Welcome to Leveling Up with Lindsay, the podcast
where we dive into leadership, small business,
and everything in between. I'm Lindsay, your
host and the proud owner of White Puny Boutique,
a space created to empower women, build confidence,
and foster meaningful connections. Whether you're
an entrepreneur, a mom, a friend, or someone
just looking for a little inspiration. This is
your space to feel seen, supported, and inspired.
Join me as we share stories, strategies, and
a little bit of life's chaos while navigating
what it truly means to level up in starting a
business, relationship, and personal growth.
So grab a cup of coffee, get comfy, and let's
level up together. Hey friends, it's Lindy. I
want to start today with something simple, something
that reaches every single one of us. When people
hear the word leader, They often think of manager,
a coach, a director, or a business owner. But
the truth is leadership is everywhere. And what
I often say is we're all influencers. It isn't
how you talk to your kids before school. It is
in the energy you bring when you walk into a
room. It is in the way you treat the server at
lunch or how you speak about someone when they're
not in the room. It's how you choose to respond
when something goes wrong. And whether you stand
tall for what's right when no one else is paying
attention. It's how you choose to respond when
something goes wrong and whether you stand tall
for what's right when no one else is paying attention.
That is leadership. Those quiet behind the scenes
moments, they define you far more than the spotlight
ever will. And here's the thing. Becoming a better
leader doesn't require a fancy course or long
checklist. It's actually very simple. It's how
you show up, how you treat people, and how you
choose to handle those moments that matter the
most. So today we're keeping it simple and real
as we talk about what it actually means to be
a better leader. Leadership isn't something you
earn. It's something you practice. It's how you
speak when no one is listening. It's the tone
you use when you're tired. It's how you handle
feedback with humility or with ego. It's what
you do when things don't go your way. And it's
how you carry yourself with integrity, even when
no one would know if you didn't. That's leadership.
And that's why anyone, absolutely anyone can
be one. You don't have to own a business, manage
a team, or hold a title. You lead every time
you influence a moment with your character. Maybe
it's a high schooler showing a new coworker the
ropes. Maybe it's a mom diffusing a tough situation
at home with calm instead of chaos. Maybe it's
a coach reminding their players that effort matters
more than their talent. Leadership is simply
influence and the best influence comes from the
heart. Now let's talk about a few ways anyone
can become a better leader starting right now
today. No long to do list. Just three simple
shifts that can completely change how you lead
and how others feel around you. Habit number
one, lead with listening. We live in a world
that talks a lot, but listens very little. Everyone
wants to feel heard. Everyone wants to feel seen.
Great leaders don't rush to fix things. They
slow down long enough to understand. I've seen
this play out in my own world so many times.
Sometimes a team member doesn't need advice,
they just need space to talk it through. And
when they do, nine times out of ten, they find
the answer themselves. Listening builds trust
faster than any title will ever. When people
feel heard, they stop needing to be managed.
They will definitely start wanting to grow. Habit
number two, lead by example, especially when
it's inconvenient. The strongest leaders don't
demand excellence, they model it. That means
staying true to your standards even when it's
hard, even when no one else is watching. Maybe
it's picking up the small things that are overlooked.
Maybe it's the way you speak kindly to a frustrated
customer or how you hold yourself accountable
when something falls short. Real leadership doesn't
shout, it shows. People don't remember what you
said, they remember what you modeled. And lastly,
habit number three. Lead with heart. See the
person, not the position. Whether you're leading
a store, a classroom, a team, or a family, everyone
you guide is carrying something you might not
see. Leading with heart doesn't mean lowering
your standards at all. It means pairing accountability
with compassion. Sometimes that means noticing
when someone's struggling and taking an extra
moment to ask how they're doing. Sometimes it
means celebrating effort, not just the results.
And sometimes it means believing in someone a
little longer than they believe in themselves.
You lead best when you see people for who they're
becoming and not just who they are today. So
here's the truth no one talks about enough. The
hardest person you'll ever lead is actually yourself.
Your tone, your energy, your example, they set
the temperature for everyone around you. So before
we talk about leading others, we have to ask
ourselves, How do people feel after being led
by me today? Do they feel calm? Do they feel
hurried? Do they feel inspired or drained? Do
they feel valued or overlooked? Because leadership
starts before you ever speak. It starts with
your presence. You cannot pour peace into people
if you're running on chaos yourself. So give
yourself grace to reset, reflect and realign.
That's not selfish either. That's stewardship.
So how do you become a better leader? You slow
down enough to see people. You listen when it
would be easier to speak. You lead by example,
not ego. You show kindness in moments that don't
require it. You stand tall for what's right even
when no one is watching. That's it. That's the
simple truth about being a better leader. Whether
you're leading a team of 20, a classroom of 10,
or a household of two, leadership is love in
action. And the best leaders, they don't just
make people better at what they do, they make
people better at who they are. So this week,
I want to challenge you to find one small way
to lead with intention, whether that's at work,
at home, or in your own reflection. It doesn't
have to be big. It just has to be heart first.
That's where better leadership will begin. It's
really that simple. So thank you so much for
tuning in to Leveling Up with Lindsay today.
If this episode encouraged you today, share it
with someone else who's leading in any capacity
and remind them that what they do every single
day truly does matter. Until next time, stay
grounded, stay grateful, and keep leading with
heart. Thank you for listening. If you found
this information helpful, please share it with
a friend. If you're looking for more information
on the topics we covered, please head to the
show notes below. And if you wouldn't mind leaving
a five -star rating and review, this would help
this mission and our journey to get started.
Let's make today and every day an opportunity
to level up. Until next time, keep dreaming,
keep striving, and keep making a difference.