The Modern Manager

Layoffs are some of the hardest moments a manager can face. How you handle them can shape not just the experience of the employees leaving but also the morale and trust of the team that remains. Today’s guest brings expert guidance on navigating these challenges with empathy, clarity, and professionalism. Leanne Elliot is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist, Consultant, and Coach with a proven t...

Why do so many projects spiral into stress, shifting priorities, and endless risks while others seem to flow smoothly toward success? What if the difference isn’t just about tools or methods, but about how you lead? Thankfully, today’s guest brings a fresh, human-centered approach to project management.  James Louttit is the author of Leading Impactful Teams: Achieving Low Stress Success in Projec...

What if your greatest strengths aren’t the ones listed on your résumé, but universal traits we all share?  Positive psychology shows us that tapping into these character strengths can transform how we work, lead, and connect with others.  These aren’t just feel-good ideas; they’re proven tools for resilience, performance, and deeper human connection. Fortunately, this week’s guest brings exactly t...

Why do so many managers struggle to let go of tasks, even when they know that holding onto everything stifles their ability to scale?  The secret is to document things so clearly that others can succeed without you. Fortunately, today’s guest is an expert at helping leaders let go.  Chris Ronzio is the Founder and CEO of Trainual, a platform reshaping how businesses onboard, train, and scale their...

Groups are the foundation of everything we accomplish in work and life.  Yet, as every manager knows, collaborating with others can be both the greatest strength and one of the hardest challenges.  What makes some teams thrive while others struggle with friction and disengagement? Fortunately, this week’s guest, Dr. Colin Fisher, has dedicated his career to uncovering the hidden processes that mak...

What if your greatest strength as a leader isn’t your expertise but your ability to lead people who are completely different from you? In today’s diverse workplaces, managers can’t rely on a one-size-fits-all approach. Understanding how to adapt your leadership to different personalities, backgrounds, and working styles is key to building high-performing teams because, let’s be honest, everyone is...

Most workplaces are designed with extroverts in mind, with open offices, constant collaboration, and fast-paced discussions. But this often leaves introverts struggling to fully contribute, even though their insights can be some of the most valuable. Thankfully, today’s guest, Salvatore Manzi , brings clarity and solutions.  Salvatore is a leadership communications coach and the author of Clear an...

What if the most important management skill you need today isn’t a tool or strategy? But the ability to read and respond to the people around you?  In a world shaped by AI and constant disruption, emotional intelligence has become the competitive edge for leaders and managers. Thankfully, today’s guest brings practical and research-backed ways to build that edge.  Jamelle Lindo is an executive coa...

What if understanding how your brain actually works was the key to unlocking higher performance, better decisions, and more resilient leadership?  Many leaders focus on strategies and skills without realizing that lasting change starts by rewiring how we think. Fortunately, this week’s guest brings decades of experience helping leaders do just that.  Larry Olsen is an expert in performance-driven...

Do you wait for the perfect moment to speak up, only to have the conversation move on without you? What if the secret to becoming a confident, impactful communicator wasn’t planning every word, but learning to improvise? This week’s guest reveals how improvisation isn’t just for the stage, but a powerful, everyday skill that can transform how you connect, influence, and lead. Today’s guest is Jeff...

What if the biggest threat to your team’s creativity and performance isn’t the workload but outdated ideas of what “professionalism” should look like? It’s easy to fall into the trap of performative professionalism: obsessing over sounding smart, dressing the part, and following invisible rules about how “real professionals” should behave. But all that effort often masks the very things that fuel...

Self-distraction is one of the biggest productivity challenges we face today.  It’s easy to get lost in the constant flow of thoughts. A simple “I need to remind Kevin to send me that document,” takes us away from our current activity, preventing us from completing the tasks that matter most. No wonder we feel overwhelmed and constantly rushing. But here’s the good news: Today’s guest is on a miss...

Do you walk out of meetings feeling more exhausted than empowered? Are toxic behaviors affecting your team?  Navigating a workplace with individuals who show signs of narcissism, Machiavellianism, or psychopathy can be incredibly challenging. But understanding the root of these toxic behaviors is key to managing them effectively, and today’s guest is here to help us do just that. Meet Dr. Sheela R...

Are you struggling to form new habits that actually stick? If you’ve ever found yourself failing to break old habits, it’s likely because you’re using the wrong habit formation strategies.  Thankfully, today’s guest is going to unlock the key to transformational behavior change so you and your team can successfully adopt new ways of working. Today’s guest is Jason Hreha. Jason is a behavioral scie...

Documentation isn’t just a system—it’s a daily habit that you can master. When was the last time you actually enjoyed documenting a meeting or your thought process?  For most of us, documentation feels tedious and intimidating. Just the idea of making things “official” can stir up fear that it might one day be used against us.  Fortunately, this week’s guest brings a fresh perspective on why docum...

Do you constantly feel overwhelmed by your leadership role? Are you always reacting to everyone else’s agenda instead of creating your own? What if you could reclaim your power and lead confidently through any situation? Today’s guest reveals exactly how to make that shift. Meet Dr. Sharon Melnick. Sharon is recognized as a Marshall Goldsmith Top 50 executive coach and is the author of three books...

Leadership can feel overwhelming, especially when the world around you is constantly changing. But what if small, science-backed changes in how you lead could create a bigger impact than you ever imagined?  This week’s guests will explore key findings from their research on the nine science-based traits of effective leadership, enabling us to become better managers today. Meet Margaret Moore and J...

Do you feel like you’re drowning in your task list?  You know delegation is important . You know your team wants to contribute . But still, something holds you back—whether it’s fear of mistakes or the lack of time to explain things. You don’t have to stay stuck in this cycle. Joining me today is Dallas Burnett. Dallas is the founder and CEO of Perforam and author of "Lift," "MOVE!" and "Caveman D...

Do you ever feel like you’re just going through the motions at work, unsure about the exact strategy to guide your decisions? This episode will change that. In the business world, the word “ strategy” is quite the buzzword. But what does it really mean to think and lead strategically? And what can you do as a manager to get better at it? If you want to stop wasting time and start making powerful s...

You’re in a team meeting, someone starts talking… and keeps talking.  They lose their train of thought, fill the air with “likes” and “ums” , and before long, the point is lost. Sound familiar? We’ve all been there. Because here’s the truth: verbal communication isn’t innate—it’s a learned skill.  And this week’s guest has spent 35 years helping people master it. Meet Ruth Milligan. Ruth is a 35-y...

What if the most valuable thing you can build in your career isn’t a product, a strategy, or even a list of accolades—but a community? We all know relationships matter. Yet most of us haven’t been taught how to build them with real intention .  Today’s guest is here to help you and your team rethink what’s possible when we shift from collecting contacts to cultivating purposeful connections. Meet...

We celebrate the wins. The promotions. The milestones. But no one talks about the price tag that comes with constantly performing at a high level. For Dana L. Cox, that price came quietly—missed family moments, sleepless nights, and a level of exhaustion that no amount of caffeine could fix.  She calls it the “success tax” —the hidden costs we pay in pursuit of achievement. Thankfully, Dana’s here...

You’ve just stepped into a new manager role—congratulations! Now what? The first few weeks can feel like a whirlwind. One day you’re a high-performing individual contributor, and the next, you’re expected to lead a team, set direction, and navigate complex dynamics—all while still figuring out what kind of leader you want to be. Thankfully, today’s guest is here to guide you through those critical...

Have you ever sat down to work, only to be pulled in a dozen directions—emails, Slack messages, endless browser tabs—all demanding your attention? You’re not alone. All the technological advancements have made it almost impossible to focus.  But what if it didn’t have to be this way? Fortunately, this week’s guest is here to share with us how you can be more focused at work and finally reclaim you...

Do you feel like your team isn’t really listening to you? It might be time to rethink your influence. Many managers assume authority is enough. But real leadership—motivating people to take action—comes from influence. And this week’s guest believes that one of the most powerful ways to build it is by strengthening your communication skills. Today’s guest is Stacey Hanke. Stacey is a leading exper...