Have you ever promoted someone who was amazing in their job, only to watch them flounder in a leadership role? I’ve seen the heartbreak (and the headaches) that come from putting the wrong person in charge, and I want to help you avoid this costly mistake. Join me as I unpack why high performance doesn’t always equal leadership success, share real-life stories of promotions gone wrong, and offer practical strategies to spot the warning signs early. I’ll walk you through how to have compassionate...
Aug 12, 2025•11 min
Feeling overwhelmed by your team’s constant questions and daily interruptions? In this episode I unpack why your team still relies on you for every decision, even after you’ve trained them, and how this cycle holds your business back. The real issue isn’t your leadership; it’s the lack of a true leadership team and clear ownership. If you want to finally reclaim your focus, stop micromanaging, and build a team that moves forward without you, it’s time to trade burnout for bold leadership. Work w...
Aug 05, 2025•11 min
Today I’m speaking to those of you leading teams who are always on the move. Whether your team is out in the field, on the shop floor, behind the wheel, or on their feet keeping things running, you know deskless leadership calls for a unique set of skills and resources that go beyond typical leadership advice. In this episode, I’m sharing the most essential support tools that I’ve seen truly make a difference for deskless teams. I’ll walk you through practical strategies to keep your mobile and ...
Jul 29, 2025•20 min
Ever feel like your team meetings are draining productivity instead of fueling it? In this episode, I break down the biggest meeting mistakes like missing agendas, unclear ownership, overcrowded rooms, and lacklustre kickoffs, and give you simple, actionable fixes. Start making your meetings momentum builders, not momentum killers, and watch your team thrive! Register here for the free workshop Managing vs Leading on Tuesday, July 22. Work with Shelli Warren: Book a call with Shelli to talk abou...
Jul 22, 2025•15 min
This episode shines a light on the small, easily overlooked habits that can quietly sabotage your credibility as a leader; habits I’ll admit I’ve been guilty of myself. Join me as I walk you through some of the most common mistakes, like leaving a video call before your team, skipping those all-important human moments, or only showing up when things go wrong. I’ll share not just why these behaviors erode trust, but exactly what you can do instead to boost connection and professionalism in your b...
Jul 15, 2025•16 min
Are you still hiring assistants and managers? It’s time to rethink your org chart! In this episode, I shared the newest role titles making waves in small businesses, like Digital Lead Generator, Client Success Strategist, and AI Integration Specialist. These aren’t just flashy names, they’re about hiring for impact, not just tasks. If you want your business to scale and your team to truly thrive, it’s time to hire for results and start building out those roles that will actually drive growth. Re...
Jul 08, 2025•21 min
Ever felt sick to your stomach just thinking about firing someone? In this episode of the Stacking Your Team Podcast, I’m digging deep into why letting someone go feels so hard, and how you can turn guilt into empowered, and grounded leadership. I’m sharing the real reasons firing is the hottest topic in my Leadership Lab, plus the hard truths we don’t talk about enough, like protecting your energy, your best team members, and the future of your business. Listen in and walk away with permission ...
Jul 01, 2025•12 min
Let’s face it, losing your job is rarely about one single mistake. It’s almost always the result of avoidable patterns and tendencies that build up over time. Whether you’re a business owner struggling with a tough decision, a leader wanting to strengthen your team, or someone just trying to stay off the chopping block, I’m here to give you the real talk with no fluff, just the straight facts. I’m sharing the top five reasons people get fired, helping you spot the early warning signs, and offeri...
Jun 24, 2025•18 min
In this short special bonus episode of the Stacking Your Team Podcast, I’m sharing all the unforgettable moments from a recent trip to Buffalo, New York, a free bra, a reminder of why women must celebrate their wins, and some personal reflections from our latest Leadership Lab retreat. From toasting a client’s 20th business anniversary in style to witnessing the magic that unfolds when women come together in person, I’ll reveal why these live events truly are game changers for business leaders l...
Jun 19, 2025•10 min
Today, we’re tackling a topic that just about every leader, including me, has struggled with: micromanaging. If you’ve ever thought, “It’s faster if I just do it myself,” or caught yourself hovering a little too close over your team’s work, you’re not alone. Sometimes, micromanaging isn’t as obvious as we think, but it always slows us down and keeps us stuck in the weeds. In this episode, I’ll help you recognize the subtle signs that you might be micromanaging, even if you don’t realize you’re d...
Jun 17, 2025•13 min
If you want a real look into what it takes to lead a team in an emotionally charged, high-stakes industry, you’ll love this episode. I had the pleasure of chatting with Courtney Bullard, CEO of ICS Institutional Compliance Solutions and one of my longtime clients. Courtney opens up about leading her team through the complex world of Title IX compliance, not just the challenges, but the heart and empathy it demands every single day. We dig into the biggest misconceptions about her work, the reali...
Jun 10, 2025•49 min
Have you ever found yourself hesitating to hire someone who seems overqualified for a role on your team? I know it can feel risky, but it can also be a huge win for your business. In this episode of the Stacking Your Team Podcast, I’m diving into the realities of hiring overqualified candidates. With more talented professionals seeking roles in small businesses, it’s more important than ever to weigh both the benefits, like faster onboarding, immediate results, and built-in mentorship, and the r...
Jun 03, 2025•11 min
This episode features a powerful conversation with Jessica Cowling, a remarkable member of our Leadership Lab and the founder and CEO of InnerWorks Counseling in London, Ontario. In this episode, Jessica opens up about the bold, intentional moves she’s made to set her team and her business up for long-term success. We dig into how she transitioned her rapidly growing team to salary-based compensation for more stability, why she’s introducing micro roles to bring more ownership and clarity to her...
May 27, 2025•36 min
Your workplace is so much more than just four walls. It can be a true magnet for top talent. In this episode, I sit down with JennI Egger, the visionary CEO and founder of JennI Egger Designs, along with her Director of Brand Marketing, Lindsay Martin. Together, we pull back the curtain on their inspiring office space at 23 East in Indianapolis. Their space is not only beautiful and distinctive, but also intentionally designed to fuel creativity, collaboration, and joy. Jenni shares how her uniq...
May 20, 2025•49 min
On this week’s episode of the Stacking Your Team Podcast, you’ll meet one of my longtime clients, Dr. Rebecca Dekker, founder of Evidence Based Birth®. We jump into the tough leadership lessons learned from over a decade of running a purpose-driven remote business. We talked about trusting your instincts, navigating boundary setting, mastering conflict resolution, and how to handle when team members project their own trauma onto you. If you’re looking to build a resilient, empowered team while s...
May 13, 2025•51 min
Today, I’m excited to introduce you to one of my incredible clients, Rebecca Rowe. She’s the CEO of Act Therapy Services, who has gone from running a solo practice to overseeing three thriving locations and a team of 22 in North Carolina, without sacrificing her own well-being in the process. In our conversation, Rebecca pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to scale a service-based business while staying true to your values. She shares candid stories about her transition from burnout i...
May 06, 2025•42 min
This episode is all about helping you confidently identify emerging leaders within your team using clear, observable evidence instead of just gut instinct or memory. I’ll walk you through the exact questions and criteria I use to spot who’s ready to take on more responsibility, so you can stop guessing and start building a sustainable leadership structure in your business. Whether you run a brick-and-mortar or an online business, you’ll learn why a few key leadership roles can completely change ...
Apr 29, 2025•13 min
If you’ve ever wrestled with limited growth options, felt overwhelmed by the idea of truly leading your team, or found yourself wishing you just had more people ready to step up, you’re not alone. In this episode, I’m sharing three big challenges that keep so many business owners, especially those of us in smaller towns or cities, feeling stuck as they grow their teams and businesses. You’ll hear real stories, practical strategies, and a few tough truths about what it actually takes to break out...
Apr 22, 2025•18 min
You know how invaluable your highest-performing team members are, but keeping them isn't just about offering a bigger paycheck. Your top talent is well aware of their worth in the job market and how their role impacts their overall well-being. In this episode, I’m sharing actionable strategies you can implement today to better lead, inspire, and retain these key team members. From creating compelling career pathways to fostering two-way communication during 1:1’s. Get ready to learn how to not j...
Apr 15, 2025•16 min
Do you ever wonder what the mysterious "secret sauce" is that allows some businesses to continuously grow with top-notch team members and low turnover rates? Spoiler alert: it's not magic! With 92% of candidates willing to leave their jobs for a company with an excellent reputation, I'll be sharing five key strategies that can immediately enhance your ability to attract great people to your team. From understanding your impact and having a clear point of view to offering valuable roles and caree...
Apr 08, 2025•18 min
It's not an easy decision, but I'll walk you through six potential options to help you manage your payroll and people concerns during tough times. From maximizing reserves and adjusting work hours to exploring strategic layoffs, we'll cover all bases to ensure you can make informed and compassionate choices for your business and team. Leadership isn't just about steering during the good times—it's also about navigating through the storms. Let's explore how to stabilize and even position your bus...
Apr 01, 2025•13 min
Are you feeling like your team has taken the wheel and is steering your business in a direction you never intended? Today, we're tackling the tricky topic of team dynamics, especially when your team seems to be putting their needs above those of the business and your clients. In this episode, I'll walk you through how your leadership style might be influencing team behavior, the importance of running effective and engaging meetings, and how ignoring underperformance can actually shape your team ...
Mar 25, 2025•16 min
Today, we’re talking about the growing pains that come with expansion! If you're feeling those aches and pains of growth, you're not alone, and this episode is for you. We’ll take a closer look at the complexities that can creep into your business as it evolves, and I'll share insights and practical solutions to help you navigate these challenges. Whether it's dealing with systems, operations, or team dynamics, I'll guide you through ways to simplify your processes, ease your stress, and propel ...
Mar 18, 2025•16 min
Today, we're tackling a common hurdle many businesses face: those frustrating bottlenecks when operations depend too heavily on specific people. Sound familiar? It's crucial to move from being people-dependent to process-dependent. I'll share strategies to document and streamline your processes, ensuring your team stays agile and operational excellence is achieved. Whether you're running a large company or a growing small business, I'll provide insightful tips to foster self-sufficiency and acco...
Mar 11, 2025•12 min
Ever wonder why your top hire didn’t boost your team like you hoped? Turns out, 82% of hiring mistakes happen because of poor role fit, not skill. In this episode, we uncover the real impact of these leadership fumbles—from sinking team morale to hitting your bottom line. I dive into red flags that scream "wrong role" and share insights from the Leadership Lab on making proactive, strategic decisions. Tune in and learn how to build the high-performing team you dream of—don't just fill a seat, fi...
Mar 04, 2025•10 min
Today, I'm excited to share how you can breathe new life into your team's development by using this very podcast as a training tool. If you've ever faced ongoing team challenges, I've got some practical tips to share with you on how to use podcast episodes to elevate both your team culture and individual performance. As we celebrate seven years together, it's a great time to reflect on how you can leverage our extensive archive to onboard new members and enhance your leadership skills. I'll walk...
Feb 25, 2025•11 min
In today's episode, we're tackling a critical issue that could be impacting your business's bottom line – overpaying contractors. Whether you've just discovered that you're overpaying or it's been a lingering concern, today is the day to take action. We'll explore three common signs indicating it's time to reassess your contractor relationships and possibly cut ties. Join me as I share insights from real-life client experiences, helping you navigate the challenges of leading your team and ensuri...
Feb 18, 2025•14 min
In today's episode of the Stacking Your Team Podcast, I'm diving into a topic that many leaders are finding more relevant than ever: managing remote team members. I'm excited to share strategies from a recent coaching session with a former client who wanted to tackle team turnover, especially among her remote workers. I'll walk you through a comprehensive playbook that includes strategies like planning in-person visits, enhancing training methods, and creating a sense of community. Whether your ...
Feb 11, 2025•11 min
Today’s episode tackles one of the hottest topics in leadership: compensation and performance reviews. Join me as I explore the realities of being a small business owner trying to navigate the complexities of paying your team fairly while ensuring you receive the value you expect in return. I'll share with you some of the strategies that I offer my clients, like how to establish a structured compensation system that's fair yet motivating, and why it's crucial to separate compensation talks from ...
Feb 04, 2025•16 min
In this episode, we are talking about the power leaders have to motivate and encourage their teams. We're debunking the myth that motivation is solely tied to financial incentives and instead, we're exploring practical and low-cost ways for leaders to give back to their teams. From the gift of time and trust to the importance of respect, vision, and humility, I'll be sharing actionable strategies to inspire and retain your best team members. 🎁 Get the Free Resource: 12 Ways to Motivate Your Tea...
Jan 28, 2025•17 min
