Hello KSKOers
In this episode, I’m delighted to be joined by Dr Craig Dearden Phillips MBE, a leading voice in the world of social entrepreneurship. Starting from humble beginnings, Craig has worked across the sector and knows the importance of understanding what people really need. Craig joins me to talk about the importance of self-aware leadership, navigating sector challenges, honesty in the boardroom, communicating through change and politics. Join us! It’s a good un!
Looking forward to joining you on your learning journey!
Here are my top takeaways from our conversation:
1. Self-Awareness is Essential for Leadership
Craig stresses that true leadership starts with knowing yourself. He believes self-aware leaders can better understand and support others, positively influencing team morale and performance, especially in tough times.
2. Be Honest and Transparent in Difficult Times
When organisations face challenge or change, Craig and I agree: don’t sugarcoat reality. Open, honest communication maintains trust and respect. Including people early and speaking plainly helps manage anxiety and keeps teams onboard.
3. Flexibility is Key
Good leaders are adaptable. Craig explains that every board or team ask for and needs something different from its leader. Reading the room and adjusting your style to fit the situation ensures the right outcomes and keeps organisations moving forward.
4. Crisis Brings Opportunity
Craig views tough times in the voluntary sector as an opportunity for innovation. Rather than just cutting back, he urges organisations to use the chance to rethink, modernise and emerge even stronger and more effective.
5. Give Feedback Kindly
Constructive feedback, delivered with empathy, helps people grow. Craig’s experience shows that honest conversations about behaviour, when balanced with positives, can help people adapt, unlearn old habits, and thrive in new contexts.
Here are the top five actions that you can take away from this episode to strengthen your self-aware leadership skills:
Step Into Humbling Roles
Craig’s career began in care work, teaching him empathy and self-awareness. Try taking on roles or tasks that get you closer to people’s real experiences, it’s a powerful way to understand your impact. Have you ever tried volunteering?Pause and Reflect on How You “Show Up”
Be intentional about your presence. Check in with yourself before meetings or big decisions and consider how your mood or approach may affect others.Welcome Honest Feedback
Invite feedback from your team and peers, even when it’s tough to hear. Use it as a growth tool to adjust your leadership style.Adapt to Situations
Practice reading the room and be flexible with your leadership approach. Not every situation needs the same “you” - sometimes you need to motivate, sometimes you need to calm or support.Communicate Openly, Especially in Hard Times
Be transparent and timely when sharing information, especially during change. Open, honest communication builds trust and eases anxiety for your team.
Leadership is an ongoing learning game!
Enjoy this episode! Also available on…
Nia is an expert leader who talks the talk and walks the walk. She is an academically awarded thought leader in self-aware leadership and practices self-aware leadership every single day in her role as a Director in a Children’s Charity.
Find out more about Self-Aware Leadership by getting your very own copy of The Self-Awareness Superhighway! It’s an Amazon Best Seller in.....
🥇Business Management & Leadership
🥇Occupational & Organisational Psychology
🥇Business Careers
Harvard Reference: Thomas, N.D., 2024. The Self-Awareness Superhighway: Charting Your Leadership Journey. Knowing Self Knowing Others.
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