134: Why Good Leaders Need to be Unpopular Sometimes

Kul Mahay has over 3 decades experience in the leadership space.  He works with organisations and leaders to develop powerful cultures of high value, and performance which is built all around their people. In this episode, Kul Mahay challenges the traditional concept of work-life balance, arguing that it’s an outdated myth that often increases stress rather than alleviating it. Instead, he explores the idea of work-life integration—an approach that embraces flexibility, autonomy, and well-being in a way that suits individual needs. Kul shares insights on how leaders can create cultures that support sustainable success without enforcing unrealistic boundaries. _____________________________ ABOUT THE PODCAST SERIES During these shows, you‘ll hear Kul chatting with fellow leaders from around the world, who are recognised as being at the top of their game.  Together they‘ll explore what emotional intelligence in practice actually looks like, and the benefits it could bring to your teams. It‘s a movement to transform the way we see leadership, and to create powerful cultures where people feel seen, heard, valued and appreciated. Please join the movement and FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to this Podcast. FOLLOW ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulmahay-leadership/

Kul Mahay has over 3 decades experience in the leadership space.  He works with organisations and leaders to develop powerful cultures of high value, and performance which is built all around their people. In this episode, Kul Mahay explores the "empathy dilemma"—can leaders care too much? While empathy is a leadership superpower, excessive emotional involvement can lead to burnout, decision paralysis, and even team resentment. Kul discusses the balance between compassion and boundaries, the difference between emotional and cognitive empathy, and how leaders can support their teams without sacrificing themselves. _____________________________ ABOUT THE PODCAST SERIES During these shows, you‘ll hear Kul chatting with fellow leaders from around the world, who are recognised as being at the top of their game.  Together they‘ll explore what emotional intelligence in practice actually looks like, and the benefits it could bring to your teams. It‘s a movement to transform the way we see leadership, and to create powerful cultures where people feel seen, heard, valued and appreciated. Please join the movement and FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to this Podcast. FOLLOW ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulmahay-leadership/

Kul Mahay has over 3 decades experience in the leadership space.  He works with organisations and leaders to develop powerful cultures of high value, and performance which is built all around their people. In this episode of the Human Centred Leadership podcast, Kul explores why great leaders must sometimes make unpopular decisions. He challenges the myth that leadership is about being liked and instead emphasises the importance of respect, integrity, and principled decision-making. Kul shares insights on balancing tough choices with emotional intelligence, maintaining trust, and leading with courage. _____________________________ ABOUT THE PODCAST SERIES During these shows, you‘ll hear Kul chatting with fellow leaders from around the world, who are recognised as being at the top of their game.  Together they‘ll explore what emotional intelligence in practice actually looks like, and the benefits it could bring to your teams. It‘s a movement to transform the way we see leadership, and to create powerful cultures where people feel seen, heard, valued and appreciated. Please join the movement and FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to this Podcast. FOLLOW ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulmahay-leadership/  

Kul Mahay has over 3 decades experience in the leadership space.  He works with organisations and leaders to develop powerful cultures of high value, and performance which is built all around their people. In this episode of the Human Centred Leadership podcast, Kul explores how organizations can handle workplace investigations with fairness, trust, and accountability. He discusses the challenges of traditional compliance-driven approaches and offers a human-centred alternative that prioritizes ethical leadership, transparency, and learning over blame. _____________________________ ABOUT THE PODCAST SERIES During these shows, you‘ll hear Kul chatting with fellow leaders from around the world, who are recognised as being at the top of their game.  Together they‘ll explore what emotional intelligence in practice actually looks like, and the benefits it could bring to your teams. It‘s a movement to transform the way we see leadership, and to create powerful cultures where people feel seen, heard, valued and appreciated. Please join the movement and FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to this Podcast. FOLLOW ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulmahay-leadership/

Kul Mahay has over 3 decades experience in the leadership space.  He works with organisations and leaders to develop powerful cultures of high value, and performance which is built all around their people. In this episode, Kul examines the growing trend of corporations scaling back their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. He explores the political, economic, and cultural factors driving this shift, questioning whether traditional DEI efforts have truly fostered inclusion or merely become box-ticking exercises. _____________________________ ABOUT THE PODCAST SERIES During these shows, you‘ll hear Kul chatting with fellow leaders from around the world, who are recognised as being at the top of their game.  Together they‘ll explore what emotional intelligence in practice actually looks like, and the benefits it could bring to your teams. It‘s a movement to transform the way we see leadership, and to create powerful cultures where people feel seen, heard, valued and appreciated. Please join the movement and FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to this Podcast. FOLLOW ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulmahay-leadership/

Kul Mahay has over 3 decades experience in the leadership space.  He works with organisations and leaders to develop powerful cultures of high value, and performance which is built all around their people. In this episode, Kul explores how excessive rules and rigid policies can erode trust, stifle innovation, and damage workplace culture. Reflecting on his own experience in policing, he highlights how over-regulation strips away human connection and discourages autonomy. Through insightful discussion, he urges leaders to simplify processes, prioritise trust, and foster meaningful relationships to create high-performing teams. _____________________________ ABOUT THE PODCAST SERIES During these shows, you‘ll hear Kul chatting with fellow leaders from around the world, who are recognised as being at the top of their game.  Together they‘ll explore what emotional intelligence in practice actually looks like, and the benefits it could bring to your teams. It‘s a movement to transform the way we see leadership, and to create powerful cultures where people feel seen, heard, valued and appreciated. Please join the movement and FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to this Podcast. FOLLOW ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulmahay-leadership/

Kul Mahay has over 3 decades experience in the leadership space.  He works with organisations and leaders to develop powerful cultures of high value, and performance which is built all around their people. In this episode, Kul delves into the vital role of mental resilience for empathetic leaders. He explores the emotional challenges of human-centric leadership, including decision-making, emotional labour, and burnout. Kul shares actionable strategies for building resilience, such as fostering self-awareness, setting boundaries, creating support systems, and practicing self-compassion. _____________________________ ABOUT THE PODCAST SERIES During these shows, you‘ll hear Kul chatting with fellow leaders from around the world, who are recognised as being at the top of their game.  Together they‘ll explore what emotional intelligence in practice actually looks like, and the benefits it could bring to your teams. It‘s a movement to transform the way we see leadership, and to create powerful cultures where people feel seen, heard, valued and appreciated. Please join the movement and FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to this Podcast. FOLLOW ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulmahay-leadership/

Kul Mahay has over 3 decades experience in the leadership space.  He works with organisations and leaders to develop powerful cultures of high value, and performance which is built all around their people. In this episode, Kul explores the critical importance of embracing cognitive diversity in leadership. He discusses how fostering different perspectives can spark innovation, adaptability, and growth while highlighting practical steps to overcome common barriers like fear of conflict and bias toward similarity. _____________________________ ABOUT THE PODCAST SERIES During these shows, you‘ll hear Kul chatting with fellow leaders from around the world, who are recognised as being at the top of their game.  Together they‘ll explore what emotional intelligence in practice actually looks like, and the benefits it could bring to your teams. It‘s a movement to transform the way we see leadership, and to create powerful cultures where people feel seen, heard, valued and appreciated. Please join the movement and FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to this Podcast. FOLLOW ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulmahay-leadership/

Kul Mahay has over 3 decades experience in the leadership space.  He works with organisations and leaders to develop powerful cultures of high value, and performance which is built all around their people. In this episode, Kul challenges the widespread belief in competition as a cornerstone of success. He explores the toxic effects of competitive mindsets on individuals and teams, advocating instead for self-growth, collaboration, and value-driven leadership. Through personal anecdotes and actionable advice, he encourages listeners to focus on improving themselves rather than rivalling others, fostering healthier work environments and stronger relationships. _____________________________ ABOUT THE PODCAST SERIES During these shows, you‘ll hear Kul chatting with fellow leaders from around the world, who are recognised as being at the top of their game.  Together they‘ll explore what emotional intelligence in practice actually looks like, and the benefits it could bring to your teams. It‘s a movement to transform the way we see leadership, and to create powerful cultures where people feel seen, heard, valued and appreciated. Please join the movement and FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to this Podcast. FOLLOW ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulmahay-leadership/

Kul Mahay has over 3 decades experience in the leadership space.  He works with organisations and leaders to develop powerful cultures of high value, and performance which is built all around their people. In this episode, Kul delves into the critical skill of situational awareness for leaders. Exploring its role in decision-making, emotional intelligence, and fostering adaptability, the episode offers practical strategies to perceive, understand, and anticipate dynamics in complex environments. _____________________________ ABOUT THE PODCAST SERIES During these shows, you‘ll hear Kul chatting with fellow leaders from around the world, who are recognised as being at the top of their game.  Together they‘ll explore what emotional intelligence in practice actually looks like, and the benefits it could bring to your teams. It‘s a movement to transform the way we see leadership, and to create powerful cultures where people feel seen, heard, valued and appreciated. Please join the movement and FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to this Podcast. FOLLOW ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulmahay-leadership/