We often focus on vision, direction, and performance, but here’s a question that every leader needs to ask:   Do people feel safe bringing you problems? No matter how strategic or experienced you are, your impact will be limited if people are too intimidated or unsure to tell you the truth. You can say you have an open door policy, but if people don’t feel psychologically safe walking through it… what’s the point? 5 Hidden signals that make leaders less approachable Always ru

We talk a lot about clarity in leadership the ability to see the big picture, rally the team, and make progress, but none of that happens without one often overlooked skill: Decisiveness. In the below episode of The Lonely Leader Podcast I explore why decisiveness isn’t just about speed it’s about courage, clarity, and momentum. In today’s complex world, indecision has become one of the most costly forms of inaction. It slows teams, stifles innovation, and chips away at trust

When was the last time someone gave you tough feedback and you thanked them? If that question makes you pause, you’re not alone. Most leaders are far more comfortable   giving   feedback than receiving it. And that’s understandable. Receiving feedback pricks our ego, challenges our self-image, and can feel exposing. If you want to lead at a high level and build a resilient, high performing team, you have to get good at receiving feedback. Giving feedback is only half the equa

The word feedback triggers all sorts of reactions. Some leaders brace for confrontation. Some team members hear it and expect criticism. Many organisations only practice it in a tokenistic, box ticking way, annual appraisals, half yearly reviews, “feedback sandwiches” that nobody enjoys. In my experience the best teams in the world thrive on feedback, not as an occasional event, but as a rhythm, a discipline, and a foundation of their culture. In professional sport, feedback