Leading a team is not easy and can sometimes feel impossible. On today’s episode of The Small Business Show, we’re joined by Travis Dalrymple, leadership coach, speaker, and Author of the new book, How to Suck as a Leader: The Top 15 Mistakes Leaders Make and How to Fix Them.
While Dalrymple’s book is designed to help leaders improve, it originated from a leadership seminar, where his primary goal was to keep the audience engaged. He observed that many aspiring leaders mistakenly believe leadership development is complex or reserved for executives. The book challenges that assumption by taking an approachable, grounded approach centered on small, intentional changes made over time.
Dalrymple identifies several common leadership pitfalls, including:
- Emotional reactivity – where leaders respond impulsively instead of reflecting.
- The ability to actively listen – when leaders focus on waiting to speak rather than absorbing team input.
- People ignore their own health – when leaders don’t understand the value of balance.
He also notes that misaligned leadership style can reduce team engagement and overall productivity, even when decisions are technically sound.
Dalrymple also emphasizes that effective leadership requires structured collaboration. Leaders can solicit ideas and feedback from their teams without losing authority by setting expectations upfront. These may include clarifying which suggestions may be implemented immediately, which will be deferred, and which may not align with the current priorities.
"What you don't change, you're choosing."
The book also includes practical exercises and action items at the end of each chapter, along with a supplemental workbook that provides a step-by-step framework for implementing change immediately. Dalrymple’s goal is to democratize leadership development by making practical tools accessible to anyone responsible for leading a team.
The key takeaway for leaders is that improvement is habit-based and incremental. By consistently practicing emotional intelligence, active listening, and deliberate collaboration, leaders can strengthen team performance, make more effective decisions, and reduce long-term stress.
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