Why Leadership Is the Leverage You’ve Been Missing
Release Date: 10/07/2025
Can AI Really Replace Coaching? What Leaders Need to Know in the Age of AI
Developing Leaders Podcast
Judy and Karen explore how AI is transforming leadership and coaching, and where human connection still makes the greatest impact. They share real-world examples of how AI can lighten the workload for clinic owners and leaders, while reminding us that discernment, ethics, and empathy cannot be automated. The conversation highlights the growing need for a hybrid approach that balances technology with the relational depth that true coaching and leadership require. 💡 Key Topics What AI does well versus what only humans can do How to build a healthy hybrid model for coaching and leadership...
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Breaking Free from Micromanagement: How Leaders Get Out of the Weeds
Developing Leaders Podcast
Judy and Karen unpack why micromanagement creeps into owner-led clinics and small businesses—and how to replace it with coaching, clarity, and accountability. They share a real coaching story, name the everyday symptoms of micromanaging, and lay out practical, bite-size steps (“granny-toe steps”) to build leaders who own outcomes so owners can finally step out of the weeds. 💡 Key Topics Why owners default to “I’ll just do it—it’s faster” (and how that bottlenecks growth) Signs & symptoms of micromanagement: doing it all, control, shoulder-checking work Barriers to...
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Why Leadership Is the Leverage You’ve Been Missing
Developing Leaders Podcast
Episode Summary In this inaugural episode of the Developing Leaders Podcast, Judy Cirullo and Karen Elliott share why leadership is the missing leverage for most owners who feel stuck in the weeds. Drawing on decades of experience as clinicians, business owners, and now fractional coaches, they unpack why owners themselves are often the bottleneck—and how self-awareness is the essential first step toward freedom of time, money, relationships, and purpose. Together, they discuss the difference between management and leadership, the power of clear expectations, and why so many owners struggle...
info_outlineEpisode Summary
In this inaugural episode of the Developing Leaders Podcast, Judy Cirullo and Karen Elliott share why leadership is the missing leverage for most owners who feel stuck in the weeds. Drawing on decades of experience as clinicians, business owners, and now fractional coaches, they unpack why owners themselves are often the bottleneck—and how self-awareness is the essential first step toward freedom of time, money, relationships, and purpose.
Together, they discuss the difference between management and leadership, the power of clear expectations, and why so many owners struggle with delegation. Through real stories of burnout, near-collapse, and transformation, Judy and Karen show how fractional coaching builds self-directed teams that thrive—without requiring owners to carry the whole load.
This is an episode for any business owner who’s tired of spinning their wheels, losing key people, or wondering why their team just isn’t “getting it.”
💡 Key Topics
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What fractional coaching is and why it works
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The #1 bottleneck holding most businesses back (hint: it’s the owner)
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Why self-awareness is the first step to sustainable growth
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The importance of clear expectations and accountability
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How to build self-directed, high-performing teams
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Management vs. leadership: what’s the difference?
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Real stories of owners who almost quit—but turned it around
🔑 Key Takeaways
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Awareness First: Growth begins when owners see how they’re the bottleneck.
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Clear Expectations Drive Accountability: If you haven’t defined it, you can’t enforce it.
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Delegation Is Non-Negotiable: “I’ll just do it faster” is a trap that keeps owners stuck
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Leadership Is a Way of Being: It’s not a title—it’s how you show up and model behaviors.
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Fractional Coaching Works: Teams often accept accountability more readily from a neutral coach.
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Transformation Takes Time: Leadership development is not a quick fix—it’s a process.
If you’re ready to stop being the bottleneck and start building a business that thrives without you doing it all, this episode is your wake-up call. Begin with self-awareness—what are you holding onto that’s keeping your business stuck?
👉 Loved this conversation? Subscribe to the Developing Leaders Podcast, leave a review, and share it with another business owner who needs this message. To learn more about the Developing Leaders Coaching Program, check the link in the show notes.