THIS Leader Podcast Â
Episode 50: The  Leadership Retrofit
January 20, 2025
You've been promoted because you're excellent at what you do, but now you're working longer hours, feeling overwhelmed, and wondering why this new level feels so hard. Here's the truth: what made you successful before won't automatically work at this level, and that's completely normal. In this episode, I'll show you exactly what needs to change when you move from one leadership level to the next—and how to retrofit your foundation so you can lead with clarity and confidence.
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Every time you step into a new level of leadership, you need to retrofit your foundation. The skills that made you successful before won't automatically work now—and that's why you're working evenings and weekends while your days disappear into meetings.
In this milestone 50th episode, I'm walking you through the leadership pipeline framework that shows exactly what needs to change at each transition point. You'll discover why you feel like you're drowning, what needs to shift in how you spend your time, and how to move from doing the work yourself to enabling your team to deliver results. This is about operating at the right level.
"You cannot build a second story—or a third story—on a foundation that was only designed for one. Your foundation has to evolve. It has to be retrofitted to support the new structure and your new role."
Welcome to Episode 50:Â The Leadership Retrofit
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About your Host
Claire Laughlin, MA, Organizational Development Consultant
Hi! I'm Claire Laughlin, and I love helping leaders like you create workplaces where people truly thrive.
For over two decades, I've been rolling up my sleeves alongside teams and organizations, using hands-on methods that actually work (because let's face it - theory only gets you so far!).Â
I specialize in teaching leaders how to engage their teams, helping managers become more effective facilitators, and showing people how to work better together.
I'm also a master facilitator for the Six Types of Working Genius® - a fantastic tool that helps you understand and leverage your natural talents.
When I'm not helping leaders like you build happy, high-energy workplaces, I'm enjoying a hike in the forest with my dog Fiona, spending time with my family or curled up with a great book.
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Let's keep the party going!
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