Exceptional Leadership: Practical Advice for First Time and Emerging Managers
by Mathew Hamilton
Latest episode
#73 Don’t Just Ask for It. Prove It.
#73 Don’t Just Ask for It. Prove It.
About this podcast
Exceptional Leadership is the podcast for first-time and emerging managers who want practical guidance on leading people with confidence.
If you’ve recently stepped into leadership and find yourself managing former peers, handling difficult conversations, running meetings, or trying to earn trust from your team - this show is for you.
Each fortnight we breakdown the real challenges new managers face: giving feedback, setting expectations, building trust, and dealing with underperformance.
Mathew is an experienced people leader and holds an MBA from the Australian Institute of Business.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 73 episodes
- #73 Don’t Just Ask for It. Prove It. · 16 min · Episode 73Don’t Just Ask. Build the Case. As leaders, we regularly need our bosses to approve funding, resources, strategic initiatives or changes in direction. But too often, the request…
- #72 Resilience Starts With Meaning: Lessons from Viktor Frankl · 25 min · Episode 72Every leader will face setbacks, criticism, uncertainty, and failure. The difference isn’t whether adversity arrives—it’s how we choose to respond. In this episode, I explore…
- #71 Can Leaders Be Too Empathetic? The Importance of Boundaries · 18 minDiscover more leadership content at the shows website here Empathy is one of the most celebrated leadership qualities—but can there be too much of it? In this episode of the…
- #70 Leadership Presence: Why the Best Leaders Listen First · 13 min · Episode 70In this episode, I explore one of the most underrated leadership skills: listening first. Using Dwight Eisenhower as a reference point, I break down how he deliberately…
- #69 Performance & Development Plans: Retain Talent and Build Better Teams · 23 min · Episode 69Visit: https://www.exceptionalleadershippodcast.com for more valuable leadership content! Performance and Development (P&D) Plans are far more than a compliance exercise—they’re…
- #68 Strategic Workforce Planning: Building Tomorrow’s Team Today · 22 min · Episode 68Visit https://www.exceptionalleadershippodcast.com for more leadership insights via the podcast blog, and get The Brief delivered to your inbox each fortnight. Great leaders…
- #67 Show Them: The Leadership Principle That Builds Trust · 21 min · Episode 67Visit the show’s website for more podcast content: https://www.exceptionalleadershippodcast.com In this episode, we explore one of the most fundamental principles of leadership…
- #66 Why Change Fails: The Leadership Lessons of New Coke · 25 min · Episode 66In this episode of The Exceptional Leadership Podcast, we unpack one of the most infamous business decisions in corporate history — The Coca-Cola Company’s launch of “New Coke” —…
- #65 Conflict Resolution for Leaders: How to Mediate Team Conflict Without Losing Authority · 21 min · Episode 65In this episode, I break down one of the most important, and often uncomfortable skills in leadership: conflict mediation. Using the famous dynamic between Scottie Pippen and…
- #64 Psychological Safety at Work: What Leaders Must Do (Not Say) to Prevent Harm · 23 min · Episode 64Most organisations say they care about psychological safety — but when it actually matters, do the actions tell a different story? In this episode, we cut through the feel-good…
- #63 The Growth Trap: When Momentum Turns Against You · 20 min · Episode 63In this episode of The Exceptional Leadership Podcast, we explore a counterintuitive reality of business: growth isn’t always a good thing—especially when it outpaces your…
- #62 The Power of Storytelling in Leadership: How Great Organisations Build Belief · 15 min · Episode 62Why do the most powerful organisations in the world all seem to rally around a story? In this episode, we explore the power of storytelling in leadership and why narrative is one…
- #61 The Two Meetings Every Leader Must Master: 1-on-1s and Team Meetings · 19 min · Episode 61Strong leadership often comes down to how you communicate with your team and two meeting formats matter more than most: 1-on-1 meetings and team meetings. In this episode, I…
- #60 You’re the Boss — Now What? Managing People Older Than You · 21 min · Episode 60Stepping into your first leadership role is challenging enough — but what happens when you’re suddenly managing people with 20+ more years of experience than you? In this…
- #59 How Michael Jordan and Andy Murray Handle Failure - The Ritual of Elite Performers · 16 minHow do elite performers respond to failure and what can leaders learn from it? In this episode, we examine how some of the world’s greatest competitors—Michael Jordan, Kobe…
- #58 David Goggins’ Cookie Jar Theory: Building Mental Strength & Calm Leadership in Times of Change · 16 min · Episode 58In this episode, we break down David Goggins’ Cookie Jar Theory and why it’s such a powerful mental framework for leaders navigating stress, uncertainty, and organisational…
- #57 2025 in Review: Hiring Smarter, Developing Leaders, Managing Stress & Protecting Culture · 25 min · Episode 57We wrap up 2025 with a recap of the year’s most important leadership lessons. This episode brings together four critical themes every modern leader needs to master if they want…
- #56 The Fire Within - Turn Adversity into Fuel · 25 min · Episode 56In this episode of The Exceptional Leadership Podcast, we explore how strong leaders turn adversity, suffering, and challenge into growth, resilience, and purpose. Adversity is…
- #55 Sometimes You Have to Let Them Fail — A Hard Truth About Leadership · 16 min · Episode 55As leaders, our instinct is to step in, protect our people, and prevent failure. But sometimes, the most powerful growth happens when we don’t intervene. In this episode of The…
- #54 Direct vs Indirect Leadership: Applying Sun Tzu’s Energy Principle to Business · 21 minSend us a text In this episode of The Exceptional Leadership Podcast, we explore Sun Tzu’s “Energy” chapter from The Art of War — and how its ancient wisdom applies to modern…
