What Have Been Your Favourite Reads and Videos This Year?
We’re eager to hear your thoughts on the articles, webinars, and videos we’ve shared below. Feel free to share your reactions to any or all of them—we’d love to know what resonated with you the most.
To learn more about Richard here and connect with him on Facebook, Linkedin, or via email.
Why High-Performing Professionals Need Emotional Wellbeing as Much as They Need Strategy
Introduction: High-performing professionals are known for their ambition, drive, and results. But with that drive often comes a focus on strategy, performance, and external achievements.
However, emotional wellbeing plays just as critical a role in sustaining high performance over the long run.
The Importance of Emotional Wellbeing for High Performers:
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Sustained Performance: Strategy alone can’t maintain high performance over time. Emotional wellbeing provides the foundation for resilience, helping you stay grounded during challenges.
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Better Decision-Making: When your emotional state is steady, your decision-making becomes more clear, aligned, and focused.
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Stronger Relationships: Emotional wellbeing fosters healthier connections with colleagues, clients, and teams, which in turn boosts collaboration and trust.
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Burnout Prevention: Neglecting your emotional health increases the risk of burnout. Emotional wellbeing practices are essential for long-term productivity.
How to Prioritise Emotional Wellbeing:
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Regular Emotional Check-Ins: Take time to check in with yourself. How are you feeling? What’s driving your stress, and what can you release?
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Emotional Resilience Training: Invest in developing your emotional resilience through coaching, therapy, or self-care routines.
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Boundaries and Balance: Setting clear boundaries between work and personal life ensures you can recharge and maintain your energy levels.
Conclusion: Emotional wellbeing isn’t just a luxury, it’s a necessity for high-performing professionals. When you nurture your emotional health alongside your strategic goals, you create a sustainable path to success, resilience, and satisfaction.
2nd of April 2025
Leading from a Place of Inner Clarity: How Emotional Steadiness Makes You a Better Leader
Introduction: In today’s fast-paced world, leaders are expected to make quick decisions, manage teams, and drive performance, often in high-pressure environments.
But what if the key to effective leadership wasn’t just strategy or execution?
What if it was emotional steadiness and inner clarity?
Why Emotional Steadiness is Key to Leadership:
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Clear Decisions, Not Reactive Ones: Leaders who lead from emotional steadiness make decisions based on clarity, not stress. This leads to more thoughtful, aligned choices.
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Builds Trust and Connection: When you show up steady and calm, your team feels safer, which fosters trust and openness.
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Reduces Burnout: Leaders who cultivate emotional resilience are less likely to burn out because they don’t allow stress to dictate their actions.
How to Develop Emotional Steadiness:
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Mindfulness Practices: Regular mindfulness or meditation helps centre your mind and emotions, enabling clearer decision-making.
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Presence-Based Coaching: Working with a coach can help you align your inner state with your leadership role, strengthening your emotional resilience.
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Regular Reflection: Taking time to reflect on your experiences and how you show up can help you identify areas for growth in emotional intelligence.
Conclusion: Leaders who maintain emotional steadiness have a deeper impact on their teams, organisations, and themselves. By leading from a place of clarity, you can make aligned decisions, foster stronger relationships, and inspire your team, all while safeguarding your own wellbeing.
7th of April 2025
5 Signs You’re Heading for Burnout (And How to Turn It Around)
Introduction: We all know the pressure of modern work life — the constant demands, long hours, and the expectation to deliver, always. But what happens when that pressure starts to wear you down? High-functioning professionals are particularly at risk of burnout, as they tend to push through, masking stress with performance. Here are five signs that you’re heading towards burnout, and what you can do to avoid it.
Signs You’re Heading for Burnout:
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Constant Overwhelm: You’re managing your responsibilities, but you feel like you’re always running behind or never catching up.
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Emotional Exhaustion: You’re mentally and emotionally drained, and yet you keep pushing, often at the cost of your personal wellbeing.
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Lack of Motivation: Once-passionate work now feels like a never-ending chore, and you can’t remember the last time you felt excited about what you do.
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Disconnection from Others: You feel distant from colleagues or loved ones, struggling to connect, even when you’re physically present.
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Physical Symptoms: From sleepless nights to chronic headaches or muscle tension, stress is starting to show up in your body.
What to Do:
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Recognise and Accept: Acknowledge that burnout is real, and it’s okay to feel this way.
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Set Boundaries: Start saying no to non-essential tasks and setting clear limits on your time.
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Seek Support: Whether it’s coaching, therapy, or peer support, don’t hesitate to reach out.
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Reconnect with Your Rhythm: Engage in activities that recharge you — movement, mindfulness, or hobbies that bring joy.
Conclusion: Burnout is avoidable, but it requires a shift in how you lead your life. By recognising the signs early and taking proactive steps, you can protect your wellbeing and continue to perform at your best without sacrificing your health.
14th of April 2025
Get a Sneak Peek of Whispers of Wisdom – A Journey to Inner Clarity
The journey of self-discovery is just beginning—and you’re invited to join me. Whispers of Wisdom is set to launch in November, and I want to share an exclusive preview with you.
I’ve selected a few powerful extracts from the book, each offering a glimpse into the heart of the message: discovering clarity, embracing the flow of thought, and finding peace within the present moment.
By signing up below, you’ll receive access to these extracts and be the first to know when the full book is available. This is your chance to get a taste of what’s to come—and to be part of this journey before it’s fully released.
Sign Up to Read Extracts
Get access and stay in the loop for the November 2025 launch.
1st of March 2025
Today, I want to introduce you to the Diamond Process, a transformative journey designed to unlock your mental wealth. This four-stage framework is not just about overcoming challenges but embracing your authentic self and fostering connections.
The Diamond Process Overview:
- Stage 1: Strip
- Description: This stage involves shedding the layers that no longer serve you. It’s about identifying limiting beliefs, fears, and habits that hold you back from your true potential.
- Insight: “The first step to growth is acknowledging what needs to change.”
- Stage 2: Surrender
- Description: Surrendering means letting go of the need for control and accepting the uncertainties of life. It’s about being vulnerable and open to new experiences.
- Insight: “Sometimes, the greatest strength lies in letting go.”
- Stage 3: Shine
- Description: In this stage, you embrace your true self. You acknowledge your strengths and uniqueness, allowing your inner light to shine. It’s about celebrating your achievements and contributions.
- Insight: “Your brilliance is meant to be shared with the world.”
- Stage 4: Serve
- Description: Serving is about using your strengths and experiences to uplift others. It involves creating a positive impact in your community and supporting those around you.
- Insight: “True fulfillment comes from making a difference in the lives of others.”
I invite you to reflect on your own journey.
What layers do you need to strip away?
How can you embrace vulnerability?
Share your thoughts and reach out to connect!
Let’s create a culture of trust and authenticity together.
The Diamond Process is not just a framework; it’s a pathway to unlocking your mental wealth. By navigating these stages, you can transform your challenges into opportunities for growth and connection.
26th February 2025
Finding Diamonds in the Rough: The Beauty of Struggle
🌟 Have you ever felt like you were buried under layers of dirt, struggling to find your shine? If so, you’re not alone. We often find ourselves navigating the rocky terrain of life, wondering if we’ll ever emerge unscathed. But here’s the thing: it’s in those struggles where our true selves are forged.
Life has a way of stripping us down to our core. It pushes us to confront what really matters. I’ve been there—caught in the whirlwind of anxiety, self-doubt, and the pressure to prove my worth. But through every setback, I discovered a profound truth: the diamonds we seek are often hidden in our struggles.
💎 Let’s talk about the process of finding these diamonds. Imagine a diamond deep within the earth, encased in layers of rock and dirt. To uncover its brilliance, we must first endure the grinding process. Life, in all its chaos, acts as a relentless sculptor, chiselling away at our façades and revealing the true gems within us.
The Pain of Letting Go
I once clung to everything that defined my identity—a thriving business, a comfortable lifestyle, even relationships that no longer served me. When life forced me to sell my car and close my company, I felt like I was losing everything. But in that dismantling, I found clarity.
Letting go creates space for growth. It’s in that emptiness where we often discover what we truly want and need. So, I invite you to ask yourself: What do you need to release to uncover your own brilliance?
The Courage to Embrace Vulnerability
In my journey, I learned that vulnerability is not a weakness; it’s a strength. It’s about showing up authentically, flaws and all. When I allowed myself to be open about my struggles, I connected with others on a deeper level.
💬 Let’s get real—people connect with honesty, not perfection. Share your challenges, your fears, and your triumphs. In doing so, you invite others to do the same, creating a ripple effect of understanding and compassion.
Transforming Pain into Purpose
Every heartbreak, every setback, has been a teacher. I’ve learned to embrace my experiences, no matter how painful. They have shaped me into the person I am today—a person committed to guiding others through their own battles with trust, compassion, and radical honesty.
Your struggles are not burdens; they are the foundation of your ability to lead. So, take a moment to reflect: What lessons have your struggles taught you?
The Journey of Self-Discovery
As we navigate through life’s challenges, remember that the beauty of struggle lies in self-discovery. Each layer we shed reveals more of who we are and who we are meant to be. It’s not about avoiding hardship; it’s about facing it head-on, embracing the journey, and trusting that the process will refine you.
✨ So here’s my challenge to you: the next time you find yourself in a tough spot, ask yourself: What diamond lies within this struggle? Embrace it, learn from it, and shine bright.
Let’s connect! Share your thoughts in the comments—what diamonds have you uncovered in your own struggles? 💬💎
CLICK on the image of Leadership Rising
“It’s about being connected with each other – it’s important.”
Welcome to the Leadership Rising Podcast! Coach and Guide today, Steve Seay is opening up this discussion around Connection and Creativity. Steve is joined by coaches Jim Urban and Rebecca Schleifer and special guest Richard Kelly. Steve calls Richard the “Great Connector”.
With over 25 years of experience in leadership, coaching, and well-being, Richard is passionate about empowering organizations to build resilient, engaged teams that thrive on connection and emotional well-being.
Listen for this moment: “We have this gift. We have this great opportunity to create our realities – and we create who we want to be. And if we can do anything to allow that person to have that sprinkle of creativity for themselves – even in how they create their businesses. It’s a passion, it’s a love – for me to connect with people – a passion for me to talk to people.”
CLICK on the image above of Leadership Rising
24 October 2024
10 Ways to Unlock Mental Wealth and Boost Well-being🌟
1. Embrace Clarity of Mind
The quality of your thoughts determines the quality of your experience. Learn to observe your thinking, allowing the noise to settle so clarity can emerge.
2. Cultivate Inner Resilience
Resilience isn’t about pushing through stress; it’s about realising that your true strength lies within. With the right mindset, you can navigate any challenge.
3. Shift Your Perspective
Often, it’s not the situation that causes stress but the way we interpret it. By shifting your perspective, you open up new possibilities for growth and problem-solving.
4. Practice Present-Moment Awareness
Mental wealth thrives when we stop dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. Bring your attention to the present, where your real power exists.
5. Release the Need for External Validation
Your well-being isn’t dependent on others’ opinions or external circumstances. True peace comes from within, and recognising this brings lasting confidence.
6. Tap Into Creativity and Innovation
A mind free from constant worry is naturally creative. When you declutter your thoughts, space opens up for innovation, fresh ideas, and problem-solving.
7. Foster Genuine Connections
Healthy relationships are built on understanding, empathy, and communication. By first taking care of your own mental wealth, you can show up fully for others.
8. Be Comfortable with Uncertainty
Life is unpredictable, but mental wealth equips you with the ability to navigate uncertainty with grace, trusting that you have what it takes to adapt.
9. Prioritise Rest and Recovery
A healthy mind is one that gets rest. Whether it’s sleep, mindful breaks, or time in nature, taking care of your body also nurtures your mental wealth.
10. Unlock the Power of Thought
Every experience in life is filtered through thought. By understanding how thought works, you can change the way you experience everything around you.
Unlock your potential and elevate well-being within your organisation.
Book a session today and discover how to harness mental wealth for sustained success and fulfilment.
In a world where we are seemingly more connected than ever, a silent crisis is brewing. Despite the proliferation of digital platforms that promise connection, the depth of our interactions has diminished, leaving many feeling more isolated than ever before. As someone who has spent over two decades working with organisations across Europe, I’ve seen firsthand how this modern-day isolation, particularly in the workplace, is taking a toll on our well-being and productivity.
The Paradox of Digital Connection
Our lives are filled with digital interactions—likes, shares, and messages. Yet, these fleeting moments often fail to satisfy our deep-rooted need for genuine connection. The convenience of digital communication has led to a decline in the meaningful, face-to-face interactions that are essential for building strong, supportive relationships.
The Cost of a Fast-Paced Life
In our relentless pursuit of success, relationships often take a backseat. I see this pattern repeatedly—professionals with packed schedules and impressive resumes, yet feeling disconnected and unfulfilled. This paradox highlights a critical issue: despite being “connected” in the digital sense, many of us are more isolated than ever.
Vulnerability: The Missing Ingredient
True connection requires vulnerability, a quality that is often sidelined in the workplace. The fear of rejection or judgment can prevent us from being our authentic selves. However, from my experience, the most resilient teams are those built on trust and openness. It’s a risk, but it’s one worth taking if we hope to create environments where people feel truly connected and supported.
The Changing Fabric of Society
The structure of our society has changed dramatically. With the rise of remote work and the decline of traditional communities, many of us feel adrift. We relocate for career opportunities, often at the cost of deep-rooted community ties. These changes, while opening up new possibilities, have also fragmented the close-knit communities that once provided a sense of belonging.
Reconnecting with What Matters
Addressing this silent crisis requires conscious, intentional action. Here are some steps that I’ve found effective in helping individuals and organisations reconnect:
– Quality Over Quantity: Focus on nurturing a few deep relationships rather than maintaining numerous superficial ones.
– Be Present: In a world full of distractions, fully engaging in your interactions can create more meaningful connections.
– Embrace Vulnerability: Building strong relationships, especially in the workplace, starts with openness and trust.
– Invest Time: Strong relationships don’t happen overnight. Prioritise quality time with colleagues, friends, and loved ones.
– Rebuild Community: In the workplace, fostering a sense of community can bridge the gap between isolation and belonging.
Final Thoughts
Loneliness, particularly in professional environments, is a complex issue, but it’s one we can overcome together. By taking intentional steps to connect more deeply with those around us, we can break free from isolation and rediscover the power of true community. It’s not about how many people you know, but how deeply you know them that truly matters.
If this resonates with you, I’d love to continue the conversation—let’s connect and explore how we can build more connected and thriving workplaces.
Join Me Live: Overcoming the Challenges of Loneliness Together 
You know, one of the hardest things I’ve ever admitted is, “It’s the utter loneliness I can’t bear.” Sometimes it feels like, “No one seems to care whether I come or go.”
People often tell me to go out and meet new friends. But this advice usually comes from those who haven’t faced deep isolation themselves. It’s like a rich person telling a poor person that money isn’t everything. Friends and activities can distract from loneliness for a while, but they don’t solve it. When I’m alone again, that feeling comes back.
It’s always there, isn’t it?
This hit me hard: loneliness exists in the mind and nowhere else. This is where the solution lies.
Imagine this: I’m alone in my apartment. The phone doesn’t ring, the postman passes by. I have only myself for company. This aloneness turns into loneliness only if my mind labels it that way. If I don’t let my mind label it as loneliness, the feeling of isolation can’t take hold. It’s the labelling that stirs up emotions.
So, I’ve started something new. When I feel lonely, I remind myself not to label my aloneness as loneliness. It’s starting to work. This way of thinking makes loneliness impossible. It’s like seeing a figure in a white sheet. If I don’t call it a ghost, I’m not scared.
The fear comes from the label “ghost.”
Loneliness sticks around even when I’m with others because I label it as frightening. But I’ve learned you can’t escape loneliness because it’s an illusion. It’s like being chased by a non-existent tiger. When I realise there’s no tiger, the chase stops.
Spinoza said it well: “… I saw that all things which occasioned me any anxiety or fear had in themselves nothing of good or evil, except in so far as the mind was moved by them.”
Next time you feel lonely, try seeing it as just a state of mind, nothing more. Remember, you’re never truly alone and you are ok, as you are.
#loneliness #mentalhealth #selfcare#alonenotlonelyy #mindovermatter#innerpeace #isolation #emotionalwellbeing#OvercomingLoneliness #positivethinking#mindfulliving #personalgrowthth#spinozawisdom
Conversations Across the Pond
Here is a series of videos with my good friend Steve Seay in the USA.
Each series covers a specific topic relating to business and even in oir day to lives.
Take the time to listen to the series and let me know what you think
Series 1: Engagement & Culture – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j0YiIwczYU
Series 2: How Influential Leaders “create an environment of openness…” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shdef8hPWj8
Series 3: Engagement & Culture -part 2 –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j0YiIwczYU
Series 4: “Head” vs. “Heart” in our everyday relationships and communication – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1UfU3BcZ08
Series 5: Unplugging with Ted Lasso – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcAeqcGoHyM
Video – Getting out there
Challenging the those noises in our heads…and what I found, that helps me and possible you.
Video – It’s great being a child, having fun in sport…
Hi there…just out and about over the wkend and came across children having fun learning rugby, in the cold and sunny morning…its great to be alive….:-)
Richard Gordon Kelly 