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
The Five Levels of Leadership: Why Your Team Follows You... Or Doesn’t | Heather Italiano
Guest - Heather Italiano, High-Energy Speaker and Facilitator
Book - The 5 Levels of Leadership by John Maxwell
Are your employees following you because they want to, or because they have to? In this episode, Heather Italiano unpacks the Five Levels of Leadership and how new managers can build trust, increase influence, and avoid falling into the trap of positional leadership.
Have you ever felt like your team only listens because they have to, not because they want to?
That’s the reality for many first-time managers. In this Leadership Podcast for New Managers, guest Heather Italiano joins me to explore how to build trust as a manager and move beyond positional leadership into real influence. We’re talking about team dynamics, managing up, and the moment your title stops being enough.
Heather breaks down John Maxwell’s Five Levels of Leadership and explains how even experienced leaders can fall back to level one when trust erodes. Plus, she shares her practical CARES framework to help you connect with your team in a way that builds loyalty, commitment, and results.
If you’re trying to fix a toxic culture, handle conflict at work as a manager, or simply become a better leader, this episode is your blueprint.
By the time you finish listening, you’ll learn:
- The difference between positional leadership and people-first leadership
- How to rebuild trust after it’s been lost
- A simple, 5-part framework to increase your influence as a new leader
If you loved this conversation with Heather, scroll down and leave a 5-star rating and review! Then share it with a colleague or friend who’s trying to grow their confidence as a new manager.
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Buy the book - Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead
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Desiree Petrich (00:03.374)
If you've ever felt like your team only listens to you because of your title and not because they actually trust or respect you, then this episode is a must listen. I'm joined by high energy speaker and facilitator Heather Italiano to unpack John Maxwell's five levels of leadership and what it takes to move from positional authority to genuine influence. We're going to explore why some managers stay stuck at level one, how quickly trust can erode, and the intentional shifts that help your team actually want to
follow you. And near the end of the conversation, Heather shares her CARES framework, a practical tool for building trust and connection by focusing on five key things that every one of your team members wants you to know. And if you're not asking these things, you're probably stuck at level one without even realizing it. So I wanna welcome you back to You're the Boss, Now What? And I'm your host, Desiree Petriec. Our goal here is to help you lead yourself and your team better. So lean in and let's get started.