Notes From the Window Seat

Today’s episode might sting a little… but it’s something you need to hear.

Are you an unintentional bully?

It’s not a title any of us want, but if we’re honest—gossip has probably come out of our mouths more times than we care to admit.

We’ve all been there: You’re frustrated. Someone dropped the ball. You need to vent. You share it with someone “just to get it off your chest.”

But here’s the thing—what happens to those words when we’re done venting?

We rarely think about where they go or how they land

Until - we’re the one being talked about.

So, in this episode, we’re talking about:

• How gossip shows up

• The damage it does,

• And most importantly—how to shut it down gracefully and build a culture of respect.

Here’s the hard truth:
Gossip is easy. Leadership is hard.
But workplaces thrive when we choose honesty, kindness, and curiosity over whispering and assumptions.

So the next time you’re tempted to “just vent,” ask yourself—

Am I solving a problem, or spreading one?

We’ve all been guilty of gossip at some point. But with intention, we can be better. We can lead better. 

Your challenge this week:
Pay attention to the conversations around you—and the ones you start. Ask yourself:

Am I contributing to the office gossip verbally or silently?

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The truth is that most managers are expected to lead without ever being taught how.  I've created The Managers Playbook to solve this problem. It's a short practical leadership toolkit designed for real managers working with real world team. It isn't theory or fluff. It's a set of practical, proven tool that you can start using today!

https://www.lftconsult.com/the-managers-playbook

Additional Resources:

https://www.lftconsult.com/smallbusinesstoolbox

https://www.lftconsult.com/transformyourbusiness

Learn more about the window seat here: TRAVEL | Visual Escape

Follow us on Instagram @windowseat2a

Letting someone go is never easy — but sometimes it’s necessary. In this episode, we’re walking through the steps you should take before making that decision. We'll talk about coaching conversations, documenting performance, and asking the critical question: Should they be fired — or would they thrive in a different role?

📢We’ll also cover my #1 rule when it comes to terminations: It should never be a surprise to the employee.

“Have you ever let someone go and felt a pit in your stomach — wondering if you did everything you could to help them succeed?”

Or…

“Ever had someone completely flounder in a role — and you’re left wondering if it’s on them… or if maybe you put them in the wrong seat on the bus?”

⭐Reassign or Terminate:

⭐Before you Terminate - Here’s what needs to happen first:

✅ Rule of Thumb: Before firing, ask yourself:
“In my heart, can I say I’ve done everything I can to help this person succeed?”

⭐Time to Terminate:

But be careful not to "promote the problem" — don’t move someone just to avoid conflict.

⭐Leadership:

 🎧Don’t forget to subscribe for more leadership and business tips!

 Additional Resources:

https://www.lftconsult.com/the-managers-playbook

https://www.lftconsult.com/smallbusinesstoolbox

https://www.lftconsult.com/transformyourbusiness

Learn more about the window seat here: TRAVEL | Visual Escape

Follow us on Instagram @windowseat2a

“Have you ever caught yourself thinking, ‘That’s an HR issue’? Or handed off a tough employee conversation because, well... isn’t that what HR is for?”

Quick preview of what’s coming:

Common misconceptions about HR

What’s actually a leader’s responsibility

How to work with HR, not dump on them

The Misunderstanding: What HR Isn’t

HR isn’t your clean-up crew.

HR doesn’t manage your people — you do.

HR doesn’t sit in on every performance conversation, nor should they.

You hired the person. You supervise them. You’re responsible for their development, feedback, and accountability.

🎤  “HR can’t lead your team — that’s your job.”

What HR Actually Does

Builds systems, policies, and frameworks.

Provides guidance and support — tools, training, coaching.

Ensures compliance and reduces risk.

Helps with hiring systems, onboarding structure, documentation processes.

🛠️ Think of HR as the architect. But you still have to swing the hammer.

The Leadership Cop-Outs We See Too Often

“Can you talk to them for me?”

“Can you make this go away?”

“Just write them up.”

👎 Let’s be honest: These are usually avoidance tactics.

💬 Reality check: Leadership isn’t just about vision and big ideas — it’s about handling the uncomfortable stuff too.

What Great Leaders Do (With HR’s Help)

Use HR as a strategic partner, not a dumping ground.

Ask for support in:

Crafting clear expectations

Building a performance plan

Understanding legal/compliance boundaries

Then… take ownership of delivering the message and following through.

✅ Great leaders own their team’s success — and their challenges.

Next time you’re tempted to punt a people issue to HR, pause and ask:

“Is this something I need to take ownership of?”

Reach out to HR, not to hand it off, but to get their insight — and then lead through it.

Because at the end of the day, the best workplaces aren’t built by HR departments — they’re built by leaders who show up for the hard stuff.

 🎧Don’t forget to subscribe for more leadership and business tips!

 Additional Resources:

https://www.lftconsult.com/smallbusinesstoolbox

https://www.lftconsult.com/transformyourbusiness

Learn more about the window seat here: TRAVEL | Visual Escape

Follow us on Instagram @windowseat2a

Today we’re diving into a topic that’s long overdue for a reset: why hiring for skills and mindset matters more than hiring for a degree. Especially in small businesses, this can be the difference between landing your next great team member — or missing out because of outdated job requirements.

We’ve all been trained to think a degree equals readiness. But here’s the truth: a diploma doesn’t guarantee performance — and it certainly doesn’t guarantee the right attitude or work ethic. The best leaders know this.

They know that skillset and a willingness to learn will take you further than a framed certificate on the wall. So why are so many job descriptions still requiring degrees?

So, let’s step back and ask: What does a degree actually give a candidate that a person without one wouldn’t have?

In many roles — think marketing, operations, HR, admin support, customer service, logistics — the answer is: not much that can’t be learned elsewhere. Degrees can teach discipline, research, and writing — but so can life, work experience, and self-motivation.

So, the real question becomes: Are you hiring for tradition — or are you hiring for results?

So what do you do instead?

Rewrite your job descriptions to focus on outcomes and essential skills — not credentials.

Use better interview questions, like: “Tell me about a time you solved a problem with limited resources.” “Walk me through how you’d handle a customer who’s upset about a late delivery.”

Be open to training, especially if the person brings everything else to the table: integrity, curiosity, accountability.

Don’t let a degree requirement be a barrier to great talent. Because your best hire might not have a diploma — but they’ll have everything else you need.

🎧Don’t forget to subscribe for more leadership and business tips!

 Additional Resources:

https://www.lftconsult.com/smallbusinesstoolbox

https://www.lftconsult.com/transformyourbusiness

Learn more about the window seat here: TRAVEL | Visual Escape

Follow us on Instagram @windowseat2a

Not everything can be a priority. Effective time management starts with making purposeful choices, managing your energy, and setting boundaries that protect your focus.

“Do you ever look at your to-do list and feel your heart rate go up?”

The Why:

Why everything feels like a priority (client expectations, team needs, our own ambition).

A Mindset Shift: Not Everything Deserves Your Yes

Techniques For Prioritizing Tasks

Break into 3 key strategies—simple, practical, doable:

✅ A. Prioritization

✅ B. Energy Management

✅ C. Saying “No” with Purpose

You’re Building a Business

“What’s one thing on your list that doesn’t truly deserve your time this week?”

“Where could you create more space to do less—but better?”

🎧Don’t forget to subscribe for more leadership and business tips!

 Additional Resources:

https://www.lftconsult.com/smallbusinesstoolbox

https://www.lftconsult.com/transformyourbusiness

Learn more about the window seat here: TRAVEL | Visual Escape

Follow us on Instagram @windowseat2a

Have you ever felt guilty for taking a vacation? Have you packed your laptop “just in case,” only to end up answering emails from the beach or joining Zoom calls from your hotel?

You’re not alone. But you are missing the point of PTO.

Today, we’re diving into the importance of real time off. Why taking a vacation and unplugging matters.

The best leaders I know build white space into their calendars. They carve out time to think, reflect, and rest. And they come back better because of it.

If you’re a leader: ask yourself — are you truly encouraging time off, or just tolerating it?

And if you want help preparing for time off the right way — check out the free download in the show notes: It’s a quick tool you can use to help you — or your team — unplug without chaos.

📑 Vacation Checklist Grab Your copy here: https://www.lftconsult.com/downloads

 🎧Don’t forget to subscribe for more leadership and business tips!

 Additional Resources:

https://www.lftconsult.com/smallbusinesstoolbox

https://www.lftconsult.com/transformyourbusiness

Learn more about the window seat here: TRAVEL | Visual Escape

Follow us on Instagram @windowseat2a

Have you ever given what you thought were really clear instructions on a project—only to have it go completely sideways?

Ever found yourself thinking, “I swear I explained this already…”?

If you’re nodding right now, you are not alone—and this episode is definitely for you.

🔹 The Myth of Common Sense

Here’s a hard truth: What’s obvious to you is not obvious to everyone else. And yet, we operate like it is.

We assume people “just know” what to do, how to do it, and what good looks like.

But assuming clarity is where communication breaks down.

If you've ever caught yourself thinking:

• “Why would they do it that way?”

• “They should’ve known better…”

• “Isn’t that common sense?”

You might have an expectation gap on your hands.

And here’s the kicker—when expectations aren’t clear, people default to what’s easiest or most familiar…not necessarily what’s right for the job.

🔹 Signs You Haven’t Been Clear

Let’s do a quick check-in. Here are some red flags that your expectations might not be landing:

• You feel like you’re constantly repeating yourself

• Work comes back incomplete or off-target

• Deadlines are missed

• People seem unsure or hesitate to make decisions

• You’re doing more “course correction” than coaching

These aren’t just performance issues. They’re communication issues. And they’re fixable.

🔹 How to Set Clear Expectations

Let’s make this practical. Here’s a 5-step framework you can use right now:

1. Be Specific. Describe the task, the outcome, and what success looks like. Not just “do the report”—but “complete the weekly sales report, include X and Y, and submit it by 10 AM every Monday.”

2. Provide a Timeline. Don’t say “ASAP.” Be precise. When does it need to be done, and why that timeline matters?

3. Clarify the Standard. This is big—don’t just say “do a good job.” Define what “good” actually means. Quality, format, tone, accuracy… what matters here?

4. Offer Support. Ask: “What do you need from me to be successful?” Make sure they have the tools, access, or info they need.

5. Confirm Understanding. Ask them to summarize what they heard. Not to quiz them—but to make sure you’re truly aligned.

Simple? Yes. Easy to do consistently? Not always. But that’s where the real work of leadership lives.

🔹 Resetting When Things Go Off Track

What if you’ve already dropped the ball?

Maybe you weren’t as clear as you thought—and now the work is behind, wrong, or frustrating for both of you.

Here’s a script you can use to reset expectations without blame:

“Hey Joe, I realized I may not have been as clear as I could have been about this project. Let’s take a few minutes to make sure we’re on the same page moving forward.”

That one sentence can shift a defensive conversation into a collaborative one. And it shows humility—a trait your team will respect.

So, here’s your challenge this week:

✅ Pick one task, project, or role where you’ve been assuming clarity

✅ Use the 5 steps to reset and clarify expectations

✅ Watch how much smoother things start to run

Remember—clarity is kindness. It’s not micromanaging. It’s not controlling. It’s giving your team what they need to succeed.

To make this even easier, I’ve created a quick tool for you: 📑 Clear Expectations = Better Results: Grap Your copy here: https://www.lftconsult.com/downloads

🎧Don’t forget to subscribe for more leadership and business tips!

Additional Resources:

https://www.lftconsult.com/smallbusinesstoolbox

https://www.lftconsult.com/transformyourbusiness

Learn more about the window seat here: TRAVEL | Visual Escape

Follow us on Instagram @windowseat2a

Today we’re talking about something simple but powerful: the One-on-One Conversation.

You know, the one meeting that has the power to boost trust, improve performance, and create real connection between you and your team members—but too often it gets skipped, rushed, or you treat it like a troublesome item to check off your to-do -list.

Today we’re going to change that.

What to listen for:

So, here’s your leadership challenge this week:

Schedule a one-on-one with at least one of your team members. - Download the handout.
Use the structure we talked about – create a script - Show up curious and present.

Because when you show up consistently for your people, they show up for you

Download your copy of “A Quick Guide to More Effective 1:1 Conversations.”  

🎧Don’t forget to subscribe for more leadership and business tips! 

Additional Resources and Classes:

Small Business Toolbox

Learn more about the window seat here: TRAVEL | Visual Escape

Follow us on Instagram @windowseat2a

Ever feel like running your business should be easier than it is? Does it feel like you are constantly juggling people problems, customer demands, and a to-do list that never ends—and wondering, “Why isn’t this working better?”

If you’ve ever thought this, you are in the right place. Welcome to Build a Better Business—a weekly podcast about leadership, communication, culture, and all the moving pieces that go into creating a business people actually want to be part of.

I’m Marty Pearson—leadership coach, HR consultant, and someone who’s spent over 20 years helping small businesses grow, leaders communicate better, and owners build workplaces that truly work.

So, if this sounds like something you want to be part of, hit the follow or subscribe button so you don’t miss an episode. I’ll drop new episodes every Monday morning—just in time for your first coffee break.

This is the Build a Better Business Podcast. Grab a cup of coffee and let’s build something better—together.

Learn more about the window seat here: TRAVEL | Visual Escape

Follow us on Instagram @windowseat2a