September is here, and with it comes what Gen Z has dubbed “The Great Lock-In”, a post-summer push to refocus, reenergize, and finish the year strong. But this moment isn’t just a trend, it’s a powerful opportunity for leaders.

In this episode of The New Manager Playbook podcast, I share how to use this time to reconnect your team to purpose and progress, without pushing them to burnout.

You’ll learn:

• Why 79% of employees feel disengaged, and what you can do about it
• Why problems like low motivation and confusion don’t solve themselves
• How to set a goal your team can rally around, no matter what the business is
• A story from my time at Microsoft that shows what real team buy-in looks like
• How to get everyone, from top performers to behind-the-scenes rockstars, locked in and ready to deliver

Plus, grab my free Snippets Template to keep your team on track each week: liagarvin.com/snippets

What if your team isn’t burned out, they’re just over it?

In this episode of The New Manager Playbook, I sit down with Grace Lee, our new GenZ brand manager, for a raw, honest conversation about what’s really going on inside today’s workplace. Grace shares what it's like to be a 20-something navigating a job market that’s flooded, unstable, and full of uncertainty, and how that shapes engagement, loyalty, and motivation.

We talk about:

• Why Gen Z sees jobs like dating apps, and what that means for retention
• The pressure to stay in roles that don’t feel like a fit (and why that’s not laziness)
• The one thing every leader can do to spark loyalty, and it doesn’t cost a dime

If you’re wondering why your team feels disengaged, or why your best hires don’t stay, this episode will shift your perspective and give you practical steps to build real connection that keeps people around.

Listen now to hear how small shifts in how you lead can reignite energy across your team.

And if you want support in navigating all of this on your team, it's time to bring The New Manager Playbook Program to your team. Get on the list for my new digital manager development program, changing the game of digital management training by making it efficient, cost-effective, and scalable.

Get on the list for early access at liagarvin.com/program

Feeling like your team member is dropping the ball? Before you rewrite the job description or mentally fire them, hit play on this episode.

This week on The New Manager Playbook, we dive into why most performance issues don’t start with a “bad hire”, they start with a feedback vacuum. If your team member doesn’t know what’s expected, how can they meet the mark?

In this episode:

• Why assuming “it should be obvious” is sabotaging your team
• The real reason you’re so frustrated (and how to fix it)
• A simple framework to reset expectations before it's too late
• How to give feedback that actually gets results

If you’ve ever felt like, “I shouldn’t have to explain this,” this episode is your wake-up call.

Quiet quitting made headlines, but it’s time to talk about a deeper threat: Quiet Cracking.

This episode is all about what happens when your most reliable, engaged, high-performing team members start slowly disengaging- not because they want to slack off, but because they’re burned out, spread thin, and overwhelmed. The kicker? They’re still showing up. Still doing the work. But the spark is fading.

If you’re noticing your star players stepping back or losing their usual energy, this episode is for you. I break down:

• What Quiet Cracking is (and how it’s different from quiet quitting)
• Why high performers are especially at risk right now
• The ripple effect it has on your team’s culture and morale
• 3 foundational steps to stop it before it spreads

This isn’t about sweeping transformation, it’s about getting back to the basics that work. Plus, I share a lightweight tool that can help you get ahead of burnout and build resilience into your team every week.

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Snippets Template: liagarvin.com/snippets
• More on The New Manager Playbook: liagarvin.com

A LinkedIn report says 58% of employees feel underutilized. That’s more than half of your team wondering if they could be doing more somewhere else.

In this episode of The New Manager Playbook, I breaks down:

• Why underutilization is a hidden driver of burnout and turnover
• The signs your high performers are already feeling it
• How to address it without overloading your team

You’ll also hear my own stories of being overlooked for stretch opportunities, and why those were the same moments I started looking for a new job.

If you want to keep your best people, it’s time to learn how to see and use their full potential.

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Grab my FAVORITE tool to make managing easer, and keep a pulse on what your team is working on without micromanaging: liagarvin.com/snippets

Onboarding can make, or break, a new hire’s success. In this episode of The New Manager Playbook Podcast, I reveal the two biggest onboarding mistakes managers make, and how to avoid them.

You’ll learn how to set clear expectations, keep new-hire enthusiasm high, and integrate them smoothly into the team. Whether you lead a small business or a corporate team, these tips will help you turn hiring wins into long-term results.

Key Takeaways:

• The two most common onboarding fails (and how to fix them).
• How to set the right pace, so new hires don’t stall or steamroll.
• Easy ways to create an onboarding process that actually sticks.

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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/

Hiring mistakes are expensive—and avoidable. Learn how to hire well and protect your team. Subscribe for weekly manager tips!

In this episode of the New Manager Playbook, Lia Garvin unpacks the three most common hiring mistakes that derail teams and cost businesses time, money, and high-performing talent. You’ll learn why moving too fast, underpaying, or hiring "divas" can wreck your team culture—and what to do instead. Perfect for new managers, small business owners, and HR leads looking to build strong, sustainable teams.

Hiring well isn’t just a skill—it’s your best defense against burnout, team dysfunction, and costly turnover. Lia Garvin shares real-life examples and lessons from top companies like Google and Apple, breaking down the true cost of bad hires and how to build a hiring process that protects your team. Whether you’re scaling a small business or managing a corporate team, you’ll walk away with actionable insights and a renewed confidence in your ability to hire right.

👉 Want to build a better hiring process?
Email Lia at hello@liagarvin.com to learn more about her 90-day COO program and team-building strategies.

Learn more at https://liagarvin.com

📚 Get the New Manager Playbook:
https://www.liagarvin.com/newmanagerplaybook/

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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/

Are you using AI in leadership or just hiding behind it? Discover how shortcuts like AI video clones and ChatGPT strategies are killing trust. Subscribe for more real-talk on leadership!

What You’ll Learn:

• Why overusing AI as a leader can damage team trust and engagement
• Real-world stories about AI video clones, copy-pasted strategies, and feedback gone wrong
• How to use AI to elevate—not replace—your leadership presence
• Simple tips to stay connected with your team (even when you’re busy!)

AI in leadership is everywhere but are you leveraging it to connect or to check out? In this episode, Lia Garvin breaks down the hidden dangers of using AI tools as a replacement for genuine leadership moments. From the jaw-dropping story of an executive who sends out AI video clones instead of real updates, to the cringe-worthy copy-paste ChatGPT strategies, Lia explores the real impact these shortcuts have on team morale and trust.

Drawing from personal experience as Chief of Staff at Microsoft and a candid coaching story from YouTube, Lia illustrates how teams crave authentic connection, not automation. When leaders substitute presence with AI, they risk eroding respect, increasing turnover, and missing critical opportunities to support high performers.

But it’s not all warnings. This episode also shows how to use AI as a tool for brainstorming and efficiency, while still taking full responsibility as a leader.

Lia shares actionable advice on having hard conversations, building executive presence, and using AI to amplify your impact, not erase it.

If you’re a manager wondering how to get the best from your team in the age of automation, this is your playbook for keeping humanity at the heart of leadership.

Subscribe for weekly leadership strategies and real-world stories—don’t miss an episode!

--

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/