The hardest part of leadership isn’t driving performance, it’s doing it without breaking the culture that holds your team together.
In this episode of Breaking the Chain, Nathaniel Chapman sits down with Simon Thomas, Founder and Managing Director of Mind Mastery Labs. Drawing from his journey in recruitment and leadership, Simon shares how stepping into management taught him that great leadership isn’t about control, it’s about care. Together, Nathaniel and Simon unpack one of the most important challenges modern leaders face: how to maintain top performance without losing team cohesion or cultural integrity.
Simon reminds us that the environment we create shapes behaviour. High performers often get a bad reputation when they’re left unchecked, not because they lack talent, but because the organization stops guiding and supporting them.
High performers need to be looked after too; they shape the culture just as much as anyone else.
The conversation explores how behaviours, not just metrics are what sustain excellence in the long run. Nathaniel reflects on his early days in recruitment, when individual rewards like “lunch clubs” celebrated the top billers but quietly disengaged everyone else. Now, he and his team have replaced those with collective incentives, where entire offices strive toward shared goals and celebrate together. The result? Stronger engagement, deeper trust, and a sense that everyone contributes to the win.
They draw parallels between leadership and sports, pointing out that even the most talented players depend on the unity of their teams. He cautions that not every high performer should lead because performance without empathy can damage morale.
Beyond titles and targets, Simon encourages leaders to recognize the quiet influencers those who hold the team together without recognition. In every organization, there are people who naturally earn trust, support colleagues, and uphold the culture. Identifying and empowering these individuals often has a greater impact on performance than any incentive plan.
This episode is a powerful reminder that success isn’t just about what your people achieve, it’s about how they achieve it together. The strongest leaders know that culture and performance are not competing forces; they’re the foundation of sustainable success.
🎧 Listen to the full episode of Breaking the Chain featuring Simon Thomas to explore how you can build teams that perform, protect, and grow together.
About Impel Talent
At Impel Talent, we partner with forward-thinking organisations to build high-performing teams that drive innovation. Our experience spans aerospace, biomanufacturing, engineering, and advanced technology — helping clients attract, assess, and retain exceptional technical talent through authentic, insight-driven recruitment.
