Stop Winging It: Build a Real System So You Can Lead With Confidence

Hey hey friend,

We’re sliding into your podcast feed with a big ol’ hug and a little tough love. 💌 Today, we’re calling out the “winging it” approach—yes, we see you, improvisers! We’ve been there, done that, and got the T-shirt (and maybe a few confused team members along the way 😅).

In this episode, we’re spilling the tea on why flying by the seat of your pants just isn’t a sustainable strategy. We’re talking about the phases of winging it, the risks (hello, team confusion!), and why your team can always tell when you’re making it up as you go. But don’t worry, we’re not here to judge—we’re here to help you build a solid management foundation, with a side of good vibes and a sprinkle of research-backed wisdom. ✨

So grab your favorite drink, settle in, and get ready to laugh, learn, and maybe cringe a little as we share our stories and help you trade chaos for clarity. Because, friend, your team deserves a leader who’s got a plan. 

xo,

Kishshana & Maria

Tune in to hear:

🎯 How to spot (and stop!) the “winging it” habit before it confuses your whole team 

📝 How to swap last-minute chaos for clear plans, strong vibes, and real results 

😅 How to build trust and confidence as a manager—without pretending you’ve got it all together 

Episode Overview

• (01:30) Why “Winging It” Isn’t a Strategy  
• (07:00) Personal Stories: Winging It Wins & Woes  
• (13:00) The Real Cost: Team Confusion & Imposter Syndrome  
• (18:00) From Chaos to Clarity: Building a Management Plan  
• (24:00) Tools, Check-Ins, and Communication Tips  
• (29:00) Feedback, Boundaries, and the Ripple Effect  
• (33:00) Final Thoughts & Next Episode Teaser

Powerful Quotes

"Improvisation just isn’t a sustainable strategy." -Kishshana 

"Your team is confused when you wing it." -Kishshana 

"Winging it, for some, comes from a fear of appearing incompetent or a lack of training." -Maria 

"Winging it used to give me a rush." -Kishshana 

"All my lack of preparedness did was make me feel worse about myself, even while you were like, wowing the stage." -Kishshana 

"I would leave feeling relieved that I wasn’t found out." -Kishshana 

"Winging it is not a strategy, it’s a coping mechanism." -Kishshana 

"It’s not a solution, it’s a coping mechanism." -Maria 

"Your job is to create the conditions by which your team will be successful." -Kishshana 

"We want y’all to thrive and not survive. Okay. We want you to live well so you can lead well." -Kishshana 

"What different outcome do we get when, instead of, 'I’ll just wing it,' you say, 'Okay, we need to work toward filling this gap'?" -Maria 

"Feedback is similar to boundaries—an invitation to connection." -Maria 

"If you’re doing it at work, the probability is high that you’re doing it at home." -Maria 

"Could it be that you’re winging it because your actual expectations for success are just entirely too low for the person you actually are?" -Maria

Let’s go deeper 👇🏾

📖 Get Kishshana’s Book https://kishshanapalmer.com/book

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