Your stress isn't as hidden as you think. In this episode, Deb Smolensky, author of "Brain On," reveals why most leaders operate in survival mode and how their brain-off energy spreads through teams like wildfire.

In this conversation, Deb breaks down the difference between "brain on" and "brain off" leadership, revealing why the inside-out approach to leadership development is critical. She shares practical strategies for recognizing your triggers, creating purposeful pauses, and building the kind of team culture where people actually want to bring their best selves to work.

Whether you're struggling with boundaries or trying to stop the cycle of reactive leadership, this conversation provides actionable strategies you can implement immediately.

Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.

Connect with Deb: 

• Website: https://debsmolensky.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbiesmolensky/

Connect with Jen: 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/ 

• Website: https://growthsignals.co/

For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co

Most managers think they're giving feedback constantly, while employees say they don’t get enough – if any. In this episode, researcher and positive interventionist Lisa Sansom reveals why most feedback fails and shares practical strategies for making it effective.

You'll discover why trust matters more than technique, how to avoid the biggest feedback mistakes (like addressing individual issues in team meetings), and why "good job" isn't enough for high performers. Lisa also explains when to give positive versus constructive feedback and how new leaders can start building a feedback culture.

Whether you're avoiding these conversations or wondering why your team doesn't seem to hear you, this episode transforms feedback from a dreaded task into a powerful growth tool.

Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.

Connect with Lisa:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisasansom/

• Website: https://www.lvsconsulting.com/

Connect with Jen:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/

• Website: https://growthsignals.co/

For links mentioned, visit https://growthsignals.co/

Want to become a better manager but don't know where to start? Darnell Billups has led teams across military, government, and Fortune 500 manufacturing – and he's sharing the practical strategies that can help you become a better manager.

In this episode, you'll discover why leadership skills don't just come with experience, the feedback moment that transformed Darnell's management style, and his simple system for stopping micromanagement. Plus, a framework for diagnosing why some managers advance while others stay stuck.

Whether you're leading former peers, developing your own management skills, or trying to advance your career, this conversation is packed with actionable strategies you can implement immediately. No theory – just real-world management advice that gets results.

Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.

For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co

Connect with Darnell: linkedin.com/in/darnellbillups

Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/

Your boss isn't going to change those annoying habits. So, here's what you can do about it.

In this coaching episode, host Jen Arnold and leadership coach Julie Binter reveals why managing up isn't office politics—it's a critical skill for career success. You'll discover how to decode your boss's communication style, ask questions that reveal what really matters to them, and turn workplace frustrations into strategic advantages.

Learn why every leader has traits that will drive you crazy (and how to work with them anyway), plus practical strategies for managing up more effectively—even when your boss seems to be completely different from you.

Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies. For full show notes, visit https://growthsignals.co/.

Connect with Julie: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliebinter/

Website: https://www.clearthewaycoach.com/

Connect with Jen: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/ 

Website: https://growthsignals.co/

What if the biggest performance management mistake isn't failing to document but failing to ask the right questions? When layoffs are disguised as performance reviews and employees are blindsided by "underperformance" labels, effective performance management practices have clearly gotten off-track.

In this episode, Kamaria Scott and Jen Arnold tackle one of leadership's toughest challenges: managing underperformance fairly and effectively. 

In this honest conversation, we dig into the real friction points that prevent managers from addressing performance issues head-on. From budget constraints that make firing impossible to the energy drain of managing inconsistent performers, we share practical frameworks for diagnosing what's really happening when someone isn't meeting expectations.

Whether you're dealing with a misfit situation or someone who just needs better support, this conversation gives you practical tools for handling performance challenges with both clarity and compassion.

Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.

For full show notes, visit www.growthsignals.co

Connect with Kamaria Scott: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamariascott/

Connect with Jen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/ 

Think your boss is just having a bad day? There's a big difference between a difficult manager and a truly toxic one—and knowing which you're dealing with could save your career and your health.

In this episode from the archives, leadership expert Mary Abbajay breaks down the real difference between bad bosses and toxic ones, plus the surprising traps that keep people stuck in harmful work situations longer than they should be.

Mary reveals why people actually stay longer with toxic bosses (hint: it's not what you think), the serious health impacts of working in toxic environments, and most importantly, how to get out without torching your professional reputation.

You'll discover the five major traps that keep smart people stuck, why trying to "fix" a toxic boss almost never works, and the exact steps to take when you're ready to make your escape—including what to say (and not say) in interviews and exit conversations.

If you've ever wondered whether your work situation is just challenging or actually damaging, this conversation will give you the clarity and courage to make the right call for your career and well-being.

Have suggestions for future guests?

Let us know at https://growthsignals.co/contact/ or contact Jen through LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/

Here's the leadership truth nobody talks about: you don't have to like everyone on your team. But you do have to lead them.

Karen Suchsland joins Jen to tackle the taboo topic of managing team members you don't click with. From unconscious avoidance behaviors to the crucial difference between liking and respecting, this conversation gives you practical strategies for leading effectively even when personal chemistry is lacking.

You'll discover why personality differences often mask performance issues, how to set boundaries without damaging relationships, and the simple inventory exercise that reveals if you're unconsciously playing favorites.

Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.

Connect with Jen:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/

• Website: https://growthsignals.co/

Connect with Karen:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-suchsland/

What happens when the leadership style that made you successful in your last role just doesn't click with your new organization? In this monthly coaching episode, host, Jen Arnold and leadership coach Julie Binter tackle what to do when your leadership style clashes with your organization's culture.

You'll discover how to ask the right interview questions to avoid mismatches, why your first six months might not tell the whole story, and practical strategies for deciding whether to adapt or move on. Plus, they share why hiring people just like you might backfire when you're already struggling with culture fit.

Whether you're dealing with this challenge now or want to be prepared for your next role, this conversation gives you the tools to navigate organizational fit with confidence.

Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.

For full show notes, visit www.growthsignals.co

Connect with Julie – 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliebinter/

Website: https://www.clearthewaycoach.com/

Connect with Jen- 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/ 

Website: https://growthsignals.co/

Think trauma-capable leadership is only for first responders? Think again. Layoffs, organizational changes, and workplace crises require the same leadership skills that help teams thrive in high-stress environments.

Podcast guest, Dr. Gretchen Schmelzer, is a licensed psychologist, executive coach and consultant who has worked for 25 years with the complex issues of trauma, integration, and behavior change across every level of system from individuals. 

In this episode, Gretchen breaks down her ARTS framework and shares why good leadership is the best predictor of team resilience. You'll learn how to have difficult conversations without taking on your team's emotions, why empathizing "up" the system matters just as much as supporting your people, and concrete steps to build your trauma-capable leadership skills.

Whether you're managing through a crisis or just want to be better prepared for a future one, this episode gives you practical strategies you can use starting tomorrow.

Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.

For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co

Think being a manager today is just about getting work done? Think again. In this LinkedIn Live conversation, Kamaria and I break down how the manager role has exploded into counselor, coach, strategist, and enforcer – often without any training or support.

We get real about why managers are caught in the middle of competing demands, why most people want to become managers for the wrong reasons, and the loneliness that comes with the territory.

Plus, we tackle the uncomfortable truth about why organizations invest in senior leaders but leave front-line managers to figure it out alone.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the expectations placed on managers today, this conversation will validate your experience and give you perspective on what needs to change.

Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.

For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co