The Leader's Kitbag

You may have the title, but do you have followers? In this episode of The Leader’s Kitbag, I explore the often-overlooked side of leadership: followership. We focus on three powerful behaviours that effective followers...

Team development is not something you can half-arse. In this episode, I share my own lessons from both sides of the fence; leading teams and facilitating team-development sessions. I reflect on why I no longer deliver...

Not every group of people reporting to the same person should be treated as a single team. In this episode of The Leader’s Kitbag, I share a personal story that highlights what happens when we force people into team...

In this episode of The Leader’s Kitbag, I challenge the common assumption that every group of direct reports is automatically a ‘team’. Spoiler alert: they’re often not. Drawing on three key characteristics, shared...

If you’ve ever found yourself frustrated by a planning or productivity system — or wondered “why can’t I just stick to this?” - this episode of The Leaders Kitbag is for you. It may not be a discipline problem at all...

In this episode of The Leaders Kitbag, I explore why leaders respond so differently when the pressure is on. Some double down on structure and cling tightly to the plan, while others seem to thrive when things go...

In this episode of The Leaders Kitbag, I share a fascinating moment from a recent leadership programme I ran with 22 managers from across Europe. When I asked them to answer a simple question, “point to the past”, every...

In these ‘SHORTS’ episodes of my podcast, I select my favourite moments from previous episodes. This one comes from episode 183, with Peter Cohan, author of Scaling Your Startup, lecturer at Babson College and advisor...

In this short but powerful episode of The Leaders Kitbag, I’m sharing a concept that’s brand new to me – one that’s genuinely shifted how I think about time, productivity, and leadership. It originates from the world of...

In one of my earliest podcast episodes, I interviewed Connor Pearce - now President of Samsung Electronics in Poland - who shared a powerful piece of leadership advice he received early in his career: “Think like a man...

In this episode of Leading the ScaleUp, I’m joined by Peter Cohan - author of Scaling Your Startup, lecturer at Babson College, and advisor to hundreds of early-stage and high-growth companies. Together, we dive into...

If you’ve ever felt that the only way to be noticed in a meeting is to raise your voice, this episode is for you. In today’s Leader’s Kitbag, I challenge the belief that volume equals influence. Whether you’re a...

Could speaking less actually make you a more impactful leader? Inspired by a quote from author Graham Greene, “The more you say, the more likely you are to look foolish,” this episode of The Leaders Kitbag explores the...

In these ‘SHORTS’ episodes of my podcast, I select my favourite moments from previous episodes. This one comes from episode 182, with Lord Mark Price, former Managing Director of Waitrose, Deputy Chair of the John Lewis...

Do you ever walk out of a meeting questioning whether you said enough, or even doubting if you made any impact at all? In this episode of The Leaders Kitbag, I explore a common struggle for reflective, internal-thinking...

In this episode of The Leaders Kit Bag, I unpack a common leadership pitfall I call "fire and forget goal setting" - when we set big, ambitious goals for our team, then disappear, hoping for the best. Setting the target...

In this episode of Leading the Scale-Up, I sit down with Lord Mark Price — the former Managing Director of Waitrose, Deputy Chair of the John Lewis Partnership, and UK Trade Minister — to explore why happiness might...

In this short but powerful episode of The Leaders Kit Bag, I share one simple leadership truth: when you support your team with their personal goals, not just their professional ones, you’re far more likely to get their...

In this episode of The Leader’s Kit Bag, I explore how two people with the same skills, experience and motivation can produce vastly different results, and why the difference often comes down to the language we use when...

In this episode of The Leaders Kit Bag, we’re demystifying SMART goals, specifically the part nearly everyone gets wrong. Many leaders talk about SMART goals, but very few apply them correctly, especially when it comes...

In this bonus episode of The Leaders Kit Bag, I’m answering a viewer’s question on the topic of open questions: what they are, why they matter, and how leaders can use them to build trust, deepen relationships, and...

Have you ever been in a conversation where someone nodded, said “yep” or “go on”… but you knew they weren’t really listening? In this episode of The Leader’s Kit Bag, I take a look at what real listening feels like for...

In these ‘SHORTS’ episodes of my podcast, I select my favourite moments from previous episodes. This one comes from episode 181, with Georgia Aubrey, Co-Founder & Partnerships Director at Lovetovisit.com, as she shares...

When was the last time you truly felt heard, without judgment, interruption, or unsolicited advice? In this episode of The Leader’s Kit Bag, I explore the transformative power of listening. Drawing on a powerful...

In this episode of The Leaders’ Kit Bag, I’m exploring a deceptively simple yet profoundly impactful skill: listening. In today’s workplace, with its relentless pace and constant distractions, it’s all too easy to rush...