Does your business still need you to make every decision, solve every problem, and make sure everything gets done? In this episode, I sit down with former Google, Apple, and Microsoft team expert Lia Garvin to talk about how to stop being the bottleneck and build a team that actually helps your business make more money. Lia shares the simple systems that can free up your time, make delegation easier, eliminate unnecessary meetings and expenses, and give your team the clarity to take real ownership.

We also talk about how to know whether you have the wrong person or they simply haven’t been led well, the conversations too many founders avoid, and how to create a culture of clear expectations without becoming a micromanager. If you’re ready to get out of the weeds, stop carrying your entire business on your shoulders, and build a team that can grow with you, this episode is for you.

In this episode you will learn:

00:00 How to turn your team from an expense into a revenue driver.

03:00 How Lia became the “team whisperer” at Microsoft, Apple, and Google.

06:10 What Lia learned about creating value when she felt like she didn’t belong.

09:40 How to address team problems without putting people on the defensive.

12:00 The team problems Lia saw repeatedly inside some of the world’s biggest companies.

16:10 Why Lia left Google to help entrepreneurs build better teams.

18:00 The leadership struggles business owners face when they start hiring.

20:15 The biggest misconception that keeps founders from creating systems sooner.

22:25 Where to start when you’re already too busy to build systems.

24:55 How doing everything yourself is limiting your team and your growth.

26:10 How getting out of the weeds can directly impact your bottom line.

29:10 The simple weekly system that gives you visibility without micromanaging.

31:25 The delegation trap that keeps founders doing everything themselves.

32:50 The conversations that can save you from losing your best employees.

35:20 How to reset your company culture when expectations haven’t been clear.

39:15 The first thing to fix when your founder and team are blaming each other.

41:40 Do you have the wrong employee, or are they being led the wrong way?

43:00 The 3 questions to ask before deciding a team member isn’t working out.

46:00 How to give clear feedback without feeling like the “bad guy.”

49:15 How simple operational changes can save thousands and unlock more revenue.

RESOURCES

DM Lia the word “HAPPY” to get access to the Snippets app and create a simple weekly system for tracking your team’s wins, blockers, and priorities.

DM Lia the word “HAPPY” or head to liagarvin.com/happy to get her free guide for navigating sticky team conversations and having your own “sit down.”

Learn more about Lia’s Team Ops Playbook and fractional COO support at liagarvin.com

Learn more about Loop at loriharder.com/loop

Get on the waitlist for Mentor Collective Mastermind HERE!

Try glōci for 40% off your first order with code HAPPY at checkout – head to getgloci.com

FOLLOW

Follow me: @loriharder

Follow glōci: @getgloci

Follow Lia: @lia.garvin