Leap Lady Leader Podcast

Culture Over Perks: What Really Keeps Great People

In this episode of the Leap Lady Leader podcast, Maureen—known as Mo—dives deep into the transformative power of culture in leadership. Drawing from her extensive background in industrial and organizational psychology and real-world experience in leadership, she breaks down why perks alone can’t retain great people. She emphasizes that true retention stems from a culture built on trust, safety, and alignment, not just perks and high pay.
Through insightful examples, Mo illustrates how discrepancies between stated values and actual practices can erode trust and morale, ultimately impacting organizational success. Mo challenges leaders to critically assess their current culture, urging them not only to talk the talk but to walk the walk by aligning actions with words to foster an environment where every individual feels valued and secure.
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From Hero to Cultivator: Redefining Leadership

Welcome to Mo's Moment, hosted by Maureen, where we redefine leadership beyond titles and charisma. Discover how leadership is a shared, dynamic process centered around influence and responsibility. In this episode, Maureen challenges traditional views of leadership, emphasizing collective action and distributed responsibility. Explore the DAC framework—direction, alignment, commitment—and learn how adopting this model can enhance team performance and foster innovation.Through inspiring stories and actionable insights, Maureen illustrates how transitioning from a hero model to a systems model of leadership can lead to lasting impact. This episode encourages you to embrace leadership as a collaborative effort, empowering others and creating a culture of shared direction. Tune in to cultivate a legacy of courage and collective leadership.

Empowerment vs. Entitlement: Empower your people to greatness not to entitlement

In this episode of the Leap Lady Leader podcast, host Maureen explores the often misunderstood concept of empowerment in leadership. She leaps into the difference between fostering reliance and encouraging growth within teams. Maureen addresses the common pitfalls that lead to a culture of entitlement, offering five real-world examples and solutions to combat these challenges.
Listeners will gain insights into how real empowerment involves setting clear expectations, providing consistent feedback, and maintaining balanced accountability. The episode emphasizes that enabling entitlement is a common mistake even well-intentioned leaders make. Through practical strategies and reflective questions, Maureen encourages leaders to model accountability, ensure clear communication, and foster an ownership mindset among their teams.
Discover how to spot entitlement both in hiring processes and within existing teams, and learn the importance of embracing challenges rather than avoiding them. The episode concludes with a challenge to leaders to raise the bar, inspiring listeners to move from enabling to empowering those they lead.

Stop Sugarcoating: A Leader's Guide to Honest Feedback

Welcome to Mo's Moment, your empowering Monday boost to help you lead with courage, clarity, and compassion. In this episode, Mo dives into the pressing issue of feedback fatigue and the damaging effects of sugar-coated feedback in leadership. Discover why clarity is the ultimate kindness and how true leadership is about delivering feedback with honesty and respect.Mo shares insights on avoiding the pitfalls of vague and untimely criticisms and encourages leaders to embrace timely, respectful, and specific feedback that fosters growth and trust within their teams. Learn the importance of pairing truth with love, and how this balance is essential for building a culture of trust and respect.Get ready for practical strategies, scripture wisdom, and inspiring quotes to shift your feedback approach from protection to progression. Challenge yourself this week to break the sugarcoating habit and commit to a conversation you've been avoiding. Be the leader who transforms culture with courage and truth.

Leading with Connection: Navigating Loneliness in Leadership

Welcome to the Leap Lady Leader podcast, your go-to resource for women seeking to lead with intention, clarity, and purpose. Hosted by Maureen, known as Mo, this episode dives deep into the often-overlooked challenge of loneliness in leadership. Drawing on her extensive experience and academic background, Mo unravels why loneliness is prevalent among leaders, particularly women, and the impact it has on personal and organizational well-being.
Discover why this isolation occurs, the risks of ignoring it, and how to recognize early signs of loneliness in your leadership journey. Mo offers invaluable strategies to combat this isolation, emphasizing the importance of building intentional support systems, cultivating trusted advisors, and leading with appropriate vulnerability.
Whether you're steering a company, department, or a small team, this episode provides practical insights and encouragement for leaders to embrace connection, seek meaningful relationships, and reject the myth of solitary leadership. Join us and transform your leadership experience into one of joy and sustainable success.

Presence Over Performance: The True Essence of Leadership

Welcome to your Monday Mo Moment with Maureen, your guide to leading with intention and purpose. Discover the transformative power of presence over productivity and explore how true leadership is less about checking boxes and more about becoming someone anchored in clarity, compassion, conviction, and courage. Join us as we challenge ourselves to pause and reflect on how we can lead from our true selves rather than what we do. Embrace the journey of becoming a leader grounded in purpose, where your identity shapes your impact more than your itinerary. Take a moment to set the tone for your week with sacred stillness, and remember the importance of guarding your heart as a source of everything you do.

Graceful Goodbyes: Mastering the Art of Leaving a Job with Integrity

In this episode of the Leap Lady Leader podcast, host Maureen, a seasoned business and leadership expert, dives into the often overlooked topic of how to leave a job or career with excellence and integrity. Discover why the way you exit matters just as much as how you arrive, and learn practical strategies for planning a graceful departure. Whether you're a leader or not, your exit is a crucial part of your professional brand. Mo shares insights on handling emotions, communicating with kindness, and maintaining a positive reputation, even when the circumstances are far from perfect. Embrace the challenge of leading well to the very finish line, and step into your next opportunity with freedom and peace.

From Family to Community: Redefining Workplace Dynamics

Hello, it's Maureen, or Mo for short, and welcome to your Monday Mo Moment. Today's discussion centers on the idea that while workplaces often describe themselves as "like family," the analogy might not be the best fit for growth and professionalism. Instead, Mo champions the concept of community, which is founded on shared values, clear roles, and mutual respect.She highlights that while familial connections can blur necessary boundaries, a community approach emphasizes professional clarity without sacrificing warmth. Mo provides insights on transforming office cultures to promote healthy interactions.To anchor her message, Mo references meaningful books and quotes, encouraging listeners to foster communities that blend relational warmth with professional accountability. A leadership challenge is issued: evaluate team dynamics this week and strive for intentional community building.

Blurring the Lines: When Business Becomes Ministry

In this episode of the Leap Lady Leader podcast, host Maureen "Mo" explores the intersection of business and ministry, challenging the notion that they are separate entities. Through powerful stories and insights, she unravels the myth that sacred work is confined to traditional ministry roles, arguing instead that every workplace can be a platform for purpose.Mo shares personal stories of leaders who found fulfillment and significance by integrating faith and leadership in any setting, whether it's the boardroom, the classroom, or the church.Listeners are encouraged to see their current roles as part of a greater mission, emphasizing that leadership is not about a specific title but about embracing purpose and stewardship in every context. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion that redefines the meaning of ministry and challenges you to lead with heart and vision.

Spotting the Silent Disruptor: Addressing the Unneutralized Employee

Welcome back to Mo's Moment, a quick dose of insights and encouragement for your leadership journey. In this episode, we delve into the challenge of dealing with unneutralized employees who can subtly disrupt team dynamics. Discover how to identify these quiet disruptors, understand their impact on team culture, and learn proactive strategies to address these issues before they escalate into a crisis. Mo shares practical advice to set and communicate standards, offer real-time feedback, and support your team through challenging times. This episode is a must-listen for leaders committed to fostering a healthy and thriving work environment.