Leading with Love: 17 Leadership Strategies That Make an Impact

Leadership is about people. Not results. Not KPIs. Simply, the people you lead.

In this insightful talk, Sam Falletta explores what it means to lead with love and how even small actions can create a massive impact on your team, culture, and success.

From mastering self-talk to creating meaningful employee experiences, this video is packed with actionable strategies that any leader can implement right away. Whether you're a seasoned executive or an emerging leader, these principles will help you build trust, inspire your team, and lead with purpose.

Watch the full talk below and check out the timecodes to jump to the sections that resonate most with you.

Time Codes:

0:00 - Intro from Sam Falletta

1:00 - Quick Intro to Incept

1:47 - The Most Important Person You'll Ever Manage

4:00 - Finding Your Why

5:00 - Be Your Best at the Worst

6:13 - The Importance of Going Over the Top

11:30 - Finding the Best Fit

12:10 - Don’t Take it Personal

12:53 - Create Employee Experiences

13:45 - Demand Failure

15:37 - Coaching to Potential, Not Just Performance

16:15 - Being Honest About Organizational Identity

17:18 - Leadership and Vulnerability

17:54 - Mental Health is Health

21:07 - The "8 Minutes" Rule for Asking for Help

22:35 - Making People the Hero of Their Story

23:11 - Flip Two Tables: Passion in Leadership

23:36 - Rethinking Year-End Gifts

24:35 - Test Once, Don’t Sell Forever

25:53 - Stop Chasing Things That Don’t Add Value

26:31 - Teaching as a Leadership Responsibility

27:40 - What Do You Make? The Power of Influence

30:00 - Closing Remarks

Great leadership isn’t about authority—it’s about impact. It’s about showing up for your team, leading with empathy, and creating an environment where people feel valued and inspired.

Now it’s your turn.

What’s one small way you can lead with love this week?

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5 Essential Questions to Build a Business Growth Plan and Scale Successfully

When your business is thriving, it’s hard not to feel the buzz of excitement. Customers rave about your products or services, your team fires on all cylinders, and growth feels like the natural next step. Expanding your reach, launching new products, or entering untapped markets—it all feels within reach, and the possibilities seem endless.

But scaling your small to medium business is more than just riding the wave of success. Smaller businesses often face unique challenges when growing—limited resources, tighter budgets, and the pressure to compete with larger, more established players. It’s about creating a solid business growth plan that ensures your company can handle the demands of expansion without losing momentum.

Will your systems and processes hold up? Is your team equipped to take on new responsibilities? Do you have the financial runway to grow sustainably?

Growth is exhilarating, but it’s also a high-stakes move that requires thoughtful preparation. Before you leap, take a step back and ask yourself the tough questions. In this post, we’ll explore five essential questions to help you prepare for growth, avoid common pitfalls, and set your business up for long-term success.

1. What Are Our Goals for Growth?

Let’s be real—saying “I want my business to grow” is like saying “I want pizza.” Sure, it’s a great start, but are we talking classic pepperoni or artisanal truffle mushroom? In other words, growth isn’t one-size-fits-all. The first step in scaling your small to medium business is defining what success looks like for you.

Do you want to increase revenue by 30% this year? Expand into a new geographic market? Launch a new product line? Maybe you’re looking to grow your team or improve operational efficiency so you can work less overtime (hello, life balance). Whatever your goals are, they should be specific, measurable, and aligned with your broader vision for the business.

Here’s where it gets interesting: growth goals aren’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet. They’re about aligning three critical elements—your personal ambitions, professional milestones, and your team’s capabilities. If you’re chasing massive revenue without considering the impact on your work-life balance, or if your team isn’t ready to support the next big leap, things can spiral fast.

Pro Tip: Take a moment to dream big, then distill those dreams into actionable goals. Think of them as the GPS coordinates for your business growth plan. When everyone on your team knows where you’re headed, you’re much more likely to reach the destination without running out of gas (or patience).

2. How Well Do We Know Our Market and Competition?

Before you accelerate growth, it’s worth double-checking just how well you know your market and competition. Who are your ideal customers, and what do they truly want? What makes them choose your business over the competition—or vice versa?

And speaking of competition, what are your rivals doing well, and where are the gaps you can fill? Scaling without answers to these questions is like serving pizza without knowing your customers’ favorite toppings. (Hint: Not everyone loves anchovies.)

Be sure to review both internal customer feedback and competitor reviews.

• What are our customers saying about us?

• What are their customers saying about them?

• How can we stand out?

Invest time in market research to refine your target audience and uncover emerging trends. Tools like customer surveys, competitor analysis, and social media insights can help you stay ahead of the game. Armed with this knowledge, you can adjust your offerings and messaging to better resonate with your audience.

Pro Tip: Keep an eye out for underserved markets or niches where your business can shine. For example, if your competitors are all about speed, focus on delivering a personalized, white-glove experience. Finding your unique “slice” of the market is key to standing out and thriving.

Our Favorite Tools for Market and Competitor Insights:

Customer Surveys

• Google Forms: Free, simple, and perfect for quick feedback.

• SurveyMonkey: Offers more customization and analytics with free and paid plans.

Competitor Analysis

• SEMrush: A powerhouse for analyzing competitors’ SEO, PPC, and content strategies (robust but pricier).

• SpyFu: Great for digging into competitors’ PPC campaigns and SEO keywords (budget-friendly).

Social Media Insights

• Hootsuite: Comprehensive for managing and analyzing multiple platforms; SMB-friendly pricing tiers.

• Sprout Social: Ideal for deeper engagement metrics and team collaboration.

3. Is Our Team Ready to Grow?

Scaling your small to medium business means more than increasing output; it requires a team that’s equipped and ready to rise to the challenge. The question isn’t just whether your team can handle today’s workload, but if they’re prepared to take on the demands of tomorrow.

As you expand, the complexities of your business will grow too. More customers, bigger projects, and tighter timelines—does your team have the skills, capacity, and support to keep pace? Are there leadership gaps or bottlenecks that need addressing? And just as crucial, is your company culture adaptable enough to thrive through change?

Start by evaluating your team’s strengths and identifying areas that could benefit from additional resources, training, or support. One way to do this is through a team-focused SWOT analysis, where you assess your team’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as they relate to scaling. Alternatively, a skills gap assessment can help you identify the capabilities you’ll need for growth and where additional training or hiring might be required.

If you uncover gaps, it’s important to take action. For instance:

• Address skill shortages with targeted internal or external training programs, such as workshops, certifications, or mentorship initiatives.

• Close leadership gaps by investing in professional development for current staff or recruiting experienced leaders who can hit the ground running.

• Boost capacity by outsourcing certain tasks or bringing on temporary or fractional support to handle the growing workload until you’re ready for full-time hires.

Pro Tip: Growth is a team sport. Scaling works best when everyone knows their role, has the tools they need, and feels motivated to perform at their best. Invest in the right training, workshops, or development opportunities now to fix any gaps, so your team is equipped to scale alongside your business.

4. Do We Have the Right Processes in Place?

Scaling your small to medium business without solid processes is like trying to bake a pizza without a recipe—it might work, but chances are, things will get messy fast. Growth brings complexity, and without the right systems, even the best teams can struggle to keep up.

Start by taking a hard look at your current operations. Are your workflows efficient, or do they rely too much on manual effort? Is your technology helping or hindering? Key areas to evaluate might include inventory management, CRM software, customer service protocols, and financial controls. Think about the processes that will need to scale alongside your business and identify any weak spots that could slow you down.

Automation can often be a game-changer here, streamlining repetitive tasks and freeing up your team to focus on higher-value work. For example, upgrading to a cloud-based CRM like HubSpot or Salesforce can simplify customer management as your client base grows. Similarly, automating your invoicing, marketing emails, or order tracking can save time and reduce errors.

Pro Tip: Document your key processes now—even if they seem obvious or small. Schedule interviews with members of your sales team to understand exactly what their processes are, step-by-step and take copious notes. Clear, standardized procedures make it easier to onboard new team members and keep everyone aligned as you grow. Think of it as writing the ultimate recipe for your business’s success.

5. How Will We Finance Our Growth?

Scaling your business is exciting, but let’s be honest—growth isn’t free. Whether it’s hiring new team members, upgrading technology, expanding your facilities, or launching a marketing campaign, every step comes with a price tag. The question is: do you have the financial runway to make it happen sustainably?

Start by reviewing your current financial health. Do you have enough cash flow to reinvest into the business, or will you need external funding? Options like small business loans, lines of credit, venture capital, or even crowdfunding might come into play depending on your goals and timeline. Each choice has its pros and cons, so it’s essential to weigh them carefully.

Practical Tools and Resources to Explore:

Budgeting Tools

• QuickBooks: Ideal for tracking cash flow, managing expenses, and forecasting financial needs.

• Xero: Great for SMBs looking for cloud-based budgeting and financial management tools.

Funding Platforms

• Fundera: Helps SMBs access funding, from loans to lines of credit, with an easy application process.

• SBA.gov: Offers government-backed loan programs, grants, and resources for small businesses.

Investor Outreach

• Gust: Connects entrepreneurs with angel investors and funding networks globally.

Crowdfunding Platforms

• Kickstarter: Perfect for product-based businesses looking to raise funds from a creative audience.

Financial Planning Resources

• SCORE Templates: Free, downloadable budgeting and financial planning templates for small businesses.

• Small Business Administration (SBA): A comprehensive resource for financial planning, grants, and cost management.

It’s also critical to project the costs of scaling realistically. What will you need to invest upfront, and how long will it take to see a return? A detailed budget can help you avoid unexpected surprises and ensure you’re making decisions based on solid numbers, not just optimism.

Pro Tip: Scaling isn’t just about spending—it’s about spending wisely. Focus your resources on areas with the highest potential ROI, like optimizing your sales funnel, retaining top talent, or expanding into high-growth markets. Smart investments today can fuel sustainable growth tomorrow.

Your Business Growth Plan: The Recipe for Scaling Success

Scaling your business is a lot like making the perfect pizza—it takes the right ingredients, a solid recipe, and a team that knows how to work the oven. Skip a step, and you might end up with a burnt crust or too many toppings that collapse the whole thing. But with careful preparation and a clear plan, you can create something truly satisfying (and maybe even award-winning).

By answering these five key questions—clarifying your goals, knowing your market, evaluating your team, optimizing your processes, and planning your finances—you’re laying the foundation for growth that’s sustainable and successful.

At Incept, we know that scaling isn’t a solo venture. As you scale, you may find that you need some help. That’s where we come in. Our fractional services are designed to help businesses like yours handle the extra demand without the burden of hiring a full-time team. Whether you need help fine-tuning your strategy, managing your processes, or executing the day-to-day work, we bring the expertise and flexibility to help you grow—without overloading your plate.

Because when it comes to growth, you deserve a partner who can help you turn your best ideas into reality—whether that’s expanding your reach, increasing revenue, or just building a business you’re proud to run. So roll out the dough, prep your toppings, and let’s get that pizza in the oven. Your next big opportunity is just a slice away.

What is an Account Growth Specialist, and How Can They Help You Grow Your Business?

In today’s fast-paced business environment, growth isn’t just about acquiring new customers—it’s about nurturing existing relationships, unlocking hidden opportunities, and ensuring your clients feel seen and valued.

You know customer retention is critical, but your team is stretched thin. You want to grow, but you don’t have the time to nurture existing clients. This is where an Account Growth Specialist (AGS) becomes your ultimate guide, helping you navigate the complexities of scaling your business while maintaining your brand’s promise.

The Role of an Account Growth Specialist: Your Trusted Ally in Growth

You’ve built strong client relationships, but how do you turn them into long-term revenue? An AGS helps you unlock hidden growth potential while keeping clients engaged. They are the champions of your existing accounts, focusing not just on retention but on driving long-term growth through personalized strategies that align with your goals.

Here’s what an AGS does:

Clarifies Your Business Growth Plan

With an AGS, you get a clear roadmap to growth—one that aligns with your strengths and ensures clients keep coming back. They collaborate with our team of growth experts and your internal team to uncover your unique value proposition, bridge gaps in your strategy and management, and design a tailored outreach process that strengthens client relationships and accelerates growth.

Positions You as the Hero

Your clients already believe in your solution. With an AGS, you can proactively solve their challenges before they even realize they need help—building deeper trust and driving more revenue.

Uncovers Opportunities You Didn’t See

By analyzing customer data, conducting regular reviews, and asking the right questions, an AGS pinpoints cross-selling and upselling opportunities to increase revenue without stretching your resources.

The Client Journey: From Uncertainty to Confidence

Your clients expect proactive service, but without a clear system, opportunities slip through the cracks. An AGS gives you a structured way to engage clients, increase retention, and drive repeat business—without adding more to your plate.

Here’s how:

Understanding the Customer’s Challenges

Every client has unique needs. An AGS engages in deep discovery to uncover pain points and ensure you’re meeting their current and future expectations.

Crafting Tailored Solutions

With a clear understanding of the client’s journey, the AGS collaborates with your internal teams to create personalized growth plans. These plans ensure your solutions are always aligned with client goals, building trust and loyalty.

Delivering Tangible Wins

Whether it’s an upsell that genuinely benefits the client or streamlining communication channels, the AGS ensures that every interaction adds measurable value to your business.

Accelerate Revenue and Retain Clients: The Power of an Account Growth Specialist

If you’re spending all your time keeping current clients happy without a strategy for upselling and retention, you’re leaving money on the table. An AGS ensures every client interaction leads to growth, balancing the dual priorities of nurturing existing client relationships and identifying new opportunities to expand your reach.

Here’s how they help your business thrive:

Save Time, Focus on Strengths

Managing accounts while pursuing new business can quickly stretch your team thin. An AGS streamlines account management, growth initiatives, and lead development, freeing your internal team to focus on delivering exceptional products and services, closing deals, and building lasting relationships with clients.

Drive Revenue Growth with Existing and New Clients

An AGS maximizes potential within your current client base by identifying upselling and cross-selling opportunities, while also focusing on targeted strategies to attract new customers. They bring a holistic approach to driving revenue by balancing retention with acquisition.

Win and Retain Loyal Clients

By delivering personalized value and strategic insights, an AGS ensures that your existing clients stay engaged and loyal. At the same time, they use tailored messaging to connect with new prospects, establishing trust and credibility right from the start.

Deliver Market Insights for Strategic Advantage

Through close collaboration with current clients and prospects, an AGS uncovers trends, challenges, and opportunities. These insights fuel smarter strategies for both retention and acquisition, keeping your business ahead of the curve.

Whether it’s deepening relationships with current clients or expanding into new markets, an Account Growth Specialist gives your business the agility to accelerate revenue and create lasting success.

A Vision for Business Growth: Aligning Your Strategy

With an Account Growth Specialist, your business growth strategy transforms from a lofty goal into a clear, actionable roadmap. These professionals bring the expertise, focus, and alignment needed to achieve measurable results, ensuring that your efforts are always strategically guided and purposefully executed.

Focus on What Matters Most

Growth often stalls when businesses try to tackle too much at once. An AGS prioritizes initiatives that align with your company’s unique strengths, goals, and market position, helping you concentrate on opportunities with the highest potential ROI. This laser focus prevents wasted time and resources, allowing your team to operate with clarity and confidence.

Seamless Integration with Your Team

AGS professionals work hand-in-hand with your internal teams to ensure every strategy complements your existing operations. By aligning their efforts with your company culture, sales processes, and long-term objectives, they act as an extension of your team—keeping everyone moving toward a unified vision.

Execution That Delivers Results

Strategies are only as effective as their implementation. An AGS ensures that plans aren’t just ideas on paper but are executed with precision. From identifying high-value opportunities within your current client base to strategically targeting new prospects, they translate goals into action steps that drive tangible results.

Adaptability in a Changing Market

Business growth requires agility. As market trends shift, customer expectations evolve, or internal priorities change, an AGS provides the flexibility to adjust your approach. Their ability to pivot ensures that your growth strategy remains relevant and effective in a dynamic environment.

Eliminating Growth Roadblocks

Whether it’s managing customer relationships, streamlining workflows, or optimizing outreach, an AGS identifies and removes obstacles that slow your progress. Their proactive problem-solving keeps your business on track, even when faced with complex challenges.

By aligning your growth strategy with the expertise of an Account Growth Specialist, you gain a trusted partner who helps you turn big-picture goals into achievable milestones. With their guidance, your team can focus on closing deals, knowing that every action is strategically aligned to propel your business forward.

Let’s Build Your Growth Together

Want to find hidden revenue in your existing client base? Schedule a free consultation today to see how an AGS can help.