The #1 Hire You Need To Staff Up & Stress Down!

Are you leading your team the way you want to be remembered? 

We're resharing one of our favorite episodes from Kelli Leighton's Innovate to Thrive series because its leadership lessons are just as relevant today as when it first aired. If you've ever felt frustrated by staff performance, struggled with accountability, or found yourself carrying too much of the workload, this episode will challenge you to look at leadership from a new perspective. 

Kelli shares the mindset shifts and practical strategies that helped her build a stronger, more innovative team. You'll also hear about the unique role she introduced in her studio—the Director of Removing Friction—and how it's helped streamline operations, improve communication, and reduce stress for both her team and her clients. 

What You'll Learn 

• Why your team is a direct reflection of your leadership 

• How to perform an effective team audit 

• The importance of accountability without sacrificing culture 

• How innovation starts with leadership, not creativity alone 

• Why your team needs a mindset shift—not just new systems 

• How to separate emotional feedback from real business data 

• The difference between macro and micro client pain points 

• Why empowering staff leads to better decision-making 

• What a "Director of Removing Friction" does—and why every studio needs one 

• Practical ways to build a forward-thinking, innovative team 

Whether you're growing your team or refining the one you already have, you'll walk away with actionable ideas to become a more confident leader and build a studio culture that supports long-term success. 

Kelli Leighton is the owner and Artistic Director of Leighton Dance Project in California and a longtime member and coach inside the Dance Studio Owners Association Inner Circle. Passionate about helping studio owners embrace innovation, Kelli combines creativity with practical leadership strategies to build thriving businesses, strong teams, and exceptional studio cultures. Through her Innovate to Thrive series, she encourages studio owners to think differently, lead confidently, and turn big ideas into meaningful action. 

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