Podcast
How to Lead with Kate Waterfall Hill
Hosted by Kate Waterfall Hill · EN
How to Lead is the go-to podcast for CEOs, founders, business owners, and leaders who want to strike the perfect balance between authority and empathy.
I’m Kate Waterfall Hill - leadership coach, author, and creator of Linda, the bad manager, my alter ego who shows us how not to lead. With over 30 years’ experience working with and coaching CEOs and founders (and being one myself), I’ve helped hundreds of leaders elevate their skills and confidence.
In each episode, I’ll share simple, actionable tips and habits to take the stress out of people management. Every episode starts with Linda’s “what not to do” moment, followed by practical insights on how to handle leadership challenges with finesse.
You’ll find How to Lead on all major podcast platforms, plus video episodes on YouTube. My best-selling book, How to Lead, is also a great companion to the show.
Subscribe or follow so you don’t miss an episode, and if you enjoy it, please rate, review, and share with fellow leaders.
For coaching programmes or my self-paced Digital Academy, visit www.waterfallhill.co.uk.
Got a topic suggestion? Email me at hello@waterfallhill.co.uk.
Follow me on all major social platforms - just search Kate Waterfall Hill or Linda, the bad manager, and join a community of over 300,000 leaders.
33episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Why You’re Still Doing Everything Yourself
2w ago00:08:02Tap to summarizeWhy leaders with capable teams still end up doing everything themselves, the first episode in a three-part How to Lead mini-series. This episode, Kate explores a common pattern: leaders delegate but keep stepping back in to tweak work that’s “not quite right”. Each time you quietly redo work, you stay busy, your team improves more slowly, and ownership never leaves you, which teaches the team to hesitate and check in more. Episode Highlights:00:00 Why It All Comes Back00:19 Meet Your Host01:26 The Linda Scenario01:52 The Control Trap02:53 Standards In Your Head04:04 Identity And Tradeoffs04:43 Different Versus Worse05:54 Four Shifts This Week06:33 What Happens If You Dont07:02 Wrap Up And Next StepsUseful links:The Digital Academy Online CourseFree Resources and more information on Kate's coaching programmesBuy the "How to Lead" bookConnect with Kate on LinkedInFollow Kate on TikTokContact Katehttps://www.waterfallhill.co.uk/links
Transcribe →How to Disagree Without Damaging the Relationship
4w ago00:11:07Tap to summarizeHow leaders can disagree without harming relationships. In today's episode, Kate discusses how disagreement doesn’t damage trust by itself; trust erodes when leaders defend their identity and authority instead of examining the idea. Strong leaders separate the person, position, and problem, use steady phrases to keep focus on thinking, and avoid both dominance and conflict avoidance that leads to silence. Episode Highlights:00:00 Disagree Without Damage00:51 Linda Gets It Wrong01:37 Why Disagreement Turns Personal02:28 Separate Ego From Ideas03:40 Steady Phrases That Work04:13 The Hidden Cost of Avoidance05:36 Tone Drives the Room06:54 Language That Holds Authority07:36 Five Practices to Try08:58 Get Support and Practice09:47 Final Takeaways and OutroUseful links:The Digital Academy Online CourseFree Resources and more information on Kate's coaching programmesBuy the "How to Lead" bookConnect with Kate on LinkedInFollow Kate on TikTokContact Katehttps://www.waterfallhill.co.uk/links
Transcribe →How to Handle Attitude Issues
Apr 2300:10:07Tap to summarizeHow leaders should handle a team member’s “bad attitude,” is the subject of this episode of 'How to Lead' with Kate Waterfall Hill. Kate discusses how attitude is usually a sign, not the root issue, and recommends separating capability from behaviour, addressing issues early, asking what’s going on and listening. Leaders should also examine their own clarity, the space they create for honesty, and the broader culture.Episode Highlights:00:00 Handling Bad Attitudes00:46 Linda’s Team Dilemma01:42 Stop Avoiding the Talk02:32 Lead With Curiosity03:19 Behavior vs Capability04:25 Say It Early Cleanly05:12 Ask Listen Understand06:01 Look in the Mirror06:44 Set Clear Expectations07:32 From Curiosity to Accountability08:11 Weekly Practice Checklist09:00 Wrap Up and Next StepsUseful links:The Digital Academy Online CourseFree Resources and more information on Kate's coaching programmesBuy the "How to Lead" bookConnect with Kate on LinkedInFollow Kate on TikTokContact Katehttps://www.waterfallhill.co.uk/links
Transcribe →How to Lead When the Goalposts Keep Moving
Apr 900:13:14Tap to summarizeHow leaders can steady teams when priorities and direction keep shifting. In this episode of 'How to Lead', Kate discusses how teams don’t need certainty as much as orientation, and how instability comes from how change is handled. She recommends establishing a predictable cadence for reviews to reduce shock, acknowledging fatigue when people express frustration, and maintaining a measured tone because teams calibrate off leadership presence. Practical actions include auditing recent priority shifts, introducing defined checkpoints, and slowing down delivery to signal stability and enable execution under uncertainty.Episode Highlights:00:00 Leading Through Shifts00:21 Meet Kate and Resources01:01 Linda’s Pivot Chaos01:50 Why Teams Feel Unsteady02:39 Orientation Over Certainty03:58 Re Anchor Before Redirect04:35 Three Part Change Message05:42 Name Volatility Calmly06:10 Adaptability Builds Trust07:13 Decision Fatigue Signals08:07 Create Cadence and Rhythm08:53 Handle Frustration Moments09:42 Stay Steady as Leader10:20 Three Actions for Next Week11:10 Why This Wins Markets11:52 Final Takeaways and OutroUseful links:The Digital Academy Online CourseFree Resources and more information on Kate's coaching programmesBuy the "How to Lead" bookConnect with Kate on LinkedInFollow Kate on TikTokContact Kate
Transcribe →Moving from the Engine Room to the Strategy Room
Mar 2600:12:32Tap to summarizeIn this episode of How to Lead, leadership coach Kate Waterfall Hill discusses the vital shift for leaders from focusing on details (the 'engine room') to adopting a more strategic perspective (the 'strategy room'). She highlights the common reasons leaders get stuck in the engine room, and offers practical advice to make this transition, including redesigning ownership, protecting thinking time, and changing daily behaviours. Episode Highlights:00:00 Introduction to Strategic Leadership01:01 Linda's Leadership Example01:50 The Shift from Engine Room to Strategy Room03:21 Recognizing Engine Room Leadership04:16 Reasons Leaders Get Stuck in the Engine Room05:35 Signals It's Time to Move to the Strategy Room06:22 Concrete Changes for Strategic Leadership09:12 Practical Steps to Shift to Strategic Leadership10:16 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsUseful links:The Digital Academy Online CourseFree Resources and more information on Kate's coaching programmesBuy the "How to Lead" bookConnect with Kate on LinkedInFollow Kate on TikTokContact Kate
Transcribe →Why everything feels urgent (even when it isn’t)
Mar 1200:12:44Tap to summarizeIn this episode of 'How to Lead,' discover how when everything feels urgent in organisations it can affect team performance and morale. Kate explains how urgency is often a result of poor prioritisation and offers practical strategies to distinguish real urgency from noise. Learn about the DISC profiling tool to understand how different personality types handle urgency, and get concrete tips to reset pace without sacrificing momentum. Episode Highlights:00:00 Introduction: Why Everything Feels Urgent00:20 Meet Your Host: Kate Waterfall Hill00:48 Today's Topic: The Illusion of Urgency00:56 Linda's Team Meeting: A Case Study01:29 Understanding the Real Problem01:50 The Impact of Urgency on Teams02:06 The Role of Leadership in Creating Urgency04:48 How Different Personalities Handle Urgency06:10 The Risks of a Permanent Urgent Culture06:57 Distinguishing Real Urgency from Noise07:59 A Practical Model for Prioritization09:50 Rebalancing Fast Pace with Quality10:30 Practical Checklist for Leaders11:27 Final Thoughts and Next Steps12:02 Conclusion: Lead with Clarity, Care, and CuriosityUseful links:The Digital Academy Online CourseFree Resources and more information on Kate's coaching programmesBuy the "How to Lead" bookConnect with Kate on LinkedInFollow Kate on TikTokContact Kate
Transcribe →How to build trust in a team as their new leader
Feb 2600:13:16Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the 'How to Lead' podcast, Kate provides practical tools and strategies for building trust as a new leader in a team. She emphasises the importance of vulnerability, consistency, clear communication, and understanding team dynamics. Key tips include observing before acting, being explicit about work expectations, maintaining reliability, and fostering a collaborative environment. Episode Highlights00:00 Introduction to Building Trust as a New Leader01:13 Common Misconceptions About Leadership02:10 Practical Steps to Build Trust05:34 Five Key Actions to Build Trust07:19 Engaging with Your Team09:11 Common Mistakes New Leaders Make09:53 Leadership Development and Support11:05 Addressing Team Dynamics12:02 Final Thoughts on Building Trust12:30 Conclusion and Call to ActionUseful links:The Digital Academy Online CourseFree Resources and more information on Kate's coaching programmesBuy the "How to Lead" bookConnect with Kate on LinkedInFollow Kate on TikTokContact Kate
Transcribe →Why Your Team Doesn’t Take Ownership (And How to Fix It)
Feb 1200:10:02Tap to summarizeKate discusses why teams often fail to take ownership and provides actionable strategies to fix this issue. She emphasises creating conditions for genuine ownership by stepping back, granting real decision-making power, setting clear outcomes, and integrating ownership into regular work rhythms. Leaders are encouraged to foster a culture of belief and trust within their teams, which in turn can lead to sustainable and effective leadership.Episode Highlights00:00 Introduction: Why Your Team Doesn't Take Ownership00:21 Meet Kate Waterfall Hill: Your Leadership Coach01:09 The Hidden Burden of Low Ownership02:30 Linda's Story: A Case Study in Ownership03:33 Leadership Design Problems04:07 Four Habits That Undermine Ownership06:43 Four Ways to Foster Ownership08:40 Closing Reflections: Shifting Leadership Habits09:17 Conclusion: Lead with Clarity, Care, and CuriosityUseful links:The Digital Academy Online CourseFree Resources and more information on Kate's coaching programmesBuy the "How to Lead" bookConnect with Kate on LinkedInFollow Kate on TikTokContact Kate
Transcribe →Top 5 Leadership Techniques Every Manager Should Know
Jan 2900:14:53Tap to summarizeIn this episode of 'How to Lead,' leadership coach Kate shares the top five leadership techniques essential for managers and leaders. She emphasises the importance of outcome-based delegation, consistent one-to-ones, clarity first principles, high-quality feedback, and balancing direction, support, and accountability. Featuring practical examples and frameworks, Kate provides actionable strategies to help leaders create thriving teams and achieve positive results. Episode Highlights00:00 Introduction to Leadership Techniques01:03 Linda's Satirical Leadership Tips01:42 The Importance of Practical Leadership Techniques02:30 Technique 1: Outcome-Based Delegation04:38 Technique 2: Consistent One-to-Ones06:17 Technique 3: Clarity First Principle07:35 The Role of Self-Awareness in Leadership09:31 Technique 4: High-Quality Feedback11:15 Technique 5: The Leadership Triangle12:51 Recap and Final Thoughts14:08 Conclusion and Call to ActionUseful links:The Digital Academy Online CourseFree Resources and more information on Kate's coaching programmesBuy the "How to Lead" bookConnect with Kate on LinkedInFollow Kate on TikTokContact Kate
Transcribe →Managing Underperformance
Jan 1500:14:21Tap to summarizeIn this episode of 'How to Lead,' leadership coach Kate dives into managing underperformance, a challenge that affects all leaders. Kate shares practical tools and strategies to address underperformance in a structured, calm, and human way. Learn how to handle different types of employee responses and the importance of consistency in follow-up. The episode concludes with self-reflection questions to help leaders improve their approach to managing underperformance.Episode Highlights:00:00 Introduction to Managing Under Performance02:05 Common Mistakes in Handling Under Performance03:20 Understanding the Root Causes of Under Performance05:26 Effective Conversations for Managing Under Performance07:09 The LECA Framework for Performance Conversations08:53 Handling Different Types of Responses10:26 When to Escalate: Reset Conversations and Formal Processes12:10 Consistency and Self-Reflection in Leadership13:37 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsUseful links:The Digital Academy Online CourseFree Resources and more information on Kate's coaching programmesBuy the "How to Lead" bookConnect with Kate on LinkedInFollow Kate on TikTokContact Kate
Transcribe →