Beyond Potential

Episode 62: The commercial genius: how leaders balance people, purpose & performance

In this bonus episode of Beyond Potential, Tom Mason and Tom Emery continue their bite-sized exploration of the Beyond Potential Leadership Framework, this time unpacking the concept of The Commercial Genius. If you want to take a look at the model you can do so at www.beyond-potential.co.uk

Being a commercial genius, is not about turning every leader into a finance expert. Instead, Tom Mason explores what it really means to think commercially as a leader: understanding where value is created, thinking across systems, beyond function and balancing the short and long term.

Together, the Toms discuss how understanding the value levers you can pull that will help you have a greater impact. Curiosity, confidence, and questioning can help leaders translate data into insight, make better decisions under pressure, and connect commercial sense with human impact.

If you’ve ever felt daunted by the ‘numbers side’ of leadership, this episode will help you reframe what being commercially minded truly means. How to strengthen that muscle to drive value without losing sight of people and purpose.

Ep 61: Leadership is a journey, not a destination - with guest Andrew Wallbridge

In this episode of Beyond Potential, host Tom Mason engages with leadership expert Andrew Walbridge, speaker author and global coach. In this inspiring episode Andrew shares his journey as a lifelong student of leadership and the inspiration behind his book, 'Leaders Labyrinth.'

The conversation delves into the complexities of leadership, the importance of finding one's voice, and the essential qualities of trustworthiness. Andrew emphasises the need for authenticity and emotional connection in leadership, offering practical tips for aspiring leaders to cultivate their unique voices and build trust within their teams.

The episode concludes with Andrew's insights on the significance of making one's voice heard in the pursuit of progress.

Follow Andrew on Linkedln

Ep 60: Become the impact maker your organisation needs

In the fifth episode of our seven-part mini-series exploring Beyond Potential's leadership model, we're discussing the importance of impact makers within organisations.

Most people are busy, but busy is not the same as impactful. In fact, some of the busiest people - those running from meeting to meeting - are not impactful at all.

Impact makers don't just show up; they use initiative to move things forward. They're outcome-focused, working with the business to understand what the collective goal is, how to reach it, and encouraging others to rally behind it.

In this episode, we explore methods and techniques you can use to become an impact maker. From prioritisation tools, like the Eisenhower matrix, to learning to delegate with clarity and intention, you can ensure your time is used effectively.

Listen to the episode to find out how creating new rhythms and rituals will enable you to be more output-focused, and what behaviours you need to embody to become an impact maker.

If you missed the previous episodes in the series, listen back here:

1. Discovering your leadership purpose
2. Role of insightful navigator in leadership
3. The importance of being a culture catalyst
4. Boosting performance as an influence architect

Learn more about Beyond Potential, HEX and Potentia, and connect with Tom Emery and Tom Mason on LinkedIn.

Ep 59: How presence and practice unlock performance - with guest George Bettany

In this episode, the Beyond Potential team were joined by entrepreneur and MARA founder, George Bettany, to discuss the connection between presence and performance.

He shared his journey from footballer through to performance coach, including his experiences building coaching and mentoring businesses, Sanctus and MARA.

George reveals how stepping away from Sanctus allowed him space to reconnect with what he enjoyed - running - and, from there, MARA was born.

He explains how practising presence, whether in fitness, business or life, unlocks performance by allowing us to be free of distractions and negative thought. His vision is to enlighten others to the power of meditation and enable them to perform and feel better by giving them tools to remain present.

George's story is an inspiring one, full of self-awareness and moments of growth, as well as vulnerability. You won't want to miss it.

Follow George on LinkedIn 

Watch George's TEDTalk 

Learn more about MARA 

Ep 58: Boosting performance as an influence architect

Continuing our bonus mini-series on the Beyond Potential leadership model, in this episode, we discuss what it means to boost performance as an influence architect.

An influence architect uses trust to move the needle on performance. By influencing those above and around them, they improve the performance of themselves, their team, and the business.

But being an influence architect isn't about being the loudest or most opinionated in the room, it's about bringing others along on the journey by utilising the trust you have already built with them.

Join us in this episode as we explore how you can use situational leadership to influence by adapting your style, and to find out why self reflection is so important at every stage of the leadership model.

Catch up on the previous episodes in the series here:

1. Discovering your leadership purpose
2. Role of insightful navigator in leadership
3. The importance of being a culture catalyst

Connect with Tom Emery and Tom Mason on LinkedIn.

Find out more about: Beyond Potential, HEX and Potentia.

Ep: 57 Mindful vs. mindless - A Tom's talk episode

This week, Tom and Tom sit down and discuss intentional mindful leadership vs automatic behaviours, processes and actions. They explore different scenarios where top leaders stop, take a step back and act with intention rather than autopilot.

Do you take the time to make your team feel valued or like they matter? Do you ensure that the objective of every meeting is clear from the beginning? Do you take a breath before emotionally responding to feedback?

In this episode, we explore how microhabits can help you become more intentional and mindful. How making time for building deeper relationships with your team can actually save you time in the long run.

If you're feeling overloaded, overwhelmed and burnt out, we also have some ideas that might help you build better boundaries and intentional with your own wellbeing.

Ep 56: The importance of being a culture catalyst

In this bonus episode, Tom Emery and Tom Mason turn their attention to the 'Culture Catalyst', a vital element of the Beyond Potential leadership model. This is picking up from episode 46, where they talked about the role of the 'Insightful Navigator'.

Culture often feels like an intangible concept, but as the Toms explore, it’s the invisible hand that shapes behaviours, performance, and how teams experience work.

They break down what it really means to be a culture catalyst: from building trust and psychological safety, to driving inclusion, setting accountability, and role-modelling the behaviours you want to see.

Drawing on leadership models such as Patrick Lencioni’s Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Tuckman’s team development model, and Amy Edmondson’s work on psychological safety, they show how leaders at every level can actively shape microcultures within their teams, and why these feed into the wider organisational culture.

The message is clear: culture isn’t something handed down from the CEO or written on the office wall. It’s something leaders create, protect, and sustain every day through intentional action and agency.

Short, sharp, and packed with practical insights, this 10-minute episode is designed to help you reflect on your own team culture and how you can become the catalyst for a more inclusive, high-performing environment.

Connect with Tom Emery and Tom Mason on LinkedIn.

Find out more about: Beyond Potential, HEX and Potentia.

Ep 55: the Toms talk progress and celebrate successes - a Toms Talk episode

In this reflective episode, Tom Mason and Tom Emery take listeners on a journey through the summer months.

They discuss the energy and resolutions that come with September, share personal and professional updates, and highlight standout guests and episodes. The hosts also offer a behind-the-scenes look at their evolving leadership brand, Beyond Potential, and their respective businesses, Potentia and HEX.

Dive in!