Episode 3: The Map for Growing Your Leadership

In this episode of the Third Option Leadership Podcast, Bobby McGraw sits down with executive coaches Dean Harbry and Janalee Rainwater to unpack the Lifecycle of a Leader — a clear, practical roadmap that helps leaders know where they are and what they need next. Instead of guessing or feeling stuck, this conversation offers a four-stage map that demystifies leadership growth.

Listeners will learn how leadership evolves from Individual Contributor → Manager/Director → Corporate Leader → Sponsor & Successor Developer, and why each stage requires a different vantage point, different skills, and a different way of thinking.

Through real coaching examples and decades of experience, Janalee and Dean illuminate the “big traps” that sabotage leaders, the necessary skill sets for each stage, and the mindsets that prevent burnout and create sustainable, scalable leadership.

The episode closes with encouragement for leaders who might feel overwhelmed or unsure of the next step — you’re not alone, and there is a path forward. This map can help.