How to Have Difficult Conversations at Work: Boundaries, Timing, and Leadership

Got a Bad Performance Review? What to Do Next

A bad performance review can feel personal—but your response is what actually shapes your career. In this episode, we walk through exactly how to handle a negative evaluation at work—from figuring out what’s true to deciding whether (and how) to push back. We talk about: * How to separate facts from emotions * Using your “receipts” to support your performance * When to challenge feedback—and when to accept it * How to rebuild your reputation moving forward * Why doing the work alone isn’t enough anymore  Whether your review felt unfair or just didn’t reflect your best work, this episode will help you move forward with clarity and strategy. ------------------------------------ Our company, Grounded and Global Advisory, is pleased to offer a quarterly advisory retainer. For $275 per month (billed quarterly, with the option to renew each quarter), you'll receive: * One 60-minute coaching session per month * Priority access to our calendar * One annual 90-minute strategic intensive This offer is for the person who knows what good advisory support feels like and doesn't want to lose it. Spots are limited.  If you're interested, email us directly at hello@stirringsuccess.com [hello@stirringsuccess.com], and we'll be in touch. Send us a comment! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2307270/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/LeadershipTeaPodcast/gift] We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. * Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast [https://leadershiptea.buzzsprout.com/2307270/follow] * Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube! [https://www.youtube.com/@LeadershipTeaPodcast?sub_confirmation=1] Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea [https://www.instagram.com/leadership_tea/]for more inspiration and insights.

Change the Tape: How Leaders Break Out of Stuck Patterns

When you feel stuck, doing more isn’t the answer. Clarity is. In this episode, we sit down with Bobby Staten III (Chief of Clarity) to unpack what’s really happening when leaders feel overwhelmed, stuck, or out of alignment, and how to move forward with intention. From “changing the tape” to redefining identity, this conversation goes beyond surface-level productivity advice and gets to the core of how leaders actually grow. This episode is a powerful reminder that growth doesn’t start with doing more. Rather, it starts with seeing clearly and choosing differently. If you’re navigating a transition, building something new, or stepping into leadership for the first time, this conversation will meet you exactly where you are. ---------------------------------- Connect with Bobby Staten III:  https://bit.ly/BTSwaitlist [https://bit.ly/BTSwaitlist] - Built To Scale (my accelerator) waitlist https://www.linkedin.com/in/bstaten [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bstaten]  @chiefofclarity on all social platforms Send us a comment! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2307270/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/LeadershipTeaPodcast/gift] We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. * Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast [https://leadershiptea.buzzsprout.com/2307270/follow] * Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube! [https://www.youtube.com/@LeadershipTeaPodcast?sub_confirmation=1] Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea [https://www.instagram.com/leadership_tea/]for more inspiration and insights.

Crisis Management for Leaders: Calm, Clarity, and Hard Decisions

What does leadership look like when the playbook breaks down? In this episode of The Leadership Tea Podcast, Shelby and Belinda reflect on what crisis management requires from leaders when events are unfolding in real time. Drawing from their own experience in high-pressure environments, they discuss calm under pressure, executive presence, hard personnel decisions, internal communication, and the practical ways leaders can keep teams steady when everything feels uncertain. They also highlight the importance of knowing your people before a crisis begins and accepting support when the usual playbook no longer applies. This is a grounded conversation about leadership, resilience, and what it takes to move people to action when the stakes are high. Reach out for Coaching The Leadership Tea Podcast is brought to you by Grounded and Global Advisory, LLC. Grounded and Global is led by two former senior U.S. diplomats with 50 combined years of experience managing crises in the world's most complex environments. Our services include executive and leadership coaching (see here for [https://www.stirringsuccess.com/the-centered-leader] our premier Centered Leader Program), crisis management consulting, strategic advisory, and workshop facilitation. We serve high-performing individuals who operate in unique spaces, such as athletes, universities, small businesses, and non-profits. Please contact us at hello@stirringsuccess.com. [hello@stirringsuccess.com] Send us a comment! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2307270/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/LeadershipTeaPodcast/gift] We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. * Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast [https://leadershiptea.buzzsprout.com/2307270/follow] * Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube! [https://www.youtube.com/@LeadershipTeaPodcast?sub_confirmation=1] Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea [https://www.instagram.com/leadership_tea/]for more inspiration and insights.

AI Can’t Replace Leadership: Wisdom, Strategy, and the Human Edge

AI is moving fast, but leadership still requires judgment. In this episode, Shelby and Belinda are joined by Nadeen Matthews, Founder and CEO of Crescent Advisory Group, for a thoughtful conversation about leadership in the age of AI. Rather than focusing on hype or tools alone, Nadeen explains why leaders need to connect AI to business strategy, customer impact, employee readiness, and organizational risk. She also breaks down what executive AI fluency really means, why bias and fairness remain critical concerns, and why women must take their seat at the AI table. This episode is a practical, human-centered look at how leaders can engage AI with more wisdom, responsibility, and clarity. NOTE: Since this episode's recording, Claude has surpassed ChatGPT in terms of Apple store downloads; some other data mentioned in this episode may have changed. Send us a comment! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2307270/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/LeadershipTeaPodcast/gift] We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. * Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast [https://leadershiptea.buzzsprout.com/2307270/follow] * Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube! [https://www.youtube.com/@LeadershipTeaPodcast?sub_confirmation=1] Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea [https://www.instagram.com/leadership_tea/]for more inspiration and insights.

How to Have Difficult Conversations at Work: Boundaries, Timing, and Leadership

Hard conversations are part of the job, and avoiding them costs more than most leaders realize. In this episode, Shelby and Belinda share a practical framework for navigating difficult conversations at work with clarity, boundaries, and discernment. They share executive-level strategies for adapting communication styles across different contexts, setting boundaries without overexplaining, and using silence as a powerful tool. Shelby also introduces a practical framework for hard conversations, clarifying the What, the Why, and the How, so leaders can prepare intentionally instead of reacting in the moment. The episode also explores the limits of chat-based communication and why leaders must choose the right tool for the message to build trust and real community. Send us a comment! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2307270/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/LeadershipTeaPodcast/gift] We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. * Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast [https://leadershiptea.buzzsprout.com/2307270/follow] * Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube! [https://www.youtube.com/@LeadershipTeaPodcast?sub_confirmation=1] Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea [https://www.instagram.com/leadership_tea/]for more inspiration and insights.