’t forget to invest time each week to increase your self-awareness, celebrate your wins, and learn from your mistakes. Your career grows only to the extent that you grow. Grab your Career Journal with leadership exercises and weekly reflections here: ramonashaw.com/shop
Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!
If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw
* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.
* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.
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 - this episode’s for you.
Ramona shares what happens when your role as a manager puts you in the middle of decisions that don’t feel great. She names the tension a lot of us feel but don’t always talk about, and walks through a simple way to think through what to do next, without losing yourself in the process.
What we’ll talk about:
✅ The kinds of value clashes that come up more than we admit
✅ What not to do when things feel off
✅ A clear way to figure out how to respond - and where to draw the line
You don’t have to choose between doing your job and staying true to yourself. But you do need a way to think it through.
You can also find this episode on YouTube.
— RESOURCES MENTIONED —
- Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits
- Executive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program
- Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more: http://archova.org/1on1-course
- Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE.
- Grab your copy of Ramona’s best-selling book ‘The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role’: amzn.to/3TuOdcP
— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —
- Episode 264 - Build a Team Culture You’re Proud Of — Even When the Company’s Isn’t
- Episode 129 - Creating a Feedback Culture - With Harrison Kim
— WHAT’S NEXT? —
Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.
Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP
Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz
Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass
Don’t forget to invest time each week to increase your self-awareness, celebrate your wins, and learn from your mistakes. Your career grows only to the extent that you grow. Grab your Career Journal with leadership exercises and weekly reflections here: ramonashaw.com/shop
Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!
If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw
* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.
* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.