Shows
Advice from FriendsAdulting Advice from FriendsYour weekly dose of Advice From Friends is out now and we are talking with our fabulous friend Lee Griffith from Sunday Skies all about adulting.Being a grown-up can feel overwhelming and the listener who contacted us was almost bored of the responsibilities of being an adult.In this conversation we cover everything from chores and managing money to grannying – yep you heard it here first – if you want you can skip adulting all together and head straight for the grannying years of your life 😊Thank you so much Lee for...2024-08-1250 min
How to Take the LeadWhat do we need to unlearn to lead well?Have you heard about unlearning? It sounds like the opposite of what we are all about here at How To Take The Lead - learning, growth and development. But understanding what we need to unlearn as leaders is key to that growth and development. In this episode we cover:what we mean by the concept of unlearningwhy unlearning a crucial part of our leadership journeyshow you know what you need to unlearn in order to improveSeeking feedback and engaging others in your unlearningAs it's the last episode of this series you can also...2024-02-0841 minHow to Take the LeadTaking risksWhat is your risk appetite as a leader?It's well evidenced that high-performing teams are those who are willing to take collective risk. But it's not easy to get to that place, especially if it's outside of your comfort zone.In this episode, we chat all things risk and why your approach to it matters. We discuss:how we define risks and how our approaches varyrisk awareness versus risk-takinghow your DISC profile - or preferences - can affect how you view and take risks the requirement of psychological safety in building risk appetitewhat good...2024-02-0144 minHow to Take the LeadDisruptive leadershipIs being a disruptor about making trouble? We don't think so and it's one of the things we explore in this conversation about disruptive leadership. In this episode of How To Take The Lead we consider how disruptive leadership can support your teams/ organisations.We discuss:what being a disruptive leader really means?the challenges disruption can causehow to take other people on a journey of change as part of disruptiontesting out disruption in small, more manageable ways changing or shifting your mindset in relation to dispruptionbeing comfortable with your role or the role of others...2024-01-2535 minHow to Take the LeadAre you a thought leader?Should you be a thought leader? WHAT exactly does it mean to be a thought leader? In this week's How to Take the Lead, we discuss our thoughts on this topic, arguing the case for more leaders to talk out about things they're expert in.We explore:whether anyone can become a thought leader or if it's hierarchical what you need to bring to be a thought leader - and our equation that makes a thought leaderhow thought leadership can help you as a leaderorganisational benefits of thought leadership and how to work with your organisationwhat...2024-01-1843 minHow to Take the LeadSelf-leadershipWhat is self-leadership?Why is it important?How do you practice it?These are all questions we discuss in this episode of How To Take The Lead.Self-leadership is about how you show up as a leader and this can mean many things. It might be the boundaries you set and communicate. Perhaps it is how you are using your time and what this demonstrates to those around you. And it could be you need to prioritise your wellbeing.Creating the conditions for your success - whatever you have...2024-01-1139 minHow to Take the LeadTackling toxicityWe've talked a lot about culture and how it impacts performance, morale and organisational reputational. If you've been a long-term listener you will have heard our own experiences of working in organisations with poor culture and toxic behaviours. But in this episode we want to tackle it head on and explore what can be done about overcoming toxicity in organisations.We discuss:how we define toxic leadershipwhat tips the balance between an organisation being dysfunctional versus toxicwhat organisational indicators might be telling you about the state of toxicitysigns that toxic behaviours are at play in your...2024-01-0456 minHow to Take the LeadIdentifying future leadersAre you spotting future leadership talent?And if so, are you clear what to do next?In this episode we discuss how you can identify future leaders in your organisation and what you can do to support them.We cover:how you can identify future leaderswhat happens when you spot leadership potentialhow to ensure your leadership aspirations for someone are aligned with their ownrecruitment processes and how they can help or hinder your leadership recruitmentensuring you are looking for leadership potential that brings diversity.Resources and helpful...2023-12-2138 minHow to Take the LeadLeadership strategyDo you have a personal leadership strategy? Often we can focus on organisational strategies and lose our own purpose and intent along the way.In this episode Carrie-Ann and Lee explore what it means to have a personal leadership strategy, why you need one and how you go about getting one. We discuss how:your personal strategy differs from an organisational onewe've approached and developed our own strategies during our careersyour strategy can help you in your career development and job searchit can help you to build diverse teamsto align your strategy with the...2023-12-1435 minHow to Take the LeadIs leadership for you?In this episode of How To Take The Lead, we ask the question 'is leadership for you?'. We are into our fourth series of the podcast now and we realised we hadn't ever really addressed this question. We share our own experiences and the reasons why we have chosen to step into leadership positions.Our conversation is broad and wide ranging covering the following:the difference between leadership and managementwhat defines you as a leader - is it about positional power and hierarchy or something else?clarity on your purpose and the impact...2023-12-0737 minHow to Take the LeadThe state of leadership - 2023 editionWe are back with series 4. And as we're getting to the end of the year we thought it would be the perfect time to check-in on the state of leadership.We last did this in 2022, so we wanted to see what had changed, what stayed the same and what we think it all means for next year.In this episode we discuss:what we both got up to over the summer, including some side-hustle / sister / cousin podcasts that may have been launched!how to show up in your organisation when things are troubled globally...2023-11-3049 minHow to Take the LeadYou didn't think that would be it did you?You know we can’t resist a cheeky bonus episode. As we end the series we take the opportunity to reflect on which episodes really resonated with us and with listeners. And we use this episode as an opportunity to cover things that cropped up between our conversations that we didn’t get the chance to discuss.We share our own views, thoughts and experiences:04:22 – finding your fire again – the “so what?”07:24 – getting comfortable with being uncomfortable12:40 – honesty and vulnerability19:18 – shifting perceptions of power 31:00 - making your voice count33:21 – perception – it’s all personalAs it’s a bonus we’ve not s...2023-06-1543 minHow to Take the LeadStaying curiousIt’s the last episode of this series and we are all about staying curious. We discuss how we define curiosity in leadership and whether it is a core leadership skill. We are not just talking about being curious about others, but being curious about your own approach to leadership and how a culture of curiosity can impact your teams and organisation.We share our own views, thoughts and experiences:03:08 – the art of asking questions07:24 – benefits of being curious13:56 – can you learn to be a curious leader?22:24 – losing your curiosity 28:21 - How to… demonstrate curiosityAs always, we...2023-05-0433 minHow to Take the LeadLeadership - is it all about power?Can you believe it’s the penultimate episode in this series already?In this episode we tackle the topic of power in leadership and how power dynamics show up. We talk about some of the misconceptions in relation to power, challenge some of the stereotypes of how power can play out for leaders and how we can better understand how we can use our power for good as leaders. We share our own thoughts and experiences about how the concept of power has impacted our own leadership journeys.03:08 – different types of power09:21 – behaviours and signals from others...2023-04-2747 minHow to Take the LeadOwning your s**t!Leaders or not, we are all human, so mistakes are inevitable right? Whether it is making a bad decision, moving in the wrong direction strategically or not listening to stakeholder feedback, it’s the way we deal with our mistakes that can make all the difference.We share our own views, thoughts and experiences:06:01 – the BBC v. Gary Lineker08:36 – warning signs you’re getting it wrong14:50 – blaming and scapegoating22:27 – sorry seems to be the hardest word 28:10 – trust is at the heart of it31:35 - How to… own your sh*tAs always, we share our top takeaways...2023-04-2039 min
From Inside the HiveCarrie-Ann Wade & Lee Griffith... Conversations from Inside the HivePrevious guests individually, together Carrie-Ann and Lee host brilliant leadership podcast How to Take the Lead. Today we talk leadership challenges, friendship, Lee-isms and try not to get teary!
Find out more and get in touch through:
Website: www.howtotakethelead.com
Insta: @howtotakethelead
Twitter: @how2takethelead
Substack: https://howtotakethelead.substack.com
Grab the leadership booklist over on the website, and you can listen to the podcast on your favourite platform, just type in How to Take the Lead.2023-04-1458 minHow to Take the LeadA matter of communicationWhile we might have 40 years of professional communications experience between us, we are super clear that leaders have to take the lead in communicating and engaging for their organisations, not leave it to their corporate communications team. Organisational performance and communications go hand in had for us and we explore this further in this episode.We share our own views, thoughts and experiences:04:07 – whose responsibility is it to communicate?06:59 – communications and organisational performance15:03 – understanding communication preferences24:47 – where’s your evidence? 28:53 – consistency is key40:30 - How to…communicate and engageAs always, we share our top takeaways t...2023-04-1344 minHow to Take the LeadAvoiding overwhelmWe’ve already discussed the leadership landscape and how challenging it is for leaders at present. In this episode we talk about how, as a leader, you can avoid overwhelm, recognising when you might be heading towards burnout and how to support your wellbeing. We also share our own personal experiences of dealing with overwhelm.We share our own views, thoughts and experiences:03:38 – the stats – setting the scene11:11 – recognition of signs and privilege16:59 – the impact of who you work with23:37 – boundary setting 31:30 – where are you getting your support?41:00 - How to…avoid overwhelmAs always, we share o...2023-04-0644 minHow to Take the LeadMaking your voice countAs leaders we have a platform and opportunity to use our voice and our influence, whether we like it or not. In this episode we explore how and when you might choose to use your voice.We share our own views, thoughts and experiences:5:37 – representing what matters8:23 – what does it mean to have a voice?13:53 – individual v. organisational views28:14 – testing alignment36:56 – persistent and consistent39:01 How to…make your voice countAs always, we share our top takeaways to help you make your voice count. This week it’s about understanding what matters most to you and your p...2023-03-3041 minHow to Take the LeadDifficult conversationsHaving difficult conversations is part and parcel of being a leader, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. In this episode we talk about how to have a difficult conversation with individuals, teams and in public. We share our advice and tips for how you can prepare for a challenging conversations and what you might want to consider from the point of view of the person/ people you are talking with.In this episode we share our own views, thoughts and experiences:5:10 – conflict and tension10:10 – difficult team conversations17:29 – communicating challenges outside of your organisation24:10 – preparation is key25:56...2023-03-2335 minHow to Take the LeadConfidenceConfidence is something that comes up in so many of our conversations with leaders and aspiring leaders. In this episode we explore what confidence means in relation to leadership – both in terms of your own leadership and how you create confidence for others.In this episode we share our own views, thoughts and experiences:05:18 – confidence is subjective10:30 – loud doesn’t equal confident13:28 – don’t assume confidence means you don’t need support15:15 – who is creating the confidence gap?21:12 – developing your confidence28:36 – practical things to support you29:09 – How to – lead with confidenceAs always, we share our top takeaways...2023-03-1640 minHow to Take the LeadHow can organisations better support leaders?Organisations have a huge role to play in developing leaders but not all organisations do this well. In this episode we discuss what support leaders need, how organisations identify future leaders and what leadership development programmes need to consider:05:22 – talk about leadership early10:28 – organisational mindset shift14:30 – floundering out of the funnel17:31 – closing the development gap23:54 – creating a coaching culture29:09 – How to... influence leadership developmentAs always, we share our top takeaways including the benefits of a coaching approach to leadership development, personalising development for individuals and challenging your own expectations of new leaders.If you enjoyed t...2023-03-0934 minHow to Take the LeadLeading when things are toughWe are back with our third series, and in this first episode we are talking about how you can lead when things are tough. We are all tired, we have moved from one crisis to another with no time to catch a breath, we have lots going on in life AND we still need to lead.In this episode we share our own views, thoughts and experiences:04:08 – knowing where to start 05:10 – working out what you can control and act on11:15 – we don’t have to be the saviour17:09 – leadership mindset22:55 – don't demote development28:48 – How to ... do things differen...2023-03-0233 minHow to Take the LeadThe big end of year bonus!Well, we’ve got two series of the podcast under our belts now and we couldn’t finish 2022 without a bonus episode. It’s a bit of a review of the year, what we have learned about leadership, what we’ve loved and loathed and also a look ahead to our leadership hopes for 2023.04:23 – is it important for leaders to make time to reflect and reset?10:53 – how do I take steps to have the impact I desire as a leader?18:43 – overwhelm and being kind to yourself26:02 – has 2022 been a good year for leaders?30:46 – leadership wishes for 202332:08 – what should leaders firmly leave...2022-12-2940 minHow to Take the LeadQuiet quitting - a gen z phenomena?In this episode we explore quiet quitting, what it is, how it is impacting people and whether or not it's a gen Z phenomenon. The conversation flows toward boundary setting more than once as we discuss the reasons people are disengaging in the workplace. And we talk about the different demographics who are choosing to quiet quit.04:36 – what is quiet quitting?09:03 – sticking to your boundaries11:58 – only 1 in 3 managers are engaged in the workplace15:32 – is quiet quitting only a Gen Z thing?23:19 – feeling in control of your career25:57 – the How To...As always we share our top takeaw...2022-12-2229 minHow to Take the LeadCulture eats strategy?We share our thoughts in this episode about whether culture trumps strategy and how we as leaders can consider this in our work. Strategy is, of course, important, but the culture you create impacts on so many factors, including how effective you are as a leader. As always we share our own views, thoughts and experiences:05:06 – culture isn’t it’s own workstream07:54 – culture supporting a changing strategy11:15 – decision making hierarchy15:00 – redefining the culture in your organisation20:30 – aligning behaviours and experiences25.40 – what if you can’t influence the macro culture? 32:30 – the How to...We share our top takeaway...2022-12-1535 minHow to Take the LeadShould I stay or should I go?In this episode we share our thinking for leaders who may well be questioning if they should stay or if they should leave their organisation.At various points in your career you may find yourself in the situation where you feel like it might be time for you to move on or there might well be signals that you should be considering your next steps as a leader. We talk about the things you should consider, owning the narrative and ensuring you have the right support.As always we share our own views, thoughts and...2022-12-0840 minHow to Take the LeadPsychological safety in leadershipThis episode is an in-depth exploration of psychological safety, what it means for you as a leader, for your teams and your organisation. We share our own experiences, thoughts and advice and really do get personal to help you understand the importance of psychological safety.In this episode we share our own views, thoughts and experiences:02:50 – what do we mean by psychological safety11:42 – imposter syndrome and safety17:30 – the nuances of trust and psychological safety19:54 – fear, innovation and risk28:17 – psychological safety for your stakeholders35:15 – reputation management and a safe culture 40:55 – how to...As always we share our top takea...2022-12-0144 minHow to Take the LeadAre we really listening?In this episode we explore what it really means to listen as a leader. Listening isn’t just about what you hear through your ears but what you see and experience. Working out who to listen to and how is one thing but you also need to decide what to do with what you are hearing.04:27 – cutting through the noise07:39 – what have you put in place to listen well?09:14 – don’t just listen to those who shout loudest15:52 – what gets in the way of truly listening?21:21 – reading the room23:43 – you can’t promise to fix everything 30:55 – our top takeawaysAs alw...2022-11-2434 minHow to Take the LeadCharisma and personality: how much do you need to lead?In this episode we question what charisma really is and if you need it to be a good leader. We discuss how much personality impacts how effective you are as a leader. And we ask whether charisma is only associated with male leaders.08:48 – building rapport and charisma09:22 – is charisma inspirational?11:52 – charisma as a label14:05 – being likeable doesn’t always get the job done16:04 – charisma – is it a man thing?24:57 – personality transplant30:30 – the how to...As always we share our top takeaways and in this episode we share our thoughts on owning your personality and being authentic. We also talk about f...2022-11-1732 minHow to Take the LeadWomen in leadershipIn this episode we share recent research as well as our own thoughts and experiences on women in leadership. We ask if women are still facing the same challenges as leaders and what needs to happen to support more women in leadership positions:02:19 – setting the context, Lean In and McKinsey report04:47 – is it because I’m a woman?11:17 – have the challenges for women changed?13:42 – the positive impact of women leaders in organisations21:58 – causes of imposter syndrome24:06 – challenging stereotypes28:40 – How to...As always we share our top takeaways and in this episode we discuss ways to advocate and support women...2022-11-1035 minHow to Take the LeadWhen are you a leader?We explore when you are a leader from a few angles, including your perception versus the perception of others, if you ever switch off as a leader and how your home life might be influenced by your leadership role and vice versa:02:15 – is there a difference between management and leadership?05:33 – the role of organisations in leadership development09:39 – perceptions of when you are a leader17:04 – exploring feedback about your leadership19:24 – is leadership 24/7?28:40 – How to...As always we share our top takeaways and in this episode we strongly recommend revisiting your purpose and why you want to be a leader, focu...2022-11-0331 minHow to Take the LeadTransitionsManaging change is something we all need to do as a leader but what happens when the changes are personal? In this episode we explore how we can deal with transitions as a leader. We share our own experiences of dealing with change as leaders as well as offer advice and tips for those points in your career when change happens:03:14 – dealing with your step up into leadership08:40 – working out how you want to land as a new leader10:25 – moving from a peer to a leader18:54 – perceptions versus reality and managing work friendships23:53 – what to consider when a cha...2022-10-2735 minHow to Take the LeadThe state of leadership in 2022In the first episode of this series we thought we should start with a review of leadership so far in 2022, covering some of the highs (there have been a few we promise) and lows of leadership right now. We share our thoughts on what’s impressing us in the leadership space, as well as the things that are causing us to get on our soapboxes:03:16 – Patagonia, living their values and staying true to their purpose09:47 – Gen Z, the boundary setters22:00 – handling HR processes compassionately26:41 – leading through the cost of living crisis34:30 – the future leader – values, adaptability and wellbeing43...2022-10-2046 minHow to Take the LeadWe're back! Series 2 trailerWelcome back to How To Take The Lead, our podcast exploring all things leadership. We are back for our second series and ready to share our latest thoughts on the state of leadership right now. No corporate BS here, just us, debunking myths, sharing our experiences and giving you practical tips. We might even get on our soapbox every now and then.Between us we have extensive leadership and communications experience. How to Take the Lead offers you an insight into our approach and thoughts on leadership, all with the aim of challenging the ways things have...2022-10-1302 minHow to Take the LeadThe reunionIn this bonus episode of How To Take The Lead it’s our end of series after party ... or reunion show, if you watch too much Below Deck like Lee! In this episode we reflect on and discuss the things we wished we'd covered in the first series, bits we missed, what we've learnt and everything in between, including:· 10:22 – that Jack Duckworth moment· 11:29 – how The Wellcome Trust handled racism· 14:27 – Virgin Atlantic ditch the power suit· 16:32 – everyday sexism· 20:08 – when can we stop asking if a woman can lead the country?· 24:40 – storytelling when you...2022-09-0133 minHow to Take the LeadWhat should you be making time for?In the series one finale of How To Take The Lead we consider what you should be making time for as a leader. It’s a question we both get asked a lot so we share our views on what to prioritise and how to protect your time. We share our thoughts, experiences and learning, including:· 03:03 – expectation versus reality· 09:46 – the value of protected time· 17:30 – what should you be doing with your protected time· 22:33 – the importance of boundary setting· 34:30 – do you have to be the doer?· 41:15 – how to make the most of your timeOur top takeaways in th...2022-08-2544 minHow to Take the LeadTrust mattersIn this episode of How To Take The Lead we talk about trust and what this means as a leader. Trust is something we discuss a lot in the leadership space and we explore what we really mean by trust. In this episode we share our thoughts, experiences and learning, including:· 03:50 – the neuroscience of trust and how this translates to the workplace· 08:12 – how do you build trust as a leader· 13:30 – trust and performance · 18:45 – how to measure high trust· 21:15 – can you rebuild trust as a leader?· 29:55 – how to build trustAs always we share our top takeaways...2022-08-1831 minHow to Take the LeadHow to be a better allyIn this episode of How To Take The Lead we focus on allyship as a leader. Neither of us profess to be experts in this area, in fact we are on our own learning journeys, but we feel this is an important aspect of being a leader.In this episode we share our thoughts, experiences and learning, including:· 07:52 – why does allyship matter?· 11:53 – what can leaders do?· 18:01 – making change happen· 21:53 – challenging your own biases· 29:00 – data warning· 38:00 – fear factor· 43:50 – institutional racism, Cricket Scotland and are we really learning?· 53:46 – how to... be a better...2022-08-1155 minHow to Take the LeadStorytellingIn this episode of How To Take The Lead we explore the power of storytelling in the context of leadership. Whether you are a natural born storyteller or you are a leader who deals in facts and figures, we discuss the importance of storytelling to build connections.In this episode we share our thoughts, experiences and learning, including:· 03:38 – creating sticky content · 10:51 – listening to all the stories· 14:53 – stop shoehorning in irrelevant stories· 25:59 – stories and data working together· 32:25 – How to ... use storytelling as a leader As always we share our top takeaways and in this episode we h...2022-08-0434 minHow to Take the LeadWhat's still in store this seriesWe are just over halfway through our first series of the How To Take The Lead podcast so we wanted to share a short bonus episode to thank you for your support and let you know what we’ve got coming up for the rest of the series.Still to come this series... 01:30 – leadership storytelling01:46 - trust and leadership02:20 – allyship and your role as a leader03:31 – where should leaders focus their time?We are looking forward to sharing these episodes and would love to hear your views and thou...2022-08-0106 minHow to Take the LeadIntrovert vs Extrovert ... who leads best?In this episode of How To Take The Lead we talk about what it’s like to be an introvert or an extrovert as a leader. We talk about the positives, the challenges and your role as a leader in supporting others to thrive.In this episode we share our thoughts, experiences and learning, including:· 06:29 – challenges for extroverts · 10:43 – how you get your energy as an extrovert· 15:22 – confidence and introvertism· 22:30 – who makes a better leader· 39:56 – top takeaways for introverts and extrovertsAs always we share our top takeaways including ensuring you understand your...2022-07-2842 minHow to Take the LeadMotivating the motivatorThis episode of How To Take The Lead is focused on motivation. As leaders we often have the role of motivating others and we wanted to take the opportunity to explore how we ourselves stay motivated in our leadership roles. Did you know that 75% of people are motivated by knowing what they don’t want? So motivation is an important part of life as a leader.In this episode we share our thoughts, experiences and learning, including:4:05 – understanding your ‘love’ language 7:41 – motivation linked to your purpose and needs15:03 – staying motivated when you’ve been in post for some time24:1...2022-07-2130 min