The Made Leader

"What do I do if I'm not doing the work anymore?"

Join Jen and leadership coach Julie Binter as they tackle the identity crisis every new manager faces – moving from player to coach.

Discover how to shift from star player to coach while still finding meaning in your role. Learn practical strategies for taking the 30,000-foot view of your team's purpose, coaching rather than solving problems, and creating systems that work without you (so you can actually take vacation!).

Whether you're feeling lost in your new leadership position or struggling to let go of the hands-on work you excelled at, this conversation offers the roadmap you've been looking for to become the leader your team needs.

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/

As a middle manager, handling workplace conflict might be your biggest daily challenge. But what if the secret isn't about finding one approach to conflict, but adapting to different conflict styles?

Dr. John Eliot, who's advised NASA and Fortune 500 companies, reveals why some of your team members clash despite their best intentions—and what you can actually do about it.

Learn how to spot the five conflict styles, when to step in (and when not to), and how to adapt your approach whether you're dealing with your direct reports or senior leadership. Get practical tools for turning workplace tension into productive relationships, including a game-changing technique for handling emotional emails.

What if the key to team harmony isn't avoiding conflict but instead understanding how to navigate it effectively?

Connect with Guest –

Book: How to Get Along with Anyone

Website: theconflictdocs.com

Connect with Jen-

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

Website: https://growthsignals.co/

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.