Delegation isn’t just about getting tasks off your plate—it’s about multiplying your impact as a leader. In this episode of Strategy, Leadership, and Impact, Blake Repine explores why effective delegation is essential for leadership success, how to delegate without micromanaging, and the critical difference between delegating authority and keeping responsibility.
You’ll discover practical tips on:
How to delegate with clarity and confidence
The common barriers that hold leaders back
Why trust and accountability must go hand in hand
How to empower your team without abdicating your role as leader
Whether you’re a CEO, manager, or aspiring leader, this episode will help you master the art of delegation so you can lead at a higher level, develop your team, and create lasting impact.
What can today’s leaders learn from the courage, resilience, and adaptability of history’s greatest adventurers?
In this episode of Strategy, Leadership and Impact, I dive into the leadership lessons of Ernest Shackleton, Sir Edmund Hillary, Tenzing Norgay, Douglas Mawson, and others who braved the most extreme conditions on Earth.
From surviving nearly two years trapped in Antarctic ice to summiting the world’s highest peaks, these leaders faced uncertainty, scarcity, and danger—but still inspired trust, unity, and extraordinary achievement.
You’ll learn:
✅ How to lead when the plan collapses
✅ Why purpose is the fuel that sustains teams under pressure
✅ The critical role of emotional intelligence in high-stakes situations
✅ How adaptability turns crisis into opportunity
✅ Timeless lessons that apply from the polar ice to the boardroom
Whether you’re leading a business, a project team, or your own life through change, this episode will equip you with proven strategies to lead with vision, resilience, and heart.
#Leadership #Shackleton #Hillary #Exploration #LeadershipDevelopment #Strategy #Teamwork #Resilience
What if chasing profit is actually costing you performance?
In this episode, we'll break down a fundamental truth:
👉 Money is the by-product of great leadership—not the mission.
Too often, leaders focus on revenue, growth, and KPIs while overlooking the real drivers of sustainable success—clarity, culture, trust, and purpose.
We unpack:
Why leading with profit in mind can backfire
The 5 behaviours that define truly effective leadership
How purpose-led leadership isn’t just “nice”—it’s strategic
Whether you're running a business, leading a council, managing a team, or building something new, this episode will challenge you to think differently about success.
💡 Profit is the applause. Leadership is the performance.
🎧 Tune in now—and if it resonates, share it with someone who leads.
#Leadership #Strategy #Podcast #BlakeRepine #Culture #Trust #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment #StrategicLeadership
In this episode of Strategy, Leadership and Impact, Blake Repine unpacks the increasingly popular, but often misunderstood, concept of psychosocial safety in the workplace.
You’ll learn:
What psychosocial safety really means (beyond the buzzwords)
How it can be misused to avoid accountability or suppress healthy conflict
The difference between safety and comfort, and why discomfort can be essential for growth
How effective leaders strike the right balance between trust, honesty, and performance
Blake shares practical insights, real-world examples, and five principles leaders can apply to build cultures that are both psychologically safe and high-performing.
If you're serious about leading with integrity, creating resilient teams, and making a lasting impact, this episode is for you.
📌 Subscribe for more weekly episodes on leadership, culture, and strategy.
💬 Share your thoughts or takeaways on LinkedIn and tag @BlakeRepine.
#Leadership #PsychologicalSafety #Culture #WorkplaceWellbeing #Strategy #BlakeRepine #LeadershipPodcast
In this episode, we discuss the profound impact of generosity on personal growth and leadership. We define generosity as the willingness to give more than expected and emphasise its role in building trust, creating psychological safety, and fostering a culture of collaboration. Through personal anecdotes and reflections, we illustrate how acts of generosity can inspire others and create a lasting impact in communities. I challenge you to embrace generosity as a leadership imperative, one that requires courage and a commitment to giving without expecting anything in return.Takeaways- Generosity is the willingness to give more than expected.- It operates from a place of abundance, not scarcity.- Generosity builds trust and psychological safety.- Companies with generous cultures often outperform their peers.- Generosity is contagious and inspires others to give.- Acts of generosity can change lives and communities.- Generosity requires courage to give without controlling outcomes.- Investing in people can yield long-term benefits.- Reflect on who has been generous to you and how it impacted you.- Choose one act of generosity to practice this week.
Toxic behaviour can quietly destroy a team’s morale, trust, and performance — and as a leader, ignoring it isn’t an option.In this episode of Strategy, Leadership and Impact, Blake Repine dives deep into how to recognise, address, and lead through toxic dynamics in the workplace. You’ll learn:✅ The hidden cost of toxic behaviour✅ The most common types of toxic personalities✅ How to address issues early — without fear or drama✅ The leader’s role in protecting team culture✅ Why psychological safety doesn’t mean avoiding accountabilityWhether you’re leading a small team or an entire organisation, this episode gives you practical tools to confront difficult behaviours while reinforcing trust and performance.📌 Subscribe for more leadership insights, strategy tools, and practical impact#Leadership #ToxicWorkplace #PsychologicalSafety #Accountability #LeadershipDevelopment #TeamCulture #StrategyLeadershipImpact
In this motivating episode, we break down the essential steps to achieve your goals and stay focused along the way. Discover how clarity, consistency, and small daily actions build unstoppable momentum toward your biggest dreams. Whether you’re chasing a personal milestone or a professional target, this episode will remind you that progress comes from persistence, not perfection.
Tune in, get inspired, and start turning your vision into reality today.
In this compelling episode of the Strategy, Leadership & Impact podcast, Blake Repine sits down with adventurer, author, and motivational speaker Luke Richmond, the force behind OLOC Adventures (https://www.olocadventures.com/). From surviving addiction to rowing oceans, climbing the world's highest peaks, and crossing the Gobi Desert, Luke shares the mindset, grit, and strategy it takes to push beyond physical and mental limits.
Blake and Luke explore how extreme adventure shapes resilience, decision-making, and personal leadership. They discuss the parallels between leading in high-risk environments—whether in the boardroom or on a mountain—and how embracing discomfort can unlock purpose and performance. Luke also reflects on his military background, the importance of discipline, and how his philosophy of “One Life, One Chance” guides everything he does.
Whether you're leading a team, transforming an organisation, or facing a personal challenge, this episode offers raw insights and practical lessons on courage, clarity, and commitment.
Tune in to discover:
How to reframe fear and failure
The power of lived experience in leadership
Why adventure and adversity can be your best teachers
Find out more about Luke, his adventures, books and speaking at https://www.olocadventures.com/
Strategic thinking is a learned discipline, not just a trait some are born with. To get better at it, leaders need to intentionally sharpen their mindset, skills, and habits. Here's a practical breakdown of how to do that:
1. Shift from Operator to ArchitectOperational work focuses on the day-to-day, while strategic thinking focuses on shaping the future. You need to deliberately shift how you allocate time and mental energy.
Tip: Use the 70-20-10 rule—spend 70% on strategic priorities, 20% on enabling others, and 10% on firefighting.
Practice: Audit your calendar monthly. Are you spending time on what's important, or just what’s urgent?
2. Practice Systems ThinkingStrategic thinkers look beyond symptoms and see the systems at play.
Action: Map out cause-effect relationships when analysing challenges (e.g. using causal loop diagrams or fishbone diagrams).
Question to ask: What patterns or structures are influencing these outcomes?
3. Read Broadly and Cross-FunctionallyLeaders who think strategically draw insights from multiple disciplines—economics, psychology, technology, sustainability, etc.
Tip: Read one book or listen to one podcast a month that is outside your domain.
Challenge: Attend events or forums in industries different from your own.
4. Build Time for Strategic ThinkingYou can't think strategically in 5-minute gaps between meetings. Strategic thinking requires space for deep, uninterrupted thought.
Tip: Block “strategic thinking time” each week—treat it as a non-negotiable.
Tool: Use reflection questions like:
What are the three biggest external forces that could disrupt us?
If we had to start this company again today, what would we do differently?
5. Develop Strategic CuriosityCultivate the habit of questioning assumptions and exploring alternatives.
Practice: When someone proposes a solution, ask: What else could work? What would the opposite approach look like?
Tool: Use Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats technique to consider issues from multiple angles.
6. Engage with Diverse ThinkersStrategic insight often comes from conversation, not isolation.
Action: Surround yourself with people who challenge your thinking—mentors, peers, advisors, even skeptics.
Tip: Create a personal “strategic advisory board” (formal or informal) to test your ideas.
7. Use Strategic Frameworks OftenFamiliarity with proven tools helps you think more clearly and consistently.
Examples:
Porter’s Five Forces – industry competition
Blue Ocean Strategy – innovation and differentiation
Balanced Scorecard – aligning strategy to performance
Scenario Planning – exploring future possibilities
8. Reflect on Strategic DecisionsLearn from the past to improve future choices.
Action: After major decisions, conduct a strategic review. What worked? What didn’t? What blind spots emerged?
Tool: Use pre-mortems and post-mortems for key initiatives.
Getting better at strategic thinking is a journey—it’s not about having the perfect answer, but consistently applying the discipline to see farther, think deeper, and lead with intent.
Balancing leadership and technical expertise is crucial for effective management, especially in roles where both strategic vision and deep subject matter knowledge are essential. Here's a breakdown of how to strike that balance:
1. Define Your Role's Priorities
Tip: Delegate technical tasks to trusted experts and focus on decision-making, problem-solving, and empowering the team.
2. Maintain Technical Competence
Tip: Show curiosity about technical work to demonstrate your commitment without overshadowing your leadership focus.
3. Leverage Your Team's Strengths
Tip: Acknowledge team contributions and recognise when their technical knowledge surpasses your own. This builds credibility and respect.
4. Communicate Effectively
Tip: Practice active listening to understand both technical and non-technical perspectives fully.
5. Avoid Technical Micromanagement
Tip: Focus on outcomes rather than methods, allowing the team to find solutions independently.
6. Develop Emotional Intelligence
Tip: Regularly seek feedback on how you balance leadership and technical involvement to refine your approach.
7. Focus on Long-Term Impact
Balancing leadership and technical expertise is an ongoing process. By fostering collaboration, staying informed, and focusing on the bigger picture, you can effectively lead while ensuring technical excellence within your organisation.
Navigating ethical dilemmas as a leader requires a blend of personal integrity, clear communication, and structured decision-making. Here are some strategies to help you address ethical challenges effectively:
1. Establish a Strong Ethical Foundation- Define Core Values: Clearly articulate your personal and organizational values. Use them as a compass for decision-making.
- Lead by Example: Demonstrate ethical behavior consistently. Your team will look to you as a model.
2. Create an Open Culture- Encourage Transparency: Foster an environment where team members feel safe discussing ethical concerns without fear of retribution.
- Provide Training: Regularly educate your team on ethical practices and scenarios, so they are prepared to handle dilemmas.
3. Utilise Ethical Decision-Making Frameworks
- Identify the Dilemma: Clearly define the problem and the conflicting values or interests.
- Gather Information: Collect all relevant facts and understand the perspectives of all stakeholders involved.
- Evaluate Options: Consider the consequences of each potential decision, focusing on long-term impacts and alignment with core values.
- Seek Counsel: Consult with trusted advisors or colleagues to gain different perspectives.
- Make a Decision: Choose the course of action that aligns best with ethical principles and organisational values.
- Reflect on the Outcome: After the decision is implemented, evaluate the results and learn from the experience.
4. Balance Stakeholder Interests- Consider the impact of decisions on employees, customers, shareholders, and the broader community. Strive for a solution that maximises positive outcomes while minimising harm.
5. Be Transparent in Communication- Explain Your Reasoning: When faced with tough choices, openly communicate the rationale behind your decisions.
- Acknowledge Mistakes: If an ethical misstep occurs, take responsibility quickly, and outline steps for rectification.
6. Prepare for Conflict- Ethical decisions often involve conflicting interests. Be prepared to manage disagreements constructively, focusing on respectful dialogue and mutual understanding.
7. Stay Informed and Adaptive
- Continuously educate yourself on emerging ethical issues in your industry. Adapt your policies and practices to address new challenges proactively.
Applying these strategies will help maintain integrity and trust within the community and your team. By prioritising ethical leadership, you can build a culture of trust and accountability, positioning your organisation for sustained success and positive impact.
Identifying your leadership strengths and weaknesses is essential for personal growth and organisational success.
Here’s a practical guide to help you:1. Self-Reflection
2. Gather Feedback
3. Assess Key Leadership Competencies
Evaluate yourself in critical leadership areas:
4. Use Assessments
5. Observe Patterns in Your Leadership
6. Engage a Coach or Mentor
7. Create a Development Plan
8. Continuously Learn and Adapt
Influence and authority are essential in leadership, but they operate differently and yield different outcomes. Understanding the distinction and interplay between the two is key to effective leadership, especially in environments prioritising collaboration, innovation, and change management. Authority: The Power of Position Authority comes from a leader's formal position or title within an organisation. It is tied to the structure and hierarchy, giving leaders the right to make decisions, enforce rules, and allocate resources. Strengths of Authority: - Provides clear decision-making power. - Ensures accountability and structure. - Useful for enforcing compliance and maintaining order. Limitations of Authority: - Can lead to resistance if overused. - Often limited to the boundaries of the role or organization. - Less effective in inspiring intrinsic motivation or creativity. Authority works best in situations requiring quick decision-making, crisis management, or when roles and responsibilities are explicitly defined. Influence: The Power of Connection Conversely, influence is the ability to shape opinions, behaviours, or outcomes through persuasion, inspiration, and relationship-building. Unlike authority, influence is earned rather than granted. Sources of Influence: - Personal credibility and expertise. - Trust and strong relationships. - Emotional intelligence and understanding of others’ needs. - Vision and ability to inspire. Strengths of Influence: - Encourages collaboration and buy-in. - Generates trust and loyalty. - Extends beyond formal boundaries, creating impact even without positional authority. Limitations of Influence: - Building influence takes time and effort. - Requires consistent authenticity and competence. - Can be undermined if trust is lost. Influence is particularly effective in driving change, motivating teams, and fostering innovation, where collaboration and engagement are critical. The Power of Combining Both The most effective leaders know how to balance authority and influence. While authority provides the foundation for decision-making and accountability, influence ensures that others are engaged, motivated, and aligned with the vision. When to use Authority: - During emergencies or when swift action is required. - To clarify roles and enforce non-negotiable standards. When to use Influence: - To inspire change, foster creativity, or build culture. - When working with peers, stakeholders, or external partners where authority may not exist. Developing Influence as a Leader - Cultivate Trust: Be consistent, honest, and reliable. - Build Relationships: Take time to understand the people around you and their motivations. - Demonstrate Competence: Show expertise and a willingness to grow. - Communicate Effectively: Be clear, empathetic, and persuasive. - Lead by Example: Model the behaviour you want to see in others. By mastering influence and authority, leaders can create a lasting impact and drive results while fostering a positive, motivated, and aligned team culture.
Being a first-time leader comes with many challenges as you transition from an individual contributor to someone responsible for guiding and motivating others. Here are some key challenges you might face: 1. Adjusting to a Leadership Mindset Challenge: Shifting from doing the work yourself to enabling and empowering others to do it. Why it’s hard: Many new leaders find it difficult to let go of tasks they used to excel at and delegate effectively. 2. Building Credibility and Trust Challenge: Earning the respect and trust of your team, especially if you were recently promoted from within the same group. Why it’s hard: People may perceive you as “one of them” rather than a leader, and you need to prove your leadership capabilities. 3. Balancing Relationships and Authority Challenge: Maintaining professional boundaries while being approachable and supportive. Why it’s hard: New leaders often struggle with wanting to be liked while needing to enforce rules and make tough decisions. 4. Decision-Making Under Pressure Challenge: Making decisions that affect your team and possibly the organisation. Why it’s hard: There’s a fear of making mistakes or being judged for poor choices. 5. Managing Conflict Challenge: Addressing interpersonal conflicts or underperformance in a fair and constructive way. Why it’s hard: Conflict resolution can feel uncomfortable, especially for first-time leaders who may want to avoid confrontation. 6. Time Management and Prioritisation Challenge: Balancing your own tasks with leading others and meeting organisational expectations. Why it’s hard: It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when juggling leadership responsibilities and personal work. 7. Giving Feedback Challenge: Providing constructive feedback without demoralising team members. Why it’s hard: Many new leaders hesitate to give critical feedback for fear of damaging relationships. 8. Dealing with Imposter Syndrome Challenge: Feeling unqualified or doubting your ability to lead effectively. Why it’s hard: First-time leaders often feel the pressure to prove themselves and fear being perceived as a failure. 9. Aligning with Organizational Goals Challenge: Understanding and implementing the broader vision and strategy of the organisation within your team. Why it’s hard: It can be difficult to translate high-level goals into actionable steps for your team. 10. Navigating Ambiguity Challenge: Leading in situations where there are no clear answers or a playbook to follow. Why it’s hard: Uncertainty can be intimidating, and new leaders may feel they lack the experience to handle it. Strategies for Overcoming These Challenges Seek mentorship or coaching: Experienced leaders can provide guidance and advice. Focus on continuous learning: Leadership is a skill that improves with time and practice. Communicate openly and often: Build trust by being transparent and fostering dialogue. Set clear expectations: Provide clarity to your team about goals and performance. Ask for feedback: Actively seek input on your leadership style to improve.
Leadership is the ability to guide, inspire, and influence individuals or groups toward achieving common goals or objectives. It involves creating a vision, setting direction, and motivating people to work collaboratively while fostering an environment that encourages growth, innovation, and resilience.
At its core, leadership is about influence, not authority. A great leader earns the trust and commitment of their team, rather than relying solely on positional power. Effective leadership requires a mix of skills, traits, and behaviors, such as:
1. Vision: Setting a clear, compelling direction for the future.
2. Communication: Sharing ideas and expectations in a way that resonates with others.
3. Empathy: Understanding and valuing the perspectives and needs of others.
4. Adaptability: Navigating uncertainty and adjusting strategies as circumstances change.
5. Integrity: Leading by example through honesty, accountability, and ethical behavior.
6. Decision-Making: Making informed and timely choices, often in challenging situations.
7. Inspiration: Energizing and motivating individuals to strive for excellence.
Leadership takes many forms, from transformational leadership that drives cultural or organizational change, to servant leadership that prioritizes the growth and well-being of team members. Ultimately, it is about creating positive impact, aligning people’s efforts, and enabling them to achieve more together than they could individually.
Avoiding burnout requires a proactive approach to managing stress and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. In this episode, our host, Blake Repine, shares 10 strategies that can help you avoid burnout. Everyone is different, and finding strategies that work best for you is essential. If you continue to struggle with burnout despite implementing these strategies, consider seeking support from a mental health professional who can provide personalised guidance. Remember, it's okay not to get it right the first time. Be patient with yourself and keep trying different strategies until you find what works best for you.
In this episode, we talk about identifying the signs of burnout. Burnout is a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged stress and overwhelming work demands. It can affect various aspects of your life, including your job, relationships, and overall well-being. Recognising the signs of burnout is essential for taking steps to address it.
Psychosocial hazards are hazards that arise from or about the design or management of work, the working environment, and workplace interactions or behaviours and may cause psychological and physical harm. These hazards can lead to conditions such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep disorders, musculoskeletal injuries, chronic diseases, and physical injuries following fatigue-related workplace incidents. The body's reaction to these hazards is stress, which can have physiological and psychological effects. While stress is not an injury, frequent, prolonged, or severe stress can cause harm. It is essential to manage psychosocial hazards to protect workers' health and safety, reduce costs and disruptions associated with injuries, and improve overall organisational performance and productivity.
Understanding financial metrics is essential and can empower CEOs, senior executives, and board members. It's the key to unlocking an organisation's success. In this episode, we will demystify some crucial financial metrics that every business leader should be well-versed in. This will give you the control and confidence to steer your company towards prosperity. By understanding and tracking these key financial metrics, you can make informed decisions to help your business grow and thrive.
Leading by example is an effective way to inspire and motivate others to follow your lead. When you lead by example, you set a positive and influential precedent for those around you. Here are some steps to help you lead by example:
1. Define your values: Clarify your values and the principles that guide your actions. Identify the qualities and behaviours you want to exemplify as a leader.
2. Be authentic: Authenticity is crucial when leading by example. Stay true to yourself and your values. People are more likely to trust and respect a genuine and consistent leader.
3. Demonstrate integrity: Act honestly, fairly, and ethically in all your interactions. Uphold high standards of integrity and be transparent in your decision-making processes.
4. Exhibit professionalism: Maintain a professional demeanour and approach to work. Be punctual, reliable, and organised. Take your responsibilities seriously and demonstrate dedication to your role.
5. Show empathy and respect: Treat others with compassion and respect. Listen actively to their perspectives, value their contributions, and show genuine care for their well-being. Create a supportive and inclusive environment.
6. Take initiative: Proactively take on tasks and responsibilities without waiting to be asked. Show initiative, be self-motivated, and demonstrate a strong work ethic. Your willingness to take the lead can inspire others to do the same.
7. Communicate effectively: Practice clear and open communication. Share information, goals, and expectations openly with your team. Be a good listener, offer constructive feedback, and encourage open dialogue.
8. Embrace accountability: Hold yourself accountable for your actions and decisions. Admit and learn from mistakes and take ownership of the outcomes. When others see you taking responsibility, they will be likelier to do the same.
9. Continuously learn and grow: Cultivate a growth mindset and commit to lifelong learning. Stay updated on industry trends, seek opportunities for self-improvement, and encourage others to develop their skills and knowledge.
10. Inspire and motivate: Stay positive, enthusiastic, and motivated to inspire others. Celebrate achievements, recognise your team's efforts, and provide encouragement when challenges arise.
Remember, leading by example is an ongoing process. Consistently demonstrate the qualities and behaviours you wish to see in others; your actions will positively impact those around you over time.
