The Modern Manager

When you think of project management, what first comes to mind?

For many folks, it’s associated with getting certified to lead the execution of major projects. You can even hold the title of Project Manager in some businesses!

Yet, much of what all managers do–setting goals, creating plans, managing teams–is essentially project management. 

We’ve quietly slipped into the project manager role, just without the official title. However, working intuitively in this capacity can lead to challenges. Today’s guest is here to set us on the right path toward project success.

Meet Kory Kogon. Kory Kogan is FranklinCovey’s vice president of Content and Senior Consultant. She is the co-author of Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager and has appeared as an expert on TODAY, MSNBC’s Your Business, Forbes.com, Inc.com, and FastCompany.com. 

She is also one of the authors of the following FranklinCovey work sessions: The 5 Choices to Extraordinary Productivity®, Project Management Essentials for the Unofficial Project Manager™, and Presentation Advantage®. Kory brings more than 25 years of business expertise, from frontline positions to an executive team member.

In this episode, Kory explains how intuitive project management skills from our personal lives can be applied in professional settings. She emphasizes the importance of combining value, people, and process for project success, shares a practical 5-step framework for effective project management, offers tips to keep projects moving forward and on track, and much more.

Join the conversation now and discover how to elevate your project management skills!

Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Conversation Topics

• (00:00) Intro
• (01:50) Why we’re all unofficial project managers
• (04:14) Project management in an organizational setting explained
• (08:13) The project management success formula
• (10:52) 5-step framework for effective project management
• (13:29) What does the scoping process look like?
• (20:56) Real-world example of poor scoping
• (24:26) Tips to keep projects moving forward and on track
• (31:01) A great manager Kory has worked for
• (33:29) Keep up with Kory
• (34:45) [Extended Episode Only] The power and components of Gantt charts
• (42:34) [Extended Episode Only] How to keep your project plan relevant and effective

Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here 

- Visit my website for more here

- Build your team’s skills here

Keep up with Kory Kogon

- Follow Kory on LinkedIn here

- Grab a copy of her book here

FREE Copies of Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager 

Kory is providing 2 copies of Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager to members of Podcast+. To win one of these copies, you must enter the drawing by July 10th.

To get this guest bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

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The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

Dealing with stressful conversations is never easy; whether you’re telling a client the project is delayed or relaying a bad performance review to a team member. But as managers, we can’t just avoid these conversations.

Putting them off may protect us from our vulnerabilities, but they actually get in the way of having authentic and productive conversations with our teams.

So, how do we navigate the emotional rollercoaster of a stressful conversation? How do we make sure they actually lead to something positive? Today’s guest will walk us through how we can engage in difficult conversations most productively.

Joining me today is Candice Elliott. Candice is a Fractional CHRO and HR Mentor for business and non-profit leaders. She focuses on the intersection of public health, organizational and community development, helping leaders foster cultures of healing where they and their teams can thrive. 

In this episode, Candice walks us through the four Fs of stress responses. She also discusses the importance of creating a safe work environment through trust and relationship-building, plus helpful physical techniques to release stress and much more.

Join the conversation now!

Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Conversation Topics

• (00:00) Intro
• (01:58) The four Fs of stress responses
• (05:43) Helpful tips to keep your stress response from sabotaging your conversations
• (08:48) Is taking a break advisable when in a stressful conversation?
• (13:06) What does a freeze response look like, and how to manage it?
• (18:16) The importance of building trust and meaningful relationships
• (24:17) Physical techniques to release stress
• (25:06) A great manager Candice has worked for
• (26:21) Keep up with Candice
• (27:32) [Extended Episode Only] What to do when someone you’re speaking with becomes defensive?
• (34:57) [Extended Episode Only] How to handle difficult conversations in a team setting

Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here 

- Visit my website for more here

- Build your team’s skills here

Keep up with Candice Elliott

- Follow Candice on Instagram and LinkedIn

- Visit her website for more information here

Free 45-Minute Burnout Buster Consult

Candice is offering members of Podcast+ a free Burnout Buster Consult. During this 45-minute session, you’ll identify the most impactful next step you can take toward preventing burnout for you and your team.

To get these guest bonuses and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

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The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

Meetings are an important part of how we collaborate, but too often, they feel more like a waste of time rather than a productive engagement.

How often have you left a meeting feeling like you’ve lost time and momentum? Our guest has found a way to reclaim your time and make every meeting count.

Today’s guest is Yari Ising. Yari is the founder of The Ising Agency, a firm offering operations, recruiting, and admin support for stretched-thin in-house teams. With over 10 years of experience leading teams, she has seen firsthand the common blindspots that managers have, along with what employees need most from managers.

Yari reveals her “unusual” yet proven strategies and practices that have helped her team and clients improve their meetings and get more done. We explore the benefits of no-meeting days, the exit strategy, and more meetings dos and don’ts.

Join the conversation now!

Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Conversation Topics

• (00:00) Intro
• (01:17) The problem with having full days of meetings
• (03:12) How to stop the cycle of endless unnecessary meetings
• (08:33) A healthy way to implement no-meeting days
• (10:08) Benefits of no-meeting days
• (12:59) How to design meetings that work best for your team
• (15:00) The graceful exit strategy
• (19:14) How to keep your team members up-to-date when they aren’t in a meeting
• (22:00) Meeting dos and don’ts
• (25:20) A great manager Yari has worked for
• (26:17) Keep up with Yari
• (27:20) [Extended Episode Only] The essentialist approach to meetings
• (30:19) [Extended Episode Only] Helpful tools for effective meetings

Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here 

- Visit my website for more here

- Build your team’s skills here

Keep up with Yari

- Follow Yari on LinkedIn here

- Check more of Yari’s works here

Free Workshop Handout for Optimizing Meeting Participation

Download my workshop handout for optimizing meeting participation. You’ll learn how to decide who should be engaged before, during and after a meeting, how to engage them, and how to make the shift from everyone being invited to engaging people appropriately at each stage.

To get these guest bonuses and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

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The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

Teamwork makes the dream work. But does it?

Most of us believe that being a team means nurturing teamwork, embracing camaraderie, and supporting each other emotionally. However, these factors, although very important, aren't essential for every type of team. Today’s guest will unpack what makes a team and how to build a strong one.

Meet James Scouller. James is an executive coach, thought leader, former CEO, and expert in building teams. He is also the author of the trilogy How to Build Winning Teams Again and Again and Again, the first series of handbooks to explain the psychology, principles, and road maps behind team success.

Known for his expertise in leadership and team dynamics, James discusses what truly defines a team, highlighting his 3 Cs model–Commit, Combust, Combine–and how it builds winning teams. 

He also provides real-world examples of different types of teams at work, explains how managers can support their teams through the stages of effective team formation, emphasizes the importance of trust and clear unifying goals, and much more.

Join the conversation now!

Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Conversation Topics

• (00:00) Intro
• (01:26) What makes a team?
• (02:18) Pseudo teams vs. performance teams
• (07:47) What does a “real” team look like in the workplace?
• (11:24) Determining the right type of team for your work
• (16:44) Building a winning team using the 3 Cs
• (30:16) How to encourage people to prioritize the team first over personal needs
• (32:12) A great manager James has worked for
• (35:09) Keep up with James
• (36:43) [Extended Episode Only] The dual forces concept and how it disrupts team formation
• (42:43) [Extended Episode Only] Tips for helping team members with their mindset and behavioral shift
• (44:39) [Extended Episode Only] How to craft a positive narrative for your team

Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here 

- Visit my website for more here

- Build your team’s skills here

Keep up with James

- Follow James on LinkedIn and Twitter

- Grab a copy of his book here

- Visit Leadership Mastery Suite here

3 Exclusive Bonuses For Podcast+ Members

James is providing 3 amazing bonuses to members of Podcast+:

• A PDF download of his “Rapid Team Rater” tool, which lets you assess your team within 10-15 minutes using a framework based on the Seven Principles team building model. 
• An entire folder consisting of James’ sophisticated suite of tools called “Team Fixer”. The tools help you figure out your team’s top psychological issue and then zero in on the actions you’ll need to apply.
• A free hour of consultation with James, where you can use the Rapid Team Rater tool to discuss the specifics of your team.

To get these guest bonuses and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

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The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

Do you feel overwhelmed as you step into your first management role?

Climbing up the corporate ladder can be exciting, but research shows that transitioning from an individual contributor into a manager role is one of the most challenging and stressful periods in a person’s career.

Many new managers don’t easily make the psychological transition from an individual contributor paid to perform tasks to a manager entrusted with achieving results through others’ efforts. But that’s exactly what we need to do.

Meet Eric Girard. Eric is the CEO of Girard Training Solutions and the author of Lead Like a Pro: The Essential Guide for New Managers. He has over 30 years of experience helping improve the performance of managers and employees. He specializes in the development of new managers, focusing on their successful transition to their new role and on their team management skills.

Eric and I talk about the key skills and mindset shift that new and not-so-new managers need to succeed in building a strong, thriving team. 

Join the conversation now!

Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Conversation Topics

• (00:00) Intro
• (01:53) Biggest challenges new managers run into
• (03:31) What’s the job of a manager?
• (06:28) How to coach someone to navigate their own challenges
• (08:46) Why managers need to learn to delegate
• (11:10) How new managers can build trust with their team
• (17:35) The four different stages of team formation
• (20:35) Tips and tricks for navigating through all the four stages of team formation
• (25:00) How managers can help their team members work through times of change
• (30:05) A great manager Eric has worked for
• (33:50) Keep up with Eric
• (34:43) [EXTENDED EPISODE ONLY] A new way of using the SWOT analysis to help yourself and your team become better
• (40:32) [EXTENDED EPISODE ONLY] How to effectively set goals as a team 

Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here 

- Visit my website for more here

Keep up with Eric:

- Follow Eric on LinkedIn here

- Join Eric’s Lead Like a Pro Workshop here

- Grab a copy of his book, Lead Like a Pro here
- Build your team’s skills here

Giveaway: 4 Copies of “Lead Like a Pro”

Eric is giving away 4 signed copies of his book, Lead Like a Pro: An Essential Guide For New Managers. This book is your roadmap to becoming a successful manager people will want to work with. As Eric explains, anyone who wants to thrive in a new management position, get the most from their teams, and contribute to their organization’s success must transform themselves from an individual contributor who can manage tasks into someone who’s great at managing people.

To get this guest bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

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The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

Have you tried ChatGPT yet?  

AI is taking the business world by storm and AI tools have now become an integral part of daily workflows. While many businesses are already discovering ways to adopt and leverage AI, a lot of managers I speak with aren't sure how to take advantage of it.

In this week's episode, I share my list of top picks of innovative AI tools that can dramatically boost your team's productivity. From AI-driven task generators that simplify project planning to advanced writing tools that improve your writing and communication skills, I have it all covered just for you.

Whether you're a seasoned team manager or just someone looking to elevate your skills with AI, this episode is packed with information.

Join the conversation now!

Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Conversation Topics

• (00:00) Intro
• (00:46) Take advantage of task generators
• (02:20) Leveraging AI writing tools
• (03:58) How AI-powered meeting notes work
• (06:39) Boost productivity with task planners
• (08:41) Reminders when using AI tools
• (10:20) [Extended Episode Only] My #1 AI productivity tool 

Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here 

- Visit my website for more here

My Personal Task Management System (Behind-the-Scenes)

Members of Podcast+ get a behind-the-scenes look at my personal task management system where I share all my tips and tricks for how I capture tasks, plan my day, and use Asana and Akiflow to keep myself organized and on track.

To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

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The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

Vulnerability is a key ingredient in nurturing meaningful personal relationships, but does it hold the same weight in a professional context?

Brené Brown has popularized the idea of vulnerability, but how we act vulnerable in the workplace differs from how we show vulnerability in personal spaces. After all, work comes with its own set of challenges–from managing teams and pleasing customers to hitting tight deadlines, all laden with overtones of power dynamics. This week’s guest is here to shed some light on why and how we should be vulnerable and confident at work.

Today’s guest is Jacob Morgan. Jacob is the best-selling author of five books, including his most recent, Leading With Vulnerability, which is based on over 100 CEO interviews and a survey of 14,000 employees. He is also a professionally trained futurist and speaker.

Jacob unpacks the simple yet effective equation of vulnerability + leadership, and how by combining these two ingredients, you can lead your team effectively.

Join the conversation now!

Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Conversation Topics

• (00:00) Intro
• (01:39) What does leading with vulnerability mean?
• (06:45) The right and wrong way to approach vulnerability in the workplace
• (13:30) Real-life scenarios showing vulnerability at work
• (19:59) Three paths to becoming a vulnerable leader
• (23:53) Why some people avoid leading with vulnerability
• (26:57) A great manager Jacob has worked for
• (28:10) Keep up with Jacob
• (29:23) [Extended Episode Only] What do to when you’re being vulnerable and it lands wrong
• (35:55) [Extended Episode Only] The power of “I” statements and real emotions

Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here 

- Visit my website for more here

Keep up with Jacob Morgan

- Follow Jacob on LinkedIn and Twitter

- Listen to his podcast here

- Grab a copy of his book here

- Visit his website for more information here

Free Sample of “Leading With Vulnerability”

Jacob Morgan is happy to offer a 23-page sample of his book, “Leading With Vulnerability”. Based on over 100 CEO interviews and a survey of nearly 14,000 employees, Jacob shares candid stories and original research that shows how leaders can tap into vulnerability to transform themselves, their teams, and their organizations. 

To get this guest bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

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The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

When you think of a successful career, the first thing that comes to mind is probably not generosity–a term not often associated with the business world. 

However, generosity in leadership is about giving of oneself–time, attention, and mentorship–for everyone’s gain. And that’s a powerful business strategy. 

Generous leaders invest in their team’s growth and well-being. They cultivate a culture of trust and collaboration, where each team member’s potential is nurtured and celebrated. And our guest offers profound insights into this leadership style.

Today’s guest is Joe Davis. Joe is a Managing Director and Senior Partner at the Boston Consulting Group, where he has been for 37 years. His new book, ‘The Generous Leader: 7 Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone's Gain,’ reflects his passion for people and his desire to support their development and inspire teams to work better than they thought possible.

Joe shares what it means to be a generous leader and how you can become one in seven simple ways. We also discuss how a generous leader listens and communicates to support their team, the power of doing small acts for your team, and much more.

Join the conversation now!

Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Conversation Topics

• (00:00) Intro
• (01:41) What is a generous leader?
• (03:29) Seven characteristics of a generous leader
• (06:35) What deep listening looks like
• (13:21) Strategies to create a more welcoming work environment
• (16:25) How to ensure your team members understand what you’re communicating
• (19:21) What is a generous action ally 
• (23:19) Example of how a manager can be a generous action ally to their team members
• (26:43) A great manager Joe has worked for
• (28:48) Keep up with Joe
• (30:29) [Extended Episode Only] Small acts that have a big impact
• (33:14) [Extended Episode Only] How to incorporate small yet powerful acts into your day and week

Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here 

- Visit my website for more here

Keep up with Joe Davis

- Grab a copy of his book, The Generous Leader, here

- Follow Joe on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram 

- Check out his website for more information here

Giveaway - 5 Copies of “The Generous Leader: 7 Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone’s Gain”

Joe Davis’s book, The Generous Leader, is an innovative and insightful 7-part guide to heartfelt and collaborative actions that transform the reader into a generous leader. It is for anyone seeking to elevate their heart, lead with humanity, and live a life of deep integrity. You must enter the drawing by Wednesday, May 8.

To get this guest bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

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The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

How does it feel to work with somebody you'd rather avoid? Let's admit it: We all experience a fair share of difficult people at work. And many times, we just have to be around them whether we like it or not. However, there are a few things, that we can do to lessen their impact on us. 

Today's workplace expert unpacks everything we need to know about working with difficult people.

Amy Gallo is the author of Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People), the HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict, as well as hundreds of articles for Harvard Business Review. She is also the co-host of HBR’s popular Women at Work podcast, which examines the struggles and successes of women in the workplace.

In this episode, Amy shares the eight types of difficult people we usually encounter at work and how to deal with them effectively. We also talk about the challenges of written communication, checking our own behavior, and so much more. 

Join the conversation now!

Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Conversation Topics

• (00:00) Intro
• (02:27) 8 kinds of difficult co-workers most people work with
• (05:45) Personality clash vs. productive conflict 
• (07:32) How to deal with problematic behavior at work
• (14:36) The manager’s role in solving work conflict
• (16:23) Is confronting a colleague with their bad behaviors a good strategy?
• (20:10) How to appropriately respond to difficult written communications
• (29:16) A great manager Amy has worked for
• (31:03) Keep up with Amy
• (32:32) [Extended Episode Only] The role of biases in judging someone’s behavior
• (36:11) [Extended Episode Only] How managers should intervene when team members have issues working together

Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here 

- Visit my website for more here

Keep up with Amy Gallo

- Follow Amy on LinkedIn here

- Listen to her podcast here

- Grab a copy of her book here

- Check out her other works here

Book Giveaway:  2 Signed Copies of “Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People)”

Amy is giving away 2 copies of her book, Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People) to members of Podcast+. In this book, Amy identifies eight familiar types of difficult coworkers and provides strategies tailored to dealing constructively with each one. She also shares principles that will help you turn things around, no matter who you're at odds with. You must enter the drawing by Wednesday, May 1.

To get guest bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

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The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

One of the most crucial yet often overlooked tasks for managers is hiring. While it may seem straightforward, hiring is an intricate process filled with challenges that can shake even the most seasoned manager. 

In today’s competitive job market, where job postings can receive hundreds, if not thousands, of applications, distinguishing top candidates from the rest requires more than just reviewing resumes. 

Thankfully, our guest will fill us in on what to do (and not do) to make your hiring process successful.

Today’s guest is Vicky Brown. After two decades of leadership roles in the corporate world, Vicky founded her own HR consultancy, Idomeneo Enterprises, in 2001. Her Leaders Journey Experience is an education program specifically designed to equip entrepreneurs and business professionals with the tools, guidance, and confidence to navigate the sometimes complex world of HR.

Vicky shares invaluable insights on the ins and outs of a hiring process. She shares tips and tricks on writing effective job descriptions, evaluating a resume, what questions to ask during the interview to uncover deeper insights into a candidate, the recommended interview format and processes, and more.

Join the conversation now!

Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Conversation Topics

• (00:00) Intro
• (02:05) Why hiring feels increasingly difficult
• (04:40) How to write effective job descriptions
• (09:13) Interviewing techniques to uncover deeper insights into candidates
• (22:29) Recommended number of interviews and interview format
• (25:57) How to read and evaluate resumes
• (28:18) A great manager Vicky has worked for
• (31:16) Is there anything a candidate should or shouldn’t ask in an interview?
• (33:36) Keep up with Vicky
• (34:25) [Extended Episode Only] What should you do when you’re undecided about a candidate?
• (39:08) [Extended Episode Only] The truth about reference checks

Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here 

- Visit my website for more here

- Join the Skills Accelerator Program here - use code CELEBRATE300 for 30% off when you join before May 1, 2024

To get guest bonuses and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

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The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!