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

    4d ago

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. May 8

    The Confidence Multiplier – How Leaders Create Belief in Others | #70

    In part 6 of their Confidence in Leadership series, Rich and Dave explore one of the biggest leadership transitions of all: moving from being the person who delivers, to becoming the leader who develops others. This is a pivot point where leaders stop trying to prove themselves and start creating belief in others. This is a mental shift that requires awareness and conscious choice. All too often as pressure increases, many leaders unconsciously tighten their grip. Micromanagement, over-checking, rewriting work, and controlling decisions often emerge not from bad intent, but from fear-based coping mechanisms linked to confidence and self-worth. Rich explains how these patterns subtly close teams down, creating dependency, disengagement, and reduced initiative. The conversation explores how authentic confidence acts as a “confidence multiplier,” creating environments where people feel trusted, capable, and empowered to grow. Rich and Dave unpack the hidden “confidence masks” leaders wear under pressure, including self-doubt and overachievement, and explain how these emotional patterns shape team culture more than many leaders realise. This episode also offers highly practical leadership guidance around autonomy, coaching, delegation, dialogue, and creating psychological ownership without lowering standards. It’s a grounded conversation about leadership maturity, emotional intelligence, and the inner work required to lead with confidence rather than exerting control. In keeping with the purpose behind the Connected Leadership podcast, this episode continues Zentano’s practical exploration of what it means to lead with clarity, confidence, connection, and impact in modern organisations. Key Talking Points Why over-control is often a fear-based coping mechanism The hidden organisational cost of micromanagement How leaders unintentionally create learned dependence in teams The shift from “I deliver” to “we deliver” The concept of the “confidence multiplier” How confidence masks leak into leadership behaviour Why clarity and autonomy must work together Building confidence through small-step delegation and “confidence ladders”

    32 min
  6. How to be resilient and avoid climbing the burnout ladder (part 2) | #69

    May 1

    How to be resilient and avoid climbing the burnout ladder (part 2) | #69

    In part 2 of his conversation with Alan Muskett author of The Burnout Ladder, Dave asks Alan to bring to life the six stages of burnout and the practical tools leaders can use to regain control, rebuild resilience, and reconnect. Alan walks us through the six stages of the burnout ladder, from ignition and acceleration through to neglect, cynicism, disengagement, and ultimately embers. What makes this episode particularly powerful is the clarity it brings. Listeners can recognise where they are, or where others may be, and act before things escalate. The conversation goes deeper into the inner mechanics of burnout, including perfectionism, faulty thinking, emotional regulation, and the loss of connection that often sits at the heart of the issue. Alan also introduces a simple but compelling resilience model based on energy, calm, mindset, and connection. It offers a grounded way for leaders to rebuild resilience without overcomplicating the process. This episode is not just about avoiding burnout. It is about understanding yourself more clearly, making conscious choices, and leading in a way that is both sustainable and human. Aligned with Zentano’s Connected Leadership approach, this conversation reinforces a key message: awareness, reflection, and connection are not optional extras. They are essential foundations for energised and effective leadership. Key Talking Points The six stages of burnout and how to recognise where you are Why self-awareness is the earliest protection against burnout The hidden role of perfectionism and internal pressure Managing faulty thinking and emotional responses A simple resilience model: E = MC2 Why connection breaks down when we need it most Practical habits and tools to build resilience

    57 min
  7. How to be resilient and avoid climbing the burnout ladder (part 1) | #68

    Apr 24

    How to be resilient and avoid climbing the burnout ladder (part 1) | #68

    In this Voices of Leadership episode of The Connected Leadership podcast, Dave speaks with author, coach, and creator of The Burnout Ladder, Alan Muskett. Alan shares a deeply personal and honest account of his leadership journey, from early responsibility in a transport company at 21 through to senior leadership roles in a global organisation. Along the way, he describes how ambition, responsibility, and a drive to prove himself gradually pulled him onto what he now calls the “burnout ladder.” This is not a story of sudden collapse. It’s a story of gradual drift. Alan explores how burnout builds quietly over time, often disguised as success, growth, and opportunity. He reflects on the internal pressures’ leaders place on themselves, the role of people-pleasing and identity, and the cultural signals that make it difficult to speak up. The conversation also introduces the origins of the Burnout Ladder model and how Alan began to recognise patterns in his own experience. This conversation focuses on recognising the early signs, reclaiming control, and why success can quietly lead you towards burnout before you have recognised the warning signs. This first part of a two-part conversation focuses on awareness: how burnout begins, why it’s so hard to spot early, and what starts to shift when leaders begin to step back and look at their experience differently. Key Talking Points Why burnout is becoming one of the biggest risks to leadership effectiveness Alan’s early leadership experience & the impact of responsibility at a young age The hidden pressure of “proving yourself” and how it shapes behaviour over time Imposter syndrome, confidence, and the long road to self-trust The cultural barriers that stop leaders from asking for help Early warning signs of burnout: decision paralysis, irritability, and loss of perspective How mindfulness shifted Alan’s thinking and helped him regain clarity Why burnout often feels like success in its early stages The origins of The Burnout Ladder and why burnout is a gradual climb, not a sudden fall

    48 min
  8. How to be a leader in the age of AI and have the confidence to grow | #67

    Apr 17

    How to be a leader in the age of AI and have the confidence to grow | #67

    In this episode of the Connected Leadership Podcast by Zentano, Dave speaks with Jennifer Appleton, Managing Director of ISO Quality Services, about a leadership journey that was never planned, but steadily built through curiosity, learning, and real-world experience. From growing up in a hard-working household to starting work at 14, Jennifer shares how early exposure to responsibility and change shaped her confidence and people focus. What followed was a career in sales, a natural aptitude for building relationships, and a gradual, almost accidental transition into leadership within the family business. This conversation explores what it really takes to grow as a leader today. Jennifer reflects on pivotal learning experiences, including the Goldman Sachs Small Businesses programme, and how these moments shifted her from operational thinking to strategic leadership. Looking ahead, the discussion turns to the realities of leading in the age of AI. Rather than seeing technology as a threat, Jennifer offers a grounded perspective on balancing technical capability with human skills such as empathy, curiosity, and emotional intelligence. This is a conversation about evolving as a leader, not through a grand plan, but through continuous learning, reflection, and the courage to step into the unknown. Key Talking Points Growing up with a strong work ethic and adaptability to change Discovering a natural fit for sales and relationship building The power of high-quality training in shaping mindset and capability Accidental leadership and stepping into running the family business The importance of curiosity as a leadership trait A transformational learning experience: The Goldman Sachs £10K programme Shifting from operational to strategic thinking Leading through the rise of AI without losing the human element Developing future leaders and letting go of control

    1h 2m
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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
    74
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Zentano
  • Show Website
    Connected Leadership