Headflex

What if the most transformative skill in leadership, coaching, and relationships isn’t what you say but how deeply you listen? In this episode, co-hosts Rebecca Walker and Diane Williams explore the art and science of truly powerful listening, and why despite its profound impact on trust, thinking, and performance 98% of leaders have never received formal training in how to listen well, a finding highlighted by listening researcher Oscar Trimboli.
Drawing on the work of Oscar Trimboli and Nancy Kline, Rebecca and Diane explore the crucial difference between simply hearing words and offering the kind of attention that helps others think clearly, speak openly, and feel genuinely understood.
Blending practical coaching-room experience with relatable everyday moments including some memorable feedback from Rebecca’s three-year-old, this episode shines a light on common listening habits and how to change them. This conversation is rich with insights and practical tools for anyone who wants to listen more deeply, connect more meaningfully, and lead more powerfully.
Highlights include:
Why most of us have never truly learned how to listen (and why it’s critical for leaders)
What your body and breathing have to do with better listening
Practical strategies for eliminating distractions and modelling listening behaviour even in busy workplaces
The impact of interruptions (even “encouraging” ones) on other people’s thinking
Time to Think: How Nancy Kline’s approach to turn-taking can transform meetings and teams
How to use silence, presence, and curiosity to unlock deeper levels of listening
Coaching-tested techniques for giving everyone a voice, including “interruption pads” and the mental “pause button”
Ways to listen for what’s unsaid not just what’s said and why this is where the gold is in any team or family dynamic
Their favourite self-coaching questions for reflecting on and improving your own listening.

As always, the episode wraps up with self-coaching questions so you can reflect, experiment, and flex your own listening “muscle” at work, at home, and everywhere in between.
Resources:
Time to Think: Listening to Ignite the Human Mind - Nancy Kline
How to Listen - Oscar Trimboli
About Headflex:
If you're curious about coaching, Headflex offers a range of coaching programmes to suit different needs. 1:1 coaching, team coaching, group coaching and their Headflex in Residence programme.
And, if time management is a challenge in your business then drop them a note and ask for details about their Headflex Lunch and Learn sessions. Visit www.headflex.co.uk

Connect with us at Headflex:
Email: [email protected].
Website: www.headflex.co.uk
Instagram:

Confidence is one of the most sought-after qualities in professional and personal life, but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. In this episode of Headflex, co-hosts Rebecca and Diane explore what really makes us feel confident, and why the advice to “just believe in yourself” so often misses the point.
Drawing from years of coaching experience, they reveal the three biggest myths about confidence that regularly come up in coaching sessions like the idea that only extroverts are confident, or that fear must disappear for true confidence to emerge. The conversation covers why confidence is not a fixed personality trait, but a contextual skill that grows with self-awareness, repetition, and experience.
Rebecca and Diane share practical stories, language tips, and somatic exercises to help you shift your internal narrative, quiet your self-doubt, and find your own authentic confidence style, no matter your workplace, personality, or life stage. Whether you’re recovering after maternity leave, stepping back into work post-illness, or just trying to speak up more in meetings, there’s advice here for you.
As always, the episode wraps up with thought-provoking self-coaching questions to help you reflect and take action right away.
Here are the highlights:
01:16 Confidence isn’t a personality trait, but a skill you can grow
02:47 Myth 1: Extroverts aren’t the only confident people
05:53 Why comparison in the workplace is a confidence trap
10:16 Language patterns that undermine your confidence and what to say instead
12:37 Myth 2: Confidence is not the absence of fear, how to work with fear
15:01 Real coaching example: accepting nerves in high-stakes situations
19:21 The power of small actions and repetition in growing confidence
20:12 Myth 3: You’re ‘either confident or not’, labels often hold us back
23:18 How returning from maternity or sick leave impacts confidence
24:08 Focus on strengths to rebuild confidence, instead of weaknesses
26:00 Letting go of outdated labels and beliefs from the past
27:27 Why “be more confident” is a vague and unhelpful feedback goal
28:42 Three self-coaching questions for building confidence.
If you're curious about coaching, Headflex offers a range of coaching programmes to suit different needs. 1:1 coaching, team coaching, group coaching and their Headflex in Residence programme.
And, if time management is a challenge in your business then drop them a note and ask for details about their Headflex Lunch and Learn sessions. Visit www.headflex.co.uk

Resources:
The Confidence Code - Katty Kay & Claire Shipman
The Confidence Gap - Russ Harris

Connect with us at Headflex:
Email: [email protected].
Website: www.headflex.co.uk
Instagram: www.instagram.com/head.flex/
Connect with Rebecca Walker: www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccawalker13/
Connect with Diane Williams:

In a world where we feel busier than ever, time management can be a huge challenge. Join co-hosts Rebecca and Diane in the latest episode of Headflex, to dive deep into the topic of time management, a recurring challenge in the coaching world, too.
They explore why we often feel like the day controls us, common obstacles we face, and how real self-awareness, rather than simply new tools, is the secret ingredient to managing time effectively. As always, the episode concludes with self-coaching questions that encourage you to reflect and find strategies that work for you.
Here are the highlights:
03:07 What is time management all about (it can be deeply personal)
01:06 The pressure to ‘do more’ often comes from management
09:21 Modern work environments like remote work, can make focus difficult
01:27 There are bigger challenges for those who are neurodivergent
05:36 Identifying tasks you procrastinate or avoid entirely, and uncover why.
13:03 Be careful not to absorb others’ stress or assume deadlines are urgent without clarification.
22:54 Techniques like the Eisenhower Matrix and Pomodoro Technique can be useful once you understand your patterns.
If you're curious about coaching, Headflex offers a range of coaching programmes to suit different needs. 1:1 coaching, team coaching, group coaching and their Headflex in Residence programme.
And, if time management is a challenge in your business then drop them a note and ask for details about their Headflex Lunch and Learn sessions. Visit www.headflex.co.uk
Connect with us at Headflex:
Email: [email protected].
Website: www.headflex.co.uk
Instagram: www.instagram.com/head.flex/
Connect with Rebecca Walker: www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccawalker13/
Connect with Diane Williams: www.linkedin.com/in/dianewilliams1
Produced by Winter Audio

After 30 episodes, Headflex celebrates its first anniversary! Join co-hosts Rebecca Walker and Diane Williams as they revisit the stories, standout moments, and lessons learned from a year of real-time coaching conversations. This episode is a blend of gratitude, reflection, and candid discussion about personal growth, the impact of brave guests, and the power of partnership in professional life. Whether you’re a longtime listener or new to the podcast, pour yourself a cuppa and settle in for an honest, uplifting conversation about workplace hot topics, coaching insights, and looking ahead to the next chapter.
Here are the highlights:
00:00 Reflecting on an amazing year of podcasting
04:54 The problems associated of isolation and remote work
07:11 Fear of failure resonates deeply, particularly in sales;
12:07 Encourage listening to discussions on improving workplaces for people with ADHD through small, impactful changes.
13:40 Thanking guests, especially Andrew Blair, for sharing insights
16:45 Reflection on self-compassion and caring less with age
20:20 The Headflex mission is to make coaching more accessible, please share with friends and colleagues.
Connect with us at Headflex:
Email: [email protected].
Website: www.headflex.co.uk
Instagram: www.instagram.com/head.flex/
Connect with Rebecca Walker: www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccawalker13/
Connect with Diane Williams: www.linkedin.com/in/dianewilliams1
Produced by Winter Audio

As another year draws to a close, why does the pressure to reinvent ourselves, set big goals, and “start fresh” feel so intense? In this Headflex episode, co-hosts Rebecca and Diane pause the hustle, inviting you to join them in a gentle, honest reflection on the year that’s just ended.
Whether you’re craving a mindful way to say goodbye to 2025, hoping to set intentions for the coming year, or simply seeking a quieter space after a whirlwind December, Rebecca and Diane walk you through self-coaching questions, share personal stories, and offer insights for bringing perspective and intention into 2026.
Pour yourself a cuppa, grab your notebook, and settle in. This episode is dedicated to helping you reset, reflect, and carry forward what truly matters, one gentle, intentional pause at a time.
Here are the highlights:
00:00 Year-end podcast reflection before the new year
03:18 Reflect on your successes and what makes you proud
07:27 Focused on mindful work, finding joy in projects, and prioritising meaningful pursuits for next year
11:12 Health, self-discovery, and building bravery through support
15:38 Prioritise gentleness, reflection, and intentionality over rushing
16:50 Excited and intentional for the upcoming year, focusing on pacing and creating space for growth.
Connect with us at Headflex:
Email: [email protected].
Website: www.headflex.co.uk
Instagram: www.instagram.com/head.flex/
Connect with Rebecca Walker: www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccawalker13/
Connect with Diane Williams: www.linkedin.com/in/dianewilliams1
Produced by Winter Audio