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Leader Fables

Leader Fables

Written by: Fables LLC
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 Leader Fables is a podcast made by leaders for leaders. The show focuses on how middle managers can better navigate the perils of team leadership and achieve wild success.© 2025 Fables LLC Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership Self-Help Success
Episodes
  • 35: Designing an Ideal Week

    35: Designing an Ideal Week
    Jul 3 2025
    Jacob and Casey discuss crafting an ideal week—-a proactive approach to planning time for what matters most, protecting margin, and sustaining energy both at work and home. They share how regularly reviewing and updating an ideal week template helps leaders hedge against chaos and interruptions, while staying focused on key priorities. Their discussion covers essential steps such as starting with a blank calendar, blocking out recurring meetings and personal routines, auditing current time use, and ensuring built-in flexibility and white space. Casey and Jacob stress the importance of critical reflection: questioning the necessity of each meeting, reserving "deep work" periods, and blocking time for daily startup and shutdown routines. Other practical advice includes color-coding calendars, sharing ideal week philosophies with teams for alignment, and tracking "hit rates" against the plan to drive accountability and continuous improvement. Key Points Discussed: The value of designing an ideal week as a "budget for your time" The importance of regular audits and revisiting the plan to account for shifting priorities Strategic scheduling of deep work, meetings (https://www.leaderfables.com/19), and buffer times Differentiating between unmovable meetings and those worth challenging Using color-coding and recurring calendar events to maintain visibility of the ideal week Encouraging teamwide alignment and transparency around availability and expectations Actionable Takeaways: Begin with a blank calendar and define what your perfect week would look like, free from outside constraints Audit your current calendar for time sinks and low-value meetings, then start from zero when building your template Block your most critical routines (https://www.leaderfables.com/14) and "deep work" sessions before adding less essential commitments Incorporate ample buffer time for transitions, breaks, and the unexpected Share your availability philosophy with your team and review progress against your ideal regularly, adjusting as needed Take charge of your time by designing your ideal week now and commit to revisiting it routinely, empowering yourself and your team to focus on what matters most.
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    41 mins
  • 34: The Art of the One-on-one

    34: The Art of the One-on-one
    Apr 22 2025
    Listen as Casey and Jacob explore why consistent one-on-ones are the highest-leverage activity for leaders, addressing the common dread around them and sharing strategies to transform them into relationship-building and coaching sessions. Key Points Discussed: The value of consistenat one-on-ones as a high-leverage leadership activity and why they should not be canceled or rescheduled. The three core functions of one-on-ones: building relationships, providing coaching and feedback, and clearing the decks. Strategies for agenda-setting, including having the direct report set the agenda first, using a three-question framework (“How are you?”, “How is the business?”, “How can I help?”), and feeding topics through shared channels or documents. Techniques for structuring meetings: frequency (monthly to weekly), duration (avoid back-to-back or front-loading), and context (changing location, shared meals or coffee, disabling distractions). Coaching tips: letting the direct report speak most of the time (aim for 70/30 listening to talking ratio), using individual development plans, and exploring collaborative book readings. Actionable Takeaways: Schedule recurring one-on-ones at least monthly, aim for weekly when possible, and avoid rescheduling. Create a shared agenda space (Slack channel or document) for continuous topic capture. Use a clear agenda framework: direct report first, fallback prompts from the manager. Reserve the last minutes for administrative updates and handle most updates asynchronously. Enter each session distraction-free: enable Do Not Disturb and choose a setting that fosters open conversation. Ready to elevate your leadership? Commit to consistent, purposeful one-on-ones and start building stronger, more engaged teams.
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    38 mins
  • 33: Leadership is Lonely

    33: Leadership is Lonely
    Mar 13 2025
    Jacob and Casey discuss how the isolation inherent in leadership roles can affect decision-making and performance, drawing on research that highlights the prevalence of loneliness among senior leaders. They explore the challenges of maintaining a confident persona while shouldering heavy responsibilities and the importance of having a trusted inner circle to share concerns and gain objective feedback. Key Points Discussed: The impact of loneliness on leadership performance and decision-making. The difficulty of finding peers and trusted advisors within an organization. The benefits of developing a supportive network or mastermind group for honest conversations. The role of strategic vulnerability in building trust and enhancing team dynamics. The practical use of journaling and self-reflection as tools for managing stress. Actionable Takeaways: Invest in building and maintaining peer relationships both within and outside your organization. Incorporate regular self-care practices, such as brief journaling sessions, to externalize thoughts and reduce stress. Consider engaging with a coach or therapist to gain unbiased perspectives and navigate complex decisions. Proactively establish check-ins or mastermind sessions with trusted peers to discuss challenges and solutions. Plan difficult conversations in advance to ensure they lead to constructive outcomes. Take control of your leadership journey by implementing these strategies to reduce isolation and enhance your effectiveness.
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    37 mins
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