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PODCAST

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley

Short, sharp and practical leadership support for thoughtful, reflective, people-focused leaders who want to lead with confidence, without pretending to be someone they"re not. Hosted by leadership coach Ben Brearley, each episode helps you build confidence, set boundaries, and stay true to your values in the workplace. No jargon, no hype. Just real strategies for thoughtful leadership.

business management

All Episodes

16:00

#291: Why mindfulness is a must for thoughtful...

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/08/17

Mindfulness can feel like a buzzword, but it’s also a powerful tool for thoughtful leadership. In this episode, I explore how mindfulness helps leaders become more self-aware, less reactive, and better equipped to respond under pressure. I also share my story of mindfulness, including how and why I started using it and the benefits that came when I did. You’ll learn: What mindfulness really means in a leadership context Simple ways to bring more awareness into your day How mindfulness

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18:06

#290: Practical ways to build trust in your team

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/08/10

Trust is the foundation of a strong team, but how do you actually build it? In this episode, I share simple, practical actions you can take as a leader to start strengthening trust, especially if you're leading a team that’s been through some change or challenge. I also introduce a handy "trust equation" to help you think about ways to build trust. You’ll hear: What trust really looks like at work (and how it shows up) Small behaviours that create safety and connection How to build trust

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18:41

#289: What makes a high-performing team? A look at...

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/08/03

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

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15:00

#288: Why You Should Be Asking More, and Telling Less

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/07/27

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

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17:02

#287: My Top 5 Tips for Introverted Leaders

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/07/20

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

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14:53

#286: You Have the Power to Choose Your Response

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/07/13

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

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14:28

#285: Common Misconceptions About Kind Leadership

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/07/06

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

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14:14

#284: How to lead an ambitious employee

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/06/29

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

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12:09

#283: Why Thoughtful Leaders stay in jobs for too...

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/06/22

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. What You’ll Learn: Why staying to “protect” your team might actually hold everyone back How toxic leadership can damage your self-esteem and confidence Why trying

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12:08

#282: Feel confident without being the loudest

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/06/15

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. What You’ll Learn: 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

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12:46

#281: Q&A - How do I speak up more in meetings?

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/06/08

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

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13:36

#280: Do you know when to collaborate?

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/05/27

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

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12:53

#279: Simple steps for a more effective week

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/05/13

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

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13:01

#278: How to help your overwhelmed team

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/04/29

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

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14:24

#277: Are you enabling bad behaviour in your team?

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/04/15

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

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12:56

#276: How to stop taking things personally

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/04/01

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

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11:34

#275: Not-so-obvious reasons for a “bad” employee

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/03/18

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

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12:50

#274: Should you be yourself, or adapt to your...

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/03/04

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

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25:32

#273: Q&A Episode - How do you motivate other leaders...

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/02/18

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

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14:39

#272: Feel like you need to micromanage your team?...

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/02/03

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

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311 results

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