Leading with Humility: Why the Best Bosses Stay Human

In this episode of Inside Out: Mental Health at Work and in Life, I'm joined by Steven Pink, who is the CEO of Verve Healthcare, a SELDOC Group company. Steven has worked in retail, banking, aviation, the NHS and private healthcare. You will hear in the podcast how experiences from each of these industries have shaped Steven's view on how to lead well.

Steven's route to leadership has been interesting, starting as a 16-year-old selling men's suits in Marks and Spencer to leading two healthcare businesses as CEO: Verve Healthcare and SELDOC. That breadth shows in how he thinks about work. For Steven, a mentally healthy workplace is one where people get something back for themselves, not just a wage, but a sense of purpose, challenge and growth. He makes the case that we often have far more agency over our working lives than we think. We need to take hold of it.

We talk about reflection as a vital discipline rather than a luxury. We consider why leaders who never carve out time to think end up leading with tunnel vision, and how saying no in a good way is an important technique you can learn; it isn't just about confidence. Steven shares his own turning point on health and fitness, and what changed when he finally treated his own wellbeing as a priority.

He's also candid about the kind of leader he wanted to become. After working for some excellent bosses and some poor ones, he set out to build the kind of workplace he wished he'd been in when he was unhappy. The result: 97% workforce retention over five years in his current business, without the need to always be the best payer. His explanation is disarmingly simple, just be a bit human.

🔑 Key Topics

• Why purpose and challenge matter as much as pay for mental health at work
• The agency we have over our own working lives, and why we underestimate it
• Reflection as a leadership discipline, and building structure to protect it
• Saying no by offering an alternative, a learnable technique, not just confidence
• Leaders not always putting themselves last, and why looking after yourself isn't selfish
• Building the workplace you wish you'd had: humanity, belonging and retention
• Influence with humility, and the responsibility that comes with seniority

💡 Did You Know?

Steven's business holds 97% staff retention over more than five years, despite, in his words, not always being the best payer. His reason: once people arrive, it's simply a good, human place to be. Genuine kindness and low ego are vital ingredients for effective leadership.

📝 Actionable Takeaways

• Decide what gives you value from your work, then engineer more of it into your week
• Protect time to reflect, whether that's the gym, a walk, or talking it through with someone you trust
• Practise saying no with an alternative: "I can't really do that this week, but I can do a great job with it next week. Would that work for you?"
• Treat your own health and wellbeing as your number one priority; allow other things to reorganise around it
• If your team look nervous or avoid you, treat it as feedback on your leadership, not on them, change how you are
• Use influence with humility, the bigger your role, the greater your responsibility

🗣️ Join the Conversation

When did you last give yourself real time to reflect, and what changed when you did? Share your thoughts and connect with us on social media.

Connect with Steven: LinkedIn | Verve Healthcare

1. https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenpink123/
2. https://www.vervehealthcare.co.uk/