In a world that moves faster than ever, how do leaders and business owners stay grounded, focused, and truly present, both at home and at work? In this episode of Amplifying Leadership, we sit down with Madison Hollimon, Owner and Founder of Mad House Marketing, to explore the art of being present and why it’s a game-changer for leadership, productivity, and company culture.We dive deep into practical strategies for showing up fully as a leader, from time-blocking to leading by example, and discuss how creating a supportive environment helps employees thrive. Our guest shares invaluable lessons learned on balancing work and life, building a culture that values presence, and embracing vulnerability as a leader. Through candid stories and actionable insights, we explore how to communicate effectively while fostering a workplace where work-life balance isn’t just a buzzword - it’s a strategy.If you’re ready to stop feeling pulled in a million directions and start leading with intention, this episode will inspire, equip, and challenge you to rethink what it truly means to be present.Enjoy the episode!
Feeling uncomfortable with feedback? You’re not alone. However leaning into it can transform your leadership. In this episode, I share a practical mini-framework for reflecting on feedback, turning insights into action, and improving team communication. Learn how to approach feedback with curiosity, focus on behaviors, and make small changes that build confidence and engagement.It's all about growth.
What if failure wasn’t something to fear, but was a chance to lead better?In this episode with guest Joe Kramer, Founder of Ruck On, Joe opens up about a personal mistake that became one of his greatest leadership lessons. He talks about the pressure leaders face to “get it right” and why embracing failure can actually drive improvement and trust within a team. We explore how your reaction to employee mistakes can shape your culture, for better or worse, and how to approach issues without blame, focusing instead on collaboration and root-cause learning. Joe also shares how communication, mentoring, and accountability play a key role in turning missteps into growth moments. Whether you’re a seasoned or emerging leader, this conversation offers practical strategies to create a culture where mistakes aren’t feared, they are valued as lessons learned.
Leaders, are you overthinking every decision and feeling drained by the process? In this week’s Tip Thursday with Tara, we focus on decision-making strategies for leaders. Discover how to make better choices faster by using a practical framework based on facts, values, impact, deadlines, and intuition.Tara also shares energy-saving tips for leaders, helping you avoid decision fatigue. This episode is packed with actionable leadership tips you can apply immediately to improve team management, productivity, and leadership confidence.If you’re ready to stop overthinking and start leading with clarity, this episode is your guide to efficient, empowered, and energized leadership.Enjoy!
Your leadership voice isn’t just about speaking. It is about showing up fully, connecting meaningfully, and influencing effectively. In this guest episode, with Dr. Laura Sicola, Founder of Laura Sicola Inc., we unpack:The difference between your literal voice and your figurative voice, and why both matter in leadership.The 3 C’s of executive presence: Command the room, Connect with the audience, Close the deal (figuratively), and practical ways to use them in meetings, networking, and public speaking.Why owning your role is crucial for leading your team with authority and clarity.The 4-word secret to confident public speaking and how to overcome the pressure of having a “perfect answer.”Simple icebreakers and strategies to build authentic connections and “close the deal” in various situation.How setting clear goals and shaping your personal brand amplifies your leadership voice.Whether you’re speaking to your team, a room of clients, or at a networking event, this episode gives actionable insights to help you be heard, remembered, and respected.Enjoy!
Leadership can feel lonely even when you’re surrounded by your team or peers. In this week’s Tip Thursday with Tara, we’re unpacking why so many leaders experience isolation and what to do about it. Tara shares one simple shift that helps you stay energized, supported, and connected as you lead.If you’re ready to stop leading alone and start leading with community, this episode is your invitation to join others doing the hard work with heart. Learn more at amplifyingleadership.ca/community-info.
Dreading that next tough chat at work? You’re not alone. Difficult conversations are inevitable, but they don’t have to be stressful. In this episode with guest Tucker Miller, President and CEO of Onward Leadership, we’re breaking down how to approach those moments with clarity, curiosity, and collaboration.We break down both the internal and external factors that turn a conversation tricky, and share a mindset shift that can make all the difference: keeping it brief, direct, and clear. We’ll cover strategies to leave assumptions behind, embrace curiosity, and move from fear and concerns to solution-focused discussions. Discover the four simple words that can start a conversation on the right foot, learn why timing matters, and get practical rules for your first (or next) tough conversation. Remembering to be kind, leave no surprises. By shifting from confrontational to collaborative conversations, you’ll not only handle conflict better, but also create a stronger, more positive workplace culture.Enjoy.
What if the key to better team performance, and more energy, wasn’t another big strategy, but simply noticing what’s already going right? In this episode of Tip Thursday with Tara, we are talking about the power of recognizing small wins, and why those quick moments of appreciation can make leadership feel lighter, smoother, and a lot more humanAs leaders, it’s easy to focus on the big milestones, but those little everyday victories are what keep your team (and your time and energy) moving forward.Tara shares how noticing and acknowledging small wins boosts motivation, strengthens culture, and actually saves you time and energy as a leader. If you’re ready to lead with less burnout and more momentum, this quick tip is your reminder that sometimes the smallest celebrations can help make the biggest impacts.Enjoy!
What can beer brewing teach us about leading teams?In this episode of Amplifying Leadership, with guest Kevin Dawson - Author and Leadership Consultant, we explore the art of purpose-driven leadership. We dive into understanding what truly motivates your team members, how to focus on their strengths and passions, and the leadership lessons that come from learning through failure.From celebrating the unique contributions of each team member to fostering collaboration, communication, motivation, connection, and curiosity - whether your team is remote or in person - this episode is packed with practical strategies for building stronger, more engaged teams. We also unpack the power of “the pause” (yes, that awkward silence!) and how to leverage it, plus why love (used as a leadership tool, not romantically) can transform the way your team works together.Tune in for a conversation that blends leadership insight, real-world strategies, and a few surprising lessons from the world of beer brewing that will leave you thinking about your team in a whole new way.
Most leaders think they’re good listeners.But are they really? In this week’s Tip Thursday with Tara on Amplifying Leadership, we dive into why listening is the quiet superpower of great leadership.Tara unpacks how genuine listening builds trust, improves decision-making, and helps uncover solutions hiding in plain sight. She also shares simple, actionable ways to practice active listening, including how to handle those awkward pauses that actually lead to better conversations.If you want your team to trust you more, speak up more, and perform better, this episode is your guide to transforming the way you communicate - one conversation at a time.
Strong communication, calm confidence, and steady results. Sounds boring, right?In this episode of Amplifying Leadership, Tara and guest Trent Gander, a writer and consultant, explore why effective leadership doesn’t always have to be loud, dramatic, or complicated. Great leaders know that calm, consistent communication and a focus on learning and not making assumptions builds trust and lasting results. Yet, many leaders unintentionally create problems when things are running smoothly, simply because they’re uncomfortable with ease.You’ll discover what isn’t naturally taught in leadership, the difference between good and poor leadership habits, and why strong communication skills matter. We also talk about the value of failure, the importance of reviewing what’s working well, and how to create learning-focused conversations that strengthen your team culture.Enjoy!
Feeling stuck even though you and/or your team are giving it your all? You’re not alone. In this Amplifying Leadership podcast episode of Tip Thursday with Tara, we tackle how to keep your motivation higher when results aren’t coming as fast as you would like.Tara shares practical strategies to celebrate those micro-wins, reconnect to your purpose, and focus on consistency over perfection. With these approaches, slow progress stops being frustrating and starts becoming fuel for growth.If you have ever wondered how to keep pushing forward when it feels like nothing’s changing, this episode is your guide to staying motivated, resilient, and moving forward, one small step at a time.
Are you leading for numbers or for meaning? In this episode of Amplifying Leadership with guest Justin Goodbread, a globally recognized business strategist, bestselling author, and founder of multiple successful ventures, we explore how service-based leaders can create purposeful impact in their teams and businesses. Focusing solely on revenue or metrics can overshadow significance, identity, and long-term success. We discuss the side effects of prioritizing numbers over purpose and share practical strategies to realign your leadership approach.If you’re ready to lead with intention, create meaningful results, and make an impact that matters, this episode is packed with insights for purpose-driven leaders looking to elevate their influence.Gift link as mentioned in the episode: Scale Your Advisory Practice | Justin Goodbread's Growth GuideEnjoy!
Ever provided constructive feedback that didn’t land the way you hoped? You’re not alone. In this episode of Tip Thursday with Tara, we’re breaking down how to turn constructive feedback from an awkward moment into a trust-building conversation.Tara shares her simple four-step approach, starting with gratitude, using coaching questions, and ending with confidence. This helps you create feedback moments that actually strengthen relationships and build skills, instead of straining them.If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “I don’t want to say the wrong thing or cause them to get their back up” this episode is your playbook for saying it right.Enjoy!
Youth are one of the most underrepresented groups at the leadership table. However that is starting to change. In this engaging and important episode, Tara and Eden Byrne, a Youth Advocate / Writer / Change Maker, explore the barriers young leaders face, from feeling intimidated to speak up to unconscious bias that can silence their contributions. You will hear strategies for creating space where every voice is heard and valued, without overpromising outcomes that may not happen. They also dive into how organizations can welcome youth perspectives authentically, avoid common recruiting mistakes, and recognize the transferable skills younger leaders bring to the table. The message is clear: don’t just listen to youth leaders - take them seriously, and take action. They have great ideas and contributions to share.Enjoy!
Ever wish mistakes didn't feel like something you have to hide from everyone?What if we told you they could be your most powerful leadership tool?In this week’s Tip Thursday with Tara, we dive into how leaders and business owners can turn mistakes - theirs and their team’s - into growth, learning, and stronger teams. Featuring Tara's quote: “Failure is Transformational. Listen to It. Learn from It. Grow because of It.” You’ll learn why owning mistakes openly builds trust, sparks accountability, and transforms how your team approaches challenges.Stop fearing mistakes. Start using them to lead better.Enjoy!
What if the secret to saving money, improving efficiency, and keeping employees engaged wasn’t about perks or paychecks, but about the culture you build every day?In this episode of Amplifying Leadership with guest Matthew Stafford, a Chief Optimization Officer, we dive into the heart of Building Better Workplace Cultures.We explore why gratitude and vulnerability aren’t “soft skills” but powerful leadership tools, and how authentic communication creates trust and stronger teams.You’ll hear practical strategies to keep employees accountable but also inspired, how to welcome ideas (even when they challenge your own), and why admitting you don’t have all the answers is a mark of true leadership.We’ll also uncover the cost savings of a healthier culture, and simple steps you can take to start transforming your workplace today.Enjoy(By request: )Want to connect with Matthew Stafford? If you're ready to optimize your business, improve conversions, or build a stronger eCommerce strategy, Matthew and the Build Grow Scale team would love to help.Book a free Strategy Call here to discover where your website is leaking sales: https://buildgrowscale.com/book-a-call
Think managing up means brown-nosing or sucking up? Think again. In this week’s Tip Thursday with Tara, Tara discusses how managing up is really about building clarity, alignment, and trust with your boss, without losing your integrity. You’ll learn three simple ways to keep your leader in the loop, tie your ideas to shared goals, and raise challenges without feeling awkward.Managing up isn’t sucking up - it’s smart leadership.Enjoy!
Mental health isn’t just personal - it is professional. Too often, it’s a topic we avoid at work. Let’s change that.In this episode with guest Kyle Elliott, a tech career coach & trusted confidant to Silicon Valley’s top talent, we break down why mental health conversations are harder, how life and work impact each other, and practical ways leaders can start the conversation. Learn how to spot the signs in your team and yourself, approach conversations with curiosity, set boundaries, communicate effectively, and take care of your own mental wellbeing. Plus, we share must-have resources every leader should know.Let's stop the stigma and start talking about Mental Health together.
Feeling drained before you even get to lunch?Leadership can be exhausting, but the fix doesn’t always require a vacation or even a long break.In this week’s Tip Thursday with Tara, she is sharing a few simple 2-minute reset tools that helps you shake off stress, recharge your energy, and show up calmer and sharper for your team.Spoiler: it works anywhere, even in between back-to-back meetings if you have 2 minutes.Enjoy!(podscan_So7qdCcASGfbjzsxZEYCUhMeR5XiWf3M)