The Leadership Hustle

After three years of conversations, frameworks, leadership lessons, and practical tools, Season 1 of The Leadership Hustle is coming to a close. In this special season finale, Andrea Fredrickson reflects on the journey so far, thanks the listeners who have followed along, and shares a preview of what's coming next. From discussions about accountability, communication, delegation, culture, and leadership development, the goal has always been the same: helping leaders become more intentional and effective in how they show up every day.  Andrea also introduces what's ahead for the next season, including new content, new resources, a new recording space, and a deeper exploration of the concepts behind Built by Behavior, the latest book focused on how leadership behaviors shape culture. Thank you for being part of the conversation. We'll see you next season. For more information, you can explore the Revela Built by Behavior Approach or our book Built by Behavior: A Blueprint for Leaders Who Refuse to Leave Culture to Chance.  For more resources on developing leadership skills visit us at Revela. Where we've helped hundreds of executives lead productive teams and thriving organizations. This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative.

Your employees are constantly giving you feedback. You just may not be hearing it. In this episode of The Leadership Hustle, Andrea Fredrickson and Michelle Hill explore the subtle ways employees communicate what they need from leaders. From body language and silence in meetings to comments about delegation, stress, and communication style, feedback is happening all the time, even when it's not spoken directly.  Andrea and Michelle discuss why employees hesitate to be honest with leaders, how managers accidentally shut feedback down, and what leaders can do to create safer, more open conversations. They also unpack the difference between reacting defensively and responding with curiosity when someone has the courage to tell you the truth. If you want to become a better leader, your people already have the roadmap. You just have to start listening. For more resources on developing leadership skills visit us at Revela. Where we've helped hundreds of executives lead productive teams and thriving organizations. This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative.

Culture drift doesn't happen overnight. It happens through small, reasonable decisions leaders make every day. In this episode of The Leadership Hustle, Andrea Fredrickson and Michelle Hill unpack how leaders unintentionally create culture drift by delaying conversations, making exceptions, or tolerating behaviors that don't align with expectations.  They introduce three common patterns (delay, exception, and tolerate) that slowly erode standards and create confusion across teams. What feels like a one-time decision often becomes a repeated pattern, shaping how people behave and what they believe is truly expected. If you've ever wondered why your team's behavior doesn't match your expectations, this episode will help you identify where drift is happening and how to correct it. For more resources on developing leadership skills visit us at Revela. Where we've helped hundreds of executives lead productive teams and thriving organizations. This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative.

Your company values are not your culture and confusing the two could be holding your organization back. On this episode of The Leadership Hustle, Andrea Fredrickson and Michelle Hill break down the critical difference between company values and actual workplace culture. While many organizations proudly display their values, what truly defines culture is the behavior leaders reward, tolerate, or ignore. Andrea and Michelle explain why values are often aspirational, but culture is operational. You'll learn how leaders unintentionally create culture through daily actions, how standards shape team behavior, and why misalignment across leadership teams leads to confusion and inconsistency. If you've ever wondered why your values aren't showing up in your day-to-day operations, this episode will help you uncover what's really driving behavior inside your organization. For more resources on developing leadership skills visit us at Revela. Where we've helped hundreds of executives lead productive teams and thriving organizations. This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative.

Most leaders think they have a succession plan, but what they really have is a replacement plan. In this episode of The Leadership Hustle, Andrea Fredrickson and Michelle Hill break down the critical difference between succession planning and replacement planning. As organizations face increasing turnover from retirements and role changes, many leaders default to asking, "Who will take my role?" But that's the wrong starting point. Andrea and Michelle explain why true succession planning begins with strategy, not people. You'll learn how to define where your organization is going, identify the future skills required, and design the right structure before assigning names to roles. If you're planning for the future of your leadership team, this episode will help you avoid the biggest mistake most organizations make. For more resources on developing leadership skills visit us at Revela. Where we've helped hundreds of executives lead productive teams and thriving organizations. This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative.

Stop saving your team because it's slowing them down. In this episode of The Leadership Hustle, Andrea Fredrickson and Michelle Hill unpack a common leadership trap: stepping in to fix problems your team should solve themselves. When leaders play the hero, they unintentionally block trust, accountability, and true team performance. Using the four stages of team development (forming, storming, norming, and performing), Andrea and Michelle explain why many teams get stuck in "storming" and never reach high performance. They reveal how phrases like "I'll take care of it" keep leaders at the center and prevent teams from learning how to navigate conflict and build clarity. Learn how to shift from fixer to guide, create expectations for healthy disagreement, and coach behaviors instead of outcomes, so your team can function without needing you. For more resources on developing leadership skills visit us at Revela. Where we've helped hundreds of executives lead productive teams and thriving organizations. This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative.

What happens when the leader who balanced you out moves on? In this episode of The Leadership Hustle, Andrea Fredrickson and Michelle Hill explore a leadership transition that many executives underestimate: the loss of a trusted counterpart. As experienced leaders retire or move into new roles, organizations often focus on replacement planning, but overlook something far more complex: the emotional trust, shared experiences, and strategic partnership that helped shape decision-making.  Andrea and Michelle discuss the critical role of leadership "yin and yang" relationships, the partners who challenge your blind spots, slow you down when you move too fast, or push you forward when you hesitate. When that relationship disappears, leaders may experience isolation, increased stress, and shifts in decision-making without realizing why. You'll also learn practical ways to rebuild that strategic sounding board through peer groups, executive teams, and trusted advisors so you don't lead in isolation. For more resources on developing leadership skills visit us at Revela. Where we've helped hundreds of executives lead productive teams and thriving organizations. This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative.

In this episode of The Leadership Hustle, Andrea Fredrickson and Michelle Hill explore why employees stop telling the truth in meetings, executive conversations, and one‑on‑ones. From leaders who speak too quickly to those who unintentionally shut down debate with tone or facial expression, they unpack the subtle behaviors that teach teams it's safer to stay quiet. You'll learn how false harmony develops, how psychological safety erodes over time, and what it's really costing your culture when people stop pushing back. If you believe your team tells you everything you need to know, this conversation may change your perspective. For more resources on developing leadership skills visit us at Revela. Where we've helped hundreds of executives lead productive teams and thriving organizations. This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative.

When does "high performance" become a liability? In this episode of The Leadership Hustle, Andrea Fredrickson and Michelle Hill tackle a workplace blind spot that affects nearly every executive team: the protected high performer. These individuals may deliver results or have influential connections, but their behavior, if unchecked, can slowly corrode team trust, culture, and retention. Discover why leaders protect certain people, how bias clouds accountability, and what it's really costing your company to look the other way. If you're protecting someone you think you can't afford to lose, this episode might make you rethink everything. For more resources on developing leadership skills visit us at Revela. Where we've helped hundreds of executives lead productive teams and thriving organizations. This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative.

Culture doesn't collapse overnight. It erodes slowly through unaddressed behaviors, subtle excuses, and well-intentioned inaction. In this episode of The Leadership Hustle, Andrea Fredrickson and Michelle Hill reveal the hidden signs of culture drift and how it silently reshapes your organization without anyone noticing, until it's too late. You'll learn how companies unintentionally lower their standards, why trust deteriorates over time, and how even beloved employees can become liabilities when expectations aren't reinforced. Plus, they offer questions leaders should be asking now to uncover the real state of their workplace culture. For more resources on developing leadership skills visit us at Revela. Where we've helped hundreds of executives lead productive teams and thriving organizations. This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative.