This episode kicks off a two-part series on the most common leadership mistakes that quietly kill energy, performance, and culture. We cover the first five mistakes—things nearly every leader has been guilty of at some point—and practical ways to fix them so your team stays engaged, focused, and productive.

1. Constantly Changing Priorities

Chasing shiny objects creates chaos, confusion, and disengagement. Teams stop taking priorities seriously. Instead, set 3–5 priorities per quarter and stick to them unless a true crisis hits. Stability builds trust and momentum.

2. Micromanaging Instead of Trusting

Hovering, redoing work, and double-checking everything crushes ownership. Delegate with clarity: assign an owner, outcome, and deadline—then step back. Coach results, don’t control steps.

3. Ignoring Workload Limits

Just because people say yes doesn’t mean they can handle more. Overload leads to burnout and sloppy work. Use the “accordion effect”: stress test a role, then scale back to a sustainable load. Protect time off and watch for the “always-yes” employees.

4. Setting Unrealistic Deadlines

Impossible timelines push teams into resentment and lower-quality output. Co-create deadlines with your people, use accurate quoting (time, safety, seasonality), and confirm understanding. Clarity is kindness.

5. Avoiding Tough Conversations

Problems don’t solve themselves—dodging conflict erodes culture and credibility. Use the SBI-N model (Situation–Behavior–Impact–Next step) to address issues directly. Be curious about root causes, then set clear expectations and consequences.

Bottom Line: Clarity and consistency are what keep teams energized. Stick to priorities, trust your people, respect their bandwidth, set real deadlines, and tackle hard talks head-on—because silence drains more energy than action ever will.