In this extended studio conversation on Leadership Bites, Guy Bloom sits down with Danny Nelson, MD WINVIC, Industrial & Logistics who has grown with a construction business from its early days into a billion pound organisation. This is not a polished leadership story. It is a real one.

Danny talks openly about starting out as an apprentice, learning the craft from tough early experiences, and what changes when you move from being good at the job to being responsible for people, culture and long term performance. Together they explore what trust actually looks like when you stop micromanaging, why accountability is not about blame, and how letting go becomes one of the hardest disciplines of senior leadership.

The conversation goes deep into lived culture. Not values on the wall, but how standards are set, how people are treated, how suppliers are paid, and how consistency builds credibility over time. They discuss succession, stepping into ownership, recalibrating peer relationships, and why leadership maturity often comes through discomfort, feedback and reflection rather than confidence or charisma.

This episode is for leaders who have grown inside an organisation, who feel the weight of responsibility, and who know that leadership is less about being right and more about learning, trust and sustained behaviour over time.

00:08:56 From apprentice to boardroom learning leadership through craft
00:15:40 Growing inside one organisation what you learn that outsiders do not
00:17:38 Where culture really comes from standards not slogans
00:20:02 Doing it right why credibility is built through behaviour
00:23:56 What culture feels like when it is working
00:26:23 What got you here will not get you there
00:28:50 Leadership maturity learning through reflection
00:30:28 Trust versus control why micromanagement kills leadership
00:32:10 Letting go without letting things fall apart
00:33:37 Accountability without blame owning performance properly
00:35:14 The John Terry effect leadership without needing the spotlight
00:36:53 Succession without ego stepping into ownership
00:39:09 Recalibrating peer relationships at senior level
00:42:05 Getting honest feedback when you are at the top
00:44:21 Why senior leaders hear less truth over time
00:46:03 Trusting each other enough to challenge properly
00:48:11 Why perfection is not the goal in leadership
00:49:21 Advice to younger leaders what really matters
00:51:18 Growth comes from facing into discomfort
00:52:39 Learning from leaders you do not want to become
00:54:10 Leadership is not meant to be easy

To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.

The link to everything CLICK HERE
UK: 07827 953814
Email: guybloom@livingbrave.com
Web: www.livingbrave.com

In this first ever Leadership Bites conversation between Guy Bloom and Jamie MacPherson, two long time colleagues finally press record and get into what sits underneath the glossy talk of culture.

They explore a blunt question: can the promise of a great culture ever meet expectations, or does it always fall short once real people, real pressure, and real leaders show up.

They unpack the gap between the marketing story and the lived experience, the hidden corridor culture that never makes the posters, and the reality that most organisations do not have one culture at all but many, shaped by local leaders and daily interactions.

Jamie frames culture as the aggregation of every interaction and offers three simple tests that cut through the noise: do interactions leave people clearer, more interested, and learning.

Guy adds a hard edge to that with survival versus contribution, where people are either performing to stay safe or showing up with enough trust to offer half formed ideas, challenge, and honesty.

They also tackle the uncomfortable truth of culture programmes: if you raise awareness and set a standard, you create a new lens people will judge the organisation by.

If leadership cannot live it, the disappointment gets louder.

Great culture is not Nirvana. It is averages, peaks and troughs, small behaviours done consistently, and the craft of leadership at senior level, where the work is granular, deliberate, and owned from the top.

A candid, funny, reality based conversation about what culture really is, what it is for, and why the promise only becomes real when leaders have the courage to be specific, accountable, and human.

00:00 Introduction to Leadership Bites
03:22 Exploring Culture and Performance
06:25 The Promise of a Great Culture
09:10 Defining Culture and Its Purpose
12:27 Interactions Shape Culture
15:15 Survival vs. Contribution in Culture
18:26 Navigating Fear and Anxiety in the Workplace
21:05 Setting Realistic Expectations for Culture
24:36 The Pursuit of Realistic Standards
25:54 Understanding Happiness in High-Performance Cultures
29:46 The Difference Between Enjoyment and Satisfaction
31:06 Reevaluating Expectations in Organizational Culture
33:29 The Importance of Listening in Leadership
36:39 Managing Expectations and Reality in Culture Change
40:02 Crafting a Culture of Continuous Improvement
43:03 Defining Specific Behavioral Expectations
48:51 Embedding Change for Sustainable Culture

To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.

The link to everything CLICK HERE
UK: 07827 953814
Email: guybloom@livingbrave.com
Web: www.livingbrave.com

In this episode of Leadership Bites, I interview Guido Palazzo, Professor of Business Ethics, University of Lausanne, who explores the dark side of corporate behaviour and the systemic issues that lead to ethical failures. We discuss Guido's background, the concept of his brilliant book 'The Dark Pattern: The Hidden Dynamics of Corporate Scandals' in corporate scandals, and the importance of understanding the systems and cultures that allow unethical behaviour to thrive.

The conversation delves into the psychological aspects of corporate culture, the slippery slope of ethical compromise, and the need for organisations to create environments that promote ethical decision-making. Ultimately, we highlight the importance of awareness and proactive measures to prevent ethical failures in business.

Takeaways

• Guido focuses on the absence of ethics in business.
• Corporate scandals often involve good people making bad decisions.
• Systems, not just individuals, drive unethical behaviour.
• Leadership plays a crucial role in shaping organisational culture.
• Group dynamics can lead to conformity and ethical blindness.
• The slippery slope of compromise can lead to significant ethical failures.
• Survival instincts can overshadow ethical considerations in the workplace.
• Creating a 'bright pattern' can help organisations avoid ethical pitfalls.
• Awareness and proactive measures are essential for ethical business practices.
• The importance of having a court jester to provide honest feedback in organisations.

Key Moments & Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Ethics and Corporate Responsibility
03:03 Guido's Background and Academic Journey
05:37 Understanding Ethics in Business
08:49 The Role of Systems in Ethical Failures
11:45 Exploring Corporate Scandals and Dark Patterns
14:35 The Impact of Leadership on Organizational Culture
17:41 Group Dynamics and Ethical Decision Making
20:30 The Combination of Dark Patterns in Corporations
23:28 Survival and Ethical Compromise in Business
26:12 Conclusion: The Human Element in Corporate Ethics
26:42 The Dark Patterns of Corporate Culture
29:39 The Slippery Slope of Compromise
33:16 The Illusion of the Messiah in Leadership
40:13 The Disconnect Between Leadership and Reality
44:11 Finding the Bright Pattern in Dark Times

To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.

The link to everything CLICK HERE
UK: 07827 953814
Email: guybloom@livingbrave.com
Web: www.livingbrave.com

In this episode of Leadership Bites, host Guy Bloom engages with Peter Cappilla & Ranya Nehmeh, authors of 'In Praise of the Office: The Limits to Hybrid and Remote Work.'

They discuss the evolving dynamics of work in the post-pandemic world, exploring the challenges and benefits of remote and hybrid work models.

The conversation delves into the importance of social interactions, the generational divide in workplace culture, and the critical role of leadership in navigating these changes.

The episode emphasises the need for organisations to adapt and find a balance between remote flexibility and the inherent value of in-person collaboration.

Takeaways

• The pandemic forced a massive experiment in remote work.
• Social interactions are crucial for innovation and collaboration.
• There is a generational divide in workplace culture.
• Employees value flexibility but also miss in-person connections.
• Leadership must model the behaviors they want to see.
• The media often exaggerates the tension between employees and employers.
• Organizations need to create intentional connections in the office.
• Remote work can lead to social isolation and stress.
• Measuring productivity in remote work is complex and nuanced.
• The future of work requires a balance between remote and office environments.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Leadership Bytes
02:55 Meet the Guests: Peter and Ranya
05:54 The Concept of Office Work
08:54 The Impact of the Pandemic on Work Dynamics
11:41 Challenges of Remote Work
14:29 The Generational Divide in Workplace Culture
17:48 The Tug of War: Employees vs Employers
20:40 The Role of Leadership in Hybrid Work
23:34 The Importance of Social Interactions
26:39 Measuring Innovation and Collaboration
29:41 The Future of Work: Balancing Remote and Office
32:28 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.

The link to everything CLICK HERE
UK: 07827 953814
Email: guybloom@livingbrave.com
Web: www.livingbrave.com

This with Jeanne Hardacre conversation explores Jeanne's book The Culture Trap the profound impact of emotions on behavior change, emphasizing that while knowledge and beliefs are important, it is ultimately our feelings that drive transformation. The discussion delves into how understanding behavior and the role of emotions can lead to more effective change strategies.

Takeaways

• What we think and know is important, but actually the change comes from what we feel.
• Emotion is the energy that leads to behavior change.
• Feelings are crucial for transformation.
• Understanding behavior is key to change.
• Knowledge alone isn't enough for change.
• Belief shapes our actions and reactions.
• Energy from emotions fuels our decisions.
• Transformation requires emotional engagement.
• Our emotion drives our actions.
• The interplay of emotion and knowledge is vital for effective change.

00:00 Introduction to Leadership and Power Dynamics
02:52 Jeanne's Journey: From Baby Manager to Independent Consultant
06:12 Challenging Authority: The Cost of Speaking Truth to Power
09:08 The Shift to Independence: Embracing Freedom in Consultancy
11:59 Patterns of Power: Perpetuation vs. Interruption
14:54 The Courage to Change: Self-Reflection and Accountability
17:56 The Role of Culture in Leadership
20:54 Learning from Experience: The Importance of Humility
23:54 Martial Arts and Leadership: The Art of Letting Go
33:49 The Humility of Martial Arts and Leadership
37:45 The Culture Trap: Understanding Workplace Dynamics
46:28 The HUMAN Approach: Transforming Organizational Culture
55:54 Invitational Change: Empowering Teams to Evolve
01:02:55 Emotional Connection: The Key to Behavioral Change

To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.

The link to everything CLICK HERE
UK: 07827 953814
Email: guybloom@livingbrave.com
Web: www.livingbrave.com

In this episode I sit down with author, entrepreneur and thought-leader Margaret Heffernan to explore two of her seminal ideas: the hidden dangers of conforming to systems that blind us to obvious truths (from her book Willful Blindness) and the vital importance of embracing uncertainty, especially through the lens of writers, artists and creatives (from her latest work Embracing Uncertainty).

We talk about how organisations and individuals get stuck in the comfort of predictability, why innovation is not merely incremental improvement, what creative people can teach business leaders about sensing the future and navigating chaos, and the critical role of agency, curiosity and courage even when outcomes are uncertain.

It’s a conversation designed for senior leaders, coaches, team-effectiveness practitioners and anyone who wants to see beyond the status quo.

00:00 Introduction & technical note
02:15 Who is Margaret Heffernan: career, context and influences
08:45 Exploring Willful Blindness: what it means, in business and culture
17:20 Why systems and institutions encourage willful blindness
23:30 The trigger for the next book: from Uncharted to Embracing Uncertainty
29:08 Join to second recording – framing the shift to artists, music, creativity
31:00 What does “embracing uncertainty” really mean in today’s world
38:40 COVID, anticipation and why the future unsettled so many organisations
45:50 Creatives, artists and the ability to sense the future ahead of others
52:12 Divergent thinking vs incremental improvement: defining “innovation”
56:22 Leadership and agency when certainty is not possible
01:03:15 How context, character and culture interact in enabling creative agency
01:10:00 Practical take-aways for senior leaders and coaches
01:15:30 Closing thoughts: system change, individual mindsets, human skills

To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.

The link to everything CLICK HERE
UK: 07827 953814
Email: guybloom@livingbrave.com
Web: www.livingbrave.com

In this episode of Leadership Bites, Mita Mallick shares her journey from being a bullied child to becoming a champion for inclusion in the workplace. She emphasizes the importance of consistency and discipline in achieving success and discusses how creating inclusive cultures starts at home. Mita highlights the need for respectful conversations in the workplace and the role of leaders in fostering psychological safety. She also introduces her new book, 'The Devil Emails at Midnight,' which explores the archetypes of bad bosses and encourages self-reflection among leaders.

Takeaways

• Mita is on a mission to fix what's broken in workplaces.
• Consistency and discipline are key to success.
• Everyone has experienced a time when they didn't belong.
• Creating inclusive cultures starts at home.
• We need to disagree with kindness and respect.
• Psychological safety is crucial for open conversations.
• Leaders must take ownership of their impact on others.
• Understanding intent versus impact is vital in communication.
• Self-reflection is necessary for effective leadership.
• Mita's new book explores bad boss archetypes and encourages growth.

Sound bites

• "I'm on a mission to fix what's broken."
• "Consistency is my underrated superpower."
• "We all have one toxic habit."

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:58 The Importance of Consistency and Discipline
05:53 Mita's Origin Story and Journey
09:03 Creating Inclusive Cultures Starts at Home
11:52 The Hijacking of Inclusion Conversations
14:38 The Need for Kind and Respectful Conversations
17:40 Psychological Safety in Conversations
20:20 The Role of Leaders in Inclusion
23:19 Understanding Intent vs. Impact
26:24 Mita's New Book: The Devil Emails at Midnight
29:27 Exploring Bad Boss Archetypes
32:26 The Importance of Self-Reflection in Leadership
35:30 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.

The link to everything CLICK HERE
UK: 07827 953814
Email: guybloom@livingbrave.com
Web: www.livingbrave.com

Guy Bloom interviews Kate Atkin, a speaker, facilitator, author, and author of The Imposter Phenomenon. They explore Kate's journey from a farming background to becoming an expert in the field, discussing the differences between the imposter phenomenon and imposter syndrome, the role of external validation, and the impact of societal expectations. Kate shares insights from her research on coping strategies and emphasizes the importance of psychological courage in overcoming imposter feelings.

The conversation concludes with practical advice for leaders on how to support their teams in recognizing their worth and capabilities.

Takeaways

• The imposter phenomenon is not limited to women.
• It's important to differentiate between a phenomenon and a syndrome.
• External validation can be both helpful and harmful.
• Coping strategies can sometimes be maladaptive.
• Normalizing failure can help reduce imposter feelings.
• Psychological courage is necessary to accept one's abilities.
• The environment can influence feelings of belonging.
• Parenting styles can impact self-perception and imposter feelings.
• Self-handicapping behaviors can serve as excuses for underperformance.
• Leaders should provide evidence of why their team members are amazing, not just accolades.

👉 Kate’s book The Imposter Phenomenon is available on Amazon
👉 Find Kate at https://kateatkin.com
👉 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateatkin/

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with leading thinkers on leadership, confidence, and personal growth.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Imposter Phenomenon
04:45 Kate's Origin Story and Journey
09:53 Understanding the Imposter Phenomenon vs. Syndrome
19:42 The Role of Internal and External Validation
24:36 The Impact of Environment on Imposter Feelings
29:25 Dunning-Kruger Effect vs. Imposter Feelings
32:01 The Psychological Roots of Imposter Feelings
44:04 Coping Strategies and Moving Forward
50:19 The Role of Courage in Overcoming Imposter Feelings
56:26 Final Thoughts on Leadership and Validation

To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.

The link to everything CLICK HERE
UK: 07827 953814
Email: guybloom@livingbrave.com
Web: www.livingbrave.com