The Lonely Leader

EPISODE TWENTY EIGHT The Destroyers of Culture SUMMARY   James Rule explores The Ten Destroyers of Culture. It is imperative for every leader to ensure that these destroyers are not present in their organisation.  Failure to do so will lead to poor performance and high staff turnover. By removing them you create an environment that attracts high performers and allows them to thrive....

EPISODE TWENTY SEVEN How Google Assess Their Leaders SUMMARY Google is renowned for sourcing employee feedback to drive innovation and growth. In this episode James Rule explores thirteen questions they pose to staff to assess the performance of management.   KEY TAKEAWAYS I would recommend my manager to others - The ultimate acid test of our leadership. Would your staff recommend you to...

EPISODE TWENTY SIX Ten Ways to Tackle Worry SUMMARY Worry can be a persistent companion, whispering doubts and fears in our minds. This will compromise our performance and left unaddressed can impact our mental health.  It does not need to be that way. In this episode I share ten tried and tested strategies that will help you reduce worry and reclaim your piece of mind. KEY TAKEAWAYS  Ph...

EPISODE TWENTY FIVE Leadership Pitfalls to Avoid  SUMMARY James Rule shares the Leadership Pitfalls that are the most common causes for leaders compromising their leadership impact.  By addressing these pitfalls leaders will massively enhance their performance and as a consequence that of their team. KEY TAKEAWAYS   1 Failure to delegate  2 Micro Management  3 Not listenin...

EPISODE TWENTY FOUR What Do You Have To Break Through To Create Your Breakthrough? SUMMARY The same barriers are articulated repeatedly by the clients of The Lonely Leader when they explain what is preventing them from making a critical breakthrough in the pursuit of their professional and personal goals.  In this episode James Rule highlights the ten most common barriers. Awareness is the fi...

EPISODE TWENTY THREE Lessons Learned from Burnout  SUMMARY SECTION  Collapsing with Pneumonia was a physical manifestation of burnout. The recovery process provided James with time to reflect on what brought him to that point and what needed to change as a consequence.  In this episode James Rule explores the lessons learned from this experience, that he continues to draw upon in hi...

EPISODE TWENTY TWO Creating Psychological Safety in a Team SUMMARY James Rule defines Psychological Safety as a shared belief held by members of a team that they will not be punished, ridiculed or embarrassed for speaking up and sharing their opinion.  When a leader is able to facilitate Psychological Safety it provides an X factor for creating and sustaining high performance in their team.&n...

EPISODE TWENTY ONE Value Your People SUMMARY SECTION  Leaders must make their people feel valued. Doing this effectively creates high performing teams with enhanced levels of fulfilment. In this episode James Rule shares ten tips that every leader can adopt to ensure their team feel valued.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Pay Interest in staff as people not just employees Active listening  Speak the...

EPISODE TWENTY Tackling Imposter Syndrome SUMMARY SECTION  Practically every client of The Lonely Leader has wrestled with Imposter Syndrome at some point on their leadership journey. In this episode James Rule provides tried and tested tips to help you combat the syndrome. KEY TAKEAWAYS  Experience is irrelevant. Imposter Syndrome can impact even the most seasoned of leaders. Accept you...

EPISODE NINETEEN Leadership Essentials: Courage SUMMARY James Rule has compiled a list of Leadership Essentials. They are drawn from his experiences and insights as a chief executive, coach, mentor and from decades of research.  These essentials should form an integral part of every leadership style. The series continues with a focus on courage and the impact it can have on creating high perf...

EPISODE EIGHTEEN Reclaim Control Over Digital Distraction  SUMMARY “I struggle to be present” and “I do not have time” are the two frustrations most frequently expressed by clients to James during his coaching and mentoring. He believes that digital distraction is a major cause. In this episode he discusses a range of steps to help you reclaim control over your digital distraction.  KEY...

EPISODE SEVENTEEN Five Key Steps to Lead Through Adversity SUMMARY Every leader will face periods of adversity. Rather than fear those moments James Rule shares five key steps to help you lead yourself and your organisation through them. KEY TAKEAWAYS  Focus on what you can control  Make a decision  Be flexible  Protect your energy  Seek self validation as opposed to exter...

EPISODE SIXTEEN Remove This Barrier to Create a High Performing Team  SUMMARY SECTION  Many leaders are reluctant to give young and inexperienced staff a chance in senior positions. James Rule explores why this flawed mindset is a barrier that must be removed to build high performing teams. He shares an example of how giving a young inexperienced member of his team an opportunity was tra...

EPISODE FIFTEEN The Power of Utilising a Journal SUMMARY Having begun the practice of journaling during his tenure as a CEO James Rule has become a passionate advocate of the process. He articulates eleven core benefits of utilising a journal which will positively impact your mindset and help optimise performance in your professional and personal roles. KEY TAKEAWAYS  The eleven core benefits...

EPISODE FOURTEEN Leadership Essentials: Humility SUMMARY James Rule has compiled a list of Leadership Essentials. They are drawn from his experiences and insights as a chief executive, coach, mentor and from decades of research.  These essentials should form an integral part of every leadership style. The series continues with a focus on humility and the impact it can have on creating high pe...

EPISODE THIRTEEN Three Powerful Ways to Enhance Your Mindset SUMMARY The quality of the input determines the quality of the output! Think of the inputs we absorb into our minds as the fuel to our mindset and mental wellbeing. We must aspire to find the best quality fuel. We cannot optimise our mindset and subsequent professional and personal performance if we do not curate the daily inputs into ou...

EPISODE TWELVE Eight Steps to Create a Quality Culture SUMMARY Culture can be defined as the shared beliefs, values and practices that shape the behaviour of staff within an organisation.  A leader has a critical role to play as the cultural architect. They must role model through their words and actions the behaviours that they wish to see embraced by their team.  Whilst all leader...

EPISODE ELEVEN  Leadership Essentials: Delegation  SUMMARY  Delegation is something that so many leaders struggle with. They have a mindset that they can do a task better than their colleagues so they retain it. Invariably they recognise they should train staff to enhance their skills and subsequent ability to execute the task, but do not feel they have the time.  James Rule sh...

EPISODE TEN  Leadership Essentials: Authenticity  SUMMARY   James Rule has compiled a list of Leadership Essentials. They are drawn from his experiences and insights as a chief executive, coach, mentor and from decades of research.  These essentials should form an integral part of every leadership style. The series begins with a focus on authenticity.  KEY TAKEAWAYS ...

Warning signs of burnout and tips to prevent it SUMMARY SECTION  James Rule shares his own experience of burnout, collapsing with pneumonia after working fifteen hour days during his tenure as a CEO. He explores the warning signs of the slow creep of burn out that he ignored and the seven tips proven to help prevent the manifestation of burnout. KEY TAKEAWAYS   Symptoms of burnout are li...

EPISODE EIGHT Dealing with criticism  SUMMARY Fear of criticism is one of the most debilitating barriers to creating and sustaining high performance. James Rule draws upon his unique career experiences and shares tools that can help anyone suppress that fear and ensure that they are better placed to optimise their performance. KEY TAKEAWAYS   For people in leadership roles, criticism com...

EPISODE SEVEN Maximising first impressions  SUMMARY Science suggests we have mere seconds to make a first impression. As a former CEO James Rule has witnessed people excel and truly struggle when creating their first impression. He shares five simple yet critical steps to optimise your professional first impression. KEY TAKEAWAYS   We never get a second chance to make a first impression....

EPISODE SIX  COMBATING SUNDAY AFTERNOON WORK ANXIETY SUMMARY James Rule explores the global phenomenon of Sunday Dread. The slow creep of anxiety as the start of the working week approaches. He has found leaders all around the world struggle with this and shares his tips to overcome it. KEY TAKEAWAYS   Sunday dread is on the rise. We have found Leaders in different countries, roles and s...

EPISODE FIVE  THE TWO BIGGEST FRUSTRATIONS LEADERS ARE FACING TODAY SUMMARY James Rule discusses the two biggest frustrations leaders are facing today: A lack of time to focus on what they want to do and an inability to be fully present. He highlights how he navigated these challenges during his tenure as a Chief Executive and transformative steps he shares with clients to find new levels of...

EPISODE FOUR HIGH PERFORMERS DO THIS EVERY DAY TO EMPOWER THEIR MINDSET SUMMARY James Rule discusses one of the key learnings from collapsing with pneumonia as a consequence of working at an unsustainable intensity with no focus on recovery. He shares a simple but impactful tool to ensure you start the day proactively with an empowered mindset. KEY TAKEAWAYS   There is alway opportunity in ad...