In this episode, we're joined by the brilliant Tom Henschel, Executive Coach and host of 'The Look & Sound of Leadership' Podcast.

Tom took us on a tour of his career journey, from acting, through teaching, to coaching, and the transferable skills between the roles. He told us how his podcast began - right back in 2008 - when someone told him he had a great voice for audio, and he went from having no idea what a podcast was to launching within weeks.

We discussed at length his tools and rules for turning upward feedback into a learning conversation, including how finger-pointing won't yield results, the importance of framing to encourage better outcomes, and why you need to approach a conversation with solutions, not just problems.

Tom explained how learning conversations can take time and repetition, and revealed how approaching a discussion assuming that nothing will change can actually take the pressure off.

It's an insightful and enjoyable listen.

Find Tom on LinkedIn.

Listen to The Look & Sound of Leadership Podcast.

Find out more about Essential Communications. 

Download the Giving Upward Feedback PDF.

In this episode of Beyond Potential, we're joined by Management Professor and author Andrew Brodsky, as he reveals the secrets to successful virtual communication.

Citing research and tips from his book, 'Ping', Andrew left no stone unturned when it came to advice on virtual communication, including choosing the best channel, agreeing an appropriate frequency, and how to decide when is a good time to follow up.

He covered:

Andrew explained how his immune deficiency drove his passion for the subject area, his approach to his research, and talked us through the PING Framework. You'll also find out what people really think about your typos! 

We learned a lot from this conversation and know you will too.

Follow Andrew on LinkedIn.

Find out more about the book and access free tools and resources on the Ping Group's website.  

This week, we're joined by Felix Mitchell, Founder and Co-CEO of Instant Impact, and host of the We Need to Talk About HR podcast. 

Felix spoke to us about the work he and his team do at Instant Impact to support organisations with talent acquisition through their advanced tech stack and specialist recruiters. He discusses the new, and fast-growing, transformation side of the business, an area focused on supporting organisations to successfully adopt and integrate AI.

During our chat, he spoke of the challenges many businesses are facing as they try to keep up with the pace of AI transformation, and reveals how those managing it most successfully are the ones investing in dedicated resource and capability that enable them to focus on AI fully. A solution, he says, may sound obvious, but he feels many still aren't doing. 

The conversation also moved to Felix's podcast 'We Need to Talk About HR', including the story behind setting it up (and choosing the show's name), how he decides what to discuss on each episode, and his experiences with his guests.

You can find Felix Mitchell on LinkedIn.

Listen to the We Need to Talk About HR podcast. 

We welcome sales expert Matt Dixon to Beyond Potential. Co-author of multiple bestselling books, including The Challenger Sale, The Challenger Customer, The Effortless Experience and The JOLT Effect, he joined us to discuss the research from his new book, The Activator Advantage.

Using findings from a comprehensive study of almost 3,000 service partners, Matt discussed the five types of partners found across professional services and how the attributes of one of them, 'The Activator', consistently drives growth.

He discussed the decline in client loyalty, the reasons why, and how the Activator still succeeds, giving real examples of ways they outshine other types, including in the art of the pitch.

It's a must-listen for anyone focused on engaging and winning clients.

Follow Matt on LinkedIn.

Find out more about Matt's work on his website and DCM Insights website

In this mid-year episode of Beyond Potential, Tom and Tom take stock of 2025 so far – a year that’s already brought its fair share of economic uncertainty, rapid organisational change, and shifting leadership dynamics. From the continued integration of AI to the ongoing tension around hybrid working, leaders are navigating change, uncertainty and more.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Amidst the challenges, we’re seeing encouraging signs: organisations investing in their people, leaders becoming more intentional, and teams looking for connection, clarity and care.

The Toms share what they’re noticing in their work with leaders and teams across industries – including real examples from recent coaching and development sessions. They talk candidly about the pressure to do more with less, the reality of change fatigue, and how leaders can build resilience without burning out. And if you haven’t already, we encourage you to revisit our recent conversation with Wyndham James, where we explore the importance of consistency and alignment when leading through change, especially when it comes to return-to-office expectations.

This episode is packed with practical reflections, mindset shifts, and book recommendations for anyone looking to lead more intentionally through the second half of the year.

Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication by Vanessa Van Edwards

The Activator Advantage: What Today's Rainmakers Do Differently by Matthew Dixon, Rory Channer, Karen Freeman, and Ted McKenna

This week, Tom and Tom are joined by coach and author Wyndham James to explore the deeply personal journey of finding and living the life you truly want. Drawing from his debut non-fiction book Find Your Freedom: It's Time To Write Your Own BluePrint, Wyndham shares his powerful story of being trapped in the wrong career for two decades, the shame that kept him stuck, and the emotional reckoning that finally set him free.

We unpack Wyndham’s BluePrint philosophy, a compassionate framework that helps us understand how our early inclusion criteria shape our behaviours, often unconsciously, and how we can take responsibility for rewriting the narrative. We reflect on shame, identity, and leadership, plus you'll take away practical insights into using the BluePrint to shift behaviour, lead more intentionally, and create the life (and workplace) you really want.

Whether you’re navigating a personal turning point or leading others through change, this is an episode that we hope will challenge you, inspire you, and stay with you.

Connect with Wyndham James:

Via his website: https://www.wyndhamjames.com/ 

LinkedIn 

Instagram

YouTube

This is the second episode in our seven-part mini-series exploring our leadership model.

In it, we focus on the role of the insightful navigator. Referring to your internal compass, the insightful navigator is guided by your purpose, which acts as your north star when making decisions about where to focus your time and energy. (Check out the previous episode for tips on identifying your purpose).

We cover a lot of ground in this one, from the importance of self-awareness and reflection, to the need for curiosity and regulating stress to ensure your demeanour remains one of calm and clarity.

We also speak about the difference between reflection and rumination, so your experiences are used as grounds for learning, not negative self-talk.

More on our leadership model here: www.beyond-potential.co.uk/model 

In the first of a seven-part series exploring our leadership model, we discuss the importance of discovering your leadership purpose.

Without a clear purpose, it's difficult to lead effectively. In this episode, we cover ways you can identify your purpose.

We discuss the power of insightful questions - like 'how do you want others to experience you?' and 'how do you want to move forward?' - and reveal tools to support self-discovery and unearth your purpose.  

Reflection and feedback is key to growth. Have a listen to the episode to find out why you won't regret carving out time to find your purpose, and improve your resilience. 

Learn more about our transformative leadership model here: www.beyond-potential.co.uk/model 

We're celebrating one year of Beyond Potential.

In this episode, we discuss the journey we've had so far after 44 episodes. We reflect on how much we've enjoyed the last year, how the experience differed from our expectations, and the many things we've learned along the way - including the art of asking good interview questions.

We've welcomed fantastic guests onto the podcast in the last 12 months, and want to thank them all for being brave, sharing their stories and teaching us new insights.

And a big thank you to our listeners too. We always welcome your feedback, please share it with us by emailing: [email protected].

Enjoy the episode, and here's to making it to episode 100!

More about our leadership programme here: https://beyond-potential.co.uk/

We have big news to share. What began as a podcast between two friends has grown into a bold new venture. Beyond Potential is now a leadership development and executive education firm dedicated to shaping the next generation of business leaders.

Bringing together our collective expertise into one exciting brand, as Beyond Potential, Tom and Tom are partnering with organisations and leaders across the UK and beyond to enhance leadership capability, build high-performing teams, and drive business success.

Their approach is grounded in real-world experience and evidence-based practice, brought to life through immersive learning tailored to the realities of modern leadership.

In this episode, they introduce the Beyond Potential Leadership Programme — a high-impact development journey for senior leaders and high-potential talent.

We discuss the journey so far, from podcast to flagship programme. Revealing the unique aspects of the programme and explaining how we can tailor it to your business's needs.

Listen and learn about the six core areas of business, people and self-leadership that the programme covers.

Find out more and enquire about the Beyond Potential Programme here: https://beyond-potential.co.uk/