208: The 3 Overlooked Skills That Turn Average Managers Into Great Leaders | Damon Lembi

Update: 2025-08-27

Description

In this purposeful solo episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, host Damon Lembi pulls back the curtain on three of the most undervalued leadership skills: the art of consistently showing up, the power of pausing under pressure, and the critical ability to let go and move forward. Damon combines personal anecdotes, practical advice, and frameworks from top experts to help leaders at any level build the resilience and trust needed for high-performing teams—especially in today’s fast-moving, AI-first environment. Whether you’re a new manager or an aspiring executive, you’ll leave with actionable takeaways for leading with presence, poise, and purpose.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why showing up—even when you don’t want to—is the backbone of true leadership
How “the pause” can defuse tension and change the trajectory of tough conversations
The difference between letting go and avoidance—and how leaders can move past mistakes without grudges
Simple, science-backed practices to reset after conflicts and stay present for your team
How carrying unresolved issues undermines culture and drains team performance
Real-world rituals Damon uses to keep his promises and be consistently reliable

Timestamps:

00:00 – What most people get wrong about leadership

00:30 – Why the small, invisible habits build real trust

01:00 – Skill 1: Show up—even when you don’t feel like it

01:45 – Why inconsistency breaks trust and erodes culture

02:20 – Damon’s example: Recording at 7AM on a Sunday

03:10 – Anchor to purpose when motivation fades

03:45 – Skill 2: Practice the pause in tough moments

04:15 – What the body tells you before you snap

04:45 – Damon’s tip from Cynthia Kane: One breath + ground yourself

05:30 – Why excited leaders need the pause too

06:00 – The power of slowing the energy in a room

06:30 – Skill 3: Learn to let go (without avoiding or resenting)

07:00 – Mike Robbins’ framework: Let it go or deal with it

07:30 – Why option 3 (resentment) kills culture

08:00 – Resetting between meetings and relationships

08:30 – Recap: Show up, pause, let go

09:00 – Weekly challenge + free gift: 45 days of Learnit training

About Damon Lembi

Damon Lembi is a 3x bestselling author, the host of The Learn-It-All Podcast, and CEO of Learnit – a live learning platform that has upskilled over 2 million people. Drawing from his prior baseball career, Damon brings an athlete’s perspective to leadership. Through his journey, he has gained invaluable insights into what helps organizations grow, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competitors every time.  

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