Episode 77

Leadership Essentials: Tenacity - Holding the line when it gets tough

Summary

In this episode of The Lonely Leader Podcast, James Rule explores tenacity, the quiet, relentless force that defines the world's most effective leaders. Drawing on powerful examples from Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln, this episode shows how to lead with grit, how to keep moving forward when the odds are stacked against you, and highlights why tenacity is a non-negotiable in today's fast paced leadership landscape.

Whether you're leading through adversity or chasing a long term vision, this episode is a blueprint for staying the course and inspiring others to do the same.

Key Takeaways:

Why tenacity is more than stubbornness and how to lead with resilience.

How Churchill and Lincoln role modelled unshakable resolve.

What to do when your plan gets "punched in the face".

How to build a culture of grit and perseverance in your team.

8 actionable ways to strengthen your tenacity as a leader.

ABOUT THE HOST

James is an experienced mentor, coach and thought leader who works with a range of clients from FTSE 100 companies, SME´s the NHS and wider public and not for profit sectors.

His twenty year career in elite sport initially as a professional rugby player but predominantly as a chief executive has given him an invaluable insight in managing the success, failures and pressures associated with leadership at the highest level.

As a high performance coach James specialises in enhancing resilience and leadership development. He is a passionate advocate of the notion that to find lasting fulfilment we need to take a holistic view of high performance and create it in both our professional roles and personal lives.

EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT

Episode 63 - The Man in the Arena

Episode 62 - The intersection of purpose and performance

Episode 17 - Five Key Steps to Lead Through Adversity

CONNECT & CONTACT

www.thelonelyleader.co.uk

The Lonely Leader's LinkedIn

James' LinkedIn

Instagram

hello@thelonelyleader.co.uk

THIS SHOW WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY LONELY LEADER MEDIA

NEWSLETTER

Sign Up to The Leadership Accelerator Newsletter for advice, inspiration and ideas, you'll also receive James' Top 10 Tips for Combating Your Fear of Public Speaking.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 76

The strength in vulnerability: A Leadership Essential

SUMMARY SECTION

In this episode of The Lonely Leader Podcast, James Rule discusses one of the most misunderstood leadership qualities: vulnerability. Far from being a weakness, vulnerability is a gateway to building trust, fostering connection, and strengthening team culture. Through powerful examples from the worlds of sport, business, and public service, James explores how leaders can embrace vulnerability without losing authority and why doing so is critical for leading in today’s world.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Why vulnerability builds trust and connection

How to share authentically without oversharing

What high performers like Simone Biles, Ford CEO Alan Mulally, and Michelle Obama teach us about courageous transparency

How to balance strength with self awareness

7 practical ways to lead with vulnerability every day

ABOUT THE HOST

James is an experienced mentor, coach and thought leader who works with a range of clients from FTSE 100 companies, SME´s the NHS and wider public and not for profit sectors.

His twenty year career in elite sport initially as a professional rugby player but predominantly as a chief executive has given him an invaluable insight in managing the success, failures and pressures associated with leadership at the highest level.

As a high performance coach James specialises in enhancing resilience and leadership development. He is a passionate advocate of the notion that to find lasting fulfilment we need to take a holistic view of high performance and create it in both our professional roles and personal lives.

EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT

Episode 10 - Leadership Essentials: Authenticity

Episode 48 - Leadership Essentials: Presence

Episode 56 - Leadership Essentials: Positivity

CONNECT & CONTACT

www.thelonelyleader.co.uk

The Lonely Leader's LinkedIn

James' LinkedIn

Instagram

hello@thelonelyleader.co.uk

THIS SHOW WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY LONELY LEADER MEDIA

NEWSLETTER

Sign Up to The Leadership Accelerator Newsletter for advice, inspiration and ideas, you'll also receive James' Top 10 Tips for Combating Your Fear of Public Speaking.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 75

Leadership in the Digital Age: Staying Human in a High Tech World

SUMMARY

Today we’re exploring something that touches every one of us whether we’re leading a start up, a global brand, or simply navigating change in our professional lives. The digital world is accelerating, AI, automation, remote work, Zoom calls, dashboards, and data streams. These tools promise greater efficiency, better access, and faster decision making. But they can also create disconnect, burnout, and fractured team cultures if we’re not intentional. So today, I want to explore how we can leverage technology without losing what makes us effective leaders: connection, trust, empathy, and presence.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Remote leadership requires intentional culture building. Trust, transparency, and regular connection are key.

Great leaders adapt to new tech, but stay anchored in human values. Use AI, data, and automation to serve, not to replace.

You don’t need to be a tech expert to lead in a digital world. You need to be open and adaptable.

Use data to guide decisions but don’t lose emotional intelligence. The best leaders combine hard data with human insight.

Tech should enhance wellbeing, not destroy it. Set boundaries, lead by example, and advocate digital recovery time.

ABOUT THE HOST

James is an experienced mentor, coach and thought leader who works with a range of clients from FTSE 100 companies, SME´s the NHS and wider public and not for profit sectors.

His twenty year career in elite sport initially as a professional rugby player but predominantly as a chief executive has given him an invaluable insight in managing the success, failures and pressures associated with leadership at the highest level.

As a high performance coach James specialises in enhancing resilience and leadership development. He is a passionate advocate of the notion that to find lasting fulfilment we need to take a holistic view of high performance and create it in both our professional roles and personal lives.

EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT

Episode 74 - Leading through organisational change

Episode 38 - Mastering the art of communication

Episode 48 - Leadership Essentials: Presence

CONNECT & CONTACT

www.thelonelyleader.co.uk

The Lonely Leader's LinkedIn

James' LinkedIn

Instagram

hello@thelonelyleader.co.uk

NEWSLETTER

Sign Up to The Leadership Accelerator Newsletter for advice, inspiration and ideas, you'll also receive James' Top 10 Tips for Combating Your Fear of Public Speaking.

THIS SHOW WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY LONELY LEADER MEDIA

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.