In this conversation, Erika Taylor-Beck discusses the concept of reverse shadowing and its significance for leaders.

She emphasizes the need for leaders to understand their team's day-to-day challenges and dynamics, advocating for a more engaged and empathetic leadership style.

By spending time with team members and asking the right questions, leaders can build trust, improve communication, and effectively advocate for their team's needs, ultimately fostering a positive workplace culture.

https://authenticfoundations.podia.com

In this conversation, Erika Taylor-Beck discusses the critical role of accountability in leadership, using personal anecdotes and professional insights to illustrate how leaders must take ownership of their team's performance.

She emphasizes the importance of setting clear expectations and standards, both in personal situations, like dog training, and in professional environments.

The discussion highlights the need for leaders to reflect on their own actions and the culture they create, ultimately recognizing that what they tolerate in behavior can perpetuate issues within their teams.

In this episode, Erika Taylor-Beck discusses the challenging process of terminating an employee, offering guidance on how to handle it professionally and empathetically.

She emphasizes the importance of documentation, clear communication, and maintaining objectivity during the termination process.

• Terminating an employee is a challenging but necessary part of management.
• Documentation and feedback are crucial before considering termination.
• A performance improvement plan (PIP) can help address issues before termination.
• Clear communication and setting expectations are key to managing performance.
• Emotions should be managed during the termination process.
• HR involvement is important to ensure a fair and legal process.
• Termination should be based on documented facts, not emotions.
• A structured process helps protect against legal issues.
• Support and coaching can aid in handling difficult conversations.
• Practicing termination conversations can help managers prepare.

#termination, #employeemanagement, #performance #firing #PIP #improvement, #HR, #documentation

RESOURCES

• https://authenticfoundations.podia.com

• https://authenticfoundations.podia.com/performance-management

• https://authenticfoundations.podia.com/5-crucial-conversations-managers-need-to-have

Join Erika Taylor-Beck as she welcomes Andrea Liebross, founder of Andrea Liebross Coaching, author, and host of the podcast, "She Thinks Big," to discuss the challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship.

Andrea emphasizes the significance of big thinking, embracing uncertainty, and taking massive action to achieve success.

The conversation highlights the need for investment in personal development and the value of having a supportive network.

She shares practical advice for entrepreneurs, encouraging them to focus on their vision and take bold steps towards their goals.

Discover how to navigate the "messy middle" of business growth and learn practical tips for scaling with intention.

Key Takeaways:

• The significance of mindset in achieving success.
• Success is 80% mindset, 20% systems
• Differentiating between passive and massive action.
• Embracing uncertainty and the unknown in business.
• The role of secure support in personal and professional growth.
• Andrea's TRUST framework for big thinking.
• The difference in a "To-Do" list and a "To Believe" list

Resources:

• https://andreaslinks.com
• The "2-minute Audit": https://andrealiebross.com/audit
• Andrea's book and podcast: "She Thinks Big"

In this episode of Leadership in Real Life, host Erika Taylor-Beck sits down with career coach Chelsey Kramer for an honest and insightful conversation about burnout—what it looks like, why it happens, and how to move through it.

Chelsey shares her personal journey from high-achieving professional to burned-out and disconnected, and how that led her to rediscover the power of authenticity and boundaries.

Together, they explore the subtle signs of burnout, the importance of self-advocacy in the workplace, and practical tools for protecting your energy while staying true to your values.

Whether you're navigating a career transition or simply feeling stretched too thin, this episode offers real talk and real strategies for staying well—and leading well.

Connect with Chelsey:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseykramer/

• FREE Career Realignment Guide!: www.chelseykramer.com/freebie

• IG and Threads: @chelseykramercoaching
• https://www.chelseykramer.com/

Connect with Erika:

• https://Authenticfoundations.podia.com
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-r-taylor-beck
• IG and Threads: @authentic.foundations

Use code PODCAST10 to get 10% off any service or course on Erika's site.

Keywords:

burnout, career coaching, work-life balance, boundaries, mental health, self-care, achievement, authenticity, personal growth, coaching

What do the most trusted and effective leaders have in common? They walk their talk. In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked but powerful leadership principle of leading by example—and why it's more important now than ever.

You'll learn:

• What “leading by example” really means in today’s work culture

• Key areas where leaders must set the tone—accountability, communication, boundaries, and more

• The hidden cost of not practicing what you preach

• Real-world stats on trust, engagement, and leadership influence

• Simple, actionable ways to model the values and behaviors you want to see in your team

Whether you're a manager, founder, or someone stepping into leadership for the first time, this episode will give you the clarity and courage to lead from a place of alignment.

Key Takeaways:

• 83% of employees say their leader’s behavior directly impacts engagement (Gallup)

• Trust is built when leaders do what they say

• Modeling boundaries and self-awareness is just as important as modeling productivity

• Even one small example can shift a team's culture

authenticfoundations.podia.com

Use Podcast10 to get 10% off any purchase from my site.

In this conversation, Erika Taylor-Beck and Hillary Emer discuss the nuances of management and leadership, emphasizing the importance of feedback, understanding individual motivations, and the dynamics of one-on-one meetings.

They explore the challenges new managers face, the significance of documentation, and the balance between employee development and business needs.

The discussion also touches on the fear of not being liked as a manager and the importance of advocating for team members.

In this conversation, Hillary Emer and Erika Taylor-Beck discuss the complexities of management, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, the challenges of navigating difficult conversations, and the balance between advocating for oneself and one's team.

They explore the emotional aspects of management, the necessity of being comfortable with discomfort, and the unique challenges faced by entry-level managers.

The discussion highlights the significance of therapy and self-understanding in overcoming people-pleasing tendencies and fostering authentic leadership.

Connect with Hillary on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hillaryemer/

Keywords: management, leadership, feedback, employee development, one-on-ones, motivation, consulting, project management, team dynamics, performance reviews, self-understanding, therapy, management challenges, uncomfortable conversations, compensation, employee reactions, entry-level management, advocacy, professionalism

Most leaders are not good at delegating, but it's because they're not taught how to do it effectively.

Even in our personal lives, we make assumptions and give vague instructions when asking others to take on new tasks. -- Learn why Erika hasn't eaten meatloaf in over 20 years.

In this episode of Leadership in Real Life, Erika Taylor-Beck discusses the critical role of delegation in effective leadership.

She emphasizes that delegation is often misunderstood and highlights the importance of clear communication and expectations.

Through personal anecdotes and practical strategies, Erika provides insights on how to delegate effectively, overcome common challenges, and foster a culture of growth and learning within teams.

delegation, leadership, communication, team management, effective delegation, leadership skills, team development, workplace dynamics, management strategies, growth through failure

In this conversation, Abby Mundell shares her journey as a fractional CMO and her passion for helping female entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of business.

She discusses the importance of breaking down overwhelming tasks into manageable parts, the value of networking, and the significance of understanding different personality types in leadership.

Abby emphasizes the need for psychological safety in the workplace and the challenges leaders face in creating a positive environment. The discussion also touches on the misconceptions surrounding toxic work environments and the importance of continuous leadership training.

In this conversation, Abby Mundell and Erika Taylor-Beck discuss the complexities of leadership, emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence, positive reinforcement, and the need for effective coaching in developing future leaders.

They explore the challenges leaders face, the significance of learning from mistakes, and the necessity of investing in leadership development to foster a healthy workplace culture. The discussion highlights the evolving nature of leadership in the modern workplace and the critical role of nurturing talent at all levels.

Connect with Abby:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailsmundell/

https://abigailmundell.com/

www.northandnow.com

Takeaways:

• Abby Mundell is a fractional CMO focused on helping female entrepreneurs.
• She emphasizes the importance of breaking down tasks into manageable parts.
• Networking and asking for help are crucial for business growth.
• Leadership is about learning from mistakes and improving.
• Creating psychological safety is essential for team communication.
• Understanding personality types helps in effective leadership.
• Leaders should be transparent about their mistakes.
• Not all criticism of leaders is justified; context matters.
• Toxicity in workplaces is often mischaracterized.
• Continuous leadership training is vital for improvement. You learn cues that you might not have picked up on before.
• Most employees really want to do really well.
• Being a leader is being able to find those people.
• It's so rewarding as a leader to have people come back.
• You have to figure out when you've been working so hard.
• It's a hard thing as a leader to say what's worth it.
• You can't be trained for every scenario.
• Being able to handle yourself is a golden ticket.
• The follow through is so important.
• You have to actually care about people.

Sound Bites:

• "You don't have to be an expert in every part."
• "You need to actually prove that you'll do it."
• "You have to teach yourself to respect that."
• "Toxic doesn’t mean it doesn’t go your way."
• "You can’t make everybody happy."
• "You can’t wait to make everyone happy."
• "Leadership training is massively important."
• "Most employees really want to do really well."
• "You can't be trained for every scenario."
• "The follow through is so important."
• "You have to actually care about people."

leadership, fractional CMO, business strategy, female entrepreneurs, networking, psychological safety, personality types, business growth, marketing strategy, mentorship, leadership, emotional intelligence, coaching, employee development, positive leadership, workplace culture, management, team dynamics, leadership challenges, professional growth

In this episode of Leadership in Real Life, Erika Taylor-Beck discusses the intersection of AI and leadership, emphasizing the importance of balancing cost-cutting with a focus on people. She presents a framework for human-centered AI leadership, outlining steps for leaders to implement AI responsibly while maintaining employee engagement and trust. The conversation highlights the need for transparency, ethical considerations, and practical strategies for leveraging AI in a way that supports both business efficiency and employee well-being.

• AI can save money but must be used responsibly.
• Cost-cutting too quickly can harm company culture.
• Automate tasks, but prioritize human relationships.
• Reinvest savings into employee development and support.
• Use AI to enhance processes, not replace human roles.
• Transparent communication builds trust during AI implementation.
• Establish an ethical framework for AI usage.
• Start small with AI tools and pilot programs.
• Involve employees in discussions about AI ethics.
• AI can help customize leadership approaches for better engagement.

https://authenticfoundations.podia.com -- use code PODCAST10 for 10% off any service or course.

AI, leadership, human-centered, cost-cutting, employee engagement, ethical AI, automation, transparency, technology, business strategy