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 unlearning
• why unlearning a crucial part of our leadership journeys
• how you know what you need to unlearn in order to improve
• Seeking feedback and engaging others in your unlearning

As 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.

• How well do you lead yourself? - How to Take the Lead

How 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.

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.

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 [email protected] 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 vary
• risk awareness versus risk-taking
• how your DISC profile - or preferences - can affect how you view and take risks
• the requirement of psychological safety in building risk appetite
• what good risk taking looks like
• how to identify where you sit on a risk scale
• how to become less risk averse
• tackling risky behaviours in others without being a killjoy
• getting alignment with your Board and taking people with you
• embracing your inner risk-taker

• Surrounded by idiots by Thomas Erikson

How 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.

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.

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 [email protected] 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 cause
• how to take other people on a journey of change as part of disruption
• testing out disruption in small, more manageable ways
• changing or shifting your mindset in relation to dispruption
• being comfortable with your role or the role of others in disruptive leadership.

• Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking - Matthew Syed Consulting
• Disruptive Ideas by Leandro Herrero | Goodreads

How 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.

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.

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 [email protected] 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 leader
• how thought leadership can help you as a leader
• organisational benefits of thought leadership and how to work with your organisation
• what activities can contribute to thought leadership
• the role of controversy in thought leadership
• legacy of thought leadership ideas
• how you work out where your thought leadership subject lies.

How 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.

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.

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 [email protected] 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.

• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey
• Dare to Lead Hub - Brené Brown
• Are we really listening? - How to Take the Lead
• Why you need a personal leadership strategy - How to Take the Lead

How 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.

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.

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 [email protected] 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 leadership
• what tips the balance between an organisation being dysfunctional versus toxic
• what organisational indicators might be telling you about the state of toxicity
• signs that toxic behaviours are at play in your organisation
• how to recognise if you're displaying toxic behaviours
• evidence, self-reflection, honest conversations that leaders need to have to understand the culture you're creating or perpetuating
• the 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 others
• the 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 you

• Staying curious - How to Take the Lead S3, E10
• Leadership - is it all about power? How to Take the Lead S3, E9

How 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.

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.

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 [email protected] 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 leaders
• what happens when you spot leadership potential
• how to ensure your leadership aspirations for someone are aligned with their own
• recruitment processes and how they can help or hinder your leadership recruitment
• ensuring you are looking for leadership potential that brings diversity.

• How to help people to squiggle and stay | Amazing If
• Leadership Potential: Identifying Future Leaders in 2024 - RecruitingDaily
• How can organisations better support leaders? - How to Take the Lead S3 E2

How 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.

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.

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 [email protected] 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 one
• we've approached and developed our own strategies during our careers
• your strategy can help you in your career development and job search
• it can help you to build diverse teams
• to align your strategy with the bigger picture
• to get clarity about the type of leader you are and how you position yourself
• to develop your personal leadership strategy
• measurement and evaluation is an important part of your strategy
• your leadership strategy sits alongside self-leadership and communication as the core cogs to be impactful
• to create time to be intentional in your leadership approach

We 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.

• NHS Orkney Chief Executive 100-day report
• Leaders with impact podcast (Lee's new podcast)

How 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.

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.

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 [email protected] 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 management
• what 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 leader
• is 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 all
• questions 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.

How 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.

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.

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 [email protected] 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 them
• World Cup leadership highs and lows
• what's changed since the Modern Leaders' report was published in 2022
• what leaders are choosing to speak up about and what they're ignoring still
• areas and skills that leaders should focus on including values-driven, prioritising wellbeing, having an adaptable approach
• our predictions for 2024 and what will be influencing leadership.

• Owning your s**t! - How to Take the Lead, S3 E8
• The modern leader - research report
• Interview with Monmouthshire Council CEO Paul Matthews — Leaders with impact podcast
• Leaders with impact podcast (Lee's new podcast)
• Behind the Bob, Diary of a Comms Director (Carrie-Ann's new podcast)

How 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.

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.

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 [email protected] or DM us on the socials.