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The Manager Method for Human Leadership
Ashley Herd, founder of Manager Method and former Head of HR at McKinsey, explains why most managers aren't actually failing—they're just guessing. She breaks down her simple yet powerful three-step framework—pause, consider, and act—to help leaders move past the "speed of the inbox" and start leading with real intention. From handling employee mistakes with empathy to navigating the "octopus and wizard" traps of burnout, Ashley provides practical "real talk" for anyone responsible for the careers and lives of others.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
The critical difference between day-to-day management and long-term leadership
How to implement the three-step Manager Method of pause, consider, and act
Why the “speed of the inbox” is causing manager burnout and how to slow down
Practical ways to handle employee mistakes using the “Gigi” perspective
How to use human-centric storytelling to build psychological safety on your team
Episode Chapters
(00:00) Intro
(01:51) Management vs Leadership
(03:18) The Gap in Manager Training
(06:01) The Manager Method Explained
(06:39) Step One: The Power of the Pause
(09:20) Step Two: Consider Your Response
(11:09) Step Three: Acting with Intention
(13:36) Avoiding Modern Workplace Burnout
(19:16) Storytelling as a Leadership Tool
(24:09) Brand That Made Her Smile
(26:47) Where to Learn More
About Ashley Herd
Ashley Herd is the founder of Manager Method and a former Head of HR for McKinsey North America. A LinkedIn Top Voice and top 10 business podcast host, she has trained more than 250,000 managers across various industries. Her background as an employment lawyer for brands like KFC and Yum! Brands informs her practical, "real talk" approach to leadership. She is the author of The Manager Method, where she provides actionable frameworks for leading with confidence and supporting team growth without burnout.
What Brand Has Made Ashley Smile Recently?
Ashley recently smiled at Chiquita. She loves their banana stickers that claim they are "likely the best snack on earth." As a former marketing lawyer, she appreciated the humorous collaboration between the creative and legal teams to include the word "likely" rather than a definitive claim, showing a brand that doesn't take itself too seriously.
Resources & Links
Listen & Support the Show
Watch or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon/Audible, TuneIn, and iHeart.
Rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to help others find the show.
Share this episode — email a friend or colleague this episode.
Sign up for my free Story Strategies newsletter for branding and storytelling tips.
On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network.
Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
View all episodes
By Nick Westergaard
4.8
9393 ratings
Ashley Herd, founder of Manager Method and former Head of HR at McKinsey, explains why most managers aren't actually failing—they're just guessing. She breaks down her simple yet powerful three-step framework—pause, consider, and act—to help leaders move past the "speed of the inbox" and start leading with real intention. From handling employee mistakes with empathy to navigating the "octopus and wizard" traps of burnout, Ashley provides practical "real talk" for anyone responsible for the careers and lives of others.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
The critical difference between day-to-day management and long-term leadership
How to implement the three-step Manager Method of pause, consider, and act
Why the “speed of the inbox” is causing manager burnout and how to slow down
Practical ways to handle employee mistakes using the “Gigi” perspective
How to use human-centric storytelling to build psychological safety on your team
Episode Chapters
(00:00) Intro
(01:51) Management vs Leadership
(03:18) The Gap in Manager Training
(06:01) The Manager Method Explained
(06:39) Step One: The Power of the Pause
(09:20) Step Two: Consider Your Response
(11:09) Step Three: Acting with Intention
(13:36) Avoiding Modern Workplace Burnout
(19:16) Storytelling as a Leadership Tool
(24:09) Brand That Made Her Smile
(26:47) Where to Learn More
About Ashley Herd
Ashley Herd is the founder of Manager Method and a former Head of HR for McKinsey North America. A LinkedIn Top Voice and top 10 business podcast host, she has trained more than 250,000 managers across various industries. Her background as an employment lawyer for brands like KFC and Yum! Brands informs her practical, "real talk" approach to leadership. She is the author of The Manager Method, where she provides actionable frameworks for leading with confidence and supporting team growth without burnout.
What Brand Has Made Ashley Smile Recently?
Ashley recently smiled at Chiquita. She loves their banana stickers that claim they are "likely the best snack on earth." As a former marketing lawyer, she appreciated the humorous collaboration between the creative and legal teams to include the word "likely" rather than a definitive claim, showing a brand that doesn't take itself too seriously.
Resources & Links
Listen & Support the Show
Watch or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon/Audible, TuneIn, and iHeart.
Rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to help others find the show.
Share this episode — email a friend or colleague this episode.
Sign up for my free Story Strategies newsletter for branding and storytelling tips.
On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network.
Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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