The Hardest Person I've Ever Had To Lead

How To Grow Managers Into High-Performing Leaders

What does it actually take to grow a manager into a leader? In this episode of Lead With More, Tom DeBell sits down with bestselling author, award-winning coach, and business owner Dr. Andy Neillie for an honest, experience-driven conversation about the gap between managing tasks and truly leading people. Dr. Neillie shares his four leadership necessities — conviction, competence, character, and covenant — and explains why leadership development is a continuous journey, not a one-time certification. The conversation covers why hard conversations are the truest test of leadership character, how self-awareness is the foundation of every high-performing leader, and what Dr. Neillie calls the leader's hour: a daily habit the best leaders he's worked with consistently practice. Dr. Neillie also introduces his Manager's Ascent program and the leadership principles behind his book, The Golden Principles. Learn More About Dr. Andy Neillie and his company, The Neillie Leadership Group, here: https://neillieleadershipgroup.com/ [https://neillieleadershipgroup.com/] Timestamps: 00:00 How to Turn Mangers Into High-Performing Leaders 01:33 Why Bad Bosses Ignite a Leadership Calling 03:42 Managers vs. Leaders: What's the Real Difference? 04:37 The Four Leadership Necessities: Conviction, Competence, Character, and Covenant 09:39 Why Leadership Is A Journey, Not a Certification 09:59 The Hard Conversation That Taught Me Character 12:00 Why Social Media Is Redefining Influence the Wrong Way 13:16 The 5% of Decisions That Separate Real Leaders 15:41 How Strong Leaders Delegate What They Don't Know 16:53 The Golden Principles: Leadership Lessons From Rescue Dogs 20:06 The Redford Principle: Meet People Where They Are 22:22 Why Character Is Missing In Today's Leaders 25:04 How Great Leaders Keep Growing After Every Failure 28:09 Why Reading Isn't Enough: The Case for Leadership Coaching 29:15 Inside the Manager's Ascent Program 31:12 Real-World Experience vs. Certified on Paper 32:14 When Coaching Reveals Someone Isn't Ready to Lead 35:27 The Leader's Hour: How the Best Leaders Start Their Day ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ Tom DeBell, the founder and president of Modern Leadership Solutions, is a Certified Maxwell Coach/Speaker/Trainer, a Full Focus Certified Pro, and a Certified Facilitator in the Six Types of Working Genius. https://www.modernleadershipsolutions.com [https://www.modernleadershipsolutions.com] ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ Podcast guests managed through PodMatch. If you’re a podcast guest or host (or both!), I would encourage you to check it out: https://www.podmatch.com/member/tomdebell [https://www.podmatch.com/member/tomdebell] (affiliate link). #PodMatch ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻MUSIC & MEDIA⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ With permission from: Music by HitsLab (https://www.youtube.com/@hitslabmusic [https://www.youtube.com/@hitslabmusic]) from Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/ [https://pixabay.com/])

You Can't Lead What You Can't See

What does it really mean to lead with perspective? In this episode of Lead With More, Tom DeBell sits down with leadership consultant and former CPA firm CEO Dennis Sherrin to unpack one of the most overlooked — and most critical — skills in leadership: the ability to shift perspectives. Using a photography-based framework, Tom and Dennis explore three practical concepts every leader needs to develop: * Lens-switching — moving between big-picture thinking and ground-level detail * Filters — changing how you process and communicate information depending on your audience and context * Camera-switching — stepping completely outside your own vantage point to see what others see Together, Tom and Dennis share real-world stories from careers in engineering, accounting, and executive leadership — including what it cost them when they couldn't shift perspectives, and what changed when they finally did. Whether you lead a small team or a large organization, this episode will challenge you to examine the lens you're leading through — and give you practical tools to expand it. Timestamps: 00:00 Why Perspective Is the Most Overlooked Leadership Skill 01:31 Guest Host Introduction: Leadership Lessons From 40 Years In Business 06:02 How Leaders Build Team Buy-In Through Shared Perspective 07:43 Lens-Switching: How Leaders Shift Between Big Picture and Ground Level 14:51 Leadership Filters: Changing How You Process Information as a Leader 19:44 The Leadership Filter: Redefining Success Through Your Team, Not Yourself 23:35 Vulnerable Leadership: Why CEO's Need to Take the Filter Off 30:45 Direct Communication: When Strong Leaders Remove the Filter Entirely 33:27 Camera-Switching: See Your Leadership From a Completely Different Angle 41:33 How to Practice Perspective-Shifting and Grow From Leadership Failure 44:31 Character-Driven Leadership: Why Knowing Your Audience Changes Everything 47:35 Closing Thoughts: Leading With More by Seeing More ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ Tom DeBell, the founder and president of Modern Leadership Solutions, is a Certified Maxwell Coach/Speaker/Trainer, a Full Focus Certified Pro, and a Certified Facilitator in the Six Types of Working Genius. https://www.modernleadershipsolutions.com [https://www.modernleadershipsolutions.com] ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻MUSIC & MEDIA⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ With permission from: Music by HitsLab (https://www.youtube.com/@hitslabmusic [https://www.youtube.com/@hitslabmusic]) from Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/ [https://pixabay.com/])

The Hardest Person I've Ever Had To Lead

After 20+ episodes, I almost stopped. Not because something went wrong — but because leading yourself with no external accountability, no visible results, and an easier path available is genuinely hard. And nobody talks about that honestly enough. In this milestone 25th episode, I'm sharing what I've actually learned about leadership through this process — starting with the lesson that hit closest to home: self-leadership is the foundation of everything else. And it's the hardest thing I've ever had to build. In this episode: ✅ Why self-leadership breaks down the moment external accountability disappears ✅ The honest story of almost quitting after more than 20 episodes — and what pulled me through ✅ What practice, discomfort, and recording yourself actually do for your growth as a leader ✅ Why authenticity is a character commitment, not a content strategy ✅ What 25 episodes of podcasting taught me about growth, perspective, and showing up If you have something you've been putting off — a project, a habit, a platform — this episode is for you. 🎙️ Lead With More is a podcast for leaders who want to grow with clarity, character, and purpose. Timestamps: 00:00 Why Self-Leadership Is the Hardest Leadership Challenge 00:54 Lead With More - Character-Driven Leadership For Today's Leaders  01:23 How to Lead Yourself When No One Is Holding You Accountable 02:49 What Almost Quitting Taught Me About Leadership And Personal Growth 04:19 Why Growth Requires Discomfort - and the Leadership Reps Nobody Sees 05:58 Authentic Leadership - How to Stay True to Yourself Under Pressure 07:16 How Podcasting Builds Leadership Skills and Grows Your Network 08:32 How to Start Before You're Ready - Leadership Lessons for New and Emerging Leaders 09:47 Lead With More - Keep Growing With Clarity, Character, and Purpose ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ Tom DeBell, the founder and president of Modern Leadership Solutions, is a Certified Maxwell Coach/Speaker/Trainer, a Full Focus Certified Pro, and a Certified Facilitator in the Six Types of Working Genius. https://www.modernleadershipsolutions.com [https://www.modernleadershipsolutions.com] ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻MUSIC & MEDIA⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ With permission from: Music by HitsLab (https://www.youtube.com/@hitslabmusic [https://www.youtube.com/@hitslabmusic]) from Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/ [https://pixabay.com/])

Why First-Time Managers Fail — And How to Fix It

Most first-time managers don't fail because they lack talent — they fail due to a lack of clarity about identity, purpose, and execution. In this episode of Lead With More, Tom DeBell sits down with ICF-certified leadership coach and author Alicia Rius to unpack why the transition from individual contributor to manager is one of the most underestimated challenges in the workplace. Alicia helps new managers, founders, and executive teams fix the clarity gaps that quietly undermine performance during growth. Alicia shares her Four P's Leadership Framework — Personal, People, Purpose, and Process — a practical system designed to help new managers identify exactly where their leadership clarity is breaking down. The conversation covers why one-day team building workshops don't create lasting change, the critical difference between managing and leading, why mindset must come before frameworks, and how to have the hard conversations that most leaders avoid. Alicia also discusses her book, Lead with Clarity, and her free 90-second Clarity Scorecard at HiveTeamCoaching.com/book [http://HiveTeamCoaching.com/book] — a quick self-assessment that tells you exactly where to focus first. Timestamps: 00:00 Why Most First-Time Managers Fail - It's Not Talent 00:49 Meet Alicia Rius: International Leadership Coach and Author 03:11 The 4 P's Leadership Framework Explained 04:53 Why Most Leaders Only Seek Coaching After They've Already Failed 05:54 Why One-Day Team Building Doesn't Fix Leadership Problems 07:48 Individual vs. Team Coaching: Why Leaders Need Both 09:32 Long-Term Leadership Development vs. Short-Term Training 11:53 Managing vs. Leading: What Most People Get Wrong 13:02 The Mindset Shift Every First-Time Manager Must Make 15:12 Why Leadership Is a Lifelong Journey, Not a Destination 17:55 The Power of Self-Leadership and Why It Comes First 18:48 How Lead With Clarity Was Written, and Why Sofia's Story Matters 22:13 How to Use This Book as a First-Time Manager or Aspiring Leader 24:51 The Hidden Cost of Skipping Leadership Training in Year One 26:40 Why Hard Conversations Are a Skill, and How to Build It 27:22 Mindset Before Frameworks: The Step Most Coaches Skip 28:43 Why the Feedback Sandwich Doesn't Work 31:06 How to Identify Your Leadership Gap in 90 Seconds 32:17 Where to Find Alicia Rius and the Free Clarity Scorecard 33:47 Alicia's Final Challenge: Ask Yourself the Hard Questions ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ Tom DeBell, the founder and president of Modern Leadership Solutions, is a Certified Maxwell Coach/Speaker/Trainer, a Full Focus Certified Pro, and a Certified Facilitator in the Six Types of Working Genius. https://www.modernleadershipsolutions.com [https://www.modernleadershipsolutions.com] ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ Podcast guests managed through PodMatch. If you’re a podcast guest or host (or both!), I would encourage you to check it out: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/tomdebell [https://www.joinpodmatch.com/tomdebell] (affiliate link). #PodMatch ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻MUSIC & MEDIA⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ With permission from: Music by HitsLab (https://www.youtube.com/@hitslabmusic [https://www.youtube.com/@hitslabmusic]) from Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/ [https://pixabay.com/])

Stop Building Success on the Wrong Foundation | Jim Sabellico

What happens when you hit every financial goal — and still feel like you're losing? In this episode, Tom DeBell sits down with entrepreneur, coach, and author Jim Sabellico to unpack the defining moment that changed everything: coming home to a half-eaten birthday cake and realizing he'd been building success on the wrong foundation. Jim shares how high achievers tie their self-worth to financial results, why work-life balance is a myth, and what it actually looks like to lead with intention at work and at home. You'll also hear practical frameworks for capturing ideas, building productive routines, and using your personal story as a breakthrough tool — not a burden. In this episode: * Why financial success without presence isn't success at all * The "picture of possibility" mindset shift that drives real change * How to separate your identity from your performance * The 200-line vision exercise for building faith and clarity Jim Sabellico is an entrepreneur, marketing expert, and host of the No Half Cakes podcast. After building multiple 7- and 8-figure businesses, he realized success isn’t just about money—it’s about creating a life you won’t regret later. Now, he helps entrepreneurs redefine success, simplify their growth, and build businesses that align with their purpose. Through real stories and actionable insights, Jim empowers high achievers to take back control of their time, energy, and impact. 🔗 Connect with Jim: jimsabellico.com [http://jimsabellico.com] | nohalfcakes.com [http://nohalfcakes.com] ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ Tom DeBell, the founder and president of Modern Leadership Solutions, is a Certified Maxwell Coach/Speaker/Trainer, a Full Focus Certified Pro, and a Certified Facilitator in the Six Types of Working Genius. https://www.modernleadershipsolutions.com [https://www.modernleadershipsolutions.com] ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ Podcast guests managed through PodMatch. If you’re a podcast guest or host (or both!), I would encourage you to check it out: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/tomdebell [https://www.joinpodmatch.com/tomdebell] (affiliate link). #PodMatch ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻MUSIC & MEDIA⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ With permission from: Music by HitsLab (https://www.youtube.com/@hitslabmusic [https://www.youtube.com/@hitslabmusic]) from Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/ [https://pixabay.com/])