Managing Up: It's Not About Politics—It's About Your Success | Coaching Episode with Julie Binter
Release Date: 08/06/2025
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Your stress isn't as hidden as you think. In this episode, Deb Smolensky, author of "Brain On," reveals why most leaders operate in survival mode and how their brain-off energy spreads through teams like wildfire. In this conversation, Deb breaks down the difference between "brain on" and "brain off" leadership, revealing why the inside-out approach to leadership development is critical. She shares practical strategies for recognizing your triggers, creating purposeful pauses, and building the kind of team culture where people actually want to bring their best selves to work. Whether you're...
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Want to become a better manager but don't know where to start? Darnell Billups has led teams across military, government, and Fortune 500 manufacturing – and he's sharing the practical strategies that can help you become a better manager. In this episode, you'll discover why leadership skills don't just come with experience, the feedback moment that transformed Darnell's management style, and his simple system for stopping micromanagement. Plus, a framework for diagnosing why some managers advance while others stay stuck. Whether you're leading former peers, developing your own management...
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Managing Up: It's Not About Politics—It's About Your Success | Coaching Episode with Julie Binter
The Made Leader
Your boss isn't going to change those annoying habits. So, here's what you can do about it. In this coaching episode, host Jen Arnold and leadership coach Julie Binter reveals why managing up isn't office politics—it's a critical skill for career success. You'll discover how to decode your boss's communication style, ask questions that reveal what really matters to them, and turn workplace frustrations into strategic advantages. Learn why every leader has traits that will drive you crazy (and how to work with them anyway), plus practical strategies for managing up more effectively—even...
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Effective Strategies for Managing Underperformance with Kamaria Scott
The Made Leader
What if the biggest performance management mistake isn't failing to document but failing to ask the right questions? When layoffs are disguised as performance reviews and employees are blindsided by "underperformance" labels, effective performance management practices have clearly gotten off-track. In this episode, Kamaria Scott and Jen Arnold tackle one of leadership's toughest challenges: managing underperformance fairly and effectively. In this honest conversation, we dig into the real friction points that prevent managers from addressing performance issues head-on. From budget...
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Signs of a Toxic Boss with Mary Abbajay
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Think your boss is just having a bad day? There's a big difference between a difficult manager and a truly toxic one—and knowing which you're dealing with could save your career and your health. In this episode from the archives, leadership expert Mary Abbajay breaks down the real difference between bad bosses and toxic ones, plus the surprising traps that keep people stuck in harmful work situations longer than they should be. Mary reveals why people actually stay longer with toxic bosses (hint: it's not what you think), the serious health impacts of working in toxic environments, and most...
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Leading People You Don't Actually Like with Karen Suchsland
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Here's the leadership truth nobody talks about: you don't have to like everyone on your team. But you do have to lead them. Karen Suchsland joins Jen to tackle the taboo topic of managing team members you don't click with. From unconscious avoidance behaviors to the crucial difference between liking and respecting, this conversation gives you practical strategies for leading effectively even when personal chemistry is lacking. You'll discover why personality differences often mask performance issues, how to set boundaries without damaging relationships, and the simple inventory exercise that...
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Does Your Leadership Style Fit Your Culture? Coaching Episode with Jen and Julie
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What happens when the leadership style that made you successful in your last role just doesn't click with your new organization? In this monthly coaching episode, host, Jen Arnold and leadership coach Julie Binter tackle what to do when your leadership style clashes with your organization's culture. You'll discover how to ask the right interview questions to avoid mismatches, why your first six months might not tell the whole story, and practical strategies for deciding whether to adapt or move on. Plus, they share why hiring people just like you might backfire when you're already struggling...
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The Overextended & Invisible Middle Manager with Kamaria Scott
The Made Leader
Think being a manager today is just about getting work done? Think again. In this LinkedIn Live conversation, Kamaria and I break down how the manager role has exploded into counselor, coach, strategist, and enforcer – often without any training or support. We get real about why managers are caught in the middle of competing demands, why most people want to become managers for the wrong reasons, and the loneliness that comes with the territory. Plus, we tackle the uncomfortable truth about why organizations invest in senior leaders but leave front-line managers to figure it out alone. If...
info_outlineYour boss isn't going to change those annoying habits. So, here's what you can do about it.
In this coaching episode, host Jen Arnold and leadership coach Julie Binter reveals why managing up isn't office politics—it's a critical skill for career success. You'll discover how to decode your boss's communication style, ask questions that reveal what really matters to them, and turn workplace frustrations into strategic advantages.
Learn why every leader has traits that will drive you crazy (and how to work with them anyway), plus practical strategies for managing up more effectively—even when your boss seems to be completely different from you.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies. For full show notes, visit https://growthsignals.co/.
Connect with Julie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliebinter/
Website: https://www.clearthewaycoach.com/
Connect with Jen:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Website: https://growthsignals.co/