Have you heard about unlearning? It sounds like the opposite of what we are all about here at How To Take The Lead - learning, growth and development. But understanding what we need to unlearn as leaders is key to that growth and development.

In this episode we cover:

• what we mean by the concept of unlearning
• why unlearning a crucial part of our leadership journeys
• how you know what you need to unlearn in order to improve
• Seeking feedback and engaging others in your unlearning

As it's the last episode of this series you can also hear our highlights from series 4. Both of us particularly loved the conversation about self-leadership.

• How well do you lead yourself? - How to Take the Lead

How to Take the Lead is a show exploring all things leadership.

Every episode we explore a different part of life as a leader, questioning everything we've ever learnt and sharing a few of our own stories along the way.

If you want to learn how to do leadership your own way, join hosts Lee Griffith and Carrie-Ann Wade as they debunk myths, tackle stereotypes and generally put the leadership world to rights.

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.

If you want to watch this episode, subscribe to our YouTube channel to make sure you don't miss out.

And you can be a part of our Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both.

We're also over on Instagram for more behind the scenes, news and views.

Plus if you want to work with us to challenge and change leadership in your organisation get in touch by dropping us an email howtotakethelead@gmail.com or DM us on the socials.

What is your risk appetite as a leader?

It's well evidenced that high-performing teams are those who are willing to take collective risk. But it's not easy to get to that place, especially if it's outside of your comfort zone.

In this episode, we chat all things risk and why your approach to it matters. We discuss:

• how we define risks and how our approaches vary
• risk awareness versus risk-taking
• how your DISC profile - or preferences - can affect how you view and take risks
• the requirement of psychological safety in building risk appetite
• what good risk taking looks like
• how to identify where you sit on a risk scale
• how to become less risk averse
• tackling risky behaviours in others without being a killjoy
• getting alignment with your Board and taking people with you
• embracing your inner risk-taker

• Surrounded by idiots by Thomas Erikson

How to Take the Lead is a show exploring all things leadership.

Every episode we explore a different part of life as a leader, questioning everything we've ever learnt and sharing a few of our own stories along the way.

If you want to learn how to do leadership your own way, join hosts Lee Griffith and Carrie-Ann Wade as they debunk myths, tackle stereotypes and generally put the leadership world to rights.

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.

If you want to watch this episode, subscribe to our YouTube channel to make sure you don't miss out.

And you can be a part of our Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both.

We're also over on Instagram for more behind the scenes, news and views.

Plus if you want to work with us to challenge and change leadership in your organisation get in touch by dropping us an email howtotakethelead@gmail.com or DM us on the socials.

You know we can’t resist a cheeky bonus episode. As we end the series we take the opportunity to reflect on which episodes really resonated with us and with listeners. And we use this episode as an opportunity to cover things that cropped up between our conversations that we didn’t get the chance to discuss.

We share our own views, thoughts and experiences:

• 04:22 – finding your fire again – the “so what?”
• 07:24 – getting comfortable with being uncomfortable
• 12:40 – honesty and vulnerability
• 19:18 – shifting perceptions of power   
• 31:00 -  making your voice count
• 33:21 – perception – it’s all personal

As it’s a bonus we’ve not stuck to our usual format with top takeaways. However we have delved into all sorts of examples of good, bad and ugly leadership including mentions for Edward Enninful, Plaid Cymru, Dominic Raab, CBI and even the TV show Rise and Fall.

Get in touch to let us know what you want us to cover in Series 4, back after the summer holidays.

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast: www.howtotakethelead.com/listen

We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.

And if you're looking to lead differently in 2023, we've launched our new Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. Subscribe at How to Take the Lead | Substack

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It’s the last episode of this series and we are all about staying curious. We discuss how we define curiosity in leadership and whether it is a core leadership skill. We are not just talking about being curious about others, but being curious about your own approach to leadership and how a culture of curiosity can impact your teams and organisation.

We share our own views, thoughts and experiences:

• 03:08 – the art of asking questions
• 07:24 – benefits of being curious
• 13:56 – can you learn to be a curious leader?
• 22:24 – losing your curiosity   
• 28:21 -  How to… demonstrate curiosity

As always, we share our top takeaways to help you demonstrate curiosity as a leader. Questions are key, the types of questions you ask and how you ask them. Surrounding yourself with a diverse group of people and diverse thinking will support your curiosity.  

In this episode we reference Matthew Syed’s Rebel Ideas

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If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast: www.howtotakethelead.com/listen

New episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen / download on your favourite platform.

Episodes will also appear on YouTube channel every Thursday, so hit subscribe to make sure you don't miss out.

We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.

And if you're looking to lead differently in 2023, we've launched our new Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. Subscribe at How to Take the Lead | Substack

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Can you believe it’s the penultimate episode in this series already?

In this episode we tackle the topic of power in leadership and how power dynamics show up. We talk about some of the misconceptions in relation to power, challenge some of the stereotypes of how power can play out for leaders and how we can better understand how we can use our power for good as leaders. We share our own thoughts and experiences about how the concept of power has impacted our own leadership journeys.

• 03:08 – different types of power
• 09:21 – behaviours and signals from others
• 16:18 – can you lead successfully without power?
• 21:32 – feeling powerless   
• 31:18 – abuse of power
• 43:18 - How to… leverage your power

As always, we share our top takeaways to help you leverage your power as a leader. If you are uncomfortable with the concept of power consider reframing this to think about impact and influence. Identify where you do and don’t have the power to help you deliver your purpose. Focus on relationships you are building, grow your awareness and work on your communication and connection skills.

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If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast: www.howtotakethelead.com/listen

New episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen / download on your favourite platform.

Episodes will also appear on YouTube every Thursday, so hit subscribe to make sure you don't miss out.

We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.

And if you're looking to lead differently in 2023, we've launched our new Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. Subscribe at How to Take the Lead | Substack

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Twitter https://twitter.com/How2TakeTheLead

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@howtotakethelead/

Leaders or not, we are all human, so mistakes are inevitable right? Whether it is making a bad decision, moving in the wrong direction strategically or not listening to stakeholder feedback, it’s the way we deal with our mistakes that can make all the difference.

We share our own views, thoughts and experiences:

• 06:01 – the BBC v. Gary Lineker
• 08:36 – warning signs you’re getting it wrong
• 14:50 – blaming and scapegoating
• 22:27 – sorry seems to be the hardest word  
• 28:10 – trust is at the heart of it
• 31:35 -  How to… own your sh*t

As always, we share our top takeaways to help you to own your sh*t as a leader. Get the balance right, you need to move quickly but don’t create a knee jerk reaction. Situational awareness and understanding what actions you might need to take is crucial. Assess, acknowledge and act are three useful ‘As’ to support your thinking when you get things wrong.

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If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast: www.howtotakethelead.com/listen

New episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen / download on your favourite platform.

Episodes will also appear on YouTube every Thursday, so hit subscribe to make sure you don't miss out.

We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.

And if you're looking to lead differently in 2023, we've launched our new Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. Subscribe at 

How to Take the Lead | Substack

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While we might have 40 years of professional communications experience between us, we are super clear that leaders have to take the lead in communicating and engaging for their organisations, not leave it to their corporate communications team. Organisational performance and communications go hand in had for us and we explore this further in this episode.

We share our own views, thoughts and experiences:

• 04:07 – whose responsibility is it to communicate?
• 06:59 – communications and organisational performance
• 15:03 – understanding communication preferences
• 24:47 – where’s your evidence?  
• 28:53 – consistency is key
• 40:30 - How to…communicate and engage

As always, we share our top takeaways to help you to communicate and engage as a leader. We are all about clarity and consistency this week as well as understanding the notion of know, like and trust.

In this episode we reference Surrounded By Idiots by Thomas Erikson.

-------------------------

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast: www.howtotakethelead.com/listen

New episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen / download on your favourite platform.

Episodes will also appear on YouTube every Thursday, so hit subscribe to make sure you don't miss out.

We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.

And if you're looking to lead differently in 2023, we've launched our new Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. Subscribe at How to Take the Lead | Substack

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/howtotakethelead/

Twitter https://twitter.com/How2TakeTheLead

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@howtotakethelead/

We’ve already discussed the leadership landscape and how challenging it is for leaders at present. In this episode we talk about how, as a leader, you can avoid overwhelm, recognising when you might be heading towards burnout and how to support your wellbeing. We also share our own personal experiences of dealing with overwhelm.

We share our own views, thoughts and experiences:

• 03:38 – the stats – setting the scene
• 11:11 – recognition of signs and privilege
• 16:59 – the impact of who you work with
• 23:37 – boundary setting  
• 31:30 – where are you getting your support?
• 41:00 -  How to…avoid overwhelm

As always, we share our top takeaways to help you avoid overwhelm. Start with one small thing that could make a difference, make time to reflect and work out what some of your signs of overwhelm are and reach out to your support network.

In this episode we reference data from Deloitte Insights and the Development Dimensions International Global Leadership Forecast 2021. We also reference Dare to Lead by Brene Brown.

------------------------------

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast: www.howtotakethelead.com/listen

New episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen / download on your favourite platform.

Episodes will also appear on YouTube every Thursday, so hit subscribe to make sure you don't miss out.

We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.

And if you're looking to lead differently in 2023, we've launched our new Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. Subscribe at How to Take the Lead | Substack

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/howtotakethelead/

Twitter https://twitter.com/How2TakeTheLead

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@howtotakethelead/

As leaders we have a platform and opportunity to use our voice and our influence, whether we like it or not. In this episode we explore how and when you might choose to use your voice.

We share our own views, thoughts and experiences:

• 5:37 – representing what matters
• 8:23 – what does it mean to have a voice?
• 13:53 – individual v. organisational views
• 28:14 – testing alignment
• 36:56 – persistent and consistent
• 39:01 How to…make your voice count

As always, we share our top takeaways to help you make your voice count. This week it’s about understanding what matters most to you and your people so you can determine how and where you can use your voice as a leader. Don’t try to be perfect and lean into the discomfort that might come with some of this.

In this episode we reference the Edelman Trust Barometer 2023.

-----------------------

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast: www.howtotakethelead.com/listen

New episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen / download on your favourite platform.

Episodes will also appear on YouTube every Thursday, so hit subscribe to make sure you don't miss out.

We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.

And if you're looking to lead differently in 2023, we've launched our new Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. Subscribe at How to Take the Lead | Substack

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/howtotakethelead/

Twitter https://twitter.com/How2TakeTheLead

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@howtotakethelead/

Having difficult conversations is part and parcel of being a leader, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. In this episode we talk about how to have a difficult conversation with individuals, teams and in public. We share our advice and tips for how you can prepare for a challenging conversations and what you might want to consider from the point of view of the person/ people you are talking with.

In this episode we share our own views, thoughts and experiences:

• 5:10 – conflict and tension
• 10:10 – difficult team conversations
• 17:29 – communicating challenges outside of your organisation
• 24:10 – preparation is key
• 25:56 – seeking support
• 32:53 – How to… have a difficult conversation as a leader

As always, we share our top takeaways to help you consider how to have a difficult conversation. This week is all about preparation, evidence, relationship building and mindset. And we want to remind you not to take it personally.

In this episode we reference Connect by Carole Robin and David Bradford

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If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast: www.howtotakethelead.com/listen

New episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen / download on your favourite platform.

Episodes will also appear on YouTube, so hit subscribe to make sure you don't miss out.

We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.

And if you're looking to lead differently in 2023, we've launched our new Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. Subscribe at How to Take the Lead | Substack

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/howtotakethelead/

Twitter https://twitter.com/How2TakeTheLead

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

Confidence is something that comes up in so many of our conversations with leaders and aspiring leaders. In this episode we explore what confidence means in relation to leadership – both in terms of your own leadership and how you create confidence for others.

In this episode we share our own views, thoughts and experiences:

• 05:18 – confidence is subjective
• 10:30 – loud doesn’t equal confident
• 13:28 – don’t assume confidence means you don’t need support
• 15:15 – who is creating the confidence gap?
• 21:12 – developing your confidence
• 28:36 – practical things to support you
• 29:09 – How to – lead with confidence

As always, we share our top takeaways. We want you to be curious and explore that feedback in relation to your confidence, seek out the evidence and reflect on what the issues might be in terms of your confidence. Don’t take feedback, yours or anyone else’s at face value – put the work in to develop your confidence.

In this episode we reference The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman.

----------------------------

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast: www.howtotakethelead.com/listen

New episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen / download on your favourite platform.

Episodes will also appear on YouTube, so hit subscribe to make sure you don't miss out.

We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.

And if you're looking to lead differently in 2023, we've launched our new Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. Subscribe at: 

How to Take the Lead | Substack

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/howtotakethelead/

Twitter https://twitter.com/How2TakeTheLead

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@howtotakethelead/

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

Organisations have a huge role to play in developing leaders but not all organisations do this well. In this episode we discuss what support leaders need, how organisations identify future leaders and what leadership development programmes need to consider:

• 05:22  – talk about leadership early
• 10:28 – organisational mindset shift
• 14:30 – floundering out of the funnel
• 17:31 – closing the development gap
• 23:54 – creating a coaching culture
• 29:09 – How to... influence leadership development

As always, we share our top takeaways including the benefits of a coaching approach to leadership development, personalising development for individuals and challenging your own expectations of new leaders.

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast: www.howtotakethelead.com/listen

New episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen / download on your favourite platform.

Episodes will also appear on YouTube every Thursday, so hit subscribe to make sure you don't miss out.

We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.

And if you're looking to lead differently in 2023, we've launched our new Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. Subscribe at How to Take the Lead | Substack

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/howtotakethelead/

Twitter https://twitter.com/How2TakeTheLead

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@howtotakethelead/

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

Is being a disruptor about making trouble? We don't think so and it's one of the things we explore in this conversation about disruptive leadership. In this episode of How To Take The Lead we consider how disruptive leadership can support your teams/ organisations.

We discuss:

• what being a disruptive leader really means?
• the challenges disruption can cause
• how to take other people on a journey of change as part of disruption
• testing out disruption in small, more manageable ways
• changing or shifting your mindset in relation to dispruption
• being comfortable with your role or the role of others in disruptive leadership.

• Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking - Matthew Syed Consulting
• Disruptive Ideas by Leandro Herrero | Goodreads

How to Take the Lead is a show exploring all things leadership.

Every episode we explore a different part of life as a leader, questioning everything we've ever learnt and sharing a few of our own stories along the way.

If you want to learn how to do leadership your own way, join hosts Lee Griffith and Carrie-Ann Wade as they debunk myths, tackle stereotypes and generally put the leadership world to rights.

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.

If you want to watch this episode, subscribe to our YouTube channel to make sure you don't miss out.

And you can be a part of our Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both.

We're also over on Instagram for more behind the scenes, news and views.

Plus if you want to work with us to challenge and change leadership in your organisation get in touch by dropping us an email howtotakethelead@gmail.com or DM us on the socials.

We are back with our third series, and in this first episode we are talking about how you can lead when things are tough. We are all tired, we have moved from one crisis to another with no time to catch a breath, we have lots going on in life AND we still need to lead.

In this episode we share our own views, thoughts and experiences:

• 04:08  – knowing where to start
• 05:10 – working out what you can control and act on
• 11:15 – we don’t have to be the saviour
• 17:09 – leadership mindset
• 22:55 – don't demote development
• 28:48 – How to ... do things differently in 2023!

As always we share our top takeaways and in this episode we are all about actions not words – work out where you can add the most value and take action. Ask people what they need from you as a leader but don’t ask for permission to make changes. And look after yourself, it’s important for you and to role model to your teams.

----------------

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

New episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen/ download on your favourite platform.

To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com  

We are now also over on YouTube if you want to see what's going on behind the scenes as we talk!

Plus, we've launched our new Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both.

Enjoy this series and let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram @howtotakethelead or Twitter @How2TakeTheLead

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

Well, we’ve got two series of the podcast under our belts now and we couldn’t finish 2022 without a bonus episode. It’s a bit of a review of the year, what we have learned about leadership, what we’ve loved and loathed and also a look ahead to our leadership hopes for 2023.

• 04:23  – is it important for leaders to make time to reflect and reset?
• 10:53 – how do I take steps to have the impact I desire as a leader?
• 18:43 – overwhelm and being kind to yourself
• 26:02 – has 2022 been a good year for leaders?
• 30:46 – leadership wishes for 2023
• 32:08 – what should leaders firmly leave behind in 2022?
• 38:07 – final thoughts

In our final thoughts for 2022 we share a huge thank you to all our listeners and everyone who has supported us this year. We launched the podcast in June and we are so grateful to everyone who has been part of our How To Take The Lead community, there will be more from us in 2023 so stay tuned.

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If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com  

Enjoy this series and let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram @howtotakethelead or Twitter @How2TakeTheLead

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode we explore quiet quitting, what it is, how it is impacting people and whether or not it's a gen Z phenomenon.

The conversation flows toward boundary setting more than once as we discuss the reasons people are disengaging in the workplace. And we talk about the different demographics who are choosing to quiet quit.

• 04:36  – what is quiet quitting?
• 09:03 – sticking to your boundaries
• 11:58 – only 1 in 3 managers are engaged in the workplace
• 15:32 – is quiet quitting only a Gen Z thing?
• 23:19 – feeling in control of your career
• 25:57 – the How To...

As always we share our top takeaways and in this episode we ask want you to think about how you are engaging your workforce in and around purpose. We also share a reminder not to make assumptions about who in your workplace is in a quiet quitting frame of mind.

In this episode we reference research by Gallup  https://www.gallup.com/workplace/398306/quiet-quitting-real.aspx

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If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

New episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen/ download on your favourite platform.

To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com  

Enjoy this series and let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram @howtotakethelead or Twitter @How2TakeTheLead

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

We share our thoughts in this episode about whether culture trumps strategy and how we as leaders can consider this in our work. Strategy is, of course, important, but the culture you create impacts on so many factors, including how effective you are as a leader. 

As always we share our own views, thoughts and experiences:

• 05:06 – culture isn’t it’s own workstream
• 07:54 – culture supporting a changing strategy
• 11:15 – decision making hierarchy
• 15:00 – redefining the culture in your organisation
• 20:30 – aligning behaviours and experiences
• 25.40 – what if you can’t influence the macro culture? 
• 32:30 – the How to...

We share our top takeaways focused on how we can make culture part of our leadership manifestos. It’s important to demonstrate behaviours and actions that match your culture and move your strategy forward and show accountability in dealing with poor behaviours.  

------------------------

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

New episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen/ download on your favourite platform.

To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com  

Enjoy this series and let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram @howtotakethelead or Twitter @How2TakeTheLead

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode we share our thinking for leaders who may well be questioning if they should stay or if they should leave their organisation.

At various points in your career you may find yourself in the situation where you feel like it might be time for you to move on or there might well be signals that you should be considering your next steps as a leader. We talk about the things you should consider, owning the narrative and ensuring you have the right support.

As always we share our own views, thoughts and experiences:

• 05:02 – sometimes your face doesn’t fit anymore
• 07:54 – leaving a corporate role
• 10:52 – understanding if you’re ready for a new challenge
• 17:15 – what sort of leader does your organisation need?
• 23:23 – handling being managed out of an organisation
• 33:38 – how do you support your team if you are moving on? 
• 40:55 – the How to...

We share our top takeaways focused on how you create the conditions to consider whether you should stay or go as a leader. We recommend using the career priorities wheel to support your thinking and making time to reflect and consider your circumstances - DM Lee or email hello@sundayskies.com if you would like a copy.

In this episode we reference The Squiggly Career by Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis. 

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If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

New episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen/ download on your favourite platform.

To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com  

Enjoy this series and let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram @howtotakethelead or Twitter @How2TakeTheLead

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

This episode is an in-depth exploration of psychological safety, what it means for you as a leader, for your teams and your organisation. We share our own experiences, thoughts and advice and really do get personal to help you understand the importance of psychological safety.

In this episode we share our own views, thoughts and experiences:

• 02:50  – what do we mean by psychological safety
• 11:42 – imposter syndrome and safety
• 17:30 – the nuances of trust and psychological safety
• 19:54 – fear, innovation and risk
• 28:17 – psychological safety for your stakeholders
• 35:15  – reputation management and a safe culture 
• 40:55 – how to...

As always we share our top takeaways and in this episode, we encourage you to have conversations about psychological safety and listen to your colleagues and stakeholders. Being mindful of the impacts of your own behaviours will go some way to supporting a psychologically safe environment and demonstrating your appreciation for feedback, no matter the outcome, will also help. 

In this episode we reference The Fearless Organization by Amy C. Edmondson.  And we also mention the McKinsey research referenced in Leading Off. 

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If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

New episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen/ download on your favourite platform.

To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com  

Enjoy this series and let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram @howtotakethelead or Twitter @How2TakeTheLead

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode we explore what it really means to listen as a leader. Listening isn’t just about what you hear through your ears but what you see and experience. Working out who to listen to and how is one thing but you also need to decide what to do with what you are hearing.

• 04:27  – cutting through the noise
• 07:39 – what have you put in place to listen well?
• 09:14 – don’t just listen to those who shout loudest
• 15:52 – what gets in the way of truly listening?
• 21:21 – reading the room
• 23:43 – you can’t promise to fix everything 
• 30:55 – our top takeaways

As always we share our top takeaways and in this episode we ask you to consider the channels and mechanisms you have in place to listen as a leader. And we encourage you to work on not taking feedback personally or being overwhelmed by the idea of actively listening. Remember to be present when you are listening. 

We reference statistics from the Forbes article ‘6 Ways Effective Listening Can Make You A Better Leader’. 

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If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

New episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen/ download on your favourite platform.

To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com  

Enjoy this series and let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram @howtotakethelead or Twitter @How2TakeTheLead

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode we question what charisma really is and if you need it to be a good leader. We discuss how much personality impacts how effective you are as a leader. And we ask whether charisma is only associated with male leaders.

• 08:48  – building rapport and charisma
• 09:22 – is charisma inspirational?
• 11:52 – charisma as a label
• 14:05 – being likeable doesn’t always get the job done
• 16:04 – charisma – is it a man thing?
• 24:57 – personality transplant
• 30:30 – the how to...

As always we share our top takeaways and in this episode we share our thoughts on owning your personality and being authentic. We also talk about focusing on strategy, connection and communication.

We reference ‘Too Much Charisma Can Make Leaders Look Less Effective’ published by the Harvard Business Review.

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If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

New episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen/ download on your favourite platform.

To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com  

Enjoy this series and let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram @howtotakethelead or Twitter @How2TakeTheLead

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode we share recent research as well as our own thoughts and experiences on women in leadership. We ask if women are still facing the same challenges as leaders and what needs to happen to support more women in leadership positions:

• 02:19  – setting the context, Lean In and McKinsey report
• 04:47 – is it because I’m a woman?
• 11:17 – have the challenges for women changed?
• 13:42 – the positive impact of women leaders in organisations
• 21:58 – causes of imposter syndrome
• 24:06 – challenging stereotypes
• 28:40 – How to...

As always we share our top takeaways and in this episode we discuss ways to advocate and support women leaders. We discuss the need to present evidence and impacts to our organisation and whose role it is to support women in leadership. 

We reference the Women in the Workplace report carried out by McKinsey and Lean In. You can download it here:  https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/women-in-the-workplace

We also reference the Women Count report by The Pipeline: https://execpipeline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Women-Count-2022-1.pdf

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If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting using #HowToTakeTheLead

New episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen / download on your favourite platform.

To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com  

Enjoy this series and let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram @howtotakethelead or Twitter @How2TakeTheLead

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

We explore when you are a leader from a few angles, including your perception versus the perception of others, if you ever switch off as a leader and how your home life might be influenced by your leadership role and vice versa:

• 02:15  – is there a difference between management and leadership?
• 05:33 – the role of organisations in leadership development
• 09:39 – perceptions of when you are a leader
• 17:04 – exploring feedback about your leadership
• 19:24 – is leadership 24/7?
• 28:40 – How to...

As always we share our top takeaways and in this episode we strongly recommend revisiting your purpose and why you want to be a leader, focus on developing your leadership brand (even if that feels a bit icky) and make sure you consider your own wellbeing. 

----------------

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

New episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen/download on your favourite platform.

To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com  

Enjoy this series and let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram @howtotakethelead or Twitter @How2TakeTheLead

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

Should you be a thought leader? WHAT exactly does it mean to be a thought leader? In this week's How to Take the Lead, we discuss our thoughts on this topic, arguing the case for more leaders to talk out about things they're expert in.

We explore:

• whether anyone can become a thought leader or if it's hierarchical
• what you need to bring to be a thought leader - and our equation that makes a thought leader
• how thought leadership can help you as a leader
• organisational benefits of thought leadership and how to work with your organisation
• what activities can contribute to thought leadership
• the role of controversy in thought leadership
• legacy of thought leadership ideas
• how you work out where your thought leadership subject lies.

How to Take the Lead is a show exploring all things leadership.

Every episode we explore a different part of life as a leader, questioning everything we've ever learnt and sharing a few of our own stories along the way.

If you want to learn how to do leadership your own way, join hosts Lee Griffith and Carrie-Ann Wade as they debunk myths, tackle stereotypes and generally put the leadership world to rights.

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.

If you want to watch this episode, subscribe to our YouTube channel to make sure you don't miss out.

And you can be a part of our Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both.

We're also over on Instagram for more behind the scenes, news and views.

Plus if you want to work with us to challenge and change leadership in your organisation get in touch by dropping us an email howtotakethelead@gmail.com or DM us on the socials.

Managing change is something we all need to do as a leader but what happens when the changes are personal?

In this episode we explore how we can deal with transitions as a leader. We share our own experiences of dealing with change as leaders as well as offer advice and tips for those points in your career when change happens:

• 03:14 – dealing with your step up into leadership
• 08:40 – working out how you want to land as a new leader
• 10:25 – moving from a peer to a leader
• 18:54 – perceptions versus reality and managing work friendships
• 23:53 – what to consider when a change impacts you
• 31:16 – supporting your team when you don’t know what’s next
• 32:52 – the How To...

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

New episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen/ download on your favourite platform.

To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com  

Enjoy this series and let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram @howtotakethelead or Twitter @How2TakeTheLead

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In the first episode of this series we thought we should start with a review of leadership so far in 2022, covering some of the highs (there have been a few we promise) and lows of leadership right now. 

We share our thoughts on what’s impressing us in the leadership space, as well as the things that are causing us to get on our soapboxes:

• 03:16 – Patagonia, living their values and staying true to their purpose
• 09:47 – Gen Z, the boundary setters
• 22:00 – handling HR processes compassionately
• 26:41 – leading through the cost of living crisis
• 34:30 – the future leader – values, adaptability and wellbeing
• 43:13 – the How To... our top takeaways

As always we share our top takeaways and in this episode we discuss reframing issues into opportunities, what you can do today that has the biggest impact, lobbying for what matters, engaging with your colleagues, taking action and prioritising wellbeing.

Lee shared the example of transparent leadership from Tony Stubblebine at Medium and the statement she mentions is available here https://coachtony.medium.com/news-about-medium-staff-7d334c235789

We also talked about the parallels in our current monarchy and the storyline in To Play The King by Michael Dobbs. https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/870760.To_Play_the_King

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If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com  

Enjoy this series and let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram @howtotakethelead or Twitter @How2TakeTheLead

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

Welcome back to How To Take The Lead, our podcast exploring all things leadership. We are back for our second series and ready to share our latest thoughts on the state of leadership right now. No corporate BS here, just us, debunking myths, sharing our experiences and giving you practical tips. We might even get on our soapbox every now and then.

Between us we have extensive leadership and communications experience. How to Take the Lead offers you an insight into our approach and thoughts on leadership, all with the aim of challenging the ways things have always been done and promoting the modern leader.

New episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen/ download on your favourite platform.

To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com  

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe? And we would love it if you left us a review, rating or shared the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.

We hope you enjoy this series. As always get involved with the conversation or let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram or Twitter.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this bonus episode of How To Take The Lead it’s our end of series after party ... or reunion show, if you watch too much Below Deck like Lee!

In this episode we reflect on and discuss the things we wished we'd covered in the first series, bits we missed, what we've learnt and everything in between, including:

·       10:22 – that Jack Duckworth moment

·       11:29 – how The Wellcome Trust handled racism

·       14:27  – Virgin Atlantic ditch the power suit

·       16:32 – everyday sexism

·       20:08  – when can we stop asking if a woman can lead the country?

·       24:40 – storytelling when you maybe don’t feel like it

·       26:45 – there’s so much more to explore

There’s no top takeaways from us but we are excited to announce we have launched our How To Take the Lead social media channels. You will be able to find all the good stuff on Insta and Twitter:

Instagram @howtotakethelead

Twitter @how2takethelead

So why not give us a follow to see what we're up to on our summer hiatus and share your thoughts on what we've covered in series one.

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

Series two of How To Take The Lead lands in October 2022!

----------------------

You can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.uk

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In the series one finale of How To Take The Lead we consider what you should be making time for as a leader. It’s a question we both get asked a lot so we share our views on what to prioritise and how to protect your time. 

We share our thoughts, experiences and learning, including:

·       03:03 – expectation versus reality

·       09:46 – the value of protected time

·       17:30 – what should you be doing with your protected time

·       22:33 – the importance of boundary setting

·       34:30 – do you have to be the doer?

·       41:15 – how to make the most of your time

Our top takeaways in this episode include practical tips to manage your time, boundary setting and reframing guilt.

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

--------------------------------

You can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.uk

Get social with us via:

Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode of How To Take The Lead we talk about trust and what this means as a leader. Trust is something we discuss a lot in the leadership space and we explore what we really mean by trust. 

In this episode we share our thoughts, experiences and learning, including:

·       03:50 – the neuroscience of trust and how this translates to the workplace

·       08:12 – how do you build trust as a leader

·       13:30 – trust and performance 

·       18:45 – how to measure high trust

·       21:15 – can you rebuild trust as a leader?

·       29:55 – how to build trust

As always we share our top takeaways and in this episode we cover authenticity, doing what you say you will and recognise that building trust takes time.

We reference Simon Sinek’s conversation about trust and performance. You can view it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJdXjtSnZTI

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

-----------------------------------

You can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.uk

Get social with us via:

Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode of How To Take The Lead we focus on allyship as a leader. Neither of us profess to be experts in this area, in fact we are on our own learning journeys, but we feel this is an important aspect of being a leader.

In this episode we share our thoughts, experiences and learning, including:

·      07:52 – why does allyship matter?

·      11:53 – what can leaders do?

·      18:01 – making change happen

·      21:53 – challenging your own biases

·      29:00 – data warning

·      38:00 – fear factor

·      43:50 – institutional racism, Cricket Scotland and are we really learning?

·      53:46 – how to... be a better ally

In this episode we recommend the books:

Diversify by June Sarpong

Rebel Ideas by Matthew Syed

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

------------------------------- 

You can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.uk

Get social with us via:

Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode of How To Take The Lead we explore the power of storytelling in the context of leadership. Whether you are a natural born storyteller or you are a leader who deals in facts and figures, we discuss the importance of storytelling to build connections.

In this episode we share our thoughts, experiences and learning, including:

·       03:38 – creating sticky content 

·       10:51 – listening to all the stories

·       14:53 – stop shoehorning in irrelevant stories

·       25:59 – stories and data working together

·       32:25 – How to ... use storytelling as a leader

As always we share our top takeaways and in this episode we highlight the need to ensure your story is aligned to your purpose, not being the hero in your story and also the need to practice, practice, practice.

We also recommended the following books:

Squirrel Inc. by Steve Denning

Unleash the Power of Storytelling by Rob Biesenbach

Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller

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If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

You can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.uk

Get social with us via:

Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

We are just over halfway through our first series of the How To Take The Lead podcast so we wanted to share a short bonus episode to thank you for your support and let you know what we’ve got coming up for the rest of the series.

Still to come this series...

01:30 – leadership storytelling

01:46 - trust and leadership

02:20 – allyship and your role as a leader

03:31 – where should leaders focus their time?

We are looking forward to sharing these episodes and would love to hear your views and thoughts. And don’t forget we want to know what leadership topics you would like us to cover in the next series.

To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com. If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast.  We would love it if you left us a review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

You can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.uk

Get social with us:

Follow or message Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Follow or message Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Until our next episode, get out there and take the lead.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode of How To Take The Lead we talk about what it’s like to be an introvert or an extrovert as a leader. We talk about the positives, the challenges and your role as a leader in supporting others to thrive.

In this episode we share our thoughts, experiences and learning, including:

·       06:29 – challenges for extroverts 

·       10:43 – how you get your energy as an extrovert

·       15:22 – confidence and introvertism

·       22:30 – who makes a better leader

·       39:56 – top takeaways for introverts and extroverts

As always we share our top takeaways including ensuring you understand your own behaviours, as well as creating space for your team by being aware of the impacts. We also ask you not to make assumptions about people because you have labelled them an introvert or extrovert.

In this episode we recommend the book Quiet: The power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking by Susan Cain.

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

----------------------------

You can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.uk

Get social with us via:

Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

What is self-leadership?

Why is it important?

How do you practice it?

These are all questions we discuss in this episode of How To Take The Lead.

Self-leadership is about how you show up as a leader and this can mean many things. It might be the boundaries you set and communicate. Perhaps it is how you are using your time and what this demonstrates to those around you. And it could be you need to prioritise your wellbeing.

Creating the conditions for your success - whatever you have determined that to be - requires you to be intentional in your self-leadership. This episode will give you practical advice and tips to support your self-leadership journey.

• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey
• Dare to Lead Hub - Brené Brown
• Are we really listening? - How to Take the Lead
• Why you need a personal leadership strategy - How to Take the Lead

How to Take the Lead is a show exploring all things leadership.

Every episode we explore a different part of life as a leader, questioning everything we've ever learnt and sharing a few of our own stories along the way.

If you want to learn how to do leadership your own way, join hosts Lee Griffith and Carrie-Ann Wade as they debunk myths, tackle stereotypes and generally put the leadership world to rights.

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.

If you want to watch this episode, subscribe to our YouTube channel to make sure you don't miss out.

And you can be a part of our Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both.

We're also over on Instagram for more behind the scenes, news and views.

Plus if you want to work with us to challenge and change leadership in your organisation get in touch by dropping us an email howtotakethelead@gmail.com or DM us on the socials.

This episode of How To Take The Lead is focused on motivation. As leaders we often have the role of motivating others and we wanted to take the opportunity to explore how we ourselves stay motivated in our leadership roles. Did you know that 75% of people are motivated by knowing what they don’t want? So motivation is an important part of life as a leader.

In this episode we share our thoughts, experiences and learning, including:

• 4:05 – understanding your ‘love’ language 
• 7:41 – motivation linked to your purpose and needs
• 15:03 – staying motivated when you’ve been in post for some time
• 24:10 – leadership and organisational life cycles
• 28:00 – How to ... motivate the motivator

Our top tips in this episode include working out if you are struggling with a motivation or ability issue, gaining clarity on what motivates you and ensuring you are considering your impact on others and their motivations.

-----------------------

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

You can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.uk

Get social with us via:

Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode of How to Take the Lead, we talk about how you can develop your leadership brand. Is your leadership brand something you are aware of? How do you feel about it? And why is it important?

In this episode we share our thoughts, experiences and learning, including:

2:50 – what is personal brand?

8:40 – how seriously should leaders take personal brand?

18:20 – being intentional when it comes to your leadership brand

29:40 – developing your leadership brand – the How To

Our top tips in this episode include gaining clarity on your vision and values, working on your personal brand statement and ensuring your brand is linked to your why.

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

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You can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.uk

Get social with us via:

Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode of How to Take the Lead, we are talking all things comfort zone. Do you operate in yours most of the time? We discuss how and why you should step outside of your comfort zone as a leader.  

In this episode we share our thoughts, experiences and learning, including:

03:58 – comfort zones and subjectivity

18:23 – putting your judgements aside

24:30 – values based recruitment and EQ/ IQ

26:26 – how to step outside your comfort zone – our top takeaways

Our top tips in this episode include being honest about your comfort zone, consider the risks and mitigations of stretching outside your comfort zone and think about where you can seek support. 

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If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

You can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.uk

Get social with us via:

Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode we explore emotional intelligence... what is it? How aware of your own emotional intelligence are you as a leader? Can you look to build an emotionally intelligent team? We also reference the work on emotional intelligence by Daniel Goleman.

In this episode we share our thoughts, experiences and learning, including:

• 05:47 – being vulnerable as a leader
• 18:23 – putting your judgements aside
• 24:30 – values-based recruitment and EQ/ IQ
• 26:26 – how to become more emotionally intelligent

For further reading, Lee recommended Connect by David Bradford and Carole Robin.

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If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

You can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.uk

Get social with us via:

Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

We just couldn’t resist sharing another bonus episode because we are so excited about our first series of How To Take The Lead. New episodes will be released every Thursday at 6am and you can listen/download on your favourite platform.

We wanted to take the opportunity to share more about those who have inspired us along the way and to thank some of the most amazing cheerleaders and supporters.

In this bonus episode you’ll hear more about the following fabulous podcast and book recommendations.

Podcasts we love to listen to:

• Diary of a CEO – Stephen Bartlett
• You’re My Comms Hero
• Behaviour Change Marketing Bootcamp – Ruth Dale
• The Squiggly Careers Podcast
• Inside the Hive with Quiet the Hive
• Conversations with Cat’s Pajamas (*blush* thanks Lee!)
• Trust Issues with Rachel Botsman
• How to Own the Room with Viv Groskop

Books* we love to read and share:

I Am My Brand by Kubi Springer

Hype Yourself by Lucy Werner

The Squiggly Career by Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis

Your Dream Life Starts Here by Kristina Karlsson

Quiet by Susan Cain

How to Own the Room by Viv Groskop

The Confidence Code Katty Kay and Claire Shipman

And we share our thanks and love for all the support and encouragement from David, Jim, Carolyn, Vicky, Lee’s coach Carol, Daniel, Carrie-Ann’s coach Mikaela, Asif, Bob, Becca, Sara, Liz, Sam and Helen. You are all amazing!

Finally a huge thank you to all of you for listening, sharing and getting in touch to share your views, experiences and ideas.

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it...

We are dropping another cheeky bonus episode because we are so excited about our first series of How To Take The Lead.

Over the next four weeks we will be delving into all aspects of leadership including:

• Emotional intelligence – what even is it?
• Stepping outside of your comfort zone as a leader
• What it means to build your leadership brand, and do you even have one?
• How to stay motivated as a leader

New episodes will be released every Thursday at 6am and you can listen/download on your favourite platform.

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting using #HowToTakeTheLead

You can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.uk

Get social with us:

Follow or message Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Follow or message Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Until our next episode, get out there and take the lead.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

Bonus drop alert! In the first of our short bonus episodes, we let you know how you can help us spread the word about How To Take The Lead. We've had a few people asking us how you can help and support the podcast, so we thought we'd share a few ways that would make a big difference!

New episodes will be released every Thursday at 6am and you can listen/ download on your favourite platform.

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

You can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.uk

Get social with us:

Follow or message Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Follow or message Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Until our next episode, get out there and take the lead.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode of How to Take the Lead, we wanted to share some of our learning from our careers to date so you get the chance to find out a little more about us and our leadership lessons.

We share our individual experiences and some of our shared learning, including:

• 02:15 – being open to new opportunities without compromising your boundaries
• 04:56 - making the right impact in a new job
• 17:10 - support networks and developing yourself
• 21:07 – realising you don’t have to be like all the other leaders you see

Our takeaways from this episode will help you to reflect on your own career to date, thinking about the good, the bad and the ugly in terms of your experiences of leadership and how you can adapt and nurture your leadership style for the future.

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If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

You can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.uk

Get social with us:

Follow or message Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Follow or message Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

In the next episode we are going to be focused on emotional intelligence, what it is and how to consider it when you are building your leadership team. Until then, get out there and take the lead.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In episode two of How to Take the Lead, we discuss why we have decided to ditch the power suits and how that has impacted our approach to leadership. Authenticity is something we talk about a lot and this topic really highlights the importance of being able to show up as your true self as a leader.

In this episode we cover a lot of ground, including:

• 02:45 – does appearance matter?
• 06:10 – how to judge what's appropriate
• 15:45 - tackling discrimination and your role as a leader

Our takeaways from this episode are focused on working out what makes you feel most confident in the workplace and finding opportunities to have conversations about how you can support others to show up as the best versions of themselves. We want you to feel comfortable and confident to be yourself.

We mentioned the Broken Ladders report from The Fawcett Society and The Runnymede Trust. You can view it here Broken Ladders report.

We will be sharing some of our own leadership lessons in the next episode of How to Take the Lead so tune in to hear more. Until then, get out there and take the lead.

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If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting using #HowToTakeTheLead

You can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.uk

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

Think you don’t have a leadership superpower… think again!

In the first episode of How to Take the Lead, we discuss how to find your leadership superpower and how you can use it for maximum impact.

In this episode we cover a lot of ground, including:

• 03:11 – are leadership superpowers even a thing?
• 16:45 - how do you identify your superpower?
• 20:03 – can you lose your leadership superpowers?
• 25:11 – how to harness your leadership superpowers

Top tips from us include making time to discover what your leadership superpowers are, asking others (you might be surprised), understanding how your superpowers can have impact and not allowing your own superpowers to become your nemesis.

In our next episode we talk all things power dressing and why we have given shoulder pads the shove.

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If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

You can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.uk

Get social with us:

Follow or message Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Follow or message Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

We've talked a lot about culture and how it impacts performance, morale and organisational reputational. If you've been a long-term listener you will have heard our own experiences of working in organisations with poor culture and toxic behaviours. But in this episode we want to tackle it head on and explore what can be done about overcoming toxicity in organisations.

We discuss:

• how we define toxic leadership
• what tips the balance between an organisation being dysfunctional versus toxic
• what organisational indicators might be telling you about the state of toxicity
• signs that toxic behaviours are at play in your organisation
• how to recognise if you're displaying toxic behaviours
• evidence, self-reflection, honest conversations that leaders need to have to understand the culture you're creating or perpetuating
• the top three challenges that need to be addressed to tackle toxic leadership
• calling out poor behaviours and creating the right conditions to role model for others
• the drain of good people leaving organisations - what can be done about it?
• how to deal with the personal toll of being on the receiving end of toxic leadership and the baggage that you can carry with you

• Staying curious - How to Take the Lead S3, E10
• Leadership - is it all about power? How to Take the Lead S3, E9

How to Take the Lead is a show exploring all things leadership.

Every episode we explore a different part of life as a leader, questioning everything we've ever learnt and sharing a few of our own stories along the way.

If you want to learn how to do leadership your own way, join hosts Lee Griffith and Carrie-Ann Wade as they debunk myths, tackle stereotypes and generally put the leadership world to rights.

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.

If you want to watch this episode, subscribe to our YouTube channel to make sure you don't miss out.

And you can be a part of our Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both.

We're also over on Instagram for more behind the scenes, news and views.

Plus if you want to work with us to challenge and change leadership in your organisation get in touch by dropping us an email howtotakethelead@gmail.com or DM us on the socials.

Welcome to How To Take The Lead, our new podcast series exploring all things leadership. After five successful Insta and LinkedIn live series, we have decided to bring you all the good stuff as a podcast. No corporate talk here, just us, debunking myths, sharing our experiences and giving you practical tips. We might even get on our soapbox every now and then.

Between us we have extensive leadership and communications experience. How to Take the Lead offers you an insight into our approach and thoughts on leadership, all with the aim of challenging the ways things have always been done and promoting the modern leader.

New episodes will be released every Thursday at 6am and you can listen and download from your favourite platform.

To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com. 

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or a review. And feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead

You can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.uk

Get social with us:

Follow or message Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Follow or message Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

In the first episode of the series we will talking about leadership superpowers. Do you have one? Do you know how to use it? Join us to find out more and until then, get out there and take the lead.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the How to Take the Lead community

We're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

Are you spotting future leadership talent?

And if so, are you clear what to do next?

In this episode we discuss how you can identify future leaders in your organisation and what you can do to support them.

We cover:

• how you can identify future leaders
• what happens when you spot leadership potential
• how to ensure your leadership aspirations for someone are aligned with their own
• recruitment processes and how they can help or hinder your leadership recruitment
• ensuring you are looking for leadership potential that brings diversity.

• How to help people to squiggle and stay | Amazing If
• Leadership Potential: Identifying Future Leaders in 2024 - RecruitingDaily
• How can organisations better support leaders? - How to Take the Lead S3 E2

How to Take the Lead is a show exploring all things leadership.

Every episode we explore a different part of life as a leader, questioning everything we've ever learnt and sharing a few of our own stories along the way.

If you want to learn how to do leadership your own way, join hosts Lee Griffith and Carrie-Ann Wade as they debunk myths, tackle stereotypes and generally put the leadership world to rights.

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.

If you want to watch this episode, subscribe to our YouTube channel to make sure you don't miss out.

And you can be a part of our Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both.

We're also over on Instagram for more behind the scenes, news and views.

Plus if you want to work with us to challenge and change leadership in your organisation get in touch by dropping us an email howtotakethelead@gmail.com or DM us on the socials.

Do you have a personal leadership strategy?

Often we can focus on organisational strategies and lose our own purpose and intent along the way.

In this episode Carrie-Ann and Lee explore what it means to have a personal leadership strategy, why you need one and how you go about getting one. We discuss how:

• your personal strategy differs from an organisational one
• we've approached and developed our own strategies during our careers
• your strategy can help you in your career development and job search
• it can help you to build diverse teams
• to align your strategy with the bigger picture
• to get clarity about the type of leader you are and how you position yourself
• to develop your personal leadership strategy
• measurement and evaluation is an important part of your strategy
• your leadership strategy sits alongside self-leadership and communication as the core cogs to be impactful
• to create time to be intentional in your leadership approach

We also shared our one How To to help you get clarity in your leadership strategy.

Let us know what recommendations you want from us in 2024. Comment on YouTube, instagram or via our Substack community.

• NHS Orkney Chief Executive 100-day report
• Leaders with impact podcast (Lee's new podcast)

How to Take the Lead is a show exploring all things leadership.

Every episode we explore a different part of life as a leader, questioning everything we've ever learnt and sharing a few of our own stories along the way.

If you want to learn how to do leadership your own way, join hosts Lee Griffith and Carrie-Ann Wade as they debunk myths, tackle stereotypes and generally put the leadership world to rights.

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.

If you want to watch this episode, subscribe to our YouTube channel to make sure you don't miss out.

And you can be a part of our Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both.

We're also over on Instagram for more behind the scenes, news and views.

Plus if you want to work with us to challenge and change leadership in your organisation get in touch by dropping us an email howtotakethelead@gmail.com or DM us on the socials.

In this episode of How To Take The Lead, we ask the question 'is leadership for you?'. We are into our fourth series of the podcast now and we realised we hadn't ever really addressed this question.

We share our own experiences and the reasons why we have chosen to step into leadership positions.

Our conversation is broad and wide ranging covering the following:

• the difference between leadership and management
• what defines you as a leader - is it about positional power and hierarchy or something else?
• clarity on your purpose and the impact you intend to have as a leader
• is leadership all about the job title and the pay, plus is it ok to want to be paid well for what you do?
• do you choose to be a leader or is it something that is granted to you by others?
• defining what leadership means - no one size fits all
• questions you can start to ask yourself about why you want to be a leader, regardless of whether you are new to leadership or a well established leader.

How to Take the Lead is a show exploring all things leadership.

Every episode we explore a different part of life as a leader, questioning everything we've ever learnt and sharing a few of our own stories along the way.

If you want to learn how to do leadership your own way, join hosts Lee Griffith and Carrie-Ann Wade as they debunk myths, tackle stereotypes and generally put the leadership world to rights.

If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.

If you want to watch this episode, subscribe to our YouTube channel to make sure you don't miss out.

And you can be a part of our Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both.

We're also over on Instagram for more behind the scenes, news and views.

Plus if you want to work with us to challenge and change leadership in your organisation get in touch by dropping us an email howtotakethelead@gmail.com or DM us on the socials.