Welcome to Crossroads + Catalysts: Leadership & Career Strategy for Directors and Managers!

Episodes

New Year, New Leadership Clarity: Why You Might Want to Quit Leading
Dec. 15, 2025

New Year, New Leadership Clarity: Why You Might Want to Quit Leading

New Year, New Leadership Clarity: Why You Might Want to Quit Leading As the year winds down, it's time for honest reflection: Why do you really want to be a leader? This episode challenges you to look beyond the romanticized ...

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Leadership Lesson: Psychological Safety Saves Lives — And It Can Save Your Workplace Too
Dec. 8, 2025

Leadership Lesson: Psychological Safety Saves Lives — And It Can Save…

Leadership Lesson: Psychological Safety Saves Lives -And It Can Save Your Workplace Too If your team avoids speaking up, hesitates to share ideas, or shuts down during tough conversations, psychological safety may be missing....

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Why Leaders Avoid Change (And What It's Costing Your Credibility)
Dec. 1, 2025

Why Leaders Avoid Change (And What It's Costing Your Credibility)

Why Leaders Avoid Change (And What It's Costing Your Credibility) Why do leaders avoid necessary change even when their teams bring solutions? The uncomfortable truth: you're not stalling because of timing or resources—you're...

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Why Your Team Isn’t A High Performing One— (Even Though Everyone’s Capable)
Nov. 24, 2025

Why Your Team Isn’t A High Performing One— (Even Though Everyone’s Ca…

Why Your Team Isn’t A High Performing One— (Even Though Everyone’s Capable) Think you have a high-performing team? Here's an uncomfortable truth: 70-80% of leaders believe they lead high-performing teams, but only 20-30% of e...

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Strategic Authenticity: How to Be Real at Work Without Damaging Your Career
Nov. 17, 2025

Strategic Authenticity: How to Be Real at Work Without Damaging Your …

Are you using authenticity as an excuse for unprofessional behavior? For managers and leaders building leadership skills and executive presence, understanding the difference between authentic leadership and unprofessional con...

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Is Your Workplace Toxic or Are You Being Too Sensitive? Here's How to Tell
Nov. 10, 2025

Is Your Workplace Toxic or Are You Being Too Sensitive? Here's How to…

Is Your Workplace Toxic or Are You Being Too Sensitive? Here's How to Tell Is your workplace culture deteriorating and destroying team performance? Toxic workplace environments kill productivity, drive away top talent, and da...

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Tired of Repeating Yourself? Why Your Feedback Isn't Sticking (And How to Fix It)
Nov. 3, 2025

Tired of Repeating Yourself? Why Your Feedback Isn't Sticking (And Ho…

You've given the same feedback three times, and nothing's changed. The problem isn't your team—it's your feedback. In this executive brief, discover the proven framework for giving feedback that actually drives behavior chang...

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Why People Tune You Out When You Talk (And How to Fix It)
Oct. 27, 2025

Why People Tune You Out When You Talk (And How to Fix It)

Why People Tune You Out When You Talk (And How to Fix It) Do people's eyes glaze over when you start talking? Are your team meetings running long because you can't communicate concisely? Long-winded communication is destroyin...

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5 Reasons You're Still Stuck in Middle Management And How to Spot Them
Oct. 20, 2025

5 Reasons You're Still Stuck in Middle Management And How to Spot Them

5 Reasons You're Still Stuck in Middle Management And How to Spot Them Working hard as a leader but not getting the results or respect you deserve? Five internal enemies are quietly sabotaging your leadership effectiveness—an...

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Why You Keep Getting Passed Over: The Network Gap
Oct. 13, 2025

Why You Keep Getting Passed Over: The Network Gap

Why You Keep Getting Passed Over: The Network Gap Tired of hearing "it's who you know" and feeling like you're at a disadvantage? Strategic networking isn't about luck, privilege, or being naturally social—it's a learnable le...

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The Terrifying Moment You Realize Everyone's Looking to You (And You're Not Ready)
Oct. 6, 2025

The Terrifying Moment You Realize Everyone's Looking to You (And You'…

The Terrifying Moment You Realize Everyone's Looking to You (And You're Not Ready) The moment you realize you're no longer seeking answers but expected to provide them changes everything. In this executive brief, discover how...

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Passed Over for Promotion? The 3 Self-Advocacy Skills You're Missing
Sept. 29, 2025

Passed Over for Promotion? The 3 Self-Advocacy Skills You're Missing

Passed Over for Promotion? The 3 Self-Advocacy Skills You're Missing Tired of being passed over for promotion while less qualified colleagues advance? The most talented leaders don't always get promoted—the most visible ones ...

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When Being Likeable Isn't Enough: The Relationship vs. Results Leadership Gap
Sept. 22, 2025

When Being Likeable Isn't Enough: The Relationship vs. Results Leader…

Are you the friendly leader your team works around instead of with? Many directors and managers excel at building relationships but struggle with the operational side of leadership—making decisions, solving problems, and driv...

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Why Leaders Avoid Conflict—And How It's Hurting Your Career
Sept. 15, 2025

Why Leaders Avoid Conflict—And How It's Hurting Your Career

Conflict avoidance is killing director and executive level careers, yet most leaders continue to dodge difficult conversations about performance issues and team problems. In this executive brief, discover why smart leaders av...

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Burned Out But Can't Stop? Why You're Stuck in the Exhaustion Trap
Sept. 8, 2025

Burned Out But Can't Stop? Why You're Stuck in the Exhaustion Trap

Burned Out But Can't Stop? Why You're Stuck in the Exhaustion Trap Are you exhausted but wearing it like a badge of honor? For managers and leaders building leadership skills while battling chronic burnout, recognizing when e...

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Want to be a leader? Cultivate Awareness, Accountability & Resolve
Sept. 1, 2025

Want to be a leader? Cultivate Awareness, Accountability & Resolve

Ready to advance your leadership career beyond the basics? This follow-up to one of our most popular leadership development episodes explores the three foundational traits every effective leader must master: awareness, accoun...

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The Consensus Trap: When Seeking Agreement Slows Down Your Team
Aug. 25, 2025

The Consensus Trap: When Seeking Agreement Slows Down Your Team

Is consensus leadership destroying your team's productivity? While seeking agreement sounds collaborative, consensus decision-making often creates decision paralysis, accountability gaps, and lost momentum that undermine lead...

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Does How You Look Matter at Work?
Aug. 11, 2025

Does How You Look Matter at Work?

Does how you look really matter at work? The short answer: yes — especially if you’re aiming for career advancement or leadership roles . In this episode of Crossroads and Catalysts , we explore the real impact of professiona...

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Why New Hires Quit in 90 Days: The Leadership Problem Managers Miss
Aug. 4, 2025

Why New Hires Quit in 90 Days: The Leadership Problem Managers Miss

Why New Hires Quit in 90 Days: The Leadership Problem Managers Miss Losing new employees within the first 90 days signals a leadership problem, not a hiring problem. For managers building new manager leadership skills and tea...

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How to Say No to Your Boss Without Damaging Your Career
July 28, 2025

How to Say No to Your Boss Without Damaging Your Career

How to Say No to Your Boss Without Damaging Your Career Overwhelmed by unreasonable requests from your manager? Learn how to set boundaries at work without risking your job or promotion prospects. In this episode, discover pr...

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Should I Quit My New Job?
July 21, 2025

Should I Quit My New Job?

Should I Quit My New Job? How to Decide If You Should Stay or Leave Regretting your new job within the first few weeks or months? You're not alone. New job regret affects more professionals than you think, and feeling disappo...

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Are You Really Ready for That Promotion? 5 Steps for Promotion Readiness
July 14, 2025

Are You Really Ready for That Promotion? 5 Steps for Promotion Readin…

Are You Really Ready for That Promotion? 5 Steps for Promotion Readiness Passed over for promotion again? Before you blame office politics or favoritism, ask yourself: Am I truly promotion-ready, or just hoping someone will n...

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Leadership Skills AI Can't Replace: How to Future-Proof Your Career with these 4 skills
July 7, 2025

Leadership Skills AI Can't Replace: How to Future-Proof Your Career w…

Worried AI and automation will make your job obsolete? You're not alone—but panic won't protect your career. Strategic preparation will. In this executive brief, discover how to future-proof your career in the age of artifici...

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