Leading People

Send us Fan MailWhat if the real issue isn’t the problem someone brings you — but the way they are thinking about it?Or, perhaps it's how they're behaving...In this episode of Leading People, Gerry Murray is joined by coaching pioneer Dr Marcia Reynolds to explore a more powerful approach to coaching, leadership, and human development.Their conversation goes well beyond formal coaching. It looks at how leaders, HR professionals, and people managers can create better conversations by listening more deeply, reflecting more skillfully, and helping others find their own insight rather than rushing to fix, advise, or solve.  If you’ve ever wondered how to support real change in behaviour, confidence, and self-awareness — whether as a coach, a leader, or an HR partner — this episode will give you plenty to think about.Curious?Connect with Marcia on LinkedInVisit Marcia's websiteCheck out Team Leader Essentials and the Performance Accelerator hereFollow Leading People on LinkedIn Leading People on FaceBookConnect with GerryWebsiteLinkedInWide Circle

Send us Fan MailFew things drain a team faster than two people who just can’t seem to work well together.And for a team leader, it can be surprisingly easy to get pulled into the wrong conversation.In this short episode of One Simple Thing, Gerry Murray looks at a familiar workplace challenge and shares one practical shift that can help you respond with more clarity, confidence, and impact.If you’ve ever had to deal with friction between team members, this episode is for you.  Curious to learn more?Check out Team Leader Essentials and The Performance Accelerator https://www.widecircle.eu/our-services Follow Leading People on LinkedIn Leading People on FaceBookConnect with GerryWebsiteLinkedInWide Circle

Send us Fan MailMost leaders believe they’re self-aware.Research suggests otherwise.Studies indicate that while the majority of us think we understand how we show up, only a small percentage are accurately perceived that way by others. And under pressure — in uncertainty — those blind spots don’t stay hidden.They shape our decisions.Our relationships.Our leadership.In this episode of Leading People, Gerry Murray speaks with researcher and author Dr Julia Carden about why self-awareness is far rarer than we assume — and why it matters most in uncertain environments.We explore:Why other people’s perceptions of us don’t update as quickly as we thinkWhat makes feedback useful rather than threateningThe role of identity and ego in leadership blind spotsWhy self-acceptance is a quiet but powerful leadership strengthAnd how self-awareness builds adaptive capacity in unstable timesIf you’ve ever wondered why capable, intelligent leaders can still get in their own way — this conversation will give you language, research, and practical insight to reflect on your own leadership.Curious?Listen in — and notice what you'll discover about yourselfCheck out the Leading People programmesConnect with Julia on LinkedInVisit Julia's WebsiteBuy the bookFollow Leading People on LinkedIn Leading People on FaceBookConnect with GerryWebsiteLinkedInWide Circle

Send us Fan MailWhat do you say when your team pushes back on a policy you didn’t create?This episode explores a common moment where many team leaders lose credibility — and how you can handle it differently.If you’ve ever felt stuck between your team and “head office,” this one’s for you.Want to go further?Our Team Leader Essentials and Performance Accelerator programmes are designed to help you navigate tough leadership moments like this — and bring out the best in yourself and your team. Here's the Linkhttps://www.widecircle.eu/better-leadershipFollow Leading People on LinkedIn Leading People on FaceBookConnect with GerryWebsiteLinkedInWide Circle

Send us Fan MailWhat if engagement wasn’t the finish line — but the starting point?In this episode of Leading People, Gerry Murray is joined by Alli Gibbons, author of The Power of Ownership Culture, to explore how employee ownership can fundamentally reset leadership and culture — when it’s treated as more than just a new structure.Rather than focusing on legal models or financial mechanisms, the conversation centres on what really shifts when people are invited to take genuine responsibility — and why leadership matters even more, not less, in ownership environments.Alli shares insights from her journey across engineering, large-scale projects, and organisational culture, and explains why ownership doesn’t automatically change behaviour. Structure alone isn’t enough. What makes the difference is how leaders build ownership literacy tell a clear strategic story create decision rights that invite voice without losing momentum and shape environments where accountability feels meaningful rather than imposedTogether, we explore the practical leadership tensions this creates — psychological safety versus pace, participation versus clarity, and the pivotal role middle managers play as translators between strategy and day-to-day work.At its heart, this is a conversation about shifting from company-as-machine to company-as-community — where performance still matters, profit remains essential, but purpose becomes the anchor that sustains commitment over time.This episode is for leaders who are curious about ownership — or who simply want people to think and act like owners — and are willing to reflect on what that requires of leadership itself.Curious? Have a listen...Connect with Alli on LinkedIn for the special offerBuy the book hereVisit her company websiteFollow Leading People on LinkedIn Leading People on FaceBookConnect with GerryWebsiteLinkedInWide Circle

Send us Fan MailIf you had to explain leadership in one simple sentence, what would you say?After 100 episodes of talking to extraordinary people about what it means to lead, one answer keeps rising to the top. And it’s not what you might expect.This short episode marks the beginning of a new chapter — and a return to something essential.Tune in to discover the one thing that most great leaders have in common.(And if you’re serious about growing as a leader, check out our Team Leader Essentials and Accelerating Performance programmes — link below)Check out the Leadership ProgrammesFollow Leading People on LinkedIn Leading People on FaceBookConnect with GerryWebsiteLinkedInWide Circle

Send us Fan MailEpisode 100 felt like a moment worth marking.Not with a summary.Not with highlights.And not with a look back.Just a conversation — allowed to unfold.This episode exists thanks to the generosity, creativity, and support of Kate Walker Miles and Valeriia Diakiv, whose contributions helped bring it into being.As always, thank you for listening — and for being part of the Leading People journey since January 2021.Here's to the next 100 episodes...Follow Leading People on LinkedIn Leading People on FaceBookConnect with GerryWebsiteLinkedInWide Circle

Send us Fan MailWhat does it really mean to create a culture where people perform at their best?In this episode of Leading People, I’m joined by Zach Mercurio, researcher, speaker, and author of The Power of Mattering, to explore how leaders can create a culture of significance — one where people feel seen, valued, and needed.Drawing on decades of research into motivation and human performance, Zach explains why performance, resilience, and engagement suffer when people feel invisible or replaceable — and why leaders play a pivotal role in shaping the everyday signals that tell people whether they matter.In our conversation, we explore:What a culture of significance really looks like in practiceWhy people perform better when they feel valued and neededHow leaders often unintentionally signal that people don’t matterSmall, everyday leadership behaviours that have an outsized impactWhy significance isn’t a “soft” idea — but a serious performance driverZach brings these principles to life through compelling stories from an array of organisations. Whether you lead a team, work in HR or L&D, or care about creating environments where people thrive and perform, this episode offers practical insights you can apply immediately.Curious?🎧 Let’s have a listenConnect with Zach on LinkedInCheck out the Power of Mattering on Zach's websiteFollow Leading People on LinkedIn Leading People on FaceBookConnect with GerryWebsiteLinkedInWide Circle

Send us Fan MailMost people think they know where their paycheck comes from — but the real answer might surprise you.In this short episode, Gerry Murray shares a surprising pattern he’s seen in leadership workshops across sectors and industries. It’s a simple mindset shift that separates teams who truly add value… from those who don’t.This episode just might change the way you think about your work — and the people who depend on it.Curious?🎧 Listen now and discover One Simple Thing every leader needs to remember.Check out Team Leader EssentialsFollow Leading People on LinkedIn Leading People on FaceBookConnect with GerryWebsiteLinkedInWide Circle

Send us Fan MailWhat really drives performance at work?It’s a question many leaders and learning professionals wrestle with — and one that my guest, Paul Matthews, has spent decades exploring.In this wide-ranging conversation, Paul challenges some of the most common assumptions about training and learning. Drawing on insights from his three books — on informal learning, capability building, and learning transfer — he explains why so many well-intentioned programmes fail to create real behaviour change, and what organisations must do differently.We cover a wide range of topics, including:Why people learn best through activities, not contentHow capability depends on both the individual and the environmentWhat your SatNav can teach you about turning learning into performanceThe link between diagnostics, performance consulting, and business outcomesHow culture can “eat training for breakfast”, and often doesDesigning learning like an engineer: with purpose, precision, and clear success criteriaWhy AI is fast becoming “the world’s tutor” — and what that means for L&D and leadersPractical examples of organisations turning learning into sustained performanceWhether you’re a leader, an L&D professional, or simply someone curious about how people grow, this episode offers powerful insights into what actually helps people change behaviour — and what gets in the way.🎧 Let’s have a listenConnect with Paul on LinkedInVisit Paul's websiteCheck out his People Alchemy productFollow Leading People on LinkedIn Leading People on FaceBookConnect with GerryWebsiteLinkedInWide Circle