97 | You Can’t Lead Without Letting Go: Empowering Others to Lead When They're Not in Charge with Kristen Deese

Show Information 

Episode Number: 97

Date: July 21, 2025

Duration: 39:21

Host Contact Information

Host: Justin Deese

Website: JustinDeese.com 

Contact: Justin@JustinDeese.com

Guest Contact Information

Guest: Kristen Deese

Company: Virtual CFO for the Trades

Guest Website: KristenDeese.com

Summary

In this powerful and personal episode, Justin is joined by his wife and guest co-host, Kristen Deese, for a candid conversation about one of the biggest leadership blind spots: assigning responsibility without granting authority.

Drawing from real-life experience as business owners — and parents of a Marine — Justin and Kristen dive into the tension leaders face when trying to grow a business while still holding on too tightly. They explore what happens when managers are expected to perform without being truly empowered, and why letting go is not just necessary — it’s a leadership requirement.

From Red Friday traditions and eight-mile ruck marches to hard business truths, this episode blends heart and strategy in a way that will resonate with leaders at every level.

Resources & Mentions:

• How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge by Clay Scroggins

Takeaways

• Why delegation without authority sets your team up to fail
• How to empower managers to lead effectively — even if they’re not “in charge”
• The 80% rule: why “perfect” execution isn’t the goal
• How to support team leaders without micromanaging
• A book recommendation that every leader should read: How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge by Clay Scroggins
• Plus: How one family turned a boot camp milestone into a meaningful tradition of support

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome + Red Friday Tradition

02:00 – The Story Behind the 8-Mile Ruck March

05:30 – Honking for Support & Community Impact

07:30 – Training for the Grand Canyon Hike

09:00 – Storms, Lightning, and Studio Setbacks

10:00 – The Leadership Topic: Delegation & Authority

11:45 – Why Leaders Struggle to Let Go

13:00 – The Problem with Responsibility Without Power

15:00 – Empowering Managers: Clear Goals and Team Commitments

16:30 – Book Recommendation: How to Lead When You're Not in Charge

18:00 – What to Do When a Manager Asks to Fire Someone

20:00 – Final Thoughts: Trust, Ownership, and True Leadership

Keywords

empowering leaders, delegation and authority, how to lead when you’re not in charge, leadership in HVAC business, plumbing and HVAC leadership, business owner mindset, letting go as a leader, empowering your team, leadership challenges in small business, Team management HVAC, Clay Scroggins leadership, service manager authority, Operations manager leadership, HVAC company growth, freedom blueprint podcast, leadership podcast for business owners, Red Friday military support, family-owned business leadership