Show Notes
What if leadership wasn’t just about authority, decisions, or overseeing tasks done, but about developing powerful interpersonal relationships to inspire and influence? In this episode, we will explore how Relational Leadership focuses on cultivating trust and connection. We’ll share practical tips on how to build meaningful relationships and navigate complexity, thus transforming our effectiveness as leaders. Learn how to cultivate leadership that is both empathetic while maintaining a standard of high performance and accountability in your team.
Moira's biography: Moira Mallon is an expert in seeing beneath the surface and getting to the heart of the problem, which often in organisations is all about people and the dynamics they have with each other. Moira is a certified coach with the International Coaching Federation and for over 20 years has coached hundreds of leaders, including those leading the Christchurch’s post-earthquake rebuild. Her coaching is informed by systemic thinking, emotional development, and transformative tools like The Leadership Circle and a practice in Gestalt Psychotherapy. Whether she’s coaching CEOs, senior executives or rising leaders, Moira brings a fierce belief in the power of human potential.
In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions:
00:00 - Intro 02:25 - How Moira became a leadership coach focused on leadership development 04:00 - What the emotional experience of leadership means 05:35 - Defining relational leadership 07:55 - How leaders can prioritise connection over control to create psychological safety 10:15 - The physiology behind helpful and unhelpful coping strategies during times of change 13:50 - How leaders can develop presence within an organisation 16:35 - The two key questions to ask when building connections with your team 18:25 - The importance of emotional control and consistency 20:35 - Managing the tension between employee performance and connection 23:10 - What separates leaders who build trust from those who don’t 26:10 - Modelling authentic leadership and resilience in high-pressure environments 29:10 - Influencing up - creating positive change when a leader lacks self-awareness 32:50 - How to intentionally build connection and trust in hybrid or remote teams 36:15 - How leaders can explore the emotional needs behind employee performance issues 39:00 - What defines a great workplace culture 42:00 - Is it bad culture if you’re clear about high workloads and long hours? 45:30 - How often leaders should communicate during periods of change 48:45 - The influence of indigenous practices on relational leadership 51:00 - How to respect boundaries when building deeper connections 52:45 - Why empathetic conversation is the first step toward relational leadership 55:10 - Moira’s one wellbeing practice
More from Clear the air
From social media to diet and gym culture, messages about our bodies and the pressure to look a certain way are everywhere. Over time, these influences can shape how we see ourselves, how we eat and exercise, and even the messages we pass on to the next generation.
Clearhead acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the Elders past and present.
In this episode, we explore the growing evidence connecting gut health, nutrition, mental health and men’s physical wellbeing, including how everyday lifestyle factors can influence long-term gut health outcomes. We’ll look at how diet can support mood, energy, sleep and the gut–brain connection, as well as simple, practical changes men can make to support both their physical and mental wellbeing.
Bullying can leave lasting impacts on mental health and feel very personal to the victim, it shapes how people then cope, connect, and work throughout their lives. In this episode, we’ll explore how bullying show up in workplaces, and what truly prevents bullying at a organisational level in the workplace.
Women continue to face unique pressures, balancing professional, family, and social expectations while carrying the often-invisible mental and emotional load. In this webinar, we’ll explore the experiences of women in leadership roles and what organisations can do better to support women into senior roles and maintain their wellbeing.