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I’m passionate about helping you build the social skills you need to elevate your life personally and professionally.
Each video is easy to follow with practical advice and actionable steps you can put into practice - no matter where your starting point is.
Don’t miss a video - Stay up to date on each video release by subscribing to my channel now.
I publish new YouTube videos each week on:
Understanding people
Building relationships
Negotiating and influencing
Handling fear of rejection and avoidance
Attracting people, winning them over
Initiating conversations
Sharpening your listening skills
And much more!
8 Types of Leadership Styles in Management (with Examples)
Struggling to find the right leadership approach?
This video explores 8 powerful leadership styles, helping you identify your strengths and develop the skills to become a more effective leader. From inspiring and motivating your team to fostering collaboration and achieving results, learn how to adapt your style to any situation.
We'll guide you through a self-reflection process to uncover your natural tendencies and provide actionable tips to develop your leadership repertoire.
This episode is perfect for aspiring leaders looking to build their leadership skills, established leaders seeking to refine their approach, and anyone who wants to improve their communication, influence, and team dynamics!
Engineering Manager Interview: 10 Most Common Questions, and How to CRUSH Them!
Dreading your engineering management interview?
Feeling lost on what to say?
This video is your secret weapon!
We'll crack the code on the 10 most common interview questions, plus provide winning answers that showcase your leadership skills and land you the offer.
Learn how to navigate tricky situations, demonstrate your ability to motivate and empower your team, and CONFIDENTLY convince the hiring manager you're the perfect fit. Plus, discover bonus tips for crafting powerful interview questions to ask the employer.
Empower Your Team Through Failure | Why "Try Again" Builds Better Teams
Stop Micromanaging & Empower Your Team Through Failure!
Feeling the urge to swoop in and fix every mistake your team makes?
Hold on!
This "rescue mission" approach can actually hinder their growth and development.
In this episode, we explore the power of "Try Again" leadership.
❌ Discover the negative consequences of taking over for your team members.
✅ Learn the benefits of empowering them to learn from their failures.
Develop a tactical framework for delivering effective "Try Again" messages that build confidence and resilience.
Plus, we share real-life stories and actionable strategies to help you:
Foster a culture of learning from mistakes
Build a stronger, more high-performing team
Improve communication and collaboration
Boost team member confidence and ownership
12 Time Management Strategies for Managers
Feeling like there's just not enough time in the day to keep up with your ever-growing engineering leadership demands?
You're not alone!
In this episode, we explore 15 powerful time management techniques specifically designed to help you reclaim control of your schedule and become a productivity machine!
Master these hacks and you'll learn how to:
Prioritize effectively with the Eisenhower Matrix
Achieve laser focus with the Pomodoro Technique
Schedule your day strategically with Time Blocking
Improve your visual organization with Kanban Boards
Identify hidden time wasters with a Time Audit
Work smarter, not harder with Parkinson's Law
Group similar tasks for maximum efficiency with Batch Processing
Tackle your biggest challenge first with the "Eat the Frog" strategy
Focus on high-impact activities with the 80/20 Rule
Schedule tasks based on your natural energy levels for optimal performance
Identify and prioritize your 3 Most Important Tasks (MITs)
9 Tips for Managing Remote Teams
Struggling to keep your remote engineering team engaged and productive? You're not alone.
Leading a remote team comes with unique challenges, and this episode equips you with 9 actionable strategies to boost communication, build trust, and foster a thriving remote work environment.
In this video, you'll learn:
The top challenges remote team managers face (and why they happen)
How to overcome communication breakdowns and build a culture of transparency
Practical tips to leverage technology and boost collaboration
Strategies to set clear expectations, promote work-life balance, and recognize achievements
Techniques to encourage social interaction and build a strong remote team spirit
Plus: Discover actionable advice for soliciting feedback and continuously improving your remote leadership style.
If you want to increase engagement and motivation, improve communication and collaboration, and unlock the full potential of your remote team - watch this episode now!
The Best Strategy for Building Consensus and Gaining Buy-In
Are you a manager or leader who’s struggling to get your team behind your brilliant new strategy?
You're not alone. Leaders often fail to build consensus, leading to resistance and ultimately, failed implementation.
This episode reveals a powerful framework based on viral diffusion, the science behind how trends spread. Learn how to:
Identify your team's "innovators" and leverage their influence
Build strong relationships and co-create a winning strategy
Gain buy-in from the "early majority" and address latecomer concerns
Stop dictating and start influencing!
This framework will transform how you lead your engineering team and achieve remarkable results!
Improve Team Problem Solving and Decision Making with Tiered Escalation Meetings
Feeling like your team's drowning in slow communication and mountains of emails? Critical issues get stuck, approvals take forever, and problems snowball, leaving your team frustrated and disengaged.
In this episode, you’ll learn a simple and powerful tool - Daily Tiered Escalating Meetings - that empower you to cut through the bureaucratic red tape and empower your team to tackle problems head-on.
This system will foster:
Fast-Track Decision Making: Bypass approvals and get the right people involved quickly
Enhanced Team Ownership: Empower your team to solve problems at their level, fostering accountability
Improved Communication Flow: Stay on the same page and ensure everyone is informed
Early Problem Identification: Catch issues early before they snowball and cause major damage
Boosted Team Morale: Feeling heard and seeing problems addressed keeps your team engaged
We'll also cover:
A clear framework for implementing daily tiered meetings within your team
Common roadblocks and how to overcome them for a smooth rollout
Tips to ensure these meetings are efficient and don't waste your team's time
9 Ways to Motivate Underperforming Teams
Ready to transform your disengaged team into a passionate, high-performing unit?
Part 1 of this series unveiled the science behind motivation. Part 2 (this episode) is focused on taking action! We’ll dive deep into 9 actionable strategies you can implement right away to reignite the fire within your team.
Learn how to leverage the power of the Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose triggers through practical tactics:
Delegate tasks and empower ownership
Foster a growth mindset and provide learning opportunities
Connect work to a larger purpose
Provide regular feedback and recognition
Create a psychologically safe environment
Focus on progress, not perfection
Offer choices and flexibility
Promote work-life balance and well-being
Invest in relationships and team building
By implementing these strategies, you'll not only boost motivation but also unlock creativity, innovation, and remarkable results within your team. Watch now and unleash the full potential of your team!
The Science Behind Motivating Employees in the Workplace
Struggling to light a fire under your engineering team? Does their lack of motivation leave you feeling burnt out and frustrated?
Many managers fall prey to the illusion that motivation is a magic trick – a charismatic speech or a hefty bonus will do the job. But the reality is far more nuanced.
In this episode, we explore the science behind motivation, and you'll discover the 3 core triggers that truly drive employee engagement and unlock peak performance: Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose.
We'll also expose the flaws of traditional "carrot-and-stick" methods and equip you with a powerful framework to cultivate a motivated and thriving team - so that you can stop managing by guesswork and frustration, and start leading with motivation!
Are you an engineering manager or technical leader who’s ready to increase your impact and take your leadership skills to the next level?
5 Strategies for Managers to Improve Team Engagement
Are you a manager or leader who’s struggling with a disengaged team?
Watch this video to discover the science behind habituation and how it zaps creativity and motivation. Learn 5 powerful strategies to break up routine, reignite passion, and keep your team innovating at peak performance!
This episode is packed with actionable tips for engineering leaders, including:
Project Rotation: Unleash fresh perspectives and spark creative problem-solving.
The Power of Vacation: Why taking breaks is vital for a re-energized and focused team.
Continuous Learning: Fuel creativity with new skills and industry knowledge.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Break down silos and unlock the power of diverse perspectives.
Internal Innovation Challenges: Spark competition and ignite groundbreaking ideas.
Equip yourself with the tools to reignite your team's passion and watch their creativity soar!
This episode is perfect for leaders, managers, and anyone looking to boost team engagement and innovation.
Mastering the Art of Managing Up: 9 Mistakes You NEED to Avoid
Feeling unheard by your boss?
Struggling to connect with your manager? You're not alone!
This video dives deep into the 9 biggest mistakes professionals make when it comes to managing up. You’ll learn how to:
Adapt to your manager's communication style (avoid talking past each other!)
Align your work with your manager's priorities (get that recognition you deserve)
Proactively bring challenges and ideas to the table (become a problem-solver, not a problem child)
Build rapport beyond tasks (it's not all business!)
Give and receive valuable feedback (a two-way street to success)
Embrace diverse perspectives (your fresh ideas matter!)
Present solutions with challenges (be a proactive go-getter)
Balance tactics with strategic thinking (show your big-picture vision)
Keep your manager informed (avoid any unpleasant surprises)
Packed with actionable tips, this video will equip you with the tools you need to build a strong, collaborative relationship with your manager and set yourself up for a thriving career!
Top 5 Signs Your Team is Stuck in a Toxic Culture (and How to Fix It)
Does your once-vibrant team now seem unmotivated, stressed, or on the verge of quitting?
A toxic work culture can cripple innovation, productivity, and employee morale. In this episode, leadership coach Doug Howard dives deep into the top 5 signs of a toxic team culture, including:
Unhealthy Competition
Lack of Respect
Gossip & Negativity
Unrealistic Workload & Burnout
Poor Work-Life Balance
Doug will also equip you with actionable steps to turn things around, including:
Leading by Example with Emotional Intelligence
Fostering Open Communication & Feedback
Setting Clear Goals & Expectations
Recognizing & Rewarding Achievements
Promoting Work-Life Balance
If you’re a manager or leader who wants to improve your emotional intelligence and soft skills, boost your influence and leadership skills, and create a thriving workplace where your team can excel - this episode is for YOU!
How to Control Your Emotions at Work | Self Management for Leaders
Are you a manager who’s feeling overwhelmed by your emotions at work?
Struggling to keep your cool under pressure?
Discover how to take control and become a more effective leader with the powerful S-T-E-A-R framework.
This episode is specifically designed for managers and leaders who want to develop their emotional intelligence and navigate challenging situations with grace.
Learn to:
Identify the hidden triggers that hijack your emotions.
Break the cycle of reactive behavior with the S-T-E-A-R framework (Situation, Thought,
Emotion, Action, Result)
Challenge your initial thoughts and reframe them for a more positive and productive response.
Foster a collaborative and supportive work environment where everyone thrives.
Equip yourself with the tools to become an emotionally intelligent leader who inspires and motivates your team. Subscribe for more leadership development tips!
Emotional Intelligence for Leaders: Mastering Self-Management
In today's dynamic business world, strong technical skills are just one piece of the puzzle. Leaders who truly excel need a well-developed emotional intelligence (EQ) to complement their IQ. But EQ covers a range of abilities, and one of the most critical is self-management.
This episode is your guide to becoming a self-managed leader - you'll learn:
The 5 Pillars of Self-Management: Transparency, Emotional Control, Optimism, Complexity, and Adaptability
Actionable Tips & Strategies to develop each pillar in your daily leadership practices
How Self-Management Benefits You and Your Team (increased confidence, smoother workflows, thriving work environment)
Real-World Examples to illustrate the power of self-management in action
Struggling with team conflicts, unexpected challenges, or maintaining a positive outlook?
Mastering self-management equips you to:
Navigate difficult situations with composure and focus.
Inspire optimism and enthusiasm in your team.
Remain unwavering in the face of adversity.
Foster a culture of open communication and collaboration.
This episode is a must-watch for leaders and managers who want to level up your leadership skills, build high-performing teams, and create a thriving work environment!
7 Traits of Highly Effective Leaders
Do you want to be a more impactful and inspiring leader?
Great leadership isn't about charisma or bossing people around. It's about a set of skills anyone can learn.
In this episode, leadership coach Doug Howard dives into the 7 habits that will unleash your inner leader, regardless of your personality type.
You'll discover:
How to be a proactive problem-solver and anticipate challenges ️
The importance of developing a visionary mindset to guide your team
Prioritization strategies to focus on what truly matters
Techniques to foster collaboration and build strong teams
The power of empathy and understanding your team members
How to become a synergy seeker and leverage the strengths of others
Why lifelong learning is essential for continuous leadership development
Plus, Doug shares actionable tips and resources to help you implement these habits and become a more effective leader.
If you're a manager, leader, or anyone who wants to level up their leadership skills, this episode is for you!
5 Key Differences Between Managers & Leaders
Tired of feeling stuck between managing tasks and inspiring your team?
Learn the 5 key differences between Managers and Leaders, and discover how to leverage both to become a high-impact leader!
This video will teach you:
The difference between Vision and Execution (Leader vs. Manager)
How to navigate Change and Stability
Prioritizing People over Process for employee development
The power of Feedback vs. Control for open communication ️
Leading People vs. Managing Work to empower your team
Don't just be a boss, become a Leader! Subscribe for more leadership & management tips!
In this episode, you'll also learn:
How to identify the Leader vs. Manager mindset
When to switch between leadership and management styles
How to avoid the middle-management trap
Examples of how Leaders and Managers handle situations differently
How to Manage Upward and Influence Without Authority
Are you a manager who’s struggling to get buy-in from your boss or cross-functional teams?
Learn a powerful 5-step framework to influence upward and manage cross-functionally at work! This video will teach you how to:
-> Consider the other person's perspective (avoid the "engineer pitching to the CEO" mistake)
-> Build strong relationships with your superiors and colleagues (it's not all about logic!)
-> Master the "minimum viable ask" technique to get repeated "yeses" ✅
-> Make your ideas clear and easy to understand (avoid information overload!)
-> Mentally rehearse your pitch to boost confidence and address concerns
Plus, bonus tips on:
-> Making your suggestions sound revocable for easier approval
-> Using clear and concise communication to avoid losing your audience ️
-> Focusing on solutions, not just problems to showcase your problem-solving skills
By the end of this video, you'll be equipped to influence anyone at work!
How to Build Unshakeable Self Confidence As A Leader
Are you a manager who wants to lead with authority but battling self-doubt? This video equips you with powerful strategies to develop unshakeable leadership confidence, especially for new leaders.
Discover a simple strategy that shows you how to:
-> Identify the type of leader you want to be, along with the skills you need to get there!
-> Silence Imposter Syndrome: Learn to identify and overcome self-doubt holding you back.
-> Strengths-Based Leadership: Leverage your unique strengths to empower your team
-> Growth Mindset for Leaders: Embrace challenges and transform them into opportunities for growth.
-> Lead by Example: Inspire your team with your actions and build trust.
Become the confident leader you were meant to be and unlock your full leadership potential!