There’s a moment in every leader’s career when the armor cracks and the light of vulnerability shines through. That moment came crashing down on me when I lost touch with my team, leading to one of my darkest professional days. But just like a phoenix rises from the ashes, my conversation with Matty Elliott, former rugby league coach and the visionary behind The Change Room, served as a powerful reminder of the beauty and strength that vulnerability and human connection can bring to leadership. Matty bares his soul, recounting his journey from the sidelines of the NRL to the frontlines of empowering leaders and teams through well-being practices. He illuminates the simplicity of infusing high-performance habits into our daily lives and underscores the significance of maintaining a laser focus on our unique strengths amidst challenges.

Our heart-to-heart traverses the landscape of leadership, from the peaks of personal triumphs to the valleys of tough lessons learned. The resonance of Matty’s stories sheds light on the quintessential lessons of leadership—acknowledging the individual contributions that each team member brings and the profound impact of crafting strong, trusting relationships. He shares how these core principles helped him navigate the complexities of coaching and business ownership, emphasizing that at the end of the day, success hinges on the human connections we foster. With Matty’s candidness, we peel back the layers of leadership, revealing that the true power lies in our ability to be authentic, to truly listen, and to engage with our teams on a level that transcends the day-to-day grind.

The episode is also available on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/55Lj75O8UzQ