Managing Made Simple

The topic of burnout is constantly top of mind for team leaders and business owners, and let's face it, we all know it isn't solved with a spa day or even a 2-week vacation. In episode 133 of Managing Made Simple, I share concrete strategies for preventing yourself from burning out as a leader - because quitting your job or shutting down your business when everything feels like it's...

Employee turnover is EXPENSIVE. Not only from a time and money perspective, but for morale and motivation as well.... which ends up costing you money on the end anyway. The Gallup organization recently reported that 42% of employee turnover is preventable - so today I'm sharing three ways to keep the team members that you worked so hard to hire and onboard in the first place. Spoiler, all of...

We're all trying to save money where we can right now - but when it comes to paying your team members, that's not the place to trim the fat.  In this "hot take" episode of Managing Made Simple, I talk about why we need to pay our team members well if we want them to do good work - and remind you to ask the question when determining what to pay someone "would you do a good...

It's not everyday you get to interview someone who has inspired so much of your work, it so exciting to bring Brittany Driscoll, CEO and Co-Founder of Squeeze massage franchise onto the show. When it comes to building great teams and scaling businesses, no one does it better than Brit; and in the episode she shares insights in how she helped grow Drybar from $30M to $100M, why investing in yo...

We've all been there - we thought carefully about a piece of feedback, rehearsed how we were going to say it, even stress tested it with a colleague, and then... the feedback conversation still goes sideways. THIS right here is one of the reasons feedback is so hard, because even when we think we're doing it right, we still can get it wrong.  In episode 129 of Managing Made Simple, I sha...

Frustrated that you're the only person in your business who seems to be stressing about revenue and profitability? In this QUICK WIN episode, I share a case study of how I helped a client shift the mindset of her team members to take an active role in bringing in new business.  This is an issue my clients share with me ALL OF THE TIME - and the solution is simpler than you think! Download my...

Time management - we all know we have to be better at it, any yet...  It's one thing when we notice it, but when we get too overloaded to the point where our teams noticed, we have to do something about it. In this episode, I share simple strategies to save you time every single week so you can feel less overwhelmed and get back to focusing on the most important things.  Download my FREE guid...

What is one thing you can do everyday on your team that motivates people and costs you zero money? Recognizing people! Yes, my friends, saying THANK YOU in a way that is genuine, specific, and actionable goes incredible lengths to drive higher retention and fuel better results. And yet, we often get busy and forget to do it.  In episode 126 of Managing Made Simple, I talk about meaningful ways to...

Boundary setting with our teams is one of those things that no matter how good we get at it, it keeps rearing it's ugly head. Doesn't mean you're doing something wrong, and certainly doesn't mean it's too late for your team or your business. It's just an opportunity to make some small shifts to free up time and space for yourself, while empowering your team members to...

When something isn't going the way you want it to on your team or in your business, it can be tempting to want to roll out a new policy to get people to fall in line. But policies signify compliance, and while we want people to meet expectations, compliance isn't necessarily the vibe we're wanting to communicate.  In episode 124 of Managing Made Simple, I talk about the difference b...

Receiving feedback might just be harder than giving it... ok, it's totally harder. Especially as a leader. A lot of times our team members have gripes about things happening on our teams and in our businesses without having the full context - project strategy shifts, team changes, work assignments - making it easy to want to jump to the defense. But by practicing the strategies I talk about i...

"Can I give you some feedback?" I've said it before and I'll say it again - the six SCARIEST words someone can say to another person. Am I right? But feedback is critical information we need to be sharing with our teams on a regular basis so they can operate at their best.  Feedback brings up all sorts of fears and misconceptions, that's why in this episode I'm diving...

Today I'm launching a new type of episode, Wednesday Trendsday, where I will pop open Google News and break down a popular workplace trend. This week is all about "quiet vacationing"... um what?! Let's talk about what it is, why it's happening, and how to prevent it.  Download my FREE guide to making hard conversations with your team easier at liagarvin.com/convo Looking f...

When a team member isn't meeting their full potential, it can be frustrating as a manager and leader. We know they're capable of more, we feel like we've set them up for success, but something isn't quite there. When this happens, instead of jumping ship and assuming it's a lost cause, there is something you can do.  In episode this episode of Managing Made Simple, I share...

In trying to build connection with our team and get them to do something, we often use two fateful words that shoot ourselves in the foot: I NEED.  Something that is an expectation of a role on your team isn't a need, it's an expectation. It's part of that person's job. By saying "I need," you are asking them to be accountable to you, almost as if they are doing you a...

When it comes to running a high performing virtual team, the Bara Agency has it figured out. In this week's episode of Managing Made Simple, I'm joined by Justin Benson, the CEO of Bara Agency, where we talk about the importance of living your team values, how to create meaningful in-person moments even when fully remote, building a culture of accountability, and beyond.  About Justin: ...

What do knowing how long work takes to get done, meetings ending on time, and work all being tracked in one place have in common? They ALL save you time and money and are part of healthy team operations.  When I talk about team operations, people don't always understand what I mean off the bat - but it's the glue that holds all of the work that happens in your team and business together,...

There comes a time for every leader when we just can't do everything ourselves. We might come to this realization quickly, or it might take us a while to get there - but it always happens. We're not able to have the level of oversight we want to have with the work, connect as much with our team members, and scale ourselves in the way we know is possible. And when that happens, it's...

The funny thing about delegating is that it isn't just about handing over a bunch of work - it's about handing over the RIGHT set of work.  In episode 115 of Managing Made Simple, I talk about how to figure out what that right set of work is, saving you time and making it so much easier to hand the task off. By asking this ONE question, you will save yourself countless hours of time, and...

 When we're running a business or managing a team, every minute of productivity counts. And in a moment where we're all having to do more with less, getting a handle on the areas costing you the most money is game changing for your business.  In episode 114 of Managing Made Simple, I talk about three things that cost your business money every single day - why they cost money, and how to...

Ever been up at night stressing about a team member who isn’t delivering? Today on Managing Made Simple, we dive into how to tackle this situation so you can get back to your beauty rest. And it’s not to just jump to hiring a new team member! Begin by setting crystal-clear expectations, then lean into an open conversation to suss out the hiccups. Often, that nudge nudges them right back on track....

Hiring new team members can feel like a gamble - and it's true, you can never really know if someone is the right fit until you start working with them. But we can get a hell of a lot closer to finding the right fit when we are intentional about the process.  In this episode I talk about ONE thing you can do to dramatically improve the likelihood a team member will work out, saving you countl...

What do you get when you combine crystal clear expectations, fostering a culture where vulnerability is strength, and igniting the brilliance within each team member? A NASCAR pit crew that can jack up a car, change 4 tires, and refuel it in 8 seconds. On episode 111 of Managing Made Simple, I’m joined by Shaun Peet, NASCAR Pit Crew Coach & Chief Culture Officer for Trackhouse Racing who share...

Every day I hear the same concern from business owners and leaders - I want to give feedback and set expectations, but I don't want to come across as a micromanager. If you've shared this same concern, you're not alone. But today I'm going to let you in on a little secret: micromanaging is not about WHAT, it's about WHEN. In today's episode, I talk about how the timin...

Are conflicting motivations creating friction in your team? In this episode of Managing Made Simple, we delve into the keys to aligning your team's values and priorities, breaking down barriers between departments, and fostering collaboration. Learn how to transform "us versus them" mindsets into a cohesive, productive environment. Tune in and take your team to the next level. -- Gr...