Iain's Top Tips Podcast

How To Stay Grounded When Everything Goes Wrong

How to stay grounded when everything goes wrong — easier said than done, right? In this top tip, I share how a kitchen mishap (and a brief beard experiment) taught me the real power of gratitude and perspective. When things go up in smoke, noticing what’s still working helps you calm down, refocus, and move forward with a little more grace — and a little less drama.

Patience - Why Slowing Down Helps You Move Forward

Patience – Why Slowing Down Helps You Move Forward. In a world that celebrates speed, learning to wait might just be your secret advantage. This top tip explores how patience shapes your mindset, decisions, and wellbeing – told through a story of dusty roads, broken phones, and big lessons from a year in Tanzania.

How to Support Someone Doing Something for the First Time

How to support someone doing something for the first time is one of the most important (and underrated) leadership skills. In this top tip, we’ll explore how curiosity helps you respond with empathy instead of impatience, and why remembering your own first-time experiences can make you more supportive at work and in life. Whether it’s a new system, a big meeting, or even a giant hornet — empathy matters.

Why Is Buffer Time So Important?

Buffer time is the secret weapon of smart time management. In this top tip, I share why being early isn’t just polite, it’s powerful – giving you peace of mind, options, and control whether you’re heading into a big meeting or driving up the M6 with a boot full of eyebrow pencils.

Why Some People Act and Others Just Wait - The Freedom Ladder

Leadership and initiative aren’t just buzzwords – they’re the difference between waiting around and making things happen. In this story (featuring a Mac, a taxi, and the FA Cup Final), I explain the Freedom Ladder, a simple framework that shows why some people leap into action while others stay stuck on the lower rungs. Use it to reflect on where you – and your team – really are.