Episodios

  • 654 | Before You Plan 2026, Do This First

    654 | Before You Plan 2026, Do This First
    Dec 2 2025
    Most leaders jump into a new year without fixing last year’s leadership patterns. In this episode, Chris unpacks five essential team conversations to have before you plan 2026.

    Timestamps:
    00:00:45 – 600th Next-Level Life
    00:04:16 – Wins mean more when the team understands them
    00:12:55 – Own the misses—together, not in silos
    00:18:14 – Check the leadership culture—not just the to-do list
    00:22:49 – Systems reflect trust in your team’s ideas
    00:28:13 – Decide what not to bring into 2026
    00:31:17 – Action steps: Block time for team reflection
    00:32:00 – Additional resources for deeper growth
    00:32:41 – Next-Level Leadership LIVE Event: Launch pricing ends Dec 31

    🎟️ Grab your ticket for our 2026 Next-Level Leadership LIVE Event at chrislocurto.com/liveevent
    before launch pricing ends December 31!
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    34 m
  • 653 | Finding Balance: Leading Without Losing Yourself

    653 | Finding Balance: Leading Without Losing Yourself
    Nov 25 2025
    Leadership without balance isn’t sustainable.

    In this episode, Chris shares how coaching helps leaders break burnout cycles, reclaim energy, and lead with clarity—at work and at home.

    Timestamps:
    00:01:48 – Recognizing When You’re Out of Balance
    00:09:15 – Breaking the Pattern of Overwork
    00:14:10 – Creating Space for What Matters Most
    00:17:35 – Rebuilding Relationships Through Humility
    00:20:34 – Sustaining Balance Through Leadership Growth
    00:23:43 – Why Next-Level Leadership LIVE Event Matters

    Additional Resources:
    • Podcast 622: Boldness vs. Burnout
    • Blog: From Burnout to Balance
    🎟️ Join us at: chrislocurto.com/liveevent
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    28 m
  • 652 | Burned Out and Breaking Down: Reclaim Your Leadership Before It Breaks You

    652 | Burned Out and Breaking Down: Reclaim Your Leadership Before It Breaks You
    Nov 18 2025
    Feeling burnt out as a leader? This episode helps you reclaim your leadership with clarity, margin, and intention.

    Timestamps:

    00:02:40 – Being Great at What You Do ≠ Great Leadership
    00:09:09 – Control Feels Safer, But Slows You Down
    00:15:02 – Burnout Starts in Your Mindset, Not the Office
    00:27:53 – Strategic Leadership Requires Structure and Margin
    00:33:51 – Leading With Peace Is Possible—But Takes Intention
    00:36:01 – Action Steps to Reclaim Your Leadership

    Listen now and take the first step toward leading with peace!
    Visit our site to get leadership content: www.chrislocurto.com
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    42 m
  • 651 | Letting Go of Control: How Mike Learned to Lead Without Carrying It All

    651 | Letting Go of Control: How Mike Learned to Lead Without Carrying It All
    Nov 11 2025
    If you’ve ever felt like the only one holding your business together, this episode is for you. Mike Rawlings, owner of Atlanta Painting Company, once believed carrying it all made him a good leader... until it nearly broke him.

    Hear how he learned to delegate, build trust, and lead without losing control. This conversation will help you break free from overfunctioning and discover what healthy, effective leadership really looks like.

    Our Guest: Mike Rawlings (00:02:04)
    Meet Mike Rawlings, business owner and leader, sharing his journey from burnout to breakthrough.

    When Carrying It All Becomes a Burden, Not a Badge (00:03:14)
    How striving to do everything yourself becomes a leadership liability.

    The Real Reasons We Resist Delegation (00:09:17)
    Why delegation feels risky and how to do it right without losing control.

    Breaking the Cycle of Leadership Overload (00:14:51)
    The turning point: how structure, process, and consistency changed everything.

    What Healthy Leadership Looks Like After the Shift (00:21:31)
    Freedom and growth happen when you stop doing and start developing others.

    Why Coaching Was the Game-Changer (00:26:00)
    How coaching helped Mike see blind spots and lead with greater clarity.

    Action Items (00:30:21)
    Four practical steps to stop carrying it all and start leading well.

    Additional Resources (00:33:20)
    Listen to Episode 634: The Cost of Doing It Alone for more insights.

    Next-Level Leadership LIVE Event 2026 (00:33:43)
    A transformational event to help you lead with clarity and connection.

    Conclusion (00:36:08)
    The first step out of overload isn’t working harder, it’s thinking differently.
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    38 m
  • 650 | Hiring for Culture: How Cindy Built a Team That Stays

    650 | Hiring for Culture: How Cindy Built a Team That Stays
    Nov 4 2025
    Cindy Taylor went from hiring based on skill to building a culture-first team and everything changed. Coaching helped her reduce stress, grow strong leaders, and create a team that thrives.

    00:06:32 — When “Qualified” Isn’t the Same as “Aligned”
    00:12:03 — The Pain of Holding On Too Long
    00:21:12 — How You Changed the Way You Hire
    00:28:22 — Involving Your Leaders in Hiring and Culture
    00:30:50 — The Result: A Team That Fits, Stays, and Thrives
    00:38:05 — Action Steps
    00:39:59 — Next-Level Leadership LIVE Event
    00:42:01 — Conclusion
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    44 m
  • 649 | If You’re Still Asking These Interview Questions, You’re Hiring Blind

    649 | If You’re Still Asking These Interview Questions, You’re Hiring Blind
    Oct 28 2025
    Too many interviews rely on gut feelings and charisma—but that won’t protect your team. In this episode, we walk through 5 interview shifts that help you identify character, cultural fit, and real competence—before you make the hire.

    Use the time stamps below to jump to what you need:

    Stop Using Generic Questions—Start Revealing Patterns (00:01:49)
    How to ask behavior-based questions that expose real patterns—not rehearsed answers.

    Structure the Interview in 3 Distinct Segments (00:09:11)
    Break every interview into three clear parts: culture, skills, and problem-solving.

    Match Questions to the Role Using DISC (00:14:34)
    Tailor your interview questions to fit DISC profiles and the role’s demands.

    Use a Scoring Rubric—Not Your Gut (00:19:01)
    Use a scorecard to evaluate culture, skill, and team fit with clarity—not bias.

    Pause Before the Offer: The 24-Hour Clarity Rule (00:25:28)
    Why taking 24 hours before making an offer can save your team from the wrong hire.

    Action Steps (00:29:11)
    5 practical next steps to build a better hiring system.

    Smart Hiring Framework (00:30:15)
    Join us this October for the full Smart Hiring Framework at chrislocurto.com/hiringframework

    Next-Level Leadership LIVE Event 2026 (00:31:09)
    Learn more tools like these in person—get the details at chrislocurto.com/liveevents
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    32 m
  • 648 | Where the Great People Are (And How to Get Them to Say Yes)

    648 | Where the Great People Are (And How to Get Them to Say Yes)
    Oct 21 2025
    Struggling to hire the right people? The best talent isn’t job-hunting—they’re listening for the right mission.

    In this episode, we break down a smarter, culture-first approach to hiring that attracts high performers before you even post a role.

    Timestamps:

    00:01:26 – Great People Aren’t Looking—They’re Listening
    Top-tier talent is drawn to mission, not job boards. Here’s how to make them lean in.

    00:08:46 – Your Culture Is Your First Interview
    Candidates audit you before you ever meet. Make sure your culture speaks clearly.

    00:15:16 – Job Descriptions Must Inspire, Not Intimidate
    Replace task lists with vision. Inspire ownership and growth.

    00:20:07 – The Right People Say Yes to the Right Vision
    Money isn’t the magnet—meaning is. Learn how to communicate your “why.”

    00:23:24 – DISC = The Culture Fit Filter
    Use DISC to hire for alignment, not just skill. Culture fit starts here.

    00:28:38 – Action Items
    Practical steps you can take this week to upgrade your hiring process.

    00:31:19 – Additional Resources
    Sign up for the Smart Hiring Framework at chrislocurto.com/hiringframework

    00:32:11 – Conclusion
    When your mission is clear, the right people will find you.
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    33 m
  • 647 | Before You Hire: 5 Questions Every Smart Leader Must Answer

    647 | Before You Hire: 5 Questions Every Smart Leader Must Answer
    Oct 14 2025
    You can't hire strategically if you're desperate and unclear. In this episode of The Chris LoCurto Show, we break down five critical questions every leader must answer before posting a job.

    The worst hiring mistakes don’t happen in the interview — they happen way earlier.

    This episode will help you avoid costly mis-hires, protect your culture, and hire with clarity and confidence. Whether you’re adding your first team member or your fiftieth, these questions will sharpen your leadership and save you months of regret.

    What we cover:

    (00:01:32) What’s the Strategic Why Behind This Hire?
    Hiring for relief vs. hiring for growth leads to very different outcomes.

    (00:07:13) What Are My Cultural Non-Negotiables?
    Top performers who don’t align with your values will erode your team from the inside.

    (00:11:01) What Does Success Look Like at 30/60/90 Days?
    Define it early, or you won’t recognize it when it shows up.

    (00:14:39) Do I Have the Bandwidth to Lead This Person Well?
    No matter how skilled they are, every new hire needs strong leadership.

    (00:20:42) What Will It Really Cost Me If I Get This Wrong?
    A bad hire doesn’t just waste salary — it can break momentum and morale.

    Want the full Smart Hiring Framework?
    Get free access at: chrislocurto.com/hiringframework
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    27 m