Becoming the Leader in You

E10 - Becoming the Leader in You - Kim Taylor - Helping Leadders Not to Drown

In this episode of the Becoming the Leader in You podcast, I’m joined by Kim Taylor of www.withkim.co.uk, for a thoughtful and honest conversation about leadership, wellbeing, confidence, and what really happens when high-performing professionals keep pushing without stopping to check in on themselves. Kim brings decades of experience working with leaders, executives, and organisations, helping people develop professionally without losing themselves personally. We explored the growing pressure many leaders face to constantly deliver, stay visible, remain resilient, and somehow still maintain balance outside of work. At what point does being “driven” quietly become exhaustion? We spoke about: • Why many successful leaders still struggle with confidence and self-worth • The pressure of constantly performing at a high level • Creating healthier leadership habits without losing ambition • Emotional wellbeing in leadership roles • Why self-awareness matters more than most leadership models • Supporting teams while managing your own pressure • The importance of authenticity and human connection in leadership This wasn’t a conversation filled with corporate jargon or textbook leadership theory. It was real, reflective, practical, and human. Using swimming analogies throughout as Kim is also a long distance swimmer! This was a conversation about leadership that starts with the person behind the title. If you’re a leader, manager, business owner, or someone trying to balance performance with wellbeing, this episode will give you plenty to think about. You can contact Kim at: connect@withkim.co.uk www.withkim.co.uk You can also contact us at: info@aspire.me.uk www.aspire.me.uk Don't forget to listen on Apple, Amazon and Spotify too. #Leadership #Wellbeing #ExecutiveCoaching #Burnout #LeadershipDevelopment #MentalWellbeing #PeopleLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #SelfAwareness #Coaching #PersonalGrowth #Management #WorkplaceCulture #BusinessLeadership #BecomingTheLeaderInYou

Becoming the Leader in You - Dee Walsh - Leadership and Managing Redundancy

In this episode of the Becoming the Leader in You podcast, I’m joined by Dee Walsh from Dewa Consulting for an honest and practical conversation about redundancy, restructuring, organisational change, and the human impact many businesses are facing right now.Across many sectors, organisations are dealing with uncertainty, rising costs, changing priorities, and pressure to restructure. Behind every organisational chart, cost-saving exercise, or redundancy process are real people trying to navigate difficult conversations, fear, stress, and uncertainty about their future.How do leaders manage these situations professionally while still treating people with dignity and respect?And how do organisations avoid creating long-term damage to morale, trust, and culture during periods of change?Dee shared her experience firstly talking about being made redundant 6 times which led to supporting organisations and individuals through redundancy consultations, restructuring programmes, workforce transitions, and employee support. We discussed the emotional and operational realities businesses are currently facing, and why communication, empathy, and leadership visibility matter more than ever during periods of uncertainty.We explored:• Why many organisations are facing restructuring and workforce reductions• The leadership challenges behind redundancy conversations• How poor communication increases anxiety and disengagement• Supporting employees through uncertainty and change• The impact redundancies can have on remaining teams and organisational culture• Why empathy and accountability still matter during difficult business decisions• Helping individuals rebuild confidence after job loss• The importance of outplacement support, coaching, and career guidance• How leaders can maintain trust during turbulent periods• The balance between commercial pressure and people-first leadershipThis was a very real conversation about leadership under pressure, organisational responsibility, and the importance of supporting people properly when businesses are going through change.If you are a leader, manager, HR professional, business owner, or someone currently navigating uncertainty within your organisation, this episode will give you practical insight and a different perspective on managing change with humanity.You can contact Dee at:info@dewaconsulting.co.ukwww.dewaconsulting.co.ukYou can also contact us for all your needs for people development and growth at:info@aspire.me.ukwww.aspire.me.ukPlease like, subscribe, and share the podcast.You can also listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major podcast platforms.#Leadership #Redundancy #Restructuring #OrganisationalChange #HR #PeopleManagement #LeadershipDevelopment #EmployeeWellbeing #BusinessChange #Outplacement #CareerSupport #Management #WorkplaceCulture #ChangeManagement #BusinessLeadership

E8 - Becoming the Leader in You - Andy Neilson - Managing Mental Health as a Leader

In this longer than normal episode of the Becoming the Leader in You podcast, I’m joined by Andy Neilson from Twisted Orange for an honest and important conversation about leadership, pressure, and mental wellbeing. Andy speaks openly about his own mental health journey, the challenges he has faced over the years, and the reality of managing wellbeing while continuing to work as a consultant, trainer, and business professional. Too often, leadership conversations focus only on performance, success, and resilience from the outside. But what happens when the person leading others is quietly struggling themselves? We explored: • The pressures many leaders and consultants carry behind the scenes • The impact mental wellbeing can have on confidence, relationships, and decision-making • Why many professionals become skilled at masking stress and anxiety • The importance of recognising early warning signs • Practical methods Andy uses to manage his mental wellbeing day-to-day • Creating healthier conversations around mental health in the workplace • Why vulnerability and honesty matter in leadership This was a very real conversation, no corporate jargon, no pretending to have all the answers. Just an honest discussion about leadership, life, and learning how to keep moving forward whilst looking after yourself at the same time. If you are a leader, manager, consultant, trainer, or someone carrying pressure quietly in the background, this episode will likely resonate with you. Please remember - looking after your mental wellbeing is not separate from leadership. It is part of it - and the following organisations may be able to help: - mind.org.uk - mhfaengland.org - healthminduk.co.uk - place2be.org.uk - or search for your local organisation You can also contact Andy Neilson: andy@twisted-orange.co.uk www.twisted-orange.co.uk If you enjoy the episode, please like, subscribe, and share the podcast. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and other major podcast platforms. You can also contact us to know more about everything we offer: info@aspire.me.uk www.aspire.me.uk

E7 - Becoming the Leader in You - Lucy Gower - Values in Leadership and its Organisations

In this episode of the Becoming the Leader in You podcast, I’m joined by Lucy Gower from Lucidity - for a practical and honest conversation about values, leadership, workplace culture, and what really happens when organisations forget the people behind the job titles.We explored how many businesses proudly display their company values on walls, websites, and PowerPoint slides… but how often are those values actually lived day to day? What happens when leaders say people matter… but staff don’t feel listened to, respected, or understood?Lucy shared powerful insights into why values are far more than corporate statements. They influence decision-making, trust, communication, staff retention, wellbeing, and ultimately the reputation and performance of an organisation.We discussed: • Why organisational values must be visible through behaviour, not just words • The importance of leaders genuinely knowing their people• Respect in leadership and how small behaviours shape workplace culture • Why culture is created through everyday interactions, not annual strategy documents • The impact poor leadership behaviours can have on morale and retention • How leaders can create psychologically safer and more human workplaces We also touched on the reality that many leaders become so focused on targets, deadlines, and operational pressure that they sometimes lose sight of the human side of leadership. And of course… we were briefly joined by Gary the dog… officially the Managing Director and Wellbeing Director… who may actually have been the calmest and most emotionally intelligent participant in the conversation. This episode is a reminder that leadership is not simply about process, performance, or authority. It is about people!Because when people feel respected, understood, and valued… organisations usually perform far better as a result. If you are a business owner, senior leader, manager, HR professional, or someone responsible for shaping workplace culture, this conversation will give you plenty to reflect on. Please do not forget to like, subscribe, and share.You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms. You can contact Lucy Gower at: Lucy@lucidity.org.uk www.lucidity.org.uk You can also contact us at: info@aspire.me.uk www.aspire.me.uk #Leadership #Values #WorkplaceCulture #BusinessLeadership #EmployeeEngagement #LeadershipDevelopment #PeopleManagement #CultureChange #PsychologicalSafety #Management #LeadershipPodcast #BusinessCulture #EmployeeWellbeing #OrganisationalCulture #RespectAtWork #TeamLeadership #LeadershipCommunication #HumanLeadership #BusinessValues

Becoming the Leader in You - Kate Taylor - Leadership and Finance

In this episode of the Becoming the Leader in You podcast, I’m joined by from www.ftre.co.uk for a practical and honest conversation about finance, leadership, accountability, and the reality many business owners face when managing money without being “finance people”. We explored the pressure many leaders feel when they suddenly become responsible for budgets, forecasting, cashflow, payroll, tax, and financial decisions… despite never being formally trained in finance. Kate shared practical insights from years of helping organisations untangle financial problems, especially when businesses try to “save money” by doing everything themselves first… only to call in professional support later when things become far more complicated and expensive to fix. We discussed: • Why many leaders struggle with financial confidence • Why “doing it yourself” sometimes costs more in the long run• The importance of asking for help early • Leadership responsibility when managing budgets and teams • The reality of financial stress inside businessesKate also spoke openly about the changing world of finance and accounting, including: • AI and automation in finance• How technology is changing bookkeeping and reporting • The opportunities and risks AI creates for organisations • Why human judgement still matters • The future of finance teams and leadership decision-making One of the major topics we explored was the introduction of Making Tax Digital and how businesses are responding to it. For many organisations, digital tax reporting is not simply a software upgrade. It represents a significant behavioural and operational change. There’s also a very honest conversation about leadership itself.Not leadership theory, not buzzwords, not motivational posters with mountains in the background, but real leadership. The kind where managers must make decisions when they are uncertain.The kind where leaders must balance commercial pressure, people, compliance, and performance all at the same time.Kate brings a grounded and practical perspective to the discussion, particularly around helping businesses avoid avoidable mistakes and develop stronger financial awareness across leadership teams. If you are: • A business owner • A senior leader managing budgets • A manager responsible for financial decisions • Someone nervous about finance • Curious about AI in business • Trying to understand Making Tax Digital • Or simply interested in practical leadership conversations…then this episode will give you plenty to think about. Sometimes leadership is not about having all the answers.Sometimes it’s simply knowing when to ask better questions before the spreadsheet catches fire. You can contact Kate at: kate@ftre.co.uk | www.ftre.co.uk You can also contact us for all your training requirements, in the UK and globally at :info@aspire.me.uk | www.aspire.co.uk Listen now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and all major podcast platforms. #Leadership #Finance #BusinessLeadership #Management #Budgeting #MakingTaxDigital #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #BusinessGrowth #Cashflow #LeadershipDevelopment #FinanceLeadership #Tax #BusinessStrategy #DigitalTransformation #Training #Accounting #BusinessOwner #Podcast #LeadershipPodcast