Episodes

  • 643 | Too Much Leadership—Communication, Problem-Solving, and Guidance

    643 | Too Much Leadership—Communication, Problem-Solving, and Guidance
    Sep 16 2025
    Are You Doing Too Much for Your Team?

    In this episode, we unpack how over-communicating, over-solving, and over-guiding might be killing initiative, creativity, and ownership on your team. When leaders do too much, they accidentally become the bottleneck. Here's how to fix it.

    Timestamps:

    00:00:44 – Intro: The Goose and the Golden Eggs
    A classic fable that shows how too much control can ruin what’s working.

    00:02:41 – Over-Communicating Can Create Confusion, Not Clarity
    Too many updates? You might be causing information fatigue.

    00:06:50 – Solving Every Problem Makes You the Bottleneck
    Fixing everything trains your team to stop thinking for themselves.

    00:10:41 – Over-Guidance Cripples Creativity and Confidence
    Mapping every step robs your team of ownership and buy-in.

    00:13:46 – Over-Leading Often Comes from a Good Heart—But the Wrong Fear
    We dig into the fear of failure and fear of not being needed.

    00:18:41 – The Best Leaders Pull Back So Others Can Step Up
    Great leaders ask questions and give space for their team to grow.

    00:22:43 – Action Steps
    Five practical ways to stop overleading and start empowering.

    00:24:32 – Additional Resources

    This is the third episode of the series, go check out part 1 and part 2!

    00:24:53 – Conclusion
    Stop overdoing it. Lead with balance and give your team the gift of ownership.
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    26 mins
  • 642 | Too Little Leadership—Communication, Problem-Solving, and Guidance

    642 | Too Little Leadership—Communication, Problem-Solving, and Guidance
    Sep 9 2025
    It might not be their effort—it could be your leadership. In this episode, we break down five signs you’re leading too little: poor communication, unresolved problems, unclear expectations, and more. Learn what to watch for and how to adjust without micromanaging.

    Timestamps:

    00:01:37 – Too Little Communication
    When clarity fades, people start guessing—and execution suffers.

    00:11:36 – Ignoring Problems Breeds Frustration
    Avoiding issues doesn’t grow leaders—it causes disengagement.

    00:16:44 – Assuming People Know What to Do
    Unspoken expectations lead to confusion and dropped results.

    00:28:37 – Too Little Leadership Feeds Insecurity
    Silence and distance create team anxiety and cultural instability.

    00:33:17 – You Can’t Expect What You Don’t Express
    Without defining success, you won’t see it.

    00:36:46 – Action Steps
    Audit your communication, reset expectations, and check in with purpose.

    00:38:32 – Additional Resources
    Explore Episode 641 and the first part of this Leadership Balance series.

    00:38:46 – Conclusion
    Underleading may feel safe—but it leads to drift. Show up, lead well.
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    40 mins
  • 641 | The Role of Coaching in Leadership: Growing Teams Through Mentorship

    641 | The Role of Coaching in Leadership: Growing Teams Through Mentorship
    Sep 2 2025
    Ever feel like you’re the only one solving problems in your business? In this episode, we kick off our Leadership Balance series with Monique James from Alaska Auto Rental—a leader who transformed her team (and herself) through coaching.

    We explore how shifting from control to coaching creates clarity, ownership, and freedom. Monique shares her powerful journey, including what changed when she stopped carrying the load and started developing leaders.

    Timestamps & Highlights:

    00:01:05 – Introduction: Monique James
    Monique’s leadership journey begins at a live event with a major wake-up call.

    00:02:20 – Monique’s Experience with Coaching
    The moment she realized she was both the problem—and the solution.

    00:06:49 – Monique’s Path in Leading People
    How leading by example changed her team and culture.

    00:19:46 – The Big Shift’s Impact in Her Team
    Coaching turned followers into owners.

    00:38:27 – Key Questions to Ask
    Monique’s top coaching questions that develop critical thinking.

    00:40:36 – Marshall’s One, Three, One Tactic
    A simple tool to grow confident problem-solvers.

    00:41:56 – Taking the Time
    Why coaching saves time (even when it feels slower at first).

    00:46:47 – A Team That Owns It
    Her team now solves problems—and holds her accountable too.

    00:56:22 – If You Could Go Back
    The one thing she’d tell her younger self: release control.

    00:57:49 – Conclusion
    Leadership freedom begins with coaching.

    00:58:35 – Action Steps
    Try this: coach just one person this week. Don’t give answers—ask questions.

    01:00:07 – Additional Resources
    578 | The Mentorship Advantage: Why Every Small Business Leader Should Have a Mentor

    We explore the transformative power of mentorship in small business leadership, offering insights and solutions to common challenges faced by entrepreneurs.
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • 640 | How to Prevent Team Drift: Keeping Everyone Aligned with Your Vision

    640 | How to Prevent Team Drift: Keeping Everyone Aligned with Your Vision
    Aug 26 2025
    Does your team feel busy but disconnected?

    In this episode of The Chris LoCurto Show, we talk about how to stop team drift—when focus fades, priorities get fuzzy, and silos form. Here’s the breakdown:

    Vision Leaks—So Recast It Relentlessly (00:01:59)
    Vision fades unless repeated and tied to real work—keep it front and center.

    Define the Culture—And Keep It Visible (00:05:28)
    Culture must be taught, modeled, and celebrated—not just posted on a wall.

    Create Rhythms That Keep People Grounded (00:09:39)
    Consistent meetings and communication keep alignment strong and drift low.

    Address Mismatched Priorities and Silos Immediately (00:13:49)
    Leadership unity is the foundation for company-wide alignment.

    Invite Ownership, Not Just Agreement (00:22:19)
    True buy-in comes from involvement, not just nodding in meetings.

    Action Items (00:25:41)
    Recast vision, define culture, build rhythms, unify leaders, invite ownership.

    Additional Resources (00:26:42)
    See Episode 494 for more on building team ownership of vision.

    Conclusion (00:26:56)
    Drift isn’t failure—it’s a signal to re-engage, re-focus, and lead with purpose.
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    29 mins
  • 639 | How to Lead a Team Member Out of Fear-Based Decision-Making

    639 | How to Lead a Team Member Out of Fear-Based Decision-Making
    Aug 19 2025
    Does your team hesitate, second-guess, or play it safe when bold action is needed? In this episode of The Chris LoCurto Show, we uncover how to spot fear-based decision making, why it happens, and how to lead people out of it and into ownership.

    00:03:43 – Parable: Yeshua Calms the Storm (Mark 4:35–41)
    A powerful lesson in confronting fear without shame, and leading with calm instead of chaos.

    00:10:03 – Spot the Patterns of Fear-Based Behavior
    Learn to recognize chronic indecision, perfectionism, second-guessing, and other fear-driven habits.

    00:22:41 – Address the Root, Not Just the Results
    Why surface-level fixes don’t work—and how coaching questions reveal the real fear.

    00:33:28 – Create Safe Spaces for Calculated Risk
    Give team members safe, low-risk opportunities to decide, act, and learn without fear of punishment.

    00:40:06 – Speak Identity and Belief Into Them
    Call out their strengths and value to replace fear with purpose and confidence.

    00:42:49 – Set Clear Expectations and Accountability—With Support
    Balance challenge with encouragement so growth is steady and sustainable.

    00:45:02 – Action Items
    Practical steps to help your team move from fear to confident ownership.

    00:45:44 – Additional Resources
    Links to more tools and episodes for overcoming fear and building a courageous culture.

    00:46:20 – Conclusion
    Fear-based decision making doesn’t have to be permanent—lead with clarity, compassion, and challenge to inspire transformation.
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    48 mins
  • 638 | Turning a Complainer into a Contributor: Leading Through Attitude Shifts

    638 | Turning a Complainer into a Contributor: Leading Through Attitude Shifts
    Aug 12 2025
    Got a team member who always finds what’s wrong but never what’s right?

    In this episode of The Chris LoCurto Show, we walk through five key ways to lead someone out of constant complaining—and into real contribution.

    Separate the Person from the Behavior (00:02:52)
    We show how to approach chronic negativity with curiosity and care, not condemnation.

    Name the Impact, Not Just the Complaint (00:05:49)
    Learn how to help them see how their words are affecting morale and team dynamics.

    Shift Their Identity From Problem-Spotter to Problem-Solver (00:08:24)
    Redirect that critical energy toward meaningful, solution-focused action.

    Build a Culture That Rewards Contribution, Not Criticism (00:11:14)
    We explore how to recognize and reinforce the right behaviors—so others follow.

    Coach Progress, Not Perfection (00:17:20)
    Real change takes time. Here’s how to keep coaching consistently and patiently.

    Action Items (00:22:37)
    Quick steps to help complainers take ownership and turn into culture-builders.

    Additional Resources (00:23:39)
    Check out our blog on Unhealthy Attitudes: How Your Leadership Mindset Impacts Your Team

    Conclusion (00:23:57)
    Complainers can change—with the right leadership. Let’s lead with clarity and care.
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    25 mins
  • 637 | When Leadership Styles Clash: Resolving Conflict Between Strong-Willed Leaders

    637 | When Leadership Styles Clash: Resolving Conflict Between Strong-Willed Leaders
    Aug 5 2025
    What Happens When Two High-Performing Leaders Clash?

    Two strong leaders can mean double the drive—or double the drama. In this episode of The Chris LoCurto Show, we break down how to resolve conflict between high performers without damaging your team’s culture.

    If you’ve ever led alongside a strong personality or witnessed leadership tension unfold, this one's for you.

    Know the Root—Is It Personality, Ego, or Structure? (00:02:38)
    We examine the source of leadership conflict—whether it’s personality styles, insecurity, or structural confusion—and how to get clarity before reacting.

    Clarify Authority and Decision Rights (00:12:20)
    Why turf wars happen and how to eliminate confusion by clearly defining who owns what decisions, responsibilities, and outcomes.

    Teach Leaders to Lean Into Each Other’s Strengths (00:17:30)
    Not all leadership styles look the same. We discuss how embracing differences can reduce tension and elevate the whole team.

    Facilitate Hard Conversations Early—Not After Resentment Builds (00:22:25)
    Avoid waiting until emotions boil over. Learn how to lead tough conversations before dysfunction takes root.

    Align Both Leaders to a Higher Mission (00:25:39)
    When egos rise, the mission suffers. Refocusing on shared goals helps leaders drop the power struggle and align with purpose.

    Action Steps (00:28:55)
    A recap of the key takeaways: know the root, define roles, teach understanding, and keep the mission front and center.

    Additional Resources (00:29:40)

    Blog post: How to Tackle Conflict Head-On by Embracing Healthy Confrontations
    Episode 594 | Face the Facts: Stop Avoiding Tough Conversations in Business – Part 1


    Conclusion (00:30:35)
    Handled well, conflict can make your team stronger. Don’t wait—start resolving leadership tension today.
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    32 mins
  • 636 | Stop Expecting What You Haven’t Taught

    636 | Stop Expecting What You Haven’t Taught
    Jul 29 2025
    If you’ve ever thought, “Why can’t my team just figure it out?”—this episode is for you.

    We’re unpacking why unmet expectations often point back to unclear leadership.

    You’ll learn how to communicate with clarity, model what matters, and use accountability to finally get the outcomes you want from your team—without micromanaging or burning out.

    Clarity is Kindness (00:02:00)
    Clear expectations reduce confusion and increase team confidence.

    Unspoken Expectations Are Unfair Standards (00:07:37)
    Expecting what you haven’t taught is a leadership trap that sets others up to fail.

    Teaching Isn’t a One-Time Event (00:13:26)
    Repetition and feedback are key to helping people learn and succeed.

    Modeling Creates Alignment (00:15:51)
    Your team mirrors your behavior—model what you want to see.

    Accountability Brings It All Together (00:18:59)
    Without follow-through, even great training falls apart.

    Action Items (00:23:40)
    Pick one frustrating area and revisit it with fresh clarity and feedback.

    Additional Resources (00:24:51)
    Check out Episode 618: The Silent Team Killer and the blog post The Silent Leader for deeper insights on communication and clarity.

    Virtual Team Trainings (00:25:25)
    Practical tools and insights for your team—on your schedule.

    Conclusion (00:25:51)
    Lead with clarity, hold people accountable, and watch your team succeed.
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    27 mins