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In Episode 11 of the Leadership Excellence Podcast, George Trachilis and Dr. Tom Lawless dive deep into one of the most essential skills every leader must master: Delegation. The real kind—the kind that develops people, frees up your time, and creates a truly self‑reliant team.

This episode begins with a classic leadership parable inspired by the Harvard Business Review story “Who’s Got the Monkey?”. Leaders often overload themselves not because they work too hard, but because they unintentionally carry everyone else’s monkeys—other people’s problems, tasks, and responsibilities. By the end of the week, they are exhausted and overwhelmed, wondering why nothing important got done.
George and Tom break down why this happens, why it’s destructive, and how to stop the cycle immediately.

From there, they reveal the Three Power Moves of Delegation, a simple framework that brings clarity to leadership, increases team capability, and helps people grow into higher levels of independence and accountability:

Power Move #1 – Delegate Outcomes, Not Tasks
Most leaders assign disconnected tasks that keep them stuck as bottlenecks. Here, you’ll learn how to delegate results instead—so your people think, act, and problem‑solve like leaders.

Power Move #2 – Match Delegation to Skill & Readiness
Too much freedom too soon makes people feel abandoned. Too much control when they’re ready makes them feel micromanaged. This episode shows you how to match responsibility to each person’s experience, judgment, and confidence.

Power Move #3 – Establish Guardrails and Let Go
Purpose, outcomes, boundaries, requirements, and deadlines—these are the guardrails people need to succeed independently. When leaders provide clarity and then step back, teams grow fast.

Together, these three moves will help you:
• Build capability instead of dependency
• Reduce overwhelm and fire‑fighting
• Free up your time for strategic leadership
• Create a culture of ownership and confidence
• Stop being the one who carries everyone’s monkeys

This episode closes with practical next steps: how to identify your workload, categorize tasks, eliminate low‑value work, and delegate effectively starting today.

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Join Dr. Tom Lawless and George Trachilis every week for the Leadership Excellence Podcast LIVE! Be part of a growing global community of leaders dedicated to learning, reflection, and continuous improvement. Sessions are recorded every Saturday at 8:30 AM CST, and everyone is welcome to listen in, learn, and engage with others who share a passion for leadership growth.

Simply visit LeadershipX.tv and register using the link at the top right corner of the homepage to receive your exclusive meeting access. We love having new faces join the conversation each week!

To help us ensure a smooth and focused live recording, please remember to STAY ON MUTE 🔇 and KEEP YOUR VIDEO OFF 🎥 until the hosts invite audience participation at the end of the session.

Every episode is a chance to grow, reflect, and strengthen your leadership mindset. Come learn alongside Tom and George as they explore timeless principles, share stories from the Gemba, and discuss the habits that define true leadership excellence.

🎧 Listen. Reflect. Lead Better — at LeadershipX.tv

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In this powerful episode of the Leadership Excellence Podcast, George Trachilis and Dr. Tom Lawless tackle one of the most urgent issues facing today’s leaders: burnout. Contrary to popular belief, burnout is rarely caused by long hours alone. It comes from misalignment, loss of autonomy, and the gradual erosion of personal purpose. George and Tom break down how the Harada Method, a globally recognized self‑leadership system used by high performers including Shohei Ohtani, provides five practical strategies leaders can use to rebuild energy, clarity, and direction.

They begin by exploring the first and most critical strategy: aligning your goals with your personal purpose. Leaders often burn out not because they work too hard, but because they pursue goals that don’t resonate with who they are. When work connects to internal motivation, energy increases rather than drains. George illustrates this with a surprising example from Ozzy Osbourne’s final performances—showing how passion can override even physical pain.

Next, Tom explains why building self‑reliance is essential for reducing pressure. Burnout thrives where people feel micromanaged, powerless, or unable to shape their own work. The Harada Method strengthens autonomy by teaching people to manage themselves instead of being managed. When teams become self‑directed, leaders stop firefighting and stress declines.

The third strategy focuses on strengthening the four aspects of life: Spirit, Skill, Physical Condition, and Daily Life. Burnout often begins when one of these pillars collapses. Whether it’s loss of meaning, feeling unprepared, poor physical habits, or daily life chaos—weakness in one area eventually spreads into all others. True resilience comes from strengthening each pillar consistently.

George and Tom then explain why burnout is frequently organizational, not emotional. The fourth strategy, using a Routine Check Sheet, helps leaders reduce cognitive overload, eliminate unnecessary tasks, and focus on what truly matters. Routines bring order to an otherwise chaotic world.

Finally, the episode dives into the Open Window 64 (OW64)—a tool that turns big goals into clear, manageable steps. When leaders see progress, they gain momentum, and “burnout hates momentum.” The OW64 reconnects people with who they are becoming, not just what they are doing, and reignites passion, clarity, and hope.

Practical, human, and deeply actionable, this episode shows leaders exactly how to redesign their system, restore balance, and prevent burnout before it takes control. Whether you’re an

Join Dr. Tom Lawless and George Trachilis every week for the Leadership Excellence Podcast LIVE! Be part of a growing global community of leaders dedicated to learning, reflection, and continuous improvement. Sessions are recorded every Saturday at 8:30 AM CST, and everyone is welcome to listen in, learn, and engage with others who share a passion for leadership growth.

Simply visit LeadershipX.tv and register using the link at the top right corner of the homepage to receive your exclusive meeting access. We love having new faces join the conversation each week!

To help us ensure a smooth and focused live recording, please remember to STAY ON MUTE 🔇 and KEEP YOUR VIDEO OFF 🎥 until the hosts invite audience participation at the end of the session.

Every episode is a chance to grow, reflect, and strengthen your leadership mindset. Come learn alongside Tom and George as they explore timeless principles, share stories from the Gemba, and discuss the habits that define true leadership excellence.

🎧 Listen. Reflect. Lead Better — at LeadershipX.tv

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THE CALM LEADER – 5 Powerful Ways to Clear Your Mind Before Every Conversation

Episode Description:
In this episode of the Leadership Excellence Podcast, hosts Tom Lawless and George Trachilis break down the essential habits that help leaders show up calm, clear, and fully present in every interaction. Whether you're leading a team meeting, coaching an employee, or navigating a tough conversation at home, these five practices will transform the way you think, listen, and connect.

You’ll learn how to:
• Pause to breathe and reset your nervous system
• Release distractions so you can offer full presence
• Set an intention that shapes tone and creates clarity
• Let go of judgment to build trust and psychological safety
• Reflect and reset between conversations to stay emotionally balanced

Tom and George share real stories, personal experiences, and simple techniques that any leader can apply immediately. This is the foundation of The Calm Leader—the leader who listens before reacting, understands before judging, and enters every conversation with a centered mind.

If you're striving to become the kind of leader who inspires confidence, builds trust, and handles conversations with grace, this episode is your blueprint.

Want to join us LIVE next week?
Register anytime at https://LeadershipX.tv/ — just click the top right corner. We’d love to have you with us.

Join Dr. Tom Lawless and George Trachilis every week for the Leadership Excellence Podcast LIVE! Be part of a growing global community of leaders dedicated to learning, reflection, and continuous improvement. Sessions are recorded every Saturday at 8:30 AM CST, and everyone is welcome to listen in, learn, and engage with others who share a passion for leadership growth.

Simply visit LeadershipX.tv and register using the link at the top right corner of the homepage to receive your exclusive meeting access. We love having new faces join the conversation each week!

To help us ensure a smooth and focused live recording, please remember to STAY ON MUTE 🔇 and KEEP YOUR VIDEO OFF 🎥 until the hosts invite audience participation at the end of the session.

Every episode is a chance to grow, reflect, and strengthen your leadership mindset. Come learn alongside Tom and George as they explore timeless principles, share stories from the Gemba, and discuss the habits that define true leadership excellence.

🎧 Listen. Reflect. Lead Better — at LeadershipX.tv