When I stopped trying to be a “better manager” and focused on helping my people grow, everything changed — including performance. Here’s what happened.

“You can tell me anything.” But do your team believe you? In this reflection, I share how fear shaped my early leadership behaviours—and what I learned about creating real safety at work.

What if the biggest barrier to your leadership growth… was the story you’ve been told about what a ‘real leader’ looks like? Let’s rewrite that myth.

A cancelled run in 32°C heat sparked more than just sweat — it led to 10 powerful parallels between hot-weather safety and psychological safety at work.

A photo of me smiling on a Yorkshire road doesn’t tell the whole story. This post explores the invisible emotional toll of leadership - and what happens when we mask it. Trust, safety, and empathy aren’t soft skills - they’re everything.

Whether you’re leading in healthcare, business, or beyond - the way you lead matters. This blog explores five core leadership behaviours that consistently drive team performance, drawn from work with both NHS and global organisations. Practical, people-focused, and grounded in real experience.