205 Leadership in 2026 and Beyond – What you need to know with Tess Fyaika

Manny and Tess met to discuss a book project, with Manny sharing his background in leadership and executive coaching, including his work with nurse staffing during the pandemic and his authorship of 19 books, including a 100-page book on delegation. They confirmed the meeting would be audio-only with potential video clips for promotion, and Manny offered to share the video with Tess for her own promotional use. The conversation briefly touched on Tess's last name pronunciation, which was clarified as Fyalka.

Leadership in 2026 and Beyond

Manny welcomed Tess to the Targeted Lead Generation podcast and introduced the episode's topic, "Leadership in 2026 and Beyond," which will discuss Tess's new book "Walking the Leadership Ledge." Tess shared that she has over two decades of leadership experience and offers a 2-minute quiz on her book website that provides customized development plans. The discussion began with introductions, and Manny noted that the episode would focus on Tess's book and the principles she teaches for building resilience and confidence in leadership.

Leadership Development and Challenges

Tess shared her extensive background in leadership development, spanning over two decades, and discussed her new book focused on "new leaders" throughout their careers. She explained that the book addresses recurring challenges faced by leaders, including setting clear expectations, having difficult conversations, increasing self-awareness, aligning teams, showing appreciation, and knowing when it's time to move on to new opportunities. Tess emphasized her belief that effective leadership extends beyond the C-suite and can create environments where team members thrive rather than just survive.

Leadership Book Writing Discussion

Tess discussed her decision to write a book on leadership, motivated by a desire to help new leaders navigate the challenges of their roles. She identified a key issue for new leaders as the pressure to appear knowledgeable, often leading them to avoid asking questions or admitting uncertainties. Tess emphasized the importance of developing curiosity and being comfortable with not having all the answers, suggesting that new leaders should focus on learning and seeking understanding rather than trying to appear competent. The conversation ended with Manny asking about changes in new leaders' approaches over the past 10 years, but this part of the discussion was not captured in the transcript.

21st Century Leadership Evolution

Tess discussed the evolution from 20th century command-and-control leadership to 21st century collaborative leadership, noting that while the issues remain similar, the complexity and pace of change have increased significantly. She outlined three common leadership derailers using examples of Liam, Betsy, and Joseph, illustrating how strengths that led to success in individual contributor roles can become problematic when promoted to management positions. Tess emphasized the importance of developing new competencies beyond the strengths that initially led to success, citing Marshall Goldsmith's concept that "what got you here will not get you there."

Doer Leaders Transition Challenges

Manny and Tess discussed the challenges faced by "doer leaders" who are promoted from individual contributor roles to leadership positions. Tess explained that these leaders need to balance both doing work and leading teams, highlighting the particular difficulty in aligning team members and setting clear expectations. She emphasized the importance of defining success, establishing the team's purpose, and learning to delegate effectively, as these leaders often struggle with letting go of tasks they enjoy performing.

Leadership Development and Delegation Strategies

Tess and Manny discussed leadership development and delegation strategies. Tess shared her approach to addressing issues using the BRR method (Behavior, Risk, and Relationship) and emphasized the importance of having conversations with team members from a place of curiosity and support rather than frustration. They also discussed how AI affects leadership, with Tess noting that while AI tools are becoming more prevalent, human connection and leadership remain essential for getting work done through people. Tess recommended companies develop proper succession and leadership training plans, and offered a 2-minute leadership quiz on her website walkingtheleadershipledge.com for listeners to assess their leadership competencies.

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