The Manager's Mic With Paul Leon

Hosted by Leonsolutions LLC

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130

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Jun 2026

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About the show

The Manager’s Mic is a leadership podcast that provides tips for new people leaders. Covering topics on strategy and communication skills that improve teamwork. Offering lessons from Paul Leon or from leaders who share their experiences. Paul Leon, MBA, is a sales enablement leader and strategist who has worked with over 500 teams. Whether leading a first or second team, you will level up leadership skills from The Manager's Mic Podcast. Visit our website for more free tips on people leadership.

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June 28, 2026Episode 2352 min

Leadership With EXPERT Educator: Dr. Stephanie Duguid

Doctor Stephanie Duguid shares her inspiring leadership journey rooted in her mother's legacy, emphasizing authentic communication, boundaries, and cultural transformation. Discover practical frameworks and leadership tips to overcome burnout, empower women in leadership, and build trust.Key TopicsLeadership foundations from childhood experiencesThe importance of authentic communication and connectionFrameworks for personal and professional growthStrategies to prevent and manage burnoutThe role of culture in organizational successWomen in leadership and overcoming imposter syndromeThe impact of mentorship and legacyLeadership tips for building trust and engagementSound Bites"Leadership begins with growing up in connection.""Boundaries are essential for preventing burnout.""Serve with goodness, lead with greatness."Chapters00:00 Introduction to Dr. Stephanie Duguid01:55 The Roots of Leadership and Connection11:29 The Impact of Personal Loss on Leadership17:03 A Leadership Framework to Lead Better22:16 Athletics and Leadership: A Personal Journey26:36 Burnout and Boundaries in Leadership28:04 The Shift to Online Education30:53 Burnout and Boundaries in the Workplace35:09 Leadership Beliefs and Self-Perception38:45 How to Have Authority While Maintaining Leadership42:36 Navigating Leadership Challenges for Women50:26 Legacy and Leadership ImpactResourcesWebsite - https://meetdrstephanie.com John Gordon's Leadership Principles - https://amzn.to/4eqFUeLLegal DisclaimerLeonsolutions, LLC, and the content it produces are for educational purposes; your results may vary. No guarantee of results is claimed. The publisher of this content is not responsible for any actions taken or not taken as a result of reading, watching, or listening to our content.Music Attribution 2SQTYGPJQEWFOIX1CEDSSM45W26IPJDA

June 21, 2026Episode 2254 min

Pizza Chef to Millionaire (Gino Barbaro's Leadership Journey)

How do you build wealth without losing sight of what matters most?In this episode of The Manager’s Mic, Paul Leon sits down with entrepreneur, investor, and bestselling author Gino Barbaro to discuss money, legacy, leadership, faith, and family.Gino shares how he went from working in a family pizza restaurant to helping build a real estate portfolio with more than $300 million in assets under management. More importantly, he explains why true wealth is about more than money.The conversation explores money mindset, financial habits, limiting beliefs, family values, entrepreneurship, and the lessons Gino learned while building businesses, raising six children, and creating a lasting legacy.Whether you’re just starting your career, growing a business, leading a family, or working toward financial freedom, this episode offers leadership tips to help you think differently about money and success.About Gino BarbaroGino Barbaro is an entrepreneur, investor, certified money coach, bestselling author, and podcast host. Through Barbaro360, he helps families build lasting legacies by improving their relationship with money, family, and personal development.He is the co-founder of Jake & Gino and has helped grow a multifamily real estate portfolio with more than $300 million in assets under management.See a few of the resources, Gino recommendsHappy Money, Happy Life, and Happy Legacy - https://amzn.to/4a2BYhN The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason - https://amzn.to/4vbSp3H Men are from Mars, Women Are From Venus - https://amzn.to/43Nfwpl See Gino’s Barbaro Websitehttps://barbaro360.com/about-us/ Chapters00:00 Trailer and Introduction to Gino Barbaro01:58 The Importance of Legacy04:14 Building a Strong Financial Foundation10:05 Understanding Money Archetypes16:10 The Role of Faith in Wealth21:14 Overcoming Personal Gremlins31:55 Finding Faith in Difficult Times33:00 Secrets to a Lasting Marriage36:34 Understanding Family Dynamics39:32 The Immigrant Experience and Its Impact43:22 Wealth vs. Riches: Building Lasting Wealth47:16 Defining Legacy and Its ImportanceSubscribe to The Manager’s Mic For Leadership TipsLeonsolutions, LLC, and the content it produces are for educational purposes; your results may vary. No guarantee of results is claimed. The publisher of this content is not responsible for any actions taken or not taken as a result of reading, watching, or listening to our content.

June 14, 2026Episode 211 hr 1 min

How This LEADER Won Despite Burnout?

In this episode of The Manager’s Mic, I sit down with Melissa Coloton, a commercial leadership expert with 20 years of experience and more than $1 billion in new business generated throughout her career.Melissa shares how high performers, sales leaders, executives, and entrepreneurs can pursue success without burning out, abandoning themselves, or sacrificing their health, energy, and relationships. We talk about purpose at work, career identity, self-compassion, sales success, personal connection, and how to stay grounded when life or work becomes unsustainable.This conversation covers burnout, purpose, sales leadership, high-performance habits, emotional resilience, career setbacks, self-leadership, and what it means to honor yourself while still pursuing meaningful results.You will learn how to:Redefine purpose beyond one title, job, or achievementStay connected to yourself during career pressure and uncertaintyPractice self-compassion when success starts to feel heavyRecognize when ambition is being driven by fearBuild sales success through belief, relationships, and personal connectionNavigate change without losing your health, energy, or identityThe goal is simple: build success without losing yourself in the process.Chapters00:00 Melissa Coloton on Success Without Burnout02:21 What Purpose Means in Business05:12 Men, Women, Family, and Purpose at Work08:34 Career Setbacks, Identity, and Losing Purpose13:23 Self-Compassion During Hard Seasons18:01 How to Stay Connected to Purpose24:31 Practical Ways to Honor Yourself31:23 The Law of Whatever34:16 Humor, Improv, and Real Conversations37:18 How Purpose Drives Sales Success39:20 Selling With Belief and Personal Connection43:25 What Baby Biotechs Teach Us About Purpose50:12 Reverse Engineering $1B in Sales Success56:38 Burnout, AI Disruption, and Career IdentityFollow MelissaWebsite: https://melissacoloton.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissacolton/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissa_coloton/ For more tips on leadership, visit The Manager’s Mic: https://www.themanagersmic.com/Legal DisclaimerLeonsolutions, LLC, and the content it produces are for educational purposes; your results may vary. No guarantee of results is claimed. The publisher of this content is not responsible for any actions taken or not taken as a result of reading, watching, or listening to our content.

June 4, 2026Episode 2041 min

AI is NOT Coming For Leaders

I sit down with Sean Patton, MBA ACC, a former U.S. Army Ranger and Special Forces Green Beret. Sean is also an executive performance coach, keynote speaker, author, and host of the popular podcast No Limit Leadership. His experience in building trust in teams, creating a compelling vision, and leading through uncertainty will empower you to lead better.Do you want to level up your leadership skills by connecting the principles of military leadership with those of business ownership to shape organizational culture for the better?If yes, then we invite you to join our conversation as we discuss how to:✅ Build trust across teams with different goals and competing priorities✅ Create a leadership vision that inspires high performers✅ Lead through conflict, friction points, and uncertainty✅ Strengthen workplace culture through communication and feedback✅ Develop employees so they stay engaged, grow, and perform at a higher level✅ Understand why human leadership matters more as AI changes managementChapters 00:00 Trailer and Newsletter Plug01:02 Meet Sean Patton02:14 Understanding Special Forces and Leadership Dynamics 6:23 Leadership Challenges in Complex Environments 12:01 Building Trust And Relationships in Leadership17:28 The Importance of Vision and Intensity in Leadership21:04 Navigating Leadership Transitions 23:36 Lessons From Business Ventures27:40 Sean Patton’s Journey to Self-Discovery30:06 The Leadership Trinity Framework35:53 The Future of Leadership in a Tech-Driven WorldFollow Sean Patton, MBA:Website: https://SeanPatton.meCoaching: https://Novus.Global/seanpattonBook (A Warrior’s Mindset: The 6 Keys to Greatness): https://amzn.to/4a6W4r4Podcast (No Limit Leadership): https://nolimitleadership.buzzsprout.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolimitleadershipInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nolimitleadershipYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NoLimitLeadershipFor more practical tips on communication, sales enablement, team building, workplace culture, and leadership development, follow The Manager’s Mic Podcast.Legal DisclaimerLeonsolutions, LLC, and the content it produces are for educational purposes; your results may vary. No guarantee of results is claimed. The publisher of this content is not responsible for any actions taken or not taken as a result of reading, watching, or listening to our content.

May 28, 2026Episode 1945 min

Why Teams Underperform (and How to Fix It)

This leadership conversation features coaches Brian Powell and Tom Reynolds exploring how effective leadership, coaching, and intentional team development drive organizational effectiveness. They explain how to build high-performing teams through psychological safety, honest communication, and strong collaboration in real workplace conditions.About Bryan PowellBryan Powell is the co-author of The Efficient Frontier of Teaming™, a number one Amazon Best Seller in three leadership categories. The book offers a practical framework for understanding why capable teams underperform and what it takes to move beyond high performance toward Optimal Performance™. It was built inside real teams operating under real accountability pressure.Alongside Brian’s coaching practice, he is finalizing his doctoral research in performance psychology focused on how psychological safety shapes team performance in results-driven environments.Tom Reynolds Tom Reynolds is the co-author of The Efficient Frontier of Teaming™ with Brian Powell, where he contributes his expertise around psychological safety and agile goal setting. Specifically, his chapters help teams to see how the right kind of conflict can build psychological safety, and that you can hit a moving target if you plan as though your plan will break down. With a background in business and clinical psychology, Tom uses a practitioner-scholar approach to design leadership solutions that bridge the divide between research and practical application. He holds a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Widener University, the only program in the United States to provide integrated training across those two disciplines.Ask about their free team-building tool, the team contract!https://www.theefficientfrontierofteaming.com/contact-usBuy Their Bookhttps://amzn.to/4fJ7R2i Chapters00:00 Trailer00:50 Meet Bryan Powell & Tom Reynolds04:04 The Challenge of Team Alignment and Development05:44 The Role of Authenticity and Disagreement in Teams07:28 Building Trust Through Tough Conversations08:56 Frameworks for Psychological Safety Across Industries12:34 The Team Contract Tool for Engagement14:10 Workplace Changes and Future Skills with AI16:06 Essential Competencies for the Next Decade19:44 Reflections on Using AI in Education and Work22:03 The Power of Human Judgment in the Age of AI24:23 Building Authentic Teams and Leadership Mindsets28:16 The Impact of Authenticity and Engagement on Performance33:19 Research Insights on High-Performing Teams36:13 The Partnership and Journey of the Authors41:02 Final Advice for Leadership Teams Seeking EffectivenessLegal DisclaimerLeonsolutions, LLC, and the content it produces are for educational purposes; your results may vary. No guarantee of results is claimed. The publisher of this content is not responsible for any actions taken or not taken as a result of reading, watching, or listening to our content.

May 20, 2026Episode 189 min

The MOST Missed Step in the ADDIE Framework

The ADDIE model helps managers, trainers, and content creators build training that is structured, useful, and easier to improve. In this video, Paul Leon walks through the five stages of ADDIE and explains the step that many teams underuse after launch.Many organizations analyze, design, develop, and implement training, but stop at rollout or at basic participant feedback, rather than measuring whether people learned, applied the skill, and improved results. This video shows how to use the ADDIE model to strengthen training content, sales enablement, team development, and learning outcomes.You will learn how to:Analyze learner and performance needs before building contentDesign training with clear objectives, structure, assessments, and brand consistencyDevelop better content with AI and stakeholder reviewImplement training with teams or field repsEvaluate results through feedback, application, and business-impact dataThe goal is simple: build training content your team can actually use.Chapters00:00 Why the ADDIE Model Matters00:24 Analyze: Start With Learner and Performance Data02:08 Design: Build With Objectives and Structure03:01 Develop: Use AI With Stakeholder Review05:01 Implement: Launch the Training05:28 Evaluate: The Step Most Teams UnderuseFor more practical tips on management, training, sales enablement, leadership communication, and building better teams, visit The Manager’s Mic:https://www.themanagersmic.com/Legal DisclaimerLeonsolutions, LLC, and the content it produces are for educational purposes; your results may vary. No guarantee of results is claimed. The publisher of this content is not responsible for any actions taken or not taken as a result of reading, watching, or listening to our content.

May 14, 2026Episode 1713 min

What I've Learned LEADING Over 17 Direct Reports!

Bad feedback can quietly damage team trust, even when a manager has good intentions. In this episode of The Manager’s Mic, Paul Leon shares lessons from managing 17 direct reports and explains how new managers can give feedback that builds rapport instead of breaking it.This conversation covers why self-awareness matters, how intention and impact are not the same, and why psychological safety is critical when giving feedback.Paul Leon also breaks down a simple feedback framework for managers: be timely, be specific, and stay forward-looking. For new managers, feedback is not just about correcting behavior. It is an opportunity to build trust, improve communication, and create a safer team culture where employees feel comfortable speaking up.Chapters00:00 Why Bad Feedback Damages Team Trust03:13 Self-Awareness for Better Manager Feedback04:23 Fast Feedback Loop: Timely, Specific, Forward-Looking06:29 Three Feedback Rules for New Managers07:32 Building Rapport Through Difficult ConversationsWatch or listen to more from The Manager’s Mic on tips for new managershttps://www.themanagersmic.com/Legal DisclaimerLeonsolutions, LLC, and the content it produces are for educational purposes; your results may vary. No guarantee of results is claimed. The publisher of this content is not responsible for any actions taken or not taken as a result of reading, watching, or listening to our content.

May 6, 2026Episode 1639 min

Why Burnout Is NOT Your Real Problem: Dr. Heather Kidwell

In my conversation with Dr. Heather Kidwell, she shared her expertise in strategic leadership. Her insights will help newer managers avoid burnout. Learn strategies to reconnect with your purpose to overcome a challenging work environment.Follow Dr. Heather KidwellAn Article to Overcome Burnouthttps://humanitydrivenleadership.substack.com/p/its-not-just-burnout-its-somethingLearn About The BurnUP Programhttps://www.humanitydrivenleadership.com/the-burnup-sm-method LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherkidwell/ Chapters00:00 Introduction to Dr. Heather Kidwell01:53 Defining Strategic Leadership04:46 Management vs. Leadership07:32 Trends in Young Professionals and Management09:21 Personal Experiences in Corporate Leadership11:07 Defining Your 'Why'13:48 Navigating Career Transitions16:30 Understanding Shame20:18 Finding Happiness and Purpose25:18 Future Focus: Convergent Depletion Syndrome26:33 Understanding Burnout and Exhaustion28:25 Convergent Depletion Syndrome Explained30:27 Exploring Solutions and Support Systems33:59 The Role of Spirituality in Leadership34:49 The Performative Nature of Corporate EnvironmentsLegal DisclaimerLeonsolutions, LLC, and the content it produces are for educational purposes; your results may vary. No guarantee of results is claimed. The publisher of this content is not responsible for any actions taken or not taken as a result of reading, watching, or listening to our content.

April 30, 2026Episode 1537 min

A LEADER That Helps People Feel Seen: Emily Green!

Emily Green shares how she created a community for those seeking speaking opportunities. She shares her journey of owning a marketing agency, which she later sold. If you are a new manager looking to create engagement, this episode is for you.Follow Emily GreenWebsite https://emily-green.com/ Join The Love Means Business Communityhttps://emily-s-site-eec1.thinkific.com/products/communities/my-community-speaker-support Chapters00:00 Introduction to Emily Green02:49 Lessons from Selling a Business04:13 Understanding Marketing Agency Dynamics05:09 Client Success Stories and Growth Strategies06:55 Building a Brand and Agency Culture09:37 The Decision to Sell and Transitioning to New Ventures12:01 Challenges Women Face in Business14:41 The Importance of Support and Community20:12 Exploring Love Means Business Community21:02 Tips for Building a Community23:46 Creating Value through Networking and Opportunities26:30 The Art of Writing for Engagement32:02 An Important Lesson from Emily’s Career JourneyFollow the podcast that helps new managers avoid the habits that kill rapporthttps://www.themanagersmic.com/Legal DisclaimerLeonsolutions, LLC, and the content it produces are for educational purposes; your results may vary. No guarantee of results is claimed. The publisher of this content is not responsible for any actions taken or not taken as a result of reading, watching, or listening to our content.#ThoughtLeadership #LoveMeansBusiness #WomenInBusiness #ManagersMic

April 23, 2026Episode 1420 min

EVERYTHING I Have Learned From Closing 5,000+ Sales To Help You Over The Next 13 Days!

Can sales skills improve in just 13 days? In this episode of The Manager’s Mic, I break down practical sales training principles that help sales professionals improve communication, sharpen their value proposition, understand buyer psychology, build a stronger sales pipeline, handle rejection, and follow up with purpose.Follow me online for more sales management tipshttps://www.themanagersmic.com/In this video, you will learn:How to improve sales skills through consistent actionWhy a strong value proposition matters in every sales conversationHow buyer psychology affects sales outcomesWhy tone and communication style shape trustHow to build and protect a healthy sales pipelineHow to handle rejection without losing momentumWhy persistence and follow-up drive more closed dealsHow relationship-based selling creates long-term successChapters00:00 Introduction to Sales Mastery04:12 Understanding the Sales Process09:36 Effective Communication Techniques14:25 The Role of Follow-Up in Sales#Sales #Management #Tips #ManagersMic