Steph Graham - CEO, Praxis Strategy Partners

Getting promoted shouldn’t feel like being thrown into the deep end without a life jacket.

One of the biggest mistakes small businesses make? Promoting high performers into leadership roles without giving them the tools to actually lead.

What usually happens next:
→ communication breaks down
→ confidence drops
→ burnout creeps in
→ team morale suffers
→ good employees leave

I lived through the “sink or swim” approach myself and it creates stress that’s completely avoidable. The reality is: strong leaders are developed, not magically created overnight.

Here’s how for Teams can help: Giving new managers access to quality credentials, including courses from relevant industry leaders, reputable university-partners, and recognized certificates that can make the difference between a struggling manager and a thriving team.

If you’re a small business owner, think of leadership training as a retention strategy, not just professional development.

📈 Better managers = stronger teams + better business outcomes.

For Small Business Appreciation Month, get Coursera for Teams. Link in bio!

Don’t over think it!

I think your natural reaction to what they share is completely fine, but if you want to work on some more advance ways to reply, try sharing examples of your experience that align with what they shared.

No matter what you do, remember to keep the conversation flow going and natural. People want to connect with another person - not someone who feels like they’re trying too hard or disingenuous.

You got this! 🙌🏽

Love this brain hack!

You can self reinforcement and apply it to really anything you want to get done.

What are some ways you kickstart your motivation or encourage yourself when you’re just not feeling like it?

Asking questions at the end of an interview is NOT optional!!

Here are 3 Ways to Approach Asking Questions:

Best Way 🏆: Ask questions about something you discussed in the interview. As you converse with the interviewer(s), questions will naturally come up. If you’re not able to ask in the moment, jot them down to ask at the end of the interview. This shows that you’re engaged and genuinely want to learn more.

Second option 🥈: Come prepared with questions, based on research you’ve done on the role and company. It’s impossible to fit everything into a job description - before the interview, read through the JD and go through the company website. What questions come up? What do you want to learn more about? What is unclear?

No Excuses 🙅🏽‍♀️: Ask questions you know the answer to! Even if you think you have all the answers, the purpose of asking questions at the end of an interview is two-fold. Yes, you genuinely want the answers to any outstanding questions you have, but you also want to demonstrate your thought process. Asking questions you know the answer to can simply help demonstrate what you’re most interested in.

Show them how you think and what resonates with you. Asking questions provides insight into your thought process.

Share some of your favorite questions to ask in the comments!

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