Extra Shot of Leadership

Reflection and reminiscing can be great for growth but lingering too long can cause you to lose the momentum of forward progress. This week Kim and Pepper take one last look at their year end review then get on with the discussion of plans and ideas for growing XSOL in year #2. What things are you looking forward to for your future? Share with us at HeyThere@ExtraShotOfLeadership.com

Get your party hats on and get ready for the smash cake. XSOL is turning 1. This week Kim and Pepper celebrate their 1 year anniversary with the XSOL podcast. They will take a trip down memory lane to reflect on their most and least favorite episodes, their best musical moments, and their biggest takeaway from the journey. Stay tuned to the end to hear a cut from a lost episode that never made it...

Did you miss a major meeting with an executive, accidentally hit “Reply All” on an email rant, or cost the company a significant financial loss? Are you wondering if it’s time to dust off the resume and prepare for your next career move? This week Kim and Pepper discuss the road to recovery after a major screw up at work. They share their thoughts on when a recovery is possible and tips for gettin...

Many people start their road to success with the great intention and ambition, yet over time, the daily grind, setbacks, and opposition can take a toll on their mental strength. So why do some people continue to push toward their personal goals year after year while others throw in the towel? Recent studies show that mental toughness is a critical key for success. This week Kim and Pepper share th...

Woohoo!! You’ve just promoted a high performing team member and it’s time for a celebration. But wait, uh-oh, someone else on the team is unhappy about this big decision. What now? Will they get over it? Does the celebration continue? This week Kim and Pepper answer a listener email with this very question. They share their thoughts on how to deal with the unhappy team member and provide ideas for...

Have you ever struggled to let go of something until it’s perfect, spending far too long laboring over every little detail at the expense time, productivity, and the sanity of those around you? It’s takes experience for leaders to understand that there are many times when good enough is, well, good enough. But how do you know when you have hit the good enough mark? This week Kim and Pepper provide...

Leadership styles aren’t just for managers and directors. Whether you’re leading project, a meeting, or an entire department, you might want to consider identifying your leadership style. But how do you decide which style will be the most effective for your situation? This week Kim and Pepper continue their conversation from July 7, 2021, and discuss some pro tips for selecting, adjusting, and eva...

Of course, there are specific conversations that require privacy and should not be shared with all employees. But have you ever stopped to consider the perception others may have when you close the door to your office? What is going through the minds of those both inside and outside of the room? This week Kim and Pepper discuss their thoughts on closed door meetings. Are they appropriate in the wo...

You may or may not be familiar with the term bosshole, but chances are you’ve probably come across one. Hopefully, it is just a casual acquaintance and not the person staring you in the mirror while you brush your teeth. This week Kim and Pepper discuss the symptoms of a bosshole, the recovery potential for those that have been managing teams with bosshole tactics, and suggestions to overcome the...

Big hair, the side ponytail, and mullets. Those style trends made their debut in the 80’s, but you won’t find the fashion influencers wearing them today. They have simply gone out of style. Have you ever thought about the trend of your leadership style? Is it still effective with today’s diverse workforce? Or is it time for a makeover? This week Kim and Pepper continue their conversation about lea...

Leadership style…it’s not a one size fits all. Different teams require different leadership styles. A method that was successful for a leader on one team, may not work for them on another because of the needs, work style, and history of the new team. This week Kim and Pepper continue their conversation about leadership styles and discuss the importance of leaders adapting their style to match the...

The surf is up, the sun is out, and the workforce is primed for a much-needed break. So, what does that have to do with leadership? Maturing as a leader means being able to diagnose what type of leadership is needed when the seasons of the business change. This week Kim and Pepper discuss the current season of their business and how they adjust their leadership style to meet the needs of their tea...

When it comes to leadership advice, there isn’t a one size fits all. It can be challenging to determine how to apply the information based on your unique circumstances. This week Kim and Pepper elaborate on an earlier episode about Leadership Transitions from April 22, 2021. They dive into those unanswered questions like when to forgo collaboration, what information could be kept private, and how...

Have you ever heard the phrase “learning can be fun?” As leaders, shouldn’t we be excited to unleash superpowers within our teams? If that’s the case, then why did our Team Development episode seem sooo heavy? This week Kim and Pepper build on their earlier discussion on team development and share their ideas for making growth curve a more enjoyable experience for the team and the leader. If you m...

If you have ever experienced burnout, you are not alone. Recent studies show that nearly 70% of employees have experienced the emotional and physical feelings that cause some of the most dedicated employees to disengage from jobs they love. This week Kim and Pepper share their experiences with burnout. Kim shares some of the warning signs, how it felt, and how she got past it. Pepper shares tips o...

You are midway through the year and your team is performing extremely well. They are knocking out the goals, hitting key metrics, and collaborating across the organization to get it all done. You see their progress, their growth, and the value they bring to the business. The question is…does anyone else see it? Who else needs to know this information and how will they know if you don’t tell them?...

Imagine this: Someone you trust and admire takes time out of their day to share their experience, ask thought provoking questions, and provide feedback and advice that helps you grow. Now that’s a mentor! Spending time with a mentor can be a powerful tool for career growth, personal development, promotion, and knowledge sharing. This week Kim and Pepper discuss their experience with mentors; why h...

From whispering gossip to avoiding personal contact, passive-aggressive behaviors can be tricky to recognize, and even harder to manage. Employees with this behavior can throw you a curve ball when they give you the impression that they are “all in” …when they are really not. This week Kim and Pepper discuss passive-aggressive behaviors, how it affects them personally, and how they manage employee...

Goals, goals, goals…setting them is easy but staying on track is a whole different story. There are constant distractions that make it easy to get caught up in the daily grind and lose sight of the goals you had planned to tackle this year. We believe one of the keys to accomplishing your goals is being intentional about checking in on your progress. This check in provides an opportunity to assess...

Making the move from team member to supervisor is a critical transition that can have a big impact on a career, a team, and an organization. Studies show that 50 - 60% of the new leaders actually fail at this transition. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way. We believe having a simple plan for this transition provides a solid foundation for the new leader as well as clarity for the...

Setting expectations…it sounds pretty basic, but it is one of the most important things that leaders at any level can do to set themselves and their team up for success. Communicating your expectations can provide clarity for work standards, get everyone on the same page, and provide a measuring stick for future performance. Skipping this leadership task and you may end up with a team that is conf...

Research indicates that 60% of new managers fail in the first 24 months of their new position (CEB). There is much to celebrate with your recent promotion. Make time to celebrate all the work that has led you to this point, however, keep the celebrating to a minimum and get your plan in place to avoid being in that 60 percent. There are many things contributing to the 60% failure rate. Maybe it wa...

Many people find building relationships as easy as a walk in the park (Group A), yet there are many others who find it as challenging as mountain climbing (Group B). If you are in group B, raise your hand and push play. This week we discuss some of the basics of building relationships…why it matters for leaders and for teams. We pack a lot into this discussion including how strong relationships he...

What is all the buzz about empathy? It’s all over the internet, social media, and leadership literature. Is it something you are born with, something you can build upon, or a little of both? This week we discuss empathy, what it is, why it is important, and how we can hone this skill as part of our leadership toolkit. Have you thought about the role that empathy plays in your leadership style? Sha...

The change from working as a teammate to doing the work of a supervisor can be a tough. Many new supervisors get stuck in the weeds, continuing to do the work of their team members. The new work can be unfamiliar, challenging, and stressful. The good news is…there is a podcast for that. This week we share our definition of managing in the weeds, how to recognize if you are in the weeds, and ideas...