S6 EP50: Bad Bosses, Toxic Workplaces & Leadership: How to Reclaim Your Power with Natalie Renee Parker

What happens when the company that constantly tells you how valuable you are suddenly stops treating you like a human being?For Natalie Renee Parker, that question became very real.After a frightening health crisis led to hospitalisation, a blood transfusion and ultimately major surgery, Natalie was preparing to take medical leave when her employer attempted to lay her off just days before the operation.Instead of quietly accepting what was happening, she advocated for herself.That experience became part of a much bigger turning point, leading Natalie to leave corporate America, start her own business and dedicate her work to changing the way organisations think about leadership, accountability and the people behind the job titles.In this episode Natalie and I talk about:• Why bad leadership can affect far more than your working day• The difference between managing people and actually leading them• Why accountability has to work both ways• What employees should reasonably expect from their leaders• Why people often tolerate poor behaviour when they don't know what good leadership looks like• How to advocate for yourself without abandoning your values• Why workplace problems can feel deeply personal when they often aren't• The importance of dignity, compassion and humanity at work• Why leaders need feedback and accountability too• How a health crisis forced Natalie to question whether she was living the life she actually wantedNatalie makes a brilliant point during our conversation:"Leadership is a product, and the employee is the consumer of that product."And perhaps one of the biggest reminders from this episode is that the people we remember from our careers aren't necessarily the ones who achieved the biggest numbers.We remember how they made us feel and who they were to us.If you've ever worked for a difficult boss, questioned whether something happening at work was acceptable, struggled to speak up, or you're responsible for leading other people, this conversation is well worth listening to.Because your job title doesn't stop you being human.And neither does theirs.Information is everywhere. Understanding is rare.Vicky xxConnect with Natalie Here:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-renee-parker/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natalieparkerenterprises/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenatalieparker/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@UCXmh2Q4n6sNneJ23nxiGidw Natalie's TEDx talk: Listen HereCheck out her podcast "So Your Boss Sucks":Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/so-your-boss-sucks-now-what/id1788316078 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/98c5fa73-8fd8-4c15-98b6-9b20bb6d5792/so-your-boss-sucks-now-what Stay Connected with Vicky 📩 Join my personal newsletter for weekly insights into human behaviour, health, performance and the psychology behind lasting change:https://tinyurl.com/2jbbmtuv🌐 Website: https://www.vickymidwood.comSocials: 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickymidwood/📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vickymidwood📸 Instagram:️ https://www.instagram.com/vickymidwood_gfc/ RAW CHATTER Podcast - If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe and Share. It really helps more people discover these conversations.Information is everywhere. Understanding is rare.And remember...We only have one life, as far as we know, and one body. Please look after it, because it is looking after you.