What does it take to lead with empathy, build high-performing teams, and

embrace both the challenges and magic of leadership? In our very first

episode of Uspire Unlocked, Amanda Downs sits down with Paul Barbour,

executive and team coach, certified business psychologist, author, and

lead tutor at Henley Business School to share his leadership journey and

philosophies.

From growing up during conflict in Northern Ireland, to a thriving career in

corporate leadership, to co-authoring one of the leading books on team

coaching, Paul shares deeply personal lessons in collaboration, the power

of systemic team development, and why real transformation starts with

connecting on a human level. Hear how he helps leaders tap into what’s

already within themselves and why “connection before the work” is his

mantra for impactful team change.

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Intro: Welcome to Uspire Unlocked and Paul’s inspiring story

04:38 Henley Business School and the inspiration behind his book

07:05 Leading “teams of teams” for collaboration across organisations

08:10 Coaching the spaces in between

12:02 How unmet needs and unspoken issues impact teams and

organisations

13:22 Paul’s early leadership moments

18:27 Why leaders’ confidence is crucial for development

21:07 Paul loves hearing real stories, working with diverse organisations,

and human collaboration

23:15 Navigating work-life balance, and being purposeful as a leader

26:41 Empathy in practice: How to care for others with personal boundaries

28:08 Honest conversations and feedback delivered with care

33:52 Top tip: Cultivating a “way of being” - transformational leadership

through connection, courage, humility, and self-awareness.

If you’re inspired by Paul Barbour’s honest reflections on leadership, don’t

forget to follow Uspire Unlocked so you never miss an episode.

If you’d like to unlock this for yourself, join us for our upcoming webinar:

The Leader as a Mentor, on Thursday 12 th February 2026 at 1pm, when

Uspire’s Mark Francis will explore why mentoring is a vital leadership skill.

You can register for your complimentary place here: https://26700668.hs-sites-eu1.com/leader-as-a-mentor

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About The Uspire Partnership:

The Uspire Partnership: Building the future of business

The Uspire Partnership helps businesses evolve. From start-up, scale-up,

to corporate growth, we build ecosystems that empower your organisation,

elevate your leaders, and drive lasting transformation.

Their collective of specialist brands build confidence, capability, capacity,

and connection for companies across the full business lifecycle. Their

family includes;

1. Uspire – Leadership and commercial development designed to build capable leaders and high-performing teams
2. Be Human – Empathy training helping organisations embed human connection into business
3. Energize Partners – A growth and transformation partner for scaling businesses
4. Business Doctors – Trusted advisors helping small businesses achieve their vision

Together, The Uspire Partnership builds human-led solutions that unlock

confidence, inspire growth and deliver lasting transformation.

Connect with The Uspire Partnership:

Website:

Ready to unlock your leadership potential? UNLOCKED, from The Uspire Partnership, is the podcast for leaders who want to think bigger, lead bolder, and make a real impact.

Each episode, we sit down with extraordinary leaders, founders, CEOs, and change-makers to hear the human moments and tough decisions that shaped their journey. No fluff, just real stories, fresh ideas, and insights that will empower your organisation, elevate your leadership, and drive lasting transformation.

Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about unlocking the right ones.

Follow Uspire UNLOCKED now and get ready to let your inner leader out. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.