The Leader's Kitbag

Could speaking less actually make you a more impactful leader?    Inspired by a quote from author Graham Greene, “The more you say, the more likely you are to look foolish,” this episode of The Leaders Kitbag explores the power of intentional communication in leadership.  Some of the most effective leaders I know don’t feel the need to be the loudest or most frequently heard voice i...

In these ‘SHORTS’ episodes of my podcast, I select my favourite moments from previous episodes. This one comes from episode 182, with Lord Mark Price, former Managing Director of Waitrose, Deputy Chair of the John Lewis Partnership, and UK Trade Minister, who unpacks key insights on happiness at work and the inspiration behind his WorkL initiative.    Once you’ve listened to the ‘SHORT’,...

Do you ever walk out of a meeting questioning whether you said enough, or even doubting if you made any impact at all?    In this episode of  The Leaders Kitbag , I explore a common struggle for reflective, internal-thinking leaders who often equate airtime with impact.    Spoiler alert: the two are not the same.    I share three practical tips to help you communicate...

In this episode of The Leaders Kit Bag, I unpack a common leadership pitfall I call "fire and forget goal setting" - when we set big, ambitious goals for our team, then disappear, hoping for the best.    Setting the target isn’t enough. Support, guidance, and course correction are essential to turn bold goals into real achievements.    You’ll learn:   Why goals that f...

In this episode of  Leading the Scale-Up , I sit down with  Lord Mark Price  — the former Managing Director of Waitrose, Deputy Chair of the John Lewis Partnership, and UK Trade Minister — to explore why  happiness  might just be the most underrated leadership strategy of our time.  With four decades of leadership experience and as the founder of  WorkL , Mark has dedicated his career to prov...

In this short but powerful episode of The Leaders Kit Bag, I share one simple leadership truth: when you support your team with their personal goals, not just their professional ones, you’re far more likely to get their support in return.    This is rooted in a well-known psychological principle of reciprocity, and it’s something most leaders overlook.    By tuning in, you'll l...

In this episode of The Leader’s Kit Bag, I explore how two people with the same skills, experience and motivation can produce vastly different results, and why the difference often comes down to the language we use when setting goals.    You’ll learn about:  Towards and away-from motivation styles  How to spot them  How tailoring your language to match can significantly in...

In this episode of  The Leaders Kit Bag , we’re demystifying SMART goals, specifically the part nearly everyone gets wrong.  Many leaders talk about SMART goals, but very few apply them correctly, especially when it comes to the “R”.  Spoiler alert: it's  not  "realistic".  Listen in to find out the real meaning of the “R”, how it changes the effectiveness of your goals, and what to...

In this bonus episode of  The Leaders Kit Bag , I’m answering a viewer’s question on the topic of open questions: what they are, why they matter, and how leaders can use them to build trust, deepen relationships, and empower their teams.  Whether you're looking to create more engaging conversations, understand your team better, or help others find their own solutions, this episode gives you p...

Have you ever been in a conversation where someone nodded, said “yep” or “go on”… but you knew they weren’t really listening?    In this episode of The Leader’s Kit Bag, I take a look at what real listening feels like for the person on the receiving end.    I unpack common “active listening” techniques we’ve all been taught, and explain why they’re not enough on their own.&nbsp...

In these ‘SHORTS’ episodes of my podcast, I select my favourite moments from previous episodes. This one comes from episode 181, with Georgia Aubrey, Co-Founder & Partnerships Director at Lovetovisit.com, as she shares how she ensured Lovetovisit.com has stayed true to its mission and culture while expanding internationally.    Once you’ve listened to the ‘SHORT’, why not click the l...

When was the last time you truly felt heard, without judgment, interruption, or unsolicited advice?    In this episode of The Leader’s Kit Bag, I explore the transformative power of listening.    Drawing on a powerful exercise I ran during a recent leadership programme, I share how simply holding space for someone to speak, without fixing, advising, or interrupting, can lead to...

In this episode of  The Leaders’ Kit Bag , I’m exploring a deceptively simple yet profoundly impactful skill: listening.  In today’s workplace, with its relentless pace and constant distractions, it’s all too easy to rush into meetings, tick off agendas, and miss what really matters.  We may be hearing our team, but are we  truly  listening?  In this short, tactical episode, I share...

In this episode, Ben Morton sits down with  Georgia Aubrey , Co-Founder and Partnerships Director at  Love To Visit , the UK’s first digital platform for discovering and booking attractions and experiences.  From a print marketing background to building a tech platform with over 3.2 million users and 2,700+ live experiences, Georgia shares the remarkable scale-up journey she’s taken alongside...

This episode of The Leader’s Kitbag is a little different.    It’s a direct response to a brilliant question I received from Suma on TikTok about accountability, specifically, what to do when things fall through the cracks and your colleagues perceive you as not being accountable.    In this episode, you’ll learn:    What accountability really means, and why it’s abou...

In these ‘SHORTS’ episodes of my podcast, I select my favourite moments from previous episodes. This one comes from episode 180, with James Collier, Co-founder of Huel and Registered Nutritionist, who explores the parallels between nutrition and leadership. Discover how principles of balanced nutrition can be applied to building sustainable leadership and personal well-being.    Once you...

We often focus on how to lead and support our own teams, but what if one of the most impactful things we could do as leaders is to support those above us?  In this episode of  The Leaders Kitbag , I explore a powerful idea: helping your boss make better, more informed decisions.  Because when we do that well, we not only improve outcomes across the board, but we also earn greater trust a...

In these ‘SHORTS’ episodes of my podcast, I select my favourite moments from previous episodes. This one comes from episode 179, with James Collier, Co-founder of Huel and Registered Nutritionist, to explore the concept of “dietology” – the dogmatic beliefs around nutrition – and why food choices can become so polarising.    Once you’ve listened to the ‘SHORT’, why not click the link bel...

Have you ever found yourself so caught up in leading your team that you've forgotten to keep your boss updated on the great work you’re doing?  Or perhaps your boss asks for updates you've already given, and you’re left wondering why your messages aren’t landing?  In this episode of  The Leaders Kitbag , I’m sharing three practical strategies to help you manage upwards more effectively.&...

In part two of our conversation, we shift gears from nutrition to the leadership journey behind Huel’s explosive growth — and the personal toll that comes with building something big.  As someone who coaches leaders through the challenges of scale, I’ve long believed that mental fitness is as critical as strategy.  James’ openness about his own struggles, recovery, and mindset shifts is...

Whether your boss is brilliant or a bit of a nightmare, there will always be times when pressure from above feels unrealistic.    In this episode of The Leaders Kitbag, I’m sharing three actionable tips for managing up, especially when you need to push back on unachievable demands without damaging relationships or trust.    In this episode, you'll learn:    Why challe...

In the first of this two-part series, I’m joined by  James Collier , Registered Nutritionist and Co-Founder of Huel, to challenge some long-held assumptions about nutrition and performance.  As someone who works closely with CEOs and scale-up leaders, I’ve seen first-hand how often nutrition is overlooked — even by those obsessed with productivity hacks and peak performance.  So in this...

Let’s face it, not every leader we work for is brilliant.    But even if your boss isn’t the best, you still have the power to lead your team well.    In this episode of The Leaders Kitbag, I’m sharing three practical ways you can manage up when the person above you isn’t leading effectively.    In this episode, you’ll learn:  How to clarify the bigger picture to...

What’s really going on in venture capital?    In these ‘SHORTS’ episodes of my podcast, I select my favourite moments from previous episodes. This one comes from episode 178, with Tessa Clarke, co-founder of OLIO, as she shares how the funding landscape is shifting – and where it still needs to go.    With five successful funding rounds under her belt, Tessa shares her hard-won...

In this episode of The Leaders Kit Bag, I explore a common but often overlooked leadership pitfall: the one-way nature of feedback in many teams.  While it's often easy for leaders to give feedback, getting honest input in return can be much more difficult .   But if we don’t hear what our team really thinks, we’re not leading with the whole picture. Our leadership decisions are based on...