Lead The Room

Ep 52 - One year of podcasting - reflection

In this milestone episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey celebrate a full year of weekly podcasting by reflecting on their most surprising leadership lessons and personal transformations. They share raw, honest moments about feeling like failures, learning to be less generous (yes, really), and discovering that being liked isn't always the path to transformation. Through candid conversations about remote leadership, personal planners, and the courage to make unpopular decisions, they reveal how consistent reflection and challenging your own assumptions can fundamentally reshape how you lead. This anniversary episode proves that real leadership growth doesn't come from having all the answers, it comes from being willing to question everything you thought you knew.

Key Takeaways:

Reflection Reveals Your Leadership Blind Spots: Both hosts discovered that their perceived strengths were sometimes holding teams back. Lyndsey learned her generosity could slow down transformation by preventing teams from building problem-solving competence, while Briony realized her visionary thinking needed better translation for teams to actually get behind it.
High-Performing Leaders Accept Being Disliked: The most transformative leaders aren't "too nice". They have the courage to make difficult decisions that won't please everyone. Building real credibility means being willing to be uncomfortable and potentially disliked in the moment, rather than always taking the easy, palatable route.
Sustainable Leadership Requires Whole-Life Integration: Moving beyond traditional work-life balance to genuine integration - planning your week as one person with finite energy across all life domains - creates more effective leadership and prevents the exhaustion of running parallel "full-on" weeks at work and home.

We've got an amazing bundle to help you create meetings with purpose. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get our FREE 15 minute team transformation guide. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get our planner to help you Walk the Week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We've got some amazing resources to help you start transforming your leadership and team today. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check them out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rate and review the podcast and send a screenshot to hello@leadtheroom.co.uk to get your FREE 90 day leadership refresh as a thank you.

Want to learn more with us and keep building your leadership skills to build your amazing team that does amazing things?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Check out our leadership challenges here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Follow us on instagram for daily tips and to send us your feedback on today’s episode

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Check out our blog for show notes and a full transcript

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leadtheroom.co.uk/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love hearing how you’re putting the podcast into practice as you build your own leadership playbook. Send us an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@leadtheroom.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - we read every one.

6 days ago

39 minutes 35 seconds

Lead The Room

Ep 51 - Let them lead. How to ACTUALLY empower your team

How to Actually Empower Your Team: 3 Frameworks That Work

Get the FREE workbook here.

"Just empower them" might be the most useless advice in leadership. Lyndsey and Briony tackle the frustrating reality that most leaders have no idea how to actually get their team to take ownership instead of constantly coming to them for decisions.

This episode delivers three specific frameworks you can explain to your team in five minutes each that create lasting change in how high-performing teams approach problems and make decisions.

Three Key Takeaways:

1. The Decision Stack: End the Guessing Game on Authority – Create four clear decision levels so your team knows exactly when to act independently.

2. The Problem Ownership Protocol: Stop Being the Team's Problem-Solver – Three questions shift conversations from reporting problems to owning solutions.

3. The Confidence Ladder: Build Capability Step-by-Step – For team members who know what needs doing but lack confidence, use five rungs.

2 weeks ago

28 minutes 46 seconds

Lead The Room

Ep 50 - Team meetings in crisis? Get back on track with our ways of working audit

Get the FREE workbook to audit your team meetings. Check it out here.

In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey tackle one of the most common leadership challenges: team meetings that have completely gone off the rails. Through real stories of meetings lasting two hours and leaving teams drained, they reveal how broken meeting culture doesn't just waste time; it actively destroys team energy, kills innovation, and erodes trust in leadership. They share a practical three-step audit framework that transformed their own teams, proving that you don't need another away day or expensive consultant to fix this. Instead, they show how gathering honest feedback and making strategic changes can completely reinvent how your team works together.

Key Takeaways:

- Broken Meetings Reveal Broken Leadership: When your team meetings consistently drain energy rather than create it, they're not just inefficient, they're a mirror showing you exactly what's wrong with your team culture. The two-hour Monday morning interrogation isn't about poor time management; it's symptomatic of deeper issues around trust, autonomy, and understanding what your team actually needs to perform.
- Leaders Often Can't See What Needs Fixing: The most powerful insight from this episode is recognizing when you're too close to the problem to solve it. Briony shares how delegating the meeting audit to her leadership team led to transformations she never would have thought of. Sometimes the best leadership move is admitting your team knows better than you do.
- Quick Wins Build Momentum for Bigger Change: You don't need to overhaul everything at once. Eliminating one obviously wasteful meeting, adding five-minute buffers between back-to-back meetings, or adjusting the timing of one problematic session can have immediate impact. These small changes prove you're serious about acting on feedback and build the trust needed for larger cultural shifts. The "now, next, later" approach keeps teams informed without overwhelming them with anxiety about change.

We've got an amazing bundle to help you tackle team drama. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get our FREE 15 minute team transformation guide. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get our planner to help you Walk the Week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We've got some amazing resources to help you start transforming your leadership and team today. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check them out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rate and review the podcast and send a screenshot to hello@leadtheroom.co.uk to get your FREE 90 day leadership refresh as a thank you.

Want to learn more with us and keep building your leadership skills to build your amazing team that does amazing things?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Check out our leadership challenges here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Follow us on instagram for daily tips and to send us your feedback on today’s episode

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Check out our blog for show notes and a full transcript

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leadtheroom.co.uk/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love hearing how you’re putting the podcast into practice as you build your own leadership playbook. Send us an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@leadtheroom.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - we read every one.

2 weeks ago

45 minutes 12 seconds

Lead The Room

Ep 49 - How to get yourself back on track if you've been avoiding 1-2-1s

In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey tackle one of the most common leadership challenges: falling out of the rhythm of one-to-ones with your team. They share honest stories about how even the most well-intentioned leaders can drift away from these critical conversations, and reveal why 18 months without a one-to-one isn't just poor management, it's fundamentally unfair to your people. Through personal experiences and practical strategies, they demonstrate how leaders can get back on track quickly, even when guilt and embarrassment make it tempting to avoid the issue entirely. They break down exactly what makes one-to-ones slip off the priority list and offer a realistic approach to rebuilding this essential leadership habit.

Key Takeaways:

Confront Your Avoidance With Three Powerful Questions: Taking just 15 minutes to ask yourself "What am I afraid will happen if I consistently do one-to-ones?" reveals the real fears driving avoidance behavior. Most leaders discover their fear of doing them is actually less scary than the consequences of not doing them.

Reset Conversations Build Respect, Not Resentment: Instead of awkwardly pretending nothing happened, the most effective leaders schedule brief reset meetings to acknowledge the gap, take responsibility, and set new expectations together. This vulnerability doesn't undermine your authority, it increases respect from your team.

Lower The Bar To Rebuild The Habit: Done is better than perfect when it comes to one-to-ones. Starting with 20-minute fortnightly check-ins focused on three simple questions (what's going well, what's challenging you, how can I help) makes consistency achievable. High-performing teams aren't built through hour-long deep dives, they're built through regular, manageable connections that actually happen.

We've got an amazing bundle to help you master feedback. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get our FREE 15 minute team transformation guide. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get our planner to help you Walk the Week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We've got some amazing resources to help you start transforming your leadership and team today. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check them out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rate and review the podcast and send a screenshot to hello@leadtheroom.co.uk to get your FREE 90 day leadership refresh as a thank you.

Want to learn more with us and keep building your leadership skills to build your amazing team that does amazing things?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Check out our leadership challenges here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Follow us on instagram for daily tips and to send us your feedback on today’s episode

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Check out our blog for show notes and a full transcript

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leadtheroom.co.uk/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love hearing how you’re putting the podcast into practice as you build your own leadership playbook. Send us an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@leadtheroom.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - we read every one.

3 weeks ago

30 minutes 44 seconds

Lead The Room

Ep 48 - 3 smart ways to get your boss's support when they avoid 1-2-1s

Lead the Room Podcast: Show SummaryWhen Your Boss Keeps Cancelling One-to-Ones: Smart Strategies for Transformation Leaders

Facing cancelled or avoided one-to-ones with your boss? You're not alone. In this episode, hosts Lyndsey and Briony tackle a surprisingly common problem: transformation leaders driving real results but struggling to get face time with their manager. Some listeners have gone over a year—even 18 months—without a proper one-to-one.

The challenge isn't just frustrating, it's career-limiting. Without regular check-ins, your boss misses the impact you're creating, and you lose critical support for resources, approvals, and advancement opportunities. But here's the reality: you can't force someone to meet with you, and trying to do so often backfires.

Instead, Lyndsey and Briony share three emotionally intelligent strategies to get the support you need while positioning yourself for promotion—even with an avoidant boss.

Three Key Takeaways:

1. The Strategic Update Method – Send a weekly three-paragraph email every Friday afternoon with the same format and subject line. Paragraph one highlights one specific win tied to business priorities (with stats and outcomes, not just activities). Paragraph two makes one specific support request with a clear deadline. Paragraph three previews next week's impact. This creates a paper trail of your contributions, keeps your boss informed without needing meetings, and makes it easy for them to represent your work in senior discussions.

2. The Ally Amplification Strategy – Build genuine relationships with your boss's trusted advisors and peers. Share your wins and data with them (never complain about your boss). Give them specific language and facts they can naturally incorporate into conversations. This amplifies your impact beyond your direct manager, builds your network authentically, and ensures the right people understand your contributions when promotion discussions happen.

3. The Reverse Briefing Technique – When you do get face time, flip the dynamic. Instead of asking for advice, brief them like you're a consultant. Present your recommendation, outline options you've evaluated, explain your reasoning with data, and make a specific support request. This positions you as a strategic expert who uses their time efficiently—exactly what senior leaders want to see when considering promotions.

The episode emphasizes staying professional throughout, focusing on business impact rather than personal frustration, and documenting everything. These aren't manipulation tactics—they're smart ways to work within the system while building the visibility and support your transformation work deserves.

If you're tired of feeling overlooked despite delivering results, this episode gives you practical actions you can start implementing this week.

1 month ago

55 minutes 7 seconds

Lead The Room

Ep 47 - Q3 team habits for end of year success

In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey tackle the post-summer leadership challenge that most teams face: how to rebuild momentum and maintain high performance without falling into the exhausting cycle of micromanagement. They share practical strategies that take just 15 minutes a day to implement, proving that sustainable team transformation doesn't require lengthy workshops or disruptive overhauls. Through real stories, they reveal how the best leaders create accountability systems that energize rather than drain their teams, setting the foundation for exceptional performance through the final quarter.

Key Takeaways:

Weekly Wins Create Unstoppable Momentum: High-performing teams use a simple three-part system: Monday outcome commitments, Wednesday support check-ins, and Friday celebrations. This creates what psychologists call a "progress feedback loop" that builds natural accountability and connection without the dreaded status meeting syndrome that kills team energy.
Peer Accountability Beats Top-Down Control: The most effective teams implement buddy systems where colleagues hold each other accountable through weekly 15-minute conversations. This approach transforms accountability from a "parental" management burden into genuine peer support, making team members problem-solve together instead of making excuses upwards.
The 3-2-1 Energy Management Formula Prevents Burnout: Sustainable high performance comes from limiting focus to three core priorities, two improvement projects, and one weekly recovery practice. This isn't about doing less, it's about doing what matters most while maintaining the energy levels that separate good teams from genuinely high-performing ones.

We've got an amazing bundle to help you empower your team. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get our FREE 15 minute team transformation guide. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get our planner to help you Walk the Week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We've got some amazing resources to help you start transforming your leadership and team today. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check them out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rate and review the podcast and send a screenshot to hello@leadtheroom.co.uk to get your FREE 90 day leadership refresh as a thank you.

Want to learn more with us and keep building your leadership skills to build your amazing team that does amazing things?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Check out our leadership challenges here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Follow us on instagram for daily tips and to send us your feedback on today’s episode

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Check out our blog for show notes and a full transcript

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leadtheroom.co.uk/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love hearing how you’re putting the podcast into practice as you build your own leadership playbook. Send us an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@leadtheroom.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - we read every one.

1 month ago

35 minutes 24 seconds

Lead The Room

Ep 46 - Leadership habits and routines for new roles

In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey share their personal journeys through major career transitions, revealing why successful leadership transformation happens through consistent 15-minute daily habits rather than grand strategy presentations. Both hosts discuss starting new leadership roles. Lindsey will be leading a remote team across a six-hour time difference, and Briony is transitioning to hybrid work while managing a technology transformation. They break down the myth that effective change requires massive overhauls, instead demonstrating how small, intentional actions build psychological safety, trust, and high-performing teams. Through honest reflections on boundary-setting, energy management, and authentic leadership, they offer practical strategies for leaders navigating new roles or team changes.

Key Takeaways:

Daily 15-Minute Leadership Habits Trump Grand Plans: High-performing teams are built through consistent small actions like quality one-to-ones and regular feedback, not impressive PowerPoint presentations or dramatic change announcements. Leaders who focus on sustainable daily practices create lasting transformation that actually sticks.
Psychological Safety Comes Before Strategy: The most successful leaders prioritise building trust and getting to know their team members before implementing any changes. Taking 30-60 days to understand team dynamics, individual strengths, and current challenges creates the foundation for effective leadership and team buy-in.
Energy Management and Boundaries Drive Leadership Success: Top-performing leaders intentionally manage their energy patterns and set clear boundaries around time zones, meeting schedules, and work-life integration. This includes being radically transparent about working patterns and using tools like calendar management to protect both leader and team effectiveness.

We've got an amazing bundle to help you master feedback. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get our FREE 15 minute team transformation guide. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get our planner to help you Walk the Week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We've got some amazing resources to help you start transforming your leadership and team today. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check them out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rate and review the podcast and send a screenshot to hello@leadtheroom.co.uk to get your FREE 90 day leadership refresh as a thank you.

Want to learn more with us and keep building your leadership skills to build your amazing team that does amazing things?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Check out our leadership challenges here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Follow us on instagram for daily tips and to send us your feedback on today’s episode

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/leadtheroomcoaching/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Check out our blog for show notes and a full transcript

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leadtheroom.co.uk/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love hearing how you’re putting the podcast into practice as you build your own leadership playbook. Send us an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@leadtheroom.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - we read every one.

1 month ago

47 minutes 14 seconds

Lead The Room

Ep 45 - Leaders: How to get stuff done and have impact as a team without having to do all the stuff

In this episode of Lead the Room, the hosts explore the evolution of leadership and how modern leaders must adapt to create supportive, high-performing teams. They dive into the challenges of balancing micromanagement with autonomy, emphasizing the importance of building trust, accountability, and focus to achieve team goals. Practical strategies for fostering accountability, celebrating wins, and improving transparency in team dynamics are discussed, alongside the impact of small leadership adjustments for long-term success. The episode concludes with reflections on how leadership growth and team culture drive business results.

Key Takeaways:

Leadership Must Evolve to Meet Team Needs: Adapting leadership practices to create autonomy, build trust, and foster accountability leads to higher-performing teams.

Clarity and Focus Are Crucial for Success: Clear goals and transparency enable teams to align efforts and deliver results while fostering collaboration and morale.

Small Leadership Changes Make a Big Impact: Small shifts in leadership behavior—such as celebrating wins, prioritizing trust, and promoting transparency—can significantly improve team dynamics and productivity.

This episode offers valuable insights for leaders aiming to evolve their practices, create accountable teams, and drive better business outcomes through a supportive team culture.

We've got some amazing resources to help you start transforming your leadership and team today, including our ⁠transformational planner⁠ that will help you take back control of your week. ⁠⁠⁠Check out our guides here.⁠⁠⁠

Rate and review the podcast and send a screenshot to hello@leadtheroom.co.uk to get your FREE 90 day leadership refresh as a thank you. And visit our website for a ⁠⁠FREE podcast reflection sheet⁠⁠.

1 month ago

33 minutes 16 seconds

Lead The Room

Ep 44 - Getting into the leadership mindset - know who you are and what you stand for (rerelease)

In this episode of Lead the Room, the hosts discuss the critical role that core values play in effective leadership and team performance. They explore how understanding personal values shapes decision-making, behavior, and team dynamics. Through personal stories, they illustrate the transformative impact of values-driven leadership, emphasizing how a clear set of values enhances decision-making, fosters a supportive culture, and strengthens team collaboration. The episode also offers actionable tips for applying core values in leadership, celebrating wins, and promoting growth within teams.

Key Takeaways:

Core Values Drive Leadership Effectiveness: Understanding and integrating your core values enhances decision-making and team performance, helping you lead with clarity and integrity.

Values Shape Team Dynamics and Culture: Leaders who express and live their values foster a culture of trust, connection, and growth, which leads to higher team engagement and productivity.

Values-Driven Leadership Strengthens Team Performance: Leaders who align their actions with their core values create more cohesive teams, foster open communication, and improve overall team morale.

⁠Check out our guide to get to know your values here.⁠

We've got some amazing resources to help you start transforming your leadership and team today, including our ⁠⁠transformational planner⁠⁠ that will help you take back control of your week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our guides here.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rate and review the podcast and send a screenshot to hello@leadtheroom.co.uk to get your FREE 90 day leadership refresh as a thank you. And visit our website for a ⁠⁠⁠FREE podcast reflection sheet⁠⁠⁠.

2 months ago

34 minutes 37 seconds

Lead The Room

Ep 43 - Is summer your opportunity to increase the psychological safety in your team?

In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey reveal a counterintuitive leadership strategy that transforms high-performing teams during the quieter summer months. They share how smart leaders use natural workplace rhythms, such as when calendars are lighter and team members rotate through holidays, to deliberately build psychological safety that becomes the foundation for exceptional team performance. Through personal experiences and practical insights, they demonstrate how shifting to informal check-ins creates space for quieter voices to emerge and contribute fresh perspectives. They challenge the conventional wisdom that team development requires lengthy away days or complex interventions, showing instead how intentional leadership during summer months can yield profound cultural shifts that last well beyond September.

Key Takeaways:

Summer Creates Natural Conditions for Psychological Safety: High-performing teams leverage the relaxed rhythm of summer to build stronger foundations of trust and openness. When dominant voices are away, quieter team members naturally step forward, revealing hidden insights and capabilities that leaders can nurture year-round.
Informal Leadership Approaches Unlock Team Potential: Replacing formal meeting structures with shorter, casual check-ins during summer allows leaders to discover different team dynamics and individual strengths. This approach helps identify when team members feel they have a "position" rather than a voice, signaling opportunities to improve psychological safety across the entire team.
Strategic Team Reviews During Quiet Periods Drive Performance: Conducting mini team reviews with smaller groups during summer holidays provides honest feedback that might not emerge in full team settings. Leaders who capture these insights and intentionally integrate them when everyone returns in September create lasting improvements in collaboration, innovation, and team effectiveness.

We've got an amazing bundle to help you empower your team. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get our FREE 15 minute team transformation guide. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get our planner to help you Walk the Week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We've got some amazing resources to help you start transforming your leadership and team today. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check them out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rate and review the podcast and send a screenshot to hello@leadtheroom.co.uk to get your FREE 90 day leadership refresh as a thank you.

Want to learn more with us and keep building your leadership skills to build your amazing team that does amazing things?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Check out our leadership challenges here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Follow us on instagram for daily tips and to send us your feedback on today’s episode

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/leadtheroomcoaching/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Check out our blog for show notes and a full transcript

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leadtheroom.co.uk/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love hearing how you’re putting the podcast into practice as you build your own leadership playbook. Send us an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@leadtheroom.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - we read every one.

2 months ago

15 minutes 24 seconds

Lead The Room

Ep 42 - Keeping the Summer Team Spirit Alive

In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey reveal how high-performing teams can harness the natural energy of summer to build stronger connections and maintain peak productivity year-round. Rather than viewing fun and productivity as opposing forces, they demonstrate how intentional team spirit activities actually unlock innovation and creativity in the workplace. Through practical strategies tested with real teams, they show how leaders can transform their management approach by embracing flexibility, changing environments, and creating shared experiences that teams genuinely look forward to. The hosts share specific techniques that take just a few minutes per day to implement, proving that building exceptional team culture doesn't require elaborate planning or significant time investment.

Key Takeaways:

Summer Hours Mindset Builds Trust and Performance: High-performing teams thrive when leaders adopt flexible scheduling approaches, allowing team members to start earlier and finish earlier on Fridays or implementing no-meeting mornings. This flexibility treats employees as adults, builds tremendous trust, and creates energy reserves that leaders can tap into during busy periods.
Environmental Changes Unlock Team Creativity: Taking meetings outside, conducting walking one-to-ones, or simply changing the physical space where teams brainstorm leads to dramatically different conversations and breakthrough thinking. The best leaders understand that changing the physical environment directly changes the mental environment and problem-solving capabilities.
Micro-Celebrations Create Lasting Team Connection: Consistent small gestures like ice cream Fridays, team curated playlists, or impromptu outdoor picnics build positive anticipation and shared memories that strengthen team bonds. These mini summer moments don't require elaborate planning but must be intentional and regular to create the team spirit that high-performing teams are known for.

We've got an amazing bundle to help you master feedback. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get our FREE 15 minute team transformation guide. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get our planner to help you Walk the Week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We've got some amazing resources to help you start transforming your leadership and team today. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check them out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rate and review the podcast and send a screenshot to hello@leadtheroom.co.uk to get your FREE 90 day leadership refresh as a thank you.

Want to learn more with us and keep building your leadership skills to build your amazing team that does amazing things?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Check out our leadership challenges here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Follow us on instagram for daily tips and to send us your feedback on today’s episode

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/leadtheroomcoaching/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Check out our blog for show notes and a full transcript

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leadtheroom.co.uk/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love hearing how you’re putting the podcast into practice as you build your own leadership playbook. Send us an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@leadtheroom.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - we read every one.

2 months ago

12 minutes 59 seconds

Lead The Room

Ep 41 - September Success Prep

In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey tackle September as the business world's "second new year". A critical time when leaders either set themselves up for success or get swept away by the returning chaos. They share three powerful strategies to transform September from a month of overwhelm into your most productive and intentional period yet. Through practical advice and real-world applications, they demonstrate how high-performing teams don't just survive the post-summer transition, they thrive by taking control before the rush begins. Their approach challenges the common "sprint through September" mentality and offers a refreshingly proactive way to maintain summer connection while delivering serious results.

Key Takeaways:

September Sprint Setup Drives Laser Focus: High-performing teams identify their top three priorities for September before the month begins, creating a powerful filter system for decision-making. When opportunities and urgent requests flood in, leaders can ask "Does this serve my three priorities?" If not, it goes to the October list. This laser focus helps teams make real progress instead of just staying busy, preventing the common trap of trying to deliver a quarter's worth of work in one frantic month.
Commitment Auditing Frees Up Strategic Time: Successful leaders spend 20-30 minutes auditing every recurring meeting, project commitment, and regular responsibility by asking "If I were starting fresh today, would I say yes to this?" This brutal honesty allows teams to prune commitments that no longer serve their goals, freeing up valuable time and energy for what actually matters. September becomes the perfect time to step back from committees and obligations that have outlived their usefulness.
Designing Your September Rhythm Prevents Overwhelm: Rather than waiting for September to figure out routines, high-performing teams design their ideal schedule in advance, blocking out time for biggest projects, admin tasks, strategic thinking, and healthy habits. By treating these blocks like non-negotiable client meetings for the entire month, leaders create a framework that protects their most important work when everyone else wants their time. This proactive approach puts leaders in control of September instead of letting September happen to them.

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2 months ago

13 minutes 2 seconds

Lead The Room

Ep 40 - Inbox Freedom: How Leaders Can Actually Disconnect Without Dreading Their Return

In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey tackle one of the biggest productivity killers for high-performing teams: the dreaded post-holiday inbox. They share tested strategies that transform overwhelming email mountains into manageable tasks, helping leaders maintain their well-being while staying connected to their teams. Through honest conversations about workplace email culture and practical solutions, they demonstrate how smart inbox management isn't just about productivity, it's about modeling healthy leadership behaviors that create thriving team environments. Their approach challenges the traditional "suffer through it" mentality and offers a refreshing way to handle the inevitable chaos of returning from leave.

Key Takeaways:

Team Connection Trumps Inbox Diving: High-performing teams prioritise human connection over email management. Before touching your inbox, check in with your team first to understand what happened in your absence. This approach not only saves time but demonstrates your values as a leader while building trust and empowerment within your team.
The Four-Folder System Creates Instant Clarity: Transform inbox overwhelm into actionable clarity using four simple folders: urgent action required, follow up this week, FYI, and archive. Spend 20 minutes sorting emails by subject line and sender alone. This visual organization immediately reduces anxiety and helps your nervous system regulate after the stress of seeing thousands of unread messages.
The Two-Minute Rule Plus Prevents Leadership Derailment: For urgent emails, apply the two-minute rule but with a crucial addition: if something takes longer than two minutes, schedule specific time blocks in your calendar rather than diving deep immediately. This prevents important tasks from getting lost while maintaining momentum through your inbox, ensuring you don't end up working late trying to catch up on everything at once.

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We love hearing how you’re putting the podcast into practice as you build your own leadership playbook. Send us an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@leadtheroom.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - we read every one.

3 months ago

14 minutes 39 seconds

Lead The Room

Ep 39 - The Art of Being Unavailable: Leadership Boundaries That Honor Both You and Your Team

In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey explore the counterintuitive leadership principle that strategic unavailability creates stronger, more high-performing teams. They challenge the toxic workplace culture of constant accessibility, where leaders feel pressured to be available 24/7 and wear exhaustion as a badge of honor. Through personal stories and actionable management strategies, they reveal how setting intentional boundaries actually accelerates team development and prevents leadership burnout. They share their evolution from being "always available" leaders who thought constant accessibility was their greatest strength, to discovering how this approach was actually holding their teams back from reaching their full potential.

Key Takeaways:

Strategic Unavailability Builds High-Performing Teams: The most effective leaders deliberately create boundaries that force team members to develop independent problem-solving skills. When you're constantly available for every small decision, you're training your team to remain dependent rather than building the confidence and capability that defines high-performing teams.
Language Transforms Boundaries Into Empowerment: Instead of saying "I'm too busy" or "figure it out yourself," successful leaders use empowering language like "This feels like a great opportunity for you to take the lead" or "I'm confident you can handle this." This shift in communication makes team members feel supported and trusted rather than abandoned.
Guilt Is Normal But Boundaries Drive Growth: Feeling guilty about being unavailable is natural for caring leaders, but it often signals you're confusing support with dependency. High-performing teams are built when leaders ask themselves: "Am I helping them grow or helping them stay comfortable?" The goal is developing teams that can thrive with or without your constant presence.

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3 months ago

29 minutes 29 seconds

Lead The Room

Ep 38 - From Technical Expert to People Leader

In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey tackle one of the most challenging career transitions: moving from technical expert to effective leader. They explore the profound identity shift that occurs when your value changes from the work you do to the work your team delivers, sharing honest stories about the isolation, jealousy, and imposter syndrome that often accompany this transition. Through practical strategies and mindset shifts, they demonstrate how new leaders can navigate this uncomfortable period and build the confidence needed to lead high-performing teams. They reveal why traditional leadership approaches often fail and offer a counter-cultural framework for developing authentic leadership skills that transform both individual performance and team dynamics.

Key Takeaways:

Coach Don't Tell for High-Performing Teams: The fastest way to build team capability is shifting from providing answers to asking coaching questions. When team members bring technical challenges, resist the urge to solve immediately. Instead, ask "What parts of this problem seem most challenging?" or "How might you approach this with more experience?" This develops critical thinking skills and creates deeper learning than simply providing solutions.
Define Your Leadership Role to Prevent Identity Crisis: Successful leadership transitions require explicitly defining what you will do (setting direction, creating accountability, supporting growth) and what you won't do (technical troubleshooting, detailed reviews, implementation decisions). This 15-minute exercise provides clarity on your value proposition and helps catch yourself when old expert habits resurface.
Problem Prevention Creates Higher Value Than Problem Solving: As a leader, your highest impact comes from preventing problems before they occur rather than solving them after they appear. Build simple systems that anticipate challenges, develop your team's ability to handle issues at their source, and establish communication flows that surface concerns early. This shift from reactive problem-solving to proactive prevention transforms team performance and reduces firefighting culture.

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We love hearing how you’re putting the podcast into practice as you build your own leadership playbook. Send us an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@leadtheroom.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - we read every one.

3 months ago

32 minutes 18 seconds

Lead The Room

Ep 37 - From Reflection to Action: Turning Summer Insights into Leadership Transformation

In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey reveal how exceptional leaders use summer months as a strategic data-gathering period to transform their high-performing teams in September. They share powerful insights on moving from fleeting moments of clarity to concrete leadership transformation that drives both team connection and delivery results. Through real leadership examples and actionable frameworks, they demonstrate how just 15 minutes of weekly reflection during quieter periods can revolutionise team dynamics and performance when everyone returns to full capacity.

Key Takeaways:

Summer Reflection Drives Team Transformation: The most effective leaders treat summer as a data collection period, spending 15 minutes weekly documenting what works differently, which conversations happen naturally, and when team members surprise them. This systematic observation becomes the foundation for implementing powerful changes that stick.
Small Experiments Beat Wholesale Change: High-performing teams embrace experimentation over massive transformation initiatives. By introducing one insight-based change as a deliberate practice for just one month, leaders create sustainable shifts without overwhelming their teams or triggering change resistance.
Co-Creation Builds Leadership Accountability: The strongest team transformations happen when leaders share their summer insights with the team and ask "what do we want to do with this data?" This approach transforms team members from passive recipients of change into active co-creators of their high-performance culture, driving genuine buy-in and lasting results.

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3 months ago

25 minutes 22 seconds

Lead The Room

Ep 36 - Delegation done right - enjoy your summer leave

In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey tackle every leader's summer dilemma: how to delegate effectively so you can actually enjoy your time off without constantly checking your phone. They share honest stories about their own delegation disasters - from dumping everything on their favorite team member to micromanaging from poolside - and reveal a simple 15-minute framework that transforms delegation from an anxiety-inducing process into a powerful team development tool. Through personal experiences and practical strategies, they show how proper delegation creates a triple win: teams develop new capabilities, work continues smoothly, and leaders can truly disconnect and recharge.

Key Takeaways:

Effective Delegation is About Development, Not Task Dumping: The best leaders don't just hand off work to their most competent team member. Instead, they use a simple three-category system and match tasks to team members based on who's shown interest, who needs growth experience, and who already knows 70% of the job.
Clear Expectations Prevent Holiday Disasters: High-performing teams thrive when leaders spend just 15 minutes clearly defining what success looks like for each delegated task, identifying who team members can consult if stuck, and explicitly stating "I trust your judgment on this." This clarity eliminates those cryptic holiday texts and empowers teams to make confident decisions.
True Leadership Means Learning to Let Go: The most effective leaders train themselves to completely disconnect during time off - no work phones, no checking emails by the pool. They recognise that trying to run teams remotely while on holiday doesn't just harm their own wellbeing; it undermines their team's confidence and prevents the growth that comes from stepping up in challenging situations.

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We love hearing how you’re putting the podcast into practice as you build your own leadership playbook. Send us an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@leadtheroom.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - we read every one.

3 months ago

29 minutes 27 seconds

Lead The Room

Ep 35 - The Power of Emotional Intelligence

In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey confront the workplace taboo that's killing high-performing teams: avoiding emotional reality. Through honest stories about workplace aggression, intimidation, and leadership failures, they reveal how emotional intelligence separates truly exceptional leaders from those who simply manage tasks. They share their experiences of toxic team dynamics and demonstrate why acknowledging emotions isn't "soft" leadership but the foundation of business success and sustainable team performance.

Key Takeaways:

Emotional Regulation Drives High-Performing Team Success: Leaders who master the 90-second emotional regulation technique - pausing to name feelings before reacting - create space between emotion and response. This emotional intelligence skill prevents reactive decisions that damage team trust and allows leaders to respond strategically rather than impulsively, directly impacting business outcomes and team performance.
Acknowledging Team Emotions Saves Time and Drives Results: High-performing teams are built by leaders who scan the room for emotional reality before diving into agendas. Addressing tension, flatness, or unspoken issues upfront prevents them from derailing productivity later. This counter-intuitive approach actually accelerates progress because teams can focus on delivery rather than managing unresolved emotional undercurrents.
Emotional Contagion Makes or Breaks Leadership Impact: Every leader carries emotional energy into meetings that directly affects team performance. The most effective leaders develop habits, such as processing intense meetings before moving to the next engagement, to prevent emotional spillover. This emotional intelligence practice ensures consistent leadership presence and maintains the psychological safety essential for high-performing teams.

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We love hearing how you’re putting the podcast into practice as you build your own leadership playbook. Send us an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@leadtheroom.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - we read every one.

4 months ago

36 minutes 6 seconds

Lead The Room

Ep 34 - Designing Your Work Week (and calendar) Around Energy, Not Just Availability

In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey discuss why traditional productivity approaches fail high-performing teams and share a game-changing framework for designing your work week around energy rather than availability. They expose the hidden costs of calendar-driven leadership and demonstrate how intentional energy management transforms both individual performance and team culture. Through personal stories of international team leadership and practical 15-minute strategies, they show how the best leaders align their most important work with their moments of peak capacity, creating sustainable excellence without burnout.

Key Takeaways:

Energy Tracking Unlocks Peak Performance: High-performing leaders track their energy, focus, and mood patterns throughout each day rather than simply filling calendar gaps. This data becomes the blueprint for calendar design, ensuring strategic work happens during high-energy zones while routine tasks are scheduled for natural low-energy periods.
Energy Blocking Prevents Calendar Hijacking: Top leaders proactively block their high-energy periods for critical work before others can claim them. By treating these energy blocks as non-negotiable as client meetings, they protect their capacity for the deep thinking and creative problem-solving that transforms teams.
Strategic Energy Negotiation Drives Results: When schedule flexibility is required, successful leaders negotiate based on energy needs rather than simply accepting meetings. They educate colleagues about energy-based productivity and create trades that maintain both organizational needs and personal effectiveness, leading to better outcomes for everyone involved.

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We've got some amazing resources to help you start transforming your leadership and team today. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check them out here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rate and review the podcast and send a screenshot to hello@leadtheroom.co.uk to get your FREE 90 day leadership refresh as a thank you.

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We love hearing how you’re putting the podcast into practice as you build your own leadership playbook. Send us an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@leadtheroom.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - we read every one.

4 months ago

32 minutes 33 seconds

Lead The Room

Ep 33 - The Breakthrough Conversation: How to Address Underperformance Without Damaging Relationships

In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey tackle the most dreaded conversation in leadership - addressing team member underperformance. They reveal how these difficult conversations don't have to destroy relationships but can actually strengthen trust and accelerate team transformation when handled correctly. Through honest personal stories of both failures and successes, they share their proven framework for turning defensive reactions into productive dialogue that drives real performance improvement. They demonstrate how high-performing teams are built through courageous conversations that prioritise both accountability and connection, showing leaders exactly how to have these crucial discussions without damaging the relationships they've worked so hard to build.

Key Takeaways:

Lead with Observation, Not Interpretation: Instead of saying "you don't seem committed," use specific observable behaviors like "I've noticed you've missed three deadlines." This neutral approach invites collaboration rather than triggering defensiveness, creating space for the team member to share their perspective and work together on solutions.

Transform Confrontation into Collaboration: Frame underperformance conversations around a shared third point you both care about - like exceptional client experience or team success. This shifts the dynamic from "you versus me" to "us versus the problem," positioning you as partners working toward the same goal while maintaining accountability.

Clear is Kind - Follow Through Builds High-Performing Teams: Every underperformance conversation must end with specific next steps, genuine offers of support, and scheduled follow-up. This approach demonstrates investment in growth rather than just problem identification, turning awkward one-off conversations into ongoing development opportunities that strengthen team performance.

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4 months ago

32 minutes 6 seconds