Leadership Circle Podcast

The Power of Resilience and Presence in Leadership | Russell Harvey

Russell Harvey · March 20, 2026

Executive Coach · Leadershipin

Interview with Russell Harvey

The Power of Resilience and Presence in Leadership | Russell Harvey

Podcast: Leadership Circle Podcast

March 20, 2026 · 35 min

Amidst life's volatility, a leader must recognize their physiological state to navigate challenges effectively. This discussion emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence and mindfulness, encouraging us to stand still and observe when chaos surrounds us. This approach…

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The Power of Resilience and Presence in Leadership | Russell Harvey

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Key topicsProfessional Development & CoachingWith 10,000+ hours of experience, Russell champions coaching as a powerful tool for leadership growth. He demystifies the process, showing how coaching boosts confidence, clarity, and results, and how leaders can embed coaching into everyday team development. Off the Record — What Leaders Admit in Coaching and Never Say in the BoardroomRussell Harvey has coached leaders to board level for over 6,000 hours, and the same admissions come up in private: they are guessing, they are tired, and they can say neither out loud. Most organisations treat that silence as strength and reward the executive who never wavers, which is how confident-looking teams commit to decisions nobody in the room believes in. Drawing on 18 years with organisations from the NHS to Novartis and Kerry Group, he describes what changes when a leader finally gets one place to think honestly: how they pressure-test a decision before announcing it, and how they pass that same permission down to their own team. Listeners leave able to hear what their leadership group is not saying, and knowing what to do once they hear it.One Conversation a Week — The Coaching a Manager Can Run in Twenty MinutesRussell Harvey has coached leaders to board level for more than 6,000 hours, and he can usually tell within a month whether a manager is holding one honest conversation a week with their team or none at all. Managers get promoted for having answers, so when a problem arrives they solve it, the person leaves relieved, and nothing in the team gets any stronger. Drawing on over 10,000 hours of facilitation across organisations including the NHS, Novartis and Kerry Group, he sets out what that twenty-minute conversation contains, what order to ask it in, and the point at which most managers quietly drop it. He is blunt about the limit: it does nothing if the manager has already decided the answer and is only asking to be polite. Listeners leave with a conversation they can run before their next team meeting, and a way to tell whether it changed anything.View all topics →

About Russell Harvey

Leadership, Resilience, and Growth Coach

100,000+ People positively affected6,000+ Executive coaching hours£12M+ ROI delivered by RWE npower leadership programme20+ years Learning, leadership and organisational development

Russell Harvey is The Resilience Coach - an executive coach, leadership facilitator and keynote speaker with over 20 years in Learning, Leadership and Organisational Development, and 18 years specialising in resilience and leading in a persistently changing (VUCA) world.

Until August 2025 his Purpose was "to positively affect 100 000 people by the year 2025." This has now been achieved!

His updated purpose is to "Champion organisations to be a force for good" - achieved by equipping every leader and team he works with to spring forward with learning, not just survive disruption, but navigate it well. The measure of that? When someone asks "how are you?" the answer - honestly - is "there's a lot going on, and I'm good."

With over 6,000 hours of executive coaching to board level, he has worked with organisations including AB World Foods, Kerry Group, Novartis AG, the NHS and Cooplands Bakery.

Russell's style is direct, empathetic and practical - he challenges leaders to think differently about what's possible, and equips them with the clarity, confidence and tools to lead themselves and others well, however uncertain the terrain.

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About this episode

This approach helps in managing decision fatigue, fostering personal growth, and ultimately enhancing our overall wellness.

We discuss the challenges of navigating technology, the essence of resilience in coaching, and the significance of finding harmony between work and life. The dialogue emphasizes the power of co-creation and the unique experiences that shape individual journeys.

Leadership is a continuous journey of growth, reflection, and authentic connection. By embodying resilience, practicing presence, and clarifying your purpose, you can navigate complexity with confidence and inspire others to do the same.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/leadership-circle-podcast--6270563/support.

Guest: Russell Harvey