Hello KSKOers
In this episode, I’m joined by the lovely Ruth Hallett, change leader and transformation expert with over 25 years of experience across public, voluntary and private sectors. We explore how self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and reflective practice can shape successful leadership. We talk about flexibility, fun and mountain biking. It’s packed with practical tips, real-life stories, and creative strategies (including LEGO Serious Play!).
Looking forward to joining you on your learning journey!
Here are my top takeaways from our conversation:
1. People Come First
Ruth makes it clear: no matter how good you are at the technical stuff, it’s all about the people. She puts a big focus on understanding her team and making sure everyone feels valued. Taking time to build trust and connections upfront means smoother sailing later on, even when things get bumpy.
2. Reflect and Get Support
Ruth is a real fan of having an external coach to chat things through and reflect on tricky situations. She swears by making reflection part of your routine, it helps keep you grounded and stops stress from spilling over into the team. Don’t try to handle everything on your own!
3. Go With the Flow
Plans changing? Tech fails? Ruth’s advice: be ready to roll with it. Having backup plans is just smart, but being flexible and adjusting on the fly is what really gets you through stressful moments. And remember, not every curveball is a disaster; sometimes, it’s just a new path to explore.
4. Mix and Match Your Methods
Ruth doesn’t believe in sticking to just one way of working. She blends Agile, Scrum, Prince2, whatever does the job. The trick is to use what actually works for your team and your project. Labels don’t matter: the results do!
5. Don’t Forget to Take Care of Yourself (and Have Some Fun)
Finally, Ruth says looking after your wellbeing is non-negotiable. Leaders need looking after too! She keeps herself happy and balanced with things like walks, cold swims and mountain biking. Plus, bringing laughter and a bit of fun to the workplace can do wonders for team morale. If you’re enjoying what you do, everyone benefits!
Here are the top five actions that you can take away from this episode to strengthen your self-aware leadership skills:
Make Time to Reflect: Don’t just keep powering through—grab a coffee, take a walk, and really think about what’s going on for you at work. Chatting things through with a coach or mentor can be a game-changer.
Put People First: Get to know your team as people, not just job titles. Kick off projects by having real conversations about strengths, goals, and how everyone likes to work.
Be Flexible (and Have a Plan B): Stuff happens—tech fails, plans change. Ruth’s advice? Be ready to pivot, and don’t panic if things go sideways. Sometimes the best ideas come from rolling with whatever comes up.
Talk About How You Work Together: Don’t wait for things to get tense. Check in regularly about how things are going, and encourage everyone to speak up if something’s off. Open conversations = stronger teams.
Look After Yourself: Work can get tough, so don’t forget to care for yourself. Take breaks, reach out if you need help, and use any wellbeing resources around you. You’ll be a better leader for it.
Start with these, keep it human, and you’ll be growing those self-aware leadership skills in no time!
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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
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Harvard Reference: Thomas, N.D., 2024. The Self-Awareness Superhighway: Charting Your Leadership Journey. Knowing Self Knowing Others.
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