We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lauren Dicredico. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lauren below.

Alright, Lauren thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

I’ve always worked in small businesses, so entrepreneurship felt like a natural path for me.

That said, I’ve definitely put in the time to learn from larger corporations, which has been a big part of my success today. I’ve had jobs where the leadership was so bad, I’d sit in my car at lunch and cry. Or I’d be up at 4 a.m. trying to keep up with impossible workload & expectations. I’ve seen employees leave in droves and even tried talking to leaders about the psychology behind their management style—how it was costing them both money and great people. But, of course, they didn’t want to hear it.

One thing that’s crystal clear is how much a leader or business owner can shape not just the culture of a workplace, but also the people in it. I’ve seen high performers lose all motivation because of poor leadership, and I’ve seen people’s mental health take a hit as they try to keep up with demanding, dictator-like bosses.

A lot of people start small businesses to be their own boss, but then they realize something big when they start hiring—they don’t know how to lead. They want to grow their team, but they also need that team to perform well. So, how do they balance that?

That’s where I come in. My mission is to help small business owners develop their people and create workplaces where employees actually enjoy showing up. When that happens, businesses grow, and new opportunities open up for everyone outside of the typical corporate grind. The more owners develop their management & communication skills, the more their business thrives. We can then build systems that solve for this at multiple levels and solve operational inefficiencies. And as a bonus, they’ll grow personally and eventually get some time back, because they’ll have a strong, dependable team they can trust. Everybody wins.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

For those who may not know me yet, my name is Lauren, and I specialize in helping business owners transform their organizations by optimizing the way they hire, communicate, and manage their teams. My focus is on building better systems and developing stronger leadership to create workplaces that thrive. I’m the creator of the Balanced Business Method, a comprehensive program designed to streamline operations, implement proactive solutions, and foster an environment where employees can grow—and leaders can shift their focus from daily firefighting to strategic growth.
My career has been shaped by my passion for human performance and operational excellence. After earning my Master’s in Performance Psychology from the University of Denver, I began working with the U.S. Military. This experience honed my skills in leadership, process optimization, and psychological skills training. Eventually, I transitioned into the corporate consulting world, where I worked with senior leaders & executives to drive operational excellence.
However, in 2019, I decided to pursue a different path that aligned more with my love of entrepreneurship and the desire to impact small businesses. I launched my consulting business, bringing my expertise in leadership and operations to entrepreneurs who don’t always have access to the resources of major corporate firms. My mission? To empower small business owners with the tools and strategies they need to run efficient, high-performing organizations while developing thriving teams.
At the heart of my work is a simple yet profound belief: Your people are your business. The success of any organization depends on its team members, and leadership plays a pivotal role in shaping that success. Through the Balanced Business Method, I work closely with business owners to streamline their operational systems and create employee development plans. This ensures that leaders don’t just solve problems but anticipate and prevent them before they arise. The end result? A business that runs smoothly, employees who are engaged and supported, and leaders who have the freedom to focus on growth rather than being stuck in the day-to-day grind.
What sets me apart is my personalized approach. Small business leaders often feel like they’re “winging it” when it comes to managing people and operations. My goal is to bring clarity and structure to their work through strategies that are not only effective but also accessible. I take the high-level concepts you’d find in big consulting firms and tailor them specifically for the unique challenges small businesses face—providing hands-on support every step of the way.
If you asked me what I’m most proud of, it’s the impact my work has had on both businesses and the people behind them. Seeing a business owner reclaim their time and confidence, watching employees step into new roles with enthusiasm, and knowing that I’ve helped to create environments where people are valued and supported—that’s what fuels my passion.
I also dedicate time to giving back. As an adjunct professor and performance psychology consultant at my alma mater, Salem State University, I have the opportunity to mentor and work with the next generation of leaders, athletes, and professionals. It’s incredibly fulfilling to teach and guide students who share the same campus that shaped so much of my own life and career.
For entrepreneurs and small business owners who are looking to elevate their operations and leadership skills, I want you to know that you don’t need to feel stuck. Building a business with efficient systems and a motivated team might seem daunting, but with the right strategies and support, it’s absolutely achievable. Through the Balanced Business Method, I’m here to help you every step of the way. Together, we’ll transform your business into a place where both you and your team can thrive.
If you’d like to learn more or explore how we can work together, I’d love to hear from you!

Find me primarily on Instagram @balanedbusinessmethod or Linkedin Lauren DiCredico – https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurendicredico/

Have you ever had to pivot?

As a two-sport collegiate athlete who struggled with perfectionism, I was sure I was destined for a career in sport psychology. I wanted to help other high performers deal with challenges, perform better, and just function more effectively overall. But as I got deeper into it, I realized a lot of athletes were dealing with more clinical mental health issues, especially in today’s world with social media and the growing focus on mental health, which wasn’t an environment that suited me.

I kept taking on jobs that seemed like the next big learning opportunity—leadership consulting, therapy, business coaching, you name it. When I first launched my consulting business, I planned to focus on sport psychology. Being from Boston, I even called it “Wicked Psyched.”

Cool name, right? But I quickly ran into a few problems:
My target audience was young athletes, and honestly, I wasn’t passionate about working with kids.
I was kind of over sports. I still wanted to work with high performers, but I wanted them to be tackling bigger, more meaningful challenges.
My unique mix of business and psychology experience started attracting entrepreneurs. I realized I had spent a decade building knowledge that I could teach these people in a fraction of the time, helping them grow their businesses and their teams.

That’s when I knew I had to pivot. But, of course, I had a lot of learning to do myself. I hired coaches, pivoted again (and again), and recently nailed my messaging with the final rebrand of Balanced Business Method.

This whole journey taught me so much. For starters, business owners fail in public, and you’ve got to be okay with that. Secondly, just starting is the key—you don’t need to have it all figured out. You’ll figure it out as you go. Yeah, you might feel like an idiot sometimes, but the real idiots are the ones letting fear stop them from trying and staying stuck in corporate jobs they hate. Lastly, you have to let go of what is holding you back. I kept trying to serve both populations which made my marketing flop and caused confusion for myself & clients in messaging. Letting the sport psychology go was the best decision for me and my business.

Looking back, every job I took prepared me for what I do now. I love my career, my clients are awesome, and I learn from them every day. There’s always a lesson if you’re open to finding it.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

This is something I work on with my clients all the time, so it’s tough to narrow it down to just one piece of advice. But here are a few key things I always recommend:

First, hire for values. And I don’t just mean hiring people who agree with your values—I mean hiring people who already live those values in their everyday lives. When that’s the case, they don’t need to change their behavior to fit your culture. They just need to learn the skills, roles, and nuances of working for your company. It makes everything smoother.

Second, ask before you give feedback. Great leaders start by asking questions and genuinely listening. Don’t jump straight into corrections or solutions—chances are, they already know some of what you’re about to say. Let them speak first. Once they’ve shared their perspective, they’ll be more open to hearing yours.

Third, communicate. Communicate. And then communicate some more. Set clear expectations. Don’t assume anything is “obvious,” because it might not be. And when those tough conversations come up, don’t avoid them. Master the skills and strategies to approach those conversations with empathy and a solution-oriented mindset—it makes all the difference.

Here’s the bottom line: team morale isn’t built by doing one-off team-building activities. Those activities are fun because of the morale you build every day through your actions, communication, and values-driven behaviors and decisions. Keep showing up in those areas, and you’ll create a team that thrives.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balancedbusinessmethod/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurendicredico/

Image Credits

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