The New Manager Playbook with Lia Garvin

Lia Garvin
The New Manager Playbook with Lia Garvin

Tired of feeling like the old tools for motivating your team aren't working anymore? Productivity is dipping, engagement is at an all time low, and you're supposed to get more done with less people.  Today's workplace needs something different - it needs something new.  The New Manager Playbook podcast breaks the old rules of management and gives you practical, actionable strategies that actually work. Host Lia Garvin, known as the "Team Whisperer," combines her experience working at Google, Microsoft, Apple and supporting small businesses from homebuilding to MedSpas with research-backed methods to help you answer questions like: 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 can't pay them more?How do I oversee a remote team without micromanaging?How do I improve my team’s productivity and output without burning people out?How do I set priorities when everything is important?Whether you're a first-time manager feeling overwhelmed, a business owner who never signed up for "management," or a seasoned leader ready to break free from outdated practices, each Tuesday episode delivers tactical playbooks you can implement immediately. No more guessing. No more stress. Just clear, proven strategies from someone who's been in your shoes. About Your Host: Lia Garvin, the "Team Whisperer," is a 3x bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and team management consultant who's brings her experience driving team operations at Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Bank of America to help companies transform their management approach and build better teams. Her work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, and more. Subscribe now and join thousands of managers who've discovered the playbook for modern leadership success. Learn more: www.liagarvin.com

  1. 5D AGO

    The Secret to Overcoming Imposter Syndrome as a New Leader

    Every new manager faces it—that creeping feeling of "Am I really cut out for this?" If you've recently stepped into a leadership role or have ever doubted your capabilities as a manager, this episode is for you. In this empowering edition of The New Manager Playbook, host and leadership coach Lia Garvin tackles imposter syndrome head-on and offers real strategies to overcome it and lead with confidence from day one. Whether you're managing former peers, stepping into a leadership role at a new company, or leveling up to a senior position, imposter feelings can be paralyzing. But they don’t have to define you. Lia shares a powerful framework and personal stories—including her time managing high-performing teams at Google, Microsoft, and Apple—to show how self-awareness, clarity of purpose, and intentional communication can flip the script and fast-track your leadership success. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why imposter syndrome hits hardest for new (and promoted) managersHow to shift from “Why me?” to “Here’s why I belong”How to re-establish relationships when moving from peer to managerThe importance of setting intentions and leadership vision early onWhy being confident helps your team trust you (even if you're still learning)Practical scripts for re-engaging team members and earning buy-inReal examples of how top leaders manage self-doubt without letting it derail them Ready to feel like a capable, confident manager? Subscribe and join Lia Garvin every week for new insights from The New Manager Playbook—where the old rules don’t apply, and ease, empathy, and effectiveness take the lead.👉 Download Lia’s free New Manager Toolkit and access more coaching at https://www.liagarvin.com -- WORK WITH LIA: How many times have you thought "I wish this whole managing people thing was a little easier" or better yet - "tell me what to do to be a better manager and I'll do it"? I've got you covered ;) My new book, The New Manager Playbook, your comprehensive guide to managing with confidence and ease is now available! Grab your copy today! https://www.liagarvin.com/newmanagerplaybook/ Want some support for yourself or your team, let's chat! Schedule a call here: calendly.com/liagarvin/scaleup-strategy CONNECT WITH LIA: Website: https://www.liagarvin.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liagarvin/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin/ Music by: https://www.instagram.com/isaacy8s/

    12 min
  2. MAY 6

    Stop Sugarcoating: How Real Leaders Give Feedback That Actually Works

    In this episode of The New Manager Playbook, leadership expert Lia Garvin tackles one of the most misunderstood topics in the workplace: giving feedback that actually helps your team grow—even if it makes them uncomfortable. Many new (and experienced) managers avoid feedback because they fear how it will be received. But here's the truth: growth doesn't happen in the comfort zone. If you're wondering how to help your team develop high standards, accountability, and resilience, this episode is your blueprint. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The right mindset to adopt around feedbackA personal story from her early career that shaped her work ethicWhy psychological safety starts with clear expectationsThe surprising power of discomfort in learningA hilarious but accurate metaphor about "taking off the pull-ups"3 proven ways to create a team culture where feedback leads to growth, not fear Whether you’re a new manager, a startup founder, or a team lead trying to build a performance-driven culture, this episode gives you the tools to give feedback that works. 👇 Ready to lead with confidence and clarity? 📩 Subscribe to The New Manager Playbook for weekly episodes that help you stop dreading management and start thriving in it. 🔗 Learn more about Lia's coaching & resources at https://liagarvin.com -- WORK WITH LIA: How many times have you thought "I wish this whole managing people thing was a little easier" or better yet - "tell me what to do to be a better manager and I'll do it"? I've got you covered ;) My new book, The New Manager Playbook, your comprehensive guide to managing with confidence and ease is now available! Grab your copy today! https://www.liagarvin.com/newmanagerplaybook/ Want some support for yourself or your team, let's chat! Schedule a call here: calendly.com/liagarvin/scaleup-strategy CONNECT WITH LIA: Website: https://www.liagarvin.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liagarvin/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin/ Music by: https://www.instagram.com/isaacy8s/

    17 min
  3. APR 29

    Stop Waking Up at 3AM Worried About Your Team—Do This Instead

    Ever wake up at 3AM worrying if your team is on track? You're not alone—and better yet, you don't have to live like that anymore. In this game-changing episode of the New Manager Playbook, Lia Garvin introduces the ultimate management hack: the Snippets Template—a simple but powerful weekly update system designed to give you total clarity without micromanaging. Whether you manage a remote team, run a small business, or lead in a corporate environment, this is the tool you’ve been missing. If you’re tired of juggling endless task-tracking systems, feeling out of the loop, or constantly stressing about your projects, this episode is your roadmap to stress-free leadership. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: ✅ Why sophisticated task management systems still leave managers feeling stressed ✅ The REAL reason you wake up panicked about projects and team work ✅ How to implement the Snippets Template to instantly improve team communication ✅ Why how you roll out new systems matters more than the tool itself ✅ How to frame weekly updates so your team feels empowered, not micromanaged ✅ Tips for building team ownership, recognition, and proactivity every single week ✅ How one client transformed their remote team's productivity almost overnight 💻 Download the FREE Snippets Template here: https://www.liagarvin.com/snippets Inside, you’ll get the editable Google Doc and a step-by-step video on how to roll it out effectively! 🔔 Subscribe to New Manager Playbook for weekly leadership tools 📤 Share this episode with a fellow manager or business owner who needs better systems! -- WORK WITH LIA: How many times have you thought "I wish this whole managing people thing was a little easier" or better yet - "tell me what to do to be a better manager and I'll do it"? I've got you covered ;) My new book, The New Manager Playbook, your comprehensive guide to managing with confidence and ease is now available! Grab your copy today! https://www.liagarvin.com/newmanagerplaybook/ Want some support for yourself or your team, let's chat! Schedule a call here: calendly.com/liagarvin/scaleup-strategy CONNECT WITH LIA: Website: https://www.liagarvin.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liagarvin/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin/ Music by: https://www.instagram.com/isaacy8s/

    15 min
  4. APR 22

    This ONE Mistake Is Costing Your Team Thousands Every Week

    When budgets tighten, what’s the first thing to go? Training, coaching, and team support. But as leadership expert Lia Garvin reveals in this episode of The New Manager Playbook, that’s one of the most expensive mistakes a business can make. Lia breaks down the true cost of inaction—from poor delegation and team inefficiencies to low morale, preventable turnover, and lost revenue. Drawing on real stories from small businesses and corporate teams, she shows how failing to invest in your team’s growth silently drains your profits. Whether you’re a founder, people manager, or team lead, this episode is a wake-up call: doing nothing costs you everything. 💡 Key Takeaways: Why cutting back on team support and training costs more than it savesThe hidden financial impact of poor delegation and miscommunicationWhat 4–5 hours of wasted time a week really costs your businessReal-world case studies showing how inaction can cost up to six figuresSimple shifts to begin addressing team inefficiencies TODAYHow to prevent turnover and disengagement through proactive supportWhy training even low performers is still a smart investment This episode is your wake-up call — there’s nothing more expensive than doing nothing. 📘 Ready to take action? Grab your copy of The New Manager Playbook and start equipping your managers and team leads to thrive.  👉 Visit: https://www.liagarvin.com/newmanagerplaybook 📩 Need direct help improving team performance or leadership training? Contact: hello@liagarvin.com 🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe for more management strategies to build high-performing, motivated teams. -- WORK WITH LIA: How many times have you thought "I wish this whole managing people thing was a little easier" or better yet - "tell me what to do to be a better manager and I'll do it"? I've got you covered ;) My new book, The New Manager Playbook, your comprehensive guide to managing with confidence and ease is now available! Grab your copy today! https://www.liagarvin.com/newmanagerplaybook/ Want some support for yourself or your team, let's chat! Schedule a call here: calendly.com/liagarvin/scaleup-strategy CONNECT WITH LIA: Website: https://www.liagarvin.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liagarvin/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin/ Music by: https://www.instagram.com/isaacy8s/

    11 min
  5. APR 15

    You Got Promoted—How to Manage Former Peers Without Losing Control

    Feeling awkward or unsure about managing friends or former teammates? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out the hard way. In this episode of The New Manager Playbook, Lia Garvin breaks down one of the toughest leadership transitions—going from peer to boss—and shares real stories, hard lessons, and actionable strategies to help you lead with confidence, authority, and empathy. Whether you're a first-time manager, newly promoted, or coaching others through this tricky leadership shift, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. What You’ll Learn In This Episode: ✅ Why managing a former peer or friend is harder than it seems ✅ The 3 BIGGEST mistakes new managers make (and how to avoid them) ✅ How to set boundaries and expectations without damaging relationships ✅ Why downplaying your promotion hurts you—and your team ✅ The exact conversation to have when roles shift from peer to manager ✅ How to reset the working dynamic while building trust and buy-in If you’ve recently been promoted or are preparing to take the next step in your career, this episode will equip you with the mindset and tools to thrive as a new manager. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes of The New Manager Playbook with Lia Garvin 📤 Share this episode with a colleague who's stepping into leadership! 📘 Grab the Book: Lia’s The New Manager Playbook is packed with practical tools, mindset shifts, and scripts to help you lead with confidence from Day One. -- WORK WITH LIA: How many times have you thought "I wish this whole managing people thing was a little easier" or better yet - "tell me what to do to be a better manager and I'll do it"? I've got you covered ;) My new book, The New Manager Playbook, your comprehensive guide to managing with confidence and ease is now available! Grab your copy today! https://www.liagarvin.com/newmanagerplaybook/ Want some support for yourself or your team, let's chat! Schedule a call here: calendly.com/liagarvin/scaleup-strategy CONNECT WITH LIA: Website: https://www.liagarvin.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liagarvin/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin/ Music by: https://www.instagram.com/isaacy8s/

    14 min
  6. APR 8

    How to Keep Your Best Team Members During Uncertain Times

    Are you constantly losing top talent and left wondering why? You're not alone—but you can prevent it. In this episode of The New Manager Playbook, Lia Garvin uncovers the hard truth about preventable employee turnover and shows managers exactly how to stop being blindsided when team members quit. With research-backed insights and real-world strategies, you'll learn how to recognize the early signs of disengagement, have meaningful check-ins, and hold career development conversations that retain your high performers. Lia breaks down the true cost of turnover (hint: it's higher than you think) and gives you the management tools to build a loyal, high-performing team that sticks around. If you're a new manager, team leader, or business owner struggling to keep top performers on board, this episode is for you! What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why 42% of turnover is preventable—and what to do about itHow to recognize disengaged employees before it’s too lateThe real reason high performers are leaving silentlyStrategies to reduce employee turnover and improve retentionOpen-ended questions that get real feedbackCareer conversations that build loyalty, not fearHow investing in your team builds trust and prevents surprise exitsThe long-term cost of not taking actionSubscribe to The New Manager Playbook for practical leadership tips and strategies every week.  📩 Need support? Email Lia at: hello@liagarvin.com  👍 Like, comment, and share if this episode helped you prevent a resignation! -- WORK WITH LIA: How many times have you thought "I wish this whole managing people thing was a little easier" or better yet - "tell me what to do to be a better manager and I'll do it"? I've got you covered ;) My new book, The New Manager Playbook, your comprehensive guide to managing with confidence and ease is now available! Grab your copy today! https://www.liagarvin.com/newmanagerplaybook/ Want some support for yourself or your team, let's chat! Schedule a call here: calendly.com/liagarvin/scaleup-strategy CONNECT WITH LIA: Website: https://www.liagarvin.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liagarvin/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin/ Music by: https://www.instagram.com/isaacy8s/

    12 min
  7. APR 1

    Still Doing Everything Yourself? Here’s the Real Reason You Can’t Let Go

    Think your team isn’t ready or you just don’t have time to delegate? Think again. In this episode of The New Manager Playbook, leadership coach and author Lia Garvin reveals the surprising truth behind why delegation is so hard—and spoiler: it’s not a workload problem, it’s a trust issue. If you're a new or overwhelmed manager feeling like you have to do everything yourself, this is your wake-up call. Learn how to overcome hidden trust barriers, manage up effectively, and set your team—and yourself—up for scalable success. What You’ll Learn in This Episode ✅ Why delegation fails even when you have a capable team ✅ How fear of judgment from your manager blocks real delegation ✅ The 3 types of trust issues hiding behind “I don’t have time” ✅ How to manage up and delegate down to reduce stress ✅ The simple framework for setting expectations that builds trust ✅ How to use tools like Loom to create task SOPs in minutes ✅ Why “doing it all” makes you less effective—not more valuable Real-Life Story: Lia shares a powerful story of delegating a high-stakes event (she hated planning!) to a team member—and how managing up the right way not only freed her up, but built stronger trust across the board. This is a must-listen for any leader trying to scale themselves without burning out. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly insights from The New Manager Playbook  📧 Want help solving your team’s delegation bottlenecks? Email Lia: hello@liagarvin.com -- WORK WITH LIA: How many times have you thought "I wish this whole managing people thing was a little easier" or better yet - "tell me what to do to be a better manager and I'll do it"? I've got you covered ;) My new book, The New Manager Playbook, your comprehensive guide to managing with confidence and ease is now available! Grab your copy today! https://www.liagarvin.com/newmanagerplaybook/ Want some support for yourself or your team, let's chat! Schedule a call here: calendly.com/liagarvin/scaleup-strategy CONNECT WITH LIA: Website: https://www.liagarvin.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liagarvin/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin/ Music by: https://www.instagram.com/isaacy8s/

    13 min
  8. APR 1

    You Got Promoted… Now What? The Truth About Leading for the First Time

    Think becoming a manager is just doing your old job—with people? Think again. In the very first episode of The New Manager Playbook, author and leadership coach Lia Garvin breaks down the biggest misconception new managers face: believing it’s the same job with extra meetings. Spoiler alert—it’s not. Whether you were just promoted, leading peers for the first time, or feeling like you're “faking it till you make it,” this episode will hit home.  In This Episode, You’ll Learn: ✅ The #1 mindset shift new managers must make to lead effectively ✅ How misunderstanding your new role creates friction, burnout, and low team trust ✅ Real talk about managing former peers (especially when they wanted the job!) ✅ Why intention and predictability are the foundation of trust ✅ How to lead with transparency—even when you can’t share everything ✅ Tools to define your leadership style and anchor to it when things get tough ✅ What the “player-coach” model really means—and why it sets you up to fail If you’re a new manager, this episode will help you go from reactive to intentional. If you’re about to become one, this will help you start strong. And if you’ve been leading for years, it’s a reset worth hearing. 📘 Grab the Book: Lia’s The New Manager Playbook is packed with practical tools, mindset shifts, and scripts to help you lead with confidence from Day One. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly leadership strategies for new managers -- WORK WITH LIA: How many times have you thought "I wish this whole managing people thing was a little easier" or better yet - "tell me what to do to be a better manager and I'll do it"? I've got you covered ;) My new book, The New Manager Playbook, your comprehensive guide to managing with confidence and ease is now available! Grab your copy today! https://www.liagarvin.com/newmanagerplaybook/ Want some support for yourself or your team, let's chat! Schedule a call here: calendly.com/liagarvin/scaleup-strategy CONNECT WITH LIA: Website: https://www.liagarvin.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liagarvin/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvin/ Music by: https://www.instagram.com/isaacy8s/

    12 min
4.9
out of 5
76 Ratings

About

Tired of feeling like the old tools for motivating your team aren't working anymore? Productivity is dipping, engagement is at an all time low, and you're supposed to get more done with less people.  Today's workplace needs something different - it needs something new.  The New Manager Playbook podcast breaks the old rules of management and gives you practical, actionable strategies that actually work. Host Lia Garvin, known as the "Team Whisperer," combines her experience working at Google, Microsoft, Apple and supporting small businesses from homebuilding to MedSpas with research-backed methods to help you answer questions like: 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 can't pay them more?How do I oversee a remote team without micromanaging?How do I improve my team’s productivity and output without burning people out?How do I set priorities when everything is important?Whether you're a first-time manager feeling overwhelmed, a business owner who never signed up for "management," or a seasoned leader ready to break free from outdated practices, each Tuesday episode delivers tactical playbooks you can implement immediately. No more guessing. No more stress. Just clear, proven strategies from someone who's been in your shoes. About Your Host: Lia Garvin, the "Team Whisperer," is a 3x bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and team management consultant who's brings her experience driving team operations at Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Bank of America to help companies transform their management approach and build better teams. Her work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, and more. Subscribe now and join thousands of managers who've discovered the playbook for modern leadership success. Learn more: www.liagarvin.com

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