Real leadership doesn’t come with a manual. It comes from bold decisions, uncomfortable truths, and the courage to lead when the path ahead isn’t clear.
Join Emma Canter - leadership development expert and curious human - as she hosts honest conversations with business leaders, innovators, and experts who are navigating ambiguity and pushing past comfort zones to create meaningful change.
Each episode delivers real stories, practical insights, and expert advice to help you grow personally and professionally, no matter where you lead—from the boardroom to the frontlines of innovation.
This isn’t about quick fixes or one-size-fits-all answers. It’s about doing what’s right, not what’s easy. Because leadership is nuanced, messy, and deeply human.
If you're ready to stretch, grow, and take your brave next step, this podcast is for you.
You Said It Clearly, But Did They Hear What You Meant?
Have you ever been absolutely certain you communicated something clearly, only to discover the other person heard something completely different?
A slightly baffling song lyric got me thinking about how we don’t simply hear words and receive meaning. We construct meaning through context, assumptions and what we expected to hear.
In this episode, I’m exploring the communication gap that can exist without either person realising it. For leaders, the challenge isn’t simply saying things more clearly.
It’s creating enough safety for people to admit when they’re unsure, and replacing the assumption that everyone understood with something far more useful: actually checking.
Highlights:
(01:30) - A misheard song lyric that made me question what “clear communication” really means
(03:07) - You know exactly what you meant, but that doesn’t mean they heard the same thing
(04:28) - Why people fill communication gaps with their best guess instead of asking
(05:12) - The most dangerous communication gap? The uncertain person who never checks
(06:09) - Stop asking, “Does everyone understand?” There’s a better way to find out
(07:27) - One question to ask after your next important conversation
Connect with Emma:
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmaMVL)
Website (https://www.mindvaluesleadership.co.uk)
This Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio (https://www.wavemakersaudio.com/book-a-call)
19 Oct 2026
Who’s Carrying the Thinking Work?
It started with a packet of prawn skewers. My husband asked me how to cook them, I answered because it was quicker, and suddenly a completely ordinary Tuesday evening became a perfect example of something much bigger: invisible work.
The planning, remembering, anticipating and thinking that quietly keeps everything moving.
In this episode, I’m looking at why that cognitive load can become so sticky, both at home and in our organisations.
We’ll explore how these patterns become established, the part we might unknowingly play in maintaining them, and why good leadership means noticing who is carrying the thinking work nobody else sees. Because invisible doesn’t mean insignificant.
Highlights:
(01:30) - Prawn skewers, one simple question and a surprisingly perfect example of invisible work
(03:08) - The thinking work doesn’t automatically redistribute when life changes, it sticks
(04:12) - I answered because it was easier... and that’s exactly how patterns get established
(05:07) - Who’s quietly remembering, anticipating and holding everything together in your team?
(06:18) - If nobody names the invisible work, don’t expect it to magically redistribute itself
(07:35) - One challenge for this week: name the work you’re carrying that nobody sees
Connect with Emma:
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmaMVL)
Website (https://www.mindvaluesleadership.co.uk)
This Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio (https://www.wavemakersaudio.com/book-a-call)
11 Oct 2026
Communicating Change Isn’t the Same as Managing It
Telling people something is changing doesn’t mean you’ve actually managed the change.
Whether you’re having one conversation with a direct report or leading a major cultural shift, successful change needs far more than an announcement and a hopeful assumption that everyone will simply get on board.
In this episode, I’m exploring why change is relational, contextual and, yes, sometimes messy. I’ll share why experimenting, testing, learning and reflecting matter, plus the three things I consistently come back to: repetition, emotional acknowledgement and capability.
Because the announcement isn’t the work. It’s what happens afterwards that determines whether change actually sticks.
Highlights:
(01:30) - Change isn’t a formula, and what works brilliantly once might flop the next time
(02:40) - Experiment, test, learn, reflect... and yes, mistakes are part of the deal
(04:00) - When a change is announced and then everyone goes quiet for six months
(05:08) - Resistance isn’t always irrational, sometimes it’s simply human
(06:00) - You’ve communicated the what, but have you actually built the how?
(07:15) - One question to ask yourself: have you communicated change or managed it?
Connect with Emma:
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmaMVL)
Website (https://www.mindvaluesleadership.co.uk)
This Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio (https://www.wavemakersaudio.com/book-a-call)
Who has been a guest on The Brave Next Step
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Jennie Godfrey
Ben Gibbs
Emma Langton
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5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 25 / 100
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