Accelerating Leadership Growth: Building Effective Teams and Reducing Turnover with Walter Dusseldorp

On this episode of the McCoy Leadership Podcast, I sat down with Walter Dusseldorp, the Dutch Mentor, to dive deep into what really drives leadership success. We explored why focusing on emerging leaders is game-changing, how real mentorship—beyond checkbox training—can transform teams, and why measuring actionable progress matters more than ever. Walter shares powerful insights on developing self-aware leaders, building high-performing teams, and creating workplaces where people actually want to stay and grow. If you’re serious about leadership development, this is a must-listen!

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Download your free episode guide here!

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00:00 Paramedicine to Leadership Transformation

05:16 "Mentorship: Essential Path to Leadership"

07:16 "Integrative Support in Hiring Process"

11:50 Root Causes of Employee Underperformance

14:53 Neglecting Frontline in Leadership Development

18:25 "Retention Through Stay Interviews"

20:29 Accountability and High-Performance Teams

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Here are my top 3 takeaways:

🔹 Mentorship Matters Most for Emerging Leaders: Walter emphasizes that those newly promoted into leadership roles, especially from technical backgrounds, often lack the support they need. Intentional mentorship can bridge the gap between “doing” and truly “leading.”

🔹 Leadership Development Starts on Day One: According to Walter, leadership development shouldn’t wait for an annual review or promotion—it should kick off as soon as someone is hired, with structured support and actionable learning, not just online modules or one-off workshops.

🔹 Focus on Actionable, Measurable Steps: Walter’s approach to building high-performing teams involves regular check-ins, clear metrics (not too many!), and ongoing accountability. This ensures that leadership growth is practical, sustainable, and aligned to real outcomes.

Walter’s emphasis on servant leadership, team alignment, and flexible mentorship really hit home for me. If you’re looking to elevate your leadership pipeline, this episode is a must-listen!

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Links

Walter's Website

LinkedIn

Book Recommendations

Good to Great

Eckhart Tolle Books