Leadership Listening

By Leadership ListeningBusiness Careers Management

Leadership Listening episodes

October 27, 2025 Stress, burnout, mental health and narcissism in the workplace - with Dr Daksha Hirani
Lawrie Philpott of Philpott Black and host of Leadership Listening chats to chartered clinical psychologist Dr Daksha Hirani (DClinPsy, AFBPsS), all about stress, burnout, mental health and narcissism in the workplace.
Together they talk about a range of topics, including: Workplace culture, safety and feeling unsafe at work, burnout, feeling trapped in your job, stress, holistic mental health, numbing and self-medication, bodily sensations, thoughts, urges and feelings, re-entering work or leaving a toxic workplace, knowing yourself and your needs, narcissism and bullying in the boardroom, coping skills, tools and strategies, therapy, occupational health, motivation, the character and morals of senior leaders, trust in leaders, leadership values and behaviours, mental health challenges for start-up leaders, narcissists, recovering from being affected by a narcissist, how to spot the signs of a narcissistic boss, gaslighting, leaders acting with awareness of their intention.
00:00 Intro
03:23 Workplace cultures
04:44 Feeling unsafe at work
05:33 Burnout
06:11 Feeling trapped in your job
07:55 The differences between stress and burnout
10:04 Signs of burnout
10:47 Thinking about your mental health holistically
12:12 Numbing and self-medication
13:45 Sensations, thoughts, urges and feelings
14:29 Re-entering work or leaving a toxic workplace
17:11 Knowing yourself and your needs
18:20 Narcissism and bullying in the boardroom
19:44 Coping skills, tools and strategies
22:10 The difference therapy can make
23:50 Occupational health, therapy and motivation
25:27 The character and morals of senior leaders
27:15 Being able to trust your leaders
27:49 Leadership values and behaviours
28:46 Specific challenges for start-up leaders
29:36 Narcissism in the workplace
31:53 Do narcissists change?
32:53 Recovering from being affected by a narcissist
33:41 How to spot the signs of a narcissistic boss
36:35 Why are some people narcissists?
39:59 Gaslighting
43:17 Advice to leaders – what’s your intention?
44:47 Closing questions

Contact the show! Email: [email protected]
Head to https://www.leadershiplistening.com/ to explore more videos and search for key topics
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZiFtUUR37ic
Podcast episode: 9

Further information about pre-ordering Dr Daksha’s upcoming book “Healing from Narcissistic Abuse: How to Cope, Survive and Thrive”: https://www.parmi.co.uk/

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48 min
October 14, 2025 Being a CEO that builds trust and empowers teams - with Chloe Straw
Lawrie Philpott of Philpott Black and host of Leadership Listening chats to Chloe Straw, CEO of Audio UK, all about becoming a CEO.
Together they talk about a range of topics, including: the impact of education, personal aspirations and early careers on becoming a leader, the journey to becoming a CEO, the role of a CEO, leadership challenges and strategy, developing your team, board relationships and governance, strategy implementation and adaptation, culture, values, and organisational growth, AI in the creative industries, leadership advice and insights, building trust and empowering teams.
00:00 Intro
02:18 Early Career and Education
03:06 Journey to CEO Position
06:27 Entry into Media Production
13:48 The Role of a CEO
16:52 Leadership Challenges and Strategy
18:30 The Role of the CEO and Team Building
21:10 Board Relationships and Governance
23:30 Strategy Implementation and Adaptation
25:00 Culture, Values, and Organisational Growth
26:59 AI in the Creative Industries
35:10 Culture and Values
35:48 Leadership Advice and Insights
37:01 Building Trust and Empowering Teams
40:59 Personal Reflections

Further information about Alex Mahon referenced at 31:02 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Mahon
Further information about Melanie Perkins referenced at 32:40 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanie_Perkins
Further information about the book Father Figure by Emma Forrest referenced at 43:04 - https://www.weidenfeldandnicolson.co.uk/titles/emma-forrest/father-figure/9781474620611/

Contact the show! Email: [email protected]
Head to https://www.leadershiplistening.com/ to explore more videos and search for key topics
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vVPY1dT31_s
Podcast episode: 8

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45 min
August 27, 2025 HR as a leadership function - with John Scott
Lawrie Philpott of Philpott Black and host of Leadership Listening chats to John Scott, about Human Resource Management - a fundamental success factor of any organisation that is so often left out of the boardroom.

John is a CEDR-accredited mediator with over 30 years' experience in and around HR and significant experience in investigations and resolving disputes including employment, company founders, partnerships and shareholders.

Together they talk about a range of topics, including the HR function in an organisation, the right to be well led, HR in the public sector, HR as a consulting function, HR as a business advisor function, what happens when HR doesn't have a seat at the top table or in the c-suite, people at the heart of almost all organisations, power and influence, HR and line management, having difficult conversations, leadership and taking accountability, HR being treated as a secret garden, the relationship between CEOs and HR directors, working in and on the business, AI, the value of having independent or external HR advisors, teamwork, collaboration, the HR role - expert / advisor / coach / mentor, the CIPD, real world HR skills, public and private sector HR failures, the prison sector, and HR in the future.

For more information about John's book “To The Woods: A Journey Along The Appalachian Trail” take a look at https://amzn.eu/d/7PiTUMR

00:00 Intro
03:32 Why do HR?
06:19 The evolution of HR functions or approaches
11:12 What happens when HR doesn't have a seat at the top table or in the c-suite
13:56 People at the heart of an organisation
15:19 Power and influence
17:18 HR and line management - a support function?
18:49 Having difficult conversations
19:40 Taking accountability
22:06 HR disconnected - the secret garden
24:14 Joining up the HR function across an organisation
25:44 The relationship between the CEO and the HR director
27:13 Working in and on the business
32:48 The impact of AI
36:44 The value of having independent or external HR advisors
38:40 The relationship between the CEO and the HR director
43:03 Teamwork in the c-suite - honest conversations
45:20 The HR role - expert / advisor / coach / mentor
50:36 Is the CIPD still relevant?
53:16 Real world HR skills
55:27 Public and private sector HR failures
01:00:43 HR in the future
01:01:43 3 final questions

Contact the show! Email: [email protected]
Head to https://www.leadershiplistening.com/ to explore more videos and search for key topics
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tqe66JIs_aA
Podcast episode: 7

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1 hr 4 min
August 08, 2025 How to communicate effectively as a leader - with David Pullan
Lawrie Philpott of Philpott Black and host of Leadership Listening chats to David Pullan, about the vital role of effective communication in Leadership. David has spent over 30 years working on stage, film and television in the UK, Europe and America. On stage he has done two seasons with the RSC in Stratford and London and spent a year in ‘The Woman in Black ‘at The Fortune Theatre. Through his storytelling business he has worked with global brands like Microsoft, Savills, HSBC, Pandora, PWC and EY.

Together they talk about a range of topics, including Overcoming your fears of public speaking, the psychology of fear, connecting with your audience, managing your fear of public speaking, reframing, communication and change, self and identity in communicating effectively, presentation techniques, using or not using slides, media training and providing soundbites, cries communications, media management and getting headlines, preparing effectively to present, performance energy, how to start well, calming nerves through breathing exercises, use of pauses, building trust through communication, servant leadership, storytelling, personal development, ethics and AI.

David Pullan and Sarah Jane McKechnie are the founders of The Story Spotters - an agency that helps organisations harness the power of story to build authentic, trusted and profitable connections. https://www.thestoryspotters.com/

For more information about their book “The DNA of Engagement®” take a look at https://www.thednaofengagement.com/

Further information about Nancy Duarte’s S.T.A.R. Moments™ referenced at 14:50 - https://www.duarte.com/blog/secret-to...

00:00 Intro
03:11 Fear of public speaking
04:41 Separating from the pack
05:11 The psychology of fear
06:45 Connecting with your audience
07:34 Managing your fears of public speaking
09:42 Reframing
10:20 Connecting with your audience
11:21 Self, identity and communication
13:06 Presenting with or without slides
17:54 Media training and the pressure to provide soundbites
20:00 Crisis communications
20:52 Media and grabbing headlines
23:25 Preparing to present
29:57 Performance energy
35:05 Starting well – breathing exercises and using pauses effectively
38:34 The DNA of Engagement book
41:50 Trust
43:32 Servant leadership
44:55 Trust
45:35 Storytelling
49:26 Personal development in presentation skills
51:01 Ethics in communications
52:41 Artificial intelligence
53:32 3 final questions

Contact the show! Email: [email protected]
Head to https://www.leadershiplistening.com/ to explore more videos and search for key topics
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gmzfAXEenvg
Podcast episode: 6

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56 min
July 28, 2025 Servant Leadership in Engineering & Design - with Seb Wood
Lawrie Philpott of Philpott Black and host of Leadership Listening chats to Seb Wood, Managing Director and Board Member of the Whitby Wood Group, an international engineering design and advisory consultancy.
Together they talk about a range of topics, including Leadership styles and cultures, raising up leaders, challenges of leading an international business, culture and vision, impact, getting the best out of your people, servant leadership, using your time wisely and prioritising, stepping back and letting others lead, creating and maintaining the organisation to do the work, structuring an organisation to be agile and nimble, corporate mendacity, do employees know what they want from their leaders? Humble leadership, loneliness in leadership, AI and the future of work, allowing new, young employees to challenge the organisation, creativity, finding work that excites you, and continuous learning.
Supportive info for Uriah Heap reference at 34:34 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uriah_H...)
Supportive info for General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. reference at 34:41 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_....
00:00 Intro
08:00 Culture & Values
08:53 The Leader’s Role
09:33 Culture & Values
13:49 Stakeholder & External Relations
14:19 Ethics, Inclusion & Responsibility
15:25 Teamwork
17:10 Foundations of Leadership
18:52 Strategy
24:17 Change Management
29:54 Human Resource Management
30:46 Ethics, Inclusion & Responsibility
31:23 The Leader’s Role
34:12 Foundations of Leadership
35:51 Leading Self
37:36 Human Resource Management
39:04 Innovation & Improvement
45:51 Stakeholder & External Relations
47:40 Learning & Development

Contact the show! Email: [email protected]
Head to https://www.leadershiplistening.com/ to explore more videos and search for key topics
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FTXWLSdS6
Podcast episode: 5

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53 min
June 18, 2025 Coaching for Better Leadership – with Peter Leadbetter
Lawrie Philpott of Philpott Black and host of Leadership Listening chats to Peter Leadbetter, Leadership Coach & Psychologist.
Together they talk about a range of topics, including the coaching process, building trust, developing as a leader, problem solving and making decisions, becoming a CEO / a leader, knowing yourself and training gaps, work and home life pressures, stress, imposter syndrome, perceptions of and the value of coaching, are leaders born or made?, the location / environment of coaching sessions, the value of the coaching relationship, the first 100 days of a leader, mentoring vs coaching, working “in” the business vs “on” the business, the power of listening and active listening, building a team around you, finding the right coach, gender in coaching, and introverts and extroverts.

00:00 Intro
03:30 Coaching & Mentoring
04:42 Teamwork
06:56 Foundations of Leadership
08:12 The Leader’s Role
10:18 Foundations of Leadership
14:50 Leading Self
24:55 Coaching & Mentoring
30:06 Foundations of Leadership
33:25 Coaching & Mentoring
37:02 The Leader’s Role
37:38 Coaching & Mentoring
39:52 Foundations of Leadership
42:18 Teamwork
44:25 Coaching & Mentoring
50:35 Human Resource Management

Contact the show! Email: [email protected]
Head to https://www.leadershiplistening.com/ to explore more videos and search for key topics
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/T4J_arOkkKg
Podcast episode: 4

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56 min
June 18, 2025 The Psychology of Leadership Success – with Mike Kaufman
Lawrie Philpott of Philpott Black and host of Leadership Listening chats to Mike Kaufman.
Mike is a Harvard MBA, University of Chicago Psychology PhD, pioneer of category-defining research in human development on success and happiness, thought leader in psychology, clinician, educator at elite institutions, and insider with first-hand leadership experience in marketing, operations and finance.
At the University of Chicago, Kaufman directed one of the most extensive studies ever undertaken on the psychological development of leaders and high-achieving professionals entitled the Harvard Student Study of Adult Development. Findings are chronicled in his book, Redefining Success in America, published by a leading academic publisher.
Together, Lawrie and Mike talk about a range of topics, including Mike's leadership research, psychological patterning, narcissists, the value of coaching, self awareness, becoming a CEO, how to be affective, managing overwhelm, the importance of having a strong sense of purpose, success and happiness, the value of a good team, 3 keys to long term leadership success and happiness – Goals, Collaboration and Resilience, the right to be well led, Understanding your emotions - EQ, governance and board effectiveness, denial and dealing with reality, and being human – vulnerability and authenticity.
Book mentioned in episode: “Fooled by Randomness” by Nassim Nicholas Taleb https://www.waterstones.com/book/fooled-by-randomness/nassim-nicholas-taleb/9780141031484

00:00 Intro
04:37 Leading Self
09:28 Human Resource Management
10:17 Leading Self
10:50 Coaching & Mentoring
12:17 Foundations of Leadership
15:02 The Leader’s Role
19:40 Human Resource Management
24:56 Foundations of Leadership
30:58 Human Resource Management
36:22 Leading Self
40:19 Governance
43:08 Leading Self
45:47 Governance
46:14 The Leader’s Role

Contact the show! Email: [email protected]
Head to https://www.leadershiplistening.com/ to explore more videos and search for key topics
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/e6zvTO1DpJ4
Podcast episode: 3

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53 min
June 18, 2025 Inside the Mind of an Effective Leader – with Silvia Foxe
Lawrie Philpott of Philpott Black and host of Leadership Listening chats to Silvia Foxe.
Silvia's work is highly confidential. She has worked with over a hundred leaders using a therapeutic approach and by referral only. In her own words, her job is to look at the core identity of each client that she works with, particularly exploring their relationship with their self. It is part educational, part real-time consulting and focusses on broken processes, not broken people.
Together they talk about a range of topics, including coaching and the 360º process, resilience, beliefs and behaviours, patterning - the experiences that shape us, motivation, drive vs ambition, high achievers - crisis, fulfilment and disappointment, imposter syndrome, changing your mindset / owning it, confidence, narcissists and sociopaths in the C-suite, IQ, the importance of verbal intelligence, the importance of communication, the leader’s relationship with themselves, having tough conversations, neurodiversity in leadership and the workplace's ability to adapt, getting the best out of your people, stress and unhappiness in leadership, and work life balance.

00:00 Intro
05:11 Coaching & Mentoring
07:42 Human Resource Management
09:25 Foundations of Leadership
10:38 Leading Self
21:20 Foundations of Leadership
22:08 Leading Self
23:32 Human Resource Management
25:13 Communication
29:17 Leading Self
32:25 Communication
37:39 Human Resource Management
40:55 Teamwork
44:34 Leading Self
51:34 Foundations of Leadership

Contact the show! Email: [email protected]
Head to https://www.leadershiplistening.com/ to explore more videos and search for key topics
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ab3blX3YPc0
Podcast episode: 2

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55 min
June 18, 2025 The CEO Experience and Getting Governance Right - with Tom Burnet
Lawrie Philpott of Philpott Black and host of Leadership Listening chats to Tom Burnet.
Tom is Non-Executive Chairman of Simply Conveyancing, Aker Systems Ltd, Kainos plc and The Baillie Gifford US Growth Trust plc. Previously Tom served as CEO, Executive Chairman and as a Non-Executive Director of AIM company accesso Technology Group plc.
Together they talk about a range of topics, including becoming a CEO, the value of a board, learning to lead, first 100 days as a leader, CEO's as generalists, getting the best out of your team, visible vs invisible leadership, over promising, the right to be well led, control and adaptability, the value of good people, becoming a non-exec or chair, styles of chairing, having difficult conversations, the role of a SID (Senior Independent Director), evaluating board performance, the relationship between non-execs and execs, and MBA's and business schools.
00:00 Intro
01:49 Foundations of Leadership
04:44 Governance
07:18 Foundations of Leadership
08:01 The Leader’s Role
09:48 Foundations of Leadership
12:08 Teamwork
12:27 The Leader’s Role
15:12 Human Resource Management
16:39 Learning & Development
18:10 Foundations of Leadership
20:27 Human Resource Management
21:07 Governance
40:59 Learning & Development

Contact the show! Email: [email protected]
Head to https://www.leadershiplistening.com/ to explore more videos and search for key topics
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BB0pgXoOQ3g
Podcast episode: 1

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46 min

About Leadership Listening

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Leaders come and leaders go, quite often without knowing why they succeeded - and why they failed.

Debate rages as to what leadership is, what makes it work well - and why failure happens…

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Leadership Listening

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