The Manager's Mic

Paul Leon, MBA
  • 5.0 (11)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The podcast for new people managers who want to avoid the habits that kill rapport with team members. Hosted by Paul Leon, MBA, a sales training leader and MBA graduate who has worked with over 500 teams. If you want to power up your people management skills to have more rapport with team members, The Manager's Mic is the answer! For more FREE resources, visit our website: https://www.themanagersmic.com

  1. 2D AGO

    What I’ve Learned Managing 17 Direct Reports | Tips for New Managers

    Bad feedback can quietly damage team trust, even when a manager has good intentions. In this episode of The Manager’s Mic, Paul Leon shares lessons from managing 17 direct reports and explains how new managers can give feedback that builds rapport instead of breaking it. This conversation covers why self-awareness matters, how intention and impact are not the same, and why psychological safety is critical when giving feedback. Paul Leon also breaks down a simple feedback framework for managers: be timely, be specific, and stay forward-looking. For new managers, feedback is not just about correcting behavior. It is an opportunity to build trust, improve communication, and create a safer team culture where employees feel comfortable speaking up. Chapters 00:00 Why Bad Feedback Damages Team Trust 03:13 Self-Awareness for Better Manager Feedback 04:23 Fast Feedback Loop: Timely, Specific, Forward-Looking 06:29 Three Feedback Rules for New Managers 07:32 Building Rapport Through Difficult Conversations Watch or listen to more from The Manager’s Mic on tips for new managers https://www.themanagersmic.com/ Legal Disclaimer Leonsolutions, LLC, and the content it produces are for educational purposes; your results may vary. No guarantee of results is claimed. The publisher of this content is not responsible for any actions taken or not taken as a result of reading, watching, or listening to our content.

    13 min
  2. Burnout Is Not Your Real Problem (feat. Dr. Heather Kidwell) | Tips for New Managers

    MAY 6

    Burnout Is Not Your Real Problem (feat. Dr. Heather Kidwell) | Tips for New Managers

    In my conversation with Dr. Heather Kidwell, she shared her expertise in strategic leadership. Her insights will help newer managers avoid burnout. Learn strategies to reconnect with your purpose to overcome a challenging work environment. Follow Dr. Heather Kidwell An Article to Overcome Burnout https://humanitydrivenleadership.substack.com/p/its-not-just-burnout-its-something Learn About The BurnUP Program https://www.humanitydrivenleadership.com/the-burnup-sm-method  LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherkidwell/  Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Heather Kidwell 01:53 Defining Strategic Leadership 04:46 Management vs. Leadership 07:32 Trends in Young Professionals and Management 09:21 Personal Experiences in Corporate Leadership 11:07 Defining Your 'Why' 13:48 Navigating Career Transitions 16:30 Understanding Shame 20:18 Finding Happiness and Purpose 25:18 Future Focus: Convergent Depletion Syndrome 26:33 Understanding Burnout and Exhaustion 28:25 Convergent Depletion Syndrome Explained 30:27 Exploring Solutions and Support Systems 33:59 The Role of Spirituality in Leadership 34:49 The Performative Nature of Corporate Environments Legal Disclaimer Leonsolutions, LLC, and the content it produces are for educational purposes; your results may vary. No guarantee of results is claimed. The publisher of this content is not responsible for any actions taken or not taken as a result of reading, watching, or listening to our content.

    40 min
  3. How to Create a Community That Sees You (feat. Emily Green) | Tips for Managers

    APR 30

    How to Create a Community That Sees You (feat. Emily Green) | Tips for Managers

    Emily Green shares how she created a community for those seeking speaking opportunities. She shares her journey of owning a marketing agency, which she later sold. If you are a new manager looking to create engagement, this episode is for you. Follow Emily Green Website   https://emily-green.com/  Join The Love Means Business Community https://emily-s-site-eec1.thinkific.com/products/communities/my-community-speaker-support   Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Emily Green 02:49 Lessons from Selling a Business 04:13 Understanding Marketing Agency Dynamics 05:09 Client Success Stories and Growth Strategies 06:55 Building a Brand and Agency Culture 09:37 The Decision to Sell and Transitioning to New Ventures 12:01 Challenges Women Face in Business 14:41 The Importance of Support and Community 20:12 Exploring Love Means Business Community 21:02 Tips for Building a Community 23:46 Creating Value through Networking and Opportunities 26:30 The Art of Writing for Engagement 32:02 An Important Lesson from Emily’s Career Journey Follow the podcast that helps new managers avoid the habits that kill rapport https://www.themanagersmic.com/ Legal Disclaimer Leonsolutions, LLC, and the content it produces are for educational purposes; your results may vary. No guarantee of results is claimed. The publisher of this content is not responsible for any actions taken or not taken as a result of reading, watching, or listening to our content. #ThoughtLeadership #LoveMeansBusiness #WomenInBusiness #ManagersMic

    37 min
  4. Everything I Have Learned From Closing 5,000+ Sales | Tips For Sales Managers

    APR 23

    Everything I Have Learned From Closing 5,000+ Sales | Tips For Sales Managers

    Can sales skills improve in just 13 days? In this episode of The Manager’s Mic, I break down practical sales training principles that help sales professionals improve communication, sharpen their value proposition, understand buyer psychology, build a stronger sales pipeline, handle rejection, and follow up with purpose. Follow me online for more sales management tips https://www.themanagersmic.com/ In this video, you will learn: How to improve sales skills through consistent actionWhy a strong value proposition matters in every sales conversationHow buyer psychology affects sales outcomesWhy tone and communication style shape trustHow to build and protect a healthy sales pipelineHow to handle rejection without losing momentumWhy persistence and follow-up drive more closed dealsHow relationship-based selling creates long-term success Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Sales Mastery 04:12 Understanding the Sales Process 09:36 Effective Communication Techniques 14:25 The Role of Follow-Up in Sales #Sales #Management #Tips #ManagersMic

    20 min
  5. Future-Proof Your Personal Brand Before AI Replaces You With Melanie Borden

    APR 15

    Future-Proof Your Personal Brand Before AI Replaces You With Melanie Borden

    AI is changing how leaders are discovered, evaluated, and hired — and your personal brand may already be falling behind. In this episode of The Manager's Mic Podcast, personal branding expert Melanie Borden (founder of Borden Group) breaks down exactly how to build a personal brand strategy that AI can not erase. From searchable leadership to digital visibility tactics that get you found, this is the AI personal branding conversation every manager needs to hear. What You'll Learn: • How AI is reshaping how buyers and hiring managers evaluate leaders • What "searchable leadership" means and how to make it work for you • Practical personal brand strategy to future-proof your career in the AI era • The most common AI personal branding mistakes leaders make • How to build real digital visibility as a manager or executive About Melanie Borden: Melanie Borden is the founder of Borden Group, a personal branding agency helping executives and entrepreneurs build powerful, searchable digital identities. Follow Melanie Borden Website - https://humantobrand.com/ Book- https://amzn.to/3OhUL0Y  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanieborden/  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thebordengroup/  --- Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Melanie Borden and Her Expertise  01:24 The Impact of AI on Buyer Evaluation  04:46 Embracing AI: Skills for the Future  08:25 Defining Searchable Leadership  11:02 Strategies for Enhancing Searchability  16:56 Common Mistakes in AI Personal Branding  22:01 Melanie's Personal Journey and Lessons Learned  32:29 Future-Proofing Visibility in Leadership --- Legal Disclaimer This content is for educational purposes; your results may vary. No guarantee of results is claimed. The publisher of this content is not responsible for any actions taken or not taken as a result of watching or listening to this content.

    36 min
  6. Why Most Sales Compensation Plans Fail | Tips for Sales Managers

    APR 9

    Why Most Sales Compensation Plans Fail | Tips for Sales Managers

    Most sales managers inherit broken compensation plans and wonder why their best reps keep leaving. In this episode, compensation expert Scott Trumpolt breaks down exactly why most sales compensation plans fail and what you can do to fix it. Scott shares his experience in designing pay structures that actually motivate your team, reduce sales turnover, and create clear career pathways for your salespeople if you're a new sales manager trying to understand why your top performers keep walking out the door. This one is for you. What you'll learn: Why most compensation plans backfire (and the psychology behind it).How to build a career roadmap that keeps your best reps engaged.The real difference between base + commission vs. commission-only roles.How market-based pay reduces sales turnover and boosts retention.Why transparency and simplicity are the foundation of sales performance management. Follow Scott Trumpoltt Book: https://amzn.to/4vf9XfN Website: https://hrcompensationconsulting.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-trumpolt-m-a-g-r-p-257a6b317/  Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Scott Trompolt  02:00 Plug to The Defragmented Consultant  04:58 Sales Compensation Structures and Their Importance  12:20 Understanding Sales Turnover Rates  17:10 Creating a Career Roadmap for Sales Professionals  24:16 Career Architecture and Growth Paths  28:54 The Importance of Compensation Clarity  34:48 Challenges in Commission-Only Sales Roles  41:31 Key Takeaways on Transparency and Simplicity #SalesManagement #SalesTurnover #SalesPerformance #Tips #ManagersMic

    42 min
  7. The People First Playbook | Tips for New Managers

    APR 2

    The People First Playbook | Tips for New Managers

    What can basketball teach you about leadership? Nick Reich breaks down his People First Playbook — a proven framework for building trust, purpose, and high-performing teams." Follow Nick Reich People First Playbook https://www.peoplefirstplaybook.com/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-reich05/  Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Leadership Philosophy 02:46 The Journey to Coaching and Leadership 04:47 Lessons from Basketball in Leadership 08:18 Boundaries in Leadership and Team Dynamics 10:19 The Impact of Managers on Mental Health 12:36 Awareness and Responsibility in Leadership 15:11 The Six Components of the People First Playbook 20:33 Defining Purpose in Leadership 22:33 The Importance of Purpose in Leadership 24:20 Intentionality in Defining Purpose 26:08 Navigating Managerial Transitions 27:49 The Role of Communication in Leadership 29:42 Recognizing Humanity in Leadership 32:43 Building Connections and Trust 33:56 Activities to Boost Team Morale "🎙️ Subscribe to The Manager's Mic for weekly leadership insights for new managers." Free Gift https://www.themanagersmic.com/newsletter/

    36 min
  8. How to Lead Without the Hero Complex | Tips for New Managers

    MAR 25

    How to Lead Without the Hero Complex | Tips for New Managers

    Most new managers unknowingly fall into the hero complex, feeling like they have to have all the answers, fix every problem, and impress the team to earn respect. Marc Haine, author of Lights, Camera, Action, breaks down why that instinct is quietly destroying your credibility and what to do instead. Follow Marc Haine Marc’s Book Lights, Camera, Action - https://amzn.to/4rUE7lH Marc’s Website - https://marchaine.com/   Follow the podcast that helps new people managers avoid the habits that kill rapport https://www.themanagersmic.com/   Takeaways Extraordinary experiences are designed, not accidental.Every interaction has touch points that can be improved.Training is essential for effective leadership.The hero complex can hinder effective management.Intentionality in leadership leads to better outcomes.Recognizing and rewarding good behavior is crucial.Communication is key to managing expectations.A crisis can lead to reverting to old behaviors.Writing a book is a process of discovery and reflection.Serving others is more important than impressing them.  Sound Bites "If I train people, they might leave." "Impressing or serving, pick one." "We need to be coaches, not managers." Chapters 00:00 Meet Marc Haine: Theater Thinking for Better Leadership 05:00 What New Managers Get Wrong About Expectations 12:18 How Company Culture Shapes Team Behavior 19:30 The Leadership Lesson That Became a Book 25:12 Perfectionism vs. Micromanagement: A Leadership Dilemma 31:32 Intentional Leadership: Serving vs. Impressing 41:17 How to Build Real Trust as a People Manager If this episode challenged how you think about leadership, subscribe to new episodes that drop weekly for first-time managers navigating real team dynamics. Legal Disclaimer This content is for educational purposes; your results may vary. No guarantee of results is claimed. The publisher of this content is not responsible for any actions taken or not taken as a result of watching or listening to this piece of content.

    45 min
See All (124)

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

The podcast for new people managers who want to avoid the habits that kill rapport with team members. Hosted by Paul Leon, MBA, a sales training leader and MBA graduate who has worked with over 500 teams. If you want to power up your people management skills to have more rapport with team members, The Manager's Mic is the answer! For more FREE resources, visit our website: https://www.themanagersmic.com

Information

  • Creator
    Paul Leon, MBA
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    124
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Paul Leon, MBA
  • Show Website
    The Manager's Mic

You Might Also Like