Connected Leadership

Zentano
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Welcome to Connected Leadership, the podcast where leadership gets real. Hosted by Dave Morris and Rich Horton from Zentano, this series is all about helping leaders like you create thriving teams, shape positive workplace cultures, and make a genuine difference in the world. We believe that better leadership creates better organisations—and ultimately, a better world. Each episode brings you grounded wisdom, practical tips, and inspiring stories from real leaders. Expect a mix of unscripted chats, actionable insights, and fascinating guest interviews. Whether you’re navigating the challenges of modern leadership, exploring emotional intelligence, or looking to unlock your own potential, we’ve got you covered. Connect with us: 📍 Website: www.zentanogroup.com 📍 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/zentano/ 📍 Instagram: @zentanogroup So, grab a cuppa, hit play, and join us every week as we explore what it takes to lead with impact.

  1. Why Doing Good Is Good for Business: The Real Power of Social Value | #78

    4d ago

    Why Doing Good Is Good for Business: The Real Power of Social Value | #78

    Social value has become a familiar phrase in business via acronyms like ESG, CSR etc. In reality though it's often treated as a procurement requirement or another compliance exercise, a box that needs ticking. In this Voices of Leadership episode, Dave sits down with social value champion Claire Thayers to explore a very different perspective. Drawing on more than two decades of experience spanning marketing, branding, community development and business leadership, Claire shares how organisations can strengthen their businesses by strengthening the communities around them. From transforming a traditional law firm through community partnerships to helping shape initiatives like Together Gloucestershire and the Social Value Ideas Factory, Claire explains why businesses thrive when they connect people, purpose and planet. In a world of multi-generational workforces where attracting talent is a big challenge, this is a conversation about leadership, empathy, collaboration and why social value should never be an afterthought, it should be woven into the DNA of every organisation that wants to remain relevant. Key Talking Points Why "doing good is good for business"The difference between social responsibility and social valueHow strong communities create stronger organisationsWhy values only matter when they become behavioursThe commercial benefits of authentic social valueA case-study lesson: Transforming a business through community engagementWhy collaboration beats competitionBuilding partnerships that create value for everyone involvedHow the “penny drops” about the importance of empathy in leadershipWhy future leaders must focus on connection as much as capabilityThe role businesses can play in tackling local challengesPractical ways any organisation can start creating social value today

    1h 19m

  2. Jun 26

    How to Stay Grounded Under Pressure: The Moments Your Leadership Matters Most | #77

    The best leaders don't avoid pressure; they learn how to respond to it in a healthy way. Pressure reveals how well-prepared or ill-equipped leaders are for the job of leading and managing teams and organisations. In this third episode of our Emotional Intelligence series, Rich and Dave explore why even experienced leaders can lose their calm, clarity and presence when the pressure rises. From difficult conversations and challenging meetings to presentations and conflict, leadership is rarely tested when everything is going well. It's tested most when the stakes are high. Drawing on lessons from Navy SEAL training, motorcycle riders, Formula One drivers and Zentano's Connected Leadership model, Rich explains why leaders don't rise to the occasion under pressure. Instead, they fall back on their deepest habits and default preferences. The conversation explores what happens psychologically when our fight, flight or freeze response takes over, why we lose access to our emotional intelligence, and how leaders can recognise the signs before those reactions begin to affect the people around them. Rich also introduces Zentano's practical SONAR model, a simple framework that helps leaders pause, regain perspective and reconnect with their Connected Centre before responding. If you want to lead with greater confidence, presence and influence when it matters most, this episode offers practical insights you can apply immediately. Key Talking Points Why leaders fall back on ingrained habits when pressure increases.How stress narrows thinking and reduces access to emotional intelligence.The difference between grounded and reactive leadership.Practical signs that you've drifted away from your place of calm and grounded confidence, the Connected Centre.Using the SONAR model to regain calm, clarity and intentional choice.Why leadership presence is something others feel, not just see and hear.

    36 min
  3. Why Most Business Change Fails, And What Great Leaders Do Differently | #76

    Jun 19

    Why Most Business Change Fails, And What Great Leaders Do Differently | #76

    Most organisational change doesn't fail with a dramatic announcement or a public crisis. Instead, it quietly unravels through confusion, poor communication, uncertainty and a loss of trust. In this Voices of Leadership episode of The Connected Leadership Podcast, Dave speaks with employment lawyer Steve Conlay from BPE Solicitors. Steve shares what leaders get wrong about change, why communication matters more than strategy, and how trust can make or break organisational transformation. Steve has spent nearly two decades helping organisations navigate restructures, mergers, acquisitions, redundancies and major organisational change. His unique perspective comes from seeing what happens when leadership communication breaks down and employees are left trying to make sense of uncertainty. Together they explore why so many change initiatives fail, the hidden role of middle managers, what leaders often underestimate about employee reactions, and why communication is less about having all the answers and more about building trust through honesty and consistency. Whether you're leading a team through restructuring, managing growth, integrating acquisitions, or simply trying to navigate constant change in today's workplace, this conversation offers practical lessons every leader can apply. Key Talking Points Why organisational change often fails quietly rather than dramatically The critical gap between what leaders say and what employees hear Why uncertainty is often harder than bad news The overlooked role of line managers during change What mergers and acquisitions teach us about culture and trust How leaders can still communicate honestly without all the answers Why adaptability is becoming a core leadership capability The importance of listening during periods of uncertainty Building emotionally intelligent cultures that can thrive through change

    1 hr

  4. Jun 12

    Self Awareness: The Leadership Mirror Most People Avoid | #75

    In the second episode of our Emotional Intelligence series, Rich and Dave explore the mirror that most leaders look into with nothing more than a surface level glance. The mirror that is self-awareness. Drawing on coaching conversations, leadership development work, and real-world examples, they unpack why so many capable leaders struggle to see the impact they are having on others, particularly when the pressure rises. The conversation challenges the common assumption that self-awareness is simply introspection or understanding the voice inside your head. Instead, Rich argues that genuine self-awareness is a much deeper skill involving an awareness of ourselves, the people around us, and the effect our behaviour has on the wider system. The episode explores leadership blind spots, the way authority and pressure distort feedback, and why confidence without humility can become a barrier to learning. Rich and Dave also discuss the difference between reflective self-awareness after an event and the much harder skill of maintaining awareness in the moment when stakes are high. Ultimately, this episode argues that self-awareness is not about becoming self-critical. It is about creating more choice, enabling leaders to respond intentionally rather than react automatically, and laying the foundation for emotional intelligence, trust, and lasting leadership effectiveness. Key Talking Points Why deep self-awareness is the foundation of true emotional intelligenceThe difference between introspection and genuine self-awarenessHow authority, status and pressure create leadership blind spotsWhy feedback becomes harder to receive as leaders become more seniorCommon blind spots including certainty, control, impatience and withdrawalThe difference between reflection after the event and awareness in the momentHow confidence can become a barrier to learning when it lacks humilityPractical ways leaders can create more choice under pressure

    41 min
  5. Beyond the numbers: How to drive performance and lead with humanity | #74

    Jun 5

    Beyond the numbers: How to drive performance and lead with humanity | #74

    In this Voices of Leadership episode of The Connected Leadership Podcast, Dave is joined by Chris Davies for a deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation about leadership, resilience, and the human side of performance. Chris shares his journey from a childhood shaped by team sport and strong role models to the life-changing experience of developing ME during adolescence. Forced to let go of his dream of a career in football, Chris reflects on the lessons that adversity taught him about resilience, optimism, accountability, confidence, and how to find new goals to pursue. Drawing on his extensive experience in professional services, Chris explores why the best leaders understand people at a deeper level, why trust and listening matter more than measuring numbers, and how performance and humanity should never be treated as opposing forces. This episode is a powerful reminder that leadership is not simply about managing metrics. It is about understanding people, creating environments where they can thrive, and helping others with a healthy balance of support and challenge. Key Talking Points Why vulnerability and humility are often missing from leadershipThe leadership lessons Chris learned from team sport and coachingHow a serious illness reshaped his identity, resilience, and outlook on lifeThe role optimism and personal accountability play in overcoming adversityWhy relationships matter more than transactions in leadership and salesThe importance of listening deeply and understanding the individualBuilding cultures where people feel safe to speak honestlyWhy simple leadership principles often outperform complex frameworksThe power of helping others realize their potential

    1h 24m

  6. May 29

    Why Smart Leaders Still Fail (and the warning signs to look out for) | #73

    In this opening episode of Zentano’s new emotional intelligence in leadership series, Rich and Dave explore why leadership failure is rarely caused by a lack of intelligence, capability, or experience. Many leaders appear confident on the surface yet struggle relationally under pressure. They become reactive, controlling, defensive, emotionally disconnected, or unknowingly create tension inside their teams. In this conversation, Rich and Dave unpack the idea that emotional intelligence is the “engine” underneath sustainable leadership confidence. Together they explore how self-awareness, emotional regulation, relational intelligence, and grounded presence shape leadership effectiveness far more than technical expertise alone. The conversation moves beyond the clichés of “soft skills” and examines emotional intelligence as a practical leadership discipline that affects conflict, pressure, stress, communication, culture, decision-making, and team dynamics. Using real leadership examples, including reflections from their own business partnership, Rich and Dave discuss blind spots, over-functioning, emotional contagion, healthy conflict, and the importance of creating “time on the ball” in high-pressure situations. This episode launches a new series focused on the real-world leadership problems emotional intelligence helps solve. Key Talking Points Why technically capable leaders still fail relationallyHow stress leaks into leadership behaviour and team cultureWhy emotional intelligence is not “soft and fluffy”The danger of over-functioning and becoming the bottleneck for your teamConflict avoidance versus healthy conflictThe impact of ego and self-worth on leadership behaviourUnderstanding emotional contagion inside teamsThe metaphor of creating “time on the ball” under pressureHow leadership presence shapes organisational culture

    38 min

  7. May 22

    Beyond Performance: The Deepest Source of Leadership Confidence |#72

    In the final episode of the Confidence in Leadership series, Rich and Dave explore what happens when traditional sources of confidence stop being enough. What do leaders rely on when expertise, performance, or external validation can no longer carry the weight of difficult decisions? This conversation goes deeper than capability or presence and explores confidence as something rooted in values, purpose and integrity. Rich and Dave unpack why many leaders become trapped in performance-based confidence, how ambiguity and criticism can destabilize leadership, and why truly grounded confidence comes from connecting to something beyond yourself. Drawing on personal leadership experiences, they discuss moral trade-offs, difficult organisational decisions, servant leadership, intrinsic motivation, and the importance of aligning confidence with character rather than ego. The episode also explores the relationship between confidence, humility, purpose and even spirituality in leadership. This closing conversation brings together themes from across the confidence series and offers a roadmap for leaders wanting to find a more stable, sustainable model of confidence. Key Talking Points Why performance-based confidence eventually becomes fragileThe hidden dangers of confidence dependent on approval from othersHow values create steadier decision making in a world of ambiguityConfidence rooted in integrity rather than image managementPurpose as a stabilizing force in leadershipWhy servant leadership is not weakness or people-pleasingThe relationship between confidence, humility and egoHow spirituality can relate to grounded leadership confidence

    41 min

  8. May 15

    The Confidence Code: Why Confidence Feels Easier for Some Leaders Than Others (and what to do about it) | #71

    In this seventh episode of the confidence in leadership series, Rich and Dave explore an important but often misunderstood leadership question: why does confidence seem to come more naturally to some people than others? Using the lens of personality profiling and leadership traits, they unpack how a diverse group of people experience pressure, uncertainty, conflict and self-doubt in very different ways. Drawing on tools such as Whole Brain Thinking, DiSC, MBTI and specifically the High Potential Trait Indicator (HPTi), the conversation explores how profiling tools can deepen self-awareness when used wisely, while also highlighting the dangers of turning personality profiles into rigid labels or identities. Non-nuanced use of profiling tools can have a detrimental impact on a person’s confidence. Rich introduces how different leadership traits can influence the “masks” people reach for under pressure, i.e. the Over-achiever, Pretender, Self-doubter and Striver masks from Zentano’s Confidence Compass model. The episode offers practical insight into how leaders can better understand themselves using the HPTi profiling tool and respond more intentionally under pressure and move back towards what Zentano calls the “Connected Centre”, a grounded place of true confidence. This episode is particularly relevant for leaders interested in self-awareness, emotional intelligence, profiling tools, confidence, and understanding how personality and pressure interact in the workplace. Key Talking Points Why confidence feels easier for some leaders than othersThe difference between traits, preferences and pressure responsesWhy profiling tools should be treated as lenses, not labelsThe danger of turning profiles into identity “boxes”How leadership traits influence confidence under pressureThe relationship between personality and the confidence masksWhy self-awareness is a starting point, not a verdictHow confidence changes depending on context and environmentMoving from protective masks back to the Connected Centre

    38 min
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About

Welcome to Connected Leadership, the podcast where leadership gets real. Hosted by Dave Morris and Rich Horton from Zentano, this series is all about helping leaders like you create thriving teams, shape positive workplace cultures, and make a genuine difference in the world. We believe that better leadership creates better organisations—and ultimately, a better world. Each episode brings you grounded wisdom, practical tips, and inspiring stories from real leaders. Expect a mix of unscripted chats, actionable insights, and fascinating guest interviews. Whether you’re navigating the challenges of modern leadership, exploring emotional intelligence, or looking to unlock your own potential, we’ve got you covered. Connect with us: 📍 Website: www.zentanogroup.com 📍 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/zentano/ 📍 Instagram: @zentanogroup So, grab a cuppa, hit play, and join us every week as we explore what it takes to lead with impact.

Information

  • Creator
    Zentano
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    78
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Zentano
  • Show Website
    Connected Leadership

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