In this episode, Courtney and Susie discuss the challenges of half-assed difficult conversations and the importance of clear communication in management. They share personal experiences and strategies for ensuring conversations are fully understood, including the necessity for honesty, the skill of holding space for employees' emotions, and practical communication tools. They emphasize the detrimental effects of avoiding truth and highlight the crucial role of continuous, transparent dialogue in building trust. The episode introduces the 'CLEAR' framework for effectively handling tough discussions and maintaining trust in professional relationships.

Just us for our first-ever guest episode with the brilliant Amy Haworth, founder and CEO of Nobody Makes It Alone as we talk about a keystone skill that sets the best leaders apart: listening. We unpack the common leadership mistake of thinking we need to have the answers and instead how to make listening a superpower to connect work, guide team members, and enhance the well-bring of the organization. We loved soaking up Amy's wisdom and curiosity on this topic, and we know you will, too! 

A few resources references in this episode:

• Adaptive Listening by Duarte Communications
• SBAR Tool by Cy Wakeman
• This is Strategy by Seth Godin

In this episode, we're diving into the not-so-bright side of being a high performer. While being a top achiever has many perks, it also comes with stress, burnout, and the tendency to take on too much. If we don't talk about the full picture of high performance, so we can't manage all sides of it. We share personal stories and insights on the less frequently discussed downsides and tips on finding balance, self-advocacy, and how managers can better support their standout team members.

01:24 Defining High Performance
02:48 The Pitfalls of Saying Yes Too Much
11:44 Advocating for Yourself
16:10 Practical Tips for High Performers and Managers

Susie and Courtney open up about their biggest missteps and mistakes from their own management careers. Over-managing, under-management, not setting clear expectations, not giving feedback, over-promising growth opportunities... we've done it all! Through our personal experiences and observations of clients, we share lessons learned the hard way.  

In this episode, Courtney and Susie tackle how to manage a team when you have major challenges happening in your personal life. Despite the common notion of "leave it at home," the hosts emphasize the impracticality of checking personal struggles at the door and highlight transparency as key to building trust and moving work forward. Sharing personal stories and evidence-based strategies from performance psychology and positive psychology, they talk about how to keep showing up in a way that is authentic to you, while not having to divulge every detail of your personal situation. 

00:14 Managing Amidst Personal Chaos: It's Gonna Happen

03:09 Personal Experiences and Challenges

06:38 Strategies for Managing During Personal Crisis

16:33 Resilience and Connection

19:13 Using Work as a Healthy Distraction

26:26 Mental Skills and Resilience Techniques

Courtney and Susie continue to unpack aspects of management no one talks about. They discuss the loneliness of management, particularly when you're shielding your team from tough stuff. Up next is the tricky art of managing your boss and advocating for yourself. The duo shares insights on negotiating salaries and why everyone should. They wrap up with a look at the ever-present overwhelm in management roles and how this can play out in real life scenarios.

• 0:53: The loneliness of people management
• 4:24: You will have to manage your own boss
• 13:47: Leadership and management are not mutually exclusive
• 18:12: You might be set up to fail before you begin
• 24:11: You probably aren’t getting paid enough
• 30:35: You will be overwhelmed the majority of the time

In this episode of the Manage with Meaning Podcast, the hosts tackle the tough truths about being a manager that often go unspoken. Courtney discusses her popular Instagram post, shedding light on the real challenges of management, like mismatched job descriptions, dealing with bureaucracy, and the emotional toll it takes. They also share personal stories about the surprises and struggles of the role, including balancing old tasks with new responsibilities and managing team dynamics. The conversation emphasizes the need for honesty, transparency, and realistic expectations in management.

In episode two of the 'Manage with Meaning' podcast, hosts Courtney and Susie dive into the tricky topic of emotions at work. They start with the idea that 'the emotions you evoke are the culture you create' and discuss how important it is for managers to stay emotionally consistent. They chat about using tools like the emotions wheel to understand and manage feelings, and share their own experiences with workplace emotions—both good and bad. The episode also touches on serious topics like handling employees' emotional struggles and knowing what resources are available for support. They wrap it up with some great book recommendations and tips for fostering a positive vibe at work. It's a real talk about how emotions play into making a good work culture.

Follow us on Instagram at @manage_with_meaning and learn more at managemeantexcellence.com

In the debut episode of the 'Manage with Meaning' podcast, hosts Susie Taylor and Courtney Schultz discuss the challenges and rewards of people management. Courtney shares her journey from an unexpected managerial role at 16 to her passion for honest conversations about management. Susie highlights her background in positive psychology and resilience, stressing the importance of balancing high performance with well-being. They dive into the significance of managing with intention and meaning, acknowledging the complexities and unspoken difficulties that managers face. The episode sets the stage for future discussions aimed at addressing the realities of people management and fostering meaningful leadership.

Follow us on Instagram at @manage_with_meaning and learn more at managemeantexcellence.com