In this episode of Beyond Potential, Tom Emery and Tom Mason dive deep into the concept of personal agency, the ability to take ownership of your choices, behaviour, and direction. They explore why so many leaders and teams get stuck waiting for circumstances to change, and how the most effective ones instead take deliberate, consistent action to shape their outcomes. From breaking limiting beliefs and reframing self-talk, to the importance of routines, boundaries, and consistency, this episode offers practical ways to reclaim your sense of control, both at work and in life. If you’ve ever felt like things are “happening to you” instead of “through you”, this conversation will help you reset, refocus, and act with intent. 🎧 Tune in for insights as Tom & Tom unpack what it really means to lead and live with agency.

In this episode of Beyond Potential, Tom Mason and Tom Emery sit down with strategist, leadership coach, and author Charlie Curson to explore what it really means to be strategic, not just at work, but across every part of your life. Drawing on ideas from his soon to be released book ‘Be More Strategic: 12 essential practices to build the life and career you want’, Charlie unpacks how leaders can create clarity, make better decisions, and move from reacting to leading with intent. They discuss how to: Turn reflection into practical action Develop a “strategic lens” to spot patterns and possibilities Balance short-term pressures with long-term perspective Build confidence through self-awareness and curiosity It’s a conversation that challenges the idea of strategy as something abstract or corporate, showing instead how it’s a daily practice of awareness, courage, and purpose. ‘Be More Strategic: 12 essential practices to build the life and career you want’ – launches 6th November find out more and sign up for the launch offer here: https://www.teammandarin.com/be-more-strategic-book

In this bonus episode of Beyond Potential, Tom Emery and Tom Mason continue their bite-sized conversation around the Beyond Potential Leadership Framework, turning their focus to the traits and tools of a Strategic Visionary. They unpack how leaders can move beyond firefighting and task management to see the bigger picture, connecting dots across markets, people, and purpose. From widening your perspective and reflecting on your time, to linking every action back to your “why,” this episode offers practical ways to build clarity and foresight into your leadership. If you'd like to take a look, the model is available at www.beyond-potential.co.uk 

In this episode of Beyond Potential, Tom Emery and Tom Mason are joined by Wes Adams, founder and CEO of SV Consulting Group and co-author of the book 'Meaningful Work'. Wes shares powerful insights into how organisations can move beyond surface-level engagement and truly enable purpose in the workplace. Drawing from his background in positive psychology, Wes introduces the three key drivers of meaningful work: community, contribution, and challenge. Wes explains how these elements can shape more human and purpose-led cultures. From leadership behaviours to structural design, the conversation explores practical strategies for embedding meaning into everyday work. Whether you're a leader, HR professional, or simply looking to connect more deeply with your work, this episode offers valuable perspectives and actionable ideas.

In this bonus episode of Beyond Potential, Tom Mason and Tom Emery continue their bite-sized exploration of the Beyond Potential Leadership Framework, this time unpacking the concept of The Commercial Genius. If you want to take a look at the model you can do so at www.beyond-potential.co.uk Being a commercial genius, is not about turning every leader into a finance expert. Instead, Tom Mason explores what it really means to think commercially as a leader: understanding where value is created, thinking across systems, beyond function and balancing the short and long term. Together, the Toms discuss how understanding the value levers you can pull that will help you have a greater impact. Curiosity, confidence, and questioning can help leaders translate data into insight, make better decisions under pressure, and connect commercial sense with human impact. If you’ve ever felt daunted by the ‘numbers side’ of leadership, this episode will help you reframe what being commercially minded truly means. How to strengthen that muscle to drive value without losing sight of people and purpose.

In this episode of Beyond Potential, host Tom Mason engages with leadership expert Andrew Walbridge, speaker author and global coach. In this inspiring episode Andrew shares his journey as a lifelong student of leadership and the inspiration behind his book, 'Leaders Labyrinth.' The conversation delves into the complexities of leadership, the importance of finding one's voice, and the essential qualities of trustworthiness. Andrew emphasises the need for authenticity and emotional connection in leadership, offering practical tips for aspiring leaders to cultivate their unique voices and build trust within their teams. The episode concludes with Andrew's insights on the significance of making one's voice heard in the pursuit of progress. Follow Andrew on Linkedln

In the fifth episode of our seven-part mini-series exploring Beyond Potential's leadership model, we're discussing the importance of impact makers within organisations. Most people are busy, but busy is not the same as impactful. In fact, some of the busiest people - those running from meeting to meeting - are not impactful at all. Impact makers don't just show up; they use initiative to move things forward. They're outcome-focused, working with the business to understand what the collective goal is, how to reach it, and encouraging others to rally behind it. In this episode, we explore methods and techniques you can use to become an impact maker. From prioritisation tools, like the Eisenhower matrix, to learning to delegate with clarity and intention, you can ensure your time is used effectively. Listen to the episode to find out how creating new rhythms and rituals will enable you to be more output-focused, and what behaviours you need to embody to become an impact maker. If you missed the previous episodes in the series, listen back here: Discovering your leadership purpose Role of insightful navigator in leadership The importance of being a culture catalyst Boosting performance as an influence architect Learn more about Beyond Potential, HEX and Potentia, and connect with Tom Emery and Tom Mason on LinkedIn.

In this episode, the Beyond Potential team were joined by entrepreneur and MARA founder, George Bettany, to discuss the connection between presence and performance. He shared his journey from footballer through to performance coach, including his experiences building coaching and mentoring businesses, Sanctus and MARA. George reveals how stepping away from Sanctus allowed him space to reconnect with what he enjoyed - running - and, from there, MARA was born. He explains how practising presence, whether in fitness, business or life, unlocks performance by allowing us to be free of distractions and negative thought. His vision is to enlighten others to the power of meditation and enable them to perform and feel better by giving them tools to remain present. George's story is an inspiring one, full of self-awareness and moments of growth, as well as vulnerability. You won't want to miss it. Follow George on LinkedIn  Watch George's TEDTalk  Learn more about MARA 

Continuing our bonus mini-series on the Beyond Potential leadership model, in this episode, we discuss what it means to boost performance as an influence architect. An influence architect uses trust to move the needle on performance. By influencing those above and around them, they improve the performance of themselves, their team, and the business. But being an influence architect isn't about being the loudest or most opinionated in the room, it's about bringing others along on the journey by utilising the trust you have already built with them. Join us in this episode as we explore how you can use situational leadership to influence by adapting your style, and to find out why self reflection is so important at every stage of the leadership model. Catch up on the previous episodes in the series here: Discovering your leadership purpose Role of insightful navigator in leadership The importance of being a culture catalyst Connect with Tom Emery and Tom Mason on LinkedIn. Find out more about: Beyond Potential, HEX and Potentia.

This week, Tom and Tom sit down and discuss intentional mindful leadership vs automatic behaviours, processes and actions. They explore different scenarios where top leaders stop, take a step back and act with intention rather than autopilot. Do you take the time to make your team feel valued or like they matter? Do you ensure that the objective of every meeting is clear from the beginning? Do you take a breath before emotionally responding to feedback? In this episode, we explore how microhabits can help you become more intentional and mindful. How making time for building deeper relationships with your team can actually save you time in the long run. If you're feeling overloaded, overwhelmed and burnt out, we also have some ideas that might help you build better boundaries and intentional with your own wellbeing.

In this bonus episode, Tom Emery and Tom Mason turn their attention to the 'Culture Catalyst', a vital element of the Beyond Potential leadership model. This is picking up from episode 46, where they talked about the role of the 'Insightful Navigator'. Culture often feels like an intangible concept, but as the Toms explore, it’s the invisible hand that shapes behaviours, performance, and how teams experience work. They break down what it really means to be a culture catalyst: from building trust and psychological safety, to driving inclusion, setting accountability, and role-modelling the behaviours you want to see. Drawing on leadership models such as Patrick Lencioni’s Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Tuckman’s team development model, and Amy Edmondson’s work on psychological safety, they show how leaders at every level can actively shape microcultures within their teams, and why these feed into the wider organisational culture. The message is clear: culture isn’t something handed down from the CEO or written on the office wall. It’s something leaders create, protect, and sustain every day through intentional action and agency. Short, sharp, and packed with practical insights, this 10-minute episode is designed to help you reflect on your own team culture and how you can become the catalyst for a more inclusive, high-performing environment. Connect with Tom Emery and Tom Mason on LinkedIn. Find out more about: Beyond Potential, HEX and Potentia.

In this reflective episode, Tom Mason and Tom Emery take listeners on a journey through the summer months. They discuss the energy and resolutions that come with September, share personal and professional updates, and highlight standout guests and episodes. The hosts also offer a behind-the-scenes look at their evolving leadership brand, Beyond Potential, and their respective businesses, Potentia and HEX. Dive in!

In this episode of Beyond Potential, the team is joined by Tom Holliss, Chief People Officer at consumer insights platform, Zappi. Tom shared his experience working for a scale-up and how they manage the constant pace of change by building a culture of experimentation. He discussed key disruptors in the tech industry, including the opportunities and challenges associated with using AI to scale and change business models, and what that means for jobs. As the conversation turned to culture, Tom explained why it's important to develop intrinsic motivation amongst a team through personal development, a sense of purpose and understanding what makes people tick. He talked about Zappi's culture of experimentation, how they're upskilling and engaging teams, and revealed how he manages 'crunchy' conversations. Connect with Tom on LinkedIn.  

In this episode of Beyond Potential, Tom Emery is sitting on the other side of the mic with guest Leanne Spencer to introduce their new initiative: The Sustain Collective. Remote working, hustle culture and the AI boom have all contributed to an increased pace in today's working world. For many, including senior HR leaders, this results in feelings of constant firefighting and reactivity, instead of leading with purpose and consideration. So, how do we deal with this pace, learn to slow down, and start to take agency over our lives? The Sustain Collective brings senior HR leaders together to become more impactful leaders whilst ensuring their wellbeing remains a priority. It combines Leanne's expertise in workplace wellbeing and personal sustainability with Tom's lived experience as a CHRO and his passion for supporting HR leaders to reach their potential. The initiative includes peer discussion and support, one-to-one coaching, plus monthly in-person meets in London. This isn't just a place to complain about the struggles of HR leadership; it's a space to be challenged and receive guidance and support to enable you to make a change.  Find out more about The Sustain Collection, get your personalised report and sign up to the waitlist here: https://sustain-collective-waitlist.scoreapp.com/ Find out more about Leanne: https://leannespencer.co.uk/  Learn more about Tom and HEX: https://www.hex-development.com/ 

In this episode, we're joined by the brilliant Tom Henschel, Executive Coach and host of 'The Look & Sound of Leadership' Podcast. Tom took us on a tour of his career journey, from acting, through teaching, to coaching, and the transferable skills between the roles. He told us how his podcast began - right back in 2008 - when someone told him he had a great voice for audio, and he went from having no idea what a podcast was to launching within weeks. We discussed at length his tools and rules for turning upward feedback into a learning conversation, including how finger-pointing won't yield results, the importance of framing to encourage better outcomes, and why you need to approach a conversation with solutions, not just problems. Tom explained how learning conversations can take time and repetition, and revealed how approaching a discussion assuming that nothing will change can actually take the pressure off. It's an insightful and enjoyable listen. Find Tom on LinkedIn. Listen to The Look & Sound of Leadership Podcast. Find out more about Essential Communications.  Download the Giving Upward Feedback PDF.  

In this episode of Beyond Potential, we're joined by Management Professor and author Andrew Brodsky, as he reveals the secrets to successful virtual communication. Citing research and tips from his book, 'Ping', Andrew left no stone unturned when it came to advice on virtual communication, including choosing the best channel, agreeing an appropriate frequency, and how to decide when is a good time to follow up. He covered: The benefits of camera on versus off When it's better to pick up the phone Why voice notes are so divisive How to make your meetings more engaging The fine balance between over and under-communication Andrew explained how his immune deficiency drove his passion for the subject area, his approach to his research, and talked us through the PING Framework. You'll also find out what people really think about your typos!  We learned a lot from this conversation and know you will too. Follow Andrew on LinkedIn. Find out more about the book and access free tools and resources on the Ping Group's website.  

This week, we're joined by Felix Mitchell, Founder and Co-CEO of Instant Impact, and host of the We Need to Talk About HR podcast.  Felix spoke to us about the work he and his team do at Instant Impact to support organisations with talent acquisition through their advanced tech stack and specialist recruiters. He discusses the new, and fast-growing, transformation side of the business, an area focused on supporting organisations to successfully adopt and integrate AI. During our chat, he spoke of the challenges many businesses are facing as they try to keep up with the pace of AI transformation, and reveals how those managing it most successfully are the ones investing in dedicated resource and capability that enable them to focus on AI fully. A solution, he says, may sound obvious, but he feels many still aren't doing.  The conversation also moved to Felix's podcast 'We Need to Talk About HR', including the story behind setting it up (and choosing the show's name), how he decides what to discuss on each episode, and his experiences with his guests. You can find Felix Mitchell on LinkedIn. Listen to the We Need to Talk About HR podcast. 

We welcome sales expert Matt Dixon to Beyond Potential. Co-author of multiple bestselling books, including The Challenger Sale, The Challenger Customer, The Effortless Experience and The JOLT Effect, he joined us to discuss the research from his new book, The Activator Advantage. Using findings from a comprehensive study of almost 3,000 service partners, Matt discussed the five types of partners found across professional services and how the attributes of one of them, 'The Activator', consistently drives growth. He discussed the decline in client loyalty, the reasons why, and how the Activator still succeeds, giving real examples of ways they outshine other types, including in the art of the pitch. It's a must-listen for anyone focused on engaging and winning clients. Follow Matt on LinkedIn. Find out more about Matt's work on his website and DCM Insights website

In this mid-year episode of Beyond Potential, Tom and Tom take stock of 2025 so far – a year that’s already brought its fair share of economic uncertainty, rapid organisational change, and shifting leadership dynamics. From the continued integration of AI to the ongoing tension around hybrid working, leaders are navigating change, uncertainty and more. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Amidst the challenges, we’re seeing encouraging signs: organisations investing in their people, leaders becoming more intentional, and teams looking for connection, clarity and care. The Toms share what they’re noticing in their work with leaders and teams across industries – including real examples from recent coaching and development sessions. They talk candidly about the pressure to do more with less, the reality of change fatigue, and how leaders can build resilience without burning out. And if you haven’t already, we encourage you to revisit our recent conversation with Wyndham James, where we explore the importance of consistency and alignment when leading through change, especially when it comes to return-to-office expectations. This episode is packed with practical reflections, mindset shifts, and book recommendations for anyone looking to lead more intentionally through the second half of the year. Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication by Vanessa Van Edwards The Activator Advantage: What Today's Rainmakers Do Differently by Matthew Dixon, Rory Channer, Karen Freeman, and Ted McKenna  

This week, Tom and Tom are joined by coach and author Wyndham James to explore the deeply personal journey of finding and living the life you truly want. Drawing from his debut non-fiction book Find Your Freedom: It's Time To Write Your Own BluePrint, Wyndham shares his powerful story of being trapped in the wrong career for two decades, the shame that kept him stuck, and the emotional reckoning that finally set him free. We unpack Wyndham’s BluePrint philosophy, a compassionate framework that helps us understand how our early inclusion criteria shape our behaviours, often unconsciously, and how we can take responsibility for rewriting the narrative. We reflect on shame, identity, and leadership, plus you'll take away practical insights into using the BluePrint to shift behaviour, lead more intentionally, and create the life (and workplace) you really want. Whether you’re navigating a personal turning point or leading others through change, this is an episode that we hope will challenge you, inspire you, and stay with you. Connect with Wyndham James: Via his website: https://www.wyndhamjames.com/  LinkedIn  Instagram YouTube