This Is Harder than I Want It to Be

How Small Problems Become Big Fires

Ever notice how the thing that “wasn’t urgent” somehow becomes the thing that blows up your week? In this episode, Linda explains why small problems escalate when they have nowhere to land, and how a simple weekly ritual can keep issues from turning into emergencies. What You'll Learn: The Hook: The real reason issues don’t surface early is usually the system, not the people. Reality Check: A client complaint sat untouched for two weeks because it felt too big for chat but not big enough for a meeting. The Shift: Treat problems like dashboard warning lights, you want the “yellow light” moment, not the “engine’s on fire” moment. The Move: Use an Issues List to catch problems early: * Create one shared doc for issues as they arise. * Review the top 3 items in your weekly meeting. * Keep the review to 10 minutes, just long enough to decide what happens next. The Wrap: A small, consistent container for issues prevents crises and protects focus. Key Takeaway: Give problems a place to go while they’re still small, and they won’t turn into full-blown fires. Ep. 7 The Meeting That Saves Me 10 Hours A Week [https://this-is-harder-than-i-want-it-to-be.captivate.fm/ep7] Ready to prevent small issues from turning into emergencies? Connect with Linda on LinkedIn [https://this-is-harder-than-i-want-it-to-be.captivate.fm/linda-on-linkedin] for more leadership tools and insights. The SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you. Our mission is simple: to create a space where Swiss life and English voices connect, bringing you meaningful conversations, expert insights, and compelling stories from all over the country. Our podcast shows are made by, for, or in Switzerland and range from Health, Business, Career, Travel, and more. Mentioned in this episode: Ask Linda a Question Do you have a question you'd like Linda to answer? Send an email, drop a line on LinkedIn, or send a voicemail. Send Voicemail [https://this-is-harder-than-i-want-it-to-be.captivate.fm/voicemail] Discover More Shows at SwissCast.Network SwissCast Network [https://this-is-harder-than-i-want-it-to-be.captivate.fm/swisscastnetwork]

The Meeting That Saves Me 10 Hours a Week

Your team is flooding you with messages and “quick syncs,” but somehow you still don’t know what’s actually getting done. In this episode, Linda breaks down the one 30-minute weekly meeting that replaces the chaos with a simple rhythm: everyone sees the same numbers, surfaces the real issues, and leaves with clear priorities. What You'll Learn: The Hook: Why constant Slack pings and endless meetings are usually a symptom of missing one key weekly rhythm. Reality Check: How a growing team can create more interruptions when there’s no predictable place to get aligned. The Shift: Structure creates flow, like traffic lights, not restriction; a weekly cadence makes information move instead of pile up. The Move: The 30-Minute Alignment Meeting (and what to cover, nothing else): * Metrics (10 min): Review 5–7 vital numbers so everyone shares the same reality * Issues (10 min): Capture blockers in one shared list, then pick the top 3 and decide what happens next * Priorities (10 min): Set 3–5 must-do items for the week, assign owners, confirm deadlines The Wrap: One consistent weekly meeting reduces urgent questions, prevents small issues from becoming fires, and gives you hours back. Key Takeaway: Most meetings are filler, but one weekly alignment rhythm can replace ten interruptions. Ready to create more flow (and fewer pings)? Visit Linda van Egmond Website [https://this-is-harder-than-i-want-it-to-be.captivate.fm/lve] for more leadership tools and insights. The SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you. Our mission is simple: to create a space where Swiss life and English voices connect, bringing you meaningful conversations, expert insights, and compelling stories from all over the country. Our podcast shows are made by, for, or in Switzerland and range from Health, Business, Career, Travel, and more. Mentioned in this episode: Let's Connect on LinkedIn Find Linda on LinkedIn Linda on LinkedIn [https://this-is-harder-than-i-want-it-to-be.captivate.fm/linda-on-linkedin] Discover More Shows at SwissCast.Network SwissCast Network [https://this-is-harder-than-i-want-it-to-be.captivate.fm/swisscastnetwork]

It's Not A Process If It Only Works When YOU Do It

You take a day off and everything grinds to a halt, because the “process” is actually just you. In this episode, Linda van Egmond shows you how to turn what’s in your head into a system your team can run without constant check-ins. What You'll Learn: The Hook: Why your phone blows up the moment you step away, and what that reveals about your business. Reality Check: How growth can increase pressure when the critical knowledge lives in one person’s head. The Shift: A process doesn’t have to be complicated, it just has to make the work repeatable without you. The Move: The Dependency Audit to start removing you as the bottleneck: * Make two columns: “Things only I can do” vs. “Things only I do (but others could do)” * Pick 3 items from the second column to eliminate first * Document each one: trigger, outcome, steps, owner, decision points * Hand it off, coach once, then let it run at 80% (and maybe better) The Wrap: Start with three processes, hand them off, and watch your time come back bit by bit. Key Takeaway: If it only works when you do it, it’s not a process, it’s a problem you can fix. Ready to get your time back? Visit Linda van Egmond Website [https://this-is-harder-than-i-want-it-to-be.captivate.fm/lve] for more leadership tools and insights. Ep. 5 Stop Measuring Everything [https://this-is-harder-than-i-want-it-to-be.captivate.fm/ep5] The SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you. Our mission is simple: to create a space where Swiss life and English voices connect, bringing you meaningful conversations, expert insights, and compelling stories from all over the country. Our podcast shows are made by, for, or in Switzerland and range from Health, Business, Career, Travel, and more. Mentioned in this episode: Let's Connect on LinkedIn Find Linda on LinkedIn Linda on LinkedIn [https://this-is-harder-than-i-want-it-to-be.captivate.fm/linda-on-linkedin] Discover More Shows at SwissCast.Network SwissCast Network [https://this-is-harder-than-i-want-it-to-be.captivate.fm/swisscastnetwork]

Stop Measuring EVERYTHING: Measure What Moves

Thought more metrics would make things clearer, but you feel even more stuck? In this episode, Linda breaks down why tracking everything leads to overwhelm and inaction, and how to choose the handful of numbers that actually change your results. What You'll Learn: The Hook: More dashboards do not mean more clarity when you do not know what to do next. Reality Check: Tracking everything can paralyze you, but tracking nothing leaves you blind until it is too late. The Shift: Lead indicators predict results and are the only numbers you can directly influence. The Move: The Lead vs. Lag Test to simplify what you track: * Know the difference: lag indicators (results) vs lead indicators (actions). * Choose your lead indicators by asking what consistent actions create the outcome you want. * Pick 2 lead indicators for the month, then check them weekly: did you do the thing, yes or no? The Wrap: You cannot control outcomes directly, but you can control actions and actions create results. Key Takeaway: Stop measuring everything and start measuring what moves by tracking the actions that drive your results. Ready to make it easier? Visit https://www.lindavanegmond.com/ [https://this-is-harder-than-i-want-it-to-be.captivate.fm/lve] and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. The SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you. Our mission is simple: to create a space where Swiss life and English voices connect, bringing you meaningful conversations, expert insights, and compelling stories from all over the country. Our podcast shows are made by, for, or in Switzerland and range from Health, Business, Career, Travel, and more. Mentioned in this episode: Discover More Shows at SwissCast.Network SwissCast Network [https://this-is-harder-than-i-want-it-to-be.captivate.fm/swisscastnetwork]

Your Team Can't Read Your Mind: How to Use the Vision Check-In

You have a clear vision in your head, but your team is building from an older version of it. That gap is where good work quietly goes off the rails. In this episode, you’ll learn why “I already told them” is rarely enough, and how a simple, repeatable check-in keeps everyone executing the same priority, with the same context, at the same time. What You'll Learn: The Hook: Your team is working hard, but still missing the mark, because they cannot execute the updates you never explicitly shared. Reality Check: When your vision evolves in your head but not in your team’s understanding, they will confidently build the wrong thing. The Shift: Your vision is not a one-time announcement. It is an ongoing conversation that needs regular reinforcement. The Move: Use the Vision Check-In every quarter to keep alignment tight. 1. Ask: What do you think our top priority is right now? (Listen first, then calibrate.) 2. Ask: Why are we doing this? (Confirm they understand the bigger “why,” not just the task.) 3. Ask: What’s changed since we last talked about this? (Name the pivots, new insights, and updated focus.) 4. Optional: Create a short Context Document that answers what you are building, who it is for, what matters this quarter, and what changed, then update it quarterly. The Wrap: If you are not sure everyone would give the same answer to “What’s our top priority?”, run the check-in this week and close the gap. Key Takeaway: Your team cannot execute a vision they do not understand, and they cannot understand it if you only shared it once. Ready to make it easier? Visit https://www.lindavanegmond.com/ [https://this-is-harder-than-i-want-it-to-be.captivate.fm/lve] and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. The SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you. Our mission is simple: to create a space where Swiss life and English voices connect, bringing you meaningful conversations, expert insights, and compelling stories from all over the country. Our podcast shows are made by, for, or in Switzerland and range from Health, Business, Career, Travel, and more. Mentioned in this episode: Discover More Shows at SwissCast.Network SwissCast Network [https://this-is-harder-than-i-want-it-to-be.captivate.fm/swisscastnetwork] Let's Connect on LinkedIn Find Linda on LinkedIn Linda on LinkedIn [https://this-is-harder-than-i-want-it-to-be.captivate.fm/linda-on-linkedin]