Why do highly capable leadership teams remain stuck despite continued effort?

In this episode, Juliette Lee explores what happens when the Leadership Threshold becomes collective — when the issue is no longer an individual leader under pressure, but a leadership team reaching the limits of its emotional and developmental capacity.

Drawing on systems thinking, organisational psychology, and lived leadership experience, she examines:

• why organisations behave as emotional systems rather than purely rational ones
• how leadership teams unconsciously reinforce the very patterns that limit their effectiveness
• why many conventional leadership interventions fail to create lasting change
• what is really happening beneath misalignment, stalled decisions, and recurring tension inside teams
• what leadership requires when complexity pushes teams beyond familiar ways of operating

The episode also includes a case study showing how unresolved leadership dynamics at the top of an organisation shaped culture, trust, engagement, and performance across the wider system.

The Awakened Leader Podcast
Leadership beneath the surface
www.juliettelee.co.uk

When leadership stops working the way it once did, it’s rarely about capability.

It’s a sign that the demands on leadership have changed — and the approaches that once worked are no longer enough for the complexity now emerging.

In this episode, Juliette Lee explores The Leadership Threshold:

• why more leaders are reaching this point
• why established leadership approaches begin to lose effectiveness under pressure
• what leadership requires beyond that threshold

If you’re sensing this shift in yourself or your organisation, this episode offers a way of understanding what may be happening beneath the surface.

This is the first in a short series exploring leadership at the edge of complexity — where leadership becomes less about control and more about clarity, judgement, and alignment.

The Awakened Leader Podcast
Leadership beneath the surface
www.juliettelee.co.uk

In this episode, I’m joined by Midi Fairgrieve, founder of Awakening Through Horses, to explore how horses can transform the way we lead. Together, we discuss how equine-led work offers a profound, embodied way for leaders to see themselves more clearly and lead with greater presence and authenticity.

Horses have an extraordinary ability to reflect what’s happening beneath the surface. In our discussion, we unpack how they reveal leadership blind spots, expose hidden team dynamics, and challenge our relationship with power, control, and uncertainty.

We also explore what it means to move away from hierarchical leadership models and towards a more shared, responsive approach - one grounded in awareness, connection, and trust.

Key themes include:

• Embodied and experiential learning
• Shifting from hierarchical to shared leadership
• Revealing personal incongruence and unseen team dynamics
• Examining our relationship with power and control
• Leading effectively amidst uncertainty

With decades of therapeutic experience, Midi blends counselling, trauma-informed therapy, and equine-assisted development to support individuals and leaders in cultivating emotional clarity, authentic presence, and healthier relationships. Her work is widely recognised for helping people move beyond purely intellectual leadership into a more intuitive, heart-led way of being.

To discover how the wisdom of horses can transform the way you lead and relate to others, learn more about Midi Fairgrieve’s work at www.awakeningthroughhorses.co.uk.

The Awakened Leader Podcast
Leadership beneath the surface
www.juliettelee.co.uk

My guest is Simon Farrell - business leader with decades of experience in brand and marketing strategy, founder of Another Way, advocate for the B Corp movement and author of The Habits of Happiness. Drawing on his own journey through addiction, Simon examines how our own growth-obsessed economic culture can fuel anxiety and self-destructive habits. His work touches on leadership, ethics, and how companies can align profit with purpose.

Together, we delve into what it really means to integrate higher values into daily business practice and what it takes to build organisations that truly serve people and the planet. For more on Simon's work visit www.another-way.uk

The Awakened Leader Podcast
Leadership beneath the surface
www.juliettelee.co.uk

In this episode, I'm joined by Carlene Jackson, the dynamic CEO of Cloud9 Insight, an award-winning software company recognised for its people-centred leadership and commitment to flexible working. We dive into what it takes to build a conscious culture where people genuinely thrive.

Together we explore:

1. Culture as the cornerstone, values as the DNA of a thriving business
2. Harnessing neurodiversity to build inclusive, high-performing teams
3. Balancing flexibility with accountability for sustainable success
4. How to address negative employees with clarity and confidence
5. Everyday tools to help you lead with authenticity
6. The ripple effect of being a visible, present leader

For more on Carlene's work visit www.carlenejackson.com or www.cloud9insight.com.

Subscribe at: www.juliettelee.co.uk

The Awakened Leader Podcast
Leadership beneath the surface
www.juliettelee.co.uk

Dr. Rachel Newsome, depth writer and Jungian psychology expert joins me to explore the transformative journey of inner work and why this is so crucial in developing creative, emotionally intelligent leadership today. 

In our conversation, we unpack:

1. The significance of the shadow archetype in personal growth and how to work with it
2. Using dreams as portals to wisdom, healing and creative breakthroughs
3. Active imagination and dialogue with inner figures to deepen self-awareness
4. Anima and animus: how mastering this balance transforms everything
5. Overcoming ego resistance and embracing the unknown
6. Bridging logic and intuition to lead from wholeness
7. The pivotal role of inner work in shaping conscious leaders of tomorrow

Dr. Rachel Newsome leads Jungian inspired courses, workshops and retreats that use writing as a tool for deep inner change. Discover more at www.rachelnewsome.co.uk.



The Awakened Leader Podcast
Leadership beneath the surface
www.juliettelee.co.uk

Strip back the PC veneer and discover how human beings really behave at work! In this episode we explore all things HR, particularly some of the taboo subjects, with Tracey Chystal author of Human Resources not Human Remains. Her new pocketbook is a very honest, fun and grounded snapshot of lessons learned from her 30 years’ experience as a senior HR professional and business owner. Our conversation covers:

1. The important shift of HR from personnel to a strategic function
2. Intricacies of hiring Gen Z
3. How to deal with toxic leadership,
4. Importance of gender balance in organisations and women in leadership
5. The future role of HR in 21st century business

Human Resources Not Human Remains is available at Amazon or visit www.chrystalhr.com



The Awakened Leader Podcast
Leadership beneath the surface
www.juliettelee.co.uk

Dr Karyl McBride, a pioneer on understanding and healing the devasting impact of narcissistic abuse joins me to explore the nature of narcissism both within families and the workplace. Valued for what you do and how you look rather than loved for who you are, narcissistic families severely damage self-worth. Importantly, how do you heal from the legacy of 'distorted love' and claim authority in your own life.

1. What is narcissism?
2. Why some children of narcissistic parents become narcissists while others don’t.
3. How to spot narcissistic behaviour in families.
4. How to identify narcissistic leaders particularly when they can be very charming.
5. Roles played within the narcissistic family unit and how triangulation and gaslighting maintain the narcissist’s sticky web.
6. An outline of Dr McBride's 5 stage recovery process to ‘fill the empty mirror’ and claim authority over our own lives.
7. How you know when you have healed from narcissistic abuse.

Dr McBride's latest book Will The Drama End? Untangling and Healing from the Harmful Effects of Parental Narcissism shares a 5-step recovery process for ending the legacy of painful toxic relationships and becoming truly free.

The Awakened Leader Podcast
Leadership beneath the surface
www.juliettelee.co.uk

In this 20th anniversary episode, I share some of my own development journey, along with insights and inspiration drawn form the courageous souls I've worked with over the past two decades. I explore the twists and turns of inner growth including the key markers to look our for on your own path. 

The Awakened Leader Podcast
Leadership beneath the surface
www.juliettelee.co.uk

Vivian Broughton, highly experienced psychotherapist and author of Becoming Your True Self, joins me to discuss the trauma of identity. This type of trauma occurs very early in life, often in the womb and most of us have it in some form. Taking our trauma biography seriously is vital if we are to become healthy and whole human beings capable of making wise decisions and establishing healthy and loving relationships. 

The Awakened Leader Podcast
Leadership beneath the surface
www.juliettelee.co.uk