This podcast episode with Elizabeth Lotardo dives deep into the importance of leading yourself effectively as a foundation for transitioning into leadership roles. Elizabeth shares her insights on how to shift focus from unattainable output goals to manageable input goals, empowering individuals to control what they can and improve their performance. She emphasizes that leading yourself is about identifying and maximizing what is within your control—like your mindset, emotional response, and daily actions—while recognizing the power this brings in both personal and professional growth.

Key takeaways include:

• Celebrating Small Wins: Embrace and celebrate small achievements as they contribute to overall progress and satisfaction.
• Managing Unrealistic Goals: Understand the importance of setting realistic goals and how to break them down into actionable steps within your control.
• Leading Yourself: Leadership starts with effectively leading yourself by controlling your mindset and behaviors, which will eventually translate into successful leadership of others.

Elizabeth’s book, available now, offers a deeper exploration of these concepts, providing practical advice for anyone looking to enhance their leadership skills by first mastering self-leadership.

Tune into the first episode with Elizabeth Lotardo here.

Get your copy here. Or download on Audible here.

Connect with Nichole and Elizabeth on LinkedIn.

Grab your copy of the Career Growth Guide.

In this episode of the Future Female Leaders podcast, Nichole Harrop discusses what to do after not being promoted to a leadership role. Nichole offers insights into the emotional and strategic steps you can take to turn the experience into an opportunity for growth. Whether the role was filled by an external or internal hire, Nichole shares advice on how to navigate the situation with grace, support the new leader, and continue your own career development.

Get your copy of the Career Growth Guide here.

Connect with Nichole on LinkedIn.

Key Takeaways:

1. Reflect on Your Leadership Aspirations:

   • Before jumping into the disappointment, assess your true interest in leadership roles.
   • Understand the difference between ladder growth (traditional career progression) and expanded growth (broadening your skills and impact without necessarily moving up).

2. Seek Constructive Feedback:

   • Give yourself time to process before seeking feedback.
   • Approach feedback with curiosity and a readiness to implement changes.

3. Support the New Leader:

   • Whether the new leader is an external or internal hire, offer your help to make their transition smooth.
   • Build a positive relationship by being a resource and showing your value to the new leader.

4. Build Relationships and Continue to Grow:

   • Use this time to deepen your relationships within the organization.
   • Consider asking the new leader about their experiences and strategies, turning this into a learning opportunity for yourself.

5. Maintain a Positive Attitude:

   • Even if disappointed, focus on helping the team and the new leader succeed.
   • This attitude not only helps the team but also positions you as a strong candidate for future leadership opportunities.

Actionable Tips:

• Assess Your Goals: Take time to reflect on whether you genuinely want to be in a leadership role or if you’re driven by external factors like title or pay.
• Ask for Feedback: When you're ready, ask for specific feedback on why you weren’t selected for the role and how you can improve.
• Offer Support: Be proactive in supporting the new leader, whether they were hired internally or externally.
• Network and Learn: Use this time to build relationships and learn from the new leader’s experiences.

Connect with Nichole on LinkedIn

Episode Summary:

In this special milestone episode, Nichole Harrop reflects on the journey of creating and growing the Future Female Leaders podcast. Nichole shares her experiences, challenges, and accomplishments over the past five years, celebrating the podcast's 250th episode. She discusses the importance of celebrating milestones, the evolution of her podcasting skills, and the valuable lessons learned along the way.

Key Points Covered:

1. Introduction and Milestone Celebration

   • Nichole celebrates the 250th episode and reflects on starting the podcast nearly five years ago.
   • Emphasizes the importance of celebrating both small and large accomplishments.

2. Starting the Podcast Journey

   • Nichole shares how she was encouraged by a business coach to start her own podcast after not finding many relevant podcasts to guest on.
   • Initial challenges of learning podcasting basics, including using GarageBand and creating an RSS feed.

3. Overcoming Doubts and Initial Struggles

   • Dealing with doubts and the desire for perfection.
   • Early experiences of recording episodes in less-than-ideal conditions and the slow growth in the initial months.

4. Finding a Niche and Audience Growth

   • Nichole's goal to fill a gap in the podcasting space by focusing on career growth for future female leaders.
   • Realizing the need to pivot content based on feedback and focusing more on career growth topics.

5. Podcast Rebranding and Impact

   • Changing the podcast's name from "Next Level Leaders" to "Future Female Leaders" to better align with the target audience.
   • Celebrating the global reach of the podcast with listeners in 120 different countries.

6. Top Podcast Episodes

   • Highlighting the top five episodes based on listener engagement:
     1. Episode 15: Building off Strengths
     2. Episode 231: Are You Setting Boundaries at Work?
     3. Episode 49: Are You Doing the Right Things to Stand Out at Work?
     4. Episode 241: The Most Important Thing About Consistency
     5. Episode 215: An Easy Way to Approach Giving Feedback