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Welcome to our new 4-part mini-series all about Inspirational Leadership. It can be so easy to judge leaders in an organisation as its easy to forget that leaders are humans too. As anyone who has recently moved into leadership, its not for the faint-hearted as we head towards 2030 - but this is the reason to lean in, not shy away from - taking the leadership reins.

In this first one we dive into ancient Stoic wisdom and modern insight (from Dolly Parton) to help leaders thrive during these transformational times. Rather than taking setbacks and challenges as personal failings, the Stoics believed that these are the realities of life and the reason why we need leaders in the first place. We explore 5 Stoic lessons for strong leadership: Control What You Can (focus on actions, not outcomes), Lead by Example (character over charisma), Embrace Adversity (obstacles are opportunities.), Practice Emotional Mastery (stay calm in chaos) and Serve a Greater Good (leadership is service).

An uplifting lesson for a leader who may be feeling a bit faded or jaded, and an inspiring one for those considering to move into leadership (in whatever form that takes - it could be organising a charity event or a birthday celebration). As Epictetus said over 2000 years ago: “It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”

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In this final in our 4-part series where we review 4 of the recent books that have made an impact on us, we explore Steven Hargreave's brilliant 'The Compassionate Leader's Playbook' from 2021. His book demonstrates how leading with compassion is great for business, culture, and the bottom line, and how when we lead with compassion everyone benefits.

We love this book because of the core belief that runs through it, that a successful modern workplace is one where relationships, connectivity, wellbeing, and purpose. Whether you are a formal leader with a Big L or an everyday leader with little L looking to make a difference, this is about bringing renewed energy, enhanced kindness, integrity, and empathy to our worklife. During this second half of the 2020's as we head towards 2030 what people need and want from their leaders has changed; its about creating commercial, tangible, measurable success through creating the optimal conditions for everyone to be their best and to do their best.

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In this third in our 4-part series where we review 4 of the recent books that have made an impact on us, we explore David Eagleman's inspirational 'Livewired' book from 2021. From new ways of looking at why we dream, to how we can maintain our problem-solving and decision-making skills, this brings a fresh and empowering way to view intelligence and what it means to be smart.

Rather than intelligence being 'hard-wired' in as being something you have or haven't got, this focuses on how our brain changes and reshapes every day based on the information it is processing and the sensory data it is processing. Actively seeking opportunities to learn and develop is not only good emotionally for our confidence, identity and mindset - but neurologically too, as our brain creates new neural pathways and strengthens the popular pathways and prunes away the unused ones. In fact, daily reflection is a way to influence your memory stores as it is a way to recode random moments into purposeful events. The brain stores what is perceived as valuable - indicated by the amount of times it is recalled. The more fresh info we can it, the more balanced and healthy that 'real estate' is. Just like introducing solids to a toddler, the wider the palate, the safer and easier a diet later.

What are you to learn this week? Just because.

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In this second in our 4-part series the books that have made an impact on us, we explore The Trauma Informed Coach written by Joanna Harper.

What happens when someone shares their trauma with you at work? Do you freeze, try to fix it, or change the subject? We unpack the delicate art of navigating difficult conversations with compassion and boundaries.

Trauma doesn't always look like what we expect. From poorly delivered feedback to public embarrassment, even seemingly small workplace incidents can create lasting limiting beliefs that hold people back from promotions, new challenges, and fulfilling careers. This episode offers practical guidance for creating safe spaces where people can share without judgment, while maintaining appropriate boundaries when you're not a therapist.

Discover powerful questions that shift focus from past trauma to future growth: "What strengths did you develop from that experience?" and "Is that belief true for you now?" Learn simple grounding techniques for moments when someone becomes distressed, and explore the belief shift model for transforming limiting beliefs into empowering ones.

The transformative potential of addressing trauma properly is immense. Debs shares stories of clients who've moved countries, built houses, launched charities, and found dream careers after breaking free from trauma-based limitations. As she powerfully notes, "your trauma has shaped who you are today, but it's not holding you there."

Whether you're a coach, leader, or colleague, these trauma-informed approaches create workplaces where people feel safe to share and empowered to grow. Remember: the past is for reference, not for residence. What could become possible when you or someone you know breaks free from limiting beliefs rooted in past experiences?

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Welcome to the first in our new 4-part series where we review 4 of the recent books that have made an impact on us. Ideal for those who find it tricky to get the time to read but want the benefits of learning in an easy-listen way with tangible takeaways weaved in.

Mo Gawdat's Scary Smart book is as much a call to action as it is a good read for those interested in all thing Artificial Intelligence. Mo takes a creative look at AI and rather than us humans as unknowing consumers, we are unwitting creators in how AI is learning and adapting the more we use it. You can purchase the whole book here, or join us for a 30 min romp through the main bits as we mix in practical tips and ideas to bring this into everyday actions.

If the AI game was changed back in Feb 2017 with Deepmind's AlphaGo, we now have an 18-year old artificial intelligence which is not only coming of age, but we've handed it the keys to the self-driving car. But parenting doesnt stop at 18, we can still make a difference to how AI develops - and we discuss Mo's thoughts on how to do this.

Enjoy!

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In the final of our 4-part 'time to think' mini-series, we shine a light on one of the darker aspects of working relationships: coercive control. Whether this is an unhealthy manager/team member dynamic or between colleagues we explore what it means, what to watch out for and how to break the cycle. Many face the silent struggle of feeling manipulated or undervalued by their bosses or colleagues—a dilemma that is not often openly discussed but profoundly impacts workplace morale.

We dive deep into the characteristics of coercive control, exploring how it subtly manifests itself through micromanagement, gaslighting, or emotional manipulation.

A good listen for anyone feeling undervalued and controlled at work and wants practical tips for spotting these behaviours and empowering yourself.

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In the third of our 4-part 'time to think' mini-series, we focus on the importance of not just prioritising yourself, but to hold it as a core value to ensure a healthy balance in how you interact with people and the world at large. If you stand for nothing, you'll fall for anything (Katy Perry, song ROAR) so it boosts our confidence, purpose and energy.

We focus on the body/mind link and what a realistic approach to a good life/work balance looks like in practice. We refresh the drivers/over-drivers concept to increase self-awareness about what might get in the way of putting ourselves first and how to reverse the psychology for positive power! If you know you are a perfectionist, make a perfect self-care plan. If you are a people-pleaser at heart, book in self-care with an accountability buddy that you know you wont want to let down.

A useful listen for those wanting to remind themselves/inspire others to practice self-care.

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Handling tricky people continues to be a hot topic, particularly if you are working in a hybrid setting where misunderstandings can arise due to judgements and perceptions. So this week we dip into the brilliant bestseller 'Surrounded By Idiots' written Thomas Erikson in 2014.

It offers a simple method for assessing the personalities of people we communicate with - in and out of the office - based on four personality types (Red, Blue, Green and Yellow), and provides insights into how we can adjust the way(s) we speak and share information. As well as a quick digest of the book, we share practical tools and strategies for applying these in our everyday working life and is a useful refresher for those looking to increase tolerance and productivity with people.

This is the first in our Mindful Manager Book Club series - a skills refresher for busy people. Whether you are a formal manager or not, we all need to manage our relationships whether in our professional or personal lives. Learning keeps us fresh and open-minded, so be inspired by an amazing book per week to spark your thinking and boost your confidence.

Fancy a deeper dive? check out these relevant episodes from our library:

Ep126 Empower With Everyday Curious Conversations - examples of structure and questions

Ep111 Accountability for Communication - Who's Responsible? - enabling lean and clean conversations that get understood

Ep95 Positive Impact and Influence - core foundations for great relationships and your reputation