Have you ever stepped into leadership… and realized no one actually taught you how to lead people?

In this episode, Jule sits down with Lia Garvin—author of The New Manager Playbook and host of Real Talk: Leading Small Teams.

Lia shares the raw reality of becoming a first-time manager—navigating difficult team dynamics, strained peer relationships, and the pressure of leading without a roadmap. From managing an underperformer who resented her promotion to losing a close friendship after stepping into leadership, her experiences highlight what so many leaders go through—but rarely talk about.

What changed everything wasn’t time. It was learning how to lead with intention, clarity, and structure.

In this conversation, Lia and Jule discuss:

 • Why high performers often struggle most when they first step into leadership 
 • How to reset relationships when managing former peers or friends 
 • The importance of setting boundaries—and why leadership is an identity shift 
 • How to build trust through consistent, specific recognition and follow-through 
 • Why clarity, structure, and practical frameworks make leadership easier over time 

If you’re a leader who feels like you’re learning in real time, with everyone watching, this episode will remind you that you’re not alone.

Because leadership isn’t something you’re just supposed to “figure out.”

It’s something you learn, refine, and grow into—one conversation at a time.

Connect with Lia:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liagarvin/
Website: https://www.liagarvin.com/ 

Connect with Jule:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julesalem/
Website: www.julesalem.com

Dialing In is a leadership podcast for operators, executives, and founders building under pressure. Each episode explores how connection—when it’s intentional—becomes a true performance advantage.

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