The Manager Track

Ramona Shaw
  • 5.0 (24)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

If you’re in you're a new manager and want to become a confident and competent leader people love to work with, then join leadership expert Ramona Shaw in this podcast. Each week, Ramona shares inspiring new perspectives and practical tips you can use right away to successfully transition into your first leadership role and to think, act, and communicate like the leader you know you can be.

  1. 2D AGO

    How to Rebuild a Bad Work Reputation (Ep. 299)

    Once a reputation sticks at work, it can feel impossible to change. You’re trying to do better and you’re showing up differently. But people still see the old you: The "difficult" oneThe "not a team player"The "abrasive" managerThe person who "messed up that one time" and never lived it down You can’t outwork a bad story that’s still circulating about you in rooms you’re not in. What you need is a strategy, not just more effort. In this episode, Ramona breaks down a clear, practical framework to rebuild a damaged work reputation and actually make your growth visible to others. You’ll learn: Why quietly "doing better" isn’t enough to change how people see youThe psychology behind how reputations form and get stuck at workScripts to use when you need to own past mistakes without over‑apologizingHow to redirect gossip and old narratives without sounding defensive If you feel like your past at work keeps dragging your present (and future) down, this episode will show you how to take back control of the narrative. Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. — RESOURCES MENTIONED —   Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseGrab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP  — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE — Episode 248 - Mental Traps That Keep Leaders StuckEpisode 203 - Current-Day Lessons From Historical Leaders - with Moshik Temkin   — WHAT’S NEXT? —   Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.   Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP   Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz   Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass   Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!   If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

    29 min

  2. FEB 3

    How to Build Trust Fast as a New Leader (Ep. 298)

    Here's what they told you: "Trust takes time. Keep your head down, prove yourself, and eventually they'll trust you." Wrong. Research shows that a good part of your perceived effectiveness as a leader is locked in within the first 90 days and most of that perception forms in the first two weeks. While you're busy "listening and learning," here's what's actually happening behind your back: Your team is deciding if you're weak or strongThe old guard is calculating how to box you inYour boss is trying to figure out whether they made the right hire The clock is ticking. And the game isn't about earning trust over time. It's about trust velocity: How fast can you establish credibility, predictability, and authority before that window closes? In Episode 298 of The Manager Track, we break down: The 2 Asymmetries that explain why new leaders struggle when trust isn't thereThe Frame Control Rule that flips power dynamics in your first conversationsThe 4-Level Trust Response Ladder to foster an environment for mutual trust to form without people pleasing or defensivenessThe Trust Investor Strategy: How giving trust before it's earned triggers a powerful reciprocity reflexThis isn't theory. This is what actually works behind closed doors at high-performing companies backed by behavioral science and real leadership wins. If you've ever walked into a new role and felt like you were on trial, this episode is for you. Listen now on our Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. — RESOURCES MENTIONED —   Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseGrab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP  — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE — Episode 234 - Trusting Your Team & Your Team Trusting You - With Charles FeltmanEpisode 19 - The Importance of Trust in Leadership - With Brian Harman  — WHAT’S NEXT? —   Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.   Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP   Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz   Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass   Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!   If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

    28 min

  3. JAN 27

    Skip Level Meetings: Best Practices for Managers and Leaders (Ep. 297)

    You know that sinking feeling when you find out your boss grabbed coffee with one of your team members and you had no idea it was happening? Yeah. Not great. Or maybe you've been on the other side: invited to meet with your skip-level leader and wondering, "Wait... what am I supposed to talk about?" Skip-level meetings are one of those leadership practices that can be incredibly powerful or spectacularly messy. And honestly? Most organizations and leaders are underestimating the cost and downside of ineffective skip-level meetings. When done right, skip levels give senior leaders unfiltered insight into what's actually happening on the ground. They help spot patterns early, make leadership feel accessible, and surface hidden talent that might otherwise go unnoticed. But when done poorly? They destroy trust, create political chaos, and teach people that the fastest way to get something done is to go around their manager. So in this week's episode of The Managed Track Podcast, we're breaking down everything you need to know about skip-level meetings: Why they exist (and what problem they're actually solving)The five biggest ways they go wrong (triangulation, anyone?)Practical playbooks for all three roles: the senior leader running them, the manager whose team is involved, and the employee being invited I also reached out to 14 HR leaders to get their take on best practices, and I'm sharing all of that consolidated wisdom with you. Whether you're a senior leader trying to stay connected to the work, a manager navigating these conversations with your team, or an individual contributor preparing for your first skip-level meeting, this episode will help you make the most of them while avoiding the common pitfalls. Listen now on Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. — RESOURCES MENTIONED —   Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseGrab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP  — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE — Episode 183 - Creating Effective, Engaging, and Enjoyable Meetings - Interview with Mamie Kanfer StewartEpisode 42 - How to Run 1-on-1 Meetings Your Direct Reports Actually Enjoy  — WHAT’S NEXT? —   Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.   Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP   Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz   Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass   Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!   If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

    35 min

  4. JAN 20

    AI for Managers in 2026 (Ep.296)

    If you’re a manager, you’ve probably seen this play out. One person on your team is trying every new tool. Another hasn’t touched it.  Meanwhile, you’re too busy to figure out how to actually boost team productivity with AI in a coordinated and effective way. In this week’s episode of The Manager Track, Ramona talks about what AI adoption actually looks like for managers in non-technical roles, where it’s easy to delay and even easier to get left behind. She shares a clear and practical approach to integrating AI into your team’s work without creating overwhelm or eroding your team’s thinking skills. Key takeaways from the episode: Run small, low-risk experiments tied to real work. Measure the result and share learnings.Shift from task-based thinking to workflows so automation can scale and repeat.Build team-wide learning loops to avoid knowledge silos and uneven adoption.Don’t outsource your judgment. Prompt AI in ways that sharpen, not replace, your thinking. This isn’t theory. It’s a hands-on approach for managers who want to learn how to work with AI and lead a team through technological change.  Listen now on Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. — RESOURCES MENTIONED —   Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE. Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkitsLearn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-courseGrab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP  — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE — Episode 240 - AI-Powered People LeadershipEpisode 218 - GenAI for Managers  — WHAT’S NEXT? —   Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.   Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP   Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz   Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass   Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!   If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

    20 min

  5. JAN 13

    Why Leaders Must Build Their Own Frameworks to Scale Impact (Ep.295)

    Many capable leaders hit a ceiling not because they lack skill or experience, but because their thinking lives only in their heads. In this episode of The Manager Track, Ramona breaks down one of the most overlooked strategies for leaders who want to increase their impact, improve how they’re perceived, and position themselves for a promotion.  This is all about building your own framework. You’ll learn why relying on individual examples, opinions, or ad hoc explanations limits your influence, and how frameworks turn experience into something scalable, teachable, and repeatable.  Ramona explains what a framework really is, how it’s different from opinions or corporate jargon, and why the ability to simplify complex thinking is often what separates competent managers from leaders who advance. The episode walks through: real examples, common mistakes leaders make when trying to codify their thinking, and a practical step-by-step approach to creating a framework that others can actually use.  This isn’t about personal branding or LinkedIn thought leadership. It’s about translating discernment, pattern recognition, and experience into clarity that helps others make better decisions, even when you’re not in the room. If you want to stop over-explaining, scale your expertise, and be seen as a leader who defines problems rather than just reacts to them, this episode is for you. Listen now on Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. — RESOURCES MENTIONED —   - Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE.  - Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits - Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course - Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP   — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE — - Episode 259 - Resilience at Work: The Leadership Skill You Can’t Ignore - Episode 247 - Beyond Values - Creating Explicit Leadership Expectations   — WHAT’S NEXT? —   Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.   Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP   Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz   Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass   Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!   If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw   * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

    32 min

  6. JAN 5

    Want to Achieve Big Goals? The Two Critical Factors Most People Miss

    Setting big goals feels productive. It gives you a hit of clarity and a sense of control. But most goals don’t fail because you lacked clarity or motivation. They fail because you built them on the wrong foundation. This week on The Manager Track, we’re unpacking two practices that change the entire goal-setting game: identity-driven goal setting and the pre-mortem.  One helps you stop relying on mood and willpower by anchoring your goals to who you are becoming. The other helps you get ahead of predictable derailers before they cost you the year. In this episode, we cover: Identity-Driven Goal Setting: Why “who you want to be” is more powerful than “what you want to do”Proof Goals: How to set goals that build evidence and momentum, not just outcomes you hope forThe Pre-Mortem Method: how to assume the plan fails and map the most likely reasons If you want to pursue goals this year that actually survive busy weeks, shifting priorities, and imperfect energy, this episode will give you a practical system to do so.  Listen now on Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. — RESOURCES MENTIONED —   - Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits - Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course - Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE.  - Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP   — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE — - Episode 235 - How to Set Growth Goals That Actually Drive Results - Episode 196 - Changing Behaviors & Achieving Goals   — WHAT’S NEXT? —   Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.   Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP   Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz   Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass   Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!   If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw   * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

    30 min

  7. 12/30/2025

    The Self-Sacrificing Manager: Breaking the Cycle of Doing Everyone's Work

    This episode is a re-release of Ep 274, one of the most popular episodes of The Manager Track podcast. We'll be back with a new episode on January 6, 2025. But when you’re the one staying late, fixing mistakes, and picking up the slack, that “helpfulness” becomes a leadership trap. And if you don’t catch it early, it’ll quietly sabotage your team’s growth. In this episode of The Manager Track podcast, Ramona dives into the sneaky habit of self-sacrificing managers who end up doing everyone’s work under the disguise of being “helpful” or “collaborative.”  It might feel like you’re being a servant leader, but really, you’re becoming an overused safety net for everyone else. What we’ll unpack: - Why doing your team’s work isn’t helping them (or you) - The real reason you cave when people push back  - How to stop trading respect for temporary approval - Why being seen as “nice” isn’t the same as being an effective leader - The four habits to break the self-sacrificing cycle for good If you’re tired of staying late, fixing things that shouldn’t be yours, and wondering why you’re the only one drowning, this episode will hit home. You’ll learn how to lead without over-functioning, set better boundaries, and actually develop your team.    — RESOURCES MENTIONED —   - Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits - Executive Presence Intensive: archova.org/executive-presence-program  - Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course - Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE.  - Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP   — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE — - Episode 250 - Why “Figure It Out” Doesn’t Work: The Cost of Untrained Managers - Episode 225- Optimizing Work Dynamics - With Lotus Buckner   — WHAT’S NEXT? —   Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.   Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP   Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz   Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass   Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!   If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw   * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

    26 min

  8. 12/23/2025

    Build a Team Culture You’re Proud Of - Even When the Company’s Isn’t

    This episode is a re-release of Ep 264, one of the most popular episodes of The Manager Track podcast. We'll be back with a new episode. Ever feel like you’re doing everything right as a manager, but the broader company culture is off and it impacts your team.   Maybe leadership talks about values, but what actually gets rewarded tells a different story. Or your team is caught in the middle of constant change and chaos.   This week, we're diving into a challenge so many leaders face but rarely talk about, how to create a strong, healthy team culture even when your company’s culture isn’t ideal.   ✅ You’ll learn how to build a “culture bubble” ✅ We’ll explore the key ingredients of strong cultures ✅ We’ll share practical team exercises you can start using right away   If you’re leading a team and care about engagement, performance, and people actually wanting to stay, this one’s for you.   — RESOURCES MENTIONED —   - Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits - Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: https://archova.org/1on1-course - Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE.  - Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP   — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE — - Episode 137- How to Create a Strong Team Culture - with Gustavo Razetti - Episode 129 - Creating a Feedback Culture - With Harrison Kim   — WHAT’S NEXT? —   Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.   Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP   If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw   Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: www.archova.org/masterclass     Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!   * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you. * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

    43 min
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5
out of 5
24 Ratings

About

If you’re in you're a new manager and want to become a confident and competent leader people love to work with, then join leadership expert Ramona Shaw in this podcast. Each week, Ramona shares inspiring new perspectives and practical tips you can use right away to successfully transition into your first leadership role and to think, act, and communicate like the leader you know you can be.

Information

  • Creator
    Ramona Shaw
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    302
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ramona Shaw, LLC All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Manager Track

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