These are the four leadership lessons that honestly changed everything for me. If you’ve ever felt unsure in your leadership, struggled with feedback, wished conflict felt less scary, or caught yourself sugarcoating things you know you need to say… you’re not alone. I learned all of these the hard way, and today I’m sharing the lessons I wish I could go back and tell myself 10 years ago.

We’re talking about the real-life leadership stuff:
• why feedback can hit your identity
• how having all the answers actually hurts your team
• why healthy conflict is a gift
• and why sugarcoating feels kind but… really isn’t

If you want to grow your leadership skills, build a stronger team, and communicate with more confidence, this episode is your cozy Thanksgiving invitation to slow down, listen in, and learn with me.

👉 Grab the free Better Conversations Feedback Template:
heykaralist.com/feedback
It’s the plug-and-play framework you’ll wish you had sooner.

Most leaders mean well when they say “Thank you for all that you do”… but your team can tell when the gratitude is generic, seasonal, or performative. In this episode of The Better Conversations Podcast, we’re breaking down the kind of gratitude that actually builds culture, increases engagement, strengthens relationships, and improves performance — and the kind that quietly hurts it.

You’ll learn:

✨ Why traditional workplace gratitude doesn’t work

✨ How to give feedback that makes people feel truly seen

✨ How gratitude becomes a leadership discipline, not a holiday task

✨ The CLEAR framework for communicating impact

✨ What your team actually wants from you this Thanksgiving

If you want to practice leadership that transforms your workplace — not just checks a box — this episode is for you.

👉Better Conversations Feedback Template:  https://www.heykaralist.com/feedback

👉 Subscribe for more practical leadership strategies every week

If you’ve ever thought, “I have a difficult employee,” this episode will change how you see it forever. What if that person isn’t actually the problem — what if your culture and communication systems are?In this episode of The Better Conversations Podcast, Kara shares a refreshing strategy for leaders who are tired of managing behavior and ready to build thriving, accountable teams instead.

👉 Grab Kara’s Ultimate Meeting Kickoff Guide: https://www.heykaralist.com/kickoff

👉and Better Conversations Feedback Template: https://www.heykaralist.com/feedback

👉and Better Conversations Feedback Template: https://www.heykaralist.com/feedback

Transform your 1:1 Meetings: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-better-conversations-podcast/id1743846395?i=1000685152040

Leadership, ownership, accountability, leadership mindset, leadership mistakes, self-preservation, how to take responsibility as a leader, blame-shifting in leadership, leadership growthWhen something goes wrong on your team, do you find yourself saying, “I wasn’t there,” or “That wasn’t my fault”?You’re not alone — and this subtle habit could be quietly eroding your credibility, trust, and influence.In this episode of The Better Conversations Podcast, Kara List breaks down why leadership is often unfair — and why that’s not a bad thing. You’ll learn how to shift from self-preservation to ownership, model accountability that strengthens your team, and build the kind of trust that transforms your culture.💡 You’ll learn:Why “fairness” isn’t the goal of great leadershipHow blame-shifting weakens trust (and what to do instead)What real ownership sounds like in leadership conversationsHow to model accountability without fear or defensiveness📩 Want weekly encouragement + practical leadership tools?Join Kara’s free Thursday email for leaders: https://heykaralist.com/newsletter

Struggling to handle your team’s ‘bad’ ideas without crushing morale? Here’s a simple 3-step approach that keeps them engaged, heard, and motivated—even when you have to say no.

Get my best leadership tip sent directly to your email each week: https://www.heykaralist.com/newsletter

Transform your 1:1 Meetings with These 7 Questions: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-better-conversations-podcast/id1743846395?i=1000685152040

If you’ve ever wondered how to handle workplace conflict, lead through team conflict, or stop workplace drama before it spreads, this episode is for you. Kara shares exactly what she’d do if her employees weren’t getting along—and how you can use these same conflict resolution strategies for leaders to build a healthy team culture. You’ll learn how to manage employee conflict, coach your team through conflict, and communicate clearly during tough conversations without becoming the referee.

🎧 Download Kara’s free Drama-Free Conflict Resolution Guide at https://www.heykaralist.com/conflict

If you’ve ever thought, “This meeting could have been an email,” you’re not alone. The average company spends up to 15% of its personnel budget on meetings — and most of that time isn’t spent well.

In this episode, leadership coach Kara List shares how to take back control of your calendar and make meetings work for you, not against you. You’ll learn how to lead meetings with purpose, care, and creativity — and why it all starts with a “meeting about your meetings.”

✅ What you’ll learn:

• How to identify which meetings are actually necessary

• The 4 types of meetings worth keeping

• How to decide who needs to be in the room

• The leader’s posture of stewardship

• 4 creative practices to make meetings meaningful and energizing

  
  

🎁 Free Resource: Download Kara’s Meeting Kickoff Guide (B.A.N.G.) → heykaralist.com/kickoff

In this episode of The Better Conversations Podcast, Kara List breaks down why silence is one of the cruelest leadership mistakes you can make—and how to replace avoidance with clarity, kindness, and impact. You’ll learn:-Why avoiding feedback creates fear, low performance, and turnover

-How high performers lose confidence when leaders stay quiet

-The CLEAR feedback framework (with real examples you can use right away)

-How to deliver tough feedback without sugarcoating—or bulldozing

-Why honesty and clarity are the most powerful leadership tools you haveIf you’ve ever struggled to give feedback, feared hurting someone’s feelings, or found yourself avoiding hard conversations—this episode is for you.👉 Grab Kara’s free CLEAR Feedback Template here: heykaralist.com/feedback👉 FULL EPISODE on CLEAR Feedback Method: https://youtu.be/iRvZFC5UiZ4?si=Z5-dq_sTI83GDhg_👉 Work with Kara to build a drama-free dream team by emailing her with the subject line DREAM TEAM: [email protected]

Struggling to deliver bad news at work without creating chaos? Learn how clarity and empathy can help you lead tough conversations that build trust instead of confusion. Delivering bad news at work is one of the hardest parts of leadership. Most leaders don’t fail because of what they say, but how they say it. When conversations aren’t clear, they blow up into confusion, chaos, and hurt.In this episode, I’ll show you how to deliver bad news in a way that builds trust instead of destroying it.

You’ll learn:✅ Why clarity matters more than cramming in every detail✅ How to shape conversations so people walk away knowing what really matters✅ A simple rule for leading with empathy (without over-apologizing or sugarcoating)✅ How to avoid turning tough conversations into a total mess

Whether you’re letting someone go, rolling out a new initiative, or having a hard one-on-one, this episode will give you the tools to make your conversations safe, clear, and constructive.

⭐️⭐️⭐️If this episode hit home for you, I’d love to help you go deeper. Open up your email app right now and send me a quick note at [email protected] with the subject line: “I am interested.”That’s it—no pressure, no long message required. Just let me know you’re ready, and I’ll respond personally to learn more about your work and share a quick win to help you lead better conversations at work.

Check out this episode: Sympathy is OUT! Empathy is IN!: https://youtu.be/t3Vzvr8h7YE?si=2XlPHrXz2WMyFiPD

Feeling exhausted from trying to do it all? In this episode, I share why hustle culture is stealing your joy and how to break free from burnout as a leader, working mom, or busy professional. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by endless to-do lists, team responsibilities, or family demands, this episode will help you step into healthy leadership without the exhaustion.Don't Forget the OCEAN ROLL EMAIL!! [email protected]📩 Get my free Better Conversations weekly newsletter: https://www.heykaralist.com/newsletter(packed with my exclusive and best leadership tips)