You can't hire strategically if you're desperate and unclear. In this episode of The Chris LoCurto Show, we break down five critical questions every leader must answer before posting a job.

The worst hiring mistakes don’t happen in the interview — they happen way earlier.

This episode will help you avoid costly mis-hires, protect your culture, and hire with clarity and confidence. Whether you’re adding your first team member or your fiftieth, these questions will sharpen your leadership and save you months of regret.

What we cover:

(00:01:32) What’s the Strategic Why Behind This Hire?
Hiring for relief vs. hiring for growth leads to very different outcomes.

(00:07:13) What Are My Cultural Non-Negotiables?
Top performers who don’t align with your values will erode your team from the inside.

(00:11:01) What Does Success Look Like at 30/60/90 Days?
Define it early, or you won’t recognize it when it shows up.

(00:14:39) Do I Have the Bandwidth to Lead This Person Well?
No matter how skilled they are, every new hire needs strong leadership.

(00:20:42) What Will It Really Cost Me If I Get This Wrong?
A bad hire doesn’t just waste salary — it can break momentum and morale.

Want the full Smart Hiring Framework?
Get free access at: chrislocurto.com/hiringframework

Most hiring mistakes don’t happen in the interview—they happen before you ever post the job. In this episode of The Chris LoCurto Show, we break down why hiring from stress instead of strategy leads to misalignment, burnout, and costly rehires.

We cover:

00:02:09 – The Parable of the Net (Matthew 13:47–50)
A wide net catches everything—including the wrong people. Learn how clarity in your hiring process acts as a filter, not just a funnel.

00:03:18 – Attachment to Filling the Role—Not Solving the Problem
Stop rushing to replace a warm body. Start by asking if the role even fits your current mission and strategy.

00:12:20 – Attachment to the Resume—Not the Results
A polished resume doesn’t equal performance. We show you how to ask better questions that reveal real-world capability.

00:17:49 – Attachment to Past Roles—Not Current Strategy
If your business has changed, your roles should too. Don’t hire for yesterday’s needs—clarify what the role needs to deliver now.

00:22:20 – Attachment to Charisma—Not Culture Fit
Charisma fades. Culture fit endures. Learn how to look past personality and identify alignment with your core values.

00:26:27 – Smart Hiring Framework
This episode kicks off a full series on building a better hiring system. Sign up to get every resource at chrislocurto.com/hiringframework

Can You Lead Too Much? 

In this episode of The Chris LoCurto Show, we break down how even good leadership can go too far—leading to resentment, confusion, or dependency. 

If you’ve ever wondered whether your praise, accountability, or delegation is actually helping—or hurting—this one’s for you.

👇 Episode Breakdown:

00:03:24 – Too Much Praise Feels Inauthentic
When everything is celebrated, nothing feels meaningful. Praise loses power when it's overused.

00:08:14 – Over-Accountability Breeds Resentment and Fear
Constant check-ins and harsh reactions don’t build trust—they build fear and resentment.

00:13:57 – Over-Delegating Without Support Sets People Up to Fail
Dumping tasks without guidance or check-ins leaves people confused and unprepared.

00:16:29 – Overleading Creates Dependency—or Rebellion
Too much oversight leads to either passive followers or frustrated rebels.

00:21:32 – The Sweet Spot Is Empowerment, Not Control
True leadership creates ownership and growth, not just compliance.

00:24:39 – Action Steps
Simple ways to audit your leadership habits and shift toward healthier team dynamics.

00:26:06 – Additional Resources
Check out Episodes 641–644 for more on leadership balance.

• 641 | The Role of Coaching in Leadership: Growing Teams Through Mentorship
• 642 | Too Little Leadership—Communication, Problem-Solving, and Guidance
• 643 | Too Much Leadership—Communication, Problem-Solving, and Guidance
• 644 | Too Little Leadership: The Silent Cost of Missing Praise, Accountability & Delegation

00:26:28 – Conclusion
Leadership is a relationship, not a formula—and balance is the key to building strong teams.

Is your team missing clarity, energy, or follow-through?

In this episode, we break down what happens when leaders give too little praise, too little accountability, and too little delegation—and how those gaps silently wreck culture and performance.

Learn how to recognize the signs of underleading, how to course-correct with clear action steps, and how to build a team that’s aligned, motivated, and growing.

Timestamps:

00:01:39 – Too Little Praise Makes People Feel Invisible
Why a lack of recognition quietly erodes motivation.

00:14:38 – Too Little Accountability Breeds Inconsistency
How low standards spread when no one is held to them.

00:22:26 – Too Little Delegation Leaves You Overwhelmed
The hidden cost of holding onto tasks instead of developing your team.

00:26:54 – A Lack of Praise + Accountability = Culture Drift
What happens when leadership goes quiet in both areas.

00:29:17 – Delegation Is the Fastest Way to Multiply Leadership
Why real delegation expands your influence and frees your time.

00:31:56 – Action Steps
Five clear things to do this week to lead better—without burning out.

00:34:50 – Additional Resources
Links to related episodes on coaching, communication, and leadership balance.

• 641 | The Role of Coaching in Leadership: Growing Teams Through Mentorship
• 642 | Too Little Leadership—Communication, Problem-Solving, and Guidance
• 643 | Too Much Leadership—Communication, Problem-Solving, and Guidance

00:35:16 – Conclusion
Praise, accountability, and delegation done well lighten your load and lift your team.

Need clarity on what to delegate or how to lead with less stress? This one’s for you.
Listen now and lead with purpose.

Are You Doing Too Much for Your Team?

In this episode, we unpack how over-communicating, over-solving, and over-guiding might be killing initiative, creativity, and ownership on your team. When leaders do too much, they accidentally become the bottleneck. Here's how to fix it.

Timestamps:

00:00:44 – Intro: The Goose and the Golden Eggs
A classic fable that shows how too much control can ruin what’s working.

00:02:41 – Over-Communicating Can Create Confusion, Not Clarity
Too many updates? You might be causing information fatigue.

00:06:50 – Solving Every Problem Makes You the Bottleneck
Fixing everything trains your team to stop thinking for themselves.

00:10:41 – Over-Guidance Cripples Creativity and Confidence
Mapping every step robs your team of ownership and buy-in.

00:13:46 – Over-Leading Often Comes from a Good Heart—But the Wrong Fear
We dig into the fear of failure and fear of not being needed.

00:18:41 – The Best Leaders Pull Back So Others Can Step Up
Great leaders ask questions and give space for their team to grow.

00:22:43 – Action Steps
Five practical ways to stop overleading and start empowering.

00:24:32 – Additional Resources

This is the third episode of the series, go check out part 1 and part 2!

00:24:53 – Conclusion
Stop overdoing it. Lead with balance and give your team the gift of ownership.

It might not be their effort—it could be your leadership. In this episode, we break down five signs you’re leading too little: poor communication, unresolved problems, unclear expectations, and more. Learn what to watch for and how to adjust without micromanaging.

Timestamps:

00:01:37 – Too Little Communication
When clarity fades, people start guessing—and execution suffers.

00:11:36 – Ignoring Problems Breeds Frustration
Avoiding issues doesn’t grow leaders—it causes disengagement.

00:16:44 – Assuming People Know What to Do
Unspoken expectations lead to confusion and dropped results.

00:28:37 – Too Little Leadership Feeds Insecurity
Silence and distance create team anxiety and cultural instability.

00:33:17 – You Can’t Expect What You Don’t Express
Without defining success, you won’t see it.

00:36:46 – Action Steps
Audit your communication, reset expectations, and check in with purpose.

00:38:32 – Additional Resources
Explore Episode 641 and the first part of this Leadership Balance series.

00:38:46 – Conclusion
Underleading may feel safe—but it leads to drift. Show up, lead well.

Ever feel like you’re the only one solving problems in your business? In this episode, we kick off our Leadership Balance series with Monique James from Alaska Auto Rental—a leader who transformed her team (and herself) through coaching.

We explore how shifting from control to coaching creates clarity, ownership, and freedom. Monique shares her powerful journey, including what changed when she stopped carrying the load and started developing leaders.

Timestamps & Highlights:

00:01:05 – Introduction: Monique James
Monique’s leadership journey begins at a live event with a major wake-up call.

00:02:20 – Monique’s Experience with Coaching
The moment she realized she was both the problem—and the solution.

00:06:49 – Monique’s Path in Leading People
How leading by example changed her team and culture.

00:19:46 – The Big Shift’s Impact in Her Team
Coaching turned followers into owners.

00:38:27 – Key Questions to Ask
Monique’s top coaching questions that develop critical thinking.

00:40:36 – Marshall’s One, Three, One Tactic
A simple tool to grow confident problem-solvers.

00:41:56 – Taking the Time
Why coaching saves time (even when it feels slower at first).

00:46:47 – A Team That Owns It
Her team now solves problems—and holds her accountable too.

00:56:22 – If You Could Go Back
The one thing she’d tell her younger self: release control.

00:57:49 – Conclusion
Leadership freedom begins with coaching.

00:58:35 – Action Steps
Try this: coach just one person this week. Don’t give answers—ask questions.

01:00:07 – Additional Resources
578 | The Mentorship Advantage: Why Every Small Business Leader Should Have a Mentor

We explore the transformative power of mentorship in small business leadership, offering insights and solutions to common challenges faced by entrepreneurs. 
.

Does your team feel busy but disconnected?

In this episode of The Chris LoCurto Show, we talk about how to stop team drift—when focus fades, priorities get fuzzy, and silos form. Here’s the breakdown:

Vision Leaks—So Recast It Relentlessly (00:01:59)
Vision fades unless repeated and tied to real work—keep it front and center.

Define the Culture—And Keep It Visible (00:05:28)
Culture must be taught, modeled, and celebrated—not just posted on a wall.

Create Rhythms That Keep People Grounded (00:09:39)
Consistent meetings and communication keep alignment strong and drift low.

Address Mismatched Priorities and Silos Immediately (00:13:49)
Leadership unity is the foundation for company-wide alignment.

Invite Ownership, Not Just Agreement (00:22:19)
True buy-in comes from involvement, not just nodding in meetings.

Action Items (00:25:41)
Recast vision, define culture, build rhythms, unify leaders, invite ownership.

Additional Resources (00:26:42)
See Episode 494 for more on building team ownership of vision.

Conclusion (00:26:56)
Drift isn’t failure—it’s a signal to re-engage, re-focus, and lead with purpose.

Does your team hesitate, second-guess, or play it safe when bold action is needed? In this episode of The Chris LoCurto Show, we uncover how to spot fear-based decision making, why it happens, and how to lead people out of it and into ownership.

00:03:43 – Parable: Yeshua Calms the Storm (Mark 4:35–41)
A powerful lesson in confronting fear without shame, and leading with calm instead of chaos.

00:10:03 – Spot the Patterns of Fear-Based Behavior
Learn to recognize chronic indecision, perfectionism, second-guessing, and other fear-driven habits.

00:22:41 – Address the Root, Not Just the Results
Why surface-level fixes don’t work—and how coaching questions reveal the real fear.

00:33:28 – Create Safe Spaces for Calculated Risk
Give team members safe, low-risk opportunities to decide, act, and learn without fear of punishment.

00:40:06 – Speak Identity and Belief Into Them
Call out their strengths and value to replace fear with purpose and confidence.

00:42:49 – Set Clear Expectations and Accountability—With Support
Balance challenge with encouragement so growth is steady and sustainable.

00:45:02 – Action Items
Practical steps to help your team move from fear to confident ownership.

00:45:44 – Additional Resources
Links to more tools and episodes for overcoming fear and building a courageous culture.

00:46:20 – Conclusion
Fear-based decision making doesn’t have to be permanent—lead with clarity, compassion, and challenge to inspire transformation.

Got a team member who always finds what’s wrong but never what’s right?

In this episode of The Chris LoCurto Show, we walk through five key ways to lead someone out of constant complaining—and into real contribution.

Separate the Person from the Behavior (00:02:52)
We show how to approach chronic negativity with curiosity and care, not condemnation.

Name the Impact, Not Just the Complaint (00:05:49)
Learn how to help them see how their words are affecting morale and team dynamics.

Shift Their Identity From Problem-Spotter to Problem-Solver (00:08:24)
Redirect that critical energy toward meaningful, solution-focused action.

Build a Culture That Rewards Contribution, Not Criticism (00:11:14)
We explore how to recognize and reinforce the right behaviors—so others follow.

Coach Progress, Not Perfection (00:17:20)
Real change takes time. Here’s how to keep coaching consistently and patiently.

Action Items (00:22:37)
Quick steps to help complainers take ownership and turn into culture-builders.

Additional Resources (00:23:39)
Check out our blog on Unhealthy Attitudes: How Your Leadership Mindset Impacts Your Team

Conclusion (00:23:57)
Complainers can change—with the right leadership. Let’s lead with clarity and care.