Many leaders believe their role is to provide answers, direction, and clarity at all times. And while that’s often true, one of the most overlooked leadership skills is knowing when not to speak.

Because when leaders speak too quickly or too often, they can unintentionally shut down ideas, discourage honesty, and limit ownership. On the other hand, when leaders remain silent at the right moment, they create space—for trust, creativity, and real engagement.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about the power of pause. Why great leaders understand when their voice is necessary—and when their silence is far more impactful.

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Check out my website ⁠https://rachelgallardo.net⁠ to review previous episodes, receive the newsletter, read my blog, or say hello.

Follow me  on social media:

Instagram: @level_the_field_leadership

X: @RG_LTFLeader

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelgallardo-phd/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@rachel_ltfleader⁠

Look for new episodes on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Remember, being an effective leader is hard, but you don't have to do it alone. The tools we discuss on this podcast can help you level the challenges you face as a leader, no matter what season of leadership you are in.

Music by Oleksii Striapchyi from Pixabay

This podcast episode explores why true leadership requires the emotional courage to handle difficult conversations directly rather than delegating them to others. We dive into the hidden costs of "pawning off" conflict—such as eroded trust and cultural rot—while highlighting how face-to-face honesty actually strengthens professional relationships.

Listeners will walk away with a practical framework for preparing for tough talks and the mindset shift needed to stop avoiding the "hard stuff" and start leading with integrity.

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Check out my website ⁠https://rachelgallardo.net⁠ to review previous episodes, receive the newsletter, read my blog, or say hello.

Follow me  on social media:

Instagram: @level_the_field_leadership

X: @RG_LTFLeader

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelgallardo-phd/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@rachel_ltfleader⁠

Look for new episodes on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Remember, being an effective leader is hard, but you don't have to do it alone. The tools we discuss on this podcast can help you level the challenges you face as a leader, no matter what season of leadership you are in.

Every leader faces that moment—when you’ve invested time, effort, and resources into an initiative, but something isn’t quite working. The decision to walk away can feel like failure, but often, it’s actually a sign of wisdom and maturity.

In today’s episode, we’ll explore three tangible things leaders should consider when deciding whether to let go of an initiative through the lens of leadership development, team wellbeing, and long-term growth.

Let's get into it...

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Check out my website ⁠https://rachelgallardo.net⁠ to review previous episodes, receive the newsletter, read my blog, or say hello.

Follow me  on social media:

Instagram: @level_the_field_leadership

X: @RG_LTFLeader

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelgallardo-phd/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@rachel_ltfleader⁠

Look for new episodes on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Remember, being an effective leader is hard, but you don't have to do it alone. The tools we discuss on this podcast can help you level the challenges you face as a leader, no matter what season of leadership you are in.Music by Oleksii Striapchyi from Pixabay

Do you have someone on your team who would benefit from taking FMLA? Confused about the details of the federal law? I recorded this episode over the summer and forgot about it (lol), but now that I found it, it's time to share it.

Check out my website ⁠https://rachelgallardo.net⁠ to review previous episodes, receive the newsletter, read my blog, or say hello.

Follow me  on social media:

Instagram: @level_the_field_leadership

X: @RG_LTFLeader

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelgallardo-phd/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@rachel_ltfleader⁠

Look for new episodes on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Remember, being an effective leader is hard, but you don't have to do it alone. The tools we discuss on this podcast can help you level the challenges you face as a leader, no matter what season of leadership you are in.

Greg Weinger has spent over 20 years proving that introverts and unconventional thinkers can thrive in leadership. A seasoned product and technology executive, he has helped scale startups 10X to $70M+ in revenue, leading teams that build market-leading digital products and drive business growth.

A Stanford graduate, he studied English literature, creative writing, and software engineering—giving him a unique ability to blend technical expertise, storytelling, and strategic thinking to make complex ideas accessible and actionable.

To learn more about Greg's podcast, click here: https://www.powerfulintrovertpodcast.com/

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Check out my website ⁠https://rachelgallardo.net⁠ to review previous episodes, receive the newsletter, read my blog, or say hello.

Follow me on social media:

Instagram: @level_the_field_leadership

X: @RG_LTFLeader

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelgallardo-phd/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@rachel_ltfleader⁠

Look for new episodes on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Remember, being an effective leader is hard, but you don't have to do it alone. The tools we discuss on this podcast can help you level the challenges you face as a leader, no matter what season of leadership you are in.

Vanessa is a wife, mom, and brand strategist who traded corporate life for a calling that matters more. With 8+ years in branding and marketing, she helps faith-filled women build businesses that align with their values and actually feel like them. Vanessa's corporate background and faith journey give her a unique lens for creating brands that connect deeply and inspire action.

To learn more about Vanessa, visit her website at https://miterabranding.com/

Instagram: @miterabranding

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Check out my website ⁠https://rachelgallardo.net⁠ to review previous episodes, receive the newsletter, read my blog, or say hello.

Follow me  on social media:

Instagram: @level_the_field_leadership

X: @RG_LTFLeader

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelgallardo-phd/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@rachel_ltfleader⁠

Look for new episodes on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Remember, being an effective leader is hard, but you don't have to do it alone. The tools we discuss on this podcast can help you level the challenges you face as a leader, no matter what season of leadership you are in.

Joe Davis is an award-winning author and speaker on a mission to bring generosity to leadership. He spent 1987 to 2025 at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he served as a Managing Director and Senior Partner. Joe led BCG North America and founded its Center for Inclusion and Equity.

In his book, The Generous Leader, Joe offers a seven-part guide to heartfelt and collaborative actions that transform the reader into a generous leader.

Throughout his career, Joe has led with a collaborative approach, a commitment to equity, and a track record of delivering results that shape both organizations and communities.

Website: https://www.joedavis.com/*****************************

Check out my website ⁠https://rachelgallardo.net⁠ to review previous episodes, receive the newsletter, read my blog, or say hello.

Follow me  on social media:

Instagram: @level_the_field_leadership

X: @RG_LTFLeader

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelgallardo-phd/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@rachel_ltfleader⁠

Look for new episodes on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Remember, being an effective leader is hard, but you don't have to do it alone. The tools we discuss on this podcast can help you level the challenges you face as a leader, no matter what season of leadership you are in.

With over 25+ years of experience in Leadership and Lean, John is widely regarded by CEO's and senior executives. John's insights have been published in books, articles, and interviews, and his own personal transformation journey to health was documented at MensHealth.

John is the host of the Uncommon Leader podcast. John has worked with CEO's, Pastors, Coaches, authors, and up-and-coming uncommon leaders, including people like Jeff Henderson and Jeremy Scott.

To learn more about the work John does and to listen to the Uncommon Leader podcast visit his website at https://www.uncommonleaderpodcast.com/

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Check out my website  to review previous episodes, receive the newsletter, read my blog, or say hello.

Follow me on social media:

Instagram: @level_the_field_leadership

X: @RG_LTFLeader

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelgallardo-phd/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rachel_ltfleader

Look for new episodes on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Remember, being an effective leader is hard, but you don't have to do it alone. The tools we discuss on this podcast can help you level the challenges you face as a leader, no matter what season of leadership you are in.

Dr. Ian McCoog is passionate about the history of leadership and speaks on how leadership has evolved throughout the generations.

If you are interested in learning how leadership got to where it is today and are a student of history, this is the episode for you.

Website: https://www.ianmccoog.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-mccoog-0b872a212/

Email: [email protected]*****************************

Check out my website ⁠https://rachelgallardo.net⁠ to review previous episodes, receive the newsletter, read my blog, or say hello.

Follow me on social media:

Instagram: @level_the_field_leadership

X: @RG_LTFLeader

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelgallardo-phd/

⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@rachel_ltfleader⁠

Look for new episodes on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Remember, being an effective leader is hard, but you don't have to do it alone. The tools we discuss on this podcast can help you level the challenges you face as a leader, no matter what season of leadership you are in.

Derrick Girard is a successful entrepreneur and business consultant with a proven track record of solving problems while building and scaling businesses.

In 2023, he sold his tech company after navigating countless challenges and transforming it into the industry leader. The sale came on the heels of Derrick successfully defending his company and himself in 3 major lawsuits seeking to destroy the very company he fought so hard to build.

If you need a perseverance pick-me-up, this is the episode for you.

Website: https://derrickgirard.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derrickgirard/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author.derrickgirard/ *****************************

Check out my website ⁠https://rachelgallardo.net⁠ to review previous episodes, receive the newsletter, read my blog, or say hello.

Follow me  on social media:

Instagram: @level_the_field_leadership

X: @RG_LTFLeader

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelgallardo-phd/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@rachel_ltfleader⁠

Look for new episodes on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Remember, being an effective leader is hard, but you don't have to do it alone. The tools we discuss on this podcast can help you level the challenges you face as a leader, no matter what season of leadership you are in.