"Leadership is a practice...not a position" - a conversation with Hayley Lever

In this episode, I sit down with Hayley Lever, Chief Executive of Greater Manchester Moving, to explore what authentic leadership really looks like when you're trying to create systemic change. Hayley has been one of the biggest influences on how I think about leadership, culture, and the power of creating environments where people can truly thrive. We dive deep into Hayley's newly published book on leadership, 'Leading from the Balcony', discussing everything from the courage it takes to question cultural norms, to the daily act of resistance required when you're committed to doing things differently. This conversation is raw, honest, and packed with practical wisdom about what it really takes to lead with integrity in a complex world. My three takeaways: - Leadership is a practice, not a position – True leadership happens in the micro moments of everyday interactions, not just in boardrooms or through positional power. Everyone has the capacity to lead when we create the conditions that unlock that potential. - Positive disruption requires courage and support – Creating meaningful change means challenging entrenched processes and cultural norms, but you can't do it alone. The environment around you—whether that's your chair, your board, your funders, or your team—either enables or constrains your ability to lead authentically. - Accountability and care go hand in hand – Creating a thriving culture isn't about making everything easy; it's about being candid, caring, and challenging. It means having difficult conversations with honesty whilst making people feel valued and supported. And crucially, it means being vulnerable enough to admit when you'll fall short. If you're interested in exploring these ideas further and connecting with others who are passionate about systems leadership, complexity or ecological approaches to human advancement, join The Guild of Ecological Explorers by heading to and clicking the 'join a learning group' button. Become a supporter of this podcast: . Ready to explore these ideas further? Join The Guild of Ecological Explorers – a community of practitioners committed to deepening their understanding of ecological dynamics and constraints-led approaches. Head to and click the 'Join a Learning Group' button to become part of this transformative conversation

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"Leadership is a practice...not a position" - a conversation with Hayley Lever is an episode from The Talent Equation Podcast by Stuart Armstrong.

This episode is 81:29 long.

This episode was published on Dec 3, 2025.

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