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 unpack the risks of over-relying on AI at work and the importance of maintaining real human connection. They also dive into a common leadership pitfall: promoting high performers too quickly without proper development, and why not all top talent is ready to lead.

They share practical insights on building clear leadership pathways, having honest career conversations, and investing in employee growth, even when tenure is short. The takeaway: intentional development and role clarity are key to retaining talent and building strong, future-ready leaders. You won’t want to miss this insightful discussion!

Registration for our next Grounded Leadership cohort is now open!

Registration for our next Growth-Focused Leader cohort is now pen!

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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 tara@aligntransform.com.

Comments or questions about this episode? Ideas for future podcast topics and guests? We’d love to hear from you!

Resources:

Career Growth & Retention (SHRM)

Internal Mobility & Losing Talent (Aptitude Research, 2023)

Coaching & High-Potential Retention (DDI, 2024)

Coaching as a Critical Leadership Skill (DDI, 2024)

Leadership Effectiveness Gap (Harvard Business Publishing, 2024)

Succession Planning Needs to Be Ongoing (Center for Creative Leadership)

Workforce Development Challenge (SHRM State of Workplace)

Skills Employers Actually Want (NACE Job Outlook 2024)

Career Development as a Retention Driver (Work Institute, 2024)

Retention Pressure is Increasing (CIPD, 2024)

Gen Z / Early Talent Expectations (Deloitte, 2024)

Leadership Pathways