Building Resilience in Business Leadership with Colin Tapscott

In this podcast episode, host Rob Lawrence interviews Colin Tapscott, author of two books Everyday Alchemy: Transforming Your Trash into Treasure and Everyday People, Everyday Leaders.

Colin is an EMCC-accredited Senior Practitioner Coach, leadership trainer, speaker, and one of the coaches at BGCN.

Colin and Rob discuss the importance of self-awareness, reflection, and values-driven leadership for business owners. Colin shares practical frameworks for turning challenges into growth opportunities, building resilience, and fostering supportive business communities.

Colin teaches us the power of pausing and reflecting as key habits for personal and professional development, drawing from his own experiences and insights from his book.

The conversation offers actionable advice for leaders seeking to navigate setbacks, manage stress, and lead with authenticity and emotional intelligence.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Introduction & Colin’s Background (00:02:05)

Colin introduces himself, his coaching work, and his background as a head teacher and founder of Everyday Leader.

The Role of Self-Awareness in Leadership (00:02:58)

Colin talks about the importance of self-awareness, honest reflection, and emotional intelligence for business resilience.

Recognising and Managing Pressure (00:03:50)

Colin and Rob explore the pressures founders face, the impact of stress, and the need to notice emotional and physical cues.

Building Deliberate Reflection into Busy Schedules (00:05:11)

Colin shares practical advice on scheduling intentional reflection moments and being proactive about self-check-ins.

Practical Reflection Techniques (00:06:17)

Suggestions for simple reflection practices, such as body/emotion check-ins and reviewing daily experiences.

Intentional and Spontaneous Self-Reflection (00:07:38)

How to use reminders and triggers for reflection, and the value of spontaneous self-awareness during the day.

Developing a Resilient Mindset: Everyday Alchemy (00:08:27)

Introduction to Colin’s “Everyday Alchemy” model for transforming setbacks into opportunities through the pause, reflect, and respond model.

The Three-Step Alchemy Process (00:09:29)

Detailed explanation of pausing, reflecting (using the four W’s), and responding thoughtfully in challenging moments.

The Four W’s for Reflection (00:10:27)

Breakdown of the four W’s: What is needed, Who do I want to be, Which values guide me, and Where’s the treasure.

Applying Values in Decision-Making (00:11:14)

How to identify and use core values to guide actions, especially in uncertain or high-pressure situations.

Quick Reflection and Verification Before Responding (00:12:56)

Colin’s tips for rapid self-checks and using holding phrases to buy time before responding under pressure.

Understanding and Identifying Personal Values (00:15:17)

Colin offers guidance on discovering personal values and their importance in shaping business and personal decisions.

Values in Business and Team Culture (00:16:30)

How values influence business culture, team alignment, and responses to clients or challenging situations.

Empathy, Understanding, and Helping Others Transform...