The Dips of Doubt

What do you do when two good things pull you in different directions? In this episode, Susan and Tessa talk about the professional tug of war leaders face when obligations, learning opportunities, and personal priorities collide. They explore how values, goals, and identity can help guide decisions when you cannot do everything at once. The conversation is a practical reminder that sometimes leade...

What does it look like to hit reset before burnout takes over? In this episode, Susan and Tessa share practical ways leaders can slow down, recharge, and give themselves permission to recover. They explore five reset strategies from taking micro-breaks to ending the day with a transition routine, and add a few of their own favorites like laughter, hydration, and a little extra B12. The conversatio...

What do you do when a high-performing team member starts showing subtle signs of disrespect? In this episode, Susan and Tessa discuss why professionalism cannot be replaced by expertise and why leaders need to address small behavior shifts before they spread. They walk through a three-step reset: check in with curiosity, name the specific behaviors you have observed, and re-anchor the relationship...

What if the most powerful leadership move is not fixing the problem, but pausing long enough to ask the right question? In this episode, Susan and Tessa explore the “fixer trap” and why high-achieving leaders often need to pivot from solving to supporting. They discuss how stepping back can create space for others to build self-sufficiency, learn through struggle, and find their own solutions. The...

What kind of “shoes” are you leading in: stilettos, flip-flops, or trail runners? In this fun episode, Susan and Tessa use footwear as a creative metaphor for leadership styles, exploring the difference between being polished but restrictive, too casual, or grounded and adaptable. They talk about how leaders can get stuck in optics, lose accountability in over-familiarity, or build the kind of fle...

What do you do when someone pushes your buttons and your first instinct is to react? In this episode, Susan and Tessa unpack emotional triggers and share practical ways leaders can stay grounded, thoughtful, and in control. They walk through five tools for managing triggers: naming the feeling, slowing your body, buying time, redirecting to purpose, and taking the exit ramp when needed. The conver...

What do you do when a mandate lands on your desk and you do not fully agree with it? In this episode, Susan and Tessa explore how leaders can stay honest, flexible, and effective when they are asked to carry out decisions they did not make. They discuss the difference between a mandate that conflicts with your ethics and one you simply do not love, and how leaders can still champion the work while...

What if the biggest shift in leadership is not what is happening around you, but how you choose to see it? In this episode, Susan and Tessa talk about “rose-colored glasses” as a leadership mindset that helps you respond with grace instead of frustration. Using a tense airport line as the starting point, they explore how perspective shapes energy, behavior, and the way leaders treat people. The co...

What if the walls around you could actually help your team think bigger? In this episode, Susan and Tessa explore how art in the workplace can do more than decorate a space — it can spark creativity, shape identity, and influence motivation. They discuss ideas like success walls, failure walls, and other visual cues that help leaders and teams stay inspired and intentional about the environment th...

What happens when a simple email turns into a leadership test? In this episode, Susan and Tessa talk about response time, how to handle follow-up thoughtfully, and why a quick “received” or clear expectation can reduce confusion and frustration. They explore the importance of closing the loop, presuming positive intent, and setting communication norms that work for your team. This conversation is...

What if the “me” in your team is affecting the whole team more than you realize? In this episode, Susan and Tessa explore how self-awareness, identity, and individual behavior shape the health of a team, and why strong leadership starts with looking inward. They discuss the tension between personal needs and collective goals, the importance of accountability, and how leaders can show up in ways th...

How do you lead people through change when the feelings are just as real as the strategy? In this episode, Susan and Tessa unpack the emotional reality of change and explain why resistance, sadness, anger, and uncertainty are all normal parts of the process. Susan and Tessa talk about the change curve, the brain’s instinct to protect us from the unknown, and how leaders can support themselves and...

What if the habit you want to build is easier than you think? In this episode, Susan and Tessa talk about habit stacking, a simple strategy for attaching a new habit to something you already do automatically. They share how this approach can make goals like self-care, mindfulness, culture-building, and better leadership practices feel more manageable and realistic. The conversation is practical an...

What if the strongest leaders are the ones who know when to step back and let someone else shine? In this episode, Susan and Tessa explore the idea of a “backup shift,” encouraging leaders to move out of the spotlight and create space for others to grow, lead, and be recognized. They connect this lesson to the end-of-year season in schools and the mid-year reset in business, showing how true leade...

Leadership can be lonely, and in this episode, Susan and Tessa introduce the idea of a “text level circle” as a low-pressure way for leaders to stay grounded and supported. They talk about building a small group of trusted peers outside your building who understand the realities of leadership, can offer perspective without judgment, and help you process tough moments in real time. The conversation...

As the school year or a big project comes to a close, it is easy to focus only on what did not go perfectly and forget the progress that happened along the way. In this episode, Susan and Tessa talk about what it means to end strong by paying attention to the data, the growth, and the small corrections that helped move the work forward. They reflect on how data can be a helpful friend rather than...

Leading when you are tired is a reality many leaders face, especially during the spring season when the demands keep piling up. In this episode, Susan and Tessa explore the difference between physical tiredness and emotional tiredness, and why each one calls for a different kind of response. They discuss practical ways to stay steady, from getting more rest and using small energy resets to pausing...

When leaders say, “We have never done that before,” are they protecting the team, or avoiding growth? In this episode, Susan and Tessa explore how that phrase can reveal discomfort with change, caution, or a reluctance to challenge old routines. They discuss why innovation often starts with curiosity, why leaders need room to experiment, and how progress can stall when “never” becomes the reason s...

Who you surround yourself with at work can shape your reputation, your growth, and even the culture of the team around you. In this episode, Susan and Tessa talk about the challenge of workplace friendships, especially for new employees who are still trying to find where they fit, and the fine line leaders walk when they want to influence culture without policing who people spend time with. They e...

What if your leadership style was a language, and the people around you were trying to interpret it every day? In this episode, Susan and Tessa explore five leadership languages, from direction and control to servant leadership, and how each one shapes the way leaders communicate, motivate, and support their teams. They reflect on the strengths and challenges of each style, and why effective leade...

Who saw your light before you saw it in yourself? In this episode, Susan and Tessa reflect on the mentors, teachers, and leaders who recognized their gifts early and helped shape the paths they would eventually follow. They discuss the responsibility leaders have to notice potential in others, speak encouragement over them, and create opportunities for hidden strengths to grow into visible confide...

Toxic culture does not always announce itself right away, and by the time it becomes obvious, it can already be shaping how people think, speak, and treat one another. In this episode, Susan and Tessa unpack how broken culture shows up through finger pointing, lack of accountability, gossip, and a constant focus on negativity, and why these patterns can become deeply entrenched over time. They tal...

What happens when the gap between what a leader means and what an assistant hears starts to shape the whole day? In this episode, Susan and Tessa explore the invisible gap that often shows up in working relationships between leaders and administrative professionals, especially when expectations are assumed instead of clearly communicated. They discuss how easy it is for leaders to slip into frustr...

What if the tone of your whole day was something you could choose to turn up? In this episode, Susan and Tessa explore the power of mindset and how leaders can avoid letting one frustrating moment, like traffic or a spilled coffee, set the emotional temperature for the rest of the day. They talk about the difference between reacting to setbacks and intentionally choosing a more positive, resilient...

What if one of the most powerful leadership tools only took two minutes to use? In this episode, Susan and Tessa explore the ripple effect of a simple thank you note, and how a small act of gratitude can create connection, validation, and lasting impact. They discuss why handwritten or thoughtful digital notes matter so much, how they help people feel seen for their specific contributions, and why...