Leadership and Team Health guided by the Enneagram: Courageous Leaders, Connected Teams

Stephanie Freeth
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

If you want to lead with more authenticity and create healthy, high-performing teams, you’ve found your new favorite leadership podcast. Hosted by Stephanie Freeth — a leadership coach and business strategist — Courageous Leaders, Connected Teams equips you with tools to become the most effective, resilient, and influential leader in any room. This show provides answers to crucial leadership topics like: Communication & Influence 1. How to communicate as a leader 2. How to communicate with impact 3. Leadership communication skills 4. How to have difficult conversations at work 5. How to give feedback as a leader High-Performing Teams & Trust 1. How to build a high-performing team 2. How leaders build trust with their teams 3. How to strengthen teamwork 4. How to improve team engagement 5. How to create psychologically safe teams Confidence, Decision-Making & Courage 1. How to be a confident leader 2. How leaders make difficult decisions 3. How to overcome self-doubt as a leader 4. How to become a courageous leader Change, Uncertainty & Burnout 1. How leaders manage change and uncertainty 2. How to lead through uncertainty 3. How leaders avoid burnout Leadership Coaching 1. What is leadership coaching 2. Leadership coaching benefits 3. When should a leader hire a coach

  1. The 5 Biggest Mistakes New Managers Make in Their First 6 Months

    JAN 26

    The 5 Biggest Mistakes New Managers Make in Their First 6 Months

    Courageous Leaders, Connected Teams Episode: The 5 Biggest Mistakes New Managers Make in Their First 6 MonthsHost: Stephanie Freeth Episode Overview The first six months as a manager can feel disorienting, overwhelming, and quietly high-pressure. In this episode, Stephanie Freeth unpacks the most common mistakes new managers make during this critical transition and what to do instead. Drawing from leadership coaching, team psychology, and real-world experience, Stephanie reframes the shift from individual contributor to leader and offers grounded, practical guidance to help new managers lead with clarity, connection, and self-awareness. If you’re a new manager or supporting one, this episode will help you understand why the transition feels hard and how to move from reactive to strategic leadership. What You’ll Learn Why what made you successful before promotion may hold you back as a manager How success shifts from personal output to enabling others Why clarity matters more than busyness The cost of avoiding the human side of leadership How reflection creates better decisions and healthier teams Why blind spots are normal and self-awareness is essential Why struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing, it often means you’re unsupported Episode Breakdown The manager transition and why it’s so challenging Mistake #1: Relying on the skills that got you promoted Mistake #2: Confusing busyness with effectiveness Mistake #3: Avoiding the human side of work Mistake #4: Leaving no space for reflection Mistake #5: Ignoring leadership blind spots Leadership as self-awareness, not perfection Tools and support for navigating the manager transition Key Quotes “What got you here won’t get you there.” “Success is now measured through others.” “Busy does not mean effective.” “People don’t leave the work. They leave when they don’t feel seen.” “You’re not failing. You’re unsupported.” Resources Mentioned Team Health & Performance Quiz Tools for navigating the manager transition Team Enneagram Workshops Who This Episode Is For First-time managers Leaders in their first year of management HR and People leaders supporting new managers Anyone feeling stuck, reactive, or unsure in their leadership role 🎧 Listen now and learn how to move through the manager transition with more confidence, clarity, and connection.

    25 min
  2. How EOS Transforms Leaders, Teams, and Companies Featuring EOS Implementer Jeremy Lopatin

    12/10/2025

    How EOS Transforms Leaders, Teams, and Companies Featuring EOS Implementer Jeremy Lopatin

    What if the way you run your company could make your life as a leader easier, not harder? In this episode of Courageous Leaders, Connected Teams, I sit down with my friend and EOS Implementer, Jeremy Lopatin, for a deep and honest conversation about what truly drives healthy, high-performing teams. Jeremy and I share a belief that performance means very little without team health. Many organizations are living in the strain and burnout zone without realizing it, and leaders often feel the pressure to push harder instead of pausing to examine what their team needs most. Together we explore: ✨ How the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) helps teams gain clarity, alignment, and traction ✨ Why right-person right-seat matters more than people realize ✨ How unresolved issues quietly shape culture and performance ✨ The difference between a team that looks productive and one that is sustainably healthy ✨ Jeremy’s journey as an entrepreneur and his vision to positively impact 10,000 employees through his work If you are a founder, executive, or team leader looking for more cohesion, healthier dynamics, and a more grounded way to lead, this episode will resonate.

    46 min
  3. Restoring Worth Beyond Work as an Enneagram Type 3 | Courageous Insights

    11/18/2025

    Restoring Worth Beyond Work as an Enneagram Type 3 | Courageous Insights

    Episode 12: Courageous Insights – Restoring Worth Beyond Work as an Enneagram Type 3 In this deeply personal episode of Courageous Leaders, Connected Teams, I’m opening up about the unconscious patterns, beliefs, and behaviors that shaped my journey as an Enneagram Type 3 (The Competitive Achiever). For much of my life, achievement felt like oxygen. Productivity, performance, and pushing through were the standards—not just for success but for worthiness. But behind the drive was an unspoken fear: “If I’m not working, I’m not valuable.” This episode is an invitation into the stories, struggles, and turning points that helped me shift from overdrive to alignment—and begin restoring a sense of worth that isn’t tied to output. In this episode, I share: 🔹 Striving The relentless pursuit of achievement and the belief that value comes from what you do—not who you are. 🔹 Performing How productivity became a measure of identity, and the subtle ways leaders can lose themselves in external validation. 🔹 Pushing Through The cost of ignoring the body’s signals, emotional needs, and limits in the name of “just getting it done.” 🔹 Awakening What shifted when I finally slowed down enough to recognize the deeper fear fueling all the action. 🔹 My Burnout Story The moment I realized I was running on empty—and how discovering my Enneagram type illuminated patterns I could finally name (and change). 🔹 Restoring Worth How redefining success has helped me move toward more presence, alignment, and courage in leadership. Who this episode is for: Leaders who feel stuck on the hamster wheel of achievement Enneagram Type 3s (or those who love/work with them) High-achievers experiencing burnout or overwhelm Anyone exploring healthier, more authentic ways of leading Links & Resources Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube Learn more about leadership coaching & the Enneagram Stephaniefreeth.com Connect with me on LinkedIn for more insights on reflective leadership

    25 min
  4. Stages of Team Development | Courageous Insights

    10/17/2025

    Stages of Team Development | Courageous Insights

    Shownotes & Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction: Why teams don’t start at high performance 00:49 – The 5 stages of team development (Tuckman model) 01:39 – What happens when teams get stuck in “storming” 03:11 – Why setting team norms builds trust and alignment 05:26 – The shortcut: Using the Enneagram to collapse the timeline 08:04 – Adjourning: Reflecting and celebrating progress 09:28 – How Enneagram types behave in each team stage 16:08 – Forming: Building trust beyond the surface 17:36 – Storming: Turning conflict into clarity 18:54 – Norming: Aligning fast through shared language 21:24 – Performing: Sustaining excellence through trust 28:20 – The Team Enneagram Workshop + Coaching Call 33:43 – Outro & Call to Action

    17 min
  5. Facts vs Stories | Courageous Insights

    09/12/2025

    Facts vs Stories | Courageous Insights

    Courageous Insights: Facts vs Stories As leaders, our perspective matters more than we realize. Too often, we get caught up in the stories we tell ourselves rather than the actual facts in front of us. In this video, I share a simple but powerful tool I first learned from The Conscious Leadership Group—the practice of separating facts from stories. 👉 Facts = what a video camera could record. 👉 Stories = the judgments, interpretations, and meaning we add. By learning to pause, check our stories, and even share them with courage, we open up space for: Greater clarity and grounded leadership Stronger trust and authentic communication More curiosity, candor, and possibility Whether you’re a CEO, senior leader, or just stepping into leadership, this practice can help you shift from reactivity to presence, creating the conditions for more courageous leadership. 💬 Share in the comments: When was the last time a “story” shaped your leadership? How do you separate fact from story? 🔔 Subscribe for more Courageous Insights on leadership, emotional intelligence, and conscious leadership practices. #CourageousLeadership #ConsciousLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #EmotionalIntelligence #FactsVsStories #CourageousInsights #MindfulLeadership #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipGrowth

    7 min
  6. What new managers need most: A conversation with Amy Cell and Stephanie Freeth

    08/29/2025

    What new managers need most: A conversation with Amy Cell and Stephanie Freeth

    What do new managers need most to succeed? In this episode, Stephanie Freeth sits down with Amy Cell — entrepreneur, speaker, and founder of Amy Cell Talent (now Yeo & Yeo HR Advisory Solutions). With over a decade of experience helping organizations scale people-first strategies, Amy brings a wealth of insights on what it really takes for new managers to thrive. Together, they explore: The essential skills and mindset shifts new managers needHow to build high-trust, high-performing teamsThe role of communication, feedback, and emotional intelligence Tools and practices that help managers avoid common pitfalls Why creating trust and alignment is more critical than ever Whether you’re a new manager, emerging leader, HR professional, entrepreneur, or business owner, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom to help you navigate the challenges of leadership and step confidently into your role. ✨ About the Guest: Amy Cell is an entrepreneur, speaker, talent & HR advisor, and former faculty at the University of Michigan’s Center for Entrepreneurship. She founded Amy Cell Talent, now part of Yeo & Yeo HR Advisory Solutions, celebrating 10 years of driving affordable HR strategy, talent acquisition, and ecosystem development across Michigan. 🔗 Learn more: amycelltalent.com | Yeo & Yeo HR Advisory Solutions 🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Your favorite podcast platform If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share to help more leaders discover the tools they need to grow.

    40 min
  7. Innovation, Leadership & Authentic Expression with Christie Barrett

    08/15/2025

    Innovation, Leadership & Authentic Expression with Christie Barrett

    In this episode of Courageous Leaders, Connected Teams, host Stephanie Freeth welcomes her friend and accomplished leader Christie Wong Barrett—former CEO, board director, and lecturer at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. Christie shares her career journey from MIT chemical engineer to McKinsey consultant, manufacturing company owner-operator, and now educator, revealing the lessons, pivots, and courageous choices that shaped her path. They explore how identity evolves across career transitions, the importance of building “through-me” leadership, and how the Enneagram has helped Christie lead with greater self-awareness. Christie also introduces her concept of “courageous learning”—leaning into challenges that push your comfort zone—and offers practical advice for decision-making, fostering innovation, and creating accountable, connected teams. Whether you’re an emerging leader or a seasoned executive, this episode will inspire you to embrace career pivots, strengthen your leadership toolkit, and find connection in every setting. What You’ll Learn in This Episode How to pivot successfully across industries without losing your strengths The concept of the chimera identity and why embracing your multi-dimensional self matters Insights from Christie’s Enneagram journey and how it shaped her leadership style How to run effective team huddles that drive innovation and accountability Decision-making frameworks for uncertain and high-pressure environments Why courageous leaders lean into challenges they might not be good at—yet

    51 min
  8. Leading with Heart – Conscious Leadership, the Enneagram & Service

    07/25/2025

    Leading with Heart – Conscious Leadership, the Enneagram & Service

    In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Stephanie Freeth sits down with Aubrey Macfarlane, President & CEO of Volunteers of America Michigan, to explore how conscious leadership, recovery, and the Enneagram have shaped her leadership journey. Aubrey shares how leading from the heart—and with vulnerability—has helped her transform both herself and her organization. This is a must-listen for leaders seeking to integrate self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and purpose into their leadership style. 🔑 Key Topics Covered Aubrey’s journey from social work to CEO How recovery and spiritual practices shaped her leadership style Conscious leadership as an operating system The Enneagram Type 2 (Considerate Helper) in action Managing boundaries and burnout as a leader Creating safe, authentic workplace cultures Using Enneagram team dynamics to drive innovation and collaboration The power of presence, breathwork, and embodied leadership The balance between helping others and staying grounded Shifting from fear of failure to trust in team and process

    51 min
See All (14)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

If you want to lead with more authenticity and create healthy, high-performing teams, you’ve found your new favorite leadership podcast. Hosted by Stephanie Freeth — a leadership coach and business strategist — Courageous Leaders, Connected Teams equips you with tools to become the most effective, resilient, and influential leader in any room. This show provides answers to crucial leadership topics like: Communication & Influence 1. How to communicate as a leader 2. How to communicate with impact 3. Leadership communication skills 4. How to have difficult conversations at work 5. How to give feedback as a leader High-Performing Teams & Trust 1. How to build a high-performing team 2. How leaders build trust with their teams 3. How to strengthen teamwork 4. How to improve team engagement 5. How to create psychologically safe teams Confidence, Decision-Making & Courage 1. How to be a confident leader 2. How leaders make difficult decisions 3. How to overcome self-doubt as a leader 4. How to become a courageous leader Change, Uncertainty & Burnout 1. How leaders manage change and uncertainty 2. How to lead through uncertainty 3. How leaders avoid burnout Leadership Coaching 1. What is leadership coaching 2. Leadership coaching benefits 3. When should a leader hire a coach

Information