Lead The Room

By Lead The Room

Tired of the leadership statues quo? Ready to rip up the leadership handbook in search of approaches that will ACTUALLY build the team you know you need? It’s time for a leadership revolution that spe... more

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FAQs about Lead The Room:

How many episodes does Lead The Room have?

The podcast currently has 72 episodes available.

Lead The Room episodes:

August 19, 2025Ep 42 - Keeping the Summer Team Spirit Alive
In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey reveal how high-performing teams can harness the natural energy of summer to build stronger connections and maintain peak productivity year-round. Rather than viewing fun and productivity as opposing forces, they demonstrate how intentional team spirit activities actually unlock innovation and creativity in the workplace. Through practical strategies tested with real teams, they show how leaders can transform their management approach by embracing flexibility, changing environments, and creating shared experiences that teams genuinely look forward to. The hosts share specific techniques that take just a few minutes per day to implement, proving that building exceptional team culture doesn't require elaborate planning or significant time investment.

Key Takeaways:
Summer Hours Mindset Builds Trust and Performance: High-performing teams thrive when leaders adopt flexible scheduling approaches, allowing team members to start earlier and finish earlier on Fridays or implementing no-meeting mornings. This flexibility treats employees as adults, builds tremendous trust, and creates energy reserves that leaders can tap into during busy periods.
Environmental Changes Unlock Team Creativity: Taking meetings outside, conducting walking one-to-ones, or simply changing the physical space where teams brainstorm leads to dramatically different conversations and breakthrough thinking. The best leaders understand that changing the physical environment directly changes the mental environment and problem-solving capabilities.
Micro-Celebrations Create Lasting Team Connection: Consistent small gestures like ice cream Fridays, team curated playlists, or impromptu outdoor picnics build positive anticipation and shared memories that strengthen team bonds. These mini summer moments don't require elaborate planning but must be intentional and regular to create the team spirit that high-performing teams are known for.

We've got an amazing bundle to help you master feedback. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get our FREE 15 minute team transformation guide. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get our planner to help you Walk the Week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
We've got some amazing resources to help you start transforming your leadership and team today. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check them out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Rate and review the podcast and send a screenshot to [email protected] to get your FREE 90 day leadership refresh as a thank you.
Want to learn more with us and keep building your leadership skills to build your amazing team that does amazing things?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Check out our leadership challenges here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Follow us on instagram for daily tips and to send us your feedback on today’s episode
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/leadtheroomcoaching/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Check out our blog for show notes and a full transcript
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leadtheroom.co.uk/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
We love hearing how you’re putting the podcast into practice as you build your own leadership playbook. Send us an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - we read every one.
...more
13min
August 12, 2025Ep 41 - September Success Prep
In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey tackle September as the business world's "second new year". A critical time when leaders either set themselves up for success or get swept away by the returning chaos. They share three powerful strategies to transform September from a month of overwhelm into your most productive and intentional period yet. Through practical advice and real-world applications, they demonstrate how high-performing teams don't just survive the post-summer transition, they thrive by taking control before the rush begins. Their approach challenges the common "sprint through September" mentality and offers a refreshingly proactive way to maintain summer connection while delivering serious results.

Key Takeaways:
September Sprint Setup Drives Laser Focus: High-performing teams identify their top three priorities for September before the month begins, creating a powerful filter system for decision-making. When opportunities and urgent requests flood in, leaders can ask "Does this serve my three priorities?" If not, it goes to the October list. This laser focus helps teams make real progress instead of just staying busy, preventing the common trap of trying to deliver a quarter's worth of work in one frantic month.
Commitment Auditing Frees Up Strategic Time: Successful leaders spend 20-30 minutes auditing every recurring meeting, project commitment, and regular responsibility by asking "If I were starting fresh today, would I say yes to this?" This brutal honesty allows teams to prune commitments that no longer serve their goals, freeing up valuable time and energy for what actually matters. September becomes the perfect time to step back from committees and obligations that have outlived their usefulness.
Designing Your September Rhythm Prevents Overwhelm: Rather than waiting for September to figure out routines, high-performing teams design their ideal schedule in advance, blocking out time for biggest projects, admin tasks, strategic thinking, and healthy habits. By treating these blocks like non-negotiable client meetings for the entire month, leaders create a framework that protects their most important work when everyone else wants their time. This proactive approach puts leaders in control of September instead of letting September happen to them.

We've got an amazing bundle to help you master feedback. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get our FREE 15 minute team transformation guide. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get our planner to help you Walk the Week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
We've got some amazing resources to help you start transforming your leadership and team today. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check them out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Rate and review the podcast and send a screenshot to [email protected] to get your FREE 90 day leadership refresh as a thank you.
Want to learn more with us and keep building your leadership skills to build your amazing team that does amazing things?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Check out our leadership challenges here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Follow us on instagram for daily tips and to send us your feedback on today’s episode
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/leadtheroomcoaching/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Check out our blog for show notes and a full transcript
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leadtheroom.co.uk/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
We love hearing how you’re putting the podcast into practice as you build your own leadership playbook. Send us an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - we read every one.
...more
14min
August 05, 2025Ep 40 - Inbox Freedom: How Leaders Can Actually Disconnect Without Dreading Their Return
In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey tackle one of the biggest productivity killers for high-performing teams: the dreaded post-holiday inbox. They share tested strategies that transform overwhelming email mountains into manageable tasks, helping leaders maintain their well-being while staying connected to their teams. Through honest conversations about workplace email culture and practical solutions, they demonstrate how smart inbox management isn't just about productivity, it's about modeling healthy leadership behaviors that create thriving team environments. Their approach challenges the traditional "suffer through it" mentality and offers a refreshing way to handle the inevitable chaos of returning from leave.

Key Takeaways:
Team Connection Trumps Inbox Diving: High-performing teams prioritise human connection over email management. Before touching your inbox, check in with your team first to understand what happened in your absence. This approach not only saves time but demonstrates your values as a leader while building trust and empowerment within your team.
The Four-Folder System Creates Instant Clarity: Transform inbox overwhelm into actionable clarity using four simple folders: urgent action required, follow up this week, FYI, and archive. Spend 20 minutes sorting emails by subject line and sender alone. This visual organization immediately reduces anxiety and helps your nervous system regulate after the stress of seeing thousands of unread messages.
The Two-Minute Rule Plus Prevents Leadership Derailment: For urgent emails, apply the two-minute rule but with a crucial addition: if something takes longer than two minutes, schedule specific time blocks in your calendar rather than diving deep immediately. This prevents important tasks from getting lost while maintaining momentum through your inbox, ensuring you don't end up working late trying to catch up on everything at once.

We've got an amazing bundle to help you master delegation. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get our FREE 15 minute team transformation guide. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get our planner to help you Walk the Week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
We've got some amazing resources to help you start transforming your leadership and team today. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check them out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Rate and review the podcast and send a screenshot to [email protected] to get your FREE 90 day leadership refresh as a thank you.
Want to learn more with us and keep building your leadership skills to build your amazing team that does amazing things?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Check out our leadership challenges here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Follow us on instagram for daily tips and to send us your feedback on today’s episode
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/leadtheroomcoaching/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Check out our blog for show notes and a full transcript
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leadtheroom.co.uk/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
We love hearing how you’re putting the podcast into practice as you build your own leadership playbook. Send us an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - we read every one.
...more
15min
July 29, 2025Ep 39 - The Art of Being Unavailable: Leadership Boundaries That Honor Both You and Your Team
In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey explore the counterintuitive leadership principle that strategic unavailability creates stronger, more high-performing teams. They challenge the toxic workplace culture of constant accessibility, where leaders feel pressured to be available 24/7 and wear exhaustion as a badge of honor. Through personal stories and actionable management strategies, they reveal how setting intentional boundaries actually accelerates team development and prevents leadership burnout. They share their evolution from being "always available" leaders who thought constant accessibility was their greatest strength, to discovering how this approach was actually holding their teams back from reaching their full potential.

Key Takeaways:
Strategic Unavailability Builds High-Performing Teams: The most effective leaders deliberately create boundaries that force team members to develop independent problem-solving skills. When you're constantly available for every small decision, you're training your team to remain dependent rather than building the confidence and capability that defines high-performing teams.
Language Transforms Boundaries Into Empowerment: Instead of saying "I'm too busy" or "figure it out yourself," successful leaders use empowering language like "This feels like a great opportunity for you to take the lead" or "I'm confident you can handle this." This shift in communication makes team members feel supported and trusted rather than abandoned.
Guilt Is Normal But Boundaries Drive Growth: Feeling guilty about being unavailable is natural for caring leaders, but it often signals you're confusing support with dependency. High-performing teams are built when leaders ask themselves: "Am I helping them grow or helping them stay comfortable?" The goal is developing teams that can thrive with or without your constant presence.

We've got an amazing bundle to help you master feedback. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get our FREE 15 minute team transformation guide. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get our planner to help you Walk the Week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
We've got some amazing resources to help you start transforming your leadership and team today. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check them out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Rate and review the podcast and send a screenshot to [email protected] to get your FREE 90 day leadership refresh as a thank you.
Want to learn more with us and keep building your leadership skills to build your amazing team that does amazing things?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Check out our leadership challenges here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Follow us on instagram for daily tips and to send us your feedback on today’s episode
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/leadtheroomcoaching/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Check out our blog for show notes and a full transcript
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leadtheroom.co.uk/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
We love hearing how you’re putting the podcast into practice as you build your own leadership playbook. Send us an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - we read every one.
...more
30min
July 22, 2025Ep 38 - From Technical Expert to People Leader
In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey tackle one of the most challenging career transitions: moving from technical expert to effective leader. They explore the profound identity shift that occurs when your value changes from the work you do to the work your team delivers, sharing honest stories about the isolation, jealousy, and imposter syndrome that often accompany this transition. Through practical strategies and mindset shifts, they demonstrate how new leaders can navigate this uncomfortable period and build the confidence needed to lead high-performing teams. They reveal why traditional leadership approaches often fail and offer a counter-cultural framework for developing authentic leadership skills that transform both individual performance and team dynamics.

Key Takeaways:
Coach Don't Tell for High-Performing Teams: The fastest way to build team capability is shifting from providing answers to asking coaching questions. When team members bring technical challenges, resist the urge to solve immediately. Instead, ask "What parts of this problem seem most challenging?" or "How might you approach this with more experience?" This develops critical thinking skills and creates deeper learning than simply providing solutions.
Define Your Leadership Role to Prevent Identity Crisis: Successful leadership transitions require explicitly defining what you will do (setting direction, creating accountability, supporting growth) and what you won't do (technical troubleshooting, detailed reviews, implementation decisions). This 15-minute exercise provides clarity on your value proposition and helps catch yourself when old expert habits resurface.
Problem Prevention Creates Higher Value Than Problem Solving: As a leader, your highest impact comes from preventing problems before they occur rather than solving them after they appear. Build simple systems that anticipate challenges, develop your team's ability to handle issues at their source, and establish communication flows that surface concerns early. This shift from reactive problem-solving to proactive prevention transforms team performance and reduces firefighting culture.

We've got an amazing bundle to help you tackle team drama. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get our FREE 15 minute team transformation guide. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get our planner to help you Walk the Week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
We've got some amazing resources to help you start transforming your leadership and team today. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check them out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Rate and review the podcast and send a screenshot to [email protected] to get your FREE 90 day leadership refresh as a thank you.
Want to learn more with us and keep building your leadership skills to build your amazing team that does amazing things?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Check out our leadership challenges here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Follow us on instagram for daily tips and to send us your feedback on today’s episode
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/leadtheroomcoaching/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Check out our blog for show notes and a full transcript
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leadtheroom.co.uk/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
We love hearing how you’re putting the podcast into practice as you build your own leadership playbook. Send us an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - we read every one.
...more
33min
July 15, 2025Ep 37 - From Reflection to Action: Turning Summer Insights into Leadership Transformation
In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey reveal how exceptional leaders use summer months as a strategic data-gathering period to transform their high-performing teams in September. They share powerful insights on moving from fleeting moments of clarity to concrete leadership transformation that drives both team connection and delivery results. Through real leadership examples and actionable frameworks, they demonstrate how just 15 minutes of weekly reflection during quieter periods can revolutionise team dynamics and performance when everyone returns to full capacity.

Key Takeaways:
Summer Reflection Drives Team Transformation: The most effective leaders treat summer as a data collection period, spending 15 minutes weekly documenting what works differently, which conversations happen naturally, and when team members surprise them. This systematic observation becomes the foundation for implementing powerful changes that stick.
Small Experiments Beat Wholesale Change: High-performing teams embrace experimentation over massive transformation initiatives. By introducing one insight-based change as a deliberate practice for just one month, leaders create sustainable shifts without overwhelming their teams or triggering change resistance.
Co-Creation Builds Leadership Accountability: The strongest team transformations happen when leaders share their summer insights with the team and ask "what do we want to do with this data?" This approach transforms team members from passive recipients of change into active co-creators of their high-performance culture, driving genuine buy-in and lasting results.

We've got an amazing bundle to help you tackle team drama. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get our FREE 15 minute team transformation guide. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get our planner to help you Walk the Week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
We've got some amazing resources to help you start transforming your leadership and team today. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check them out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Rate and review the podcast and send a screenshot to [email protected] to get your FREE 90 day leadership refresh as a thank you.
Want to learn more with us and keep building your leadership skills to build your amazing team that does amazing things?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Check out our leadership challenges here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Follow us on instagram for daily tips and to send us your feedback on today’s episode
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/leadtheroomcoaching/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Check out our blog for show notes and a full transcript
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leadtheroom.co.uk/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
We love hearing how you’re putting the podcast into practice as you build your own leadership playbook. Send us an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - we read every one.
...more
26min
July 08, 2025Ep 36 - Delegation done right - enjoy your summer leave
In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey tackle every leader's summer dilemma: how to delegate effectively so you can actually enjoy your time off without constantly checking your phone. They share honest stories about their own delegation disasters - from dumping everything on their favorite team member to micromanaging from poolside - and reveal a simple 15-minute framework that transforms delegation from an anxiety-inducing process into a powerful team development tool. Through personal experiences and practical strategies, they show how proper delegation creates a triple win: teams develop new capabilities, work continues smoothly, and leaders can truly disconnect and recharge.

Key Takeaways:
Effective Delegation is About Development, Not Task Dumping: The best leaders don't just hand off work to their most competent team member. Instead, they use a simple three-category system and match tasks to team members based on who's shown interest, who needs growth experience, and who already knows 70% of the job.
Clear Expectations Prevent Holiday Disasters: High-performing teams thrive when leaders spend just 15 minutes clearly defining what success looks like for each delegated task, identifying who team members can consult if stuck, and explicitly stating "I trust your judgment on this." This clarity eliminates those cryptic holiday texts and empowers teams to make confident decisions.
True Leadership Means Learning to Let Go: The most effective leaders train themselves to completely disconnect during time off - no work phones, no checking emails by the pool. They recognise that trying to run teams remotely while on holiday doesn't just harm their own wellbeing; it undermines their team's confidence and prevents the growth that comes from stepping up in challenging situations.

We've got an amazing bundle to help you master delegation. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get our FREE 15 minute team transformation guide. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get our planner to help you Walk the Week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
We've got some amazing resources to help you start transforming your leadership and team today. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check them out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Rate and review the podcast and send a screenshot to [email protected] to get your FREE 90 day leadership refresh as a thank you.
Want to learn more with us and keep building your leadership skills to build your amazing team that does amazing things?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Check out our leadership challenges here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Follow us on instagram for daily tips and to send us your feedback on today’s episode
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/leadtheroomcoaching/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Check out our blog for show notes and a full transcript
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leadtheroom.co.uk/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
We love hearing how you’re putting the podcast into practice as you build your own leadership playbook. Send us an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - we read every one.
...more
30min
July 01, 2025Ep 35 - The Power of Emotional Intelligence
In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey confront the workplace taboo that's killing high-performing teams: avoiding emotional reality. Through honest stories about workplace aggression, intimidation, and leadership failures, they reveal how emotional intelligence separates truly exceptional leaders from those who simply manage tasks. They share their experiences of toxic team dynamics and demonstrate why acknowledging emotions isn't "soft" leadership but the foundation of business success and sustainable team performance.

Key Takeaways:
Emotional Regulation Drives High-Performing Team Success: Leaders who master the 90-second emotional regulation technique - pausing to name feelings before reacting - create space between emotion and response. This emotional intelligence skill prevents reactive decisions that damage team trust and allows leaders to respond strategically rather than impulsively, directly impacting business outcomes and team performance.
Acknowledging Team Emotions Saves Time and Drives Results: High-performing teams are built by leaders who scan the room for emotional reality before diving into agendas. Addressing tension, flatness, or unspoken issues upfront prevents them from derailing productivity later. This counter-intuitive approach actually accelerates progress because teams can focus on delivery rather than managing unresolved emotional undercurrents.
Emotional Contagion Makes or Breaks Leadership Impact: Every leader carries emotional energy into meetings that directly affects team performance. The most effective leaders develop habits, such as processing intense meetings before moving to the next engagement, to prevent emotional spillover. This emotional intelligence practice ensures consistent leadership presence and maintains the psychological safety essential for high-performing teams.

We've got an amazing bundle to help you master feedback. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get our FREE 15 minute team transformation guide. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get our planner to help you Walk the Week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
We've got some amazing resources to help you start transforming your leadership and team today. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check them out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Rate and review the podcast and send a screenshot to [email protected] to get your FREE 90 day leadership refresh as a thank you.
Want to learn more with us and keep building your leadership skills to build your amazing team that does amazing things?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Check out our leadership challenges here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Follow us on instagram for daily tips and to send us your feedback on today’s episode
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/leadtheroomcoaching/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Check out our blog for show notes and a full transcript
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leadtheroom.co.uk/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
We love hearing how you’re putting the podcast into practice as you build your own leadership playbook. Send us an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - we read every one.
...more
37min
June 24, 2025Ep 34 - Designing Your Work Week (and calendar) Around Energy, Not Just Availability
In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey discuss why traditional productivity approaches fail high-performing teams and share a game-changing framework for designing your work week around energy rather than availability. They expose the hidden costs of calendar-driven leadership and demonstrate how intentional energy management transforms both individual performance and team culture. Through personal stories of international team leadership and practical 15-minute strategies, they show how the best leaders align their most important work with their moments of peak capacity, creating sustainable excellence without burnout.

Key Takeaways:
Energy Tracking Unlocks Peak Performance: High-performing leaders track their energy, focus, and mood patterns throughout each day rather than simply filling calendar gaps. This data becomes the blueprint for calendar design, ensuring strategic work happens during high-energy zones while routine tasks are scheduled for natural low-energy periods.
Energy Blocking Prevents Calendar Hijacking: Top leaders proactively block their high-energy periods for critical work before others can claim them. By treating these energy blocks as non-negotiable as client meetings, they protect their capacity for the deep thinking and creative problem-solving that transforms teams.
Strategic Energy Negotiation Drives Results: When schedule flexibility is required, successful leaders negotiate based on energy needs rather than simply accepting meetings. They educate colleagues about energy-based productivity and create trades that maintain both organizational needs and personal effectiveness, leading to better outcomes for everyone involved.

We've got an amazing bundle to help you tackle team drama. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get our FREE 15 minute team transformation guide. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get our planner to help you Walk the Week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
We've got some amazing resources to help you start transforming your leadership and team today. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check them out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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Check out our blog for show notes and a full transcript
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leadtheroom.co.uk/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
We love hearing how you’re putting the podcast into practice as you build your own leadership playbook. Send us an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - we read every one.
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33min
June 17, 2025Ep 33 - The Breakthrough Conversation: How to Address Underperformance Without Damaging Relationships
In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey tackle the most dreaded conversation in leadership - addressing team member underperformance. They reveal how these difficult conversations don't have to destroy relationships but can actually strengthen trust and accelerate team transformation when handled correctly. Through honest personal stories of both failures and successes, they share their proven framework for turning defensive reactions into productive dialogue that drives real performance improvement. They demonstrate how high-performing teams are built through courageous conversations that prioritise both accountability and connection, showing leaders exactly how to have these crucial discussions without damaging the relationships they've worked so hard to build.

Key Takeaways:
Lead with Observation, Not Interpretation: Instead of saying "you don't seem committed," use specific observable behaviors like "I've noticed you've missed three deadlines." This neutral approach invites collaboration rather than triggering defensiveness, creating space for the team member to share their perspective and work together on solutions.
Transform Confrontation into Collaboration: Frame underperformance conversations around a shared third point you both care about - like exceptional client experience or team success. This shifts the dynamic from "you versus me" to "us versus the problem," positioning you as partners working toward the same goal while maintaining accountability.
Clear is Kind - Follow Through Builds High-Performing Teams: Every underperformance conversation must end with specific next steps, genuine offers of support, and scheduled follow-up. This approach demonstrates investment in growth rather than just problem identification, turning awkward one-off conversations into ongoing development opportunities that strengthen team performance.

We've got an amazing bundle to help you empower your team. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get our FREE 15 minute team transformation guide. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get our planner to help you Walk the Week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
We've got some amazing resources to help you start transforming your leadership and team today. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check them out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Rate and review the podcast and send a screenshot to [email protected] to get your FREE 90 day leadership refresh as a thank you.
Want to learn more with us and keep building your leadership skills to build your amazing team that does amazing things?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Check out our leadership challenges here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Follow us on instagram for daily tips and to send us your feedback on today’s episode
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/leadtheroomcoaching/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Check out our blog for show notes and a full transcript
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leadtheroom.co.uk/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
We love hearing how you’re putting the podcast into practice as you build your own leadership playbook. Send us an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - we read every one.
...more
33min

FAQs about Lead The Room:

How many episodes does Lead The Room have?

The podcast currently has 72 episodes available.