Leadership Energy: How Your Stress Affects Your Team | Growth by Design

In this episode of Growth by Design, Rob Graham and Ross Rosner dig into a topic that shows up in every organization, whether leaders realize it or not, leadership energy.

The conversation centers on a simple but often overlooked reality. Teams tend to mirror the emotional tone set at the top. When leaders operate in constant urgency or unmanaged stress, that pressure travels quickly through the organization, often showing up as burnout, disengagement, or confusion.

Rob and Ross talk through common leadership pitfalls, including living in reaction mode, failing to define true priorities, and skipping recovery altogether. They also share practical ways leaders can create stability through clear communication, consistent expectations, and intentional rhythms that allow teams to perform without feeling overwhelmed.

You’ll hear real-world perspective on managing stress as a leader, why recovery is not a luxury, and how small shifts in presence and clarity can have an outsized impact on culture and performance.

This episode is for leaders who want calmer teams, better decision-making, and a more sustainable way to lead.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to leadership energy

01:06 The contagious nature of stress

01:45 Common leadership pitfalls

03:00 The importance of recovery rhythm

07:07 Weekly check-ins and stabilizing leadership

09:44 Personal stress management

11:21 Final thoughts and takeaways

The High Cost of Being Nice: Effective Feedback for Business Growth | Growth by Design

Being nice can feel like the right move in leadership. But avoiding feedback comes at a real cost.

In this episode of Growth by Design, hosts Rob Graham and Ross Rosner unpack why silence is not kindness, and how feedback avoidance quietly undermines teams, performance, and long-term growth. Strong leadership is not about staying comfortable. It is about being clear.

Through real-world examples, Rob and Ross explore what happens when tough conversations are delayed, and how structured feedback creates healthier teams and better outcomes. When managers and employees communicate early and consistently, expectations improve and trust follows.

The episode also introduces a simple three-part feedback framework, observation, impact, and expectations. This approach helps leaders address issues without emotion or confusion, keeping conversations focused on progress rather than blame.

For anyone managing people, this conversation matters. Addressing feedback head-on is one of the most effective ways to protect culture, support teams, and drive meaningful business growth.

00:00 Introduction to Growth by Design 00:51 The Cost of Delayed Feedback 02:36 Importance of Feedback Loops 07:37 Real-Life Examples and Solutions 09:36 Effective Feedback Strategies 12:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The Power Duo: Why CEO and CHRO Alignment Transforms Businesses | Growth by Design

In this episode of Growth by Design, Rob Graham and Ross Rosner dig into one of the most important, and often underestimated, leadership relationships in any organization, the alignment between the CEO and the CHRO.

The conversation starts with how the role of HR has evolved. What was once viewed as largely administrative is now a strategic function that directly influences growth, culture, and performance. Rob and Ross talk through why companies that treat HR as a true business partner consistently outperform those that don’t.

Using data-backed insight and real-world experience, they explore what strong CEO and CHRO alignment actually looks like in practice. Shared vision, joint accountability, clear communication, and decisions grounded in data all play a role in turning people strategy into a real competitive advantage.

This episode offers practical takeaways for leaders who want better execution, stronger teams, and a people strategy that supports the broader business goals, not one that operates in a silo.

If you’re a CEO, CHRO, or senior leader looking to strengthen how your organization thinks about talent and leadership, this conversation is well worth your time.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Growth by Design

00:12 The CEO and CHRO partnership

00:36 The evolving role of HR

01:32 Why HR is a strategic function

02:53 HR’s role in business decisions

07:54 Communication and leadership alignment

09:58 Practical takeaways and conclusion

Bridging Generational Gaps: Creating Cohesive Teams Through Clear Communication | Growth by Design

In this episode of Growth by Design, Rob Graham sits down with Ross Rosner to talk about something leaders ask about all the time, how to manage across generations without overcomplicating it.

Rather than leaning on labels or stereotypes, the conversation centers on a simpler truth. Most generational tension comes from unclear expectations, mixed messages, and leaders assuming alignment that was never actually established.

Rob and Ross share real-world examples from coaching and organizational work that show why consistent communication matters more than age. They dig into the importance of explaining the “why” behind decisions, especially when working with younger employees, and how clarity builds trust, accountability, and buy-in across teams.

You’ll also hear practical insight on career pathing, setting realistic goals, and why leaders need to regularly audit their policies and communication style to reduce friction and keep teams moving forward together.

This episode is for leaders who want fewer misunderstandings, stronger teams, and a more grounded approach to managing people at every stage of their career.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Growth by Design

00:11 Understanding generational conflict

01:05 Consistency and communication

02:43 Coaching and leadership experience

04:01 Adapting management styles

07:15 Real-world examples and solutions

11:09 Leadership, flexibility, and clarity

15:23 Final thoughts and takeaways

Promotion Without Preparation: Why Top Performers Can Become Weak Managers | Growth by Design

Welcome back to Growth by Design, brought to you by RX2 Solutions, because growth does not happen by accident, it happens by design. In this episode, Ross Rosner and Rob Graham take a hard look at a common leadership mistake, promoting top performers into management roles without the preparation needed to succeed.

The conversation explores why strong individual performance does not automatically translate into effective leadership. Ross Rosner and Rob Graham break down the early warning signs of a mis-promotion, from communication breakdowns to declining team morale. They also discuss the real cost of getting it wrong, both for the individual stepping into the role and for the team expected to follow their lead.

This episode offers practical steps leaders can take to set new managers up for success. Topics include aligning compensation with responsibility, providing the right training and support, and clearly defining expectations before and after the promotion. The goal is to protect performance, preserve morale, and develop leaders who are prepared to guide teams forward.

Episode Timeline

00:00 Introduction to Growth by Design

00:11 The Pitfall of Promotion Without Preparation

01:02 Why Performance Doesn’t Equal Leadership

02:39 Early Warning Signs of a Mis-Promotion

06:25 Real-World Example: A Mis-Promotion Case Study

09:50 Steps to Successfully Promote Without Hurting Morale

14:09 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

If this episode resonated with challenges you’ve seen around promotions and leadership readiness, hit Like so others can learn from the discussion.

If you’ve experienced a promotion that worked, or one that didn’t, leave a Comment, Ross Rosner and Rob Graham welcome the conversation.

And if you want more practical insight on leadership, talent strategy, and building teams that last, Subscribe to Growth by Design so you never miss an episode.

Growth doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by design.

Accountability Without Micromanagement: Trust the Outcome, Verify the Process | Growth by Design

Welcome back to Growth by Design, brought to you by RX2 Solutions, because growth does not happen by accident, it happens by design. In this episode, Rob Graham and Ross Rosner unpack one of the most common leadership challenges in growing businesses, creating accountability without crossing the line into micromanagement.

The conversation focuses on what real accountability looks like in practice. Rob Graham and Ross Rosner explain why clarity around outcomes matters more than constant oversight, and how leaders can set expectations that empower teams instead of constraining them. Key themes include defining measurable results, using visible scoreboards, and conducting check-ins that are purposeful and forward-looking.

Through practical guidance and a real-world case study, the episode outlines how to design accountability into the business itself. Topics include tracking the right metrics, managing outcomes instead of activities, agreeing on clear standards, and using weekly reviews to maintain momentum. The result is a structure that builds trust, reinforces ownership, and keeps teams aligned without hovering.

Episode Timeline

00:00 Introduction to Growth by Design

00:20 The Balance Between Hands-Off and Micromanagement

02:08 Designing Accountability in Your Business

02:38 Key Areas for Implementing Accountability

05:04 Case Study: Measurable Execution Framework

06:29 Defining Targets and Metrics

07:32 The Importance of Outcome-Oriented Management

11:18 Weekly Scorecards and Final Thoughts

If this episode helped clarify how accountability can exist without micromanagement, hit Like so others can find the conversation.

If balancing trust and oversight is something your team is working through, leave a Comment, Rob Graham and Ross Rosner welcome the discussion.

And if you want more practical insight on leadership and building businesses that scale with intention, Subscribe to Growth by Design so you don’t miss an episode.

Growth doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by design.

Overcoming Meeting Overload: Strategies for Small Businesses | Growth by Design

Welcome back to Growth by Design, presented by RX2 Solutions, because growth does not happen by accident, it happens by design. In this episode, Rob Graham and Ross Rosner take on a familiar frustration for many small and mid-sized businesses, meeting overload that consumes time without driving results.

The discussion reframes the issue at its core. Meetings are rarely the real problem. A lack of clarity is. Rob Graham and Ross Rosner walk through the common warning signs, unclear priorities, meetings without actionable outcomes, and ownership that is never fully defined. When those gaps exist, calendars fill up fast and progress slows down.

The episode offers practical, easy-to-apply strategies to reverse the trend. Topics include setting clear agendas, documenting decisions, assigning ownership, and using asynchronous updates to reduce unnecessary live meetings. Rob Graham and Ross Rosner also challenge leaders to take a hard look at recurring meetings and cancel the ones that no longer serve a purpose. The goal is simple, reclaim time, sharpen focus, and keep teams moving forward with intention.

Episode Timeline

00:00 Introduction to Meeting Overload

00:27 Identifying the Real Problem

01:48 Symptoms of Meeting Dysfunction

03:59 Effective Meeting Strategies

05:56 Meeting Cadences and Structures

09:08 Best Practices and Final Thoughts

11:19 Conclusion

If this episode helped you rethink how meetings show up in your business, hit Like so others can benefit from the insight.

If meeting overload is something your team is wrestling with, leave a Comment, Rob Graham and Ross Rosner welcome the conversation.

And if you value practical guidance that helps teams work smarter and move faster, Subscribe to Growth by Design so you never miss an episode.

Growth doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by design.

Overcoming Decision Bottlenecks: Empowering Growth Through Delegation | Growth by Design

Welcome back to Growth by Design, brought to you by RX2 Solutions, because growth does not happen by accident, it happens by design. In this episode, Rob Graham and Ross Rosner take on a challenge many growing businesses face, decision bottlenecks that slow progress when everything funnels back to the owner.

The conversation explores why delegation is often harder than it sounds and why holding onto every decision limits scale. Rob Graham and Ross Rosner break down what effective delegation really looks like, how to give teams the confidence to make decisions, and how to clearly define what good judgment means inside an organization. The episode also highlights the role of well-built Standard Operating Procedures in creating consistency, speeding up decisions, and reducing unnecessary chaos, with specific insight into life sciences environments where precision matters.

This discussion offers practical guidance for leaders who want to empower their teams, move faster, and build a business that can grow without constant bottlenecks.

Episode Timeline

00:00 Introduction to Growth by Design

00:12 Understanding Decision Bottlenecks

02:14 The Psychology of Delegation

03:21 Empowering Employees for Better Decisions

05:17 The Role of SOPs in Decision Making

08:50 Steps to Effective Decision Making

12:41 The Importance of Delegation for Growth

15:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

If this episode helped you rethink how decisions flow through your organization, hit Like so others can benefit from the conversation.

If decision bottlenecks or delegation challenges sound familiar, leave a Comment, Rob Graham and Ross Rosner welcome the discussion and real-world examples.

And if you value practical guidance on building teams that move faster and think smarter, Subscribe to Growth by Design so you don’t miss what’s next.