In this powerful episode of The Intentional Agribusiness Leader Podcast, host Mark Jewell welcomes Jon "The Cowboy Coach" Anderson for an eye-opening conversation about the common mistakes managers make that create unnecessary stress and inefficiencies. Jon, Senior Success Coach at The Momentum Company, shares his journey from agribusiness to leadership coaching, emphasizing the importance of intentional leadership, clarity, and communication.

From failing to set clear expectations to avoiding difficult conversations, this episode breaks down the biggest roadblocks managers face—and more importantly, how to fix them. Whether you're leading a team, a business, or your own household, these insights will help you become a more effective, confident, and thriving leader.

Key Takeaways:

🔥 Intentional Leadership Starts with Clarity – A lack of clear expectations creates confusion, inefficiencies, and frustration for both managers and employees. Leaders must define what success looks like for their teams.

🚀 Giving Clear Direction Matters – Setting goals isn’t enough; leaders must also guide their teams on how to achieve them. Without direction, employees are left guessing, which leads to wasted time and disengagement.

🤝 Regular Check-Ins Build Trust – Many leaders fail to sit down with their people beyond surface-level conversations. Strong leaders take time to understand their team’s challenges, celebrate wins, and provide support before issues escalate.

🔍 Stop Making Assumptions – When leaders don’t check in, they create stories in their minds about why employees are struggling or disengaged. Assumptions lead to misunderstandings and resentment—honest conversations lead to solutions.

🛑 Don’t Wait for Leadership to Give You Direction – If you feel lost in your role, take the initiative. Set up meetings with leadership, ask for expectations, and clarify your path forward. Leadership is not a title—it’s a mindset.

Notable Quotes:

📢 "You don’t have to wait for your leader to give you direction. If you’re not getting the support you need—go ask for it!" – Jon Anderson

📢 "We often get stuck in stories about people at work—stories that might not even be true. The best way to break free? Have the conversation." – Mark Jewell

📢 "Survival is dead. It’s time to thrive. And that means no longer just ‘getting by’ at work or in life." – Mark Jewell

Join Us for The Thriving Leader Event! 🚀

If today’s episode resonated with you, don’t miss our upcoming Thriving Leader Program, happening March 18-19 in Nashville! This immersive experience is designed to help leaders, managers, and high performers unlock their full potential with proven frameworks for clarity, communication, and leadership development.

📍 Register by February 21st to secure your spot!

📩 Email ani@themomentumcompany.com or visit TheMomentumCompany.com to learn more.

👉 Listen now and take your leadership to the next level! 🎧