Grounding and Growing Leadership Podcast

Welcome back, friends! In this episode of the Grounding and Growing Leadership Podcast, Tara is joined by co-host and ALIGN’s Chief Strategy Officer, Stephanie Theisen, to rethink the traditional performance review. They explore why annual reviews often fall short and how clear goals, regular feedback, and ongoing coaching can create a more effective approach to performance management. Tara and Stephanie also discuss navigating employee pushback around growth and shifting from reactive conversations to proactive coaching. The takeaway: performance management shouldn’t be a once-a-year event, but an ongoing rhythm that helps employees grow, understand expectations, and perform at their best. Registration for our next Grounded Leadership cohort is now open! Registration for our next Coaching For Performance cohort is now open! Registration for our next Managers Essentials Course is now open! Comments or questions about this episode? Ideas for future podcast topics and guests? We’d love to hear from you! Resources: ALIGN GROW Leadership Capacity Assessment

Welcome back, friends! In this episode of the Grounding and Growing Leadership Podcast, Tara is joined by co-host and ALIGN’s Chief Strategy Officer, Stephanie Theisen, to explore what true leadership alignment looks like, and what happens when expectations,communication, and priorities aren’t clear. They discuss how a lack of bench strength and unclear expectations can lead to burnout, disengagement, and leaders holding onto responsibilities they need to let go of. Tara and Stephanie share practical ways leadership teams can strengthen alignment through clear mission, vision, andvalues, regular check-ins, psychological safety, and honest conversations about the “elephants” in the room. The takeaway: alignment isn’t a one-time conversation;it requires intentional communication, accountability, and consistent practice to keep teams moving in the same direction. Registration for our next Grounded Leadership cohort is now open! Registration for our next Coaching For Performance cohort is now open! Registration for our next Managers Essentials Course is now open! Comments or questions about this episode? Ideas for future podcasttopics and guests? We’d love to hear from you! Resources: ALIGN GROW Leadership Capacity Assessment

Welcome back, friends! In this episode of the Grounding and Growing Leadership Podcast, Tara's joined by co-host and ALIGN coach Pamela Nelson for a thoughtful conversation about building, breaking, and repairing trust in the workplace. Together, they explore the four dimensions of trust and discuss how leaders can identify what's really at the root of trust challenges instead of making assumptions or avoiding difficult conversations. Tara and Pamela share practical strategies for rebuilding trust through greater self-awareness, honest communication, and intentional repair. They introduce a simple frame work for navigating trust conversations and remind listeners that meaningful change always starts with looking inward. Whether you're leading a team or strengthening relationships with colleagues, this episode offers action able insights for creating healthier, more trusting workplaces. Registration for our next Grounded Leadership cohort is now open! Registration for our next Coaching For Performance cohort is now open! Registration for our new Managers Essentials Course is now open! At the Grounding and Growing Leadership podcast, we believe everyone is a leader and that leadership starts with you. Join Tara Gronhovd, Gallup Certified Clifton Strengths Coach and e2Grow High Performing Team Coach, and Pamela Nelson, Gallup Certified Clifton Strengths Coach, Counselor, and Spiritual Director, as we navigate conversations to grow you and your teams on your leadership journeys. Clifton Strengths (aka Strengths finder) is an assessment that is based on positive psychology and measures core motivations. It’s an extremely powerful tool for personal and professional development as well as improving team dynamics. You will hear us reference Strengths frequently in our podcasts. If you are interested in learning more and taking the Clifton Strengths assessment for you or your team, please reach out to [email protected]. Comments or questions about this episode? Ideas for future podcast topics and guests? We’d love to hear from you! Resources: ALIGN Restoring Trust at Work ALIGN Q3 Workshop OILS Resource The Thin Book of Trust - Charles Feltman

Welcome back, friends! In this episode of the Grounding and Growing Leadership Podcast, Tara is joined by co-host and ALIGN’s Chief Strategy Officer, Stephanie Theisen, to explore one of the biggest barriers to sustainable growth: leadership capacity. Together, they unpack why so many organizations struggle to scale. Not because of a lack of talent, but because they haven't built the systems, succession plans, and leadership pipelines needed to support long-term success. Drawing on insights from ALIGN’s GROW Leadership Capacity Assessment, Tara and Stephanie discuss the importance of diagnosing root causes instead of chasing symptoms, preparing future leaders before they're needed, and creating intentional pathways for leadership development. Whether your organization is navigating growth, planning for succession, or simply looking to strengthen its leadership bench, this episode offers practical strategies for building a healthier, more sustainable future. Registration for our next Grounded Leadership cohort is now open! Registration for our next Coaching For Performance cohort is now open! Registration for our new Managers Essentials Course is now open! At the Grounding and Growing Leadership podcast, we believe everyone is a leader and that leadership starts with you. Join Tara Gronhovd, Gallup Certified Clifton Strengths Coach and e2Grow High Performing Team Coach, and Pamela Nelson, Gallup Certified Clifton Strengths Coach, Counselor, and Spiritual Director, as we navigate conversations to grow you and your teams on your leadership journeys. CliftonStrengths (aka Strengthsfinder) is an assessment that is based on positive psychology and measures core motivations. It’s an extremely powerful tool for personal and professional development as well as improving team dynamics. You will hear us reference Strengths frequently in our podcasts. If you are interested in learning more and taking the CliftonStrengths assessment for you or your team, please reach out to [email protected]. Comments or questions about this episode? Ideas for future podcast topics and guests? We’d love to hear from you! Resources: ALIGN GROW Leadership Capacity Assessment Where Growth Breaks - GROW White Paper

Welcome back, friends! In this episode of the Grounding and Growing Leadership Podcast, Tara is joined by co-host and ALIGN’s Chief Strategy Officer, Stephanie Theisen, to explore a leadership challenge many high achievers don’t realize they’re facing: overfunctioning. Together, they unpack four common overfunctioning leadership patterns; micromanaging, firefighting, hypervigilance, and rescuing, and discuss how these behaviors, often rooted in good intentions, can unintentionally limit team growth and create dependency. Drawing from Stephanie’s own leadership journey, the conversation offers practical insights for recognizing when control is getting in the way of sustainable momentum. Tara and Stephanie share strategies for building healthier leadership habits, empowering team members, and having the accountability conversations leaders often avoid. Plus, listeners can access the Over-Functioning Leader Self-Assessment to reflect on their own leadership tendencies and identify opportunities for growth. Registration for our next Grounded Leadership cohort is now open! Registration for our next Growth-Focused Leader cohort is now open! Registration for our new Managers Essentials Course is now open! At the Grounding and Growing Leadership podcast, we believe everyone is a leader and that leadership starts with you. Join Tara Gronhovd, Gallup Certified Clifton Strengths Coach and e2Grow High Performing Team Coach, and Pamela Nelson, Gallup Certified Clifton Strengths Coach, Counselor, and Spiritual Director, as we navigate conversations to grow you and your teams on your leadership journeys. CliftonStrengths (aka Strengthsfinder) is an assessment that is based on positive psychology and measures core motivations. It’s an extremely powerful tool for personal and professional development as well as improving team dynamics. You will hear us reference Strengths frequently in our podcasts. If you are interested in learning more and taking the CliftonStrengths assessment for you or your team, please reach out to [email protected]. Comments or questions about this episode? Ideas for future podcast topics and guests? We’d love to hear from you! Resources: The Overfunctioning Leader Self-Assessment ALIGN