Episode 26

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Published on:

13th Mar 2025

Trapped in a tough decision? Why great leaders think beyond either/or (Ep. 26)

Leaders make countless decisions every day - but what happens when you feel stuck between two seemingly opposing choices?

Should you trust your team or step in to ensure success? Push for high performance or prioritise empathy? Stick to the plan or adapt to changing circumstances?

Our brains crave certainty, which often leads us to oversimplify decisions into either/or choices. But great leadership often shines in the grey area in-between - where both things can be true.

In this episode of the Quiet Leadership Revolution podcast, Juliet Corbett and Lucy Gower explore:

  • Why our brains default to either/or thinking - and how to break free from it
  • How embracing uncertainty can lead to better decisions and stronger leadership
  • Practical ways to hold space for ambiguity without feeling stuck
  • The power of asking, “What if both things could be true?”

If you’ve ever felt torn between two choices, this episode will help you shift your perspective, find new possibilities, and lead with clarity and confidence.

Episode links

014: Preparing for difficult conversations

019: Do the best leaders have all the answers?

Connect with Lucy

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucygower/

Email: lucy@lucidity.org.uk

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Connect with Juliet

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/julietcorbett

Email: juliet@consultjuliet.co.uk

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About the Podcast

Juliet and Lucy's Quiet Leadership Revolution
The world doesn't need any more noise, an army of identical leaders or rigid leadership models. Instead, the challenges we all face call for thoughtful, reflective, confident leadership. People who want to lead by example, bring others with them and who are ready to learn and adapt to deliver brilliant results.

Join Juliet Corbett and Lucy Gower as they explore the transformative power of quiet leadership. Through candid conversations and practical insights they guide senior and aspiring leaders to carve out time to think, discover their own leadership style and cultivate a culture of empowerment and growth.

It's time to make your voice heard and your impact felt. Tune in and join the Quiet Leadership Revolution.

About your hosts

Juliet Corbett

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Juliet Corbett is an executive coach and strategy adviser, guiding senior leaders to find their strategic focus, empower their teams and regain control over their time.

She has over 20 years' experience of leading, consulting and coaching, with responsibilities spanning fundraising, marketing, governance and strategic planning. While she has worked with leaders in a variety of sectors, she has particularly deep experience in the world of education.

Since founding her business in 2018 she's helped hundreds of senior leaders to deliver their goals with confidence and ease through coaching programmes, workshops and strategy away days.

She's been podcasting since 2020 and has distilled the knowledge and experience gained along the way into two podcasts: Juliet and Lucy's Quiet Leadership Revolution as well as her previous award-winning podcast, The Independent School Podcast.

Lucy Gower

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Lucy Gower is the founder and director of Lucidity. An accomplished facilitator, trainer, and coach, she is the bestselling author of The Innovation Workout and How to Have Confidence at Work and co-host on the Quiet Leadership Revolution podcast. As the founder of the Lucidity Network and a sought-after global speaker on innovation, Lucy helps leaders achieve clarity, think differently, and take action for impactful results.

Through tailored training and coaching programmes, Lucy supports her clients in driving meaningful change - whether that’s developing new business strategies, launching product propositions, or cultivating high-performance team cultures. She works in partnership with leaders to provide the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to accelerate progress and maximise impact.

Lucy has empowered hundreds of individuals and teams to collaborate, innovate, and bring about lasting change. Her clients span a range of sectors and include Air Ambulance, Anthony Nolan, The Children’s Society, Digital Catapult, Exeter University, Housing Quality Network, Hospice UK, Libraries Unlimited, Médecins Sans Frontières, Mind, MOD, MS Society, Nesta, NHS Charities Together, Pancreatic Cancer UK, Plymouth Hospitals Charity, Red Cross, and Samaritans.

Connect with Lucy on LinkedIn or get in touch at lucy@lucidity.org.uk.