Your Preshift

People development has become an industry. Programs, trainings, certifications, and frameworks promise growth, but most leaders don’t struggle with knowledge. They struggle with application. They’re leading real people, in real roles, under real pressure, where growth isn’t clean, linear, or predictable. In this opening episode of Leading Over Time , we talk about how development is relational. Ov...

Ryan will be back next week with a brand new series, but in the meantime, please enjoy a rewind of the final episode of our Fantastic Four of Frontline Leadership series, where we explore how curiosity keeps teams engaged, adaptive, and human. We unpack what healthy curiosity looks like, and how unhealthy curiosity can subtly erode trust. You’ll learn how curiosity is rooted in trust, agency, and...

This episode is one of our most talked about and what so many new leaders feel but don't acknowledge out loud. The transition from peer to leader isn’t awkward because you’re not good at it, it’s awkward because your identity, relationships, responsibilities, and expectations are all shifting at once. In this final episode of the  From Buddy to Boss  series, we pull together the most sha...

This is our most-listened-to episode for a reason. Frontline leaders don’t need hype, they need something more eduring. This episode breaks down  real hope , not optimism or cheerleading, but the belief that the future can be better and that your actions matter in bringing it to life. You’ll hear why hope is a practical leadership skill, especially in hard seasons, and how it’s built through...

When you walk into the room, your team expects what your presence brings. In this episode of  Your Preshift , we focus on what it means to be a  “here comes help”  leader, someone whose presence makes work clearer, steadier, and more doable. A “help” leader doesn’t rush in to fix or take over. They show up focused on people, not just tasks. They listen before deciding, bring context...

How does your team feel when they see you coming? Do they breathe easier, or brace for impact? This episode takes a look at one of the truths of leadership:  your presence arrives before your words do , and your team already has a reputation for you, whether you’ve named it or not. We explore how your internal view of leadership shapes the way you show up either from the “mechanic” mindset of...

In this final episode of the  From Buddy to Boss  series, we step back and look at the four major shifts every new leader has to navigate: identity, relationships, responsibility, and expectations. And instead of covering everything, we focus on the two ideas in each category that tend to shape a new leader the fastest. We talk about how imposter syndrome isn’t a flaw but a sign you’re s...

In this final episode of the From Buddy to Boss series, you explore how stepping into leadership comes with an expectation of growth, not just in results, but in how you think, see, and lead. You walk through three surprising starting points: growth by subtraction (removing friction, clutter, and outdated habits that weigh your team down), growth by noticing (paying attention to people, patterns,...

In this episode, Ryan moves from awareness to action with a set of practical tools to help leaders take back their time, and their focus. Because managing time isn’t just about efficiency, it’s about leadership. Building on the last two episodes, Ryan talks about how time slips away through small, well-intentioned moments, a meeting you didn’t need, a “quick favor” that turns into 30 minutes, and...

In this episode, Ryan takes a look at how a leader’s relationship with time shapes team culture. Because how you manage your time isn’t just a personal habit, it’s contagious. Ryan explores four common patterns that create chaos on teams: constant firefighting, hesitation and delay, overcommitting out of good intentions, and neglecting rest. Each one starts from a well-meaning place like caring, h...

In this episode, Ryan talks about one of the biggest struggles for new and seasoned leaders alike: how we use our time. Most leaders don’t waste time because they’re careless. They waste it because they care. The instinct to help, include, and stay available comes from good intentions, but over time, those same habits start to cost energy, focus, and clarity. Ryan explores the hidden ways leaders...

In this episode, Ryan digs into one of the biggest shifts that happens when you move from peer to leader: learning to manage yourself first. You can’t manage others well if you can’t manage your own reactions, time, and focus. And for most new leaders, that starts with emotions. Ryan breaks down the difference between  regulating ,  suppressing , and  reacting, and why calm leadersh...

In this episode, Ryan talks about one of the most uncomfortable but necessary parts of leadership: consequences. Over the past few episodes, we’ve covered responsibility, self-accountability, and accountability. But none of those mean much without follow-through. When consequences aren’t clear or consistent, standards slip, trust fades, and good people end up frustrated. This episode breaks down w...

In this episode, Ryan takes last week’s big ideas— responsibility, self-accountability, and accountability —and puts them to work in real life. Because it’s one thing to define them. It’s another to live them on a Tuesday morning when your shift is short-staffed, someone’s late, and the fryer’s down. He breaks down how each plays out on the frontline: Responsibility  is what you’re  for,...

What does it  actually  mean to hold people accountable? We say it all the time, “hold them accountable”, but most leaders can’t clearly define what that means. In this episode, Ryan breaks down three connected but very different ideas: responsibility, self-accountability, and accountability. They get used interchangeably all the time, but they’re not the same, and when leaders blur the...

Difficult conversations don’t have to blow up, or get avoided until they do. In this deep dive, Ryan unpacks  Nonviolent Communication (NVC) , a framework created by psychologist Marshall Rosenberg that’s been used everywhere from workplaces to classrooms to peace talks. You’ll hear the story behind NVC and get practical tools to use in your own leadership, relationships, and even at home. Ry...

Most leaders avoid difficult conversations because they feel risky. Beneath the surface sits an unspoken value:  “don’t blow it up.”  The fear is simple, if they confront the issue, someone might quit. If someone quits, the team is short-staffed. And if the team is short-staffed…the spiral begins. But silence doesn’t solve the problem, it stockpiles it. And when it finally blows, it’s us...

Friendships at work are more than inside jokes or shared breaks—they’re survival systems. They’re the people who drive you when your car breaks down, watch your kids when they’re sick, and remind you you’re not crazy when the shift gets overwhelming. That’s why the transition from buddy to boss can feel like such a threat: it doesn’t just disrupt your role, it disrupts a safety net you rely on. In...

When you step into leadership, the system around you doesn’t stay the same, it reshapes itself in response to you. And if you don’t guide that reset, you might find yourself stuck in old dynamics, blurred roles, and sideways conversations that drain your time and trust. In this episode, you’ll learn how to recognize and reset your team’s system in a healthy way. We use the image of a pool to help...

When you become a leader, your identity doesn’t just shift inside, you also start to show up differently to others. This episode explores how your team’s experience of you becomes the foundation for trust, action, and results. Ryan introduces the Results Pyramid framework -- Experience → Belief → Action → Result -- and helps frontline leaders understand how their everyday behavior shapes the belie...

When you step into leadership, your job changes, but so does your identity. In this episode of Your Preshift , we talk about the internal shift new leaders face when the work that used to define them is no longer theirs. From imposter syndrome to over-functioning, this transition can shake your confidence, and your sense of self. We’ll explore: Why “I am” statements shape our leadership story How...

You got promoted… now what? In this episode of  Your Preshift , we explore one of the biggest mindset shifts new leaders face: you're no longer responsible for  doing  the work—you're responsible for  leading  the people who do it. That shift sounds simple. But in the chaos of a busy shift, it’s tempting to jump back in instead of stepping up. We’ll unpack what real leader...

At some point, we all had a  first  leadership role. And if you’ve ever gone from being a peer to being the boss, you know: that shift can be SUPER awkward. In this kickoff to our  From Buddy to Boss  series, we’re talking about what really changes when you get promoted—how people see you, what they expect, how much you doubt yourself, and what you’re suddenly responsible for....

We were all a first-time boss at some point. And if you lead on the frontline, helping someone else take that step might be one of the most rewarding, enjoyable and important parts of your role. This new  Your Preshift  series,  From Buddy to Boss , is for both the newly promoted leader trying to figure out how to lead, and the seasoned leader guiding someone else through that shift...

In this final episode of the  Lead Like a Gardener  series, Ryan doesn’t offer a framework or checklist—he offers a story. This capstone episode traces one leader’s full growing season—from the urgency of early decisions, through the quiet work of tending, pruning, and waiting, all the way to harvest and rest. It’s a story about choosing presence over pressure, care over control, and how...