The New Manager Playbook with Lia Garvin

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

Tired of feeling like the old tools for motivating your team no longer work? Productivity is dipping, engagement is at an all-time low, and you are being asked to get more done with fewer people. The workplace has changed, and managers need a different playbook to lead effectively. The New Manager Playbook podcast gives you practical, actionable, real-world strategies that help you navigate the messy realities of managing people today. No theory. No fluff. Just things that actually work. Hosted by Lia Garvin, known as the “Team Whisperer,” the show blends her experience at Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Bank of America with hands-on work supporting small businesses from homebuilding to MedSpas. Every episode helps you answer the real questions managers are searching for, including: • How do I manage former friends or peers?• How do I give feedback without people getting defensive?• How do I get out of the weeds as a leader?• How do I motivate my team when I cannot pay them more?• How do I oversee a remote team without micromanaging?• How do I improve my team’s productivity without burning people out?• How do I set priorities when everything is important?• How do I lead effectively in an AI-driven workplace? Whether you are a first-time manager feeling overwhelmed, a founder who never signed up for “management,” or a seasoned leader ready to break old habits, each Tuesday episode delivers tactical playbooks you can use the same day. No more guessing. No more stress. Just clear, proven strategies that help you lead with confidence. About the Host: Lia Garvin is a 3x bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and team management consultant. Known for her practical approach to building high-performing teams, she brings more than a decade of experience driving team operations at Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Bank of America. Her work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, and more. Join thousands of managers who have discovered a new way to lead. Subscribe to The New Manager Playbook today. Learn more: www.liagarvin.com

  1. 4D AGO

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

    If you’re the one offering all the solutions, thinking of all the ideas, and your team is just nodding along — you don’t have an accountability problem. You’ve skipped the most important part of the leadership loop: real follow-up. In this episode of The New Manager Playbook, I break down: What it actually looks like to build accountabilityWhy I stopped offering solutions in 1:1sThe script I now use to shift from excuses to ownershipHow to help your team solve problems themselvesThis is the episode I wish I’d heard years ago. Give it a listen, and start changing your team’s results — for real. 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

  2. JAN 20

    215: Let's Talk Entitlement on Your Team

    Feeling like your team is acting entitled? This episode of pod breaks down why that might not be the real issue. I share real client stories and offer a new perspective on what's really happening when team members make what seem like unreasonable demands. In this episode, you'll learn: The truth about what looks like entitlementHow we accidentally create resentment (and how to stop)The two questions every manager should ask when they're feeling frustratedWhy an Ops Playbook can be a game-changer for team clarityWhether you're a small business owner, new manager, or seasoned leader, this episode will help you shift from frustration to clarity and create a team culture that actually works. 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

  3. JAN 13

    214: How to give the feedback you should have given sooner

    You meant to say something... and didn’t. Now it feels like the moment’s passed. But the truth is: feedback is still possible, and necessary. In this episode, I walk you through: Exactly what to say when you’ve waited too longHow to prevent defensiveness by owning your partThe ripple effect of delayed feedback (hint: it’s not just about that one person)How to reset expectations and actually build more trust in the processIf you're sitting on feedback and convincing yourself it’s too late—this one’s for you. 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

  4. JAN 6

    213: Talking about money with your team without over or underpromising | Part 3 of 3

    This is Part 3 in the Communicating with Confidence series, and we’re getting into the conversation leaders dread most: money. Compensation conversations don’t just reflect performance,mthey shape it. And when you get them wrong, you create resentment, confusion, and turnover. In this episode, I cover: The danger of mixing performance feedback with pay updatesHow to avoid creating unsustainable compensation expectationsWhy your team needs a clear comp narrative, not canned corporate speakWhat to say when you can’t give what you gave last yearAnd how to reinforce high performance without breaking the bankWhether you're managing a corporate team or running your own business, this episode gives you the clarity and language to lead money conversations with confidence. 🎧 Listen now and shift how you lead, and how your team responds. 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

  5. 12/30/2025

    212: Avoiding the biggest pitfalls with tough feedback | Part 2 of 3

    Feedback is one of the hardest parts of leadership, and one of the most avoided. When managers dodge uncomfortable conversations, the fallout shows up fast: resentment builds, expectations get blurry, high performers notice, and people end up blindsided by feedback they never saw coming. In this episode, I break down the most common feedback mistakes leaders make, including avoiding confrontation, waiting too long to speak up, assuming expectations are “obvious,” and failing to document tough conversations. You’ll learn:  • Why feedback often triggers defensiveness (even when you’re thoughtful and prepared)  • How avoiding one conversation creates bigger problems across the team  • The hidden cost of letting things slide  • Simple ways to deliver feedback that actually helps people improve This episode is part two of a three-part focus on communicating with confidence, following last week’s conversation on communicating vision and strategy, and leading into next week’s episode on how to talk about compensation without overpromising or undervaluing people. If feedback feels uncomfortable, this conversation is for you. 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

  6. 12/23/2025

    211: How to communicate vision so your team buys-in | Part 1 of 3

    Welcome to Part 1 of our Communicating with Confidence series: three essential conversations that make or break your leadership in 2026. In this episode, we focus on how to communicate your vision and strategy so your team actually hears it not just once, but enough to buy-in and stay engaged. You’ll learn: The 3 biggest mistakes leaders make when sharing visionWhy hearing something once isn’t enough (and what to do instead)How to empower your managers to carry the messageWhy your vision might be too low-altitude, and how to fix it🎧 Listen to Part 2 next: Giving Difficult Feedback That Lands 🎧 Coming soon: Part 3 – Communicating Pay & Compensation Without Making Promises You Can’t Keep 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

    20 min

  7. 12/16/2025

    210: Training while compromised: how to lead when you're already tired

    If you wouldn’t show up to a HYROX race without training, why do we expect leaders to step into management cold? In this episode of The New Manager Playbook, I share what competing in my first HYROX endurance race taught me about what it really takes to lead today. We train for marathons. We train for Ironmans. But when someone becomes a manager? We throw them in and say, "Figure it out." No wonder it feels impossible. This episode explores: What it means to train while compromisedWhy every manager needs a new playbook in 2026How to build team capacity when you're already behindReal talk about feedback, conflict, and burnoutListen in and learn how to build a team that can lead even when it’s hard. 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

  8. 12/09/2025

    209: Perception vs. reality: why communication is everything

    Uncertainty isn’t a phase anymore, it’s the baseline. And leaders who keep waiting for a return to “normal” are falling behind. In this episode, I unpack why managing in constant change requires a different toolkit, and how the most overlooked leadership lever right now isn’t budget, headcount, or strategy. It’s perception. When your team feels stuck, unmotivated, or uncertain, the issue may not be what’s happening, but how they understand what’s happening. That’s why communication is no longer a soft skill. It’s the strategy. Inside, we cover: How to spot perception vs. experience issuesWhat to say when you don’t have all the answersHow to lead your team (and managers) without spiraling into commiserationThe real reason your team might feel lost and how to rebuild clarityIf you lead in a turbulent org, manage other managers, or just want to show up with more confidence right now, this one’s for you. 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
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4.9
out of 5
81 Ratings

About

Tired of feeling like the old tools for motivating your team no longer work? Productivity is dipping, engagement is at an all-time low, and you are being asked to get more done with fewer people. The workplace has changed, and managers need a different playbook to lead effectively. The New Manager Playbook podcast gives you practical, actionable, real-world strategies that help you navigate the messy realities of managing people today. No theory. No fluff. Just things that actually work. Hosted by Lia Garvin, known as the “Team Whisperer,” the show blends her experience at Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Bank of America with hands-on work supporting small businesses from homebuilding to MedSpas. Every episode helps you answer the real questions managers are searching for, including: • How do I manage former friends or peers?• How do I give feedback without people getting defensive?• How do I get out of the weeds as a leader?• How do I motivate my team when I cannot pay them more?• How do I oversee a remote team without micromanaging?• How do I improve my team’s productivity without burning people out?• How do I set priorities when everything is important?• How do I lead effectively in an AI-driven workplace? Whether you are a first-time manager feeling overwhelmed, a founder who never signed up for “management,” or a seasoned leader ready to break old habits, each Tuesday episode delivers tactical playbooks you can use the same day. No more guessing. No more stress. Just clear, proven strategies that help you lead with confidence. About the Host: Lia Garvin is a 3x bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and team management consultant. Known for her practical approach to building high-performing teams, she brings more than a decade of experience driving team operations at Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Bank of America. Her work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, and more. Join thousands of managers who have discovered a new way to lead. Subscribe to The New Manager Playbook today. Learn more: www.liagarvin.com

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