I'm joined by writer and communications expert Charlotte Otter to unpack a topic that often gets misunderstood: reputation.

Before this conversation, I associated reputation management with spin and crisis control. Charlotte completely shifted my perspective. What if reputation is less about image and more about the stories people tell about you based on what you say and do?

We explore how to stay visible without being performative, what to do when things go wrong, and how to build trust - even if you're leading a small, growing business.

Key Takeaways:

 * What if your reputation isn't what you say it is, but what others experience?
 * Could the gap between your words and actions be quietly eroding trust?
 * How can you show up authentically, without oversharing or performing?
 * What should you say (and when) when something goes wrong?
 * How do you keep your personal brand aligned with your business story?
 * Can storytelling be your most overlooked leadership tool?
 * What role does social media play in your reputation, especially if you hate self-promotion?

Resources:

 * Find Charlotte at charlotteotter.com [https://www.charlotteotter.com/]
 * Charlotte's book We Need New Leaders is out on 2nd June - visit charlotteotter.com/leaders [https://www.charlotteotter.com/leaders]

Curious how high performing your team really is? Take the High Performing Team Scorecard [https://highperformingteam.scoreapp.com/] and get a clear view in under 5 minutes, with a personalised report on how to improve things fast.

Visit https://visibly-different.co.uk/

Your Reputation Is Talking – Are You Listening?

In this episode of The Visible Leader, I talk to Ed Fidoe - co-founder of the London Interdisciplinary School - about a concept that could radically shift how leaders operate: interactional expertise.

What do you do when your team knows more than you do? How do you lead across functions where you don’t have the depth of knowledge? And how can you avoid falling into the trap of blind trust or dangerous overconfidence?

Ed shares brilliant insights from his leadership journey, from running a university to launching theatre productions, and explains why not knowing doesn’t have to undermine your leadership - if you know how to ask the right questions, build context, and read between the lines. We also talk about Steve Jobs, Dunbar’s Number, and what good strategy actually looks like.

Key Takeaways:

 * Interactional expertise is the ability to understand and talk fluently about topics you’re not an expert in - vital for cross-functional leadership.
 * Leaders "acting out" might look like not asking questions or pretending to understand, driven by a fear of looking silly.
 * Build your confidence by reading beyond your domain - whether it’s marketing, HR, or science.
 * Get better at decision-making and communication by knowing when to zoom in and zoom out.
 * Small shifts, like asking for a podcast recommendation from your product manager or keeping meetings to 5 people, can make a big difference.

Find Ed here:

 * LIS: lis.ac.uk [https://lis.ac.uk/]
 * Connect with Ed on LinkedIn: Ed Fidoe [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-fidoe/]

Curious how high performing your team really is? Take the High Performing Team Scorecard [https://highperformingteam.scoreapp.com/] and get a clear view in under 5 minutes, with a personalised report on how to improve things fast.

Contact Me:

 * Connect with me on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinehines/]
 * Book your free 30-minute discovery call with me here: https://calendly.com/visiblydifferentcorine/1-2-hr-discoverycall
 * Download my Leader's Guide to Increasing Your Impact, Influence & Free Time https://www.visibly-different.co.uk/increasing-your-impact/

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might benefit and don’t forget to leave a rating and review!

When You're Not the Expert: Why Leaders Need Interactional Expertise

Dr Hayley Lewis joined me to talk about perfectionism in leadership—when it’s helpful, when it holds us back, and what we can do about it.

We get into:

 * What perfectionism actually is (and isn’t)
 * The toll it can take on leaders and teams
 * How to spot it in yourself or others
 * Ways to loosen its grip (without lowering your standards)

Reflective practice, micromanagement, inbox zero, and why reframing matters—it’s all in here.

Resources Mentioned

 * Gibbs' Reflective Cycle – A useful tool for reframing experiences. Here is a post on Hayley’s website with a link to the free resource: https://halopsychology.com/2025/03/10/why-leaders-should-engage-in-reflective-practice/
 * Check out Hayley’s brilliant sketchnotes (available here www.linkedin.com/in/hajlewis  [http://www.linkedin.com/in/hajlewis] and website)

Ways for you to find her:

 * Website: www.halopsychology.com  [http://www.halopsychology.com/]
 * LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/hajlewis  [http://www.linkedin.com/in/hajlewis]
 * Instagram - www.instagram.com/haypsych [http://www.instagram.com/haypsych]

Contact Me:

 * Find me on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinehines/]
 * Book your free 30-minute discovery call with me here:

https://calendly.com/visiblydifferentcorine/1-2-hr-discoverycall

 * Download my Leader's Guide to Increasing Your Impact, Influence & Free Time https://www.visibly-different.co.uk/increasing-your-impact/

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might benefit and don’t forget to leave a rating and review!

Perfectionism at Work: The Good, The Bad, and The Exhausting

In this episode, I chat with Marcus Dimbleby, a former military officer, Marcus has been helping organizations build adaptive leadership, resilience, and engagement since retiring from the Royal Air Force in 2013 through his work at Effective Direction.

We explore why so many leaders struggle to create empowered teams and what's really needed to bridge the gap between intent and execution.

Have a listen to learn practical strategies to truly empower your team, drive engagement, and improve results.

Key takeaways

 * Why simply telling your team they're empowered isn't enough.
 * What are the key signs that your team may actually be disempowered, even if they don't say it?
 * Why buzzwords like empowerment and psychological safety often fail to have an impact in organisations.
 * Are you, as a leader, truly enabling your team to thrive, or just using the language of empowerment?
 * How active listening transforms the way you engage with your team and improves their performance.
 * What causes resistance to empowerment, and how can leaders build trust to overcome it?

Resources:

 * Connect with Marcus and learn more about his work at https://www.effectivedirection.com/

Contact Me:

 * Book your free 30-minute discovery call with me here:
   https://calendly.com/visiblydifferentcorine/1-2-hr-discoverycall
 * Download my Leader's Guide to Increasing Your Impact, Influence & Free Time https://www.visibly-different.co.uk/increasing-your-impact/

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might benefit and don't forget to leave a rating and review!



You Think You’re Empowering Your Team – Here’s Why It’s Not Working

In this episode of The Visible Leader, I chat with Paul Teasdale about high-performance conversations and what leaders can learn from Formula One. Paul’s career spans from sausage-making to F1, and he shares how leaders can handle tough conversations, make better decisions, and build a culture of high performance.

Here’s what we covered:

 * What makes a difficult conversation so hard, and how do you navigate it with grace?
 * How can leaders apply an F1 mindset to performance conversations?
 * What are the three key ingredients to high performance?
 * How do you use data in decision-making without drowning in it?
 * How can leaders communicate better without overwhelming their teams?
 * What do you do when a high performer is also a challenge to manage?

Resources & Links:

Connect with Paul Teasdale on LinkedIn: Paul Teasdale [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauljamesteasdale/]

Or visit Paul’s website: www.paulteasdale.co.uk [http://www.paulteasdale.co.uk/]

Get your free copy of my Leader's Guide to Increasing Your Impact, Influence & Free Time at visibly-different.co.uk/increasing-your-impact [http://www.visibly-different.co.uk/increasing-your-impact]

And if you enjoyed the Podcast please share with someone who might benefit and leave a rating and review.

Got a question for me? I'm just a message away on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinehines/].

How to Have High-Performance Conversations

In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Danny Wareham, an organisational psychologist, coach, and speaker with over 25 years of experience. We took a deep dive into organisational culture - what it is, what it isn’t, and the common missteps leaders make when trying to improve it. Danny has such a wealth of experience and shared incredible insights on how to align culture with strategy to get real results.

We covered answers to questions, like:

 * Why isn’t creating a “fun” workplace enough to drive success?
 * What’s the real purpose of organisational culture, and how can leaders use it as a tool?
 * When does communication actually undermine engagement?
 * Why do we still think pay is a motivator when all the evidence says otherwise?
 * How can leaders step back and focus on leading environments instead of people?

Find out more about Danny Wareham at dannywareham.co.uk [https://dannywareham.co.uk/] or connect with him on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-wareham/]

Enjoy!

Get your free copy of my Leader's Guide to Increasing Your Impact, Influence & Free Time at visibly-different.co.uk/increasing-your-impact [http://www.visibly-different.co.uk/increasing-your-impact]

And if you enjoyed the Podcast please share with someone who might benefit and leave a rating and review.

Got a question for me? I'm just a message away on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinehines/].

What No One Tells You About Building Culture

I talked to Scott Allen about tackling some of the most persistent myths about leadership.

Why do these myths continue to hold sway, and how do they shape our understanding of what it means to lead?

Scott dives deep into the origins and impact of these myths, encouraging us to rethink traditional views on leadership.

Key questions explored:

 * Are leaders really born, not made? Scott’s insights challenge this well-worn belief.
 * How do we define leadership? Spoiler: it’s far more than just holding a title.
 * Does charisma automatically make someone a good leader, or can it sometimes be a drawback?
 * Why do so many leaders feel compelled to have all the answers? Scott turns this idea on its head.
 * Should leaders always be ethical, and is there ever a place for lying in leadership?

Join us as we challenge these myths and offer fresh perspectives that will make you reflect on your own leadership journey. This episode is packed with ideas that could transform your approach to leadership.

Intrigued? Listen now and prepare to rethink what you thought you knew about leading.

Mentioned in the episode:

 * The Leader’s Framework for Decision Making by Snowden & Boone [https://hbr.org/2007/11/a-leaders-framework-for-decision-making] – A must-read Harvard Business Review article exploring decision-making in leadership.
 * Research on charisma by John Antonakis [https://hbr.org/2012/06/learning-charisma-2] – Groundbreaking research on how charisma influences leadership from a professor at the University of Lausanne.
 * Psychological Safety by Amy Edmondson [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP6guvRt0U0] – Learn more about Amy Edmondson’s pioneering work on creating environments where teams can thrive.
 * Dissent in organisations by Megan Reitz [https://www.meganreitz.com/] – Explore Megan Reitz’s research on speaking up and dissent in the workplace, and how leaders can foster open debate.

Find out more about Scott Allen at scottjallen.net [http://scottjallen.net/] or connect with him on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-j-allen/]

Contact Me:

 * Book your free 30-minute Leading Smarter Discovery Call https://calendly.com/visiblydifferentcorine/1-2-hr-discoverycall
 * Download my Leader's Guide to Increasing Your Impact, Influence & Free Time https://www.visibly-different.co.uk/increasing-your-impact/

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might benefit and don’t forget to leave a rating and review!

Debunking Leadership Myths

In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Langslow, an executive coach and leadership expert, to dig deep into the impact we have as leaders—both the intentional and the unintentional. Sarah went from competing in the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race to a stellar corporate career, and now she’s the author of Do Sweat the Small Stuff, a book that takes a close look at how our smallest actions as leaders can have the biggest impact. Join us as we uncover some eye-opening truths about the power of presence, intent, and those “micro-interactions” that often go unnoticed.

Key Takeaways Include:

 * Intent vs. Impact: Sarah reveals why our intentions, no matter how good, often go astray. How can we make sure the message we think we’re sending is what others actually receive?
 * Unintended Consequences of Being "Nice": What happens when kindness becomes a cover for discomfort? Sarah’s story of a moment gone wrong might make you rethink how you approach feedback.
 * Navigating Power Dynamics: Sarah shares how power subtly affects every interaction—and how even the smallest misstep can amplify in unexpected ways. Are you tuned in to how power affects your team?
 * Breaking Habitual Responses: What if your quick-fix solutions are doing more harm than good? Sarah offers a different way to engage that could change the way your team sees you.

Resources:

 * Explore Sarah’s website: sarahlangslow.com [https://sarahlangslow.com/] for her book Do Sweat the Small Stuff and access to additional resources.

Contact Me:

 * Book your free 30-minute Leading Smarter Discovery Call https://calendly.com/visiblydifferentcorine/1-2-hr-discoverycall
 * Download my Leader's Guide to Increasing Your Impact, Influence & Free Time https://www.visibly-different.co.uk/increasing-your-impact/

Got a question for me? I'm just a message away on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinehines/].

Click here [http://www.visibly-different.co.uk/increasing-your-impact] to get your free copy of my Leader's Guide to Increasing Your Impact, Influence & Free Time

And if you enjoyed the Podcast please share with someone who might benefit and leave a rating and review.If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might benefit and don’t forget to leave a rating and review!

Your Leadership Says More Than You Think - And It’s Not Always Positive

In this episode, I chat with Stacey, an expert on introverted leadership, about the myths surrounding introverts in leadership roles and how they can excel in environments often geared towards extroverts.

Have a listen and discover how to truly embrace your strengths as an introverted leader!

Key takeaways include:

 * Introversion vs Extroversion: Stacey shares her thoughts on why it’s not a simple binary choice and how understanding these traits can help leaders play to their strengths.
 * Debunking Myths about Introverted Leaders: We explore the stereotype of being quiet and discuss why introverts can be powerful leaders.
 * Practical Tips for Introverts in the Workplace: From preparing for meetings to managing your energy, Stacey offers some brilliant, actionable advice to ensure introverts have their voices heard.
 * Influence and Contribution: We cover how introverts can influence and contribute without needing to be the loudest person in the room.
 * How to Ask for What You Want: Stacey gives great advice on how introverts can successfully ask for the promotion, recognition, or raise they deserve.

Stacey also shares a free “Meetings Playbook for Introverts” – you can download it from her website to learn more.

Resources:

 * Contact me [https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinehines/] to book your free 30-minute Leading Smarter discovery call on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinehines/].



 * Visit Stacey’s website: ifactorleadership.com [https://ifactorleadership.com/] for more insights and tools.
 * Meeting Playbook for Introverts: 10 Strategies to Have Your Voice Heard and Your Ideas Shine: https://ifactorleadership.com/meetingplaybook/
 * Conference Survival Guide for Introverts: https://ifactorleadership.com/survivalguide/- Ways to work with Stacey: https://ifactorleadership.com/coaching/
 * Connect with Stacey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chazinconsulting/

Got a question for me? I'm just a message away on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinehines/].

Click here [http://www.visibly-different.co.uk/increasing-your-impact] to get your free copy of my Leader's Guide to Increasing Your Impact, Influence & Free Time

And if you enjoyed the Podcast please share with someone who might benefit and leave a rating and review.

Why Introversion Doesn’t Mean Shy (And Other Myths Debunked) 

Rich Kirkpatrick is a creative leader, author, and speaker who helps people unlock their creative potential.

With a background spanning both business and the arts, he blends science and creativity to guide teams and leaders in fostering innovation. He’s the author of Mind Blown: Unlock Your Creative Genius by Bridging Science and Magic, where he offers practical insights into the creative process.

In this episode, we dive deep into the concept of creativity and how it impacts our personal and professional lives. Here’s a sneak peek at the topics covered:

 * What is Creativity?
   We kick things off by questioning the very essence of creativity. Is there a test to measure it, or is it something more intrinsic?
 * Leadership and Creativity:
   Explore how creativity manifests in leadership and teams, and what happens when it’s missing.
 * Signs of a Creative Team:
   How can a leader tell if their team is creatively thriving or just going through the motions?
 * The Wizard vs. The Robot:
   Discover the two types of thinkers in creativity and why both are essential to the process.
 * Iterative Improvement vs. Creative Leaps:
   Can creativity be a series of small steps, or are big leaps necessary? What’s the risk involved?
 * Creating a Culture for Creativity:
   Learn about fostering an environment where creativity can flourish and the surprising elements that might be holding your team back.
 * Constraints as Creativity’s Best Friend:
   Why setting boundaries might actually unlock more creative potential.
 * Is Creativity Always Good?
   Can too much creativity be a hindrance? The discussion turns to balance and the importance of execution.
 * Top 5 Creativity Killers in Leadership:
   What are leaders doing today that stifles creativity, and how can they turn it around?

Contact me [https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinehines/] to book your free 30-minute Leading Smarter discovery call on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinehines/].

Connect with Rich on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richkirkpatrick/

Got a question for me? I'm just a message away on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinehines/].

Click here [http://www.visibly-different.co.uk/increasing-your-impact] to get your free copy of my Leader's Guide to Increasing Your Impact, Influence & Free Time

And if you enjoyed the Podcast please share with someone who might benefit and leave a rating and review.

What Leaders Get Wrong About Creativity (and How to Get It Right)

Tune into The Visible Leader Podcast for a practical take on leadership, where I unpack the art and science of leading effectively. I explore topics like 'the secrets behind better decision making' and 'how to get results (without the need to chase), diving into what it truly takes to lead.

Remember, 'it’s not the knowing that’s difficult, it’s the doing.' Each episode challenges common assumptions and provides actionable insights that can transform your approach to leadership.

Join me for conversations that will inspire you to experiment with new ways to lead.

The Visible Leader

Corine Hines's Show

Leadership podcast for leaders who want insights and actionable tips for being a better leader

Corine Hines

Shows