Episode: The 5 Biggest Mistakes New Managers Make in Their First 6 Months
Host: Stephanie Freeth

The first six months as a manager can feel disorienting, overwhelming, and quietly high-pressure. In this episode, Stephanie Freeth unpacks the most common mistakes new managers make during this critical transition and what to do instead.

Drawing from leadership coaching, team psychology, and real-world experience, Stephanie reframes the shift from individual contributor to leader and offers grounded, practical guidance to help new managers lead with clarity, connection, and self-awareness.

If you’re a new manager or supporting one, this episode will help you understand why the transition feels hard and how to move from reactive to strategic leadership.

Why what made you successful before promotion may hold you back as a manager

How success shifts from personal output to enabling others

Why clarity matters more than busyness

The cost of avoiding the human side of leadership

How reflection creates better decisions and healthier teams

Why blind spots are normal and self-awareness is essential

Why struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing, it often means you’re unsupported

The manager transition and why it’s so challenging

Mistake #1: Relying on the skills that got you promoted

Mistake #2: Confusing busyness with effectiveness

Mistake #3: Avoiding the human side of work

Mistake #4: Leaving no space for reflection

Mistake #5: Ignoring leadership blind spots

Leadership as self-awareness, not perfection

Tools and support for navigating the manager transition

“What got you here won’t get you there.”

“Success is now measured through others.”

“Busy does not mean effective.”

“People don’t leave the work. They leave when they don’t feel seen.”

“You’re not failing. You’re unsupported.”

Team Health & Performance Quiz

Tools for navigating the manager transition

Team Enneagram Workshops

First-time managers

Leaders in their first year of management

HR and People leaders supporting new managers

Anyone feeling stuck, reactive, or unsure in their leadership role

🎧 Listen now and learn how to move through the manager transition with more confidence, clarity, and connection.

What if the way you run your company could make your life as a leader easier, not harder?

In this episode of Courageous Leaders, Connected Teams, I sit down with my friend and EOS Implementer, Jeremy Lopatin, for a deep and honest conversation about what truly drives healthy, high-performing teams.

Jeremy and I share a belief that performance means very little without team health. Many organizations are living in the strain and burnout zone without realizing it, and leaders often feel the pressure to push harder instead of pausing to examine what their team needs most.

Together we explore:
✨ How the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) helps teams gain clarity, alignment, and traction
✨ Why right-person right-seat matters more than people realize
✨ How unresolved issues quietly shape culture and performance
✨ The difference between a team that looks productive and one that is sustainably healthy
✨ Jeremy’s journey as an entrepreneur and his vision to positively impact 10,000 employees through his work

If you are a founder, executive, or team leader looking for more cohesion, healthier dynamics, and a more grounded way to lead, this episode will resonate.

In this deeply personal episode of Courageous Leaders, Connected Teams, I’m opening up about the unconscious patterns, beliefs, and behaviors that shaped my journey as an Enneagram Type 3 (The Competitive Achiever).

For much of my life, achievement felt like oxygen. Productivity, performance, and pushing through were the standards—not just for success but for worthiness. But behind the drive was an unspoken fear:
“If I’m not working, I’m not valuable.”

This episode is an invitation into the stories, struggles, and turning points that helped me shift from overdrive to alignment—and begin restoring a sense of worth that isn’t tied to output.

The relentless pursuit of achievement and the belief that value comes from what you do—not who you are.

How productivity became a measure of identity, and the subtle ways leaders can lose themselves in external validation.

The cost of ignoring the body’s signals, emotional needs, and limits in the name of “just getting it done.”

What shifted when I finally slowed down enough to recognize the deeper fear fueling all the action.

The moment I realized I was running on empty—and how discovering my Enneagram type illuminated patterns I could finally name (and change).

How redefining success has helped me move toward more presence, alignment, and courage in leadership.

Leaders who feel stuck on the hamster wheel of achievement

Enneagram Type 3s (or those who love/work with them)

High-achievers experiencing burnout or overwhelm

Anyone exploring healthier, more authentic ways of leading

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube

Learn more about leadership coaching & the Enneagram Stephaniefreeth.com

Connect with me on LinkedIn for more insights on reflective leadership

Shownotes & Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction: Why teams don’t start at high performance 00:49 – The 5 stages of team development (Tuckman model) 01:39 – What happens when teams get stuck in “storming” 03:11 – Why setting team norms builds trust and alignment 05:26 – The shortcut: Using the Enneagram to collapse the timeline 08:04 – Adjourning: Reflecting and celebrating progress 09:28 – How Enneagram types behave in each team stage 16:08 – Forming: Building trust beyond the surface 17:36 – Storming: Turning conflict into clarity 18:54 – Norming: Aligning fast through shared language 21:24 – Performing: Sustaining excellence through trust 28:20 – The Team Enneagram Workshop + Coaching Call 33:43 – Outro & Call to Action

Courageous Insights: Facts vs Stories As leaders, our perspective matters more than we realize. Too often, we get caught up in the stories we tell ourselves rather than the actual facts in front of us. In this video, I share a simple but powerful tool I first learned from The Conscious Leadership Group—the practice of separating facts from stories. 👉 Facts = what a video camera could record. 👉 Stories = the judgments, interpretations, and meaning we add. By learning to pause, check our stories, and even share them with courage, we open up space for: Greater clarity and grounded leadership Stronger trust and authentic communication More curiosity, candor, and possibility Whether you’re a CEO, senior leader, or just stepping into leadership, this practice can help you shift from reactivity to presence, creating the conditions for more courageous leadership. 💬 Share in the comments: When was the last time a “story” shaped your leadership? How do you separate fact from story? 🔔 Subscribe for more Courageous Insights on leadership, emotional intelligence, and conscious leadership practices. #CourageousLeadership #ConsciousLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #EmotionalIntelligence #FactsVsStories #CourageousInsights #MindfulLeadership #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipGrowth

What do new managers need most to succeed? In this episode, Stephanie Freeth sits down with Amy Cell — entrepreneur, speaker, and founder of Amy Cell Talent (now Yeo & Yeo HR Advisory Solutions). With over a decade of experience helping organizations scale people-first strategies, Amy brings a wealth of insights on what it really takes for new managers to thrive.

Together, they explore:
The essential skills and mindset shifts new managers need
How to build high-trust, high-performing teams
The role of communication, feedback, and emotional intelligence
Tools and practices that help managers avoid common pitfalls
Why creating trust and alignment is more critical than ever

Whether you’re a new manager, emerging leader, HR professional, entrepreneur, or business owner, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom to help you navigate the challenges of leadership and step confidently into your role.

✨ About the Guest: Amy Cell is an entrepreneur, speaker, talent & HR advisor, and former faculty at the University of Michigan’s Center for Entrepreneurship. She founded Amy Cell Talent, now part of Yeo & Yeo HR Advisory Solutions, celebrating 10 years of driving affordable HR strategy, talent acquisition, and ecosystem development across Michigan.

🔗 Learn more: amycelltalent.com | Yeo & Yeo HR Advisory Solutions 🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Your favorite podcast platform

If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share to help more leaders discover the tools they need to grow.

In this episode of Courageous Leaders, Connected Teams, host Stephanie Freeth welcomes her friend and accomplished leader Christie Wong Barrett—former CEO, board director, and lecturer at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. Christie shares her career journey from MIT chemical engineer to McKinsey consultant, manufacturing company owner-operator, and now educator, revealing the lessons, pivots, and courageous choices that shaped her path. They explore how identity evolves across career transitions, the importance of building “through-me” leadership, and how the Enneagram has helped Christie lead with greater self-awareness. Christie also introduces her concept of “courageous learning”—leaning into challenges that push your comfort zone—and offers practical advice for decision-making, fostering innovation, and creating accountable, connected teams. Whether you’re an emerging leader or a seasoned executive, this episode will inspire you to embrace career pivots, strengthen your leadership toolkit, and find connection in every setting. What You’ll Learn in This Episode How to pivot successfully across industries without losing your strengths The concept of the chimera identity and why embracing your multi-dimensional self matters Insights from Christie’s Enneagram journey and how it shaped her leadership style How to run effective team huddles that drive innovation and accountability Decision-making frameworks for uncertain and high-pressure environments Why courageous leaders lean into challenges they might not be good at—yet

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Stephanie Freeth sits down with Aubrey Macfarlane, President & CEO of Volunteers of America Michigan, to explore how conscious leadership, recovery, and the Enneagram have shaped her leadership journey. Aubrey shares how leading from the heart—and with vulnerability—has helped her transform both herself and her organization.

This is a must-listen for leaders seeking to integrate self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and purpose into their leadership style.

Aubrey’s journey from social work to CEO

How recovery and spiritual practices shaped her leadership style

Conscious leadership as an operating system

The Enneagram Type 2 (Considerate Helper) in action

Managing boundaries and burnout as a leader

Creating safe, authentic workplace cultures

Using Enneagram team dynamics to drive innovation and collaboration

The power of presence, breathwork, and embodied leadership

The balance between helping others and staying grounded

Shifting from fear of failure to trust in team and process

In this soulful episode of Courageous Leaders, Connected Teams, Stephanie Freeth is joined by the incredible Brothers Koren — Isaac and Thorald — to explore what it truly means to reclaim your voice, embrace vulnerability, and ignite your creative expression. From overcoming childhood silencing to daring to suck, this conversation dives deep into: ✅ The internal “small voices” that hold us back ✅ How music, resonance & vocal embodiment support leadership ✅ The power of sound as a healing and expressive tool ✅ The magic of The Songwriter's Journey and how it transformed Stephanie’s creative path ✅ Embracing the break — the imperfection that makes us unique You’ll also get a powerful live voice warm-in practice that’s worth coming back to again and again. Whether you’re a leader, artist, facilitator, or someone reclaiming your truth — this one is for you. 🔗 Links & Contacts 🎶 Connect with The Brothers Koren: Website: https://www.brotherskoren.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebrotherskoren 💡 Join Stephanie’s community: Website: https://stephaniefreeth.com Book a Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/stephanie-freeth/discovery-call LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/stephanieblackburnfreeth Email: [email protected] 🎙️ Podcast – Courageous Leaders, Connected Teams: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/courageous-leaders-connected-teams/id1811374312 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6S2AWlDUENdP5oekeFmts8 YouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3-sjMQN9_Dsy68cDpuuklCZFO69sZWPI ⏱️ Timestamps (Suggested) 00:00 Welcome & Introductions 03:00 Stephanie’s voice story & fear of singing 06:00 The “small voices” that hold us back 10:00 What safety & expression really mean 16:00 The creative process without judgment 23:00 Creating “Creative Revolution” 28:00 Loving your vocal break 37:00 The “Warm-In” Practice (live) 46:00 Reflections & how to work with the Brothers 49:00 Wrap-up & final thoughts #CourageousLeaders #CreativeLeadership #TheBrothersKoren #VoiceEmbodiment #SoundHealing #LeadershipPodcast #ReclaimYourVoice #VocalFreedom #ConsciousLeadership #StephanieFreeth #SongwritersJourney #EmotionalIntelligence #LeadershipDevelopment

What does it truly mean to lead with humility, curiosity, and courage? In this inspiring episode of Courageous Leaders Connected Teams, Stephanie Freeth is joined by Paul Blatt, CEO of Gesher Human Services, for a candid conversation on the transformational power of conscious leadership. Paul shares real-world lessons from leading through a pandemic, navigating a merger, and cultivating a culture of responsibility, presence, and candor. From the power of letting go of being right to building trust through radical curiosity, this episode is packed with actionable wisdom for purpose-driven leaders.

✅ Discover how to:
Create psychological safety through authentic communication.
Use the Enneagram and conscious leadership tools to navigate change.
Practice radical responsibility and let go of blame.
Develop cohesive, aligned teams ready for meaningful impact Whether you’re a seasoned executive, a team lead, or someone passionate about leadership growth, this conversation is for you.