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In this episode, Bruce Mayhew shares his practical framework for having these conversations early, clearly and safely, before tension builds into conflict.

If you’ve been putting off a conversation you know you need to have, this one is for you.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube via linktr.ee/deeclayton.

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What does it take to build a team that performs at its best even when you are not there?

This week's guest Brendan Hall knows. A winning skipper who led an improbable crew of amateurs, 27 nationalities, ages 17 to 63, through 40,000 miles and a North Pacific hurricane.

Real team empowerment lessons you can bring straight back to dry land.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube via linktr.ee/deeclayton.

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What if your workload problem has a real solution?

Not a theory, but a practical strategy someone is living right now.

This week's guest is Andrew Fraser, a senior global leader under constant pressure who has genuinely figured out how to stay on top of it.

In this episode, he shares the principles and habits that help him manage the pressure without burning out, and explains why protecting your time makes you better at your job, not worse.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube via linktr.ee/deeclayton.

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In this episode of The Dee-Brief Show, Dee is joined by Derek Thomas, a former headteacher and author.

Derek shares his personal story of pushing on for years, holding himself to high standards while his health slipped down the priority list—until a major health wake-up call forced him to stop.

He reflects on rethinking priorities, restoring balance, and making different choices, including climbing Kilimanjaro. Derek also discusses what that shift revealed about how he now lives and leads.

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Hiring feels hard for leaders right now, and not just because of the market.

In this episode of The Dee-Brief Show, Dee is joined by Claire Bond and Suzanne Sherriff from Bond Williams Professional Recruitment to explore why hiring feels so demanding in the current climate, and what often gets overlooked when recruitment is squeezed in alongside the day job.

With skills shortages, candidate hesitation, changing expectations and the rise of AI tools, hiring is often assumed to be simpler now. In reality, for many leaders it has become a high-stakes responsibility carried alongside everything else, where delays, uncertainty and missed signals can quickly cost you the right candidate.

Drawing on their experience as professional recruiters, Dee draws out the seven most common hiring mistakes, and what can be learned from the way recruiters think and work.

They also explore how hiring behaviour signals leadership and culture, and why repeated small missteps can create longer-term hiring challenges beyond a single vacancy.

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In this episode of The Dee-Brief Show, Dee Clayton is joined by psychodrama psychotherapist Julie Lacy to explore how an inner critic can quietly shape leadership behaviour.

The conversation explores:

Through their discussion, the episode highlights how greater self-awareness can restore flexibility, strengthen connection, and expand choice at work.

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High performers set high standards. But when they miss the mark, the internal fallout can be harder to manage than the mistake itself.

In this conversation, Dee Clayton is joined by high-performance coach and author Bevis Moynan to explore why high performers beat themselves up after mistakes, how this affects confidence and enjoyment, and what helps them recover without lowering their standards.

Bevis shares insights from his work with elite athletes, executives and entrepreneurs, revealing how mindset shifts and practical strategies help high achievers bounce back stronger. Together, they discuss the importance of self-compassion, learning from setbacks, and maintaining motivation in the face of challenges.

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Leaders often find themselves carrying everything, keeping the wheels turning and telling themselves they’re coping. In this episode, Dee Clayton is joined by Marie Ball to talk honestly about what happens when that pressure starts to take a toll. They explore why burnout creeps in and what needs to change to lead in a more sustainable way.

Marie brings an HR and evidence-based perspective to the conversation, helping leaders and people professionals spot the early signs that are often missed. Together, they unpack why “holding it all together” can quietly drain energy over time, and what small, realistic shifts can make leadership more sustainable before people reach breaking point.

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It’s easy to assume your goals will motivate your team, but the reality can be quite different. Kate Turner and I unpack why that happens, how your own preferences influence the goals you set, and simple changes that may help your team feel more engaged, energised and committed throughout the year.

By the end of this episode, you’ll start to understand why motivation can dip as the year unfolds, and you’ll have the chance to reflect on how your own goal-setting style might influence your team’s energy. You’ll hear simple ideas that may help you shape objectives that feel clearer, more meaningful and easier for your team to stay committed to.

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Many talented professionals step into leadership roles because they are exceptional at what they do, not because they ever planned to lead others. In this episode of The Dee-Brief Show, Dee Clayton talks with leadership coach and host of The Reluctant Leader Podcast, Mark Terrell, to explore why great performers often lose motivation when they move into management.

By the end of the conversation, you will recognise the key signs of a reluctant leader in yourself or in others and know how to reignite motivation so leadership feels purposeful again.

Together, Dee and Mark look at why the shift from doing to leading can feel draining, how managing energy matters more than managing time and why understanding the difference between skill and can help leaders thrive. Mark also shares the subtle signs that motivation is fading, why this often goes unnoticed and the practical changes that help leaders reconnect with their purpose. These include clearer delegation, balanced expectations and supportive feedback.

This warm and encouraging conversation is ideal for leaders who feel demotivated or overwhelmed and for HR professionals who support them.