In today's conversation Judith Germain speaks to Jeff Hancher about leadership, feedback, and his new book "Firm Feedback in a Fragile World". Jeff explains the difference between firm, assertive leadership and aggressive or passive leadership styles. He uses the analogy of a speed limit sign to illustrate how firm leaders set clear expectations, provide training, and hold people accountable in a caring way.

Key Takeaways Firm feedback is crucial for healthy leadership and organisational culture, but many leaders avoid it due to fear (FEAR: Fallout, Emotion, Amateur, Retaliation) Effective feedback requires earning the right through building relationships and making "deposits" before making "withdrawals" Leaders should aim to be firm (assertive) rather than aggressive or passive, setting clear expectations with accountability Self-study and continuous learning are essential for leadership development beyond organisational training In this conversation Judith and Jeff discuss the challenges leaders face in providing meaningful feedback, and the importance of creating a culture where feedback is seen as a gift rather than a threat. They emphasise the need for leaders to earn the right to have tough conversations by building trust and making deposits in their employees' lives.

You can find out more about our guest and today's episode in this Maverick Paradox Magazine article here.

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Catalysing Transformation - 1 min video

Judith's book: The Maverick Paradox: The Secret Power Behind Successful Leaders. 

Judith's websites: 

Judith Germain (mentoring, Speaker, author) - judithgermain.com The Maverick Paradox Magazine - themaverickparadox.com The Maverick Paradox Website - maverickparadox.co.uk Judith's LinkedIn profile is here, her Twitter profile (MaverickMastery) is here, Facebook here and Instagram here.

Episode ID: 1000716172031

GUID: 6c6080ea-949f-454f-95fa-c97d3a616eb6

Release Date: 07/07/2025, 17:30:00