Leadership Learned podcast

#Business #Podcasting Education #Leadership Learned #Inspirational Development Group

22:49

Jonathan Jones is an NFL cornerback for the Washington Commanders who rose from the undrafted ranks to become two-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, a businessman, philanthropist, and licensed pilot. In 2019, Jonathan founded the Jonathan Jones Next Step Foundation in 2019, a platform dedicated to empowering youth through education, professional development, and mentorship. The foundation works to alleviate food insecurity, promote women in stem and sports, and to promote professional development in the communities where he lives. Jay and Jonathan talk about investing in the communities they live in, acknowledging the people who helped you become the person you are, and paying that same investment forward to the next generation. Episode Chapters 0:00 intro 1:24 Building local connections 4:25 Jonathan’s mentors and mentees 10:54 Jonathan’s pride in his mentees’ successes 13:04 how Jonathan chooses his causes 14:08 Jonathan’s support for girls and young women 17:19: Jonathan’s passion for flying 19:40 The Next Step Foundation 20:29 Goodbye For video episodes, watch on www.youtube.com/@therudermanfamilyfoundation Stay in touch: X: @JayRuderman | @RudermanFdn LinkedIn: Jay Ruderman | Ruderman Family Foundation Instagram: All About Change Podcast | Ruderman Family Foundation To learn more about the podcast, visit https://allaboutchangepodcast.com/ Looking for more insights into the world of activism? Be sure to check out Jay’s brand new book, Find Your Fight , in which Jay teaches the next generation of activists and advocates how to step up and bring about lasting change. You can find Find Your Fight wherever you buy your books, and you can learn more about it at www.jayruderman.com .…

Leadership Learned

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A podcast for people who want to lead better or learn how to lead. Contemporary leadership issues discussed by experts with actionable insights in every episode. Whether you’re a student, graduate, teacher, manager or CEO or simply aspire to be a leader in the future, Leadership Learned will help you carve out your leadership path and define your leadership style. Presented by Inspirational Group (https://beinspirational.com/?utm_source=bio&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=)

18 episodes

Leadership Learned

updated about a year ago

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18 episodes

#Business #Podcasting Education #Leadership Learned #Inspirational Development Group

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Leadership Learned

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S2 Ep3: Building Resilience Across Generations 57:10

5 weeks ago57:10

57:10

What it really takes to lead through adversity — with Alex Staniforth Resilience isn’t about bouncing back—it’s about moving forward with purpose. In this episode of Leadership Learned , we sit down with adventurer, author, and mental health advocate Alex Staniforth to explore the truth behind resilience: how it’s built, why it matters, and what it reveals about leadership in today’s world. Drawing on powerful personal stories—including his attempts to summit Everest—Alex offers real-world insights for leaders navigating uncertainty, managing change, and building cultures where people can thrive. This isn’t a polished tale of glory—it’s a deeply human conversation about setbacks, self-awareness, and the strength that comes from struggle. We also explore how Gen Z is reshaping leadership expectations , and why qualities like authenticity, wellbeing, and shared purpose aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re essential. For more on how Gen Z is redefining leadership, download our white paper What Gen Z Can Teach Us About Purpose-Driven Leadership Contact Alex: Mind Over Mountains LinkedIn Instagram…

Leadership Learned

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S2 Ep2: Coaching and the Confidence to Navigate Change 46:57

9 weeks ago46:57

46:57

Change is inevitable—but confidence isn’t always easy to find when navigating uncertainty. In this episode of Leadership Learned , we explore how leaders can develop true confidence , not just in how they present themselves, but in their ability to adapt, grow, and lead through change. Our guest, Andrew Richards , is an experienced executive coach who has helped leaders across industries unlock their potential and step into new challenges with clarity and courage . He shares his own journey from corporate leadership to coaching, the lessons he’s learned about resilience, and the surprising ways confidence plays a role in making difficult transitions. Why confidence isn’t just about appearing strong—it’s about trusting yourself to adapt How to overcome self-doubt and make bold career moves The role of values, identity, and mindset in leadership transitions Practical techniques to silence inner saboteurs and step into your strengths Whether you’re leading a team through transformation, facing a career shift, or simply looking to boost your confidence in uncertain times, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiring stories. Join us at our FREE Coaching Masterclass: beinspirational.com/free-coaching-masterclass/ Mentioned in the podcast: Positive Intelligence: Why Only 20% of Teams and Individuals Achieve Their True Potential by Shirzad Chamine Get in touch: Andrew Richards: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewrichardscoach Inspirational Group: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beinspirational Dr Rona Mackenzie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rona-mackenzie-4969991a/ Matthew Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattgmoore/ Find out more about the Inspirational Group here: https://www.beinspirational.com and you can email us on info@beinspirational.com.…

Leadership Learned

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S2 Ep1: What is Purpose-Driven Leadership? 37:57

43 weeks ago37:57

37:57

People want more from their organizations and their leaders. Following Covid, The Great Resignation, and the cost of living crisis, it has become more important for people to have work with meaning. Similarly, the organizations that can align what they do with a reason for doing it - their 'Why' - have found great success. It comes down to Purpose: finding it, and being driven by it. Here's some stats we mention in the episode: Companies with a strong sense of purpose outperform the market by 42% Purpose-oriented employees are 54% more likely to stay at a company for five years and are 30% more likely to be high performers Teams with a strong sense of purpose see a 41% reduction in absenteeism and a 17% increase in productivity In the episode, we answer the following questions: What is Purpose-driven leadership? What are the benefits for organizations, leaders, teams and individuals? How can leaders identify and articulate a compelling purpose? What strategies can leaders use to align their team’s goals and daily activities with the organization’s purpose? What are the challenges leaders and organizations face when trying to instil purpose-driven leadership, and how can they be overcome? How do people adopt a purpose-driven approach? Links to things mentioned in the episode: Simon Sinek's legendary "Start With Why" TED talk B Corp What is a Balanced Scorecard? Get in touch: You can contact us via our LinkedIn Profiles: Inspirational Group: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beinspirational Simon Mann : https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-mann-574430/ Dr Rona Mackenzie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rona-mackenzie-4969991a/ Matthew Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattgmoore/ Find out more about the Inspirational Group here: https://www.beinspirational.com and you can email us on info@beinspirational.com.…

Leadership Learned

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S1 Ep15: The Cost of Bad Managers 29:18

1 year ago29:18

29:18

Bad managers can cripple a business. It can lead to people leaving, a disengaged workforce, and an archaic culture that is unattractive to talent. It has been partly blamed for the UK's current productivity gap, whereas managers who have been given the skills and knowledge required to nurture engagement and boost motivation outperform on all key leadership metrics. A recent CMI report highlighted the depth of the problem: 1 in 3 people have left work because of a toxic work culture, and half of people who say their boss is ineffective plan to leave in the next year. In addition, 82% of managers say they have had no formal training in being a leader. In this podcast, we go through the report's findings, identify the key issues, and offer our actionable insights on what can be done to make sure that your organization doesn't succumb to the cost of bad management. Here is the CMI report - Taking Responsibility: Why UK PLC Needs Better Managers Join the discussion on our social channels, or you can contact us privately to discuss, using the links below. Inspirational Development Group: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspirationaldg Nigel Girling: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-girling-a2b7185/ Matthew Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattgmoore/ Find out more about the Inspirational Development Group here: https://www.inspirationaldevelopment.com and you can email us on info@inspirationaldg.com.…

Leadership Learned

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S1 Ep14: Leadership Styles: Why All Leaders Need Coaching Skills 39:52

2 years ago39:52

39:52

Command and control is dead. In today's modern business world, leaders have to be more in tune with their people in order to get the most out of them. Whether it is due to hybrid/remote working, being more inclusive, adopting a growth mindset, developing an innovative culture - all of these rely on a leadership style that enables and trusts people and teams to deliver the strategic goals on their terms. The Leader as Coach is a way of doing all of that and in this episode we discuss exactly what that means: what are the key skills, what benefits do they deliver, how does it work in practice, what needs to be in place culturally, what are the barriers - we answer these questions and more. We are joined by two experts in leadership and coaching: Helen Caton Hughes and Bob Hughes from Forton Coaching, as well as IDG's leadership guru, Nigel Girling. Find out more about them and IDG using the links below. Find out more about how we give leaders coaching skills here: https://www.inspirationaldevelopment.com/leader-as-coach Join the discussion on our social channels, or you can contact us privately to discuss, using the links below. Inspirational Development Group: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspirationaldg Nigel Girling: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-girling-a2b7185/ Helen Caton-Hughes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helencatonhughes Bob Hughes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-hughes-3881331/ Matthew Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattgmoore/ Find out more about the Inspirational Development Group here: https://www.inspirationaldevelopment.com and you can email us on info@inspirationaldg.com.…

Leadership Learned

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S1 Ep13: Leading Yourself: Who The Hell Are You? 39:27

2 years ago39:27

39:27

Leading yourself is all about self-awareness: having the courage to learn the truth about what drives you, being authentic to yourself and what your values truly are - not the things you claim to believe, but the things that actually drive your behaviour. People tend to mould their leadership style based on what they see around them, without thinking about how well that style fits with their own personal make up. If you as a leader understand yourself, your characteristics and your true leadership style, it leads to all-round better performance in yourself and your team. It also helps you find the best fit for your career by knowing what truly drives you. In this episode we delve into this subject and give practical tips on the best way to achieve self-awareness - but be warned, it's not a quick or easy process! If you would like to discuss these issues further then please do contact us even on our social channels, or privately. You can contact us via our LinkedIn Profiles: Inspirational Development Group: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspirationaldg Nigel Girling: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-girling-a2b7185/ Dr Rona Mackenzie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rona-mackenzie-4969991a/ Matthew Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattgmoore/ Find out more about the Inspirational Development Group here: https://www.inspirationaldevelopment.com and you can email us on info@inspirationaldg.com.…

Leadership Learned

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S1 Ep12: Mindful Leadership: Managing Anxiety and Stress 38:44

2 years ago38:44

38:44

We talk a lot on this podcast about the importance of mental health in modern leadership in terms of knowing yourself and your teams so you can be the best leader you can be. In this episode we are talking specifically about the detrimental effects of anxiety and stress and what can be done it about it individually and organizationally. It's not just a case of taking a break every now and then or meditating, and it is much more than just an individual issue. The EU Commission estimated before Covid that mental health issues impacted around 84 million people with an economic cost of about €600bn a year. In addition, the new generations are looking for organizations who take this stuff seriously: for them it's about more than pool tables and beanbags. They want to see positive, permanent initiatives in improving their quality of life, and it is the organizations that are doing so who are reaping the rewards of an engaged, dedicated workforce. We talk about all these things and much more with, as ever, actionable insights for leaders to improve themselves and their organizations. If you would like to discuss these issues further then please do contact us even on our social channels, or privately. You can contact us via our LinkedIn Profiles: Inspirational Development Group: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspirationaldg Nigel Girling: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-girling-a2b7185/ Dr Rona Mackenzie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rona-mackenzie-4969991a/ Matthew Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattgmoore/ Find out more about the Inspirational Development Group here: https://www.inspirationaldevelopment.com and you can email us on info@inspirationaldg.com.…

Leadership Learned

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S1 Ep11: Leadership Lessons Learned on Everest - Part 2 38:06

2 years ago38:06

38:06

The second part of our chat with record-breaking mountaineer, Jake Meyer. We are talking about his latest expedition to climb some of the highest mountains in the world, and the equivalent leadership, business and personal lessons that can be gleaned from it. If you haven't listened to part 1, you should go back and listen to it first: not just because we are recounting the story chronologically, but also because there were some really good insights into team dynamics, motivation, organisational culture and more. In this second part, Jake talks about how he reacted to the failure of not summiting Kangchenjunga, why he decided to carry on with the expedition, the journey to the top of Everest and the feeling of getting there, and his feelings now having returned safely home. In terms of comparative themes, we discuss dealing with and learning from failure, the joy of the journey versus the pressure of binary targets, the importance of mental toughness, grit and resilience, and well-being - knowing how to look after yourself. Find out more about the Inspirational Development Group here: https://www.inspirationaldevelopment.com You can contact us via our LinkedIn Profiles: Inspirational Development Group: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspirationaldg Jake Meyer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-meyer-bem-frgs-31227622/ Nigel Girling: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-girling-a2b7185/ Matthew Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattgmoore/…

Leadership Learned

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S1 Ep10: Leadership Lessons Learned on Everest 36:00

2 years ago36:00

36:00

There are a lot of parallels between elite mountaineering and the business world when it comes to the leadership, teamwork, collaboration and communication needed to be successful. Whilst our everyday work and decisions are rarely a matter of life or death, there are still a lot of lessons that can be taken from an expedition to climb the highest and most dangerous mountains in the world. Jake Meyer has spent a lot of his life breaking mountaineering records, and part of his professional life is translating those lessons into a meaningful context in order to develop the leadership, partnership and followership behaviours of people. In this podcast we talk to Jake about his most recent expedition, which ended in both success - he became one of an elite band of people to climb Everest from both routes - and failure - his expedition had a wider goal involving the 3rd and 4th highest mountains in the world. Regular contributor and leadership guru Nigel Girling was there to pick out and discuss the analogies Jake's experiences had with leading a team or business. It was a fantastic conversation which over-ran significantly- hence why this is part 1 of 2. Part 2 will be released next week.…

Leadership Learned

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S1 Ep9: Why Leadership Should Be Taught in Schools 47:51

2 years ago47:51

47:51

Just one in three business leaders think schools are doing enough to equip pupils with skills for work. The part of the curriculum that focuses on the world of work is not statutory – however, 85% of business leaders, 90% of parents and 92% of young people think that it should be. We think leadership skills should also be a key part of youth development, and in this episode we discuss why, including the benefits to the students, schools and businesses, what we mean by leadership skills in this context and why they're relevant to a young person's development, and much more. Find out more about the Inspirational Development Group here: https://www.inspirationaldevelopment.com You can contact us via our LinkedIn Profiles: Inspirational Development Group: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspirationaldg Nigel Girling: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-girling-a2b7185/ Dr Rona Mackenzie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rona-mackenzie-4969991a/ Matthew Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattgmoore/…

Leadership Learned

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S1 Ep8: Curiosity: the Secret to Solving the People Conundrum 41:21

2 years ago41:21

41:21

Curiosity is a quality related to inquisitive thinking and is heavily associated with all aspects of succesfful human development and learning. Yet it is a quality that we are warned against as we grow ("Curiosity killed the cat") and we need less and less in the modern world, where everything is literally at our fingertips. However, curiosity is vital for leaders in order to understand the people conundrum that is at the heart of business today. We need to be curious about people - why they do the things they do, what motivates them, how they experience things - and about our own development and possibilities in order to be a successful leader and follower. In this episode we talk about this in greater detail, including why the intent has to be right, how to avoid it being seen as a weakness, allying it with reflection for the greatest gain, and ultimately why leaders should be curious every single day. Useful Links: "Curious" by Ian Leslie: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Curious-Desire-Know-Future-Depends/dp/1782064974 Nigel's article: https://www.inspirationaldevelopment.com/insight-hub/the-curious-leader-why-curiosity-is-an-increasingly-important-leadership-trait Find out more about the Inspirational Development Group here: https://www.inspirationaldevelopment.com You can contact us via our LinkedIn Profiles: Inspirational Development Group: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspirationaldg Nigel Girling: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-girling-a2b7185/ Dr Rona Mackenzie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rona-mackenzie-4969991a/ Matthew Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattgmoore/…

Leadership Learned

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S1 Ep7: How to Have Effective Courageous Conversations 40:05

2 years ago40:05

40:05

Every leader has to face their fair share of 'courageous' conversations - those meetings with your team, peers or bosses where difficult, problematic topics have to be discussed. Everyone hates them but they are a necessity - so how can you make them as effective as possible? What can be done in advance to make sure both parties are fully prepared? Should you prepare differently depending on who you are talking to? And of course what are the tips for making sure the outcomes are productive and positive? We discuss and answer these questions and more, including what people get wrong in these situations, and the biggest tip of them all: what you can do to avoid the need to ever have these difficult conversations in the first place. Find out more about the Inspirational Development Group here: https://www.inspirationaldevelopment.com You can contact us via our LinkedIn Profiles: Inspirational Development Group: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspirationaldg Nigel Girling: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-girling-a2b7185/ Dr Rona Mackenzie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rona-mackenzie-4969991a/ Matthew Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattgmoore/…

Leadership Learned

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S1 Ep6: Menopause: why it's a leadership issue 44:49

2 years ago44:49

44:49

If there was something that had a significant, adverse effect on the productivity of around 50% of your workforce, you as a leader would want to know about it. Well, there is, and it’s called the Menopause. It is something that affects almost all women, at its worst it can be utterly debilitating, but even in its milder form it significantly affects a woman’s ability to perform at their peak. The modern leader needs to know their people and yet there is a silence around menopause similar to how there was with mental health up until a few years ago. It’s incredible that most men and quite a lot of women know little or nothing about it and we think it's time to have that conversation and explode that taboo. We discuss what it is, the effects it can have, why people don’t talk about it, and what can be done to support people going through it and alleviate its effect. Useful links: Website : Dr Louise Newson’s website: Balance: https://www.balance-menopause.com/ Book : Menopocalypse by Amanda Thebe - https://amandathebe.com/book/ TV : Davina McCall: Sex, Myths and the Menopause (47 min) : https://www.channel4.com/programmes/davina-mccall-sex-myths-and-the-menopause Davina McCall: Sex, Mind and the Menopause (47 min): https://www.channel4.com/programmes/davina-mccall-sex-mind-and-the-menopause Articles : Brain Fog, Flushes & Frustrations: Menopause – Supporting the women we work with through their careers https://www.managers.org.uk/knowledge-and-insights/article/brain-fog-flushes-frustrations-menopause-supporting-the-women-we-work-with-through-their-careers/ 6 things all managers need to know about the menopause – https://www.managers.org.uk/knowledge-and-insights/article/6-things-all-managers-need-to-know-about-the-menopause/ LinkedIn Profiles: Jo Bradshaw: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-bradshaw-keynotespeaker/ Nigel Girling: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-girling-a2b7185/ Dr Rona Mackenzie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rona-mackenzie-4969991a/ Matthew Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattgmoore/ Inspirational Development Group: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspirationaldg…

Leadership Learned

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S1 Ep5: Leadership Trends for 2023 40:00

2 years ago40:00

40:00

In this episode, we talk about the challenges leaders and managers will face in 2023. We talk about the broader skillset leaders will need and how they can deal with the subsequent increase in capacity. We discuss the growing requirement for authentic leadership, emotional intelligence and legitimate self-confidence, and also what cultural intelligence is and why its becoming important. We think it will also be key for leaders to have an articulated vision that everyone can follow, and - slightly more prosaically - why they need to do a systems audit. We also touch on why profit is no longer enough and people and planet should be high on every leader's agenda. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the topics we discuss in this episode. You can find us on LinkedIn or contact us via our website . Useful links: B Corp - https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/ Nigel's blog "What a leader needs to know for 2023 – the year of the ‘new different’ - https://www.inspirationaldevelopment.com/insight-hub/what-a-leader-needs-to-know-for-2023-the-year-of-the-new-different/ LinkedIn Profiles: Nigel Girling: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-girling-a2b7185/ Iain Robertson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iainjrobertson/ Matthew Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattgmoore/…

Leadership Learned

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S1 Ep4: Improving Mental Toughness Through Psychometrics 42:41

2 years ago42:41

42:41

Mental Toughness: it’s not just about resilience, and its not something some people have and others don’t. It’s something that all leaders should look to develop, along with other personality aspects, in order to become the most effective leader possible. In this episode we discuss what it is, what it isn’t, and how it can be developed and strengthened using psychometrics and diagnostics. We talk about the difference between modern psychometrics - flexible and adaptive to different personality types and contexts - and old fashioned personality tests that simply force people into a small number of archetypes. Modern psychometrics can and should be used to improve your Mental Toughness, and along with others gain a true 360 degree view of yourself in multiple scenarios. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the topics we discuss in this episode. You can find us on LinkedIn or contact us via our website . Here are links to some of the things we talk about in the episode: “ You Aren’t Actually Self Aware ” - Ted Talk by Tasha Eurich “ Mental Toughness: how to navigate the modern leader’s mental obstacle course ” blog by Nigel Girling. LinkedIn Profiles: Nigel Girling: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-girling-a2b7185/ Dr Rona Mackenzie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rona-mackenzie-4969991a/ Matthew Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattgmoore/…

Leadership Learned

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S1 Ep3: Human Performance in a Business Context 48:34

2 years ago48:34

48:34

What are the true drivers and motivators behind Human Performance? What is it that makes people deliver their best, consistently? And how can it be measured and developed? We've been researching these topics and in this podcast we answer those questions and more. We discuss the key factors of behaviour, capability and wellbeing and why all three need to be given equal importance - without pandering or losing sight of the business side of things. We explain why money is a poor motivation tool, and what businesses that rely on financial incentives can do about that. And we put all of it in the current context of our remote working world. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the topics we discuss in this episode. You can find us on LinkedIn or contact us via our website . Here is the link to Nigel's article: " What is Human Performance... and why every organization should care "…

Leadership Learned

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S1 Ep2: Preparing to be a leader 38:59

3 years ago38:59

38:59

Whether you are about to step into your first leadership post, move into a different one, or even need to refresh your current role, the key is preparation and in this episode we will tell you why and how. Chances are you will have achieved your position using a completely different set of skills to those required to be an effective leader. As you move into your role, you may be thinking about the things you want or should change - but the first thing you should start with is yourself. Nigel Girling, former CEO of The National Centre for Strategic Leadership, and Dr Rona Mackenzie discuss why this is important, the real purpose of a leader, the attributes required including resilience (and what that actually means), and what you can do to first of all find out your areas of development need, and secondly how to improve them. We also talk about the first few days of being a leader, how to get the best out of your new team, why you should listen and reflect before you take action, and knowing yourself and the shadow you cast over the organisation. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the topics we discuss in this episode. You can find us on LinkedIn or contact us via our website . Here are links to some of the things we talk about in the episode: Nigel's article: " Preparing to be a leader: five things to consider " Books we mentioned: " The Practice of Management " by Peter Drucker " Developing Mental Toughness " by Peter Clough, Doug Strycharczyk, John L. Perry, Doug Strycharczyk " Humane Capital " by Vlatka Hlupic " Leaders Eat Last " and " Start With Why " by Simon Sinek " Rebel Ideas " by Matthew Syed…

Leadership Learned

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S1 Ep1: Why Kindness is Key for Your Leadership Strategy 31:44

3 years ago31:44