First-time leadership is exciting—and a little terrifying. In this solo episode, Brandon Stanchock walks through the top 10 mistakes new leaders make and the simple shifts that prevent months (or years) of frustration. Leadership isn’t about being flawless; it’s about learning faster and leading better【turn36file0†L4-L6】.
What you’ll learn (with quick fixes):
- Trying to be everyone’s friend → lead with trust, fairness, and accountability, not popularity
- Avoiding hard conversations → don’t let issues fester; prepare data, aim for win-wins, and practice the reps
- Micromanaging everything → set expectations and checkpoints; allow R&D-style learning (yes, it has a cost)
- Thinking leaders must have all the answers → it’s okay to say “I don’t know—let me find out,” then circle back
- Ignoring culture because “the work comes first” → culture is a performance system, not frosting on the cake
- Failing to set clear expectations → define “what good looks like,” due dates, and check-ins (written > verbal)
- Not managing up → lead both directions: make your boss’s job easier while serving your team
- Forgetting self-care → protect energy, delegate to strengths, communicate “no surprises” when behind
- Over-promising to look capable → pause, check capacity, give the truthful best you can deliver
- Neglecting to develop yourself → leadership isn’t the finish line; keep learning, seek mentors, grow EQ
Brandon closes with an invite: what mistake did you make—or see all the time—that didn’t make the list? DM him on LinkedIn and keep the conversation going.
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