How Leaders Embrace Change - Interview with Maggie Harlow

File 32:  In today’s file, the team interviews Maggie Harlow, Co-Founder of Signarama Downtown.  They discuss leadership lessons, evolving workforce expectations, the importance of communication and accountability, and the challenges of being a female CEO. Maggie shares her entrepreneurial journey, insights on personal growth, and the significance of vision boarding. The conversation emphasizes the need for clarity in expectations, respect among team members, and the courage to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.

Leadership and Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace

As the leadership discussion unfolds, Maggie shares one of the most important lessons she has learned: the ability to stay centered while managing people and emotions at work. Emotional situations are inevitable in leadership roles.  Effective leaders must learn how to remain calm without becoming disconnected. Rather than reacting emotionally, Maggie emphasizes observing situations carefully and responding with clarity and intention.

Practical Leadership Strategies for Difficult Workplace Conversations

The conversation shifts to practical strategies Maggie uses when navigating emotionally charged workplace conversations. She explains how listening closely to the language people use to describe their feelings allows leaders to acknowledge emotions without escalating conflict. By reflecting those feelings back, leaders help others feel heard, which often reduces defensiveness and tension.

Maggie also highlights the importance of validation.  She notes how acknowledging emotions does not mean agreeing with them. Instead, validation creates a foundation for productive dialogue and problem-solving.

Curiosity as a Core Leadership Skill

Curiosity is a central theme in today’s discussion. Maggie explains how by staying curious leaders remain open rather than reactive, especially during moments of disagreement. Asking thoughtful follow-up questions and resisting the urge to correct or dismiss emotions helps leaders better understand people and situations.

Curiosity can strengthen leadership effectiveness across teams, client relationships, and organizational culture.

Learning Through Workplace Conflict and Growth

Rather than avoiding conflict, Maggie reframes it as an opportunity for learning and leadership growth. She explains that moments of tension often reveal important insights about individuals, systems, and leadership blind spots. Leaders who approach conflict with openness and emotional awareness are better positioned to learn, adapt, and lead effectively.

This approach is relevant to personal and professional development.  Growth often comes from navigating discomfort thoughtfully.

The Broader Impact of Leadership on Teams and Culture

As the conversation begins to wrap-up, the group reflects on how leadership behavior influences teams and workplace culture. Maggie discusses how modeling calm, intentional responses sets expectations for how others handle challenges. Leaders who demonstrate emotional intelligence and self-regulation often create healthier, more resilient workplaces.

The episode reinforces the mission of Workforce Therapy Files: helping leaders navigate real-world workplace challenges with clarity, empathy, and confidence.

  

Interested in Contacting Maggie Harlow to Learn More?

Website:  www.signarama.com/locations/ky-louisville-downtown

Phone:  [phone]

That’s where we’ll leave the conversation for today.  Before we close the file, we invite you to reach out to us with questions, suggestions or other comments.  We’d love to hear from you.

 

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We hope you found this file insightful and helpful.  Thank you for listening!