13: Lead Well Live Well with Dee Blick - Episode 1313: Lead Well Live Well with Dee Blick - Episode 13
UK Health Radio Podcast
Coach Laura Osman shares how a spontaneous family adventure led to her joyful coaching business and a passion for human-centred leadership. The conversation with host Dee Blick touches on courage over comfort, soft skills, career risks and rebuilding life and confidence after addiction.
42:10•9 May 2026
Courage Over Comfort: Joyful Leadership, Big Risks and Backing Yourself
Episode Overview
- Big life changes often start with a simple "what if" conversation, followed by bold action rather than a perfect plan.
- Work should be a place where people feel safe, seen and valued, not just somewhere to survive the day.
- So-called soft skills like listening, empathy and trust are actually tough human skills that drive high performance.
- A coach is not the expert on your life; their role is to draw out your strengths and help you think and grow.
- Choosing courage over comfort is essential for growth, whether that’s starting a business, speaking up at work or living alcohol-free.
“You can choose courage or you can choose comfort, but you can't have both at the same time.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety, leadership and self-belief? This episode of Lead Well Live Well brings together all three through an honest and often funny conversation between host Dee Blick and coach, keynote speaker and lecturer, Laura Osman. Laura shares how a late-night "what if" chat in a small Bromley kitchen led to quitting jobs, buying a camper van and taking her young family on a five-year European adventure.
From a cockroach-filled casita in the Valencian mountains, the idea for her coaching business, Beam, was born. As Laura puts it, the big question driving her work is: how do we help people "not just survive in life, but really thrive" at work and at home? You’ll hear how her background in acting and drama teaching feeds directly into her passion for communication, confidence and what she calls "human skills" – empathy, trust, listening and brave conversations.
She’s clear they are anything but "soft": they’re the hardest, and most vital, skills for leaders who want happy, high-performing teams where people feel safe, seen and valued. Laura calmly unpacks the difference between coaching, mentoring and counselling, explains why coaches themselves need supervision, and talks about supporting leaders across sectors, including the NHS and global organisations.
Her quote, "You can choose courage or you can choose comfort, but you can't have both at the same time," becomes a theme as Dee opens up about anxiety, impostor syndrome and giving up alcohol as an addict. Their chat is warm, real and practical, with plenty for anyone in recovery or rebuilding their life to relate to: courage over comfort, joy as a measure of success, and the power of surrounding yourself with people who genuinely cheer you on.
It’ll leave you asking: where could you back yourself a little more, even if your knees are knocking?
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.
Related Episodes
Similar episodes from other shows in the catalogue.