What if the key to truly effective leadership isn't about saying more, but about communicating with clarity - often saying less and showing up with a calm, focused presence?

In today’s episode of The Reins of Leadership, we explore a powerful, often unspoken, dimension of leadership: the messages your team receives beyond your words. Drawing wisdom from the honest feedback of horses, we uncover how your energy, intention, and non-verbal cues shape your team's experience and performance.

This conversation was inspired by a recent workshop, where the principles of effective communication and influence kept pointing back to the lessons learned in the paddock. Horses don't lie; they mirror your clarity, your energy, and your deepest intentions.

🔑 In this episode, we unpack:

• The Power of Clear Cues: Why, just like with horses, your team needs unambiguous signals. Discover how misalignments between your words, actions, and energy can create confusion, and learn to deliver your message with precision.

o Reflect: When was the last time your "unspoken" message might have contradicted your words?

• Leading with Calm Energy: Understand the energetic atmosphere you cultivate and its direct impact on team safety, trust, and innovation. Learn how to be the steady anchor, even in turbulent times.

o Reflect: What kind of energetic wake do you leave behind in your team interactions?

• The Compass of Intention: Explore why your underlying purpose as a leader matters profoundly. We discuss how to clarify your intention so it authentically guides your actions and resonates with your team.

o Reflect: Is your core leadership intention clear to you? More importantly, is it palpable to your team?

• Reading the Room (and the Herd): Moving beyond just "delivering" information to truly tuning into your team’s unspoken feedback. Learn to lead responsively by developing your emotional intelligence.

o Reflect: Are you truly listening to what your team isn't saying, or just performing in front of them?

The Core Lesson:

Effective leadership is less about control and more about congruence. It’s not about pushing harder, but about showing up more consciously. By mastering your clear cues, calm energy, focused intention, and your ability to read your "herd," you build trust, create psychological safety, and unlock your team's true potential.

Join us as we shift from "herding cats" to moving in harmony with the herd. This episode is your invitation to realign how you lead from within.

Connect with Merinda:


Instagram: @IamMerindaSmith

Website: www.merindasmith.com.au

Have you ever faced a moment so dark and difficult you didn’t know if you’d make it through?
What if you discovered that strength, guidance—even miracles—can show up in the most unexpected ways?
You’ve been pushing, striving, surviving... but it’s still not working the way you hoped.

Have you ever been there—stuck, exhausted, and unsure what’s next?

We’ve all been there in one form or another - up against something that feels too big to overcome.

On this week’s episode, Kenny Barnwell shares a powerful and personal journey of survival, resilience, and purpose. Imagine growing up in a world without spoken words, then finding your way to standing beside some of the biggest names in entertainment, Kenny’s path is anything but ordinary.

And then there’s the moment that changed everything — a life-threatening experience in Mexico that tested his courage, and his inner compass. What do we discover about ourselves when everything’s on the line?

And it’s not just a survival story.
If you’ve ever experienced burnout, felt stuck in your journey, or needed a sign to keep going...
If you’re looking for tangible tools mixed with a deeper sense of purpose...
If you’re trying to lead with more resilience, impact, and heart, this episode will shift your perspective and restore your hope.

Topics we cover:

• What mental toughness really looks like
• Breaking big challenges into small, winnable goals
• When divine guidance meets practical grit
• The power of service and why Kenny now gives it all away
• How to access strength - even when you feel alone

This episode is your reminder:
You’re stronger than you think. And help might be closer than you realise.

Links

www. FollowTheButterflyBook.com

kennybarnwell.com

crewspire - youtube

Connect with Merinda:


Instagram: @IamMerindaSmith

Website: www.merindasmith.com.au

Have you ever found yourself avoiding being too direct with your team, worried that clarity might come off as harsh?

What if your softness - your care, empathy, and gentle nature wasn’t the problem… but the lack of structure around it was?

You’ve been trying to lead from the heart, but it’s not working the way you hoped… and your team might be feeling it too.

Can you relate?
🌸 Have you ever struggled to balance being kind with being clear?
🌸 Does the idea of soft leadership sometimes leave you second-guessing your impact?

We get it.
Leading with warmth matters deeply - but without boundaries, even the best intentions can create confusion.

You’re not alone in this.

On this week’s episode, Merinda unpacks the surprising truth about softness in leadership, and why it’s only half the story.

And it’s not just about being nice or setting firm rules...
Her insights from the horses reveal how true softness actually requires structure.
Plus, we’re unpacking how to correct gently, lead clearly, and still show up with heart.

If you’ve ever avoided a hard conversation to “keep the peace,” this episode is for you.
If you’ve been searching for a way to lead with empathy and effectiveness, you’ll find exactly what you need here.

If you’re trying to build deep trust and powerful results—this episode will show you how to align softness with strength.

🌸 Episode Highlights:

• The unexpected ways softness without structure creates anxiety
• “Be clear before you’re kind” and why clarity is the true foundation of compassionate leadership
• A gentle approach to course-correcting early so you build confidence, not confusion, in your team

🌸 Ready to realign your leadership?

If you’re in leadership navigating the tension between heart-led connection and strategic clarity, The Leadership Realignment Session is your next step.

This 1:1 coaching experience helps you step into leadership that feels both authentic and effective.

Book your session today via this link - https://merindasmith.podia.com/aligned_success

Connect with Merinda:


Instagram: @IamMerindaSmith

Website: www.merindasmith.com.au