Feel like your every move is under a microscope? You're not imagining it.

Leadership comes with a spotlight, and executive coach Sabina Nawaz reveals how to handle it effectively.

Drawing from 12,000 pages of real feedback about bosses, Sabina shares the hidden power traps that can derail even the best leaders. You'll learn why trying to be "just one of the team" might be your biggest mistake, how to use the "delegation dial" for better results, and what to do when your team starts treating you differently.

Whether you're struggling with team dynamics or wanting to level up your leadership game, this episode gives you practical tools to step confidently into your power – without losing yourself in the process.

Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.

Connect with Sabina –

Website: https://sabinanawaz.com/

Connect with Jen-

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

Website: https://growthsignals.co/

Looking to boost team engagement but tired of the same old recognition tactics? Discover why status - not titles or corner offices - might be your most powerful motivational tool.

Behavioral Scientist Jordan Birnbaum reveals how status is really about belonging and future value, not hierarchy. Learn practical ways to position your team members for success, including the simple yet powerful phrase that transforms ordinary recognition into status-building moments.

Plus, explore an innovative solution for overwhelmed middle managers that could help organizations rethink leadership roles.

Whether you're struggling with team motivation or simply want to enhance your leadership toolkit, this episode offers fresh insights and tomorrow-ready action items to help you create lasting engagement through the often misunderstood power of status.

Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.

Learn more about Jordan –

The Glinda Group: www.glindagroup.com

Psychology Today articles: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/the-uncertainty-principal

Connect with Jen -

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

Website: https://growthsignals.co/

Feel pressured to talk more in meetings to advance your career?

In this monthly coaching episode, Jen and guest coach, Julie Binter, tackle a common leadership challenge: how to maintain presence in meetings when you're naturally more reserved. We explore the case of a successful senior manager who's concerned that her thoughtful, processing style might be limiting her leadership presence compared to more vocal colleagues.

This episode offers valuable strategies for leaders wrestling with similar challenges in their organizations. Whether you're questioning your meeting presence or looking to advance, this episode provides practical strategies for making meaningful contributions.

Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.

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 disagreement is bad for business?

Think again. Inclusion expert Justin Gomez reveals how constructive dissension can be your secret weapon for innovation and better decision-making.

Learn practical ways to encourage healthy disagreement, create psychological safety, and get the honest feedback your team needs to succeed.

Stop waiting for anonymous surveys – start building a culture where different perspectives drive results.

Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.

Connect with Justin –

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

Website: KolchaCollaborative.com

Connect with Jen -

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

Website: https://growthsignals.co/

Ever wonder what it really takes to break into the C-suite? Join Nicole Fallowfield, Chief People Officer at Gibson, as she shares her honest journey from Director to executive leader.

Discover why being right all the time might actually be holding you back, how to build genuine influence with peers, and what happens when you finally stop trying to have all the answers. Perfect for leaders ready to level up their impact while staying true to themselves.

Plus, find out why Nicole's promotion sparked an unexpected reaction from female employees that even surprised her.

Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.

Connect with Nicole –

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

Website: https://www.thegibsonedge.com/

Connect with Jen -

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

Website: https://growthsignals.co/

New research reveals managers are facing unprecedented levels of stress and burnout. MeQ co-founder Jan Bruce joins us to unpack data about manager wellbeing and shares practical strategies for building resilience in leadership roles. Discover why supporting your managers might be the most important investment your organization isn't making.

Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.

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

Hey there! Big news – it's time to preview an exciting change. Growing Through It is becoming The Made Leader podcast.

Why the change? Because here's the thing: great leaders aren't born; they're made.

Here's a surprising stat: only 1 in 10 people naturally have what it takes to be an exceptional manager. It turns out that leadership is a skill like any other. You can develop into a good leader with effort and practice.

So, if you're in a leadership position and feel like you're swimming upstream - you're not alone.

Here's what to expect from weekly episodes of The Made Leader:

• Expert Deep Dives: Twice a month, there will be interview leadership experts, authors, and researchers who break down crucial leadership skills and challenges - from difficult conversations to building high-performing teams. We'll go beyond the surface to give you actionable insights you can use right away.
• Real Stories from the Trenches: Ever wonder how other managers figure this stuff out? We'll talk with leaders who are willing to share their path to leadership, along with their successes and challenges along the way.
• Monthly "Ask Us Anything": Got a leadership challenge keeping you up at night? We'll tackle your real-world management questions. Think of it as no-nonsense guidance for your real leadership challenges.

If you're a middle manager looking to level up your leadership game, this show is for you. The first episode drops on January 15th right here.

Make sure you hit that follow button to get notified of new episodes!

In this episode, host Jen Arnold shares what she learned from season 2 of the podcast. She explains why her vision didn't match reality. Jen describes the broad range of topics in this season and what she's doing now that this podcast season is coming to an end. Listen in to see what's next for the Growing Through It podcast.

Attracting top talent is just the first step for organizations. What truly sets successful organizations apart is how they nurture their new hires during those pivotal first days on the job. Building a strong relationship with new hires from the outset increases their engagement and also sets them up for long-term success.

Yet, with the demands of day-to-day responsibilities, leaders may find it challenging to provide the attention new hires need. So, how can leaders help new employees feel productive by the end of week one? Today's guest, Carolyn Sorgenfrei, shares her expert advice on how to get new hires up and running.

Carolyn Sorgenfrei is an accomplished employee experience professional with over a decade of experience in driving culture and engagement across various industries. With a proven track record in developing and implementing impactful employee programs, she has successfully led initiatives that enhance workplace culture, boost employee engagement, and foster a sense of belonging.

In this episode, Carolyn shares why positive employee onboarding matters, not only for the new hire but for the organization. She recounts a terrible onboarding experience when she ignored blatant red flags and compares that experience with one that fostered clarity, connection, and a sense of belonging.

Carolyn describes what a good onboarding process looks like and how leaders can set their new hires up for success. She explains when leaders should check in with new hires and how to leverage their existing team to help. Carolyn leaves us with the one thing that matters most when leaders onboard new hires.

Listen in for insights on transforming your onboarding experience and nurturing lasting relationships with your team!

For full show notes, visit https://growthsignals.co/

Connect with Carolyn on LinkedIn

Connect with Jen on LinkedIn

Performance reviews—dreaded by many, effective for few.

According to Gallup, only 2% of CHROs from Fortune 500 companies strongly believe that their performance management systems inspire employees to improve. Even more concerning, just 20% of employees feel that their reviews are transparent, fair, or motivational.

Despite these discouraging statistics, the annual performance review persists in many organizations. Fortunately, there are forward-thinking exceptions—like today's guest, Robert Neiuber.

Robert Neiuber, Senior Human Resources Director for the City of Rancho Cucamonga, has been with the City for a decade. He led a progressive shift from traditional performance reviews to a dynamic performance development approach during his tenure. This new system prioritizes future growth over past performance, equipping employees with the tools they need for managing their careers.

In this episode, Robert details the City's journey to eliminate performance reviews. He shares the motivations behind the change, the implementation process, and how they successfully rolled out the initiative, including navigating union considerations.

Robert also dives into the specifics of their current performance development system, known as MAPs, and discusses their ongoing plans for improvement.

As organizations continue to grapple with the limitations of traditional performance reviews, Robert's insights offer a powerful blueprint for those ready to make the shift.

Tune in to learn how you can start moving towards a more dynamic and growth-focused approach to performance management in your own organization.

For full show notes, visit https://growthsignals.co/

Connect with Robert on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertneiuber/