Barely Manageable Podcast

When you became a supervisor, you probably expected to manage employees, make decisions, monitor performance, and develop your team. But did anyone mention the thermostat, broken printer, missing keys, birthday cards, bathroom problems, lost passwords, mysterious office supplies, and everything else that somehow becomes your responsibility?

In this episode of Barely Manageable, Dana and Mary discuss all the unexpected responsibilities that come with being a supervisor—the things no leadership book or job description prepares you for.

They explore what happens when managers become the office help desk, problem solver, policy interpreter, morale coordinator, event planner, lost-and-found department, and the person everyone turns to before trying to solve a problem themselves.

The big responsibilities of leadership may be the ones you prepare for, but sometimes it is the hundreds of little things that take up the most time and energy. Strong leadership also means recognizing which problems actually belong to you, helping employees problem-solve for themselves, and realizing you do not have to have every answer.

🎙️ Listen now to Barely Manageable with Dana Kelly & Mary Linkous.

⭐ If you're enjoying the podcast, we'd love your support! Leave us a 5-star review, subscribe wherever you listen, and help us reach more leaders and professionals.

📝 Don't forget to check out this week's blog for even more leadership insights inspired by today's episode.

Connect with Barely Manageable:

🌐 Website: BarelyManageable.com

📸 Instagram: @BarelyManageablePodcast

🎵 TikTok: @BarelyManageablePodcast

▶️ YouTube: Barely Manageable Podcast

Are you still getting your work done—but completely exhausted by the idea of doing anything more?In this episode of Barely Manageable, Dana and Mary discuss what happens when your work ethic is still there, but your enthusiasm and energy have left the building.They explore workplace exhaustion, meeting fatigue, decision fatigue, emotional exhaustion, and the pressure high performers feel to constantly go above and beyond. They also discuss how priorities can change throughout your career—and why not wanting to volunteer for another committee, take on another project, or give 150% doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve stopped caring.Being tired doesn’t always mean you’re burned out. Sometimes your battery is simply depleted. Strong leadership means recognizing your limits, setting boundaries, knowing when doing your job is enough, and allowing yourself to recharge before exhaustion becomes burnout.🎙️ Listen now to Barely Manageable with Dana Kelly & Mary Linkous.⭐ If you're enjoying the podcast, we'd love your support! Leave us a 5-star review, subscribe wherever you listen, and help us reach more leaders and professionals.📝 Don't forget to check out this week's blog for even more leadership insights inspired by today's episode.Connect with Barely Manageable:🌐 Website: BarelyManageable.com📸 Instagram: @barelymanageablepodcast🎵 TikTok: @barelymanageablepod🎥 YouTube: Barely Manageable Podcast🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Does every task at your workplace suddenly become the top priority—even when it could have been planned days or weeks ago?

In this episode of Barely Manageable, Dana and Mary discuss what happens when normal responsibilities are constantly treated like emergencies and every request comes with an urgent deadline.

They explore how poor planning, procrastination, unclear priorities, and last-minute communication create unnecessary workplace chaos. They also discuss how managers and employees can determine what genuinely requires immediate attention—and what only feels urgent because someone failed to prepare.

When everything is labeled a priority, nothing is truly prioritized. Strong leadership means setting realistic deadlines, communicating early, and recognizing the difference between an actual emergency and an avoidable time-management problem.

🎙️ Listen now to Barely Manageable with Dana Kelly & Mary Linkous.

⭐ If you're enjoying the podcast, we'd love your support! Leave us a 5-star review, subscribe wherever you listen, and help us reach more leaders and professionals.

📝 Don't forget to check out this week's blog for even more leadership insights inspired by today's episode.

Connect with Barely Manageable:

🌐 Website: BarelyManageable.com 

📸 Instagram: @barelymanageablepodcast 

🎵 TikTok: @barelymanageablepod 

🎥 YouTube: Barely Manageable Podcast 

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Have you ever wondered what your boss is really thinking—but cannot say because they need to stay professional and employed?

In this episode of Barely Manageable, Dana and Mary reveal the intrusive thoughts managers have when workplace situations test their patience, professionalism, and self-control.

They discuss the questions, comments, and employee behaviors that make leaders want to say exactly what is on their minds—and why a strong professional filter is sometimes the only thing standing between a manager and a meeting with HR.

Leadership does not mean never getting frustrated. It means knowing how to address problems honestly, communicate expectations clearly, and respond professionally—even when your internal monologue is saying something completely different.

🎙️ Listen now to Barely Manageable with Dana Kelly & Mary Linkous.

⭐ If you're enjoying the podcast, we'd love your support! Leave us a 5-star review, subscribe wherever you listen, and help us reach more leaders and professionals.

📝 Don't forget to check out this week's blog for even more leadership insights inspired by today's episode.

Connect with Barely Manageable:

🌐 Website: BarelyManageable.com

📸 Instagram: @barelymanageablepodcast

🎵 TikTok: @barelymanageablepod

🎥 YouTube: Barely Manageable Podcast

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Have you ever taken one day off and returned to a mountain of questions, unfinished tasks, and problems that somehow became emergencies while you were gone?

Happy Labor Day!

In Episode 18 of Barely Manageable, Dana and Mary discuss what it means when a workplace cannot function without one particular employee or manager.

They explore delegation, cross-training, communication, and the importance of creating clear processes before someone takes time away. They also discuss why some leaders struggle to let go of control—and how constantly making yourself indispensable can lead to stress, burnout, and an unhealthy team dynamic.

Taking a day off should not cause the entire workplace to collapse. Strong leadership means building a team that can continue moving forward, even when you are not there.

🎙️ Listen now to Barely Manageable with Dana Kelly & Mary Linkous.

⭐ If you're enjoying the podcast, we'd love your support! Leave us a 5-star review, subscribe wherever you listen, and help us reach more leaders and professionals.

📝 Don't forget to check out this week's blog for even more leadership insights inspired by today's episode.

Connect with Barely Manageable:

🌐 Website: BarelyManageable.com

📸 Instagram: @barelymanageablepodcast

🎵 TikTok: @barelymanageablepod

🎥 YouTube: Barely Manageable Podcast

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

We have all left a meeting thinking the same thing: “That could have been an email.”In Episode 17 of Barely Manageable, Dana and Mary take on one of the most common workplace frustrations—unnecessary, unorganized, and never-ending meetings.

They discuss why organizations rely so heavily on meetings, how poorly planned meetings drain time and energy, and why gathering everyone in a room does not automatically create collaboration. They also share practical ways leaders can set clearer agendas, invite the right people, keep conversations focused, and decide when a meeting is actually necessary.

Because a productive meeting should create clarity and move work forward—not leave everyone wondering why they were invited.

👉If Zoom meetings were in real life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElIUVDECGdAComment “😂” emoji down below if you watch the skit!

🎙️ Listen now to Barely Manageable with Dana Kelly & Mary Linkous.

⭐ If you're enjoying the podcast, we'd love your support! Leave us a 5-star review, subscribe wherever you listen, and help us reach more leaders and professionals.

📝 Don't forget to check out this week's blog for even more leadership insights inspired by today's episode.

Connect with Barely Manageable:

🌐 Website: BarelyManageable.com

📸 Instagram: @barelymanageablepodcast

🎵 TikTok: @barelymanageablepod

🎥 YouTube: Barely Manageable Podcast

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Office politics can be difficult enough—but what happens when real-world politics enters the workplace too?

In Episode 16 of Barely Manageable, Dana and Mary explore both sides of workplace politics: the unspoken power dynamics that influence decisions and the political conversations that can create tension between coworkers.

They discuss favoritism, alliances, gossip, competing agendas, and the pressure employees may feel to take sides. They also examine how leaders can respond when personal political beliefs begin affecting communication, trust, or team performance.

The goal is not to make everyone agree. It is to create a workplace where people can disagree respectfully, maintain appropriate boundaries, and continue working together effectively.

🎙️ Listen now to Barely Manageable with Dana Kelly & Mary Linkous.

⭐ If you're enjoying the podcast, we'd love your support! Leave us a 5-star review, subscribe wherever you listen, and help us reach more leaders and professionals.

📝 Don't forget to check out this week's blog for even more leadership insights inspired by today's episode.

Connect with Barely Manageable:🌐

Website: BarelyManageable.com

📸 Instagram: @barelymanageablepodcast

🎵 TikTok: @barelymanageablepod

🎥 YouTube: Barely Manageable Podcast

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Every workplace has them: the overachiever, the chronic complainer, the office gossip, the people-pleaser, the know-it-all, and the coworker who somehow disappears whenever there is work to be done.In Episode 15 of Barely Manageable, Dana and Mary break down some of the most recognizable workplace personalities and explore how those different styles affect communication, collaboration, and team dynamics.

They discuss why managers cannot lead every employee the same way, how personality differences can turn into conflict, and what leaders can do to bring out the best in people without excusing disruptive behavior.You will probably recognize a few coworkers in this conversation—and, if you are brave enough, you may even recognize yourself.

🎙️ Listen now to Barely Manageable with Dana Kelly & Mary Linkous.

⭐ If you're enjoying the podcast, we'd love your support! Leave us a 5-star review, subscribe wherever you listen, and help us reach more leaders and professionals.

📝 Don't forget to check out this week's blog for even more leadership insights inspired by today's episode.

Connect with Barely Manageable:

🌐 Website: BarelyManageable.com

📸 Instagram: @barelymanageablepodcast

🎵 TikTok: @barelymanageablepod

🎥 YouTube: Barely Manageable Podcast🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Have you ever started your workday with a clear plan—only to watch everything fall apart before you finished your first cup of coffee?

In Episode 14 of Barely Manageable, Dana and Mary discuss what it takes to lead when the unexpected happens. From sudden staffing issues and urgent problems to competing priorities and emotionally charged situations, they explore how managers can remain calm, communicate clearly, and make thoughtful decisions in the middle of workplace chaos.

They also discuss the difference between reacting and responding, why employees look to their leaders during uncertain moments, and how preparation can help teams handle disruption without completely unraveling.

Because leadership is easy when everything is going according to plan. The real test is what happens when it isn’t.

🎉 This episode also happens to be releasing on Dana’s birthday! Help us celebrate by listening, sharing the episode, and wishing Dana a very happy birthday in the comments!

🎙️ Listen now to Barely Manageable with Dana Kelly & Mary Linkous.

⭐ If you're enjoying the podcast, we'd love your support! Leave us a 5-star review, subscribe wherever you listen, and help us reach more leaders and professionals.📝 Don't forget to check out this week's blog for even more leadership insights inspired by today's episode.

Connect with Barely Manageable:

🌐 Website: BarelyManageable.com

📸 Instagram: @barelymanageablepodcast

🎵 TikTok: @barelymanageablepod

🎥 YouTube: Barely Manageable Podcast

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

We've all heard it: "Nobody wants to work anymore."But is that actually true—or is it just another workplace myth that's been repeated for generations?

In Episode 13 of Barely Manageable, Dana and Mary explore one of the most common debates in today's workplace: the differences between generations. From Baby Boomers and Gen X to Millennials and Gen Z, they discuss where these stereotypes come from, why they persist, and how they often prevent teams from working together effectively.The conversation dives into work ethic, communication styles, changing expectations, technology, flexibility, and what leaders can do to bridge generational gaps instead of reinforcing them.

Because every generation brings strengths to the workplace—and understanding those differences can lead to stronger teams, better communication, and healthier organizational culture.🎙️ Listen now to Barely Manageable with Dana Kelly & Mary Linkous.⭐

If you enjoyed this conversation, we'd greatly appreciate a 5-star review and invite you to subscribe so you never miss an episode.📝 For an even deeper dive into this topic, be sure to read this week's companion blog with additional leadership insights and practical takeaways.

Connect with Barely Manageable:🌐 Website: BarelyManageable.com📸 Instagram: @barelymanageablepodcast🎵 TikTok: @barelymanageablepod🎥 YouTube: Barely Manageable Podcast🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.