The Legendary Leaders Podcast

Russell Harvey - Mastering Leadership Resilience

Russell Harvey · October 8, 2024

Executive Coach · Leadershipin

Interview with Russell Harvey

Russell Harvey - Mastering Leadership Resilience

Podcast: The Legendary Leaders Podcast

October 8, 2024 · 1 hr 9 min

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Russell Harvey - Mastering Leadership Resilience

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Key topicsLeading Well When the World Won’t Slow DownChange is no longer something leaders navigate occasionally - it is the environment they lead in every day. Russell explores the difference between leaders who are simply surviving relentless change and those who can genuinely say: “There’s a lot going on, and I’m good.” Drawing on nearly two decades specialising in resilience, Russell offers a practical perspective on what resilient leadership actually looks, sounds and feels like when the pressure is real and the uncertainty isn't going away.Before You Add AI to Your Team, Fix the Human OneOrganisations are racing to adopt AI, but Russell believes leaders need to ask a more fundamental question first: what makes our team work brilliantly together? Only then can they understand where AI can genuinely improve performance. With deep expertise in leadership, resilience and navigating persistent change, Russell offers a refreshingly human perspective on AI: the biggest challenge may not be the technology, but how well we lead the people using it.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.View all topics →

About Russell Harvey

The Resilience Coach | Resilient Leadership Expert

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 - a resilient leadership expert, executive coach, facilitator and keynote speaker who helps leaders and organisations perform at their best when the world refuses to stand still.

With more than 20 years in Learning, Leadership and Organisational Development, 6,000+ hours of executive coaching and over 70 published podcast appearances, Russell is an experienced and engaging voice on resilience, leadership and navigating persistent change. He has worked with leaders across organisations including Novartis, the NHS, AB World Foods, Kerry Group and The Co-operative Group.

Russell’s work goes beyond helping people simply cope with pressure. He believes true resilience isn’t about “bouncing back”, being tougher or pretending everything is fine - it’s about springing forward with learning and becoming better equipped to lead because of the challenges you’ve faced.

His approach connects the human side of leadership directly to what matters to organisations: engaged people, stronger cultures, better decisions and improved performance. His work has delivered measurable results, including a leadership programme that returned £12 million to the business and a Resilient Leader Programme that achieved more than 1,100% ROI.

In August 2025, Russell achieved his long-held purpose of positively affecting 100,000 people.

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About this episode

How do you handle setbacks and challenges? Do you struggle, or do you stay afloat? Cathleen sits down withRussell Harvey, known widely as the resilience coach. With a career spanning over two decades in learning and development, Russell brings a wealth of experience and personal anecdotes that illustrate the profound impact of balancing humanity, data, and processes within organisations. Tune in to explore the essential components of resilience, strategies to adapt in a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) world, and the importance of building a robust support network. Get ready to embrace change and discover the keys to thriving through adversity with actionable advice and heartfelt stories that will inspire you to become a legendary leader.

Episode Timeline:

01:07 Handling setbacks and understanding resilience as a tool.

09:13 Leadership involves resolving dilemmas ethically, creatively and adaptably.

11:50 Resilience is springing forward with learning, not bouncing back.

27:33 Adaptability is openness to change, not action.

39:35 Repeated experiences taught self-care and practical tasks.

48:16 Personal challenges taught resilience.

56:51 Leaders need training on managing emotions during change.

01:03:38 Team gathers situational awareness through conversations.

Key Takeaways:

Russell emphasises fostering a supportive community and maintaining continual communication are crucial for organisational resilience. Leaders must consider emotional intelligence and open dialogue to manage their teams and create a resilient culture effectively.

According to Russell, resilience encompasses multiple components: attitude, purpose, confidence, adaptability, support network, meaning, and energy. Resilience involves a combination of being open to change, maintaining a positive attitude, and leveraging one's support network for energy and strength.

Both Cathleen and Russell discuss the importance of adaptability and agility, especially in the face of Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity (VUCA). Leaders need to be proactive in their decision-making, maintaining situational awareness and clarity amidst change.

ABOUT Russell Harvey:

Russell Harvey, "The Resilience Coach", is a dynamic and engaging Leadership Coach and Facilitator, Public Speaker, Managing Director, NED, Podcaster, and Radio Host. With over 20 years of experience in Learning, Leadership, and Organizational Development, Russell has specialised in Resilience and VUCA for the past 18 years. Russell's areas of specialisation include Resilience in our modern world of uncertainty

and ambiguity, executive coaching and leadership development, talent management and career coaching, facilitation, change leadership, and creativity. He has worked with a wide range of clients, including NHS, BT, The Co-operative Group and Bank, WM Morrisons, Great Ormond Street Hospital, and many more.

Connect with Russell:

Website: https://www.theresiliencecoach.co.uk/

Social Media Links:

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/theresiliencecoach/

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/russelltheresiliencecoach

Connect:

Find | Cathleen O'Sullivan

Business: cathleenmerkel.com

Email: cmc@cathleenmerkelcoaching.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathleen-merkel/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legendary_leaders_cathleenos/

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