Real Talk: Leading Small Teams

Lia Garvin
  • 4.9 (81)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Real Talk: Leading Small Teams is a weekly leadership and management podcast for founders, entrepreneurs, business owners, and people managers who want to lead high-performing teams without falling back into the work themselves. Each week, host Lia Garvin- Fractional COO & leadership strategist, TEDx speaker, and 3x bestselling author- breaks down the real, everyday challenges of leading teams, people management, team accountability, delegation, communication, culture, and performance with practical strategies you can implement immediately. Lia’s work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, The Wall Street Journal, and Fortune. With Lia, there’s no beating around the bush. No corporate jargon. Just actionable leadership insights that help you build your people management and leadership skills and get better results from your team. If you’re asking leadership questions like:• How do I get my team to take ownership and accountability for their work?• Why do I have to repeat myself constantly as a manager?• How do I know if I hired the wrong employee?• How do I delegate effectively without things falling apart or micromanaging?• How can managers tell if team members are overusing AI at work?• What actually motivates employees today?• How do I give feedback that actually moves the needly?• How do I communicate vision, expectations, and strategy clearly?• What are best practices for performance reviews, compensation, and growth conversations? How do you lead a team through change, uncertainty, and rapid growth with confidence? You’ll find the tools, frameworks, and leadership strategies you need to lead your team better, starting today. Real Talk: Leading Small Teams is for:✔ Founders & Business Owners scaling teams without burning people out✔ Entrepreneurs balancing business strategy and people leadership✔ Experienced leaders ready to modernize how they manage teams ✔ Corporate managers navigating continual change New episodes drop every Tuesday, delivering leadership lessons, people management tools, and team-building strategies you can apply immediately. Learn more at liagarvin.com

  1. 23H AGO

    221: I want to hand off work to my team, but the clients want ME, what do I do?

    You built a reputation for being the best. So why does it feel like your success is the very thing keeping you stuck? If clients keep asking for you by name and you cannot seem to step out of the weeds without everything pulling you back in, this episode will show you how to scale without losing trust, quality, or revenue. In this episode of Real Talk: Leading Small Teams, you’ll learn: Why believing your “magic” cannot be taught is keeping you smallHow to translate your secret sauce into real training your team can actually useThe messaging shift that gets clients excited about working with your teamWhy holding onto control is blocking ownership and accountabilityWhat to expect in the first 6 to 12 months as you level someone up to your standardIf you are tired of constantly being pulled back into client work or secretly worried no one can do it like you can, this episode will help you build a team that truly carries the weight with you. 💻 Grab the Snippets template: https://liagarvin.com/snippets Looking for support for yourself of your team? I've got you covered. Explore manager training, leaders keynotes & offsites, and 1:1 advisory, or my 90-Day-COO program for business owners who want simple systems that actually work. I help teams build clarity, accountability, and momentum through practical tools and research-backed strategies that make managing easier. Get all the details at: www.liagarvin.com or reach out at hello@liagarvin.com

    17 min

  2. FEB 10

    220: I hired managers- why am I still in the details?

    You finally hired managers… so why are you still stuck in every decision, every issue, every fire? If you feel like promoting managers was supposed to free you up and somehow did the opposite, this episode breaks down exactly why that happens and how to fix it. In this episode, we talk about: How leaders accidentally train managers to defer decisionsThe simple way to teach decision-making without more meetingsWhat to do when managers do not actually want to manageThe core skills every manager must learn to take pressure off youThis conversation is a must-listen if you want your managers to truly own their role and finally give you the breathing room you hired them for. 💻 Grab the Snippets template: https://liagarvin.com/snippets Looking for support for yourself of your team? I've got you covered. Explore manager training, leaders keynotes & offsites, and 1:1 advisory, or my 90-Day-COO program for business owners who want simple systems that actually work. I help teams build clarity, accountability, and momentum through practical tools and research-backed strategies that make managing easier. Get all the details at: www.liagarvin.com or reach out at hello@liagarvin.com

    15 min

  3. FEB 10

    219: Did I make a bad hire? How do I know? What do I do?

    Hiring is exhausting, and nothing messes with your confidence faster than wondering, “Did I just make a really expensive mistake?” In this episode, we take a clear-eyed, practical look at how to assess a new hire without panic, resentment, or dragging things out way too long. Plus we’ll talk about what to do when the answer isn’t obvious. In this episode of Real Talk: Leading Small Teams, you’ll learn: Why deciding someone “isn’t a fit” too fast or too late creates bigger problemsThe role onboarding and missing expectations plays in hiringThe 30–60–90 day check-in framework that removes guessworkWhy most performance issues come down to feedback that was never givenThe red flags that aren’t coachable and how to address them compassionatelyIf you’ve ever felt stuck between “I should give this more time” and “I should’ve acted months ago,” this episode will help you make the call with clarity  and confidence. 💻 Grab the Snippets template: https://liagarvin.com/snippets Looking for support for yourself of your team? I've got you covered. Explore manager training, leaders keynotes & offsites, and 1:1 advisory, or my 90-Day-COO program for business owners who want simple systems that actually work. I help teams build clarity, accountability, and momentum through practical tools and research-backed strategies that make managing easier. Get all the details at: www.liagarvin.com or reach out at hello@liagarvin.com

    15 min

  4. FEB 10

    218: How to get out of the friend-zone with your team members?

    You didn’t mean to become the “cool boss.” But now feedback feels awkward, boundaries are blurry and accountability keeps slipping. In this episode of Real Talk: Leading Small Teams, we break down what to do when you’ve been friend-zoned by your team,  and how to reset the dynamic without becoming cold or rigid. In this episode, we cover: The subtle signs you’ve crossed from friendly leader into the friend zoneWhy feedback resistance is often a relationship problem, not a performance oneHow to reset expectations and redefine your leadership style without blindsiding your teamThe boundaries that actually increase trust and accountability The three-step reset that gets you out of the friend zone for goodIf hard conversations keep getting delayed and leadership feels heavier than it should, this episode will help you course-correct fast. 💻 Grab the Snippets template: https://liagarvin.com/snippets Looking for support for yourself of your team? I've got you covered. Explore manager training, leaders keynotes & offsites, and 1:1 advisory, or my 90-Day-COO program for business owners who want simple systems that actually work. I help teams build clarity, accountability, and momentum through practical tools and research-backed strategies that make managing easier. Get all the details at: www.liagarvin.com or reach out at hello@liagarvin.com

    14 min

  5. FEB 3

    217: This question will 10x your impact as a leader and grow your revenue

    You know that thing on your team you keep meaning to deal with… but haven’t? The underperformer.  The role you should hire for.  The expectations conversation you keep postponing. Avoidance feels easier in the moment — but it quietly turns leaders into bottlenecks. In this episode, we break down how avoiding hard moves is slowing your team down and what to do instead. You’ll learn: How to spot what you’re avoiding as a leaderWhy delaying a hire often costs more than making oneWhat to do when you’ve been putting off tough feedbackHow unclear expectations create repeat problemsWhy avoidance makes you the decision bottleneckHow to reset leadership momentum fastA simple weekly tool that improves visibility and accountability in minutesIf you feel stuck, behind, or like issues keep resurfacing, this episode will help you move forward with clarity. Best for founders, business owners, and team leads who want to stop circling problems and start solving them. Looking for support for yourself of your team? I've got you covered. Explore manager training, leaders keynotes & offsites, and 1:1 advisory, or my 90-Day-COO program for business owners who want simple systems that actually work. I help teams build clarity, accountability, and momentum through practical tools and research-backed strategies that make managing easier. Get all the details at: www.liagarvin.com or reach out at hello@liagarvin.com

    15 min

  6. JAN 27

    216: Why your team isn't following through... and how to fix it

    You’re full of ideas in meetings. You explain the plan.  Your team nods.  And then somehow… nothing changes. If that sounds familiar, you don’t have an accountability problem — you have a follow-up problem. In this episode, I break down the leadership shift that turns passive agreement into real ownership. You’ll learn: Why giving solutions can accidentally kill accountabilityWhat to say instead of answering every question yourselfHow to run 1:1s so people leave with commitmentsThe follow-up rhythm that makes work actually moveHow to stop accepting excuses without becoming harshWays to build problem solvers instead of permission seekersHow leaders unintentionally train dependencyIf you’re tired of great conversations that never translate into results, this episode will help you close the loop. Best for founders, entrepreneurs, and managers who want their teams to think, act, and follow through without constant supervision. Looking for support for yourself of your team? I've got you covered. Explore manager training, leaders keynotes & offsites, and 1:1 advisory, or my 90-Day-COO program for business owners who want simple systems that actually work. I help teams build clarity, accountability, and momentum through practical tools and research-backed strategies that make managing easier. Get all the details at: www.liagarvin.com or reach out at hello@liagarvin.com

    16 min

  7. JAN 20

    215: Why your team seems entitled (and what’s really causing it)

    Your team is asking for more. More flexibility.  More pay.  More exceptions.  More say in decisions. And you’re sitting there thinking, when did this turn into entitlement? In this episode, we unpack what’s really happening when requests feel unreasonable — and why the root cause is usually a leadership clarity issue, not an attitude problem. You’ll learn: Why “entitlement” is often a signal, not the problemHow leaders accidentally create resentment without realizing itWhat to look for before you shut a request downThe two questions to ask when you feel frustrated with your teamHow unclear expectations fuel repeated tensionWhat changes when roles, ownership, and decision rights are explicitWhy operational clarity prevents culture problemsIf you feel like you’re constantly negotiating with your team, this episode will help you move from irritation to structure. Best for founders, business owners, and managers who want higher standards without constant friction. Looking for support for yourself of your team? I've got you covered. Explore manager training, leaders keynotes & offsites, and 1:1 advisory, or my 90-Day-COO program for business owners who want simple systems that actually work. I help teams build clarity, accountability, and momentum through practical tools and research-backed strategies that make managing easier. Get all the details at: www.liagarvin.com or reach out at hello@liagarvin.com

    19 min

  8. JAN 13

    214: How to give the feedback after you've waited too long

    You were going to say something. About the missed deadline.  The behavior in the meeting.  The way they handled the client. But you waited… and now it feels awkward, overdue, or impossible to bring up. Here’s the truth: it’s not too late. And avoiding it will cost you more than having the conversation. In this episode, I walk you through how to give feedback after the moment has passed and still strengthen trust. You’ll learn: How to reopen a conversation you should have had earlierWhat to say when feedback feels late or overdueWhy acknowledging your delay reduces defensivenessHow postponed feedback creates bigger performance issuesWays to reset expectations without sounding reactiveHow to rebuild credibility when you’ve let something slideWhy clarity now is better than comfort laterIf you’ve been carrying feedback around in your head, this episode gives you the script to finally move it forward. Best for founders, managers, and team leads who want to be direct without damaging relationships. Looking for support for yourself of your team? I've got you covered. Explore manager training, leaders keynotes & offsites, and 1:1 advisory, or my 90-Day-COO program for business owners who want simple systems that actually work. I help teams build clarity, accountability, and momentum through practical tools and research-backed strategies that make managing easier. Get all the details at: www.liagarvin.com or reach out at hello@liagarvin.com

    17 min
See All (223)

4.9
out of 5
81 Ratings

About

Real Talk: Leading Small Teams is a weekly leadership and management podcast for founders, entrepreneurs, business owners, and people managers who want to lead high-performing teams without falling back into the work themselves. Each week, host Lia Garvin- Fractional COO & leadership strategist, TEDx speaker, and 3x bestselling author- breaks down the real, everyday challenges of leading teams, people management, team accountability, delegation, communication, culture, and performance with practical strategies you can implement immediately. Lia’s work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, The Wall Street Journal, and Fortune. With Lia, there’s no beating around the bush. No corporate jargon. Just actionable leadership insights that help you build your people management and leadership skills and get better results from your team. If you’re asking leadership questions like:• How do I get my team to take ownership and accountability for their work?• Why do I have to repeat myself constantly as a manager?• How do I know if I hired the wrong employee?• How do I delegate effectively without things falling apart or micromanaging?• How can managers tell if team members are overusing AI at work?• What actually motivates employees today?• How do I give feedback that actually moves the needly?• How do I communicate vision, expectations, and strategy clearly?• What are best practices for performance reviews, compensation, and growth conversations? How do you lead a team through change, uncertainty, and rapid growth with confidence? You’ll find the tools, frameworks, and leadership strategies you need to lead your team better, starting today. Real Talk: Leading Small Teams is for:✔ Founders & Business Owners scaling teams without burning people out✔ Entrepreneurs balancing business strategy and people leadership✔ Experienced leaders ready to modernize how they manage teams ✔ Corporate managers navigating continual change New episodes drop every Tuesday, delivering leadership lessons, people management tools, and team-building strategies you can apply immediately. Learn more at liagarvin.com

Information

  • Creator
    Lia Garvin
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    223
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Real Talk: Leading Small Teams
  • Show Website
    Real Talk: Leading Small Teams

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