Do Something With It
In this episode of The Leadership Hustle, Andrea Fredrickson and Michelle Hill get candid about a leadership trap they see all too often: collecting knowledge without applying it. Many leaders listen to countless podcasts, read stacks of books, and attend professional development sessions, yet make little to no change in how they actually lead.
Andrea and Michelle stress that growth happens through action, not just intention. Listening, reading, and learning are only the first steps. The real work begins when you put those lessons into practice, reflect on the results, and seek feedback to improve.
They encourage leaders to focus on one actionable takeaway at a time, track progress, and build accountability into their learning. Leadership, they remind listeners, is a skill that must be practiced deliberately and consistently. Like going to the gym, showing up is not enough—you have to lift the weight.
By the end of the episode, listeners will understand that development without action is just consumption, and that sustainable growth comes from doing, reflecting, and teaching others what you have learned.
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE
Expand Your Leadership Skills.
Do Something With It: Turning Learning Into Real Leadership Growth
Leaders spend countless hours reading books, listening to podcasts, and attending workshops. These can be powerful tools, but only when they lead to actual change. In this episode of The Leadership Hustle, Andrea Fredrickson and Michelle Hill share a tough reminder: consuming information does not make you a better leader. Doing something with it does.
Andrea and Michelle often hear leaders talk excitedly about what they read or learned, but when asked what they will do differently, many cannot answer. Knowledge without consistent action leaves teams disappointed, leaders stagnant, and organizations stuck.
This episode pushes leaders to move beyond good intentions and turn learning into behavior that others can see, feel, and appreciate.
The Illusion of Learning Without Action
Andrea and Michelle reflect on how often leaders collect ideas without applying them.
“People are listening to ten different podcasts, reading all these books and going to the leadership programs and this and that, and they are not really doing anything with it.”
The pair explain that awareness is helpful, but it does not create growth on its own. Leaders must identify what they will start doing and what they will stop doing. Reading about better listening skills is not enough. You must practice them intentionally.
Michelle compares it to having a gym membership. It might look impressive, but it does not build strength unless you actually lift the weight.
“You have to put the work in for the lifts of weights. I have to do something intentionally.”
Leadership Is a Skill You Must Practice
Andrea and Michelle emphasize that leadership is not a talent people are born with. It is a skill that must be practiced, refined, and improved through repetition and reflection.
“Leadership is a skill that you have to practice. It is not something that comes to people naturally.”
Practicing leadership looks like this:
Choosing one skill to work on.
Repeating it often enough for it to become natural.
Asking for feedback to adjust and improve.
Making room by stopping an unhelpful habit.
This is the opposite of passive consumption. It requires intention, discomfort, and consistency.
Reflection Helps Reveal Blind Spots
Andrea and Michelle explain that one of the best ways to improve leadership skill is through regular self-reflection. Leaders should review what happened, what went well, and what needs improvement. This helps uncover blind spots that are easy to overlook.
They also recommend journaling key takeaways from classes, books, and podcasts. One simple list can help leaders track what they want to practice and how it is progressing.
Without reflection, learning remains theoretical. With reflection, it becomes actionable.
Teaching Others Deepens Your Own Learning
One of the most powerful points Andrea and Michelle share is this: when you teach others what you are trying to learn, you create accountability for yourself.
“What you teach you own.”
Talking with peers, teaching your team, or sharing a new skill in a one on one forces you to apply the concept. Others will begin to watch your behavior, which encourages consistency and follow through.
Turn Input Into Impact
Andrea and Michelle close the episode by encouraging leaders to stop measuring success by the number of books they read or classes they attend. Instead, measure success by what people around you can actually see.
“If you are consuming self help information, do yourself and them a favor by working on it. Do something with it.”
Learning is the spark, not the finish line. The real impact happens when you do the work, practice the skill, and let others experience the difference.
Key Takeaways
Leadership growth only happens through action and practice.
Consuming information is easy; applying it takes intentional effort.
You cannot start a new habit without stopping an old one.
Feedback and reflection accelerate improvement.
Teaching others reinforces your own commitment to a new behavior.
Growth is visible to others only when your actions change.
Listen and Learn More
🎧 Listen to this episode of The Leadership Hustle:
https://www.revelagroup.com/podcast
About the Hosts
Andrea Fredrickson
Andrea Fredrickson is a thought leader and consultant at Revela, an organization based in Omaha, Nebraska specializing in the development of leaders, culture alignment, and business strategy for private and family businesses of all sizes. Revela is one of the region's most experienced thought challengers, helping individuals and companies find their greatness. Andrea has built an amazing team by believing that fundamentally people want to be successful and become better versions of themselves.
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Andrea has degrees in education, management, and business. She is the author of Insight Unseen; How to lead with 20/20 business vision. She helps people see things differently, self-reflect, and never stop looking for ways to improve themselves on a personal and professional level. Andrea has spent more than 30 years researching and developing methods to help people communicate and lead more effectively.
When Andrea isn’t working with clients, you’ll find her spending time with her family & friends and making memories by exploring new cities.
Michelle Hill
Michelle Hill is a master facilitator and coach at Revela, an organization specializing in the development of leaders and aligning the culture of privately held and family businesses of all sizes. Revela is one of the region's most experienced thought challengers, helping individuals and companies find their greatness.
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An ambitious leader, Michelle has the natural ability to create forward momentum to build teams and get results. She inspires others to look within themselves and to challenge the status quo. She helps create high-performing environments. Michelle brings a diverse background: operations, employee development, and sales in the steel, hospitality, and consulting industries.
Outside of work, you will see her competitive side engaged in her daughter’s sports and ISU athletics. She loves life, her four-legged companions, and captures all the moments through her camera’s lens.
TRANSCRIPT
Andrea Fredrickson: On this episode of The Leadership Hustle, we’re going to get in your face a little about how many books, podcasts, and sessions you consume… and what you actually do with any of it. Welcome to The Leadership Hustle, for executives whose companies are growing fast and need leaders who are ready. I’m Andrea, and I’m here with my co-host, Michelle.
Michelle Hill: Hello.
Andrea: This is something Michelle and I hear about every week.
Michelle: At least.
Andrea: And it’s not just a pet peeve. It’s not helping the person who’s telling us. We’re saying this with good intention.
Michelle: Yes. They want to get better.
Andrea: But getting better takes work. And that’s where it falls off.
Andrea: So what are we talking about?
Michelle: We see it in conversations and in leadership programs we facilitate. People are listening to ten different podcasts, reading all these books, attending leadership programs… and they’re not doing anything with it.
Andrea: Exactly. When you ask, “What will I notice? What would your people notice you doing differently because you listened to all of that?” they can’t answer. They look at you like, “What do you mean?”