Why do your meetings feel exhausting?

Why does one person dominate while someone else disengages completely?

If you’re leading meetings as a new manager and walking away frustrated, unclear, or stuck repeating the same conversations, this episode will help.

Most leaders assume disengagement is about attitude.
They assume domination is about ego.
They assume lack of follow-through is laziness.

But it’s usually none of those things.

It’s misaligned energy.

Desiree and Tessa walk through Patrick Lencioni’s Working Genius framework and explain how each genius shows up inside meetings, and how understanding it improves communication in the workplace, team accountability, and overall team management.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN:

• Why meetings feel draining and how to clarify their purpose
• How to structure meetings so the right conversations happen at the right time
• The two changes that immediately improve team accountability

If you want your team to commit, follow through, and stop dreading meetings, this framework is a practical starting point.

Connect with Tessa Kampen

Working Genius Assessment

The 6 Types of Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni

Meetings Series

• How Managers Build Team Accountability During and After Meetings
• 3 Ways Meetings Drain Your Team and Create Conflict at Work
• How to Make Meeting More Effective and Engaging | Lessons from Death By Meeting by Patrick Lencioni

Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead

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Tune in every Monday for your weekly Leadership Tip

Take the DISC or Working Genius Assessment and get a FREE 20 minutes debrief with Desiree

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Connect: Linked In | Instagram | Website

Have you ever questioned your reaction because of who was watching?

In this week’s leadership tip, we talk about owning your leadership style. When you lead based on outside judgment or approval, you risk becoming inconsistent. But when you know your values, trust your intentions, and stay consistent in how you show up, you build real trust and credibility.

Check back every Monday for your weekly leadership tip!

Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead

Liked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster!

Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

Tune in every Monday for your weekly Leadership Tip

Take the DISC or Working Genius Assessment and get a FREE 20 minutes debrief with Desiree

Get a curated list of Desiree's favorite books in every genre

Connect: Linked In | Instagram | Website

If you feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and constantly busy—but nothing truly important is moving forward—busyness may be the problem, not the solution.

In this episode, Desiree is joined by productivity expert Sarah Ohanesian to challenge the belief that doing more equals leading better.

They explore why New Year productivity plans fall apart so quickly, how unrealistic expectations fuel burnout, and why leaders often reward visible busyness instead of meaningful impact. Sarah introduces the idea of the “productivity parade”—work that looks impressive but distracts from what actually matters—and explains how meetings, unclear expectations, and outdated metrics quietly reinforce it.

You’ll learn how to identify true non-negotiables, use your calendar as a leadership tool, integrate work and life priorities realistically, and close the clarity gap that drives disengagement. Sarah also shares her COAT framework (Clarity, Organize, Act, Take Time) and a simple time-tracking challenge that helps leaders see where their time is really going.

If you want less burnout, more clarity, and a team focused on real results—not just looking busy—this episode is for you.

Sarah's Book Recommendation: Rocket Fuel

Sarah's Website: SO Productive

Sarah's LinkedIn

Link to episode: 3 Tools to Get Your Team to Care as Much as You Do

Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead

Liked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster!

Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

Tune in every Monday for your weekly Leadership Tip

Take the DISC or Working Genius Assessment and get a FREE 20 minutes debrief with Desiree

Get a curated list of Desiree's favorite books in every genre

Connect: Linked In | Instagram | Website

Do you ever notice how easy it is to look to others for reassurance?

In this week's leadership tip, we reflects on the reminder that confidence grows when we do things for ourselves, not for approval. When leaders rely too heavily on outside validation, confidence stays fragile. When confidence is built internally, leadership becomes steadier and more grounded.

Check back every Monday for your weekly leadership tip!

Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead

Liked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster!

Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

Tune in every Monday for your weekly Leadership Tip

Take the DISC or Working Genius Assessment and get a FREE 20 minutes debrief with Desiree

Get a curated list of Desiree's favorite books in every genre

Connect: Linked In | Instagram | Website

Meetings don’t fail because of bad agendas. They fail when decisions don’t turn into action.

In this episode of the podcast for managers, Desiree picks up from last week’s conversation on meeting fatigue and zooms in on what happens next. You’ll learn why accountability often feels like micromanagement, how clarity and support change follow through, and what real team accountability actually looks like after meetings end.

This episode walks through three things every manager is responsible to their team for: clarity, support, and accountability. When these are present, meetings become a leadership development tool instead of a source of conflict at work.

Key Takeaways
• Why clarity closes the gap between expectation and reality
• How support prevents accountability from feeling like micromanagement
• What managers can do after meetings to protect team standards

Listen to more episodes on meeting, conflict and accountability!

A Manager's Guide to Keeping Top Talent and Stopping Negativity Before it Spreads
5 Steps to Rebuild Trust and Handle Conflict at Work as a Manager
How Great Managers Prevent Conflict Before it Starts

Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead

Liked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster!

Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

Tune in every Monday for your weekly Leadership Tip

Take the DISC or Working Genius Assessment and get a FREE 20 minutes debrief with Desiree

Get a curated list of Desiree's favorite books in every genre

Connect: Linked In | Instagram | Website

If you are a manager who feels stuck in meetings that go nowhere, you are not alone. Many leaders schedule meetings hoping to create alignment, solve problems, or move work forward, but instead experience meeting fatigue, disengagement, and conflict at work.

In this episode, Desiree explains why meetings without decisions drain your team and your time, how information-heavy meetings quietly disengage employees, and why meetings have become the default response instead of a leadership tool. You will learn how misalignment around meeting purpose leads to frustration, a lack of team accountability, and stalled leadership development. This episode focuses on front-end fixes managers can make before meetings even begin, so meetings become a tool for clarity, trust, and stronger team management rather than a source of stress.

Key Takeaways

• Meetings without clear decisions create frustration, rework, and conflict at work
• Information meetings are a major cause of disengagement and meeting fatigue for teams
• Using meetings intentionally is a leadership development skill that improves team accountability

As you listen, think about your next meeting and ask yourself what decision actually needs to be made and who owns it.

Episode Links:

How to Make Meetings More Effective and Engaging | Lessons from Death By Meeting By Patrick Lencioni

The Best Way to Overcome Dysfunction and Build a Cohesive Team | Lessons from 5 Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

5 Steps to Make One-on-One Meetings Build Trust Instead of Waste Time

Join Desiree's email list to get updated on new episodes!

Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead

Liked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster!

Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

Tune in every Monday for your weekly Leadership Tip

Take the DISC or Working Genius Assessment and get a FREE 20 minutes debrief with Desiree

Get a curated list of Desiree's favorite books in every genre

Connect: Linked In | Instagram | Website

Your team says they want to grow—but do they avoid disagreement, fear mistakes, or shut down feedback? A real growth mindset isn’t optimism—it’s how a team handles tension, learning, and risk.

In this episode, Desiree is joined by leadership expert Jim Fielding to unpack what a true growth mindset looks like inside teams—not just in individuals.

They explore how growth mindset shows up in observable behaviors, including teams that welcome dissent without defensiveness, leaders who create psychological safety without lowering standards, and cultures that reward smart risks and clean recoveries—not just wins.

Jim shares practical leadership strategies for fostering growth, from how leaders run meetings and ask better questions to why curiosity matters more than control. They also discuss the difference between being nice and being kind, why fear shuts learning down, and how both leaders and individual contributors can influence team culture—even without the title.

If you want a team that speaks up sooner, learns faster, and grows stronger through challenge instead of avoiding it, this episode is a must listen.

Links Mentioned & Referenced in Episode:

● Jim Fielding on LinkedIn
● Dare to Lead — Brené Brown
● Start With Why — Simon Sinek
● The Five Dysfunctions of a Team — Patrick Lencioni

Other Episodes You’ll Enjoy:

● The Best Way to Overcome Dysfunction and Build Cohesive Teams | Lessons from The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
● How to Handle a Negative Employee Without Losing Your Best People
● The Strategy That Stops New Hires From Checking Out Early

Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead

Liked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster!

Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

Tune in every Monday for your weekly Leadership Tip

Take the DISC or Working Genius Assessment and get a FREE 20 minutes debrief with Desiree

Get a curated list of Desiree's favorite books in every genre

Connect: Linked In | Instagram | Website

You work hard. You care deeply. So why does your career growth still feel unclear?

If you're a manager doing everything right but waiting for recognition, promotion, or more trust, this episode shows you why.

Desiree sits down with Andy Storch, author of Own Your Brand, Own Your Career and host of Talent Development Hot Seat, for a no-fluff talk on personal brand.

Not influencer vibes or nonstop posting. This is reputation, trust, and ownership at work.

They break down:

• What personal brand really means inside organizations
• Why hard work alone won't cut it anymore
• How to build credibility by developing your people
• Why talent-growers become impossible to replace

Walk away knowing career growth is something you build, not wait for. Grow your career. Lead your team better. This shifts how you see visibility, reputation, and leadership.

Resources

Own Your Brand, Own Your Career by Andy Storch

Free workbook + resources

Connect with Andy on LinkedIn

Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead

Liked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster!

Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

Tune in every Monday for your weekly Leadership Tip

Take the DISC or Working Genius Assessment and get a FREE 20 minutes debrief with Desiree

Get a curated list of Desiree's favorite books in every genre

Connect: Linked In | Instagram | Website