Managing Made Simple

By Lia GarvinBusiness Management

Managing Made Simple episodes

March 24Giving feedback without it being a laundry list
You've got feedback to give. A lot of it. But every time you try, it either comes out as a running list of corrections or it never comes out at all because you don't know where to start.
In this episode, Lia answers a real listener question about how to manage feedback when there's a lot to address, without losing your team's trust or making them feel like nothing is ever good enough.
In this episode you will learn:
Why constant corrective feedback trains your team to do the bare minimum and wait for instructions
How to categorize feedback into themes so it lands as a standard instead of a list
Why connecting feedback to a "why" is what gets your team to self-manage
How recognition builds the trust that makes corrective feedback actually stick
What specific, concrete recognition looks like in practice and why it changes everything
Resources mentioned:
Free Snippets Tool: liagarvin.com/snippets
Download my FREE guide to making hard conversations with your team easier at liagarvin.com/convo
Looking for support for yourself of your team? I've got you covered.
Explore manager training, leaders keynotes & offsites, and 1:1 advisory, or my 90-Day-COO program for business owners who want simple systems that actually work.
I transform teams from cost centers to profit centers with practical tools and research-backed strategies that make managing EASIER.
Get all the details at: www.liagarvin.com
Contact: liagarvin.com/contact
Email: [email protected]
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Lia.Garvin
--
© 2026 Lia Garvin / Managing Made Simple
14 min
March 17How to stop being the bottleneck on decisions
You hired talented people, asked them to lead, and yet they're still coming to you for final approval on *everything*. It feels like you're micromanaging, even though you desperately want to be hands-off. You don't want to reject their need for support, but this constant stream of decisions, big and small, is keeping you buried in the day-to-day.

This isn't just annoying; it's a critical bottleneck that prevents you from scaling and keeps your team from truly stepping into ownership. When you're the default decision-maker, you're doing two jobs at once, and your team isn't building the muscle they need.

In this episode of Real Talk: Leading Small Teams, we dive into how to break free from the decision-making weeds.

In this episode, you'll learn:
Why being involved in every decision creates a "death by a thousand paper cuts" and limits your ability to scale.
How constantly making the final call prevents your team from taking full accountability
The difference in how high-performing versus struggling teams approach decision-making, and what does it mean for you
How can you build your team's decision-making capacity instead of just offloading tasks?
How articulating your own decision-making process empowers your team to make aligned choices
This isn't just about freeing up your time; it's about unlocking your team's full potential and enabling true growth.
Download my FREE guide to making hard conversations with your team easier at liagarvin.com/convo
Looking for support for yourself of your team? I've got you covered.
Explore manager training, leaders keynotes & offsites, and 1:1 advisory, or my 90-Day-COO program for business owners who want simple systems that actually work.
I transform teams from cost centers to profit centers with practical tools and research-backed strategies that make managing EASIER.
Get all the details at: www.liagarvin.com
Contact: liagarvin.com/contact
Email: [email protected]
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Lia.Garvin
--
© 2026 Lia Garvin / Managing Made Simple
17 min
March 10Dealing with team members that bug us
You know the feeling.
Their name pops up on your calendar and your stomach drops just a little.
They are not low performers. They are actually delivering.
But something about the dynamic makes leading them harder than it needs to be.
In this episode of Real Talk: Leading Small Teams, we break down three common archetypes that trigger leaders and how to handle each one without avoiding hard conversations.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why “Praise-Seeking Polly” may not actually feel recognized, even when you think you are praising them
What “Mindy the Mope” might be signaling about role fit and strengths alignment
Why “Defensive Dan” reacts to feedback and how to lower defensiveness without walking on eggshells
How to anchor feedback in shared expectations so high performers stay coachable
If you have someone on your team who makes you want to cancel your one-on-ones but is technically doing a good job, this episode will help you shift from frustration to strategy.
💻 Grab the Snippets template: liagarvin.com/snippets
Download my FREE guide to making hard conversations with your team easier at liagarvin.com/convo
Looking for support for yourself of your team? I've got you covered.
Explore manager training, leaders keynotes & offsites, and 1:1 advisory, or my 90-Day-COO program for business owners who want simple systems that actually work.
I transform teams from cost centers to profit centers with practical tools and research-backed strategies that make managing EASIER.
Get all the details at: www.liagarvin.com
Contact: liagarvin.com/contact
Email: [email protected]
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Lia.Garvin
--
© 2026 Lia Garvin / Managing Made Simple
17 min
March 03What should I be paying people to attract top talent?
You find the perfect senior hire. They have the résumé. The experience. The track record.
But the salary makes your stomach drop.
Do you stretch and hope it pays off? Or walk away and risk staying stuck?
In this episode, we unpack the real tension leaders face when hiring senior talent in a small business and how to think about compensation without blowing up your risk tolerance.
We talk about:
Why overextending on a big hire can create pressure that sabotages onboarding
How to think beyond base salary and use ownership, scope, equity, and incentives strategically
What to consider when deciding your true risk tolerance as a leader
Why no hiring process can guarantee success and how to de-risk smartly instead
If you are wrestling with whether you can afford that senior hire or afraid you cannot grow without them, this episode will help you make the decision from clarity instead of fear.
💻 Grab the Snippets template: liagarvin.com/snippets
Download my FREE guide to making hard conversations with your team easier at liagarvin.com/convo
Looking for support for yourself of your team? I've got you covered.
Explore manager training, leaders keynotes & offsites, and 1:1 advisory, or my 90-Day-COO program for business owners who want simple systems that actually work.
I transform teams from cost centers to profit centers with practical tools and research-backed strategies that make managing EASIER.
Get all the details at: www.liagarvin.com
Contact: liagarvin.com/contact
Email: [email protected]
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Lia.Garvin
--
© 2026 Lia Garvin / Managing Made Simple
15 min
February 24What investing in your team could cost you OR earn you
What’s the cost of waiting too long to address a problem on your team?
In this episode, we’re breaking down the key actions that separate leadership disasters from record-breaking success.
You'll learn:
How waiting too long to address team challenges can lead to massive losses
The $250,000 mistake from one of my clients and the turnaround that followed
The positive impact of setting clear expectations and implementing systems early on
How proactive leadership resulted in a $1M revenue quarter for another client
The importance of making feedback actionable and giving your team the support they need
This episode is full of insights on avoiding leadership pitfalls and practical steps to help your team thrive before problems spiral out of control.
💻 Grab the Snippets template: liagarvin.com/snippets
Download my FREE guide to making hard conversations with your team easier at liagarvin.com/convo
Looking for support for yourself of your team? I've got you covered.
Explore manager training, leaders keynotes & offsites, and 1:1 advisory, or my 90-Day-COO program for business owners who want simple systems that actually work.
I transform teams from cost centers to profit centers with practical tools and research-backed strategies that make managing EASIER.
Get all the details at: www.liagarvin.com
Contact: liagarvin.com/contact
Email: [email protected]
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Lia.Garvin
--
© 2026 Lia Garvin / Managing Made Simple
14 min
February 17I want to hand off work to my team, but the clients want ME, what do I do?
You built a reputation for being the best. So why does it feel like your success is the very thing keeping you stuck?
If clients keep asking for you by name and you cannot seem to step out of the weeds without everything pulling you back in, this episode will show you how to scale without losing trust, quality, or revenue.
In this episode of Real Talk: Leading Small Teams, you’ll learn:
Why believing your “magic” cannot be taught is keeping you small
How to translate your secret sauce into real training your team can actually use
The messaging shift that gets clients excited about working with your team
Why holding onto control is blocking ownership and accountability
What to expect in the first 6 to 12 months as you level someone up to your standard
If you are tired of constantly being pulled back into client work or secretly worried no one can do it like you can, this episode will help you build a team that truly carries the weight with you.
💻 Grab the Snippets template: https://liagarvin.com/snippets
Download my FREE guide to making hard conversations with your team easier at liagarvin.com/convo
Looking for support for yourself of your team? I've got you covered.
Explore manager training, leaders keynotes & offsites, and 1:1 advisory, or my 90-Day-COO program for business owners who want simple systems that actually work.
I transform teams from cost centers to profit centers with practical tools and research-backed strategies that make managing EASIER.
Get all the details at: www.liagarvin.com
Contact: liagarvin.com/contact
Email: [email protected]
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Lia.Garvin
--
© 2026 Lia Garvin / Managing Made Simple
17 min
February 10I hired managers- why am I still in the details?
You finally hired managers… so why are you still stuck in every decision, every issue, every fire?
If you feel like promoting managers was supposed to free you up and somehow did the opposite, this episode breaks down exactly why that happens and how to fix it.
In this episode, we talk about:
How leaders accidentally train managers to defer decisions
The simple way to teach decision-making without more meetings
What to do when managers do not actually want to manage
The core skills every manager must learn to take pressure off you
This conversation is a must-listen if you want your managers to truly own their role and finally give you the breathing room you hired them for.
💻 Grab the Snippets template: https://liagarvin.com/snippets
Download my FREE guide to making hard conversations with your team easier at liagarvin.com/convo
Looking for support for yourself of your team? I've got you covered.
Explore manager training, leaders keynotes & offsites, and 1:1 advisory, or my 90-Day-COO program for business owners who want simple systems that actually work.
I transform teams from cost centers to profit centers with practical tools and research-backed strategies that make managing EASIER.
Get all the details at: www.liagarvin.com
Contact: liagarvin.com/contact
Email: [email protected]
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Lia.Garvin
--
© 2026 Lia Garvin / Managing Made Simple
16 min
February 10Did I make a bad hire? How do I know? What do I do?
Hiring is exhausting, and nothing messes with your confidence faster than wondering, “Did I just make a really expensive mistake?”
In this episode, we take a clear-eyed, practical look at how to assess a new hire without panic, resentment, or dragging things out way too long. Plus we’ll talk about what to do when the answer isn’t obvious.
In this episode of Real Talk: Leading Small Teams, you’ll learn:
Why deciding someone “isn’t a fit” too fast or too late creates bigger problems
The role onboarding and missing expectations plays in hiring
The 30–60–90 day check-in framework that removes guesswork
Why most performance issues come down to feedback that was never given
The red flags that aren’t coachable and how to address them compassionately
If you’ve ever felt stuck between “I should give this more time” and “I should’ve acted months ago,” this episode will help you make the call with clarity and confidence.
💻 Grab the Snippets template: https://liagarvin.com/snippets
Download my FREE guide to making hard conversations with your team easier at liagarvin.com/convo
Looking for support for yourself of your team? I've got you covered.
Explore manager training, leaders keynotes & offsites, and 1:1 advisory, or my 90-Day-COO program for business owners who want simple systems that actually work.
I transform teams from cost centers to profit centers with practical tools and research-backed strategies that make managing EASIER.
Get all the details at: www.liagarvin.com
Contact: liagarvin.com/contact
Email: [email protected]
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Lia.Garvin
--
© 2026 Lia Garvin / Managing Made Simple
15 min
February 10How to get out of the friend-zone with your team members?
You didn’t mean to become the “cool boss.”
But now feedback feels awkward, boundaries are blurry and accountability keeps slipping.
In this episode of Real Talk: Leading Small Teams, we break down what to do when you’ve been friend-zoned by your team, and how to reset the dynamic without becoming cold or rigid.
In this episode, we cover:
The subtle signs you’ve crossed from friendly leader into the friend zone
Why feedback resistance is often a relationship problem, not a performance one
How to reset expectations and redefine your leadership style without blindsiding your team
The boundaries that actually increase trust and accountability
The three-step reset that gets you out of the friend zone for good
If hard conversations keep getting delayed and leadership feels heavier than it should, this episode will help you course-correct fast.
💻 Grab the Snippets template: https://liagarvin.com/snippets
Download my FREE guide to making hard conversations with your team easier at liagarvin.com/convo
Looking for support for yourself of your team? I've got you covered.
Explore manager training, leaders keynotes & offsites, and 1:1 advisory, or my 90-Day-COO program for business owners who want simple systems that actually work.
I transform teams from cost centers to profit centers with practical tools and research-backed strategies that make managing EASIER.
Get all the details at: www.liagarvin.com
Contact: liagarvin.com/contact
Email: [email protected]
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Lia.Garvin
--
© 2026 Lia Garvin / Managing Made Simple
15 min
February 03This question will 10x your impact as a leader and grow your revenue
You know that thing on your team you keep meaning to deal with… but haven’t?
The underperformer.
The role you should hire for.
The expectations conversation you keep postponing.
Avoidance feels easier in the moment — but it quietly turns leaders into bottlenecks.
In this episode, we break down how avoiding hard moves is slowing your team down and what to do instead.
You’ll learn:
How to spot what you’re avoiding as a leader
Why delaying a hire often costs more than making one
What to do when you’ve been putting off tough feedback
How unclear expectations create repeat problems
Why avoidance makes you the decision bottleneck
How to reset leadership momentum fast
A simple weekly tool that improves visibility and accountability in minutes
If you feel stuck, behind, or like issues keep resurfacing, this episode will help you move forward with clarity.
Best for founders, business owners, and team leads who want to stop circling problems and start solving them.
Download my FREE guide to making hard conversations with your team easier at liagarvin.com/convo
Looking for support for yourself of your team? I've got you covered.
Explore manager training, leaders keynotes & offsites, and 1:1 advisory, or my 90-Day-COO program for business owners who want simple systems that actually work.
I transform teams from cost centers to profit centers with practical tools and research-backed strategies that make managing EASIER.
Get all the details at: www.liagarvin.com
Contact: liagarvin.com/contact
Email: [email protected]
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Lia.Garvin
--
© 2026 Lia Garvin / Managing Made Simple
15 min

About Managing Made Simple

From the publisher's feed

Managing Made Simple is a weekly leadership and management podcast for people managers, business owners, and founders who want to lead high-performing teams without falling back into the work themselves.