When leaders do bad things in your workplace, do you assume they are bad, evil people? Or could it be that in a different environment, they’d lead in a better way? In this episode I take a look at some of the integrity risks that I find can have even good leaders doing bad leadership things. Watch out for them, to be able to lead better, more often. Like the Show? Please Leave a Review! ✅ If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one...
Nov 29, 2022•15 min•Ep. 196
There are still some common misconceptions about leadership floating around in our organisations. Leadership has changed. Gone are the days of command and control and the days of more inclusive leadership are upon us. However, many workplaces are still battling “old-school” leadership challenges. In this episode, I take a look at some common leadership misconceptions that I feel still have a tendency to trip us up! Like the Show? Please Leave a Review! ✅ If you like this episode or the show in g...
Nov 21, 2022•12 min•Ep. 195
The world is full of top 10 leadership characteristics lists which we should all aspire to. In this episode, I wanted to do something a little different, so here are four characteristics that I think are overrated in leadership. I still see these attributes celebrated in many organisations even when the senior leaders say they don’t endorse them! Leave a comment with your favourite overrated leadership attribute! Like the Show? Please Leave a Review! ✅ If you like this episode or the show in gen...
Nov 15, 2022•12 min•Ep. 194
Good time management won’t necessarily make you a great leader, but I consider it to be a key enabler in being able to lead effectively. A frazzled, disorganised leader will often appear unreliable, untrustworthy and will struggle to focus their attention on the people who need it most (their people). In this episode, I take a look at four key areas to focus on for better time management. If you get these right, you’re on the way to being much more effective… and the results will follow! Apply F...
Nov 07, 2022•14 min•Ep. 193
Thoughtful leaders never set out to become the bottleneck or “single point of failure” in their teams. Unfortunately, it still happens for a bunch of reasons. In this episode, I take a look at why leaders might fall into the bottleneck trap and of course, how you can take steps to stop becoming a bottleneck in your team! Like the Show? Please Leave a Review! ✅ If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below. Your rev...
Oct 31, 2022•16 min•Ep. 192
When I notice team members watching the clock waiting for the time when they can go home, I know it’s a problem. It’s not that I want people to be working longer and harder than they need to. But ideally, we want people to enjoy what they do and feel motivated to achieve it, to the point that they feel accountable and take more ownership. This might mean working longer to finish something important one day, and leaving earlier the next. After all, it should be about outcomes, not hours. In this ...
Oct 25, 2022•13 min•Ep. 191
Reliable leaders have a tendency to build trust easily, because people know what to expect from them. It’s easy to say “just do what you say you’re going to do” to get someone to be more reliable, but it’s not always so easy to make it happen. In this episode, I’m going to look at some simple ways to show up more reliably at work, so you can hopefully put them into practice. As always, it’s not rocket science… it just needs a little focus! Apply For Your Complimentary Coaching Session I invite y...
Oct 18, 2022•13 min•Ep. 190
Since I started coaching thoughtful leaders, I’ve noticed a few focus areas that we spend most of our time working on. I’ve found that thoughtful leaders are often great people-people, but this can have it’s challenges too! In this episode, I take a look at the common areas of leadership improvement that I think many thoughtful leaders could benefit from. Like the Show? Please Leave a Review! ✅ If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicki...
Oct 10, 2022•13 min•Ep. 189
I work with lots of leaders who wish their team members would show a little more motivation and commitment. And recently I’ve also seen a lot of articles about “quiet quitting”, where people are effectively doing the bare minimum at work, or simply tuning out. In this episode, I take a look at some of the factors to check to see if you can build commitment in your team. You can’t *make* your people commit, but you can do your best to create an environment where people are more likely to feel com...
Oct 03, 2022•15 min•Ep. 188
If we follow our instincts all the time when leading people, we’re likely to run into trouble at some point. The problem is that we’re wired to protect ourselves, and we can be consumed with the “fight or flight” response that can cloud our judgement. While this response has helped us survive and thrive over many thousands of years, in the modern workplace it can hold us back. In this episode, I look at some leadership situations where doing the opposite of what your natural instincts tell you m...
Sep 20, 2022•13 min
Who wants to work in a chaotic work environment? Most people would answer… “of course, nobody does!” However, working in a chaotic work environment can sometimes actually be easier! In this episode, I look at a few ways that a chaotic work environment is hurting your team and your leadership, and of course some ways that you can bring some structure to the situation. Like the Show? Please Leave a Review! ✅ If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a revi...
Sep 13, 2022•13 min•Ep. 185
When leaders feel like they don’t have autonomy to make the decisions or take actions they need to, bad things can happen. That’s why it’s so important to have freedom when it comes to your leadership role. However, it’s not easy – you often need to navigate many stakeholders to achieve what you need to. In this episode, I take a look at some ways to take back your leadership freedom! Like the Show? Please Leave a Review! ✅ If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minut...
Sep 06, 2022•13 min•Ep. 184
Many people think that the boss is the most powerful person in a team. While the boss certainly does have power, they probably aren’t the only one! Sometimes power can come from different sources, not just your formal job title or position. In this episode, I take a look at several sources of power that can impact teams, and some actions you can take if you think a power imbalance is impacting team performance. Apply For Your Complimentary Coaching Session I invite you to a complimentary Discove...
Aug 30, 2022•15 min•Ep. 183
It’s nice to be a helpful leader, rather than being an obstacle or causing your team to do more work “managing” you. However, all that helpfulness can go too far if we’re not careful. Many good people leaders are motivated by supporting their people, so it’s easy to fall into the helpfulness trap. In this episode, I take a look at three seemingly helpful actions that may actually be hurting your team. Apply For Your Complimentary Coaching Session I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coachin...
Aug 22, 2022•10 min
It’s common for leaders to be faced with tough situations such as ethical dilemmas or conflicts, where they need to decide whether it’s worth fighting… or perhaps not worth the trouble. In this episode, I look at 6 good questions to ask yourself if you’re trying to work out whether it’s worth fighting that battle, or letting it go instead. There is never a perfect answer to this question, but hopefully this episode will help you to gain some clarity about what you should do when faced with your ...
Aug 16, 2022•11 min•Ep. 181
Even the best of us make mistakes, and our team members will too! In this episode, I answer a reader question about what to do when your team member messes up. It’s a common challenge, because we want to encourage our people to be proactive and build their confidence without feeling scared of failing… and at the same time, we don’t want the organisation to fall apart! Listen to this episode for some ideas on how to approach this situation. Join the Thoughtful Leader Membership As a Thoughtful Le...
Aug 08, 2022•11 min
Leading former colleagues can be tricky, because you used to be one of the gang and now you’re the boss! This can be awkward for some people and can put you in a difficult position. However, you shouldn’t refuse a good leadership opportunity just because of some potential discomfort. In this episode, I take a look at some tips for leading former colleagues, so you can feel more comfortable taking on the role… and so can the people you’re leading! Apply For Your Complimentary Coaching Session I i...
Aug 02, 2022•12 min
The “Open Door Policy” came about from the days where we actually had offices and doors. However, it’s still a valuable concept today, to promote free-flowing communication between a leader and their people. It’s not all roses though, there are some pitfalls that can occur if we aren’t careful. In this episode, I take a look at some of the challenges that can occur with this approach and how you can overcome them. Apply For Your Complimentary Coaching Session I invite you to a complimentary Disc...
Jul 26, 2022•13 min
Like it or not, leaders are role-models in the workplace. What we say and do matters, so it’s important to try to set the right example. In this episode, I look at some common phrases that can really cause some damage in our teams and workplaces! If you’ve said some of them yourself, don’t worry (I have too!) It’s not about beating ourselves up… it’s about doing better next time! Show Links: The Thoughtful Leader Membership is now open! Click here to learn more and enrol. Article: 7 Things Leade...
Jul 11, 2022•12 min
Avoiding conflict often feels good in the short-term. But over time, avoiding conflict can cause bigger issues, that may have been more easily tackled earlier on! In this episode, I take a deeper look at conflict avoidance, and what consequences it might be having that you may not have thought about. There is also a handy conflict avoidance questionnaire to help you decide whether to engage, or let this one go! Apply For Your Complimentary Coaching Session I invite you to a complimentary Discove...
Jul 05, 2022•10 min
Ever had tasks on your list that continue to stare at you week after week, while you keep putting them off? Procrastination is a common problem, even for leaders. But the problem is, leaders are meant to be leading and moving forward, not standing still! In this episode, I take a look at some common causes of procrastination and what we can do about them. Show Links: Article: Overcoming Procrastination In Your Leadership . Book: “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield . Thoughtful Leader Membershi...
Jun 27, 2022•14 min
Ever found yourself stuck in an "all or nothing" mindset? Where everything is black or white, always or never? We can get stuck in this type of thinking in tough environments and it can really hold us back. In this episode, I take a look at this way of thinking and how we might be able to put a stop to it. Show Links: Learn more about the Thoughtful Leader Membership here . Article: All or Nothing Thinking: How Is It Impacting Your Leadership? Article: Build A Better Leadership Mindset In 6 Simp...
Jun 20, 2022•11 min
Ever had to lead a team member who is lacking in confidence? It can be a daunting experience for some leaders, and for others it may seem like a burden or nuisance. However, leading a nervous team member can be an excellent way to build trust and help them realise that even if they might have had a bad boss in the past, it doesn’t always need to be that way! In this episode I take a look at some simple tips for leading team members who may be lacking confidence, as well as some of the challenges...
Jun 13, 2022•14 min
Leaders who inspire confidence in others have it easier. People tend to listen to what they say and leave them to do their work. Want to be one of those leaders? In this episode, I look at 3 simple ways to show people that you’ve got this leadership thing sorted. Thoughtful Leader Membership The Thoughtful Leader Membership will give you access to a bunch of resources and support that will help your leadership, for a reasonable price. Check out the details here: Thoughtful Leader Membership. App...
Jun 05, 2022•15 min
Being effective and productive are important for good leadership. We want to be focusing on the right things and doing them well, rather than rushing around stressed and constantly busy. I’ve found that mindset is one of the most important factors in being productive and effective. In this episode, I take a look at some of the mindset shifts that can help you to remain focused and stop you from falling into the rut of just being busy. Apply For Your Complimentary Coaching Session I invite you to...
May 29, 2022•11 min
Acknowledgement of the importance of mental health has grown steadily over the past few years. In years past, we mainly used to focus on physical health and safety, with people often being expected to “toughen up” or “be more resilient” when placed under pressure and stress. In this episode, I take a look at why leaders need to prioritise their mental health and wellbeing, and some simple steps you can take to help safeguard your mental health. I’m not a medical professional, so I’m sharing some...
May 24, 2022•11 min
Leaders love to have engaged, enthusiastic employees working for them, but it’s not always easy to make it happen. In this episode, I recount a short story of a time when I had some success in helping a team member feel more engaged in the work they were doing. I break it down into three main steps that made the difference, with the hope that you may be able to replicate some of them for yourself. Apply For Your Complimentary Coaching Session I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Se...
May 17, 2022•13 min
With the rise of remote and flexible working, people are becoming more open to the idea of actually enjoying their work. Instead of just going through the daily grind, people actually want to like what they do! As leaders, we play an important role in helping our people feel more fulfilled. It’s up to them to decide where they want to go, but we can help them get there! In this episode, I take a look at some ideas to help your people feel more motivated and fulfilled at work. Apply For Your Comp...
May 10, 2022•16 min
In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mark Altman, who is the founder of MindsetGo, a company that helps people become more confident and effective communicators. Mark reached out to me a few months back and since then, we’ve been catching up to speak about leadership, training and all sorts of other topics and to bounce ideas off each other. In our conversation we speak about the importance of mindset, the impact of showing appreciation to others and some tips on starting to brea...
May 03, 2022•36 min
Development opportunities are one of the best ways to stop your team from stagnating, ensuring everyone keeps learning and staying motivated. However, it’s not always easy to provide development opportunities. In this episode, I look at some of the risks in providing development opportunities, and some steps to take to enable your people to safely step outside of their comfort zone. Like the Show? Leave a Review On Apple Podcasts ✅ 👍 If you like this episode or the show in general, please take ...
Apr 25, 2022•12 min
