Sound Leadership
The Sound Leadership podcast is for the people responsible for developing others. The silent superheroes working in L&D, HR and Leadership Development.
All Episodes
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Helping accidental managers thrive: How to support, equip and empower unprepared leaders
What happens when someone is promoted into management without the training, support, or confidence they need to lead? In this insightful episode of the Sound Leadership podcast, host Dan Boniface and leadership expert Darren Draper explore the rise of the accidental manager, those promoted for technical expertise or performance but left to figure out leadership on their own. Darren shares his own experience of being thrust into a senior management role without guidance, and together they break down the emotional impact, common challenges, and most importantly, the tools and strategies to help these unprepared leaders thrive. Together, they discuss: Why accidental managers are more common than you think—and how we’ve helped create them. The four types of accidental managers and how to spot them. The psychological and practical challenges they face in leading peers and managing up. What support looks like—from coaching and mentoring to training and psychological safety. How to foster ownership, awareness, and personal responsibility in new leaders. Dan & Darren’s Top 3 Leadership Soundbites: Find yourself a coach, mentor or buddy who is there for you. Focus on development and growth to build capability, behaviour and confidence. Don’t label people as accidental managers—believe in them, support them, and help them succeed. If you’ve ever struggled with your leadership journey—or support those who do—this episode is for you. 🎧 Tune in now to explore how we can turn accidental managers into confident, capable leaders. We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment and let us know your biggest challenge with accidental managers. Don’t forget to subscribe for more learning and development, human resources, and leadership insights. 👉 For more leadership and coaching resources, visit http://www.thebcfgroup.co.uk 👉 Meet your AI coaching companion and level up your workplace at http://www.37.space 👉 Learn more about our producers and communication experts at http://www.mediafirst.co.uk 👉 Contact us at soundleadership@thebcfgroup.co.uk 👉 Connect with the team on LinkedIn: Dan Boniface and Darren Draper And if you want to get to know the team more then head over to The Sound Leadership YouTube channel.Conquer the fear of public speaking
Does speaking in front of an audience make you nervous? You’re not alone! Over 70% of people in the UK experience anxiety about public speaking. But how do you overcome it? In this episode of the Sound Leadership podcast, host Dan Boniface is joined by Victoria Smith, a media expert and journalist who has worked for ITV London, Euronews, Channel 5 News, The Associated Press, British Forces News, TV News London. Victoria breaks down practical strategies for speaking with confidence. Together, they discuss: The science behind Glossophobia (fear of public speaking) Common challenges like nerves, lack of preparation, and too much information Practical techniques: breathing exercises, vocal warmups, and practicing out loud How HR and L&D professionals can help others overcome public speaking fears Real-life examples of great public speakers (and what went wrong!) Their top 3 Leadership Soundbites If you want to present with confidence, this episode is for you! 🎤 🎧 Listen now and take control of your public speaking nerves! Don’t forget to subscribe for more learning and development, human resources, and leadership insights. We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment and let us know your biggest challenge with public speaking. 👉 Connect with the team on LinkedIn: Dan Boniface and Darren Draper 👉 For more leadership and coaching resources, visit http://thebcfgroup.co.uk 👉 Meet your AI coaching companion and level up your workplace at http://www.37.space 👉 Learn more about our producers and communication experts at http://www.mediafirst.co.uk 👉 Contact us at soundleadership@thebcfgroup.co.uk And if you want to get to know the team more then head over to The Sound Leadership YouTube channel.Building habits that create personal responsibility
Struggle to stick to your goals? Start strong but lose momentum after a few days? In this episode of the Sound Leadership podcast, host Dan Boniface and co-host Darren Draper explore the science of habit building for leaders, L&D professionals, and HR experts. Together, they unpack: · Why habits matter in leadership, L&D, and HR · The four laws of behaviour change (James Clear’s method) · How to overcome common challenges like lack of time, motivation, or consistency · Real-life leadership examples of habit stacking and marginal gains · Mindset shifts using NLP to reframe tasks from obligations to opportunities · Their top 3 Leadership Soundbites Whether you’re a leader, HR professional, or L&D expert, these practical strategies will help you create habits that last and drive real impact. 🎧 Listen now and start building habits that fuel leadership success! Don’t forget to subscribe and follow Sound Leadership. Share with others that will also benefit. https://www.thebcfgroup.co.uk/sound-leadership 👉 Connect with the team on LinkedIn: Dan Boniface and Darren Draper 👉 For more leadership and coaching resources, visit http://www.theBCFGroup.co.uk 👉 Meet your AI coaching companion and level up your workplace at http://www.37.space 👉 Learn more about our producers and communication experts at http://www.mediafirst.co.uk 👉 Contact us at soundleadership@thebcfgroup.co.uk And if you want to get to know the team more then head over to The Sound Leadership YouTube channel.Creating a coaching culture
Companies with a strong coaching culture report 46% higher revenue per employee and 61% higher employee engagement.” – International Coaching Federation A coaching culture isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a proven strategy for building resilient, high-performing teams. But how do HR and L&D professionals create an environment where coaching thrives? In this episode of Sound Leadership, host Dan Boniface is joined by leadership and management experts Laura Bridgeman and Darren Draper to explore: What a coaching culture really means and why it matters The tangible benefits of coaching for organizations, from retention to performance Real-life examples of how coaching has transformed businesses across industries Practical strategies to implement a coaching culture, from leadership buy-in to psychological safety Their top 3 Leadership Soundbites Plus, we wrap up with The Top 3 Leadership Soundbites—key insights to help you drive coaching success in your organization. 🎧 Tune in now and start embedding a coaching mindset in your teams! 👉 Connect with the team on LinkedIn: Dan Boniface and Darren Draper 👉 For more leadership and coaching resources, visit http://www.thebcfgroup.co.uk 👉 To meet your AI communications companion and power up your workplace go to http://www.37.space 👉 To find out more about our producers, and communication specialists Media First visit http://www.mediafirst.co.uk 👉 Contact us at soundleadership@thebcfgroup.co.uk And if you want to get to know the team more then head over to The Sound Leadership YouTube channel.