How to Take the Lead

Have you heard about unlearning? It sounds like the opposite of what we are all about here at How To Take The Lead - learning, growth and development. But understanding what we need to unlearn as leaders is key to that growth and development. In this episode we cover:what we mean by the concept of unlearningwhy unlearning a crucial part of our leadership journeyshow you know what you need to unlearn in order to improveSeeking feedback and engaging others in your unlearningAs it's the last episode of this series you can also hear our highlights from series 4. Both of us particularly loved the conversation about self-leadership. Resources and helpful linksHow well do you lead yourself? - How to Take the LeadAbout How to Take the LeadHow to Take the Lead is a show exploring all things leadership.Every episode we explore a different part of life as a leader, questioning everything we've ever learnt and sharing a few of our own stories along the way.If you want to learn how to do leadership your own way, join hosts Lee Griffith and Carrie-Ann Wade as they debunk myths, tackle stereotypes and generally put the leadership world to rights. Get involvedIf you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.If you want to watch this episode, subscribe to our YouTube channel to make sure you don't miss out.And you can be a part of our Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. We're also over on Instagram for more behind the scenes, news and views.Plus if you want to work with us to challenge and change leadership in your organisation get in touch by dropping us an email howtotakethelead@gmail.com or DM us on the socials.

What is your risk appetite as a leader?It's well evidenced that high-performing teams are those who are willing to take collective risk. But it's not easy to get to that place, especially if it's outside of your comfort zone.In this episode, we chat all things risk and why your approach to it matters. We discuss:how we define risks and how our approaches varyrisk awareness versus risk-takinghow your DISC profile - or preferences - can affect how you view and take risks the requirement of psychological safety in building risk appetitewhat good risk taking looks likehow to identify where you sit on a risk scalehow to become less risk averse tackling risky behaviours in others without being a killjoygetting alignment with your Board and taking people with youembracing your inner risk-taker Resources and helpful linksSurrounded by idiots by Thomas EriksonAbout How to Take the LeadHow to Take the Lead is a show exploring all things leadership.Every episode we explore a different part of life as a leader, questioning everything we've ever learnt and sharing a few of our own stories along the way.If you want to learn how to do leadership your own way, join hosts Lee Griffith and Carrie-Ann Wade as they debunk myths, tackle stereotypes and generally put the leadership world to rights. Get involvedIf you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.If you want to watch this episode, subscribe to our YouTube channel to make sure you don't miss out.And you can be a part of our Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. We're also over on Instagram for more behind the scenes, news and views.Plus if you want to work with us to challenge and change leadership in your organisation get in touch by dropping us an email howtotakethelead@gmail.com or DM us on the socials.

Is being a disruptor about making trouble? We don't think so and it's one of the things we explore in this conversation about disruptive leadership. In this episode of How To Take The Lead we consider how disruptive leadership can support your teams/ organisations.We discuss:what being a disruptive leader really means?the challenges disruption can causehow to take other people on a journey of change as part of disruptiontesting out disruption in small, more manageable ways changing or shifting your mindset in relation to dispruptionbeing comfortable with your role or the role of others in disruptive leadership.Resources and helpful linksRebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking - Matthew Syed ConsultingDisruptive Ideas by Leandro Herrero | GoodreadsAbout How to Take the LeadHow to Take the Lead is a show exploring all things leadership.Every episode we explore a different part of life as a leader, questioning everything we've ever learnt and sharing a few of our own stories along the way.If you want to learn how to do leadership your own way, join hosts Lee Griffith and Carrie-Ann Wade as they debunk myths, tackle stereotypes and generally put the leadership world to rights. Get involvedIf you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.If you want to watch this episode, subscribe to our YouTube channel to make sure you don't miss out.And you can be a part of our Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. We're also over on Instagram for more behind the scenes, news and views.Plus if you want to work with us to challenge and change leadership in your organisation get in touch by dropping us an email howtotakethelead@gmail.com or DM us on the socials.

Should you be a thought leader? WHAT exactly does it mean to be a thought leader? In this week's How to Take the Lead, we discuss our thoughts on this topic, arguing the case for more leaders to talk out about things they're expert in.We explore:whether anyone can become a thought leader or if it's hierarchical what you need to bring to be a thought leader - and our equation that makes a thought leaderhow thought leadership can help you as a leaderorganisational benefits of thought leadership and how to work with your organisationwhat activities can contribute to thought leadershipthe role of controversy in thought leadershiplegacy of thought leadership ideashow you work out where your thought leadership subject lies.Resources and helpful linksAbout How to Take the LeadHow to Take the Lead is a show exploring all things leadership.Every episode we explore a different part of life as a leader, questioning everything we've ever learnt and sharing a few of our own stories along the way.If you want to learn how to do leadership your own way, join hosts Lee Griffith and Carrie-Ann Wade as they debunk myths, tackle stereotypes and generally put the leadership world to rights. Get involvedIf you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.If you want to watch this episode, subscribe to our YouTube channel to make sure you don't miss out.And you can be a part of our Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. We're also over on Instagram for more behind the scenes, news and views.Plus if you want to work with us to challenge and change leadership in your organisation get in touch by dropping us an email howtotakethelead@gmail.com or DM us on the socials.

What is self-leadership?Why is it important?How do you practice it?These are all questions we discuss in this episode of How To Take The Lead.Self-leadership is about how you show up as a leader and this can mean many things. It might be the boundaries you set and communicate. Perhaps it is how you are using your time and what this demonstrates to those around you. And it could be you need to prioritise your wellbeing.Creating the conditions for your success - whatever you have determined that to be - requires you to be intentional in your self-leadership. This episode will give you practical advice and tips to support your self-leadership journey.Resources and helpful linksThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen CoveyDare to Lead Hub - Brené BrownAre we really listening? - How to Take the LeadWhy you need a personal leadership strategy - How to Take the LeadAbout How to Take the LeadHow to Take the Lead is a show exploring all things leadership.Every episode we explore a different part of life as a leader, questioning everything we've ever learnt and sharing a few of our own stories along the way.If you want to learn how to do leadership your own way, join hosts Lee Griffith and Carrie-Ann Wade as they debunk myths, tackle stereotypes and generally put the leadership world to rights. Get involvedIf you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.If you want to watch this episode, subscribe to our YouTube channel to make sure you don't miss out.And you can be a part of our Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. We're also over on Instagram for more behind the scenes, news and views.Plus if you want to work with us to challenge and change leadership in your organisation get in touch by dropping us an email howtotakethelead@gmail.com or DM us on the socials.

We've talked a lot about culture and how it impacts performance, morale and organisational reputational. If you've been a long-term listener you will have heard our own experiences of working in organisations with poor culture and toxic behaviours. But in this episode we want to tackle it head on and explore what can be done about overcoming toxicity in organisations.We discuss:how we define toxic leadershipwhat tips the balance between an organisation being dysfunctional versus toxicwhat organisational indicators might be telling you about the state of toxicitysigns that toxic behaviours are at play in your organisation how to recognise if you're displaying toxic behavioursevidence, self-reflection, honest conversations that leaders need to have to understand the culture you're creating or perpetuatingthe top three challenges that need to be addressed to tackle toxic leadership calling out poor behaviours and creating the right conditions to role model for othersthe drain of good people leaving organisations - what can be done about it?how to deal with the personal toll of being on the receiving end of toxic leadership and the baggage that you can carry with youResources and helpful linksStaying curious - How to Take the Lead S3, E10Leadership - is it all about power? How to Take the Lead S3, E9About How to Take the LeadHow to Take the Lead is a show exploring all things leadership.Every episode we explore a different part of life as a leader, questioning everything we've ever learnt and sharing a few of our own stories along the way.If you want to learn how to do leadership your own way, join hosts Lee Griffith and Carrie-Ann Wade as they debunk myths, tackle stereotypes and generally put the leadership world to rights. Get involvedIf you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.If you want to watch this episode, subscribe to our YouTube channel to make sure you don't miss out.And you can be a part of our Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. We're also over on Instagram for more behind the scenes, news and views.Plus if you want to work with us to challenge and change leadership in your organisation get in touch by dropping us an email howtotakethelead@gmail.com or DM us on the socials.

Are you spotting future leadership talent?And if so, are you clear what to do next?In this episode we discuss how you can identify future leaders in your organisation and what you can do to support them.We cover:how you can identify future leaderswhat happens when you spot leadership potentialhow to ensure your leadership aspirations for someone are aligned with their ownrecruitment processes and how they can help or hinder your leadership recruitmentensuring you are looking for leadership potential that brings diversity.Resources and helpful linksHow to help people to squiggle and stay | Amazing IfLeadership Potential: Identifying Future Leaders in 2024 - RecruitingDailyHow can organisations better support leaders? - How to Take the Lead S3 E2About How to Take the LeadHow to Take the Lead is a show exploring all things leadership.Every episode we explore a different part of life as a leader, questioning everything we've ever learnt and sharing a few of our own stories along the way.If you want to learn how to do leadership your own way, join hosts Lee Griffith and Carrie-Ann Wade as they debunk myths, tackle stereotypes and generally put the leadership world to rights. Get involvedIf you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.If you want to watch this episode, subscribe to our YouTube channel to make sure you don't miss out.And you can be a part of our Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. We're also over on Instagram for more behind the scenes, news and views.Plus if you want to work with us to challenge and change leadership in your organisation get in touch by dropping us an email howtotakethelead@gmail.com or DM us on the socials.

Do you have a personal leadership strategy? Often we can focus on organisational strategies and lose our own purpose and intent along the way.In this episode Carrie-Ann and Lee explore what it means to have a personal leadership strategy, why you need one and how you go about getting one. We discuss how:your personal strategy differs from an organisational onewe've approached and developed our own strategies during our careersyour strategy can help you in your career development and job searchit can help you to build diverse teamsto align your strategy with the bigger pictureto get clarity about the type of leader you are and how you position yourselfto develop your personal leadership strategymeasurement and evaluation is an important part of your strategy your leadership strategy sits alongside self-leadership and communication as the core cogs to be impactfulto create time to be intentional in your leadership approachWe also shared our one How To to help you get clarity in your leadership strategy.Let us know what recommendations you want from us in 2024. Comment on YouTube, instagram or via our Substack community. Resources and helpful linksNHS Orkney Chief Executive 100-day reportLeaders with impact podcast (Lee's new podcast)About How to Take the LeadHow to Take the Lead is a show exploring all things leadership.Every episode we explore a different part of life as a leader, questioning everything we've ever learnt and sharing a few of our own stories along the way.If you want to learn how to do leadership your own way, join hosts Lee Griffith and Carrie-Ann Wade as they debunk myths, tackle stereotypes and generally put the leadership world to rights. Get involvedIf you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.If you want to watch this episode, subscribe to our YouTube channel to make sure you don't miss out.And you can be a part of our Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. We're also over on Instagram for more behind the scenes, news and views.Plus if you want to work with us to challenge and change leadership in your organisation get in touch by dropping us an email howtotakethelead@gmail.com or DM us on the socials.

In this episode of How To Take The Lead, we ask the question 'is leadership for you?'. We are into our fourth series of the podcast now and we realised we hadn't ever really addressed this question. We share our own experiences and the reasons why we have chosen to step into leadership positions.Our conversation is broad and wide ranging covering the following:the difference between leadership and managementwhat defines you as a leader - is it about positional power and hierarchy or something else?clarity on your purpose and the impact you intend to have as a leaderis leadership all about the job title and the pay, plus is it ok to want to be paid well for what you do?do you choose to be a leader or is it something that is granted to you by others?defining what leadership means - no one size fits allquestions you can start to ask yourself about why you want to be a leader, regardless of whether you are new to leadership or a well established leader.Resources and helpful linksAbout How to Take the LeadHow to Take the Lead is a show exploring all things leadership.Every episode we explore a different part of life as a leader, questioning everything we've ever learnt and sharing a few of our own stories along the way.If you want to learn how to do leadership your own way, join hosts Lee Griffith and Carrie-Ann Wade as they debunk myths, tackle stereotypes and generally put the leadership world to rights. Get involvedIf you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.If you want to watch this episode, subscribe to our YouTube channel to make sure you don't miss out.And you can be a part of our Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. We're also over on Instagram for more behind the scenes, news and views.Plus if you want to work with us to challenge and change leadership in your organisation get in touch by dropping us an email howtotakethelead@gmail.com or DM us on the socials.

We are back with series 4. And as we're getting to the end of the year we thought it would be the perfect time to check-in on the state of leadership.We last did this in 2022, so we wanted to see what had changed, what stayed the same and what we think it all means for next year.In this episode we discuss:what we both got up to over the summer, including some side-hustle / sister / cousin podcasts that may have been launched!how to show up in your organisation when things are troubled globally politics, conference season, Laura Kuenssberg's infamous word clouds and what organisations could learn from themWorld Cup leadership highs and lowswhat's changed since the Modern Leaders' report was published in 2022what leaders are choosing to speak up about and what they're ignoring stillareas and skills that leaders should focus on including values-driven, prioritising wellbeing, having an adaptable approachour predictions for 2024 and what will be influencing leadership.Resources and helpful linksOwning your s**t! - How to Take the Lead, S3 E8The modern leader - research reportInterview with Monmouthshire Council CEO Paul Matthews — Leaders with impact podcastLeaders with impact podcast (Lee's new podcast)Behind the Bob, Diary of a Comms Director (Carrie-Ann's new podcast)About How to Take the LeadHow to Take the Lead is a show exploring all things leadership.Every episode we explore a different part of life as a leader, questioning everything we've ever learnt and sharing a few of our own stories along the way.If you want to learn how to do leadership your own way, join hosts Lee Griffith and Carrie-Ann Wade as they debunk myths, tackle stereotypes and generally put the leadership world to rights. Get involvedIf you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.If you want to watch this episode, subscribe to our YouTube channel to make sure you don't miss out.And you can be a part of our Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. We're also over on Instagram for more behind the scenes, news and views.Plus if you want to work with us to challenge and change leadership in your organisation get in touch by dropping us an email howtotakethelead@gmail.com or DM us on the socials.

You know we can't resist a cheeky bonus episode. As we end the series we take the opportunity to reflect on which episodes really resonated with us and with listeners. And we use this episode as an opportunity to cover things that cropped up between our conversations that we didn't get the chance to discuss.We share our own views, thoughts and experiences:04:22 – finding your fire again – the “so what?”07:24 – getting comfortable with being uncomfortable12:40 – honesty and vulnerability19:18 – shifting perceptions of power 31:00 - making your voice count33:21 – perception – it's all personalAs it's a bonus we've not stuck to our usual format with top takeaways. However we have delved into all sorts of examples of good, bad and ugly leadership including mentions for Edward Enninful, Plaid Cymru, Dominic Raab, CBI and even the TV show Rise and Fall.Get in touch to let us know what you want us to cover in Series 4, back after the summer holidays.If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast: www.howtotakethelead.com/listenWe would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.And if you're looking to lead differently in 2023, we've launched our new Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. Subscribe at How to Take the Lead | SubstackInstagram https://www.instagram.com/howtotakethelead/Twitter https://twitter.com/How2TakeTheLeadYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@howtotakethelead/

It's the last episode of this series and we are all about staying curious. We discuss how we define curiosity in leadership and whether it is a core leadership skill. We are not just talking about being curious about others, but being curious about your own approach to leadership and how a culture of curiosity can impact your teams and organisation.We share our own views, thoughts and experiences:03:08 – the art of asking questions07:24 – benefits of being curious13:56 – can you learn to be a curious leader?22:24 – losing your curiosity 28:21 - How to… demonstrate curiosityAs always, we share our top takeaways to help you demonstrate curiosity as a leader. Questions are key, the types of questions you ask and how you ask them. Surrounding yourself with a diverse group of people and diverse thinking will support your curiosity. In this episode we reference Matthew Syed's Rebel Ideas------------------------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast: www.howtotakethelead.com/listenNew episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen / download on your favourite platform.Episodes will also appear on YouTube channel every Thursday, so hit subscribe to make sure you don't miss out.We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.And if you're looking to lead differently in 2023, we've launched our new Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. Subscribe at How to Take the Lead | SubstackInstagram https://www.instagram.com/howtotakethelead/Twitter https://twitter.com/How2TakeTheLeadYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@howtotakethelead/

Can you believe it's the penultimate episode in this series already?In this episode we tackle the topic of power in leadership and how power dynamics show up. We talk about some of the misconceptions in relation to power, challenge some of the stereotypes of how power can play out for leaders and how we can better understand how we can use our power for good as leaders. We share our own thoughts and experiences about how the concept of power has impacted our own leadership journeys.03:08 – different types of power09:21 – behaviours and signals from others16:18 – can you lead successfully without power?21:32 – feeling powerless 31:18 – abuse of power43:18 - How to… leverage your powerAs always, we share our top takeaways to help you leverage your power as a leader. If you are uncomfortable with the concept of power consider reframing this to think about impact and influence. Identify where you do and don't have the power to help you deliver your purpose. Focus on relationships you are building, grow your awareness and work on your communication and connection skills.-----------------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast: www.howtotakethelead.com/listenNew episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen / download on your favourite platform.Episodes will also appear on YouTube every Thursday, so hit subscribe to make sure you don't miss out.We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.And if you're looking to lead differently in 2023, we've launched our new Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. Subscribe at How to Take the Lead | SubstackInstagram https://www.instagram.com/howtotakethelead/Twitter https://twitter.com/How2TakeTheLeadYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@howtotakethelead/

Leaders or not, we are all human, so mistakes are inevitable right? Whether it is making a bad decision, moving in the wrong direction strategically or not listening to stakeholder feedback, it's the way we deal with our mistakes that can make all the difference.We share our own views, thoughts and experiences:06:01 – the BBC v. Gary Lineker08:36 – warning signs you're getting it wrong14:50 – blaming and scapegoating22:27 – sorry seems to be the hardest word 28:10 – trust is at the heart of it31:35 - How to… own your sh*tAs always, we share our top takeaways to help you to own your sh*t as a leader. Get the balance right, you need to move quickly but don't create a knee jerk reaction. Situational awareness and understanding what actions you might need to take is crucial. Assess, acknowledge and act are three useful ‘As' to support your thinking when you get things wrong.------------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast: www.howtotakethelead.com/listenNew episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen / download on your favourite platform.Episodes will also appear on YouTube every Thursday, so hit subscribe to make sure you don't miss out.We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.And if you're looking to lead differently in 2023, we've launched our new Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. Subscribe at How to Take the Lead | SubstackInstagram https://www.instagram.com/howtotakethelead/Twitter https://twitter.com/How2TakeTheLeadYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@howtotakethelead/

While we might have 40 years of professional communications experience between us, we are super clear that leaders have to take the lead in communicating and engaging for their organisations, not leave it to their corporate communications team. Organisational performance and communications go hand in had for us and we explore this further in this episode.We share our own views, thoughts and experiences:04:07 – whose responsibility is it to communicate?06:59 – communications and organisational performance15:03 – understanding communication preferences24:47 – where's your evidence? 28:53 – consistency is key40:30 - How to…communicate and engageAs always, we share our top takeaways to help you to communicate and engage as a leader. We are all about clarity and consistency this week as well as understanding the notion of know, like and trust.In this episode we reference Surrounded By Idiots by Thomas Erikson.-------------------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast: www.howtotakethelead.com/listenNew episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen / download on your favourite platform.Episodes will also appear on YouTube every Thursday, so hit subscribe to make sure you don't miss out.We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.And if you're looking to lead differently in 2023, we've launched our new Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. Subscribe at How to Take the Lead | SubstackInstagram https://www.instagram.com/howtotakethelead/Twitter https://twitter.com/How2TakeTheLeadYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@howtotakethelead/

We've already discussed the leadership landscape and how challenging it is for leaders at present. In this episode we talk about how, as a leader, you can avoid overwhelm, recognising when you might be heading towards burnout and how to support your wellbeing. We also share our own personal experiences of dealing with overwhelm.We share our own views, thoughts and experiences:03:38 – the stats – setting the scene11:11 – recognition of signs and privilege16:59 – the impact of who you work with23:37 – boundary setting 31:30 – where are you getting your support?41:00 - How to…avoid overwhelmAs always, we share our top takeaways to help you avoid overwhelm. Start with one small thing that could make a difference, make time to reflect and work out what some of your signs of overwhelm are and reach out to your support network.In this episode we reference data from Deloitte Insights and the Development Dimensions International Global Leadership Forecast 2021. We also reference Dare to Lead by Brene Brown.------------------------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast: www.howtotakethelead.com/listenNew episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen / download on your favourite platform.Episodes will also appear on YouTube every Thursday, so hit subscribe to make sure you don't miss out.We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.And if you're looking to lead differently in 2023, we've launched our new Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. Subscribe at How to Take the Lead | SubstackInstagram https://www.instagram.com/howtotakethelead/Twitter https://twitter.com/How2TakeTheLeadYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@howtotakethelead/

As leaders we have a platform and opportunity to use our voice and our influence, whether we like it or not. In this episode we explore how and when you might choose to use your voice.We share our own views, thoughts and experiences:5:37 – representing what matters8:23 – what does it mean to have a voice?13:53 – individual v. organisational views28:14 – testing alignment36:56 – persistent and consistent39:01 How to…make your voice countAs always, we share our top takeaways to help you make your voice count. This week it's about understanding what matters most to you and your people so you can determine how and where you can use your voice as a leader. Don't try to be perfect and lean into the discomfort that might come with some of this.In this episode we reference the Edelman Trust Barometer 2023.-----------------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast: www.howtotakethelead.com/listenNew episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen / download on your favourite platform.Episodes will also appear on YouTube every Thursday, so hit subscribe to make sure you don't miss out.We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.And if you're looking to lead differently in 2023, we've launched our new Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. Subscribe at How to Take the Lead | SubstackInstagram https://www.instagram.com/howtotakethelead/Twitter https://twitter.com/How2TakeTheLeadYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@howtotakethelead/

Having difficult conversations is part and parcel of being a leader, but that doesn't mean it's easy. In this episode we talk about how to have a difficult conversation with individuals, teams and in public. We share our advice and tips for how you can prepare for a challenging conversations and what you might want to consider from the point of view of the person/ people you are talking with.In this episode we share our own views, thoughts and experiences:5:10 – conflict and tension10:10 – difficult team conversations17:29 – communicating challenges outside of your organisation24:10 – preparation is key25:56 – seeking support32:53 – How to… have a difficult conversation as a leaderAs always, we share our top takeaways to help you consider how to have a difficult conversation. This week is all about preparation, evidence, relationship building and mindset. And we want to remind you not to take it personally.In this episode we reference Connect by Carole Robin and David Bradford------------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast: www.howtotakethelead.com/listenNew episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen / download on your favourite platform.Episodes will also appear on YouTube, so hit subscribe to make sure you don't miss out.We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.And if you're looking to lead differently in 2023, we've launched our new Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. Subscribe at How to Take the Lead | SubstackInstagram https://www.instagram.com/howtotakethelead/Twitter https://twitter.com/How2TakeTheLeadMentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

Confidence is something that comes up in so many of our conversations with leaders and aspiring leaders. In this episode we explore what confidence means in relation to leadership – both in terms of your own leadership and how you create confidence for others.In this episode we share our own views, thoughts and experiences:05:18 – confidence is subjective10:30 – loud doesn't equal confident13:28 – don't assume confidence means you don't need support15:15 – who is creating the confidence gap?21:12 – developing your confidence28:36 – practical things to support you29:09 – How to – lead with confidenceAs always, we share our top takeaways. We want you to be curious and explore that feedback in relation to your confidence, seek out the evidence and reflect on what the issues might be in terms of your confidence. Don't take feedback, yours or anyone else's at face value – put the work in to develop your confidence.In this episode we reference The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman.----------------------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast: www.howtotakethelead.com/listenNew episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen / download on your favourite platform.Episodes will also appear on YouTube, so hit subscribe to make sure you don't miss out.We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.And if you're looking to lead differently in 2023, we've launched our new Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. Subscribe at: How to Take the Lead | SubstackInstagram https://www.instagram.com/howtotakethelead/Twitter https://twitter.com/How2TakeTheLeadYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@howtotakethelead/Mentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

Organisations have a huge role to play in developing leaders but not all organisations do this well. In this episode we discuss what support leaders need, how organisations identify future leaders and what leadership development programmes need to consider:05:22 – talk about leadership early10:28 – organisational mindset shift14:30 – floundering out of the funnel17:31 – closing the development gap23:54 – creating a coaching culture29:09 – How to... influence leadership developmentAs always, we share our top takeaways including the benefits of a coaching approach to leadership development, personalising development for individuals and challenging your own expectations of new leaders.If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast: www.howtotakethelead.com/listenNew episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen / download on your favourite platform.Episodes will also appear on YouTube every Thursday, so hit subscribe to make sure you don't miss out.We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.And if you're looking to lead differently in 2023, we've launched our new Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both. Subscribe at How to Take the Lead | SubstackInstagram https://www.instagram.com/howtotakethelead/Twitter https://twitter.com/How2TakeTheLeadYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@howtotakethelead/ Mentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

We are back with our third series, and in this first episode we are talking about how you can lead when things are tough. We are all tired, we have moved from one crisis to another with no time to catch a breath, we have lots going on in life AND we still need to lead.In this episode we share our own views, thoughts and experiences:04:08 – knowing where to start 05:10 – working out what you can control and act on11:15 – we don't have to be the saviour17:09 – leadership mindset22:55 – don't demote development28:48 – How to ... do things differently in 2023!As always we share our top takeaways and in this episode we are all about actions not words – work out where you can add the most value and take action. Ask people what they need from you as a leader but don't ask for permission to make changes. And look after yourself, it's important for you and to role model to your teams.----------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLeadNew episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen/ download on your favourite platform.To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com We are now also over on YouTube if you want to see what's going on behind the scenes as we talk!Plus, we've launched our new Substack community, where you can get extra bonus goodies, network with a community of leaders and get direct access to us both.Enjoy this series and let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram @howtotakethelead or Twitter @How2TakeTheLeadMentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

Well, we've got two series of the podcast under our belts now and we couldn't finish 2022 without a bonus episode. It's a bit of a review of the year, what we have learned about leadership, what we've loved and loathed and also a look ahead to our leadership hopes for 2023.04:23 – is it important for leaders to make time to reflect and reset?10:53 – how do I take steps to have the impact I desire as a leader?18:43 – overwhelm and being kind to yourself26:02 – has 2022 been a good year for leaders?30:46 – leadership wishes for 202332:08 – what should leaders firmly leave behind in 2022?38:07 – final thoughtsIn our final thoughts for 2022 we share a huge thank you to all our listeners and everyone who has supported us this year. We launched the podcast in June and we are so grateful to everyone who has been part of our How To Take The Lead community, there will be more from us in 2023 so stay tuned.-----------------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLeadTo find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com Enjoy this series and let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram @howtotakethelead or Twitter @How2TakeTheLeadMentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode we explore quiet quitting, what it is, how it is impacting people and whether or not it's a gen Z phenomenon. The conversation flows toward boundary setting more than once as we discuss the reasons people are disengaging in the workplace. And we talk about the different demographics who are choosing to quiet quit.04:36 – what is quiet quitting?09:03 – sticking to your boundaries11:58 – only 1 in 3 managers are engaged in the workplace15:32 – is quiet quitting only a Gen Z thing?23:19 – feeling in control of your career25:57 – the How To...As always we share our top takeaways and in this episode we ask want you to think about how you are engaging your workforce in and around purpose. We also share a reminder not to make assumptions about who in your workplace is in a quiet quitting frame of mind.In this episode we reference research by Gallup https://www.gallup.com/workplace/398306/quiet-quitting-real.aspx------------------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLeadNew episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen/ download on your favourite platform.To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com Enjoy this series and let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram @howtotakethelead or Twitter @How2TakeTheLeadMentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

We share our thoughts in this episode about whether culture trumps strategy and how we as leaders can consider this in our work. Strategy is, of course, important, but the culture you create impacts on so many factors, including how effective you are as a leader. As always we share our own views, thoughts and experiences:05:06 – culture isn't it's own workstream07:54 – culture supporting a changing strategy11:15 – decision making hierarchy15:00 – redefining the culture in your organisation20:30 – aligning behaviours and experiences25.40 – what if you can't influence the macro culture? 32:30 – the How to...We share our top takeaways focused on how we can make culture part of our leadership manifestos. It's important to demonstrate behaviours and actions that match your culture and move your strategy forward and show accountability in dealing with poor behaviours. ------------------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLeadNew episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen/ download on your favourite platform.To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com Enjoy this series and let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram @howtotakethelead or Twitter @How2TakeTheLeadMentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode we share our thinking for leaders who may well be questioning if they should stay or if they should leave their organisation.At various points in your career you may find yourself in the situation where you feel like it might be time for you to move on or there might well be signals that you should be considering your next steps as a leader. We talk about the things you should consider, owning the narrative and ensuring you have the right support.As always we share our own views, thoughts and experiences:05:02 – sometimes your face doesn't fit anymore07:54 – leaving a corporate role10:52 – understanding if you're ready for a new challenge17:15 – what sort of leader does your organisation need?23:23 – handling being managed out of an organisation33:38 – how do you support your team if you are moving on? 40:55 – the How to...We share our top takeaways focused on how you create the conditions to consider whether you should stay or go as a leader. We recommend using the career priorities wheel to support your thinking and making time to reflect and consider your circumstances - DM Lee or email hello@sundayskies.com if you would like a copy.In this episode we reference The Squiggly Career by Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis. ------------------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLeadNew episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen/ download on your favourite platform.To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com Enjoy this series and let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram @howtotakethelead or Twitter @How2TakeTheLeadMentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

This episode is an in-depth exploration of psychological safety, what it means for you as a leader, for your teams and your organisation. We share our own experiences, thoughts and advice and really do get personal to help you understand the importance of psychological safety.In this episode we share our own views, thoughts and experiences:02:50 – what do we mean by psychological safety11:42 – imposter syndrome and safety17:30 – the nuances of trust and psychological safety19:54 – fear, innovation and risk28:17 – psychological safety for your stakeholders35:15 – reputation management and a safe culture 40:55 – how to...As always we share our top takeaways and in this episode, we encourage you to have conversations about psychological safety and listen to your colleagues and stakeholders. Being mindful of the impacts of your own behaviours will go some way to supporting a psychologically safe environment and demonstrating your appreciation for feedback, no matter the outcome, will also help. In this episode we reference The Fearless Organization by Amy C. Edmondson. And we also mention the McKinsey research referenced in Leading Off. -----------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLeadNew episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen/ download on your favourite platform.To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com Enjoy this series and let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram @howtotakethelead or Twitter @How2TakeTheLeadMentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode we explore what it really means to listen as a leader. Listening isn't just about what you hear through your ears but what you see and experience. Working out who to listen to and how is one thing but you also need to decide what to do with what you are hearing.04:27 – cutting through the noise07:39 – what have you put in place to listen well?09:14 – don't just listen to those who shout loudest15:52 – what gets in the way of truly listening?21:21 – reading the room23:43 – you can't promise to fix everything 30:55 – our top takeawaysAs always we share our top takeaways and in this episode we ask you to consider the channels and mechanisms you have in place to listen as a leader. And we encourage you to work on not taking feedback personally or being overwhelmed by the idea of actively listening. Remember to be present when you are listening. We reference statistics from the Forbes article ‘6 Ways Effective Listening Can Make You A Better Leader'. -------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLeadNew episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen/ download on your favourite platform.To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com Enjoy this series and let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram @howtotakethelead or Twitter @How2TakeTheLeadMentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode we question what charisma really is and if you need it to be a good leader. We discuss how much personality impacts how effective you are as a leader. And we ask whether charisma is only associated with male leaders.08:48 – building rapport and charisma09:22 – is charisma inspirational?11:52 – charisma as a label14:05 – being likeable doesn't always get the job done16:04 – charisma – is it a man thing?24:57 – personality transplant30:30 – the how to...As always we share our top takeaways and in this episode we share our thoughts on owning your personality and being authentic. We also talk about focusing on strategy, connection and communication.We reference ‘Too Much Charisma Can Make Leaders Look Less Effective' published by the Harvard Business Review.----------------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLeadNew episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen/ download on your favourite platform.To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com Enjoy this series and let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram @howtotakethelead or Twitter @How2TakeTheLeadMentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode we share recent research as well as our own thoughts and experiences on women in leadership. We ask if women are still facing the same challenges as leaders and what needs to happen to support more women in leadership positions:02:19 – setting the context, Lean In and McKinsey report04:47 – is it because I'm a woman?11:17 – have the challenges for women changed?13:42 – the positive impact of women leaders in organisations21:58 – causes of imposter syndrome24:06 – challenging stereotypes28:40 – How to...As always we share our top takeaways and in this episode we discuss ways to advocate and support women leaders. We discuss the need to present evidence and impacts to our organisation and whose role it is to support women in leadership. We reference the Women in the Workplace report carried out by McKinsey and Lean In. You can download it here: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/women-in-the-workplaceWe also reference the Women Count report by The Pipeline: https://execpipeline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Women-Count-2022-1.pdf --------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting using #HowToTakeTheLeadNew episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen / download on your favourite platform.To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com Enjoy this series and let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram @howtotakethelead or Twitter @How2TakeTheLeadMentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

We explore when you are a leader from a few angles, including your perception versus the perception of others, if you ever switch off as a leader and how your home life might be influenced by your leadership role and vice versa:02:15 – is there a difference between management and leadership?05:33 – the role of organisations in leadership development09:39 – perceptions of when you are a leader17:04 – exploring feedback about your leadership19:24 – is leadership 24/7?28:40 – How to...As always we share our top takeaways and in this episode we strongly recommend revisiting your purpose and why you want to be a leader, focus on developing your leadership brand (even if that feels a bit icky) and make sure you consider your own wellbeing. ----------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLeadNew episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen/download on your favourite platform.To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com Enjoy this series and let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram @howtotakethelead or Twitter @How2TakeTheLeadMentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

Managing change is something we all need to do as a leader but what happens when the changes are personal? In this episode we explore how we can deal with transitions as a leader. We share our own experiences of dealing with change as leaders as well as offer advice and tips for those points in your career when change happens:03:14 – dealing with your step up into leadership08:40 – working out how you want to land as a new leader10:25 – moving from a peer to a leader18:54 – perceptions versus reality and managing work friendships23:53 – what to consider when a change impacts you31:16 – supporting your team when you don't know what's next32:52 – the How To...If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLeadNew episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen/ download on your favourite platform.To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com Enjoy this series and let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram @howtotakethelead or Twitter @How2TakeTheLeadMentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In the first episode of this series we thought we should start with a review of leadership so far in 2022, covering some of the highs (there have been a few we promise) and lows of leadership right now. We share our thoughts on what's impressing us in the leadership space, as well as the things that are causing us to get on our soapboxes:03:16 – Patagonia, living their values and staying true to their purpose09:47 – Gen Z, the boundary setters22:00 – handling HR processes compassionately26:41 – leading through the cost of living crisis34:30 – the future leader – values, adaptability and wellbeing43:13 – the How To... our top takeawaysAs always we share our top takeaways and in this episode we discuss reframing issues into opportunities, what you can do today that has the biggest impact, lobbying for what matters, engaging with your colleagues, taking action and prioritising wellbeing.Lee shared the example of transparent leadership from Tony Stubblebine at Medium and the statement she mentions is available here https://coachtony.medium.com/news-about-medium-staff-7d334c235789We also talked about the parallels in our current monarchy and the storyline in To Play The King by Michael Dobbs. https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/870760.To_Play_the_King---------------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLeadTo find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com Enjoy this series and let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram @howtotakethelead or Twitter @How2TakeTheLeadMentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

Welcome back to How To Take The Lead, our podcast exploring all things leadership. We are back for our second series and ready to share our latest thoughts on the state of leadership right now. No corporate BS here, just us, debunking myths, sharing our experiences and giving you practical tips. We might even get on our soapbox every now and then.Between us we have extensive leadership and communications experience. How to Take the Lead offers you an insight into our approach and thoughts on leadership, all with the aim of challenging the ways things have always been done and promoting the modern leader.New episodes will be released every Thursday and you can listen/ download on your favourite platform.To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe? And we would love it if you left us a review, rating or shared the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting.We hope you enjoy this series. As always get involved with the conversation or let us know what you would like us to cover in future episodes on Instagram or Twitter.Mentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this bonus episode of How To Take The Lead it's our end of series after party ... or reunion show, if you watch too much Below Deck like Lee! In this episode we reflect on and discuss the things we wished we'd covered in the first series, bits we missed, what we've learnt and everything in between, including:· 10:22 – that Jack Duckworth moment· 11:29 – how The Wellcome Trust handled racism· 14:27 – Virgin Atlantic ditch the power suit· 16:32 – everyday sexism· 20:08 – when can we stop asking if a woman can lead the country?· 24:40 – storytelling when you maybe don't feel like it· 26:45 – there's so much more to exploreThere's no top takeaways from us but we are excited to announce we have launched our How To Take the Lead social media channels. You will be able to find all the good stuff on Insta and Twitter:Instagram @howtotaketheleadTwitter @how2taketheleadSo why not give us a follow to see what we're up to on our summer hiatus and share your thoughts on what we've covered in series one.If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLeadSeries two of How To Take The Lead lands in October 2022!----------------------You can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.ukMentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In the series one finale of How To Take The Lead we consider what you should be making time for as a leader. It's a question we both get asked a lot so we share our views on what to prioritise and how to protect your time. We share our thoughts, experiences and learning, including:· 03:03 – expectation versus reality· 09:46 – the value of protected time· 17:30 – what should you be doing with your protected time· 22:33 – the importance of boundary setting· 34:30 – do you have to be the doer?· 41:15 – how to make the most of your timeOur top takeaways in this episode include practical tips to manage your time, boundary setting and reframing guilt.If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead--------------------------------You can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.ukGet social with us via:Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Mentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode of How To Take The Lead we talk about trust and what this means as a leader. Trust is something we discuss a lot in the leadership space and we explore what we really mean by trust. In this episode we share our thoughts, experiences and learning, including:· 03:50 – the neuroscience of trust and how this translates to the workplace· 08:12 – how do you build trust as a leader· 13:30 – trust and performance · 18:45 – how to measure high trust· 21:15 – can you rebuild trust as a leader?· 29:55 – how to build trustAs always we share our top takeaways and in this episode we cover authenticity, doing what you say you will and recognise that building trust takes time.We reference Simon Sinek's conversation about trust and performance. You can view it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJdXjtSnZTIIf you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead-----------------------------------You can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.ukGet social with us via:Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Mentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode of How To Take The Lead we focus on allyship as a leader. Neither of us profess to be experts in this area, in fact we are on our own learning journeys, but we feel this is an important aspect of being a leader.In this episode we share our thoughts, experiences and learning, including:· 07:52 – why does allyship matter?· 11:53 – what can leaders do?· 18:01 – making change happen· 21:53 – challenging your own biases· 29:00 – data warning· 38:00 – fear factor· 43:50 – institutional racism, Cricket Scotland and are we really learning?· 53:46 – how to... be a better allyIn this episode we recommend the books:Diversify by June SarpongRebel Ideas by Matthew SyedIf you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead------------------------------- You can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.ukGet social with us via:Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Mentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode of How To Take The Lead we explore the power of storytelling in the context of leadership. Whether you are a natural born storyteller or you are a leader who deals in facts and figures, we discuss the importance of storytelling to build connections.In this episode we share our thoughts, experiences and learning, including:· 03:38 – creating sticky content · 10:51 – listening to all the stories· 14:53 – stop shoehorning in irrelevant stories· 25:59 – stories and data working together· 32:25 – How to ... use storytelling as a leader As always we share our top takeaways and in this episode we highlight the need to ensure your story is aligned to your purpose, not being the hero in your story and also the need to practice, practice, practice.We also recommended the following books:Squirrel Inc. by Steve DenningUnleash the Power of Storytelling by Rob BiesenbachBuilding a Story Brand by Donald Miller-----------------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLeadYou can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.ukGet social with us via:Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Mentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

We are just over halfway through our first series of the How To Take The Lead podcast so we wanted to share a short bonus episode to thank you for your support and let you know what we've got coming up for the rest of the series.Still to come this series... 01:30 – leadership storytelling01:46 - trust and leadership02:20 – allyship and your role as a leader03:31 – where should leaders focus their time?We are looking forward to sharing these episodes and would love to hear your views and thoughts. And don't forget we want to know what leadership topics you would like us to cover in the next series.To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com. If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLeadYou can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.ukGet social with us:Follow or message Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Follow or message Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Until our next episode, get out there and take the lead.Mentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode of How To Take The Lead we talk about what it's like to be an introvert or an extrovert as a leader. We talk about the positives, the challenges and your role as a leader in supporting others to thrive.In this episode we share our thoughts, experiences and learning, including:· 06:29 – challenges for extroverts · 10:43 – how you get your energy as an extrovert· 15:22 – confidence and introvertism· 22:30 – who makes a better leader· 39:56 – top takeaways for introverts and extrovertsAs always we share our top takeaways including ensuring you understand your own behaviours, as well as creating space for your team by being aware of the impacts. We also ask you not to make assumptions about people because you have labelled them an introvert or extrovert.In this episode we recommend the book Quiet: The power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking by Susan Cain.If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead----------------------------You can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.ukGet social with us via:Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Mentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

This episode of How To Take The Lead is focused on motivation. As leaders we often have the role of motivating others and we wanted to take the opportunity to explore how we ourselves stay motivated in our leadership roles. Did you know that 75% of people are motivated by knowing what they don't want? So motivation is an important part of life as a leader.In this episode we share our thoughts, experiences and learning, including:4:05 – understanding your ‘love' language 7:41 – motivation linked to your purpose and needs15:03 – staying motivated when you've been in post for some time24:10 – leadership and organisational life cycles28:00 – How to ... motivate the motivatorOur top tips in this episode include working out if you are struggling with a motivation or ability issue, gaining clarity on what motivates you and ensuring you are considering your impact on others and their motivations.-----------------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLeadYou can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.ukGet social with us via:Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Mentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode of How to Take the Lead, we talk about how you can develop your leadership brand. Is your leadership brand something you are aware of? How do you feel about it? And why is it important?In this episode we share our thoughts, experiences and learning, including:2:50 – what is personal brand?8:40 – how seriously should leaders take personal brand?18:20 – being intentional when it comes to your leadership brand29:40 – developing your leadership brand – the How ToOur top tips in this episode include gaining clarity on your vision and values, working on your personal brand statement and ensuring your brand is linked to your why.If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLead--------------------------You can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.ukGet social with us via:Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Mentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode of How to Take the Lead, we are talking all things comfort zone. Do you operate in yours most of the time? We discuss how and why you should step outside of your comfort zone as a leader. In this episode we share our thoughts, experiences and learning, including:03:58 – comfort zones and subjectivity18:23 – putting your judgements aside24:30 – values based recruitment and EQ/ IQ26:26 – how to step outside your comfort zone – our top takeawaysOur top tips in this episode include being honest about your comfort zone, consider the risks and mitigations of stretching outside your comfort zone and think about where you can seek support. ---------------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLeadYou can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.ukGet social with us via:Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Mentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode we explore emotional intelligence... what is it? How aware of your own emotional intelligence are you as a leader? Can you look to build an emotionally intelligent team? We also reference the work on emotional intelligence by Daniel Goleman.In this episode we share our thoughts, experiences and learning, including:05:47 – being vulnerable as a leader18:23 – putting your judgements aside24:30 – values-based recruitment and EQ/ IQ26:26 – how to become more emotionally intelligentFor further reading, Lee recommended Connect by David Bradford and Carole Robin.-----------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLeadYou can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.ukGet social with us via:Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Mentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

We just couldn't resist sharing another bonus episode because we are so excited about our first series of How To Take The Lead. New episodes will be released every Thursday at 6am and you can listen/download on your favourite platform.We wanted to take the opportunity to share more about those who have inspired us along the way and to thank some of the most amazing cheerleaders and supporters.In this bonus episode you'll hear more about the following fabulous podcast and book recommendations.Podcasts we love to listen to:Diary of a CEO – Stephen BartlettYou're My Comms HeroBehaviour Change Marketing Bootcamp – Ruth DaleThe Squiggly Careers PodcastInside the Hive with Quiet the HiveConversations with Cat's Pajamas (*blush* thanks Lee!)Trust Issues with Rachel BotsmanHow to Own the Room with Viv GroskopBooks* we love to read and share:I Am My Brand by Kubi SpringerHype Yourself by Lucy WernerThe Squiggly Career by Helen Tupper and Sarah EllisYour Dream Life Starts Here by Kristina KarlssonQuiet by Susan CainHow to Own the Room by Viv GroskopThe Confidence Code Katty Kay and Claire ShipmanAnd we share our thanks and love for all the support and encouragement from David, Jim, Carolyn, Vicky, Lee's coach Carol, Daniel, Carrie-Ann's coach Mikaela, Asif, Bob, Becca, Sara, Liz, Sam and Helen. You are all amazing!Finally a huge thank you to all of you for listening, sharing and getting in touch to share your views, experiences and ideas.If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it...

We are dropping another cheeky bonus episode because we are so excited about our first series of How To Take The Lead. Over the next four weeks we will be delving into all aspects of leadership including:Emotional intelligence – what even is it?Stepping outside of your comfort zone as a leaderWhat it means to build your leadership brand, and do you even have one?How to stay motivated as a leaderNew episodes will be released every Thursday at 6am and you can listen/download on your favourite platform.If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting using #HowToTakeTheLeadYou can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.ukGet social with us:Follow or message Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Follow or message Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Until our next episode, get out there and take the lead.Mentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

Bonus drop alert! In the first of our short bonus episodes, we let you know how you can help us spread the word about How To Take The Lead. We've had a few people asking us how you can help and support the podcast, so we thought we'd share a few ways that would make a big difference!New episodes will be released every Thursday at 6am and you can listen/ download on your favourite platform.If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLeadYou can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.ukGet social with us:Follow or message Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Follow or message Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Until our next episode, get out there and take the lead.Mentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In this episode of How to Take the Lead, we wanted to share some of our learning from our careers to date so you get the chance to find out a little more about us and our leadership lessons.We share our individual experiences and some of our shared learning, including:02:15 – being open to new opportunities without compromising your boundaries04:56 - making the right impact in a new job17:10 - support networks and developing yourself21:07 – realising you don't have to be like all the other leaders you seeOur takeaways from this episode will help you to reflect on your own career to date, thinking about the good, the bad and the ugly in terms of your experiences of leadership and how you can adapt and nurture your leadership style for the future.------------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLeadYou can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.ukGet social with us:Follow or message Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Follow or message Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.In the next episode we are going to be focused on emotional intelligence, what it is and how to consider it when you are building your leadership team. Until then, get out there and take the lead.Mentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

In episode two of How to Take the Lead, we discuss why we have decided to ditch the power suits and how that has impacted our approach to leadership. Authenticity is something we talk about a lot and this topic really highlights the importance of being able to show up as your true self as a leader.In this episode we cover a lot of ground, including:02:45 – does appearance matter?06:10 – how to judge what's appropriate15:45 - tackling discrimination and your role as a leaderOur takeaways from this episode are focused on working out what makes you feel most confident in the workplace and finding opportunities to have conversations about how you can support others to show up as the best versions of themselves. We want you to feel comfortable and confident to be yourself.We mentioned the Broken Ladders report from The Fawcett Society and The Runnymede Trust. You can view it here Broken Ladders report.We will be sharing some of our own leadership lessons in the next episode of How to Take the Lead so tune in to hear more. Until then, get out there and take the lead.-------------------------------------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting using #HowToTakeTheLeadYou can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.ukMentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

Think you don't have a leadership superpower… think again!In the first episode of How to Take the Lead, we discuss how to find your leadership superpower and how you can use it for maximum impact.In this episode we cover a lot of ground, including:03:11 – are leadership superpowers even a thing?16:45 - how do you identify your superpower?20:03 – can you lose your leadership superpowers?25:11 – how to harness your leadership superpowersTop tips from us include making time to discover what your leadership superpowers are, asking others (you might be surprised), understanding how your superpowers can have impact and not allowing your own superpowers to become your nemesis.In our next episode we talk all things power dressing and why we have given shoulder pads the shove.--------------------If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or review and feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLeadYou can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and about Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.ukGet social with us:Follow or message Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Follow or message Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Mentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.

Welcome to How To Take The Lead, our new podcast series exploring all things leadership. After five successful Insta and LinkedIn live series, we have decided to bring you all the good stuff as a podcast. No corporate talk here, just us, debunking myths, sharing our experiences and giving you practical tips. We might even get on our soapbox every now and then.Between us we have extensive leadership and communications experience. How to Take the Lead offers you an insight into our approach and thoughts on leadership, all with the aim of challenging the ways things have always been done and promoting the modern leader.New episodes will be released every Thursday at 6am and you can listen and download from your favourite platform.To find out more visit www.howtotakethelead.com. If you enjoyed this episode why not subscribe to the podcast. We would love it if you left us a rating or a review. And feel free to share the link to this episode with anyone else you think would find it interesting, using #HowToTakeTheLeadYou can find out more about Lee Griffith via www.sundayskies.com and Carrie-Ann Wade at www.cats-pajamas.co.ukGet social with us:Follow or message Lee on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.Follow or message Carrie-Ann on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.In the first episode of the series we will talking about leadership superpowers. Do you have one? Do you know how to use it? Join us to find out more and until then, get out there and take the lead.Mentioned in this episode:Join the How to Take the Lead communityWe're now on substack. Join a community of people who want to lead their own way. Get extra content and behind the episode discussions, take part in 'ask us anything' bonus episodes and a new leadership book club, plus much more. Visit www.howtotakethelead.com to sign up.