The Caring Leadership Podcast

Have you ever sat in a meeting with something to say, but felt you couldn’t say it?In this episode, I explore five beliefs that can stop us speaking up at work, drawing on James Detert and Amy Edmondson’s research on implicit voice theories. We also look at why everyone else’s silence can make us question ourselves.The aim is to understand what’s holding us back, rather than just wishing we were more confident.MentionedJames Detert and Amy Edmondson: Implicit Voice Theories (Research paper)Dale Miller and Cathy McFarland: Pluralistic Ignorance (Research summary)Further readingJim Detert: Choosing Courage (Amazon)Amy Edmondson: The Fearless Organization (Amazon)More from Joel⁠⁠www.TheCaringCoach.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠www.JoelStanton.co.uk

Why can saying no, taking a break or leaving on time make us feel guilty?When we’re used to helping everyone else, our own work and wellbeing can get pushed aside. Drawing on Adam Grant’s distinction between helping and pleasing, I explore why we keep saying yes, and share three practical ways to set boundaries clearly and handle the guilt afterwards.Because caring about other people doesn’t mean we have to keep putting ourselves last.MentionedAdam Grant: How To Say No Without Burning Bridges (Article)Explore Adam Grant books ⁠(Amazon)Centre for Clinical Interventions: Looking after yourself - Assertiveness (Free resources)More from Joel⁠www.TheCaringCoach.co.uk⁠⁠www.JoelStanton.co.uk

What happens when you know how you want to respond at work, but your emotions get there first?Drawing on James Gross’s work on emotion regulation, I explore how noticing what we’re feeling can give us more choice about what we do next.We look at practical ways to pause before responding, make a plan for familiar situations, and put things right when we react badly, while recognising that sometimes the workload itself needs to change.MentionedJames J. Gross: Handbook of Emotion Regulation (Amazon)Implementation Intentions and Goal Achievement: A Meta-analysis of Effects and Processes (Research Paper)More from Joelwww.TheCaringCoach.co.ukwww.JoelStanton.co.uk

Why can you know you’re capable of doing something and still feel completely incapable of it?Drawing on Albert Bandura’s work on self-efficacy, I explore why confidence changes with the situation, and how one difficult moment can leave us doubting more than we need to.We look at what anxiety does and doesn’t tell us about our ability, with three practical questions to help us examine our self-doubt and work out what to try next.MentionedAlbert Bandura’s Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control (Amazon)Alison Wood Brooks: Get Excited: Reappraising Pre-Performance Anxiety as Excitement (research paper)More from Joelwww.TheCaringCoach.co.ukwww.JoelStanton.co.uk

What does caring leadership look like in the middle of a busy working day?Drawing on Professor Michael West and The King’s Fund’s work, I explore four behaviours that make compassion practical: attending, understanding, empathising and helping.We look at how caring for others fits alongside boundaries, accountability and caring for ourselves, with four questions you can use in your own work.Mentioned⁠The Kings Fund: What is Compassionate Leadership⁠ (link)Compassionate Leadership: Sustaining Wisdom, Humanity and Presence in Health and Social Care (Amazon)Time to Think: Listening to Ignite the Human Mind (Amazon)More from Joelwww.TheCaringCoach.co.ukwww.JoelStanton.co.uk