The Lonely Leader

Episode 102Ten steps that made 2025 my best year everSUMMARY SECTION In this episode of The Lonely Leader Podcast James Rule dissects the road map he built 12 months ago that has subsequently transformed his performance and facilitated unprecedented levels of fulfilment. He shares the ten steps he took and explains how you can adapt and implement them to achieve the results you dream of in your own professional role and personal life.ABOUT THE HOST James is an experienced mentor, coach and thought leader who works with a range of clients from FTSE 100 companies, SME´s the NHS and wider public and not for profit sectors.His twenty year career in elite sport initially as a professional rugby player but predominantly as a chief executive has given him an invaluable insight in managing the success, failures and pressures associated with leadership at the highest level.As a high performance coach James specialises in enhancing resilience and leadership development. He is a passionate advocate of the notion that to find lasting fulfilment we need to take a holistic view of high performance. EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXTEpisode 93 - Inside The Lonely Leader: My story, my philosophy, my purposeEpisode 97- The Comfort Trap: Why we stay stuck (and how to get unstuck)Episode 48 - Leadership Essentials: PresenceCONNECT & CONTACT Website www.thelonelyleader.co.ukThe Lonely Leader's LinkedIn James' LinkedInInstagramEmail: hello@thelonelyleader.co.uk NEWSLETTERSign Up to The Leadership Accelerator Newsletter for advice, inspiration and ideas, you'll also receive James' Tackling Imposter Syndrome guide.THIS SHOW WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY LONELY LEADER MEDIA 

Celebrating 100 Episodes. The wins, the work and what comes nextIn celebration of this milestone episode James shares lessons learned from his podcasting journey over the last two years and how they relate to your growth and development. He profiles the most downloaded episodes and shares the chance to win one of five complimentary high performance executive coaching sessions with him. There is also a coveted place on The Leadership Accelerator, our flagship coaching programme available to be won.OUR TOP DOWNLOADED EPISODES SO FAREpisode 83 - Leadership Essentials: ApproachabilityEpisode 7 - Maximising First ImpressionsEpisode 65 -Leadership Essentials: Consistency Episode 10 - Leadership Essentials: Authenticity Episode 11 - Leadership Essentials: Delegation Episode - 9 Warning signs of burnout and tips to prevent itEpisode 80 - Feedback culture: The secret weapon of high performing teams (Part 1: Giving feedback)Episode 81 - Feedback culture: The secret weapon of high performing teams (Part 2: Receiving feedback)Episode 57 - Lessons from my leadership journey  ABOUT THE HOST James is an experienced mentor, coach and thought leader who works with a range of clients from FTSE 100 companies, SME´s the NHS and wider public and not for profit sectors. His twenty year career in elite sport initially as a professional rugby player but predominantly as a chief executive has given him an invaluable insight in managing the success, failures and pressures associated with leadership at the highest level. As a high performance coach James specialises in enhancing resilience and leadership development. He is a passionate advocate of the notion that to find lasting fulfilment we need to take a holistic view of high performance. CONNECT & CONTACT Website www.thelonelyleader.co.ukThe Lonely Leader's LinkedIn James' LinkedInInstagramEmail: hello@thelonelyleader.co.uk 

Episode 99Leadership Essentials: Productivity - Reclaiming focus in a distracted worldSUMMARY SECTION In this episode of The Lonely Leader Podcast, James Rule explores how society is sleep walking into the destruction of our productivity and associated fulfilment. He guides the listener through simple steps to identify the main disruptors of our productivity and shares a road map to diminish them and build new levels of professional and personal performance. You deserve to bring the best version of you to every role you take on. We hope this episode will help you to do exactly that.KEY TAKEAWAYSIt takes at least 15 minutes to regain our concentration after every disruption.When we consider the level of disruption we experience on a daily basis are we ever really in deep concentration and realising our optimum performance?Curate the social media and news feeds that you consume with care. We cannot optimise our productivity if we have already disempowered our mindset and drained our energy with the online content we have consumed. ABOUT THE HOST James is an experienced mentor, coach and thought leader who works with a range of clients from FTSE 100 companies, SME´s the NHS and wider public and not for profit sectors. His twenty year career in elite sport initially as a professional rugby player but predominantly as a chief executive has given him an invaluable insight in managing the success, failures and pressures associated with leadership at the highest level.As a high performance coach James specialises in enhancing resilience and leadership development. He is a passionate advocate of the notion that to find lasting fulfilment we need to take a holistic view of high performance. EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXTEpisode 48 - Leadership Essentials: PresenceEpisode 37 - Recovery: The missing link for high performance Episode 18 - Reclaim control over digital distraction CONNECT & CONTACT Website www.thelonelyleader.co.ukThe Lonely Leader's LinkedIn James' LinkedInInstagramEmail: hello@thelonelyleader.co.uk 

Episode 98Leadership Essentials: Resilience - Creating strength that enduresSUMMARYIn this episode of The Lonely Leader Podcast, James Rule explores a leadership essential we all need in our professional role and personal life - resilience. Drawing from his personal journey and world leaders in sport, business, and the military, James unpacks what it truly means to lead with strength, adaptability, and grace under pressure.Whether you’re navigating a professional setback, leading a team through uncertainty, or simply striving for sustainable success, this episode will help you create unshakeable resilience from the inside out.KEY TAKEAWAYSThe three biggest misconceptions about resilience that hold leaders back.How to build resilience not just for the crises, but for everyday high performance.Eight actionable takeaways to help you strengthen your mindset, resilience and ability to lead through adversity.Real world examples from J.K. Rowling, and Admiral James Stockdale.“Resilience is not just for surviving the worst day of your life. It’s for thriving every day of your life.” – Dr. Rick HansenABOUT THE HOST James is an experienced mentor, coach and thought leader who works with a range of clients from FTSE 100 companies, SME´s the NHS and wider public and not for profit sectors.His twenty year career in elite sport initially as a professional rugby player but predominantly as a chief executive has given him an invaluable insight in managing the success, failures and pressures associated with leadership at the highest level.As a high performance coach James specialises in enhancing resilience and leadership development. He is a passionate advocate of the notion that to find lasting fulfilment we need to take a holistic view of high performance. EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXTEpisode 93 - Inside The Lonely Leader: My story, my philosophy, my purposeEpisode 71 - Holiday Illness: A warning sign you cannot ignore Episode 54 - The Power of Rest: Unlocking high performance through recoveryCONNECT & CONTACT Website www.thelonelyleader.co.ukThe Lonely Leader's LinkedIn James' LinkedInInstagramEmail: hello@thelonelyleader.co.uk 

Episode 97The Comfort Trap: Why we stay stuck (and how to get unstuck)SUMMARY SECTION Why do so many talented leaders stay stuck in jobs, relationships, or routines that no longer serve them? In this episode of The Lonely Leader Podcast, James Rule explores the hidden forces that keep us trapped in our comfort zones from the sunk cost fallacy to identity attachment and fear of judgment. Discover practical ways to push through discomfort, redefine success and create meaningful change in your leadership and life.Whether you’re feeling stuck in your career, your business, or your mindset this episode will help you see that staying comfortable comes at a cost.KEY TAKEAWAYSIn this powerful follow on to How to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, James Rule dives deeper into why we stay stuck and how to finally move beyond the limits of comfort.Drawing from psychology, leadership experience, and real-world coaching insights, this episode uncovers the truth behind the comfort trap that quiet, invisible space where growth goes to die.ABOUT THE HOST James is an experienced mentor, coach and thought leader who works with a range of clients from FTSE 100 companies, SME´s the NHS and wider public and not for profit sectors.His twenty year career in elite sport initially as a professional rugby player but predominantly as a chief executive has given him an invaluable insight in managing the success, failures and pressures associated with leadership at the highest level.As a high performance coach James specialises in enhancing resilience and leadership development. He is a passionate advocate of the notion that to find lasting fulfilment we need to take a holistic view of high performance. EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Episode 93 - Inside The Lonely Leader: My story, my philosophy, my purposeEpisode 96 - How to get comfortable with being uncomfortable Episode 6 - Combatting Sunday afternoon work anxiety CONNECT & CONTACT Website www.thelonelyleader.co.ukThe Lonely Leader's LinkedIn James' LinkedInInstagramEmail: hello@thelonelyleader.co.uk 

Episode 96How to get comfortable with being uncomfortableSUMMARY SECTION The negative impacts previously associated with a mid-life crisis are now striking people in their 20's and 30's. Through his coaching, James Rule regularly encounters individuals who are feeling stuck and this is compromising their performance and fulfilment in both their personal lives and professional roles. In this episode he highlights the power of getting comfortable with being uncomfortable in order to make the changes required to reconnect with your purpose and obtain new levels of fulfilment. He shares key moments in his life where he was rewarded for making big changes and pushing through adversity and discomfort. KEY TAKEAWAYSListen to your gut feeling. You know when something, a role, a relationship, is no longer fulfilling you. Rather than worrying about what people will think if you make a significant change, worry about what you will think years down the line if your don’t and are filled with regret.Do not fear the creation of a new identity that is not solely built around your professional role but also factors in who you are as a person.Expect change to be uncomfortable but remind yourself of the rewards for persisting and pushing through that discomfort.ABOUT THE HOST James is an experienced mentor, coach and thought leader who works with a range of clients from FTSE 100 companies, SME´s the NHS and wider public and not for profit sectors.His twenty year career in elite sport initially as a professional rugby player but predominantly as a chief executive has given him an invaluable insight in managing the success, failures and pressures associated with leadership at the highest level.As a high performance coach James specialises in enhancing resilience and leadership development. He is a passionate advocate of the notion that to find lasting fulfilment we need to take a holistic view of high performance. EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXTEpisode 93 - Inside The Lonely Leader: My story, my philosophy, my purposeEpisode 90 - The Leadership Accelerator: Built by leaders for leadersEpisode 85 -Leadership Essentials: GratitudeCONNECT & CONTACT Website www.thelonelyleader.co.ukThe Lonely Leader's LinkedIn James' LinkedInInstagramEmail: hello@thelonelyleader.co.uk 

Episode 95Leadership Essentials: Motivation - Fuel for you and your team SUMMARYIn this episode of The Lonely Leader Podcast, host James Rule explores the latest trait in the Leadership Essential Series - Motivation. James breaks down how leaders can sustain their own self motivation and how they can inspire and maintain motivation within their teams.Drawing on powerful examples from Jürgen Klopp, Richard Branson, and General Sir Richard Dannatt, this episode reveals how motivation is built not through speeches or slogans, but through connection, consistency, and example.James also discusses the science of motivation, intrinsic vs extrinsic and shares 8 actionable takeaways to help leaders refuel their motivation and that of their wider teams.KEY TAKEAWAYSWhy motivation is the bridge between knowing and doingThe crucial difference between self-motivation and team motivationHow to inspire your people through trust, autonomy, and recognition8 practical steps you can take to build unstoppable momentum for yourself and your teamKEY QUOTES FEATURED“The things you do when no one else is looking are the things that define you.” – Unknown“Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best.” – Tim Duncan“Motivation is when your dreams put on work clothes.” – Benjamin Franklin“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one most adaptable to change.” – Charles DarwinABOUT THE HOST James is an experienced mentor, coach and thought leader who works with a range of clients from FTSE 100 companies, SME´s the NHS and wider public and not for profit sectors.His twenty year career in elite sport initially as a professional rugby player but predominantly as a chief executive has given him an invaluable insight in managing the success, failures and pressures associated with leadership at the highest level.As a high performance coach James specialises in enhancing resilience and leadership development. He is a passionate advocate of the notion that to find lasting fulfilment we need to take a holistic view of high performance. EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXTEpisode 79 - Why active listening is the skill that changes everythingEpisode 21 - Value your people Episode 12 - Eight steps to create a quality cultureCONNECT & CONTACT Website www.thelonelyleader.co.ukThe Lonely Leader's LinkedIn James' LinkedInInstagramEmail: hello@thelonelyleader.co.uk 

Episode 94Leadership Essentials: Adaptability - Thriving Through Change SUMMARY SECTION In this episode of The Lonely Leader Podcast, James Rule explores a cornerstone of impactful leadership, adaptability. Discover how elite leaders from sport, the military, and business embrace change, pivot fast, and stay effective under pressure. If you want to thrive when everything around you shifts, this episode is your blueprint for flexible, forward-thinking leadership.KEY TAKEAWAYSHear lessons from Roger Federer, General Stanley McChrystal, and Mary Barra (CEO General Motors) demonstrating how adaptability shaped their performance. Uncover 8 practical takeaways to help you lead with confidence in uncertain times.“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one most adaptable to change.” - Charles DarwinABOUT THE HOST James is an experienced mentor, coach and thought leader who works with a range of clients from FTSE 100 companies, SME´s the NHS and wider public and not for profit sectors.His twenty year career in elite sport initially as a professional rugby player but predominantly as a chief executive has given him an invaluable insight in managing the success, failures and pressures associated with leadership at the highest level.As a high performance coach James specialises in enhancing resilience and leadership development. He is a passionate advocate of the notion that to find lasting fulfilment we need to take a holistic view of high performance. EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXTEpisode 93 - Inside The Lonely Leader: My story, my philosophy, my purposeEpisode 89 - Leadership Essentials: Belief - The fuel that drives you forward Episode 76 - The strength in vulnerability. A Leadership Essential CONNECT & CONTACT Website www.thelonelyleader.co.ukThe Lonely Leader's LinkedIn James' LinkedInInstagramEmail: hello@thelonelyleader.co.uk NEWSLETTERSign Up to The Leadership Accelerator Newsletter for advice, inspiration and ideas, you'll also receive James' Tackling Imposter Syndrome guide.THIS SHOW WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY LONELY LEADER MEDIA