Episode 166 - Elevated Leader Experiences with Laurie Maddalena
We’ve had a remarkable run of conversations on Experience by Design focused on employee experience, one of my favorite areas within experience design. Too often, workplace discussions default to a binary view: employees at the “bottom” of the org chart or leaders at the “top.” Organizational change is framed the same way—either top‑down or bottom‑up.
But there’s a vital space we rarely talk about enough: the middle.
Middle managers are frequently under-resourced, overextended, and overlooked. Yet they are also the ones most responsible for translating strategy into action. In many ways, the success—or failure—of organizational goals hinges on how well we support this “messy middle.”
In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Laurie Maddalena, author of The Elevated Leader. Fun fact: her favorite class in college was sociology, which explains her keen insight into workplace dynamics and human behavior.
Together, we dive into what it means to lead in a moment when five generations coexist in the workforce, bringing diverse expectations, communication styles, and motivations. Laurie also introduces the concept of the Six Saboteurs—internal barriers that undermine leadership effectiveness—and how leaders can recognize and manage them.
A major theme of our discussion is the reframing of “hard” and “soft” skills. As Laurie puts it, there are no such distinctions—only essential skills. Whether we’re talking communication, empathy, accountability, or strategic thinking, these capabilities are foundational to creating environments where people can thrive.
Laurie also emphasizes the importance of offering career pathways beyond traditional leadership roles, ensuring organizations don’t unintentionally force high-performing individuals into management tracks that don’t fit their strengths or aspirations.
We explore the evolving role of HR—from administrative function to strategic partner—helping shape culture, support leaders, and foster continuous development across teams.
And, of course, we touch on conflict. Rather than something to avoid, Laurie frames conflict as a natural and necessary ingredient for team growth—provided it’s managed constructively and with intention.
As a bonus, Laurie shares a free assessment tool designed to help leaders identify their own saboteurs and begin overcoming them.
It’s a rich, practical, and energizing conversation for anyone interested in leadership, organizational dynamics, or the future of work.
Laurie Maddalena: https://www.lauriemaddalena.com/
Laurie Maddalena LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriemaddalena/
“The Elevated Leader”: https://www.lauriemaddalena.com/elevated-leader-book
Episode Intro Music - The Tall Pines - “The Key”
Episode Ending Music - Ketsa - ”Dreaming Days”
