Managing Made Simple

September is here, and with it comes what Gen Z has dubbed “The Great Lock-In”, a post-summer push to refocus, reenergize, and finish the year strong. But this moment isn’t just a trend, it’s a powerful opportunity for leaders.

In this episode of The New Manager Playbook podcast, I share how to use this time to reconnect your team to purpose and progress, without pushing them to burnout.

You’ll learn:

• Why 79% of employees feel disengaged, and what you can do about it

Plus, grab my free Snippets Template to keep your team on track each week: 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.

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

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin

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© 2026 Lia Garvin / Managing Made Simple

What if your team isn’t burned out, they’re just over it?

In this episode of The New Manager Playbook, I sit down with Grace Lee, our new GenZ brand manager, for a raw, honest conversation about what’s really going on inside today’s workplace. Grace shares what it's like to be a 20-something navigating a job market that’s flooded, unstable, and full of uncertainty, and how that shapes engagement, loyalty, and motivation.

We talk about:

• Why Gen Z sees jobs like dating apps, and what that means for retention

If you’re wondering why your team feels disengaged, or why your best hires don’t stay, this episode will shift your perspective and give you practical steps to build real connection that keeps people around.

Listen now to hear how small shifts in how you lead can reignite energy across your team.

And if you want support in navigating all of this on your team, it's time to bring The New Manager Playbook Program to your team. Get on the list for my new digital manager development program, changing the game of digital management training by making it efficient, cost-effective, and scalable. 

Get on the list for early access at liagarvin.com/program

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.

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

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin

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© 2026 Lia Garvin / Managing Made Simple

Feeling like your team member is dropping the ball? Before you rewrite the job description or mentally fire them, hit play on this episode.

This week on The New Manager Playbook, we dive into why most performance issues don’t start with a “bad hire”, they start with a feedback vacuum. If your team member doesn’t know what’s expected, how can they meet the mark?

In this episode:

• Why assuming “it should be obvious” is sabotaging your team

If you’ve ever felt like, “I shouldn’t have to explain this,” this episode is your wake-up call.

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.

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

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin

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© 2026 Lia Garvin / Managing Made Simple

Quiet quitting made headlines, but it’s time to talk about a deeper threat: Quiet Cracking.

This episode is all about what happens when your most reliable, engaged, high-performing team members start slowly disengaging- not because they want to slack off, but because they’re burned out, spread thin, and overwhelmed. The kicker? They’re still showing up. Still doing the work. But the spark is fading.

If you’re noticing your star players stepping back or losing their usual energy, this episode is for you. I break down:

• What Quiet Cracking is (and how it’s different from quiet quitting)

This isn’t about sweeping transformation, it’s about getting back to the basics that work. Plus, I share a lightweight tool that can help you get ahead of burnout and build resilience into your team every week.

Resources Mentioned:

• Free 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.

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

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin

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© 2026 Lia Garvin / Managing Made Simple

A LinkedIn report says 58% of employees feel underutilized. That’s more than half of your team wondering if they could be doing more somewhere else.

In this episode of The New Manager Playbook, I breaks down:

• Why underutilization is a hidden driver of burnout and turnover

You’ll also hear my own stories of being overlooked for stretch opportunities, and why those were the same moments I started looking for a new job.

If you want to keep your best people, it’s time to learn how to see and use their full potential.

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Grab my FAVORITE tool to make managing easer, and keep a pulse on what your team is working on without micromanaging: 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.

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

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin

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© 2026 Lia Garvin / Managing Made Simple

Onboarding can make, or break, a new hire’s success. In this episode of The New Manager Playbook Podcast, I reveal the two biggest onboarding mistakes managers make, and how to avoid them.

You’ll learn how to set clear expectations, keep new-hire enthusiasm high, and integrate them smoothly into the team. Whether you lead a small business or a corporate team, these tips will help you turn hiring wins into long-term results.

Key Takeaways:

• The two most common onboarding fails (and how to fix them).

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WORK WITH LIA:

How many times have you thought "I wish this whole managing people thing was a little easier" or better yet - "tell me what to do to be a better manager and I'll do it"?

Want some support for yourself or your team, let's chat! Schedule a call here: calendly.com/liagarvin/scaleup-strategy

Website: https://www.liagarvin.com/

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.

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

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin

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© 2026 Lia Garvin / Managing Made Simple

Hiring mistakes are expensive—and avoidable. Learn how to hire well and protect your team. Subscribe for weekly manager tips!

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WORK WITH LIA:

How many times have you thought "I wish this whole managing people thing was a little easier" or better yet - "tell me what to do to be a better manager and I'll do it"?

Want some support for yourself or your team, let's chat! Schedule a call here: calendly.com/liagarvin/scaleup-strategy

Website: https://www.liagarvin.com/

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.

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

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin

--

© 2026 Lia Garvin / Managing Made Simple

Are you using AI in leadership or just hiding behind it? Discover how shortcuts like AI video clones and ChatGPT strategies are killing trust. Subscribe for more real-talk on leadership!

What You’ll Learn:

• Why overusing AI as a leader can damage team trust and engagement

AI in leadership is everywhere but are you leveraging it to connect or to check out? In this episode, Lia Garvin breaks down the hidden dangers of using AI tools as a replacement for genuine leadership moments. From the jaw-dropping story of an executive who sends out AI video clones instead of real updates, to the cringe-worthy copy-paste ChatGPT strategies, Lia explores the real impact these shortcuts have on team morale and trust.

Drawing from personal experience as Chief of Staff at Microsoft and a candid coaching story from YouTube, Lia illustrates how teams crave authentic connection, not automation. When leaders substitute presence with AI, they risk eroding respect, increasing turnover, and missing critical opportunities to support high performers.

But it’s not all warnings. This episode also shows how to use AI as a tool for brainstorming and efficiency, while still taking full responsibility as a leader. 

Lia shares actionable advice on having hard conversations, building executive presence, and using AI to amplify your impact, not erase it. 

If you’re a manager wondering how to get the best from your team in the age of automation, this is your playbook for keeping humanity at the heart of leadership.

Subscribe for weekly leadership strategies and real-world stories—don’t miss an episode!

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WORK WITH LIA:

How many times have you thought "I wish this whole managing people thing was a little easier" or better yet - "tell me what to do to be a better manager and I'll do it"?

Want some support for yourself or your team, let's chat! Schedule a call here: calendly.com/liagarvin/scaleup-strategy

Website: https://www.liagarvin.com/

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.

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

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin

--

© 2026 Lia Garvin / Managing Made Simple

Your freelancer blew the deadline—now what? Learn how to manage freelancers the right way. Subscribe for more leadership tips!

What You’ll Learn:

• Why fractional talent often fails to meet expectations—and how to fix it

Managing freelancers shouldn’t feel like babysitting but without the right systems, it does. In this episode of The New Manager Playbook, Lia Garvin dives deep into the freelancer horror stories so many founders and leaders are facing. From contractors missing deadlines to UI designers holding projects hostage, you’ll hear real-life examples of what not to do when working with remote support staff.

But it’s not all cautionary tales. Lia shares her 3 keys to successful freelancer management starting with a clear onboarding process and setting realistic expectations. You’ll also discover how to build accountability even without formal authority, and what tools you can use to track progress without micromanaging. Whether you’re struggling with freelancer deadline issues or want to lead remote teams more effectively, this episode is your playbook.

Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! 🎙️ Hit the bell on YouTube or follow on your favorite podcast app.

Download Lia's Snippets Tool: https://www.liagarvin.com/snippets/

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WORK WITH LIA:

How many times have you thought "I wish this whole managing people thing was a little easier" or better yet - "tell me what to do to be a better manager and I'll do it"?

Want some support for yourself or your team, let's chat! Schedule a call here: calendly.com/liagarvin/scaleup-strategy

Website: https://www.liagarvin.com/

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.

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

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin

--

© 2026 Lia Garvin / Managing Made Simple

In this episode of the New Manager Playbook, Lia Garvin tackles the growing frustration managers face—disengaged teams, missed deadlines, and a lack of accountability. 

Discover how to shift from confirmation bias to clarity, set powerful expectations, and blend AI with your leadership skills to reignite ownership. Learn how to integrate AI into people management, drive performance with empathy, and improve team culture without micromanaging.

If you’re a leader feeling like your team is coasting or dropping the ball, this episode is your reality check. Lia breaks down the perception vs. experience gap that fuels disengagement and shows how using AI for team leadership can support—rather than replace—your emotional intelligence. You’ll also learn how to spot real accountability gaps, communicate expectations clearly, and understand what’s really demotivating your team.

And when money’s tight? Lia shares smart ways to use career development, recognition, and transparent compensation conversations to retain top performers plus how AI tools for better employee engagement can streamline that effort.

Whether you lead a startup team or a corporate division, this is your tactical guide to improving team accountability with AI insights and meaningful leadership.

Love this episode? Subscribe and download the free toolkit at https://liagarvin.com/toolkit

Need help with disengaged teams? Message Lia at https://liagarvin.com

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WORK WITH LIA:

How many times have you thought "I wish this whole managing people thing was a little easier" or better yet - "tell me what to do to be a better manager and I'll do it"?

Want some support for yourself or your team, let's chat! Schedule a call here: calendly.com/liagarvin/scaleup-strategy

Website: https://www.liagarvin.com/

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.

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

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin

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© 2026 Lia Garvin / Managing Made Simple