#253: Why leaders should show more vulnerability
The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley
Release Date: 04/17/2024
#281: Q&A - How do I speak up more in meetings?
The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley
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. What You’ll Learn Why this is only a problem if someone sees it as a problem – like your manager Why relying on a more introvert-friendly workplace...
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#280: Do you know when to collaborate?
The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley
Episode Summary 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. In This Episode, You'll Learn The importance of assessing both the goal and the relationship when deciding to collaborate An overview of the Thomas-Kilmann...
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#279: Simple steps for a more effective week
The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley
Episode Summary In this episode, Ben Brearley shares three straightforward strategies to help leaders feel more in control, reduce stress, and make better use of their time each week. These practical steps are designed to enhance your effectiveness without adding complexity to your schedule. In This Episode, You'll Learn The distinction between being effective and feeling effective How to create a simple weekly plan using time blocks Techniques for breaking down tasks to fit into your schedule The importance of weekly planning to stay on top of priorities How to identify when your...
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#278: How to help your overwhelmed team
The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley
Episode Summary Feeling overwhelmed is a common challenge in today's workplaces. In this episode, Ben Brearley delves into practical strategies to support team members grappling with stress and burnout. Ben offers actionable advice to help leaders navigate this pervasive issue. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Identifying Overwhelm: Recognize signs of stress and burnout in your team. Clarifying Workload: Assist team members in assessing the feasibility of their tasks. Categorizing Tasks: Help prioritize work by grouping tasks into manageable categories. Time Management: Understand the...
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#277: Are you enabling bad behaviour in your team?
The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley
Episode Summary Sometimes, despite our best intentions, we can accidentally enable bad behaviour within our teams. In this episode, Ben explores three subtle but powerful ways leaders might unintentionally allow bad behaviour to grow and how to address it before it causes bigger issues. In This Episode, You'll Learn: How being unavailable to your team can create opportunities for bad behaviour to go unnoticed. Why addressing only the symptoms (not the real issue) can allow bad behaviour to persist. The risks of focusing too much on results and overlooking how those results are achieved. ...
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#276: How to stop taking things personally
The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley
Welcome to Episode 276 of the Thoughtful Leader Podcast! In this episode, we explore why thoughtful leaders tend to take things personally and how to break free from this habit. If you find yourself internalising feedback, criticism, or workplace challenges, this episode is for you. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why thoughtful leaders are prone to taking things personally. The impact of personalizing feedback and criticism on leadership effectiveness. Practical strategies to create separation between personal identity and workplace challenges. Key Takeaways: Understand Why We...
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#275: Not-so-obvious reasons for a “bad” employee
The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley
Welcome to Episode 275 of the Thoughtful Leader Podcast! In this episode, we explore why an employee might appear “bad” and uncover some hidden reasons behind poor performance and behaviour. Before jumping to conclusions, it’s essential to dig deeper and find out what’s really going on. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why an employee might be struggling – skill gaps, motivation issues, or personal challenges. How leadership style and team dynamics play a role in shaping employee behavior. Actionable steps to diagnose and address poor performance constructively. ...
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#274: Should you be yourself, or adapt to your stakeholders?
The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley
Welcome to Episode 274 of the Thoughtful Leader Podcast! In this episode, we explore the balance between authenticity and adaptability in leadership. Should you stay true to your natural style, or adjust to meet the preferences of those around you? Let’s dive in. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The Benefits of Being Authentic: How staying true to yourself can build trust and make leadership more effortless. The Drawbacks of Rigidity: Why sticking strictly to your natural style might not always serve you or your team well. When to Adapt Your Approach: Identifying...
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#273: Q&A Episode - How do you motivate other leaders who work for you?
The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley
In this Q&A episode, we dive into an important topic: How to Keep Supervisors Motivated in Leadership Roles. Supervisors are the middle layer between senior management and the front line. In many ways, they set the scene and role model the behaviours that you want the front line employees to be following. So what happens when your supervisors aren’t motivated? Well… not good stuff. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: ✅ Why demotivated supervisors can impact team performance ✅ How leaders can create conditions for motivation without forcing it ✅ A five-step game plan to...
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#272: Feel like you need to micromanage your team? Let’s stop it.
The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley
Micromanagement is not a good thing, but I think it’s natural to feel like doing it sometimes. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to reduce the habit! In this episode I take a look at the problems with micromanagement, and how you can reduce the feeling that you need to do it with your team. Interested in working with me? Book your free 30-minute consultation, where we'll discuss your goals and challenges and how my coaching may be able to help. Then we can decide whether we're a good fit to work together. Show Links: – This link leads to...
info_outlineDisplaying vulnerability takes courage, especially when you’re in a leadership role.
Many leaders feel an expectation to know all the answers or give the perfect directions, or to display the “stiff upper lip” mentality and show resilience in the face of any challenge.
In this episode, we’re going to look at the potential benefits of showing vulnerability and how you might start going about it.
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