17th April 2025

Leading Through Uncertainty: Navigating Global Concerns with Clarity and Compassion

We live in a world where political decisions made on one side of the globe can send shockwaves through businesses, economies, and communities on the other. For leaders in the UK, understanding and responding to this interconnected uncertainty has never been more important.

Recent announcements by Donald Trump regarding increased tariffs on key Chinese goods have sent a signal that U.S. protectionist policies are once again taking centre stage. While this may appear to be a domestic economic strategy, the global ripple effects are real, especially for UK organisations navigating already fragile markets. As leaders, it’s essential we tune into the broader geopolitical and financial landscape and consider how these shifts affect our people and our practices.

Tariffs create market instability, disrupt global supply chains, and drive up import/export costs. This unpredictability can translate into increased operational expenses, inflationary pressure, and hesitation among stakeholders to commit to long-term investments. For UK-based organisations, particularly those reliant on international trade or closely tied to American or Chinese markets, this creates a climate of financial caution, reduced growth forecasts, and, in some cases, necessary cost-cutting.

In this context, leadership must evolve beyond numbers and policy. Now more than ever, leaders are called to engage with empathy, foresight, and transparency.

Financial uncertainty doesn’t just affect budgets, it affects people. Rising costs, restructuring, or hesitancy around future planning can create anxiety within teams. Employees may worry about job security, pay progression, or simply the sustainability of their organisation. Leaders must not only be financially agile but emotionally intelligent. A steady hand on the tiller is vital, but so is a human voice that listens, reassures, and leads with authenticity.

During times of uncertainty, the strongest leaders:

Communicate openly – Share what you know, what you don’t, and what you’re doing to manage the unknowns.
Demonstrate calm and clarity – Your team looks to you for direction. Even when answers aren’t clear, your steadiness matters.
Plan with flexibility – Scenario planning and adaptive strategy are critical. Be ready to pivot, while holding firm to your values.
Empower your people – Engage employees in identifying efficiencies, innovations, and improvements. Inclusion builds resilience.
Prioritise wellbeing – Anxiety often rises during uncertain times. Demonstrating care and compassion can make all the difference.

At Leadership Scholars, we believe that uncertain times offer a chance for leaders to step up, not just in strategy, but in humanity. When budgets tighten and markets fluctuate, the core of leadership remains: inspiring trust, making decisions with integrity, and building cultures where people feel seen, valued, and supported.

The future may be uncertain, but the opportunity for ethical, confident, and effective leadership is clearer than ever.

Quiet Leadership: The Strength in Stillness

15th March 2025

In a world that often celebrates charisma, visibility, and volume, the quieter voices of leadership can be easily overlooked. Yet, quiet leadership, rooted in reflection, deep thinking, and calm influence, is a powerful and often underestimated force.

Far from being passive or disengaged, quiet leaders bring a thoughtful, strategic, and inclusive approach that fosters trust, psychological safety, and sustained success.

As explored in The Introverted Leader: Building on Your Quiet Strength by Jennifer B. Kahnweiler, introverted leaders don’t succeed in spite of their introversion, but because of it. They are often deeply prepared, focused, and present. They listen actively, think before responding, and lead by empowering others rather than dominating them.

Kahnweiler’s work encourages introverted professionals to honour their natural leadership style, while also developing the confidence to influence beyond their comfort zone. Her research shows that by building on their quiet strengths, introverted leaders can achieve powerful results and inspire authentic, high-performing teams.

In her groundbreaking book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, Susan Cain challenges the cultural bias toward extroversion. She highlights the often-ignored leadership qualities of introverts - listening, empathy, strategic reflection, and a capacity to build trust.

Cain argues that quiet leaders are often more emotionally intelligent, better at managing complexity, and more effective in empowering others. Rather than taking centre stage, they lead from within, amplifying the voices of those around them and cultivating a strong, values-led culture.

The short video The Quiet Power of Introverts by BBC Ideas brings these insights to life in an engaging and accessible format. It reminds us that introverts often think deeply, observe attentively, and communicate meaningfully when they do speak. These are not limitations, they’re leadership assets.

The video also illustrates how quiet leadership can foster inclusivity, creativity, and emotional safety - essentials in today’s complex and diverse workplaces.

In a noisy world, the quietest voices often carry the most wisdom.

By embracing and nurturing quiet leadership, we unlock the potential of individuals whose influence may be subtle—but profoundly impactful.

26th November 2024

Reflecting and Reimagining with Capital One UK: A Creative LEGO® Serious Play® Workshop for Early Careers Development

Capital One UK is committed to supporting an inclusive and progressive workplace culture, one that enables employees at all levels to find and achieve their potential. This commitment is embedded in their Early Careers Programme, which is designed to nurture talent, encourage continuous growth, and empower participants to shape meaningful career paths.

As part of this programme, Leadership Scholars was invited to design and deliver a mid-point workshop for the technical pathway cohort. The session brought together 13 enthusiastic participants from Capital One’s Nottingham and London branches for a unique opportunity to pause, reflect, and look forward.

To create an engaging and impactful experience, we used LEGO® Serious Play® (LSP), a hands-on, interactive methodology that encourages storytelling, reflective thinking, and collaborative insight. This creative tool helps unlock ideas and perspectives that are sometimes difficult to articulate through traditional discussion-based methods, enabling participants to build and share rich narratives of their professional experiences.

The workshop began with a creative challenge: participants were asked to build a LEGO model representing their professional selves as they were in 2022 at the start of their Early Careers journey with Capital One. Through the process of building and then explaining their models, participants were encouraged to explore the skills, values, and aspirations they held when they first joined the company. This opening exercise laid the foundation for deeper reflection by creating a safe, imaginative space in which all voices could be heard and respected.

To strengthen self-awareness and recognise the progress made since joining the programme, we introduced the idea of identifying and exploring a significant development milestone. Each participant constructed a new model to represent a key moment of personal or professional growth during their time at Capital One. These moments varied from completing a major project, overcoming a challenge, receiving feedback, or developing a new skill or mindset.

The spatial arrangement of these milestone models in relation to their 2022 starting point enabled participants to consider the timing and emotional weight of these experiences. Model proximity became a powerful metaphor for growth, challenges, and personal transformation. The process was further enhanced through reflective journaling, guided by prompts that encouraged individuals to think about the significance of each experience and the role it played in shaping their professional identity.

To conclude, participants built a third model: their future professional selves. This exercise invited them to visualise where they want to go next and what kind of professionals they aspire to become. These future-facing models often included references to technical expertise, leadership, confidence, wellbeing, and purpose—revealing a diverse but deeply thoughtful range of career aspirations.

The impact of the session was captured through qualitative evaluation. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with participants valuing the opportunity to step back from their day-to-day routines and engage in meaningful reflection. One participant noted:

“Really enjoyed making the Lego and explaining your thoughts behind it once I got going.”

Another commented on how refreshing it was to use a creative method in a professional development context, highlighting how it helped them to express thoughts and experiences they hadn’t previously been able to verbalise.

We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the participants who took part so openly in the session. Your willingness to explore, reflect, and share contributed to a vibrant and inspiring atmosphere.

Overall, this workshop was instrumental in fostering professional self-awareness and confidence among Capital One Early Careers staff. By engaging in structured reflection and creative expression, participants were empowered to take ownership of their career journeys, celebrate progress, and set clear intentions for the future.

Learn more

4th July 2024

Bringing Reflective Practice to Life with LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® at the Advance HE Teaching and Learning Conference

This week, we were thrilled to be at the Advance HE Teaching and Learning Conference at Nottingham Trent University, where we delivered an interactive workshop showcasing the power of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® in enhancing students' reflective practice.

Our session invited delegates into a fully immersive experience, offering them a unique opportunity to step into the shoes of their students and explore how creative, hands-on methods can transform reflection into something far more meaningful, personal, and memorable.

The workshop began with a warm introduction to the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® methodology—a structured, evidence-informed process grounded in ideas from constructivist learning theory, systems thinking, and storytelling. We briefly shared how the method has been used within higher education to unlock student reflection, facilitate deeper learning, and create safe spaces for dialogue—particularly around identity, values, and personal growth.

To kick things off, participants were asked to build a tower using LEGO bricks. This simple, yet powerful activity was designed to establish a sense of psychological safety in the room. It encouraged light-hearted conversation, playful engagement, and an initial sense of success with the materials. For many delegates, this first step sparked laughter, curiosity, and an eagerness to explore more. (To learn more about this and other introductory exercises, check out our LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® page).

Following the tower build, we introduced the central focus of the session: exploring professional identity through three reflective models.

Delegates were asked to build representations of:

- Their professional self – Who they are in their current role, including their values, strengths, and day-to-day experiences.

- Their professional superpower – That one trait or capability that they bring to their role that makes a difference, often under-recognised or instinctive.

- Their professional imperfection – A limitation, challenge, or development area that they are aware of and actively working on.

Each of these models offered an entry point into rich, authentic discussion. As participants built and explained their creations, something powerful happened—the room filled with buzz. Conversations became more open, insights became more personal, and the energy shifted from passive learning to active, emotional engagement.

Delegates shared stories, reflected on past experiences, and supported each other in articulating both confidence and vulnerability. The creative process helped to bypass some of the barriers that often arise in professional settings, such as fear of judgement or concerns about saying the “right thing”, and instead fostered openness, empathy, and genuine connection.

To support the embedding of insights from the session, each participant was given a custom-designed reflection booklet. After completing their builds and discussions, they were invited to document their reflections, make sense of what had emerged, and capture tangible actions for their own professional development. The booklet served not only as a takeaway resource but also as a personal commitment to continuous learning.

We were genuinely moved by the depth of reflection and the willingness of participants to share. One delegate remarked that they hadn’t felt so engaged in a reflective session in years, while another noted how much they were looking forward to adapting this method with their own students.

For us at Leadership Scholars, it was a privilege to facilitate such a session at a national event that champions innovation in teaching and learning. We believe that reflection should not be a box-ticking exercise, it should be energising, creative, and empowering. LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® enables exactly that.

We’re passionate about using this methodology to support not just student learning, but also professional development, team-building, and organisational culture change. Whether you’re in higher education, corporate learning, or community leadership, the power of play, storytelling, and reflection is universal.

We’d love to talk more about how LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® can be adapted for your setting, whether it’s a one-to-one coaching session, a team development day, or a leadership retreat. Get in touch through our message board to start the conversation.

18th June 2023

Let's talk about introverted leadership

Last year, I was interviewed by Mark Woods-Nunn for The Active Listener podcast to share my insights on how introverted leaders can navigate leadership roles within typically extroverted organisational structures.

When we think of leadership, we often picture charismatic individuals commanding a room, making bold speeches, or leading with high visibility. This traditional image is typically associated with extroversion- outgoing, energetic, and sociable traits. However, a growing body of research and lived experience challenges this stereotype, revealing that introverts can be exceptionally effective leaders, often excelling in areas where extroverted styles may fall short.

Introverted leaders are thoughtful, reflective, and attuned to the needs of those around them. Rather than seeking the spotlight, they tend to focus on listening, observing, and fostering deeper relationships. These qualities contribute to a leadership style that is calm, deliberate, and inclusive, particularly valuable in today’s complex, fast-paced, and often noisy work environments.

One of the key strengths of introverted leaders is their ability to listen deeply. They often prefer to think before they speak, which allows them to process information more thoroughly and consider different perspectives. This reflective quality makes them excellent decision-makers, especially when navigating nuanced or sensitive issues. By creating space for others to voice their ideas, introverted leaders can empower their teams and foster a sense of psychological safety.

Introverts also tend to value substance over style, prioritising meaningful conversations and authentic connections over surface-level interactions. This often translates into stronger one-to-one relationships with team members, where individuals feel genuinely seen, heard, and supported. Such leaders are typically trusted for their integrity and consistency, qualities that build long-term loyalty and respect.

In team settings, introverted leaders are often more collaborative than commanding. Rather than driving a top-down agenda, they may guide from within the group, encouraging contributions from everyone and recognising collective success. This approach is especially effective in knowledge-based industries, where innovation and performance rely heavily on trust, empowerment, and diverse thinking.

Take a look at our resources section for more on quiet leadership.

3rd May 2024

Using Lego Serious Play (LSP) to enhance reflection and connection

As educators, we constantly seek innovative ways to engage our students and foster their personal and professional growth. Today, we had the pleasure of facilitating a series of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® workshops as part of the Postgraduate Development Day at Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University. The energy, openness, and creativity from the students were truly inspiring, and it was a joy to see the impact of this unique methodology in action.

What stood out most was how easily this approach transcended language, culture, and prior experience. Many of the students participating were international, and for some, this was their first time using LEGO® bricks. Despite that, they fully engaged with the activities, embraced the process with curiosity, and brought their stories to life through their models. It reinforced just how universal play can be as a tool for communication and reflection, even when traditional verbal or written methods might feel limiting or unfamiliar.

For those wondering, 'what is LEGO® Serious PLlay®?'?,, it’s far more than just building with bricks. It’s a dynamic, research-informed methodology that draws on learning theories from psychology, design thinking, and systems theory. Participants are invited to build models in response to carefully crafted questions—models that symbolise ideas, experiences, or aspects of identity. It’s a hands-on thinking process that engages both the cognitive and emotional brain, allowing people to explore their thoughts in a way that is playful, yet deeply meaningful.

One of the key benefits of the approach is that it supports psychological safety, the foundation for authentic participation. In the workshops today, students were first asked to build a simple tower to “warm up” their creativity and confidence. This activity helped reduce performance anxiety and established a safe, level playing field where everyone’s contribution had equal value, regardless of background, confidence levels, or spoken language fluency.

We then moved on to more reflective model builds, inviting students to represent their current professional selves, explore a strength or superpower they bring to their work or studies, and acknowledge a development area or challenge they are working on. These models became the basis for personal storytelling and group discussion, where students shared the meanings behind their creations, listened to each other, and often discovered shared experiences or surprising insights.

What made this process so powerful was not just the act of building, but the space it created for authentic, reflective dialogue. Students who may have been hesitant to speak in front of a group began to articulate thoughtful, nuanced reflections. Others commented on how the tactile, visual process helped them express ideas they had struggled to put into words before. One participant shared that they felt “more connected to themselves and their peers” after the session, highlighting the method’s potential for both individual growth and community-building.

Beyond reflection, the process also taps into projective techniques, helping participants safely explore difficult or abstract topics by projecting them onto the models rather than speaking about them directly. This can be particularly useful when addressing sensitive issues such as imposter syndrome, academic pressure, or career uncertainty.

There’s something uniquely empowering about stepping back from a model you’ve built and realising that it holds a piece of your story, visible, tangible, and worthy of being shared. It shifts the dynamic from “reflection as a task” to reflection as a meaningful experience.

It’s been a fantastic day seeing the potential of LEGO® Serious Play® come to life in such a diverse and enthusiastic group. The students’ willingness to explore, reflect, and support one another reminded me of the importance of creating brave spaces in our teaching—spaces where creativity, vulnerability, and growth can coexist.

If you're curious about how LEGO® Serious Play® could be used in your own educational or workplace context, whether for team development, student engagement, or reflective learning, we are always happy to chat. This method continues to surprise us with its flexibility, accessibility, and emotional depth, and I’d love to explore how it might work for you.

Let’s build something meaningful—one brick at a time.