The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley

If we follow our instincts all the time when leading people, we're likely to run into trouble at some point. The problem is that we're wired to protect ourselves, and we can be consumed with the "fight or flight" response that can cloud our judgement.  While this response has helped us survive and thrive over many thousands of years, in the modern workplace it can hold us back.  In this episode, I...

Who wants to work in a chaotic work environment?  Most people would answer… "of course, nobody does!" However, working in a chaotic work environment can sometimes actually be easier! In this episode, I look at a few ways that a chaotic work environment is hurting your team and your leadership, and of course some ways that you can bring some structure to the situation. Like the Show? Please Leave a...

When leaders feel like they don't have autonomy to make the decisions or take actions they need to, bad things can happen. That's why it's so important to have freedom when it comes to your leadership role.  However, it's not easy – you often need to navigate many stakeholders to achieve what you need to. In this episode, I take a look at some ways to take back your leadership freedom! Like the Sh...

Many people think that the boss is the most powerful person in a team. While the boss certainly does have power, they probably aren't the only one! Sometimes power can come from different sources, not just your formal job title or position. In this episode, I take a look at several sources of power that can impact teams, and some actions you can take if you think a power imbalance is impacting tea...

It's nice to be a helpful leader, rather than being an obstacle or causing your team to do more work "managing" you. However, all that helpfulness can go too far if we're not careful. Many good people leaders are motivated by supporting their people, so it's easy to fall into the helpfulness trap. In this episode, I take a look at three seemingly helpful actions that may actually be hurting your t...

It's common for leaders to be faced with tough situations such as ethical dilemmas or conflicts, where they need to decide whether it's worth fighting… or perhaps not worth the trouble.  In this episode, I look at 6 good questions to ask yourself if you're trying to work out whether it's worth fighting that battle, or letting it go instead. There is never a perfect answer to this question, but hop...

Even the best of us make mistakes, and our team members will too! In this episode, I answer a reader question about what to do when your team member messes up. It's a common challenge, because we want to encourage our people to be proactive and build their confidence without feeling scared of failing… and at the same time, we don't want the organisation to fall apart! Listen to this episode for so...

Leading former colleagues can be tricky, because you used to be one of the gang and now you're the boss! This can be awkward for some people and can put you in a difficult position. However, you shouldn't refuse a good leadership opportunity just because of some potential discomfort. In this episode, I take a look at some tips for leading former colleagues, so you can feel more comfortable taking...

The "Open Door Policy" came about from the days where we actually had offices and doors. However, it's still a valuable concept today, to promote free-flowing communication between a leader and their people. It's not all roses though, there are some pitfalls that can occur if we aren't careful. In this episode, I take a look at some of the challenges that can occur with this approach and how you c...

Like it or not, leaders are role-models in the workplace. What we say and do matters, so it's important to try to set the right example. In this episode, I look at some common phrases that can really cause some damage in our teams and workplaces! If you've said some of them yourself, don't worry (I have too!) It's not about beating ourselves up… it's about doing better next time! Show Links: The T...

Avoiding conflict often feels good in the short-term.  But over time, avoiding conflict can cause bigger issues, that may have been more easily tackled earlier on! In this episode, I take a deeper look at conflict avoidance, and what consequences it might be having that you may not have thought about.  There is also a handy conflict avoidance questionnaire to help you decide whether to engage, or...

Ever had tasks on your list that continue to stare at you week after week, while you keep putting them off? Procrastination is a common problem, even for leaders. But the problem is, leaders are meant to be leading and moving forward, not standing still! In this episode, I take a look at some common causes of procrastination and what we can do about them. Show Links: Article:  Overcoming Procrasti...

Ever found yourself stuck in an "all or nothing" mindset?  Where everything is black or white, always or never? We can get stuck in this type of thinking in tough environments and it can really hold us back. In this episode, I take a look at this way of thinking and how we might be able to put a stop to it. Show Links:  Learn more about the Thoughtful Leader Membership here . Article:  All or Noth...

Ever had to lead a team member who is lacking in confidence? It can be a daunting experience for some leaders, and for others it may seem like a burden or nuisance.  However, leading a nervous team member can be an excellent way to build trust and help them realise that even if they might have had a bad boss in the past, it doesn't always need to be that way! In this episode I take a look at some...

Leaders who inspire confidence in others have it easier.  People tend to listen to what they say and leave them to do their work. Want to be one of those leaders?  In this episode, I look at 3 simple ways to show people that you've got this leadership thing sorted. Thoughtful Leader Membership The Thoughtful Leader Membership will give you access to a bunch of resources and support that will help...

Being effective and productive are important for good leadership. We want to be focusing on the right things and doing them well, rather than rushing around stressed and constantly busy.  I've found that mindset is one of the most important factors in being productive and effective. In this episode, I take a look at some of the mindset shifts that can help you to remain focused and stop you from f...

Acknowledgement of the importance of mental health has grown steadily over the past few years.  In years past, we mainly used to focus on physical health and safety, with people often being expected to "toughen up" or "be more resilient" when placed under pressure and stress. In this episode, I take a look at why leaders need to prioritise their mental health and wellbeing, and some simple steps y...

Leaders love to have engaged, enthusiastic employees working for them, but it's not always easy to make it happen. In this episode, I recount a short story of a time when I had some success in helping a team member feel more engaged in the work they were doing. I break it down into three main steps that made the difference, with the hope that you may be able to replicate some of them for yourself....

With the rise of remote and flexible working, people are becoming more open to the idea of actually  enjoying  their work. Instead of just going through the daily grind, people actually want to like what they do! As leaders, we play an important role in helping our people feel more fulfilled.  It's up to them to decide where they want to go, but we can help them get there! In this episode, I take...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mark Altman, who is the founder of MindsetGo, a company that helps people become more confident and effective communicators.  Mark reached out to me a few months back and since then, we've been catching up to speak about leadership, training and all sorts of other topics and to bounce ideas off each other.  In our conversation we speak about the...

Development opportunities are one of the best ways to stop your team from stagnating, ensuring everyone keeps learning and staying motivated. However, it's not always easy to provide development opportunities. In this episode, I look at some of the risks in providing development opportunities, and some steps to take to enable your people to safely step outside of their comfort zone. Like the Show?...

Blind spots are dangerous for leaders.  It might be that you think people are perceiving you in one way, but actually they think something else about you entirely. Or perhaps you aren't aware of your shortcomings, when other people can see them as plain as day. Whatever the case, ideally we want to reduce our blind spots so we don't run into unexpected trouble. In this episode, I look at a useful...

It's natural for team members to need your support, but when it happens too often, it can be a real drag on your time. However, it's not useful to lay the blame at their feet. Leadership behaviour is a major factor in how people behave, so the question should be asked – are you setting up the right conditions for your people to be self-sufficient? In this episode, I look at some strategies to help...

Have you ever taken the time to actually write down what your team does, and how it does it?  It can be a really useful process to go through to help you understand your team better, highlight gaps and improvement areas and communicate to others what your team is all about. "Operating model" can comes across as a consulting buzzword, but when it comes down to it, it's all about understanding what...

Are you one of the many leaders who wish your people would take more accountability?  Do you yearn for the day when your people will take greater ownership of their work to produce better results? Well, you're not alone.  In this episode, I take a look at some simple ways to improve accountability in your team, to hopefully help your people step up and take greater ownership. Book Your Complimenta...