Leadership & Management Reset Podcast · 2025-12-31 · 20 min
Key moments - from our scoring
Substance score
9 / 100
Five dimensions, 20 points each
Sharon Smith, a leadership coach and founder of Own Your Leadership, launches this podcast as an antidote to the burnout-inducing leadership culture that dominates today's workplaces. Having learned leadership through trial and error without formal training or frameworks, Smith recognized a gap between how leaders are often told to perform their role and how they actually experience it - the winging it, the firefighting, the constant pressure to appear perfect. The podcast is built on the 8 Cs of leadership: courage, clarity, compassion, curiosity, connection, congruence, choice, and commitment. Rather than offering corporate jargon or prescriptive frameworks, Smith positions this show as a space for real, messy, human conversations about what leadership actually looks like behind the scenes. Each episode promises practical tools, honest reflection, and the permission to lead authentically rather than performing a version of leadership that doesn't fit. This resonates particularly with leaders experiencing emotional depletion and always-on culture, who are ready to move beyond the myth that everyone else is finding leadership easy.
The 8 Cs are courage, clarity, compassion, curiosity, connection, congruence, choice, and commitment. Smith describes these as human foundations for leadership rather than corporate ideals, designed to help leaders own their leadership authentically.
Smith created the podcast after learning leadership the hard way without training or frameworks, and witnessing how modern burnout-inducing leadership culture affects leaders. She wanted to provide a space for reflection, honest conversation, and permission to lead authentically without performance pressure.
This podcast is not corporate, jargon-filled, or buzzwordy. Instead, it focuses on real, messy, human conversations about leadership - the 'winging it' moments and emotional complexity that typical leadership content ignores.
Sustainable impact comes from understanding the human side of leadership, leading with intention and authenticity rather than perfectionism, and giving yourself permission to lead in a way that feels right for you personally rather than performing an external ideal.
Our reviewer’s read on each dimension, with quotes from the episode.
This episode is almost entirely meta-commentary about the podcast itself rather than substantive leadership education. The host shares personal anecdotes about burnout and introduces a framework (8 Cs of leadership), but provides no concrete exploration, examples, or actionable insights beyond vague aspirations like 'lead with courage, clarity, and compassion.' There is virtually no novel thinking packed into this 20 minutes.
I learned leadership the hard way. I stepped into leadership without training, guidance, or frameworks. I thought leadership was meetings, spreadsheets, and spinning plates.
My work is built around the 8 Cs of leadership. Courage, clarity, compassion, curiosity, connection, congruence, choice, and commitment.
The episode relies entirely on well-worn leadership tropes: burnout, authenticity, 'being human,' rejection of corporate jargon, and self-discovery. The '8 Cs framework' is presented without differentiation or evidence of original thinking. No contrarian positions, first-principles analysis, or fresh perspective emerges from the transcript.
Leadership today is harder than it was ten or twenty years ago. We're emotionally depleted, always on, and under constant pressure.
It's the space for the real, messy, human stuff. The 'I'm winging it and hoping no one notices' moments.
This is a solo episode with no guest. The host is a self-identified leadership coach with no evidence of operating at scale, managing large teams, or building organizations. No credentials, track record, or proof of real-world leadership impact are provided.
I'm Sharon Smith, leadership coach, mentor, and your trusted thinking partner
The episode contains no named companies, metrics, case studies, timelines, or concrete examples beyond a single vague personal anecdote about the host's own burnout. The '8 Cs framework' is listed but never illustrated with real situations or data. Everything remains abstract and ungrounded.
I was working hard, constantly firefighting, and trying to be good enough.
Leaders are expected to move fast, stay calm, inspire others, and never stop. It's too much.
This is a monologue with no conversation, no guest interaction, no follow-up questions, and no intellectual friction. It reads as a prepared speech delivered to an audience rather than dialogue or inquiry. There is no evidence of the host challenging herself, testing assumptions, or engaging in Socratic exploration.
So let me start with a confession.
So let me ask you this. What kind of leader do you want to be in practice?
Computed from the transcript - who did the talking, and the words that came up most.
In this first episode, Sharon Smith introduces herself and shares the story behind the Leadership & Management Reset Podcast . She reflects on her own leadership journey, including the challenges, burnout, and lessons that inspired her to become a leadership coach. Sharon explains why leadership today can feel overwhelming, and shares the philosophy that guides her work. This episode is a space to reflect, breathe, and begin thinking about what leadership could feel like when it's aligned, human, and sustainable. Whether you're stepping into a leadership role, navigating the pressures of managing people, or simply curious about a different approach to leadership, this episode is your invitation to start owning your leadership in a way that feels authentic and grounded. To find out more about the work Sharon does, please visit or follow Sharon on Instagram and Linkedin .
Transcribed and scored by The B2B Podcast Index.
Welcome to the Own Your Leadership Podcast. I'm Sharon Smith, leadership coach and founder of Own Your Leadership. This podcast is a space to slow down and explore what leadership really looks like behind the scenes. Beyond quick fixes, performance pressures, and the idea that you should already have it all figured out.
Each episode is led by my reflections, lived experience, and the thinking that helps people lead with courage, clarity, and compassion. This is your space to pause, get curious, and grow your leadership in a way that feels authentic and sustainable. Because when you own your leadership, you create sustainable impact without overwhelm. Let's get started.
Hello my lovely leaders, and welcome, truly welcome, to the very first episode of the Own Your Leadership Podcast. I'm Sharon Smith, leadership coach, mentor, and your trusted thinking partner for the moments leadership feels inspiring, impossible, or a little bit of both. If you're new to me or new to my world, thank you so much for being here. This podcast has been a long time coming, and I'm really glad I finally got it off the ground.
I'm not going to lie, this takes me out of my comfort zone, but that's where growth happens. And I absolutely love talking about leadership. I used to spend a lot of time talking about leaders who were getting it wrong, but now I focus on the good stuff. Leaders who support growth, innovation, collaboration, and get people excited.
That kind of leadership often isn't expected, and that's the gap I want to fill. Through my blog, my coaching work, and now this podcast. Today, I want to tell you a little about me, why this podcast exists, and what you can expect. This is not a corporate, jargon-filled, buzzwordy leadership show.
It's the opposite. It's the space for the real, messy, human stuff. The “I’m winging it and hoping no one notices” moments. Because leadership isn’t about perfection.
Leadership is about people. And people are wonderfully complicated. So let me start with a confession. I learned leadership the hard way.
I stepped into leadership without training, guidance, or frameworks. I thought leadership was meetings, spreadsheets, and spinning plates. And that approach will burn you out very quickly. I was working hard, constantly firefighting, and trying to be good enough.
I remember thinking, “Is everyone else finding this easy?” Looking back, the problem wasn’t me. I was trying to lead without understanding the human side of leadership. That experience is what pulled me toward leadership coaching.
I didn’t want anyone else to feel that way. Leadership today is harder than it was ten or twenty years ago. We’re emotionally depleted, always on, and under constant pressure. Busy has become a badge of honour.
Leaders are expected to move fast, stay calm, inspire others, and never stop. It’s too much. This podcast exists to give you space. Space to reflect, breathe, and remember who you are.
My work is built around the 8 Cs of leadership. Courage, clarity, compassion, curiosity, connection, congruence, choice, and commitment. These are human foundations, not corporate ideals. You don’t have to lead like anyone else.
You don’t have to perform leadership. You get to own your leadership in a way that feels right for you. Each episode will help you create sustainable impact without overwhelm. You’ll hear real talk, practical tools, and honest reflection.
This is not a perfect leader podcast. It’s a human being who leads with intention, clarity, compassion, and humour podcast. So let me ask you this. What kind of leader do you want to be in practice?
Not on paper. Not for others. But you. This podcast exists because leadership needs to feel human again.
If this episode resonated, please subscribe and share it. Leadership is hard, but we don’t have to do it alone. Thank you for joining me. I’ll speak with you next time.
Take care.
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