Some people grow through pressure. Others spend their careers blaming everyone else for where they’re stuck.

In this episode, Heather breaks down the “above the line vs below the line” framework, the quickest way to see who on your team is genuinely growing and who is stuck in blame, excuses, and denial.

In this episode:

• The “above the line vs below the line” framework and how to use it as a litmus test
• Why blame feels so natural and why leaders can’t afford it
• The difference between a reason and an excuse (this one matters)
• Why your disengaged team might actually be a one-person problem
• How to use questions to pass accountability back without creating conflict

Got a situation at work you don’t know how to handle?

Send it in at hello@theboardroompodcast.com two lines or two paragraphs, whatever you need. Everything stays anonymous.

New episodes every Wednesday, 8AM

Listen & follow:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033uKbjXmIrXKCb0EuzXXg?si=58205f3097864d97

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-boardroom/id1896894691

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/628ce2c6-d282-45ef-80c9-c1132f67a57f/the-boardroom

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@leadershipheather?si=JB0X24-cDem23SKd

Instagram: @the.boardroompodcast

And btw Heather drops practical leadership tips to over 28,000 managers every Tuesday morning, join the link here: https://www.inthemakingleadership.com/welcome

Most leaders won’t admit this. But Heather will.

Nobody tells you that becoming “the manager” changes everything your friendships, your confidence, and how you show up every single day.

In this episode, Heather gets real about the moment anxiety nearly stopped her in her tracks, and why asking for help turned out to be her biggest leadership superpower.

• Why asking for help is actually your biggest leadership superpower
• The 5-minute conversation that can fix almost any work situation
• How to spot the people who are quietly holding you back
• How to act with courage even when anxiety is telling you not to

Got a situation at work you don’t know how to handle?

Send it in at hello@theboardroompodcast.com two lines or two paragraphs, whatever you need. Everything stays anonymous.

And if you’re a manager or business owner who wants a clearer picture of how your team is really doing, join the Custard waitlist here: https://custardlearns.com/launch-waitlist?utm_source=captivate&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=waitlist_promo&utm_content=podcast_EP3_showdescription OR checkout our page @custardpeople

New episodes every Wednesday, 8AM (best for your commute)

Listen & follow:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033uKbjXmIrXKCb0EuzXXg?si=58205f3097864d97

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-boardroom/id1896894691

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/628ce2c6-d282-45ef-80c9-c1132f67a57f/the-boardroom

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@leadershipheather?si=JB0X24-cDem23SKd

Instagram: @the.boardroompodcast

And btw Heather drops practical leadership tips to over 28,000 managers every Tuesday morning, join the link here: https://www.inthemakingleadership.com/welcome

The Boardroom is the podcast for anyone navigating the messy, real, and often unspoken side of leadership. Hosted by Heather Elkington, someone who's been at the bottom, fought her way to the top, and never forgot what the hard parts actually felt like.

Whether you're a first-time manager finding your feet, a senior leader feeling the pressure, or somewhere in between, this is the podcast that helps you lead better without pretending it's always easy.

New episodes drop every Wednesday at 8am perfect for your commute.

You go into the conversation with a plan. Then they push back, and suddenly you’re convincing yourself you were wrong all along.

In this episode, Heather gets into the part of leadership nobody prepares you for, the moment a difficult conversation goes sideways, and your confidence completely disappears.

She covers:

• Why imposter syndrome hits hardest in difficult conversations
• How to hold your position when someone pushes back hard
• Why silence in a conversation is not weakness, it’s strategy
• What to do when a conversation gets heated and you don’t know what to say
• Why growth matters more than perfection in leadership

Got a situation at work you don’t know how to handle?

Send it in at hello@theboardroompodcast.com, two lines or two paragraphs, whatever you need. Everything stays anonymous.

And if you’re a manager or business owner who wants a clearer picture of how your team is really doing, join the Custard waitlist here: https://custardlearns.com/launch-waitlist?utm_source=captivate&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=waitlist_promo&utm_content=podcast_EP3_showdescription

New episodes every Wednesday, 8 AM (perfect for your commute)

Listen & follow:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033uKbjXmIrXKCb0EuzXXg?si=58205f3097864d97

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-boardroom/id1896894691

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/628ce2c6-d282-45ef-80c9-c1132f67a57f/the-boardroom

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@leadershipheather?si=JB0X24-cDem23SKd

Instagram: @the.boardroompodcast

And btw, Heather drops practical leadership tips to over 28,000 managers every Tuesday morning, join the link here: https://www.inthemakingleadership.com/welcome