What if the most powerful thing you could do as a leader has nothing to do with strategy, systems, or having all the answers?

In this episode, I'm joined by Money Mindset and Life Alignment Coach Kristen Miller for a conversation that started in the comments of a LinkedIn post and was too good to leave there. This isn't a framework episode. There's no tidy checklist at the end. What there is is an honest, sometimes uncomfortable conversation about what it actually looks like to show up as a whole person in your leadership role -- and why that's exactly what your team needs from you.

We talk about:

Why sharing the behind the scenes of your life makes you a more credible leader, not less professional

The leadership cringe confession -- what we both did early on that we'd never do now, and why talking about it matters

The real cost of hiding your humanity from your team, even when you think you're protecting them

The one question shift that gets you honest answers instead of defensiveness

Your team doesn't need a perfect boss. They need a human one.

Connect with Kristin Miller on Linkedin
Follow Kristin's Substack: https://worthknowing25.substack.com

This podcast for managers is here to help you:

• Grow your leadership development
• Navigate team management with confidence
• Learn how to handle conflict at work
• Apply real, practical leadership tips

If this episode helped you:

Share it with another manager
Leave a 5-star review
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Take the DISC or Working Genius Assessment and get a FREE 20 minutes debrief with Desiree

Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead

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At some point, we all find ourselves holding on to something we know isn't working.

A habit. A relationship. A team member.

And we have really good reasons for it. Fear, convenience, comparison, not wanting to rock the boat.

But what if the cost of holding on is higher than the cost of letting go?

In this episode, I sit down with Jacob Brown, author of Avocado Leadership and one of the speakers at this year's Intentional Leader Summit. We dig into a principle he calls slow to hire, quick to fire, and we take it way beyond the workplace.

In this episode we talk about:

Why leaders hold on to toxic team members longer than they should, and what it's actually costing them

How the behavior you tolerate as a leader defines the culture you create

The "I know, I'm not, I'm open" framework for having courageous conversations

Why boundaries aren't rules you set for other people

How to stop holding on out of fear, convenience, or sunk cost

Connect with Jacob Brown:

Avocado Leadership Book: https://failforwardbrown.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobaaronbrown/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialjakebrown/

Intentional Leader Summit:

Jacob is speaking this year. Grab your ticket: www.intentionalleadersummit.com

This podcast for managers is here to help you:

• Grow your leadership development
• Navigate team management with confidence
• Learn how to handle conflict at work
• Apply real, practical leadership tips

If this episode helped you:

Share it with another manager
Leave a 5-star review
Follow along for more support

Take the DISC or Working Genius Assessment and get a FREE 20 minutes debrief with Desiree

Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead

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Have you ever wondered if feeling like a fraud might actually be a sign you're doing something right? In this episode of You're the Boss, Now What?, host Desiree Petrich takes on one of the most common experiences in leadership, imposter syndrome, and reframes it completely.

Imposter syndrome was first identified in 1978, and nearly 50 years later, it still shows up in every industry, every experience level, and every area of life. Whether you're a new manager questioning if your team respects you, a parent wondering if you're doing enough, or a leader eyeing your next promotion, the feeling that you're not as capable as others think you are is more universal than most people admit.

In this episode, Desiree walks through seven questions that get to the root of what imposter syndrome actually is, where it comes from, and why eliminating it might not be the goal.

Here's what she covers:

Where imposter syndrome really comes from — and why comparison, societal expectations, and leadership intimidation all play a role

The difference between humility and imposter syndrome, and why confusing the two keeps leaders stuck

The rubber band theory of personal growth — and why the stretch is exactly where you want to be

How to use comparison as a tool for leadership development instead of a trap that holds you back

Why borrowing someone else's belief in you is one of the most underrated leadership skills available to new managers

Whether we can ever fully overcome imposter syndrome — and what it says about you if you think you already have

The difference between hiding your competence and desperately wanting others to see it — and why both come from the same place

If you're a new manager trying to figure out what good leadership actually looks like, this episode is for you.

This podcast for managers is here to help you:

• Grow your leadership development
• Navigate team management with confidence
• Learn how to handle conflict at work
• Apply real, practical leadership tips

If this episode helped you:

Share it with another manager
Leave a 5-star review
Follow along for more support

Take the DISC or Working Genius Assessment and get a FREE 20 minutes debrief with Desiree

Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead

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You've heard it your whole life. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

And most of the time? That's good advice.

But in this week's tip, Desiree challenges the idea that you always have to find the positive spin — and introduces a concept that might give you the permission you didn't know you needed.

Sometimes the most self-aware thing you can do is just eat the lemon.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Why forcing positivity can actually be a form of avoidance — and what that costs you as a leader

The difference between reframing a hard situation and actually moving through it

Why skipping the disappointment doesn't make it go away — it just shows up later

What it looks like to feel the hard thing on purpose so you can move forward with honesty

This one is short, personal, and hits differently if you've ever been in a season where the silver lining just wasn't what you needed.

This podcast for managers is here to help you:

• Grow your leadership development
• Navigate team management with confidence
• Learn how to handle conflict at work
• Apply real, practical leadership tips

If this episode helped you:

Share it with another manager
Leave a 5-star review
Follow along for more support

Take the DISC or Working Genius Assessment and get a FREE 20 minutes debrief with Desiree

Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead

Connect: Linked In | Instagram | Website

Why does feedback feel so uncomfortable at work?

Why do annual reviews often feel unhelpful?
Why do employees get defensive?
And why do leaders wait so long to address issues that by the time they finally say something, it feels overwhelming?

In this episode, Desiree walks through real workplace scenarios involving feedback, accountability, leadership development, and communication in the workplace. From employees asking for growth feedback and receiving a giant list months later, to managers giving the same feedback year after year without follow-up, this conversation is all about creating a healthier feedback culture on your team.

This episode is especially helpful for:

• new managers
• leaders trying to build trust
• high performers who want to grow
• anyone struggling with difficult conversations at work

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN:

• Why feedback feels emotionally charged for both managers and employees
• How to give feedback without damaging trust or confidence
• Why soft skills and executive presence matter more than most leaders realize

If this episode gave you a new perspective on leadership development, team management, or how to handle conflict at work, take a screenshot while listening and share it to your Instagram stories. Tag me @desireepetrich so I can hear your biggest takeaway.

And if you know a manager who struggles with feedback conversations, send this episode their way.

Apply for the next Intentional Leader Accelerator cohort

IntentionalLeaderAccelerator.com

This podcast for managers is here to help you:

• Grow your leadership development
• Navigate team management with confidence
• Learn how to handle conflict at work
• Apply real, practical leadership tips

If this episode helped you:

Share it with another manager
Leave a 5-star review
Follow along for more support

Take the DISC or Working Genius Assessment and get a FREE 20 minutes debrief with Desiree

Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead

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Your team is always watching, whether you realize it or not. In this leadership tip episode, Desiree shares why the habits you model at work and at home shape the culture, mindset, and confidence of the people around you.

Show Notes:

Your team doesn’t just listen to what you say.
They watch what you do.

As a manager or leader, it’s easy to tell your team to prioritize growth, set boundaries, or take care of themselves… while quietly ignoring those things yourself.

But leadership development isn’t just taught through meetings and feedback.
It’s modeled in the small moments people see every day.

In this episode, Desiree shares a simple leadership principle that applies both at work and at home: let them watch.

From reading leadership books with your office door open to modeling healthy habits and positive self-talk, this episode explores how leading by example shapes team culture, trust, and confidence over time.

By the time you finish listening, you’ll learn:

• Why your team pays more attention to your actions than your words
• How modeling personal growth creates stronger team management and accountability
• The small daily habits that quietly influence workplace culture and leadership development

If you’ve ever wondered how to build trust as a manager or create a healthier team culture without forcing it, this episode will give you a simple place to start.

When you finish listening, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway from today’s episode. Take a screenshot while you’re listening, share it to your Instagram stories, and tag me @desireepetrich.

And if this episode made you think about the example you’re setting as a leader, send it to another manager or team lead who needs to hear it too.

This podcast for managers is here to help you:

• Grow your leadership development
• Navigate team management with confidence
• Learn how to handle conflict at work
• Apply real, practical leadership tips

If this episode helped you:

Share it with another manager
Leave a 5-star review
Follow along for more support

Take the DISC or Working Genius Assessment and get a FREE 20 minutes debrief with Desiree

Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead

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What happens when you care deeply about your team… but they stop respecting your leadership?

In this episode, Desiree is joined by Drew from the Iron and Empathy podcast for a conversation about one of the hardest parts of leadership: balancing accountability and empathy. Because if you lean too far one direction, your team feels micromanaged. Lean too far the other way, and expectations start slipping.

If you’ve ever avoided a hard conversation, struggled with a difficult employee, or felt frustrated trying to hold people accountable without becoming “the bad guy,” this episode is for you.

By the time you finish listening, you’ll learn:

• How to hold employees accountable without damaging trust
• Why psychological safety matters in team management and communication in the workplace
• The signs that “being nice” may actually be hurting your team culture

When you finish listening, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway from today’s episode. Take a screenshot while listening, share it to your Instagram stories, and tag me @desireepetrich so I can cheer you on.

While you’re there, make sure you’re following me for more leadership development content, new manager tips, and practical strategies to help you build stronger, more cohesive teams.

Connect with Drew Moldenhauer on Linkedin
Iron and Empathy Podcast

Take the Working Genius Assessment

This podcast for managers is here to help you:

• Grow your leadership development
• Navigate team management with confidence
• Learn how to handle conflict at work
• Apply real, practical leadership tips

If this episode helped you:

Share it with another manager
Leave a 5-star review
Follow along for more support

Take the DISC or Working Genius Assessment and get a FREE 20 minutes debrief with Desiree

Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead

Connect: Linked In | Instagram | Website

Last week we talked about not letting your intent diminish and how the longer we wait to do something we know we should do, the less likely we are to actually follow through.

This week’s leadership tip is a little different.

Have you ever found yourself rushing through a season of life, wishing time would speed up so you could finally get to the “good part”? Or maybe you’ve been so distracted by what’s next that you forgot to notice what’s right in front of you.

In this short episode, Desiree shares two pieces of advice that seem to conflict with each other:
be where your feet are planted… and look to the horizon.

Through stories about childhood, growth, grief, walks down gravel roads, and the reminder to occasionally look up from the noise around us, this episode explores the tension between being fully present and still dreaming about what’s ahead.

By the time you finish listening, you’ll discover:

• Why different moments in life require different mindsets
• How constantly focusing on “what’s next” can cause you to miss your current season
• The importance of slowing down long enough to look up and see the bigger picture

If this episode resonated with you, take a screenshot while listening, share it to your Instagram stories, and tag me @desireepetrich so I can hear your biggest takeaway.

Looking for more leadership tips, leadership development conversations, and practical encouragement for managers and ambitious professionals? Make sure you follow the podcast and share this episode with someone who needs the reminder to slow down and be present today.

This podcast for managers is here to help you:

• Grow your leadership development
• Navigate team management with confidence
• Learn how to handle conflict at work
• Apply real, practical leadership tips

If this episode helped you:

Share it with another manager
Leave a 5-star review
Follow along for more support

Take the DISC or Working Genius Assessment and get a FREE 20 minutes debrief with Desiree

Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead

Connect: Linked In | Instagram | Website