Shows
The Fulfilled Leader with Jean BalfourEp. #100. How to Start Journalling as a Tool for Leadership GrowthWelcome to the 100th episode of The Fulfilled Leader! In this heartfelt milestone episode, Jean Balfour reflects on the journey that began in December 2021 with Making Sense of Work and evolved into The Fulfilled Leader. Jean shares three powerful lessons she's learned through podcasting and how her long-standing journalling practice has not only sustained the show, but also shaped her career and personal growth. This episode is part memoir, part masterclass in personal leadership tools, and a rich encouragement for anyone navigating self-doubt, lack of feedback, or the challenge of staying consistent.🪄 What You’ll Learn...2025-06-2622 minThe Fulfilled Leader with Jean BalfourEp. #99. The Resilient Leader: Navigating Workplace Emotions with ConfidenceIn this episode of The Fulfilled Leader, Jean Balfour shares a deeply personal and practical exploration of emotional resilience at work. From the subtle emotional triggers we experience in a single day to the more overwhelming waves of stress and anxiety that can derail us, Jean explores how leaders can strengthen their ability to stay grounded amidst pressure.Jean recounts her own journey - including a difficult piece of feedback that changed the trajectory of her leadership - and outlines five powerful, research-backed strategies for managing emotional triggers and building lasting emotional strength. This episode is a...2025-06-2029 minThe Fulfilled Leader with Jean BalfourEp. #98 Why Fulfillment in Leadership Matters Now More Than EverIn this powerful opening episode of The Fulfilled Leader, Jean Balfour shares the personal and professional journey behind the podcast's transformation. After nearly four years of Making Sense of Work, Jean saw a shift - both in herself and in the leaders she coaches. The focus is no longer just on performance or organizational outcomes, but on fulfillment, emotional wellbeing, and resilience at work.Jean openly reflects on closing her successful coach training business to focus more on one-to-one coaching, retreats, and creating content that supports leaders in leading from their inner strength. She introduces her new...2025-06-1130 minThe Fulfilled Leader with Jean BalfourEp. #95 Harnessing Accountability: Your Catalyst for Personal and Professional GrowthIn this episode of Making Sense of Work, Jean Balfour explores the role of accountability in helping us achieve our goals—both in our personal and professional lives. Initially uncertain about the topic, Jean embarked on a journey of discovery, engaging with her LinkedIn and Instagram communities to understand how others view accountability. The results were surprising: the vast majority found it motivating and helpful.Through personal reflections, expert insights, and practical frameworks, Jean delves into why accountability matters, how it differs from responsibility, and how we can frame it to be a positive force. She also sh...2025-01-3127 minThe Fulfilled Leader with Jean BalfourEp. #94 Becoming a Relational LeaderRelational leadership is a transformative concept focusing on building trust and connection within teams, especially crucial in our tech-driven work environments. Leaders are encouraged to foster relationships, create open communication, and support team members to navigate the complexities of modern work effectively.In this episode, join Jean Balfour as she shares the meaning of being a relational leader. • Explore the essence of relational leadership • The vital role of trust and communication in leadership • Balancing task focus and relational engagement • Real-world examples illustrating the need for relational practices • The power of informal connection...2025-01-1323 minThe Fulfilled Leader with Jean BalfourEp. #93 Healing Self-Doubt with Sas PetherickIn this inspiring episode, Jean Balfour welcomes Sas Petherick, an internationally renowned coach and expert in healing self-doubt. Sas shares her remarkable journey from a fast-paced corporate career in London to becoming a leading voice in helping people build self-belief. With over a decade of coaching experience, a master's degree from Oxford, and groundbreaking research published in the International Journal of Coaching and Mentoring, Sas brings unparalleled expertise to the conversation.Sas's trauma-informed, evidence-based coaching methodology has supported countless women in transforming their professional and personal lives. She's also the host of the Courage and S...2024-11-2543 minThe Fulfilled Leader with Jean BalfourEp. #92 The Impact of Our Early Lives on Our Leadership: Dr. Saba HasanieIn this insightful episode of Making Sense of Work, Jean Balfour is joined by Dr. Saba Hasanie, Managing Director and Senior Partner of OSC Leadership Development. Dr. Saba introduces Biographical Dimensions of Leadership using BDMM© – Level One, a framework designed to explore unconscious behavioral patterns rooted in the past that may hinder growth and development in coaching. With over 20 coaching and psychology certifications, a doctorate in coaching psychology, and her involvement with the prestigious Forbes Coaches Council, Saba brings a wealth of experience in executive coaching, leadership development, and coac...2024-10-2444 minThe Fulfilled Leader with Jean BalfourEp. #91. Beyond Resilience: Navigating Mental Wellbeing at WorkIn this special episode of Making Sense of Work, released in honor of World Mental Health Day, Jean Balfour shares a deeply personal and reflective narrative on her journey with emotional wellbeing and resilience. From the challenges of her early years as a young teacher through subsequent phases of depression and burnout, Jean speaks candidly about the ongoing process of managing her mental and emotional health.Jean emphasizes the vital connection between personal wellbeing and professional effectiveness. With vulnerability and insight, she highlights the importance of creating safe spaces at work, the role of leaders in supporting t...2024-10-0924 minThe Fulfilled Leader with Jean BalfourEp. #90 Impact of Coaching in Organisations: Insights from Katie Hasson of Standard Chartered BankIn this episode of Making Sense of Work, Jean Balfour is joined by Katie Hasson, the dynamic leader of the Ignite program at Standard Chartered Bank. Katie shares her inspiring journey from a tax accountant to leading a team of over 230 internal coaches across 35 countries. The Ignite program, deeply aligned with diversity and inclusion goals, empowers women, local talent, and people with disabilities to reach leadership positions through coaching.Katie reveals how her personal experiences led her to discover coaching and ultimately spearhead the Ignite program, which has transformed the careers of many within the organization. She...2024-08-2332 minThe Fulfilled Leader with Jean BalfourEp. #88 The Work of Building a Thriving Coaching Business with Ellie ScarfEpisode Summary: In this episode of Making Sense of Work, Jean Balfour welcomes Ellie Scarf, founder and CEO of Lucent Global and the Impact Coach Collective. Ellie shares her journey from law to executive coaching and her insights on building a successful coaching business. They discuss the transition from corporate roles to coaching, the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, and practical advice for coaches pursuing ICF accreditation at all stages of their business journey.Key Topics:Ellie's Professional Journey:Transition from law to human-centered roles in learning, development, and organizational...2024-07-3046 minThe Fulfilled Leader with Jean BalfourEp. #85 Breaking Free from Office Drama: Drama Triangle InsightsIn this episode, we dive deep into the complexities of office dynamics and explore the Drama Triangle, a powerful psychological model developed by Dr. Stephen Karpman. Join Jean Balfour as she uncovers the roles of the Villain, Victim, and Hero that often play out in workplace interactions, leading to unproductive and toxic environments.Jean Balfour shares practical strategies for recognising and disrupting these patterns. Learn how to transform your office culture by promoting healthier communication, fostering accountability, and building a supportive work environment.Tune in to discover how you can break free from the cycle...2024-06-1425 min
Unsolicited FeedbackKey Takeaways from H1 2024 (Part 1) w/ Brian Balfour, Ravi Mehta, Joff Redfern, and Fareed MosavatKey Takeaways from H1 2024: Reflecting on Hardware, Unstructured Data, and the Future of Product ManagementIn the season 2 finale of 'Unsolicited Feedback,' co-hosts Brian Balfour, Ravi Mehta, and Joff Redfern join Fareed Mosavat to reflect on the most compelling topics of the season. They start with discussions on how trends diverge between hardware and software markets, and the distinctions between luxury and premium products. The episode takes a deep dive into AI's role in revolutionizing unstructured data and its far-reaching effects on product management. Touching on methodology changes, the hosts contemplate how AI might transform the...2024-06-041h 04
The Fulfilled Leader with Jean BalfourEp. #83. Finding Ease Amidst the Hustle at WorkImagine finding a sense of calm and ease amid the chaos of your workday; I believe it's not just a fantasy but a tangible goal. In this episode I share how the philosophies in Beth Kempton's "Kokoro" and Nancy Klein's "Time to Think," introduce how leaders and professionals can reclaim tranquility in their our hectic lives. I look at society's traditional definitions of ease and how they often clash with our rushed existence, revealing that there's more to work than just ticking boxes and beating deadlines. We can embrace coaching's potential to foster...2024-05-0922 min
The Fulfilled Leader with Jean BalfourEp. #82 The Neuroscience of Misery at Work - Part 2Ever feel like you're just going through the motions at work, weighed down by stress and dissatisfaction? This is part 2 of the neuroscience of misery at work and it’s your invitation to discover how you can turn misery all around. We're not just talking about the everyday gripes of excessive workloads or lackluster recognition; we're diving into the science that shows our brains are directly wired to our work experiences. Join me, Jean Balfour as I share steps you can take you mitigate misery and how you can perform in your most creative and productive zone when you do...2024-04-1824 min
The Fulfilled Leader with Jean BalfourEp. #81 The Neuroscience of Misery at Work - Part 1Ever feel like you're just going through the motions at work, weighed down by stress and dissatisfaction? This episode is your invitation to discover the neuroscience that explains why—and how you can turn it all around. We're not just talking about the everyday gripes of excessive workloads or lackluster recognition; we're diving into the science that shows our brains are directly wired to our work experiences. Join me, Jean Balfour, as we pull back the curtain on common workplace woes and shed light on global studies that reveal the widespread nature of these issues, especially among younger workers an...2024-04-0425 min
The Fulfilled Leader with Jean BalfourEp. #80 Breaking into Your Zone of GeniusToday’s episode is inspired by Marianne Williamson and Gay Hendricks. Jean Balfour shares insights and experiences on overcoming self-imposed limitations to embrace our true potential. Join us as we navigate the zones of incompetence, competence, excellence, and ultimately, genius, uncovering how to push ourselves out of our limiting beliefs of what we can't do!Recommended book reading: The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level Sign up to my weekly newsletter. Book a free strategy call: https://calendly.com/jean-balfour/30min Le...2024-03-1321 min
The Fulfilled Leader with Jean BalfourEp. #79 Navigating Overwhelm: From Chaos to ClarityIn today’s episode, Jean Balfour shares her own experiences of feeling overwhelmed, and shares insights on identifying, understanding, and overcoming the chaos that comes with being overwhelmed. From uncovering the root causes to implementing practical strategies, we'll embark on a journey towards reclaiming energy and joy in our daily work. Tune in for tips, stories, and inspiration to navigate the feeling of overwhelm and emerge stronger in your everyday and work life! Sign up to Jean's blog here : https://jeanbalfour.substack.com/ Sign up to my weekly newsletter. Boo...2024-02-2921 min
The Fulfilled Leader with Jean BalfourEp. #78 The Key to Unlocking Deeper Trust in RelationshipsIn today’s episode, we explore how being fully present with another person is not just a skill, but a critical gift that fosters genuine connection. Join Jean Balfour as she shares the journey of how we can master this skill, how we can be aware of our own pitfalls and together, we'll uncover practical strategies and insights to enhance our ability to truly hear and understand others.To download our guidebook mentioned in this episode, click here: https://baileybalfour.com/blog-listening-and-presence/ Sign up to my weekly newsletter. Book a fr...2024-02-1422 min
The Fulfilled Leader with Jean BalfourEp. #75 Values: The North Star of Your CareerHave you ever taken a moment to reflect on your career values? It's a practice that often gets overlooked amid the hustle of our daily lives. However, these values serve as the underlying motivation for our actions and reactions, influencing our experiences both professionally and personally. In this podcast, Jean Balfour explores the importance of recognizing and embracing our values, offering practical insights and tools to help you identify and harmonize with them. You can also read more here: https://baileybalfour.com/values-the-north-star-of-your-career/Follow Jean on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanbalfour/2023-11-1415 min
The Fulfilled Leader with Jean Balfour#Ep. 74 How to Develop Emotional IntelligenceEmotional Intelligence (EQ) is the ability to understand and manage emotions effectively. It is no longer considered a soft skill—it's a critical competency for us all - both individual contributors and leaders. Higher EQ has been shown to improve job performance significantly including higher sales, increased productivity and reduced stress. In this podcast Jean Balfour shares practical strategies to help you:Understand why being emotionally intelligent is critical Learn the 4 components of emotional intelligenceDevelop strategies for building emotional intelligenceTo read blog on emotional intelligence and future of work, read here: https://baileybalfour.com/emot...2023-11-0226 min
The Fulfilled Leader with Jean BalfourEp. #70 Navigating Difficult ConversationsNavigating difficult conversations can be hard, but when done right, can be powerful and life changing. In this episode of Making sense of Work, master certified coach Jean Balfour shares with us how to tackle those difficult conversations with a coaching mindset. Learn techniques to offer constructive feedback in an empathetic and thoughtful manner.Connect with Jean Balfour on LinkedInConnect with Jean Balfour on Instagram @jean.balfour Sign up to my weekly newsletter. Book a free strategy call: https://calendly.com/jean-balfour/30min ...2023-09-2821 min
The Fulfilled Leader with Jean BalfourEp. #69 Five Steps to Get Your Next PromotionOver the years, I've had the privilege of coaching countless individuals on their journey to success, and I've witnessed some incredible transformations. Whether you're eyeing that next big promotion or simply want to level up your career game, here are 5 tips you should consider applying in your role today. Podcast recommendationsEp. #8 Nine Ways to be Politically Savvy at Work Ep. #40 The Gift of Feedback - Even if it Hurts! Ep. #54 Building a Growth Mindset Ep. #63 Making a Bold Career Move with Vanessa Teo2023-09-2120 min
The Fulfilled Leader with Jean BalfourEp. #68 11 Ways to be Happy and Successful at WorkAfter 30 years of consulting to organisations, developing leaders and coaching - there are a few core beliefs Jean has come to believe about what makes for a happy and successful working life.In this episode she introduces her top 11 ways to think about work to create a fulfilling work life. You can contact Jean via LinkedIn to share the beliefs you hold about how to be happy and successful at work.Connect with Jean Balfour on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanbalfour/ Sign up t...2023-09-1419 min
The Fulfilled Leader with Jean BalfourEp. #67 The Authenticity DilemmaThere is so much talk about how we should be authentic at work at the moment. But what if we don’t want to be? And what if being authentic is not the right thing to do?Jean Balfour shares in this podcast how it is important to ‘bring ourselves to work’ - however, sometimes it may be better for us to not share all, to be less vulnerable and to manage our authenticity to match our context. Listen in to learn more about this and how to be contextually authentic. ...2023-09-0716 min
The Fulfilled Leader with Jean BalfourEp. #66 Compassionate Leadership for Team's Success with Helen SandersonWhat contributes to workplace happiness? How does compassionate leadership enhance team communication and clarity? How can team members proactively give feedback and uphold accountability for our growth and commitments?Tune in to our episode of "Making Sense of Work" featuring Helen Sanderson, a renowned consultant and coach in well-being and self-management as she discusses various approaches leaders can engage to cultivate both high performance and compassionate teams. Meet Helen SandersonHelen is a sought after consultant and coach. She is an AltMBA alumni and coached on the p...2023-08-1744 min
The Fulfilled Leader with Jean BalfourEp. #65 The Impact of Leaders Who Coach with Amit GhoshEach of us is on our path to achieving whatever we want to achieve, Inherently, we yearn for someone who holds unwavering belief in our capabilities.And employees can easily sense if their leader is invested in them. People want to be in a place where their leader believes that they can change, that they can evolve, and that they can grow. Join us for an enlightening episode of "The Impact of Leaders Who Coach" featuring the insights of executive coach Amit Ghosh. Discover the essence of being a coaching-oriented leader and the impact this h...2023-08-1041 min