What really makes a team high-performing?

In this episode, I take a look at recent research, including findings from McKinsey and Google’s Project Aristotle - to unpack what separates great teams from average ones.

You'll learn:

• The 5 key factors that define high-performing teams
• How psychological safety influences performance
• What you can do as a leader to create the right conditions

You don’t need everything to be perfect to lead a strong team. You just need to focus on the right things.

Resources:

• 1:1 Coaching: Work with me
• McKinsey article on high-performing teams – Article link.
• Google’s Project Aristotle – https://rework.withgoogle.com/en/guides/understanding-team-effectiveness
• Tuckman’s team development model: The 5 Stages of Team Development.

Leadership isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about helping your team find them.

In this episode, I talk about why shifting towards a coaching approach - asking more and telling less - can improve your leadership. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it.

You’ll discover:

• What a coaching approach looks like in everyday leadership
• The benefits for your team: ownership, confidence, and better ideas; and
• The common fears leaders have about this approach (and how to overcome them).

If you want your team to think for themselves, be more proactive, and feel invested, give this episode a try.

Resources:

• Explore 1:1 leadership coaching: Leadership Coaching Page
• Blog: How Letting Go Will Help You Take Control
• Podcast: Simple Tips to Help You Coach Your People.

Many thoughtful leaders are introverted, and that’s not a weakness. It’s a strength.

In this episode, I share my top five pieces of advice for introverted leaders.

You don’t need to act like an extrovert to lead effectively. You just need to play to your strengths and manage your energy well.

You’ll hear:

• How to protect your downtime so you don’t burn out
• Why being quieter doesn’t mean you can’t have presence; and
• Practical ways to feel more comfortable leading as your true self

If you’ve ever felt like you need to be louder, more extroverted, or “different” to succeed in leadership, this episode will help you lead in a way that feels right for you.

Resources:

• Ready to feel more comfortable and confident as a leader? Book a Coaching Conversation
• Blog: Why Leaders Must Set Boundaries at Work.

Ever reacted emotionally and regretted it? You’re not the only one!

In this episode, I talk about the powerful concept of “the gap” – the space between your emotions and the response you choose to take. It’s a concept that helps you lead more calmly and effectively, even under pressure.

You’ll learn:

• How Viktor Frankl’s experience inspired this simple but powerful leadership skill
• Practical ways to pause and choose your response in the moment; and
• How to avoid reacting emotionally in challenging work situations.

If you’ve ever lost your cool or wish you handled a situation differently, this episode will give you tools to lead with more control and confidence.

Resources:

• 1:1 coaching to build your confidence: Leadership Coaching Page
• Podcast episode: Simple Tips to Help You Coach Your People
• Tool: The Useful Thinking Journal – Reflect and build your self-awareness as a leader
• Book: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl.
• Waking Up App: A mindfulness and meditation resource by Sam Harris – Waking Up Website.
• Headspace app: Meditation resource - website.

Kind leadership isn’t about being nice all the time. It’s about leading with respect and care, without falling into the trap of people-pleasing.

In this episode, I unpack some of the common misconceptions about kind leadership. Thoughtful leaders often gravitate towards kindness, but it can backfire if we confuse kindness with always saying yes or avoiding difficult conversations.

You’ll hear:

• Why kindness doesn’t mean weakness
• The difference between being nice and being kind
• How to set boundaries and still be seen as a considerate leader
• Examples of how kind leadership can actually make your team stronger

If you’re someone who cares about your team but sometimes struggles with setting expectations or saying no, this one’s for you.

Resources:

• Explore 1:1 coaching to build your confidence as a thoughtful leader: Leadership Coaching Page
• Blog: How Letting Go Will Help You Take Control.

Ambitious team members can be exciting to lead, but they can also be tricky to manage. So how do you support them without burning out yourself?

In this episode, I explore what to do when you’re leading someone with big goals, a strong drive, and a desire to move quickly.

These employees often have great potential but without the right leadership, they can become frustrated, disengaged or even disruptive to your team.

If you’ve got a team member who’s eager for more, this episode will help you navigate their energy in a healthy, productive way.

• Common challenges leaders face with highly ambitious employees
• Three key principles to lead with clarity: honesty, accountability and follow-through
• How to help your team member see the real gap between where they are and where they want to go
• Why telling them to “just be patient” is usually a mistake
• Practical ways to give effective feedback and keep expectations clear

🎯 Key takeaway: You can support ambition without over-promising or overextending yourself. Leading well means being honest and realistic – while also being encouraging and fair.

• 10 Simple and Effective Tips for Giving Feedback
• The Useful Thinking Journal
• Team Accountability Builder Online Course
• Episode 71 – A Simple Model for Team Motivation
• Episode 254 – Prioritising the Career Conversation
• Private Leadership Coaching

💭 Want more strategies like this? Subscribe to the Thoughtful Leader newsletter and get regular tips, tools and insights to help you lead with confidence – without losing yourself in the process.

Are you staying in a job that no longer supports you, just because you feel loyal to your team or unsure of your next step?

It’s a common challenge for thoughtful leaders. In this episode, I explore why we sometimes stay too long in roles that aren’t working, and how to start thinking clearly about whether it’s time to move on.

• Why staying to “protect” your team might actually hold everyone back
• How toxic leadership can damage your self-esteem and confidence
• Why trying to “fix” your boss or workplace can keep you stuck
• How to start deciding whether to stay or go – in a clear, grounded way.

• The Iceberg Model of Human Behaviour
• The Useful Thinking Journal
• Working For an Insecure Manager? Here’s What to Do
• Work With Me 1:1.

💭 If you’re feeling stuck in a role that’s draining you, sign up for the Thoughtful Leader newsletter to get weekly support and tools that help you decide your next step – on your own terms.

Can you be a confident leader without being the loudest in the room? Absolutely.

This is a common challenge for thoughtful, introspective leaders.

We often feel pressure to be more outgoing or “on show” to be seen as confident. In this episode, I explore how to build genuine leadership confidence without changing who you are.

• Why the “shoulds” are holding you back
• How to reframe what effective leadership really looks like
• Why it’s OK to be quieter – and how it can actually be a strength
• How to balance being your introverted self with the times you need to step up and speak out

• The Useful Thinking Journal
• Leadership Confidence Online Course
• Episode 281 – Speaking Up in Meetings
• The PRINT® Assessment

💭 Want to build your confidence in a way that suits you? Join the Thoughtful Leader newsletter and get weekly tips and tools to help you lead with calm and clarity.

Feeling stuck in silence during meetings, even when you have something valuable to say?

You’re not alone.

In this episode, I respond to a listener question about how to speak up more in meetings – a common challenge for many thoughtful, quieter leaders.

If you're someone who finds it hard to contribute when others are dominating the conversation, or you feel like everything worth saying has already been said, this one is for you.

• Why this is only a problem if someone sees it as a problem – like your manager
• Why relying on a more introvert-friendly workplace isn't always an option
• Simple preparation techniques to help you contribute with confidence
• How visualisation and practice can help you feel more comfortable when it’s time to speak.

• The Useful Thinking Journal – to support reflection and confidence
• Toastmasters – a safe space to practise public speaking
• Leadership Confidence Online Course – build presence and authority your way
• Thoughtful Leader Podcast #104 – Why Leaders Must Set Boundaries at Work

💭 Ready to lead with confidence, without pretending to be someone you’re not? Join the Thoughtful Leader newsletter for more practical tips.

Collaboration is often seen as the default approach in leadership, but it's not always the most effective choice.

In this episode, Ben Brearley explores a practical model to help leaders decide when to collaborate and when another strategy might be more appropriate.

By understanding the dynamics of goals and relationships, leaders can make more intentional decisions that benefit both their objectives and their teams.

• The importance of assessing both the goal and the relationship when deciding to collaborate

• An overview of the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode model and its five strategies: Collaborate, Compete, Accommodate, Avoid, and Compromise

• How to evaluate the importance of your goals and relationships to choose the most effective approach

• Questions to consider that can guide your decision-making process

• Strategies to encourage collaboration when others are resistant

• Collaboration is valuable but should be used intentionally based on the situation

• Understanding the balance between achieving goals and maintaining relationships is crucial

• Not all situations require collaboration; sometimes, competing, accommodating, avoiding, or compromising may be more effective

• Being strategic in your approach can lead to better outcomes and stronger relationships

• Episode 119: Too Collaborative? Let’s Avoid This Leadership Trap

• 3 Ways That Leaders Can Improve Cross Team Collaboration

• Leadership Coaching with Ben

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Book a free 30-minute consultation with Ben to explore how leadership coaching can address your challenges: 👉 Book a Leadership Coaching Consultation