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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

12:57

#310: How Long Should You Wait Before Enforcing...

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2026/01/18

This episode tackles a common leadership dilemma: how long to wait before enforcing consequences for poor performance or behaviour. Ben walks through a practical decision-making process, starting with curiosity and feedback, then moving to support, clarity, and finally consequences if behaviour doesn't change. He discusses the importance of stakeholder alignment, realistic follow-through, and why avoiding consequences can undermine trust and motivation across the team. Resources mentioned in this

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18:05

#309: What beliefs are holding you back this year?

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2026/01/12

In this episode, Ben explores how deeply held beliefs shape behaviour and can quietly limit leadership confidence. Using personal stories about fitness, public speaking, and career choices, he illustrates how untested assumptions can become self-imposed barriers. Ben explains the difference between fixed and growth mindsets, the role of self-talk, and how beliefs often become baked into identity. He encourages leaders to notice when they say "I can't do that" and get curious about whether those

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04:12

Farewell 2025... and a bit about principles.

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/12/17

In this short and sweet episode, Ben farewells 2025, says Thank You and talks a little bit about how principles (rather than goals) can help you set intentions about how you want 2026 to go. Thanks for listening in 2025, and Ben will be back around mid-January 2026.

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14:20

#308: 4 things to remember to support your team.

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/12/14

Supporting your people doesn't have to be complicated. In this episode, Ben shares four key reminders leaders often forget. He explains why these fundamentals matter more than dramatic leadership techniques and how thoughtful leaders can use them to build trust and stability. Ben draws from coaching conversations and real workplace examples to help you support your team with confidence. Resources mentioned in this episode: How to Lead Effectively as a People Pleaser Make the Most of

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12:36

#307: A better model for giving constructive feedback.

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/12/07

In this episode, Ben introduces a straightforward model to help leaders give challenging feedback in a way that hopefully helps the receiver get on board with it. He explains each of the parts of the model and shares practical examples to show how the model works in real conversations. Ben also talks about common mistakes thoughtful leaders make, like softening the message too much or delaying feedback out of discomfort. The episode links closely to The Useful Feedback Journal, which helps

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14:16

#306: Struggling to move from individual contributor...

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/11/30

Many new leaders struggle when moving from individual contributor to leadership. In this episode, Ben breaks down why the transition feels so difficult, especially for thoughtful, high-performing people. He covers key mindset shifts including letting go of control, redefining success, prioritising relationships over tasks, and stepping into visibility even when it feels uncomfortable. Ben also shares stories from coaching clients who found leadership hard because they still identified as

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15:49

#305: Is adapting your leadership style authentic?

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/11/23

In this episode, Ben explores whether it's possible to stay authentic while also adapting your leadership style. Drawing on coaching conversations and personality models like DISC and OCEAN, he explains why adaptability doesn't mean "changing who you are". Instead, adjusting your behaviour to meet the needs of different situations is both necessary and can still be genuine. Ben shares real examples from his facilitation and project management work, showing how leaders can honour their natural

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14:05

#304: Is leadership simply about finding the right...

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/11/16

In this episode, Ben talks about the importance of balance in leadership: knowing when to step in and when to step back. He discusses common traps, like micromanaging or being overly hands-off, and helps leaders identify their "sweet spot" where they can provide enough guidance without stifling independence. Ben offers practical reflection questions and strategies to help you stay balanced, effective, and confident as a thoughtful leader. Resources: Work with Ben: Thoughtful Leader Coaching.

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11:33

#303: Feedback got you down? Introducing The Useful...

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/11/09

In this episode, Ben introduces The Useful Feedback Journal, a digital tool designed to help leaders process, accept, or reject feedback thoughtfully. Drawing from his own painful experience receiving harsh feedback after a workshop, Ben explains how the journal guides you through four stages – Retreat, Reflect, Extract, and Act – to turn feedback into growth rather than frustration. He also shares success stories from pilot users and outlines how journaling can help you track patterns and improve

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12:33

#302: How open should you be with your team?

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/11/02

In this episode, Ben explores a common leadership dilemma: how open should you really be with your team? While transparency builds trust, oversharing can create confusion or discomfort. Ben offers practical advice for finding the right balance between honesty and professionalism. He discusses when to share challenges and when to protect your team from unnecessary stress, helping thoughtful leaders navigate openness with self-awareness and confidence. Resources: Brené Brown's

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16:23

#301: How knowing your values helps build your...

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/10/26

In this episode, Ben explains how knowing your personal values helps you lead with confidence. He shares how values act as a foundation, keeping you steady when challenges arise. Ben reflects on his own experiences and discusses how understanding your values can help you make decisions, handle pressure, and stop second-guessing yourself. He also introduces his small-group Values Discovery Sessions, designed to help leaders uncover their core values and use them to lead more authentically. Spaces are

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13:19

#300: Top tips for dealing with strong personalities.

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/10/19

For the 300th episode, Ben tackles one of the most common challenges thoughtful leaders face: dealing with strong personalities at work. These colleagues may be direct, dominant, or results-focused - all traits that can feel intimidating or frustrating. Ben shares five practical tips, from avoiding direct confrontation to preparing well for interactions, so thoughtful leaders can hold their ground without trying to overcompensate or act like someone else. He reminds us that strong personalities

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18:16

#299: Cautionary tales for leaders using A.I. tools.

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/10/12

AI tools like ChatGPT are everywhere, but what does that mean for thoughtful leaders? In this episode, Ben shares personal examples of using AI for marketing, podcasting, and even gardening - but he also issues a word of caution. Over-reliance on AI risks “deskilling” teams by removing valuable opportunities for learning and mentoring. Drawing on examples from law and medicine, he shows how bypassing junior staff development can have long-term consequences. Leaders can embrace AI, but must

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16:13

#298: How to adapt your style at work, without the...

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/10/05

Adapting your leadership style is essential but if you’re not careful, it can feel exhausting. In this episode, Ben explains how to shift your style to suit different situations - whether it’s being more direct in a crisis or more outgoing when networking, while keeping it sustainable. He draws on personality psychology research, including insights from Brian Little’s work on “personal projects,” to help leaders recognise when it’s worth stretching themselves and when to restore their energy.

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14:27

#297: Feel like you’re on a rollercoaster? Bring more...

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/09/28

In this episode, Ben explores why stability is such a powerful leadership trait. Drawing from his coaching and training experiences, he highlights how inconsistency erodes trust and creates uncertainty in teams. Ben shares his own routines, such as exercise, mindfulness, morning reading, and small rituals that help him maintain calm, dependable leadership, even under stress. He emphasises that your team needs to rely on you regardless of circumstances, and building stability through consistent

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14:45

#296: It’s time to stop owning other people’s problems.

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/09/21

In this episode, we look at a common challenge for thoughtful leaders – taking too much responsibility for other people’s problems. Reflection and self-awareness are powerful strengths. But when reflection turns into overthinking and self-criticism, leaders can start to “own” problems that aren’t really theirs to solve. I explore why thoughtful leaders are prone to this, how it increases stress and disempowers both you and your team, and what you can do to set healthy boundaries. You’ll also hear

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13:35

#295: Is your workplace a consequence-free environment?

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/09/14

What happens when poor behaviour or performance goes unchecked at work? In this episode, I cover the risks of working in a consequence-free environment, where team members face no real impact for their actions. I share why “trying everything” often fails without accountability, and why feedback, formal warnings, or performance improvement plans can all be necessary tools. Consequences aren’t about punishment – they’re about giving people a reason to change, and creating fairness for the whole team

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11:10

#294: Q&A - Why should I bother to understand my values?

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/09/07

A client once asked me a great question: “If my values are already part of who I am, why do I need to understand them better?” In this episode, I unpack the answer. Your values are always shaping your leadership, but when you understand them clearly, you can see what situations will help you thrive, and which will leave you drained or frustrated. With this awareness, you can prepare for challenges, choose the right environments, and stay true to what matters most. Resources mentioned in this

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13:10

#293: Lay the groundwork to build your credibility.

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/08/31

Leadership credibility isn’t built overnight, and there are no tricks that you can use to be respected in meetings or other forums at work. In this episode, I talk about the real groundwork which often happens before you need people to listen to you. That’s all about building trust and credibility with your key stakeholders. I share how to identify who your most important stakeholders are, how to map their influence and interest, and how to grow strong relationships over time. This groundwork makes

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17:00

#292: Yes, you can still lead effectively as a...

The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley ·

2025/08/24

If you’ve ever been told you’re “too nice” to lead, this episode is for you. Being a people-pleaser doesn’t disqualify you from being an effective leader. It just means you need to develop a few key skills to protect your energy and set clear expectations. In this episode, I talk about: Why people-pleasing can feel like the easier option How it undermines your leadership (and what to do about it) Small steps to lead more assertively without losing your empathy. Leadership isn’t about

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311 results

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