#321: Induction: Boring admin task, or really important?
The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley
Release Date: 04/05/2026
#327: Recreating the conditions for confidence.
The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley
In this episode, Ben explores how confidence is often linked to the conditions surrounding our work rather than being a fixed personal trait. When people lose confidence, it can feel as though something internal has changed. However, Ben suggests that confidence is frequently influenced by external factors such as preparation, clarity, experience and support. One practical approach is to reflect on situations where you previously felt confident and performed well. By identifying the conditions that were present in those situations, you can begin to recreate them and give yourself a better...
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#326: Secret leadership - are you doing it?
The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley
In this episode, Ben introduces the idea of secret leadership. This is when leaders try to implement leadership techniques with their team without explaining what they are doing or why. This often happens after leaders attend training, read a leadership book, or learn a new approach they want to try. Instead of openly discussing it with their team, they quietly introduce changes. Ben suggests this can happen because leaders feel a sense of embarrassment or vulnerability about admitting they are trying something new or changing their leadership approach. However, implementing leadership...
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#325: Should you address the issue directly?
The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley
In this episode, Ben explores the common leadership advice that if you have a problem with someone, you should speak to that person directly. While this idea is widely recommended, many leaders still hesitate to have these conversations because they feel uncomfortable or worry about how the other person might react. Ben discusses why avoiding the conversation can allow issues to linger and sometimes make the situation worse. Instead of hoping the problem will disappear, leaders often benefit from addressing the issue with the person involved so it can be clarified and resolved. At the same...
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#324: Why you should look back to lead better.
The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley
In this episode, Ben explains why occasional reflection on past experiences can help leaders understand themselves better and improve their leadership. While coaching is typically future‑focused, reflecting on personal history can reveal how past experiences shaped values, reactions, and behaviour. Using a childhood story about his time in the playground, Ben illustrates how his value of self‑reliance may have developed. While this value has many strengths, it also has potential downsides, such as reluctance to ask for help or collaborate. The key lesson is that understanding your...
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#323: Struggling with career direction? Try setting some principles.
The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley
In this episode, Ben talks about career direction and why many leaders struggle to define a clear long‑term vision. Rather than trying to picture a very specific future role, he suggests creating a set of guiding principles that help you evaluate opportunities as they arise. Ben explains that principles can be built around three main factors: the type of work you want to do, the lifestyle you want to live, and the level of seniority or responsibility you want to pursue. These principles act as a framework for decision‑making, helping leaders assess whether new opportunities align with...
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#322: Here's why you're not making progress.
The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley
In this episode, Ben explores a common frustration for leaders: teams or individuals who seem stuck and unable to make progress. He explains that “spinning your wheels” often comes down to a combination of factors rather than a single cause. Key issues include a lack of time and capacity, unclear direction or priorities, fear of accountability, and missing skills or knowledge needed to complete the work. When leaders fail to clearly state priorities, teams often default to business‑as‑usual tasks instead of tackling new initiatives. Ben also highlights how some team members wait for...
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#321: Induction: Boring admin task, or really important?
The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley
In this episode, Ben discusses why induction (or onboarding) is more important than many leaders realise. While it can seem like a dry administrative task, it creates the first impression a new employee has of the team or organisation, and that impression can influence how connected and motivated they feel. Ben shares a personal story about a poor onboarding experience where nobody seemed prepared for his arrival, leaving a lasting negative impression. From there, he outlines several ways leaders can improve induction. These include creating a structured and repeatable process, helping new...
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#320: The silver bullet to deal with difficult team members.
The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley
In this episode, Ben argues that while there is rarely a true “silver bullet” in leadership, respect comes close when dealing with difficult team members. Respect involves fairness, listening to the other person’s perspective, and involving them in decision-making about solutions. He explains that respect must go both ways, and that leaders must also ensure they are respected. When respect is absent, issues often escalate into formal performance management. Ben also encourages leaders to focus on what they can control in emotionally charged situations. Resources mentioned in this...
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#319: How to be “authentic” in your leadership role.
The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley
In this episode, Ben unpacks the concept of authentic leadership and simplifies it into practical action. Rather than trying to “bring your whole self to work,” he suggests selectively bringing the most useful parts of yourself in a professional context. He introduces the leadership shield exercise, where leaders define four “being” qualities they want to embody at work. Ben also emphasises understanding personal values, developing self-awareness through feedback, and using 360 feedback processes to identify blind spots. Authentic leadership, he argues, builds trust and reduces stress...
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#318: Tips to survive (and hopefully do well) in a difficult workplace.
The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley
Ben discusses how thoughtful leaders can survive and succeed in difficult workplace environments. Drawing on his own experience, he explains why some strong leaders may opt out of senior roles due to toxic cultures, and why that’s a loss for organisations. Key strategies include knowing what you are getting from your current role, clarifying your personal values, connecting to a sense of purpose, and building a trusted support network. Ben also shares the example of rugby referee Hollie Davidson and reflects on how difficult environments can filter out capable people. Resources mentioned in...
info_outlineIn this episode, Ben discusses why induction (or onboarding) is more important than many leaders realise. While it can seem like a dry administrative task, it creates the first impression a new employee has of the team or organisation, and that impression can influence how connected and motivated they feel.
Ben shares a personal story about a poor onboarding experience where nobody seemed prepared for his arrival, leaving a lasting negative impression.
From there, he outlines several ways leaders can improve induction. These include creating a structured and repeatable process, helping new starters build connections with colleagues, introducing familiarity with the workplace and its people, and providing the right balance of early work so the new person feels useful without being overwhelmed.
He also emphasises the importance of managers personally investing time in the induction process to help new employees feel welcomed and valued.
Resources mentioned in this episode: