Leading People

Send us a textWhat 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

Send us a textEvery team has a weather system — and often, as a Leader, you’re the one creating it.In this short Leading People episode of One Simple Thing, we explore how your presence as a leader can lift people up… or wear them down.If your team’s energy and well-being aren’t where they should be, the solution might not be more perks, more processes, or more pressure.It might be you.Curious?🎧 Listen in to discover one simple leadership move that can shift the climate for the better.Follow Leading People on LinkedIn Leading People on FaceBookConnect with GerryWebsiteLinkedInWide Circle

Send us a textCould AI help us end conflict — at work, at home, or even at a global level?In this episode, Gerry Murray talks with negotiation expert and author Simon Horton about his provocative new book, The End of Conflict.We explore how AI is already influencing negotiation and collaboration, what it gets right (and wrong), and how a more symbiotic Human–AI relationship could change the way we resolve disagreements of every kind.If you’re curious about the future of negotiation, the role of AI in reducing conflict, and what this means for leaders today, this conversation is worth your time.Connect with Simon: WebsiteLinkedIn Follow Leading People on LinkedIn Leading People on FaceBookConnect with GerryWebsiteLinkedInWide Circle

Send us a textMost people have a manager. Some even have great ones. But what if you could take more ownership of the relationship — and turn your boss into a genuine career ally?This short One Simple Thing episode explores one powerful mindset shift that could change everything. Part of a series on how to be brilliant at the basics of leadership.Curious?🎧 Hit play and find out.Check out the Team Leader Essentials programmeFollow Leading People on LinkedIn Leading People on FaceBookConnect with GerryWebsiteLinkedInWide Circle

Send us a textWhat if the key to thriving in the age of AI isn’t smarter technology — but a smarter relationship with your own brain?In this episode of Leading People, Gerry Murray talks with Dr Jon Finn, founder of Tougher Minds and author of Train Your Brain for the AI Revolution.Jon has spent more than two decades studying how the brain drives performance and wellbeing — and how we can train it to stay focused, energised, and adaptable in an AI-saturated world.Together, Gerry and Jon explore:Why brain science, not algorithms, will define the next generation of leadersHow Brain State Intelligence helps you shift from distraction to focus and flowThe habits that protect attention, motivation, and mental energyWhy your inner technology — your brain — is still your ultimate competitive edgeIt’s a practical and hopeful conversation about leading yourself, staying human, and using AI without losing focus or purpose.Curious?🎧 Listen and discover how to train your brain for the AI era.Connect with Jon on LinkedInVisit Tougher Minds WebsiteFollow Leading People on LinkedIn Leading People on FaceBookConnect with GerryWebsiteLinkedInWide Circle

Send us a textYou just got promoted. Now what?In this short, punchy episode, Gerry poses one essential question that every new (and not-so-new) leader needs to answer.Because leadership isn’t just a new job……it’s a whole new identity.Curious? Tap play to find out more.Check out Team Leader Essentials and The Performance Accelerator hereFollow Leading People on LinkedIn Leading People on FaceBookConnect with GerryWebsiteLinkedInWide Circle

Send us a textWhat happens when your entire world changes overnight?In this profound and moving episode, Julie Brown shares how she found the strength to rebuild her life and leadership practice after the tragic loss of her husband and business partner, polar explorer Dixie Dansercoer.Drawing on her new book, Discover Your Pivot: How Strong Leaders Can Adapt to Any Situation, Julie reveals how leaders can find stability in uncertainty — not by resisting change, but by learning how to pivot with purpose.Together, we explore:Why pivoting is better than managing changeHow collaboration and teamwork sustain resilienceWhy strong leaders need a suitcase of optionsHow to "innovate" grief and find meaning in adversityWhy challenge is a privilegeAnd why attention may be a leader’s most powerful skillThis conversation is about grief, resilience, and hope — and what it really means to lead when life takes an unexpected turn.Curious?🎧 Listen nowConnect with Julie on LinkedInBuy the bookCheck out Julie's WebsiteFollow Leading People on LinkedIn Leading People on FaceBookConnect with GerryWebsiteLinkedInWide Circle

Send us a textIt’s one thing to have a leadership title. It’s another thing to have people truly want to follow you. In this Leading People episode of One Simple Thing, Gerry Murray explores the difference and what you can do to close the gap. If you’re new to leadership or simply want to reconnect with the fundamentals, this 5-minute listen could be your reset moment.Check out the Team Leader Essentials and Performance Accelerator programmes hereFollow Leading People on LinkedIn Leading People on FaceBookConnect with GerryWebsiteLinkedInWide Circle

Send us a textWhat does your body say about you when you walk into a room?And how much of your leadership impact depends on something you can’t see — but everyone else can feel?In this episode, Kate Walker Miles of RADA Business — a trusted advisor to senior executives and leadership teams — reveals how posture, breath, and voice shape credibility, confidence, and influence.Drawing on her background in experimental psychology, acting, and behavioural coaching, Kate explains how to use your body as an ally in communication, especially when the stakes are high.And in a unique five-minute guided exercise, she helps you experience what authentic presence feels like in real time — offering practical tools to:Ground yourself and manage nerves before high-stakes momentsUse breath and alignment to project calm authoritySpeak with clarity and conviction Reconnect with your physical presence to lead with impactIf you’ve ever wondered why some leaders hold the room while others disappear into it, this episode will help you understand — and change — what’s really going on.A practical, engaging conversation that proves leadership isn’t just what you say — it’s how you show up.Curious?🎧 Listen now🎥 Watch Kate’s humorous, yet provocative, talk The Secrets of Food Marketing — viewed over 9.2 million times on YouTube. Connect with Kate on LinkedInVisit the RADA Business websiteFollow Leading People on LinkedIn Leading People on FaceBookConnect with GerryWebsiteLinkedInWide Circle

Send us a textWhat does good leadership really look like in the day-to-day?This short Leading People episode kicks off a brand-new One Simple Thing series on how to be brilliant at the basics of leadership. Because let’s face it — it’s the basics that often go missing.Click play to hear the one question that every leader should be asking themselves.Check out Team Leader Essentials hereFollow Leading People on LinkedIn Leading People on FaceBookConnect with GerryWebsiteLinkedInWide Circle