Ahead of our next Wandsworth Connected business networking and keynote event on 1 May, we caught up with award-winning motivational speaker Leanne Spencer to find out more about her impressive qualifications, the importance of workplace wellbeing, and the art of Cadence.
Hey Leanne, for those who don’t know, tell us a bit about who you are and what you do.
I’m an award-winning speaker and the author of three bestselling books, including Cadence, a finalist in the Business Book Awards. I’ve been in the wellbeing sector for over 13 years, have 13 qualifications in exercise and nutrition and my TEDx talk – Why Fitness is More Important Than Weight – has over 132k views. Perhaps more intriguingly I’m also a Bear Grylls Survival Instructor!
What inspired you to become a motivational speaker?
In 2016 I had a meeting with my first boss, Julian. At the time I was a personal trainer, and I explained to him about our philosophies around personalised fitness and that I felt we had very important messages to share. The limiting factor was, of course, that within our model we could only deliver it one person at a time. My conversation with Julian encouraged me to think about sharing my message at scale, through speaking. Writing and researching my TEDx talk, then delivering it live to over 100 people, made me realise that I loved the art of speaking and wanted to make this my profession
What can guests expect from your upcoming talk at Wandsworth Connected?
A different way of thinking about the role of wellbeing in a high performance culture. Delivered with energy, dynamism and great storytelling
Would you say that workplace wellbeing is becoming a higher priority for businesses these days?
Yes definitely. COVID ensured that workplace wellbeing became a C-suite issue and I think most forward-thinking companies realise that wellbeing and high performance aren’t at opposition to each other but rather mutually inclusive.
What is the Cadence approach?
Today’s business environment is fast-paced and demanding. The ability to adapt to ever-changing circumstances is a vital skill, and one which we can learn from some of the most resilient people in society – athletes.
Even at the most elite level, an athlete will not expect to be operating at peak performance all year round. They will look ahead to the schedule, get ready, perform to the best of their ability and then rest. We call this Cadence; first, identify the big events coming up in your professional and personal life; then prepare by making small improvements in sleep, mental health and energy; complete the task or event, and then allow your nervous system to recover by prioritising slivers of recovery into the day.
What does the rest of the year have in store for you?
Lots of exciting speaking events throughout the year (I speak about twice a week), and the launch of a new mini-book, the working title of which is Sustain: the paradox of wellbeing and high performance. On a personal level – bringing my golf handicap down and working on my consistency!
Want to know more about mastering workplace wellbeing to unlock your potential and enhance your overall performance? Then book your ticket to Wandsworth Connected on Thursday 1 May at The Gatehouse on Armoury Way. As well as gaining valuable career insights, you’ll have the opportunity to meet with other local business professionals and expand your network. We’ll also treat you to some free food and drink, too.
Book your ticket now
