On today’s McCoy Leadership Podcast, we dove deep with Jen Hardy, COO at MotiveAction Academy, all about transformation, burnout, and courageous leadership. Jen shared her personal journey from exhausted educator to championing self-mastery and resilience for high-stress professionals. We talked actionable tips on breaking the "yes syndrome," the power of pausing before you react, building emotional literacy, and why leadership today is all about communication and self-awareness. If you’re ready to elevate your impact as a leader and support those around you, this episode is packed with insight you can use right now.

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Download your free episode guide here!

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00:00 Career Shift Through Self-Discovery

04:12 Overcoming Burnout: Choosing Change

10:24 Teacher Support Urgently Needed

12:31 Enhancing Classroom Leadership Skills

16:13 "Yes Syndrome Culture"

19:33 The Power of Choice

22:05 Avoiding Saying "No"

26:24 "Managing Stress in High-Stress Jobs"

29:40 Journey to Self-Leadership Basics

31:36 Rethinking Work-Life Balance Myths

34:18 Redefining Retirement and Self-Mastery

39:24 Neuroscience in Leadership Decision-Making

41:20 Driving Results Through Self-Leadership

46:19 "Take a Moment to Reflect"

51:14 "Communication: Foundation for Resilience"

53:24 ChatGPT: Lifesaver for Entrepreneurs

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Want to learn more about McCoy Leadership? Check out our website, https://www.mccoyleadership.com/ and don't forget to subscribe to receive all the latest podcast episode.

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Links

Jen's website

Linkedin

Book Recommendation

Already Free

Today on the McCoy Leadership Podcast, I sat down with Greg Kaiser, founder of Management Mastery Solutions, to dive deep into what actually turns managers into great leaders. Greg shared his journey from the corporate mail room to executive ranks, and highlighted the crucial need for real training—especially in communication—to bridge the gap between managing and leading. We explored why complacency can stall growth, the importance of purpose-driven motivation, and practical frameworks to empower teams at every level. If you’re looking to elevate your leadership game or strengthen your management skills, you won’t want to miss these insights!

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Download your free episode guide here!

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00:00 Leadership Insights with Greg Kaiser

04:37 Settling for Mediocrity in Hiring

07:26 Construction Industry Resilience: 2008 Downturn

11:49 Framework for Evaluating Management Success

15:43 Early Morning Office Routine

18:48 Effective Communication for Business Success

20:45 "Legacy Beyond Business Policies"

26:26 Management and Leadership Overlap

28:44 Leadership Focus and Congruence

30:56 "Prioritize Connection Over Communication"

36:15 "Rethinking Mentorship Approach"

37:42 "The Value of Personal Connection"

41:12 Rapid-Fire Questions for Guests

45:31 Embracing AI as Productivity Tool

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Here are my top 3 takeaways for managers and aspiring leaders:

🔹 Build a Foundation of Communication: Communication is the bridge between management and leadership. It’s not about grand speeches but about connecting strategy to daily operations and making sure your team understands their purpose and value.

🔹 Don’t Confuse Goals with Metrics: It’s easy to give teams lofty goals, but real progress comes from setting clear, measurable targets. Break down goals into actionable steps and regularly review what’s working (and what’s not).

🔹 Embrace Continuous Learning & Mentorship: No matter your experience, there’s always more to learn. Seek out mentors (inside or outside your organization), invest in your development, and share useful insights with your team to help everyone grow.

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Want to learn more about McCoy Leadership? Check out our website, https://www.mccoyleadership.com/ and don't forget to subscribe to receive all the latest podcast episode.

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Links

Greg's website

Linkedin

Book Recommendation

The Effective Executive

Today on the McCoy Leadership Podcast, I sat down with Brenda Neckvatal—three-time bestselling author and award-winning human results professional. Brenda shared lessons from her wild HR journey, from crisis management to navigating generational shifts in the workplace. She broke down why understanding core values is essential for effective leadership and how emotional intelligence can prevent workplace drama. Plus, Brenda gave us her best communication tools, like the power of “help me understand.” If you want to elevate your leadership game, this episode is packed with practical insight and real-world advice you can use right away.

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00:00 Handling Workplace Crises Professionally

03:44 HR Evolution: Generational Leadership Shift

09:04 Predictable Differences in People

11:05 EEO Over DEI: A Hiring Perspective

13:35 Discrimination Claim Despite Qualifications

18:29 Endless Arguments; Move Forward

20:29 Flexible Executive Decision-Making Approach

24:32 "Daily Acts of Kindness"

28:57 CarMax's Customer-First Core Value

31:02 Effective Leadership Evaluation

34:53 Fair Leadership and Customer Focus

39:23 Identifying and Managing Excuses

41:15 "Coach's Teaching Moment"

46:10 Advice for Future School Leaders

50:05 Gen Z Trust Challenges

52:45 Subscribe & Get Episode Worksheets

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Here are my top 3 takeaways from the episode:

• Lead with Principles, Not Preferences: Brenda emphasized the importance of leaders anchoring their decisions and interactions in core values and company principles. It’s the foundation for consistency, fairness, and building trust within teams.

• Emotional Intelligence Is a Crisis Prevention Tool: Handling difficult personalities and high-stress situations requires more than policy knowledge. Reading the room, managing your own reactions, and approaching conversations with curiosity (her favorite script: “Help me understand…”) can de-escalate drama and create space for genuine resolution.

• Accountability Defines Culture: One powerful stat Brenda shared—out of 40,000 managers, over 38,000 admitted to NOT following through on accountability. If leaders don’t hold people accountable, dysfunction and culture erosion are inevitable. Brenda’s advice: “Just do it—even if it’s awkward.”

Brenda also offers free “Impact Scripts” for having those tough workplace conversations—an awesome tool for anyone looking to level up their leadership communication. (Check her out at heybrenda.com!)

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Download your free episode guide here!

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Want to learn more about McCoy Leadership? Check out our website, https://www.mccoyleadership.com/ and don't forget to subscribe to receive all the latest podcast episode.

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Links

Brenda's Website

LinkedIn

Book Recommendation

Five Disfunctions of a Team