Advertise on podcast: The Boardroom by Heather Elkington

Are your 1on1 meetings with your team just status updates? Here's how to run one-on-ones that actually work, with the questions and agenda I use. Airbnb's CEO Brian Chesky went viral for saying one-on-ones are a waste of time. My take: if you're running a multi-billion-pound company, maybe. But if you're a manager in the middle, your one-to-one meetings are how you spot problems before someone hands their notice in, and how you stop micromanaging for the rest of the week. In this episode: Why managers need 1on1sFortnightly vs 90-day 1on1sLet them talk 75%Questions beyond "everything's great"Never missing feedback on your managementHandling promotion conversationsThe 90-day retention question Because one-on-one isn't a waste of time. If you run them well, they're the most valuable 20 minutes in your diary. Got a situation at work you don't know how to handle? Send it in → [email protected]. Two lines or two paragraphs is fine, and everything stays anonymous. Free 90-day one-on-one meeting agenda → https://custardlearns.com/90-day-agenda-download Join the waitlist for The Strategic Leadership Challenge. There are only 500 spots → Click here New episodes every Wednesday, 8 AM. Follow us on Instagram: @the.boardroompodcast & @leadershipheather If you’re struggling to know what’s really going on in your team, Custard gives you clear weekly insight into your team’s culture, wellbeing and performance, plus practical actions to help you know where to step in. Find out more at Custard.

Are you doing great work from home but getting overlooked for pay rises and promotions? In this episode, Heather shares how to make working from home help your career rather than hold it back. Proximity bias is real. A UK study of more than 900 managers found they were 11% less likely to promote people who work fully from home, and 68% of employers say being in the office significantly affects promotion chances. What proximity bias isThe career-fatal assumption that your work speaks for itselfHow she went from 85k to 120k in one pay riseThe Friday "loud list"How posting on LinkedIn got her noticed by the CEO of SageHow to manage upHow to use office days strategically Got a situation at work you don't know how to handle? Send it in → [email protected]. Two lines or two paragraphs is fine, and everything stays anonymous. New episodes every Wednesday, 8 AM. Follow us on Instagram: @the.boardroompodcast & @leadershipheather Want to understand how your team really feels about work? Try Custard free → https://www.itscustard.com/?utm_source=captivate&utm_medium=EP19&utm_campaign=free_trial_promo&utm_content=ep19_wfh_showdescription Join 32,000+ managers in the Custard Culture Club → https://custardlearns.com/custard-culture-club-home

Heather shares the 5 business rules behind the £1M she’s made since leaving her corporate job, with a team of three. Heather reveals that one of the best emails she’s received is from an angry customer. From there, she breaks down the principles that guide every decision in her business and her leadership. You’ll learn: How to take accountability, even when it's not your faultHow to handle criticism without getting defensiveHow to control your reaction to things you can't controlHow to stay focused while running two businesses at once Got a leadership or work dilemma? Send it to [email protected]. Everything stays anonymous. Get Heather's weekly leadership tips every Tuesday: https://custardlearns.com/custard-culture-club-home If you’re struggling to know what’s really going on in your team, Custard gives you clear weekly insight into your team’s culture, wellbeing and performance, plus practical actions to help you know where to step in. Find out more at Custard (tap here). Follow us on Instagram: @the.boardroompodcast & @leadershipheather

What do you do when you have a difficult manager? Maybe they’re inconsistent, make empty promises, message you at all hours, fill your diary with unnecessary meetings, or make you feel like you’re constantly walking on eggshells. In this episode, Heather breaks down how to manage up and take back some control when you can’t control the person above you. You’ll learn how to: Give difficult feedback upwardsSet boundaries around your time and actually stick to themDeal with managers who make everything feel urgentSay no to meetings without looking difficultStop letting your manager’s moods dictate your working dayKnow when you’ve tried enough and it might be time to leave Because managing up isn’t about trying to manage your boss. It’s about taking ownership of what you can control, communicating clearly and protecting the boundaries that allow you to do your best work. Got a situation at work you don’t know how to handle? Send it in → [email protected]. Two lines or two paragraphs, whatever you need. Everything stays anonymous. Free 90-day 1on1 agenda: Click here If you’re struggling to know what’s really going on in your team, Custard gives you clear weekly insight into your team’s culture, wellbeing, and performance, plus practical actions to help you know where to step in. Find out more at Custard. Follow us on Instagram: @the.boardroompodcast & @leadershipheather

We are back after a two week break, Heather is officially a married woman 💍 and we are finally answering some of the dilemmas you’ve emailed us at [email protected]. From navigating friendships at work and managing someone who could have had your job, to handling a difficult peer when you have no authority over them, Heather breaks down what she would actually do in each situation. We get into: When friendship and leadership blurDealing with resentment at workManaging someone who competed for the same jobSeeking approval from your teamChallenging a difficult peer Got a situation at work you don’t know how to handle? Send it in → [email protected] New episodes every Wednesday, 8 AM. Follow us on Instagram: @the.boardroompodcast & @leadershipheather If you’re struggling to know what’s really going on in your team, Custard gives you clear weekly insight into your team’s culture, wellbeing, and performance, plus practical actions to help you know where to step in. Find out more at Custard. And btw, Heather drops weekly leadership tips to over 32,000 managers every week. Join here: https://custardlearns.com/custard-culture-club-home

Hiring someone is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make as a manager, but how do you actually know who’s going to be great once they’re in the role? In this episode, Heather breaks down the interview process she uses to hire brilliant people, from attracting stronger candidates to making the final decision with confidence. She covers: The interview questions that help you spot great candidatesWhat to look for beyond skills, experience and a polished CVHow to structure an interview process that actually worksHow to score candidates and make more confident hiring decisionsHow to reduce bias and avoid relying too heavily on “gut instinct” If you’re hiring someone soon, growing your team or want to get much better at recognising great people in interviews, this episode gives you a practical process you can actually use. Got a situation at work you don’t know how to handle? Send it in at [email protected], two lines or two paragraphs, whatever you need. Everything stays anonymous. New episodes every Wednesday at 8AM. Follow us on Instagram: @the.boardroompodcast & @leadershipheather If you’re struggling to know what’s really going on in your team, Custard gives you clear weekly insight into your team’s culture, wellbeing and performance, plus practical actions to help you know where to step in. Find out more at Custard. And btw, Heather drops weekly leadership tips to over 32,000 managers every week. Join here: https://custardlearns.com/custard-culture-club-home

How do you support someone struggling with their mental health while still holding them accountable for their performance? In this episode, Heather shares: How to balance empathy and accountabilitySupporting mental health and burnoutWhen performance conversations are neededSupporting the team without becoming the therapistWhat ruinous empathy looks likeHow underperformance impacts team trust Because being a supportive leader doesn’t mean avoiding hard conversations. Sometimes the kindest thing you can do is be clear about what needs to change, while still treating someone with empathy. If you’re struggling to know what’s really going on in your team, Custard gives you clear weekly insight into your team’s culture, wellbeing, and performance, plus practical actions to help you know where to step in. Find out more at Custard. Got a situation at work you don’t know how to handle? Send it in at [email protected], two lines or two paragraphs, whatever you need. Everything stays anonymous. New episodes every Wednesday at 8 AM. Follow us on Instagram: @the.boardroompodcast & @leadershipheather And btw, Heather drops weekly leadership tips to over 32,000 managers every week; join here: The Custard Culture Club

Is AI really coming for middle management? Heather believes that is the wrong question. The better question is which parts of management AI will replace, and which human leadership skills are about to become more valuable than ever. In this episode, Heather covers: Why some parts of management are more vulnerable to AI than othersBeing a manager vs a leader at workHow to stay valuableBuild visibility as a managerHow to stop feeling overwhelmed by AI AI may change how managers work, but the leaders who combine human judgement with new technology could become more valuable than ever. Got a situation at work you don’t know how to handle? Send it in at [email protected], two lines or two paragraphs, whatever you need. Everything stays anonymous. New episodes every Wednesday, 8AM And btw Heather sends practical leadership tips to over 30,000 managers across the globe, join the link here: https://custardlearns.com/custard-culture-club-home Follow us on Instagram: @the.boardroompodcast & @leadershipheather And if you are a manager or business owner who wants a clearer picture of how your team is really doing and what to do about it, find out more at Custard.

Stoicism has changed the way I lead, handle failure, and respond when things don’t go to plan. In this episode, I’m sharing the Stoic principles I’ve used for years to become calmer, more resilient and more intentional in the way I lead. Breakdown of this episode: How to separate what you can control from what you can’tHow to respond when things go wrong instead of reacting emotionallyWhy failure and mistakes can actually make your team strongerHow to take ownership without constantly blaming yourselfThe role ego, comparison and other people’s opinions can play in your decisionsThe simple habits I use to manage my thoughts If you want to handle pressure better, overthink less and become a calmer leader, this episode is for you. And if you’re a manager or business owner who wants a clearer picture of how your team is really doing, and what to do about it, find out more at Custard. Got a situation at work you don’t know how to handle? Send it in at [email protected], two lines or two paragraphs, whatever you need. Everything stays anonymous. New episodes every Wednesday, 8AM Follow us on Instagram: @the.boardroompodcast & @leadershipheather And btw Heather drops practical leadership tips to over 30,000 managers every week, join the link here: https://custardlearns.com/custard-culture-club-home

Becoming a manager is one of those career milestones everyone congratulates you on, but very few people actually prepare you for. Whether you’ve just become a manager, you’re about to step into your first leadership role, or you simply want to become better at leading your team, this episode is your practical guide to getting it right. You’ll learn the 7 foundations Heather believes make the biggest difference when you’re learning how to manage people well, plus the mistakes she made herself while figuring it all out. Key learnings: How to make the shift from doer to managerWhy being liked isn’t the goalHow to earn trust and respect from your teamHow to delegate without micromanagingHow to handle feedback and difficult conversationsHow to build real accountability in your team Download Heather’s free 90 Day 1-on-1 agenda to run better, more meaningful conversations with your team: https://custardlearns.com/90-day-agenda-download And btw, Heather drops practical leadership tips to over 30,000 managers across the globe inside the Custard Culture Club, join us here: https://custardlearns.com/custard-culture-club-home Got a situation at work you do not know how to handle? Send it in at [email protected], two lines or two paragraphs, whatever you need. Everything stays anonymous. New episodes every Wednesday at 8AM. Follow us on Instagram: @the.boardroompodcast & @leadershipheather And if you’re a manager or business owner who wants a clearer picture of how your team is really doing and what to do about it, find out more at Custard.

Being productive does not mean squeezing more work into every available hour. In this episode, Heather shares the four productivity rules that help her run two businesses while still protecting her health, relationships and life outside work. She also opens up about the period that pushed her dangerously close to burnout, and what she changed because of it. She explores: Why productivity is not about maximising every minuteThe word you need to become more comfortable sayingHow poor delegation quietly steals your future timeThe difference between urgent work and important workWhy unfinished important tasks eventually become emergenciesThe weekly calendar challenge that eliminates unnecessary meetingsHow Heather now protects her energy while running two businesses Listen now to discover how to get the right work done, protect your time and build a successful career without burning yourself out. Fresh Start is Heather’s proven six week bootcamp for managers who want to take control, earn respect and drive results. Join the waitlist here: https://www.freshleadershipworld.com/fresh-start-course/ And if you’re a manager or business owner who wants a clearer picture of how your team is really doing, and what to do about it, find out more at Custard. Got a situation at work you do not know how to handle? Send it in at [email protected], two lines or two paragraphs, whatever you need. Everything stays anonymous. New episodes every Wednesday at 8 AM. Follow us on socials: Instagram: @the.boardroompodcast & @leadershipheather

Is Gen Z really difficult to manage, or do they simply expect better management? Heather explores why Gen Z are often labelled lazy, entitled, or difficult to manage, and why the real problem may be the way workplaces try to lead them. In this episode, Heather covers: Why Gen Z are not as difficult to manage as people thinkHow to communicate with Gen Z more openly and honestlyWhy progression matters even when a promotion is not availableHow to offer flexibility without losing structure or accountabilityWhy psychological safety and high performance can exist togetherHow the TAPES framework can help you manage Gen Z more effectivelyWhat to do when someone still refuses to meet the required standard Because managing Gen Z is not about giving them everything they want. It is about understanding what helps them do their best work, then leading them with clarity, trust and accountability. And if you are a manager or business owner who wants a clearer picture of how your team is really doing, find out more at Custard. Got a situation at work you do not know how to handle? Send it in at [email protected], two lines or two paragraphs, whatever you need. Everything stays anonymous. New episodes every Wednesday at 8 AM. Follow us on socials: Instagram: @the.boardroompodcast & @leadershipheather And btw, Heather drops practical leadership tips to over 30,000 managers across the globe inside the Custard Culture Club. Join us here: https://custardlearns.com/custard-culture-club-home

Do you know exactly what you want to say, but still freeze when all eyes are on you? In this episode, Heather shares how she went from being terrified to speak in front of her class at school to confidently presenting on stages in front of hundreds of people. In this episode: How to hook your audience within the first few secondsWhy stories, examples and questions make presentations more powerfulHow to control your nerves before speakingWhy rehearsing your presentation out loud mattersHow asking for feedback can improve your public speakingWhy seeking one person’s approval could be holding you backHow to speak with confidence in meetings, presentations and on stage How confident do you feel about public speaking on a scale of 1 to 10? Let us know in the comment section below 👇 If you’re struggling to know what’s really going on in your team, Custard gives you clear weekly insight into your team’s culture, wellbeing, and performance, plus practical actions to help you know where to step in. Find out more at Custard. Got a situation at work you don’t know how to handle? Send it in at [email protected], two lines or two paragraphs, whatever you need. Everything stays anonymous. New episodes every Wednesday, 8AM Follow us on Instagram: @the.boardroompodcast & @leadershipheather BTW, if you want weekly leadership tips delivered straight to your inbox. Join 30,000+ managers inside the Custard Culture Club (It’s free): https://custardlearns.com/custard-culture-club-home

Got a difficult employee in your team and no idea what to actually do about it? Before you jump straight to “do we fire them?”, Heather walks through the key steps every manager needs to take first and when it might be time to make a bigger decision. In this episode, Heather explores: How to work out whether someone is actually difficult, or whether the situation feels difficultWhy managers sometimes accidentally allow poor behaviour to buildHow to address a negative attitude at workThe 4P's method for having difficult conversationsWhen it might be time to take things further And download Heather’s free Four P’s Method of having difficult conversations: https://custardlearns.com/4ps-framework-home And if you’re a manager or business owner who wants a clearer picture of how your team is really doing, find out more at Custard. Got a situation at work you don’t know how to handle? Send it in at [email protected], two lines or two paragraphs, whatever you need. Everything stays anonymous. New episodes every Wednesday, 8 AM Follow us on socials: YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqkzDIhdiCT-NGag5k8FM_2VAgQwvB1Iv&si=U6PgZWfUTUof3CEb Instagram: @the.boardroompodcast & @leadershipheather And btw Heather drops practical leadership tips to over 28,000 managers every Tuesday morning, join the link here: https://www.inthemakingleadership.com/welcome

If you’re a manager who constantly feels like there are not enough hours in the day, this episode is for you. Heather breaks down how managers can start buying back their time, from cutting unnecessary meetings and setting stronger boundaries, to delegating properly and learning when to say no. In this episode, Heather explores: Why busy does not always mean productiveHow managers get trapped in urgent workHow to protect your time and cut down on meetingsWhy saying no and setting boundaries helps you create more time to actually lead And if you’re a manager or business owner who wants a clearer picture of how your team is really doing, find out more at Custard. Got a situation at work you don’t know how to handle? Send it in at [email protected], two lines or two paragraphs, whatever you need. Everything stays anonymous. New episodes every Wednesday, 8AM Follow us on socials: YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqkzDIhdiCT-NGag5k8FM_2VAgQwvB1Iv&si=i0kbJFwLkMIU6Qxw Instagram: @the.boardroompodcast & @leadershipheather And btw Heather drops practical leadership tips to over 28,000 managers every Tuesday morning, join the link here: https://www.inthemakingleadership.com/welcome