Empowering Your Team Through Technology and Empathy: Lessons from Libby DeLucian

On this episode of the Profit Roadmap podcast, Ryan and Bekah chat with entrepreneur, coach, and cleaning business founder, Libby Delucien.

In this episode, Libby will teach you how to:

Lead through uncertainty with honesty and consistency
Create morning routines to provide stability
Empower teams with technology
Make data-driven decisions
And so much more!

About Libby

Libby DeLucian is a serial business owner based in Fort Myers, Florida. Libby has launched several successful businesses in the home service industry, including professional organizing, cleaning, and building epic recruiting services.

Leading Through Uncertain Times

When leading a team through uncertain times, Libby says it is important to be open and honest. “If you don’t know the answers, it’s okay to say ‘I don’t know the answers.'”

That said, Libby recommends being consistent and stable during those challenging periods.

For her, that means having a morning routine that includes exercise, time with her husband, yoga or meditation, learning, and reviewing company numbers.

Empowering Your Team Through Technology

Libby is a big believer in using technology to empower her team and scale her businesses.

She documents processes and creates “micro playbooks” that walk team members through different scenarios, from handling customer complaints to preparing for a hurricane.

However, Libby cautions against relying too heavily on automation at the expense of the human touch, “Automation has a place, and we need to make sure we’re automating the right thing.” Instead of automating customer communication, Libby automates reminders for her customer success manager to reach out personally.

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Self-Doubt

Like many entrepreneurs, Libby has struggled with imposter syndrome and self-doubt.

“We struggle a lot with self-confidence,” she says of female business owners. “It’s how girls, and women, are raised.”

To combat these feelings, Libby goes back to the strength of her morning routine and a supportive group of peers.

She also says that ultimately comes down to authenticity. “Authenticity is the new currency. Be yourself. Don’t try to be something you’re not.”

Balancing Empathy and Logic as a Leader

As a female entrepreneur in a male-dominated industry, Libby has learned to leverage her emotional intelligence while also making data-driven decisions.

She recognizes that empathy is so important for creating connections and building strong teams.

At the same time, Libby stresses the need to separate emotions from decision-making and the ability to use data.

“Emotions are great for helping create connection but when it comes to making a decision, we want to use more data.”

Tracking Metrics and Making Data-Driven Decisions

To make informed decisions as a leader, Libby relies heavily on data and metrics on things like customer churn rates, employee turnover, and marketing spend to help her get a solid understanding of the health of her business.

Lessons Learned from Overcoming Adversity

Libby’s journey to success hasn’t been easy. She’s overcome abusive relationships, divorce, and starting over from scratch.

That said, she sees these experiences as a source of strength, not weakness.

“We can go through bad things, but it doesn’t define who we are,” Libby says.

“It’s okay. It doesn’t matter what happened to you in your past because it doesn’t define you. It actually is one of those things that can actually benefit you because it’s how I’m so strong when it comes to difficult moments or difficult decisions.”

The Power of Saying No and Staying Focused

As her businesses have grown, Libby has learned the importance of saying no and staying focused on her goals.

She uses tools like time blocking and the “Perfect Week” framework to ensure she’s making the most of her time and energy.

Libby also says it is key to invest in your own team before saying yes to outside commitments.

“I was saying yes to everybody. I was helping other entrepreneurs. I was helping friends. I was helping other parents. But you know who I wasn’t saying yes to? I wasn’t saying yes to my own employees.”