The Thoughtful Leader Podcast

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 Discovery Coaching Session, where we will: Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress. You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward. There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

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 Membership – apply for the early-bird pricing today!

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 Simple Ways. Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #113: Do You Have a Victim Leadership Mindset? Huberman Lab Podcast: The Science of Gratitude and How to Build a Gratitude Practice. Meditation and Mindfulness: Meditation for Beginners.

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 you might face when doing so. Apply For Your Complimentary Coaching Session I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will: Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress. You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward. There is no obligation to pursue furth

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. Apply For Your Complimentary Coaching Session I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will: Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress. You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward. There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session -

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 a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will: Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress. You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward. There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

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 simple ideas about what has worked for me in my career, If you are struggling with mental health issues, then be sure to seek professional assistance. Show Links Join the Thoughtful Leader Membership – it opens soon and you can claim your discount for being an early bird member! Click here to learn more and register for the discount. Article: Why Good Mental Health is a Leader’s Best Friend. Article: Why Being Resilient Will Kill You. Mental Health Resources: https://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/workplace-wellness

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 Session, where we will: Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress. You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward. There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

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 Complimentary Coaching Session I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will: Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress. You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward. There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people d

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 break those bad leadership habits you might have got yourself into! Mark Altman Bio In 2015, Mark Altman, started MindsetGo to help people become more confident and effective communicators. Mark has over two decades of experience speaking and training on interpersonal disciplines including organizational development, leadership, sales enablement, communication, emotional intelligence, and generational engagement.  Prior to MindsetGo, he founded Mark Altman & Associates (MA&A) in 2001. He grew and transformed his

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 ✅

Blind spots are dangerous for leaders.  It might be that you think people are perceiving you in one way, but actually they think something else about you entirely. Or perhaps you aren’t aware of your shortcomings, when other people can see them as plain as day. Whatever the case, ideally we want to reduce our blind spots so we don’t run into unexpected trouble. In this episode, I look at a useful model of self-awareness as well as some ways to try to reduce your blind spots, so you can lead better. The Johari Window, courtesy of communicationtheory.org. Apply For Your Complimentary Coaching Session I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will: Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress. You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward. There is

It’s natural for team members to need your support, but when it happens too often, it can be a real drag on your time. However, it’s not useful to lay the blame at their feet. Leadership behaviour is a major factor in how people behave, so the question should be asked – are you setting up the right conditions for your people to be self-sufficient? In this episode, I look at some strategies to help your people fend for themselves rather than using you as a crutch to lean on. Apply For Your Complimentary Coaching Session I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will: Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress. You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward. There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

Have you ever taken the time to actually write down what your team does, and how it does it?  It can be a really useful process to go through to help you understand your team better, highlight gaps and improvement areas and communicate to others what your team is all about. “Operating model” can comes across as a consulting buzzword, but when it comes down to it, it’s all about understanding what your team does, and how it does it… then writing it down. In this episode I look at the key parts of your team operating model and how it can help you. I’ve also got a handy checklist you can download below for free, to help you get started! Apply For Your Complimentary Coaching Session I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will: Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress. You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session wi

Are you one of the many leaders who wish your people would take more accountability?  Do you yearn for the day when your people will take greater ownership of their work to produce better results? Well, you’re not alone.  In this episode, I take a look at some simple ways to improve accountability in your team, to hopefully help your people step up and take greater ownership. Book Your Complimentary Discovery Coaching Session I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will: Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress. You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward. There is no obligation to continue with further coaching after this session - but many people want to!

Sometimes you’ll come to work feeling like you’re being tested by your people.  They’ll push boundaries, do their own thing and maybe give you some attitude.  It can be super frustrating, but it’s a natural part of leadership especially for leaders new to their role. Sometimes people just need some time to adjust.  In this episode I look at some of the ways that people will try to test your leadership, and some steps you can take to pass the test with flying colours. Book Your Discovery Coaching Session I invite you to a complementary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will: Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress. You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

Do you find your team reacting to problems rather than taking proactive action? You’re not alone – this can be a huge problem for team productivity and effectiveness. In this episode, I look at some of the reasons behind a lack of proactivity, and of course, some steps you can take to try to grow it in your team. It never feels good to be on the back foot all the time, so instead, let’s see if we can create an environment where proactivity is more likely to happen! Book Your Discovery Coaching Session I invite you to a complementary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will: Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress. You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

Ever wanted to feel better about your leadership, enjoy your role more and have more motivation to make change and lead the way? Well, you’re not alone. Leadership can be a hard slog, especially with the constant change and turmoil that we have been experiencing over the last few years. In this episode, I look at some good ways to start to shift your mindset to a more positive place, so you can show up as your best self more often. Book Your Discovery Coaching Session I invite you to a complementary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will: Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress. You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

In this episode, I interview Robbie Swale who is a Coach and Author of the new book “How to Start When You’re Stuck”. In this interview we cover a lot of topics including how leaders commonly find themselves getting stuck, as well as a powerful question to ask yourself when you’re struggling to know what action to take. I’ve been working with Robbie over the last year myself, and as usual in this interview, he comes up with many insights and resources that you can find in the links at the bottom of this page. Like the Show? Leave a Review On Apple Podcasts ✅

Ever noticed how busyness is often a sign of capability, competence or importance in many workplaces? Well, it’s time we put a stop to this.  The problem with needing to be busy all the time is that thoughtful leadership suffers.  In this episode, I look at some ways to start to push back against this nonsensical phenomenon and actually start getting real value out of the time we spend at work and in our leadership. Book Your Discovery Coaching Session I invite you to a complementary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will: Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress. You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.