The Strategic Leader

The Strategic Leader is a podcast for busy leaders to learn how to be naturally strategic, so that you can operate with impact and sit at the top table with confidence, with clear and actionable tips to demystify strategy and help you to succeed. With your hosts Gemma Bullivant, Executive Coach and Strategic HR Consultant, and Fiona Craig, strategist, founder and coaching lead at Good Thinking.

The Strategic Leader is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 56 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts The Strategic Leader, a business show with 56 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #3

  6.03 The Prioritisation Tools Every Leader Should Be Using

  Aug 11, 202634 minS6

  If you're constantly busy but still feel like you're not making the progress you want, it may may be a sign that you need to sharpen your prioritisation skills. Effective prioritisation is a strategic leadership skill that creates space for better thinking, stronger decisions and greater impact by focusing on what matters most. This episode explores why leaders are rarely asked to do less and why becoming more senior often means balancing increasing demands with limited time, energy and resources. We discuss how operational work can keep leaders trapped on the hamster wheel and why intentionally creating time for strategic thinking is essential for long term success. We talk through two practical tools that have helped us to prioritise more effectively: The Eisenhower Matrix - helps separate urgent work from genuinely important work, encouraging you to spend more time on strategic activities before they become crises. The Impact Effort Matrix - a framework for identifying which activities are likely to deliver the greatest value and avoiding work that consumes effort without creating meaningful results. You can read more about these tools in Gemma’s blog Key points discussed Why prioritisation is a foundational strategic leadership skill, not simply a time management technique. How to move away from constant operational busyness and create more space for strategic thinking. Using the Eisenhower Matrix to distinguish between urgent and important work. Understanding how different thinking styles influence the way we approach important tasks. Applying the Impact Effort Matrix to prioritise projects, change initiatives and strategic decisions. Recognising opportunities to delegate, automate or redesign recurring tasks. Identifying work that delivers little value despite consuming significant effort. Asking "What are the things that only I can do?" to improve delegation and leadership focus. Key takeaway Strategic leadership is not about getting more done. It is about making better choices about where your time, energy and attention create the greatest value. Prioritisation is the tool that makes this possible. Check out our previous episodes on similar themes: S1.11 - How to prioritise more strategically S5.01 - Moving between detail and big picture Thank you for tuning into this episode of The Strategic Leader podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please give us 5 stars! It will help others find the show. Check out our previous episodes and remember to subscribe so you don’t miss our future episodes. If you have any questions or want to discuss anything, we’d love to hear from you: www.gemmabullivant.co.uk (for Gemma) www.wearegoodthinking.co.uk (for Fi)

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  Episode #2

  6.02 How to Develop Strategic Clarity

  Jul 28, 202630 minS6

  Do you ever leave a meeting wishing you'd made your point more clearly? Have you ever presented a great idea only to find the conversation getting lost in the detail? Whether you are presenting to a board, writing a one-page proposal, leading a team meeting or responding to a senior executive, your audience doesn’t need every detail. They need the information that helps them understand the issue, why it matters and what happens next. This episode explores practical ways to structure your thinking so your communication is concise, purposeful and audience focused. As part of building your strategic toolkit, we discuss simple frameworks that make strategic communication easier, including the What, So What, Now What model, using signposting to keep discussions on track, structuring documents around five key questions, and communicating from the headline down rather than the detail up. We also explore why strategic summaries are different from status updates, how to avoid overwhelming people with information, and why leaders who communicate with clarity build greater credibility, confidence and influence. Key points discussed Why strategic summaries are a foundational tool in your strategic toolkit and different from status updates. How audience and purpose should shape every communication. Using signposting to keep meetings focused and avoid circular discussions. Applying the What, So What, Now What framework as a repeatable strategic tool. Structuring strategic papers using five simple questions. Why headline first communication is more effective than leading with detail. Knowing when detailed information belongs in supporting documents rather than presentations. How strategic clarity demonstrates leadership, builds confidence and helps move decisions forward. Key takeaway Strategic leadership is not about communicating everything you know. It is about using the right tools to communicate what your audience needs to know. Clear thinking, clear structure and clear messaging help people make better decisions and take meaningful action. Thank you for tuning into this episode of The Strategic Leader podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please give us 5 stars! It will help others find the show. Check out our previous episodes here - and remember to subscribe so you don’t miss our future episodes. If you have any questions or want to discuss anything, we’d love to hear from you: www.gemmabullivant.co.uk (for Gemma) www.wearegoodthinking.co.uk (for Fi)

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  Episode #1

  6.01 Strategic Leadership Essentials: Defining the Essential Tools

  Jul 14, 202625 minS6

  What if you could cut through leadership complexity and focus on the handful of tools that consistently make the biggest difference? Every leader collects ideas, models, frameworks and approaches throughout their career. The challenge is not finding new tools. The challenge is remembering which ones matter most and knowing when to use them. This episode launches Series 6 of The Strategic Leader and introduces the concept of the strategic leadership toolkit. Rather than chasing every new model or leadership trend, we explore how to identify the essential tools that deserve a permanent place in your toolkit and help you navigate complex situations with greater confidence and intention. We touch on a couple of ones likely to make the shortlist – self-awareness as a foundational leadership capability and the ability to create a clear, succinct one-pager, which will no doubt form a couple of future episodes where we will go into more depth. Throughout the conversation, we explore how strategic leaders can become more intentional about the tools they use, avoid default habits and build a toolkit that supports better leadership decisions every day. Key Points Discussed Why Series 6 focuses on essential strategic leadership tools The concept of a leadership toolkit and why intentional tool selection matters How leaders often accumulate too many models, frameworks and ideas Self-awareness as a cornerstone of effective leadership The importance of summarising complexity through a strategic one pager How clear thinking improves communication and decision making Using priorities and "even overs" to make better strategic choices Key Takeaway Strategic leadership is not about collecting more tools. It is about understanding which tools matter most, knowing when to use them and applying them with intention. Thank you for tuning into this episode of The Strategic Leader podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please give us 5 stars! It will help others find the show. Check out our previous episodes here - and remember to subscribe so you don’t miss our future episodes. If you have any questions or want to discuss anything, we’d love to hear from you: www.gemmabullivant.co.uk (for Gemma) www.wearegoodthinking.co.uk (for Fi)

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  Episode #8

  5.08 When Departmental Goals Clash: Making Better Decisions at the Top Table

  May 26, 202628 minS5

  What happens when doing the right thing for your department is not the right thing for the organisation? Senior leaders regularly face decisions where functional priorities clash with enterprise-wide objectives. Navigating these tensions effectively is a critical leadership skill. At the top table, leaders wear several hats. One of them represents their functional expertise and accountability, whether in HR, finance, marketing or operations. Another represents their responsibility to the organisation as a whole. Problems arise when those responsibilities pull in different directions. This episode explores how leaders can recognise and manage those conflicts without becoming entrenched in departmental positions. The discussion explores practical ways to approach competing priorities, including lifting the conversation to organisational purpose, identifying creative alternatives beyond either-or thinking, and introducing external stakeholder perspectives such as customers, employees or shareholders. We also explore the role of ego, emotional attachment to functional goals, and the importance of balancing advocacy for your team with responsibility for wider business outcomes. A key focus is understanding trade-offs. Leaders are encouraged to look beyond immediate gains and consider the longer-term consequences of decisions. By taking a broader strategic perspective, leadership teams can make better choices that support sustainable organisational success rather than short term departmental wins. Key Points Discussed Why senior leaders must balance functional leadership with enterprise leadership responsibilities. Common examples of conflicting departmental objectives and competing KPIs. The importance of stepping back and reconnecting decisions to organisational purpose. How healthy tension between departments can drive stronger outcomes. Using creative thinking to identify a third solution beyond opposing positions. Bringing external stakeholder perspectives into decision making. Recognising when ego or emotional attachment may be influencing decisions. Exploring short term and long-term trade-offs before making strategic choices. Key Takeaway Conflicting priorities are an unavoidable part of senior leadership. The most effective leaders can advocate for their function while also stepping back to make decisions that serve the wider organisation. Strategic leadership requires balancing competing interests, understanding trade-offs and continually asking what will create the best outcome for the business as a whole. Thank you for tuning into this episode of The Strategic Leader podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please give is 5 stars! It will help others find the show.Check out our previous episodes and remember to subscribe so you don’t miss our future shows. If you have any questions or want to discuss anything, we’d love to hear from you: www.gemmabullivant.co.uk (for Gemma) www.wearegoodthinking.co.uk (for Fi)

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  Episode #7

  5.07 Every Leadership Interaction Leaves a Trace

  May 12, 202637 minS5

  We explore how senior leaders can better understand their leadership impact, communication style and executive presence, particularly when operating at the top table. Paul Kinkaid brings lessons from 20 years as a British Army officer and his work in leadership consultancy to explore his concept of “forensic leadership”, understanding the positive and negative traces leaders leave through everyday interactions, behaviours and communication.. We talk about high pressure leadership, imposter syndrome, confidence, training, simulation, communication and the importance of being conscious, deliberate and intentional. The conversation highlights why leadership impact is not just about intention. It is about how people experience us. From red traces created by poor communication or unconscious behaviours, to green traces that build trust, confidence and commitment, this episode offers senior leaders a useful language for self reflection, feedback and team development. We also discuss why simple, accessible communication matters, how leaders can prepare themselves before important meetings, and how emotionally intelligent leaders can use feedback to become better enablers of others. Key points discussed Why high pressure leadership in the military has useful parallels for senior leaders in organisations The balance between imposter syndrome, confidence and finding a “good enough” way forward How training, simulation and rehearsal improve leadership under pressure How leadership behaviours leave lasting traces on teams and culture The difference between intention and impact in senior leadership How leaders create positive or negative “traces” through behaviour and communication Why clear communication and executive presence matter in senior leadership How “red trace” feedback can open up more constructive leadership conversations Key takeaway Senior leaders are always leaving traces, whether they realise it or not. The opportunity is to become more aware of those traces, use feedback well and choose how to show up with greater intention. If this episode has prompted you to reflect on your own leadership impact, executive coaching can help create the awareness, perspective and behavioural shifts that strengthen how you lead. Guest bio Paul Kinkaid is a former British Army Officer, leadership consultant, speaker and author of Forensic Leadership . After serving for 20 years across 44 countries and five continents, Paul now works with leaders and organisations around the world to improve leadership impact, team performance and executive presence. His work explores the “traces” leaders leave behind, helping people become more conscious, deliberate and intentional in how they lead. You can connect with Paul on LinkedIn here , where you can connect and find out more about his work. Thank you for tuning into this episode of The Strategic Leader podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please give is 5 stars! It will help others find the show.Check out our previous episodes and remember to subscribe so you don’t miss our future shows. If you have any questions or want to discuss anything, we’d love to hear from you: www.gemmabullivant.co.uk (for Gemma) www.wearegoodthinking.co.uk (for Fi)

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