Every major leap in your life and business requires one thing: an identity upgrade.

Not a new strategy. Not a new system. Not another motivational quote.

A shift in who you believe you are as a leader.

In this episode, we dig into what it really means to shift your identity so you can lead at a higher level — whether you’re a solo entrepreneur stepping into your first leadership role or a seasoned professional aiming for bigger impact and responsibility.

You’ll learn:

• Why identity is the ultimate performance limiter (and how it quietly controls your decisions, confidence, and capacity)
• The three identity traps that keep leaders stuck operating below their potential
• How to break outdated roles you’ve outgrown — including the “Do-It-All Operator” mindset
• A practical framework to redesign the identity needed for your next level of leadership
• What the research says about identity-based behavior change and long-term growth(Including insights from Stanford and Harvard studies on self-schema and leadership development)
• How to align your habits, environment, and language with the leader you are becoming

If you feel like you’re doing “all the right things” but not moving the needle fast enough…

If you’ve plateaued, stalled, or keep slipping back into old patterns…

Or if you know you’re capable of more but your current self-image hasn’t caught up yet…

This episode will give you the clarity and tools to step into your next level with purpose, confidence, and alignment.

This is where transformation begins — not with what you do, but with who you decide to be.

Grab the free TRIPL-C Framework to build trust, alignment, and accountability in your team →

https://top-notch-leadership.kit.com/subscribe

Are you the reason your business isn’t scaling — even though you’re working harder than ever?

If you’re a solo entrepreneur sitting between $100K–$300K and clocking 50+ hours a week, this episode will hit home. You’ve built something that works — but every time you try to grow, it feels like all roads lead back to you.

In this episode of The Top Notch Leader Podcast, Terence Colson breaks down how high-performing entrepreneurs unintentionally become their own bottlenecks — and what to do about it. You’ll discover:

✅ Why effort-based growth will eventually stall your business.

✅ How to shift from control to clarity so your team can execute without you.

✅ The exact mindset and systems that allow your business to run (and scale) without burning you out.

This is your turning point — from operator to true leader. Because letting go isn’t losing control… it’s gaining momentum.

🎧 Listen now to learn how to free up your time, empower your team, and finally create a business that grows without you.

Chapters

00:00 - Intro

02:15 - Identifying the Problem

04:27 - Reframe Your Thinking

09:45 - From Control to Stability

14:45 - Letting Go = Systems

22:00 - Actionable Steps

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Get the free TRIPL-C Framework, plus a bonus toolkit:

https://top-notch-leadership.kit.com/subscribe

It’s Your step-by-step guide to building trust, aligning leadership, and creating a culture of accountability.

When leaders stop trying to control every move — and start trusting their people to lead from where they are — everything changes.

In this episode of The Top Notch Leader Podcast, Terence Colson breaks down the art of empowering your team for long-term success. You’ll learn how to balance authority with trust, why micromanagement kills growth, and how to build a culture that develops leaders at every level.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between doing everything yourself and watching things fall apart without you, this conversation is your roadmap to breaking free.

⸻

💡 What You’ll Learn:
• Why empowerment is the foundation of sustained team growth
• The biggest mistakes leaders make when trying to “let go”
• How to create ownership and accountability without losing control
• Four actionable steps to start developing your people today
• Reflection prompts to help you shift from control to trust

00:00 - Intro
00:30 - Empower Your People
05:00 - Enable Growth
11:46 - Strategies
18:42 - Self Assessment
20:30 - Do These Things

Empowerment, leadership growth, team development, leadership transitions, empowering teams, how to lead without micromanaging, building strong teams, leadership trust, long-term success, leadership podcast, Terence Colson, The Top Notch Leader, leadership coaching, leadership development, empowering employees, organizational leadership, high-performing teams, TRIPL-C framework

Support the show

Struggling with transitioning from an operator to a leader? Get the FREE leadership framework guide to get you started in just a week.

https://top-notch-leadership.kit.com/subscribe

Send us a text

Get the free TRIPL-C Framework, plus a bonus toolkit:

https://top-notch-leadership.kit.com/subscribe

Trust is the foundation of every high-performing team — but you can’t build it with silence or half-truths. In this episode of The Top Notch Leader Podcast, we’re unlocking the “B” in the VIBE framework: Build Trust.

Join Terence as he dives into how transparency transforms leadership — from decision-making to problem-solving and conflict resolution. You’ll learn why being open about your thought process, your challenges, and even your mistakes doesn’t weaken your authority… it strengthens your credibility.

Discover:

• How transparency fuels trust, accountability, and alignment
• What it looks like to lead with openness — without oversharing
• Common pitfalls leaders face when trying to be more transparent
• Simple, actionable ways to build a culture of trust and psychological safety

Whether you lead a small team or a growing organization, this episode will help you communicate with clarity, inspire loyalty, and elevate performance — one honest conversation at a time.

🎧 Tune in and learn how to lead openly, build deeply, and embody the kind of trust that drives lasting success.

Support the show

Struggling with transitioning from an operator to a leader? Get the FREE leadership framework guide to get you started in just a week.

https://top-notch-leadership.kit.com/subscribe

Send us a text

Get the free TRIPL-C Framework, plus a bonus toolkit:

https://top-notch-leadership.kit.com/subscribe

Discover how building an inclusive and respectful work environment can unlock the full potential of your team. In this episode, we explore the crucial role of diversity and values-based leadership in fostering a culture where everyone feels valued and empowered to thrive. Learn practical strategies to promote inclusion, address unconscious bias, and overcome challenges—whether during times of change or resistance. Featuring expert insights and real-world examples, this episode provides actionable steps for leaders committed to creating a workplace where collaboration, creativity, and engagement flourish.

Support the show

Struggling with transitioning from an operator to a leader? Get the FREE leadership framework guide to get you started in just a week.

https://top-notch-leadership.kit.com/subscribe

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Every company has values — but few actually live them. They’re printed on posters, displayed on websites, and written in handbooks… yet too often, they don’t show up when it matters most.

In this episode of The Top Notch Leader Podcast, host Terence Colson breaks down what it really means to build a values-driven organization — one where values aren’t just slogans, but the standard for how business gets done.

Terence shares practical insights drawn from years of leading high-performing teams — from combat-tested military units to corporate organizations — and walks you through how to:

• Define authentic, behavioral core values (not just aspirational ones).
• Embed those values into your hiring, decision-making, and recognition systems.
• Model alignment as a leader through accountability and transparency.
• Build trust and consistency through values-based leadership.

You’ll also get three actionable steps you can take today to start transforming your team’s culture from words on a wall to values in action.

Whether you lead a business, manage a team, or influence an organization from within, this episode will help you create lasting alignment between what your team says, does, and rewards.

🎧 Listen now to learn how to lead with purpose, clarity, and courage — and turn your organization’s values into its greatest competitive advantage.

Support the show

Struggling with transitioning from an operator to a leader? Get the FREE leadership framework guide to get you started in just a week.

https://top-notch-leadership.kit.com/subscribe

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Episode 10: Building High-Producing Teams

Every leader wants a team that performs under pressure, stays united through challenges, and consistently delivers results. But strong teams don’t happen by accident — they’re built with intention, structure, and clarity.

In this episode, [Your Name] breaks down the TRIPL-C Framework — six essential pillars that make high performance predictable, repeatable, and sustainable:

Trust. Relationships. Integration. Purpose. Leadership Alignment. Culture of Accountability.

You’ll learn how to:

✅ Build trust that fuels collaboration and honesty.

✅ Strengthen relationships that create loyalty and commitment.

✅ Integrate roles and goals so everyone moves in the same direction.

✅ Anchor your team in purpose — mission before metrics.

✅ Align your leaders so they speak with one voice.

✅ Create a culture of accountability where excellence becomes the norm.

Whether you’re leading a growing business, managing a cross-functional team, or developing your next generation of leaders, this episode gives you a clear roadmap to build the kind of team that doesn’t just perform — it thrives.

🎧 Tune in to discover how to apply TRIPL-C to your own organization — and start transforming your team from functional to phenomenal.

Support the show

Struggling with transitioning from an operator to a leader? Get the FREE leadership framework guide to get you started in just a week.

https://top-notch-leadership.kit.com/subscribe

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Every leader faces it: the excitement of launching a new team, the friction of conflict, the comfort of finding a rhythm—and the disruption of inevitable change. These aren’t random events; they’re the four natural phases of team building.

In this episode of The Top Notch Leader Podcast: Empowering Leaders, Transforming Teams, we break down the cycle of forming, storming, norming, and reforming—and what it takes to guide your people through each stage with confidence. You’ll learn:

• How to set vision and expectations during the forming phase
• Why conflict in storming isn’t failure, but fuel for growth
• How to sustain momentum and accountability during norming
• And why reforming is your chance to re-energize and elevate your team

Whether you’re leading a brand-new group, taking over an existing one, or navigating change, this episode will help you recognize the season your team is in and lead them like a Top Notch Leader.

Support the show

Struggling with transitioning from an operator to a leader? Get the FREE leadership framework guide to get you started in just a week.

https://top-notch-leadership.kit.com/subscribe