The Boardroom by Heather Elkington

Heather Elkington
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Management

The conversations about leadership and work, that normally only happen behind those closed boardroom doors. The Boardroom is a podcast for managers navigating the parts of leadership no one talks about: bias, boundaries, burnout, and building high-performing teams.

  1. 3d ago

    Workplace Dilemmas: Difficult Feedback, Finding Your Voice & Leading a New Team

    What would you do if your team said you weren't helping them? Tell us in the comments 👇 Workplace Dilemmas is back! So many of you told us our last dilemmas episode was your favourite, so Heather is answering three more real situations you've sent in. From bad team feedback to being told to "be more dynamic" and taking over a new team, Heather shares exactly what she'd do. She gets into: Getting hard feedback from your teamWhy fixing everything for your team backfiresResetting expectations with the whole teamBeing told to "be more dynamic"Why you don't need to be loud to leadTaking over a new teamWhat to do in your first month as a new leader Got a situation at work you don't know how to handle? Send it in → hello@theboardroompodcast.com. Two lines or two paragraphs, whatever you need. Everything stays anonymous. 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. I’ve built a free 2-minute scorecard to help you get your Team Health Score and see where your team actually needs attention. Take the quiz And btw, Heather drops weekly leadership tips to over 35,000 managers every week; tap to join.

    Workplace Dilemmas: Difficult Feedback, Finding Your Voice & Leading a New Team

  2. Nov 4

    Why nice managers are dangerous (and what to do instead)

    Is being nice holding your team back? Being nice feels safe. You avoid the awkward conversations at work, keep everyone happy, and stay LIKED. But nice managers are the most dangerous people in your company. In this episode: People-pleasing vs being caring & honestWhy you're only allowed to be nice until 25How to have that tough conversationWhy ignoring the problem isn't kindHow to deal with defensivenessDilemma: promoted to director and drowning Got a situation at work you don't know how to handle? Send it in → hello@theboardroompodcast.com. Two lines or two paragraphs is fine, and everything stays anonymous. New episodes every Wednesday, 8 AM. Follow us on Instagram: @the.boardroompodcast & @leadershipheather I’ve built a free 2-minute scorecard to help you get your Team Health Score and see where your team actually needs attention. Tap here to take the quiz. Join 32,000+ managers in the Custard Culture Club, getting weekly leadership tips in their inbox - here.

    Why nice managers are dangerous (and what to do instead)

  3. Oct 28

    10 habits new managers need (to become a respected leader)

    1 in 3 UK workers who left their job last year did it because of a bad manager. And 82% of managers are "accidental", promoted with no formal training. Most of the managers you and I have had probably shouldn't have been managers at all. In this episode, Heather shares the 10 small daily habits that stop you from becoming the leader people quit, and make you the manager they're still talking about years after they've left. In this episode, Heather covers: Pushing back on meetingsBeing the agenda personDocumenting everythingStop saying sorryGetting good at saying noThe habit most managers get wrongDilemma Diaries Got a situation at work you don't know how to handle? Send it in → hello@theboardroompodcast.com. Two lines or two paragraphs is fine, and everything stays anonymous. The Strategic Leadership Challenge is OPEN. It's 6 weeks to go from accidental manager to strategic leader → Tap here 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 → Tap here

    10 habits new managers need (to become a respected leader)

  4. Oct 21

    How to run 1on1s with your team (5 mistakes to avoid)

    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 → hello@theboardroompodcast.com. 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.

    How to run 1on1s with your team (5 mistakes to avoid)

  5. Oct 14

    Working from home is hurting your career (6 tips to stay visible)

    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 → hello@theboardroompodcast.com. 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

    Working from home is hurting your career (6 tips to stay visible)

  6. Oct 7

    The 5 Business Rules That Built My £1M Company

    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 hello@theboardroompodcast.com. 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

    The 5 Business Rules That Built My £1M Company

  7. Sep 30

    How to Manage Up: Dealing with a Difficult Manager

    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 → hello@theboardroompodcast.com. 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

    How to Manage Up: Dealing with a Difficult Manager

  8. Sep 23

    Workplace Dilemmas: Friends, Resentment & Difficult Colleagues

    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 hello@theboardroompodcast.com. 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 → hello@theboardroompodcast.com 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

    Workplace Dilemmas: Friends, Resentment & Difficult Colleagues
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The conversations about leadership and work, that normally only happen behind those closed boardroom doors. The Boardroom is a podcast for managers navigating the parts of leadership no one talks about: bias, boundaries, burnout, and building high-performing teams.

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