In this episode, Ben discusses why induction (or onboarding) is more important than many leaders realise. While it can seem like a dry administrative task, it creates the first impression a new employee has of the team or organisation, and that impression can influence how connected and motivated they feel.

Ben shares a personal story about a poor onboarding experience where nobody seemed prepared for his arrival, leaving a lasting negative impression.

From there, he outlines several ways leaders can improve induction. These include creating a structured and repeatable process, helping new starters build connections with colleagues, introducing familiarity with the workplace and its people, and providing the right balance of early work so the new person feels useful without being overwhelmed.

He also emphasises the importance of managers personally investing time in the induction process to help new employees feel welcomed and valued.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• SCARF model of motivation.
• Work with Ben 1:1.

In this episode, Ben argues that while there is rarely a true "silver bullet" in leadership, respect comes close when dealing with difficult team members.

Respect involves fairness, listening to the other person's perspective, and involving them in decision-making about solutions.

He explains that respect must go both ways, and that leaders must also ensure they are respected.

When respect is absent, issues often escalate into formal performance management. Ben also encourages leaders to focus on what they can control in emotionally charged situations.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Article: Taking a Coaching Approach with Less Telling and More Asking
• Work with Ben 1 on 1: Leadership coaching.

In this episode, Ben explores whether personal values can be changed and what to do when they seem to hold you back.

He explains that while values are relatively stable, we can adapt our behaviour regardless of what our values are.

Through examples of conflicting values like ease versus growth, he shows how leaders can consciously choose which values to prioritise in different situations.

This episode offers reflection questions to help identify your own values and use them more intentionally.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Lead With Confidence by Understanding and Using Your Values course
• Thoughtful Leader Coaching – work with Ben.

Motivating team members is an ongoing challenge for leaders. 

Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all motivation solution because everyone is different.

In this episode, I cover three factors that you can use to try to motivate your people.

Hopefully you can use these as a guide to develop more specific strategies to help your people feel more engaged with the work that they do.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

Show Links: 

• Article: Motivate Your People Using These 3 Levers.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #71: A Simple Model for Team Motivation.
• Article: Job Characteristics model.
• Book: "Drive", by Dan Pink.
• Article: 4 Ways to Provide Autonomy For Your People.
• Article: Risk & Reward: How to Provide Development Opportunities For Your Team.

Saying "No" is a superpower in leadership (and in life), in my opinion.

Many thoughtful leaders feel stressed at the prospect of pushing back or saying no, especially to someone like their own boss. 

This episode is a little encouragement for you to start saying "No" a little more often, so you can create space for the most important work and set a positive example for the people around you.

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links:

• Article: 4 Great Things That Happen When You Start Saying No.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #92: Struggling to Say No? Try These 5 Ways!
• Article: Too Many Priorities: What to Do When You're Asked to Do It All.
• Article: Do You Have a Victim Leadership Mentality?

Staff turnover is a natural part of life, even for excellent leaders.

Even so, it can have a big impact on the functioning of a team if we aren't careful. 

In this episode, I take a look at some ideas to help reduce the impact of turnover in your team, so that the wheels don't fall off when someone says goodbye.

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links: 

• Article: 4 Ways to Reduce the Impact of Staff Turnover.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #33: Employee Turnover: Why It's Good and When You Should Worry.
• Article: Process Mapping – Lucidchart.
• Article: Roles and Responsibilities Unclear? Do This.
• Article: How Leaders Can Improve Team Performance Through Cross Training.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #64: Overwhelmed? Start Working at 80%.

In many respects, it's good to be a nice leader. 

But what happens if you're one of those leaders who is perceived as "too nice"?

In this episode, I take a look at some tips for nice leaders, to help to counter some of the common perceptions that can hold them back in the workplace. 

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links: 

• Article: 4 Critical Considerations for "Nice" Leaders.
• Article: Struggling as a Kind Leader? Ask Yourself These 3 Questions.
• Article: Hiring People? Here Are 5 Essential Personality Traits to Watch Out For.
• Article: CNBC Interview With David Kawasaki.
• Article: Jacinda Ardern.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #83: Handling Emotions in Leadership.
• Article: How to Manage Your Emotions For Better Leadership.

Feeling confident in your leadership role always makes leading a whole lot easier. 

So in this episode, I take a look at the four steps I believe are necessary to grow in confidence.

I share a few personal examples from my own journey in confidence-building, and hopefully you can view some of your challenges in a different light, and use these four steps to build your own confidence. 

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links: 

• Article: 4 Critical Steps to Grow Your Confidence In Leadership.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #90: Beating Leadership Imposter Syndrome.
• Article: Working For An Insecure Manager? Here's What to Do.
• Assessment Tools: DISC, PRINT, MBTI, Clifton's Strengths or Hogan.
• Article: Why You Need to Know Your Values In Leadership.
• Article: 5 Questions Confident Leaders Ask.
• Article: Leadership Confidence Problem? Let's Diagnose It.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #56: Why Thoughtful Leaders Need the Most Confidence.
• Online Course: Leadership Confidence Online Course. (Discount ends June 30th 2023!)

Many people are looking for a quick fix for their time management challenges, in the form of tools and technologies. 

While these can be helpful for working more efficiently, nothing beats having the skills and mindset to actually set clear boundaries and become more effective. 

The only thing is… it's much harder, takes effort… and might even involve a few challenging conversations. 

In this episode, I take a look at the top 3 time management skills I think will *really* help you become more effective.

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links: 

• Article: Forget the Tools, Master These Top 3 Time Management Skills.
• The Urgent-Important Matrix: How to Be More Productive at Work: A Simple Tool for Leaders.
• Article: How Better Time Management Will Help Your Team (Not just you!)
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #80: What to Do When You Have Too Many Priorities.
• Article: Why Leaders Must Push Back and Say "No".
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #18: How to Delegate to Improve Your Team.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #105: Downsides of Delegation.

Communication skills are a hot topic in leadership, and are often one of the most sought-after skills for leaders. 

However, we don't usually dig much into what good communication means.

So in this episode, I thought I'd look into what it means (Thoughtful Leader style, that is) and how you bring it more often.

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links: 

• Article: What Good Communication Means, and How to Do It.
• LinkedIn Learning Blog: Top Skills to Future Proof Your Career.
• Article: 5 Leadership Communication Principles to Help Your Team.
• Statista: Emails Sent Per Day Stats.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #122: Suffering From a Communication Breakdown? Let's Fix It.
• Article: 5 Communication Skills Every Leader Needs.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #35: How to Create Open Communication in Your Team.

We often talk about the actions that leaders should take to get the best out of their teams.

But it's worth thinking about the things we choose *not* to do which can make a real difference.

In this episode, I take a look at why leaders sometimes struggle to restrain themselves from taking instinctive actions, and take a look at some ways you might be able to add a little restraint into your leadership.

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links: 

• Article: Why Exercising Restraint Is Important For Good Leadership.
• Article: Want to Build Empathy? Use the Iceberg Model.
• Article: How to Manage Your Emotions For Better Leadership.
• Article: The Impact and Importance of Emotions in Leadership.
• Resource: PRINT assessment.
• Resource: Live Your Values deck.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #124: How to Stay Calm In Tricky, Stressful and Uncertain Situations.

Autonomy is a key factor when it comes to team member motivation at work. 

But unfortunately, it can feel daunting to let go and provide your people with the autonomy they want. 

In this episode, I take a look at some simple options for providing greater autonomy to your people, without necessarily saying "Go do whatever you want!"

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

Show Links:

• Article: 4 Ways to Provide Autonomy For Your People.
• Motivation Model: Job Characteristics model.
• Book: "Drive" by Daniel Pink.
• Article: Why Leaders Struggle to Provide Autonomy at Work.
• Article: 5 Empowering Leadership Actions to Try In Your Team.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #78: Want to Feel More In Control of Your Team? Try Letting Go.

Trust is important in leadership.

After all, it's tiring and stressful when people are questioning our motives all the time. 

But we can't just ask people to trust us. We need to show up as being trustworthy.

Otherwise, we're just the person who says "trust me", with nothing to back it up.

And you don't trust people like that, do you?

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links:

• Article: Start Being Trustworthy For Your Team: Here's How.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #125: How to Build Trust In Your Team.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #130: How to Make Your 1 to 1 Meetings Better.
• Article: The #1 Way That Leaders Damage Team Trust.
• Article: Team Improvement: 5 Reasons Smart Leaders Love It.
• Article: Is a Lack of Trust Ruining Your Team? Here's 3 Ways to Fix It.
• Article: "Trust Equation" by Trusted Advisor.

This episode tackles a common leadership dilemma: how long to wait before enforcing consequences for poor performance or behaviour.

Ben walks through a practical decision-making process, starting with curiosity and feedback, then moving to support, clarity, and finally consequences if behaviour doesn't change.

He discusses the importance of stakeholder alignment, realistic follow-through, and why avoiding consequences can undermine trust and motivation across the team.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Thoughtful Leader Coaching – work with Ben.

I've noticed that leaders in many organisations like to send people on training without too much thought. 

Unfortunately, usually this results in a lot of wasted time and money, even though it may seem like a good idea at the time.

To help with this, in this episode I take a look at 3 simple questions to answer to improve the chances of the training being useful and worth the expense!

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

Show Links: 

• Article: Training Your People? Ask These 3 Questions Before You Spend the Money.

Managing by exception is a style of management that emphasises escalation of only significant issues to leaders in an organisation.

It is often seen as a way to free up a leader's capacity, because they are only involved when there is a challenge to be overcome or a significant decision to be made. 

I'm naturally skeptical about "silver bullet" leadership approaches, so in this episode, I take a look at this style of leading, along with the benefits and potential pitfalls, so you can see how this might suit your situation.

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links: 

• Article: Managing By Exception: How Does It Impact Our People?
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #48: The Perils of Passive Leadership.
• Article: 4 Signs That a Productivity Problem Might Be Hurting Your Leadership.
• Article: How to Get Comfortable Without Controlling Leadership.
• Article: McKinsey Study on Employee Satisfaction. (Note: I incorrectly referenced this as a Harvard Business Review study in the episode).

Working for an insecure manager is no picnic. 

Many people react to this situation by fighting. Trying to prove to their insecure boss that they are superior and capable and don't need to be controlled.

    Unfortunately, I've never seen this work. It usually results in a worse situation as the feeling of insecurity grows even further!

I suggest you try the strategies in this episode instead.

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

Show Links:

• Article: Working For An Insecure Manager? Here's What to Do.
• Article: Moving From Doer to Leader: The Top Challenges.
• Article: Are You an Insecure Leader? Watch for These 10 Signs.
• Article: Leadership Confidence Problem? Let's Diagnose It.
• Article: Start Being Trustworthy For Your Team: Here's How.
• Article: How to Influence People to Achieve Your Leadership Goals.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #78: Want to Feel More In Control of Your Team? Try Letting Go.
• Article: Want to Build Empathy? Use the Iceberg Model.
• Article: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #104: Why Leaders Must Set Boundaries at Work.

Empowering leadership is all about getting out of your team's way, so they can do their thing. 

However, this deceptively simple idea can be daunting for leaders who aren't used to letting go of the reins so much. 

In this episode, I take a look at empowering leadership, why it can be a great thing for your team, and give you some ideas of empowering actions you can take.

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links:

• Article: 5 Empowering Leadership Actions to Try In Your Team.
• Article: Are You an Insecure Leader? Watch for These 10 Signs.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #172: Team Member Lacking Confidence? Here's How to Lead Them.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #74: Want a More Proactive Team? Try These Things.
• Article: 4 Ways Leaders Damage Accountability in the Workplace.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #112: Why Smart Leaders Seek Continuous Improvement.
• Article: 5 Questions Confident Leaders Ask.
• Article: How to Delegate Work to Improve Your Team.
• Article: How a Self Fulfilling Prophecy Will Make or Break Your Team.

Being able to show empathy is a great skill for leaders to better understand and engage with their people. 

One tool I've found really useful in helping to keep an open mind and show empathy is the iceberg model. 

In this episode, I introduce this simple model and how you can use it to think differently about the various behaviours you might be seeing in your workplace. 

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links: 

• Article: Want to Build Empathy? Use the Iceberg Model.
• Article: Empathy from UC Berkeley's Greater Good Magazine.
• Article: 4 Ways Leaders Can Build Empathy in the Workplace (and Why It Matters).
• Article: How to Manage Your Emotions For Better Leadership.

One of the common complaints levelled at leaders (especially in the middle-management layer) is that they are "useless" and "don't do anything". 

And sometimes, when you've gone from being a valuable "doer" to a leader, it can certainly feel that way!

In this episode, I take a look at some ways to help yourself (and your team) feel like you're making a positive difference in your leadership role. 

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links: 

• Article: 4 Ways to Be a More Useful Leader.
• Article: Why is Leadership Important? Here's a Reminder.
• Article: The Power of Setting a Direction For Your Team.
• Article: Don't Have a Clear Team Purpose? Here's Why You Need One.
• Article: Don't Have a Team Operating Model? Here's Why You Need One.
• Article: Stakeholder Management Tips For the Everyday Leader.
• Article: How to Influence People to Achieve Your Leadership Goals.
• Article: Are you a Micromanaging Boss? Here's How to Break the Habit.
• Article: Risk & Reward: How to Provide Development Opportunities For Your Team.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #112: Why Smart Leaders Seek Continuous Improvement.

In the book "Legacy" about the New Zealand All Blacks Rugby team, the concept of "sweeping the sheds" is raised. 

That is – even leaders should pitch in and do the small things, rather than considering them to be beneath their station. 

So is sweeping the sheds good leadership? When should you do it, and when should you avoid it?

I discuss these questions in this podcast episode. 

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links: 

• Article: Too Important For That Task? Is It Good or Bad Leadership?
• Book: "Legacy"
• Article: Are You Taking Yourself Too Seriously?
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #80: What to Do When You Have Too Many Priorities.
• Article: Don't Have a Team Operating Model? Here's Why You Need One.
• Article: How to Create a Clear Team Purpose.
• Article: 5 Strategic Skills to Improve Your Leadership.

One way that we can help to set a good foundation for our leadership is to understand our core values. 

Our core values help us to understand what drives us, what we stand for and what we won't. They can also help us to identify the situations and environments where we are more likely to feel satisfied, content and motivated.

In this episode, I take a look at why our values are so important, what we can use them for and how to figure out what yours are.

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Maslow's Hierarchy – a Leadership Perspective

Show Links: 

• Article: Why You Need to Know Your Values In Leadership.
• Article: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.
• Article: 4 Types of Motivation to Look For In Your Team.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #153: Why Knowing Yourself Equals Better Leadership.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #76: Why Leaders Should Focus On Workplace Wellbeing.
• Article: How Leaders Can Build Strong Working Relationships.
• Product: Live Your Values Deck.
• Lists of Values: James Clear and Brene Brown.

You might not feel confident all the time, but that doesn't mean you can't ask confident questions!

In this episode, I take a look at some good questions that you can ask to help build trust and rapport with the people around you. 

Many leaders don't ask these questions, because they don't want to hear the answers. 

Don't be like them – ask away!

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links: 

• Article: 5 Questions Confident Leaders Ask.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #90: Beating Leadership Imposter Syndrome.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #125: How to Build Trust In Your Team.
• Article – Entrepreneur: A Lack of Confidence Is a Surprising Trait of Successful Leaders.

Most leaders have parts of their leadership they'd like to improve. 

One way to improve is to create good leadership habits, to help you show up consistently and reliably for your team. 

In this episode, I take a look at 3 key ingredients I believe are important for making a change to your leadership habits. 

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

Show Links: 

• Article: Create Positive Leadership Habits With These 3 Ingredients.
• Article: James Clear – Creating a new habit
• Tool: RescueTime
• Article: Are You a Consistent Leader, Or Keeping Your Team Guessing?

In this episode, Ben explores how deeply held beliefs shape behaviour and can quietly limit leadership confidence.

Using personal stories about fitness, public speaking, and career choices, he illustrates how untested assumptions can become self-imposed barriers.

Ben explains the difference between fixed and growth mindsets, the role of self-talk, and how beliefs often become baked into identity.

He encourages leaders to notice when they say "I can't do that" and get curious about whether those beliefs are actually true.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Lead With Confidence by Understanding and Using Your Values course.
• Thoughtful Leader Coaching.

I sometimes work with leaders who pretty much need a complete confidence rebuild because of their experiences in crappy workplaces. 

Damaged confidence can take years to recover (if it does at all), so we need to be able to guard against this problem.

Over time, I've come to realise that self-acceptance is a big piece of the puzzle, and I think it plays a foundational role in our leadership. 

In this episode, I take a look at why it matters, and some ways to help you find it. 

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

Show Links: 

• Article: Why Self Acceptance is a Foundation for Good Leadership.
• Article: Why Leaders Need to Build Self Esteem.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #164: Don't Let Blind Spots Derail Your Leadership.
• Article: Self-talk: What is it and why is it important – Healthdirect.
• Article: How Daily Commitments Can Improve Your Leadership.
• Article: Psychology Today – One tool that can change the way you think.
• Article: Tim Denning – Neuroplasticity changed changed the way I think.

It seems to be fairly common knowledge that delegation is a valuable leadership skill. 

But in my experience coaching and talking to my training attendees, there is not enough of it happening in our workplaces. 

Many leaders want to be able to delegate more, but there are things getting in the way that seem to prevent it. 

So in this episode, I take a look at some of the common reasons why leaders fail to delegate, and some potential solutions to that problem!

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

Show Links: 

• Article: Why Leaders Don't Delegate (and How to Do It More).
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #105: Downsides of Delegation.
• Article: How Letting Go Will Help You Take Control.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #31: Short Term Thinking = Bad Leadership.
• Article: How a Self Fulfilling Prophecy Will Make or Break Your Team.
• Article: Why Exercising Restraint Is Important For Good Leadership.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #80: What to Do When You Have Too Many Priorities.
• Article: Balancing the Four Essential Leadership Components.
• Article: Moving From Doer to Leader: The Top Challenges.

Recent research shows that honesty is one of the most highly sought-after leadership characteristics. 

However, there are many situations in which we sometimes feel like we can't be as honest as we'd like to be. 

So in this episode, I take a look at some of the ways you can bring honesty to the table more often, because it's what people are looking for in their leaders!

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links: 

• Article: Honest Leadership: How to Bring It More Often (and Why It Matters).
• Book: Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #175: Avoiding Conflict? Here's What's Really Happening.
• Study: Brain battles itself over short-term rewards, long-term goals.
• Article: How Short Term Thinking Leads to Bad Leadership.
• Link: Philosopher and Neuroscientist Sam Harris. 

Workplaces can often be busy and overwhelming places, convincing us that our situation is all doom and gloom. People like to focus on negativity and this can make the situation even worse!

Instead, wouldn't it be nice to feel more positive about your work situation?

In this episode, I look at 3 factors that help leaders feel more positive at work, based on the trends that I notice speaking with my coaching clients. 

You'll still have challenges and tricky problems to solve, but hopefully you can approach them with greater enthusiasm and positive energy!

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links: 

• Article: How Leaders Can Feel More Positive at Work.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #140: Are You Being Too Optimistic?
• Article: Do You Have a Victim Leadership Mentality?

It's time to get started with 2023!

In this episode, I take a look at my 5 key leadership focus areas which I think are important.

These include being aware of global trends (and matching them in your team), watching out for poor time management, being a leadership scientist, cultivating a curious mindset and being able to restrain ourselves in the face of our tricky emotions!

Listen to the episode to find out more about them!

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links: 

• Article: Want to Build Empathy? Use the Iceberg Model.
• Article: 4 Types of Motivation to Look For In Your Team.
• Podcast: #71: A Simple Model for Team Motivation.
• Article: Improve Motivation In Your Team With This Simple Theory.

Most leaders don't go straight into a leadership position. They start by doing the technical work, and then progress to leadership positions afterwards when they show the potential.

This transition can be a huge challenge for many leaders, especially those who actually quite liked doing the technical work!

In this episode, I take a look at some of the top challenges of moving from doer to leader, and some ways you can hopefully overcome these to be as good a leader as you were a team member.

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

• Article: Moving From Doer to Leader: The Top Challenges.
• Article: How Much Technical Expertise Should You Have to Lead Your Team?
• Article: Leading Former Colleagues Can Be Tricky. Try These Tips.

Strategic Thinking

• Article: 5 Strategic Skills to Improve Your Leadership.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #81: The Power of Setting a Direction for Your Team (and how to do it).
• Article: Team Improvement: 5 Reasons Smart Leaders Love It.
• Article: Don't Have a Team Operating Model? Here's Why You Need One.

Motivation & Difficult Conversations

• Article: Avoiding a Difficult Conversation? Ask Yourself These 3 Questions.
• Article: 5 Questions to Ask An Unmotivated Team Member.
• Article: 4 Types of Motivation to Look For In Your Team.

Delegation

• Article: The Downsides of the Delegating Leadership Style.
• Article: How to Delegate Work to Improve Your Team.
• Article: Why Leaders Don't Delegate Tasks (and How to Fix It).
• Article: Are you a Micromanaging Boss? Here's How to Break the Habit.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #21: Micromanagement and How to Stop It.

Stress is common in busy workplaces, and we might think that it usually occurs because the workload is too high. 

However, there can be many sources of stress that don't necessarily involve the amount of work on our plate. 

In this episode, I take a look at some of the common signs of stress that you might see, and then look at the common causes that may be behind them. 

If you can remain aware of the signs and causes, you might be able to stop them becoming an issue for you and your team!

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

Show Links: 

• Article: How Leaders Can Identify Mental Health Issues.
• Article: Is Your Team Struggling? Understand Workplace Stress to Lead Better.
• Article: Roles and Responsibilities Unclear? Do This.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #55: The Importance of Consequences for an Effective Workplace.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #121: Difficult Colleague? Let's Improve the Relationship.
• Article: 4 Types of Motivation to Look For In Your Team.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader #71: A Simple Model for Team Motivation.
• Article: Motivation at Work: Moving Your People Along the Motivation Spectrum.
• Article: How Leaders Can Survive "Working In the Grey".
• Article: 5 Questions to Ask An Unmotivated Team Member.

When leaders do bad things in your workplace, do you assume they are bad, evil people?

Or could it be that in a different environment, they'd lead in a better way?

In this episode I take a look at some of the integrity risks that I find can have even good leaders doing bad leadership things.

Watch out for them, to be able to lead better, more often.

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

Show Links: 

• Article: Why Even Good Leaders Can Show a Lack of Integrity.
• Article: Power Dynamics: Are They Impacting Your Team?
• Article: Setting Boundaries at Work: Why It's Crucial.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #123: Common Leadership Fears and How to Challenge Them.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #156: Let's Dismantle the Cult of Busyness.
• Article: Too Many Priorities: What to Do When You're Asked to Do It All
• Article: Too Busy at Work? Try These 5 Things.

There are still some common misconceptions about leadership floating around in our organisations. 

Leadership has changed. Gone are the days of command and control and the days of more inclusive leadership are upon us.

However, many workplaces are still battling "old-school" leadership challenges. 

In this episode, I take a look at some common leadership misconceptions that I feel still have a tendency to trip us up!

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links: 

• Article: 5 Leadership Misconceptions We Need to Correct.
• Article: How Much Technical Expertise Should You Have to Lead Your Team?
• Article: What is an introvert? – Healthline.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #28: Why Softly Spoken Leaders Make a Big Impact.
• Podcast: Brene Brown – Anatomy of Trust.
• Article: The Impact and Importance of Emotions in Leadership.
• Article: Why Formal Authority Won't Solve Your Leadership Problems.
• Online Course: Team Accountability Builder Online Course.

The world is full of top 10 leadership characteristics lists which we should all aspire to.

In this episode, I wanted to do something a little different, so here are four characteristics that I think are overrated in leadership. 

I still see these attributes celebrated in many organisations even when the senior leaders say they don't endorse them!

Leave a comment with your favourite overrated leadership attribute!

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links:

• Article: 4 Overrated Leadership Attributes That We Can Stop Admiring.
• Article: 5 Leadership Traits That Help to Motivate Teams.
• Article: What is Charisma? From Skillsyouneed.
• Article: Start Being Trustworthy For Your Team: Here's How.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #156: Let's Dismantle the Cult of Busyness.

In this short and sweet episode, Ben farewells 2025, says Thank You and talks a little bit about how principles (rather than goals) can help you set intentions about how you want 2026 to go. 

Thanks for listening in 2025, and Ben will be back around mid-January 2026.

Good time management won't necessarily make you a great leader, but I consider it to be a key enabler in being able to lead effectively.

A frazzled, disorganised leader will often appear unreliable, untrustworthy and will struggle to focus their attention on the people who need it most (their people). 

In this episode, I take a look at four key areas to focus on for better time management.

If you get these right, you're on the way to being much more effective… and the results will follow!

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

Show Links: 

• Article: To Manage Your Time Better, Focus On These Areas.
• Article: "I Don't Have Time": Taking Back Control of Your Leadership.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #8: Struggling at Work? Improve Your Working Relationship With Your Boss.
• Article: 5 Leadership Communication Principles to Help Your Team.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #170: Shift Your Mindset to Improve Your Productivity.
• Article: 5 Ways to Say No Without Getting Fired.

Thoughtful leaders never set out to become the bottleneck or "single point of failure" in their teams. 

Unfortunately, it still happens for a bunch of reasons. 

In this episode, I take a look at why leaders might fall into the bottleneck trap and of course, how you can take steps to stop becoming a bottleneck in your team!

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links: 

• Article: How to Stop Being a Bottleneck In Your Team.
• Article: 4 Types of Motivation to Look For In Your Team.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #71: A Simple Model for Team Motivation.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #78: Want to Feel More In Control of Your Team? Try Letting Go.
• Article: Are You Holding Yourself Back? Spot the Signs.
• Article: Risk & Reward: How to Provide Development Opportunities For Your Team.
• Article: How Being a Perfectionist Leader is Killing Your Leadership.
• Article: The Downsides of the Delegating Leadership Style.
• Article: How to Delegate Work to Improve Your Team.
• Article: Why Leaders Don't Delegate Tasks (and How to Fix It).
• Article: Stakeholder Management Tips For the Everyday Leader.

When I notice team members watching the clock waiting for the time when they can go home, I know it's a problem.

It's not that I want people to be working longer and harder than they need to. 

But ideally, we want people to enjoy what they do and feel motivated to achieve it, to the point that they feel accountable and take more ownership.

This might mean working longer to finish something important one day, and leaving earlier the next. After all, it should be about outcomes, not hours.

In this episode, I look at some of the common reasons for clock watching, and some ideas to help you solve it.

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links: 

• Article: How to Solve Clock Watching at Work.
• Article: Meaningful Work, the #1 Motivator (and How to Provide it in Your Team).
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #29: 5 Questions to Ask an Unmotivated Team Member.
• Article: Leading High Performers? Try These Strategies.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #161: How to Improve Accountability In Your Team.
• Article: Can't Hold People Accountable? Here's Why.
• Article: 4 Ways Leaders Damage Accountability in the Workplace.
• Online Course: Team Accountability Builder Online Course.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #167: People Unfulfilled at Work? Try These Ideas.

Reliable leaders have a tendency to build trust easily, because people know what to expect from them.

It's easy to say "just do what you say you're going to do" to get someone to be more reliable, but it's not always so easy to make it happen.

In this episode, I'm going to look at some simple ways to show up more reliably at work, so you can hopefully put them into practice.

As always, it's not rocket science… it just needs a little focus!

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

Show Links:

• Article: 3 Ways to Be a More Reliable Leader.
• Article: Are You a Consistent Leader, Or Keeping Your Team Guessing?
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #80: What to Do When You Have Too Many Priorities.
• Article: Why Leaders Must Push Back and Say "No"
• Article: 5 Ways to Say No Without Getting Fired
• Course: Time Management For Leaders Online Course
• eBook: The Difficult Conversations eBook.
• Article: 5 Simple Steps to Communicate Effectively.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #140: Are You Being Too Optimistic?

Since I started coaching thoughtful leaders, I've noticed a few focus areas that we spend most of our time working on. 

I've found that thoughtful leaders are often great people-people, but this can have it's challenges too!

In this episode, I take a look at the common areas of leadership improvement that I think many thoughtful leaders could benefit from.

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links: 

• Article: 4 Leadership Improvement Areas for Thoughtful Leaders.
• Article: Why Leaders Must Push Back and Say "No".
• Article: 5 Ways to Say No Without Getting Fired.
• Article: Can't Hold People Accountable? Here's Why.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #161: How to Improve Accountability In Your Team.
• Article: 4 Ways Leaders Damage Accountability in the Workplace.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #18: How to Delegate to Improve Your Team
• Article: Too Important For That Task? Is It Good or Bad Leadership?
• Article: Why Leaders Don't Delegate Tasks (and How to Fix It).
• Article: Wellbeing at Work: How Leaders Can Support It.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #76: Don't Wait for a Crisis – Why Leaders Should Focus On Workplace Wellbeing.
• Article: Essential Daily Habits to Maintain Your Workplace Wellbeing.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #169: Why Leaders Need to Prioritise Their Mental Health.
• Article: Is It Worth It? Here's How to Decide.
• Huberman Lab Podcast: https://hubermanlab.com/

I work with lots of leaders who wish their team members would show a little more motivation and commitment. 

And recently I've also seen a lot of articles about "quiet quitting", where people are effectively doing the bare minimum at work, or simply tuning out. 

In this episode, I take a look at some of the factors to check to see if you can build commitment in your team.

You can't *make* your people commit, but you can do your best to create an environment where people are more likely to feel committed.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

Show Links: 

• Article: Want a Committed Team? Check These Factors.
• Article: 3 Ingredients For a Great Team Culture.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #29: 5 Questions to Ask an Unmotivated Team Member.
• Article: Don't Have a Clear Team Purpose? Here's Why You Need One.
• Article: The Importance of Planning and Why Leaders Can't Ignore It.
• Article: Motivation at Work: Moving Your People Along the Motivation Spectrum.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #84: How to Give Your Team More Meaningful Work.

Most leaders love high performers. 

However, there is a bit of a misconception that leading high performers can be easier.

While in some ways this might be true, there are a few things you need to keep an eye on to make sure you can keep getting the best out of them – and have them wanting to remain in your team!

In this episode, I look at some of the challenging parts of leading high performers and some strategies to keep in mind to keep them motivated and satisfied.

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

Show Links: 

• Article: Leading High Performers? Try These Strategies.
• Article: Meaningful Work, the #1 Motivator (and How to Provide it in Your Team).
• Article: Are You an Insecure Leader? Watch for These 10 Signs.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #151: Low on Confidence? Let's Tackle the Root Cause.
• Article: Are Your People Feeling Unfulfilled at Work? Try This.
• Article: Risk & Reward: How to Provide Development Opportunities For Your Team.
• Daniel Pink on Motivation: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/autonomy-mastery-purpose.htm

If we follow our instincts all the time when leading people, we're likely to run into trouble at some point.

The problem is that we're wired to protect ourselves, and we can be consumed with the "fight or flight" response that can cloud our judgement. 

While this response has helped us survive and thrive over many thousands of years, in the modern workplace it can hold us back. 

In this episode, I look at some leadership situations where doing the opposite of what your natural instincts tell you might be exactly what you need to do!

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links: 

• Article: Want to Lead Better? Try Doing the Opposite.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #50: Are You Avoiding a Difficult Conversation?
• Article: Difficult Colleague? Let's Improve the Work Relationship.
• Article: 3 Helpful Leadership Actions That Are Hurting Your Team.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #92: Struggling to Say No? Try These 5 Ways!
• Article: Start Being Trustworthy For Your Team: Here's How.
• Article: The Impact and Importance of Emotions in Leadership.
• Article: How Daily Commitments Can Improve Your Leadership.

Who wants to work in a chaotic work environment? 

Most people would answer… "of course, nobody does!"

However, working in a chaotic work environment can sometimes actually be easier!

In this episode, I look at a few ways that a chaotic work environment is hurting your team and your leadership, and of course some ways that you can bring some structure to the situation.

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links: 

• Article: How a Chaotic Work Environment Is Hurting Your Team.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #161: How to Improve Accountability In Your Team.
• Article: Is Passive Leadership Destroying Your Team's Motivation?
• Article: Taking On Too Much? Here's Why.
• Article: Why Leaders Must Push Back and Say "No".
• eBook: Difficult Conversations eBook.
• Course: Team Accountability Builder Online Course.

When leaders feel like they don't have autonomy to make the decisions or take actions they need to, bad things can happen.

That's why it's so important to have freedom when it comes to your leadership role. 

However, it's not easy – you often need to navigate many stakeholders to achieve what you need to.

In this episode, I take a look at some ways to take back your leadership freedom!

If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review by clicking one of the links below.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

>>> Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

>>> Click here to leave a rating on Spotify.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links: 

• Article: Want Leadership Freedom? Focus on These Relationships.
• Article: Struggling at Work? Try Building a Better Working Relationship With Your Boss.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #48: The Perils of Passive Leadership.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #43: Is a Fear of Leaving Your Job Making You a Worse Leader?

Supporting your people doesn't have to be complicated.

In this episode, Ben shares four key reminders leaders often forget.

He explains why these fundamentals matter more than dramatic leadership techniques and how thoughtful leaders can use them to build trust and stability.

Ben draws from coaching conversations and real workplace examples to help you support your team with confidence.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• How to Lead Effectively as a People Pleaser
• Make the Most of Motivation Models in Your Team
• Too Busy at Work? Try These Five Things
• Gallup StrengthsFinder assessment
• PRINT Assessment
• 16Personalities.com
• Episode 130: One-on-one Meetings
• Thoughtful Leader Coaching - work with Ben 1:1.

Many people think that the boss is the most powerful person in a team.

While the boss certainly does have power, they probably aren't the only one!

Sometimes power can come from different sources, not just your formal job title or position.

In this episode, I take a look at several sources of power that can impact teams, and some actions you can take if you think a power imbalance is impacting team performance.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

👍 If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

Show Links: 

• Article: Power Dynamics: Are They Impacting Your Team?
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #62: Why Having Authority Won't Solve Your Leadership Problems.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #109: Stakeholder Management Tips to Make Your Leadership Life Easier.
• Article: Start Being Trustworthy For Your Team: Here's How.

It's nice to be a helpful leader, rather than being an obstacle or causing your team to do more work "managing" you.

However, all that helpfulness can go too far if we're not careful.

Many good people leaders are motivated by supporting their people, so it's easy to fall into the helpfulness trap.

In this episode, I take a look at three seemingly helpful actions that may actually be hurting your team.

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

👍 If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

Show Links: 

• Learn more about Project Coaching here.
• Article: 3 Helpful Leadership Actions That Are Hurting Your Team.
• Article:  Too Many Priorities: What to Do When You're Asked to Do It All.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #74: Want a More Proactive Team? Try These Things.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #89: Ways You Might Be Reducing Accountability in Your Team.
• Article: Dangers of the "Open Door Policy" (and How to Avoid Them).

It's common for leaders to be faced with tough situations such as ethical dilemmas or conflicts, where they need to decide whether it's worth fighting… or perhaps not worth the trouble. 

In this episode, I look at 6 good questions to ask yourself if you're trying to work out whether it's worth fighting that battle, or letting it go instead.

There is never a perfect answer to this question, but hopefully this episode will help you to gain some clarity about what you should do when faced with your next tough situation.

👍 If you like this episode or the show in general, please take a few minutes to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Your review really helps me to reach a wider audience of thoughtful leaders, so we can improve workplaces around the world. I appreciate you taking the time! 🙏

I invite you to a complimentary Discovery Coaching Session, where we will:

• Get clear on your most important goals and what is most important to you
• Identify blockers and limiting beliefs that are holding you back; and
• Develop key actions you can take to move forward and make progress.

You will leave the Discovery Coaching Session with a sense of clarity, purpose and practical steps to move you forward.

There is no obligation to pursue further coaching after this session - but many people do!

 >>> Click here to apply for your complimentary coaching session. 

Show Links:

• Article: Is It Worth It? Here's How to Decide.
• Article: Making Difficult Decisions: Essential Steps for Leaders.
• Book: The Dip, by Seth Godin.
• Podcast: Thoughtful Leader Podcast #144: Is It Time to Start Putting Yourself First?