The Modern Manager

The Modern Manager

Host Mamie Kanfer Stewart shares practical approaches to help you be a great manager. Learn more at: https://themodernmanager.com/ Solo episodes are like mini-courses, providing actionable tips based on experience and research. Guest episodes are engaging conversations that elicit insights and suggestions for how to apply the ideas. Learn more about effective meeting practices, communication skills, managing conflict, team building, time management, group dynamics, goal setting and accountability, team competencies, productivity and collaboration technologies, organizational culture, and more. Be sure to follow the podcast on your favorite platform so you never miss a new episode!

Episodes

November 25, 2025 31 mins

When the world around you feels chaotic, leading a team can feel overwhelming, especially when your inner world is just as loud. Most managers try to push through, rely on willpower, or double down on doing more. 

But in reality, external chaos only becomes manageable when we learn to work with the internal chaos driving our emotions, reactions, and habits.

Fortunately, this week’s guest helps us unpack exactly why leaders g...

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    Managers play a crucial role in shaping how employees experience work. But when ADHD enters the mix, good intentions can backfire if not handled thoughtfully. With the right mindset and tools, you can create a space where everyone performs at their best.


    Fortunately, this week’s guest brings both personal and professional expertise to this conversation.


    Rita Ramakrishnan is an executive leadership coach and consultan...

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    Have you ever had a great idea but struggled to get others on board?

    You don’t need a title to have influence; you need a strategy.


    Fortunately, this week’s guest knows exactly how to build credibility and momentum without formal power.


    Tami Reiss is an expert on influence-driven leadership. She’s a keynote speaker, corporate trainer, and CEO of Leader Within, where she helps leaders master influence and maximize impa...

    Are you showing up as your full, authentic self or just the version you think others expect?


    Authenticity isn’t a matter of oversharing or saying whatever’s on your mind. It’s about honesty balanced with humility and vulnerability, the kind that builds genuine trust and stronger teams.


    Thankfully, today’s guest brings both experience and expertise to this conversation. 


    Mike Robbins is the author of five books, in...

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    At some point in your career, you’ve probably worked with someone who is on the autism spectrum, but you might not have known. There are many misconceptions about autism, which damage how we understand and therefore support these colleagues. Viewing autism through a new lens can help every manager unlock hidden potential and design environments where everyone thrives.


    Today’s guest brings both personal experience and pr...

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    Most people don’t set out to be “bad bosses.” But good intentions aren’t enough when your habits unintentionally create frustration, fear, or disengagement.


    Thankfully, today’s guest helps us see what’s really happening beneath the surface. 


    Mita Mallick is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best-Selling author. She’s on a mission to fix what's broken in our workplaces. She’s a corporate change-maker with a track re...

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    Layoffs are some of the hardest moments a manager can face. How you handle them can shape not just the experience of the employees leaving but also the morale and trust of the team that remains.


    Today’s guest brings expert guidance on navigating these challenges with empathy, clarity, and professionalism.

    Leanne Elliot is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist, Consultant, and Coach with a proven track record of building ...

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    Why do so many projects spiral into stress, shifting priorities, and endless risks while others seem to flow smoothly toward success? What if the difference isn’t just about tools or methods, but about how you lead?


    Thankfully, today’s guest brings a fresh, human-centered approach to project management. 


    James Louttit is the author of Leading Impactful Teams: Achieving Low Stress Success in Project Management, a lead...

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    What if your greatest strengths aren’t the ones listed on your résumé, but universal traits we all share? 

    Positive psychology shows us that tapping into these character strengths can transform how we work, lead, and connect with others. 

    These aren’t just feel-good ideas; they’re proven tools for resilience, performance, and deeper human connection.

    Fortunately, this week’s guest brings exactly the expertise we need to show ...

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    Why do so many managers struggle to let go of tasks, even when they know that holding onto everything stifles their ability to scale? 


    The secret is to document things so clearly that others can succeed without you.


    Fortunately, today’s guest is an expert at helping leaders let go. 


    Chris Ronzio is the Founder and CEO of Trainual, a platform reshaping how businesses onboard, train, and scale their teams. A lifelon...

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    Groups are the foundation of everything we accomplish in work and life. 

    Yet, as every manager knows, collaborating with others can be both the greatest strength and one of the hardest challenges. 

    What makes some teams thrive while others struggle with friction and disengagement?

    Fortunately, this week’s guest, Dr. Colin Fisher, has dedicated his career to uncovering the hidden processes that make groups effective. 


    Colin...

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    What if your greatest strength as a leader isn’t your expertise but your ability to lead people who are completely different from you?

    In today’s diverse workplaces, managers can’t rely on a one-size-fits-all approach. Understanding how to adapt your leadership to different personalities, backgrounds, and working styles is key to building high-performing teams because, let’s be honest, everyone is different from you.

    Thankfu...

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    Most workplaces are designed with extroverts in mind, with open offices, constant collaboration, and fast-paced discussions. But this often leaves introverts struggling to fully contribute, even though their insights can be some of the most valuable.


    Thankfully, today’s guest, Salvatore Manzi, brings clarity and solutions. 


    Salvatore is a leadership communications coach and the author of Clear and Compelling. With ov...

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    What if the most important management skill you need today isn’t a tool or strategy? But the ability to read and respond to the people around you? 


    In a world shaped by AI and constant disruption, emotional intelligence has become the competitive edge for leaders and managers.


    Thankfully, today’s guest brings practical and research-backed ways to build that edge. 


    Jamelle Lindo
    is an executive coach, keynote s...

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    What if understanding how your brain actually works was the key to unlocking higher performance, better decisions, and more resilient leadership? 

    Many leaders focus on strategies and skills without realizing that lasting change starts by rewiring how we think.

    Fortunately, this week’s guest brings decades of experience helping leaders do just that. 

    Larry Olsen is an expert in performance-driven neurology, a best-selling aut...

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    Do you wait for the perfect moment to speak up, only to have the conversation move on without you?


    What if the secret to becoming a confident, impactful communicator wasn’t planning every word, but learning to improvise?


    This week’s guest reveals how improvisation isn’t just for the stage, but a powerful, everyday skill that can transform how you connect, influence, and lead.


    Today’s guest is Jeff Mondoro. Jeff is...

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    What if the biggest threat to your team’s creativity and performance isn’t the workload but outdated ideas of what “professionalism” should look like?


    It’s easy to fall into the trap of performative professionalism: obsessing over sounding smart, dressing the part, and following invisible rules about how “real professionals” should behave. But all that effort often masks the very things that fuel creativity, innovation,...

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    Self-distraction is one of the biggest productivity challenges we face today. 


    It’s easy to get lost in the constant flow of thoughts. A simple “I need to remind Kevin to send me that document,” takes us away from our current activity, preventing us from completing the tasks that matter most. No wonder we feel overwhelmed and constantly rushing.


    But here’s the good news: Today’s guest is on a mission to help managers...

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    Do you walk out of meetings feeling more exhausted than empowered? Are toxic behaviors affecting your team? 


    Navigating a workplace with individuals who show signs of narcissism, Machiavellianism, or psychopathy can be incredibly challenging. But understanding the root of these toxic behaviors is key to managing them effectively, and today’s guest is here to help us do just that.


    Meet Dr. Sheela Reddy. Sheela has mor...

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    Are you struggling to form new habits that actually stick?


    If you’ve ever found yourself failing to break old habits, it’s likely because you’re using the wrong habit formation strategies. 


    Thankfully, today’s guest is going to unlock the key to transformational behavior change so you and your team can successfully adopt new ways of working.


    Today’s guest is Jason Hreha. Jason is a behavioral scientist and entrepr...

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