Leadership: The Inner Compass

Maggie Ellis

Okay, so let’s talk leadership. I mean, everyone says, "Know who you are as a leader," but like, how do you even start that?

Ruby Sturt

Right? It's such a big question. But I think it boils down to reflecting on your past experiences. You know, really diving into the things that shaped you and figuring out what matters most to you.

Maggie Ellis

Yeah, like those moments where you’re, you know, thinking, "Okay, what exactly am I doing here? And why am I even leading like this?"

Ruby Sturt

Exactly. And, well, looking at role models is huge too. Who you admire says a lot about the kind of leader you aspire to be.

Maggie Ellis

Ooh, totally! Okay, quick story here—I had this manager once, Jen. She was—oh my gosh—the kind of leader who made you feel invincible just by believing in you. Like, she’d say, "Maggie, I see you have potential for this." And bam, you’d suddenly have the guts to take on projects you’re sure you’re gonna bomb.

Ruby Sturt

Ah, love that! Leaders like Jen really set the bar, don’t they? It’s like they see the best version of you before you even do.

Maggie Ellis

Yeah, absolutely! And, you know, I think that’s partly how I’ve kinda built out what you could call my leadership compass—it’s all about, I guess, aligning the stuff that makes you tick with the results you wanna see.

Ruby Sturt

Ooh, leadership compass. I love that idea. So it’s not just about what you want, but also how you’re syncing that up with what your team or organization actually needs?

Maggie Ellis

Exactly. Like, sure, you wanna earn respect, you wanna get stuff done—but then you also have to balance being, you know, compassionate and actually understanding where people are coming from. That’s the tricky part, though.

Ruby Sturt

It is! And that balancing act really becomes part of the compass too, doesn’t it? You're finding your way between staying true to yourself and making sure everyone else is on the same page too.

Maggie Ellis

Totally. And honestly, when you think about it, it's not just about being good at the, I don’t know, outward leadership stuff. It’s about looking inward first—defining those core values that keep you, well, grounded.

Ruby Sturt

Exactly. And reflecting on those values is what sets the foundation for everything else you do as a leader.

Maggie Ellis

So, speaking of those core values and what keeps us grounded, let’s dive into something that’s been guiding people for centuries. Stoicism—it’s fascinating how this ancient philosophy can influence the way we lead and navigate challenges today.

Ruby Sturt

Totally. I mean, think about it. Stoicism is all about focusing on what you can control and kind of letting go of the rest, right? It's such a powerful lens for leadership—and life, really.

Maggie Ellis

Exactly. And one of my favorite Stoic questions straight up asks—"Is this in my control?" Like, as a leader, how many times do we just stress over things we literally cannot fix?

Ruby Sturt

Oh, heaps. It’s such a trap! You’re stuck spinning in circles, wasting energy, and meanwhile, the real work you need to tackle—that’s sitting there waiting.

Maggie Ellis

Right?! Okay, now here’s another good one: "Who are you spending time with?" Like, wow, no pressure to evaluate your entire friend group or anything. But honestly, your environment matters so much!

Ruby Sturt

Oh, so much. And this one hits home for me. Quick story—I was once working on this major project. It was a mess—like, so chaotic. And the people on that team? Let’s just say their vibe was… less than motivational.

Maggie Ellis

Yikes. That sounds like my literal nightmare. What happened?

Ruby Sturt

Well, I realized—okay, I couldn’t change the team overnight, but I could control how I approached it. So I kept asking myself, "What’s within my control here?" And honestly, just shifting my mindset about it—about what I could bring to the table—made all the difference.

Maggie Ellis

Okay, that’s such a classic Stoic move though—like, "Hey, Ruby, ignore the noise and just focus on what you can do." But it’s so hard to actually pull off in the moment, right?

Ruby Sturt

Oh, absolutely. But that’s why these questions are so helpful—they keep you grounded. Like, asking yourself, "Does this actually matter?" can really snap you out of the urgency trap too.

Maggie Ellis

Ugh, the urgency trap. The number of times I’ve spiraled because something felt so big in the moment, only to realize later it wasn’t even a blip on the radar.

Ruby Sturt

Exactly. And honestly, just pausing and asking, "Is this who I want to be?" can shift your perspective so fast. It’s like this mini-reality check that gets you back on track.

Maggie Ellis

Totally. And these aren’t just like, you know, fluffy life questions. They get real about leadership, day-to-day decisions, how we use our time—

Ruby Sturt

And how we show up for our teams. Exactly. It's the kind of stuff that, when you really apply it, makes all the difference.

Maggie Ellis

So, building on those Stoic questions we talked about, let’s dive into one of the toughest challenges in leadership—balancing your own goals with what your team or organization needs from you. Like, I’ll admit, this one’s a real struggle for me.

Ruby Sturt

It’s tricky, isn’t it? Because you can’t exactly ignore your own ambitions, but at the same time, leadership thrives on that give-and-take dynamic.

Maggie Ellis

Right? It’s like, you wanna move up, do your best, but then you’ve also got this whole group of people relying on you, expecting you to lead them with, I don’t know, clarity and direction.

Ruby Sturt

Exactly. And that’s why having multiple leadership styles in your toolkit is so key. You can’t just be the directive leader all the time—or the coaching one, for that matter. It really depends on the situation, doesn’t it?

Maggie Ellis

Oh, for sure. I mean, think of a coach versus, like, a visionary. One keeps the team focused on the big picture, while the other drills down into those nitty-gritty details that make it all happen. Ping-ponging between those modes is exhausting, though.

Ruby Sturt

It is, but that’s the beauty of leadership—you’re not stuck in one box. You can adapt. And when you do, you start to see how it’s not just about navigating your own goals, but about helping others unlock their potential too.

Maggie Ellis

Yeah, and that’s where, I think, the real meaningful stuff happens. Like, there’s this manager I worked with who mastered that balance. He prioritized the team’s well-being—always made sure we felt valued—but he also wasn’t afraid to push his own ideas. His leadership totally inspired me to rethink my own approach.

Ruby Sturt

That’s such a great example. It shows that balancing ambitions doesn’t have to be a constant compromise. It’s more about creating that harmony, where your goals and your team’s needs align.

Maggie Ellis

Exactly, like a loop—you know, the more you help your people succeed, the more likely you are to hit your own personal milestones too. It’s circular.

Ruby Sturt

Totally circular. And it’s also about, well, empathy—understanding what your team actually needs, not just making assumptions. That’s a game-changer, isn’t it?

Maggie Ellis

Oh, 100%. And honestly, I think a big takeaway here is that self-awareness piece we’ve been hammering on in this episode. If you’re not clear on your own goals and values, how can you even begin to find that balance?

Ruby Sturt

Exactly. It all comes back to that inner leadership compass—to knowing what drives you, what fulfills you, and how that intersects with leading others. When you align that within yourself, everything else just… clicks.

Maggie Ellis

Yeah, it’s a constant journey, though, isn’t it? But honestly, this has been such a cool conversation. I feel like I’ve just revamped my entire leadership philosophy in, what, 30 minutes?

Ruby Sturt

Same here. And honestly, that’s the beauty of these chats—just getting real about the challenges, the wins, and the growth that comes with becoming a better leader.

Maggie Ellis

Well, on that note, I guess this is it for today. Thanks for joining us as we tackled the ups and downs of leadership—it’s been such a blast.

Ruby Sturt

Absolutely. And we’ll catch you next time. Take care and keep working on that compass!