That person you just hired? They're human. And yet, I've watched countless business owners treat their team members like doormats the moment they walk through the door (or log into Slack). In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on one of the most damaging myths in business: that contractors and freelancers don't deserve the same leadership attention as full-time employees. Spoiler alert: this mindset is quietly killing your business culture and your reputation.

In this episode, I share real examples of how poor leadership ripples through your business, affecting everything from team retention to client relationships. We explore why labels don't excuse poor leadership and break down the tangible benefits of treating every team member as a human first. You'll walk away with five actionable strategies you can implement immediately to transform your leadership approach and create a culture where people actually want to stay and contribute.

Key Takeaways

1. The Contractor Myth Is Costing You Big Time Just because someone sends you an invoice doesn't mean they're not part of your team. When you treat freelancers and contractors as "just vendors," you create a revolving door of disengaged talent who won't invest in your business success.

2. Your Internal Culture Directly Impacts Your External Success How you treat your team behind the scenes becomes public knowledge faster than you think. Poor leadership doesn't just affect retention — it damages your reputation with clients, partners, and potential hires in ways you might not even realize.

3. Human-First Leadership Has Measurable Business Benefits Teams that feel seen, heard, and valued stay longer, care more, and contribute beyond their job descriptions. The five simple strategies shared in this episode can transform your team dynamics starting today.

Here's my question for you: If your team members were asked anonymously whether they feel like valued humans or just task-completers in your business, what do you think they'd say and more importantly, what do you want them to say?

Connect with Sara Lowell:

Email: sara@youarerembertllc.com

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