You’re the Boss, Now What? with Desiree Petrich | Leadership and Team Development for Managers and Team Leaders

Do you avoid hard conversations, or handle them so bluntly they backfire?  In this episode, Desiree read the book Radical Candor by Kim Scott, so you don't have to.  This episode breaks down the framework from Kim Scott's Radical Candor, the one Desiree teaches more than almost anything else with the leaders she coaches. In this episode: The four types of feedback, and which one is quiet...

Right now you're leading up to five generations on the same team, and most of what's getting lost between them has nothing to do with personality. In this episode, Desiree sits down with workplace teacher Liz Carlson to unpack why communication breaks down across generations, what shaped the way each generation shows up at work, and how leaders can start closing the gap without walking o...

What if the most powerful thing you could do as a leader has nothing to do with strategy, systems, or having all the answers? In this episode, I'm joined by Money Mindset and Life Alignment Coach Kristen Miller for a conversation that started in the comments of a LinkedIn post and was too good to leave there. This isn't a framework episode. There's no tidy checklist at the end. What...

At some point, we all find ourselves holding on to something we know isn't working. A habit. A relationship. A team member. And we have really good reasons for it. Fear, convenience, comparison, not wanting to rock the boat. But what if the cost of holding on is higher than the cost of letting go? In this episode, I sit down with Jacob Brown, author of Avocado Leadership and one of the speake...

Have you ever wondered if feeling like a fraud might actually be a sign you're doing something right? In this episode of You're the Boss, Now What?, host Desiree Petrich takes on one of the most common experiences in leadership,  imposter syndrome, and reframes it completely. Imposter syndrome was first identified in 1978, and nearly 50 years later, it still shows up in every industry, e...

You've heard it your whole life. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.  And most of the time? That's good advice.  But in this week's tip, Desiree challenges the idea that you always have to find the positive spin — and introduces a concept that might give you the permission you didn't know you needed.  Sometimes the most self-aware thing you can do is just eat the lemon. ...

Why does feedback feel so uncomfortable at work? Why do annual reviews often feel unhelpful?  Why do employees get defensive?  And why do leaders wait so long to address issues that by the time they finally say something, it feels overwhelming? In this episode, Desiree walks through real workplace scenarios involving feedback, accountability, leadership development, and communication in the workpl...

Your team is always watching, whether you realize it or not. In this leadership tip episode, Desiree shares why the habits you model at work and at home shape the culture, mindset, and confidence of the people around you. Show Notes: Your team doesn’t just listen to what you say.  They watch what you do. As a manager or leader, it’s easy to tell your team to prioritize growth, set boundaries, or t...

What happens when you care deeply about your team… but they stop respecting your leadership? In this episode, Desiree is joined by Drew from the Iron and Empathy podcast for a conversation about one of the hardest parts of leadership: balancing accountability and empathy. Because if you lean too far one direction, your team feels micromanaged. Lean too far the other way, and expectations start sli...

Last week we talked about not letting your intent diminish and how the longer we wait to do something we know we should do, the less likely we are to actually follow through. This week’s leadership tip is a little different. Have you ever found yourself rushing through a season of life, wishing time would speed up so you could finally get to the “good part”? Or maybe you’ve been so distracted by w...

Making connections as an adult feels harder than ever, especially at work. But the problem usually isn’t networking.  It’s discomfort.  It’s phones.  It’s staying in our comfort zones. In this episode, Desiree sits down with Nichelle Lund to talk about communication in the workplace, workplace loneliness, and why relationship-building is one of the most overlooked leadership skills for managers an...

Have you ever thought, “I’ll do it later”… and then never did? You’re not lazy. You’re not unmotivated.  You’re experiencing the law of diminishing intent. The longer you wait to do something you know you should do, the less likely you are to do it. It starts small.  One delay. One excuse. One “I’ll get to it later.” Then your brain steps in to protect you.  You justify it.  You overthink it.  You...

“My employee doesn’t seem to care anymore… what do I do?” They used to be reliable.  Motivated.  Easy to manage. And now? You feel like you’re micromanaging just to get the bare minimum. It’s frustrating.  And honestly… a little confusing. Because nothing “big” happened. Here’s the shift most managers miss: It’s not always that they’re lazy.  It’s that something changed. And if you keep treating e...

The Last Letter - Rebecca Yarrows  Last week we talked about what it looks like when you hit survival mode.  This week is one simple step to get yourself out of it. What’s the thing you keep putting off? The appointment you haven’t made.  The email you haven’t sent.  The task that keeps popping into your head… over and over again. It feels small.  It feels like a minor inconvenience.  So you keep...

Have you ever had an employee where you think…  “Do you even care anymore?” They used to show up early  They used to go above and beyond  And now… something feels off You try to motivate them  But nothing seems to work Here’s the shift:  You can’t make someone care  But you can make it easier for them to stop caring And most managers do it without realizing it In this episode, we’re breaking down...

Get your copy of Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead   Have you ever had one of those weeks where everything feels hard… and you’re just trying to make it through as a manager? The kind of week where your energy is low, your team needs more from you, and your workload keeps growing? This is one of the biggest challenges in leadership development.  Most managers wait until th...

If you don’t have energy, you can’t lead well. And yet… most managers are trying to push through exhaustion instead of fixing it. You finish your workday drained.  You go home with nothing left to give.  And the things you want to do? They keep getting pushed to the bottom of the list. So you tell yourself you’ll rest more.  You’ll take a break.  You’ll “fill your cup.” But nothing actually change...

Have you ever felt like you’re doing everything “right”…  but still running on empty? As a manager, it’s easy to think the answer is to do more.  More routines. More habits. More discipline. But what if that’s not the problem? A lot of leaders are already overwhelmed.  Their schedules are full. Their energy is low.  And their default solution is to keep adding. More meetings. More expectations. Mo...

In this episode, I sat down with Tessa Kampen to talk about what happens when purpose isn’t clear on a team. Because when people define success differently…  you start to feel it. Priorities compete  Communication gets messy  Work slows down Not because people don’t care.  Because they’re aiming at different targets. We pulled from The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle, but really this is about what we...

Have you ever looked at someone else’s job, routine, or leadership style and thought…  “Why would anyone enjoy that?” And then found yourself trying to do it anyway? A lot of managers get stuck here. You’re trying to lead like someone else.  Work like someone else.  Structure your time like someone else. And it doesn’t fit. So you start second guessing yourself.  You feel inconsistent.  And leader...

Struggling with hard conversations on your team? In this episode, we’re talking about vulnerability, and what it actually looks like at work. Not oversharing.  Not making things uncomfortable. But the kind of vulnerability that helps managers build trust, improve communication, and handle conflict more effectively. Because when vulnerability is missing:  feedback gets avoided   tension builds   an...

Have you ever felt like you’re putting in the work… but not seeing the results yet? Maybe you’re trying to grow as a leader.  Trying to build a stronger team.  Trying to improve communication, delegation, or team accountability. And after a few days… or even a few weeks… it feels like nothing is changing. This is where most leaders start to question themselves. Is this working?  Am I doing the rig...

If your team isn’t speaking up, it’s easy to think it’s a communication issue. But most of the time… it’s not. It’s a safety issue. Have you ever been on a team where… People are nice… but not always honest? Meetings happen… but nothing really changes? Something feels off… but no one’s saying it out loud? This is one of the most common challenges in teams right now. Not because people don’t care....

Have you ever felt like if you can’t give 100%, it’s not worth showing up at all? As a leader, it’s easy to fall into the trap of all-or-nothing thinking. You think you need to be fully energized, fully prepared, and fully “on” to show up well for your team. But the reality is, some days your energy just isn’t there. And when that happens, most people either push themselves into burnout… or they d...

 Struggling to fill leadership roles on your team? The answer might not be hiring - it might be developing. In this episode, learn how to turn your current team into confident leaders through intentional leadership development.  Have you ever looked at your team and thought… we just don’t have anyone ready for leadership? Not because they’re not capable.  But because no one feels quite ready yet....