In this episode, Danny is joined by executive coach and organizational psychologist Doni Landefeld for a thoughtful conversation about what it truly takes for middle managers to grow into confident, effective leaders. Doni shares why technical expertise alone isn’t enough—and how leadership growth requires a deeper metamorphosis rooted in emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and support.

Together, they explore why leadership can feel lonely as responsibility increases, the importance of having a trusted sounding board, and how empathy, humility, and continuous learning help leaders avoid becoming bottlenecks. This episode offers grounded wisdom for managers who want to lead well without going it alone.

Key Takeaways:

• Middle managers often stall not due to lack of skill, but lack of people and emotional intelligence skills
• Leadership growth accelerates when managers seek coaching, mentorship, and honest feedback early
• Emotional intelligence begins with self-awareness before it can be applied to leading others
• Empathy is a learnable leadership skill—and different from sympathy
• Sustainable leadership is built through partnership, reflection, and incremental habit change

Resources & Mentions:

Guest: Doni Landefeld, Ph.D.

Connect on LinkedIn: Doni Landefeld, Ph.D.

Recommended Books:

Flourish by Marting Seligman

Mindset by Carol Dweck

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Host: Danny Ceballos – Unleashed Consulting
https://unleashedconsult.com/

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The Best Boss Whisperer is a leadership podcast for individuals who want to lead effectively without burning out or becoming the bottleneck that stifles their team’s decisions, momentum, and productivity.

© 2026 Danny Ceballos / Unleashed Consulting