Dear Younger Leaders: Be Curious, Not Clueless

If you’re leading a team right now and feeling like every decision could make or break the future—you’re not alone. We’ve been hearing from a lot of younger leaders who are staring down uncertainty and aren’t sure which move to make next. We’ve both been there, and in this conversation, we’re digging into how to handle the pressure without freezing or freaking out.

It’s easy to lead when everything’s steady. But what about when the world feels like it’s shifting under your feet? From tariffs and layoffs to supply chain chaos, younger leaders in today’s workforce—especially in the trades—are dealing with challenges that seasoned pros might not have tackled in recent years.

We talked about what to do when sales flatten out, customers start pulling back, and your team starts worrying about what’s coming next. Sitting back and making no decision usually does more harm than picking the wrong one. And cutting your way to “prosperity”? That almost never works out the way people hope.

We also dug into why younger leaders need to manage up, not just down. Bringing new ideas to the table, rallying your team around solutions, and having the guts to ask tough questions—that’s what separates real leadership from just surviving.

Most importantly, we’re getting honest about how vulnerability, curiosity, and clear communication aren’t just “nice to have” skills. They’re what will carry you—and your team—through the rough patches ahead.

Highlights

• Why no decision is usually worse than the wrong decision.
• The big mistake of trying to “cut your way to prosperity”.
• How to get your team involved in finding solutions.
• Tips for managing both up and down the leadership chain.
• Why being curious and asking questions builds real leadership strength.
• Why over-communicating matters more than ever during chaos.

If this episode got you thinking, tap Follow and leave a rating or review— on Apple Podcasts. And don’t forget to share it with someone else who could use some real talk on leadership right now.

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Steve Doyle:

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Brad Herda:

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