94. How to Hold People Accountable (Without Them Hating You) with Ashley Herd of The Manager Method

How do you hold your team accountable without becoming a micromanager? In this episode, I talk with Ashley Herd — employment lawyer turned HR leader and author of The Manager Method — about how to set clear expectations, follow up when things fall through the cracks, and have honest conversations about performance without it feeling punishing or personal.What You’ll Discover: Why agreement is not the same as accountability (and the one conversation most managers skip)How to delegate without ending up redoing everything at 10pm The real reason your team isn't following through (hint: it's probably not laziness)How to negotiate priorities upward so your boss's "urgent" request doesn't derail your team's weekAbout Ashley HerdAshley Herd is a former Chief People Officer and General Counsel , leadership speaker, and podcast host who has trained over 250,000 managers through LinkedIn Learning and live corporate trainings. Ashley has spent her career helping professionals navigate leadership challenges with clarity and confidence. Ashley built Manager Method after leading HR and Legal teams at McKinsey, Yum! Brands and Modern Luxury. She’s a top LinkedIn Learning instructor and co-host of the HR Besties podcast. As the CEO of Manager Method, Ashley works with organizations of all sizes to equip their managers with practical, proven tools that drive clarity, accountability and stronger teams - because better managers build better workplaces. https://www.managermethod.com/https:// melodywilding.com/training Connect with Melody:FREE NEWSLETTER: Psychology at Work WeeklyGet on the Waitlist for Speak Like a Senior Leader™Get on the Waitlist for Lead from WithinGet Melody's new book, Managing Up

⏰ DOORS CLOSING: Apply for Lead from Within by March 20th: https://melodywilding.com/lfw Re-org fatigue is real. The constant waves of change – new bosses, shifting priorities, uncertainty about your future – can leave you feeling like you're just trying to keep your head above water. But what if you could use these moments to advance your career? In this episode, Melody shares the four mistakes you need to avoid if you want to come out of the next re-structure in a stronger position.https:// melodywilding.com/training Connect with Melody:FREE NEWSLETTER: Psychology at Work WeeklyGet on the Waitlist for Speak Like a Senior Leader™Get on the Waitlist for Lead from WithinGet Melody's new book, Managing Up

Doors for Lead from Within close March 20th and this may be the only public enrollment until 2027. In this episode, I'm answering every question you might have about the program: what it is, what's included, who it's for, what kind of results clients have gotten, and how to know if it's right for you. If you've been curious or on the fence, listen in.RSVP for the Lead from Within Open House on March 17th: https://melodywilding.com/openhouse https:// melodywilding.com/training Connect with Melody:FREE NEWSLETTER: Psychology at Work WeeklyGet on the Waitlist for Speak Like a Senior Leader™Get on the Waitlist for Lead from WithinGet Melody's new book, Managing Up

👉 Doors for Lead from Within close March 20th. Apply by March 13th and get $500 off enrollment. In this replay of the webinar, Rise Into Your Next Big Role, I reveal why everything you've been taught about getting ahead stops working at the mid-career level — and walk you through the four-part RISE formula my clients use to land promotions, build org-wide influence, and finally break through the mid-career ceiling.Apply to Lead From Within at melodywilding.com/lead-from-within, or RSVP for the Lead from Within Open House on March 17th: https://melodywilding.com/openhousehttps:// melodywilding.com/training Connect with Melody:FREE NEWSLETTER: Psychology at Work WeeklyGet on the Waitlist for Speak Like a Senior Leader™Get on the Waitlist for Lead from WithinGet Melody's new book, Managing Up

👉 FREE LIVE CLASS: “Rise Into Your Next Big Role”: https://melodywilding.com/masterclass At a certain level, being great at your job isn't enough anymore. You need influence – the ability to get people to say yes to your ideas, your projects, your vision for where things should go. Mo Bunnell, author of Give to Grow, joins Melody today to discuss the practical side of building influence, without the politics, the schmoozing, or the icky feeling that makes most people avoid it altogether. You’ll discover:The three-step process for building a relationship with someone senior without looking like you're sucking upHow to figure out what to "give" when you feel like you have nothing to offer someone more powerful than youThe "cut to climb" method for finding 50 hours per quarter that you can redirect to relationship buildingAbout Mo BunnellMo Bunnell helps complex organizations grow by scaling business development skills across their organizations and creating a growth-oriented culture. He’s the author of Give to Grow, The Snowball System, the host of the podcast Real Relationships Real Revenue, and the founder of Bunnell Idea Group (BIG), who has trained tens of thousands of professionals. https://bunnellideagroup.com/ https:// melodywilding.com/training Connect with Melody:FREE NEWSLETTER: Psychology at Work WeeklyGet on the Waitlist for Speak Like a Senior Leader™Get on the Waitlist for Lead from WithinGet Melody's new book, Managing Up

👉 FREE LIVE CLASS: “Rise Into Your Next Big Role”: https://melodywilding.com/masterclass What does it actually take to get executives to trust you with bigger and better opportunities? In this episode, you’ll hear from Nirali, an alumni of Melody’s program Lead from Within. She shares how she went from two years of advocating for something she believed in to finally getting executive approval, building a team, and being positioned as the person leadership showcases to the rest of the company. This is a behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to advance when the step-by-step path isn't handed to you. You’ll discover: Why being called a "great executor" can actually be a red flag—and how to know if it isWhat it takes to get buy-in across a massive, matrixed organization where everyone has a different opinionThe difference between knowing you add value and actually being recognized for it (and how to close that gap)How Nirali built relationships with her CFO, Chief of Staff, and HR partner (and why that visibility matters)https:// melodywilding.com/training Connect with Melody:FREE NEWSLETTER: Psychology at Work WeeklyGet on the Waitlist for Speak Like a Senior Leader™Get on the Waitlist for Lead from WithinGet Melody's new book, Managing Up

👉 FREE LIVE CLASS: “Rise Into Your Next Big Role”: https://melodywilding.com/masterclass Ever wish your team could just read your mind? Same. In this episode, I'm sharing the next best thing: my Me Manual. You’ll hear inside the actual document I give my team that explains how I work, what I expect, and what I need to lead. Whether you're stepping into a bigger role, establishing yourself with a new team, or trying to scale without everything falling apart, this is a tool you need. You’ll discover: How to translate your intuitive way of operating into language your team can actually follow (without sounding like a diva) The #1 shift I had to make as my company scaled (and why it felt terrifying)The "runway" concept that changed how my team brings me requests and decisionshttps:// melodywilding.com/training Connect with Melody:FREE NEWSLETTER: Psychology at Work WeeklyGet on the Waitlist for Speak Like a Senior Leader™Get on the Waitlist for Lead from WithinGet Melody's new book, Managing Up

Your workday doesn't end when you close your laptop. It ends when you stop thinking about work, which for many professionals is…never. In this episode, Melody sits down with psychologist Dr. Guy Winch to talk about why so many of us can't switch off and what it's costing us at home. Guy shares insights from his new book, Mind Over Grind: How to Break Free When Work Hijacks Your Life. You’ll Discover: How to train your brain to switch off from work at the end of the dayThe 15-minute habit that brings neglected parts of yourself back to lifeThe #1 question to ask yourself when ruminating thoughts won't stopA two-word swap that makes a stressful job instantly feel more manageableAbout Guy WinchGuy Winch Ph.D. is an internationally renowned psychologist who advocates for integrating the science of emotional health into our daily lives. His science based selfhelp books have been translated into 30 languages and his 3 viral TED Talks have garnered over 35 million views. He advises start-ups in the mental health space, worked with the US and UK governments, and has created emotional health programs for fortune 500 companies. His work has been featured in the NY Times, WSJ, The Boston Globe, CNN, TIME, Psychology Today, and other major outlets. He is the co-host of the Ambie Nominated Dear Therapists podcast. He lives and maintains a private practice in Manhattan. https://www.guywinch.com/ https:// melodywilding.com/training Connect with Melody:FREE NEWSLETTER: Psychology at Work WeeklyGet on the Waitlist for Speak Like a Senior Leader™Get on the Waitlist for Lead from WithinGet Melody's new book, Managing Up

Relationships matter more than ever. How you build trust and influence with your team and direct reports, but also up the chain of command with your superiors, determines your success and your level of satisfaction at work.Enjoy this chat between Melody and Erica Keswin, author of Bring Your Human to Work, The Retention Revolution, and Rituals Roadmap. They discuss the nuanced skills and strategies today’s best leaders are using to stand out in our AI-enabled world – where everything happens at lightning speed and people are more disconnected and stressed than ever.https:// melodywilding.com/training Connect with Melody:FREE NEWSLETTER: Psychology at Work WeeklyGet on the Waitlist for Speak Like a Senior Leader™Get on the Waitlist for Lead from WithinGet Melody's new book, Managing Up

📌 FREE “Managing Up & Down in the Age of AI” event. February 3rd, 3pm ET: https://melodywilding.com/managing-up-and-down You’re doing everything "right" at work, but still don’t have the respect and opportunities you’d hoped you’d have by this point in your career. Sound familiar? There are 4 quiet, invisible shifts in how people behave at work and how organizations operate that have fundamentally changed the rules of gaining influence. In this episode, Melody reveals how to position yourself for success in the shifting landscape. What You’ll Discover: What researchers call the "charisma zone" and how to embody itThe secret to job security when layoffs are high and priorities change dailyThe skill that leapfrogs you past reliable executors (and why it feels counterintuitive)How AI has completely changed what decision-makers use to assess your true capabilityhttps:// melodywilding.com/training Connect with Melody:FREE NEWSLETTER: Psychology at Work WeeklyGet on the Waitlist for Speak Like a Senior Leader™Get on the Waitlist for Lead from WithinGet Melody's new book, Managing Up