What a Purpose-led CEO Can Teach Us About Managing Pressure

This week’s Better Under Pressure conversation is with an inspirational leader who has been, at times, so immersed in her role that she felt she had merged with it. Does that sound familiar? That feeling when you become what you do… your identity slides into your role and before you know it, the boundary between you and the work has dissolved?

Clare Reddington, CEO of Watershed – the Bristol-based organisation focused on cultural cinema, talent development and creative technology – knows this feeling well.

In this episode we explore how purpose drives Clare’s leadership style and carries her through pressure, how she recognises her personal signs of overwhelm, and what she does about it (hint: nature plays a big role).

Outline 📍 00:00 Intro 02:37 How do you experience pressure? 04:55 How do you tap into that sense of stewardship and purpose in your own leadership? 10:03 What’s the practice that helps you hold and lead all of this? 14:00 How do you meaningfully track balance and belonging in your organisation? 17:16 How do people respond to having unlimited time off and that level of flexibility? 22:59 Insight 1: Lessons learned 25:53 What are the first signs you notice that indicate you need to take a rest? 33:25 Insight 2: Lessons learned 36:07 What was the worst pressure you have ever felt? 40:00 How do you support a team member caught in extreme pressure in the moment? 42:18 What 2 pieces of advice would you pass forward to be better under pressure? 46:21 Outro