Welcome to Season 3 of The Extra-Ordinary Leader.

Experienced business consultant, speaker, and founder of The People Performance Consultancy, Dolly Waddell, is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help you find the extra in your extra-Ordinary.

To kick off the new season, Dolly is joined by Russell Harvey, the Resilience Coach. What does it mean to be a resilient leader? What exactly is resilience in business? 

Harvey shares his tips on delegating effectively, and how to have quality conversations to improve performance. Leaders should focus on three responsibilities, listen to the episode to hear what traits Russell values the most. 

Embrace your unique qualities as a leader to make a positive impact, and unlock the extra in your extra-Ordinary. 

Welcome to a brand-new season!

Bringing together coaches, consultants and some extra-Ordinary leaders (a gardener and a fisherman no less), season 3 will bring you extra tactics that you can add to your Ordinary.

Welcome to Season 2 of extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

We could all do with a little more energy in the workplace, and this episode is the perfect starter pack.

Experienced business consultant, speaker, mother, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy, Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone add a little something extra to their ordinary.

In this episode, Dolly is joined by Chris Baréz-Brown, author, speaker, and founder of Upping Your Elvis.

Together, they explore how leaders can optimise energy at work, why escaping the “auto-pilot mode” is the key to leading with more connection, and how the hunter-gatherer instinct impacts the way we work and lead.

What does our biological design say about our energy levels? And how can we leverage this innate design not just to optimise our own energy at work but also to influence energy dynamics within the teams we lead?

Find out in this wide-ranging conversation.

Stay tuned for more episodes of extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with Chris, find him here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-bar%C3%A9z-brown-0695531

Website: https://www.uppingyourelvis.com/

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Resources mentioned:

The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness by Stephen Covey.

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To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/?originalSubdomain=uk

The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Welcome to Season 2 of extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

Experienced business consultant, speaker, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy, Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone add a little something extra to their ordinary.

In this first episode of Season 2, Dolly takes us back to her original mission statement, what being a connected leader truly means, and the exciting insights this new season has in store for you.

Stay tuned for more episodes of extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/?originalSubdomain=uk

The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Welcome to Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

Experienced business consultant, speaker, mother, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy, Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone add a little something extra to their ordinary.

In this season finale episode, Dolly reflects back on an exciting first season, drawing together the key wisdom of some of the influential guests that have joined her over the months. 

What can we learn from ex-Rugby League Captain Stevie Ward’s take on resilience? How did trainer, coach, and facilitator John Elloway’s take on binary thinking reframe Dolly’s perception of a black and white world? And what did serial entrepreneur and bestselling author Steve Cockram teach us about knowing ourselves?

Join Dolly for an inspiring rundown of the wisdom shared over the course of Extra-Ordinary Leaders season 1, including why we needed to stay grounded in the ordinary, how energy is a currency we must spend wisely, and why self-management is the tool that unlocks it all.

Stay tuned for season 2 of Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell, coming soon.

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Resources mentioned:

Peter Drucker Managing Oneself: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Managing-Oneself-Harvard-Business-Classics/dp/142212312X

Stephen Covey The 8th Habit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/8th-Habit-Effectiveness-Stephen-Covey/dp/0743287932

The Johari Window: https://www.mindtools.com/au7v71d/the-johari-window

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To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/?originalSubdomain=uk
The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Welcome to Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

Experienced business consultant, speaker, mother, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy, Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone add a little something extra to their ordinary.

In this episode, Dolly is joined by Philip Crocker: serial entrepreneur, executive coach, leadership consultant and host of Alongsider podcast.

They discuss what the nine Enneagrams can tell us about our personality, why being busy isn’t a measure of success, and how extra-ordinary leadership relates to the gold found in our iPhones.

How can we change unhelpful beliefs? Is being ordinary actually freeing? What does coaching truly mean in a bigger context?

Stay tuned for more episodes of Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with Philip, find him here: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipcrocker/

Website: https://philipcrocker.com/

Alongsider podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/alongsider-finding-your-place-and-taking-your-place/id1720017740

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To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/?originalSubdomain=uk
The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Welcome to Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

Experienced business consultant, speaker, mother, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy, Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone add a little something extra to their ordinary.

In this episode, Dolly is joined by Roderick Yapp, former Royal Marine and director of Leadership Forces. Rod is now a speaker, writer, and high-performance leadership coach who draws on his unique lived experience in the military to help great leaders build culture.

They discuss a 30-second framework for delegation, the importance of honest conversations, and Rod shares a hair-raising story about a brush with the Taliban (and what it taught him about leadership).

What’s the difference between aggression and assertiveness? How can we ‘stop playing the instruments and start conducting the orchestra’? And why does water symbolise extra-ordinary leadership to Rod?

Stay tuned for more episodes of Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with Rod, find him here: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodericyapp/?originalSubdomain=uk

Leadership Forces: https://www.leadershipforces.com/

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To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/?originalSubdomain=uk
The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Welcome to Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

Experienced business consultant, speaker, mother, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy, Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone add a little something extra to their ordinary.

In part 2 of her Christmas Special, Dolly shares a masterclass in vulnerability from none other than the terminator himself, Mr Arnold Schwarzenegger.

What does being a vulnerable leader really mean? And how can it pave the way for authentic connections in the workplace?

Stay tuned for more episodes of Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/?originalSubdomain=uk
The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Welcome to Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

Experienced business consultant, speaker, mother, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy, Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone add a little something extra to their ordinary.

In this Christmas Special, Dolly shares an exciting announcement, including an exclusive insight into her latest project.

Dolly delves into what leaders can learn from a full-bodied wine, how we can reduce stress and increase innovation in the new year, and why being a “doer” doesn’t mean you should sacrifice or overlook thinking time. 

Stay tuned for more episodes of Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/?originalSubdomain=uk
The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Welcome to Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

Experienced business consultant, speaker, mother, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy, Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone add a little something extra to their ordinary.

In this episode, Dolly is joined by Juliet Corbett, executive coach and strategy adviser, founder and CEO of Juliet Corbett Coaching, and host of The Independent School podcast.

They discuss how to identify your pain points to overcome challenges, the power of keeping it simple, and why it’s a good thing if your strategy is “blimmin’ obvious!”

How can we strip back all the confusing and overwhelming jargon around strategy and build an actionable, step-by-step masterplan to achieve our company vision? What’s the difference between transactional versus transformational leadership? And how can we encourage the corporate world to lean into the vulnerability and native genius that makes up our humanity?

Stay tuned for more episodes of Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with Juliet, find her here: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julietcorbett/

Coaching: https://www.consultjuliet.co.uk/

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-independent-school-podcast-with-juliet-corbett/id1513428424

Free e-book, The Strategic Leader: www.consultjuliet.co.uk/ebook

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Resources mentioned:

Performance Climate System: https://www.performanceclimatesystem.com/ 

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To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/?originalSubdomain=uk
The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Welcome to Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

Experienced business consultant, speaker, mother, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy, Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone add a little something extra to their ordinary.

In this episode, Dolly is joined by Stevie Ward, elite performance expert, keynote speaker, ex rugby league captain and founder of Mantality, through which he helps men to live with purpose, peace of mind, and resilience.

They discuss resilience as a form of recovery, the role of flow, play and creativity, and how we can lean into our instinct to deal with unexpected change.

How do we remain extra-ordinary in the face of adversity? How can we strip away the exterior and find our inner state of purpose, peace of mind, and resilience? Join Dolly and Stevie as they draw on Stevie’s inspirational career as a rugby captain and his devastating early retirement to explore the role of ego and overcoming fear. 

Stay tuned for more episodes of Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with Stevie, find him here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevie-ward-61313093/

Mantality: https://mantality.co.uk/

Website: https://stevieward.co.uk/

Living With Concussion documentary: https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/rugby-league/12470207/stevie-ward-living-with-concussion

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To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/?originalSubdomain=uk
The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Welcome to Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

Experienced business consultant, speaker, mother, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy, Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone add a little something extra to their ordinary.

In this episode, Dolly is joined by John Elloway, trainer, coach, facilitator, and founder of Limpid Learning.

Join Dolly and John as they explore two ways of thinking, what the ancient Chinese philosophy of yin-yang can teach us about leadership today, and the potentially harmful impact of social media.

What is oppositional thinking? How might this harm our ability to show up as extra-ordinary leaders? And what is its antidote?

Stay tuned for more episodes of Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with John, find him here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-elloway-bbb6891b/?originalSubdomain=uk

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To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/?originalSubdomain=uk
The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Welcome to Season 2 of extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

Experienced business consultant, speaker, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy, Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone lead with more connection.

This week, Dolly is joined by Wendi Cochrane, experienced senior leader and consultant, with over 15 years experience in HR.

They explore how we can put the ‘human’ back in ‘human resources’, why HR is the most powerful tool in our arsenal when it comes to employee engagement, and how we can actually get to know our teams.

Is HR the hidden heartbeat of business? Should all business leaders be trained in HR? And how can we overcome the most difficult challenges HR leaders face today?

Stay tuned for more episodes of extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with Wendi, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendi-cochrane-chartered-mcipd-6476a029/?originalSubdomain=uk

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To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/

The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Welcome to Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

Experienced business consultant, speaker, mother, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy,  Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone add a little something extra to their ordinary.

In this episode, Dolly is joined by Jo Rice, CEO & Co-Founder of Resurgo, whose vision is for a world where everyone works together to “mend the tears in the fabric of society”. Their award-winning ‘Spear’ programme helps 16 to 24-year-olds overcome challenges and support them in gaining long-term employment. 

Join Dolly and Jo as they discuss heroic leadership, why we don’t need to know everything to be extra-ordinary leaders, and why conflict builds trust.

Could insecurity be a superpower in self-awareness? How prevalent is the victim mentality in business – and just how much is it holding us back?

Stay tuned for more episodes of Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with Jo, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-rice-7922945/

Resurgo: https://resurgo.org.uk/

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To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/?originalSubdomain=uk
The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Welcome to Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

Experienced business consultant, speaker, mother, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy,  Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone add a little something extra to their ordinary.

In this episode, Dolly is joined by Will Van Der Hart, author, communicator, executive coach and ordained Angelican Priest. Will is the founder of The Mind And Soul Foundation, which aims to equip, educate and encourage leaders in the realms of wellbeing and mental health.

Join Dolly and Will as they discuss sustaining extra-ordinary choices, adrenal burnout, addiction, and the two types of fear – how do they drive us?

Are you a highly driven, adrenaline-fuelled leader, or are you a leader who values calmness and stillness? What are the merits – and dangers – of each personality type? And how can we understand and leverage our natural dispositions to become extra-ordinary leaders?

Stay tuned for more episodes of Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with Will, find him here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-van-der-hart-b64b9b45/?originalSubdomain=uk

The Mind And Soul Foundation: https://mindandsoulfoundation.org/

Website: https://www.willvanderhart.com/

Books:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Will-Van-der-Hart/e/B005CR9DJU%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

W1 Collective: https://www.w1collective.com/

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Resources mentioned:

Radical Candor: How To Get What You Want By Saying What You Mean: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Radical-Candor-What-Want-Saying/dp/1509845356

Website: https://www.radicalcandor.com/

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To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/?originalSubdomain=uk
The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Welcome to Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.


Experienced business consultant, speaker, mother, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy,  Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone add a little something extra to their ordinary.

In this episode, Dolly is joined by David Heron, founding partner and CEO of Wilton & Bain, who this year were listed by The Sunday Times as one of the best places to work. 

Join Dolly and David as they discuss what boarding school taught David about leadership; the importance of investing in systems, processes, and people; and a practical approach to achieving our goals. 

How can we make more time as business leaders? Is it an excuse when people say they don’t have time, or a result of poor prioritisation? And how can we ensure that our understanding of what it means to be efficient and effective is considerate from a D&I perspective?

Stay tuned for more episodes of Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with David, find him here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveheron/

Wilton & Bain: https://wilton-bain.com/

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Resources mentioned:

The Chimp Paradox: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chimp-Paradox-Management-Programme-Confidence/dp/009193558X

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To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/?originalSubdomain=uk
The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Welcome to Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

Experienced business coach, mother, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy, Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone add a little something extra to their ordinary.

In this episode, Dolly is joined by Russell Boulter, actor, documentary narrator, communication coach and founding partner of GSB Comms.

Join Dolly and Russell as they discuss what Russell's acting career taught him about leadership, the scandal of authority, and why a racehorse and the word 'meek' makes a good metaphor for extra-ordinary leadership.

They explore key questions such as: we all know it's important to delegate, but how do we overcome the all-too-common feeling that it'd just be easier if we did it ourselves? And how can we ensure we don't fall into the intention gap between the leaders we want to be and the leaders we are?

Stay tuned for more episodes of Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with Russell, find him here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-boulter-/

GSB Comms: https://gsbcomms.co.uk/

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Resources Mentioned:

From Good To Great: https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=good+to+great+by+jim+collins&adgrpid=61679726788&hvadid=259102978747&hv...

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To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/?originalSubdomain=uk
The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Welcome to Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

Experienced business coach, mother, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy, Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone add a little something extra to their ordinary.

In this episode, Dolly is joined by Dr. Gary Crotaz, named #2 Global Thought Leader in coaching by Thinkers360, award-winning author and keynote speaker, and creator of The Unlock Moment.

They discuss the five things great leaders must have, how to push through uncertainty, and why our purpose should be so much more than our day jobs.

Stay tuned for more episodes of Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with Gary, find him here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garycrotaz/

 Website : https://garycrotaz.com/

 Podcast : https://open.spotify.com/show/4yzWepuXTf5rursAv9O1NZ

 Book : https://www.amazon.co.uk/IDEA-Mindset-Figure-What-Weeks-ebook/dp/B09N4R6KPP?ref_=ast_author_dp 

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To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/?originalSubdomain=uk
The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Welcome to Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

Experienced business coach, mother, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy, Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone add a little something extra to their ordinary.

In this episode, Dolly is joined by Steve Cockram, founder of GiANT Consultancy London & Worldwide and The Five Voices System, and co-author of two best-selling books by the same name.

They discuss the impact of self-awareness on our ability to be extra-ordinary leaders, why the yo-yo approach to leadership doesn't work and how to avoid it, and why the vision of an organisation is more important than our title as leaders.

Stay tuned for more episodes of Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with Steve, find him here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevejcockram/?originalSubdomain=uk

The Five Voices book: https://www.amazon.com/Voices-Communicate-Effectively-Everyone-Lead/dp/B08Z4CTBD8

The Five Gears book: https://www.amazon.com/Gears-Present-Productive-There-Enough/dp/1119111153/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=2...

The Five Voices: https://5voices.com/

GiANT London: https://londongiant.com/
GiANT Worldwide: https://www.giantworldwide.com/

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To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/?originalSubdomain=uk
The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Welcome to Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

Experienced business coach, mother, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy, Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone add a little something extra to their ordinary.

In this episode, Dolly is joined by Chris Atkinson, international speaker, trainer, and author.

They're taking it back to the bare bones of leadership: what does it take to be an extra-ordinary leader without all the shiny razzmatazz? Is it true that leadership has changed significantly in the last decade, or is the essence of great leadership unchanged for thousands of years? And could it be that the more we know about the field we're in, the harder it is to truly lead others?

Stay tuned for more episodes of Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with Chris, find him here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisatkinson/

Website: http://www.chris-atkinson.co.uk/

Strategic Leaders: https://strategicleaders.com/our_team/chris-atkinson/

How To Engage And Inspire Audiences: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Corporate-Energy-Engage-Inspire-Audiences/dp/1911079417

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Resources mentioned:

Beyond Ego: The Inner Compass Of Conscious Leaders: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Ego-Compass-Conscious-Leadership-ebook/dp/B09ZRRPFW5

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To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/?originalSubdomain=uk
The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com

Welcome to Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

Experienced business coach, mother, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy, Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone add a little something extra to their ordinary.

In this exciting first episode, Dolly walks us through her mission statement, what's to come in Season 1, and why the world's most famous mountain represents extraordinary leadership to her.


With modern leaders wearing more hats than ever,  can we clearly define what it means to be a leader and extraordinary in this space? Dolly is on a mission to find out.

Stay tuned for more episodes of Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/?originalSubdomain=uk
The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Welcome to Season 2 of extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

Experienced business consultant, speaker, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy, Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone lead with more connection.

This episode explores whether a focus on the bottom line is the best approach for sustainable, extra-Ordinary leadership.

Joined by Fabrice Desmarescaux, Partner at McKinsey & Company and author of the highly rated The Art of Retreats: A Leader's Journey Toward Clarity, Balance And Purpose, Dolly delves into an in-depth discussion of community, the eco-systems of business, and challenging traditional approaches.

Stay tuned for more episodes of extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with Fabrice, find him here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabrice-desmarescaux/

McKinsey & Co: https://www.mckinsey.com/

The Art of Retreats: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Retreats-Leaders-Journey-Clarity-ebook/dp/B09RQ31S88

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To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/

The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Welcome to Season 2 of extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

Experienced business consultant, speaker, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy, Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone lead with more connection.

This episode flips the script on resilience with Olivia Shone, a leading psychotherapist and resilience and well-being expert.

Together, they explore how surrendering can unlock a deeper level of resilience, the link between “funfulness” and scaling through adversity, and their shared experiences of leading with resilience in a fast-paced world.

Stay tuned for more episodes of extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with Olivia, find her here:

Website: https://www.meaningfulwellbeing.com/

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To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/

The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Welcome to Season 2 of extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

Experienced business consultant, speaker, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy, Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone lead with more connection.

In this episode, Dolly welcomes a very special guest to the show: Dr Chi-Chi Obuaya, a consultant psychiatrist who specialises in adult mental health conditions.

During this wide-ranging conversation, they both explore the link between medicine and effective leadership strategies, the one button you need to switch off as a leader, and why slowing down and allowing open dialogue can lead to deeper insights and better solutions.

Stay tuned for more episodes of extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with Dr Chi-Chi, find him here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chiedu-obuaya-28a35332

Website: https://www.drchiclinic.com/

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To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/

The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Welcome to Season 2 of extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

Experienced business consultant, speaker, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy, Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone lead with more connection.

This week, Dolly welcomes James Rutter, Chief Creative Officer at COOK, to the show.

In this wide-ranging conversation, they explore how to apply your organisational values in a leadership framework, why disconnection is the biggest enemy for leaders, and how clearly articulating your company values can lead to a growth spurt.

Stay tuned for more episodes of extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with James, find him here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rutter-8972079

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To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/

The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Welcome to Season 2 of extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

Experienced business consultant, speaker, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy, Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone lead with more connection.

In this episode, Dolly is joined by Nicholas Wainwright, President of Boodles – and her dad.

Together, they explore his top insights for exceptional leadership – drawn from over half a century’s worth of experience at the helm of a successful, family-owned business – old school vs new age leadership, and why a phone call can often yield better results than a cold email.

What old school leadership strategies do we need to hold on to? What do we need to let go of? And how does it all come together?

Find out in this episode.

Stay tuned for more episodes of extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/

The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Welcome to Season 2 of Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

Experienced business consultant, speaker, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy, Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone lead with more connection.

In this episode, Dolly is joined by Daniel Astarita, Managing Director at Kesslers & Proportion London and a man who knows what it means to lead with character.

Many years ago, Daniel’s business crashed, and he had to make over 180 employees redundant, thus losing the trust of customers, stakeholders, and employees. However, he managed to rise from the ashes and make a comeback.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Dolly and Daniel discuss his experience with business failure, how he repaired the scars by being honest, open, and vulnerable, and what it truly means to lead with character.

Stay tuned for more episodes of Extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with Daniel, find him here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-astarita-1732bb2a

Website: https://www.kesslers.com/

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

To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/?originalSubdomain=uk

The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Welcome to Season 2 of extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

Experienced business consultant, speaker, and Founder of The People Performance Consultancy, Dolly Waddell is on a mission to revitalise leadership and help everyone lead with more connection.

In this episode, Dolly welcomes a special guest to the show – Germain St-Denis, a passionate leadership consultant and the author of Empowering People Through Caring Leadership.

Together, they discuss the benefits of people-first leadership, how to equip your team with the tools they need for success, and why stopping to ask the right questions can help you drive performance.

Stay tuned for more episodes of extra-Ordinary Leaders with Dolly Waddell.

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To get in touch with Germain, find him here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/germain-st-denis

Website: https://germainstdenis.ca/

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

To get in touch with Dolly, find her here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dollywaddell/?originalSubdomain=uk

The People Performance Consultancy: https://www.dollywaddell.com/

You’re in for a treat. This week I’m joined by the incredible Oleg Konovalov — a globally respected business educator, leadership expert, and author of The Vision Code. Oleg doesn’t just talk about leadership; he embodies it through his work helping C-suite leaders across the world create meaningful, enduring impact.

In this episode, we take apart the familiar terms — vision, value, strategy — and rebuild them with depth, clarity and fresh meaning. We explore how leadership is not about ego or output, but about building a space others want to grow into. Oleg generously shares the "CAVIAR" model — a framework for visionary leadership grounded in wisdom and impact.

If you’ve ever struggled to define your aspirations versus your desires, or want to learn how to craft a vision that inspires others, this conversation is for you.

You can find out more about Oleg and his brilliant work at olegkonovalov.com

Inside This Episode:

• What it really means to add value as a leader
• The distinction between desire and aspiration
• Why vision is a space, not a statement
• The "CAVIAR" model for practical visionary leadership
• How wisdom trumps intelligence in business
• The difference between inspiration and motivation
• The role of simplicity and space in decision-making
• Reclaiming fear and redefining what it means to ‘play big’

Mentioned In This Episode:

• The Vision Code by Oleg Konovalov
• Connect with Oleg on LinkedIn
• The extra-Ordinary Leader: 12 Tactics for Finding Your Extra in Business, Leadership, and Life

This week, I’m joined by Kate Thrumble, SVP and Head of People and Experience at VaynerMedia – a creative agency where leadership is lived out daily in real, human ways. In this episode, Kate shares what it means to lead not with the weight of being the “log”, but as the kindling – the spark that ignites others.

We talk candidly about feedback, connection, culture, performance and the sweet spot between kindness and accountability. Kate brings such clarity to what I often see muddied in corporate rhetoric: how the "ordinary things done well" truly are the markers of extra-Ordinary leadership.

From practical tools like quarterly reviews and personality insights, to the deeper philosophical shifts required to build businesses that feel like spring – full of light, momentum and growth – this conversation is rich with wisdom and grounded honesty. We also explore what it takes to create a happy, high-performing team, how Vayner Media balances business with deep respect for people, and what they call the marriage of the honey and the empire.

Inside This Episode:

• What extra-Ordinary leadership really means
• Why the "little things" done consistently create the biggest impact
• The relationship between happiness and high performance
• Feedback as a normal rhythm, not a big scary ‘thing’
• The shift from annual reviews to quarterly check-ins
• Using tools and coaching styles to build culture
• Creating ‘spring-like’ businesses where people thrive
• The art of kind candour and the analogy of the lob, the loiter and the lasso
• How Kate defines the role of experience in people leadership
• Being the kindling, not the log – a beautiful metaphor for modern leadership

Mentions & Links:

VaynerMedia – Creative & Media Agency

Insights Discovery (personality profiling tool)

Performance Climate System (team performance tool)

My Book – The extra-Ordinary Leader: 12 Tactics for Finding Your Extra in Business, Leadership, and Life 

Storytelling is a business essential. So how do you do it? Dolly talks to Noa Maxwell, presentation coach and consultant, to find out. 

Noa, a former actor, prepares executives to handle tough Q&A sessions with investors, shareholders and reporters, and provides clients with techniques which provide the winning edge in bids for new business.

Together Noa and Dolly discuss the ways to make sure authority and authenticity coexist in your leadership, how to transform your presentations, and how your personal experiences can shape your brand. 

This season of The extra-Ordinary Leader, we are doing things a bit different, so our extra-Ordinary is coming from some unique places. This week, Dolly is joined by Julia Parker, author, educator and gardener. Julia has spent a career creating safe spaces for growth, and here she explains, using the metaphor of a greenhouse, how she drives creativity. As we discuss gardens and nature, we learn how in a similar vein, we need to consider how to grow the people and cultures we are a part of.

In this episode of The extra-Ordinary Leader, I had the enormous pleasure of speaking with Helen Brocklebank, CEO of Walpole—the official body for British luxury. Helen works closely with over 250 of the UK’s most iconic high-end brands, and in our conversation, she shares the leadership behaviours, values, and mindset that make these businesses so resilient and remarkable.

We explored what we can all borrow from the luxury sector—whether we’re running heritage businesses or leading fast-paced teams with no historical playbook. Helen spoke beautifully about creativity, long-term thinking, emotional intelligence, and the importance of knowing your own strengths. She also reminded me why storytelling, craftsmanship, and deep human connection remain at the heart of excellent leadership.

You’ll hear us reflect on everything from scented candles and bespoke tailoring to the power of fiction and the role of culture in the workplace. Whether you lead a team of two or two thousand, this episode is full of insights to help you lead with clarity, creativity and care.

Inside This Episode:

• What working with 250 luxury CEOs has taught Helen about extra-Ordinary leadership
• Why understanding your own strengths is the foundation of influence
• The long-term mindset behind British luxury’s £81 billion impact
• Why fiction (yes, even Jilly Cooper!) can sharpen your leadership instincts
• How resilience, creativity, and curiosity define high-performance leadership
• What leaders in fast fashion and retail can borrow from heritage brands
• The value of “dual thinking”: acting in the now while planning for the next
• How memory-making and sensory detail create unforgettable customer experiences
• Why culture-building and empowerment matter more than ever

Mentions & Links:

• Walpole – https://www.thewalpole.co.uk
• Learn more about Attachment Theory – https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-attachment-theory-2795337
• Black Box Thinking by Matthew Syed – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Box-Thinking-Surprising-Success/dp/1473613779

In this episode of The extra-Ordinary Leader, I’m joined by the incredible Cathy O'Dowd – the first woman to climb Mount Everest from both the north and south sides. But this conversation isn’t just about physical mountains; it’s about the emotional and professional peaks we all face.

Cathy’s story is one of grit, humility and mindset, and I couldn’t have been more inspired by the way she talks about doing extra-Ordinary things by simply taking the next right step. Whether it’s writing a book, leading a business, or learning to kitesurf at 42 (yes, I really did that), this conversation is a reminder that success is not about fairy dust – it’s about steady, consistent, powerful choices.

We spoke about what happens when life feels like a cul-de-sac, when perfectionism gets in the way of progress, and how sometimes saying yes to uncomfortable opportunities is the very thing that takes you to the next level. Cathy shares how she navigated being parachuted onto the first South African Everest team – as the only woman – and how she’s learned to let go of the “token” label and find confidence through action.

We also dove into the power of physical challenge – why sports like climbing or kitesurfing can be an antidote to rumination, stress, and even imposter syndrome. Cathy had so much wisdom to share about how we lead ourselves and others, how we perform under pressure, and why empathy isn’t a gift – it’s a tool.

This one will stick with me for a long time, and I hope it stays with you too.

Inside this episode:

• What extra-Ordinary leadership really means
• Why we need to let go of perfectionism
• How to reframe tokenism and self-doubt
• The difference between stress responses – and how to manage them
• Why physical adventure can transform your mindset
• How to use empathy as a tool – especially in high-stakes leadership
• The 'STOP' technique Cathy uses in moments of pressure
• The surprising link between coffee, presence, and performance

Mentions & Links:

• Learn more about Cathy: https://www.cathyodowd.com
• Book Cathy to speak: https://www.cathyodowd.com/keynote-speaking/
• My book The extra-Ordinary Leader: https://www.dollywaddell.com/store/p/the-extra-ordinary-leader

In this thought-provoking episode of The extra-Ordinary Leader, I sat down with Daniel Hulme, AI expert and CEO, to explore what leadership looks like in the age of artificial intelligence, data-driven decisions, and flatter, decentralised organisations.

Together, we unravelled:

• Why extra-Ordinary leadership starts with getting out of the way
• How to use AI to surface team dynamics and friction points
• What digital twins are (and why your employees might love them)
• How to lead without hierarchy
• Practical ways to integrate AI into leadership, L&D, and performance management
• The power of frameworks (data → information → knowledge → understanding → wisdom)
• Why pressure should come from clients, not internal politics

Daniel also shares how his leadership philosophy has been influenced by Jean-Luc Picard, agile methods, and a desire to grow organisations that get faster and smarter with scale.

If you’re a leader looking for practical wisdom on staying future-fit, creating meaningful work environments, and navigating AI without losing the human touch—this one is for you.

If something in this conversation resonated, I’d love to hear from you.
Get in touch, and let’s talk about how extra-Ordinary leadership could look in your team:
https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Find Out More about Satalia:
https://www.satalia.com/about-us/

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome
02:00 – What extra-Ordinary leadership means to Daniel
04:45 – Creating “fertile ground” and removing blockers
06:30 – How AI is reshaping organisational design
08:00 – The 3 ways AI is impacting business (productivity, supply chains, disruption)
10:00 – How to apply AI to solve real business frictions
12:30 – The Pyramid of Understanding (Data → Wisdom)
14:45 – How AI helps predict and understand behaviour
17:00 – The magic of assigning people to projects
19:00 – Building digital twins of employees
21:00 – Bridging the “intention-impact” gap with AI
23:00 – Feedback, skill-mapping, and performance through AI
26:00 – Can AI get it wrong?
28:00 – The L&D world and using AI for behaviour change
31:00 – Dolly’s approach to team transformation & where AI can enhance it
34:00 – When the data shows us what ego and culture try to hide
36:00 – Starting digital twin implementation—what’s step one?
38:00 – Attachment styles & leadership dysfunctions
40:00 – Why the “gardener” is the best kind of leader
41:20 – Structured naming systems & the tech you actually need
43:00 – It’s not a tech problem—it’s a leadership one
45:00 – Why organisations reflect the personality of their leaders
47:00 – Are hierarchies really helping decision-making?
48:00 – Teal, Humanopathy & fluid teams
50:00 – Why pressure should come from clients, not internal structures
51:00 – The power of seven & ambidextrous leadership
53:00 – Dolly’s final question: What item at home reflects extra-Ordinary leadership?
54:00 – Star Trek’s Jean-Luc Picard and leadership lessons
54:30 – Wrap-up and thank you

Iona Ledwidge is CEO of Resurgo Trust, an organisation that exists to build sustainable social change. She joins Dolly Waddell to break down what makes great leadership - hint: it's a lot of trust, consistency, and tapping in to the power of listening. 

They explore the impact of small actions, the importance of investing in people, and how diversity strengthens organisations. Iona shares her journey as a CEO, while Dolly highlights the balance between respect and likability in leadership. They also discuss overcoming imposter syndrome, tackling toxic cultures, and how mentorship drives growth.

Follow The extra-Ordinary Leader wherever you get podcasts, and if you'd like to book Dolly to speak at your next event please visit dollywaddell.com

Can you build something well and build it fast? Can a high-performance culture also be a high-trust culture?

I’m joined by Gareth Anderson, Head of Business Management at Allica Bank, to unpack what it takes to lead in a fast-scaling, high-growth business—without burning out your people or losing sight of what really matters.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll take away from this episode:

• Why real leadership starts with trust, not control.
• How celebrating failure creates a culture of innovation and growth.
• The shift from managing schedules to managing energy.
• How to balance results with sustainable leadership

If you’ve ever wondered how to grow a business without losing its soul, this episode is for you.

Did you know you can create your own GPT bot that's trained on your personal values, leadership lessons and more? Dr Gary Crotaz is host of The Unlock Moment podcast and a leadership speaker and coach. He joins me on the show to talk it through.

You will:

• Discover how AI tools like ChatGPT can dramatically increase productivity and reshape leadership roles.
• Understand the intersection of AI and leadership from Gary’s perspective as a seasoned executive coach.
• Learn about the "Unlock Moment"—a concept fundamental to transformational leadership and personal breakthrough.
• Hear our debate on the potential and ethics of AI in the workplace, and how leaders can harness new technologies while maintaining a human touch.

Will it be a revolution in leadership? Listen to find out, and try Gary's GPT (that's a Generative Pre-trained Transformer - a type of large language model) here: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-6772e5e140948191b7767f29035328d4-executive-coach

Dolly Waddell chats with former rally champion, TV presenter, and mental toughness expert Penny Mallory. Together, they unpack the secrets of mental resilience, the surprising power of sensitivity, and how to embrace challenges like a champion. 

You'll hear how to:

• Strengthen your mentality: it’s about managing stress, pressure, and adversity while staying empathetic and grounded.
• Build resilience: Penny explains how toughness evolves across life’s challenges and how to build it daily.
• Prepare for success: Rally driving taught Penny that 95% of success is preparation, and she shares how this applies to leadership and life

Want to transform your team or audience into extra-0rdinary leaders? Dolly brings her unique insights and dynamic energy to every business consultancy and talk. Her approach combines real-world leadership expertise with a fresh, human perspective that inspires change. Visit dollywaddell.com to book a chat.

For more from Penny please check out her website, it's https://pennymallory.co.uk/
and to purchase her incredible book, go to https://pennymallory.co.uk/buy-books

Creativity is such a powerful driver for impactful leadership. Tapping into it is the hard the part. Dolly joins Dan Maudhub, founder & CEO of the Wonderful Group, a group of companies with a common mission to help change lives and businesses, to find out how it's done. 

In this episode, you'll hear the importance of challenging assumptions, adopting divergent thinking (and what this means in 2025), and integrating consistent effort to achieve meaningful change. Dan shares his story on uncovering organisational “wonder,” balancing big ideas with practical implementation, and drawing inspiration from diverse industries. 

This week I’m joined by Tanya Gallagher, MD and founder of Limitless Leadership, an award-winning leadership development consultancy. Tanya brings a wealth of wisdom to the space of leadership development, and what stood out to me most in our conversation is just how practical and human her definition of extra-Ordinary leadership is.

We dig into the difference between good, bad, and terrible leadership, and what it really means to take ownership. It’s a conversation that will shift how you see your role as a leader. We discuss psychological safety, promotion dynamics, and the underrated power of what Tanya calls “contracting conversations”—those small yet powerful exchanges that can transform working relationships.

If you've ever avoided a conversation because it felt awkward, if you’ve ever felt resentment building under the surface, or if you're leading people without ever asking what they need from you, this episode is for you.

🔗 Connect with Tanya: https://www.limitless-ltd.com/

Inside The Episode:

• What it really means to “go beyond” as an extra-Ordinary leader
• How to spot bad and even terrible leadership (in yourself too)
• Why avoidance is the silent killer of team culture
• How to lead when you’ve been promoted within your peer group
• The art of the “contracting conversation”—and why it’s essential
• Why leadership is often hidden, unglamorous, and deeply human
• Coaching advice for leaders who’ve never had difficult conversations
• Creating urgency around what’s truly important in leadership
• How to rewire your mindset around responsibility, communication and growth

If this episode sparked something in you—if you’re realising there’s a new standard of leadership you want to step into—get in touch. I partner with leaders to help them go again and again. New mindset. New behaviours. Real results.

Start your journey here: https://www.dollywaddell.com

Don’t forget to grab a copy of my book extra-Ordinary Leaders, for more practical insight into becoming the kind of leader people want to follow.

Kicking off Series 4, I’m joined by the brilliant Chris Hirst – former Global CEO, speaker, and author of the bestselling No Bullsh*t series, including his latest release, Indispensable. This is a practical, powerful conversation about real leadership – not just the talking and thinking, but the doing.

We explore what it means to take your space and authority as a leader, how to build indivisibly tight teams, and why culture is not a soft word – it’s your strategy.

Chris shares openly about the inflexion point in his own career, how he turned around a business once called "unfixable," and the questions every leader needs to ask if they want their teams – and careers – to thrive.

This one’s meaty. Bring a pencil (a sharpened one) and get stuck in.

Inside This Episode

• Why leadership starts with doing – not just talking and thinking
• The sharpened pencil metaphor for action and momentum
• How Chris turned around a failing company (that had been written off)
• The equation: Leadership Impact = Clarity × Action
• What leaders often misunderstand about culture
• How to build indivisibly tight teams
• Why teamship – not just individual talent – drives performance
• The Schwerpunkt principle: where to focus your energy for maximum impact
• The three layers of belief every high-performing team needs
• The vital (and often missing) conversations in hybrid teams

Want to work with me to build extra-Ordinary cultures in your business? Get in touch: https://www.dollywaddell.com

Chris Hirst’s Website: https://chris-hirst.com/

No Bullsh*t Leadership: Amazon UK

No Bullsh*t Change: Amazon UK

Indispensable – A No Bullsh*t Guide to Career Success: Amazon UK

Don’t forget to grab a copy of my book extra-Ordinary Leaders, for more practical insight into becoming the kind of leader people want to follow.

Welcome to Series 4 of The extra-Ordinary Leader. In this launch episode, I take a moment to define what I mean by “extra-Ordinary leadership.” It’s not about being grandiose or exceptional in the traditional sense—it’s about adding extra to the ordinary parts of your leadership, life, and career.

I open up about my own inflexion point—moving from a full-time stay-at-home mum and vicar’s wife to running my own consultancy, working with senior leaders and organisations across sectors. I share how this journey has shaped my mission: to help people access and borrow the "extras" from others so they can show up more powerfully in their own spaces.

In this season, we’ll hear from a range of brilliant leaders about their own inflexion points—the turning points that reshaped their leadership and lives. You’ll also hear shorter solo episodes, ‘Dolly in My Pocket’, where I pull bite-sized insights from my book The extra-Ordinary Leader.

If you want to think differently, lead courageously, and navigate your own inflexion points with clarity, this season is for you.

The extra-Ordinary Leader book is out now. Buy it here: https://www.dollywaddell.com/store/p/the-extra-ordinary-leader

For strategy, speaking or consultancy enquiries: info@dollywaddell.com

www.dollywaddell.com

As we wrap up Season 3 of The extra-Ordinary Leader, I wanted to pull together the most transformational threads from this series—ideas and insights that have helped me grow as a leader and that I believe can do the same for you.

This episode explores how we can move from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset in leadership, the power of pausing, mastering stress, building self-awareness, and the paradox of holding authority and authenticity in tandem. You’ll hear highlights from brilliant guests including Helen Brocklebank, Gareth Anderson, Cathy O’Dowd, Russell Harvey, Noa Maxwell and Dan Maudhub. I also share personal reflections and leadership tools you can begin using today to become the kind of leader others want to follow.

If you’ve been wondering how to add something extra to your everyday leadership, this episode is for you.

Inside This Episode

• How to spot and shift a fixed mindset in yourself or others
• Why conversations are the gateway to growth
• A powerful analogy for measuring failure in teams
• What cognitive overload is doing to your performance
• The link between stress mastery and great decision-making
• A practical team exercise using just Post-its
• The difference between knowing your stress habits vs. true self-awareness
• Why authority isn’t a dirty word when grounded in good character
• How simple questions can transform team performance

Listen to the full episodes mentioned:

S3 10: Legacy and Craft: Walpole's Helen Brocklebank on the Mindset of extra-Ordinary Leadership

S3 07: Culture doesn't just happen. Here's how to create it | with Gareth Anderson

S3 09: Mountains, Mindsets and Mastery: The Small Steps of an extra-Ordinary Life with Cathy O'Dowd

S3 01: How To Be A Resilient Leader With Russell Harvey

S3 03: How To Tell a Business Story | with Noa Maxwell

S3 04: Balancing Creativity, Trust, and Leadership | with Dan Maudhub

Don’t forget to grab a copy of my book extra-Ordinary Leaders, for more practical insight into becoming the kind of leader people want to follow.

In this week’s episode of The extra-Ordinary Leader, I’m joined by my friend and powerhouse leader Becky Barsellotti—Managing Partner at GiANT London and the brilliant mind behind Alive, a seven-step process for creating a life by design, not by accident.

Becky was one of the earliest catalysts in my own leadership journey. From the moment I met her, I knew she had that rare gift of unlocking people on the spot—and she did just that for me.

In this conversation, we explore why leadership today demands a deeper level of self-awareness, courage, and personal audit. We talk about how journaling can become a leadership tool, the real risk of staying on autopilot, and why businesses don’t need more cogs—they need humans who are fully alive. Becky also introduces her concept of the “seven summits” that define a meaningful life, and shares how this process is transforming teams and individuals alike.

This one is full of practical wisdom and life-defining questions. Whether you're leading a team or leading yourself, this episode will move the dial on how intentionally you live and lead.

To find out more about Becky’s Alive cohorts or to bring this work into your team, visit https://www.instagram.com/the.alive.collective/

To explore how I can bring energy, urgency, and transformational coaching into your leadership culture, email me directly at info@dollywaddell.com

INSIDE THIS EPISODE

• What it means to live by design, not by accident
• The Alive framework: seven summits of a meaningful life
• Why journaling is a leadership tool—not a luxury
• How to reframe rest and create your own "recharge rhythm"
• Fear-flossing: a daily mindset practice for leaders
• How businesses can unlock people’s potential through intention
• What stops people from living lives they’re proud of
• Why now, more than ever, leaders must choose intentionality

This conversation ties closely into the themes in my book The extra-Ordinary Leader—especially the chapter on the “Mirror Moment.” 

If you’ve not yet grabbed your copy, take a look here: https://www.dollywaddell.com/store/p/the-extra-ordinary-leader

Welcome to the first ever episode of Dolly in My Pocket — a new solo series within The extra-Ordinary Leader podcast.

Each short episode is designed to offer a moment of pause: a thought, a reflection, a challenge you can carry into your day. These are not fluffy motivational quotes — they’re grounded insights that have shaped the way I lead, live, and support others to do the same.

If you’re new to the podcast, The extra-Ordinary Leader is a space where I explore what it really takes to show up as a modern leader — whether that’s in business, in the home, or in your own personal growth. Past episodes include honest conversations with senior leaders, practical tools for performance, and mindset shifts to move you through your own glass ceilings. If you want more impact, clarity, and energy, you’ll find something here for you.

In this Dolly in My Pocket episode, I start with one of my favourite quotes from Brené Brown and explore the concept of the mirror moment: a pause in time where you stop and really see yourself — beyond the emails, the roles you play, and the face in the mirror. I share my own moment of reckoning from six years ago, when I realised I’d buried the ambitious, purposeful part of myself under the noise of life. That moment became the starting point for the business I now run and the work I do every day.

If you’re feeling off-track or just a little disconnected, this episode might be the nudge you need.

And if it sparks something, I’d love for you to explore the wider podcast — there’s a whole back catalogue of wisdom waiting for you.

The extra-Ordinary Leader book is out now. Buy it here: https://www.dollywaddell.com/store/p/the-extra-ordinary-leader

For strategy, speaking or consultancy enquiries: info@dollywaddell.com

Welcome back to Dolly in My Pocket — the solo series from The extra-Ordinary Leader podcast, designed to offer short, powerful reflections you can take straight into your leadership and life.

In this episode, I’m talking about something I call the art of knowing yourself — but not in the “I like coffee and I’m a bit impatient” kind of way.

I’m talking about truly understanding your personality, your wiring, your drivers, and how they influence your leadership, energy, decision-making, and ability to perform.

This isn’t just self-awareness — it’s a strategic advantage. Because when you know how you recharge, how you process information, how you handle pressure, and what makes you tick (and trip!), you stop wasting time trying to be someone you’re not — and start leading from a place of clarity and energy.

If you’ve ever felt like a square peg in a round hole, or found yourself mimicking leadership strategies that just don’t fit, this is the episode for you.

Give it a listen — and let it challenge you to go deeper.

The extra-Ordinary Leader book is out now. Buy it here: https://www.dollywaddell.com/store/p/the-extra-ordinary-leader

For strategy, speaking or consultancy enquiries: info@dollywaddell.com

If you're new to the podcast, The extra-Ordinary Leader is all about what it takes to lead with more clarity, energy, and purpose — whether in business, at home, or in yourself. Browse the back catalogue and take what you need.

In this episode of The extra-Ordinary Leader, I sit down with Laura G. Patac, Strengths Coach, creator of Strengths Velocity Lab™, and author of Stories with Purpose. With over 20 years as a corporate executive across five continents, Laura brings a wealth of wisdom on what it really takes to thrive as a leader.

We explore the difference between success and impact, why presence and influence matter as much as results, and how leaders can use storytelling to unlock connection, energy, and purpose. Laura shares her own journey from mathematician to corporate leader to poet and entrepreneur – and why tapping into your strengths is the key to sustainable leadership.

Inside this conversation, Laura also guides me through a live storytelling exercise that uncovered powerful new reflections on resilience, surrender, and authenticity in leadership.

If you’ve ever felt stuck behind results alone or struggled to articulate your leadership presence, this episode will give you practical tools and deep inspiration.

You can connect with Laura on LinkedIn and find her book, Stories with Purpose, on Amazon

Inside This Episode

• Laura’s global corporate journey and why she chose to pivot into coaching and poetry
• Why results alone aren’t enough – the importance of presence, impact, and influence
• How leaders can use storytelling as a practical skill to build trust and connection
• The energy shift that happens when you work in your strengths rather than your weaknesses
• A simple but powerful exercise to discover the difference between capability and natural talent
• How storytelling frameworks can be applied to leadership challenges and feedback conversations
• Laura’s insights on resilience, surrender, and authenticity – and my own personal reflections during our live exercise

If this episode resonates with you, reach out at info@dollywaddell.com. I work with executives and teams to unlock their strengths, harness the power of storytelling, and build the presence and impact that leadership today demands. Together we can create lasting energy, connection, and cultures that thrive.

My book The extra-Ordinary Leader is available now: https://www.dollywaddell.com/store/p/the-extra-ordinary-leader

Welcome to another Dolly in My Pocket — the short solo series within The extra-Ordinary Leader podcast, designed to offer pithy, practical leadership insights to carry into your week.

This episode is about quitting — but not in the way you think.

I'm not talking about giving up alcohol or bad habits. I’m talking about something far more radical: quitting the automatic “yeses” and inherited “nos” that shape how we spend our time, attention, and energy.

I unpack a powerful idea: every time you say yes to something, you’re saying no to something else — and vice versa. This matters. Because if you're constantly saying yes to what’s familiar, you may be unintentionally saying no to the future you actually want.

I also share one of my favourite quotes by Augustine of Hippo, the myth of Prince Charming, and what happened when I started saying “no” to Wednesdays.

If you're hoping this year will turn out differently, this is the episode that reminds you: hope isn't a strategy. Quitting the right things is.

The extra-Ordinary Leader book is out now. Buy it here: https://www.dollywaddell.com/store/p/the-extra-ordinary-leader

For strategy, speaking or consultancy enquiries: info@dollywaddell.com

If you're new to the podcast, The extra-Ordinary Leader is all about what it takes to lead with more clarity, energy, and purpose — whether in business, at home, or in yourself. Browse the back catalogue and take what you need.

In this episode of The extra-Ordinary Leader, I sit down with Thor Olafsson, Founder & CEO of Strategic Leadership Group and author of Beyond Ego. Thor has built and led multiple businesses and now works globally with leaders to integrate strategy and people in a way that creates true, sustainable growth.

We explore the nine ego types that can both empower and undermine leadership, and how self-awareness is the game-changing factor in modern leadership. Thor and I discuss why self-image, defensiveness, and fear-based behaviour so often sabotage leaders—and what it takes to move beyond ego to lead with clarity, authenticity, and impact.

We also unpack why leadership development has become a non-negotiable investment in today’s organisations, and how the war for talent means leaders must change their mindset to ensure they attract, retain, and inspire the very best people.

This conversation is both practical and transformative, and it will make you reflect on your own patterns, your shadow sides, and how you can step into being a less fear-driven, more purpose-led leader.

Inside This Episode:

• Thor’s definition of ego and why it matters in business.
• How to tell if you’re being decisive or simply defensive.
• The nine ego types—how they show up and what their shadow sides cost organisations.
• Why self-awareness is now a critical leadership skill.
• The link between transparency, access to information, and leadership.
• The real cost of not investing in leadership development.
• How to begin walking the path to a more self-aware, purpose-led leadership.

If this episode sparks something in you, reach out at info@dollywaddell.com. I coach executives and teams on these very challenges, helping you uncover your ego triggers, transform your leadership, and create cultures that thrive.

My book The extra-Ordinary Leader is available now: https://www.dollywaddell.com/store/p/the-extra-ordinary-leader

🔗 Find Thor’s book Beyond Ego here: https://beyondego.com/
🔗 Strategic Leadership Group: https://strategicleaders.com/