You’re The Boss, Now What? with Desiree Petrich | Leadership Development for New Managers
This isn’t another “be more confident and host better meetings” podcast for managers.
When you stepped into leadership, everything changed. Assigning tasks now feels risky. Your team dynamics are confusing. Toxic culture might be creeping in. And suddenly, managing isn’t just about work, it’s about showing up as the leader your team needs.
I’m Desiree, the leadership coach who got promoted at 24, led a healthcare facility through the pandemic, and now helps new and aspiring managers build their leadership skills from the inside out. On You’re the Boss, Now What?, you’ll get the actionable tools seasoned experts often miss:
- How to delegate without losing control
- How to build trust, respect, and executive presence
- How to stop feeling overwhelmed and actually enjoy leading
- How to lead impactful team meetings and build a cohesive, high-performing team
- How to fix toxic culture, handle conflict and difficult employees, and hold people accountable
Among the episodes, we also break down popular leadership books, so you can apply what matters and skip what doesn’t.
If you’re wondering why your team doesn’t respect you, why conflict keeps flaring up, or how to get promoted into leadership, you've landed in the right place. Each week, I share candid coaching, real-world frameworks like DISC, Working Genius, and the 5 Dysfunctions of a Team, and the kind of clarity you won’t get from a generic Google search.
So if you’re ready to stop second-guessing yourself, elevate your leadership presence, and build a team that actually works, hit play. This podcast is your behind-the-scenes edge to becoming the leader you were meant to be.
This is where we will answer the question; "You're the Boss, Now What?"
Popular episode topics include: We Read The Book “The Six Types of Working Genius” so you don't have to; How to Have Hard Conversations (Like a Hostage Negotiator!), 9 Life Lessons to Cut Your Learning Curve in Half, Why Better Time Management Won’t Fix Your Team’s Problems, Love + Work: Finding Joy in Your Job Isn’t a Luxury - It’s a Necessity!, Can You Be Authentic at Work Without Losing Respect?, How the Right Frameworks Turn Fear into Confidence (Craig Denison), Hiring Like a Pro: Building a Team That Actually Loves Their Work, Strengths vs. Skills: Are You Leading from Your True Strengths?, How to Successfully Go From Doing the Work to Leading the Team
You’re The Boss, Now What? with Desiree Petrich | Leadership Development for New Managers
How to Set Boundaries, Unplug After Work, and Move Your Body Even When You’re Exhausted
Struggling to unplug, set boundaries, or move your body after a long day? This Ask Me Anything episode tackles three of the biggest challenges new managers face with actionable mindset shifts and tools that make a real difference.
Ever feel like your brain won’t shut off even when your body’s ready to?
You're not alone.
In today’s Ask Me Anything episode, we’re diving into three of the most common challenges high-achieving professionals face in leadership: setting boundaries without guilt, finding motivation for movement when you’re exhausted, and learning how to truly unplug your mind after work.
If you’ve ever struggled with managing conflict between work and personal life, building trust as a leader through example, or figuring out how to stop feeling overwhelmed as a manager, this episode is for you.
We’ll unpack the real reasons behind your exhaustion and guilt, explore mindset shifts for sustainable leadership, and teach you how to lead yourself better so you can show up stronger for your team and family.
By the time you finish listening, you’ll learn:
- How to set boundaries as a new leader (without feeling guilty)
- What to do when your brain won’t shut off at night
- How to motivate yourself to move your body, even on your most exhausting days
You’ll also hear my favorite mindset trick for reframing productivity, plus a simple shutdown routine that helps your brain and body disconnect after work.
Want help figuring out your Working Genius or DISC style? Head to intentionalaction.net/self-awareness to take your assessment and book a free debrief with me. Knowing your genius zones is the first step to building a cohesive team and taking intentional action in your leadership role.
Topics discussed in this episode: new manager tips, how to set boundaries as a leader, how to delegate, building trust as a leader, how to stop feeling overwhelmed as a manager, managing conflict, executive presence, high-performing team, team building for new managers, imposter syndrome in leadership, how to hold employees accountable, how to unplug from work, shutdown routine, Working Genius, DISC assessment, having hard conversations as a leader
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Buy the book - Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead
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Do you ever find yourself lying in bed exhausted but still replaying work conversations in your head? Or maybe you're sitting on the couch, knowing you should be spending time with your family, but your inbox is calling.
In today's Ask Me Anything episode, we’re diving into three of the most common questions I get from high-achieving professionals who want to be great leaders — without burning out. We’ll talk about how to set boundaries without guilt, how to move your body when you’re totally exhausted, and how to actually unplug your brain when it just won’t shut off. Plus, I’m sharing one mindset trick that could change your evenings starting tonight.
Welcome back to You're the Boss, Now What? I'm your host, Desiree Petrich, and my goal is to help you lead yourself and your team better. Let’s jump in.
I get asked all kinds of questions — from health and fitness to parenting to leading a team — but there’s a common thread. Everyone wants to know how to lead well without losing themselves in the process. And today, we’re answering three big ones.
Question 1: How do I stop letting work bleed into every area of my life?
This question shows up in different ways:
- “How can I shut my computer off in the evenings?”
- “How can I stop thinking about work all the time?”
- “How do I stay present with my family?”
Here’s my first answer: Set the standard.
As a leader, your habits set the tone. If you're responding to emails at 9 PM, your team assumes that’s expected of them. If you want your evenings back, lead by example.
A few ways to set that boundary:
- Delete Slack and email from your phone. If it’s not easy to check, you won’t check.
- Schedule emails. One of my favorite tools is scheduling emails to send the next morning. You get peace of mind without accidentally setting a 24/7 expectation.
But here’s the kicker — ask yourself this: Is it actually a problem that I’m working in the evenings?
Personally, I love working from 8 to 10 PM. It’s my most productive time. If working at night doesn’t interfere with your priorities or pull you away from your values, maybe it’s not a problem. The guilt may be coming from the belief that “I shouldn’t be working right now.” So be honest — are you working at night because you want to or because you feel obligated?
Question 2: How do I unplug when my brain won’t shut off?
Even if your computer is closed, your mind might still be spinning.
Here’s what helps:
- Create a shutdown routine. Review your sticky notes, prep for tomorrow, and physically close your laptop. This gives your brain permission to rest.
- Name the resistance. If something keeps bubbling up, there’s likely a conversation you’re avoiding or a task you’re dreading. Name it. Avoiding it only keeps it active in your brain.
- Know your Working Genius. If Enablement is your genius, you might be worried about letting someone down. If Tenacity is your genius, your unfinished to-do list might be weighing on you. Understanding your productivity tendencies helps you understand your mental load.
Want to find your Working Genius? Go to intentionalaction.net/self-awareness and take the assessment. I’ll even debrief it with you for free.
One more truth: If something’s truly urgent, they will call you. Email isn’t for emergencies. Set that boundary with your team and give yourself permission to disconnect.
Question 3: How do I find the motivation to move my body when I’m exhausted?
We know movement helps. But after a long day, the last thing you want to do is workout.
Here’s what I use:
- The 5-Second Rule. Count down from 5. At 1, your feet hit the floor. Decide ahead of time if it’s worth it, then move. The countdown gives your brain no choice.
- Tiny Habits. Just do one push-up. Or stretch for one minute. Often, just starting is the hardest part. And once you do, you’ll likely keep going.
Finally, the question that changed everything for me: What’s your why?
Mine is my kids. I want them to grow up loving movement, not avoiding it. I want them to remember bike rides and pool days — not just screen time. That vision gets me off the couch every time.
So ask yourself:
- What change do you want?
- Why is it important?
- And what happens if nothing changes?
Pick one thing from today’s episode. Maybe it's setting an email boundary. Maybe it's creating a shutdown routine. Maybe it's deciding to go for a walk tonight. Choose the one thing that resonated most — and take action on it today.
Then tell me: What’s your why?
Send me a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn — I want to hear from you. And if this Ask Me Anything episode was helpful, leave a 5-star review on Apple or Spotify and let me know what question you want me to answer next.
Because leadership isn’t just about your team — it’s about leading yourself well.
And just remember: You’re the boss now. So what are you going to do with it?